Today we’d like to introduce you to Shant’a Miller White.
Hi Shant’a , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
From Surviving to Speaking: The Story of Shant’a Nichole
If you had told the little girl I once was that one day her voice would become a powerful instrument of encouragement, advocacy, and inspiration, she probably would have believed you—but she never could have imagined the journey it would take to get there.
My name is Shant’a Miller White, known to many as Shant’a Nichole. I am the Executive Director and Founder of Parents Against Bullying, a community advocate, motivational speaker, Amazon Best-Selling Author, radio host, Head and Neck Cancer survivor, and Ambassador for the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance. I am also a mother of three and a proud grandmother of three.
But before the titles, the advocacy, the microphone, and the platform, I was simply a girl who loved to talk, sing, and be around the people she loved.
As a child, I was very talkative with family and those closest to me. I loved to sing and express myself. As I grew older, though, something changed. I became more reserved. If I didn’t know you, chances where I wasn’t talking to you! I certainly never imagined that God would one day place me in rooms where I would have to use my voice to inspire people I had never met.
For many years, I expressed my creativity through cosmetology. I loved doing hair and proudly maintained my cosmetology license. I owned and operated my own salon for ten years. It was a chapter of my life that I cherished because it allowed me to create, connect with people, and build relationships.
Then life changed.
Or perhaps I should say, God changed the direction of my life.
One of the most defining chapters of my journey came when I faced Head and Neck Cancer. Cancer has a way of making you stop, reflect, and reconsider what truly matters. During my battle, I was told something that could have changed everything: I might not talk again.
Imagine being told that you may lose the very thing you never realized would become one of your greatest gifts.
But God had another plan.
I survived.
And I found my voice again.
Not only did I find my physical voice, but I discovered a voice I didn’t know I had—a voice for advocacy, encouragement, healing, and hope.
My journey after cancer led me into spaces I never expected to occupy. I became a motivational speaker, an Amazon Best-Selling Author, and a radio host. I created and hosted PUSH Talk with Shant’a Nichole on REDINK Radio Live. That platform gave me an opportunity to have conversations, share stories, encourage others, and use my experiences to remind people that their circumstances do not have to define their future.
Although PUSH Talk is no longer on REDINK Radio, I believe that was never the end of the story. It was simply another chapter.
Because sometimes God closes one door because He is preparing you to walk through another one.
From the advocacy, radio shows, interviews, and conversations came another vision: Tea Time with Shant’a Nichole, under the umbrella of PUSH Talk.
Tea Time is about much more than sitting down with a cup of tea. It is about taking a good, honest look at the ingredients that make up our lives.
You are the TEA.
Your life is made up of experiences, relationships, choices, disappointments, victories, lessons, and dreams. And just like making a cup of tea, sometimes you have to decide what ingredients need to be added—and what ingredients need to be taken away.
Some things may have served you in one season but no longer belong in the next.
Some relationships may need to be released. Some mindsets need to be changed. Some dreams need to be revisited. And sometimes, you simply need to add a little more faith, courage, forgiveness, love, or purpose to your cup.
That is what Tea Time represents to me: motivation, encouragement, reflection, and intentional living.
When I look back at my life, I see a woman who has experienced many different chapters. I am divorced twice. I am a mother. I am a grandmother. I am a cancer survivor. I have faced challenges that could have silenced me. I have experienced moments that could have caused me to give up.
But I am still here.
And more importantly, I am still speaking.
Today, I don’t take my voice for granted. Every microphone, every interview, every conversation, every audience, and every opportunity to encourage someone is a reminder of what I was told I might never be able to do again.
My story is not about having a perfect life. It is about discovering purpose in the middle of an imperfect one.
I believe our greatest struggles can become the very places from which our greatest messages are born. The things we survive can become the things we use to help someone else survive. And the voice we thought we had lost can become the voice that changes a life.
I didn’t always understand why God allowed certain things to happen in my life. But today, I can look back and see that He was preparing me for something bigger than I could see at the time.
