Danielle Jacques-Hester, the latest woman featured in our You’re Enough campaign, enjoys being what she considers “perfectly imperfect” and has confidence in spades. What’s her secret? Always being a work in progress.
When she was young, Danielle learned that many people felt being slim means you are beautiful.
“I’m not slim,” she said. “I was always the chubby girl with the pretty sister. I lived almost my entire life trying to live up to others, but mostly my own expectations, which I actually have never achieved.”
But she also learned that having confidence can enhance your beauty. And while she might not always feel beautiful, she has built confidence in who she is and her ability to get things done.
“I have confidence. I have achieved a few great things in my life, building my confidence along the way,” Danielle said. “I have three wonderful sons who I am very proud of. I started in the beauty industry at the age of 19 and have taken that career choice beyond what I could have imagined.”
Danielle worked for 14 years as a cosmetologist in a salon, earned a teaching certificate, and became a cosmetology instructor at a technical college in Wisconsin.
“In 2013, I also opened my own salon, with a staff of anywhere between 10-15. Parenting, teaching, and running my own business have been the experiences in my life that have been the most challenging but have also taught me countless lessons, and, in turn, have built my confidence in leaps and bounds,” she said.
Starting her business also led her to the most powerful moment in her life.
“I felt the most powerful when I was able to run my 2-month-old business even though my husband and business partner left me and the kids, and the business. I was devastated, but I decided I was going to be strong and not give up. And I did it!”
Her confidence paved the way for a new, great relationship with a man who later became her husband.
Danielle’s favorite non-physical feature she possesses is empathy toward others. She is happy with where she is in her life, and she said having beautiful pictures taken of herself at this chapter is important to her.
“I have always wished I could see myself the same way I see others. It would be fun to see the physical beauty others see in me,” she said.
Danielle believes what makes her uniquely powerful is her focus on growth.
“I push the boundaries, and I’m not afraid to try new things, even though I know I could fail. I’m always trying to learn and grow,” she said.
To other women who are struggling to find their own beauty, she offers this advice:
“Love the curves and twists and turns of finding your beauty. It evolves with each new chapter of life. Embrace the now,” she said.
That’s great advice, and I hope you take it to heart as much as I have. It was so much fun to meet Danielle and hear about her life, lessons learned, and see her ability to transform herself – both physically and inwardly.
All my best,
Suvi
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