Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Melanie Robinson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Melanie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
For many years, I had a fear of aging due to the messages I received from my mother and grandmother. My mom cried on her 30th birthday, and our family never knew my grandmother’s age until she passed away. Adding to these attitudes, I was keenly aware as a performer that getting older typically meant fewer roles for women. I spent a significant portion of my adult life fearing that I would not be considered relevant after the age of 50.
As that birthday approached, I grew tired of being afraid of something I couldn’t control and decided to face my fear head-on. I entered a local pageant where I was the oldest contestant, plus size, and with bright pink short hair. I knew I was NOT the typical “look” for a pageant competitor, and I wore that distinction with honor. To my surprise, I won a title, and I saw that there was an opportunity to inspire women to take a risk and show up in spaces not usually welcoming to them.
Five years later, I am a 4 time pageant titleholder, including the title of Ms. Voluptuous International. My platform has expanded to The Fearless and Fabulous Podcast, which, to date, has amplified the stories of 35 women from around the world to inspire women to thrive no matter their age or size.
If I hadn’t entered that local pageant, the podcast would not be in existence. I would not have appeared on a magazine cover, been awarded one of 100 Most Successful Women of 2024 by Gulf Coast Woman Magazine, or shared my story on several podcasts.
Today, at almost age 55, I am excited and looking forward to what is ahead. I broke the cycle of fear.
Melanie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Speaking Fearlessly and Fabulously with Melanie is a coaching program that helps clients find their unique voice and develop it with confidence. As a public speaking professor at several colleges over the years, I’ve found the main issue students have with speaking in front of others is that they haven’t identified WHY they feel doubtful and nervous. That “What If” fear is tackled head-on in my coaching program, versus telling clients to “fake it until they make it.”
My years as a singer have helped identify vocal issues that are holding my clientele back from sounding credible to prospective customers, employers, and pageant judges. Working on strengthening the voice is a service that most coaches are not able to offer, and I am proud I can offer a unique service.
Although my program is marketed most to pageant contestants, Speaking Fearlessly and Fabulously with Melanie is for anyone looking to build their communication and public speaking skills.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
During my time as a titleholder, I’ve seen a need for more voices of diverse groups of women to be amplified on various platforms and in mainstream media. As a teen (and for many years after), I RARELY saw plus-size, over 40, or non white women in positions of leadership or held up as role models. My podcast is one way I make a space for ALL women to be seen, heard, and celebrated. My mantra is, “if you can’t see her, you can’t be her,” and unlike my younger self, I want young women to see all types of women positively shown on all kinds of platforms, so they know what is possible for them!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A big lesson I have learned is, don’t let the fear of not knowing how stop you from starting! When I thought about starting my podcast, I was overwhelmed by the idea at first because I thought I had to do a lot of research about creating a podcast and buying a lot of fancy equipment. I also worried that I wouldn’t have many people interested to be guests, or that anyone would listen to it. But my coach Maria Giorlando told me, “you don’t have to know everything. Just start it.” Over a year and 35 episodes later, it’s growing and women I have never met reach out to me about being a guest!
It’s WAY too easy to talk ourselves out of pursuing something because we’ve never done it before. But I say, would you rather try, learn along the way, and grow – or just let the idea sit in your mind?
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @melaniegrayrobinsonofficial
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melgrayrobinsonmfa/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MelanieGrayRobinson
Image Credits
First image: Brandi Stage Photography
2nd image: Dawn V Gilmore VIP Photography