Meet Athena Vas

We had the good fortune of connecting with Athena Vas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Athena, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
For me, the words I’ve lived by my entire life come straight from my mother: “If you give up, you have nothing.” And she was right. I’ve always believed that if you don’t even try, you end up with nothing either way, so you may as well try, because it might work. But here’s the part people misunderstand: “never give up” doesn’t mean keep doing the exact same thing forever hoping it magically changes. You have to set goals and timelines. You have to measure what’s working and what’s not. If I’ve been putting in non-stop work on a project for six months to a year, and it’s not making me money and I’m only losing money, that’s when I pivot. I don’t give up, I adjust my approach. With creative projects, I produce, put it up, promote it, and watch how it performs. If it doesn’t gain traction within the first few months, I shift. You don’t stop the overall dream; you just refine the strategy. You study patterns, analytics, competitors, people in your niche, not to copy them, but to understand the formula, then bring your own twist of creativity. The goal stays the same. The path evolves. That’s how you know.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My career has been anything but traditional. I started as a high school math and special education teacher, certified in five states with a total of thirteen certifications, working with some of the most incredible kids you could ever meet. Teaching shaped me in ways I’ll always be grateful for. It gave me discipline, empathy, and a deeper understanding of people. But I also knew I was meant to create something bigger, something that could reach millions, not just one classroom at a time. So during the pandemic, I took a leap of faith and opened my Instagram to the world. I began sharing my life, my glow-up journey, my reinvention, and the process of rebuilding from nothing. I went from 350 followers to being cast on national television, winning The Bachelor, appearing on Hulu, and evolving into a creator, author, and public figure. None of that was easy. Every milestone was built through consistency, sacrifice, experimentation, and relentless determination.

What sets me apart is that my growth was never hidden. I didn’t appear online as a polished, perfect product. People watched me grow in real time. I let them see the reality of reinvention: losing my mother, losing my relationship, losing my home, losing my income, and somehow finding the strength to rebuild anyway. Instead of hiding, I turned every setback into purpose and used it to create something meaningful. That’s why my book, This Is My Era: The GLOW UP BLUEPRINT, is so important to me. It’s not just a book. It’s a transformational blueprint designed to give women the confidence to glow up, reinvent themselves, and finally become the woman they always dreamed of becoming. It teaches them how to release what’s been holding them back and step into their power with intention.

Alongside the book, I have bigger dreams in the film world. I want to bring back the soul of Old Hollywood, the storytelling, the glamour, the emotional impact, but with a modern message of empowerment. I want to create films that inspire people, films that make them believe in their own potential, films that help them see that reinvention is always possible. That world takes time to build, and I’m patient with the process. But in the meantime, I’m reaching people now through my writing, my platforms, and my story. I don’t want to wait years to make an impact. I want to uplift people today.

Getting here was not easy. I faced financial struggles, rejection, uncertainty, starting over in a new city, and navigating industries that require thick skin and relentless perseverance. But every challenge taught me something essential: trust yourself, pivot when you have to, stay humble, keep learning, and never let fear make decisions for you. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you don’t need permission to pursue the life you want. You just need willingness, courage, and the guts to take the first step even when the path isn’t clear.

What I want the world to know about me and my brand is simple. I am living proof that reinvention is real. I didn’t come from privilege. I didn’t have connections handing me opportunities. I built every part of my life from the ground up. My brand is empowerment. It is resilience, glow-up, strategy, storytelling, and self-belief. Everything I create is designed to help people rise higher, think bigger, love themselves deeper, and step into the version of themselves they thought they lost or could never reach. And I’m only getting started.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting me for a week, trust me, they’re getting the full Hollywoodiva experience. I’m showing them the best energy, the best views, the best food, and all the spots that make Los Angeles magic.

Day 1: Beverly Hills Glow-Up Day
We’d start in Beverly Hills because obviously. Breakfast at Urth on Melrose, then walk down Rodeo just to soak in the energy. I’d take them to The Aster for rooftop drinks and views, then maybe hit the spa or sauna to reset. At night, dinner at Avra. You cannot come to LA and not experience that.

