When we launched the #FoundMyCircle Reunion Contest last fall, the submissions started rolling in almost immediately. Story after story of women who were holding each other up, pouring into each other, making sure the other felt seen even when life got loud.

But one story stopped me cold.

Niaa told us about Lanaia, her best friend who she describes as her rock. The person she shares things with that she doesn't even tell her biological sisters. Over the past year, both of them had been rebuilding their lives in different cities. Niaa was recovering from leaving a relationship and navigating life back home after college. Lanaia was finding her footing as a single mother, learning to hold space for her son while trying to remember who she was outside of motherhood.

They stayed connected the way so many of us do now—DMs, texts, voice notes sent at midnight, quick check-ins between responsibilities. But as Niaa put it in her submission: "Nothing beats laying up with your bestie, watching Netflix and reminiscing about life."

Distance and life had kept them apart. But the love? That never wavered.

So in late February, we flew Niaa from Florida to Atlanta, put her up in a beautiful downtown hotel on the 16th floor with city views, and gave her 72 hours to do nothing but be with her person.

What Happens When Women Make Time for Each Other

They did what best friends do when they finally get to be in the same place: everything and nothing.

The Atlanta Zoo with Lanaia's son Kenneth. Shopping trips that ended with matching striped pajamas. Late nights talking. Sleeping in until noon—because when you're a single mom or working two jobs, that kind of rest is a luxury you forgot existed. A Friday night out with Lanaia's roommates. Saturday errands at Michael's and the grocery store.

The mundane and the exciting. The ordinary moments that become memories simply because you're doing them together. The kind of weekend that reminds you why this person is your person.

Why Friendship Is a Form of Healing

When we asked Niaa how she felt after the trip, she said this:

"I am endlessly grateful for this giveaway because it gave me a chance to recharge. It gave her a chance to recharge. And especially in today's social and political climate, if you're not already worried about the stuff in your own personal life, it's just a lot going on in the world. So it was nice to have a break in the midst of everything."

Then she said something that's been sitting with us ever since:

"It makes me realize how important it is to have friends and community and to make time for the people that you care about because life is not promised. Whoever could be here today could be gone tomorrow. And so it's important that you make time for people and that you invest in people who invest in you."

The Importance of Community for Women

Here's what we keep thinking about: Niaa and Lanaia weren't waiting for life to calm down before they reconnected. They weren't holding out for "the right time" when things would be easier. Life was hard for both of them. And that's exactly why they needed each other.

The women who hold us up don't just show up when we're winning. They show up when we're rebuilding. When we're navigating transitions we didn't choose. When we're trying to remember who we are underneath all the roles we're playing.

Lanaia inspires Niaa every single day—not because her life is perfect, but because she's living it fully even when it's hard. And Niaa does the same for her.

That's what we wanted to honor with this contest. Not the highlight reel version of friendship, but the real thing. The late-night voice notes. The "I see you and I'm not going anywhere" texts. The people who make you feel like yourself even when you've forgotten what that feels like.

Why We Created Found My Circle

The #FoundMyCircle Contest is over, but the work continues. She EmpowHers is being built for women like Niaa and Lanaia—women who are navigating hard things, building themselves back up, and refusing to do it alone.

If this story resonated with you, we'd love for you to join the waitlist and be part of what we're building. Because the truth is, we all need our circle. And sometimes, we need a little help making space to show up for them.

Want to see more from Niaa and Lanaia's reunion? We're sharing photos, videos, and behind-the-scenes moments on Instagram @sheempowhers.ai. Follow us to stay in the loop for future contests, community updates, and stories like this one.

To Niaa and Lanaia: Thank you for letting us be part of your reunion. Your friendship is proof that the right people make life lighter, even when it's heavy.

To everyone reading: The right time to reach out to your person was yesterday. The second best time is right now.