Diana Mahrach: From Business Collapse to Resilience | Overcoming Obstacles

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Determined Society with Shawn French

Episode Title: The Brutal Reality of Losing Everything in Business
Date: April 6, 2026
Host: Shawn French
Guest: Diana Mirage, Founder of Diana Mirage Couture

---

Episode Overview

In this deeply personal and wide-ranging episode, Shawn French sits down with acclaimed designer and entrepreneur Diana Mirage of Diana Mirage Couture. The conversation navigates the highs and lows of building—and nearly losing—a business, staying true to your vision amid adversity, and the roles that grit, family, and self-belief play in weathering storms. Diana shares her journey from North Africa to New York fashion icon, her battles through the COVID-19 downturn, and the importance of authentic relationships, both personal and professional. The episode is layered with humor, heart, and candid wisdom, offering hard-earned insights on resilience, partnership, and purposeful growth.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Diana’s Origin Story and Family Influence

• Early Career & Family Bonds

  • Diana started in fashion at age 16, inspired by her North African heritage, fusing American and Moroccan influences as she built her brand ([03:34]).
  • Engaged to her husband at 16, married at 19, Diana credits him as her pillar of strength and motivation.
  • “I just wanted to be with my love, like, with the person I trust. I felt like he was my father at the same point as my love.” — Diana ([03:34])

• Family in Business

  • Her brother later joined as a business partner to take the company to the next level after their father's passing ([05:10]).

2. Staying in Your Lane: Vision & Authenticity in Business

• No Competition Mindset

  • Both Diana and Shawn discuss the importance of focusing on their own paths, not being distracted by what others in the industry are doing ([06:21]).
  • “Everybody has their own lane. It’s just like you are driving a car. You have to stay in your lane.” — Diana ([06:41])

• Giving Back

  • Diana regularly mentors young designers, lectures at universities, and participates in social causes (e.g., United Nations, St. Thomas University) ([06:41]).

3. Adversity: COVID and Losing Almost Everything

• Business Collapse

  • Pre-pandemic, Diana operated seven to eight fabric stores and a restaurant with her family ([21:40]).
  • COVID-19 devastated their business, forcing closures and layoffs. Diana and her brother managed all remaining operations themselves ([21:40]).

• Pivoting & Resilience

  • Diana pivoted to making and selling masks, donating 20,000 to frontline workers, and featured on CNN ([22:14]).
  • “Most people would retreat. You found a way to get it done.” — Shawn ([24:25])
  • The conversation emphasizes the necessity to shed ego and hustle for survival, taking any opportunity—including those outside one’s ego comfort zone ([25:43]).

4. Hard Moments and Mental Health

• Facing Failure and Burnout

  • Diana discusses the pain of closing her restaurant and losing investments but stresses the importance of moving forward (“Keep it growing. Let’s keep it going.” — Diana, [29:10]).
  • “Some days a win is just putting on your shoes and going for a walk...it’s like compounding interest.” — Shawn ([29:34])

• Work-Life Balance

  • Diana admits to homesickness and the challenges of balancing entrepreneurship with being a present wife and mother.
  • “It doesn’t matter if you own a thousand-dollar a night hotel room. Your bed and your husband and your kids...it’s the best thing ever.” — Diana ([36:14])

5. Relationships, Support, and Communication

• Marital Partnership

  • The conversation delves deeply into sustaining a marriage for 25 years, including honesty about struggles, different ways of showing love, and checking in with your partner’s emotional needs ([39:46], [43:01]).
  • “Words are cheap. Action means everything.” — Shawn ([52:20])

• Mutual Grounding

  • Both couples (Diana & Omar, Shawn & Jackie) navigate business, personal ambition, and mutual grounding—supporting each other’s career pivots and sometimes accepting financial setbacks for greater happiness ([56:00]).

6. Knowing Your Worth & Boundaries

• Handling Unfair Demands
  • Diana and Shawn discuss the pitfalls of underpricing their knowledge and effort, being asked for free advice or production, and learning when to say no ([66:08], [68:31]).
  • “You cannot give more than what they paid for...maybe you’ll give, like, one freebie here and there, but you can’t give everything.” — Diana ([67:48])

7. Personal Brand, Quality, and Growth

• Brand Evolution

  • Diana’s client experience is highly individualized: “When they come in...they want the experience with Diana Mirage...owning your own look.” ([09:55])
  • The importance of quality over quantity—of garments, relationships, and opportunities ([71:34]).

• Upcoming Projects

  • Diana teases her new unisex perfume, “Vanilla Musk,” imminent expansion in New York, Jersey, and Dubai, and involvement in women’s leadership and fashion events ([70:56], [73:49]).

