Gigi McMillan – From Survivor to Empowerment Icon: Holistic Healing and The Power of Community Support
Apr 18, 2024
Alimond Studio
Gigi McMillan's remarkable transformation from a domestic violence survivor to a beacon of hope for others is a story that resonates with the power of change. Join us as we journey with Gigi, exploring her initiatives like Purple Runway and Camisole Style Consultancy that help survivors find their voice and heal holistically. This episode is an intimate look at the intersection of personal adversity and professional triumph, where Gigi's own past fuels her passion to empower individuals to reclaim their lives with confidence and style.
As we sit down with Gigi, she shares the critical importance of community support, an element that's often the backbone of powerful healing and personal growth. You'll be inspired by the innovative ways Gigi brings people together, from the rhythmic release of Bodyoke to the camaraderie fostered at Sip Shop and Share events. The conversation also highlights the upcoming 21-day challenge Gigi has crafted to nurture the body, voice, and spirit, offering a refreshing take on the long-term journey of reclaiming self-worth.
Beyond survival, Gigi stresses the need for preventative education, engaging younger generations in conversations about healthy relationships. She takes us behind the scenes of her annual Purple Runway event, underscoring its significance as a space where survivors and supporters alike can find strength in solidarity. Gigi also opens up about her dedication to mental health initiatives in her community, serving as an advisory member for Prince William County's Crisis Receiving Center. Her message is a resonant reminder: incorporating simple self-care rituals into our daily routines is not just beneficial, it's essential for our mental focus and happiness.
Gigi McMillan's remarkable transformation from a domestic violence survivor to a beacon of hope for others is a story that resonates with the power of change. Join us as we journey with Gigi, exploring her initiatives like Purple Runway and Camisole Style Consultancy that help survivors find their voice and heal holistically. This episode is an intimate look at the intersection of personal adversity and professional triumph, where Gigi's own past fuels her passion to empower individuals to reclaim their lives with confidence and style.
As we sit down with Gigi, she shares the critical importance of community support, an element that's often the backbone of powerful healing and personal growth. You'll be inspired by the innovative ways Gigi brings people together, from the rhythmic release of Bodyoke to the camaraderie fostered at Sip Shop and Share events. The conversation also highlights the upcoming 21-day challenge Gigi has crafted to nurture the body, voice, and spirit, offering a refreshing take on the long-term journey of reclaiming self-worth.
Beyond survival, Gigi stresses the need for preventative education, engaging younger generations in conversations about healthy relationships. She takes us behind the scenes of her annual Purple Runway event, underscoring its significance as a space where survivors and supporters alike can find strength in solidarity. Gigi also opens up about her dedication to mental health initiatives in her community, serving as an advisory member for Prince William County's Crisis Receiving Center. Her message is a resonant reminder: incorporating simple self-care rituals into our daily routines is not just beneficial, it's essential for our mental focus and happiness.
Speaker 1:
My name is Gigi McMillan and I actually have an internal and external two businesses. One is called Purple Runway, where we support domestic violence survivors, thrivers and conquerors, and then I am also a personal image consultant and a life coach with Camisole Style Consultancy. And they both make the story of the overarching goal that I'm committed to whole.
Speaker 2:
That is amazing. You sound like you are very busy. Yeah, goodness, how are you juggling everything or how do you find like the time to like manage all of that?
Speaker 1:
Sometimes you have to step away from some things. I have great people that I collaborate with, I work with, who are on our board and our team. So just managing the time and making sure that you put I put my self care first Amazing.
Speaker 2:
Definitely. And now, how did you get your foot in the door of wanting to help out with victims of domestic violence?
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I am a thriving conquering survivor myself and I've been through trauma throughout my life, and it was one day that I decided I wanted to be a personal stylist and to help people feel good, and all that great stuff. And I thought at that time that the business I was like I'm ready to launch, I'm ready to tell people. And I got a vision and God said to me how are you going to help people look good on the outside when you have work to do on the inside? You need to heal. So that crushed me because I lost confidence in what I was planning to do with that.
Speaker 1:
But a delay is not a denial. It is just a time for you to place things in order, in my opinion, right. So I decided that what does that look like? I cried a couple days, Let it out, Let it out, and said, okay, let me pull my big girl drawers on. And I just got this idea of saying how can I mix the two? And I said something that I have not necessarily worked on was the trauma that I had from childhood and I knew that that was a thing for me. So I decided that it was time to do that and Purple Runway was born at that point Wow.
