Candace Marie Stewart - Stepping Outside the Comforts of her Zone to Pursue her Dreams
Candace Marie Stewart is the creator of Marie Mag, and she lives by the mantra "the best is yet to come." She has worked with some of the major news and media houses in the fashion industry, such as Vogue, Essence, Lucky Magazine, and People Magazine. Candace is a determined, tenacious, and passionate 20-something who knows the value of stepping outside of her comfort zone to achieve her goals.
In this interview, Candace talks about her journey to pursue her dreams in the editorial and fashion industry, the valuable lessons she has learned, the importance of stepping outside of her comfort zone, how each experience has helped build her character, and how she stays focused on achieving her goals.
You have been transparent about your personal journey in pursuing your dreams in fashion and editorial. How has that experience been, and what would you describe as your challenging moment?
Being transparent has been very therapeutic.
Things I kept bottled up inside and thought that people would have a hard time comprehending; I was able to let all of that go.
The challenging part was initially being vulnerable, however, the great part was that I found out that there were many other people that could relate to my story and were so supporting.
One of the most profound messages you shared about pursuing your dreams was about 'leaving the comforts of your zone'; how exciting yet frightening was that experience for you to leave home and move to a different state to pursue your dreams?
My best friend and I used to visit New York during the summer, so I knew already that this was the place for me, so it wasn’t as frightening.
I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone without knowing anyone or exactly how I would make things work, but I had faith that it would work out.
You have worked with some of the major news and media companies in fashion. How have each of those experiences built you into the woman you are today?
I have learned from each experience the importance of hard work and persistence.
Being lazy will never get you far. Even if you work hard without being persistent you will never see any rewards of your labour.
What has been the most valuable lesson you have learned about 'stepping outside of your comfort zone'?
The most valuable lesson I have learned is that you never know until you try.
Tips for women trying to break into the fashion industry
Believe in yourself and have faith. Don’t give up. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.
What has been the best advice you have ever received that always stays at the forefront of your mind?
Hard work pays off.
The journey to success can be quite distracting and daunting at times, how do you stay focused and motivated?
I surround myself with like-minded people. I need someone that is going to uplift me when I feel defeated not someone who is going to just agree with me. I need people who build up my character and are able to tell me the truth no matter what.
See Candace's awe-inspiring video about her journey
