Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly DowDell.
Hi Kimberly , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
When I last interviewed with Voyager two years ago, I was honored to be named one of their ‘Rising Stars in Utah.’ Since then, the journey has been an absolute whirlwind. I was recently ranked as the #4 Top Utah Mom Influencer by FeedSpot, and the past two years have truly been a next-level experience. During this time, I’ve co-authored two books, was featured in the nationwide documentary Women In Christ (released on September 9, 2025), and appeared on major networks and shows including ABC World News Tonight, The Kelly Clarkson Show, NBC Nightly News, A&E, ESPN, and KSL. Today, our community has grown to 1.2 million followers across social platforms, with over a billion total views.
It all started quite unexpectedly. My son Jack’s older brother had just left for college, and Jack missed him terribly. When his brother came home for his first visit, Jack ran into his arms in the sweetest, most heartwarming reunion. I missed capturing it that first time, so I promised myself I would record the next one just to share with our friends and family. When I finally posted that second reunion video, I had no idea what was about to happen it completely went viral. We decided to keep sharing our daily joy from that moment on, and now, four years later, here we are!
Feedspot Reference:
(https://influencers.feedspot.com/utah_mom_instagram_influencers/)
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When Jack was born, I didn’t know anyone else in my life with Down syndrome. In the beginning, I was completely overwhelmed with worry about what his future would look like. I remember telling my husband that I just wished I could get a single glimpse into Jack’s future so I could finally stop worrying. My husband said, ‘Let’s see if we can find that glimpse,’ and opened up YouTube. We came across a video made by a high school senior in Southern California. He had Down syndrome and had filmed his daily routine for a school project—waking up, making his own breakfast, and riding his bike to the local YMCA. Seeing how independent and happy he was felt like an absolute blessing, and it gave me the peace of mind I desperately needed. That is exactly why I share our lives today: I want to be that same beacon of hope for other families.
Of course, opening your life to the world comes with challenges. We are incredibly fortunate that 99.5% of our feedback is pure love—the most beautiful, supportive comments you could ever read. But there is a dark, heavy 0.5% that is mean-spirited and hurtful. The hardest part of this journey is consciously choosing not to let that tiny percentage of negativity pull us down or stop us from giving others a glimpse of how beautiful life with a special needs child can be.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Long before the social media journey began, my professional life started as a Zumba instructor, a role I still passionately fulfill by teaching five classes a week. Beyond keeping my social life vibrant, Zumba was my personal sanctuary when Jack was born. On the toughest days, losing myself in the music and movement allowed my troubles to completely melt away; it was pure therapy. Today, I am in a wonderful place, but as I watch the women in my classes follow along, I see that same healing power at work in them. They approach me afterward sharing that the class was exactly what they needed, with some even saying it saved their lives. I love being a fitness instructor because it offers another beautiful, real-world opportunity to change lives for the better.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I believe in purpose and divine timing. What felt like an overwhelming challenge at Jack’s birth became the absolute greatest blessing of our lives. And that viral video wasn’t just a stroke of random good fortune, it was the spark that allowed us to step into our true mission. The mission is sharing Jack’s good news, glimpse of our rich life as a family. None of this would have happened with out my skills for seeing the story, being able to shape it and tell it in a touching way. Real ‘luck’ in business and life isn’t about winning a digital lottery; it’s about what you do when the door opens. We took a moment and turned it into four years of hard work, daily consistency, and dedicated advocacy to show the world the beauty of a special needs life.”
Pricing:
- www.kimdowdell.com for Jack good news merch
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kimdowdell.com
- Instagram: @thekimberlydowdell
- Facebook: @thekimberlydowdell
- Youtube: @kimberly.dowdell
- Other: TikTok: @kimberly.dowdell