Speaker 2:
What an incredible little story there. Thank you, that's amazing and you talk about that. You are a survivor. Would you mind for anybody who is curious or wondering like how that was your story?
Speaker 1:
You don't have to get into like crazy details, but just a little bit of background about you would be great, yeah, so when I was eight years old, I went through childhood trauma and I'm a military brat, so it was on an Air Force base in Arizona and it was a close friend to the family as a lot of times these things happen to people that have access to children and it transpired over a period of time maybe a couple of years had gone by because I was about eight years old. I was really really good in school and you know, I had a vivacious, great parents my mom and dad are still in love.
Speaker 2:
Today they just celebrated 50 years Well congratulations to them, yeah, thanks.
Speaker 1:
And one day they said that they were going out of town and I remember my mom in the bathroom putting her makeup on and she said we're going to go out of town. I was like no, please don't go. And then I shared the story with her. Of course, they didn't leave. And then, by 10 years old, I found myself on my birthday in a military courtroom stand hyperventilating and I passed out and I had to be taken to the hospital and I passed out and I had to be taken to the hospital and once I recovered from that, sad to say, that person did not get charged for that crime. So, and back in those days, it just wasn't talked about the way it is today and they were saying, okay, trial's over, basically, and have a nice life.
Speaker 1:
So as I got older, the trauma affected me. The self-confidence, the lack of assurance worth value all of those things started to affect me, but still being able to put on a good face for the world. And from there it was just like that's where the domestic and the intimate partner violence came in. I was not a victim of that. I was naive of that, because my parents are just amazing together. And then I had to learn to wiggle myself out of those incidents and I said you know, I had to stop life. I was working from that point and in 2012, I said I can't do this no more. I have to heal, I have to heal myself. So healing started for me back in 2012, after all of those years.
Speaker 2:
Wow, I'm sorry to hear that, but I'm glad you pulled yourself from out of there and now you're thriving and helping other people in the community. What do you hope to achieve for other survivors and other people who are just looking to be styled by you? When you can help them bring back their confidence.
Speaker 1:
Yeah. So I hope for other survivors is that they really see this and say you know what my value is here. Take that first step and to understand that what happened to you is not who you are. And self-rescue, even in this day and age, with therapy. Therapy is very important. I go to therapy, I've been to therapy. But self-rescue and having tools in your toolkit to help you manage day-to-day functions and people you can contact and have a great community no, we don't want you to sit around and think that everyone is bad. We have to change that mindset. And how we do that is that we work within a community that has gone through the things that we have gone through. That can help us with the tools to move forward day to day. And I choose holistic. You know traditional therapies, but holistic therapy is what's going to get you through day to day. And what does that look like? Well, we go through the different layers of self-care, peel back, understand our worth and you know what we can be more powerful than ever after that.
Speaker 2:
Beautiful. And then, for those of us who don't know, can you explain the difference of holistic versus going the normal or standard route?
Speaker 1:
Yes, versus going the normal or standard route. Yes. So holistic therapies you know, a lot of times survivors like myself we have anxiety in various different ways. We might have negative self-talk because we might have shame and guilt. So, changing that mindset, changing that mindset around and saying you know what, when those negative thoughts come in, what do I do particularly to change that?
Speaker 1:
Some people it's dancing, some people it's Reiki, Some people it's art therapy, some people it's breathe therapy and you find some walking in nature, some yoga. It's so many different ways that we can engage in holistic therapies. But when you're doing it with the community, it really, really brings it to life and honing on it. And then who can you call to help you when some of those things may not be working that day right? So having a buddy, an accountability partner, just like with anything else, that's what we want to do Someone that is going to support you and listen to you and help you walk through that. So being cognizant of self-rescue is so, so, very important. And what does that look like? Because it's a hyper-personalized platform for each and every single one of us.
Speaker 2:
That's beautiful. I love that, though, because sometimes the journey doesn't have to be done alone and it can be very isolating. Some people may not understand what you're going through. Some people may not understand what you're going through, but when you have a community of other people who understand, and you can relate to. It makes it so much less complicated for you so. I love that you have that.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, we are, you know, humans, and sociability is very, very important and it's very easy to go into isolation. I know I have survivors that are just tipping into trying to pull all of that together and they will isolate themselves. They will. Oh yes, gigi, I'll call you if I need anything or what have you. But then at times I'll know, okay, I feel like something is going on and I'll pick up the phone and call them and they're like Gigi, you're always on time, because it's a journey. It's not something that's going to happen instantaneously and it's never going to end, that's the thing. But the journey is the beautiful part of it and, as I said, when you have people who care, that have really been there, that makes a whole world of difference.
