Ayana Johnson

Ayana Johnson has accomplished much in her 14 years of life, and has done it all while overcoming a chronic, life-threatening illness.

Ayana has sickle cell disease, in which oddly-shaped red blood cells can cause blood clots, organ damage, severe pain and a host of other problems. But she doesn’t let that stop her.

Ayana spends much of her time advocating for others, especially other young people, with sickle cell disease. She goes to Sickle Cell Association events and appears at blood drives to thank donors for giving.

But that’s not all. Ayana participates in several styles of dance and currently takes dance classes online as well as attending Governor’s School for the Arts. She’s studying ballet, jaz z and hip-hop, among others.

Ayana also has a business that sells apparel and accessories.

“The first thing that inspired me to do it was because of my role as a sickle cell

activist,” she said. “The first things I started selling were sickle cell T-shirts for Sickle Cell Awareness Month.” She also has a “Melanin Made” line.

Ayana advocates for the hospitals that have helped her in her sickle cell journey over the years. She is a 2 0 2 1 ambassador for Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, as well as a 2 0 2 1 national champion for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Ayana also participates in pageants, and she is the reigning Miss P iedmont R egion Outstanding Teen.

Ayana sees herself growing in all of her abilities and talents in the next 10 years.

“I would have graduated college by then,” she said. “Ten years from now, I see sickle cell being more known, and not just because of me, but because I am educating and motivating other people to speak up about sickle cell.”

— Tracy Agnew

What is your favorite movie? “Hidden Figures” Who is your celebrity role model? Michelle Obama