Have I ever mentioned how much I love my job? Specifically when I really get to know my boudoir clients. Kiana is a very special lady to me. I have had the privilege of working with her three times and each time I get to learn more about what makes her the incredible woman she is.

She was kind enough to write an incredibly detailed interview to share what brought her to my boudoir studio. Her words are so powerful and I feel immensely lucky to know her.

Q: How did you first hear of Rachel Jasmine Studio and what made you want to book with us?

A: I saw an Instagram ad for RJS, and the artistry in the photo was literally AMAZING. I didn’t know what RJS was – I thought it was an add for underwear! I clicked on the ad because I was like, “I need to know what company this is.” After I landed on the RJS site, I was immediately was taken aback by how these models were real people. No offense towards the women being featured on the site at the time, it was so refreshing to see a normal body being portrayed. It’s so normalized to view models’ bodies as the standard, but their job is to look good; we forget that they work out multiple times a day, which isn’t what a normal person does. Seeing these BEAUTIFUL, NORMAL women looking smokin’, made me want to poke around the site more. I started to read the testimonials and videos and learn what RJS stands for, and when I saw it was ALL about female empowerment, I was in! Also, the ad that brought me to RJS’s site in the first place was advertising a discounted session fee, and I literally booked my session on a whim. Then a few months later I booked a mini session because my first shoot made me feel so good about myself!

Q: What was your initial reason for booking?

A: After reading the testimonials, I wanted to be one of those women. I wanted to see myself in a new light; I wanted to look as gorgeous as the women featured on the website; I wanted to be beautiful. I was fresh out of college and just started my career, and I was not feeling good about myself. From the outside looking in, I looked very successful, yet on the inside, I wasn’t feeling myself. I wasn’t ready for the world I had been thrown into, and all the people around me seemed to be at the top of their game (ironic because to them I probably looked like I had it all to them). I had never ever felt sexy, or thought I could be, and I thought it was time that I feel that way about myself. I’d also had an ex tell me that I wasn’t sexy and that I should stop trying to be, and I wanted to prove him wrong. (P.S. I did)

Q: What were your expectations going into the shoot?

A: I was so nervous about my first session. I was wondering if I could pose and look as good as the women featured. I doubted that I could look even remotely as stunning. Could I even contour my body in those poses?! What would I do with my face? Could I even get my face to look sultry? What am I going to wear? All these questions and more were swarming in my head. All my fears were relieved once I got to the studio on the day of my shoot. Rachel and her team welcomed me with open arms and treated me like an old friend. I remembering being so nervous about getting my makeup done too because I had never had a full face of makeup on – I had never done more than put eye shadow and eyeliner on my face. It all came together though! Rachel modeling/demonstrating poses made me feel so much better too. She walks you through every step to get you to that bomb pose, which was a HUGE relief (not a model here). I left the studio with 2 new friends and a new found confidence.

Q: What was it like seeing your images for the first time?

A: I was speechless. How was that even me?! The girl up on the screen was so stunning and radiant and looked effortless, but it was me! I never thought I could look that good. Rachel and her team were cheering and hyping me up when every single photo was revealed. Every. Single. One. I couldn’t even express the joy I was feeling. Having your own cheer squad is, honestly, so uplifting.

Q: Has anything changed for you since your boudoir experience and seeing your gallery? How has boudoir impacted your body image as a woman?

A: I’m way more confident with myself now. I used to really nit-pick my body, whereas now I’m like “no, I like the stretchmarks on my hips; they make me ME.” I’ve started to give myself more credit by pointing at the things I love about my body rather than all the things I hate about it. I’ve also continued to lift other women up as well. RJS VIP gals know what’s up. Being a part of a community that lifts each other up when society sets so many expectations on us women, is truly something I want every woman to have. Every woman should be empowered to be themselves and celebrate their bodies!

Q: Would you recommend Rachel Jasmine Studio for the luxury boudoir experience to others?

A: Hell yes! You will come out of your shoot with a different outlook on yourself. You’ll see a side of yourself you didn’t before, and I pray that you learn to celebrate and yourself because you’re a force to be reckoned with!!

Q: What advice would you give to another woman considering the boudoir experience with Rachel Jasmine Studio?

A: If you can take the leap, do it. Do it for yourself. Give yourself the gift of confidence. You can 100% be as stunning and beautiful as the models you see om Vogue. You can do anything and don’t let anyone tell you differently.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add to your interview?

A: There’s a whole tribe of women ready to lift you up in Rachel’s VIP group. When I’m starting doubt my worth and generally start getting down on myself, I go to that group and just read the comments on the posts. The positivity and love in that group is so contagious! Post that selfie you just took to that group and you’ll get a swarm of compliments from all the babes!

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THANK YOU SO MUCH, KIANA!!! I loved every word and I am truly so grateful to have you as a client!