The key to empowering women

by

Mariana Vanegas | Jun 1, 2020 | in Women in technology challenge | Digital health solutions

State your goals

1. To empower women so that, through our platform and specialized services, they can boost their self-esteem and self-confidence through an proper handling of their personal image.

2. To close the gap that exists between image consulting services and ordinary people, like you and me, understanding image consulting as that first step that opens the doors to a path of self-knowledge, acceptance and self-esteem. Creating a solid bridge and with the best technology to offer our users the highest quality services in the simplest way.

3. Breaking the barriers of time and space to reach all women around the world who want to look and feel good through self-knowledge and the application of acquired knowledge.

What problems (particularly in value chain competitiveness and global disruption) are your community’s stakeholders facing due to the Covid-19 pandemic?

1. According to WHO (World Health Organization), 300 million people in the world suffer from depression, and 800,000 people commit suicide each year, that is every 40 seconds one person commits suicide. According to the BBC, a large part of this population suffers from BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder), this is due to a low level of self-esteem which, in addition to suicidal thoughts, can generate:

• Anxiety
• Panic
• Social isolation
• Feelings of inferiority
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Pathological perfectionism.

2. People with low self-esteem are more vulnerable to developing depression. From an interpersonal perspective, they excessively seek the approval of others, which can lead to problems in interaction, increasing depressive symptoms. Fernando Torrente, Director of the Department of Cognitive Psychotherapy, INECO.

3. "Most people who have not developed a high level of self-esteem never achieve self-realization" Maslow (quoted by Santrock 2002).

What minimum viable solution(s) are you proposing to address the challenge(s) in your community?

• Statistics show that people who are accompanied of an image consultant increase their self-esteem by 60%, making them achieve their goals, feel successful and better about themselves. (https://www.consultoradeimagen.com/la-importa...ria-de-imagen/).

• If anxiety and depression are to be treated effectively, it is necessary to maintain high levels of self-esteem. In this sense, EMILIO COMPTE, specialist in Mental Health, said that in this way the risk of developing depression is notably reduced and anxiety is diminished, since these symptoms affect different areas of personal development such as: work, interpersonal relationships and health.

• If we achieve a good level of self-esteem we will resist criticism, we will open up better to others, we will learn to ask for help and in general, we will find it much more rewarding to live, which will also help prevent any depressive process.

• Alfred Adler, an Austrian doctor and psychotherapist, carried out studies where he observed that many people with disabilities were able to achieve high levels of success (example: Stephen Hawking), in these people disability acted as a motivating force, but other people with the same disability felt defeated by their disability and did not make an effort to improve their situation. Adler understood that the difference was due to one's self-image, that is, one's self-esteem.

Share your story (your narrative)

Hi, I'm Sofia and this is my story:

It all started 3 years ago, when I came down with depression and an anxiety disorder. I was part of those 300 million people in the world who suffer from depression today, and I was ALMOST part of the 800,000 people who commit suicide every year. Every 40 seconds a person commits suicide. I was leading a life where the most important thing was fitting in and looking like a doll in a cardboard box. Compulsive shopping was part of my attempt to improve my self-esteem, but it didn’t work, because stores tend to sell you just for the sake of selling, they don't know the value of listening and giving good advice. Can you understand my frustration? One day I finally exploded and knew that I had to act, and among all the actions I took, one action outshined all the others... Can you imagine how something seemingly superficial could actually be able to transform you on the inside? That was my experience with Icon, the best self-image tool. There I was able to start a process of self-knowledge to empower myself. I learned NOT ONLY what is good for me according to my outer characteristics, but I also learned that it is necessary, when it comes to being happy, to start with oneself. Today I am a woman who has all the power within herself. I am free. I am authentic. I am confident. And, therefore, I am beautiful. Now I know that knowing and loving oneself is the beginning of an adventure that lasts a lifetime

 Description of our project: 

How is suicide connected to self-image? Image disorder, according to the BBC, is one of the leading causes of suicide in the world. That's why we created Icon, a unique online shopping experience linked to an automated image consulting process, with artificial intelligence.  

Come with us to learn more: Our platform integrates 4 resources: 

• Image consultancy.
• Blog that forms, informs and entertains.
• E-commerce with brands of our best Colombian talent, integrated with the assistance of a virtual Personal Shopper.
• E-learning classrooms with subjects related to fashion and personal image.

"At Icon we bet on self-esteem and democratization of self-image  improvement"

Thanks to the development of a system with artificial intelligence, we go beyond the limits of time and space to provide advice at any time and place. All this thanks to a professional and multidisciplinary team made up of: 

• An Artificial intelligence specialist
• An image consultant
• A fashion entrepreneur
• A social communicator 
• An audiovisual producer. 

At Icon we want to set a precedent, but for this we need your support:

• Advice and accompaniment in the development of our project, especially in the commercial and technological areas.
• Economic resources for the expenses associated with the execution of the project. 
• Relationship and exposure in the environment.

...The image you have of yourself is directly proportional to your possibilities of success in what you undertake.

Don't forget to follow us on our social networks. @Icon_asesoriadeimagen, www.iconimageconsulting.co. 

Please provide any additional relevant information that you would like to share.

Videos (spanish)

1. https://www.powtoon.com/c/eYnbPu57VqP/1/m

2. https://www.powtoon.com/c/eEgaMVjw3vQ/1/m