women empowering women

Coming off of International Women's Day I decided to take it upon myself to reach out to some of the women in my circle, whether through social media, family, friends and various community members, and ask if they would be willing to share their thoughts. These women have influenced and empowered me, amongst many others, through their experiences, journeys and straight up honesty with life. For me they have brought truth, joy, strength and love without hesitation. They have taught me to not be afraid what others think or say, to be true to yourself and to never give up on dreams. Some have seen me and picked me up in my darkest moments but have also seen me at some of my best and happiest places. I have never once left their presence or scrolled past their social media content and felt less than; it's always been a sense of love, happiness, motivation or encouragement. They exude these not just by what they say or post but also through their actions and the way they live their life. In their own unique ways they have touched and impacted my life for the better and I am forever thankful to each and every one of them. I hope as you read what they have to share that you too are impacted and empowered. Women are the future and it starts with us.

Courtney

I'm Courtney! I’m obsessed with color and lifting other people up so I created colormecourtney: a fashion, culture & lifestyle site. I currently live and work out of out my NYC apartment with my fiancé Paris & our French bulldog, Waffles. My mom has influenced and empowered me for sure. She exposed me to a lot and that influenced and impacted me a ton. She always always worked to empower me, support me and surround me with strong women. I hope we see more women who support and uplift each other. More women who are working together instead of competing against each other, as well as more women believing and rallying behind each other, this goes for all women.

Instagram: @colormecourtney

Website: www.colormecourtney.com

Mary

My name is Mary and I am married to the only man I have ever kissed, Andy, and he is literally my rock. I started dating him my senior year of high school and I have been smitten ever since. We have two boys; Branson (13) and Tucker (9).They eat, breathe and sleep hunting and fishing! I love to be outside on a beach or by the pool. Music has always been my passion. Leading worship has always been my calling, until the Lord reminded me that I was more than just my voice and walked me out of the box I had put myself in and into the passion that I have today, women's ministry, specifically women's Bible studies. My mama has and always will be my biggest influence. She has always poured the word of the Lord into my life and into my heart. She is the reason I love Jesus. She has modeled the life of a Jesus follower to me throughout my entire life. She has made it a priority to spend time in the word, to study it, to look beyond the words and into the story and the heart of God. She is my main influence. My second influence is Priscilla Shirer. Whereas she has never poured into me on a face to face personal level, when I walked into a convention center to hear her teach, she ignited a fire, a "what if" in my soul which led me to my passion of teaching Bible studies today. At the moment I have two favorite Bible verses. 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." and Ephesians 3:20 "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us." In the future, beginning today, I hope to see a community of women that link arms with one another not just to lift them up, that's superficial. We must lift them up to Christ! We can sing their praises, compliment them, and encourage them all day but if we fail to point them to their inheritance in Christ, the truth of who they are to the King, we have ultimately failed them. I would hope for women to be empowered with the word of God on their lips in their homes, jobs, schools, during girls night out, while on dates and teenage sleepovers. Then, and only then, will we really be empowering women.

Tresha

Hi there! My name is Tresha and I am a first generation Filipino American. I was born in Manila, Philippines and moved to the US with my family at the age of three. I have an amazing husband of 5 years and a 6 month old baby girl. I went to the University of South Carolina and was in the first multicultural sorority in the south, Zeta Sigma Chi. I’ve been working for Greystar, a global property management company for six years, stabilizing two lease-up communities and is currently working on my third! My hobbies include spending time with my little family, Disney and hiking. My passions are advocating for racial equality and diversity. However, after my daughter’s birth I’ve become more passionate about normalizing motherhood! Who has influenced me? TWO WORDS: Blake Lively. Not only does she kill it with her power suit game but she’s someone who’s strongly passionate about advocating for gender equality and consistently talks about child exploitation in sex trafficking and child pornography. These are all things that I align with and think are just as important! My favorite quote is another thing that I am going to defer to something Blake Lively had said in an article I read a couple years ago. “Nobody’s going to fight for you as much as you fight for yourself.” I feel like this rings so true during International Women’s Day and it’s a daily reminder to empower yourself. I hope to see major change in how women are perceived in our culture. I want us to normalize the idea that women are able to say what they want without repercussions or stereotypes given. We’ve been placed in such a specific mold made by male counterparts—submissive, fragile, moody, etc. and when we don’t fit that mold, we’re labeled too bossy, aggressive, too confident, etc. These stereotypes are old news and I feel like we’re just now scratching the surface with climbing above these labels! There’s been one too many instances where women are shamed for being goal oriented and ultimately labeled ‘way too bossy’. I hope to see women pave roads to becoming CEO in workplaces. I want to see companies where women outnumber men in significant roles. I love the company I work for however, it’s a devastating to see where we’ve been outranked by men in these positions. In 2019, I was able to participate in speaking on a panel for WAM, a world class organization and educational summit designed to connect, uplift and applaud powerful women in real estate. That was my first time ever experiencing anything that focused solely on women in this industry and it felt so empowering. Gender diversity is only growing but, I can’t wait to see more opportunities of growth in the future!

