Brains & Beauty with Emma Golijanin

Being an empowered woman means really knowing and understanding who you are and what you bring to the table. That sounds so easy right? In order to get your confidence up, it takes a little practice – but once you figure that out, you’ll be well on your way to building your empire.

On this episode of Women in Power, I had the pleasure of interviewing Emma Golijanin. If her name doesn’t ring a bell, her face sure will! She’s a model but not just any model, a top model. She has been featured by Guess, Elle, Vogue and Dior, just to name a few.

Born in Bosnia, this bombshell always knew she wanted to be front and center. “I always liked being the center of attention, I always liked being the best. “With an attitude like that, you’d think Emma would get everything she asked for right? Well, that wasn’t the case when she stepped inside of a modeling agency for the first time; she was turned down. “I went to the agency, and they didn’t like me. It was a no. But I don’t take no for an answer. I don’t give up, I keep going.

This is where Emma’s fierce determination came into play for her because after that first no, she wasn’t going to let anyone say no to her ever again. “I started taking pictures with photographers, watching videos, teaching myself, watching runway, and I came back for the casting again and they could not deny me.” Fast forward a couple of years, Emma actually becomes Miss Bosnia. WOW! Imagine if we all have that confidence and perseverance? We would be a force to be reckoned with.

While speaking with Emma, I learned so much, but my biggest takeaway was how she was never intimidated by other women. I mean, she’s a model, she has seen some of the most beautiful women to ever walk the earth, yet not once has she ever felt threatened. “I was never intimidated or competing with them, I learned from them. Although these women are going to do whatever it takes to get the crown, I learned from them. I watched the way they walked, the way they talked, the way they handled themselves, it was like school for me.” You see, this is powerful. Instead of hiding from or hating on these women, Emma took a different route, a very intelligent route. Being around powerful women can be intimidating, but only if you let it.

Would you believe me if I told you that being a beautiful woman has its burdens? According to Emma, it does at times. “Once you’re a beautiful woman, you’re not smart, because it’s really hard to be beautiful and smart.” Ha! What a world we live in huh? If you’re too pretty, you’re not smart. And if you’re too ugly, you’re not woman enough? Look, I hope you gained something out of my interview with Emma. To me, it was both enlightening and refreshing. She’s a woman as unapologetic as she is beautiful and you should be too.

Remember:

Fellow queens recognize and appreciate one another, knowing that the art of royalty comes with great sacrifice. But it’s always, always worth it.

Build an Empire, 

Elena Cardone