From comforting foot rubs in her mother’s country home to recurring appearances as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things, celebrity pedicurist Gloria L. Williams has elevated everyday foot care to prestige status through her brand Footnanny.
By blending generations-old home remedies with expert touch, determination, and business savvy, Williams has built Footnanny into a premier wellness brand centered around decadent products and 5-star nail experiences.
From Home Remedies to Oprah’s Favorite Things
Williams’ journey began in Montgomery, AL, where her mother would minister to ailing family members, friends, and the community through healing touch and homemade remedies crafted with nature’s best ingredients.
Those early lessons in wellness laid the foundation for Footnanny’s signature approach — turning simple foot care into a therapeutic, luxury experience powered by touch.
“My mom’s home remedies play a big role in my brand,” Williams explains. “The use of essential oils is healing, and continuing to maintain the quality of my products keeps them at a luxury level.”
Williams started small, building her personal brand as a next-level nail-care professional in Chicago, where she became known for blissful spa pedicures using amazing products she blended up herself.
She eventually booked — and wowed — the city's most influential resident, Oprah Winfrey. In 2012, that client posted a simple tweet that changed everything.
The endorsement wasn’t just a casual shout-out; it was a turning point. It propelled Footnanny into the national spotlight, transforming Williams’ boutique brand into a household name, and earning it a coveted spot on Oprah’s Favorite Things multiple times.
“It was like winning the lottery and keeping it a secret for months,” Williams recalls. “It grew my business to $400k in two months! It was truly an honor.”
WIlliams used the momentum to expand her brand, opening her flagship Footnanny Nail Spa at The Four Seasons Los Angeles. She developed spinoff Bodynanny bath and body products, the Footnanny Lounges spa and retail franchise model, and began training nail spa technicians to provide the signature Footnanny experience.
Despite rapid growth, Williams has stayed hands-on with all aspects of the business, maintaining the personal touch that drives her brand identity.
Not only does she deliver luxury pedicures herself by appointment only — incorporating her brand's premium creams, lotions, and soaks — but she’s not too elite to get busy in the warehouse. “I continue to pack orders for customers!”
Simple Advice and Self-Care Secrets
Williams is passionate about mentoring the next generation of beauty entrepreneurs. Her advice for beginners is clear and powerful: “Create one product and promote it hard.”
It’s a focused strategy that helped her transform Footnanny from a small startup into a booming. multi-tiered enterprise — and it’s a strategy she believes can work for anyone who's really willing to hustle.
Though her brand has achieved success by anyone's definition, Williams is not one to coast on it. She’s currently pursuing the second round of funding for Footnanny, evaluating investor partnerships to scale up the brand.
Despite all that, Williams carves out time to teach and mentor nail techs and up-and-coming entrepreneurs. She authored the book How to Open a Nail Salon With $1,000, a step-by-step guide and the basis for one of the three classes she's teaching at the upcoming International Beauty Show-Las Vegas.
As any beauty business owner who teaches and provides services can vouch — it’s a lot. Williams credits her wellness routine for keeping her energized, and stresses the importance of prioritizing self-care among beauty professionals.
“I take healthy peptides, which helped me lose 75 pounds, helping me mentally and physically,” she says. “I also get two massages per month.”
Eucalyptus holds a special place in her heart. “Eucalyptus is the most healing of the line and reminds me of my mother rubbing my chest and tops of feet.”
For beauty professionals forever on the go, Williams recommends keeping it simple. Her must-have travel kit includes just three essentials: “The ONE Pedicure Cream, The ONE Pedicure Oil, and a pair of socks.”
Gloria L. Williams will be teaching “Foot Massage Steaming,” “The Healing Powers of Essential Oils,” and and “How to Open a Nail Salon with $1,000” at the International Beauty Show-Las Vegas from June 21-23, 2025. Register here.