Shiemicka LaShanne, Confidence Coach and Mentor
As parents and caregivers, it is critical for us to instill confidence into kids — as well as tap into it ourselves. In our fast-paced world, this can be challenging, even resulting in set-backs, fear, and limiting beliefs.
Enter Shiemicka LaShanne, a Westchester-based confidence coach and mentor who works with women and teens to empower them to gain confidence. Which, in turn, can lead to happier relationships, a more satisfying career, and a healthier lifestyle. As Shiemicka noted, “I help my clients re-imagine their life, achieve their goals, and elevate themselves to a new level.” Learn more about this inspiring coach, how she got into this work and how you and your kids can work with her, too!
Westchester Family: Tell us a little about your background. How did you become a confidence coach/mentor?
Shiemicka LaShanne: My journey began over 20 years ago when I decided that I wanted more! With little confidence and lots of fear, I decided to do one of the things I feared the most, compete in a beauty pageant. Since that day, I have never stopped stepping out of my comfort zone, and I aim to teach tweens, teens, and women to do the same!
I grew up shy but always had an interest in the arts. As you can imagine, the two can’t exist together. I was encouraged to enter a Beauty Pageant when I turned 18. While terrified, I decided to try it anyway, and to my surprise, I won. This was the Miss Belize Queen of the Bay pageant. My confidence boosted tremendously, and then I set my goals higher. I had been watching the Miss Universe pageant for years and decided that I would give Miss New York USA a try as that was the first step to getting closer to that goal. I did that a few times and finally placed 3rd Runner-Up after competing with 91 others.
At that point, I had still not achieved what I had truly wanted, which at that time was the opportunity to compete in Miss Universe. In 2000, I did just that! I represented Belize at the 49th Miss Universe Pageant in Nicosia, Cyprus. While I didn’t place, it was an experience of a lifetime that gave me something that I was still missing, the knowing that “I could” I had achieved something many would only dream about. This was the confidence that I didn’t know I needed that would shape the rest of my life.
This confidence boost helped me become more than I ever thought I could be. In 2005, I rounded out competing in pageants as the 2nd Runner-Up at the Mrs. New York America pageant.
Currently, I hold a seat at the table of a $70 million not-for-profit agency as their Vice President of Philanthropy here in Westchester County. Everyone’s confidence comes from a different place; mine was achieved through pageantry.
Westchester Family: Why is this work important to you?
Shiemicka LaShanne: Building confidence in women is important to me because confidence solves a lot of personal issues that one has within themselves. Confidence allows you to dream big and not let fear stand in the way.
Too many of us allow fear to let others win by default. Having confidence is a real “feel good.” It helps to identify limiting beliefs and overcome the challenges holding us back from being the best versions of ourselves and being able to stand in our power and set boundaries. This will often take longer to do on your own and is much more challenging. When you have someone holding you accountable for your success, you will take action to achieve your goals.
I want kids, teens, and women to know that achieving their dreams is only a hop, skip, and jump away, and they don’t have to figure out how to do it alone.
Westchester Family: What happens to women when they gain their confidence back?
Shiemicka LaShanne: When a woman gains her confidence back, she becomes empowered. She will have happier relationships, a more satisfying career, and a healthier lifestyle. A confident woman is more inclined to stretch her abilities and set boundaries. Of course, there will always be times when that self-doubt shows up, but the goal is to know how to quiet that negative inner voice.
A confident woman becomes less focused on herself and comparing herself to others and more on being authentic and accepting her weaknesses. We all have them! I help to build a level of confidence that was never there before and that they didn’t know they could ever achieve. I help my clients re-imagine their life, achieve their goals, and elevate themselves to a new level.
Westchester Family: Tell us about your life coaching for teens and kids?
Shiemicka LaShanne: I’ve been preparing young girls to compete in pageantry for over 20 years, but I quickly realized that I wasn’t only preparing them for pageantry but for life. The challenges they would face were already being tapped into during our sessions. I have helped kids and teens worldwide overcome struggles, build confidence, and become the best version of themselves.
As a certified Wisdom Coach through Adventures in Wisdom™, I use stories to help kids and teens:
W: Wire Their Brain for Happiness and Success
I: Identify “Who” They Want to Be and What They Want For Their Lives
S: See Their Inner Superstar and Shine
D: Dream Big, Live with purpose, Make it Happen!!!
O: Overcome Obstacles and Create Courage
M: Manage the Ups and Downs of Growing Up
What I love most about being a Wisdom Life Coach is watching kids transform into who they are truly meant to be. I help them build Self-Esteem & Self-Confidence, allowing them to learn how to Make Good Decisions & Stand Up to Peer Pressure, Build Resilience and Help Their Dreams Come True. My Personal Commitment is to help you become confident and prepared to be successful at handling any obstacles that come your way.
Westchester Family: What are some of your favorite things to do in Westchester?
Shiemicka LaShanne: Self-care has been extremely high on my priority list this past year because if we aren’t good to ourselves, we can’t be good to anyone else. I enjoy spending quality time at my favorite hair salon, Creative Fingers in White Plains, getting pampered at a local spa, having lunch at my many favorite spots, and having quiet walks at the Kensico Dam. My schedule is usually quite full, so it’s not often that I have free time, but these are always high on my list when I do.
Westchester Family: Do you have anything else to add?
Shiemicka LaShanne: My commitment is to help you re-imagine your life by providing the tools to guide you to achieve your desired goals. The baseline of my coaching is the same for everyone because we were all once a child, and this life will be twice a child. Self-Talk, Honoring your Uniqueness, Overcoming Fear, Managing Change, and Creating Self-Confidence are just a few of the areas I help my clients work through to get to their next level. A new class of confidence will change your life!
Connect with Shiemicka at www.shiemickalashanne.com /coaching@shiemicklashanne.com / or 914-744-6532
