This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at FSU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Navigating your twenties can feel lonely and overwhelming, especially in college. Between classes, work, and trying to figure out what comes next, finding your people can be a challenge. For girls in the Tallahassee area, TALLYing Up Your 20s is making that a little easier.

TALLYing Up Your 20s, created by FSU Alumni, Lauren Mayo and Jayda Nelms in July 2026, is a group where women in their 20s have a space to find community.

When I first came across their Instagram page, I was immediately intrigued and decided to join by asking to be added to their WhatsApp. Whether you’re into reading, running, bible study, fitness classes, or simply making new friends, there’s a place for you in their community!

The Beginnings of TALLYing Up Your 20s

When I asked Nelms and Mayo what brought about the start of the group, they told me, “We actually started with a conversation about life after college. We were both working, doing grad school, trying to figure out what was next, and realized that making friends in your 20s can be a lot harder than you think.”

After talking with other people, Nelms and Mayo found that they weren’t the only ones feeling this way. So, to change that, they decided to start TALLYing Up Your 20s.

“We wanted to create a space where girls in their 20s could meet people, try new things, and just have something fun to look forward to. The name TALLYing Up Your 20s actually came from us joking about tallying (like the tally marks) up our 20s together, and it just stuck,” Nelms and Mayo said.

After that, it didn’t take long before their plans were fully in motion. Shortly after their initial conversation, they made an Instagram account, created a WhatsApp community, and began planning their first event. From there, their little community began to grow. When I inquired about how long it took them to start the group, the founders told me, “Within a few weeks, we were already getting people interested and preparing for our first meetup.”

Challenges of starting

Of course, starting a community from scratch came with its own difficulties. When I asked Nelms and Mayo about some of the challenges that came with creating TALLYing Up Your 20s, they shared that “the biggest challenge was just starting from nothing. We had an idea, but we didn’t have a following, no money, or a big network of people to immediately bring in.”

From organizing events and trying to connect with local businesses and encouraging people to show up, the founders told me that there were many times they had to figure things out as they went. Juggling the group with classes, work, and their own personal lives added another layer of responsibility and stress to the mix, but as they put it, “seeing people respond to the idea made all of that worth it.”

Who Can Join?

For Nelms and Mayo, TALLYing Up Your 20s is more than just an Instagram page that shares events. Nelms and Mayo told me, “We want people to actually make friendships through it and eventually feel comfortable creating their own spaces within the community.”

When I asked them who they recommend their group for, they told me that TALLYing Up Your 20s is for anyone in their twenties who wants to meet new people, try new things, or simply just find a community to be a part of.

Even if you aren’t in college, you should still consider joining. According to Nelms and Mayo, “it’s especially great for people who’ve graduated from college and are in that weird transition period where your social life doesn’t automatically come from being on campus anymore. Whether you’re looking for new friends, a book club, a workout class, a girls’ night, or just something fun to do on a Saturday, there’s a place for you.”

Group Events

The hard work and commitment to TALLYing Up Your 20s is definitely paying off, as the group has had over 100 people join their WhatsApp community, reached over 500 followers on Instagram, and has successfully brought together more than 150 people through one of their events. They’ve also been able to collaborate with local businesses like Tally Fizz, Pure Green Cascades, Gigi’s Thread House, Push Pilates, and JETSET Pilates in Tallahassee.

“It’s become so much more than what we could have imagined.” Nelms and Mayo told me.

TALLYing Up Your 20s has so many options for anyone wanting to find other women in their 20s with similar interests, or if you’re wanting to try something new. They have a book club, a faith club, and they just announced their new run club! Nelms and Mayo expressed that they hope to see the community continue to grow even more in the long run.

So, if you’re looking to expand your social circle, explore new hobbies, or find a community of women who understand what it’s like to navigate your twenties, TALLYing Up Your 20s might be the place to start. If you’re interested, follow their Instagram page to learn more about upcoming events and find your people in Tallahassee!

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