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Adversity & Comebacks:
  “We went from having seven stores to having almost nothing. Like, you know, we didn’t have any employees...It was me and my brother in the back doing, you know, the designs, you know, the shipping, everything, everything. We are really direct to consumer... Wholesale, just doing it all.” — Diana ([21:40])
• On Authenticity:
  “Everybody is a limited edition, one of one.” — Shawn ([09:26])
• On Self-Care:
  “At after 40, I stopped thinking about what other people think and just concentrating on my peace and my creativity.” — Diana ([26:50])
• On Partnership:
  “If you can find a way to be empathetic towards your partner... if you can’t do that as a partner, it’s just headbutting.” — Shawn ([49:35])
• On Owning Your Worth:
  “As a small business, you do not have to get paid certain weeks or certain months because you have to make sure that your business is running. And when people don’t know how much you’re worth or they don’t appreciate what you do, they do not belong in your circle.” — Diana ([65:44])
• On Letting Go:
  “Don’t burn your bridges with people. Let them burn their own bridge.” — Diana ([63:08])
• On Staying the Course:
  “If you said it and you don’t do it, then what you’re telling yourself is, I can’t trust you. I can’t trust myself.” — Shawn ([76:47])

---

Important Timestamps

• 01:00 – Diana opens up about losing seven stores after COVID
• 03:34 – Diana shares engagement and marriage story, cultural influences
• 06:21 – Discussion on “no competition” mindset
• 21:40 – The brutal downsizing of business post-COVID
• 24:25 – Pivoting to mask production and donation, CNN recognition
• 29:34 – Small wins and importance of recovery
• 35:46 – Balancing entrepreneurship and family life
• 43:01 – Partnership, emotional check-ins with spouse
• 49:35 – Supporting your partner through communication
• 66:08 – Knowing your worth and setting business boundaries
• 70:56 – Announcement of new perfume and Dubai expansion
• 76:47 – Consistency, self-trust, and perseverance

---

The Episode’s Takeaway

This episode is a raw, unflinching meditation on the realities of entrepreneurship, particularly through crisis. Diana’s story is one of relentless determination, creative reinvention, and the sustaining power of family and authentic community. The honesty about failure, the acknowledgment of unseen emotional labor, and the tips for maintaining boundaries make this a standout episode for anyone who’s ever doubted their resilience or wondered if perseverance pays off.

"We’re all working on ourselves." — Diana ([78:03])

---

Connect with Diana Mirage:

• Diana Mirage Couture site
• WhatsApp: [phone]

Final Thought:
Stay determined…and remember, if you stay in your lane, eventually the right opportunities—and the right people—will find you.

Transcript

[Strayer University Announcer]

At Strayer University, we help students like you go from is it possible? To anything is possible by offering access to up to 10 no cost gen Ed courses so you can reach your goals affordably and fast. Visit Strayer. Edu to learn more. No cost Gen Ed is provided by Strayer University affiliate sofia. Eligibility rules apply. Connect with us for details. Strayer University is certified to operate in Virginia by Chev and has many campuses, including at 2121 15th Street north in Arlington, Virginia.

[OnDeck Business Loan Announcer]

Cash flow crunch on Deck's small business line of credit gives your business immediate access to funds up to $200,000 right when you need it. Cover seasonal dips, manage payroll, restock inventory, or tackle unexpected expenses without missing a beat. With flexible draws, transparent pricing, and control over repayment, get funded quickly and confidently. Apply [e-mail] funds could be available as soon as tomorrow. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by Ondeck or Celtic Bank. Ondeck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans, an amount subject to lender approval.

[Diana Mirage]

I owned about seven, eight fabric stores in the industry of New York City. You know, you're talking 25 to $50,000 rent a month. Me and my husband, we worked for everything that we have. After Covid, it was really a hard moment. We went from having seven stores to having almost nothing.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Most people would retreat.

[Diana Mirage]

Diana Marash Couture is open for everyone,

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

and they have Prosecco there, too, just so you guys know. Hey, what's up, guys? We're back. Before I introduce today's guest, I've been building something in the background and I need you involved in it. It's something that you haven't seen from me before, and it's going to be massively impactful for you. So go to www.thedeterminedsociety.com next level now for today, we have an amazing designer, Diana Marach of Diana Marach Couture in New York City. She's built an amazing freaking brand and she's a close friend and actually invited my ugly ass to walk in Fashion Week. So welcome to the show.

