1. Hi Ashley, I am happy to hear you are all about greater self-worth and healthy representations in
the media. How did you start your journey into promoting healthy self-esteem?
Thank you so much! I began my journey when I was 15 years old...I looked around and was
unbelievably frustrated that all of my friends and I were dealing with so much, and it felt like no one was even talking about it! I felt like we were letting a massive crisis of low self-esteem and self-
hatred happen right in front of our eyes, and I wanted to do something. So, alongside three friends I gave a self-confidence empowerment workshop, and the rest is history. Today, I’m the Co-Founder of MOVE and have delivered over 30 workshops and run two successful summer programs
2. I really love that you are delivering your messages to female audiences as Co-founder of MOVE.
What is MOVE and what does it stand for?
Thank you! MOVE is the company I have created with my best friend Lexie Phipps. Both of us are dedicated to empowering females to reach their full potentials, and we do that through MOVE
workshops and summer programs. MOVE stands for Motivate, Overcome, Value, and Empower. Lexie and I talk about body image, media, self-esteem, popularity, competition, and so much more
3. In what ways do you help girls unleash their true selves and greater self- worth? E.G.: Courses, workshops etc.
So I do a lot with a lot of different mediums. Like I said before, I run workshops and summer programs with Lexie. But in addition to that, I create YouTube videos, I send out a newsletter, I’m
going to be launching a webinar soon, and perhaps most importantly, I JUST PUBLISHED A BOOK!!!
Anyone can buy it on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Survival-Prettiest-gender-sexualization-teenager/dp/0692763260/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1470803892&sr=1-
4&keywords=survival+of+the+prettiest
4. How important is it to spread healthy representations of beauty and body image to girls and young women through the media?
It’s unbelievably important. It’s been said before, but you can’t be what you can’t see. That’s why it’s so important we represent all kinds of women, rather than one slim ideal.
5. How do your participants feel after experiencing one of your full self-confidence workshops?
Oh gosh. I think the one word Lex and I hear most commonly is ‘inspired’. We also hear lots of phrases about it being ‘life changing’...girls usually get a lot out of them, and I mean I know I would have if I was younger. All we’re doing is creating content that we wish we had seen a few years ago.
6. Do you think guys as well as girls should be educated about physical appearances too?
Absolutely! I firmly believe that every single person, regardless of identity, deserves to feel confident and body positive.
7. Please tell us more about what you do as a public speaker and who you mainly target as a speaker?
I typically speak to middle and high school aged girls on common female struggles and tell my own story as well as solutions, however I also have given coed workshops and spoken to educators at
various conferences. I’ve spoken at a TEDx event, I’ve spoken at MASSCue, CoSN, and more.
Honestly, I’m pretty open minded and just grateful to get a conversation going about body positivity,
self-love, mental health, and relationships wherever I can.
8. I see you have a new book released called SURVIVAL OF THE PRETTIEST. Tell me more about this book and where can we gain a copy of it?
Yes!! This is the book bio:
“Survival of the Prettiest is the book 19 year old Ashley Olafsen wished she had when she was younger.
Survival of the Prettiest discusses body image, media, self-esteem, mental health, sexualization, and so much more in her interactive, engaging, and easy to understand book. In a stunning combo of storytelling and research, Ashley truly makes a difference and empowers individuals to reach their full potentials.”
You can order a copy of it on Amazon, right here! https://www.amazon.com/Survival-Prettiest-
gender-sexualization-teenager/dp/0692763260/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1470803892&sr=1-
4&keywords=survival+of+the+prettiest
9. How can we reach out to you?
You can contact me here
http://www.ashleyolafsen.com/#!contact/u6sjv
Or follow the work I do on other social media!
https://www.instagram.com/ashleyolafsen/
http://moveofficial.com/
https://twitter.com/ashleyolafsen
https://www.facebook.com/officialMOVE
10. Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time as a real beauty activist and speaker?
I would love to actually film my own documentary someday soon and give various perspectives on what it’s like to grow up as female in this day and age, all while proposing solutions. It’s something
I’ve worked on a bit, but honestly it’s still mostly an idea at this point. And I would love to have my book be a New York Times bestseller and on Emma Watson’s book list. I would also love to continue
running workshops and the summer program, and to essentially expand all of the work I currently do.
Hopefully I’ll have a second book out and if all goes well I’ll be speaking all over the country! That’s
the dream at least! :)
To see more about Ashley’s self-esteem movement, visit the
MOVE Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/officialMOVE
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