An Inspired Chat with Tayja Strickland of Southeast

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Tayja Strickland. Check out our conversation below.

Tayja, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
So, the first 90 minutes of my day are usually spent in prayer, journaling, and devotion. Sometimes I’m doing it sitting on the edge of the bed—either before or after getting dressed—but I really try to make it happen every day. It’s honestly changed the whole flow of my mornings.

I’ve realized that kind of discipline actually starts the night before. If I go to bed late, then it might end up happening in the car, or I’ll move my journaling to the evening instead. But either way, I make sure it gets done.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
In true Southern fashion, I’m screaming, “Hey y’all!” My name is Tayja Strickland — Creative Marketer, Model, Evangelist, Foodie, and just an all-around good time!

Since we last spoke, I shared how I was a creative stuck in a dead-end job, and how that dry season really became the foundation for my growth. Now, two years later, I’m coming back with a refined outlook — both as the CEO and Founder of M Luxe Creative Studios, and as a Marketing Specialist at a telecommunications company.

On the M Luxe side, I just relaunched my website and officially started taking new clients again. My focus now is finding my niche and leaning more into consulting. And at work, my role has expanded way beyond social media — I’ve been able to create real impact in my local community and help shift how our organization approaches marketing campaigns and strategy.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I’d say this has been a long process, but I’m glad it’s finally happening — letting go of the belief that I have to be perfect. For so long, I felt like I couldn’t be the one to mess up, make mistakes, or get it wrong. I’m not even sure where the root of my people-pleasing and perfectionism started, but I know it began at a very young age.

Now, at 28, that epiphany has finally hit me — I’m allowing myself to learn, fail, and grow. These days, I take things one day at a time and stay mindful of the thoughts that reflect those old beliefs. When they show up, I try to reframe them and remind myself of what’s true.

My faith plays a big part in that. It keeps me grounded and motivated to keep moving forward. I’ve also realized that the misinterpretation and misrepresentation of my faith — both directly and indirectly — contributed to that people-pleasing mindset. But even that is being reframed now, and I’m slowly but surely getting back to letting the main thing be the main thing.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
“Girl, you got it — act like you know it.” – King George

No seriously, if I could say anything to my younger self — that young, vibrant, old-soul, truth-telling, empathetic girl — I’d tell her to be confident and assured that she is exactly the puzzle piece this world needs.

You might not always feel like you fit in, and honestly, sometimes you won’t. But that’s because you weren’t meant to. Don’t despise your old soul, your purity of spirit, your goofiness, or your sensitivity. Every part of you will be used — even if you’re still figuring out how.

Be confident in who you are. Don’t shrink. Don’t try to blend in when you were created to stand out.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
So, I kind of cheated, lol. I’ve always struggled with knowing if what I believe about myself actually translates to other people, so I asked four of my closest friends what they think really matters to me most. And honestly, I was surprised, grateful, and a little put at ease by their answers.

They said spiritual health, my relationship with God, and being thoughtful and kind. You’d think all I talk about is God, right? Wrong, lol. I have a life and interests outside of Him — but I do try to make sure everything I do flows through Him. Make sense?

So to hear them say those things, knowing all the experiences we’ve shared, the highs and the lows, and them seeing me at my worst — it really meant a lot. It showed me that what I value truly comes across in how I live.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Ouuu chile — doubting and being scared! The way I would break my neck and put myself out there if God said, “Do you know you have 30 minutes?!”

I love this question because the truth is, we really don’t know the amen — the “and it is so” — of our lives. So why be scared? Why not try? Why not fail?

I can’t bank on my faith and still be scared to jump off the porch. I’m learning, but this question is definitely one I’ll hold on to whenever fear tries to manifest.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Nimbus Digital
M Luxe Creative Studios X Empowered Women, Empowering Women Conference

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