[Diana Mirage]

Thank you so much, Sean. It really means a lot to me. And also just knowing you as a person, like, you just brought like a lot of positivity, a lot of exposure, and a lot of just positive energy to my brand, and I just love that about you.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Well, I appreciate you noticing that because I can tell you what, that's the first time I've ever been to a fashion show, all right? Much less participate 1. And when I was back in the green room. Oh, man, it can get catty back there. People are very stressed. And I'm just like this dude looking around like, yeah, why is everybody so mad? Like, I'm here about to shit my pants, because I don't know if I. I don't know what's gonna happen out there. You know what I mean? And so, no, it was a great experience. And, you know, but. But seriously, it meant a lot to me, you know, in mid January when you asked me to do it, because, you know, doing something like that was never on my bingo card. And now that I've done it, I'm like, I kind of want to do it again, you know, and. And do multiple. So, you know, not from a standpoint of like, hey, yo, I'm a model. But it's really cool to get introduced to different circles, right? And different skill sets that you can acquire by doing things that are uncomfortable, which is what we talk about here. So walk us through your journey a little bit. You know, you've been. Hold on. I got to tell the audience this. Diana has been with the same man, which is her husband. Now. They got engaged when you were 16.

[Diana Mirage]

I was engaged at 16, got married at 19. Coming from North Africa, they do not believe in, like, dating as much. It's straight up marriage and just bringing a different twist. Being an American, Moroccan, Emirati, just the North African, and at the same time, super American. I just wanted to be with my love, like, with the person that I trust. I felt like he was my father at the same point as my love, you know, And I feel like he made me really powerful in my journey to kind of like, accomplish everything that I wanted to accomplish.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Well, you know, kudos to the two of you, because that is a very rare thing. You know, I think I've had. I don't know how many girls I've. I've been with since I was 16. Okay, listen, I'm not saying it's. It's in the. Anyway, we'll. We'll. I digress. But, you know, it's a rare thing, right? And to have somebody to support you and give you strength through building something that. That you've built and look like I, you know, the viewers, if they have or the listeners haven't been to your boutique in New York City, it is insane. And I'm going to tell you what it. Like, the work that you've done and the materials, just, everything is beautiful. But what stands apart for me is the experience inside with your sister, your employee, and it just It. I mean, listen, I can't walk in there and not stay there for an hour and a half, two hours. It's like a freaking movie when you go there.

[Diana Mirage]

I mean, it's still a small business. It's a family owned business. I brought my brother in as a partner. In 2003, I started the business. I've been in the industry since 1994. Started the business since 1999. After my father passed away in 2006, I just thought that I need a little bit more help to make the business a bit bigger. And that's when my brother came in and we just. We are on the same page. He brings something different than I do. And of course, it's still Diana Mirage, and we just bring it to the next level. I dream about this stuff, you know, I dream about my vision, I dream about my designs. It comes really natural to me every day. It's not like somebody that has to be kind of inspired by someone. I mean, I am inspired by a lot of people, but I just feel like I have no competition with anybody. I have my own lane, my own vision, and I'm just bringing it forward.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Wow. Okay. So before we get into the journey of starting the brand and everything that goes along with it, I do want to touch on that. Stand in your own lane.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You don't have competition. And what I want the audience to realize is when Diana or somebody like myself says, I don't have competition, that's not arrogance. That is, we know what we're good at and we know what our lane is, and. And we try to focus on that one thing, and the peripherals don't matter.

[Diana Mirage]

Right.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And so I want, like, that. That is an amazing thing.

[Diana Mirage]

I just feel like I also do seminars. I help other designers come up from nothing. And I give back to the community universities, like what we just did for St. Thomas University and many other schools, high schools. I give back to the United nation. Being a peacemaker and just being involved in the community. And also being awarded by Joe Biden as the best business in New York City in 2005. 25. I'm sorry. It just makes you look at the bigger part. If you just concentrate on yourself and everybody, everybody has their own lane. It's just like you are driving a car. You have to stay in your lane.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You know, it's so. It's one of those things that it's easy to say but hard to do. Right. Because sometimes when we're in the grind and our nose is in the pavement, we're Trying to beat the shit out of this whole thing and let it. And get it to grow. You know, sometimes it's easy just to kind of look up to the left and the right of you and be like, yo, what is everybody else doing? Right? And to be able to fully focus on your own journey is truly a game gift. There's not a whole lot of people out there that can do that. And if I'm being fully transparent, I still look to the right and left of me, right? Because, you know, I want to know what's going on out there, but. But sometimes I can get a little caught up in it. Right. And, you know, so what are some of the things that you've done over the years to. To keep you centered and. And not look to the.

[Diana Mirage]

You know what it is? I collaborated with a lot of people. A lot of people did some bad things to me. And it does make you kind of upset at the moment or when it happens, but you just move on. You kind of like, stay very much in your lane, and what comes around goes back around. And karma is.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

It's. She's a bitch is.

[Diana Mirage]

Is really real. And just seeing a lot of things that have done. And I collaborated with certain people, and they try to be on my same level or in my circle, or they use my name to get to certain parts or to certain lanes. And, you know, I just look at it, and then I have people sending me messages, oh, Diana, they want to be you. And I'm just like, I pray for them.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You know, that's one of the things. You know, when I started this, I thought I had to echo somebody else's energy because I saw what was working for somebody else. I was like, okay, well, I need to be that. And what happened was nothing. It was crickets, because I wasn't being myself.