Day 2: Malibu Serenity + Beach Day
We’d head to Malibu, get in a morning beach walk, maybe a little journaling or intention-setting on the sand because that’s my vibe. Lunch at Malibu Farm or Nobu depending on the mood. Sunset at El Matador or Point Dume. It’s impossible not to feel alive after that.

Day 3: The Hollywood + Creative Day
This is when I’d show them the world I’m building. Coffee at Dialog in West Hollywood, then take them to a studio or a filming location I love. Maybe shoot some content together, have fun, play with outfits, tap into their creative side. Dinner at Catch or Il Pastaio, then end the night with either a rooftop lounge or just a late-night drive through the Hollywood Hills blasting music.

Day 4: Fitness + Glow-Up Energy
Morning workout at Gold’s Gym Venice. The energy alone changes your whole mindset. We’d take some fun gym photos, then walk the boardwalk, grab a protein smoothie, and sit by the water. Later, a sunset cold plunge in Santa Monica, then dinner at Elephante.

Day 5: Palm Tree Dayclub + Vegas Vibes (LA Edition)
If they want a fun day, we’re doing dayclub energy somewhere like the Mondrian Skybar, the W rooftop pool, or a beach club event. Just good music, sunshine, and that “I’m alive and loving life” feeling. Dinner at The Nice Guy or Delilah. Drinks after if we’re in the mood.

Day 6: Art, Culture, and Inspiration
We’d visit The Getty or LACMA, walk around Melrose for vintage shopping, and stop by some iconic photo spots. Maybe take them to watch a live taping, a comedy show, or an industry mixer. LA is full of interesting people chasing big dreams. I want them to feel that spark.

Day 7: Newport Beach Reset Day
I’d end the week in Newport because it’s peaceful, clean, and feels like a whole different world. Breakfast at Malibu Farm Newport, a walk through Balboa Island, and maybe a boat ride. Dinner at AVRA if we come back to the city or Javier’s in Newport if we stay. It’s the perfect reflective, grounding finish before they fly home.

LA is one of the most exciting cities on earth if you know where to go and who to go with. It’s a mix of ambition, beauty, creativity, sunsets, fitness, great energy, and unforgettable memories. Anyone who comes here with me leaves inspired.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Absolutely. I’ve had a lot of moments in my life where I had to stand on my own two feet, but I would be lying if I said I got here alone. First and foremost, my shoutout goes to my mother. Everything I am, my work ethic, my grit, my refusal to quit, comes from her. She always told me, “If you give up, you have nothing,” and those words carried me through every storm and every reinvention of my life. I also want to acknowledge the students and families I’ve worked with over the years. Being a special education teacher shaped my heart in ways I never expected. Those kids taught me resilience, patience, and purpose, and they grounded me during some of the hardest moments of my journey.

And then there are the people in my personal and professional life, the ones who genuinely showed up for me when I needed support. My friends who celebrated my milestones, attended my events, and cheered for me like every win was theirs too. The friends who helped me get out of New York when I needed a fresh start, who opened their homes to me, who gave me a safe place to land so I could rebuild and chase my dreams. My ex who took my Instagram photos during my come up, he didn’t necessarily believe in the big vision I had for myself, but he still took the photos anyway for a little while, and that mattered in that season. The photographer friends who shot me for free simply because they wanted to see me grow. The film friends who created with me, filmed with me, and helped bring my ideas to life when I had nothing but ambition. The creators who collaborated with me before I had a platform, the business owners who let me shoot in their locations, the friends who helped me move in LA, the ones who bought pieces from my dress line just to support, the people who invited me to events as their plus one, and those who connected me with others and opened doors I wouldn’t have accessed on my own. Every comment, every message, every “keep going,” every bit of encouragement has meant more than I could ever put into words.

So yes, I’ve worked relentlessly to build my life, but I was lifted by so many hands along the way. My success is not just mine. It belongs to the community that supported me, created with me, believed in me at different stages, and refused to let me stand in this world alone. I never forget any of you.

Website: https://athenavas.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/iamathenavas

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamathenavas/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamathenavas

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11137642/

Image Credits
@remivision
@venicepaparazi