Speaker 2:
Absolutely, and do you have any events or anything coming up for the community to participate in?
Speaker 1:
Yeah, so we just had a great event. It was called a Sip Shop and Share. And we just had a great event. It was called a sip shop and share and we just had leisure time, so it was a lot of small business owners that came there. It wasn't the point of passing out your business cards, although, like uh, business is done on the golf course, business was done around the pool to welcome harvest season and we had a great time. Um, we do have, uh, our 21 day challenge. That is going to be coming up, and that is three weeks, of course, and each one of those weeks we focus on different ways to holistically heal. The first week, we talk about the love of our body, the second week is the love of our voice and the third week is the love of our spirit. So that's going to be coming soon. And then I have this program that I'm actually getting ready to launch. It's called Bodyoke.
Speaker 2:
Tell me about that. What is?
Speaker 1:
that Bodyoke Karaoke. No, it's like you think a karaoke, right, but it's called Bodyoke and because moving our bodies really make us feel good and it's healthy and all that. So what we do is we'll all meet in a studio and we're all going to come with our special song, like that song that makes us feel good, that brings back great memories, that is just something that really can charge us right, and we're going to perform it in front of one another. And then, after we perform it in front of one another, we're going to share with each other why this song is so important to us.
Speaker 2:
Oh, my gosh, I would. I'm just thinking right now. If I did that, I'd be so exposed I'd be like wait, no, I don't want to share that I don't know you right.
Speaker 1:
I'm just like dance in front of everyone.
Speaker 1:
I feel so exposed, but it's such a great way to get out of your shell get out of your shell and move your body and then share great stories. You know, some people might want to share a song that may not bring back the best memories, but they need to get it out, yeah, and then, sharing it afterward, you release it. You release if it's negative or something not so great, because you've oh, I was driving down and I, you know, crashed the car when this song came on, or whatever you know. But I need to get past that.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, that's really cool. How did you come up with that? Like I love that.
Speaker 1:
I was actually driving down the street coming from Philadelphia with me and my sister-in-law, and I am scared of bridges. I don't blame you. So we had to go over this bridge, right, and the bridge was so high, I was like, no, that was years ago, no, I'm not going over that bridge. So it took us literally 12 hours to get back to Virginia from Philadelphia, so we wouldn't have to go over a bridge. To the bridge. Yeah, so I was, you know, just driving. I was like what do you think about Badioki?
Speaker 2:
That have to go for a bridge, so I was, you know, just driving. I was like what do you think about Badioki? That's something. I like that, though, and now, where do you see yourself in five years, Like within the community, with your business, with just life?
Speaker 1:
in general. Yes, so with my personal style business, with Camisole Style Consultancy, it's working with domestic violence survivors. Style consultancy it's working with domestic violence survivors. As I said, purple Runway's internal Kemosal style is external. So once you get to that point where you are thriving, you're conquering and you're ready to get back, I really would number one love to help survivors recreate their whole personal identity externally and I do that through style psychology and it's taking your personality clothes or just clothes, but what is your personality? What credibility, accountability that you want to achieve? And when we can get up and look in the mirror every day and say, you know what? I look good, which I feel good, so I'm going to look good. Right, I want to be able to help them to transform in that way, but I also. One of our big missions is developing a domestic violence registry.
Speaker 1:
What is that so? A domestic violence registry? So you know how you have the sexual assault registry, yes, and then this one is for domestic violence perpetrators. So if you are harming someone, violence is against the law and if you're charged with that, then we should be able to protect the community and to put those charges and those faces up there Now as a survivor. That protects another woman or man because men are victims as well and then it also gives them a chance to say you know what I don't want my job to know, I don't want my family to know what I'm doing behind these closed doors. So it's a deterrent and it's preventative.
Speaker 2:
I actually love that. I never would have thought of that, but that's actually really good yeah.
Speaker 1:
So we have some time set up with a couple of our legislators in the state next week. Oh my gosh, Good luck.