Emilee

My name is Emilee Best-Schildt and my passion is teaching! I recently got married to the love of my life, Camren. When I was a little girl, I always dreamed of my wedding day. Our wedding was everything I dreamed of and more! We are truly blessed with amazing family and friends to celebrate life with. I have always looked up to my parents. I was an only child growing up and being raised by the BEST parents is truly a blessing. My world was rocked when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer my junior year of college. But, she is a fighter and is now cancer-free! She is one of the strongest women I know; I have learned how to be strong through her eyes. My favorite quote is:

"There's a day when you realize that you're not just a survivor, you're a warrior. You're tougher than anything life throws your way." - Brooke Davis

I hope to see women gain more self-confidence. How can you love others if you can't love yourself? As women, we need to love ourselves on the inside and out. Once you love yourself, everything that was missing falls into place.

Miranda

I am a Disney-lovig theater nerd who lives in the Midwest with my husbnd and dog! I spend a lot of time working either at my full-time job at a Performing Arts Center or my other jobs as a travel agent or with my small business Plan the Magic! I like to stay busy so I love to also create content for Instagram and YouTube. When I am just hanging out you can typically find me playing Animal Crossing! I'm empowered by so many people but I think I've been influenced the most by my friends. They always inspire me to do more and be the best I can be at what I do! A favorite quote I want to share is:

"You've made it through 100% of your bad days."

I would love to see a world where every woman had a seat at the table. I would love to see all women believed in, listened to and stood up for. Women truly do run this world!!

Instagram Accounts: @mirandatheunicorn , @planthemagic , @themagicalmiranda

Plan the Magic Website: https://www.themagicalmiranda.com/planthemagic

Blog Website: www.themagicalmiranda.com

YouTube Channel: https://www.themagicalmiranda.com/youtube

**BLOG, PODCAST, PLANNER PURCHASES AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS ARE ALL FOUND ON www.themagicalmiranda.com **

Julie

Julie Powell Caldwell

Wife to Clif, mom to Sydney (Josh), Sally (Destin), Harrison(Maggie), and Hudson (Sara)

Jubie to Cory, Camden, Brooklyn, Charlotte (due May 2021) and Parker (Due July 2021)

My all-time favorite role is the one I have now! Jubie! Everyone told me it is the best but I’m not sure you can explain it until it really happens. My dream from very early on was to be a wife and mother. My husband Clif and I didn’t meet until my senior year at Columbia College. Honestly, I never dated anyone else before that for more than a few months. The Lord had a plan for us! We married in 1987. At this stage of my life (I’m 56), I enjoy my family whenever I can and I LOVE serving at my church in the women’s ministry, worship ministry, and wherever else I can get involved. I also volunteer and serve on the board for The Dream Center of Pickens County. We do all we can for the homeless and underprivileged of Pickens County. Throughout my life the Lord has graciously placed wonderful people who have encouraged me, challenged me, and empowered me to be all He created me to be. My parents would be at the top of that list. They gave all their daughters and their son the gift of pointing us to Jesus for all our needs in life. Somehow they made all 5 of us think we were “the favorite” and I never doubted that there was anything I couldn’t accomplish. They were examples of joy, kindness, and generosity that really has set the course for my whole life. All the while, they were never secretive about where all that joy, kindness, and generosity came from: a real and active relationship with Jesus Christ. Although there have been many who have played an active role in my growth, they are the foundation. I’m beyond thankful for them. The verse I would share with you and the one that has been important to me is Matthew 6:33 - “Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” All these "things" are listed in the verses before this….and it’s EVERYTHING. Recently there has been a real push to ‘empower women’. I’ve seen it on commercials and every other sort of media. What I’d love to remind the girls and women in my life is that they have already been given all the power in the world by the One that created them. We have literally been given the opportunity to shape lives! Some do it through birth, some through the classroom, some through nieces/nephews, some through friends, church etc. But we all have been given the strength, the nurturing, the POWER, to change lives. Embrace it and grow it through the ONE who designed you!

