The why behind it
It started with confidence.
Then, a closet.
01
The confidence piece
Throughout middle school, I struggled with confidence in my own body and with the immaturity that can make those years especially difficult for girls. Looking back, I wanted to create the kind of space I would have valued at that age: somewhere younger girls could hear from older female mentors, ask honest questions, receive advice, and know they were not alone.
That became the idea behind the Empowerment Station — a place centered on encouragement, conversation, and women supporting girls through a stage of life that can feel isolating.
02
The closet that sparked the boutique
One day, my mom made me clean out my closet. As I sorted through clothing I no longer needed, I realized how common this must be among privileged teenage girls in my area — perfectly good clothes sitting unused or being discarded without much thought.
I started spreading the word among local high schools and turned that realization into action. The result: more than 400 articles of clothing collected for girls at the TGR Learning Lab.
“I wanted every girl to leave feeling powerful, womanly, strong, and part of a bigger, amazing community of women.”
