We had the good fortune of connecting with Niki Ross and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Niki, how does your business help the community?
When I started my TikTok account, Inthethiccofitwithnik, I set out to create an open environment of showing a plus size woman, in her 30s, enjoying life, but still being honest about going through it. Social media has always been coined as a highlight reel; and there are people out there that can fool you into believing everything is perfect. I want to highlight for myself and for others that even the little things in life can be a highlight but also that we can be real and vulnerable with each other. When I started posting about my anxiety, my community showed up in waves. It feels good when a bunch of strangers come together and tell you your outfit is cute, but there is something powerful about these women all over world, that I have never met, showing up and saying “keep going” “we want you here” and supporting each other just as much. I’d love to turn this into a longform content platform, like a podcast, and open up the dialogue even more.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My professional career started in finance. Data, numbers, analytics, black and white. And I bought into the corporate ladder life for long time. My personal success was based on someone else telling me if I “exceeded expectations,” or a professional title, and production numbers. Hear me when I say, corporate America standards do not define. You are more than them and you are better than them. Around 2020, during COVID, and on the brink of turning 30, I had a total mindset change. I was a standard ID to this company, not a human being. I knew expressing my creativity was my passion and it really took the universe quite traumatically shoving me out of the corporate world to realize it fully.

Now I am here and I can’t wait to fulfill dreams like an upcoming podcast sharing the same name as my TikTok “In The Thicc of it with Nik”, focusing on all things we get ourselves in the thick of. Unemployment, friendship breakups, dating, PCOS…. As well as, my newest passion project, Columbus Pekes. My Pekingese is the love of my life and we’ve started creating a local community on instagram that one day soon will have meetups and fun events partnering with the community! If you have a peke or know someone who does, let them know ColumbusPekes is on instagram!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of the first places I would bring a best friend visiting me in Columbus would be the BEST Chinese food restaurant in the state; Wah Yuen in Sunbury. As much as I wanted to flee Sunbury when I graduated, it is the town that raised me. Next, we are going to a Jacket’s game. What a way to feel the energy of this city. The arena district has a special buzz on game days. #5thline for life. Sean Kuraly, call me? Columbus has a fantastic food scene and even better foodie accounts. I’ll handle the activities and I will let them handle the food recommendations.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mind really opened up when I started leaning into astrology and I owe that all to Lex Smith. Over the years, I’ve continued a series on socials and in my personal life of constantly trying new things. In 2022, I went to Paloma and met Lex for an aura reading. There was an instant connection. I know that girl from another life, I am telling you. From then on, she has been my go to for spiritual counseling. When I lost my job at my dream company, I turned to Lex absolutely lost. She guided me to start creating on TikTok. I still have insecurities around the idea of being a content creator, but the support of Lex, my longtime best friends, and new friends I have met through the Fat Babes Club of Columbus, I’ve never felt more fulfilled creatively.

Instagram: @_NikiRoss

Other: TikTok – InThethiccOfItWithNik

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