Bre

I'm a professional investment banker in debt capital markets so I spend most of my time issuing bonds for large companies. I'm married to my best friend and in my free time I love playing tennis and riding bikes with my husband. I am a big Disney girl and I also have a small business on the side so I can exercise some creative muscles and practice graphic designing. I'm also pretty passionate about my Hallmark Channel movies; I almost always have Hallmark on in the background and think the world would be a much better place if we all watched Home and Family every day! I've been blessed with some incredibly inspiring influences over the years. My hard-working parents are both teachers in PA and have instilled a strong work ethic in me since I was little. My husband is so smart and driven and keeps me motivated every single day. I have also had the opportunity to develop mento/mentee relationships with some extremely successful women in finance during my career who provide an amazing example for me in the workplace. My favorite Bible verse is Matthew 23:12; "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." My Dad was my basketball coach growing up and he has this instilled in all of us since middle school. It keeps me grounded and reminds me of the importance of being humble and helping others. Women are the future. We've made such incredible strides over the past decade but I can't wait to see a future where we have just as many females as we do men leading corporations, making new laws and running the world.

Instagram Accounts: @business.belle , @thecasualbeeboutique

(use code MADISON10 for discount!)

Casual Bee Boutique: www.casualbee.com

Jill

My name is Jill McDowell, I’m 25 and a native of Myrtle Beach. I am 5’2 and ice cream is my weakness! I love starting my day watching a beautiful Carolina sunrise. It’s one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences. If you haven’t seen one I highly recommend it! Some personal hobbies of mine would definitely be anything that involves the outdoors, summertime, water and relaxing. Relationship status, single; I date my job! I am extremely passionate about following your heart and God’s plan for your life. I am a Hairstylist of 7 years come this July 2021 and am blessed that I truly love what I do. I am currently in the process of launching my online clothing boutique, 7th Bay, that is set to open April 24, 2021. A big influencer in my life would definitely be my parents. They are my number one supporters. The ones who believe in me even when I find it hard to believe in myself. My favorite quote that is always in the back of my mind and on a ring I had made is “walk in love”. This is a saying one of my best friends, Caradine Tully, lived by! I am sad to say she passed away in January 2017 battling cancer but I have this sweet saying to remember her by and to keep me going even on the hardest days! Because we all know when the Starbucks line takes too long, have a disagreement with a loved one, friend, or significant other, have a tough day at work, if we choose to walk in love it gives us a different perspective and outlook on life. My favorite Bible verse. Hmm, now this one is a tough one as there are sooooo many I could choose. I’m going to mix it up and give you one of my favorite Bible passages.

“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.” - Proverbs‬ ‭31:25-31‬ ‭It is important that God gets all the glory for our successes in this world. I would not be where I am today without Him leading and guiding me though each and every day. In the future for women, I hope to see more women believing in themselves. We often stand in our own way as it is a hard world we live in and a hard standard we all hold ourselves to. It’s important as women that we lean on each other for help and guidance though it all!

