Have you ever walked into a room of strangers and, almost instantly, felt a sense of belonging? Not the surface-level kind that fades when the event ends, but the deep, soul-level recognition that you are safe, welcomed, supported, and honored. That is what the DIVA Network is creating: a global sisterhood where leaders rise together.
For some, the word diva has carried a negative connotation: high-maintenance, entitled, temperamental, demanding attention. But founder Adora Crystal Evans is reclaiming and redefining the term. In her world, DIVA means Driven. Inspiring. Visionary. Authentic.
“We’re no longer separating personal growth, heart, and business,” Evans shared during the recent inaugural DIVA Founders Trip in Cancun. “We’re allowing people to live in their zone of genius and recognizing the right who creates multiple right whys and whats. There is nothing else like this group.”
The Vision Behind the Movement
The DIVA Network is the realization of more than 20 years of Evans’ desire to bring women together. From early projects like Madame Butterfly and the Rich Queen Movement to her tenure as President of the Napoleon Hill Institute, Evans has carried the dream of building spaces where women gather, connect, and rise together.
When she co-created Dining Divas Texas, a television series spotlighting women in business, lifestyle, and entertainment, she saw the power of blending visibility with authentic connection. The DIVA Network was born as the natural next step: a community where personal growth, media, and sisterhood merge into one unstoppable force.
At its core, Evans asks a simple question: “What does it look like to get behind leaders who are driven, inspiring, visionary, and authentic?” Her answer: “When women are in overflow, they are generous. They take care of children who aren’t theirs, they solve water problems, and they shift policies that impact humanity. Too often, those visions stall because the connections or resources aren’t in place. That’s why this network exists, to fill those gaps and lift those leaders.”
A Global Mastermind
The Cancun trip marked the first DIVA Founders Trip, setting the tone for a global mastermind already taking root across the United States, Africa, and South America. With online trainings and mastermind sessions, the DIVA Network exists to cultivate women’s leadership worldwide.
This is not a he-versus-she movement. Men who join encounter something rare: a model of leadership grounded in empathy, emotional intelligence, and authentic connection. Women, feeling safe and empowered, are stepping fully into their brilliance while also teaching men what leadership with heart looks like. Together, they are redefining success at an entirely new level.
And the results are undeniable: businesses thriving, new ventures launching, partnerships forming, nonprofits multiplying their impact. At its core, the DIVA Network is about collapsing time. Leaders no longer need to wait years to find the right partners or resources. Here, they accelerate the process with collaboration, connection, resources, and momentum.
The Thunder in Cancun
Some of the most unforgettable moments of the Cancun Founders Trip came when someone would call out “divas!” and they would be met with a thunderous response of “You Belong Here!” The shouts across the resort rivaled the wind and thunder of the summer storms, but the rain could not dampen the power of that echo. It was a force that stirred waves like the sea itself, sending ripples outward across the ocean.
What began as a chant on a balcony in Cancun is now a declaration felt around the world: no one is alone, you belong here.
When one DIVA’s electric scooter charger broke, challenging her mobility, she was immediately surrounded by Divas who stepped in to support her. The DIVA entourage made sure she was cared for, embraced, and honored. In a room full of givers, the message was clear: You are seen. You are valued. You are supported. You are not alone.
This moment embodies what makes the DIVA Network unique. It is a ripple effect of impact that continues outward, touching families, businesses, nonprofits, and communities around the globe.
Founders’ Voices
Susan Irby, Producer of America’s Next Bikini Chef and Partner at Dining Empire:
“To experience the first Founders Trip was extraordinary. The diversity, the worldwide connections made, and the camaraderie felt in the relaxed, beautiful setting truly led to new beginnings of a DIVA movement that will have a positive impact across multiple continents.”
Fabulous Camille Robb, CEO and Founder of JFCFORYOU.ORG:
“This wasn’t just a trip; it was the birth of a movement, one that will impact lives across the globe. I’m walking away with deeper connections, a renewed purpose, and a sisterhood that’s unstoppable. Each One Teach One. Together, we are going to change the world.”
Lorna Sherland, CEO of AccelerateHER:
“The DIVA Network has been a true catalyst in my life and business. It’s more than a community, it’s a circle of women who embody vision, authenticity, and collaboration. The recent DIVA Founders Event was just next level, with deep connections and synergy that will lead to even more collaborations in business.”
Michelle DeKeyser, Founder of Connecting Mamas and the First Founding Member of the DIVA Network:
“When I said yes to being the very first founding member, I didn’t know what I was stepping into, only that I felt called to trust it. Meeting in person in Cancun, those connections came alive. The openness of this sisterhood gave me the courage to hold a women’s circle, where I witnessed women connect soul to soul and reflect back the truth that I am enough. That’s the gift of DIVA: You belong here.”
