I, like probably plenty of other women have had my fair share of battles with the worthy opponent that it is, the imposter syndrome. Some of them were won, others were lost, but even though most of the times I came on the other side bruised, I refused to stay defeated for long and so did Hélène Heath, our next Cool Face of Bastet Noir, an incredible amazing fellow Taurean whose humility and ingenuity make her one of the most refreshing and exciting people I have had the privilege to work with. As someone who has gone through the ordeal of defeating this silent killer of dreams, Hélène has been on our radar for quite some time now and not just for the aesthetically pleasing Instagram, but also because of the way she has with words, which if you visit her Insta you’ll understand just why this girl has become our entire team’s ultimate girlcrush. Today this woman warrior works as a writer, content creator and a full time influencer and was kind enough to share her wisdom with us all. So read on to learn thing or two and possibly way more about love, life and all there is in between.
Who is Hélène Heath?
I’m a French Canadian digital content creator and freelance writer based in Brooklyn, New York. I came here ten years ago to follow my dreams and let me tell you, it’s been an adventure. Beauty, fashion, food, and travel fuel my fire. Big astrology enthusiast. Fluent in hedonism (Taurus vibe check).
What’s your morning routine like?
I’m what you might call the opposite of a morning person. A total night owl. But I enjoy being up early — oh, the paradox! I know. This is why I like a slow morning where I’m up early enough to feel like I’m getting the most out of the day while also having sufficient time to fully *wake up*.
The first thing I do when I drag myself out of bed is sip the giant bucket of black coffee my husband prepares for me, which I enjoy in front of the Today Show while cuddling my mini Australian Shepherd, Wally, and answer comments and DMs on Instagram. Once I’m fully caffeinated, I take my daily dose of CBD (a ritual I began over a year ago that’s helped me so much in myriad ways) and get my body moving. I like to work out 4 to 5 times a week. It’s truly a part of my routine and incorporating fitness into my lifestyle has been a game-changer for my mental health. Then I take Wally out for a walk, shower, and get ready for the workday.
We’ve been following your Instagram for quite some time and your content feels so organic and genuine, which nowadays is quite hard to find. Where do you find inspiration and how have you managed to lead such a picture-perfect life while still staying grounded?
That’s very kind of you guys to say and truly the greatest compliment, as “authenticity” does seem like a rare commodity on social platforms these days. I’m glad that my content comes off that way because it truly is just an extension of me — however bizarre that may sound! The truth of the matter is, I’ve always loved creating and sharing, so it’s sincerely something that comes naturally to me.
Before social media existed, I was always the person in my friend group to carry around a camera and take a million photos. When Facebook became a thing, I was always the one uploading albums and sharing pictures, tagging my circle on my profile. I started my blog in 2007 before anyone knew what that was and long before the world could have ever fathomed the industry it would become. I just wanted a platform to share my musings and creativity. I didn’t even give it a second thought because it felt instinctive to me.
I definitely go through periods where I’m less inspired, but for the most part, I’d say that creating content, making things look pretty, and honing an aesthetic is simply what brings me joy. It’s never forced. So I do it wholeheartedly and with all of my soul — it’s not a role I’m playing, it’s just really who I am.
You have a great deal of experience when it comes to writing. Share the deets with us, how did you get started as a writer, and what is your proudest achievement in terms of publication and features?
I started writing at a very young age, again just out of instinct. When we’d get assigned an essay in middle or high school, I’d be secretly excited about it (while generally being a terrible student in all other aspects). It’s always something that came naturally to me and I kept journals from the time I was in the first grade up until my early adult years. Even as a teen, I daydreamed about turning them into a book and going on the Oprah show to talk about it LOL (in spite of my life really not being that interesting, ha).
When I started my blog in 2007, it was a place where I could practice penning my thoughts in a more professional way about the industry I wanted to be a part of (fashion). I started my career in fashion publishing when I interned in university and secured a job as a copywriter when I graduated. But I also worked as a stylist’s assistant and was always torn between pursuing writing or styling, the latter being more in line with tactile storytelling — a bit of a “content” precursor if you will.
I ended up leaving the fashion industry a few years in to pivot into tech and worked for a great startup that got on the social media marketing train quite early on. I think one of my biggest professional accomplishments to this day was heading up and growing their whole content program, written and otherwise, which was used by brands across a variety of industries to guide their social strategies.
Three things you wished you knew before starting out…
Oof where do I start, lol. I’ll give you five things.
1) I spent way too much of my career thinking that everyone was better than me. I wish I’d known that was far from the truth and that I could more than hold my own. No need to be held back by imposter syndrome.
2) Don’t be paralyzed by fear, it will only lead to inaction and regret.
3) Perfection doesn’t exist in any aspect of life, so don’t wait for it before starting something, and don’t expect it once you’ve started. The notion of perfection will literally just get in the way of your accomplishments.
4) Once people make up their minds about you beyond first impressions, it’s really hard to change how they perceive you even after you experience a lot of growth. So always project who you solemnly think you are, even though you might not be there yet. Be humble but assertive.
5) Get yourself a mentor. It’s important to have a trusted relationship with someone to guide and champion you as you’re navigating the professional world, especially when you’re starting out. Not having one is one of my biggest career misses.
Books that changed your life
I’m a huge fan of nonfiction, so I mostly reach for biographies or autobiographies. I read Patti Smith’s Just Kids when it was released and it touched me in ways a book never had. Her writing, her heart, her depiction of the late 60s/early 70s New York City and living the artist life were so profound, I found myself simultaneously identifying with and romanticizing her story.
Biggest failure/setback in life and what you’ve learned from it?
Inaction has been my greatest detriment. I can think of too many times when I let myself be so intimidated by a potential undertaking that I let opportunities that I could have created for myself slip away.
Favorite female empowerment speech?
Honestly, Oprah’s speech at the 2018 Golden Globes is one of the greatest things I’ve ever heard. She’s always been my favorite but after hearing this speech, I was sure there was a possibility that she’d make a run for president. She’s got a way to inspire like no one else.
What’s in your Bastet Noir cart?
The Sally dress, the Pentha jumpsuit, and the Bianca dress in mint. Gorgeous fabrics and unexpected silhouettes get me every time. I miss dressing up.
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