Jenna Lyons On How To Be Truly Happy, RHONY, Career Advice, Dating, Sex, & How To Be Yourself
Nov 27, 2023
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Former lead designer for J.Crew and star of Real Housewives of New York City, Jenna Lyons, discusses building resilience, setting boundaries, career development, dating advice, and keeping the spark alive in relationships.
Jenna's experiences in dating women have brought tenderness, open communication, and a lack of shame or embarrassment about physical appearance.
Jenna's realization of her attraction to women later in life was influenced by limited perceptions and lack of diverse representations of LGBTQ+ people.
Being on a reality TV show has exposed Jenna to a lack of boundaries from fans, highlighting the importance of respecting personal boundaries.
Deep dives
Dating women and the differences from dating men
Dating women has brought a different dynamic and understanding in Jenna's experiences. It is characterized by tenderness, understanding, and a lack of shame or embarrassment about physical appearance. Jenna feels that there is a reciprocity and open communication about pleasure and sexual satisfaction with women that she didn't always experience with men. She also acknowledges the influence of cultural expectations and assumptions about sex and gender roles in shaping her views. Jenna's personal experience has led her to understand the appeal of late-in-life and same-sex relationships, particularly for women who may have felt unfulfilled or unsatisfied in heterosexual relationships.
Discovering her attraction to women
Jenna didn't realize her attraction to women until later in life. She wasn't exposed to diverse representations of LGBTQ+ people and had limited perceptions of what a gay woman looked or acted like. It wasn't until she met someone who she connected with and who looked like her that she started questioning her own sexuality. This experience challenged her previous assumptions and led her to recognize her own desires and potential attraction to women.
Boundaries and recognition in the public eye
Being on a reality TV show has exposed Jenna to a lack of boundaries from some fans. She acknowledges the sense of familiarity that viewers may feel because they see into her personal life on the show, but emphasizes that there are still certain boundaries to be respected. Jenna also reflects on the different experiences of dating men versus women, finding a greater understanding and tenderness in her relationships with women. She shares insights into the cultural influences that shaped her expectations and experiences with men, as well as the open communication and mutual understanding that characterize her relationships with women.
Self-discovery and stereotypes
Growing up, Jenna didn't fit into the stereotypes of what a gay woman looked like, which led her to believe that she couldn't be part of the LGBTQ+ community. She had limited exposure to out LGBTQ+ women, which contributed to her confusion about her own identity. However, meeting someone who she was attracted to and who looked like her challenged those preconceived notions and opened her up to the possibility of exploring relationships with women.
Transitioning from Corporate Life to Entrepreneurship
The guest, Jenna Lyons, discusses her transition from having a corporate life with a large team and structure to becoming an entrepreneur. She talks about the challenges she faced in adjusting to the new dynamic, such as not having a large team to handle various tasks and decisions. However, she highlights the freedom and happiness she now experiences in being able to be more creative and have control over her own decisions and schedule. She emphasizes that success is now measured differently for her, not by the trappings of a corporate job, but by the ability to be creative and make decisions on her own terms.
The Stress and Difficulties of Managing a Team
Jenna discusses the stress and difficulties of managing a team, both in a corporate environment and as an entrepreneur. She explains the challenges of having to consider the well-being of team members and making decisions that can impact their lives. Jenna highlights the emotional energy required in dealing with team-related problems and how it can affect personal life. She emphasizes the importance of having a strong team and recognizing that the quality of work is heavily dependent on the quality of the people on the team.
#630: Today, we're sitting down with Jenna Lyons. You may know her from Real Housewives of New York City, but Lyons rose to fame in the early 2010s as the lead designer for J.Crew; her work at the time popularized the concept of 'high-low dressing' and earned her the title of the 'Woman Who Dresses America' due to the massive success of her campaign to reinvigorate the then-struggling brand. Today, we sit down with Jenna to discuss topics ranging from childhood and how to build resilience to her experience on RHONYC and how that's shaped the way she sets boundaries. She also gets into career development, dating advice, and what men can do in their relationships to keep the spark alive.
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