Staying True To Your Dreams with Blogilates & PopFlex founder Cassey Ho
Feb 19, 2024
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Cassey Ho, the dynamic founder of Blogilates and PopFlex, shares her inspiring journey from aspiring med student to fitness icon and fashion designer. She opens up about her struggles with body image and online bullying while advocating for authenticity in the fitness community. Cassey discusses the challenges of design theft, her thoughts on the ethics of fast fashion, and the importance of sustainability in her brand. Plus, she dives into navigating the TikTok shopping landscape and offers empowering advice for young women looking to pursue their dreams.
Cassey Ho highlights the importance of following your passions beyond conventional career paths, as seen in her shift from pre-med to fashion design.
Her experience with body shaming and toxic comments emphasizes the need for body positivity and mental well-being in the fitness community.
Cassey's entrepreneurial journey showcases the challenges of innovation in fashion, particularly regarding inclusivity and competing against fast fashion brands.
Deep dives
Early Influences and Aspirations
The speaker's journey began with a passion for fashion design, which was evident from an early age as they sketched and created outfits for dolls and friends. However, parental expectations led them down a different path, pursuing a pre-medical degree in an environment that prized traditional professions such as medicine and law. This choice left them feeling unfulfilled, prompting a search for creative outlets that would eventually blend their love for fitness and design. The character's determination to follow their passions became evident when they discovered Pilates, which would not only provide an escape but also lay the groundwork for their future career.
Discovering a New Fitness Avenue
Their involvement in Pilates evolved when they auditioned for an instructor position, despite lacking certification at the time. The gym owner, recognizing their enthusiasm and potential, offered to pay for their certification, thereby opening a new chapter in their life. This unexpected opportunity allowed the speaker to introduce 'Pop Pilates', a format that fused Pilates exercises with upbeat pop music, igniting interest among gym-goers. The creation of this unique workout style showcased the speaker's ability to innovate and solve problems, leading to a dedicated following.
YouTube as a Platform for Growth
In response to the students' requests for Pop Pilates, the speaker filmed a simple 10-minute workout video intended for a small audience but inadvertently uploaded it to YouTube, leading to unexpected viral success. The video garnered thousands of views and positive feedback, prompting the speaker to continue creating content that resonated with a wider audience. This new platform not only expanded their reach but also allowed them to cultivate a community centered around fitness and empowerment. The speaker's journey on YouTube illustrated how embracing creativity and spontaneity can lead to significant opportunities.
Navigating Online Challenges
As the speaker’s popularity grew, they faced significant challenges, including body shaming and toxic comments from viewers, which were emotionally taxing. A notable moment came when they decided to tackle these negative perceptions head-on by creating a video that humorously illustrated societal beauty standards, transforming hurtful comments into a powerful message of body positivity. This initiative resonated widely, helping others understand the importance of mental well-being and self-acceptance amidst the scrutiny of social media. The speaker's experiences highlighted the difficulties of maintaining confidence and authenticity in an industry often focused on physical appearance.
Transitioning to Entrepreneurship
With the growth of their online presence, the speaker transitioned into entrepreneurship, launching a clothing line that aligned with their original passion for fashion design. They faced hurdles in product development, especially concerning the creation of garments that accommodated diverse body types and movement needs, evident in their perseverance to innovate. This was further complicated by challenges from fast fashion competitors, prompting the speaker to focus on creating high-quality, sustainable products. Their journey reflects the blend of creativity and resilience necessary to thrive in the competitive landscape of fashion and fitness.
Today’s episode is with YouTuber, founder of Blogilates & PopFlex, and absolute icon… CASSEY HO! Guys, what?!?! Cassey has amassed nearly 16 MILLION followers since posting her first Pilates video in 2009. She talks about her journey starting in med school, and how her part time job teaching “pop pilates” allowed Cassey to follow her true dream of becoming a fashion designer. She shares her struggles throughout the years including body image, online bullying, and trying to balance her multitude of jobs. Cassey is the founder & lead designer of activewear brands, Blogilates (can be found at Target!), and PopFlex! We chat about her experience with SHEIN stealing her designs, her strategy for influencer partnerships, her thoughts on TikTok Shop, and her advice for girls feeling lost in their careers. Not kidding you'll want to run a marathon, start a business, and follow all your craziest dreams after listening to this one, I hope y’all enjoy the episode!!
