(Photos provided by Shanisse Conway)

Shanisse Conway, the owner of Glow Up Wellness in Myrtle Beach, is driven by both personal and communal transformation. As the president of Black Myrtle Beach, she’s committed to uplifting and fostering the growth of Black-owned businesses in the area. Every March, the organization hosts the Melanin & Mimosas fundraiser, an event that celebrates and supports Black entrepreneurs, offering them the resources and encouragement they need to thrive.

However, her entrepreneurial journey has not always been straightforward. Born and raised in New York, she initially pursued a career in secondary education, earning a degree in Spanish education. At 22, she was teaching Spanish in Philadelphia. The distance between her and family negatively affected her mental and physical health. As a contrast to her typical athletic lifestyle, she gained 70 pounds and struggled with depression.

“I decided to make some small changes. I started walking, then walking turned to jogging. Jogging turned to running, and I started changing my eating habits,” she said. Those small changes snowballed into something much bigger – Glow Up Wellness. She discovered a local community of people on similar journeys.

The idea for Glow Up Wellness emerged during her journey for better health. She describes and views her business as a reflection of her own transition from an unhealthy lifestyle to a healthy one. “Glow Up Wellness was born from my transition and commitment to learning along the way,” she explained. “It created a snowball effect.”

When asked what keeps her clients coming back, she said, “I keep it 100% with my clients about what the plan is and what is to come.” Her approach stems from honesty—whether she’s offering nutritional advice, coaching, or fitness guidance, she emphasizes the importance of real, practical change and the hard work behind it.

Starting a business in Myrtle Beach presented challenges especially with relocating from New York to the Carolinas. “When we first moved down here, it was more of a ‘who do you think you are coming down here starting all this stuff?’” she said with a laugh.  She was aware of the social division that sometimes exists between people from the North and people from the South. Many of the people she has met in Myrtle Beach are “transplants,’ but the skepticism she encountered didn’t stop her from her goals.

Her goal for Glow Up Wellness goes beyond South Carolina. She aims to impact lives across the nation.  “I aim to transform people’s lives through nutrition, coaching, fitness, and a healthy mindset,” she shared. She offers a variety of services, from top-notch nutritional products to supplemental diets, and even prenatal and postnatal programs. She also organizes engaging nutrition challenges to keep her clients motivated and engaged.

One of the things she is most proud of is the walking group she started three years ago. Every Tuesday at 8:00 AM, the group meets to walk no matter what. “It started as something to get me out of my house and away from my depression,” she said. “Now it’s become a club for the community,” she said.  

The biggest challenge has been overcoming motherhood. “When I started my business, I wasn’t married and didn’t have kids, so it wasn’t as challenging to operate my business as it is now. God planted this business in me and my family is God-given and I’ve come to understand the true gift of life. I’ve learned to be present in both the business and my family.” She acknowledged how blessed and grateful she had been to receive the support of her husband to pursue her business ventures. “I couldn’t imagine running my business without my husband’s support and there are too many women who don’t have that support at all.”

Her biggest lesson to aspiring entrepreneurs is to not overthink or overcomplicate things. “Don’t spend so much time overthinking or weighing the pros and cons,” she advised. “Find something that keeps you grounded and focused. For me, it’s my faith, but for others, it can be something or someone else.”

When asked to describe her business in three words, she said: fun, real, and timeless. “People think fitness is boring,” she said. “But I want people to know it can be fun and exciting.” For her, fitness isn’t solely about physical health; it factors in your mental health and encompasses the connections you form in the pursuit of healthy living.  “It’s real because I keep it 100% with my clients, and it’s timeless because the health of your body and mindset leads to longevity. It’s not a one-time fix.”

Whether she’s motivating clients to reach their wellness goals or inspiring fellow entrepreneurs, her story is a reminder that growth—both personal and professional—is a journey that can change not just your life, but the lives of others around you.