Stacy London to Receive Impact Award at Cablefax Most Powerful Women Event
When Stacy London entered the TV scene as co-host of TLC’s “What Not to Wear,” no one could have predicted where it would take her—least of all herself.
“Nobody knew that it was going to become so educational. That people were taking our rules from Friday night and going shopping on Saturday with them. We didn’t realize that it was going to be so emotional. Because what are makeovers? It’s that change is possible. It’s real and sustainable, and I think all of us want to believe that we can make changes—even if they are scary,” she says.
Change is something London has embraced as she’s evolved over the years to an author of both books and essays (check out her Refinery29 piece on her year of going broke) to an entrepreneur with a list of accomplishments ranging from the State of Menopause brand to her new clothing line on QVC all while maintaining her presence as an influential television personality with new shows on the horizon (see Amazon’s upcoming “Wear Whatever the F You Want”). Cablefax is proud to honor London with our Impact Award at Dec. 4’s Most Powerful Women luncheon in honor of the impact she’s had on the media industry and women everywhere.
As a businesswoman and creator, London has faced many of the same challenges and pivots as leaders in the media and broadband industry. “My phone stopped ringing so much for me to do television. I was 47 years old. And then menopause hit. I started to not feel like myself. I felt like I didn’t look like myself anymore. I wasn’t sure what to do because I really felt like I had already accomplished so much in television and fashion, I wasn’t sure what there was left to do. It also didn’t ever occur to me that somebody else would come in and be good at too, or take my place, or a whole generation of people would take my place,” she said, noting how there isn’t much need for a fashion expert when everyone on social media is a stylist.
That’s when London looked internally and realized she could use her influence to tackle issues that she herself was struggling with, including menopause and mental health. And in a way, it has brought her back to fashion. “I needed to help people with changing bodies. I needed to help people who didn’t want to dress like they were 25. It was about, how do I feel relevant and attractive and powerful when I’m at an age where none of the clothes are really directed at me. And that’s how I started working with QVC,” she said.
What’s left to tackle? Death. No, seriously. London spoke at a symposium recently about the topic, which she believes needs to move out of the shadows. “We need to actually look at death as a natural part of life, and as a way to value life even more. We need a way for people to cope with grief and prepare for death in a way that doesn’t feel frightening,” she said.
For London, what’s most important to her now is that she stays true to herself. “I think my whole career has been based on trying to instill a kind of self-esteem in others that I didn’t feel I got growing up, and that I still struggle with today. I believe we teach what we need to learn, and if it’s learning how to be more of yourself and more authentic and true to yourself and truly content with who you are as a person, then I want to be there.”
There are still seats available for Cablefax’s Dec. 4 Most Powerful Women Celebration. Register here.