We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alexandra Meredith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Alexandra, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
I was fortunate to be raised by two parents that love me unconditionally. I grew up in a Christian household where Christ has always been the center of my life. My mother was a wedding photographer and she taught me everything I know when it comes to taking a photo, to working Adobe Photoshop.
My father has always been in electronic sales, and it was always extremely fascinating watch him succeed at doing what he loves. He taught me how to work in business, down to giving a solid handshake. Some of my fondest memories with my dad regarding career inspiration was listening how he took business calls, and he showed me how to build a resume.
When I was a freshman in high school, my parents separated. It took me awhile to get used to change. What is so commendable about them is how mature and kind they were to each other, and they still are. That is the definition of ‘grace’. Both of my parents raised me to be mentally strong, to never give up, to forgive each other, and to always be kind.
When I was 18, I expressed to my parents I wanted to move to Los Angeles. They both did everything in their power to move me across the country from Charlotte, North Carolina to Los Angeles. I was able to attend college at FIDM.
My parents talents, and their demeanor in life inspires me every day. Every heartbreak i’ve had, every challenge, and every struggle, my parents have been there. Not to just support, but to love me. As I show up to work every day, I take my talents and skills i’ve learned and hope to inspire others.
Alexandra, 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?
In order for me to talk about what I do in life today, I will need to introduce you to the mind of Alexandra Meredith.
My name is Alexandra Meredith, and I am 28 years old. Originally from North Carolina with solid southern roots, I’ve always had a big city mindset. My dream at 17 was to move to California, and I made that happen in 2014 to attend the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM). I graduated in 2018 with an Associates Degree in Marketing and Beauty Industry Management.
I am a Writer, Plastic Surgeon Assistant, Mental Health Advocate, and former Model. I have been working in Plastic Surgery for over 7 years.
As a child I was diagnosed with Attention deficit disorder (ADD), Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and a generalized Anxiety/ Panic Disorder. Growing up I had people tell me that my health issues were excuses, and that I would never make it in the world of business. So I decided to prove everyone wrong. I took those health issues and used them as a strength. As my superpower. I use my ADD and ADHD to continuously learn different talents. What I have taken from having Anxiety is how I use it an an ally rather than an enemy. There is a time when you just get angry at anxiety and say, “you know what, I’m going to use this anxiety to fuel me”. When you can’t control what’s happening, challenge yourself to control how you respond to what’s happening. That’s where your power is.
Learning that I am not alone with these struggles, what helped me heal was to write. So I started an everyday blog called “Living Battle Ready” and launched my very own website (www.alexandrameredith.com)
As a former model, I had lots of amazing opportunities. Sadly everything came with a price, and I mentally could not handle that career. Before the fashion industry because more inclusive, Models had to be a Size 0-2. I felt so much pressure to be thin, because in my eyes I looked overweight in photos. I ended up succumbing to unhealthy habits such as bulimia, body dysmorphia, and abusing my prescribed ADHD medication because it kept me from eating.
On the biggest photoshoot I had in my career at age 22, I passed out on set due to malnourishment. I was 89 lbs and was taken to the hospital. Seeking the help I needed changed me for the better. After a difficult breakup, issues with dependency on ADHD medication, and living with body dysmorphia, I have retired from modeling and focused solely on my mental health, as well as sharing my experiences with others as best as I can.
Los Angeles has both broken me down and built me up into the woman I am today. From dating, overcoming dependance to certain medication, anxiety, depression, and healing from sexual assault, I have taken my everyday diary and actively turned it into a self-help novel I plan to release in 2025 called “Unbreakable.”
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I remember waking up in the middle of the night in early 2014 with a guy I was seeing and he tried to rape me in my sleep. There’s no easy way of saying that. He was 32, and I was 18. He was the head chef of my very first job at a restaurant. I was their hostess.
You know when you meet a guy, and he’s absolutely annoying but extremely charming in a way? I wanted to date him. Not because I liked him, but because he seemed desired by many women. We were in an abusive relationship for 3 years. It started out small, with cruel comments and my appearance. Then it became physical. I was a virgin when we started dating and I made a promise to God and myself that I would stay celibate until I was ready to have an intimate physical relationship. This guy, however, did not agree and told me that adults have sex, and I was a child and needed to give something to him sexually. So I gave in. I broke my promise to God and to myself.
It’s the middle of the night, and his phone was ringing and ringing and he was a drunk so naturally he was passed out. I looked at the cover of the phone and it was a girl saying she had the Ecstasy and Cocaine he wanted. I knew he was an alcoholic but I didn’t know about the drugs.
I spent a summer going to bars with him but waiting in the car because I was underage. Then i realized he was not going in the bars to drink, it was for drug deals. Ladies and Gentleman, this is the moment you need to walk away from something like this. I should’ve left after he attempted rape.
The end of 2014 I moved to Los Angeles for college. I thought we could try long distance. I stopped going to church because I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to hear what God was going to say through the Pastors. I was ashamed of who I was. Forcing my mom to spent her money she didn’t have, she flew me home from California to North Carolina every other week. This was not to see her, it was to see him. That night I slept over at his place was when he attacked me.
He asked for sex and I said, “no”. That’s when he grabbed me by the neck and screamed, “This is what adults do so stop being a bitch and give me something.” I said ‘no’ again and walked to the bathroom and that’s when he threw his glass beer at my head, pushed me out of the apartment, and threw me out on the street.
I returned to Los Angeles the next morning, not mentioning anything to my parents. When I got back to my apartment in West Hollywood, I dropped to the ground and fainted. I was in excruciating pain in my lower stomach. There was some left over medication from my wisdom teeth removal I kept, but when I opened my bottle, it was all gone. My boyfriend took my pain medication when I wasn’t looking.
So I was rushed to the hospital. I was alone. I had no family, no community. I was terrified. I found out it was an ovarian cyst. Which is somewhat normal with women.
Returning back to my apartment after getting released from the ER, I found the strength to end my relationship and started therapy. I am still in therapy, but the difference now is that I now know what love truly is. I know how to love someone properly, and in return I keep my values strong. I made a list of “non negotiables” of things I will not tolerate in a relationship. I hope someday, If I am lucky to have children that I can teach them how to love someone right.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Rejection is protection. And that if it is meant to be it will come to you. Sure, you can have that mindset, but if you don’t put in the work, you’re just gong to be miserable.
One recurring thing I’ve noticed is how much I’ve been rejected from situations and I thought the world was against me. I was let go from a job in 2019, and was turned away from a huge mission trip that I really wanted to go on with my former church.
I was livid. Haven’t you ever wanted something so badly? Or you finally feel like you have your life together then it just all falls apart?
Maybe it’s not what it seems. Your life isn’t falling apart, you’re just looking at it from a different perspective.
Sometimes the rejection you are facing is protection from something else. I’ve noticed that with everything that’s been going on in my life. If you’re feeling rejected from anything just know that you could just be protected from something so much worse. It’s all in your perspective.
If I could give any small tip for you guys if you’re reading this and have been rejected somehow. Whether it’s happened with a job, a relationship, or an opportunity. I would say don’t go backwards into habits and situations you’ve outgrown. You’re propelling forward for a reason.
If you feel like you’re not propelling forward at all, take a step back and think of what you could do differently. If no matter what you’re doing is not working, then what you wanted is not for you, and that is okay. When you let go of what is not meant to be, you clear a path for the good stuff to find you.
Happiness can also be found in helping others. We make a living by what we get, but we make a LIFE by what we GIVE.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alexandrameredith.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexmeredith_/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-meredith-077196107
Image Credits
Photos by Jonathan Moore & Tiger Souvannakoumane