Exploring Life & Business with Paige Braley of The Beauty Boost Cincy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paige Braley. 

Hi Paige, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
From 2015-2020, I spent my days as a cruise ship performer! Singing and dancing at sea with my husband. We would be gone for 8 months at a time, and come home for a couple of months for a break, and then back out again. From Alaska to Hawaii, Bora Bora, Australia, Fiji, Spain, and everywhere in between, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity that it was. In my time at sea, I found a love for health + wellness and craved like-minded community. Battling disordered eating, comparison, envy, and competition at every turn, this “dream-life” definitely had its struggles as well. While at sea, I was listening to a Cincinnati-based Podcast “What The F*t”?! by Krissy Grote. On that podcast, Rachel Kerr, Founder of The Beauty Boost, was on and talking about all that The Beauty Boost was- connection, empowerment, community, health, beauty- everything I was looking for. She briefly mentioned at the end, “So if you want to bring this thing to Cincinnati, give us a call!”, and I did. (At the time, TBB was only in Columbus). After weeks of back-and-forth conversations and an entire journal FULL of my ideas for The Beauty Boost Cincy, Rachel decided to go with another girl for the job. My husband reminded me that “whatever is meant to be will always be”. Despite not knowing WHAT we were going home to do, or how we’d pay our bills, Jeremy and I decided to go home at the end of 2019, not accepting another contract, and trusting that “whatever is meant to be will always be”. From November of 2019 to February of 2020, we faced a lot of struggles. From family issues to health scares, and everything in between, it was a tough time. And then COVID. I was already battling depression and anxiety for the first time in my life, losing my “identity” as “Performer”, as March of 2020 and The Lockdown began. So, I am sure you can only imagine what that was like, as I think the entire world navigated heightened stress, worry, anxiety, and fear. It was around the end of March when Rachel gave me a call, asking what I was doing, and if I could help “keep the Beauty Boost Cincy alive” Reluctantly, amidst the mental health storm, I said yes. I led a couple of outdoor, socially distanced Goal Hikes, a Women’s Panel, and then my first “solo” event, The First Annual Holiday Beers and Cheers Market at Sonder Brewing. Fast forward to today, I own The Beauty Boost Cincy and The Beauty Boost Dayton. I am responsible for interviewing and training all new City Owners. And The Beauty Boost and this community is a part of my everyday life. My closest friends and mentors came from The Ambassador Team, I chat with Rachel daily, and I truly do feel as though I am living a part of my purpose- bringing acceptance, empowerment, community, and connection to the women of Cincinnati (and Dayton!). 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Definitely NOT! 

Battling Anxiety and Depression. I used to think anxiety was simply stress/worry and depression was sadness. Far from it. Being plagued by both simultaneously meant living in a constant state of heightened stress, both physical and mental, with ruminating thoughts of drastic (and sometimes unrealistic) fears and worries, and this overwhelming pressure to “figure it all out”, while also battling the numbing, debilitating weight and pressure of depression. Making life seemingly impossible to live. 

Being diagnosed with OCD, and learning to honor that diagnosis, and love myself through it. 

My entire life’s training, skills, and preparation for a career being useless when COVID hit. Even IF I wanted to “turn back” after taking a leap of faith, the career I had worked so hard to build was LITERALLY gone, not an option. 

Overcoming loss of identity and rediscovering that in more concrete ways- as opposed to image, career, titles, etc. 

Living in a city with, what felt like, ZERO friends, and having to rebuild my circle as a 28-year-old adult. 

Financial insecurity, loss, and unpredictability. 

Overcoming (and still battling) body image issues, recovering from the Disordered Eating World that is the Entertainment Industry. Learning to love myself at all shapes, sizes, and stages. 

As you know, we’re big fans of The Beauty Boost Cincy. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The Beauty Boost Cincinnati is a space for women to come together to feel healthy, empowered, and beautiful. We do this through events, workshops, retreats, and more- all over Cincinnati! If you are a woman, looking for a community of like-minded individuals (who are also, oh-so unique and amazing), this is your space. Ladies often joke and say, “this is a place for adult women to actually make friends outside of work or children’s events”. Comparison, cattiness, shame-talk, are out the door. Acceptance, communication, togetherness, connectivity, inclusion, authenticity- are IN. We are more than just a one-off event here or there. The Beauty Boost strives to be a place where women can come month after month to be connected and together. We LOVE seeing friendships flourish, partnerships begin, small businesses take off and women EMPOWERED, on various levels. It truly is an experience! 

What matters most to you?
Purpose and Service. I believe we are all here for a reason. Recently, I am beginning to accept that reason is not necessarily ONE thing, but a collection of THINGS. A favorite quote of mine is, “all that we have, and all that we are, is a gift of grace to be shared” (of course, I can never remember the author, and Google provides no help, sadly). But I believe this to be SO true! ALL that we have and are is a GIFT of grace that we are meant to SHARE with the world. I used to think of myself as an introvert, but the more connected I become with the women of Cincinnati, on an AUTHENTIC level, the more I realize how powerful the collective is. How pouring into others, IS pouring into yourself. How we SHOULD celebrate others, clap for others, uplift others, and be of service to one another with all that we have been blessed with in life. And THAT is the whole purpose! 

Pricing:

• First Event- FREE (message me!)
• Single Events- $10-$45
• Yearly Membership- $175

Contact Info:

• Email: thebeautyboostcincy@gmail.com
• Website: thebeautyboost.net/cincinnati
• Instagram: @thebeautyboostcincy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBeautyBoostCincy

Image Credits
Allison Darling Photography