Every day we connect with different women around the globe, and have built a diverse community through our platform. On any given day, you will typically hear us say that “Sneakers brings you to us, but community is why you stay”. Through empowerment and elevating the female voice, we stay rooted in our foundation of service. Through our Chick Chat Series, we share stories and the journeys of women in and out of sneakHER culture.

In my early conversations with Tiona Deniece, I knew she was special. We crossed paths within the social media streets, but her spirit would have you feeling like you were catching up with an old friend. Not only was she an avid sneaker collector, but she had the voice of an angel (this girl can SANG). Her talent, positivity, and passion for empowering others has propelled her through our niche community of kicks.

Tiona reminds me of what CNKDaily was always built on – we call it Chickspiration. Through her sneakHER style, content creation, and go-getter mentality, Tiona continues to lift others as she climbs. We sat down to vibe with her about her sneaker collection, female advocacy, and what we need to do as women in the culture. Check it out below!

TIONA… IN CLIFF NOTES.

I’m Tiona Deniece, and I’m a singer-songwriter, sneaker aficionado, philanthropist, and content creator. I host an IGTV series with @madeforthew called “Test Run” where we interview WNBA players about their sneaker collections. I also host a show with SolePlay (Atlanta sneaker store), where we talk about the latest shoe drops. Lastly, I have my own IGTV series “She Likes to Kick it” Where I share the poll results from my IG stories.

BACK TO THE ROOTS.

I’m originally from Buffalo, NY and after college I moved to New York City for grad school and pursue my musical ambitions. When I was living in Buffalo, I was a tomboy. I loved graphic tees, and Nike basketball shorts. Being in NYC I learned more about high fashion and designers and developed a love for fashion on a different level. I’ve lived in Atlanta, GA for about 6 years and being here has also influenced my love for color and in a way brought me back to my style roots with graphic tees and my overall tomboy style. Atlanta brought it all together for me.

TIONA ON SNEAKHER STYLE…

I would say that my style is pretty trendy. I think we all have a little bit of hypebeast in us, so I definitely do have some hyped sneakers, but I also make it a point to buy what I like and what is comfortable to me. Just because a shoe is worn or created by someone famous or whatever, doesn’t mean it's the shoe for my collection. I love shoes that tell a story or have an awesome colorway.

CONNECTING TO KICKS.

I love a great colorway (bright colors will always grab my attention), and I love a sneaker that has a good design story, whether it's the designer itself or the story behind their particular design. I think sneakers are an extension of your personality, and when I'm looking at a sneaker to buy I look at how the sneaker will express itself on me, what kind of vibe does it give off? How will it fit in my overall collection? I also have shoes in my collection that bring me back to certain points in my life, that either remind me of a person or an event. Those sneakers are the most special.

TIONA’S THREE TIPS ON BUILDING YOUR COLLECTION.

Know yourself and your own personal style. What are your favorite colors, etc.
Set a sneaker budget: get a sneaker a month or plan around specific drops, etc. Because once you get started it can turn into a very expensive habit if you don’t set parameters for yourself! (this is clearly some advice I need to give myself LOL)
Get what YOU like and not just what's trending! Once you develop your own personal sneaker style, you can branch out but in the beginning it's important to stay true to yourself.

5 MUST-HAVES IN YOUR COLLECTION:

Nike Air Force One (White): It is a classic shoe that can be worn with just about everything.
Adidas Shell Toe: Another classic shoe that can be worn with a dress or jeans and is comfortable.
Nike Air Jordan 1 High: Another classic silhouette that looks good with just about anything and is pretty comfortable.
Nike Air Max: I personally love 97’s but I feel like you can also do a Vapormax style or a 95’. They are a good sneaker to throw on to go run errands or to wear with a cute dress for brunch.
Any sneaker or brand that has a bright color and is unique to your personal style story. A shoe that you immediately gravitate too when you go to the sneaker section of your favorite store.

SHOP SNEAKER STYLES POWERED BY TIONA BELOW

COMMUNITY OVER COMPETITION…

COLLABORATION!! By women working together and putting each other in positions to win, we can always accomplish more. By having platforms like CNKDaily, Made for the W, Kicks and Fro’s, On Her Feet, and TMM Life (there’s so many I’m old and can’t remember!), is awesome because they showcase women, their collections, and most importantly their stories. It’s a great way to connect and promote positivity.

WHAT DOES SNEAKHER CULTURE MEAN TO YOU?

SneakHER Culture is a form of expression. It is a way for women of various backgrounds to come together for the love of sneakers. We share our stories, our heartaches (Catching that L on the latest drop), and our wins both individually or collectively. SneakHER culture is just cool.

Keep up with Tiona on Instagram HERE.

Chick Chat: State of the Culture with Tiona Deniece