Iskra Lawrence on Body Confidence, Rebuilding Herself, and Financial Freedom

In this episode, Leana sits down with Iskra Lawrence, model, mental health advocate, and founder of Saltair, one of the fastest-growing body care brands in the country.

Iskra takes it back to growing up in a small town in England, entering a modeling competition at 12, and being watched by agencies through puberty while her changing body was treated like a problem. She opens up about developing an eating disorder, being told she was too curvy for straight-size modeling and too small for plus-size modeling, and the breaking point when she realized she was never the problem. The industry was.

She shares how she rebuilt her sense of self through affirmations, began pitching herself directly to brands at 19, and eventually created a career on her own terms.

Iskra also gets candid about losing herself postpartum during the pandemic, unexpectedly losing her Aerie contract, and how a five-minute shower became the inspiration for Saltair. She breaks down why she still does not take a salary from the company, why she prioritizes long-term financial security over a luxurious lifestyle, and what it means to build generational wealth.

Leana and Iskra also talk about motherhood, ambition, being the breadwinner in a marriage, finding a partner without ego, and why having a successful career does not mean having everything perfectly together.

Leana and Iskra get into:

→ Entering the modeling industry at 12 years old

→ Being told she was too curvy, too commercial, and too womanly at 14

→ Developing an eating disorder while trying to control her body

→ Being rejected by plus-size agencies for being too small

→ Realizing she was never the problem, the industry was

→ Cattle calls, rejection, comparison, and body dysmorphia