Check Out Madelyn (MJ) Hopfensperger’s Story

Not only did I have a huge sweet tooth, but I also had a huge passion for the arts. I grew up with a creative spunk and was involved in music, dance, theatre, acting… you name it. I guess I gravitated towards dessert because it seemed to combine three things I especially adored: sugar, art, and coming together through food.

It wasn’t until after college, though, that my love for dessert manifested into an actual hobby. After graduating from The University of Southern California, I was living in West Hollywood, and juggling my time as a waitress and actress. At the time, I was watching a baking show where the contestants made layer cakes. I was convinced I could whip up a dreamy layer cake, myself. So I went to the store…

I baked, assembled, and decorated my first ever layer cake. I was bracing myself for a classic Pinterest fail, but it turned out that I wasn’t too shabby. I was onto something here… And, just like that, a new hobby was born.

Eventually, baking cakes turned from a hobby, into a small side hustle. I started selling custom cakes under the name “Queen Cakes” out of my West Hollywood apartment. A big shout-out to my roommate, Lucy, who heroically braved the endless clouds of flour and constant oven timer beeps.

Shortly after the genesis of Queen Cakes, I moved back to Nashville and closed up shop on the operation. But I didn’t stop baking! The pandemic hit and I took to the internet, spreading my love for baking through TikTok and Instagram (@mjsusername). It was a lot of fun, but overtime I missed the sense of community that my baking brought to people in real life. Cue: And She Bakes.

And She Bakes has been such a fulfilling part of my life since its launch in late April 2023. I get to flex my creativity, satisfy sugar cravings and the best part… bring people together.

I’ve already made several birthday cakes, bachelorette party cakes, and even wedding cakes! I love knowing that my creations get to be a special part of someone’s special day.

I do still have a full-time job alongside And She Bakes, but I’m having fun balancing it all and surprising myself with what I’m able to accomplish as a one-woman show. She does it all… And She Bakes!

As a lifelong creative, I tend to underestimate my abilities when it comes to analytical tasks. Creating the product comes naturally to me, but dealing with numbers and budgets? Gonna be a no from me dog.

This self-doubt held me back for a while, but I recognized that I needed to shift my mindset if I wanted to pursue my goals. Instead of getting overwhelmed by all of the things I felt underprepared to handle, I took a step back and tackled each detail one by one.

This approach helped me sidestep feelings of inadequacy and focus on making progress. I was surprised to find that I am capable of the analytical side of starting a business… It just takes a little more effort (and is a little less enjoyable than the creative side… oops who said that?!).

Additionally, having the support of my family and friends was incredibly helpful. Whenever I doubted myself, they were always there to provide encouragement and keep me going. I feel incredibly fortunate to have such an amazing support system!

I’m a one-woman show. While it would be a dream to have a full bakery one day, it’s just me for now. Every product gets my personal touch. From conception to completion, I handle each creation with lots and lots of love.

I love to push myself and have fun with my art… Rather than limit myself to one particular decorating style or technique, I strive to constantly be learning, and growing in what I do. My cakes range from fun and colorful, to elegant and classy. Vintage-style cakes are really popular right now and I have a lot of fun doing those, but I can also make you a cake with a giant Shrek face on the top, too.

I also just started selling cake popsicles. They’re cake pops but in the shape of a mini popsicle. They’re unique and fun to customize – perfect when you don’t want to commit to a full cake. Not to mention, they’re so tasty.

By taking this risk, I learned that you can’t wait to feel “ready.” If I waited to be “ready,” And She Bakes would still be just an idea in my head. There’s simply no way you can anticipate how things are going to go, or what obstacles you’re going to face. You don’t have to have it all figured out before you start. You just have to start. The figuring-it-out part will follow.

And She Bakes is growing, and so am I. There’s a lot I’ve learned, and a lot I have yet to learn. My experience so far has taught me that I possess greater capabilities than I initially thought. As a result, I feel more confident and passionate about continuing to pursue this path. All because I took a risk on myself.

You know what they say… You gotta risk it for the biscuit! Although… I prefer cake.