Rising Stars: Meet Tasha-Nicole Terani of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tasha-Nicole Terani.

Hi Tasha-Nicole, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story began in the quiet isolation of an orphanage, where I spent the first two years of my life after being abandoned as an infant. When I was adopted and brought to America, the deep, unspoken longing to understand my biological roots made it difficult to fit into my new home, leaving me feeling like an outsider in my own world. In that search for belonging, I found my sanctuary alone—on long, reflective walks, among animals who offered unconditional warmth, and on the soccer field. With a ball at my feet, the noise of the world faded, and I discovered a deep, spiritual rhythm: a sacred space where discipline, focus, and self-belief became my anchor.

What started as an orphaned child seeking her place in the world became the very foundation for everything that followed. Navigating that profound solitude taught me that true belonging and love aren’t something you wait to receive—they are forces you cultivate from within. That solitary journey of self-discovery not only shaped my life path and unlocked extraordinary achievements on the field, but it ultimately became the heart-led compass for my lifelong mission: empowering children around the world to know their own strength, inner worth, and infinite potential.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been anything but a smooth road—it was a trail blazed through deep terrain, marked by constant displacement, moving from town to town, and navigating the painful reality of being the outsider, the foreigner, and the black sheep. Being abandoned by my biological mother and struggling to adapt both in school and within a family dynamic where I never truly fit in cast me aside into a profound, solitary wilderness. Yet, as a deep thinker and a spiritual soul, I came to realize that those very struggles were not meant to break me, but to break me open. Every mountain of isolation, every feeling of non-belonging, became the fertile ground where my resilience, self-reliance, and unwavering inner light were forged; what felt like being cast aside was actually the universe preparing me to stand firmly in my own power and become a beacon of hope for others navigating their own shadows.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work is the direct expression of my soul—a continuous thread of transforming personal pain into empowerment, mastery, and love for the next generation. At my core, I am a builder of confidence and a guardian of the human spirit. As the creator of the world-renowned TNT Soccer System, which I founded in 2002, and an athlete holding 9 world records in soccer ball control, I specialize in teaching children not just athletic precision, but the deep, internal alignment of balance, touch timing, and self-belief. That focus on healing and uplifting also led me to serve as a United Nations Special Envoy for International Youth Soccer. 
What I am most proud of, however, flows directly from the painful roots of my own beginnings. In 2009, I founded The Every Child’s Dream Foundation—a non-profit built specifically to cradle orphaned and abandoned children with the vital supplies, warmth, care, and unconditional love that I was deprived of during my first two years in an orphanage. That same heart expands through my writing: The Nature and Nurture Children’s Book Series—featuring A Tree for Me, which explores finding unconditional love within, and A Flower for You, centered on the sacred power of purpose and pure intentions—has now garnered 38 global book awards and critical acclaim. What truly sets me apart is that every drill I teach, every package my foundation delivers, and every poetic word I publish comes from a place of lived truth. I do not offer empty theories; I teach children how to discover the unbroken light that already exists inside them.

What makes you happy?
What makes me truly happy is the sacred moment of connection—when I see a child’s eyes light up as they discover their own strength, whether through mastering a touch on the soccer field, feeling wrapped in care through my foundation, or realizing their infinite worth while listening to a story. True joy for me is rooted in simple, soulful harmony: long walks surrounded by the peaceful beauty of nature, the quiet grace of animals, the sanctuary of my home and field, and the deep peace that comes from knowing my daily life is in absolute alignment with my soul’s purpose. After early years defined by longing and isolation, my happiness today flows from creating the warmth, love, and sacred belonging I once searched for, and getting to share that light freely with the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FFFMM243
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tashanicoleterani?rpxt=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Tasha-Nicole Terani