Every month, we feature a Fabulous Female whose business savvy and confidence inspires us. We believe in supporting fellow female entrepreneurs and their incredible business ventures. If you know of a Fabulous Female whose story deserves to be told, please email us to nominate them.

This month, we interviewed the inspiring and oh so sweet Bethany Morris, of The Free Woman. We connected with Bethany through Instagram and it has been such a pleasure getting to know her!

1. Please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about The Free Woman.

Hello, I’m Bethany, born and currently living in Melbourne, Australia. I’m known to giggle and laugh (a lot), love a delicious brunch and coffee with friends, and seek to savour the beauty in the every day.

The Free Woman (TFW) is a global community that celebrates, inspires and equips feminine hearts to lead more purposeful and authentic lives. This is outworked predominantly through the content on our website, thriving social media community and products. It’s a space where women can be championed and welcomed as they are, while encouraging them to dig deeper and uncover the gold within so they can live fully alive, fully present and fully engaged with their purpose.

2. Who and/or what inspired you to create The Free Woman?

The concept of TFW had been brewing since I was a young girl. I always loved magazines, and then blogs as I got older, but was continually frustrated that there were nothing encompassing all the qualities within a woman. I’m a firm believer that every person is designed a leader, yet for some, that is a quality they really doubt and would never even think about themselves. So TFW seeks to break down those notions by focusing on the everyday girl and the sphere of influence she has in her everyday living, from her career to friendship and relationships, creativity, wellness and even social justice.

3. What experience did you have that helped prepare you for where you are now?

Studying Journalism at university definitely helped a lot in terms of skill and understanding the industry. I’d also been previously blogging for a couple of years, too!

4. You often say that the Free Woman is “so lovely, so free”. What does being lovely and free mean to you?

Great question! Being so lovely and so free is simply living life with purpose and delight. It’s often a two-edged sword - loveliness speaks of femininity and the beauty in each day, while free is more often the messy, grit-filled journey or living on the other side full of hope and vision.

5. Aside from running The Free Woman and Gem & Thread, what are some of your passions in life?

A recent season of health-related issues has definitely made me passionate about pursuing wellness in the mind, body and soul. I’m also passionate about kindness, women empowering women, supporting small businesses, pursuing experiences over things, and kicking fear by exercising courage.

6. You have a beautiful community behind you. Was building a strong community a part of your business plan or did it just come naturally?

Thank you - appreciate the kind words! Yes to both. Building a strong community was always the plan, but at the same time, it’s been building in a natural and beautiful way. A lot of work has gone into it and I’m really excited about where it’s heading!

7. What community initiatives will you support this year?

We love and will continue to support social enterprises, movements and non-profit organisations that are impacting women’s lives. Each month we put a spotlight on and bring awareness to a different brand or person doing this.

8. How do you connect with your audience?

By being intentional and present in engagement. I try my best to direct message new followers, respond to comments and interact on the #solovelysofree Instagram feed. The point of difference though is that the interaction is tailored to the person - from something I saw on their profile to actually reading their captions and commenting specific to that instead of simply commenting with an emoji or generic phrase (quality over quantity!). It doesn’t need to take long, but it is about being present and intentional. When authenticity and generosity are consistent, success, reputation and longevity will come.

9. What advice would you have for those unsure of how to connect with their own?

What I mentioned above. And also, just begin. Any kind of relationship begins with a hello, and is built and strengthened with consistent communication. Love your audience for them and they’ll love you right back.

1. Any closing remarks? How can readers find out more about you?