Julieanna Marie Goddard, known professionally as YesJulz, transformed from a VIP hostess in Miami nightclubs to becoming the self-proclaimed “Queen of Snapchat” and a force in entertainment marketing. Her journey from foster care to founding a Forbes-recognized marketing agency demonstrates resilience that goes far beyond social media fame.
At 34 years old as of 2025, she has built a career managing major artists, producing high-profile events, and creating a personal brand that attracts both admiration and controversy. Her story is complex—marked by difficult beginnings, strategic career moves, public relationships, and the challenges of building a business in an industry that constantly evolves.
Early Life and Childhood
Julieanna Marie Goddard was born on March 2, 1990, in Miami, Florida. Her early childhood was defined by instability and hardship that most people never experience.
At age four, her biological parents’ struggles with drug addiction led to her placement in foster care. This traumatic separation from her family would shape her perspective and drive for the rest of her life.
She spent most of her childhood years moving through the foster care system, rarely staying in one place for more than ten months. According to worldredeye.com, this constant relocation taught her adaptability but also created a deep need for stability and belonging.
At age nine, she was adopted by Johanna Ortega, who had been the supervisor of the children’s home where Goddard lived. This adoption provided the stability she desperately needed, though the effects of her early trauma stayed with her.
She was raised primarily in Tampa, Florida, after her adoption. Her adoptive father, whose name has not been widely publicized, was from Boston. The family provided support that allowed her to pursue education and eventually build her career.
Family Background and Ethnicity
According to publicly available information, Goddard is of Italian and Puerto Rican descent through her biological parents. This mixed heritage reflects the diverse cultural background common in South Florida, though she has not extensively discussed her ethnic identity in interviews.
Her relationship with her biological parents remained complicated. In 2015, she met her biological father for the first time, a moment she shared on social media. The reunion was emotional but didn’t lead to an ongoing close relationship based on available information.
Her adoptive family—particularly her mother Johanna—became her true family. She has spoken openly about her gratitude for being adopted and the difference it made in her life trajectory.
She also has an adopted younger sister, though specific details about her sibling have been kept private. The family connection remains strong, with Goddard maintaining close ties to her adoptive parents throughout her career.
Education and Early Work
Goddard attended the University of South Florida, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. This educational background would prove valuable as she built her media and marketing career.
While in college and immediately after, she worked in Tampa’s nightlife scene as a VIP host at top clubs. This early experience taught her how to network, manage high-profile clients, and create memorable experiences—skills that would become the foundation of her career.
She moved back to Miami and continued VIP hosting work at renowned clubs including LIV, STORY, and FDR. Her charisma and ability to attract celebrities to events quickly made her valuable to club promoters and event organizers.
During this period, she promoted parties for celebrities like Dwyane Wade and David Beckham. In 2014, she organized a Sprite Remix Party for LeBron James in Miami that brought her initial public recognition.
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Rise to Social Media Fame
Goddard joined Twitter in 2009, long before she became known as YesJulz. The username “Julz” was already taken, so she chose “YesJulz” to reflect her attitude of never taking no for an answer and accepting any challenge.
She later joked that these days she’s more like “NoJulz” as she learned to prioritize her time and say yes only to projects that serve her goals. This evolution reflects maturity gained through experience.
Her breakthrough came with Snapchat. When the platform introduced the story feature in 2013, she recognized its potential immediately. She began posting candid, entertaining content that showcased her lifestyle, travels, and behind-the-scenes access to events and celebrities.
Her Snapchat account began receiving around 100,000 views every twenty-four hours at its peak. The Huffington Post dubbed her “the Queen of Snapchat,” and she was nominated for Snapchatter of the Year by the Shorty Awards in 2016.
What made her content successful was authenticity. Unlike polished Instagram posts, her Snapchat stories felt raw and real—showing both glamorous moments and everyday life. This relatability attracted millions of followers.
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Building 1AM Creative Agency
In 2014, Goddard founded YesJulz Agency, which later became 1AM Creative Agency. The name reflected her lifestyle—parties and creative work happening at 1 AM when most people are asleep.
The company provides creative solutions, marketing, event production, talent management, and consulting for clients in music, fashion, and lifestyle sectors. Forbes recognized the agency for its innovative approach to influencer marketing and brand partnerships.
Her client list grew to include major artists like Travis Scott, Future, Wiz Khalifa, and brands like Puma, Beats by Dre, Red Bull, Vevo, Nike, Adidas, and Spotify. These partnerships demonstrated her ability to bridge hip-hop culture, fashion, and corporate marketing.