Instagram Accounts: @jill.e.mcdowell , @hairby_jillmcdowell , @shop7thbay

April

My name is April Colquett. I am married to my best friend and husband of 18 years. We have 3 kids who are 15, 13, and 9 years. Parenting is hard work, but I love the current phases my kids are in and enjoy spending time with each of them. My husband and I are in ministry and both on staff at Wellspring Church in Myrtle Beach, SC. We love our life and what we get to do! When I have free time I love to spend time at the beach. I also LOVE to read to unwind! There are many people who have inspired me, encouraged me, and equipped me over the course of my life. So it’s hard not to name them all. But, the two people who could never go without recognition are my mom and my mother-in-law. They have both demonstrated to me how to be a mom, a friend, and a spouse. I wouldn’t be who I am now without their support and encouragement. My mom is a strong woman who is unstoppable and never runs out of energy. She has taught me what hard, meaningful work looks like even when no one else is looking. I grew up watching her read her Bible and never questioned that she was praying for me. She’s had a strong intuition about my path and plans in life but always provided me the opportunity to discover those things for myself. My mother-in-law has a quiet and gentle strength. She is a unicorn among other mother-in laws. While many make life harder for their daughter-in-laws, mine has called me daughter, encouraged me with your words and presence, and pours so much love with healthy boundaries into our family. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." - Philippians 2:3-4 When I become selfish, prideful or think I deserve something more than someone else, this verse guides me back to the humility of Jesus and what He, the Prince of Heaven, has done for me. I hope that women will fight for one another, not against one another. I hope the world will continue to evolve and accept that women are made in the image of God and we do not have to shrink ourselves, contain our nature or apologize for who we are to elevate the ego of a man. I equally pray that we will not only recognize the “super powers” that God has given us as women, but that we will also learn to use those gifts with wisdom, kindness, and love.

Maggie

A little about me. I’m married to one of the best humans ever, Harrison Caldwell. I have a WONDERFUL daughter, Brooklyn, affectionately known as Brookie Bear. She is legit my husband in every way and form except that she has my volume. Girl wants to be heard. I am a 4th grade Math and Science teacher and LOVE to teach fast facts and fractions. I have a Disney obsession and I have the entire park memorized. I love college basketball (Go Blue Devils!) and college football (Go Tigers!). I am a true crime enthusiast. A dream of mine is to host a true crime podcast with my mom and I already have a name. My perfect day would consist of my family and I at the lake and ending the day with a fantastic cheeseburger. There are several people who have influenced me in my life. Levi Lusko, Greg Laurie, my sisters, my husband, Mary Moneville, George W. Bush, and the list goes on. My parents are at the top of my list and it would be so wrong to not name them first. My mom and dad have continuously set an example for what it means to be a slave to Christ. Anyone that has met them has been touched by their generosity and love. My mom knows no stranger. To watch her connect with someone and encourage them with scripture and the love of Christ is astonishing. She can immediately make someone feel like family. She is my best friend and has shown me what it means to be a woman of Christ. My father is so wise and humble. He made it easy to understand God as a loving father. He encouraged me and showed me my worth. He’s known for his wisdom filled one-liners. One of my favorites is “Feelings are very real, but they aren’t always reality.” Someone else who has helped shape my life is Katherine Wolf. Katherine Wolf, one of the founders of Hope Heals, is a huge spiritual warrior and someone who has inspired me as a woman of faith. She was a young wife and mother when she had a massive stroke that altered her life. Katherine has shown what it means to live a life poured out to Christ, even in the darkest times. She created a ministry for people who have special needs and their families. It wasn’t what she had pictured her life becoming, but it was what God called her to. And she answered. Everyone who has shaped my life has the same thing in common. When faced with the difficulties of life, they surrendered to Christ. They pour out their lives to be in service to Christ. It is my one hope in life. To be poured out. I was 15 and I was sitting on my bed crying. I felt ugly and so unworthy. I remember feeling so low and I was emotionally vomiting on my mom. And she sat down next to me and handed me my bible and said, “Have you told God how you feel? Have you asked him what he feels about you?” And then she left the room. And I rolled my eyes as I opened the Bible and said, “Yea like God is going to tell me I’m pretty.” But, in my eldest child ways, I obeyed my mom and opened it to a random page and the first verse my eyes caught was Psalm 45:11 “The king is enthralled with your beauty.” My heart almost stopped. The Lord reached down and spoke to my broken heart. I think every woman can resonate with the feeling of being unworthy, or understand the want of wanting to be seen as pretty. And what a beautiful thing to be reminded that the King, the one who created beauty, is enthralled with us. Women are amazing. We come in different packages, with different voices, and different talents. My biggest hope for women is that we would lift other women up. So many times we can look at another woman and instead of taking the time to encourage or lend a hand, we become jealous of what she has that we don’t. Comparison steals joy. It steals our joy and her joy. It steals the opportunity you have to speak life into a fellow sister. When I refuse to believe a jealous lie and instead, make a deliberate decision to life another sister up, I feel better for it. I became a mother of a little girl in 2020. I see that as an immense privilege and responsibility. My wants for women very much align with what I want for her. I want her to be confident and know that she has a voice that deserves to be heard. That she is special. I want her to see value in other women and men. That she can eat however many carbs she wants. I want her to lift other women up, instead of tear them down. I want her to know that her worth comes from the Lord and she can’t do anything that will take that away. That she has gifts that God gave her to be used for his glory. In conclusion. Women are awesome. Men are awesome. God has created both of us to sing his glory. If we chase after him, and pour our lives out for him, He can use us to change the world.