[Diana Mirage]

Right.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You know, and I think what we have to realize is everybody is a limited edition, one of one.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I mean, it's a cliche for a reason, right?

[Diana Mirage]

I mean, there's no other Sean.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

No, there's not.

[Diana Mirage]

There's no other Diana Mirage. So even if I sell Diana Mirage Couture tomorrow, it's still Diana Mirage.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Right? Right, Right. So walk us.

[Diana Mirage]

Walk us.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Walk the audience through the journey of starting this brand. Like, because, you know, I would imagine there's been multiple evolutions of the designs, etc. Walk us through.

[Diana Mirage]

So just to tell you, I started in this industry at 16 years old. Wild since 1994. Okay, so I was the fashion consultant. I was a fashion textile designer at the same time I used to design dresses and style people just once a week. I can only take one client a week because I'm still 16 years old. I was dating.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

You know, I was having fun.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You had shit to do, baby. You had shit to do. And.

[Diana Mirage]

And then it grew to this thing that people just want a little piece of Diana, and when they come in and they really just want the experience with Diana Mirage, it's really the experience of being dressed, owning your own look. And I just try to make sure on men and women, because we are unisex, that you are still the same person in the clothing. I want you to feel great. I want you to feel like you are coming in where and all eyes are on you. But at the same time, very respectfully.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

It's a great point, because when I went there, it was actually kind of funny. I was panicking at first. They said, here's your blazer. I said, okay, what about my pants? What about my shirt? Right? And they're like, oh, yeah, we don't have that. I'm like, well, we measured. I'm like, okay, no problem. I have black jeans. She goes, yeah, go ahead and wear those. And so what I thought was gonna be an adverse moment, I was like, what's the solution? What do I need to go do now? And so I went to a store and I got this black shirt, and it came together perfectly, and I felt like me, right? You know, So, I mean, you're not

[Diana Mirage]

the traditional, like, wear a suit to work day, you know? No, you are, Sean. You like to be, like, still bit fitted, sporty, but at the same time, you want to look elegant, you know, so it's the new 2026 now, not every. Unless you're in finance, then you're wearing a suit. But, you know, even the finance guys don't want to wear a suit every day, you know, so just going into a club or a dinner, you want to look, like, fashionable in a blazer, but still be in a V neck T shirt and a slim pair of pants. And I think you wore Converse on the Runway.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Freaking Converse. I wore black Converse. Black Chucks, baby.

[Diana Mirage]

And you know what? I have your blazer and your picture on my product online. I know in dianamaraj couture.com.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

and it's called, if you men are

[Diana Mirage]

interested, the Sean Blazer.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

It's called the Shawn blue blazer. And go check it out. Like, you know, it's funny because nobody's seen me in anything like that, but I was very comfortable in it. And, you know, I just. I was like, wow. Like, dude, you can dress it up a little bit, man. This is pretty cool.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah. So, no, like, you know, again, 25% of my clientele are men. 75% are women, you know, and going through, like, I just show them every type of personality of every person. And as soon as. Or in a blazer. Bling. Blazer. Simple blazer. And then men just look at it. Oh, I see. This is more me. I see. This is more me. And I'm like, okay, well, look at this one. Oh, this is more me. I don't know about this one. Maybe this is too feminine. You know, So, I mean, Diana Mirage is always about stepping out and taking the shine, but at the same time, in your own personality and your own

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

skin, that checks out.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Because that blazer I wore, that was. That was. That was pretty shiny. Yeah, right. I've never worn anything like that before. And it was your design, and it was a little more dressed up than I've ever done. But. But again, like, I can't.

[Diana Mirage]

With your personality.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Right. I didn't feel like.

[Diana Mirage]

You didn't feel like you was too flamboyant?

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

No, not at all.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah. And then a lot of guys, like, I must have shown it to, like, 15, 20 guys, and, like, they were just like, oh, this is more like me. And I'm like, okay, well, that's Sean. We love him, by the way. You should watch him.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. And buy the blazer.

[Diana Mirage]

And buy the blazer. Press that button. You got to remember, guys, Diana Mirage is a small business. We do work on sales to support our brand, and we have to make sales to stay in business. And we are not a typical brand just out there that is made in a different country. We are made in New York.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Like you. You see it happening real time in the back of the store.

[Diana Mirage]

I mean, listen, it's made in New York. We make everything officially made in America. Made in New York. And how many brands is made in New York?

