Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lauren Jones. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lauren, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Love Yourself Inside Out started with a dream to compete in my first pageant. I manifested it into reality by believing in myself and learning to love everything about me. I’ll let you in on a little secret; self-love takes work, but if you believe you are worth it, the investment always pays off.

But let’s rewind a little bit to explain exactly how I started my self-love revolution.

I’ve always considered myself a strong, confident individual, but not even I am immune to letting judgment and negative self-talk take over. Over time the things people said started to add up. My first memory of judgment is from the 3rd grade when a random mom at a school fashion show commented about my size and was surprised I was modeling in the show. BTW, I killed it on the runway. I have other similar memories sprinkled throughout the years. I wasn’t much of a follower, and coolness didn’t impress me – not exactly the best recipe to fit in. I was the subject of jokes, bullying, and hurtful comments.

One day there was a perceived threat to my life. The incident eventually resulted in being diagnosed with PTSD. I recently went through treatment, where I learned just how much my life had changed after that day. Everything I went through created a domino effect that led to an eating disorder and years’ worth of self-hate.

I realized that others might relate to my story. They may be able to relate to the days I cried for hours before having to leave the house, or the times I did everything I could to avoid seeing myself in the mirror. I let my worth be defined by how I thought others viewed me.

I started to invest a lot of time in myself and rewriting my narrative of who I was. I worked hard to develop self-love and dug deep to understand what made me unique. Once I had a firm grasp of who I was and what I wanted to show the world, I challenged myself to do the ultimate self-love test (for me)! I got a pageant coach and signed up for my first pageant ever. During the kickoff call with my coach, she asked me what I was passionate about, as I needed a platform to compete. I shared my story with her, and from that discussion, Love Yourself Inside Out was started. At first, I worked on my social media, but I wanted to do more – I needed a platform to share more than a few words and a picture, so I launched a podcast! My podcast has been running for over a year, and it has been so rewarding to hear stories from listeners about their self-love journies. I share it all, maybe too much, in hopes that I can help at least one person love themselves.

If you’re wondering, my pageant journey has been so rewarding. Walking across the stage during the first part of the competition was exhilarating. It was a confidence boost, unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Everyone I’ve met in the pageant world has been so supportive and encouraging. I am out in public interacting with the community, I have keynote speeches ready to deliver to a group, and I’ve built resources to help grow self-love. This is just the beginning. I have many goals for Love Yourself Inside Out and am excited for the future.

I am here to build a community where self-love is everything! Where each individual feels empowered to live authentically and let their uniqueness show. A space where we can share our self-love journey to empower others, creating a ripple effect that spreads positivity, acceptance, kindness, and empowerment.

Join me in spreading the power of self-love!

Lauren, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi, I’m Lauren!

I am a corporate career girl (marketer) who loves what she does. However, I crave so much more – which is why I have my side hustle, Love Yourself Inside Out. M-F you can find me building marketing strategies and campaigns. After work on the weekends, I’m busy recording podcasts and interacting with the community through appearances and service as Mrs. EPIC Ambassador. As a titleholder, I have a unique opportunity to lead by example and support my community by serving our nonprofits and bringing awareness to mental health and what it means to love yourself inside out.

Outside of my career and podcasting, you can find me at CrossFit (the best way to start the day), hanging with my husband and cat, taking long walks to clear my head while listening to reality TV podcasts, sipping champs celebrating almost anything, or cozied up in a chair reading a book.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I believe in building up your network and connecting with people who are into the same things you are. I have been invited into groups and clubs that have benefited my growth and ways of thinking. I am not an entrepreneur at heart, so I need all the advice and guidance I can get for growing my side hustle. Surrounding myself with women in the grind of building brands has given me much more than any books I’ve read. If you can find a mentor, the relationship will be invaluable. You need to be prepared with an agenda, know what you want to learn from them, and be open about what work you are willing to do. They don’t have a ton of extra time because they are busy building their brands, so they’ll want to invest in people who make things happen and are clear about their business and goals.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Since the beginning, I’ve been 100% authentic to who I am. From the stories I share on my podcast to what I share on social is the real deal. If someone doesn’t like what they see, it’s okay – I know I’m not for everyone. Even during my brand photoshoot, I made sure to wear outfits from my closet, that my hair and makeup were something I’d wear any day, and that the props included were all mine. That way when someone meets me in person, they know who to expect. I make sure my interactions are intentional and beneficial to both parties. I also listen without judgment or wanting to respond. I show up consistently and try to hold any obligations and commitments I make. Overall, I put the manners I learned growing up to good use and make an effort to show up for every conversation and interaction I have.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mrslaurenelizabethjones.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrslaurenelizabethjones/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MrsLaurenElizabethJones/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joneslaurenelizabeth/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtYGIS73dKf2ftGrs195ABg

Image Credits
Photo: Catie Ronquillo Hair & Makeup: Kay Castro