The Impact of Women

When coming up with the theme for this issue, I immediately thought of the impact of women. Now, more than ever, women are taking a stand in the world, their voices are being heard, and women are making true and lasting change. It’s an exciting time to be a woman. Within the Holl & Lane community, the power of women coming together is something that is life saving. The more than 500 women who have shared a piece of themselves throughout our last 18 issues are playing a role in defining media as we move forward. Our voices are shouting out our truths, and they’re leaving room at the table for other women to sit and talk about exactly who they are. The concept for the cover of this issue represented my thought process behind the impact of women. I wanted to show women of all sizes, races, and backgrounds coming together to support one another.

I asked the beautiful women featured on the cover to tell me what the impact of women coming together means. This is what they had to say.

AUTUMN PAWELEC Cover Model, instagram.com/autumnpawelec

What women coming together means to me is a promise to one another. A promise to impact the world together. A promise to honor and respect each other. A promise to hold and cherish one another through the ups and downs. A promise to remind each other that we ALL are worthy of love, worthy of directing our own lives, worthy of following our dreams. Womanhood is promise. A promise to always have each other’s back.

CLARE LOZANO Cover Model, instagram.com/seejaneblush

A strong, intelligent, passionate, and confident woman can do anything she sets her mind to.

But when she surrounds herself with other like minded women who are just as strong and and just as confident, who lift each other up in love and support, they are all unstoppable!

JULIE KAHLBAUGH Cover Model, instagram.com/julieanne514

Women’s empowerment is when judgement, jealousy, envy, and differences towards other women are pushed aside. It’s when we lift each other up and help guide each other towards self-love. There are no more stereotypes, cliques, or categories. We stand hand in hand and become one connective energy. This energy can and WILL change the world.

TA’LOR PINKSTON Cover Model, instagram.com/ladyhoodjourney

For years I struggled connecting with women because I viewed them all as the bullies I had as friends when I was a teenager. When I started being transparent about all the pain I have endured, that is when I was truly able to connect with other women on a deeper level.

As a self-love coach, self-love lifestyle blogger I know the strength in uniting women and women’s empowerment. No matter your race, ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, sexual preference, or religion we all have something to learn from one another. Every story matters and sharing only makes connections more genuine. Women are so much stronger together than they are separate.

CRISTIN GOSS Cover Photographer, right instagram.com/gossboss_photovideo

Women supporting other women will have such a positive impact on the world because of the positive energy and motivation we can offer each other. I have almost exclusively built my photography and videography business on referrals from other women that wanted to lift me up and help me succeed. I find that most women are likely to support and build “tribes” or a community rather than the rat race and ladder climbing. I feel incredibly grateful to have both a local and online network of strong, like-minded women that I call my clients and now, friends.

Words by Sarah Hartley Images by Cristin Goss