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Michelle Miles poses with her three children at the Fort Worth Zoo. The zoo is one of the Miles family’s favorite places in Fort Worth. (Courtesy photo | Michelle Miles)
” data-medium-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MichelleMiFEAT.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MichelleMiFEAT.jpg?fit=780%2C780&ssl=1″ tabindex=”0″ role=”button”>Editor’s note: This is the second of a three-part series highlighting some of Fort Worth’s top social media influencers.Michelle Miles was bored. She wanted something to do, so she made a bet with her father, who ran a magazine called San Antonio Woman. He thought social media was baloney. She thought it was crucial for his brand. “If I create a fake Fort Worth Woman account on Instagram and get 100 followers in a week, you have to hire someone for San Antonio Woman, and I’ll show them what to do,” Miles remembered telling her father.Her dad agreed. Miles started her account, showcasing her adventures in Fort Worth with her daughter. She proved him wrong. Now, Miles is a full-time social media influencer and the face behind Fort Worth Woman. The Instagram account supports Miles’ mission of empowering and uplifting Fort Worth women to be their best.Michelle Miles

Age: 37

Occupation: Full-time social media manager

Education: Bachelor of Science in early childhood education; Master of Education from Texas Christian University.

Past occupations: First-grade teacher at Castleberry Elementary; counselor for A.V. Cato Elementary.

Family: Married to Dan Miles. They have three children: daughter Charlotte “Charlie” Miles, 10; son Jackson, 7; and son Danny, 3.

Socials: @fortworthwoman“We hit 100 followers that week,” Miles said. “And then I just let it go.” Five weeks later, the account grew to 500 followers. Now, Miles has over 26,000 followers.Fort Worth Woman highlights the top destinations in Cowtown, ranging from dentist offices, travel agents and boutiques to institutions like Bass Hall and the Fort Worth Zoo. She loves featuring nonprofit organizations, especially those with a mission she is passionate about. Michelle Miles poses for a photo at Cottage Classics Estate Sales. The post, made on Feb. 19, 2024, reached over 18,000 accounts, had 614 likes, 268 shares and over 27,000 views. (Courtesy photo | Michelle Miles)Miles recently served as a co-chair of the Jewel Charity Ball, helping the organization raise over $2 million for Cook Children’s Hospital.“She so deeply cares about the city,” Miles’ father, Mike Gaffney, said. “She is all in on the city of Fort Worth, and she’ll never leave.”Miles isn’t strict about posting people and places, but she has limitations that she sticks by when thinking about what to feature.“It’s mandatory that it has to be local,” Miles said. “And then, ethically, we just have to genuinely like it, appreciate it and enjoy it.”Miles said her favorite things to post, however, are “real.” She constantly gets reactions from women in the community who are impacted by her content. She showcases them in her “Woman of the Month” posts.Women introduce themselves, chat with Miles over coffee and tell her about the ways that each post made them feel. Women in the community hype each other up, nominate others and create a supportive network, Miles said. Her impact isn’t just felt individually. She also helps businesses with sales, fundraising and services. When she travels, she highlights Fort Worth-owned boutiques and shares their clothes.Michelle Miles poses on a vacation in Europe while showcasing all Fort Worth branded clothing, a Fort Worth dentist and a Fort Worth travel agent. She makes posts highlighting these small businesses and services, even when she’s outside of the city. (Courtesy photo | Michelle Miles)“Some of the businesses are like, ‘OK, I’m sold out!’” Miles said. “That’s the fun part.”Certain places, like the Fort Worth Zoo, are easier for Miles to work with, as they send her ideas of what they want in advance. Miles typically plans posts three to four months in advance, as being a mother of three typically takes up most of her time. Michelle Miles smiles with her husband, Dan Miles, and three children 3-year-old Danny, 10-year-old Charlotte and 7-year-old Jackson. (Courtesy photo | Michelle Miles)Fans occasionally recognize the Miles family during everyday errands. Dan, Miles’ husband, once was at the grocery store with the kids when a shopper walked up. She was a fan of Fort Worth Woman and recognized the kids.“I jokingly said, ‘Yes, they’re also my kids,’” Dan said, chuckling. Despite the fanfare, Dan said his wife remains humble. He has other opinions. “She’ll never admit it,” he said, “but I’m married to a local celebrity.”While Miles loves posting about Fort Worth, she gets a special joy out of sharing her children’s reactions to the places they visit.She loves their authenticity. She wants her followers to see their “goober” attitude and to know that they yell in Kroger, too, she said.Her kids have their favorite parts of their mom’s work.“Go to the zoo with mommy!” Danny, 3, said. Miles regularly features her kids as the family cooks, swims, enjoys meals at restaurants and more.Michelle Miles smiles with her children and her dog, Lady Glitter Sparkles, and an employee at Zoomin Groomin mobile pet spa service in their front yard. (Courtesy photo | Michelle Miles)“I feel like it’s really fun and really cool,” 7-year-old Jackson said of his mom’s job. Miles’ children love the perks that come with her job. Miles achieved a career that incorporates so much of what she loves — and people responded to it. She knows why.“If you create a genuine platform, people circle back,” Miles said. “Be yourself and stay consistent.”Miles won the bet with her father eight years ago. Her dad started social media accounts for San Antonio Woman, and now the magazine boasts over 27,000 followers on Instagram.Miles never would have guessed the four words that launched her into a career of promoting inclusion and unity among Fort Worth women.“I told you so.”Ryan Thorpe is an audience engagement fellow at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at ryan.thorpe@fortworthreport.org. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.