Hunter

Hiii, I’m Hunter, Madi’s lifetime soul sista. 😊 I’m married to my best friend Kyle and together we have three little munchkins, Lucas, Bennett, and Parker. I’m currently a stay at home mom with a business degree that I use to feed and nurture three 3 and under babies right now, 😉but I wouldn’t have it any other way! I enjoy a good sunset, going to the movies and making people laugh. My favorite places to waste away are at the beach and at Target🤪 I am a homebody but love taking family trips. I couldn’t live without a dog and I think a good iced coffee and glass of pinot noir are essentials. Oh yea, and I’m am about 90% always late to everything. Of all my inspirations, my mom seems to stand out amongst them. Over the years, I’ve admired her resilience and strength after all that she’s gone through and I now more than ever truly appreciate all that she’s done and sacrificed for me as her child. She’s easily the most lovable person and has such a genuine soul. PLUS she’s just the most beautiful and wonderful mother a girl could have! A favorite bible verse of mine has always been John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” There’s nothing better than being promised an eternity with our Heavenly Father through believing in His everlasting love. His love truly conquers all and anytime I’m feeling discouraged I’ll go to Him and find renewed strength. It’s always been a simply put verse with a great reminder. I think we’re already headed this way, but I hope to see women of all color come together and truly honor/admire each other’s differences. I want women to fully respect other women and what makes them unique from one another. I think it’s one of our important jobs as women to raise our children to see beauty in everyone and every thing, and I truly think the world would be a more gentle and loving place with that mindset. ✨. XO

Tracy

I am a daughter, a sister, a wife and a mother. I am also a beloved child of God. My most cherished role is mother. I have been married 32 years and have worked in the world of finance my entire career. While I love my job, my passion is my family. Coming from a family of divorced parents, it has always been my desire to keep my family unit close. Family vacations have always been treasured. In the Spring of 2006 began an annual mother/daughter vacation to Disney World that continues on, 15 years later, to this day. What beautiful, lasting memories have been made! My mother has been a huge influence on my life. She was born 9th in a family of 14 children. She knows firsthand about sacrifice. Although she may not have had a lot of worldly goods growing up, this taught her how to make the most of what she had. This molded her into a woman of many talents. She can whip up a tasty, nutritious meal out of nothing. She can sew, cut hair, make a house a home, nurture and raise children, type 100+ words a minute and is the best hostess around. As I entered the working world, mom always reminded me to dress for the position I wanted. She impressed upon me at an early age that even if I could not afford the most expensive clothes and shoes, it was important to present the ones I had as clean, ironed and shined. I might add that manners were not just taught, they were expected. Never underestimate the value of please, thank-you, ma’am and sir and always, always look someone in the eye when speaking or being spoken to. One of my favorite Bible verses is Romans 12:12. It reads like this; “Be joyful in hope, patient in trouble, faithful in prayer”. I believe that these three simple commands all feed from one another. Simply put, we are called to expect that, no matter what is going on around us, we should constantly be in anticipation of something wonderful. We need also to be patient when trouble comes, and it will come; however, being faithful in prayer will feed the other two. As women and, specifically as mothers, isn’t this what we spend our days doing as we nurture our husbands, children and each other? My hope for the future is that women will continue to grow in support for each other rather than against each other. The world pushes us to compare and compete with each other, but my hope is that we would bind together to build each other up. She doesn’t have to fail for me to succeed. My faithful prayer is that we show grace and patience with one another and rejoice when the prayers of our sisters hopes are fulfilled.

Helen

Hi, my name is Helen Lazarus. I have been married for the last 33 years. I love spending time with my family! I love being a wife, mother of three and a grandmother/Ollie of two. My family is my passion. I would have to say that my mother and my older sister influence and empowered me since I became a mother! To me, they were the ultimate mothers! I have learned so much from them! Also, my girlfriends that have raised their families and also have careers. They continue to amaze me. My favorite Bible verse that I would choose to share with other woman is, 1 Corinthians 13:13, "And now these three remain. Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." I think the future holds a lot for women! We are more powerful than given credit. I hope to see women believe more in themselves and to know they can do anything.

