Albany State Alum Maui Bigelow Gets Real on Healing, Hustle & Her Bold Affirmation Book

Maui Bigelow didn’t choose Albany State University; it chose her.

“My initial plan was to attend FAMU,” the author, content creator, and digital influencer explained to OffTheYard.Net. “But my dad lived in Albania, and my mom felt more comfortable with me being around him. I applied to both schools, but I got a small band scholarship at Albany State, so that’s where I went.”

The decision would prove life-changing, grounding her not only in academics but in sisterhood, spirituality, and purpose. Maui played the clarinet in the band until her sophomore year and, more significantly, began building relationships that would carry her far beyond graduation.

“The friends I made in Albany are still my friends today,” she said. “Those are the people who helped me with my kids when I was sick. They gave me money when I was broke. They prayed for me. That’s one of my biggest flexes, attending an HBCU and building lasting relationships.”

While finishing her degree, Maui became a mother and navigated college life while raising her son. She vividly remembers the day of her senior final, when her infant son had a 102-degree fever. Unsure what to do, she called her professor, Dr. Shepherd.

“She told me to bring the baby with me to her office. He was screaming and sick, and this lady held him, sang African spirituals, and played the bongo while I finished my final. I would not have graduated without that.”

Life after Albany State included working as a long-term substitute teacher for 14 years before pivoting to content creation. Maui launched her brand “Phat Girl Fresh,” which began as a boutique concept but quickly became a platform for plus-size fashion, storytelling, and empowerment. 

Her breakthrough came with a viral blog post recounting an uncomfortable interaction about her exposed midriff.

“This girl tried to pull my skirt down and told me, ‘Big girls can’t show their stomachs,’ and I was like, ‘Girl, you can’t show your stomach. I show mine. Leave my clothes alone,’” she recalled.

She wrote about the moment for The Curvy Fashionista. By the time she returned from a funeral trip, her phone had over 10,000 notifications. “That post ended up in Cosmo, Allure, Vogue. It really helped amplify my voice.”

Her work soon caught the attention of major brands like JCPenney, Lane Bryant, and Eloquii, and Maui credits her HBCU network for opening the door to her biggest deal—an $80,000 campaign.

“A FAMU alumna working on the JCPenney project hit me up for rates. I didn’t even have a rate sheet. She sent my numbers back and said, ‘No, we’re not going to let you lowball yourself.’”

Her writing expanded to MadameNoire and other publications, and she began using her influence to challenge narratives around plus-size bodies, especially after seeing celebs making critical comments about plus-size dancers of the “Pretty Big Movement.” 

“They were like, ‘I don’t see why this is news. Big girls been dancing.’ And I was like, ‘No, we are out here fighting for inclusion every day.’ Frenchie [Davis] wanted to fight me. Loni [Love] blocked me. But I said what I said.”

Through it all, Albany State was the foundation.

“Being at an HBCU taught me I didn’t have to fit in anybody’s box. I could be me—loud, bold, and confident. Seeing other big girls in college slay, dance, and not care about people’s opinions gave me life.”

Now, Maui is passing that boldness along through her new book Repeat After Me Btch*, which she describes as “an unapologetic devotional-style affirmation guide designed specifically for Black women ready to reclaim their power and step fully into their greatness.”

“I thought I was writing a book for my audience,” she admitted to OffTheYard. “But I realized I was really talking to myself.”

Her favorite affirmations from the book? The first: “I am powerful beyond measure.” And the last: “I love you.”

“That’s simple but sincere,” she said. “We pour into everybody else’s cup and forget our own. But we deserve grace, too.”

Today, Maui balances her creative work with digital strategy consulting for social justice and non-profit organizations like the Me Too Movement and the Breonna Taylor Foundation.

“I want to make sure our messaging is strong and reaching the people it’s meant for. Because if we don’t talk to ourselves and affirm who we are, the world will decide for us, and it usually gets it wrong.”

As if shifting culture and writing books weren’t enough, Maui is also gearing up for the 12th and final edition of Life Styled Honors, an event she’s produced for over a decade to celebrate Black women in fashion, beauty, entertainment, and empowerment. 

Titled The 12th and Final Life Styled Honors: In Full Bloom, the event is expected to draw its usual sold-out crowd while honoring a legacy that includes past honorees like Tarana Burke, Lisa Price, and Nzinga Imani. 

With over 19,000 attendees across the years and 20M+ social impressions, Maui is closing this chapter with the same heart, hustle, and intention that defines all of her work. 

“This is your final opportunity to be part of history,” she says. And she means it.