Shivangi Sinha
It’s difficult to fathom what Shanna Harper experienced during her high school years. In 1991, she discovered that her mother, Wanda Holloway, had been plotting to murder Verna Heath, the mother of one of her classmates, Amber. For Shanna, the revelation was utterly incomprehensible, and in the years that followed, she grappled with making sense of the incident that forever altered her life. In Prime Video’s ‘The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot,’ Shanna steps forward to share her story and reflects on how her life has unfolded since that shocking event.
Shanna Harper Knew Nothing About Her Mother’s Murder Plot
Shanna Harper was born in 1977 to Wanda Holloway and Tony Harper. She grew up in Channelview, Texas, alongside her older brother, Shane, leading a seemingly idyllic and ordinary childhood. Shanna was a bright, energetic, and active young girl who participated in various activities. After her parents separated in 1980, she and her brother remained with their mother. Shanna began cheerleading in seventh grade and found it enjoyable, but it was her mother who had long nurtured the dream for herself and seemed to take even greater satisfaction in it than Shanna did.
In 1990, Shanna tried out for the cheerleading team again but narrowly lost a spot to her classmate, Amber Heath. Shanna admitted that she was beginning to lose interest and wasn’t particularly eager to try again the following year. However, before the 1991 tryouts at Channelview High School, her mother encouraged her to give it another shot, promising that she would secure a spot this time. Unbeknownst to Shanna, her mother had secretly contacted her father’s brother, Terry Harper, to arrange the murder of Amber’s mother, Verna. Shanna had no knowledge of the plot and only discovered the shocking truth when her mother was arrested in January 1991 on charges of solicitation of capital murder.
Shanna Harper Struggled a Lot After Her Mother’s Arrest
After her mother’s arrest, Shanna Harper and her brother moved in with their father. She continued attending school but did not maintain close contact with Amber Heath. The following years were challenging due to the intense media attention surrounding the case, but Shanna managed to get through them. She later shared that she experienced significant anxiety and stress, often feeling trapped in a cycle of intrusive thoughts. Even after her mother was released on parole in 1997, Shanna was never able to rebuild a close relationship with her. In a 2012 interview, she revealed that she had only recently begun processing the events and remained distant from her mother.
Shanna Harper is Running Her Own Philanthropic Business Today
Shanna has dedicated nearly 20 years to a career in education and has now channeled her skills and experiences into an entirely new and meaningful venture. Inspired by the challenges she has overcome, she created Smile More Worry Less, a series of online self-help courses aimed at empowering individuals to pull themselves out of negative thought patterns and embrace a healthier, more positive outlook on life. Having spent 15 years self-coaching and navigating her own personal struggles, Shanna now seeks to share the tools and strategies that helped her find balance and resilience.
In addition to her online courses, Shanna offers private consultations and personalized talking sessions for those who wish to connect with her on a deeper level and receive tailored support. Her approach is compassionate, relatable, and rooted in a genuine desire to help others rediscover their sense of peace and purpose. A graduate of San Jacinto College North Campus, Shanna has also expanded into content creation, using her platform to not only promote her business but to build her personal brand as a source of inspiration and support.
Shanna Harper’s Mother is Part of Her Family Life Once Again
Shanna, now known as Shanna Widner, has built a fulfilling and balanced life for herself in Houston, Texas, where she lives with her husband, Darren Widner. The couple, who celebrated their 8-year anniversary in November 2024, share a love for travel and often take small weekend getaways to nearby destinations. She is also the proud mother of two sons, Shea and Shawn Alston, whom she shares with her former partner. She has always prioritized her children’s well-being and ensured they maintained a good relationship with their grandmother, Wanda Holloway. She has never let her past influence that bond.
In an interview, Shanna expressed how her personal experiences taught her not to be a “show mom,” stating that she has never pushed her boys into anything they weren’t genuinely passionate about or began to lose interest in. Over the years, it seems Shanna has worked on rebuilding her relationship with her mother, even taking trips together, signaling a sense of healing and reconciliation. A passionate advocate for animal rights, Shanna has two beloved “fur babies” who are cherished members of her family. Between her career, her family, and her advocacy, Shanna has found peace and happiness, living life entirely on her own terms. She continues to glow with pride and contentment, surrounded by the love and affection of the life she has thoughtfully and intentionally created for herself.
Read More: Wanda Holloway: Where is the Cheerleader Mom Now?
