Shay Sane – IDA Ambassador

After losing her sister to illness, Shay Sane used her travel industry background to form the Black Girls On The Go Facebook Group formerly known as the Black Girl Travel Movement with the goal of helping women find healing through travel. The BGOTG Facebook community has grown organically to more than 27,000 members, assisting and encouraging black women to build confidence, power and self-love through unique TTraVsperiences. TTraVsperiences introduce women to the healing power of travel.

The community doesn’t just talk about travel. Over the past five years, members have participated in more than 24 TTraVsperiences to 14 countries all over the world. Curated by BGOTG the tours regularly include a mental health professional or transformational leader who leads daily sessions to assist the travelers with finding peace and processing the pain.

Having experienced first-hand what it feels like to be stuck in the huddles of life and not enjoy all life offers, Shay decided to grow from the loss of her sister Brenda at the age of 48.  Brenda had struggled with Myotonic Dystrophy her entire adult life which affected her mobility.   Shay has spent the past 20 years traveling around the world, experiencing other cultures and significantly mastering the art of “self-love” which she feels is essential in leading a happy fulfilled life.

As the reigning Ms. Mid-Atlantic of the Mr. & Mrs. Black America Pageant, Shay is using her title to bring awareness to people like herself who are personally impacted by invisible disabilities.  For most of her life, Shay has struggled with bouts of depression and in 2018 she was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.  In addition, Shay has been dealing with chronic back pain for over five years and in 2019 she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.  Despite the challenges she faces everyday herself, Shay is determined to be a passionate voice for people living daily with invisible disabilities.