Meet Ali Levine: LA Mama and TV Personality
Ali Levine
“Motherhood is a journey, not a sprint.”
What do you do and what led you to this career?
I am a Celebrity Stylist, Fashion Expert, and TV Personality for Bravo TV and national and local segments. I have always loved fashion since I was very young, so I went on to study fashion merchandising and design. I worked for Target as an intern, and was then promoted to an executive on their management team. After realizing retail was not for me, I started my journey in product development and design. I worked for companies like Fragments (private label jewelry), Coach, Talbots, Lacoste, etc before I truly fell in love with styling, the entertainment industry, and costuming.
After quite a few years in the corporate world, I went on to work as an assistant on many movies and TV shows in the costume department. I was able to assist the incredible Ellen Mirojnick & Oliver Stone on networks like MTV & VH1. From there, I moved up the ladder as a shopper and eventually met an amazing team from LA on the movie Big Momma's House in Atlanta. I worked with their amazing team, and ended up making the exciting, yet unnerving, move to LA. Once in LA, I worked on movies and costume & styling projects for clients and stylists such as, Colleen Atwood (Snow White), Kanye West (World Throne Tour), Monica Rose (Keeping up with the Kardashians), and Leah Katchnezion (Twenty One Jump Street.)
After years of hard work, Ali Levine Design was born and I started styling my own celebrities and clients. My clients started landing in the press for best dressed, looks to shop for less, and hottest trends. From there, my business took off. Over time I started styling on camera, being asked for my tips, and styling on shows like E! and Bravo. This is where my TV personality career began, and now I have fallen in love with the camera!
What is the name and age of your little one?
Amelia Rei, who is 10 months old.
What has been your biggest career achievement thus far?
I honestly couldn't pin one moment as I have been proud of many! Being featured in print in US Weekly, Star and In Touch this past year after having my baby girl was huge for me! Another would be my jewelry collaboration that I designed with Sterling Forever, being sold on Nordstrom's online! It was named Hearts on Fire after my daughter, and my heart was truly on fire when I was pregnant and I couldn't have been happier.
What is the most rewarding aspect of being a mother?
I feel blessed every day to be a mom and that Amelia Rei chose me as her mama. I think the most rewarding aspect is seeing the impact I have on her moment by moment, day by day. Watching her grow and thrive, is more than I can honestly ask for. She teaches me to be a better woman every day.
And what is the most challenging?
The most challenging is being a stay-at-home mom and a full-time working mom. Finding balance and peace in the chaos can be overwhelming at times and very crazy. Some days I get everything done, other days it looks like the house is turned upside down.
What is your best advice for someone new to your industry?
My best advice would be work hard, like really hard. Don't give up even when you feel like you're broken. Push through and keep being positive. Never stop learning and always stay humble.
What is your best advice for a new mother?
Give grace to yourself. You are truly doing the best you can. Motherhood is not easy, but it’s beautiful. Allow yourself whatever you need - time off, a nap, a massage, walking away for a minute from your screaming baby, it's all ok. Motherhood is a journey, not a sprint.
What's next for you? Do you have any exciting projects coming up?
I am working on my own podcast, Stripdt Down with Ali Levine, in addition to the podcast I already have with my co-host called Things We’re Too Lazy To Blog About. My podcast will be about my life after becoming a mom - the raw, the real, the beautiful, the mayhem, fashion and styling, and the craziness that comes with it. I also have some collaborations and TV segments in the works.
Follow Ali at @alilevinedesign