The Inspirational Woman Project believes that every woman is inspirational. It’s our mission to tell their stories.
Samantha Skelly is an entrepreneur, transformational coach, and the founder of Hungry for Happiness, an international movement to help women end their fight with food, disordered eating, and body image issues. Hungry For Happiness creates online accessible and affordable recovery resources to those who are suffering in silence. Samantha was awarded "Top 24 under 24" in 2013, and in 2014 was named a finalist as "Best Emerging Entrepreneur" by Small Business BC. Now, Hungry For Happiness is now nominated for "Best Concept." Samantha supports women in strengthening their relationships with food and their bodies to live more fulfilling lives. She aims to create a disruptive company in the eating disorder recovery space. Her vision is to create the largest and most impactful online resource to support those who’s lives are negatively affected by issues with food and their bodies.
Give me your definition of Woman.
{Skelly} A strong, influential, heart-centered, authentic person who is a creator and a supporter.
What’s your relationship with femininity? How do you access that part of yourself?
{Skelly} In my work I am very in my masculine because I have to be. In order to ‘get shit done’ I have to be very meticulous, on point, structured, organized, and focused. So I have a little thing I do when it is time for my feminine side to come out - I let my hair down, light candles and ask myself “what can I create to be beautiful right now?” I access feminine energy right off the bat. Stepping into feminine energy allows me to settle into that juicy feminine delicious feeling.
What is your gift? How does being a woman help or influence that?
{Skelly} My gift is guiding people through personal transformations and being a woman supports me in that because it takes a lot of nurturing, which is one of our biggest assets as a woman.
How do you deal with your inner naysayer?
{Skelly} I have a process that I do. I am very aware of my thoughts and aware that I don’t have to believe all the thoughts I think throughout the day. When a thought comes into my consciousness, and doesn’t serve me well and is disempowering, then I think to myself ‘I am in the process of…..’ and it helps to change that negativity around.
“Your business isn’t going to grow” ... “I am in the process of growing the business of my dreams.”
“You are not good enough” ... “I am in the process of becoming the best version of me possible.”
I program my subconscious in an empowering way so that by default it looks for things and leverage as to why that story is true.
What does creation mean for you as a woman?
{Skelly} As a woman, creation means making babies. Our bodies are designed to create literally another being. Throughout our lives that creative element is suppressed because we are encouraged to be more in our masculine.
Creation, for me, though is about creating achievable realities for women who struggle with disordered eating and body images. It is about creating that vision of where they are heading and creating this “I can do it mentality” in other people.
What’s one thing you want to tell the women who will read this?
{Skelly} You are so much more powerful than you give yourself credit for. I truly believe that women are so freaking powerful and cable of everything. Sometimes we get in our own way and it is very seldom that we tap into that place of excellence because we are afraid that we don’t actually have it within us. And we do! We all do.
What is your go-to fashion item?
This is the hardest question - I am the least fashionable person ever. I am obsessed with hats! My goal is to have this huge room with glass doors and tons of beautiful hats.
My black floppy hat is my favourite accessory because it means I don’t really have to wash my hair.