Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Romney.
Hi Alex, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born & raised in SLC, Utah. Upon being scouted into the fashion industry at age 14, I eventually went on homeschooling to live abroad while modeling. After graduating high school, I was preparing to go to NYC when I met my husband. We went on about seven consecutive dates & decided to get married. A Utah cliché, I know.
We then moved to California for my husband’s JD/MBA. While living in the Bay Area, I eventually landed back in the modeling industry. While approaching my late twenties, I wasn’t finding much success or fulfillment – this is usually the time you “age out” in that industry. I always had dreams to do big things as a model, yet it wasn’t aligning with the ways I envisioned or honored my values.
I kept receiving this idea in my mind to start a t-shirt company with positive graphics & donate a portion of the profits to various non-profit organizations. I hadn’t been to business school & wasn’t sure where to start, however, I took the first step to JUST START. SoulRise Tribe was born.
I grew this company over the span of about seven years. We partnered with Whole Foods Market & eventually became their ‘Supplier of the Year’ for the Rocky Mountain region. It was very humbling, exciting, & a testament to pursuing what calls to your heart with faith & trust as a guiding compass.
In 2021, I created a personal brand called Lovely Vegan. This is my current full-time pursuit which I’ll share more about below.
With the invaluable growth attained over the many years, there have been ups, downs, & everything in between. This has allowed me to prioritize a path that supports following my heart & continuing to nurture my passion for compassion… where authenticity & alignment meet opportunity.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Where to begin? Lol… Many obstacles in both careers: modeling as well as being an entrepreneur.
Some challenges in the modeling world include the overall pressures of superficiality & psychological effects that stem from such pressures.
I know there has been a great change over the years. A call for inclusivity, redefining “beauty” & “flaws”, & a proclamation for inner truth & unchangeable worth to shine over the noisy materialistic narratives that exist in the world. Everyone is affected by these… through imagery, ads, magazines, social media, etc. We have made progress with space for more to go.
Starting as a kid in the industry was a definite challenge as well. Constantly dealing with adults while traveling abroad & missing home was quite hard at times. During those crucial developmental years, you often don’t have the maturity to handle the situations that come your way.
During my mid/late twenties, a challenge was simply being in my twenties. The constant message is that you’re aging out of the industry & the clock is ticking.
As the creator of SoulRise Tribe, there were a lot of challenges as well. A big one was going through the global pandemic while continuing to build a small business.
Any business owner understands the rollercoaster you’re about to experience when you purchase the ticket for the ride of entrepreneurship. It was exhilarating, bumpy, enthralling, &, at times, nauseating.
2020 was unexpectedly the best year financially, yet the most challenging & draining mentally & emotionally. This is also a testament that no matter what your career is, no matter how much monetary success there is to obtain, if you’re not experiencing inner fulfillment beyond the temporal, the passion will go out like the lick of a finger to a candle flame.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I operate a personal brand called Lovely Vegan. As a passionate vegan, I designated this space to share my love for positivity, spiritual upliftment, vegan recipes/food, animals, writing, poetry, experiences as a model/entrepreneur, my personal life, & all things creatively expressive. Lovely Vegan is created as a safe space to be authentic & shine from within.
As a vegan model & creator, I also share vegan & faux fashion. This inspires others to know they can feel good & fashionable in the clothes, accessories, etc… that they wear without exploitation of animals. Lovely Vegan is known for sharing love & sunshine from the inside out. A passion for compassion… Starting with who we see in the mirror.
I am proud of the inner growth I’ve experienced over these many years. There have been countless times I have felt like throwing in the towel & calling it a day. I continue to stretch through the uncomfortable, leap over the unknown in faith, & build a strong core of resilience, truth, love, & belief within. I am most thankful & proud of the journey.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Given that I create fashion & modeling content, I’m actually a simple, casual gal. I don’t have a packed closet with designer clothes, shoes, bags, etc. And I’m usually wearing athleisure, sweats, anything that’s comfortable & practical with socks & sandals. I enjoy simplicity in life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lovelyvegan.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelyveganalex/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTE8HDTAyt3KIqZIf439M6g
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovelyveganalex?
Image Credits
Alex Rosenkreuz
