#ThirdLoveStories: Natalie Skoblow

 

As a company that’s by women, for women, we’re constantly seeking new ways to spotlight stellar females who inspire us. This series is an opportunity to celebrate the ThirdLove community and share their incredible stories.

Meet Natalie Skoblow, a 25-year-old Long Island native who calls Brooklyn home. By day, she’s a Digital Account Executive at brand strategy agency KWT Global, but her true passion shines through in her blog and Instagram, The Hidden Harmony, where Natalie inspires others to “live a more meaningful and mindful life through conscious consumerism, a minimal-waste lifestyle, and easily-adaptable wellness tips.”

Read on to find out how Natalie practices self-care, when she feels most confident, and more!

What inspired you to do what you’re doing now?

I started shopping at thrift stores when I was in high school. What started as a hobby to save money and take a spin on the latest fashion trends ended up being my gateway into learning about sustainability and conscious consumerism. The more I immersed myself in this space, the more my values started to shift. I started to care greatly about where my dollars were going and what or who it was impacting.

I got very excited about what I was learning, the local businesses and sustainable brands I was finding, and the community of people that were leading this movement. So, I started The Hidden Harmony as a place to write about it! From features on game-changing businesses to tips on how to shop second-hand, my blog and Instagram set out to inspire others, while documenting my own personal journey to a more sustainable and meaningful life.

When do you feel most confident in your skin?

I feel most confident in my skin when I know I’m prioritizing self-care, eating mindfully, surrounding myself with healthy relationships, and doing work that I’m passionate about.

What were your biggest insecurities growing up and how did you overcome them?

My biggest insecurities growing up were my weight and chest size. I had a very different body type than most of my friends growing up and always felt like the “larger” one in my group. Because of my bigger bust, I tried to avoid sports and felt uncomfortable in gym class. It sucked!

How did I overcome them? Well, I’m going to be honest and say that it’s still a work in progress. I’m happy to say that I have a healthier relationship with my body now than ever before, and I think that’s because of a few things. As I get older, I’m seeing how strong my body is and how much it can accomplish, I’m seeing the beauty of my curves and larger breasts, and I’m refusing to fit into an unrealistic mold that our society idealizes. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes!

Who or what has shaped you to be the person you are today?

My upbringing, my incredibly supportive friends and family, and my inner drive to be the very best version of myself.

Growing up, my family went through many personal and financial hardships that affected me in many ways. I saw how hard my mother worked to support our family during hard times, how friends and strangers came together to help us see it through, and that everyone is fighting their own battles, whether you can see it or not.

There is this fire inside me that was ignited a long time ago from going through these hardships. It has made me a stronger, more relentless, passionate and empathic person, and I couldn’t be more grateful for that. I am a firm believer that through hardships and challenges, we grow and become better versions of ourselves.

How do you stay balanced?

That’s actually what “finding the the hidden harmony,” my own personal mantra, is all about — it’s learning to find the balance in your life. Sometimes you have to pause and listen closely to what your mind and body need, but when you’re able to tune in, the transformation is pure magic.

I practice self-care by journaling — a LOT. Whether that’s prepping my to-do list the night before, jotting down my health and wellness goals, or writing down how I’m feeling about a relationship, journaling allows me to take all of my jumbled thoughts that are floating around in my brain and put pen to paper. It frees up so much space and allows me to prioritize being in the moment. It’s also a great way to track how much I’ve grown.

What impact do you want to leave on the world?

I want to leave a big positive impact on my community, and a small, minimal impact on our planet.

My goal is to influence people to live a more meaningful and mindful life, and by that I mean adopting a more sustainable and minimal-waste lifestyle, pursuing your passions as fiercely and fearlessly as possible, and convincing others to understand that they have the ability and power to manifest their own reality.

On the world and planet, I hope to make it a cleaner and greener place to live!

What’s next for you?

I have some exciting speaking opportunities coming up, fun collaborations, and more content coming to TheHiddenHarmony.com! And who knows — maybe a podcast. 😉

Tell us your ThirdLove Story.

I can confidently say that ThirdLove has completely changed how I feel about my breasts. I spent years searching for a bra that had sturdy, comfortable straps, soft memory foam, and a design/style that made me look and feel sexy! Especially being a 36DD, it was nearly impossible to find a bra that matched all of my criteria. I found ThirdLove and EVERYTHING changed. For real.

I took the quiz online, found a few bras that would fit best for my round-shaped breasts, and had them delivered for me to try on at home. I remember dancing around my apartment to Stevie Wonder in pure joy because holy sh!t, the bra fit perfectly and was actually, dare I say it, comfortable! The days of having the bra shopping blues were OVER.

PLUS — As someone who cares greatly about equal opportunity for women and businesses that give back, I was so thrilled to find out that ThirdLove has donated over $10 million dollars worth of bras in the past few years to charities around the United States. Women supporting women, in more ways than one. 🙂

What’s your favorite ThirdLove bra and why?

110% my 24/7 Perfect Coverage Bra! It gives me the support I need and looks great under every shirt or dress!

 

Photos: Zach Cooper