I started out loving to do hair. I became a salon owner. I became a cancer survivor. I became an advocate. I became a speaker, an author, and a radio host. And now, I am continuing to build a platform centered around purpose, encouragement, and the power of our stories.
My journey has taught me one thing above all else:
Don’t be afraid of the next chapter.
Sometimes the chapter you thought would break you is the chapter that introduces you to your purpose.
Sometimes what you lose makes room for what you were destined to find.
And sometimes, what looks like the end of your story is simply God turning the page.
So, I keep PUSHing.
I keep speaking.
I keep encouraging.
And I keep reminding people that no matter what life has poured into their cup, they still have the power—with faith, courage, and intention—to decide what they will add, what they will remove, and what they will become.
Because at the end of the day, you are the TEA.
And your story is still being written.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not. My road has been anything but smooth, but I have learned that the bumps, detours, and unexpected turns are often where the greatest lessons are found.
I have experienced divorce twice, the challenges of raising children, the joys and responsibilities of motherhood and now grandmotherhood, and the uncertainty that comes with starting over. I have had to learn how to rebuild parts of my life while still showing up for the people who depended on me.
Then came one of the biggest battles of my life: Head and Neck Cancer.
Cancer challenged me physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. There were moments when I was afraid, moments when I questioned what was next, and moments when I had to simply take life one day at a time. Being told that I might not talk again was especially difficult because I never imagined my voice would become such an important part of my purpose.
But that season taught me something powerful: sometimes the very thing you are afraid you will lose is the very thing God is preparing to use.
I had to fight to find my voice again—not just physically, but personally. I had to rediscover who Shant’a was after everything I had experienced. I had to stop allowing the difficult chapters of my life to define me and start allowing them to develop me.
There were also struggles that came with stepping into advocacy and using my voice publicly. When you decide to stand up for others, especially children and families affected by bullying, you quickly realize that everyone will not understand your heart or agree with your approach. Advocacy requires courage, consistency, and thick skin. You have to keep going even when the applause is missing.
I’ve also had seasons where doors closed, plans changed, and things didn’t happen the way I thought they would. PUSH Talk ending on REDINK Radio was one of those moments. But I have learned not to mistake a closed door for a dead dream.
Sometimes a closed door is simply redirection.
Looking back, I can honestly say that my struggles didn’t destroy me—they developed me. They taught me compassion. They taught me resilience. They taught me how to appreciate my voice, my family, my purpose, and even the small victories.
Most importantly, they taught me to trust God even when I couldn’t see the entire picture.
Today, I don’t pretend that life is perfect. I simply know that I’ve survived some things I once thought would break me. And because I’ve been through them, I can sit across from someone who is hurting and say, “I understand. Keep going. This isn’t the end of your story.”
The road hasn’t been smooth, but every struggle has added an ingredient to my TEA. Some ingredients were bitter. Some were sweet. Some I would never choose again. But together, they have helped create the woman I am today.
And I wouldn’t trade the testimony for an easier story.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
When people ask what I do, I sometimes laugh because the truth is—I wear a lot of hats! But the title that means the most to me is Executive Director and Founder of Parents Against Bullying.
My work is centered around advocacy, education, empowerment, motivation, and creating awareness around the impact of bullying on children, families, and communities. I believe that advocacy isn’t simply about speaking up; it is about building relationships, creating connections, opening doors, and being willing to sit at the table where decisions are being made.
Over the years, my work has allowed me to build meaningful connections with community leaders, professional organizations, lawmakers, government officials, educators, families, and other advocates. Those relationships have become an important part of my journey because they allow me to take conversations about bullying and community needs beyond social media and into spaces where real change can happen.
One of the honors I am especially grateful for is receiving a letter of recognition from former First Lady Michelle Obama acknowledging the work I have done through Parents Against Bullying. To have my advocacy recognized at that level was both humbling and encouraging. It reminded me that the work we do in our communities can reach much farther than we may realize.
