We were lucky to catch up with Adriene Holt recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Adriene, thanks for joining us today. Can you tell us a story about a time you failed?

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.” Marianne Williamson

My favorite quote of all time…
Growing up with big dreams but little business guidance, my path to entrepreneurship has been defined by resilience, grit, and a refusal to give up. With no mentors in my chosen career field and no financial support to fall back on, I navigated the challenges of starting businesses on my own. My journey has been far from smooth, and failure has been a constant companion along the way, shaping who I am today.

One of the biggest challenges I faced came when I made the bold decision to move to Los Angeles, hoping to expand my business and take it to the next level. The city promised opportunity, but it also delivered one of my greatest failures. Shortly after arriving, I was scammed by an Airbnb listing. In an instant, I lost my money, my home, and much of the security in business I had spent years building. To make matters worse, I was in a new city with little support system, trying to start over from scratch while dealing with the emotional and financial aftermath of the situation.

It’s so easy to have friends and people to be there for you when things are good and you can help everyone or they can live the lifestyle with you but when the tables turn true colors are shown. During this time I lost so many relationships with family and friends —some people distanced themselves when things got hard, some used it as an opportunity to finally humiliate and hurt me because I was down and out. At the same time, I gained new perspective for the friends and relationships I had; who believed in me even when I doubted myself. Those relationships helped pull me through the darkest times. Though I struggled to rebuild, I realized that failure wasn’t the end of my story—it was a stepping stone.

The experiences of betrayal, financial loss, and personal hardships taught me invaluable lessons about resilience, self-reliance, and the importance of a strong support network. Each setback helped me grow—not only as a businessperson but as an individual.

Though the odds may have not always been in my favor , I’ve come to understand that success is about persistence and learning from every failure along the way. Failure is not final, and neither is success; both are simply steps in the journey. Today, I continue to build on my dreams, stronger than ever, fueled by the lessons learned from my hard times. I have launched in a new city and taken back control of my story! You can’t keep a strong independent woman down for long. As long as I have my brains, my heart, my charm, and my hustle the world is mine!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My passion for the fashion, events, and hospitality industry began in childhood, inspired by my family’s involvement in the field and the allure of TV and movies that captivated my imagination. This passion eventually led me to create Bordeaux Model and Talent Agency & Lianna Michelle Luxury, offering top-tier model & talent management and event & concierge services, including personal and business concierge solutions. What sets us apart is our commitment to professionalism and an unwavering luxury standard. We’re incredibly proud of our longevity and perseverance, having survived challenging times like COVID, economic downturns, and even relocating across states, all while continuing to thrive and deliver exceptional service.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Unlearning a survival mode mindset, as it is a transformative process. Living in survival mode often means constantly being on guard, expecting the worst, and doing whatever it takes to get by. While it may be necessary in difficult situations, staying in that mindset can keep you captive long after the challenges have passed. It can lead to hypervigilance, emotional detachment, and a reluctance to trust others, leaving you guarded and isolated. Breaking free from this mindset involves recognizing that survival is no longer the goal—thriving is. It requires learning to trust again, embrace vulnerability, and shift focus from merely getting by to living fully and openly.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Building a reputation in the luxury industry as an entrepreneur requires a blend of excellence, exclusivity, and authenticity. It starts with delivering exceptional quality and consistently exceeding client expectations. In the luxury market, details matter—whether it’s in the quality of your products, services, or the personalized experiences we provide. Networking and building relationships with high-end clients, influencers, and other industry leaders is essential, as word of mouth and trust are critical in this space. Brand identity also plays a huge role; aligning your business with sophistication, prestige, and exclusivity will help position it within the luxury market. Lastly, integrity and reliability are key; delivering on promises and maintaining high standards of professionalism helps cultivate a loyal clientele that values our brand.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://LiannaMichelleLuxury.com
• Instagram: _kissmybeauty_
• Facebook: Adriene Michelle
• Linkedin: Adriene Michelle
• Youtube: Adriene Michelle

Image Credits

Photographer
Rapheal
@thecamkilla