Welcome to our new series – WOMEN WE ADMIRE. Here, we're shining a light on the incredible women within our community and our Sienna Swim Collective. Whether they're friends, leaders, creators, mothers, daughters (or all of the above!), these women are truly inspiring, and we want to create a space to showcase their magnificence. We are beyond grateful for the special community we're building through our brand – a diverse group of women achieving remarkable feats and inspiring others by simply being themselves and following their dreams. This monthly series aims to spotlight women we love and invite you to connect with them. We're all about uplifting others, celebrating successes and showing how truly special, layered and powerful we are as women.
Taylor Hayden (@Taylornicolehayden) is more than a beautiful face, though she's certainly modeled for some of today's biggest brands. Taylor is mother to Selah, wife to Noah, and a friend to many in her community. She and Noah own and run Parlor Doughnuts, a fixture in the Oceanside, CA community and quickly expanding locations as one of today's hottest donut and coffee meetups. She's also a talented writer, with her first journal -- Dawn + Dusk -- continuing to sell out.
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We asked Taylor to model our SPRING FLING collection because she perfectly embodies the simple, classic, effortless style of our newest collection, especially our just-launched TULUM set in black, with its vintage-esque feel in our newest, softest Italian Terry fabric.
We sat down with Taylor to ask a few questions and some words of advice she would share as the first woman to be featured in our new series:
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Q. YOU'RE A MOM, A WIFE, A BUSINESS WOMAN, MODEL AND CREATOR. WHAT'S THE SECRET TO WEARING SO MANY HATS SO GRACEFULLY?
A. I don’t know if graceful is the word. Maybe I’m crazy, a lot of people seem to think so with the amount of things I put on my plate. But to be honest, I really just enjoy so many different things I want to do it all. Noah, my husband, has always been my biggest encourager and business partner on everything I’ve done. Our marriage is truly a solid foundation for me. While being a mom and a wife are my favorite roles, working with brands is something I am absolutely obsessed with. I love bringing visions to life, whether that’s through film, photography, modeling, video, whatever it may be. I just love creating and I don’t think I’ll ever stop.
Noah and I moved to California to open up another location of our family business. Parlor Doughnuts. We started it from the ground up, putting in countless hours, sweat, tears, and a lot of hard work. We started it all with just a dream and the most basic equipment you can find. After years of perfecting recipes, drawing inspiration and working 80+ hours a week in the shop, we are finally at a place where we can take a step back and manage/help others. Our location has 30+ employees. Parlor now has their franchising license with 30 locations open across the US and hundreds of applications in the works. This is all because of God’s favor, it’s nothing we can take credit for.
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Q. HOW HAS BECOMING A MOM CHANGED THE WAY YOU VIEW YOURSELF? HOW HAS IT CHANGED THE WAY YOU VIEW THE WORLD?
A. Being a mom has made me softer. It has forced me to slow down and lean into my femininity. It has pruned away a lot of selfishness and replaced it with care, kindness, compassion and gentleness. Children have this way of making us view the world through their eyes. We see everything differently the second they are born. They make us step back and take a closer look. The things I had become numb to, I now see with fresh eyes. The waves and ripples in the water. The way the sun dances on the horizon, the way the sand looks in between Selah's tiny toes and fingers. Time slows down. It’s caused me to have a new sense of wonder.
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Q. WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL EMPOWERED?
A. What makes me feel the most empowered is living up to my fullest potential. Using the talents that God has graciously given me to the best of my ability. Using those gifts for Him, and not for myself. Growing, learning, and doing the things that I love alongside other people that encourage me to do so. Knowing that my talent /gifts /work that God has created me to do are impacting other people in my community & my online platforms is something that I don’t take for granted. That makes me feel the most empowered.
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Q. WHAT IS THE FEELING YOU'RE LOOKING TO INSPIRE WHEN OTHER PEOPLE ENGAGE WITH YOU?
A. I love this question. I’d say the feeling I’m looking to inspire people with is love. The first thing that came to my mind when I read this question was actually a color. Golden yellow. I want people to feel a warm hug when they see my content or just as a human in real life :) I love the quote, "Stay close to people who feel like sunshine." I want to give value, inspiration, and energy to people!
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Q. IF YOU COULD GIVE YOUNG WOMEN ONCE PIECE OF ADVICE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
A. Easy. To be yourself!! Be you. Unapologetically yourself. Don’t shrink yourself down or allow comparison or insecurities to steal you from your greatest potential. Your greatest enemy is your own mind. Think about this: Nobody in the entire world has your mind, your heart, your body. Nobody else thinks the way that you do or feels emotions and feelings the way that you do. You are wonderfully made, and created to be exactly who you are in this time. Walk out that confidence knowing you are made with precise detail to be exactly who you are!
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Q: DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY; WHERE ARE YOU, WHAT DO YOU DO?
A. The perfect day to me is one spent waking up early with a cup of coffee outside in the quiet. Then spending allllllll day in the sun at the beach with good company. Swimming, laughing, running around, taking fun photos and then ending the evening making a huge home-cooked dinner & good conversation with friends.
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Q: YOUR FAVORITE SIENNA SWIM STYLE/S?
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Q: WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM YOU SOON, ONLINE OR OFF?
A. My most recent project was my journal -- called
Dawn + Dusk. It’s a 6 month journal with prompts and check ins morning and night to help encourage and inspire you. You can write down things you're thankful for, what you did that day, and what could have been better. I love it and lots of people say they love it too! (S
ienna Swim Team note: it's Sienna's favorite journal too!)
I'm also really excited to be launching a brand course this year! The most asked question I get is, "How do I start working with brands?" People want to know what I did to get started, and everything in-between. I am launching a course with video lessons taught by me on everything I have learned over the past 7 years in this industry. I will have tools and templates to get started, and tips to launch you forward. I wish there was something like this when I first started. I’m SO excited!
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Follow Taylor on Instagram
@Taylornicolehayden and see her in our newest SPRING FLING collection online and on our
Sienna Swim Instagram. Please let us know what you think of our new series! Email us at collective@siennaswim.com.
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