Today we’d like to introduce you to Jayla Campbell.
Hi Jayla, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my journey creatively through fashion, writing, and self-expression. Growing up, I always viewed style as more than just clothing — it was a form of confidence, storytelling, and identity. Over time, I realized that many women, especially plus-size women, wanted to feel seen, stylish, and confident but didn’t always feel represented in fashion spaces. That realization inspired me to begin building LOOKSBYJAY.
What started as a passion for styling and creating outfit inspiration slowly evolved into me helping real people discover their personal style and feel more comfortable expressing themselves through fashion. I began creating style sets, moodboards, and personalized outfit directions while balancing my full-time retail experience in merchandising and visual presentation. Working in retail helped sharpen my eye for styling, trends, customer experience, and understanding how fashion can impact confidence in everyday life.
At the same time, I’ve also been building TAKEUPSPACEJAY, a healing-centered creative platform rooted in self-expression, femininity, and empowerment. Recently, on April 22, 2026, I published my first poetry book, Petals of Her Power, which centers around healing, divine femininity, self-worth, and growth through vulnerability and reflection. Through poetry, storytelling, and fashion, I want my work to encourage people to embrace themselves fully and unapologetically.
Right now, I’m in a season of growth where I’m learning how to merge creativity, fashion, branding, and community together in an intentional way. Whether it’s styling clients, creating visual concepts, writing, or building my brands, my goal is always to create spaces where people feel inspired, confident, and seen.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. A lot of my journey has involved learning how to believe in myself while building things from the ground up. One of the biggest struggles has been navigating self-doubt and trying to balance creativity with real-life responsibilities like working full-time, financial pressures, and figuring out what direction I truly wanted to take professionally and personally.
There were also moments where I questioned whether my ideas were “good enough” or if people would genuinely connect with what I was creating. Building brands centered around creativity and vulnerability can feel intimidating because so much of it is personal. I’ve had to learn how to push through fear of judgment, comparison, and uncertainty while still continuing to show up consistently.
Another challenge has been learning how to transition from simply being passionate about fashion and creativity into actually treating it like a business and career path. That process has required patience, trial and error, and a lot of growth in confidence and structure.
At the same time, many of those struggles shaped the work I create today. My healing journey, my experiences with confidence, femininity, and self-expression, and even moments of burnout or uncertainty all inspired both TAKEUPSPACEJAY and my poetry book, Petals of Her Power. I think those experiences made my work more honest and relatable, and they continue to motivate me to create spaces where people feel seen, empowered, and understood.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work exists at the intersection of fashion, storytelling, healing, and self-expression. I’m a personal stylist, creative, and brand builder who specializes in helping people, especially plus-size women, feel more confident and intentional through style. Through LOOKSBYJAY, I create personalized styling experiences, curated outfit concepts, moodboards, and visual direction that blend fashion with individuality and confidence-building.
I also specialize in visual storytelling and brand aesthetics. My background in Fashion Design and Merchandising, combined with hands-on experience in retail merchandising and styling, has helped me develop a strong eye for silhouettes, color coordination, layering, and creating looks that feel both expressive and wearable. A big part of my work is making fashion feel accessible, personal, and empowering rather than intimidating.
Outside of fashion, I’m also the creator of TAKEUPSPACEJAY, a healing-centered creative platform focused on femininity, empowerment, and emotional growth. Recently, I published my first poetry book, Petals of Her Power, on April 22, 2026. The book explores healing, self-worth, vulnerability, and reclaiming personal power through poetry and reflection. That project is one of the things I’m most proud of because it allowed me to merge creativity, honesty, and storytelling in a deeply personal way.
What sets me apart is the intentionality behind everything I create. I don’t just focus on aesthetics — I focus on how people feel. Whether I’m styling a client, building a visual concept, or writing poetry, my goal is always to create something that feels authentic, emotionally resonant, and confidence-affirming. I think my ability to blend creativity with empathy and real human connection is what makes my work unique.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think my perspective on risk has changed a lot over the years. When I was younger, I viewed risk as something dramatic or fearless, but now I see it more as choosing to move forward even when you don’t have everything figured out yet. A lot of the risks I’ve taken have been rooted in trusting myself creatively and emotionally before I felt fully “ready.”
One major risk I’ve taken was publicly building my own creative platforms and putting deeply personal work into the world. Creating TAKEUPSPACEJAY and publishing my first poetry book, Petals of Her Power, required a level of vulnerability that honestly felt scary at times. The book explores healing, femininity, self-worth, heartbreak, growth, and emotional honesty — topics that are deeply personal to me. Sharing that publicly meant risking judgment, criticism, and uncertainty about how people would receive it. But I also knew that if my words could make even one person feel seen or understood, it would be worth it.
Another risk has been stepping into styling and entrepreneurship while still navigating my own growth personally and professionally. Starting LOOKSBYJAY and putting myself out there creatively meant accepting that I would have to learn through trial and error. I’ve had to become comfortable with not always getting everything perfect immediately and understanding that growth comes from experience, feedback, and consistency.
I don’t necessarily think of myself as reckless or impulsive, but I do think I’m someone who believes in taking intentional risks that align with purpose and passion. For me, the biggest risk isn’t failure — it’s ignoring the things I feel genuinely called to create. Even when things feel uncertain, I try to remind myself that growth usually lives on the other side of discomfort.
Pricing:
- • Personalized styling services are currently being developed and curated through LOOKSBYJAY. • At this stage, I’m focused on building intentional client experiences, creative direction, and personalized styling concepts. • Pricing for future styling services, curated styling packages, and creative consulting will be announced through LOOKSBYJAY platforms at a later date. • Current work includes personalized styling inspiration, visual moodboards, curated outfit direction, and fashion-focused creative content.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGsyqNJHZU/F5nqmMDTE7vnZ_ksfPc86Q/view
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/looksbyjay_
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayla-e-campbell-2b6620310
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@takeupspacejayllc
- Other: https://a.co/d/0bjVNQy3