I am also incredibly proud of being connected to Virginia House Resolution HR 153 (2026), introduced by Delegate Virgil Thornton. Being part of something that becomes part of Virginia’s legislative history is an incredible honor and a reminder that grassroots advocacy can create meaningful conversations and impact beyond our immediate communities.
These moments of recognition are special, but they are not why I do what I do. They are reminders of why the work matters.
I am proud of the many hats I have been able to wear throughout my journey—community advocate, motivational speaker, Amazon Best-Selling Author, radio host, cancer survivor, licensed cosmetologist, mother, grandmother, and founder. Each role has given me a different perspective and another way to connect with people.
What sets me apart is that I don’t believe advocacy should be about titles or recognition. For me, it has always been about people.
I bring my personal experiences to my work. I know what it means to struggle. I know what it means to have to find your voice. I know what it means to start over, to survive, and to keep pushing when the road doesn’t look anything like you planned.
That authenticity is what I believe allows people to connect with me.
I don’t just talk about resilience—I have lived it.
I don’t just encourage people to use their voice—I had to fight to get mine back.
And I don’t just advocate for change—I believe in building the relationships necessary to help make that change possible.
I am most proud of the fact that my work has grown beyond one person, one organization, or one conversation. It has created connections, opened doors, received meaningful recognition, and provided opportunities for advocacy at levels I never imagined when I first started.
My goal has never been simply to be known. My goal is to be remembered for making a difference.
If my voice can encourage a parent to speak up, help a child feel seen, inspire someone who is struggling not to give up, or contribute to a conversation that leads to meaningful change, then every hat I wear has a purpose.
And I believe I am just getting started.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My advice for finding a mentor and building a strong network is simple: be willing to show up, be genuine, and don’t be afraid to use your voice.
Networking has been a major part of my journey, but I have learned that networking isn’t just about collecting business cards or knowing important people. It is about building real relationships. Some of the most meaningful connections in my life started with a simple conversation, an introduction, an interview, an event, or simply being willing to walk into a room and say, “Hello, my name is Shant’a.”
I also believe that you should never approach someone simply because of what you think they can do for you. Approach people with respect, learn from them, support their work, and look for ways that you can bring value to the relationship as well. Relationships should be mutually meaningful, not transactional.
When it comes to finding a mentor, I encourage people to pay attention to those who are already doing something you admire. Study their journey. Learn how they carry themselves. Ask questions. And when the opportunity presents itself, don’t be afraid to ask someone you respect if they would be willing to mentor or guide you.
I’ve also learned that mentors don’t always look the way we expect them to. Sometimes mentorship comes through one person who gives you years of guidance. Other times, it comes through several people who each pour something different into you during different seasons of your life.
For me, building relationships with community leaders, lawmakers, government officials, professional organizations, advocates, and other community-minded individuals has opened doors I could never have opened by myself. But those relationships were built by consistently showing up and doing the work.
My biggest piece of advice is don’t let intimidation stop you.
There may be someone in the room who has accomplished everything you’re hoping to accomplish one day. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself. You never know where one conversation can lead.
And remember, networking isn’t only about who you know. It’s also about who knows you—and what they know you for.
Let people know you for your integrity. Let them know you for your work ethic. Let them know you for keeping your word. Let them know you for caring about people.
Your reputation will often enter the room before you do.
I’ve learned that you don’t have to force connections. When you walk in your purpose, remain authentic, and consistently do good work, the right relationships have a way of finding you.
So my advice is: Show up. Speak up. Stay genuine. Build relationships. Give before you ask. And never underestimate the power of one conversation.
You never know when a simple “Hello” can become the beginning of a life-changing connection.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pabkidz.org
- Instagram: pushtalkwithShantaNichole_
- Facebook: Parents Against Bullying
- LinkedIn: Shant’s Miller White
- Youtube: @starbrightkidz
