Where did you grow up and what was your childhood like? Did you have any particular experiences/stories that shaped your adult life?

I grew up in Newburgh, NY – which is a town and city about 1.5 hours north of NYC, where I’ve been since 2005. I lived in one house for 17 years – next door to my Great Aunt, who was more like my Aunt – and within one mile from all of my Mom’s side of the family. I shared a room with my sister, 2 years my elder until I was around 15. I then have an eldest sister, 7 years my senior.

My parents separated and divorced when I was around 10/11, and growing up in a woman only household definitely affected me in many ways. Additionally, I believe being raised alongside two sisters who are very different from myself, by a strong-headed woman, in a very diverse area, with the mindset that it’s what you *do* not what you look like that matters – truly taught me to be the person I am today and do the work I am doing.

What is something you wish you would’ve realized earlier in your life?

I wish I would have realized earlier that I am not intimidating – men are intimidated – this reframing takes the issue away from women and places it where it belongs.

What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise?

I’m not sure this counts as a recommendation – but my biggest peeves with the Fashion Industry (capital F I) is hearing that plus size clothing is “too expensive” to make, that imagery needs to be “aspirational”, and your customer has to be a super specific fictional, singular human being.

Tell me about one of the darker periods you’ve experienced in life. How you came out of it and what you learned from it?

Without getting into too many specifics, I had a pretty tough time from 2016-2017 – both personally and professionally. And I really had to actively learn to be easy on myself, gentle with myself, understand that I am doing the best I can and that’s all I can do. I am a recovering perfectionist with anxiety – so it’s a lot of work.

What is one thing that you do that you feel has been the biggest contributor to your success so far?

I think the one thing I do that contributes to my success is focus on helping others. Before launching SmartGlamour, I was unsure on how to create a fashion design career that I felt confident in, felt proud of – but once I realized my fashion design skills could be used as an act of service, I felt compelled to create the company. I always say that SmartGlamour is person forward before it is fashion forward – without the messaging behind the company, the company would not exist.

What is your morning routine?

We are night owls in this household – and are typically awake until 2-3 am. So we wake up somewhere between 9 and 11 am depending on the day. I don’t have a specific morning routine – I know that is a standard entrepreneur cliche, but not for me. I drink coffee, I answer emails, I make to-do lists – but it’s not the same every day.

What habit or behavior that you have pursued for a few years has most improved your life?

Learning to relax – more specifically, create the time to relax.

What are your strategies for being productive and using your time most efficiently?

Fortunately – productivity and efficiency is the part that comes easy to me. I am an overachiever, to my detriment, so I don’t necessarily have strategies to be productive. I am impatient and driven – so when I decide to do something, I work until it’s done. The passion behind my interests definitely helps me achieve my goals.

What book(s) have influenced your life the most? Why?

I suppose I would have to say any and everything by Margaret Atwood. I, unfortunately, do not set aside enough time to read nowadays – or in the past 5+ years really. But, when I did have more time, I bought and read everything Atwood released. Handmaid’s Tale further opened my eyes as a budding teenage feminist. Her short stories are also incredible.

Do you have any quotes you live by or think of often?

I have a few quotes tattooed on me that are mantras of a sort – “To thine ownself be true” and “When in doubt, love.” Another current personal favorite is “I am enough and I have enough time.”