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I don't have the answer to that, but I would say not very many.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Right. So. All right, so you started in fashion when you were 16, and when you started to move into building your own brand. Talk about the journey. Because here's what I want to extract for the audience. Here is. Is the hard moments, the. The, you know, the consistent peaks and valleys of growing something. They. They need to hear that. Hey, guys, we're going to take a quick break, and we're going to slide into our recovery segment brought to you by Therabody what an amazing technology that therabody has. And it was founded on a really cool story by Dr. Jason Worsland. It was founded on pain. He got into an accident and had this extreme pain in his arm and found that percussive therapy really helped. So he created the very first version of the theragun with the makita drill just to pilot and test to see if his pain could be relieved by by percussive therapy overall. And surely it was. So now birth to the theragun and now therabody who has a multitude of products to help you recover emotionally and physically. And some of the products even help with stress, meditation and better sleep and just overall better wellness. And when I had Dr. J on the show earlier in 2025, it really spoke to me because his platform was founded out of. Out of physical pain and the determined society was founded out of emotional pain. And so it felt natural for us to partner up. So here we are, an official partnership with therabody and I want to talk to you about some of their products today that I've been enjoying that I think you need to understand and know more about so you could potentially implement them into your life. And I'm not going to get into a big deep dive of the actual science and everything like that. I'm just going to give you some anecdotal information based on the products that I'm using and that my wife is actually using too, that is helping us out a great deal at home. Because the great thing about these products, guys, is you can use them anywhere. You can use them in the gym, you can use them at home, in your bed, in your living room. Hell, you can even drive with a thera theragun pro plus in your car and use it on your quads, use it on your arms, whatever that is. The first thing I want to talk about is the theragun Pro plus. I bring that in my gym bag every day to the gym. And when I'm warming up, I use it to warm up, I put it on my arms. Whatever body part I'm using that day, I activate those muscles. And what I find is I'm able to move my body a lot quicker and I'm a lot stronger on those days that I do actually bring it and utilize it. I just think it's a great way to understand your body and the connection between your strength and your muscles and being warm and being able to perform. Because it's one thing to go work out, but it's another thing to perform while you're doing it. And the Theragun Pro plus helps me do that. Another thing that I really truly enjoy is that jet boots Pro plus, these things are wire free. There's no hassle, there's no cords, there's infrared LED light, there's that compression therapy. And I've been having bad pains in my ankles, both of them actually, for about a year. And I don't understand where it's coming from. But when I started using the boots religiously after a leg day or after a cardio session, I throw those boots on and I find myself a lot looser. Afterwards, I find myself lighter. And then the next day there's no pain in my lower extremity like my feet. The other thing that I really enjoy is that product really helps me recover a lot quicker. And let's face it, that's the most important thing when we're trying to move our bodies or we're trying to succeed in life is we want quick recovery emotionally and physically. And these products help me do that. And it can help you do that as well. One of the other things that I really want to go into because it's helping my wife out a ton of with headaches and being able to distract from the noise in our mind, and honestly it helps me with that too, is the Smart goggles. Whenever we feel a slight headache coming on or things are getting really heavy just in our minds, just thinking about all the stressors, all the things out there that we can't control, we throw the goggles on, get in a quiet place, and there's different cycles on there and different intensities of vibrations and massaging and that you can either turn it up or turn it down. And what I really enjoy is it allows me to focus on what's going on with just me and I think about things. And the massaging with the smart goggles relieves either headaches and it relaxes me and relaxes my wife to a point where we can fall asleep better. We are preparing to kind of downshift and shut down and slow down for the evening. So I heavily recommend them. The other thing it's really good for is just creating a peaceful time in your day. And what I found since using the Smart Goggles and then the other products is it works for me, it works for my family, and I know it can work for you too. So I want you guys to think about things that you are struggling with. If it's lower back pain or you wake up in the morning, your neck is tight, I'm Gonna tell you, the theragun pro plus will help that out. They have cold therapy on it, hot therapy. I mean, think about that. When I opened that box and realized that I could have heat therapy and cold therapy and a theragun changed everything for me. And also really made the thing that I hate doing the most is warmup. Made that very easy for me just by applying it to the muscle group that I'm going to use before I do it and in between sets, which promotes quicker recovery between sets. So if you're looking to go high volume or to lift heavy weights, I strongly consider that all these products are there to help you move along in your day with less pain and recover quicker. So go check it out. Because now, like I said, the official partnership has begun. And from now until the end of March, in your first order, you get 15% off your first order, not every order. So if you're going to buy some stuff, load up there in that cart for that first time and you get 15% off. Go to therabody.com and at checkout, the code is determined. So let me know how you guys like it. Until then, stay determined.

[Diana Mirage]

Well, I mean, listen, I got married at 19 years of age. I've been married for 25 years. And me and my husband traveled everywhere. We were hardworking couple that we worked for everything that we have. And we made some bad mistakes on certain things. I had at one point. I'm also a textile designer. So I owned about seven to eight fabric stores in the industry of New York City. And you know, you're talking 25 to $50,000 rent a month for each store.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

That's insane.

