Power in her Presence
Meet this month’s cover star Michelena Rose / @itsmichelenarose / @getnakedmassage
Photographer Kristy Keppel / @ka_photography_
We’re happy to have you featured. If you could write a letter to your younger self, what would you say? First stop plucking your eyebrows like they insulted your family. You’re gonna regret this one day. That guy you’re losing sleep over? He’s not mysterious… he’s just emotionally unavailable and mid in bed. And your body? It’s not too much. It’s just not built for small minds or weak hands. Being “too much” was never the issue…you were just in rooms too small for your energy. You’ll mess up. You’ll level up. Sometimes both in the same week. Keep going. And that voice in your gut? She’s been right all along. Listen. Love, Me but hotter, wiser, bolder, wilder, and completely unbothered.
What’s a childhood dream you’ve held on to? Growing up on a farm next to the Amish, I used to stare out at the open fields and wonder what else was out there…beyond the silence, the woods, the gardening, and boring days. So, my childhood dream? Adventure. Skyscrapers. Islands. To travel the world. To taste flavors of other countries, dance in cities I’d only seen in books, and wake up somewhere new just because I could. I’ve always known I was meant for more than one zip code…and that dream’s still burning.
Looking back, what advice would you give to your younger self? I’d remind her she’s not here to be liked, she’s here to be felt. That not everyone will understand her… and that’s the point. Accept the things you cannot change. Follow your heart(despite what others say). Trust your gut, love louder, and for fuck’s sake… leave your eyebrows alone.
What do people often get wrong about you? People see my wild, fun, outgoing lifestyle and probably assume motherhood isn’t my strong suit when in reality, I turned out to be one of the most incredible moms out there. Helps when you come from an Italian family full of amazing women.
Do you have any hidden talents? If so, what is it? Hidden talent? A lot of inappropriate ones…lol….but an appropriate one….I’d say turning women into their most unstoppable, unapologetic selves. I’ve got a gift for hyping up the parts of them they were taught to dim. Call it magic… or just being a badass.
What’s your guilty pleasure snack? Omg. Krispy Kreme donuts! Ugh. My weakness!! The way to my heart! Haha!.
What’s the boldest decision you’ve ever made that changed your life? Without a doubt, moving to Tulum, Mexico by myself for the summer of 2023, not knowing the language or anything! WOW! What an experience.
What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t dared to try yet? One thing I’ve always wanted to do but haven’t dared to try yet? Start my podcast. I’ve got the voice, the personality, the stories, the fire…and definitely the opinions…but there’s something about putting it all out there, unfiltered, that’s both thrilling and terrifying. Which probably means I need to do it.
What’s a powerful lesson life has taught you that you think everyone should learn? That no one’s coming to save you…and that’s not a tragedy, it’s a wake-up call. The moment you realize your power isn’t in being chosen, it’s in choosing yourself? Everything changes.
What’s something that once felt like a failure, but became your biggest lesson? Letting the wrong people stay too long. I used to see that as a failure…..like I should’ve known better, walked away sooner, protected myself more. But now I see it for what it was: a crash course in self-worth. Sometimes, losing yourself is how you finally find your power.
What’s the legacy you hope to leave behind? I want my legacy to be liberation…the kind that makes people feel naked in their skin, unashamed of their desires, and bold enough to speak the things most only whisper. If I’m remembered for anything, let it be for inspiring others to own their pleasure, their truth, and their wildest self…no filter, no apology.
What advice would you give to someone who feels stuck or uninspired right now? Even when it feels like nothing’s working out… it actually is. The detours, the delays, the endings…they’re all part of the redirection. Trust the universe. It’s not happening to you, it’s happening FOR you!! Get up, keep going. Obstacles are LIFE…that’s what makes you wiser, stronger, and teaches you more than you’ll ever realize.
