Rewriting the Rules of Confidence: Liz Hansen on Beauty, Aging & Worthiness
How Boudoir Photography Helps Women Rewrite Their Stories
We live in a world overflowing with messages about what “beauty” should look like. From Instagram filters to magazine covers, the narrative is loud: youth, perfection, and thinness.
But what happens when you don’t fit that mold — or even when you do, and still don’t feel seen?
In this deeply personal and inspiring episode of Write Your Own Story with host Betsy Leonis, I (Liz Hansen, founder of Chicago Boudoir Photography and TEDx speaker) open up about the silent confidence crisis women face at every age — and how boudoir photography has become my way of helping women rewrite their own stories.
🎧 Watch the full interview: Write Your Own Story with Betsy Leonis — featuring Liz Hansen
💫 Who This Episode Is For
I’d like to dedicate this episode to the woman who’s always been there for everyone else—but is finally ready to do something for herself.
She’s the mom, the partner, the business owner, the caregiver. She’s the one who keeps the household running, remembers the birthdays, picks up the slack, and rarely puts herself first.
Maybe she’s in midlife, looking in the mirror and wondering where she went.
I want her to know she’s still in there. She’s still powerful, sensual, beautiful—and worthy of being seen.
This episode is for her—to remind her that her story matters, and it’s not too late to write a bold, joyful, beautiful next chapter.
🔍 The Lies We’ve Been Told About Beauty
During the interview, we dive into how deeply ingrained our beliefs about beauty and worthiness can be. From the time we’re little girls, we’re told how to look, how to act, how to shrink. Society has convinced us that our value lies in our appearance — and that our appearance must meet impossible, ever-changing standards.
I share openly about my own journey: the moments I believed I wasn’t thin enough, young enough, or photogenic enough. And how stepping behind the camera — and then in front of it — completely shifted that narrative.
“The most attractive thing you can wear is confidence — and it has nothing to do with your weight, size, or age.”
📸 What Really Happens in a Boudoir Session
When a woman books a boudoir session, it’s rarely just about the photos. It’s about rediscovering herself.
From the moment she walks through the studio doors, I want her to feel celebrated, seen, and safe. The hair and makeup session isn’t just preparation — it’s a ritual. The session itself becomes a space for courage. And the same-day reveal? It’s the moment she finally sees herself the way everyone else does — radiant, strong, and completely worthy.
So many women walk out of my studio changed. They carry that confidence into the rest of their lives: showing up differently at work, speaking up in relationships, and simply standing taller in their everyday moments.
✨ My Mission as a Boudoir Photographer
My mission focuses on three main points:
Boudoir is about confidence, not perfection. It’s a celebration of who you are right now — not who you think you should be.
Your story and your body deserve to be seen and honored. Especially in seasons where you’ve felt invisible.
Doing something bold for yourself can shift how you see yourself in every area of life. That single moment of courage can become the spark that reignites everything.
🌹 Why Confidence Is the Sexiest Thing You Can Wear
This episode isn’t about makeup tips or posing guides — it’s about mindset. Confidence isn’t about changing your body; it’s about changing your relationship with it.
When you start treating yourself with the same compassion and admiration you show others, everything shifts. That’s what boudoir is truly about — not seduction, but self-acceptance.
Empowered women don’t just change their own lives — they change the world.
If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and thought you weren’t enough, this conversation will challenge everything you’ve believed about beauty.
❤️ Final Thoughts
To every woman reading this: you don’t have to wait for a “perfect moment” to feel beautiful. You don’t need to lose the weight, fix the wrinkles, or fit into an outdated ideal.
You are enough — right now, exactly as you are.
🎧 Listen to the full conversation here: Write Your Own Story — Featuring Liz Hansen, and if you’re ready to start your own boudoir journey, I’d love to chat with you! Schedule a time to connect with me below!