Meet Mrs. Metro Detroit: Shannon Lazovski

Happy Friday!  I am so excited to share with you an amazing Michigan mompreneur full of admirable talents, accomplishments, and ambitions.  She is the reigning Mrs. Metro Detroit and headed to the Mrs. Michigan pageant this next coming week.  I would like to introduce you to:

Shannon Lazovski

Shannon and her husband Zoran have been married for 11 years and they have 2 children. She studied at Wayne State University where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.  Shannon is the founder of fashion blogs; Detroit Fashion News, Glamorous Moms, and a local mom blog network called Detroit Mom Bloggers.  She is also the CEO of her own company SoGlam Media where she specializes in Social Media Management, Online Reputation Management, and Blogger Partnerships for Michigan businesses and household brands.  She’s passionate about sharing her Image and Style Consulting talents with women, especially moms who are looking to get their “groove  back” through blogging, consulting, and public speaking.  In her spare time, Shannon is dedicated to her volunteer work through Women Helping Women and Habitat for Humanity.
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This past week, I received the awesome privilege of interviewing Shannon.  Here are the notes from our recent interview:

Michigan Home Mommy Works:  Thank you Shannon for taking time out to answer a few questions for our readers today.  Tell me a little bit about yourself.  How long have you been married?  How many kids?

Shannon Lazovski: “I have been married for 11 years, but my husband and I really have been together for almost 19 years total. We have two beautiful children together, Livia is 9 and Mikhail is 6.  Both will have birthdays in a couple of weeks.”

Michigan Home Mommy Works: What inspired you to start SoGlam Media?  Can you tell me a little bit more about your amazing company?

Shannon Lazovski: “Five years ago, I started blogging about fashion, beauty, and all the girly things in life.  It was my outlet to talk about products, sales, shopping, and great fashion finds.  As a stylist it was also a great avenue to give fashion advice and style online through my posts.  It was important to me to share my thoughts on what a TRUE Glamorous Mom is and through my eyes it’s every mom.

I used to and still do, use my blog to reach out to all of the moms out there to let them know it’s okay to think about themselves once in a while.  Sometimes after a woman becomes a mom, she tends to forget about herself and some even do not recognize themselves in the mirror (sweats, hair in a bun, puke on shoulder).  I get it because I was once a beauty queen that was that exact mom looking at the mirror asking myself, “What happened?”  Through my beauty and fashion posts, I try to connect with those moms to help them remember that they truly are beautiful and that they still have it!  The blog is called Glamorous Moms.  A few years later I stared Detroit Fashion News.  Having love for my state and city and a deep love for fashion, I wanted a blog that was strictly about fashion and connecting it with great Michigan citizens and their brands/stores/talents etc. was important to me too.

I managed my own sites, my own brand, and my own online reputation.  Once companies began to see my success, the success of my brand, and my positive work ethics, they started hiring me to do the same for their brand as I was doing for my own.  I actually didn’t go out and seek the social media manager path, the path found me.  And I never turn down opportunities. When opportunities come my way, I always say “yes” and panic later if I have to, but I always follow through and execute to the best of my ability.  I never turn down a good opportunity. So many people struggle to find their path.  When a strong/positive path comes our way, we have to take it!

After working with several local brands here in Michigan, I decided to go public with SoGlam Media.  Many may have been shocked by the announcement because everyone knew me as the “Glamorous Mom” but really, I was doing the work for Michigan businesses for a little over a year anyway so putting all efforts under one media umbrella seemed like the perfect option.  It was time to expand and I was ready.

SoGlam Media is a full service social media company focusing on social media management, blogger partnerships, and online reputation management.  SoGlam Media also runs Glamorous Moms and Detroit Fashion News.”

Michigan Home Mommy Works: I was excited to learn that you are entering the Mrs. Michigan Pageant as Mrs. Metro Detroit.  What was your inspiration to move forward with this adventure?

Shannon Lazovski: “When I was younger, I was a model and competed in many beauty pageants, locally and nationally.  When I was 22, I was on top of my game and was ready for the big state pageant-Miss Michigan USA.  I felt it at that time.  In my bones and in my heart, I knew it was my time.  Two weeks before the pageant, I was in a terrible car accident that left me broken in so many places.  Needless to say, I could not compete and spent the entire year focusing on my health, rehabilitation, and college education.  It was a very hard year.  I never went back to modeling professionally.  And to make a long story short, I finished college, got married, had two children, and her I am.  I am a business woman, a mom, and a wife.  I’m not that pageant girl I used to be, but when the pageant director heard about me and surprised with with a cold call one day, I knew God brought the path back to me and I had to take the opportunity that was being set before me.  My inspiration today is much different than when I was young and naive.  I hope to finish what I started and be a role model for all the women and moms out there, to show them to never give up on themselves or their childhood dreams.  Everything happens for a reason.  And if we open our minds and our hearts, we will see the opportunities that come back for us if they are truly meant to be.  And I know in my heart, this one is meant for me.” 

Michigan Home Mommy Works: If you win the title of Mrs. Michigan, what happens next?

Shannon Lazovski: “I will compete for the Mrs. America crown in August in Arizona.”

Michigan Home Mommy Works: What are your ultimate goals other than winning and stepping up to the crown of Mrs. Michigan?  How will this impact your life and the life of your family?

Shannon Lazovski: ” For one, winning will validate not being able to be crowned at Miss Michigan USA when I was young.  Just being honest.  That’s just a tiny personal reason though.  Mainly, winning will give me the opportunity to take my brand and my platform higher.  Women Helping Women is such a strong statement that all women need to hear.  We need to help each other and build each other up instead of tearing each other down.  I plan to take my platform and my efforts with Grace Centers of Hope; Women Helping Women, and Habitat for Humanity Detroit with me, to bring more awareness to these great organizations as well.  Winning will also allow my voice to be heard on a national level.  I want to be a positive role model and expand my relationships and efforts.”

Michigan Home Mommy Works: What does your husband and children think about this exciting journey heading into the Mrs. Michigan Pageant?

Shannon Lazovski: “My husband and I were dating at the time of my car accident so he understands both the deep pain and excitement I feel in my heart.  This is something I have to do and he gets it.  He is extremely supportive.  I seriously couldn’t ask for a more understanding husband.  As for my kids, it’s like they are meeting someone new. (lol) They are thrilled and so excited for me.  And in return, I am so proud to be a positive role model for them.  This will show them mom doesn’t give up, mom isn’t afraid, and mom has motivation, drive, and determination.  If I don’t win, they will still see me try and bring all of these qualities to the stage.  When you have a daughter, these things are very important.”

Michigan Home Mommy Works: When does the pageant take place and where?

Shannon Lazovski: “The Mrs. Michigan Pageant is Saturday, March 9th, at Grandville Highschool.  Show starts at 7pm.  The details can be found at http://www.mrsmichiganamerica.com.”

Michigan Home Mommy Works:  If you could give all of our mom readers any piece of advice, what would it be?

Shannon Lazovski: “To all of the moms out there, take the time to look in the mirror and recognize how beautiful you are.  Second, if there is a childhood dream or opportunity you have always wished for, but never had a chance to achieve, go for it! Now is your time!”

Thank you-Shannon Lazovski 2/28/2013
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I want to thank Shannon again for sharing her inspirational story and background with us.  It has been an absolute honor, joy, and privilege.  I pray that we can all shoot for the stars in our goals and ambitions.  I know that Shannon has confirmed a lot of things in myself and for that I am truly blessed and thankful.

Image and Info courtesy of Shannon Lazovski

For inquiries, contact me at lindsey@michiganhomemommyworks.com.