From Section 8 to CEO: How Nubia Younge Built a 7-Figure Travel Empire in Mexico—While Battling Grave’s Disease

By Heart & Soul Staff

The founder of Black in Tulum turned a pandemic beach brunch into a global movement. But behind her success is a story of grit, grace, and a fight for her life.

When Nubia Younge got her first passport stamp at 32, she had no idea that within a decade she’d be running a million-dollar business in Mexico, helping tens of thousands of Black travelers live their best lives abroad.

But Younge’s journey wasn’t always this glossy.

Before becoming the powerhouse behind Black In Tulum, Black In Travel, Black Card Elite Concierge, and now Ori Aye Travel, the Boston native and single mother was navigating food stamps, toxic jobs, and the realities of raising a son and a daughter alone. She’d never taken a solo trip, much less thought she could be the face of a global travel movement. But that changed in 2020 when, stranded in Tulum during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to host a simple beach brunch for a few other Black travelers she spotted around town.

“There was no blueprint,” Younge recalls. “I just wanted to create a space where we could feel safe, seen, and celebrated.”

That one gathering sparked a wildfire. Word spread, the Facebook group she created that night ballooned from 25 to over 28,000 members, and Black In Tulum became the go-to community for Black travelers seeking connection, culture, and curated experiences abroad. Within four years, the unintentional entrepreneur generated nearly $2 million in revenue—all without a business degree, paid ads, or investors.

But while Younge’s business was booming, her body was in crisis. She was battling Grave’s disease, an autoimmune disorder that attacks the thyroid and can cause rapid weight loss, fatigue, anxiety, and vision problems. The diagnosis was a curveball, forcing her to slow down, prioritize her health, and restructure her life.

“I was running on fumes—physically, emotionally, and spiritually,” Younge says. “Grave’s disease humbled me. It made me realize that rest and wellness are just as revolutionary as building wealth.”

That realization helped birth her latest venture: Ori Aye Travel, a luxury retreat series designed for Black women who, like her, are ready to release the hustle and embrace a life of softness, healing, and divine alignment. Named after the Yoruba word Ori, meaning “head” or “inner wisdom,” the retreats are intimate, high-end, and focused on wellness, mindset, and rest.

From the hood in Boston to beachfront villas in Tulum, Younge’s rise is a masterclass in resilience, resourcefulness, and radical reinvention.

“I didn’t have a mentor or a roadmap. I had a vision, a prayer, and the will to figure it out,” she says. “Now, I want other women—especially those who feel overlooked or overwhelmed—to know it’s never too late to design a life you love.”