We recently had the chance to connect with Donna Feldman and have shared our conversation below.
Donna , it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I feel I’m being called to speak on social media. It’s something I had a lot of judgement about before because of the amount of inauthentic content out there it really rubbed me the wrong way. I finally realized though that if you’re speaking of topics you are passionate about and can help someone in the process, than that’s a beautiful thing. Instead of just having a portfolio of pretty pictures people can start to get a feel for who I am as a human being. Getting comfortable being uncomfortable is the only time we can actually grow
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a professional model for 20 years now, actress, tv host, brand ambassador, and co founder of a production company. I have a degree in fashion marketing/merchandising/business management as well as professional makeup. I love being a part of the creative process and helping brands to elevate their marketing imagery and feel passionate about helping women look and feel their best. Beauty is so much more than just what we see on the outside and I aim to grow my network and relationships with like minded people and brands who share my same vision
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I used to be very shy as a young girl. I used to believe I was akward, not good enough, I used to think my voice didn’t matter, and I used to think it was better to hold all my feelings inside and not share them with anyone. Now as an adult I realize my sensitivity is a strength and I know that owning my voice and being authentic and vulnerable is the way to truly connect and feel most powerful in life and in relationships. I realize that the things I got bullied about like my height for example are the exact things that helped me transform into a model as an adult. The things I thought were my weakness turned out to be my greatest strengths.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
I always wanted to keep the peace so I wouldn’t express how I really felt sometimes about a person or about an issue or really stand up for myself in order to not rock the boat or have conflict. That held me back a lot and caused a lot of added emotional stress. It had me stay in relationships for years longer than I should have. This is something I have worked on a lot and feel I’ve come a very long way. Very proud of that growth actually
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the advertising industry tells itself is that being trendy always equals good business. In recent years, we’ve seen campaigns prioritize signaling alignment with certain social or cultural movements. . often under the guise of being ‘progressive’ or ‘woke’ without truly understanding the brand’s core audience or values. The intention may be to appear relevant, but when decisions are made based on what feels popular rather than what’s strategically aligned with the brand and its customers, it can hurt both trust and sales. Real growth comes from authentic connection, not performative trends.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope the story people tell about me is that I lived with integrity. That I was honest, deeply devoted to my family, and loyal to the people I loved. That I cared about helping others and lifting them up whenever I could.
I want them to say I was driven and that I went after my dreams relentlessly; but that my power wasn’t about being the loudest in the room. It was a quiet strength, a confidence that came from within.
Most of all, I’d want people to remember that I made them feel seen, inspired, and that I left the world a little better than I found it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/donnafeldman
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/feldman.donna
Image Credits
Ale Sosa, Brie Childers, David Jakle, Michael Blank, and Nuru Kimondo