Mary Jane

I am a southern girl living in Los Angeles, married to the most talented, loving, kind human in the world. I am a mover, creator, and master motivator. AKA, I am a dancer, choreographer, and dance instructor. I was just recently accepted into USC Rossier School of Education to pursue a new career in school counseling. Helping kids/teens is my calling. In my free time, I love eating my favorite pad thai with my brother and husband on a Saturday night. Heading to the park with my pup also sparks joy. I also enjoy a good Netflix binge from time to time. Free time is rare; I am mostly working from home and prepping for classes or actually at the studio. I am very lucky to be in person with my students. My mom is a wild inspiration for me; she was a single mom raising two kids, while being a school teacher, nailing it. My bosses over the years have influenced me. I have had great friends who have helped push me to be greater. And honestly, my students a lot of the time are the ones who inspire me to be better. I struggle with letting go of the things I cannot control. My prayer that I say every day, multiple times a day, will be tattooed on me someday is:

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

What would I hope to see happen in the future for women? Acceptance. Acceptance of everyone's differences, likes, opinions, bodies, styles. Less judgement, more acceptance. Women need to empower women. When you see a strong female, respect her, admire her. When you see a woman who has a screaming baby on her hip, trying to check out at the grocery store, instead of rolling your eyes, you offer to help in some way. Women need to be seen equally to men. A woman in a higher ranking position is often titled a "bitch" for doing her job, when a male in that same position would never be titled something derogatory or demeaning. He would be seen as powerful and he would be respected. Women could rule the world if men could check their egos. (Attached is one of my favorite wedding photos. I am sending a wedding photo because I genuinely have never felt more beautiful than I did on my wedding day!)

Jessica

My name is Jessica Nicole Fulcher. I am 35 years old. I grew up in both Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Beaufort, NC. I’m proud to be a true Carolina girl and there’s nothing more comforting than a thunderstorm or a glass of sweet, iced tea to bring me back to my southern roots. I moved to Southern California in 2005 to “find myself” while pursuing a liberal lifestyle while basking in the year-round sunny weather. In the summer I spend my free time outdoors, hiking the Santa Monica Mountains, riding my bike alongside the beach, laying in fresh grass people watching at local parks, exploring new places, playing tennis and sunbathing in the sand. I love reading a good book. A few of my favorites have been “Where the Crawdads Sing,” “Educated,” and “It all Comes Back to You.” I enjoy watching documentaries and TED talks as well, when I have enough downtime. I am currently missing traveling and taking day trips to Disney Land. I have been engaged to my fiancé, Edward, for two years and together for 13. We met in San Diego through mutual friends and the rest is history! We plan to elope once I have finished Nursing School. I am absolutely obsessed with my long-haired Dachshund, Ernest. He is quite the ‘mellow fellow’. If he was a Disney character, he would be Eeyore. He has big squishy paws with long tufts of hair growing between his toes; just like the Grinch’s toes! I can’t resist the urge to give them little squeezes, and believe me, you couldn’t resist them either. I am passionate about human rights, patient advocacy, adoption, the women’s right to choose, animal cruelty awareness and…eating. I am uber passionate about women empowering women and believe it’s important to educate yourself on subjects you don’t understand to reduce guided misinformation and assumptions. I am most passionate about showing compassion towards the things I may not understand or agree on. I believe that before passing judgment to remember, you never know what someone is going through just by looking at them or why they are who they are. I am passionate about embracing uniqueness.

