Authority Magazine
Influencer Jamy G Shares Her Top Selfcare, Wellness, and Beauty Tips
An Interview with Ming Zhao
[as originally published on medium.com]
Attimes it feels like wellness or elevating one’s well-being, is diametrically opposed to high achievement and high performance in one’s career. The stress, mental energy, long hours, lack of restful sleep and preoccupation that result from a high-achievement life seem to directly inhibit wellness. And yet, in order to sustain the creativity, flexibility, mental acuity and resilience that are necessary for high performance, wellness and wellbeing of the mind, body and soul are also mandatory. So how do we achieve both? This is the question I’m hoping to answer through conversations with high-achieving leaders and influencers who are practicing their own philosophies about how to maintain their wellbeing.
As a part of our series about “Social Media Influencers Share Their Top Self Care, Wellness, and Beauty Tips, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jamy G.
Jamy G is a model, certified nutritionist, and a health enthusiast. Born and raised in Westport, Connecticut, Jamy relocated to New York City at age 17 to pursue fashion. While there she studied Commercial & Advertising Art and earned a degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). She began her modeling career in her early 20s, which led to numerous fashion shoots culminating in her being crowned Playboy Playmate of the Year New Zealand in July 2022. The Latin beauty, who thrives on travel, having visited all corners of the world for both work and pleasure, currently resides in Los Angeles.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory of how you came upon this career path and to where you are today?
Growing up, I loved food and was always on the curvier side. I idolized the supermodels and their amazing figures. One day I became fed up with feeling like crap from the junk I was putting in the body and decided to change my perspective on food. I knew I wasn’t going to be supermodel thin. I’m a curvy Latina and love my heritage, so I embraced what I had, and once I started seeing the physical changes, I became obsessed with wanting to better myself from the inside out with nutrition and exercise. If I can do it, anyone can. So, I decided to help others as well!
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
My mom and dad of course. I grew up in a loving religious family that molded me into who I am today. I also love to motivate them to make better food choices and exercise more so that they can be around for as long as possible.
Can you share a story with us about the most humorous mistake you made when you were first starting? What lesson or take-away did you learn from that?
I never used to read ingredients or food labels and just fell for the “healthy” packaging. It’s really wild doing your research and learning what things mean and what crazy chemicals so many of us are putting in our bodies.
As an influencer, you have been blessed with great success in a career path that many have attempted, but eventually gave up on. In fact, perhaps most people who tried to follow a career path like yours did not succeed. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path but know that their dreams might be dashed?
Don’t let others try and dim your light! We all have a purpose and it will always take time to figure that purpose out. I know that I love health and nutrition, but I also love many other things. So be sure to try everything out and have fun.
Can you share with our readers some of the strategies you’ve used to build an engaged, loyal, and large online community?
Don’t take yourself to seriously [laughs]. And be yourself! There’s no one else like you. Try and embrace that. People know when you’re being inauthentic, so just be real!
Okay thank you for all that. Now let’s shift to the main focus of our interview. In my work, I focus on how one can thrive and care for oneself in three areas: body, mind, and heart. You are a busy person with a demanding schedule, can you share with our readers two self-care routines, practices or treatments that help your body thrive? (Kindly share a story or an example for each.)
I don’t believe in intermittent fasting. I’m a strong believer in breakfast to give you that energy and fuel for a killer workout. My homemade, overnight oats or chia pudding is the best! For me, working out and getting the body moving is crucial for my happiness. It can really be an antidepressant for anyone! Sweat and lift heavy things makes you feel strong and it’s super empowering.
Can you share with us two routines that you use to help your mind or heart to thrive? (Kindly share a story or example for each.)
Definitely for me is being grateful and always giving thanks to whatever higher power you believe in. I start my mornings saying my prayers and thanking God for giving me another day, because some people weren’t that lucky.
I also like to check in with family. I’m super close with my parents and, as they get older, I want make sure I hear their voices every day.
Can you share five ideas that anyone can use “to feel beautiful”? (Please share a story or example for each.)
Self-care! I love a good facial and skincare routine, because when you look good you feel good. Get your hair done or get a manicure, it really boosts your self-confidence — and who doesn’t like that? I also like to eat things that help me glow from the inside out. Don’t neglect your insides because you can’t see them; eating a nutrient-dense diet will have your skin glowing and your brain sharp! Getting enough sleep and rest always makes me feel beautiful. If you’re not getting your zzz’s you will definitely feel and see a major difference. “Feeling beautiful” doesn’t necessarily have to be only on the exterior. And lastly, helping others and being kind can give you that feeling of beauty too. Making someone feel good about themselves, whether giving a compliment or giving advice and sharing the knowledge, always makes me feel good.
Is there a particular resource, a practitioner, expert, book, or podcast that made a significant impact on you and helped you to thrive? Can you share a story about that with us?
I love to follow different workout gurus and beauty or nutrition influencers that share their routines. That’s the beauty of social media, staying connected and always learning from others and putting your own twist on things.
Do you have a story about the strangest, most bizarre or funniest wellness treatment that you’ve ever experienced?
Oh, I’ve tried so many wacky things. I think one of them would be the “thread lifts” wherein temporary sutures are used to produce a subtle but visible lift in the skin. You might as well take your hundred-dollar bills and rip them in half and throw them away [laughs]. It lasts a week or two and is pretty painful. I call them “thread-aches” now.
As an influencer, you are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
For me I think educating younger people about their own brains, emotions and feelings would be an important movement. I would focus on cultivating empathy, mindfulness, and kindness at an early age.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world with whom you’d like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this.
I would love to have breakfast with Jennifer Lopez! She’s a Latina, the CEO of her own destiny, and one of the hardest working people in the business.
What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?
My Instagram @ilovejamyg.
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!