We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sarah Christianson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

I originally started posting on social media years ago to share my story of being
#UNST❤️PPABLE. At the age of 17, I was diagnosed with the first of five heart arrhythmias and underwent what would become the first of seven heart surgeries, including three pacemakers. I was told no to so many things that most people take for granted—like having children or living an active lifestyle. But I turned every no into a YES, and developed the motto of being #UNST❤️PPABLE to show others that we can overcome life’s obstacles by never giving up, keeping a positive attitude, and surrounding ourselves with a great support system.

From there, I started to adapt my social media to showcase a mixture of moments (motherhood and family), movement (fitness and lifting), and style (fashion and modeling). My goal is to show women, especially mothers, that we can feel confident in who we are and always keep chasing our dreams!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Sarah Christianson, the creator behind @sarahc_smiles, where I share a blend of style, strength, and motherhood to inspire women to feel confident in every chapter of life. My journey started from a deeply personal place: after being diagnosed at 17 with multiple heart arrhythmias, undergoing seven heart surgeries and living with three pacemakers, I adopted the motto
#UNST❤️PPABLE. It became my mission to show that we can turn life’s no’s into yes’s by staying positive and never giving up.

My content is a mix of moments (motherhood and family life), movement (fitness and weightlifting), and style (fashion and modeling). As a published model and a creator in the Athleta Creator Program, I aim to empower women to embrace who they are, chase their dreams, and live unapologetically.

What sets my brand apart is honesty and relatability. I don’t just share highlight reels; I share the real journey behind them. I’m most proud of the messages I get from women who say my posts helped them feel brave enough to wear something new, go back to the gym, or believe in themselves again. Ultimately, my goal is to create a space that feels like a friend cheering you on to be your strongest, most confident self.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Building my audience on social media has been a journey of authenticity, resilience, and connection. I didn’t start with the goal of growing numbers. I started by sharing my real story to be #UNST❤️PPABLE despite all I had been through. What surprised me most was how deeply people connected not just to my victories, but to my vulnerability: the raw moments, the setbacks, and how I kept going anyway.

Over time, I focused on three pillars that feel true to me: moments (motherhood and family life), movement (my love for fitness and lifting), and style (fashion and modeling). Sharing how these blend together helped me reach women, especially moms, who wanted to feel confident and seen.

My advice to anyone starting out? Show up as your real self. Consistency matters, but authenticity matters more. Don’t be afraid to share the messy parts of your story; that’s what truly builds connection. And most importantly: remember your why, it will keep you going long after the likes and follows come. One other piece of advice would be not to compare yourself to others, especially when you see accounts growing faster or larger than yours. I do not have a large following, but I cherish the followers I do have and remind myself those numbers on a screen don’t defy my story and my impact.

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

For me, it really comes down to my commitment to showing up every day as authentically me. I choose to share the good, the bad, and everything in between, because you never know how your story might impact someone else. I believe that honesty and vulnerability build true connection, and over time, that’s what helped shape my reputation within my corner of the internet.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahc_smiles?igsh=MWdpYnRqM21jM3FjNA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://community.athleta.com/a/sarah.c?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwLUONBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpz6MhOFHPCTO6LG2G4SVEjGSRL5L7r4oRMAsfmahxJVDmjPJ9uUYq6kcWQtz_aem_G9rnSPoSeN1JDPcJI13MuQ

  https://linktr.ee/sarahc_smiles?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwLUOONleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpxx2CqUqQK-i0vOtYuVsuWYtYdXdYttte4nRqyShccbusoa1CDVEc37dLcp9_aem_-TK2LV5hfqc5QNB-Z3xUXA

  https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahc_smiles?_t=ZT-8xjmkKB6DhP&_r=1

Image Credits

Reaction Photography Studios-modeling photos.