(This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights Sweet Magnolia Nutrition Owner Nicole Prather.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in Brookhaven March 4, 1993.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I went to Enterprise Attendance Center.
Q: What was your childhood like?
A: It was really outdoorsy. I always went hunting and fishing. I wasn’t your typical girl and didn’t do girly stuff; I always did what my dad did.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: I’m the owner of Sweet Magnolia Nutrition. We sell meal-replacement shakes and healthy energy drinks. The meal-replacement shakes are for maintaining a healthy weight or losing weight. The loaded teas are 24 calories with no sugar and are like drinking an energy drink but a lot healthier version. It doesn’t give you a jittery feeling or that crash at the end of the day. There’s a lot of fast food places popping up, and we wanted to give Columbia a healthier option.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: There’s other locations, and I didn’t know about it until my friend opened up Sweet Southern Nutrition in Summit. We actually were fishing on the Mississippi River today, and she was telling me about her new business. She said I should do one, so I started going to other locations, training and learning. It was fun, and I never had a job that was fun. I wanted to take the opportunity to do it. There was a lot of people wanting one in Columbia, and I wanted to put it in a location I knew would do well.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: The friendly atmosphere. Everybody coming in has been so overwhelmingly nice. I haven’t had one customer be rude; Columbia people are just different than Brookhaven. I’m not saying anything bad about Brookhaven, but I just love being here.
Q: What was your first job?
A: My dad owned an optical shop in Brookhaven, and I worked for him while I was in high school. He ended up closing down after 15 years, and it was bought out by an eye doctor and I worked for him. I previously worked with Primos. I quit there to be a stay-at-home mom for about six months, but I wanted to do something.
Q: Who are the people who have been most influential in your life?
A: My mom and my husband. My mom, Brenda Smith, is the one who has always pushed me to pursue my dreams. My husband has always believed in me and never told me I couldn’t do something.
Q: What is your spouse’s name?
A: Anthony Prather. He is a welder.
Q: Do you have children?
A: I have a two-year-old, a nine-month-old and a five-year-old stepson — three boys — Hayden, Mason and Weston.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: A steak and rolls; I love bread.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Probably to Tahiti because it’s always looked so pretty and beautiful there. But my favorite place is the mountains.
Q: What hobbies do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I like to go fishing and hunting, even alligator hunting. My husband killed a 13-footer the year before last, and I killed a 12-footer.
Q: What do you enjoy about Columbia and Marion County?
A: The friendly atmosphere and getting to meet new people.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: My granny, Linda Evans, and little cousin, Karli Anna Brumfield. My granny passed away in a car wreck, and it will be two years Jan. 1. My cousin passed away at six years old.
Q: If you didn’t have to worry about money, what would you do all day?
A: I’d like to just spend time with my babies.
Q: Would you rather read a good book or watch a good movie and why?
A: I’d watch a good movie with my family. I used to like reading, but now I don’t have time for it since I’m chasing after kids.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on who you are today?
A: My stepdad, Tim Smith, getting cancer my senior year in high school. Everything changed then. I realized there was more important things in life than material things, and it changed my perspective.
Q: If you could describe your morals in three words, what would they be?
A: Honesty, respect and loyalty.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: I’d like to be remembered as someone who was outgoing, fun, loving and caring.
— Joshua Campbell
Pictured Above: Sweet Magnolia Nutrition owner Nicole Prather recently opened the store on Broad Street and wants to provide Columbia with a healthier alternative for meals. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
