Just Be YOU: How Embracing Your Individuality Can Transform Your Career

When I started my career at Vogue Mexico and Latin America as Editor-in-Chief, I projected confidence. Like the saying goes, “I walked the walk, talked the talk, and played the part.” But I wasn’t confident in being me. I was confidently not being me. And let me tell you, that kind of confidence is a trap.

Reflecting on that time, I realize that self-doubt sneaks in when we measure ourselves against external expectations rather than our own truth. Author Sarah Ban Breathnach famously said, “The authentic self is the soul made visible.”

It’s easy to need external validation and mistake it for confidence. But real confidence isn’t about fitting in. It’s about standing out as your true self.

The instant I stopped performing and started owning who I was, everything changed. It wasn’t because I was trying harder but because I was finally in alignment with myself.

The moment I stopped dressing for expectations and started dressing for me, everything shifted. What I wear became an extension of who I am, not just a reflection of what I thought I should wear. And it didn’t stop there.

The moment I stopped waiting on the approval of others in my interactions, I became more present, more confident, and more at ease. When you embrace yourself fully, even in how you dress and how you speak, people see you because you’re finally you.

Think about it. How often do we treat confidence like it’s something we need to earn? “I’ll believe in myself when I achieve X.”
“I’ll feel ready after I accomplish Y.”

But confidence doesn’t come from success. Success comes from confidence. The kind you build by deciding that you are already worthy, capable, and enough right now.

Coco Chanel once said, “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.” She didn’t follow trends but redefined them by trusting her vision when others doubted it. That’s the power of authenticity. The world doesn’t remember the ones who blend in; it remembers the ones who have the courage to stand out.

The same applies to leadership, creativity, and connection. The way you think is what makes you irreplaceable. Trying to be like everyone else only dilutes what makes you powerful. When you embrace what sets you apart, you create something that no one else can replicate.

So, stop questioning if you should soften your edges or be like everyone else who looks like you are having success. The very things that make you different? They’re your greatest advantage.

Think about how all of this applies to fashion and design. Stylists need to trust their unique vision and not just follow trends; success in design comes from originality and embracing one’s creative identity. Standing out requires self-trust and confidence in one’s ideas and leadership style.

The best leaders aren’t the ones trying to mimic someone else. They lead with their own voice. People don’t follow perfection. They follow something real. They trust leaders who show up as they are, not ones performing some version of what they think leadership should look like.

The same goes for connection. The strongest relationships aren’t built on curated perfection. They come from showing up as yourself. Think about the people who make the biggest impact on you. It’s not the ones who seem untouchable; it’s the ones who are real, who don’t pretend, who make you feel seen just by being themselves.

It’s about knowing you’re already enough, even as you work toward more. Don’t take me wrong; growth is important, and confidence is key, but so is recognizing that even as you evolve, you’re already enough. When you stop waiting for approval and start owning your worth, everything changes. You move with more confidence, take bigger risks, and create success, not because you’re chasing it but because you finally trust yourself.

When you recognize that your value isn’t tied to achievements, perfection, or someone else’s opinion, you give yourself the freedom to just be. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about trusting yourself enough to take the next step, even when the path isn’t fully clear. Even when you don’t even know the destination.