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I am currently a frontline worker in Los Angeles. I work as a nurse assistant delivering 1 on 1 care to patients who are positive for corona virus. I am also currently attending my last year of Nursing School. I am completely over the moon about labor and delivery nursing, and this is the specialty I plan to pursue with intentions of continuing on to my doctorate degree to become a Nurse Midwife! Hey, It’s never too late! I actually would like to answer this question of who has influenced and empowered me a little differently. I believe many people have inspired and empowered me along my journey, from the women before me who fought for women’s rights and broke glass ceilings to people who I have met and learnt of their stories. I have met some very emotionally strong and resilient humans along the way who despite the trauma they’ve endured or the hurdles they’ve overcome have kept fighting for their dreams and with a positive mindset. I will say, at the end of the day…it is deep within yourself that you must discover the courage, confidence, and willpower to keep going. There will always be hurdles. There will always be times when your dream feels unattainable. You need to learn to be comfortable with feeling uncomfortable, taking chances, and leaning on your support system to help you through. I believe that while you will be inspired by others…you may just find that the person who empowers you…is you. I didn’t think I was smart enough to become the nurse I dreamt of being. I never tried, to be completely honest. I just gave up because of my own self-doubt and fear of failing. But eventually I realized that nothing else was making me truly happy. I was scared of the journey, unsure of my capabilities, and hesitant to try and fail…that is until I realized there would be no harm in trying. One class at a time, one step at a time, one minute at a time. So, don’t ever give up on a dream and believe in yourself. You’ll definitely never get there if you don’t try. (wink) My favorite bible verse is, “You are altogether beautiful my darling, beautiful in every way.” Song of Solomon 4:7. I hope to see progress in the body-positivity movement where women all over the world embrace their shapes. I love that women are being encouraged to celebrate their bodies rather than feel ashamed or the urge to change based on antiquated ideas about what “beautiful” is. We need to keep the conversations going regarding body image, self-love, and self-acceptance. Women should be allowed to show up as they are. We should not believe that we must fit into a mold to have confidence in our own skin. I have lived in so many different bodies throughout my life and I am finally beginning to accept any shape I may have. There is strength in women empowering each other. It is a beautiful thing.

Liz

My name is Liz. I am a wife to Josh and mom of 3. My hobbies and passions include talking to strangers on the internet via live videos on Facebook 😂 I somehow built an audience over the past 5 years by doing beauty tutorials. I am absolutely blown away daily that anyone still shows up to listen to me chat and do my makeup. It is the highlight of my day and I couldn't be luckier to call this my"job". I can literally work from anywhere so that opens up a lot of time to travel with my family. We are Disney people! I can't name just one person who has influenced me. Honestly anytime I see someone being themselves and being transparent for all of the world to see I get all fired up. I think social media is a double edged sword but I wish mote people could see the good in it. Like for example, I remember seeing Madi's posts and seeing that light flip on. She has such a passion and so much to share with everyone. Those are the type of people who are my people. The real and authentic girl squad who cheers for each other! Isaiah 54:17 is my favorite verse; I wish it were more light hearted but this is a verse I remind myself of often. Being so open on social media has the potential to backfire but I have also been hurt by people closest to me. It's so hard not to retaliate; my flesh wants to bless people out quite regularly. This is a verse I use to remind myself that the enemy won't win! I hope more women realize they don't have to wear the weight of others opinions. It is incredible to see who you become when you stop caring and start living. No matter who you are, your people are out there. They will find you once you become your authentic self. That is happiness.

"Happiness is a state of mind. It's just according to the way you look at things." - Walt Disney

Instagram Account: @thelizdoyle

Website: www.lizdoylebeauty.com

Staci

My name is Staci and I am a super passionate person. On almost everything. The passions I cling to the most are Jesus, my husband of 11 years, 2 girls ages 8 and 4 and my friends. I also have a passion for the local church, teenagers, volleyball and all things Disney. Honestly - just regular people doing their day to day lives seem to influence me the most. The ones that I can see who are real and raw or living it up or maybe struggling in the midst of uncertainty. I find myself inspired by the people who struggle yet get through. I feel empowered by their strength, joy in the mess and hope in the future. "I will remain confident in this. I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." - Psalm 27:13. We don’t have to wait until Heaven to see the goodness of the Lord, it’s all around us. I hope to see us celebrating the crud out of each other. I hope to see us eliminating gossip by not even listening to it. I hope to see us love each other even through disagreements. I pray we choose love over anything else and especially over our opinions. I hope to see us choose to trust each other. And for the younger generation I hope you bring back what us old 36 year olds know...girl code. 🤣

