In a digital world that can sometimes feel heavy, Shellecia Brooks Johnson has built a family-friendly space filled with warmth, joy and authenticity.
Her website and social media platform ‘My Anguilla Experience’ radiates positivity – and it’s no accident. “That’s the whole purpose,” she tells Anguilla Focus. “To be a little bit of sunshine on the internet.”
Born and raised in Anguilla, Brooks-Johnson has always felt a deep connection to her island home.
She built her early career in hospitality, tourism and marketing, holding roles at the Anguilla Tourist Board, the Ministry of Finance and Tourism, and the Anguilla Community College.
In 2013, she launched a blog to share stories rooted in local culture and everyday island life.
“I wanted to share stories from an Anguillian perspective,” she explains. “Others were writing about Anguilla, but not enough people… who really, truly understood our people and our culture.”
Her website – myanguillaexperience.com – began by featuring simple, evocative stories about life in Anguilla: her seven-minute commute, the fruit and vegetables in her backyard, beach days and attending local festivals.
These glimpses into her world struck a chord with a wide audience – locals, overseas Anguillians and curious visitors alike. “They just weren’t seeing those types of stories coming out,” she says.
She continued to build the platform for several years alongside her professional roles and family life as a mother of two.
Later, as digital habits evolved, Brooks Johnson adapted. Her focus shifted to social media, where her cheerful snapshots and videos from ‘Your Anguillian Bestie’ began to build momentum.
Today, My Anguilla Experience has more than 7,000 followers on Facebook, 4,100 on Instagram and a level of engagement many brands would envy.
And she’s done it all without paying for a single ad. “It’s completely organic,” she says proudly. “It’s not about having a tonne of followers – it’s more about the connection and the community.”
The authenticity of her content shines through in every post – from travel advice to food and lifestyle content. She’s not chasing virality or angling for influencer status.
“I don’t like that word at all,” she laughs. “I just enjoy making content, I enjoy sharing stories. I consider myself a writer and digital strategist – that’s what I prefer to be seen as.”
Her impact, however, is undeniable. From strangers stopping her in the street to visitors recognising her at the beach, Brooks Johnson has become a familiar face.
“It makes me happy, because that was the whole point,” she says.
“It was to help bring awareness to Anguilla, highlight local businesses, people, culture and lifestyle and encourage Anguillians and visitors alike to go out and experience all Anguilla has to offer.”
What began as a blog has grown into a beloved platform – one built not on algorithms or advertising, but on authenticity, local pride and the quiet power of storytelling.
“If persons can come across my posts and feel a little bit more joy, the post has done what it’s supposed to do,” she says.
Her advice to young people wanting to step into the industry is simple: “It’s about mindset, and it’s about making that decision to begin – and once you begin, it’s about staying consistent.”
For businesses, she stresses the importance of evolving with the digital world: “I want to encourage more businesses to be more visible on these platforms.
“The world has changed drastically, and everybody just needs to be on on social media right now, and the longer they take to get on there, the further they fall behind.”
Brooks Johnson runs an independent marketing and communications agency under the same name, helping businesses and organisations tell their stories with clarity and heart, both online and offline.
Find out more about her businesses and visit her platform on Facebook and Instagram at My Anguilla Experience.
