Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Cay Thomas.
Courtney, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started modeling when I was 22 years old. I developed many relationships and contribute my successes today to some of these people I have met and learned from along the way. While modeling, I realized that the most popular products and icons were sold on the basis of sexuality. The Kardashians were all the rave and self-improvement consisted of sexy attire and extreme cosmetic changes. Beauty was defined by what you saw on the surface and although I personally fell into that trapped mindset, I yearned for a world that appreciated and glorified inner beauty. I grew up as more of a tomboy, and the attire I felt most comfortable in was a t-shirt and baggy sweatpants. I expressed an idea to the owners of a local t-shirt brand and was pleasantly surprised to hear that they supported it. I wanted to create a line that branded “good girl” and focused on more of a casual, conservative design. I wanted girls of all shapes, sizes, color, and age to embrace this concept and create a “shift” in society’s standards. I spent about a year creating the logos, developing prototypes, finding the most comfortable material, and finding models that represented a “good girl” image internally and externally.
After that year, I lost hope. I didn’t believe in myself and I didn’t think that anyone would jump on the idea that being conservative, comfy, and a good girl could be just as popular as the hypersexual advertisements that we still see today. I turned back to modeling, trying to build my confidence in the wrong areas. In 2015, I received some big publications and I made some questionable moral decisions. Whatever I was trying to achieve as far as self-worth and confidence was completely destroyed. The negative attention brought on depression and I criticized myself for doing the opposite of what my true dreams and goals were. The owners that I originally pitched my idea to reached out at random around this time and asked me why I hadn’t launched “Good Girl Company” yet. I explained my predicament and shamefully expressed that I had ruined it for myself and that no one would buy this concept. With encouragement, reassurance, and a lot of help, I was able to incorporate and launch “Good Girl Co” I hid behind the name for a while. I didn’t want others to know that the owner wasn’t a true representation of the brand. With experience and maturity, the brand developed into something much more.
I brought on my best friend, Ashley as a partner and gradually developed a team of 30 (and growing) social media influencers, models, and staff members that travel to international countries that have been affected by natural disasters to host our photoshoots. We use our following of a collective 6.5 million followers to bring visibility and financial gain to the businesses in these countries that have experienced economic damages. We host yearly pageants that focus more on what makes them a “good girl” internally and we choose a “face” to represent the brand. “Miss Good Girl” comes on all of our trips for the year with all expenses paid and participates with the company locally in community service projects and fashion shows. With complete gratitude to the people that believed in me, I am able to confidently sell my brand to a wide audience and show that no matter what your walk of life is, you can still be a “good girl.”
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest challenges we have faced as of recently is other imposter companies copying our brand. In 2017, a group from a foreign country came up with the name “good girls company” and replicated our concept but in the complete opposite way. They offer trips and clothes that are a far cry from the name and it has created some misinterpretation of who we are. We have also seen our logo on items and fabrics in other countries. Unfortunately, even with a trademark, it is difficult to fight these companies because they are international and not protected by our US laws. All we can do is continue to be consistent, grow our network, and clarify the difference. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, right?
The biggest challenge has been trying to find the balance between family, career, and maintaining a social life. I’m a single mother of 2 boys and outside of good girl co., I have two other businesses I started. One being that I manage/consult/open restaurants in Atlanta and the other is a personal injury marketing firm. Both require a lot of attention and time. I also have a scholarship to SCAD for fashion design, and have been taking classes full time to improve my skills and knowledge of the fashion industry. Fortunately Ashley is more than just a business partner. She has helped me raise both of my kids and we work together to achieve this sought after balance.
Good Girl – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We specialize in developing marketing models, empowering women, and designing clothes that are comfortable yet still flattering. We are constantly developing new items while trying to stay one foot ahead of the trends. I am most proud of overcoming the obstacles and challenges we have faced and staying strong as a team. My group of girls are like a family. My staff spends time researching the models’ backgrounds and we interview them to find their potential to do good works and truly be a good person. Our products are designed and created locally. We don’t mass produce and want every article of clothing to feel special and unique.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory is going to sound like I stole a line from Carrie Bradshaw. My parents took me to New York to visit a family member for the first time and I fell in love with the city. I loved the culture, the food, the fashion, and the energy. I have yet to find a better place of inspiration since then and travel there frequently.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.goodgirlclothing.com
- Phone: 4046629933
- Email: courtney@goodgirlco.com
- Instagram: @goodgirlcompany
- Other: www.goodgirlco.com
Image Credit:
Vincent Pierce, Chucky Kahng
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