We’ve hit an exciting time in society. Female trailblazers are setting the stage for style, accomplishments, self-empowerment, and more. The leaders of these movements aren’t using chameleon-like skills to fit into standard roles–they’re pushing through by being their most authentic selves. 

The best part is that these leaders don’t have fame and fortune behind them. Their power and influence come directly from their ability to embrace who they are and move ahead imbued with confidence and their own personal flair. 

Making a statement with style

The four women we instantly thought of for this series have a glow about them. There’s an inner fire that says so much about who they are and how comfortable they are inside their own skin. 

Throwing anyone in front of a camera to talk about their personal sense of style and their life journey can be intimidating and nerve-wracking. Yet these women approached the task with self-assured grace.

That’s because they’re confident in their own abilities and personalities. They effectively use their outer image to directly reflect their inner personality, dreams and goals, and their vision. Whether they do it intentionally or not.

Brittney Ayona Clemons (@ayonatheartist), a model, singer, content creator and entrepreneur, summed it up best, “When I walk into a room, I want to make a statement, and I want everybody to know, like, okay, she’s landed.” 

It’s a powerful statement when you think about it. She likes to command a room by her presence alone. If that’s not an expression of self-confidence, we don’t know what is.

Who are you?

If you’re set on making that sort of an impression and letting the world know what they’re in for from first glance, the first step is defining yourself. Here’s the interesting part, the way you define yourself might not be the way the rest of the world sees you. Stick true to your definition. 

When interviewing Chelsea Debo (@imchebo), a noted actress, model, yoga teacher, and business owner, we asked her to describe herself. Her answer, “eclectic, funky, and wild.” While we see that, we totally do, it’s not the first words we’d come up with. 

Chelsea has a retro vibe that’s era-fluid. She floats effortlessly from one decade to the next, and while that fits the eclectic side of her, we see grace and elegance there too. 

It’s interesting that her vision is more dynamic and vibrant. By sticking to how she sees herself and outwardly displaying that, she’s fallen into such a perfect niche that her inner beauty really shines through. This is the power you have when you decide to be true to yourself.

As you grow your style changes

Heed our warning here, the style you have today and the way you feel right now might not be an accurate reflection of your true self next month, and it certainly won’t be fitting ten years from now. 

We learned this lesson when we asked Mandi Williams (@mandicurls), a model, dancer, influencer and brand curator if she feels she’s found her personal style. “It’s always in progress, I feel like everybody’s style is always evolving, nobody should ever stay the same.”

What a great lesson. There’s no reason to be embarrassed about your past style, and you certainly don’t want to stay exactly the same, you want to go where your soul takes you. If you truly trust yourself, then you can listen to your inner voice with complete confidence.

Echoing Mandi’s statement, Malia Bautista (@hapaactress)an actress and international model, reflected on how her hair is a method of self-expression. She stated, “through time it’s changed. Now I’m older, and it’s pretty much relaxed and low maintenance, which is kind of my personality right now.” 

There are no excuses or apologies with Malia, she has embraced that time and life have changed her and she’s found a way to slide her most authentic self into a style and routine that fits her life beautifully.

Final thoughts

It’s your turn to shine and be a trailblazer. Are you willing to dig deep into your inner self to see who you really are? Once you let go of any false conceptions and that desire to fit a mold, you’ll break free and shine a light on the way for others to follow.

In chatting with our trailblazers, we were wowed by their powerful sense of personal style and joie de vivre. But what most impressed us was their ability to embrace who they are. 

Be the trailblazer you were meant to be. Your inner voice is talking to you–are you ready to listen?