We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bridgett Burrick Brown a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Bridgett, appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

The inspiration for the Beyond Beauty Project came from my life journey, societal observations, and professional experiences. Growing up in the Midwest, I balanced competitive dancing with family responsibilities due to my mother’s battle with multiple sclerosis. Being the only daughter in the house, I often helped my Mom get dressed and do her hair and makeup – during these intimate times, I witnessed early on in my life the impact of our appearance on a woman’s self-esteem and mental health as her body changed significantly due to the MS. This early realization sparked the inception of the Beyond Beauty Project. At 19, I began working as a secretary to help pay for my college, eventually giving modeling a try to see if I could fund it easily. Before I knew it, I was living in Miami, Paris, and NYC – but although things were going well for me work-wise, from the beginning of my career, I grappled with the industry’s relentless focus on perfectionism.
My years working as a model is a big part of starting this project because it showed me how much importance the industry places on looks rather than deeper aspects. The emphasis on appearance often made me uncomfortable, as I was frequently urged to lose weight and often referred to as the “healthy model” on set at a size four.
These experiences fueled my interest and determination to educate myself about our bodies and mental health. I embarked on a self-education journey, studying personal training, holistic nutrition, and Ayurveda medicine. I engaged in talk therapy, read self-help books, and participated in self-love workshops. This intimate connection with using my body professionally, combined with in-depth studies on the mind-body relationship, gave me a profound understanding of the holistic nature of our being.
During what seemed like a moment in my life where all was good in my world, I lost my mother, father, and brother, followed by multiple devastating miscarriages in just a few short years – the last being identical twin girls at 5.5 months. During such a pivotal and vulnerable time in my life, the ask from my modeling agency to lose weight was the final domino – it shattered me. This was the breaking point that ignited the birth of the Beyond Beauty Project.
Transitioning away from the modeling industry and towards BBP, my dedication to transforming beauty standards and setting a positive example intensified through my healing. I promised to redefine society’s perspective on beauty, emphasizing intrinsic worth beyond appearance. This determination was fueled by my aspiration for my daughter to grow up unburdened by oppressive societal norms, confidently embracing her authentic self. My goal is to break the cycle of generational trauma by promoting self-worth and healing, acknowledging that genuine beauty emanates from a sound mind, body, and spirit. It became clear that true beauty transcends the superficial and lies in how we feel, highlighting the importance of deliberate self-care and love.
The Beyond Beauty Project is a platform dedicated to reshaping our self-worth from within, educating and empowering individuals to embrace their unique and innate beauty. I offer keynotes and workshops that provide a safe space for conversations about self-worth beyond harmful beauty norms and societal expectations, fostering self-love, confidence, and empowerment –encouraging participants to actively engage in their journey toward holistic well-being.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

A turning point happened after a rock bottom time in my life. Coping with the loss of my mother, father, and brother and enduring multiple miscarriages in a very short time compelled me to reassess the direction of my life. As a model, the constant pressure to conform to industry standards clashed significantly with my values, mainly because I was now a mother and role model for my daughter. The pivotal moment became clear during a conversation with my modeling agency, where they asked me to lose weight. At 41, amidst recent heartaches and the responsibilities of motherhood, I deliberately chose to embrace my authentic, real, and raw self – I recognized the need for time and space to heal, free from the judgment of the industry. This decision was the catalyst for the creation of the Beyond Beauty Project—a movement that rebels against societal beauty norms. I wouldn’t step back into the confining box of perfectionism, where arbitrary standards dictate our self-worth. My project has evolved into my life’s mission, dedicated to redefining beauty based on self-love, self-worth, and an inner connection. My hope is for it to serve as a beacon of hope, from transforming pain into purpose and struggles into strength. Through this journey, I discovered resilience and the power to say no to perfectionism while embracing our inherent worth, which is never determined by the size of one’s body. Today, the Beyond Beauty Project stands for celebrating our true selves and the intrinsic beauty within us all.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Building my social media audience has been a genuine and authentic journey rooted in vulnerability and a desire to connect and heal myself. I started the Beyond Beauty Project during a challenging time, facing personal losses and industry pressures.
When sharing, I chose honesty, sharing my struggles openly, including battles with deep depression and body image. This vulnerability not only helped in my healing but also resonated with others in similar situations. As I’m still growing my audience, it’s incredible to see more people joining in on this journey of knowing our self-worth is our human right – we are advocating for self-love, acceptance, and mental well-being, while people seek connection and understanding in those areas.
For those starting to build their social media presence, here’s my advice :):
Just start now, not when you are perfect ;)!
Know that authenticity and vulnerability are your greatest assets in connecting with others.
Stay true to your values!
Stay honest!
Let your passion and purpose shine through your content.
Be authentic; be you!!
Lastly, engage with your audience by responding to comments, seeking input, and participating in conversations. Authentic engagement cultivates a sense of community and a deeper connection to your message. I always want our community to know we hear them because it’s vital that we all feel like we are doing this together! We are always stronger together!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.beyondbeautyproject.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond.beauty.project/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgett-burrick-brown-88ab86207/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzxgaukmriG3j1EuyzM1Eow
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/bridgettburrickbrown/

Image Credits
first headshot is Susan Bowlus workshop with preteens (im wearing black tshirt) – Sophie Sahara workshop images where I am in blue dress – Darren Ornitz modeling photo – Emin Kadi