THAT GIRL MEETS: Tia Sheland Maxwell - In Full Bloom

By Natasha Lee.

There are moments in life when your heart overflows — not just with pride, but with awe. Watching your child step into adulthood with grace, beauty, and resilience is one of them. For me, that moment came when my daughter, Tia Sheland Maxwell, turned 18 and graduated from high school. As her mother, she marks the last of my children to enter adulthood — what a full bloom moment.

She didn’t need a spotlight or a stage. Her life is the stage, and her light has always been bright enough to carry the room.

The Graduation & Her Grit

Tia’s journey through high school wasn’t just about academics; it was about overcoming. She faced life’s sharpest edges while still learning how to hold her own. She’s not just walking into the next chapter; she’s blooming into it.

That love is real. That pride is deep. That girl is ours.

A Face That Changed Everything

Growing up, I didn’t always feel beautiful. Even after becoming a mother to my sons, I struggled to see myself in that light. But when I saw Tia’s face, I knew: she was the most beautiful baby in the world. And if she came from me… maybe I was beautiful too.
She didn’t just enter my life — she redefined it. She healed parts of me I didn’t even know were hurting. She gave me back my reflection, and this time, I saw myself with love.

The Quiet Champion

Tia isn’t the loudest voice in the room, but she’s always been the most powerful presence. While others chase the spotlight, she’s been the one standing beside me, building behind the scenes.
She has taught me that quiet doesn’t mean invisible. It means anchored.

A Mother’s Full Heart

All of my children are my titles, my triumphs.
My oldest son, Rashard — he is strength.
Nathan, my secondborn — he is “what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.”
And Tia, my baby girl — beauty is her name.

From age 10 to now, Tia has carried more loss than most adults.

She went through a horrible divorce, and being a true daddy’s girl, it broke her spirit. She lost a favorite great-aunt, grandparents, cousins, and a bonus brother.

She’s watched me fight through identity theft, financial devastation, and displacement, all while clinging to hope.

And while many people we once called “family” disappeared, one truth remained: Jehovah never left.
I especially want to thank Tia’s best friends’ mothers, Toni, Mea, and Kellie, for stepping up to help her through this journey — for being her pillars when she had no one. And to her siblings who stood beside her, I thank you with my whole heart.

Resilience Runs in Her Blood

Due to the unimaginable challenges Tia endured during her school years, she fell behind. But what she did next was unbelievable: In just five months, she recovered two full years of schoolwork, something her school said they had never seen before.

But me? I have.

Because I know exactly what she comes from.

As her mother, I was a two-time teen mom with two jobs, and I still finished all my required coursework by 10th grade. During 11th and 12th grade, I finished all my classes by the second hour, but the law required me to remain in school for four hours each day. That gave me the freedom to work as a secretary assistant at an elementary school. I was accepted into over 20 universities, honored as a Who’s Who Among High School Students, and awarded over $150,000 in scholarships. Despite my circumstances, I graduated in the top 10% of my class.

And her father?

A multi-talented all-star athlete, a brilliant songwriter and lyricist, and a born leader. He started walking at just 6 months old, and by the age of 8, he was already delivering public speeches to crowds of tens of thousands. He was double-promoted twice, earned straight A’s his entire academic life, and after dropping out, he passed every single GED question, earning the highest score in the state. His performance was so extraordinary that the state paid him for exceeding all expectations.

Tia didn’t just come from resilience; she came from brilliance wrapped in power.

She inherited it. She activated it.

And now? She’s living it.

While earning nearly 10 credits more than the government’s graduation requirement and graduating with a 3.5 GPA, my baby girl also got a job. While working with me, she bought her very first car, a fully loaded BMW—all on her own (well, a little help from me, but 90% all her).

Grace, Grit & Glow

Tia is a walking contradiction in the most beautiful way. One day, she’s in a glam dress, requesting her perfect hairstyle. The next, she’s in a tee, lined-up locs, no makeup, and still stunning to me. Her identity isn’t tied to appearance; it’s in her heart, her faith, and her presence.
She’s been called “too much” for feeling deeply. She's been isolated due to adults' poor insecurities. But her emotions are her strength. Her love for Jehovah, her ability to forgive, and her fierce loyalty —that’s what defines her.

We’ve been the “Black sheep” in many rooms, especially the room where we should have been loved most.. But Tia reminded me that we get to exist anyway. We get to shine -  and she does. 
Multi-Talented & Made to Win

Tia is a singer, dancer, rapper, athlete, and scholar. She’s been reading fluently since age 4, at the top of national charts. She’s a blend of homeschool brilliance and traditional school excellence.
There’s nothing “average” about her. Nothing! -she’s “custom.” She is one of one.

A New Bloom

I named her graduation season: Tia is in full bloom. Because that’s exactly what this moment represents. A girl growing into her womanhood. A woman stepping into her purpose. A purpose rooted in grace, strength, and legacy.

And when it came time for her prom send-off, she didn’t just show up; she served royalty.
The scene was straight out of a dream: a Royce Ghost waiting to escort her. A breathtaking rose bloom-themed celebration, every inch draped in elegance. And then 20,000 roses fell from the sky, showering her as a helicopter hovered overhead.

She didn’t just attend prom.

She embodied perfection.

It was a day she’ll never forget, and neither will anyone who witnessed it. Because Tia is in full bloom, and the world is finally catching up.

My Saving Grace

Through divorce, grief, and loss of two families, it’s been just me, my sons, and Tia. But from day one, she’s been my miracle. The moment I laid eyes on her, I knew: she was the answer to a prayer I didn’t know how to pray.

I hope she knows I’ve tried to be enough even when I didn’t feel like it.

She trusted me. And when I forgot who I was, she reminded me.

Unbreakable Bond, Unshakable Light

Raising her wasn’t just about teaching; it was about becoming.

She taught me that I am enough.

We have a bond that the world didn’t give and can never take away.

She’s helped me through the hardest seasons of my life — not with noise, but with presence.

That Girl Meets THAT Girl — A Descendant of Delores Lee

I am That Girl, she is That Girl, and there’s nothing that anyone can do about it!
Meet my daughter, my princess, my best friend, my girl, my ride or die — Tia Sheland Maxwell.
Tia is boldly stepping into her destiny: She will attend school to become a Nurse and a Doctor, and is already launching her own clothing line — Dare to Dream.

The world isn’t ready, but here she comes.

Tia is in full bloom, and she’s just getting started.

Natasha Lee is the award-winning founder of Being That Girl and CEO of Make Your Dreams Come True (MYDCT), a global business development and media firm supporting clients across the U.S., Canada, the UK, and Europe . Recognised for her impact in entrepreneurship, education, and community leadership, she has been honoured with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the Biden-Harris Administration and Detroit’s prestigious Spirit of Detroit Award .

Known for empowering women and young people to build aligned, confident futures, Natasha leads multiple global initiatives—including youth programmes, leadership events, and her worldwide empowerment movement, Being That Girl . She also serves as the U.S. Ambassador and Editor for The Female CEO Magazine.

Faith-driven, visionary, and devoted to generational uplift, Natasha continues to inspire thousands with her commitment to helping others turn their dreams into reality.