[Diana Mirage]

So. So, you know, giving or taking, whatever. I was opening stores, I was doing really great business. And after Covid, it was really a hard moment. We went from having seven stores to having almost nothing. Like, you know, we. We didn't have any employees. Everybody was on unemployment. We didn't know what was going to happen. Me and my brother was behind the scenes working. I made about. I donated about 20,000 masks to. People were in the front, front line. And I sold a lot. I sold a lot of masks to just get through. Sold fabrics, sold textiles, was on CNN as made in New York masks and just making improvement. And a lot of these landlords kind of like made us go to towards the wall and our leases because it was no such thing as Covid and our leases. There's no chapter that protects us in any way. That means if I don't pay, I have bad credit, you know, yeah. So I couldn't have that, you know.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You know, it's interesting because a lot of small businesses were in that position during those times, right? Like, the pandemic ushered in a lot of different things, you know, a lot of different opportunities for people like myself included.

[Diana Mirage]

Right? But.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

But also what it did is transition people out, right? And you stuck through it. Like, you didn't. You condensed from seven stores to, like you said, almost nothing. It was you and your brother in the back doing, you know, the designs,

[Diana Mirage]

you know, the shipping, everything, everything. We are really direct to consumer, like, wholesale, just doing it all and at the same time, still paying the insurances for employment and everybody being unemployment, I kept a very good relationship with my employees. And some of them came back, some of them did it, and it was just. We had to negotiate every lease one by one. We even had a restaurant at one point that we had to close down in Covid.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You know, there's one thing that stuck out that I want the. The audience to really take in when you guys are struggling, and yet. And you. And you lost all your employees and all that stuff. You donated masks. But then you also sold masks, right? And then earned an opportunity to be on CNN for Made in New York Masks. I want to let you know something here that that's rare, okay? Because most people would retreat. You found a way to get it done. It didn't matter if it was selling a dress or a blazer. It was like, okay, if it's a mask, I'm gonna sell it. And I think that is such a special thing about you. Specifically, you know, in. In this. In this, you know, direct conversation is right? You didn't give up. You didn't beat your head against the wall. You might have bit your head against the wall a little bit, but you found a way to generate revenue. And I think there's a lot of people out there right now that if they don't get what they want, they're like, there's no jobs. Well, listen, listen. There's no jobs, right, because you lost your job in corporate. But I can tell you what, if you go to any McDonald's, you know, they're hiring managers for 90 grand a year plus full benefits, but nobody will do it because of the pride and the ego, right?

[Diana Mirage]

I mean, listen, you have to work hard and stay with a mentality that is open. And as, you know, being a small business, you just have to work hard. There's no. You cannot say no.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

You have to keep it going.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, man.

[Diana Mirage]

And just like Clients you have. My main focus is delivering the product. If I promise you and I take your order, it's being delivered. So that's my main focus.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You. In my. In my experience with you since meeting you in January, you've never broken a word.

[Diana Mirage]

No. Whatever it is, I'm. I do not burn bridges. Also, if the person burns their own bridge, that's on their own risk, you know, And I just let it go, and then I just keep going, staying in my lane.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Again, that's an important point. Right? Because when you're able to do that, and it's not. It's a simple concept, but it's not easy to execute.

[Diana Mirage]

Right.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

But once you. Once you really get into that, the world opens up to you because you're not distracted constantly.

[Diana Mirage]

Right. I. I just feel like at after 40, I stopped thinking about what other people think and just concentrating on my peace and my creativity and everybody else. What they say doesn't matter to me.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

The creativity aspect, yeah, if you were worried about everything else, the external factors, you cannot have peace. And if you don't have peace, you cannot create. You cannot visualize.

[Diana Mirage]

Right.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

What you want to. What you want to build out in

[Diana Mirage]

fashion and business, you have to be creative. And if somebody messes with your piece and also your creativity, it's a problem. You have to keep it going. We are not for everyone at the same time. And if you want us to help you, we are here. Diana Marashka tour is open for everyone.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And they have Prosecco there, too. Just. Just so you guys know. And a lot of freaking comedy. Yes, and a lot of freaking comedy. You know, when. When. When you were going through this. This specific time of, I guess, contracting the business a little bit because of everything that was going on in the. In society, were there ever any moments where you sit there, sat there and said, I'm not saying you committed to this thought, but, like, I should just move on. I should just quit.

