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How Sunshine Smith-Williams Created a Platform To Elevate Incarcerated Women

Sunshine Smith-Williams is a celebrity Wealth educator, an advocate for incarcerated women, youth advocate, reputable business owner, best selling author of six books to date, film producer, and the owner of multiple homeless shelters that house, educate and provide financial literacy for formerly incarcerated women in hopes of minimizing recidivism. Smith-Williams goal is to help former inmates smoothly transition back into society while providing the necessary lifestyle and financial resources. But for one year Sunshine served time at Danbury Federal prison. 

While serving time, Smith-Williams, with the help of another inmate, created the biggest prison reform movement that would change the face of incarcerated women. 

In this exclusive interview with Entertainment Monthly News Smith-Williams, shares how she turned her pain into purpose, wrote her first book that opened many doors for programs geared toward helping at-risk youth, and the celebrity encounter that inspired her decision to push her prison reform platform Pink Panther Clique

What inspired the Pink Panther Clique?

I met Jamila T. Davis, with whom I was housed with in Danbury federal prison in 2014. Together we decided to create the Pink Panther Clique. Our reasoning was to shed light on the many

injustices women encounter in the judicial system. We wanted people to know how much time many of our sisters were getting for nonviolent crimes, even as first time offenders. Jamila told details regarding her case and what appeared to be an overly aggressive prison sentence handed down by her sentencing Judge. The prosecutor on her federal case was former US Attorney Chris Christie. Jamila and her co defendant Miss Brenda were both sentenced to decade plus sentences. I took a liking to Miss Brenda because she was mothering, but Jamila and I had a lot in common. Aside from her growing up in Queens Village, N.Y and I being from southside Jamaica Queens..Although she was older than I was we were close in age. We both did real estate, but what sealed our friendship was finding out her mom was my 7th grade English teacher. 

I felt compelled to be her voice upon entering back into society. I decided to use a familiar entertainment company name she created years ago, in hopes of gaining others to support and reconnect with who she was. When Jamila and I met, she had already been incarcerated for 5 years. She had no social media presence and was rather dormant. Jamila had told me in so many words, all her good deeds while being free no longer meant anything, and that while being incarcerated, that no one cared anymore. I felt so horrible for her and from what she conveyed, her alleged friends hurt her deeply by turning their backs on her. 

At that moment, I decided to take on the assignment of shedding light on her. 

We would call the movement “Pink Panther Clique”, reminiscent of her “Pink Panther Records” she created years prior to our meeting in federal prison. I felt a great marketing strategy would work best with a movement or a product attached. The movement was ready, but the product was incomplete. I had started writing The pink panther clique book but I was released before I could complete the project. It had an original cover of seven other inmates and I, wearing green khaki prison uniforms.I had three complete chapters. It wasn’t until I connected with Aisha Hall that we completed the book through CorrLink visits.

What is the goal of the Pink Panther Clique?

The goal of the Pink Panther Clique was to create awareness about the women who are behind bars. Many people treated felons like they were horrible people. Therefore upon my release I decided to share stories so people can sympathize with the women I served time with to better understand our plight, with hopes that it would humanize them.

How was the Pink Panther clique successful at captivating an audience? 

The way I got the message out there was through pictures and writing. I was released in 2015. I had a decent size social media following and used my platform to control my narrative. I realized after leaving behind a reputable financial business, I would have to give an explanation if I still wanted to be taken seriously as a professional. I didn’t want my credibility to become questionable, so I told my truth through my self-titled book Sunny101: The 10 commandments of a Boss Chick. While promoting my own book, I also told the stories of other voiceless inmates such as Jamila T. Davis, Aisha Hall, and Brandi Davis. 

Singer, Monica along with other award winning musicians would repost my instagram post creating viral moments that would create conversations about pink panther clique. By telling their stories on my platform, it opened up networking, music and television opportunities for each of the incarcerated women. CBS, BET, OWN Network and Vh1, each one of the Panthers got to tell their cautionary tales and stories. I have declined to tell my life story to “Vh1’s My True Crime Story” and “American Gangsta Trap Queens” but I do appear twice to support both Davis and Hall episodes to discuss the plight of the prison reform movement Pink Panther Clique. I rather focus on behind the scenes and decided to partner with veteran production companies and producers to produce films and docu series loosely based on real life issues.

What celebrity inspired you to push your platform? 

Teresa Giudice was my bunkie while serving time in Danbury federal prison.  

Teresa and I had an incredible bond. When she first arrived I knew she would be my bunkie. They had moved and relocated my previous bunkie out earlier that day. 

Danbury counselor was very crafty in pairing up inmates they assumed had things in common. My best friend Precious Paris was signed to media mogul and rapper Curtis “50 cent” Jackson’s G unit record label. Precious Paris also was casted for ” Vh1 Love and Hip Hop” season five. It wasn’t a secret that I was very well connected to the music and film industry. I knew when my old bunkie was told to pack up and relocate there would be a chance that Teresa Giudice would be my bunkie. 

Teresa Giudice self surrendered on January 5, of 2015, at or around 3 A.M. She was a well known entertainer in television so trying to avoid heavy press didn’t work. From what I read the outside of the prison was swarmed with media and cameras. She came into my room with an entire face of makeup and freshly done hair. I embraced her briefly, told her my name but I was too tired for further conversations. I did however offer her an alternative in removing her makeup. She got on the top bunk and remained quiet until the morning count. Teresa and I talked a lot her first day and realized we had a mutual friend in the entertainment business by the name of Renee Graziano who was a star on Vh1 hit show MobWives. We would read her fan mail after the 4pm count. We were employed as kitchen workers, were married with children and loved to cook. Right before our 9pm count, Tee would be in bed writing in her journal. Later I would find out her journal entries became a book. She and I Bonded immediately. After just two weeks our names immediately hit the tabloids, E News, and were mentioned on the “Wendy Show”. We later found out someone was selling information to publications in exchange for money to get by financially in the prison. Before I left I made sure she was in good hands and introduced her to the commissary and recreational clerks. Knowing the clerks is very important and helps you to navigate through. It was bittersweet when I was being released. 24 hours prior to my release I had gotten into a verbal spat with another inmate. I was arguing in front of Teresa and she literally got in front of me and said “You’re upsetting me, You are going home tomorrow, Don’t fall into this, You are going home. Focus on your family, freedom and projects.” 

I almost ruined my exit to freedom, and honestly at that moment- I decided to listen and focus. Teresa was right, I was going home and the last thing I needed was a distraction. Teresa gave me her daughter Gia cell number and told me to keep in touch. I did just that. I texted and spoke with her during holidays and made sure she sent word to Tee that she was missed. In 2018. I had the opportunity to reunite and film with Teresa on the set for an episode of New Jersey Housewives. 

What’s next for You?

I am focusing on telling the story of my childhood friend Sherese Francis. I owe it to her family. Other projects I cannot publicly discuss. But look out for Sunny SideUp Productions and Films.

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