Conversations with Taylor Jean Stephan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Jean Stephan.

Hi Taylor Jean, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I first started in the journalism field, close to ten years ago, the landscape was completely different than it is right now. For starters, social media just wasn’t a thing. The industry was exclusive and very hard to break into. There were only a few top-tier editors, especially in LA compared to New York, and I got my break, if you will, rather randomly. I had just graduated college and I was freelancing for a New York City-based event company, working the door and handling the guest lists for big A-list events like the Vanity Fair Oscar party at Chateau Marmont. I’ve always been very social and a natural at networking, so when the West Coast editor of Vogue (unbeknownst to me) started asking me about the seating chart (in hopes of snagging interviews with certain celebrities), I obliged by pointing out who was seated where. Fast forward, we got to chatting and I found out that she was hiring an assistant. That’s how I got my first job in journalism. From there, I went on to freelance for a bit with The Zoe Report and Refinery 29 and eventually landed my dream job at E! News as a beauty and style editor. I spent five years at E! and then eventually started freelancing full time, which is where I’m at today. A few of the publications I’ve worked with are Cosmopolitan, Elle, Oprah Daily, Good Housekeeping, WWD, Byrdie and more.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I entered journalism in 2011 right when digital media started making an impact. YouTube channels were taking off and Instagram had just started, but it was far from what it is today. I had worked for the now defunct outlet Daily Candy, which was one of the first big websites geared towards young, cool working women. Their whole business model was based on email newsletters being sent out every day. That trend fell off and, long story short, the brand folded. Digital websites like The Zoe Report and Refinery 29 we’re blowing up, but still very new. When I got hired at E! News in 2015, I was brought on to build out a brand new vertical called Style Collective. The whole idea was that we would enlist celebrity stylists, beauty pros and other experts to create exclusive, long-form interview-based Content. Everything from how to recreate a red carpet look or how to style your LBD like a celeb.

In the five years I was there my job shifted four times. First, it was deep dive celebrity interviews, then it was branded content where we sold concepts to big brands like L’Oréal and Tresemmé. Then it was a social media focus, and finally I was tasked with developing an e-commerce vertical. This industry is ever-changing, a moving target, and it’s so unpredictable. I’ve learned to be adaptable and not get too attached to Any one project or skill set. In this industry, you have to get used to pivoting and starting over. It helps to have the mentality that there’s always something new to learn. You can’t get too comfortable.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Today, I think it’s safe to say that I am my own brand. I didn’t set out to do that, it just kind of evolved.

When I left my full-time job in 2019, it felt like there was a mass exodus of editors breaking off and starting to freelance. So, serendipitously, it wound up being a really strong move on my part. With digital media moving in a million directions very quickly, the days of traditional company structures, with editors only working for only one publication, was no more. Other editors, like myself, were freelancing and working for multiple publications at once. At this time, social platforms like Instagram were in full force. Needless to say, my job description quickly expanded. I used to just write, but I found myself doing everything: writing, curating shoppable E-commerce content, interviewing influencers, Experts and creating social content for myself and brands via IG reels or lives.

As I was growing, so was my work. Suddenly I needed a website and online portfolio as well as a robust social following with fresh, original content. Breaking off and doing my own thing was kind of like leaping off a cliff. It really pushed me, not only to hustle, but to find my voice. It’s an ever-evolving process and there’s never an end in sight. I’m always reaching for something, creating new goals and breaking new boundaries for myself. This job is all about accountability. I can’t tell you the amount of people I’ve talked to that have said to me ‘you’re brave for doing your own thing, I haven’t had the guts to start freelancing.’ In a lot of ways, I’m still figuring it out but I’m really proud of myself for where I’ve wound up today.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Right when covid hit, I was overworked and exhausted and ready to slow down a little bit, at least lifestyle-wise. The pandemic wound up being a good reset for me. I don’t think I would have started working for myself 100% otherwise. I realized that creating work you care about is important. I also realized that mental health matters. And who you surround yourself with matters. I wanted to reassess my life and make choices that were in my own best interest on a holistic level. I started backward and asked myself, ‘what does my ideal life look like?’ and worked from there. A big piece of that puzzle was being able to work from home (or from wherever) and dictate my own schedule. I could go on and on but the biggest takeaway for me has been about creating a life you love. That includes your job, family, how you spend your free time, where you decide to live etc., etc. You’re very much responsible for (and in control of) your quality of life. But make no mistake, your dream life takes a lot of effort. That’s the part most people aren’t willing to do.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.taylorjeanstephan.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taytayjean/