Today we’d like to introduce you to Dylan Hardy.
Hi Dylan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As a mother of two daughters, I have always been sensitive to the unrealistic beauty standards created by society and, increasingly, by social media. I, like most mothers, went to great lengths to ensure that my daughters did not fall prey to these standards and used every opportunity to encourage them to embrace their unique style and beauty. As a mother, I was also responsible for protecting and preserving their pure and unabashed self-confidence, which we see in young girls from an early age. I was devastated when I noticed that my daughters began forming opinions about their bodies and look at a young age. At that point, I knew I had to do something to ensure their self-esteem remained intact. I also realized that if I did not act, this unhealthy obsession would result in insecurities that would manifest in low self-esteem, poor health, and risky behavior.
I searched for programs within my community, but at that time, I did not find anything solely dedicated to empowering tween and teen girls. I continued on my quest to create a concept whose mission would be to offer an environment where tweens and teens can be educated on embracing and enhancing their style and beauty while maintaining a healthy attitude and focusing on overall wellness.
I decided to launch the Valentina Campaign earlier this year after witnessing the pandemic’s impact on many of my friend’s daughters and how their fragile self-esteem continued to diminish. I recognized that this was a crisis targeting girls during their most formative years. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 60% of girls reported continuing sadness and hopelessness, and nearly a quarter revealed that they had a suicide plan to escape if their feelings overwhelmed them. How can we allow this to happen?
I struggled with self-esteem issues at a young age but never considered ending my life. I knew we needed to put a program in place to help our tween and teen girls. Young girls are desperate to formulate highly individualized, carefully curated identities. Still, they are becoming lost in a vortex of social media influencers, exploitative marketers, and discriminating peers, creating insecurities manifesting in low self-esteem, poor health, or risky behavior. Sensitive to the growing concern over young girls and their negative opinion of themselves and their unhealthy obsession with their looks, the Valentina Campaign will offer an environment where tween and teen girls can be educated on embracing and enhancing their style and beauty while maintaining a healthy attitude.
I launched the Valentina Campaign on social media to build a community of like-minded followers, generating support while creating conversations around this crisis. We are meticulous and very strategic in our approach and plan to host our first series of empowerment events this Fall by partnering with local businesses, community leaders, and our local schools. Our focus is in the Charleston area, but we will work towards the goal of a nationwide expansion as we know Valentina has the potential to impact the lives of tween and teen girls nationwide.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Even though we recently launched the Valentina Campaign, I have had this concept in my head for many years. I wrote my first business plan in 2018, which detailed a very ambitious plan of opening the first experiential retail destination solely dedicated to empowering tween and teen girls. Even though my vision was crystal clear and the concept was met with overwhelming support, I was unsuccessful in securing a capital investment. It was a beyond-challenging experience, and I was so very discouraged. I dreamed of helping young girls but felt I could not make it happen, and the undertaking was too big. I took a step back and began looking at other opportunities on how to launch this concept. Shortly after, the pandemic began, and I, like everyone else, was forced to press the pause button. It’s amazing how things work out. If I had succeeded in opening a Valentina brick-and-mortar, it would have likely not survived during the nationwide shutdown. I was forced to shift gears and redirect my vision, which led me to launch the Valentina Campaign. With this strategy, I have been able to connect with people throughout the country in a more meaningful way. The bottom line is do not give up and be open to other options by remaining open-minded. Also, when I did not know how to proceed during the pandemic, I committed to doing at least one thing every day. It did not have to be monumental, but even the most minor task could reap huge benefits.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My professional career was spent in branding and marketing roles, but after my first daughter’s birth, I decided to become a stay-at-home mom. I was invited to join our local hospital’s women’s board shortly after the birth of my second daughter. I held various executive positions on the board and worked on various aspects of our philanthropic efforts.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting?
My most important advice is to stay true to your passion. Suppose you believe your concept, idea, or product could solve a problem or help people in need; do not abandon that intention. You may have to deviate from an original plan but do not ever walk away from your dreams. You will inevitably face challenges along the way but remain committed. It’s never too late. No matter how old you may be or even how young you are, no dream is too large or too small.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://valentinallc2023.wixsite.com/valentinallc
- Instagram: @valentina.llc
- Facebook: valentinallc
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-hardy-a90a7a81
