What does it look like to leave behind a secure career and step into the unknown atmosphere of social media, armed with only a phone, a spark of creativity, and a deep belief in showing up as your full self?
In this powerful episode of the #BRANDBOSSES podcast, we sit down with Ashley West, a Texas-based beauty and lifestyle influencer who has taken the digital world by storm. Known for her signature voluminous hair, bold personality, and relatable charm, Ashley has built an online community of over 1.5 million followers across platforms, and it all started with one lighthearted yodelling TikTok video.
Ashley’s journey into content creation began in 2020, while she was pregnant with her second child and navigating a career pivot brought on by the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, she was working as a Speech Language Pathologist in an acute care hospital. When she made the difficult decision to step away, she turned to TikTok as a creative outlet, posting everything from yodeling to early glimpses into her personal life. But it didn’t take long for her real passion, beauty, to rise to the surface.
This Episode is a Must-Listen For:
- Creatives balancing personal vulnerability and healthy boundaries
- Women in transition, career, motherhood, or mindset, ready to pivot into something new
- Entrepreneurs looking to build community through connection and consistency
- Anyone who needs a reminder that it only takes one post to change everything
Join Us as We Explore:
Ashley shares how going viral wasn’t a calculated moment; it was a door opening to something she never expected. And instead of letting fear take over, she walked through it with intention. In this conversation, she talks about being named Beauty Influencer of the Year in 2025, how she approaches storytelling in the digital space, and why not every detail needs to live in one post. “String people along,” she says. “Let them come back for more.”
She also gets real about the pressure of filming and posting every day and the toll that constant visibility can take. “We are our own worst critics,” she says, reflecting on the inner dialogue many creators face. For Ashley, finding a balance between staying authentic and setting personal boundaries has been essential to her longevity and mental health.
But what truly sets Ashley apart is her understanding of why content matters. “You have to make people care about your brand on a human level. You have to give it a heartbeat,” she explains. That emotional connection is what transforms viewers into loyal followers and followers into a true community.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Ashley shares how she turned a creative outlet during a life transition into a full-fledged digital brand, all while staying true to herself. You’ll learn why consistency often outweighs chasing viral moments, and how storytelling—done with heart—can be the key to building a deeply engaged audience. She opens up about the pressure of being “on” all the time, the importance of setting boundaries while remaining vulnerable, and how she navigates burnout in an industry that never stops. Ashley also dives into her approach to diversification in the social media space and why building a brand that’s personal, purposeful, and rooted in connection is what keeps people coming back.
Ready to be inspired by Ashley’s story?
Tune into this episode of #BRANDBOSSES and hear firsthand how one woman’s willingness to try something new changed the trajectory of her life and invited millions to come along for the ride.
