Meet Rajka Hayden of The Dress Up Mom in La Jolla/UTC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rajka Hayden.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Rajka. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve had a life long passion for all things vintage, resale, unique and fun. I turned that passion into a YouTube channel called The Dress Up Mom. My goal is to inspire women of all ages to have fun and dress it up a little! I started the channel in my late fifties and mostly feature resale clothing and accessories – finding, altering, styling and caring for the unique pieces I own. I also love doing makeovers with women of all ages to help them look their best by incorporating resale and vintage clothing and accessories into their wardrobes. On the channel, I share other aspects of life I care about ~ shopping small, sustainability, going gray, aging, hair and skin care, fitness, decorating, cooking and travel.

I’ve lived in San Diego for most of my life and also have a shopping experience I do for women on AirBnB’s experience platform. I love shopping at our locally-owned, unique boutiques. I feature many of them on my channel and know the owners. They are equally passionate about what they sell, supporting local designers and giving each customer personal shopping experience. I’ve had a blast providing “retail therapy” for women I’ve met from around the world.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No. When I started the channel, I had no social media experience whatsoever. Not even a Facebook page so zero followers. I’ve had to learn how to do everything on my own – shooting videos, editing, building up a following, etc. I’ve worked in corporate America my entire career (and still do) but I knew I wanted to do something with my passion and I love the creative outlet and all I’ve learned and continue to learn along the way. I’m proud of the loyal followers I’ve gained and have met so many amazing people along this journey. Even though I’m in my late fifties, I feel rejuvenated by the experience.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I think I covered most of this in the first answer. I’m proud of all I’ve learned and the great people I’ve met. I’m also proud that I’m helping people and get such wonderful comments. I’m so passionate about shopping resale and small that even if I get one person a week to try it, I feel like I’m making a difference. I love that I get comments from younger viewers that they enjoy what I talk about and that they watch weekly with their mom’s. I love making women who shop with me feel good about themselves and their bodies and get out of their comfort zones a bit. They usually leave happier than when they came. I’m not a fashion insider so I think I can relate to the average woman and not intimidate her. I hope I’m also inspiring women of all ages to have some fun with getting dressed and get over some of the hang-ups we all have. Most of us played dress up as young girls and had fun with that. I hope I’m bringing back that feeling in some way.

What were you like growing up?
I’ve always had a lot of interests and like to stay busy and learn new things. I grew up in San Marcos on a chicken ranch which gave me an incredible work ethic. I’ve always loved fashion and consider myself to be a creative person. I’m a first-generation born in the US (my parents immigrated from the former Yugoslavia after WWII) and I was the first person in my family to graduate from college. I’m diligent and don’t give up easily. I genuinely like most people and enjoy meeting new people and building long-lasting relationships.

Pricing:

• My Airbnb experience costs $20 per guest and I take a maximum of three women per trip
• Personal shopping experiences – pricing is customized depending on client needs

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thedressupmom.com
• Phone: 7608451284
• Email: thedressupmom@gmail.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/thedressupmom
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/thedressupmom
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedressupmom
• Other: http://tinyurl.com/thedressupmom – You Tube Channel and My Air BnB Shopping Experience: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/269796

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