Conversations with Jessica Dukes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Dukes. 

Hi Jessica, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
You know, my story, and Instagram page as you would have it started by accident truly. I have always loved people, telling stories and knowing stories, encouraging and motivating BUT when I started @jessicadukesdaily (@dailyketosis at the time) it was solely to keep myself accountable to weightloss goals, while beginning and learning about the keto diet. 

I have PCOS and struggled with infertility and was looking for help in aiding both of those things while losing weight so I had decided on a whim just to post everything I ate. I was in my late thirties, married and childless because of infertility BUT also a full-time nanny and needed an outlet that wasn’t children specific for me to fuel my energy, so @dailyketosis was born. 

What happened was quickly, people began following me! This was fiveish years ago, back in the day when influencer and “building a page” wasn’t a thing (at least to me!) so it was cool, as I began to share my story, other ladies began sharing their story as well. What I knew but was so good to hear was we are all alike more than different, people are kind, and having a community no matter where that community gathers, in person or online, makes you feel so much less alone in whatever struggles you are going through. 

What has transpired over the years because of this page, a book deal, The Dairy-Free Keto Diet Cookbook, A baby! (Yes, a follower told me about a doctor in Arizona and my husband and I traveled to see him and now we have a 2.5-year-old little girl, Elliott Jane) and a wealth of true friendships, relationships, and community, and good people, kind people that I get to talk with and have relationships every day with because of what I started as a need for myself, but have been able to get that love right back. 

Even as I am writing this to you, I am at home in Nashville recovering from an emergency ectopic pregnancy that I will share and walk my followers through — and they will rally and wish me well, and we will talk it all out in an effort to make each other feel more supported and less alone. 

Alright, 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?
Well, as you previously read before…the path paved in an eight-year struggle with infertility and all the lows, valleys and true hard days are well, feel impossible. The struggles were really hard, heck they still are hard, wondering if my daughter will have a sibling, what’s next… But that makes our story beautiful, you know? The struggles make us stronger, smooth roads are boring, but struggles are where you really get to show up for yourself and each other, it’s in those valleys that you can look up to the mountain tops and see the sun rising knowing it is going to be okay. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My full-time job is I advocate for clean beauty daily as a leader with Beautycounter. I share this on social media as well as in-person and right alongside that I am a full-time mom and I run my page @jessicadukesdaily where I share all of the above and more, there’s never a dull moment over there. 

I think what sets me apart maybe is I have a unique ability to meet people where they are and really see them and hold a place for them. I’m a keeper of secrets, I can’t tell you how often I get “I can’t tell anyone this yet, but I knew I could tell you…” and then they tell ’em everything and I hold a place for them always ending with “I’m invested now, you better keep me posted!” 

If I am passionate about something from Beautycounter to people, you are going to know it because I am going to talk about it at nasuaum, whether you want to hear it or not, I am from the south after all…so I am a talker! 

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Gosh, haven’t we all? I think more of just being kind, listen before you judge. Everyone has a strong opinion about covid and that’s okay – I have a strong opinion about everything. But I really do think that everyone comes from a good place and the knowledge that they have armed themself with even if I agree or disagree, I can meet them where they are (virtually!) and be kind. Reach across the table and say I see you, I can still be your friend if we don’t agree on this, that or the other. 

We have got to stop being so hard on people and meet people where they are. Because when you get to know people, you are often surprised at the goodness you might have missed had you judged them on one stance. 

Contact Info:

• Email: jessicadukes@me.com
• Website: jessicadukes.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/jessicadukesdaily
• Facebook: faebook.com/jessicadukesdaily
• Other: beautycounter.com/jessicadukes