In 2015, she hosted the 1AM party in Los Angeles featuring artists including Lil Uzi Vert and Wiz Khalifa. These events became known for their exclusivity and cultural relevance, attracting industry insiders and celebrities.
She also moved into artist management, notably managing rapper 070 Shake, who was featured on albums by Kanye West, Pusha T, and Nas. This management work expanded her influence beyond events and marketing into developing artists’ careers.
Physical Appearance and Personal Style
Goddard stands approximately 5 feet 8 inches (1.72 meters) tall with an athletic build. She has naturally brown hair and hazel eyes, though she frequently dyes her hair different shades including red, blonde, and pink.
Her style reflects Miami’s vibrant culture—bold, colorful, and unapologetically attention-grabbing. She dresses for visibility, understanding that personal brand in her industry requires standing out visually as well as professionally.
Her social media aesthetic mixes glamorous party photos with more casual, relatable content. This balance helps maintain connection with followers while showcasing the lifestyle her success has provided.
Relationship with Duke Riley
In 2021, Goddard began dating Duke Riley, an NFL linebacker for the Miami Dolphins. Their relationship quickly became public, with the couple getting engaged in July 2021 at Miami’s Rolling Loud Music Festival.
On April 13, 2022, they welcomed their daughter River Jo Riley. River was born with a serious medical condition that required immediate care after birth. Goddard has said the experience was emotionally challenging but that her daughter recovered and is now healthy.
However, the relationship faced challenges. In May 2022, just two months after River’s birth, Goddard announced on Instagram that she was a “newly single mom” after being home alone with her newborn. The couple had split.
She later spoke publicly about facing a deeply personal reproductive decision during that period, choosing not to share further details.
By January 2024, she confirmed she was single again, posting photos with captions about being a “single lady” and showing her bare ring finger. As of 2025, they are no longer together romantically but co-parent their daughter River.
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Motherhood and Current Family Life
Goddard is now a single mother raising her daughter River in Miami. She has spoken openly about the challenges of balancing motherhood with her demanding career as a CEO and public figure.
River is approximately 3 years old as of 2026 and appears frequently in Goddard’s social media content. She shares moments of motherhood while maintaining boundaries about her daughter’s privacy.
Co-parenting with Duke Riley remains part of her reality. Despite their romantic relationship ending, they both remain committed to providing River with two loving homes and stable parenting.
The experience of nearly losing River at birth and navigating her medical challenges created perspective for Goddard. She has discussed how motherhood changed her priorities and made her more selective about which professional opportunities she pursues.
Controversies and Public Criticism
Goddard’s career has not been without controversy. She has faced persistent accusations of cultural appropriation and being a “culture vulture”—profiting from hip-hop culture without genuine connection to Black communities. These criticisms intensified in 2020 when old tweets containing racial insensitivity resurfaced.
She has also faced rumors about romantic involvement with LeBron James and actor Terrance J. In a 2024 interview, she denied these allegations, stating she was “never alone with LeBron James” and was dating one of his NBA friends at the time the rumors began.
Over the years, Goddard has faced public criticism and professional disputes, including past legal issues from early adulthood and high-profile disagreements within the music industry. She has described these experiences as lessons that influenced her professional approach.
Work and Netflix Appearance
In January 2025, Goddard appeared on Netflix’s reality show “W.A.G.s to Riches,” which follows successful Miami families connected to athletes and musicians. Her appearance on the show brought renewed public attention and introduced her to audiences unfamiliar with her social media fame.
On the show, she opened up about her difficult breakup with Duke Riley, her firing from the Kanye West project, and the challenges of being a single mother while running a business.
She continues serving as CEO and Founder of 1AM Creative Agency, though the client list and specific projects are less publicly visible than during her peak Snapchat fame years from 2014-2018.
In December 2024, she performed a self-written song at Art Basel in Miami, her first public musical performance. She has expressed interest in launching a film production company and expanding her creative work beyond marketing and events.
Net Worth and Financial Success
Julieanna Marie Goddard’s exact net worth has not been publicly disclosed, and she has not released financial statements detailing her personal earnings. Estimates published by entertainment and influencer-tracking websites vary, reflecting the difficulty of valuing income from privately held businesses and brand partnerships.
Her income is understood to come from multiple sources developed over more than a decade, including leadership roles at 1AM Creative Agency, event production, talent management work, and brand collaborations with major companies. During the peak of her social media influence, she was reported to earn significant fees from sponsored content and experiential marketing campaigns.
Because her businesses are privately owned and revenue figures are not publicly verified, any net worth figure should be considered an estimate rather than a confirmed amount. Most third-party sources place her wealth in the low-to-mid seven-figure range, though these figures should be viewed as approximate.
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