Becoming a brand ambassador has literally been one of the most empowering opportunities I’ve done in a long time. This experience has allowed me to come out of my comfort zone and interact with women I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to meet otherwise. When I was first told about this opportunity from my best friend, I’m not going to lie, my first thought was “Wow, really great, but totally not for me”. That’s because I am introverted until I’m comfortable around you. So this was really out my comfort zone.
Don’t get me wrong, I use to model in high school but at this point, that was 11-12 years ago. Besides, we all know we’re normally smaller in high school. I’ve gained almost 60lbs since high school (it sounds like a lot but I was 98lbs when I graduated high school and now weigh 157lbs). I don’t look like I’ve gained that much due to carrying it well but it’s still the fact however that I’m still becoming adjusted to my size. It also doesn’t help that I was pregnant last year and had a miscarriage and losing the weight wasn’t as much of a priority for me since I was coping with the loss of my pregnancy and feeling like a failure.
I slipped into depression and the next thing you know, a few more pounds came on. I was once a super confident woman and suddenly felt like a shell of my former self. Let’s just say last year was not a good year for me whatsoever. I went through a lot of changes and growth in my life that I honestly wasn’t prepared for. I know the whole point in life is going through experience to continue evolving as a person but I won’t lie, half of what I went through last year, I wouldn’t have elected for myself to go through. Nor anyone else, honestly. I felt very lonely and isolated at the stage I was in at that point in life.
So that brings me back to learning about this opportunity. When my friend Vanessa told me about it, I said thank you and thought no much more about it. I kept going back and forth about doing it but kept coming up with excuses on whether to it or not. Finally, after a couple of weeks, I decided to apply for it the last week it was open for applications. I ordered my ring light to help me take the photos and a nice furry rug, so it wasn’t just me laying on my carpet. I took about 100 photos in two outfits and then decided nope, I’m not doing it because I don’t like how my body looks in my lingerie anymore.
I talked to my boyfriend about it and had him look over the photos and of course, he tells me how good I look. I’m in my head thinking “Wow, he’s really kind to tell me that”. I sent a couple of photos to my closest friends since I knew they wouldn’t lie to me, plus before I do anything major, I normally need three yeses’ so I know it’s a smart decision I’m committing to. When they all came back, they were all telling me how amazing I look and that they were gorgeous. I’m surprised like wow; they really think I look good. So due to being a procrastinator, I decided to go ahead and apply on the last day submissions were opened.
That day didn’t go as planned I’ll say the least. I decided to wait until I got to my boyfriend’s house to submit my application. I get to his house and his internet was not working for me at all but we finally got it to work which was all I needed. However, halfway through, the laptop dies on me and I had to start all over with the application process. I started it once more and then my photos wouldn’t save. I was about to say eff it all and give up because it was becoming too much of a hassle and headache for me. I ordered a pizza since I was hungry and once I ate,
Now the waiting game.
I knew I would hear something by the end of the weekend for the second rounds so when I didn’t I just knew I didn’t get it. I didn’t find out till a week later that it was extended due to the holidays so I tried not to stress out. When I received my email for the second round, I was shocked like “Wow, I am really being considered here”. Unbeknownst to most people, I’m awkward at first before I become comfortable around people and was trying to figure out how am I going to pull this off?
The day of my phone interview I was a nervous wreck; worrying about not sounding foolish during my interview. I waited for my call for about 30mins past the time we had agreed on just to realize I had missed it. Luckily, I was able to give a call right back and it was great. Rami was extremely friendly and just as equally nervous as I was. Once we were done, she offered me the Beauty Ambassador role and I was over the moon! Finally, something that embodied me as a woman.
This opportunity means so much to me because not only am I assisting an amazingly talented woman and helping expand her company, but she’s so inspirational as well. This company is literally everything that I stand for as a woman and being able to represent a business like this has been amazing on so many levels. For anyone out there doubting themselves, I highly recommend stepping out of your comfort zone to branch out and challenge yourself. I’ve learned that you have to put yourself out there and learn that the worst someone could say is no. You won’t know unless you try, so I challenge you to go and do something out of your norm and value the experience! Putting yourself out there is better than regretting not making an attempt.