Speaker 2:
Well, I hope that it comes through, because that is something that I feel like you do cause harm to somebody. Like you should be like, not like outed, but outed you know, like it's it's not okay and you don't just get to get away with it. People should know and be aware so they're not in harm's way as well. That's right.
Speaker 1:
So and then when you do that, I think that everyone deserves a second chance. Once you get those charges, everyone deserves a second chance. So if you do these 5, 10, 125 things, your face can be removed and, unlike the sexual assault registry, your face cannot be removed from there once you have been convicted, Right? So you know, people go through things and this is the reason why they abuse. Get the help, do these 5, 10, 150 things and you can get your face removed, but if you go back on again, you will never be removed. Yep.
Speaker 2:
No, I like that, like hold people accountable and like think twice before you ruin somebody's life or affect them.
Speaker 1:
Yes, that's one of our main initiatives, and then we have workshops and programs, along with the importance of our big, big, big goal is to be able to get support to purchase land to be able to build eight to 12 tiny homes for people and their families to recover healthy so they can move on in a healthy way.
Speaker 2:
Wow, that is amazing. Look at you doing all these little things, getting the gears going to a better future. I love that no thank goodness there's people like that out there in the world who you know. When something bad happens to you, you can either let that break you or make you, and it looks like you've decided to like help others and not let it break you. No.
Speaker 1:
And it broke me before. I mean, I guess I was bruised, I wasn't broken.
Speaker 2:
Yes, right.
Speaker 1:
Yes, so being bruised and not broken. I just thought that this was the way for me to protect the future of other children and other women and other men who are going through this and just try to be authentically. Let my light shine because I earned it.
Speaker 2:
Yes, ma'am, I earned it. Yes, you did.
Speaker 1:
Thank you.
Speaker 2:
And now are there common misconceptions that a lot of people seem to not understand when it comes to domestic violence. What are those and what would you like to clarify for certain people?
Speaker 1:
I think the biggest misconception is that physical violence is domestic violence and, in actuality, when you look at the data from the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the most calls that they receive is through verbal and emotional abuse. So those are scars, those are unseen scars, but the scars, the domestic violence that's put out there, are the physical. And a lot of people may go through domestic violence financially, emotionally, mentally and verbally. And the thing is they may not know. Because we have to be more forthright with education and prevention in another way. Now, what is that? Preventing it in a way in early stages, in high school, in colleges and beyond, because in high school there are children going through domestic violence right now.
Speaker 1:
So if you have safe spaces to talk about healthy relationships in a way that connects with them not passing them a sheet out and saying do you know? You know, but in a healthy way, like from examples, using case studies that they can relate to, and have them talk through that, and when we approach it from that way, they're engaged and they're informed. And when we get them engaged and informed, we help prevent, because they will see the signs of someone that they like or their friend is going through and they can say you know what? Remember we talked about this, about these particular, that case study, and this is one of the two, three, four, five signs I'm seeing with him or her Right. So we have to get honest about prevention in this area and definitely amend the laws in many, many ways so abusers and repercussions. Then our future is still going to be the way it is and right now I know, when I started this in 20, the first Purple Runway we had was in 2015. And back then even the Huffington Post was calling domestic violence an epidemic.
Speaker 2:
I mean, because that's what it is. It's an epidemic.
Speaker 1:
But you know what, today, in 2024, we're still saying it's an epidemic. But what are we doing to?
Speaker 2:
combat that.
Speaker 1:
Yeah. What are we doing to prevent it?
Speaker 2:
And now with your runway, what all happens there?
Speaker 1:
Like tell me about that the runway was. It was a one, it was an annual event at one point in time and it was a time for us to get together to raise our chin up and put on amazing designs and come to Mercedes Benz and, you know, just enjoy one another for our strengths and say, girl, I see you, I love that you are, you're doing it. And then for the models, because, even though there were models, a lot of the people in my shows during that time and even now they're not models, but they're models for that day. And then they're wearing $100,000 coats or one-of-one gowns at Mercedes-Benz and their family is there. And it's been quite a few women that have walked away from that with a renewed sense of you know what I can do this and to see their family members support them and for them to walk down that runway. It's something that you have to be there and the energy in that room for that evening has been beautiful.
Speaker 1:
Now let me explain something to you. So 2020 was the year that we became a 501c3. Of course, the pandemic happened, so we weren't able to execute our programs because we were really new during that time. So last year in October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we had our first runway since then. Okay, and I'm happy to say that our runway wasn't held at our favorite friends this time, mercedes-benz. It was held at Quantico Military Base. Okay, it was held at Quantico Military Base.
