Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine Mertz.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Back in the fall of 2020, when COVID hit, we decided to have our children do remote learning as there were so many unknowns and I am a type1 diabetic. We decided to do the best for our family we could. I enrolled back in school to obtain my second degree in order to set an example for our girls. This started a chain of events in my life that some only dream of. Taking that step opened so many doors which I decided to go through (I fell in love with fitness and became healthier for it, began modeling, I opened a location for my business, the list goes on but really I just started just in general focusing on growth) and I ended up running for Mrs. America in 2021 and for Mrs. American 2022. The first Montana woman to compete for Mrs. America, Inc titles two years in a row. (and to think I didn’t know a thing about makeup or walking in heels in the beginning!) This journey and all the lessons, accomplishments, connections, art, and growth I am experiencing comes with a few struggles but it continues to be one of the best experiences that are still unfolding.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
For the most part, my journey has been pretty adventurous. Ups and downs like anyone has faced. I learn every day how to be a better mother, and every day I face something new on the business front, really in all aspects of life the downs balance the ups and it makes life worth every moment. I like to think my struggles have brought me closer to knowing my authentic self. Probably my biggest struggle during my entire life span has been learning to accept and live with my diabetes. I was diagnosed when I was 5 and I can still remember the details of that day in my life. Being diabetic and learning how my body works with the disease have been interesting. I, as all diabetics, live with a disease that if not managed well or at all means we could die due to that disease. This puts those that have diabetes needing to be on basically 24/7, and that can be difficult. I am so grateful for all the new technologies that have made management easier, it has made my life and other’s so much better. When I feel myself facing a struggle, whether it is big or small, I love to create. It makes me feel so much better and I am able to work through the emotions. Hard day? I create. Good day? I create. Really it keeps me going. That is why I love to go around and talk about creation as a coping mechanism. From my experience, it has helped keep me grateful, positive, and grounded and I would love to help others find that sense of peace.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a creative who followed my passion by opening a studio to be able to create and invite others to create as well. My preferred way to express myself is through photography, however, graphic art comes in at a close second. Really, I enjoy making period. The rush that is obtained from the work I do is what I live for and I hold pride in many of my pieces whether they are photographs, ink drawings, or graphic art. However, I feel the work I am most proud of is the creative work that I do with non-profits. I do photography for a few different non-profits as well as speak to individuals about creating and how that process can be used as a coping mechanism. The creative process is where I have found sanctuary during some of the hardest moments of my life, and I love to share how I got through without turning to negative coping strategies. I think what sets me apart from others is the heart behind my work, as with any artist. All artists have their own style, mine is uniquely my own, when you see my work, you see the world through my eyes which is a view a bit different from everyone else’s.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Know, first of all, that you can gain knowledge from many areas in life, use this to your advantage. As I have networked, I have found many people who I enjoy working with and can learn from. As time has passed, we have continued to learn from each other and support each other’s growth. My best advice is to take every opportunity to connect, attend events, support your community, surround yourself with people who you can learn from, take time to have deep conversations and create with others, hold no faults and always hold up your end of the bargain. In all of this never feel as though you are less than anyone else in the room because we are all working on something, and don’t forget to be authentically you and love others for who they are.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thevaultstudiosmt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinemertz/ and https://www.instagram.com/thevaultstudiosmt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevaultstudiosmt
- Other: https://linktr.ee/catherinemertz
Image Credits
Dax Photography
Catherine Mertz
