Living genuinely. Celebrating imperfection. Making memories. Embracing wear you are in your life and how you live. Welcome to WEAR THEY ARE: A Snapshot of Fearless Females and How They Got There- a series where all of these concepts come to life through the stories of women who’ve embraced them firsthand.
Between the recent political climate and the power and visibility of the #metoo movement, I have never felt more proud to be a female with a strong voice and a belief in women’s empowerment. You know the saying “It takes a village”? Well, it does. I don’t care if you’re a stay-at-home Mom or a CEO- you didn’t get there alone. You’re not alone now. And I’m not alone either. And Alexandra Moresco– Publicist, Web Reality Star, and Advocate- is one of the reasons why.
I can’t really put my finger on the moment I met Alex. As a fellow Chicago publicist and the Founder of A Moresco Public Relations, we sort of just existed in this tiny peer bubble where we always knew what the other was doing. We followed each other’s work and attended each other’s events over the years and our friendship/peer-ship just sort of automatically existed. And to me, anything that natural and easy- with someone as incredible as Alex- is something to be valued.
Imagine this: You’re 24 years old. You own your own PR Firm. You’re starring in a reality web series, appropriately titled “PR Girl” about the grit, grind and glamour that comes with a career in Public Relations. You’re in the midst of planning a destination wedding to the love of your life. You’re finishing up your Master’s Degree. And then you get diagnosed with Lyme Disease.
In the third installment in the Wear They Are series, I sat down with Alex over a cup of cold brew to discuss this exact story- one of a woman who is the living definition of “I don’t know how she does it!” executed with a tenacity for good and a genuineness (seriously, follow her Instastories- she holds nothing back) that categorizes her as one of the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.
AS WE BOTH KNOW FIRST HAND, PUBLIC RELATIONS IS A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY. (I LIKE TO THINK OF IT AS A BUNCH OF PEOPLE CLAWING THEIR WAY UP A HILL MADE OF PEANUT BUTTER WHILE THEY’RE DRESSED IN BLACK TIE AND CHECKING THEIR CELL PHONES). WHAT GAVE YOU THE COURAGE TO BRANCH OUT ON YOUR OWN? TELL ME THE STORY BEHIND A MORESCO PUBLIC RELATIONS.
That is a funny, but accurate depiction! I have kind of a weird story behind my career. I started a blog out of boredom my freshman year of college as an accounting major. If you have ever truly looked at numbers, you know that there is no creativity in accounting. Somehow, people actually read my blog and I gained a following, learned how to send pitches, put together proposals and create content- the basics of PR. During my sophomore year I switched my major to PR and was quickly sucked up by Nike to work on the Nike Training Club, where I learned most of what I know today.
In the middle of my senior year I accidentally landed my first client and thought “hey- maybe I could do this as a job!” Then I got my second client, entertainer Chris Jones, and I am still at it today!
WHAT DOES BEING A FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR MEAN TO YOU?
Having females in visible business roles is crucial to our society advancing forward. I recently had the opportunity to interview Anne Pramaggiore, the CEO of ComEd, for Let Go & Lead- a project to explore the idea of leadership and transformation in the 21st Century. Pramaggiore spoke about the importance of young girls seeing strong women in leadership roles, which is crucial to helping the younger generation realize they can do it too. With all of the Harvey Weinstein’s in the world, it’s more important than ever that women step up. It’s not just about being a female entrepreneur; it’s making a difference in whatever line of work you are in and using that to influence other areas that you are passionate about.
Photo courtesy of Alexandra Moresco and Kirsten Miccoli.
WHAT ARE THE GREATEST CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL ISSUES FACING WOMEN TODAY?
While we have come a long way, I believe we still have a long way to go. Unfortunately, I think most women have dealt with sexism in our industries, including myself. We are living in a special time right now, because women have been forced to come together and say “hey- this isn’t right.” I truly believe that by making our voices heard, we can make a difference.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, YOU WERE DIAGNOSED WITH LYME DISEASE- A DIAGNOSIS THAT YOU’VE BEEN VERY PUBLIC ABOUT. HOW HAS THIS EXPERIENCE CHANGED YOU?
Wow- I could write you a book based off of this one question! I spent two years trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I was tested for everything, misdiagnosed, the whole shebang! It was devastating. This experience deeply affected how I look at my life and how I value my time. I had to take a massive step back from my PR Firm because of my intensive treatment, but that meant taking my skills and utilizing them in a different way. And I chose to focus that energy on raising funds and awareness for Lyme disease and the Global Lyme Alliance. If you want to read my full Lyme story, you can do so here.
WHAT GAVE YOU THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO USE YOUR VOICE TO ADVOCATE FOR OTHERS?
Having a chronic illness, like Lyme disease, is very difficult to understand until you have it yourself. Lyme is a hot topic right now because it truly is an epidemic, and 99% of the time, insurance will not cover treatment. I consider myself lucky for having access to treatment. Every day I read something about someone succumbing to the illness because it went untreated and went to their heart or their lungs. I find this completely unacceptable. I am trying to use my voice to build awareness for others that are also suffering from this invisible disease and hopefully, one day, we will have proper diagnostic testing and a cure. That is what gets me out of bed in the morning. That is where my strength to be an advocate comes from.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD FIND IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE LEMONADE OUT OF A SITUATION LIKE THIS. BUT YOU DIDN’T JUST MAKE LEMONADE, YOU THREW ONE HELL OF A PARTY. TELL US ABOUT THAT.