Speaker 1:
Okay, and again, if you remember, I said that's where my trauma began, yes, and so we conquered and we took over that place, and it was amazing.
Speaker 2:
I bet that felt empowering it felt empowering.
Speaker 1:
It really, really did, because I was like, even though it wasn't the base in Arizona, it was this symbol of what it was, and I was able to conquer that.
Speaker 2:
Absolutely, and along with other people as well. You weren't alone right.
Speaker 1:
Nope, I was not alone. Nope.
Speaker 2:
That's beautiful, the little full circle moment there, yes, yes, yes, yes. Now can you tell me a little bit about who you are outside of the work that you do? Who are you? What do you like to do? How do you let?
Speaker 1:
out other things. Yes, my me time is so important it's like on my calendar. Okay, me time, that's important, me time's on my calendar. I am someone who I believe that I'm a free spirit in many ways and I am very, very focused in other ways. I am a good sister to many people, I am a go-getter, I love the water, I love traveling. I just had a birthday. I'm a fire sign. Happy birthday.
Speaker 2:
Thank you.
Speaker 1:
So the water calms me. I'm a champion, for you know what I believe in and I'm really easygoing. I'm really easygoing. You are as a, as a wife, as a daughter. Um, I've grown much better in those areas because of my holistic wellness journey and my family gave me the um real estate to do that.
Speaker 2:
Beautiful. And now can you tell me um a couple more questions? Here Um oh, I just had it and then the thing went bing and my mind okay, hold on. Sorry, uh, hold on one second. Oh, I can't remember my other question that I had. I'm so sorry no no worries, it was one that I wanted to know, and now I can't remember what it was. Hold on is that your phone?
Speaker 1:
is that my? I think it is my. It was Hold on. Is that your phone? I think it is my phone.
Speaker 2:
I forgot to cut it off. That's okay, hold on. Why can't I remember what I was going to say? No, I can't remember, but I guess this will be my last question. I'll edit that part out. If you could leave our listeners with oh, I remember If there was. Leave our listeners with oh, I remember. If there was anything else that you wanted to share with our audience that I was not able to touch on, what would you like to share? Yes, yes yes.
Speaker 1:
So I'm really excited and I wanted to share this with you all that I have been appointed as an advisory member for the CRC, which is the Crisis Receiving Center in Prince William County, to help build and open up that center for mental health, wellness and the way that we're doing it is we're advocating for those holistic therapies. We're doing it is we're advocating for those holistic therapies. And I was so honored when I got the call to sit on that board for three years that I just I'm just still beaming from ear to ear because it lets us know that this is the first of its kind on the Eastern region of the United States and for it to launch next year in May on schedule, that Prince William County is ahead of the game when it comes to the importance of holistic therapies. And to be able to have a voice along with my team, to be able to have a voice on what that may look like. I'm ready to go. I'm so excited. Congratulations to that, that's amazing.
Speaker 2:
Thank you, my goodness.
Speaker 1:
I wish you all the best with that, thank you so much, you guys got to come to the ribbon cutting, for sure.
Speaker 2:
I'll ask you more details about that. When is it.
Speaker 1:
It's scheduled for May 2025 and is at the Gander Building I think it's called right across from Potomac Mills. Oh yeah, I know where that is, so that's going to be remodeled and that is going to be our mental health wellness refuge for many people, that is huge for our community. Holy moly, wow, yeah, I'll definitely come check it out.
Speaker 2:
Thank, you. Wow, all right. So my last question, this time for real, is if you could leave our listeners with one message, what would that message be? It could be anything in your heart.
Speaker 1:
Oh, that's a good one. Make sure that you take time for yourself daily. Whether you are a husband, a wife or an executive, a professional, make sure you carve out time for yourself every day. Even if it's scheduled on your calendar, because you know we love our calendars, it's scheduled on our calendars. Take five minutes. We have five minutes to just do deep breathing and you know what. Add on to that to create that toolkit. Read your book Even on the most stressful day that you have never deter from your toolkit to keep you focused and happy, because that is going to weave the future for your healing.
Speaker 2:
Well said. Thank you so much for being on the podcast. We really appreciate your time.
Speaker 1:
Thank you so much for having me. You guys are amazing. Oh my gosh, you're amazing too, thank you.