[Diana Mirage]

You know what it is when you work so hard so much, and sometimes it comes a moment that you're like, I give up. You know, And I did that with the restaurant business, where I was like, you know, arguing with my brothers that were my partners and in the restaurant business. And I also, I'm a real estate investor. Also I'm an interior designer. So I built this restaurant with love and, like, tile by tile. So, you know, the feeling that shut down March 23rd. We had to close down the doors, you know, and we didn't know that if we was going to close for a Month or two or three. And it came to a point that I said, you know what we lost. Even my husband, when he heard how much we lost, he's like, babe, oh, my God. We could invest in real estate instead of the restaurant. I'm like, could have, would have, whatever.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

Keep it growing. Let's keep it going. And sometimes you just. You just drop your cards. But God is great. If you have passion and you have creativity, and then you're a good person, you're going to keep grinding and you're going to get yours.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. I think it's important to also note that when you're all of those things, all those characteristics, traits, whatever you want to call them, but also take action.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Right. Like the action. Yeah. The consistent action. And the one thing that I love to highlight here is everybody thinks you got to go a thousand miles an hour every single day. You've got to knock everything out. Like, some days. Some days a win is just putting on your shoes and going for a walk. And when you do that over and over again and you commit to something, it's like an investment account. Right. It's compounding interest.

[Diana Mirage]

It's like a reboot.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

You know, sometimes you have to take your kids to Mexico and just disconnect, you know?

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

And. Or even go to Naples, you know. We come in to see you, Sean.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I know it's such a blessing to, like, I mean, when. When people. I mean, I don't really think people understand how much it means to me when they travel, you know, to see you. Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

We came miles away.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

It's nuts to see you. It's nuts.

[Diana Mirage]

We was driving at 11pm at night yesterday.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Now they're gonna think you drove from New York. She didn't. She flew. But they were on the east coast of Florida. They drove over here after a long event that you guys did at St. Thomas University that you already mentioned. But, like, that. That's the cool part about connecting. Right. And networking is giving back to the community. Right. And then doing things like this, like, so cool. And it's a treat for me. So.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Again, thank you.

[Diana Mirage]

It's a pleasure, Sean.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And all the FaceTimes. All the damn FaceTimes. You know, I don't think I've FaceTime more than twice in my life. Until I met that guy. Until Matt came in my life, you know, it was like there was face times with the wife and the kids, but I enjoy it because it's an additional connection.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You know, like, you live in New York. He's in New Jersey now. So if I can lock eyes on you guys, then I feel like it's right here, is that it's all about,

[Diana Mirage]

like, supporting other people with creativity and just staying positive.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, the support part.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Like, to me, like, when. When. And this is why I always. I like to retract a lot of things I said at the beginning when I was starting. I'm doing this on my own.

[Diana Mirage]

Right.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I may have been the only one in the show. I may have been the only one messing around with imovie trying to edit it. Right. But people were still there. Like, my wife and my kids were still there. Like, you know, my guests that were having on the show that still supported me, it wasn't the sport that I thought I needed, but it actually was. Right. And just to me, when. When you look at this whole thing, whether it's you're building your brand or me or whomever building whatever, you gotta really look at what's really happening. You're never alone.

[Diana Mirage]

Right. So you know what it is? When we looked at your picture and then we got, like, the Google Drives and all the links and everything, and me and my assistant was looking at the picture, and I'm like, you really sold the jacket. Like, you know, it's also like having a brand ambassador that kind of believes in your brand, so you kind of, like, style it in your own way, but at the same time, you love it. You just like selling the jacket, and that's what I need. It's brand ambassadors that sell my clothing. And also, we love you in the book.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

You know, because another man will be looking at that picture and be like, ooh, I want that. I'm ordering this. I've been watching it for, like, 10, 15 times, and it's going to come a day. I want this one.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

And I have a lot of clients that are that way. They, like, I just want this. What should I do? Well, Zelme or diana? Mirage couture.com. i'll send you a link, then you can check out.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You know, it's. It's funny. Like, I'm glad it worked out.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Have you actually sold those jackets?

[Diana Mirage]

I actually did not sell that jacket, but we had a few men that looked at yours and ordered the same kind of jacket, burgundy and brown and black.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

So they bought. They bought.

[Diana Mirage]

So, yeah. So they did custom because. Well, they didn't have as a good body as you did.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Well, thank you.

[Diana Mirage]

They needed custom.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Okay.

[Diana Mirage]

It was a special size, you know.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

And, you know, it's just, it worked out well.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

It's cool that, you know, I went there and I was just doing something fun and, you know, a couple dudes like, I want this, but not that. And it, and it led to something. Yeah, you know, I, I think that's really important. So, I mean, you can throw whatever you want. I mean, you can throw me on your side. I will do it in a heartbeat.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I would do it in a heartbeat.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah. I mean, I feel like the red jacket that you're supposed to wear to the war tomorrow, we still want you

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

to be on the red carpet to me. Right?

