Reclaiming "Genuine Girl": A Rebrand Rooted in Authenticity

Hey there,

Welcome to my first blog post! I have so many updates to share, and I felt like nothing could capture them quite as nicely as some chunky paragraphs of words on a new and improved website, so here we are. I hope you enjoy, and I look forward to making these more of a regular thing. Cue updates!

The Year That Taught Me to Turn Inward

If you know me, you know my brand has always been close to my heart. Over the years, it’s evolved in countless ways, but one thing has stayed constant: my belief that there’s something special here worth pursuing.

That said, this past year has been a challenging one for me. Between life, work, and everything in between, I haven’t been able to give my brand the attention I wanted to—and if I’m honest, my own perfectionism didn’t help. The more I pressured myself to do “more,” the more overwhelmed and stuck I felt, mostly because I wasn’t actually tuning into what I wanted to do with it—but rather pressuring myself to do what I thought I “had” to do—to keep up an appearance, appeal to my audience, or stay “relevant.”

I’ve realized that I’ve been holding myself back by not listening to what I really want. I’m sure I’m not the only one. It’s scary to live differently than you’re used to, even when you know it’s what you need to get closer to your goals. Life can feel comfortable, even when it’s not fulfilling, and society has a way of convincing us to stick to what’s expected, whether to keep up appearances, make others happy, or maintain a certain lifestyle. And for many of us, what’s so paralyzing is the fear of judgment or failure: for taking a chance, shooting our shot, putting our time toward something that we think we want. This isn’t even to mention the real-life implications — all the financial, personal, and situational consequences of taking such risks are VALID. It can feel like there’s a lot to lose, and sometimes it does feel like we lose… But I’d like to believe that even in that process, there’s more to gain from going for what we want than from being too scared to try.

This year, I’m committing to listening to my intuition. It’s a process—unlearning years of societal expectations doesn’t happen overnight—but I’m starting to dig deep and uncover what I truly want. And one of those things is giving this brand the focus it deserves, just with a fresh perspective.

The Future Focus of This Brand

So, what do I actually want for this brand? I want it to help you, not just in the way I’ve always said—by helping people feel less alone—but in a deeper, more personal way. I want this brand to empower you to embrace finding yourself, by yourself—to find strength in solitude, and to see the incredible value in getting to know yourself without relying on others for validation.

We live in a world that constantly tells us we should be surrounded by people. Social media shows everyone hanging out with besties, getting engaged, or following some timeline that pressures us to have it all figured out. It’s easy to feel like we’re falling behind if we’re independent, single, or don’t have a huge social circle. And don’t even get me started on what happens when we start to let these things define our worth.

But truthfully, there’s so much power in being okay with spending time alone. Choosing to spend time with yourself—whether to explore your interests, reflect, or relax—is an act of self-empowerment. For me, this process has been transformative. It’s taught me what I truly value and helped me build a silent strength—a quiet confidence that, while it can feel lonely at times, is rooted in self-worth.

Through this rebrand, I want to share my journey with you, while encouraging you to take those first steps toward embracing who you are, on your own terms. Together, we can redefine what it means to find strength—not in the noise of others, but in the quiet moments with ourselves.

What does that mean for the physical health side of the brand? I’ve always loved the physical side of health and wellness—especially working out—and it’s been a huge part of my brand over the past couple of years. But if I’m being honest, all the personal training and yoga classes I’ve done have always been more about helping people feel better mentally than looking better physically. Yes, it’s kinda fun to make people do burpees in a 110-degree hot yoga class (the jumping kind, no slacking!!!) but what I love even more is seeing the transformation afterward. I love hearing someone say, “I died but like, that was great!” and watching them walk out of class with a renewed sense of strength. That’s the side of health and wellness I’m truly passionate about—the self-empowerment, the mental health gains, the deeper connection with yourself. That’s why I’m shifting my focus back to the self-development and mental health space—and it doesn’t mean the physical health and workout content is gone for good. It just means it will fit into the bigger picture of what the brand is going to stand for—an umbrella for growth and authenticity in all areas of life, fueled by self-empowerment.

The Genuine Girl Namesake

With that, I have some big news. That’s right: I’m bringing back my original namesake—Genuine Girl. This decision feels like one of those intuitive moments I’ve been trying to embrace more lately (CRINGE I know, but bear with me for like 30-60 more seconds, depending on your reading speed.)

I came up with the name “Genuine Girl” when I was 18, doing my skincare routine (slay) at my parents’ house over winter break during my freshman year of college. I vividly remember staring into the mirror and thinking, “Genuine Girl… that alliteration… that’s cute.” I added it to a very long—VERY questionable—list of potential podcast names in my Notes app. (If you ever need a laugh, I will send it to you, because it is quite literally insane. I.e., one of the very real, very innocent ideas was Feeling Her-selfie. So please take a moment of silence and thank whatever you believe in that this brand and your viewership did not go down that path.)

Thankfully, I landed on Genuine Girl, and over the past six years, it has been more than just a podcast name—it’s become a part of my identity. It’s opened doors, sparked connections, turned into merch (buy the sweatshirt, it’s great,) and even become a nickname of sorts. More importantly, it’s something people can relate to, which is exactly why I want to bring it back.

As I navigate these changes, you’ll start to see everything—podcast, socials, website, and even the LLC (for my fellow nerds)—transition back to Genuine Girl or a variation of it (thx availability issues). You will absolutely be seeing more consistent podcast content this year, with plenty more solo episodes AND many more guest appearances (yay!) However, one of my big goals this year is to focus more on writing. Writing is one of my true passions in life and one I’ve missed exploring. So, you can expect more newsletters, blog posts, and maybe even a little book that’s been quietly taking shape behind the scenes…

Thank You 💖

Before I go, I just want to say thank you. Whether you’ve been here since the start, or you’re new to this space, your support means more to me than I can ever put into words. Truly, I could cry over it—and I’m not a big crier (an issue to be discussed another time.) But seriously, your presence and encouragement fuel my passion for this brand. If there’s anything specific you’d like to see this year, don’t hesitate to reach out—no idea is a bad one. Thank you again for being here. I hope you can feel just how much it means to me, even through the screen.

Okay, NOW I’ll stop rambling (I am currently under the influence of melatonin btw.) Talk soon, and don’t forget to ~ stay genuine! ~

Xoxo,
Genuine Girl