Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size. But when I start to tell them, They think I’m telling lies. I say, It’s in the reach of my arms, The span of my hips, The stride of my step, The curl of my lips. I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me.-Dr. Maya Angelou
In choosing the inaugural cover girl for Siti Girl Louisville, I pondered what I would like for this magazine to represent and I came up with 4 characteristics: Resilience, Self-Reliance, Confidence and Empathy.
Resilience: A strong woman is able to withstand adversity and bounce back from difficult situations. She demonstrates an exceptional ability to recover quickly from setbacks and challenges.
Self-reliance: She often exhibits a high degree of independence and self-sufficiency, taking charge of her own life and decisions without overly relying on others.
Confidence: This trait involves having a strong sense of self-worth and belief in one’s own abilities. A strong woman carries herself with assurance and assertiveness.
Empathy: Despite her strength, she possesses a deep sense of empathy and compassion for others, often serving as a source of support
As I surmised these characteristics, I thought of the brilliance of Toni Allen. There are so many hats a woman wears. A community leader, career woman, sister, friend and mother, Toni wears these hats with such grace and ease.
When I sat down to write this article about Toni, I wasn’t sure what all I would say to capture the essence of this amazing woman. Truth is Toni is not just my cousin, she is one of my heroes. Not only is she one of my heroes, she is a community hero. I admire her grace, tenacity, caring heart and down to earth tell-it-like it is nature, that keeps me grounded and focused on my life goals.
As a career woman, Toni is an encourager, teacher and motivator to new nurse practitioners. Her knowledge of the healthcare system and how she nurtures and cares for each of her patients makes her a premier healthcare provider in the city of Louisville. She is also an active member of Jack and Jill of America and Black Nurse Practitioners of Louisville. She has been nominated for Healthcare Hero, Forty Under Forty and numerous other honors.
Of all the accomplishments Toni has achieved in her life, the greatest one is the title of mom, to three amazing young men, Mason, Myles and Trey. This is a very busy season for her sons and they are actively involved in sports. Trey is a member of the Kentucky Diamonds Baseball Team and Mason and Myles are following in her footsteps by playing soccer. How she manages all of this is in a 24 hour day is simply described, Black Girl Magic.
