SWFL.io - Local NewsBritt Leoni
•8/11/2026
Inside the atrium at the Naples Botanical Garden, middle school girls are discovering how confidence grows. Girls like 14-year-old Kylie Donahue know that's easier said than done. "You have to be more perfect, I would say, or it's expected more," said Kylie. That's where Tasheekia Harris steps in. Tasheekia is the founder of "Crowning Daughters for Success." She brings mentorship and empowerment workshops to young girls across the state. "If you think you're not enough, I'm here to tell you that you are enough," said Tasheekia. "My mission is to build strong girls so we do not have to repair broken women. I want to build them through conversations, through activities, through empowerment, through my books. I want to build them so that when the world hits them hard, they will not break." While Tasheekia's message is one of positivity, she doesn't shy away from addressing the harsh realities of what girls may face. "There are some very heartbreaking stories: girls who have admitted to self-harm, to not being able to talk to their moms, they have admitted to being boy crazy and sending pictures, and the pictures have gone viral. These are real issues that our girls are going through that many people don't want to talk about," said Tasheekia. In workshops like today's, Tasheekia hopes that no matter what challenges these girls face, they learn that they matter, and there's strength in standing together. "I was still very inspired by the fact that they were willing to say it out loud and how even if you don't relate to it, it shows you're not alone in struggling in any way," said Tasheekia. "You're smart, you're beautiful, you're capable, you're worth it." To learn more about Tasheekia, visit her website here. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.