Outfit Details:
Gal Meets Glam Collection Brooke Dress

Connecting with readers has always been one of my favorite parts of my job. It should come as no surprise, then, that one of my favorite things about running Gal Meets Glam Collection is the opportunity to connect with even more women all over the world! I’m always inspired when I get a peek into the lives of the women who wear our pieces, especially when I learn about what they do, what they’re passionate about, and what inspires them. You’ll undoubtedly recognize Kristina Zias‘ smiling face from past Gal Meets Glam Collection shoots, including the one for our September Collection. We’ve loved getting to know this fabulous, kind, and encouraging woman throughout this year, and were so glad when she agreed to pop onto the Gal Meets Glam blog to share her heart for confidence and positivity. We are continually inspired by her and hope that you will be too!

First of all, congratulations on your recent launch of The Confident Collective! We are so excited to follow along. Tell us about it!

Thank you so much!! The Confident Collective (TCC) was founded to empower women and provide them tools to live a more confident life. TCC is a community and resource built to bring women together through our fitness events, workshops, retreats, and an upcoming podcast.

What has been your favorite part of the journey thus far?

Meeting The Confident Collective community at our events is so incredibly rewarding!! At our launch party, we asked everyone to turn to one another, introduce themselves, and say one thing about themselves that makes them confident. Listening to women share their stories in an environment we created that allowed them to feel free and vulnerable was so special! At our second event, women came together after meeting at our first event. Seeing women from the TCC community connect and become friends excites me so much!

You do such an amazing job inspiring women to love their bodies and fearlessly be themselves. What helps you stay positive and confident in yourself?

I always remind myself that lasting confidence is never, ever the result of anything external. Confidence is determined by how you feel inside, not by how you look or what you have! I believe you have to learn to accept and love yourself as you are today, at this very moment, accepting the good, the bad, and everything in between.

Three things that help me stay positive and inspire confidence in myself are:
1. Focusing on the things I love about myself, not things I would like to change.
2. Working out and having fitness goals that have nothing to do with appearance.
3. Surrounding myself with positive people and following women on social media who look like me and further inspire confidence!

What has been the most pivotal moment in your career thus far?

I’ve wanted to host TV segments my entire life, but never thought I could because “I wasn’t skinny enough.” Once I realized that my size does not define me, I went for it and hosted my first Style Segment for Access Hollywood! Being a curvy woman on air while also showcasing fashion for all shapes and sizes was a pivotal moment for my career and my confidence.

You modeled several pieces for our September Collection. Which style was your favorite and why?

Oh my goodness, so excited to be a part of the September Collection! My favorite style is the Brooke mini dress. I love the square neckline, the button detail, the cuffed sleeve, and the check print that is fall in a dress! It’s so versatile and can be styled in many different ways, from the office, to a date night, to a fun weekend brunch. I also love love love the Wimberly and the Roberta. It’s hard to choose just one favorite!

For more from Kristina, you can find her on her blog, Miss Zias, on Instagram, and at The Confident Collective.

Shop the Gal Meets Glam Collection pieces Christina is wearing: