When you first meet Nikki, you’ll notice that she’s an energizer bunny ball of energy, with a huge smile, heart of Gold, and super talented, then out of nowhere, she’ll take off her wig, and girlfriend can rock it! This woman’s confidence is one that we all can benefit from. Nikki is thirty-three years old and has battled a rare disease throughout each day of her life turning this struggle into a method of survival and strength. She has fought and continued to achieve while trying to be a positive role model for those she encounters.
Growing up, Nikki Harper was a severely ill child that spent every holiday in the hospital at some point. Born with APECED or Autoimmune Polyglandular Endocrinopathy Candidiasis Ectodermal Dystrophy, which has progressed over time incorporating much of her body’s overall systems into the disease. This disease is rare, and unknown by most of the populace, and it presently has zero prognosis. APECED presents differently in every patient, making it much more difficult to pin down overall causes that can be applied to wider pools of patients. One thing that truly helped Nikki through all of this, while building confidence at the same time, was when her hospital’s arts and crafts department would visit her room! Through them offering wonderful programs like this, she was able to try new art forms and earn self expression in ways that she never imagined.
Nikki is now a multi-media artist that owns and runs Harper and Enigma Custom Creations LLC. The shop volunteers its time through her hometown’s art program, Garrard County Art Council where we have our studio for people to visit. Through the center, she has been able to give back to the communities that helped shape and mold her since she was a young child. Personally, Nikki volunteers on Tuesdays teaching young children in our centers after school, instructing them in different crafts of the trade. Aside from teaching children, she is also involved in other artists’ classes and volunteers for community events. This Queen helps plan, advertise and run events that the art center hosts for community members to take part in. One of her favorites has been the interactive mystery murder dinner that was hosted for Halloween this past year where we even tied local county history into something fun for the older crowd.
With art being so formative in my early years I feel strongly about everyone having access to art. Art not only encourages us to be unique but to embrace our inner beauty. “I genuinely believe that this initiative will be a huge encouragement for those going through struggles as it allows for a form of expression that is 100% unique to the individual. I would love to help influence in as many lives as I can just to show them that you can achieve anything if you dream big and never give up the pursuit!”
The old saying “it takes a village” I find applies to so many facets of life and it is no different here. To achieve a goal of greater community outreach, Nikki must have the community and those who know her help either through sponsorship from their businesses, one-time donation, or helping with her fundraisers! If you would like to be a part of this mission, sponsor in anyway, or have any general questions please feel free to reach out!
In addition to all of the amazing community outreach that Nikki does, she is also a Current Pageant Queen for Pure International Pageants, where she mentors her younger sister Queens and partners with them in Community Art Outreach. This Queen is definitely more than her hair and outward appearance, she is changing the world, one art project at a time! To partner with Nikki or learn more about her platform, visit her shop link above or email her at enigma@harperandenigma.com.
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