Story & Lesson Highlights with Audrina Henry of LA

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Audrina Henry. Check out our conversation below.

Audrina, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
I tend to lose track of time when I get caught up in trying to help others. I’m an empathetic person by nature deeply giving and passionate, especially when I care about someone. But sometimes, that leads me into chaotic situations where I end up feeling used, emotionally drained, and left to pick up the pieces. It’s a cycle I’ve experienced more than once. But every time I lose myself, I find my way back through God. Turning to Him helps me reset, regain clarity, and remember who I am. I’ve learned that my heart is a gift, but it needs boundaries. God continuously teaches me to let go, use discernment, and trust that He’ll handle what’s out of my control because losing myself to save someone else isn’t love, it’s self-neglect.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Audrina Henry, and I’m the proud founder of Adra Hair Company (formerly Pretty Little Baddie Hair Company) and Kali Swimwear. I’m a 25-year-old African American woman, born and raised in Fresno, California, and now based in Kansas City, Missouri the heart of America.

My journey with Adra began in 2015, but I officially launched in 2018 after my freshman year of college. I started by doing hair for my roommates and classmates whether we were going out to party or preparing someone to be crowned Homecoming Queen. I was the one to call on campus. What began as passion and hustle quickly grew into something much bigger. After countless trials and errors, I hit $1 million in sales, and by 2023, I became a six-figure (almost seven) entrepreneur something I never imagined coming from a small one-bedroom home in Fresno, growing up surrounded by boys, just dreaming of more.

Adra Hair Company is more than a business it’s a community. We cater to teens and young adults, especially those who look like me, who love to keep their hair laid and feeling confident. I remember being teased for always wearing braids and protective styles in elementary school. They called me “Weavie Wonder” and now, ironically, our Weavie Wonder Bundles were our bestsellers for two years straight. Full circle moments like that keep me grounded.

As we evolved, we expanded into wholesale to support other stylists and small business owners dealing with high tariffs and product challenges post-COVID. Now, Adra offers everything from lace fronts to tape-ins — retail or bulk — and we’re proud to be helping others build their empires too.

Then there’s Kali Swimwear, which I launched post-COVID. My mom always told me my name, Audrina, sounded like a designer, and she wasn’t wrong. She got me a sewing machine back in 2008, and I was sketching and creating for my dolls before I even knew this would be my calling. Kali Swim made $10K in its first year and has reached customers around the globe. Seeing people wear my pieces on vacation or post them online is a dream come true. But more than the numbers, Kali Swim is about helping women and men feel confident, sexy, and bold in their bodies.

I’m still in awe of how far I’ve come, but I give all glory to God, Allah, Yah because without Him, none of this would be possible. With the support of my team, family, friends, and faith, I’m building brands that empower others to show up as their best selves.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
The period between late 2023 and mid-2024 changed everything for me. On the outside, I had just reached “millionaire” status and was running two successful businesses but on the inside, I was still trying to find myself mentally, physically, and spiritually. I was in my early twenties, learning that success doesn’t shield you from chaos.

That chapter of my life was filled with layers. I reconnected with my sister on my dad’s side while her child’s father, my ex, tried to come back into my life. I was helping my mom and brother with a dream to build homes on land we were buying in Tanzania, Africa. At the same time, someone I had been romantically involved with someone I wanted validation from was secretly competing with me, taking my business ideas and turning them into his own. Watching him gain recognition off my vision created deep wounds it left me dealing with trauma, betrayal, envy, and regret.

All while I was rebranding my businesses, battling body dysmorphia, and being in and out of the hospital. At one point, I was in so much physical pain from my abdominal area that I was admitted and no one showed up to check on me. I felt abandoned.

I thought I found love again, only to realize I was involved with someone secretly under federal investigation. And right when business slowed down, my income dried up. I fell into serious debt, struggled to pay my team, and eventually lost my first apartment. I was doing Amazon deliveries to survive and the same man I was dealing with was more focused on putting his name on the businesses I built from the ground up.

My breaking point came when I found myself on the side of the road in my Jeep, alone, and realizing no one I had poured into could pour back into me.

That moment forced me to rebrand my entire life. I became mentally stronger, physically healthier, spiritually grounded, and financially focused for me. Because in a very short amount of time, I lost a lot… but I also gained everything I truly needed.

Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
Yes besides the person I pay to listen to me (shoutout to my therapist 😂) there’s someone who I swear is an angel in disguise. Around mid-2025, I had just gotten back on TikTok after being banned from my old account in early 2024. That ban hit hard I lost over 30,000 supporters, brand deals, and sponsorships I had worked so hard to build. To be honest, I’m still grieving that loss. Creating content hasn’t felt the same since, but I’ve been taking baby steps to get back in the groove.

Then an angel came by.

He told me he had been searching for my content for a while and was genuinely happy to see me posting again. Now, I’ve heard that before but something about his words stopped me in my tracks. He said two things that stuck with me:

“People like you build their platforms off real content.”
“Never lose that grind mentality I know it’s in you, through and through.”

Man… that hit me deep. Out of all the noise, hate, and pressure on social media, this one voice reminded me of who I am. You can’t convince me God didn’t send this man into my life at just the right moment especially when I’d been praying for strength, for peace, for guidance… for a sign to keep going.

He’s been calm. Solid. Never caused drama, and even when he slipped up, he checked himself and apologized. I don’t expect perfection from anyone, but he’s the closest I’ve seen to someone who really hears me who truly sees me. He knows I’ve been through hell and back, and he still chooses to walk with me through this new chapter.

I love you. You know who you are.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. Audrina is always gonna be Audrina no matter what I go through. That bubbly, happy energy is a big part of who I am, and it’s always gonna shine through even if it annoys some people. Oh well! Some folks like coffee… I’m more like tea. And that’s okay.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I’ve come to accept that I’m a very misunderstood person. I’m not just a woman I’m a Black woman, an African American woman in America, raised in poverty, and honestly, I was naive about life and what it truly demanded. That journey from pain, love, wisdom, care, and sacrifice is what shaped my legacy.

And sacrifice? I used to hate that word. I’ve always been the type to hold on tight to the people and things I love but life, and God, taught me to let go. Because every time I released what wasn’t for me, something greater came into my life.

People on the outside might assume I’m not serious about myself or my brand. But what they don’t see is how deeply personal this journey is. I’ve learned to be more private, to move with intention. Just because I don’t broadcast everything doesn’t mean I’m not building something powerful.

Not everything needs to be cast live especially in a world where our digital footprints never disappear. My legacy isn’t loud, but it’s real. And one day, it’ll speak for itself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/itstherealdri
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/itstherealdri
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrina-henry-5511872b8
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@itstherealdri?si=P9CQhMdUXixPJ–n

Image Credits
Brooklynn Van Meurer