Q & A with
JAELIN
WESTBROOK Interviewed by: Kenai Hollingsworth Fashion Director It’s no secret that mental health is routinely treated differently than physical health, but sometimes it’s difficult to understand how or why this affects us. Sometimes we don't realize we are struggling until it's too late. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jaelin Westbrook founder of Love Yourself clothing line, to get a better understanding not only of his take on mental health but also his ways of coping with the many challenges of today. RUM: I watched your documentary and I have to ask who is Jaelin Westbrook? Jaelin: I am a hardworking visionary that cares very much about having a positive self-image. I am “super” all over the place meaning I am an opportunist. I am family man therefore family is very important to me. I am “super” big on growth and hate being stagnant. RUM: In your documentary, you talked about being in a dark place. How did you get to that dark place? What were you feeling? What were you thinking while in that dark place? Jaelin: I got to the dark place by being really selfish and treating people the way I wouldn't want to be treated, so when the roles reversed I couldn't handle it. I also struggled with my sexuality, my passion and not being comfortable in my own skin. During that time, I spent a lot of time deep in thought. I thought about all my wrongs and the people I hurt. In this place is where I started to think a lot about making music. RUM: What changed your life? What got you to the point of not wanting to continue the cycle? Jaelin: My passion for creativity and my desire to make something out of myself is what made me now want to continue the cycle I was in. Three things - GOD, Passion and Purpose helped me stay focused. RUM: I understand music is your outlet. How does it help you express yourself and cope?
Photography by: Tinisha Curl 26 | rallyupmagazine.com | November 2018
Jaelin: I feel like God gave me the gift of music. I don't have to try at it, it just comes natural to me. RUM: Do you have any other means of expressing yourself? Jaelin: Yes, I express myself through fashion, my clothing line Love Yourself. RUM: So what inspired your Love Yourself clothing line? Jaelin: I wanted a medium to push my message through without sounding like a broken record. Meaning if I make a song and keep saying love yourself over and over, it will get old and it will sound like a broken record. If I put it in a clothing line I can push my message without sounding like one because even if the design changes the message stays the same and plus I just love clothes. RUM: I understand you have a song dedicated to mental health, why do you think you’re so passionate about mental health? What inspired the song? Jaelin: The words in the song are all the words I want to hear or the words I need to hear and I just want to share the words with someone else on a larger platform. I want to give those words to as many people as possible. RUM: Lastly, there may be a younger reader who has thought of giving up or harming themselves, what encouraging words do you have for them? Jaelin: I would say your today does not define your tomorrow and if you need help seek help.
Be on the look out for more information on Jae and reach out to him on : @loveyourselfjae @loveyourself.usa
