We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tiffany Hendra a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Tiffany, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
As a child, I would explore any avenue that cultivated my artistic expression from learning to sew to collaging my bedroom walls with magazine images to cutting my Barbie’s hair to give her an edge to tinkering with my dad’s old Canon camera. I started modeling at 14 which fulfilled so many artistic and creative pathways. The clothing and styling, hair and makeup, sets and emotional expression were all so fulfilling. I felt alive. I felt like my true self and knew I had to pursue it. At the same time, I applied for an art scholarship to college and was awarded it. University wasn’t for me and thrived more in the school of life and travel.
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.
The foundation of my life’s mission is to be a guide for women on their own empowerment, purpose and confidence journey. . Being in the fashion and modeling industry then eventually acting and TV hosting, my confidence was constantly treading on thin ice. It was an incessant battle vacillating between believing in myself and total insecurity. I was the absolute worst auditioner, but somehow managed to dig deep and discipline myself to pull through, get the call back, then the job.
During my teen years, I experienced deep trauma that instilled a sense of shame which made my confidence even more fragile. Once I began opening up about it, I quickly learned MANY women are hiding in shame. After healing and overcoming the past and deepening my Faith, I embarked on a mission-driven path to help other women do the same. Whether it’s coaching, collaborations with mission aligned companies, speaking or content creation — my message is the same. You are made for more and your past does not define you! The pain and lessons of the past will propel you into your purpose. When you get that vision for your life and you get tenacious in fulfilling it and serving others — which takes tremendous courage — your confidence naturally increases and you become unshakable. I truly desire this for ALL women.
In 2010, during the YouTube boom, I started a channel called “Sanctuary Of Style” geared to building confidence in women through beauty, style and spiritual fortitude. Week after week, this was my training ground as I committed to uploading each video not quite sure what I was doing. Passion drove the whole thing! I was a one woman show with help from my husband. He operated the camera and I taught myself the FinalCut Pro editing software. Women responded. They needed this guidance and inspiration. The mission and movement was born and I learned the importance of community and sisterhood. The bigger vision started coming into focus and I could see this becoming a full fledged TV show.
Little did I know, God had even bigger plans than I did. In 2014, we moved from LA to Dallas and I immediately began media coaching and leading workshops called “Rock The Camera”. Everyone wanted to know how I started a YouTube channel so I thought — why not teach it. Then, 6 months later, I was cast on the Bravo Network hit franchise, Real Housewives Of Dallas. Not only did I get to spotlight Sanctuary Of Style on the show, but I started my coaching practice and plugged it.
In 2018, The Coaching Sanctuary™ opened it’s doors and I grew my media and on-camera coaching to women’s empowerment life coaching. What makes TCS different is we blend the spiritual component of sharing your story or testimony with a woman’s overall empowerment journey and brand building. Quickly, I saw how terrified and emotional women were to use their voice and share their story for fear of what other’s thought. They had a burning desire to do it, but the fear was paralyzing them. I teach that the message is the superstar. Focus on the message and it takes the pressure off of you to have to ‘perform’.
We partner on this important ‘purpose path’ and go through the obstacles to overcome the fear, strengthen her spiritual fortitude and physical well being, polish her style and fill her empowerment tool box. In 2021, after the pandemic, I was led to open my first Zoom mastermind called “Queenmind: An Empowerment Experience for the Mission Driven Woman”. Women need the connection and support of other like-minded and like-hearted women on a similar journey. Often, It can be an isolated and lonely climb up the mountain, but it doesn’t have to be. We all need community, but the right community. I’m honored to grow and learn from these iron sharpening powerhouse women.
One of my favorite sayings is, “One woman can make a difference, but TOGETHER we can rock the world!”
I’m so grateful to have stepped into my greater life’s work and will continue to courageously commit to it.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Oh I love social media! Many have a love-hate relationship with it so if I can shed some light to help shift someone’s view and mindset of it. When I started my YouTube channel, Instagram and Facebook were also gaining traction. I began paying attention to the engagement on YouTube and how women were connecting — I knew I had to transfer that same energy to the other platforms. I knew it was my online “mission field”. I saw the bigger picture and how it was possible to reach more women globally.
Did I go through a bit of imposter syndrome and being worried of what people thought– yep, but quickly I realized it wasn’t about me. This was about serving. This was about the women that needed what I shared, taught and provided.
The consistency was also key for me. If I told the subscribers I was going to upload a new video each week, I kept my word. The integrity, the consistency and authenticity are crucial to building a community. The trust is built by you continuing to show up. I shared my journey, the transformation, the valleys and not just the mountaintop moments. Your people are out there looking for you! Your essence, experience, look, laugh, style, quirks, heart and soul will connect with those who need you. DO NOT try to emulate others on social media. Authenticity is your superpower! Oh and don’t get tripped up in the likes and numbers. Stay focused on the message and mission.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Aa big pivot came shortly after I got married in 2004. I had been on TV show after TV show, magazine covers and traveling the world. To say I was a workaholic is an understatement. I didn’t stop long enough too focus on my inner world, personal growth and healing. When I met my husband, it was the first time I could exhale and feel safe. It was shortly after I hit “rock bottom” from a near overdose. God had my attention!
I could not get an audition to save my life and my agents were perplexed. My identity was wrapped up in my career, but it had made me miserable. Now, I had to sit with myself and shift and figure out ‘what am I here for?’
With no gigs or auditions, I had to get a regular job for the first time in years. I started teaching a modeling class for teen girls in Burbank and volunteered at a homeless pregnancy shelter in Venice Beach. I also got a weekend job at a popular boutique in West Hollywood. On top of all that, I dabbled in my first network marketing company with wellness and healthy skincare. Notice the theme? ALL of this was training ground and opening me up to my bigger purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: tiffanyhendra.com
- Instagram: @tiffanyhendra
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheSanctuarywithTiffanyHendra
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanyhendra/
- Twitter: @tiffanyhendra
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/tiffanyhendrasos
Image Credits
n/a