Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonia Hernandez.
Sonia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started my fashion and lifestyle blog because the doors to the fashion industry never opened up for me. My major was Fashion Merchandising, and after college, it was extremely difficult to find a job.
A few months after graduating, I moved back to my parents’ home to figure things out. I ended up living at home for a few months before landing a job in the Oil and Gas (O&G) industry in Houston. Imagine that… I had spent the last five years of my life studying for something I was extremely passionate about only to end up in an industry I was not familiar with. It was a huge learning curve.
During my time at home, while figuring out life after college, I was forced to only bring the essentials. My wardrobe was back to the basics – literally. I didn’t like it at first but it brought out the creativity in me. I became resourceful with what I had and eventually found it fun to create various looks with the same pieces of clothing. I knew I was onto something and felt compelled to share with the world.
Once I moved out to begin my “big girl” job, you can bet I expanded my wardrobe collection. I quickly discovered how dull corporate wardrobe was but promised myself to stay creative. I am a strong believer in the quote, “If you look good, you feel good.” Dressing up is a part of me. I wasn’t trying to fit in so I made sure to incorporate my personal style into my corporate looks. Friends (and strangers) would often ask where I purchased what I was wearing and I would happily share. I slowly became the go-to person for fashion/styling advice. Being surrounded by ladies who trusted me as their source for fashion/styling tips is what pushed me to begin my blog.
The blog took several turns before it became known as Mrs. Profresh. (The word Profresh comes from combining “professional” and “fresh”.) In 2015, I renamed my personal Instagram account to @soniasglamdiary. I was terrible at it so I scratched that idea real fast. In 2016, I decided to actually create a website and named it Miss Profresh. It was a great start but shortly after, I got engaged and started a new position at the company I was working for so life was crazy once again. After the wedding, I decided to rebrand and update the blog name to Mrs. Profresh, but this time, I was determined on blogging consistently. And here I am – I told you it took several turns.
From the very beginning, I knew I didn’t want just a fashion blog. I am a strong believer in sharing life experiences to either inspire or educate. I love to talk about the deep stuff, whether good or bad. As humans, we experience accomplishments, tragedies, highs, and lows, that we can all learn from. From my perspective, connecting with people is like reading a personal development book. The authors from these personal development books write to share their lessons and consolidate five (or ten) years of learning into a book that’s probably 300 pages long. What took them several years to learn, could potentially save us from wasting time or unnecessary pain. My view of people is the same. We all have a story to share, everyone is fighting a battle. I love to dig deep into personal stories because it’s not only a great opportunity to connect but also a great time to learn. This also means having the opportunity to pour positivity into other people, especially when they’re going through a tough time.
This year has been one for the books. I’ve made major strides as a blogger and couldn’t be more grateful for the support from my audience. We’ve had conversations about money, relationships, mental health, traveling, and of course, shopping. I have a strong feeling this is only the beginning to something bigger than I could have ever imagined.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The journey to where I stand today has certainly not been smooth. It took a lot out of me to leave my corporate job last year. I was no longer fulfilled and needed to make a change.
Once I made the decision to leave my job, it was time to explore. Since the Houston job market is dominated by O&G, I really had no idea where to begin. I ended up working for our family business in Bryan, TX. I would commute to work a few days out of the week and worked from home the second half of the week. My weekends and evenings were dedicated to writing, creating, and publishing to the blog. I finally enjoyed my creative escape. Don’t get me wrong, it was a little hectic but had so much fun doing it.
As soon as I knew my husband and I were set on purchasing our first home in Houston, I knew it was time to explore job opportunities in Houston again. I wasn’t sure what this meant for me because there was a huge possibility of landing a job in O&G. Lo and behold, I managed to end up in the Technology industry! It’s amazing how the universe works. If you know me, you know how fascinated I am by this industry. I couldn’t be more satisfied with what I am currently doing. This, of course, includes blogging as well.
The struggles I’ve faced varied dependent upon the phase I was in. I think the biggest challenge for me was remembering to stay true to myself. As soon as I graduated from college, the expectation was to find a job, launch my career, climb the ladder, get married, have kids, etc., etc. No one prepared me for the loneliness, high pressure, anxiety, and so forth. I didn’t wait to be lectured about these things either. I strongly believe it is our responsibility to figure out what brings joy, light, and peace into our lives. When I hit rock bottom in 2017, it was only a matter of time before making a change. The more people I met, the more I realized how unfulfilling their lives were. My biggest fear was becoming one of them so I was determined on finding something I loved and enjoyed. This leap of faith took me through a path I never thought possible. Through the course of figuring out the next chapter, I was able to create a schedule on when and what to blog about. I was able to form online relationships that I’d like to take offline sometime next year. I was able to be vulnerable and open about personal experiences. I made time to go to the gym. I made time for yoga and meditation. I spent time with my family. I was able to do things I never made time for before… what a blessing.
Whether you are in college, graduated from college, launching your career, or established your career, it is never too late to pursue what you’re actually passionate about. Time is not in our hands but our destiny is. We are the ultimate creators of our lives. We hold the power to create a life we love. If you are not passionate about what you’re doing, I encourage you to take a deep dive into your soul and figure out what sparks the fire inside you. Stop being afraid of the unknown. The path will never be straight and the timing will never be perfect. The time is now. Do something.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
My everyday goal is to continue sharing what I know, especially if it means helping another person. I love sharing where to find the latest shopping deals, how to cook a holiday recipe, things to do in Houston, where to visit, the list goes on and on. I love to think of my blog as a source of inspiration and helpful information for fashion, style, travel, and personal development.
Also, I am not afraid to talk about the tough stuff – mental health, human rights, and raising awareness about different causes. I think it is so interesting to know my audience is just as interested in these topics too. The blog posts with the most views to date have nothing to do with fashion and everything to do with mental health, raising awareness, and self-care. I think this is amazing.
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
Absolutely. Everything I went through as a child, teenager, and young adult shaped me into the person I am today. And to this day, I continue to pursue the highest version of myself.
Life is meant to teach us lessons. My perspective was totally different when I was 15 years old. I didn’t like uncomfortable situations because they were painful. Since then, I’ve shifted my perspective. I try to handle the tough stuff with grace even though I don’t always nail it. I’ve realized I grow the most when I am faced with challenges. Even the smallest things like driving down the highway and someone cuts me off, instead of losing my mind and getting upset, I think to myself, they must have had a bad day, and keep on driving.
As the opportunities present themselves to share about the hardships from my past, I will definitely do so. I am an open book and don’t hold back from sharing. I want my community to know they’re not alone and have someone who will listen.
Lastly, it would be crazy to give all of the credit to the hardships for where I stand today. I mean, yes, they had a lot to do with my drive and hunger but at the end of the day, my support system is incredible as well. The love and support I receive from my husband and family is out of this world. They always have my back no matter what and I love them for it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mrsprofresh.com
- Email: mrsprofresh@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrsprofresh/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrsprofresh/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrsprofresh
Image Credit:
Jose Hernandez
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