Connect
To Top

Meet Trailblazer Jessica Ourisman

Avatar photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Ourisman.

Jessica, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I always dreamed of becoming a writer, but it felt too vulnerable and uncertain of a career path. Instead, I pursued a degree in Clinical Social Work at Columbia and began working in the field of mental health. Although I am passionate about wellness, I was not suited for the career; I felt drained and depleted by the end of each day.

All the while, writing was a form of self-care for me. It was while working as a therapist for adolescents that I first began writing professionally. I worked harder than ever before at my writing, but instead of feeling exhausted or depleted, I felt fulfilled and inspired.

Within a couple of months, I received my first big break thanks to Hearst, when a personal essay of mine ran in five of their large publications. This gave me the courage to become a full-time freelancer.

In the years that followed, I have accumulated bylines in various publications and worked as a freelance writer/editor in the beauty, fashion, wellness, and lifestyle space. I eventually started my own blog — beauty-stoned — to cover the rise of CBD while contributing to websites and print publications.

Currently, I am studying at the European campus of Parsons in Paris, France, working towards a Master’s in Fashion Studies, while continuing to write for clients.

The idea of “taking the leap” all at once to pursue my dream of writing professionally and living in Paris was too overwhelming. It was by working hard, having the courage to pursue the opportunities this afforded me as they came, and by not giving up, that my actual dream materialized. By allowing my path to unfold organically, I ended up where I wanted to be all along.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My journey to get here has not been easy, but it has been worth it. One of the biggest struggles was allowing the call to write — and the lifestyle changes this entailed — to transform my life. I had to let go of my old lifestyle, and accept that a different path than I had imagined was what suited me best.

My best advice to those beginning their journey would be to remember your long-term goals, but to stay focused on the present moment. The universe has a way of working things out; the most important thing you can do is to confront each moment as your best possible self. Stay grounded and have the courage to be your own self-advocate in the pursuit of what will make you happy.

Another thing to remember is that straying from the “conventional” path will expose you to opposition — often from those who you’d least expect it from. I have found that living my life authentically, and doing what fulfilled me, gave me a new strength to stand up for my individuality in the face of pressure to conform. This involved letting go of numerous friendships that I realized weren’t actually aligned with my values.

Lastly, always put your personal wellness first. Don’t let anyone convince you (or guilt trip you) into sacrificing that. Trust in your inner-knowing and live in a way that feeds your soul. Sometimes being creative means being different or quirky, but when there is purpose in the work that you do, the superficial (including FOMO!) loses its pull.

Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of. What sets you apart from others?
I am a freelance writer + editor on topics like beauty, wellness, fashion, and lifestyle. My writing has appeared in publications such as Brit + Co., FabFitFun, Good Housekeeping, PopSugar, TheThirty on WhoWhatWear, Nécessité.co, Dr. Oz: The Good Life, and many more. I am most proud of the work I’ve created that pushed me to reveal aspects of myself that I’ve kept hidden out of fear. I used to be way too shy to share my writing — period — so I’m proud of having overcome that. What sets me apart from the others is undoubtedly my background in Clinical Social Work (which is, funnily enough, way more applicable to an advanced fashion degree than you might think).

There is an article that I am most proud of, which ran on TheThirty/WhoWhatWear [https://thethirty.whowhatwear.com/toxic-relationship-symptoms]. It was the first time I wrote about a personal situation that had been plaguing me, and experienced how cathartic and healing it is to create something positive out of a negative situation.

My website [www.jessicagourisman.com] shows more of my bylines, and I occasionally promote articles I’m proud of on my Instagram account [@jessicagreyourisman]. I also never thought that I would start my own blog [www.beauty-stoned.com], but here I am.

We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
One of the biggest barriers I faced personally in our society was how the corporate lifestyle — and the hectic schedule that accompanies it — made it impossible for me to live a balanced, wellness-promoting lifestyle. In my 20’s, my health was deteriorating because of the stress I was putting myself under. I never had enough time in the day to pursue what I genuinely wanted to.

Making lifestyle changes to reflect what I actually wanted to do in life has transformed every element of my relationship to myself, to my boyfriend, and to my friends/family. Taking good care of yourself is the most important gift you can give yourself. Trust me — you need all your strength to combat the inner obstacles (self-doubt and insecurities) that flare up as you begin to broaden your comfort zone. For me, writing is my life. But sharing my inner-voice — while empowering — can leave me feeling vulnerable around negative, draining people.

As for outer (interpersonal) obstacles, I’ve noticed that competitiveness and cruelty can come up in peers who allow insecurity to run their lives. Keeping positive and supportive people around you — and weeding out the toxic — is unbelievably important when accomplishing your goals. Create your own empowering little community to orchestrate your success and accomplishment of your goals. This applies to your personal life, your family, and your work environment, and is something I still struggle with a lot daily. Boundaries are incredibly important.

Contact Info:

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
The photo in the red dress and the photo in the blush-hued skirt/top were taken by Jodee Debes. The makeup in my headshot was done by Katrina Klein.

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in