There is a reason people know Shanika “Smiley DaBoss” Dalton by her nickname. Long before she became a community leader, event curator, nonprofit founder, promoter, and emcee, she was simply someone who chose to smile through life’s most difficult moments.
“The streets gave me the name ‘Smiley’ because I was always smiling,” she recalls. “No matter what I went through, I was always smiling.”
The second half of her nickname reflects the way she approaches life.
“‘DaBoss’ represents the leader in me; not because I’m above anyone, but because I believe in taking initiative and getting the job done. To me, a boss doesn’t need a crowd to follow behind them. A leader keeps moving forward, even after setbacks. Even when they fall, they get back up and go ten times harder.”
That philosophy has guided every chapter of Smiley’s life. As a mother, community advocate, and nonprofit founder, she has dedicated herself to recognizing people who often go unnoticed, supporting local businesses and organizations, and creating opportunities that strengthen the communities she serves.
“I genuinely enjoy bringing people together, celebrating others, and creating spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and respected,” she says. “My passion has always been to serve people and leave every community I step foot into better than it was yesterday.”
From Hardship to Hope
Smiley grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where life taught her early that nothing comes easily.
“I’ve learned that nothing in life is handed to you,” she says. “Like many people, I’ve experienced hardships, disappointments, and moments where I had to rebuild myself.”
One of those hardships came when she was just 16 years old. Someone she trusted introduced her to drugs, an experience she says nearly cost her everything.
“I felt like my heart was about to explode,” she recalls. “I was in a corner crying, praying, saying, ‘Please, Lord, help me.'”
She credits prayer and faith for helping her overcome addiction without formal rehabilitation. Looking back, she considers that experience a turning point that reshaped the direction of her life.
“When I needed help, nobody was there to help me,” she says. “So I wanted to be that person for everybody else.”
Rather than allowing her past to define her, Smiley chose to let it shape her purpose. “My struggles don’t define who I am,” she says. “It’s how we respond to them.”
Those experiences strengthened her resilience, humbled her, and inspired her to make sure others never feel alone during their own struggles.
Giving People Their Flowers
As Smiley became more involved in community work, she noticed another need. Many people quietly devoted themselves to serving others but rarely received recognition for their efforts.
“I saw so many people doing amazing things that never received recognition for what they had done,” she says. “I wanted people to know their efforts mattered.”
That belief inspired one of her signature initiatives.
“I wanted to give people their flowers while they’re still here to smell them.”
The idea eventually became the LGBTQ+ Awards, an annual celebration that honors community leaders, advocates, entrepreneurs, organizations, and changemakers whose contributions often go unnoticed.
What began as a single vision has grown into an event that attracts honorees and supporters from multiple cities and states.
“The LGBTQ+ Awards will always hold a special place in my heart,” she says. “Watching it grow from an idea into an event that celebrates people across different cities and states reminds me that one vision can truly make a difference.”
Expanding Her Reach
Seeing people succeed continues to motivate Smiley every day. “I love seeing people smile, watching Black-owned businesses grow, and seeing organizations receive the recognition they deserve.”
Because she understands what it feels like to face challenges without support, she wants others to know they never have to go through difficult times alone. “If I can make a positive change in this world, even if it’s only one person, then I did what needed to be done.”
Her commitment to service extends through several organizations.
On June 27, 2026, she founded The Legacy Collective Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding community service initiatives, building partnerships, and creating opportunities to give back.
She also serves as an active member of Alpha Psi Nu Fraternity and Kappa Alpha Tau Sorority, Inc. (KAT), two LGBTQ+ non-collegiate organizations committed to service, advocacy, and community engagement.
Together with the LGBTQ+ Awards, these organizations provide platforms that allow her to connect people, strengthen partnerships, and encourage service beyond individual events.
Creating Safe Spaces
As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, Smiley believes everyone deserves acceptance and the freedom to live authentically. She came out to her family at 16 and considers herself fortunate to have received love and support from her mother and much of her family. She recognizes that many others have not shared the same experience.
“I know people who haven’t received love or acceptance,” she says. “I want to change that narrative.”
Through her events, Smiley brings together people from different backgrounds and experiences, creating spaces where everyone feels welcome. “I create spaces where everyone has a seat at the table.”
Lessons Learned Along the Way
Building a meaningful legacy has not come without challenges. One of Smiley’s biggest lessons has been accepting that not everyone will understand or support her vision.
“Sometimes the people closest to you don’t immediately understand what you’re building.”
Rather than seeking approval, she has learned to stay focused on her mission. Failure, she says, has taught her some of life’s most valuable lessons.
“Not everything is going to work out the way I planned, and that’s okay.”
Starting over, making adjustments, and learning from mistakes have made her more patient, resilient, and intentional.
“They reminded me that growth doesn’t come from always getting it right. Growth comes from learning from your mistakes.”
When the demands of leadership become overwhelming, Smiley returns to the practices that keep her grounded: rest, prayer, surrounding herself with positive people, and protecting her peace.
“You can’t pour into others if your own cup is empty.”
Family, Faith, and Purpose
Among all of her accomplishments, Smiley says creating opportunities for others remains the most meaningful. Awards and recognition are gratifying, but watching someone else succeed because of something she helped build brings her the greatest satisfaction.
Her daughter remains one of her greatest inspirations. “She teaches me humility and reminds me every day why I strive to be the best version of myself.”
Smiley also credits life’s experiences, the prayers of her mother, the support of her church, and every person who believed in her for shaping the leader she continues to become.
“There have been moments where the pressure felt overwhelming,” she admits. “But every time I thought about quitting, I remembered the people who believed in me and the lives that could still be impacted if I kept going.”
She says quitting has never been an option.
“My purpose has always been greater than my frustration. I have a mission in life, and that mission doesn’t end with me. Even after I leave this earth, the legacy I’m building will carry on, not only through my daughter but through all the lives I’ve touched.”
A Legacy That Lives On
Today, Smiley continues expanding the LGBTQ+ Awards while growing The Legacy Collective Foundation through community service initiatives, partnerships, and events that connect people across communities.
Over the next five years, she hopes the foundation will expand into multiple cities while the LGBTQ+ Awards becomes one of the country’s premier recognition events. Success, she says, is not measured by titles or financial gain.
“Success is living a life with purpose. It’s not about money or recognition. It’s about the lives I impact along the way.”
When asked what legacy she hopes to leave, her answer is simple. “I want people to remember me as someone who genuinely cared. Someone who didn’t just organize events but created opportunities. Someone who united communities instead of dividing them.”
She also hopes people remember how she made them feel. “I want people to feel seen, valued, loved, and empowered. If the seeds I plant today continue to grow and help others long after I’m gone, then I’ll know I lived a successful life.”
For Smiley, leadership is not about standing in the spotlight. It is about opening doors for others, celebrating those who quietly serve, and leaving every community stronger than she found it.