Melanie Soloway, Founder of Humanitarian Travel Group:
“The DIVA Network helped me go from confusion to clarity. With the right who, we go farther and faster together. When I joined, I couldn’t even articulate my dream. With the coaching, guidance, and mentorship here, I went from a vision of dancing around a fire in South Africa to founding the Humanitarian Travel Group and preparing to launch our first retreat next February.”
DIVA Locals: Community Impact
While the global vision expands, the heartbeat of the movement thrives in DIVA Local chapters. From Ventura to Dallas, Orlando to Cleveland, Los Angeles to Pembroke Pines, these gatherings are where You Belong Here becomes rooted in communities.
Additional Founders share the following about what they have discovered and continue to nurture within this network:
KristleAnn “KAS” Sims, Producer, Actress, and President of DIVA Locals Cleveland:
“The DIVA Network represents a powerful space where women uplift and empower each other through genuine connection. Together, we are stronger, more creative, and unstoppable.”
Tomeka James, Owner of CTJ 360 Photobooth LLC and President of DIVA Locals Pembroke Pines/Miramar:
“Being part of the DIVA community has been life-changing. Hosting my first DIVA Locals event led to new clients, collaborations, and even the chance to capture content for the DIVA Founders Trip. Hosting these events has strengthened relationships, impacted my community, and elevated my leadership.”
Justine Reiss, Owner of The Empowered Voice and President of DIVA Locals West Valley
“The Diva Network isn’t just about business, it’s about community. Diva Locals creates a space where women can speak up, ask for what they need, and watch it show up. Together, we unlock collaboration, global impact, and true friendships. We help each other build businesses, navigate relationships, plus laugh and cry together. From supporting an orphanage for one member to global projects like advancing menstrual equity in Kenya with CouldYou.org, this is proof that when women lock arms, real change happens.”
Symone Fairchild, Filmmaker, CEO/Founder of EyeOnDV and Dragon Entertainment, and President of DIVA Locals West LA:
“Simply put, the DIVA Network is the safe space I have been looking for my entire life. It is the space of unconditional love and support that everyone on the planet is searching for. Everyone in this space naturally gives from their heart and soul, and when that happens, everyone is fed and supported. When this type of energy flows into one’s business, there is no limit.”
Alexandra Silva Labarr, Vice President of DIVA Locals Global:
“With 45 chapters and growing, I’m thrilled to witness the incredible impact we’re making in communities around the world. We’re not just building chapters, we’re building real sisterhood, creating authentic connections, and fostering powerful collaborations.”
The Power of the Right Who
As founder of the Oceans of Grace Foundation, my passion is creating opportunities for humans, animals, and the earth to thrive together. Through the DIVA Network, I was able to share this vision on a global stage alongside leaders like David Fagan, Jack Canfield, and Lisa Nichols. That moment was more than visibility— it became the catalyst for turning vision into reality.
With the right partners and mentors, I launched the Ventura, California DIVA Locals chapter, offering a safe space for purpose-driven leaders to rise together and contribute meaningfully to our community. The DIVA Network has shown me that when heart-centered leaders connect authentically, the result is not just belonging but impact.
This impact isn’t about competing for limited space, but about creating new spaces of abundance where every voice is honored and every vision can take root. Multiplied across communities and continents, that becomes a movement powerful enough to heal the world. In the DIVA Network, one truth is clear: I belong, and so do you.
Looking Ahead
With international trips, conventions, and local chapters forming worldwide, the DIVA Network is expanding rapidly. Founder Evans envisions a future where stadiums are filled with people resourced, funded, and equipped to bring their visions to life.
President Jimmy Ezell emphasizes that the community’s strength lies in celebrating members’ successes: “Within our organization, we have an abundance of talent. Whatever you do, we want to celebrate you. The DIVA Network’s success means your success.”
At its core, the movement is about collaboration over competition; creating space where women and men in alignment rise together.
Join the Movement
Members say they value having a place where they don’t have to figure it all out alone, where strategy, community, and genuine connection replace competition and fluff. The network brings together people who want to grow their businesses, increase freedom, and create lives that feel good and sustainable.
To learn more about the global DIVA Network, visit jointhedivas.com.
Dr. Collette Wayne is the founder of Oceans of Grace and a strategist and ecosystem wellness scientist who optimizes leaders and organizations for resilience, peak performance, and maximum capacity.