Today we’d like to introduce you to Simone Higginbotham.
Simone, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story is one of resilience, reinvention, and purpose
I was raised in Zion City in Baton Rouge by my mother, Florida Mae, a strong single mother who taught me two things that have stayed with me throughout my life: Help somebody. Don’t hurt them,” and “Ways take you further than money.” Those lessons became the foundation for how I live, serve, and do business.
My journey has not always been easy. I have experienced homelessness, domestic violence, loss, and seasons when I had to figure things out one day at a time. But those experiences taught me that my circumstances did not have to define my future. They became part of the story I could use to encourage somebody else.
Over the years, I discovered that one of my greatest gifts is connecting people. I became an entrepreneur, author, speaker, mentor, community activist, and network connector. I created businesses and initiatives that allow me to combine my passion for people, storytelling, community, and entrepreneurship.
One of those platforms is Rebirth Magazine, which has grown beyond a magazine into a larger vision through Rebirth Inc. We celebrate everyday people, amplify stories that deserve to be heard, connect generations, create opportunities for entrepreneurs and creatives, and recognize people who are making a difference in their communities.
I also became an author, eventually turning my own experiences into stories that could help others understand that it is possible to rebirth yourself at any stage of life. Writing became another way for me to tell the truth about my journey and remind people that there is still purpose on the other side of difficult seasons.
Losing my mother was one of the most defining moments of my life. I spent many years caring for her, and being there when she passed changed me forever. Her life, her lessons, and the way she served others continue to influence everything I do.
Today, I don’t look at my journey as a straight line. It has been messy, challenging, beautiful, and sometimes unexpected. But every experience brought me closer to understanding who I am and what I am called to do.
At this stage of my life, my focus is bigger than building a business. I want to build a legacy. I want to create platforms, open doors, connect people, tell stories, celebrate others, and leave something behind that continues to help people after I’m gone.
My journey has taught me that you can lose things, start over, reinvent yourself, and still become everything you were meant to be.
My personal motto is simple: Grace, Grind & God.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, the road has definitely not been smooth. In fact, some of the hardest seasons of my life have shaped the woman and entrepreneur I am today.
I have experienced homelessness, domestic violence, loss, financial challenges, and moments of uncertainty where I had to figure things out without knowing what the next step would be. I’ve had businesses and ideas that didn’t work the way I expected, partnerships that changed, and moments when I questioned whether I was on the right path.
One of my greatest struggles was learning how to keep going while dealing with personal challenges behind the scenes. Sometimes people see the events, the magazine, the awards, the books, and the accomplishments, but they don’t always see the sacrifices, disappointments, long nights, and setbacks that came before them.
Losing my mother after spending many years caring for her was another major turning point in my life. She was one of my greatest influences, and learning to move forward without her was difficult.
But I’ve learned that the struggles don’t have to be the end of the story. They can become part of the foundation.
Every setback taught me something. Every closed door pushed me to create another one. Every difficult season showed me something about my strength, my purpose, and the people I am meant to serve.
I don’t pretend that I have everything figured out. I’m still growing, still building, and still reinventing myself. But I have learned to embrace the journey instead of wishing it had been easier.
Today, I can honestly say that some of the things I once considered my greatest struggles have become some of the greatest sources of my strength.
The road wasn’t smooth, but it made me resilient.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work is centered around people, purpose, storytelling, entrepreneurship, and community. I have built my career around creating platforms that allow people to be seen, heard, connected, and celebrated.
I am an entrepreneur, author, speaker, community activist, mentor, and network connector. Through my work with Rebirth Inc. and Rebirth Magazine, I specialize in storytelling, community engagement, events, entrepreneurship, and creating opportunities for people and organizations to connect with one another.
I am known for connecting people who need to know each other. I have always had a natural ability to see possibilities and relationships that others may overlook. Whether I’m introducing entrepreneurs, creating a platform for an author or filmmaker, highlighting a community leader, organizing an event, or helping someone turn an idea into a business opportunity, I enjoy being the bridge.
I’m also passionate about legacy. That is a major part of the direction Rebirth is taking today. I believe legacy isn’t just about what you leave your family financially. It is also about the people you impact, the doors you open, the knowledge you share, and the difference you make while you’re here.
One of the things I’m most proud of is building Rebirth Magazine into something larger than a publication. It has become a platform for storytelling, community recognition, entrepreneurship, events, and connecting generations. Through initiatives such as the Rebirth Magazine Legend Awards and the Black Book & Film Festival, I’m able to create spaces where people can share their stories, showcase their talents and businesses, and be recognized for the contributions they make to their communities.
I’m also proud of becoming an author and using my own story to encourage others. Writing about my experiences has allowed me to turn some of the most difficult chapters of my life into something that can potentially help somebody else.
What sets me apart is that I don’t just want to talk about community; I want to build it. I don’t simply want to promote people; I want to connect them. I don’t just want to tell stories; I want to create platforms where those stories can lead to opportunities.
I also believe that my lived experiences give me a different perspective. I’ve had to rebuild, reinvent, and start over more than once. Because of that, I understand that success doesn’t always look like a straight line.
At this point in my journey, I’m not interested in simply being busy or having another title. I’m interested in impact.
My goal is to continue creating things that outlive me—platforms, relationships, opportunities, stories, and connections that help other people grow.
That’s what Rebirth means to me: the ability to begin again, become more, and help somebody else do the same.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something that may surprise people who know me or know my work is that there is a lot more behind my smile, my energy, and my willingness to help people than they probably realize.
People often see Simone the entrepreneur, author, event organizer, community activist, connector, and the person who always seems to have another idea or project going. What they may not know is how many times I have had to rebuild my own life while building things for other people.
I have experienced seasons of loss and uncertainty. I’ve had moments when I didn’t have all the answers, didn’t know how things were going to work out, and still had to get up the next day and keep moving.
Another thing people may not know is that I’m actually a very sentimental person when it comes to family, memories, and legacy. So much of what I create is connected to the people and experiences that shaped me, especially my mother, Florida Mae Higginbotham. A lot of what I do today is my way of honoring the lessons she gave me and making sure that the things she taught me don’t stop with me.
People may also be surprised to learn that I don’t see myself as someone who has “made it. I’m still becoming. I’m still learning, experimenting, creating, failing, starting over, and dreaming bigger.
At 55, I have realized that one of the most powerful things I can say is, “I’m not finished yet.”
The woman people see today wasn’t created by an easy life. She was created by everything I survived, everything I learned, everyone who helped me along the way, and my decision to keep becoming.
That’s probably the biggest surprise: there is a whole lot more story behind the woman they see than they may ever know.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rebirthmagazine.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebirth_magazine_br/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebirthprmagazinebr
- Twitter: https://x.com/MagazineRe72286
