The Washington, DC area is full of amazing moms. There are working moms, stay-at-home moms, single moms, moms of multiples, foster moms, adoptive moms, etc. We want to highlight some of those moms like Nikki Osei-Barrett. Each month we will feature one special mom as the Mom of the Month. Know a fellow amazing local mom here? Nominate them here!
Meet our February Mom of the Month: Nikki Osei-Barrett
Nikki Osei-Barrett is a Ghanaian American, DMV-bred, HBCU grad, wife, and mother of three. She is a fashion and beauty publicist and co-founder of District Motherhued, one of the nation’s most impactful nonprofits for Black millennial moms. After earning her degree in Mass Communications from Bowie State University, Nikki relocated to New York City, where she worked with prestigious fashion PR firms and played a role in producing Mercedes Benz Fashion Week shows.
In 2011, she founded Osei Public Relations, a boutique agency providing strategic outreach,
event management, and celebrity seeding services, launching brands like Hanifa, Bolden
Skincare, and Epara Skincare. Her clients have been featured in top publications, including
Forbes, ELLE, WWD, and Vogue. Currently, Nikki serves as PR Manager for Mielle Organics,
the fastest-growing multicultural, Black-founded, women-led hair care brand.
In 2016, Nikki co-founded District Motherhued alongside Simona Noce Wright, transforming
support for millennial mothers. What began as a small group of 25 moms has grown into a
vibrant community of over 45,000, with more than 100 sold-out events, various initiatives
including their aware-winning The 4th Trimester program, and a national conference, The
Momference. Nikki continues to make a significant impact in the fashion and beauty industries while empowering and uplifting mothers, leaving a lasting legacy for families throughout the DMV area and beyond.
Here is our Q&A with Nikki Osei-Barrett
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Tell us how you prioritize yourself, career, and family.
Juggling my kids, my full-time job as PR Manager for the award-winning haircare brand Mielle Organics, and District Motherhued is no small feat. I won’t sugarcoat it—it’s tough! I’m grateful for the flexibility of working remotely, which helps me get the kids to school and their extracurriculars. Plus, I have a solid support system I can lean on when needed.
District Motherhued started eight years ago, with our inaugural event, The Mom Loft, held on 10/6/16, as a small community of 25 moms. Now, we’ve grown to over 45,000 mothers! Alongside my co-founder, Simona Noce Wright, we are passionate about creating spaces where Black millennial moms feel seen and supported, both locally and nationally. There’s no real “balancing” here—I’m managing multiple roles the best I can. It can be challenging, but I set boundaries and rely on our incredible team to nurture our organization.
I also prioritize my wellness; exercise is essential for my mental health. I aim (operative word) to work out four days a week at 5:30 a.m. (pilates and boot camp). If you follow me on Instagram, you know I’m a proud Xtreme Hip Hop stepper and instructor (#BigStepperNikki). Stepping has been my physical, mental, and creative outlet for over three years. Making time for myself helps me avoid overwhelm, allowing me to show up fully for my kids and our phenomenal mom community. Some days I thrive. Some days all I can do is survive. And that’s ok.
2. How do you juggle kids of multiple ages and interests?
Whew! Some days it feels like I’m being pulled in three different directions—because I am! It got especially tough when I had my daughter, Faye, five years ago. At that time, my oldest son was 18, graduating high school, and preparing to head off to Howard University, while my middle son, Nick, was just seven and struggling with all the transitions. With kids of different ages, it’s all about meeting each child where they are and identifying their individual needs while finding ways for us to connect as a family.
Since my kids are so far apart in age, there’s no overlap in interests, which makes managing schedules tricky. I prioritize quality time that caters to each child’s unique personality—whether that’s cheering Nick on at his basketball games or attending Faye’s gymnastics. I try to have solo dates or quality time where they can share about their day uninterrupted, ensuring they know they’re seen and that the lines of communication are always open, especially with Nick approaching his teenage years. I’m just now starting to find my footing, but I know that these kids will soon throw me for a loop as they continue to grow and discover themselves.
3. Any advice on dealing with “mom guilt”?
Mom guilt is unavoidable. Whether you picked your kid last from school, dropped your cell
phone on your baby’s face while nursing (true story), etc., mom guilt is simply a part of motherhood. Having had my oldest son at 16, I still experience guilt as a 40-year-old mom of three. I’ve learned to give myself grace—after all, I was a child raising a child, and there’s so much I didn’t know. Thankfully, Jaylen is thriving beyond my wildest dreams, but there are many regrets.
Over the years, I’ve realized that perfection in motherhood is impossible. I remind myself that every day is a new opportunity to be a better parent than I was yesterday. I travel often for work and miss my kids when I’m away, but I stay connected in meaningful ways—through FaceTime, leaving notes, or small treats for them to discover. We all make mistakes (like forgetting my daughter’s dress for Decades Day!), but I focus on the love and effort I pour into my family. It’s about progress, not perfection.
Ultimately, I’m doing the best I can to take care of my family, connect with my friends and community, and figure out what this next decade looks like for me personally and professionally as a newly minted 40-year-old (#84Babies stand up!)—all while looking fly doing it!
