INSPIRATION EVERY YOUNG WOMAN NEEDS TO HEAR

Jul 25, 2018

This post is sponsored by Ulta Beauty and Her Campus Media. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make A Classy Fashionista possible!


While I was at Her Conference in NYC, I had the honor of attending many breakout sessions and hearing keynote speakers chat with young women about their potential, how bright their futures are, and inspiring them in every way possible. I'm not going to lie, many times I was fighting off tears, because even though I'm not in college like most of the girls that were there, it was either the feeling of confirmation that I'm exactly where I need to be in life or that great things are headed my way. I am so, so grateful for being able to attend such an amazing conference.

No speaker let it seem that life is an easy journey, they were raw & real, which I was grateful for. They encouraged us all that good things are coming, life is amazing, and we can make our dreams come alive. We can learn from the challenges, pick ourselves back up, and be that much stronger.


All too often, younger generations are looked down upon and throw being a woman in a "man's" world on top of that--we're essentially at the bottom of the totem pole, but it doesn't have to stay that way. If we as women stick together and build each other up instead of bringing each other down just to get to the top, imagine how far we can go together. If we would just stop criticizing and tearing each other apart, we'd be ahead of the game. 

In today's post, I want to share with you a few pieces of inspiration that I feel will help you in those tough times or maybe in the good times. A little inspiration is good for the soul, so write it down, post it on your vanity mirror--somewhere you see it daily, because darling, you were made to do amazing things.

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One // Live a life that inspires others

Living a life that inspires others puts you in a very influential position and you should love that. Who better to inspire others to love the life they live, to be sweeter, to pursue hard dreams, and to make a difference, than you?! You have the power to change the world, so get out there and be a world changer. It all starts with inspiring others to live a better life.

Two // If they say it can't be done, work that much harder to prove them wrong.

Oh, if only I had a dollar for every time someone told me that my dream was impossible. I'd be a millionaire by now. When someone tells you it can't be done, make a plan, and make it happen. It will take more work, but girl, it's so, so worth it.

I don't know how many people told me that blogging was a mistake--that I wouldn't make any money and that it was a waste of time. Well, fast forward a few years, and it's my job! Sometimes, people might put their noses up at your dreams, because they don't understand them. It's your job to make it happen and prove them wrong. If it's in your heart, you can achieve it.


Three // Don't be afraid to go after something, because you don't fit the checklist.

The first thing that comes to mind is a job description and applying to jobs. I don't know how many times I haven't applied to a job in the past, because I didn't meet every single requirement on the checklist. As a woman, I like to have things in order and make sure that I'd be prepared for something before I go for it. You know why men have more opportunities than women?! They go for it--even if they don't meet all of the requirements on the checklist. We as women need to go after the jobs we want instead of obsessing over the fact that we only have 9/10 of the requirements.

 Ever since my sister told me to just go for it, I've had more opportunities headed my way. One of the speakers, Dr. Jen Welter, the first female NFL coach actually brought up this very topic during her speaking session, and I was so glad that she did, because she was able to reiterate what I so wanted all of these young women to hear. Bottom line: go for it.



Four // You can't hand off your destiny.

Only you can fulfill your destiny. Whether you believe in God or not, He has a purpose for your life. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Girl, you have a beautiful purpose, and you have to fulfill your destiny.

Only you have the connections, the knowledge, the willpower, and the passions to fulfill your destiny. Whether it's to work in NYC for a major fashion company, be a doctor, teacher, pastor, published author, and oh so many more, it's your destiny and you can make it happen. God will put people in your life and allow situations to happen that will lead you right to where you need to be.

You can't hand off your destiny to someone else when life gets tough, because believe me, God will bring you right back to it. There have been so many times that I've given up on things and walked away, and I'm right back where I started, because I didn't learn and grow in the way I was supposed to. Fulfilling your destiny is so much more than accomplishing your wildest dreams, it's also learning the crucial, and yes, even those hard lessons along the way. But, no matter what, your destiny is yours and yours alone, you can't just hand it off.

Five // Don't let your day be a waste of makeup


Get dressed, put your makeup on, and be your confident self. Whenever I take the time to put myself together and put my best self forward, I am more confident & ready to take on any challenges that come my way.


When you feel put together, people will notice. Sure, it might sound a little silly that you *might* have to put makeup on and fix your hair to get noticed, but for me, those are the avenues that help start engaging conversations. As a woman, it can be a simple, "Your hair looks amazing!" or "I'm obsessed with your eyeshadow!" and from there, you can automatically relate and engage with someone that you might not have or even been able to engage with before.


My point of this isn't to say you have to cake your face full of makeup to be successful. What I'm saying is enhance your natural beauty to be your best and confident self possible. For me, just a simple curl in my hair and a little makeup can go a long way.


At Her Conference, there was an Ulta Beauty Bar, which was pure heaven. I was able to head over and get my hair revamped and my makeup touched up. The stylists were so amazing, and my hair has never been more voluminous & beautiful. I was getting so many compliments on my hair--it gave me an extra boost of confidence!


In case you don't know just how amazing Ulta Beauty is, they are the largest beauty retailer in the U.S. and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products, and salon services. Ulta Beauty provides All Things Beauty. All in One Place.™


They offer more than 20,000 products from 500 well-established and emerging beauty brands across all categories and price points. They even have their own private label called the Ulta Beauty Collection.


Ulta Beauty also offers a full-service salon in every store featuring hair, skin, brow, and makeup services! This is what I got to experience a little at Her Conference, and I was so amazed at the talent! Ulta Beauty is recognized for its commitment to personalized service, fun and inviting stores, and an industry-leading Ultamate Rewards loyalty program.


So, in saying all of that, head to Ulta Beauty, grab a new lipstick, eyeshadow, or heck, even a whole new makeup collection. It's the little things that give us the confidence we need to take on the world. When you're in love with your makeup, you'll never let your day be a waste. Go get em, you #girlboss.


I hope that this has been an inspiring read for you.

"So in all that you do, stay classy, stay positive, and love the life you live. The world is at your fingertips, darling."-KMJ-

12 comments

  1. This was such an inspiring read. Love all of these points especially proving those doubters wrong! Best of luck to you as you continue blogging full time! You got this!

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    1. Aw YAS! Proving the doubters wrong is the BEST! Thank you so much!!! <3

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  2. So happy for you and that you got to participate in this incredible event, Kristen! You looked beautiful and all your advice is so true. There will always be people out there who don't believe in your dream but as long as you hold true to it and work hard you can make it happen!

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    1. Thank you so, so much!! Definitely holding tight to your dream and running with it is life-changing!

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  3. Yes! I loved this! I feel like all young women need to read this. Especially the part about not meeting all of the job requirements — I've gotten interviews for positions I assumed I was a long shot for! We truly have to put ourselves out there if we want to be successful in our careers. Thanks for the post!

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    1. Yes--exactly!! It's so silly that we as young women think we can't apply to something if we don't have it all down. I'm so happy that I'm able to share this all on my blog!

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  4. AnonymousJuly 25, 2018

    This post was so encouraging, Kristen. Also, I am loving that eye palette!

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    1. I'm so happy that it was encouraging!! Isn't the eye palette gorg?!

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  5. SERIOUSLY JEALOUS! Looks like you had so much fun girl.

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    1. It was seriously a dream!! One of my favorite partnerships to date!!! <3

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  6. awe love herconference! I went last year and it was so fun hearing all the speakers! I love all your takeaways!!

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    1. Isn't Her Conference the best?! I had such an amazing time. So glad that you've been able to go before!!

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