HS: Can you tell us about a life changing moment that you've experienced? CM: I have had many life changing moments, but none have played as big of a role into my ‘today’ as the moment I was raped by my boyfriend when I was 15. Yes, it changed my life and my definition of sex and had, and continues to have, an impact on my relationships. However, it’s the reason I started blogging. It’s the reason I wrote a book. It’s the reason I went through the transformation I went through that led me to start The Indie Chicks and lead a movement of self-empowerment. So really, its impact was much greater, and better, than anything I could have ever imagined.
HS: How did that change you? CM: For the better. After him, I was in an emotionally abusive relationship, and the two combined made me hide into an empty shell for the better part of my high school years. The day came I could no longer handle the darkness and I decided to change. I created an ideal version of myself - a badass, don’t you dare think you’re worthy of breaking me - and I devoted an entire year to becoming her. One day, I was her, and from that day on, she’s been the foundation of strength for every single struggle I have faced in my life.
HS: When and why did you decide to start The Indie Chicks? CM: The idea came up in February of 2012 and the site launched in May, so we’ve been up and running a little over 2 years. As a dating blogger, a lot of what I was writing on my personal blog was tailored to the individual and the concept of self-improvement and self-analysis came up a lot in my advice. I realized there was a real need to target the self and decided the best way to do so was to put together some of the best women writers on the web and start a movement.
HS: What has been one of your biggest challenges when starting a company like this?
Dress- GIAMBATTISTA VALLI Necklace- VANESSA MOONEY "Karma" necklaceDOGEARED INDIE CHICK | THEINDIECHICKS.COM
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CM: Anyone with an online presence knows how hard it is to get noticed. You may have a great idea for a website, but when you’re competing with big sites overpowering the web for a reader’s attention, it makes it pretty hard to get your site noticed. Gathering writers, doing brand outreach, hyping up the launch, and building something that would actually retain visitors was a lot to juggle with such a small team. Finding balance and learning to prioritize was definitely a start-up challenge.