Instagram Accounts: @stacisnacks_ww , @stacigoodman

Marti Jo

When asked to describe myself, the words Blessed and Grateful come to mind first. I have been blessed with three healthy, happy and successful (as in good and kind humans) children. They are independent and have used their wings to fly to different places in this world to live and thrive. I get to live with my best friend and partner in life...who is smart, funny, strong, thoughtful, patient, kind, and unwavering. We have the opportunity and the ability to enjoy many outdoor activities together. We love to hike, bike, kayak, paddleboard, boat..everything outside and active. I have been teaching in the public elementary school setting for 29 years and I enjoy the daily challenge of meeting the needs of each of my students. A career that is ever-changing keeps me engaged and continually learning. Never do I ever have a boring day! I have also been blessed with having had many powerful women in my life. My grandmother, and my forever friend, whom I have known since childhood, have been the most influential. My grandmother instilled faith and discipline and unconditional love in my life by living through example. My best friend has taught me trustworthiness, tenacity and the ability to work through a relationship that spans the years. My favorite bible verse is, and always has been, Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. This verse has been a daily mantra for me for many years. A quote that I love is,

"There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live." - Dalai Lama

What I would most hope for in the future, is that women could become each other's biggest, most enthusiastic fans...loudest cheerleaders...unjudging confidants..gentle listeners and emotional support group. We spend way too much time competing, judging, and complaining and too little time being each other's supportive allies. I am grateful to live in this time. On this day. Surrounded by these people. My circle is small but mighty, and I am blessed.

Rebekah

I'm a Wisconsin girl living in a Disney World! After graduating college with my early childhood education degree, I came to Disney to pursue a career down here. I currently work in recreation activities at some of the various Disney resorts and it definitely has its ups and downs. I can't say I will stay here forever, but I will say the memories I've made will last a lifetime. I met my boyfriend of over a year here, and wouldn't change that for the world. In addition to adventuring around Disney, I also love to workout, read and pursue my dreams to be a shop owner with my sister! Both growing up and now, my mom has always had a huge impact on my life. She's always set a good example with how she leads our family in a godly way. Not only did she have countless jobs, but also was always driving us all over to various sports and extracurriculars. We always had homemade meals and she kept our house so clean. She really is super mom. About 4 years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer and that devastated me. However, she was a trooper through the entire process and is now cancer free! I can only hope to be as positive and courageous as my mom someday! Ephesians 4:32 says, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you." It is such a simple reminder of how important it is to show kindness to one another. I hope to continue to see the fight for equality frow. We've already seen so much improvement, but could stand to see more!

Instagram Accounts: @rebekahmarie8 , @magicalsistersdesignco

Ashley

I am a work-from and stay-at home Mom of three fabulous girls & wife to an incredible hubby I love my family & friends immensely - being with them & making memories while on new {and normal} adventures keeps my soul on fire! My Mom is definitely at the top of this list of woman who have influenced me. She worked her ass off to provide for our family, all while somehow being everywhere, all the time. Big shoes to fill for sure! Cliche quote, but, "Always be the first rate version of yourself instead of a second rate version of someone else." I’m all about REAL ... whoever and whatever that means to each individual, I want to know and experience the person God creates you to be! I hope women will find comfort in being women. I’m all about empowering women and seeing them succeed but certainly not at the expense of others and especially just because they’re women. We are beautifully and wonderfully made - I fear too many are not embracing what we’re truly capable of and made to do because they’re so busy trying to prove things to the world.

LaTarra

My name is LaTarra Odom and I am currently in a teacher in Myrtle Beach. Some of my hobbies are coaching basketball, mentoring adolescents and being a busy, active mom to 3 beautiful children. My passion is to help others; anyway I can assist to elevate. I am currently dating a beautiful young lady who keeps me grounded, never judges me and always gives me love and support! Over the years, my 3 children have been who empowered and influenced me. Quadir, QiAnte and Qallie have been a constant reminder of how focused and responsible I have to be in order to make sure they can be as successful as possible! My children love me unconditionally and that is all the fuel I need to keep me motivated. "Know your worth" would be the quote I would share with any one woman because it's so important! Never accept anything less than what you deserve. What I hope to happen for women in the future would be for ALL women to be accepted and respected on ALL platforms; for us to be treated as equal and with equal opportunity!

As you can see, it's not hard to see why I chose these women to speak out. They are incredible are changing the world one day at a time. I hope that their stories have impacted, influenced, touched and empowered you. Now, go and be a woman to empower others to be their best self. Lots of love, Madi.