We recently had the chance to connect with Mrs Jaded and have shared our conversation below.
Mrs, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Traveling makes me lose track of time and find myself again. It’s the one thing that makes me forget the days of the week. No schedule, no obligations, no deadlines. Just new adventures, new food, and endless chances to experience something I’ve never done before. Travel lets me be a different version of myself, to live out the things I might be too fearful of back home, where everyone knows me. It’s my guilty pleasure. Whenever I don’t feel like myself or lose my drive, I go somewhere new and imagine what it would be like to live there every day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Mrs. Jaded, I’m the founder of Jaded Icon, a lash brand dedicated to enhancing natural beauty with precision and artistry, and Jaded Icon Closet, a wardrobe styling extension that helps people express themselves fearlessly through fashion.
At the heart of both brands is one mission: to transform confidence from the inside out. Jaded Icon is about more than lashes, and Jaded Icon Closet is about more than clothes—together they create an experience where beauty and style become tools for empowerment, self-expression, and reinvention.
My passion for fashion and beauty began when I was five years old, and it’s grown into a vision that blends creativity, self-expression, and empowerment. Whether I’m creating a flawless lash set or curating a bold look, my goal is to give clients permission to feel iconic in their own skin.
Right now, I’m expanding Jaded Icon Closet, curating statement pieces and styling services that push past trends and lean into individuality.
Jaded Icon isn’t just a brand—it’s a movement. It’s about pivoting the world forward by creating new ways for people to discover their identity and individuality through experimentation and self-expression.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that has served its purpose and now must be released is my hyper-independence and need for control. This year taught me the power of delegation and the importance of trusting external resources. It’s okay to be a headstrong woman who knows what she wants, but it’s equally powerful to embrace change, let go, and stay open to new ways of thinking.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has taught me that failure is not only important, but necessary for growth. It reveals the parts of yourself that often stay hidden when life feels easy—the weaknesses you need to face in order to evolve. Failure strips you down, teaching you what you can live without, and showing that even what you thought defined you can be shed, restored, or transformed into something new. It highlights your beauty without glamour, without distraction.
Failure takes you to rock bottom, but it also gives you the strength to rise again—stronger each time, no matter how many times you have to start over. It makes life less frightening, because you realize failure is inevitable, while success is personal. Success can only ever be defined by you.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
Too often, smart people get it wrong by prioritizing intelligence over emotional intelligence. The truth is, emotional intelligence is far more powerful and complex, because it allows you to hold both—logic and empathy. It gives you the ability to see things from multiple perspectives, connect with people, and solve problems in ways intellect alone can’t.
When people focus only on intelligence, they forget the most human part of it—emotion. As someone who once intellectualized my own emotions, I’ve learned that emotional intelligence is what has made me truly valuable and adaptable in every aspect of my life—work, home, friendships, and family. It’s not just about understanding what someone is thinking or feeling; it’s about offering empathy while also providing solutions to complex issues. That duality is often overlooked, but it’s what makes emotional intelligence the most underrated form of power.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I retired tomorrow, I believe my customers would miss the integrity I bring—something that too often gets skipped over in business. I see myself and my clients as one, because I’ve been in their shoes. Every interaction matters to me, not just the money or growth. I want each client to feel valued, heard, and cared for. My goal has always been to go above and beyond to create the best possible experience, and when things fall short, I welcome honest feedback because I’m truly motivated to grow and improve in every area.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Beacons.ai/jadedicon
- Instagram: Mrsjaded_
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonahawkins
- Twitter: @Jadedicon
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MrsJaded
- Other: TikTok: @Jadedicon
