Attia Taylor founded Womanly as an accessible health resource for non-binary and female BIPOC

Age || 30

Company Name || Womanly

Job Title || Founder

Years Living In New York || 8

Company Start Date || September 2017

Connect on social || @womanlymag; @attia

What did you want to be while growing up?

When I was a kid, I really enjoyed singing along to the radio. I wanted to be a singer. I also had a dream of starting my own media company. I would make pretend radio shows and record songs to play with them. In a lot of ways, I’ve made these dreams come true.

What made you interested in starting Womanly?

Womanly was an idea that came about because I felt that the media we often see is one-dimensional. The women on TV and in magazines are often tropes or white and thin. The way I was raised and the way many of my friends and family were raised wasn’t reflected in anything we were seeing. Additionally, we wanted to add the health angle because the disparities for BIPOC women are disproportionate and no health magazine or publication was really speaking about this in a real way, a way that provided solutions or resources.

How did your background help you with this venture?

I’ve always been interested in sexual and reproductive health. Even as a young girl, I was very curious about my body and learning more about sex. I went to Temple University for communication and straight after that I got an internship in NYC at PAPER magazine. I then landed a job working at the national office at Planned Parenthood and learned a lot about building a product, marketing, and how audiences respond to creativity around health.

The latest issue of Womanly. Courtesy of Womanly. — **The latest issue of Womanly.** Courtesy of Womanly.

What’s the best piece of advice you were given when you were starting Womanly?

I was incredibly encouraged by friends and family to continue even when things felt impossible. I lean on that early love and support often when Womanly hits a snag or I personally feel defeated.

How do you define success?

Success to me has changed quite a bit since I started out. I feel proud of my achievements in the media and health spaces because it meant creating my own path to reaching my goals. The success I see now is measured in how many people I’m able to reach with health information and empowerment. Womanly has provided a platform for me and my team to share so much with our community and still be able to work on skills we need to climb even further in our careers. I‘d like my success to be ever evolving. I don’t know what the future holds but I remain constant in wanting to help people. Whether it’s through Womanly, Planned Parenthood, music, or just being.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned since starting out?

I’ve learned that organizations and businesses can actually be community-powered, supportive, and loving. I was a volunteer at Girls Rock for a number of years and saw this happen, women and non-binary folks supporting each other and working together in a common mission; the Womanly team has grown to over 45 volunteers in the last three years and we have been another example of this. Our work is so much better for the connections we’ve made with one another and the love we have for this movement.

What is your creative process like for designing each issue of Womanly?

Creating an issue of Womanly is a huge team effort. After we decide as a full team what topic to cover, our editorial, health, and art departments come together to make this happen. The work put in to find submissions, read and review pitches, create layouts and artwork, fact check, and proofread is incredible. It takes about two to three months to make it all happen. We work with photographers, writers, illustrators, healthcare providers, and more to create a real resource online and offline.

What issues does Womanly cover and how can they help women and non-binary people?

We cover a large range of health issues and try to pinpoint topics that are particularly pressing for the communities we intend to serve. Since our start we’ve covered heart health, aging, stress, Black maternal health, nutrition, and sex education. We chose these topics because they present a large number of disparities amongst Black and Brown communities. Our goal is to increase awareness by sharing our resources for free to build awareness and prevention.

How do you balance your work as Editor of Digital Content and Campaigns for Planned Parenthood with your work at Womanly?

I work alongside such incredible people at both Planned Parenthood and Womanly. I’ve had nothing but support on both ends. There are times that I find the balance to be difficult. Womanly holds meetings at night and that’s when I get most of my work done. I love the work I get to do all day, so moving from one to the other isn’t so difficult. I’ve also been working double time since Womanly started so you tend to get used to it. I get tired but I push forward because I know how important this work is.

As an all-volunteer organization, how can people support Womanly?

You can support Womanly by sharing our resources, buying copies of the magazines, or donating time, space, and money. We have 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsorship through Brooklyn Arts Council, so all donations are tax deductible.

Could you speak about Womanly’s initiative to donate five magazines for every one sold?

We have an incredible distribution team who researches and builds relationships with community partners across NYC, Philly, and Baltimore. We’ve also begun to expand our reach by mail across the country since the beginning. All of the sales from our shop pay for the production of five copies of Womanly. These are copies that we can send in bulk to the communities I mentioned. We work with places like Planned Parenthood, Henry Street Settlement, Coalition for the Homeless, and many other organizations to get our print information into the right hands.

What is your go-to motivational quote and/or personal motto?

I feel motivated by a Stacy Abrams quote: “The most significant successes come from letting your light shine, embracing failure, and getting good at being wrong.”

Which women inspire you?

The Womanly team inspires me the most. Over the last three years, they have worked tirelessly to make this organization work and thrive. I feel so blessed to know them and get to work with them daily. Our community is so strong, smart, loving, and supportive. The Womanly team lifts each other up and propels each other forward at all times. I will be forever inspired by their tenacity and brilliance.

What has been the most rewarding thing since starting out?

The most rewarding thing about this project is learning about its impact. When we hear from readers, our online followers, and other organizations about how useful Womanly is, it makes it all worth it. When we did our Black maternal health issue, we heard from so many Black women about how the issue helped them advocate for themselves or just feel comfort knowing that someone was out there rooting for them to be healthy and well. That feeling is priceless.

What advice would you give to other women trying to enter your field?

Collaborate with like-minded people. There is no reason to go about any venture alone and without support. Womanly would be nowhere without the hands of my friends and family. Asking for help is game-changing.

What are some of your goals moving forward for Womanly?

I’d love to translate Womanly to Spanish in the very near future. We miss a lot of communities by having this resource only available in English. As we grow and get more financial support, we hope to bring on a translator and make resources that can reach Spanish speaking audiences as well.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.