By: Michelle Demaree
Michelle Demaree is a remarkable example of resilience and empowerment as a female founder and the creative force behind Miss Diamond Ring. Her journey as a single mother turned successful entrepreneur in Los Angeles showcases her unwavering belief in her dreams and the transformative power of self-love and authenticity. Through candid insights and personal experiences, Michelle shares invaluable lessons on navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, balancing parenthood with career aspirations, and the profound impact of female friendship and community support. As both a jewelry expert and trusted confidant, she embodies a commitment to fostering genuine connections, whether guiding clients in matters of the heart or curating exquisite pieces that symbolize love and commitment. Delve into Michelle’s inspiring journey and glean wisdom from her experiences.
Your journey of building a business from scratch as a single mother in Los Angeles is truly inspiring. Can you share some key lessons you’ve learned along the way, both in terms of entrepreneurship and balancing parenthood with career aspirations?
Michelle Demaree: Thank you so much! I would say the biggest lessons revolve around resilience, self-love, authenticity, and unwavering belief in my dreams.
Resilience is necessary for success in all aspects of life. Building a business involves challenges that require growth. If it’s not hard, you’re not learning. Embracing setbacks as opportunities for growth has been crucial for me.
Self-love and authenticity are intertwined. Running my business authentically has been transformative. Investing in self-growth fosters compassion and attracts positive energy.
Maintaining unwavering belief in my dream was pivotal. By committing to my vision, I navigated through difficult times with determination and meditation practices, fostering a positive mindset.
Dating in your 40s can be challenging, especially as a single mom. How did you navigate the dating scene while prioritizing your career and daughter?
Michelle Demaree: Dating in LA was demanding, but I maintained high standards and a positive mindset. I focused on self-growth and remained open-minded. Understanding my worth and setting clear boundaries were crucial.
Your journey highlights the power of female friendship and community support. How have these relationships influenced your personal and professional growth?
Michelle Demaree: Female friendships have been invaluable. They provided support during tough times and inspired me to pursue my dreams authentically. Surrounding myself with positive influences has been key to my growth.
Beyond the physical beauty of jewelry, how do you believe it can serve as a symbol of love and commitment?
Michelle Demaree: Jewelry is an emotional, personal, sparkling symbol of a moment or experience in your life that you want to commemorate. Jewelry is one of many ways we can artistically express ourselves or shower someone else with our love in a beautiful, personal way. My collections all tell a story of our relationship to ourselves and to others. The Butterfly Collection celebrates our personal evolution and metamorphosis and also celebrates the person who gives us wings. My Diamonds with Soul Collection is a curated collection of mixed-shape diamonds that celebrates the multi-faceted nature and journey of every woman as she calls in her dream life with every chapter.
In what ways do you see the role of jewelry evolving in modern relationships, particularly as more couples embrace nontraditional paths to marriage and commitment?
Michelle Demaree: I think jewelry is becoming more of a co-creation between two equal couples in partnership. It’s less of a “if you’re good, I’ll do this for you” and more of a “let’s make a beautiful ring you love so that you may shine and we can celebrate our love together.” I see couples co-designing, and I chat with partners together and separately so that the end result is both a beautiful surprise and a guaranteed slam dunk. I focus on what is most important to them and do my best to deliver it in aces.
As someone who has found their forever person, how do you incorporate lasting love and partnership into your creations?
Michelle Demaree: I think it just comes down to genuine love and interest in other people’s love stories. The more I know about their story and what will make them happy, the more I can personalize the ring and experience exactly for them. Whether it is etching an inscription on the diamond, sourcing birthstones or gold from their hometown, or adding their fingerprints to the ring so they are forever connected. I’m just here to make it amazing for each couple in a way tailored to their needs and wants. I like to connect on the journey to love because I think it deepens connection, and we can all relate to how happy we are to have found our person. That is the business I am in, so that, of course, is my focus.
Your journey is a testament to resilience and perseverance. What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those facing similar challenges of starting anew later in life?
Michelle Demaree: I believe we are on this planet to experience love, connection, growth and self-actualization. It never stops. The wins and failures, challenges and victories, those are all a part of the human journey. Whenever you face a challenge, approach it with curiosity and ask, “What am I meant to learn from this? How can I create something good out of this? What outcome would be ideal for me given these circumstances?” And move toward that, and do it knowing that you are not behind – you are exactly where you need to be for your own personal growth and evolution.
Your life is not supposed to look like anyone else’s. Focus first on loving yourself until you feel whole and worthy, then take that beautiful energy and pour it into your purpose and expansion and just enjoy the journey. Release blueprints (likely from childhood) that were given to you that don’t serve you, and adopt blueprints from people who are living the life you want to live. In most cases, the blueprint is going to be love, compassion, peace, self-expression, personal growth and service. And that can be applied to hundreds of thousands of careers and relationships out there – you get to choose the path and the person that most lights you up.
Just know you can’t fix your current state with the same energy, narrative and belief that got you into it. You have to adopt an entirely new emotional blueprint and narrative to build the dream life that is waiting for you.
How do you build trust and understanding with clients seeking guidance in matters of the heart and jewelry selection?
Michelle Demaree: I probably should have been a therapist. I seem to enjoy helping people with their lives, and people naturally open up to me about all matters of the heart. I’m a heart helper! I see my job as a diamond concierge as more of a conduit to connect. Clients find me for their engagement rings, quality, craftsmanship, and elite stone selection, first and foremost. But often, a deeper connection is formed as we talk about the journey to love and life. As I share, they share, and the relationship deepens – as is the pattern in all relationships. If you aren’t willing to open up to someone, your relationship won’t deepen (a little shoutout for all the avoidants out there. Your connected, love-filled life awaits you!)
How do you utilize social media platforms to share expertise in jewelry and insights on love and relationships?
Michelle Demaree: This is a balancing act that I am still learning as an entrepreneur running a luxury brand. I don’t see too many luxury brands sharing their personal experiences and lives with the world. So, initially, I was afraid to. But I realized that the thing I was seeking is the thing everyone is seeking – which is an authentic connection. I didn’t want to hide behind a stuffy red carpet veil. I wanted to express myself and my brand genuinely, and I wanted to attract clients who also sought the same. I share my couple’s love stories, I share my personal love story, and I seek to share whatever I feel will serve my client base, spanning from diamonds to deepening love in all areas of our lives. Real is rare, so I’m sticking with it.
Published by: Khy Talara
