AUTHOR, HOST, AND SPEAKER
LUVVIE
AJAYI
JONES
WANTS YOU TO DOUBLE
DOWN ON YOUR DOPENESS
PAID FOR BY:
Luvvie Ajayi Jones is no stranger to the hustle. She calls her life a “cosmic accident,” and in some ways, it is (after all, up until receiving a D in college chemistry, she thought she was going to be a doctor!). But when it comes down to it, it’s clear she’s earned every ounce of her success. As a New York Times bestselling author, sought-after speaker, and podcast host (including host of The Step, season 2), Luvvie is no stranger to speaking her mind. She uses her voice to empower women, challenge norms, and spread positive energy online and beyond.
“I think building a safe online space and a loving community is part of social activism,” Luvvie told us over the phone. “You have to think about what type of space you’re creating. What type of energy are you allowing to live on your own platforms? Knowing you can always escape somewhere uplifting is of utmost importance.”
Luvvie started blogging in 2003, and her site quickly took on a life of its own. Although she ended up working in marketing after college, she never stopped writing. Turns out, it was her calling. “What I didn't realize was that writing was the gift I was meant to pursue,” Luvvie explained. “When I got laid off from my last full-time job in April 2010, I never got a chance to get another full-time job. My life basically ended up unfolding from there; it was clearly some type of divine design.”
Divine design or not, Luvvie worked hard to achieve her full-time-blogger status. She owes her current career to her fierce tenacity. “I had to make sure I was contributing to my site as regularly as possible,” she said. “Writing so much allowed me to form a dynamic résumé of my work as a writer, as a thinker, and as a cultural critic. It’s that consistency over the years that just kept pushing me forward. Soon, more and more people started paying attention.”
Today, Luvvie is an advocate. She speaks out when necessary and isn’t afraid to tell hard truths — even when the cost could be high. One powerful way she stepped forward was when she took a risk in 2017. She was asked to speak at a tech conference in Europe, and when her manager reached out to provide Luvvie’s fees, she was told to expect amazing exposure as compensation.
After explaining the situation to her fellow business leaders, she quickly understood that the conference’s council was only interested in paying white men. “White women, they would pay for travel, but Black women who were expected to speak, were expected to pay their own way,” Luvvie said. “I decided to speak about it on Twitter. I talked about how, even as someone who has been a professional speaker for a long time, I still have to deal with this type of pay hierarchy. That’s not fair.”
Luvvie took to social media knowing full well she could face repercussions. “I decided to move forward anyway because I realized that my tenure as a professional speaker put me in the right place to be able to do this,” she said. “I think it’s really important to honor the power that we have and use it in service of others. And in that moment, I felt like I was obligated to use my power in that way.”
But despite being confident in her decision, Luvvie didn’t necessarily feel empowered — at least not right away. And there’s a beautiful and very real lesson to be found in that. “I think the fear is real,” Luvvie said matter-of-factly. “But it’s also important to be honest with ourselves and with what our responsibility is. If we have power that we’re not using, why do we have it? What is the point? So I’m usually trying to make sure that I am using my power, so that those who don’t have as much power in whatever space it is won’t have to put their own livelihoods on the line.”
To do that, Luvvie focuses on building herself and others up. “You do better every day by constantly committing yourself to being as true as possible to yourself and the people around you,” she said. “It’s surrounding yourself with really dope women who will loan you their power when you don’t have yours. It’s squadding up with people who won’t let you feel bad about yourself; even in your worst moments, they’ll gas you up.”
Aside from writing and inspiring, Luvvie also has a passion for shoes. She loves them so much, they’re the first thing she picks out when getting dressed — and she has 250 pairs! “A pair of really fierce shoes is a great conversation starter — it sets off an outfit,” Luvvie said. “I have a whole shoe closet, and I give away 20 to 25 pairs of shoes every six months. They’re one of my vices.” But finding the perfect shoe isn’t just about style; it’s also about comfort and durability, which is why she loves SOREL.
Luvvie enjoys rocking her SOREL shoes with a well-tailored blazer to really make a statement. “I’m a fan of classic pieces,” she said. “My closet is full of items I can wear today, I wore 10 years ago, and pieces I can wear 10 years from now.” Not only does Luvvie find fashion inspiration all around her, but her inspiration for everything can be found in the strong group of loved ones she surrounds herself with.
“I'm inspired by people who live life loudly; who insist on being themselves no matter what group they’re in,” Luvvie said. “I’m inspired by my faith; I’m inspired by my friends and people I know and love who are brilliant. I think inspiration is everywhere. There is no shortage of things to be heartened by.”
To hear more from Luvvie, check out The Step, our podcast in partnership with SOREL. Luvvie is the host of season two, which drops on 10/6.
Part of what makes Luvvie’s message so effective is her relatable, humorous tone. For her, humor is a great equalizer. “If you can make somebody laugh, you can find some type of common ground,” she said. “And then while you have that common ground, they are more willing to receive and accept what you’re saying.”
It’s philosophies like these that have allowed Luvvie to connect with people from all over the world and all walks of life. Her content strikes a chord with people, and it’s easy to see why. She challenges her LuvvNation community to be their best selves and to demand better for themselves. “We need to spend more time standing in and doubling down on our dopeness,” Luvvie said. “We need to unlearn a lot of the things we’ve learned that are damaging to our psyches and surround ourselves with amazing people who will always remind us of this in times we forget."
And while Luvvie acknowledged that periods of uncertainty are normal, she shared that self-doubt has no room in her heart. “Why constantly doubt yourself when there are people who probably know less than you who would not doubt themselves?” she said. “Why do we spend our days wondering if we're good enough? What is the benefit of constantly thinking that you don’t measure up? I think it’s just a waste of time.”
If you can make somebody laugh, you can find some type of common ground.
I think it's really important to honor the power that we have and use it in service of others.
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To hear more from Luvvie, check out The Step, our podcast in partnership with SOREL. Luvvie is the host of season two.
Credits:
Editor: Kathleen Harper; Photographer: Lawrence Agyei; Art Director: Meg Konigsburg; Day-Of Producer: Madison Ginsberg; Hair Stylist: Nica Gahiji; Makeup Artist: Cannye Edwards; Wardrobe Stylist: BeBe Jones; Producer: Alex Friedlander
