We’re back with another edition from our YOUinspireUS Campaign!!
This week we’d like to introduce you to a young girl who we look up to.. She was originally inspired by one of our company founders and it led her to achieve her goals and inspire others to achieve theirs ... At only 15 years old this young girl knows what she wants, and we have no doubt she’s going to get it!
Her name is Jill Fine, and this is her story!
What are your goals? Why did you set them?
My goals are to live a healthier lifestyle. Growing up overweight since I was about 9 years old wasn’t easy. I always knew I was different from most of the girls my age. I was never comfortable with who I was. I hated going out in public because I didn’t want people to look at me. There’s nothing more uncomfortable than being starred at when you are walking around town. I was often called “Fat Girl," or pretty much anything with the word “Fat” in front of it. It hurt so bad to be called names because of my appearance. You never get those words out of your head. When I looked in the mirror, all I could see and hear was people calling me names. It was so hard for me because I would just get so upset. School was such a struggle because I knew kids made fun of me. I was so unhappy with who I was for so long and I held in my emotions because I didn’t want anyone to know I was hurting. I was living such an unhealthy lifestyle for myself, it wasn’t fair to me anymore. When you are almost 200 pounds at 15 years old, It really makes you realize a lot. Food caused so much damaged to my body and I couldn’t let that happen any more. I was done with the person I used to be. I was ready for a change and that is why I set goals to live a healthier lifestyle. In November it will mark a year since I started to set goals for myself. Without setting goals for myself, I wouldn’t have lost 65 pounds all on my own, I wouldn’t have motivation to workout everyday, I wouldn’t have the motivation for anything. Setting goals helped me so much because I always wanted to complete my goals and thats exactly what I did. I will forever keep setting goals for myself to live a healthier lifestyle because I never want to go back to the person I was a year ago today!
How have you influenced the community around you? When you started did you aim to impact others?
I feel that I've influenced by community by inspiring them to make a change in their life or help them get motivated to workout or live a healthy lifestyle. Everyone in my town always knew what I was before and probably never expected to see me the way I am today because I never even expected to see myself this way! I never thought that I would have an impact on anyone else because when I started my weight loss journey, I was doing it for myself not for anyone else. Im 15 years old, never would I think that I would be an inspiration to so many people around me. Its crazy to think like that because I used to be the overweight girl who had no clue about anything health related and I really didn’t care about anything I care about now! I actually started a blog on Facebook called “Do It Like Jill” and I feel like thats where most of my impact on my community is coming from. I post a lot about my struggles and my journey on there so it allows readers from my community to get a sense of what I really went through.
Tell us what makes you unique?
I think what makes me unique is my story. My story makes me unique because I took a struggle of mine and found ways to fix my struggle and change my life for the better. Losing weight was always a struggle for me. I never ever thought I would lose 65 pounds all on my own. I never thought it was possible because I was so negative towards losing weight. I was told for a long time that I needed to lose weight but I took it as a joke because I didn’t care. But the minute you step on the scale and see a number you don’t like, that’s when you start to care and that’s how I started to care. I think what also makes my story so unique is that I made this change all on my own. I didn’t go on any crazy diet or weightless program. I did it my way. Doing it my way was the best way for me because I knew exactly what I needed to do. I didn’t let anything ever get in my way because i became so focused and determined to become the person I am today. I’m the happiest I've ever been and my story really shows that with hard work and determination you can do what ever you want to do and you can achieve your goals! Even the goals you didn’t think were possible!
Long-term goals are rewarding but far more difficult to achieve because they don’t provide instant gratification. Would you attribute your long-term determination to, a person, place, or thing, to helping you stay focused day to day?
I feel that there were definitely people who helped me stay focused day to day and made this goal a lot easier to achieve. First off, Val Chmerkovskiy was someone who definitely helped me stay focus day to day. Val is just so passionate about everything he does and it made me want to find a passion and stick with it and my passion became living a healthier lifestyle and I honestly think that if I didn't have an inspiration like him, losing all this weight wouldn’t have been possible. I feel like if you want to have long-term determination you need to have confidence and I feel like I wouldn't have confidence without the help of my eighth grade English teacher, Mrs. Mak. I was always a person who was more shy and never really liked to speak in front of people or do anything in front of anybody. I always felt that I would make a fool of myself or say something wrong, but in her class I felt like I could be the person I truly was without making a fool of myself and she helped me find the confidence in myself that I thought I never had. Without her, I don't think I would have the confidence I have in myself today and I think my long-term determination wouldn't be as easy if I didn't have confidence. I also had my best friend Daniella who has been a nonstop support in me chasing my goals and has always stuck by my side. Lastly I have to thank my mom because without my mom I don't think I would have the determination I have today, so thank you mom!!
What’s next for you?!
I really just want to keep inspiring people and motivating people to help them make the change everyone deserves. I hope to do something one day where I can go around and talk to people and share my story to help inspire them! I have started a Page where people could go to seek inspiration, tips, and progress as well as a deeper look into my story! Its called DoItLikeJill, and you could find the Facebook page by clicking here .
What does VALENTINNICOLE mean to you?
VALENTINNICOLE to me means confidence and inspiration. VALENTINNICOLE helped me find my confidence in the clothing I wear and I just found so much inspiration throughout its clothes and brand.
Thank you so much for that wonderful interview, Jill. You truly allowed us to be totally re-inspired by your story, the battles you’ve fought, and how beautifully you’ve prevailed in all of it! You’re a true winner and we’re glad honored to have you on the ValenTeam with us! Keep on spreading the positivity, passion, and inspiration as you are now. We can’t wait to see where it takes you next !!!
We would like to thank Jill and her family, for all of their support and love!
Go check out Do It Like Jill to keep up with her journey, and stay tuned with us for more introductions to the beautiful and inspiring people who make our brand what it is.
Again, you can find Jill’s page and Facebook by clicking HERE and HERE.
We work to push ourselves forward every day, and we’re inviting you all to join us and do the same!! #ValenTeam
















