KB Vega has struggled, so she now inspires herself to inspire others who also struggle.
Vega grew up in Newton and was raised by “serial entrepreneur” parents in the restaurant business. “I’ve always been around my family, with them holding their own business. So I knew when I was younger, I wanted to eventually have my own business.”
The path to her venture, InspiHER Empire, however, was fraught with setbacks, as she described herself having “a drug addiction, …eating disorders, trauma, abuse, all of that stuff.” She has since fueled these struggles into inspirational brand messaging.
“It’s been a long time coming for KB,” her husband, Anthony, said. “I started my business back in 2010, and KB was on deck with me, getting me going, and that actually made her step back from what she was looking to do.” Anthony Vega established his Auburndale restaurant, Boca Bella, and KB then explored her own entrepreneurial pursuits.
Starting a company meant KB setting on a road of self-acceptance and healing. “My company …started off as a positivity platform on Instagram, where I would open up a little bit about where I’ve gone through.” Her Instagram served as a platform for others to relate and empathize with her struggles. “It helped me in my self-healing journey. …People were reaching out to me, saying how I inspired them, and how brave I was to tell my story, and how I helped them. So I knew right then and there that that was kind of like my purpose. And then eventually I wanted to incorporate my love for fashion.”
The company — which started off as Power Club before being renamed to InspiHER Empire — grew from selling a few shirts to a slew of products with inspirational quotations. “I also consider myself an inspirationalist,” Vega said. “I wanted that to incorporate with the mission of my company.” After struggling with self-esteem issues growing up, Vega now has a simple mission: “[for] people to feel cute, comfy, and confident in what you wear.” InspiHER Empire, which sells a wide variety of colorful clothing, is now in its third year.
“She has so much dedication to making a good product, to getting the actual message out there. Determination. Resilience,” said Anthony Vega. Starting with little prior experience of running her own business, KB Vega taught herself the technological tools to build a website and a brand for herself. It proved to be hard work, but KB is no stranger to inspiring her way through situations. “I was always taught by my parents, ‘you just got to keep working and work at it,’” she said. “Learning that now, having my own business, there’s been plenty of times when I wanted to throw in the towel …but then I remember those messages that I would get. Somebody is wanting me to keep doing this.” Vega incorporates these messages into her clothing, making it gender-neutral and body-friendly, with sizes going up to 5XL, and she has customers ranging in age from ten to seventy-eight years old.
“She really does a great job of cultivating this community of empowerment, feeling good in your own skin,” said Diana Ruggiano, friend and creator of WildMaine Tinsel Hair. The two met while on set for Season 12 of The Blox, a reality TV show featuring entrepreneurs. “I genuinely purchase her clothing, because it speaks to me. I have one shirt from her I freaking wear all the time.”
Joining The Blox had been a surprise for Vega, who had applied to the show on a whim, not expecting to be accepted. “It was the most mentally, physically, [and] emotionally challenging week of my life, but one of the best weeks ever,” she said. During the contest, entrepreneurs learned from experts in the field. Vega came back to Massachusetts armed with information on how to streamline her business. “I knew that [The Blox] was going to be life-changing,” she said. Based on the lessons she learned, Vega is now working on promoting awareness of her company and her message for acceptance and radical self-love. “[InspiHER] is all about inspiration. It’s all about body positivity. It’s all about self-love. You know, in today’s times, everyone needs a little bit of that…Sometimes people just need someone from the outside,” said Anthony Vega.
Through fashion shows and pop-ups, Vega’s commitment to her customer base shines. “Just seeing her interactions, how positive she is…she still makes sure that those people that are her customers, that are her followers, always get that good vibe,” said Anthony Vega.
Ruggiano agrees. “I have purchased a ton of her stuff. I’m not telling you this because she’s my friend. I’m telling you this because her quality is top-notch, her customer service is great, and her messages on her clothing are super empowering. …When I wear her stuff out people like, ‘Oh, I love that. Where’d you get that?’ Because the messages are just so simple, but they really are infectious.”
Anthony Vega echoes this sentiment. “I married her for a reason. Two and a half years where she’s gotten the InspiHER collaboration on the ground, from trademarking it to starting her website on her own. …Sky’s the limit for InspiHER empire.”
Noa Kelmer-Racin is a Fig City News student reporter and a sophomore at Princeton University.
Janie Blumenthal, a Fig City News student reporter and a junior at Newton North High School, contributed reporting for this article.