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Je Sepel Dream believer
Overcoming shyness and setbacks, this down-to-earth entrepreneur has drawn on her determination to build an impressive business empire to share her wellness message
WORDS CHARLOTTE BRUNDRETT
Jess Sepel has been a household name among health-conscious Australians for years, but after making her debut on last year’s Young Rich List, a whole new set of eyes are on the JSHealth founder and the meteoric rise of her $426 million wellness empire.
Many want to know what makes the entrepreneur stand out from the crowd, but the simple reality is the 33-year-old does not sugar-coat who she is, and that vulnerability and openness are part of her charm.
“One thing people tend to find most surprising about me is that I’m not a confident person at all,” Jess says.
“I’m actually extremely shy — a textbook introvert — and I don’t have a high level of self-assurance.”
Her admission is refreshing and challenges conventions about what type of person you may need to be to succeed in the business world.
But that’s not to say Jess lets her shyness call the shots — case in point: at The House of Wellness cover shoot where she made it her mission to ensure everyone was relaxed and comfortable.
“My confidence is something I actively work on with regular therapy and I credit the JSHealth community for propelling this,” Jess says. “Sometimes it can be difficult to work on ourselves and have these conversations, but it’s something I’m slowly chipping away at.”
Based in Sydney, Jess moved to Australia from South Africa with her family when she was 13 years old, and developed a keen interest in wellness and nutrition as a teenager.
PHOTOGRAPHY
TINA SMIGIELSKI
STYLING
DANIEL PACIOCCO
HAIR AND MAKE-UP
JADE KISNORBO
LOCATION
PURE LOCATIONS
Jess wears Friends With Frank blazer and skirt, Witchery shirt, Nicole Fendel earrings and necklace; INSET: Karen Millen blazer and pants, Witchery top and Bianc necklace.
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Years later, she has made a career of it. But far from being an overnight success story, JSHealth is a decadelong culmination of setbacks and determination endured by Jess and her husband, Dean Steingold.
Since the couple are business partners, maintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial for them.
“I’m very grounded and my relationship is the most important thing in my life, which is why I put it first. Nothing matters more to me than my husband, my family and my health,” Jess says.
In an effort to switch off, the couple avoid late-night work discussions and take yearly vacations.
“We have such separate roles in the company that there is zero crossover, and this really works for us,” she says.
A manifestation advocate, Jess often vocalises the importance of speaking your goals into existence. “The trick to manifesting is the energy that goes with it. You believe you’re worthy of your dreams … you have to be very open to it and this can take years,” she says.
“I really do believe what you put out there comes back and I have a lot of manifestation practices, including a crazy dance on my balcony every morning. I haul in everything I want and push away what no longer serves me.”
However, one habit she may not be as widely known for is her impressive slipper collection.
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formula or magical superfood — it was about letting go of fad dieting altogether.
“Having a better relationship with food helped me to thrive. Not just in my personal life, but also my career,” Jess says.
Her blog quickly amassed a dedicated following, which led to a book deal, followed by two more, an eight-week JSHealth program, a smartphone app and, in 2018, her most popular business venture to date — JSHealth Vitamins.
“It’s hard to describe in words what inspired me to pursue a line of my own supplements, but I remember feeling a gravitational pull. “It was a ‘meant to be’ feeling,” she recalls. dream, to focus my attention on other areas of the brand and recalibrate,” she says.
“It was only when I found my current manufacturer that everything changed and I realised that I could, in fact, do this.”
Jess was right to trust her gut. Not only did the venture receive an overwhelmingly positive response, her original products remain a bestseller to this day and are now stocked at Chemist Warehouse and an extensive range of retailers overseas.
As for what’s next, Jess is gearing up for another product launch within the beauty sector.
“I’m about to launch two new products that aim to elevate the health of our hair, which
“Slippers make me feel more relaxed and represent rest time and time to myself, so that’s why I love them. But I also love pyjamas, candles around my house, lots of blankets, teddy bears and fluffy things in general.”
Nowadays, JSHealth is best known for its range of vitamins and most recently skincare, but the brand’s origins go back to 2012 when Jess launched a health blog on a whim.
Diet culture was rife at the time and Jess had tried just about every fad under the sun with no reprieve, developing a torturous relationship with her body.
“I remember feeling that I was failing and that it was my fault, when in actuality, diets aren’t designed to be a permanent solution,” she says.
“I started a blog documenting my estranged relationship with food and body image.”
Using her blog to help heal her relationship with food, Jess discovered a better approach to nutrition and wellness. However, her breakthrough wasn’t some elusive secret
“I always struggled to find a good brand that contained the right dose and best form of ingredients.”
That’s not to say the journey from inception to product launch was smooth sailing.
“We had two years of failing before we got it over the line. It was a tough period and I temporarily gave up on this will serve as another way to nourish and strengthen our locks,” she says.
Having a family is another goal for the couple.
“Up until now I’ve put having a family on hold because my business has taken up my life. So hopefully next year I’ll take a few steps back to allow this to happen.”
Jess wears Clea shirt and pants, Wittner shoes, Nicole Fendel necklace. INSET: Shona Joy dress, Witchery belt, Bianc necklace and Nicole Fendel bracelet.
