Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky
Episode: Jaime Kern Lima
Date: September 23, 2025
Host: Monica Lewinsky
Guest: Jamie Kern Lima (Founder of IT Cosmetics)
Episode Overview
This episode of “Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky” features a heartfelt and wide-ranging conversation with Jamie Kern Lima, entrepreneur and founder of IT Cosmetics. Monica and Jamie explore what it means to reclaim one’s self-worth, challenge the labels placed upon us, and trust our intuition in the face of adversity. Their dialogue delves into entrepreneurship, personal setbacks, self-doubt, faith, joy, and the difference between self-confidence and self-worth. The conversation is rich with vulnerability, practical insights, and memorable moments that highlight reclaiming one’s story and identity.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Power and Burden of Labels
[00:19, 13:29, 15:15]
- Jamie speaks about being labeled a "procrastinator" in high school and how easily we internalize imposed labels.
- Both Jamie and Monica discuss rejecting harmful labels—like Monica referencing her own notorious label from public scandal.
- Jamie likens labels to "post-it notes with light adhesive," emphasizing our power to remove them and reclaim our real selves.
"So many of us, we believe this lie that these labels are somehow permanent or that they're true... They're not. They're like post it notes where they have like this light adhesive. And if we decide, I'm taking that label off of me and I'm reclaiming who I am."
— Jamie Kern Lima [00:19, 13:30]
2. Celebrating Success and the Pursuit of Joy
[02:44, 03:36, 05:34]
- Jamie and Monica reflect on chasing achievements without pausing to celebrate or feel fulfilled.
- Both acknowledge the challenge of reclaiming joy and allowing for playfulness as adults, even joking about using Jamie’s elaborate backyard playground.
"There was a long time I didn’t believe I was enough unless I achieved enough. And so I was just like, that’s all I did...why didn't that fulfill me?"
— Jamie Kern Lima [05:34]
3. Building IT Cosmetics: Setbacks, Intuition, and Faith
[09:46, 16:37, 23:28, 39:35, 48:00]
- Jamie recounts launching IT Cosmetics with her husband Paolo after quitting their jobs, facing years of rejections from major retailers.
- She describes the pivotal moment of trusting her intuition over expert and consultant advice, even as bankruptcy loomed.
"It was years and years and years of rejections and no's, but we eventually built it to over a thousand employees. And I remember when l'Oreal bought the company... I actually remember thinking back to that biggest procrastinator label. Oh, wow. Yeah. And I felt empowered. Like, oh, no, no, that's not my story."
— Jamie Kern Lima [13:30]
- Jamie credits her strong faith for weathering hardships and believing in a bigger purpose.
"I truly believe that it’s my faith that’s believing God can dream a bigger dream for me than I can for myself."
— Jamie Kern Lima [09:46]
4. The Difference Between Self-Confidence and Self-Worth
[67:46]
- Jamie reveals her realization that external achievements build only self-confidence, not self-worth. She shares about not feeling worthy—even after IT Cosmetics' billion-dollar sale—until she did the inner work.
“There’s a huge difference between things that build self-confidence and things that build self-worth. ... Self confidence can rise or fall if we’re winning or losing....Our self worth is the belief that we are fundamentally worthy of love and belonging exactly as we are.”
— Jamie Kern Lima [67:46]
5. The Ongoing Battle with Self-Doubt and Learning to Trust Oneself
[19:58, 22:23, 29:35, 35:38, 36:00]
- Jamie and Monica offer deep reflections on trusting intuition. They discuss moments of nearly doubting themselves out of opportunities and the practical challenge of distinguishing intuition from self-doubt or wishful thinking.
- Both agree on the importance of getting still, listening to the inner knowing, and learning from past experiences.
"The most prevalent form of cancel culture is the one no one talks about. It's when we cancel ourselves before we even try, before we even go for it."
— Jamie Kern Lima [19:58]
"Doubt ourselves out of our own destiny."
— Monica Lewinsky [22:23]
- Monica shares her own example from her TED Talk, choosing to trust her comedic instinct against advice, which helped her connect authentically with her audience.
6. Navigating and Reframing Rejection
[44:03, 47:59, 62:38]
- Jamie faces repeated, often personal, rejections—QVC, Sephora, investors—and recounts the profound moment on QVC that changed her company’s trajectory: showing real women, real skin, and her own vulnerability on live TV, ultimately selling out the product.
"While authenticity alone doesn't automatically guarantee success, inauthenticity guarantees failure."
— Jamie Kern Lima [57:07]
- She describes eventually hiring a former QVC executive who had earlier rejected her.
"The guy that rejected me was now working for me."
— Jamie Kern Lima [62:13]
- Jamie reframes rejection as divine protection: “God will block our value from people who are not assigned to our destiny” [64:30].
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
Monica on adult play and reclaiming fun:
"We could actually reclaim fun again in our lives. So that’s actually a big goal of mine. I think I’ve lost it for a long time working 100 hour weeks..." [05:34] -
Jamie on what’s at stake:
"You are who you decide you are, and that's what's so beautiful." [15:11] -
On intuition and growth:
"You need to get so still and ask God, or the thing you call that's bigger than yourself and wait, you know, ask and wait to hear the answer and just get still until you do."
— (paraphrasing Oprah via Jamie Kern Lima) [30:48]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [00:19] – Jamie on labels and reclaiming identity
- [02:44] – Celebrating success and why it’s difficult
- [05:34] – Reclaiming fun and joy as adults
- [13:29] – The "procrastinator" label and its impact
- [19:58] – The danger of self-cancellation
- [22:23] – "Doubt ourselves out of our own destiny"
- [23:28] – Jamie’s on-air moment with rosacea and the spark for IT Cosmetics
- [39:35] – Launching IT Cosmetics, setbacks, and surrendering to faith
- [48:00] – Devastating investor rejection and trusting one’s value
- [54:41] – The all-or-nothing QVC opportunity
- [57:07] – Authenticity as non-negotiable
- [60:24] – QVC sell-out moment and emotional turning point
- [62:13] – Hiring the former QVC rejector
- [67:46] – Distinguishing self-confidence from self-worth
- [74:00] – Jamie realizing her unworthiness in contacting Oprah
- [75:08] – What Jamie is currently reclaiming
Closing Reflection
Monica and Jamie conclude with the importance of continually reclaiming parts of ourselves—including joy, fun, and worthiness. Jamie candidly shares she’s still working on not dimming her own light and fully embracing her enough-ness, despite helping others do the same.
"I believe we don’t become what we want. We become what we believe we’re worthy of."
— Jamie Kern Lima [70:58]
"I think reclaiming the truth and just like fully embracing it is what I’m really working, working on reclaiming right now. And reclaiming fun, by the way."
— Jamie Kern Lima [75:08]
For anyone who has felt underestimated, rejected, or burdened by labels, this conversation is a profound reminder: you are the only one who gets to define you.