When I was diagnosed, I went through a period of feeling sorry for myself. And while I still have those moments, eventually I realized I needed to do something about it. I found the Global Lyme Alliance (GLA) through research. They are essentially the only Lyme disease nonprofit raising money for a cure and accurate diagnostic testing (53% of current Lyme disease testing is inaccurate, making it incredibly difficult to get a diagnosis.) I started relentlessly emailing the GLA until I heard back from someone. I’ve built a very strong relationship with the organization since then, including working with them regularly on the podcast I host titled, “In The Lymelight.”
In late spring, I decided to throw The SubLyme Soiree, the first gala to benefit the Global Lyme Alliance in Chicago. We only had four months to pull it together (which was nuts!), but it was a beautiful night for multiple reasons. Those of us battling Lyme have very restricted diets, and so we brought together 12 of Chicago’s top chefs for a night of gluten, dairy and sugar free foods at Chicago Illuminating Company. Over 300 people attended and helped raise about $63,000, far surpassing our expectations for the first year. Seeing that many people who have been touched by Lyme in the same room, coming together to make a difference- it was special. The SubLyme Soiree is now going to be an annual event. We’ve already started planning 2018, and I am so excited about it!
SELF-CARE IS A HUGE BUZZWORD THESE DAYS. AS A WOMAN WITH SO MUCH ON HER PLATE, HOW DO YOU PRIORITIZE YOURSELF? WHAT IS YOUR SELF-CARE ROUTINE?
To be honest, before I got sick I was not very good at self-care. I had nine clients and always put them before myself. Since my diagnosis, I have learned to simply listen to my body. I get in bed early and try not to stress myself out unnecessarily. We are so often taught to ignore what our bodies are trying to tell us and just push forward, and that isn’t always healthy. Personally, I don’t check emails or texts after 7pm. I took my email off my phone and only check it at certain times throughout the day, which has helped immensely.
There are also smaller adjustments that you can do to make a big difference- put a drop of lavender essential oil on your wrist before you go to bed, dedicate time to 20 minutes of reading a day, treat yourself to one bath a week…etc. Set realistic self-care goals!
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER WOMEN WHO ARE TRYING TO “JUGGLE IT ALL?”
My advice for juggling it all is that you don’t always have to. Learn when to say no and what is worth your time. Sometimes, focusing on one specific thing can make you more successful than trying to have your hands in ten different things. I like to do a little bit of everything- I get it! But definitely recognize when you are doing too much.
Also, it all goes back to self-care. If you are juggling it all, carve out some “me” time in the morning or before bed so you don’t burn out. It is sad to love something and then push yourself too hard and not truly enjoy what you are doing in the long run.
HOW DO YOU DEFINE THE WORD “FEARLESS”?
When you think about it, “fearless” is a big word! We all have fears- but it’s about learning how to navigate them. Personally, I am painfully shy but I have had to learn to overcome that to be successful in my efforts with the GLA. To me “fearless” means not being afraid to be yourself and go after what you want. It’s as simple as that. We are all fearless in our own way.
WEAR YOU ARE NOW IS ALL ABOUT MAKING MEMORIES THROUGH FASHION. TELL ME ABOUT THE FIRST ITEM YOU EVER PURCHASED THAT MADE YOU THINK, “I’VE MADE IT. I’VE ARRIVED.”
Everything in my closet has a story- it’s hard to pick just one! I remember when my client, Chris Jones, got invited to this big West Hollywood gala with Jimmy Kimmel. I went shopping for a new outfit and I wanted something different- not your typical cocktail dress. I wound up picking up these crepe fire engine red pants and a black crop top that I still wear to this day and love. They truly are my “power pants” and every time I pull them out I think of that night!
IT’S FRIDAY AFTERNOON. YOU GET A CALL THAT BEYONCE WANTS TO HAVE DINNER THAT NIGHT. WHAT DO YOU WEAR?
Oh baby! Do I have time to go shopping? I would probably throw on said red pants and a simple, long sleeve black top with velvet platform heels. Just a casual lunch look, you know? Not!
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 20 YEARS?
Honestly, I have no idea! I said I would never do a TV show, but here we are so I’ve learned to always expect the unexpected. I can confidently tell you that I will still be working with Global Lyme Alliance. In addition to that, all I can really hope for is that myself and the ones I love are happy, and that is more than enough for me.
To keep up with Alex’s adventures, follow along on social (@alitmoresco on Instagram and Twitter) and head to amorescopr.com for more. To watch Alex on PR Girl, visit prgirlseries.com. For the “In the Lyme Light” podcast, head here. For more information or to get involved with the Global Lyme Alliance, follow @lymealliance on social or visit www.globallymealliance.org.
Build your tribe. Wear you are now.
xx
Natalie
Natalie
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