Wow what a session with Shelby!!  She is a diverse beauty with the brains to go with it!!  She inspired me with her entrepreneurial spirit and her drive to make it happen!  She is definitely an "It Girl" with passion and heart!  Read about her devotion to animals, and visit her blog sincerelyshelby.blog and see why she is the girl to watch in 2018!!

Tell us about you, your family, and your work:

I am a journalism/public relations major at Belmont University. I set a personal goal to graduate early and that will come true December 2018! I enjoy photography, writing, and art in my spare time. Summertime is my favorite time of the year and you can typically find me on the lake, riding a surfboard behind the boat with my family cheering me on! My parents are extremely supportive of my goals and dreams and my two best friends. Choosing a college close to home has made me appreciate the love and importance of family so much more. Having them cheer me on helps keeps me going. Oh, and did I mention my little brother? He is 16 and always has a smile on his face with a great personality and a heart of gold.

Tell us your favorite charity and why it is your favorite charity.

My favorite charity is the Nashville Humane Association. This charity has been close to my heart for many years. I truly believe animals can cure all. Perfect example is my pup, Shiloh. She is an English Mastiff and one of the greatest gifts in my life. Every day when I walk in the door, she is always excited to see me and continually gifts me with her wet kisses. Her love is unconditional and has helped me through times of loneliness and bought me so much joy. There are so many animals that are unwanted or can’t be cared for and the Humane Association works hard to pair up their pets with families that can love and care for them.

How can the community help your charity?

There are so many ways to help the Nashville Humane Shelter. The community can adopt animals, volunteer at the shelter, provide foster care and donate. For example, since I was a young girl, I always look on the shelters “wish list” and take in items that the shelter is in need of. Taking cleaning supplies, toys, food, etc., in to the shelter, you are helping to care for the animals until they find their loving family to go home with.

What does beautiful mean to you?

To me, beautiful means having a happy heart. I truly believe that being fully content with yourself and finding/choosing happiness in every situation shows a lot about your character. There is so much negativity day to day in the world, that any ounce of happiness a person can show/share with others can show a lot about who you are as a person. To me, that is true beauty.

What makes you happy?

Definitely seeing others around me happy. As generic as that may sound, I find myself smiling when I see others experience joy, love and happiness. I strive to make other’s days a little brighter. You never know how much your words or gestures (big or small) can mean to another person. Also making me happy are those wet kisses from Shiloh I mentioned.

What is an inspirational quote that resonates with you?

Psalm 91:11 “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”

This quote resonates with me because no matter what, I know there is always someone watching over me. Whether this be my parents, friends, family, strangers, or angels, there is always someone out there watching me and willing to help, no matter the circumstances.

What was your experience like having a "women with heart" session?  

First of all, as a college student, I was truly honored to be chosen for such a special recognition of the “Woman of Heart” and to be included in this series. Spending the day with Erin was empowering. Her kind words throughout the shoot and our time spent together made me realize that as women, we need to continually lift each other up. The simplest of compliments she gave me made all the difference in my confidence in front of the camera. Erin made me appreciate girl power and I cannot wait for that feeling to be shared with other young girls when shooting with Erin.