Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Grance.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In 2004, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a dream of acting. A year and a half after I moved there, I ended up taking pole dancing classes thinking I would go in and have a fun time and learn a few sexy moves. What I didn’t expect is that these classes would radically shift the course of my entire life. The classes ending up being more than a silly workout fad and were in fact a doorway to my own evolution as a woman and a creative. After two months of taking classes I went into teacher training and eventually became a master teacher of the movement. What I teach is a feminine movement practice that helps women to eradicate body shame and to reclaim their sexuality. I dove headfirst into that and immersed myself in this extraordinary community of bonded women.
Then, several years later my life had another radical shift when in the course of one year I started my own business, my father had a major stroke, I got married, and I had my first child. It was a whirlwind year and the beginning of the end for a life course I had thought I had set out for myself. Wanting to be an actress had been a childhood dream and that monumental year shook me up so much that I was able to confront the truth that acting was something that had stopped bringing me any kind of joy. I loved the process of creating a character, but I didn’t have the desire to do what it takes to be a working actress in this town. I was always a multi-hyphenate kind of gal, meaning I enjoyed doing so many things. I realized I wanted a more creative outlet than acting and that’s when I started to realize how much I enjoyed the role of creative entrepreneur.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’d like to meet the person who has had a smooth road. Actually… maybe not. I can’t imagine they are very interesting.
There have been many challenges and roadblocks, but for me, the biggest obstacle that I continually have to grapple with is the challenge of dealing with my own fears and insecurities. All other external obstacles pale in comparison to the Goliath of my own inner critic. I tend to think that’s true for everyone else. Are you willing to stand in the epicenter of your own storm and still create whatever it is you feel impassioned to create? As a creative entrepreneur, I battle with perfectionism, comparison, fear of failure, imposter syndrome, and the always fun procrastination game. All of that jumbles together in my mind and I’ve had to learn how to dance with these forces that are always alive and kicking.
Serpent Lane – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I own two online businesses and hope to build more in the future. I love the freedom of expression and creativity that comes with online businesses. In 2016, I opened up my own lingerie company, Serpent Lane, because I wanted to create a place where women could shop for provocative lingerie and feel two things: titilated and safe. I know, it’s kind of an interesting mix, but as a movement teacher, I know that the female body needs to feel safe in order to open up and explore. When shopping for lingerie, insecurities are bound to come up so I strive to create an atmosphere of inclusivity and diversity. I curate all the lingerie so I try to look for lingerie that comes in a broad range of sizes and find product photos that include a diverse range of women. I’m also looking to select lingerie that is more provocative and edgy. I’m not interested in putting a “vanilla” spin on sexuality in an effort to make it more palatable.
I’m also writing and creating content for a family travel blog with my husband called Live A Wilder Life. It’s focused on parents who are adventurous and wanderers by nature but may feel bogged down by the realities of what it takes to travel with a child. I hope to not only inspire parents but to help them to push against their own comfort zone and dare to get out more with their kids.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success as anytime you listen and act upon the true calling of your heart. For a very long time, I fell into the collective fog that tells you success is built around external validation and financial excess. I chased that with my husband and it nearly buried us both. I’m not saying that I don’t want financial comfort, because girl’s got to eat, but I have had to work hard at extricating that from what defines my personal definition of success.
My main marker that always tells me if I’m feeling successful in life is that I’m excited to get up in the morning. There is a vitality in my body because I’m creatively turned on by whatever it is I’m currently working on.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.serpentlane.com and www.liveawilderlife.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serpentlane and https://www.instagram.com/liveawilderlife
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serpentlane/
Image Credit:
Bradford Benoit, Meredith Koch
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