Meet Olivia Simmons | Christian Author and Plus Size Influencer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Olivia Simmons and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Olivia, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
As an Inspiration and Christian Author, it gives me the opportunity to help and impact the world by sharing God’s Love and Word through the words that He allows me to write. With the transparency of sharing my journey in “My Sister’s Keeper: The Joy Of The Journey”, it allows the reader to get an inside look of my life; a believer who lost the closest person in her life (sister and only sibling), following the journey of finding who she was (life after losing her) while sharing intimate details along the way. In sharing the journey, the Social Impact perpetually affirms the reader that they’re not alone in this journey called life. In imparting how God held my hand throughout the journey, it encourages both Believers of God and those who still are finding their way to Him, that through life’s ups and downs, God is walking with you every step of the way.

As a Plus Size Influencer, it has granted me amazing moments to influence and encourage women to love themselves as God has created them. For years the Plus Size Influencer Community was quiet and let’s be honest, ignored. I never thought in a million years that I would be a Plus Size Influencer and Brand Ambassador, however God saw fit to present an occasion (that I was not looking for) to encourage and uplift women of all ethnic, cultural, shapes and sizes to love who they saw in the mirror. In sharing affirmations of what God says who we are (Psalm 139:13-16) of that we are fearfully and wonderfully made in His sight and also that we were made in His image (Genesis 1:26). So when we look in the mirror, we see Him because we were made in His image and He lives within us.

My desire is that every single affirmation, encouragement and influential post that I share on Social Media and/or within my book, impacts the reader in a positive and life changing way.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a child, I was a vivid reader but never in a million years did I ever think that I would become an Author. I remember writing short stories and loving to write essays but an entire book, that never crossed my mind until 2017. I took the leap and started the process of writing my first book which is entitled, “8 Minutes With God: Intimate Moments With The Father”. This book is a prayer devotional that covers subjects from Everyday Life (i.e. Finances, Time Management etc.), Relationships (Family, Marriage, Singleness, Children), Emotions (Anxiety, Depression etc.), Kingdom Assignments (Trusting God, Waiting on God, Praying for Leadership) and so much more. While I share prayers about the preceding subjects, I also share intimate details of my life aligning with each prayer.

In my most recent book, “My Sister’s Keeper: The Joy of The Journey”, I share the foundational truths of Sibling Relationships (with Biblical Sibling Examples such as Cain and Able, Rachel and Leah, Joseph and his brothers and others) to dispense how sibling relationships go back to the creation of the world. I give an inside look of my sister’s life and also how my life has been since she said see you later!

Birthing both of these books was not easy. The process to write the words were often at times emotionally and sometimes spiritually exhausting because with each word that I wrote, I was reliving the most difficult moments of my life. If I had to describe overcoming them, I would have to say that it was leaning totally on God through prayer asking for His strength to complete the book. Both books are non fiction in which I share my sister’s life and my life and I was a little apprehensive of sharing some details because I let the reader in on some intimate thoughts and experiences that only me and God knew about.

I’ve learned plenty lessons along the way but I would share that the two top lessons that stands out to me the most is extending yourself grace and surrounding yourself with an amazing support system. When you allow yourself grace in knowing that God loves you and that you have no one to prove anything to but to Him, it releases unnecessary pressure off of yourself. Having the RIGHT support system is also imperative. It is important to have those who will support, correct and encourage you along the way as you cross your personal finish line!

I’m just a girl who loves Jesus, who uses Social Media as a platform in reaching those who may not know Christ, to share of His Love and Redemption in addition to as a Plus Size Influencer, bringing encouragement to women to love themselves as God created them.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Now this is a part in which I am the best friend coming to visit! LOL! I say that because I don’t hold my own personal “peach” yet!

I have been traveling back and forth from North Carolina to Georgia for the last three years due to ministry however, I will be moving to Georgia this year and I’m so excited!

I would take my best friend to brunch at Breakfast At Barneys (the menu and experience is amazing), The Aquarium, Waterfalls (Bamboo Forest) and on Sunday, worship at Spirit and Truth Church!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my “Shoutout” to all of My Sister’s Keepers whom God has placed in my life to help hold me accountable and who authentically love and support me!

Instagram: i_am_oliviasimmons

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Osimmons459

Image Credits
Photographer, Gabrielle Hicks of Gabrielle’s Gallery