Everyday Hero: Fashion pro empowers next generation of girls

“When we feel good as women, the world benefits,” said Lisa Crossley, CEO and founder of GIRLSTRONG Inc.

Growing up, Crossley remembers being picked on by girls who only felt powerful when they were bullying others. While being bullied about her weight and isolated from girls her age, she understood what it meant to be the odd one out. As an adult, Crossley is determined in bringing girls together, and providing a stronger, more nurturing environment for today’s girls growing up in a complex world.

From 15 years in the fashion industry to now a full-time fashion philanthropist, Crossley is changing the fitness apparel world through her girl’s empowerment brand for women, built by women. With the brand belief of “You can change the world girl,” Crossley’s apparel line, GIRLSTRONG believes empowering women of all ages through its clothing and charity work can impact the world at large.

“I hope everyone walks away feeling lit up and excited about the possibility of supporting girls to grow in the world and vice versa,” she said.

You can change the world girl!

Crossley founded GIRLSTRONG under not only the background of her extensive fashion career, but her dedication to giving back. She commits a portion of her brand’s proceeds to women’s charities, underscoring her commitment to making a tangible difference in the lives of others.

Corrine Hein is a part of the GIRLSTRONG team and believes that empowered women empower others. Growing up with 17 foster siblings, Hein developed a passion in empowering girls facing trauma from the foster care system reassuring them of their worth, love and visibility. Now, modeling for GIRLSTRONG for past three years, Hein fully believes in the brand’s mission of giving back to women all around.

Speaking about Crossley, Hein said, “She’s just a light within her community … She takes all of the different ideas, opinions, advice, and she creates this vision. It’s a collaborative effort where she listens to the women and what the women want and makes their dreams into reality.”

Empowered women empower others.

Putting on a piece of GIRLSTRONG apparel gives women the certainty they are giving back to other women globally. At its most recent Healthy Happy Hour event, GIRLSTRONG hosted women from across the country to support Girls on the Run Georgia, a nonprofit organization designed to help girls navigate life through community service projects.

“The positive impact that their valuable programs have on thousands of girls is a perfect complement to our objective of promoting confidence and empowerment,” Crossley said.

[Related: Everyday Hero — Publisher shares stories written by diverse young authors]

By supporting female-centric nonprofit organizations and hosting events around the country where women connect and feel inspired, GIRLSTRONG is poised to become a household name, according to those who work closely with Crossley.

While the company did start with a simple T-shirt, it is now crossing over to fitness, philanthropy and inspiration. Lora Sommer, Crossley’s publicist, believes the company to be a platform in amplifying the voices of women and girls, helping them shatter boundaries and lift each other up.

GIRLSTRONG is more than fashion

“Everything is new once, until it becomes common,” Sommer said. “Once you go on the GIRLSTRONG website and you see all the different dynamics and levels of clothing, giving, community, and women empowerment all under one umbrella, I believe everyone will just totally get it.”

Although Crossley was once faced with the cruel, self-inflicting division between girls, Crossley saw an opportunity to make a difference and her team already sees the brands effects within the community.

“Women come together from all backgrounds in full support of her brand … It’s because she is the root of GIRLSTRONG,” Sommer said. “You see why people love the company, because it’s her to the core.”

With emphasis on being more than just apparel, GIRLSTRONG is determined to bridge the gap dividing women in today’s competitive world. The brand is passionate in creating a feeling behind its message that creates a ripple effect to every woman around the world.

GIRLSTRONG mission

“I just feel so empowered every time I put it on,” Hein said. “It’s so important that we are the women that uplift other women, and that is ultimately the GIRLSTRONG mission.”

Once a bullied little girl, now an empowered woman, Crossley turned her pain into motivation to create a female-founded, female empowerment brand, intending that no other girl will go through what Crossley experienced.

“To me, being GIRLSTRONG means embracing my inner power and resilience as a woman,” Crossley said. “You can change the world girl.”

Related Grant Opportunities:
[Shakespeare for youth in schools, juvenile justice and apprenticeship program grants]
[National arts education partnership project grant]

***

For more information or to purchase apparel and support other female-centered organizations, go to girlstronginc.com.

Daniela Vaziri is a reporter for Fresh Take Georgia.

Fresh Take Georgia is a digital news service offering Georgia news from a fresh perspective focusing on Georgia’s state government and other issues of statewide, regional or national interest. 

The Everyday Heroes project is a partnership between Fresh Take Georgia, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other newsrooms in Georgia.