[Diana Mirage]

I mean, it's not that far away. You're only two hours away.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I know. I'm working through it. I'm, I'm, I'm actively working through it, you know, and it's funny because I do all the things, right. I'm constantly moving and when I start to feel like, all right, Sean, the, your internal governor is blown up right now. I gotta, I gotta give it some thought. And that's kind of what's going on right now. Because we did New York last week or this week. I don't even know what week it is. Yeah, it was this week. And then, you know, potentially Miami on Saturday and then Tennessee on Monday.

[Diana Mirage]

Right.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And so, you know, and, and there's some big interviews happening in Tennessee. So it's like, I just work through it and I'm like, I mean, you

[Diana Mirage]

have to take what you can chew. Yeah, definitely.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

You have to work on yourself. If you feel like you are not great to come, it's fine.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. No, I appreciate that. But I think that's also a lesson for everybody is like, you want to be able to do all the things, like as a designer, as a show host, in growing brands, you want to be able to do it all. But there's a cost to that.

[Diana Mirage]

Right.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And for me, the cost is I get really short tempered.

[Diana Mirage]

Right.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Of course, you know, I get overwhelmed.

[Diana Mirage]

Of course.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

When, when you're, when you're doing too much and you've, you're, you're, you're biting off way more than you can chew. What are some of the things that, that you go through? Like your reactions.

[Diana Mirage]

So, like, I was telling Matt, like, even though my husband calling me, he's, he calls me and he's like, when you coming? When you coming? And I finally told him I'm coming tomorrow night. And he's like, but you literally coming Sunday morning, like, that's not tomorrow night.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

And you know what? Like, with me, I get really homesick. I just want to see my husband to the side, my twins and. And I just feel more at home. Like I just need my own bed. It doesn't matter if you own a thousand dollar a night hotel room or a $500 hotel room. Your bed and your husband and your kids next to you.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

It's the best thing ever. And just being like an entrepreneur, but at the same time a family person, people respect that.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. I don't think there's, you know, there's a difference. Right. When, when you're building something and you think that you have to give all your time to the thing, and then the people that suffer the most are the people that are supporting you the most, which is your family.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And I went through that at one point and I'm like, what in the fuck am I doing?

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Like, I'm supposed to be doing this for them, but they're.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You know, I'm. I'm consumed by this thing and it created a. An amount of turbulence.

[Diana Mirage]

Well, listen, you have to understand, they are still different. Like, you know, they are different people than you are personally. You know what I mean? Like, even though my husband is my great supporter, my kids are my great supporters, and they have. Everybody has their own visual.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

So they are not Diana Mirage herself. So they can never be in the brain of Diana Mirage, because Diana Mirage knows what she's accomplishing this week. But, you know, next week it will be family life.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

And life will go on. And remember, it's one life to live.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, yeah. You got to maximize.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes, I know. But you have to also work on your peace and your health. Because if you cannot be perfectly healthy to do something, then you have to back off.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

Because sometimes it's just not for you.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. And those are, those are hard moments. Right.

[Diana Mirage]

It's okay. You don't have to overthink it.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

No, but. But it's like when you do too much and then you're not around the family because I. Because you're going through what you were saying about, you know, it doesn't matter if it's your bed or not. And your husband's like, when are you coming home? Like, I love the fact that my wife wants me back before I even leave.

[Diana Mirage]

Right.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I mean, you know, we were doing a group text, you know, and, you know, I was like, I hadn't even departed Fort Myers yet. And Jackie goes, hurry up and get home. And I. And we, you know, chat with Matt. I'm like, I haven't even taken off yet, but, like, I would rather have that than someone.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah, of course.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Get the fuck out. I've had it now. There was a point. There were some times where, you know, back in the day, she goes, man, I was really happy when you took that trip because I couldn't handle your.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah, exactly.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

We were on the verge. Like, we were. I was. You know, I don't even know. I think it was probably, like, a good four years ago where I. I had to, because I wasn't doing this full time yet. I was. I was still in medical sales, and I had to go to Portugal for where this. Yeah, I went to Lisbon.

[Diana Mirage]

I love Lisbon.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, I didn't really have.

[Diana Mirage]

Really. Okay.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I'll get through that.

[Diana Mirage]

Don't worry. It's fine.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Well, no, we're going to get there. Yeah. And, you know, and I didn't know this at the time, but, like, it came out later. And she goes, you know, that. That trip happened at a really cool time. She goes, because I was really struggling with you. And so when. When people think everything is okay. Right? Yeah, we argued a little bit, but I think it's super important to check in with your partner and be like, hey, where are we? Do you know.

[Diana Mirage]

You know what it is? It's so funny. Me and my husband never check where we are. And because I'm so much in a run, like, he can't catch me enough to be. So when I'm right next to him, I'm like, babe, you don't even know what to do with me when I'm right next to you. He's like, because you're right next to me. It just feels right. Can you just stay there? Don't go anywhere. Like, I'm like, but you just, like, stopping my time. I'm, like, right next to you. What are you gonna do with me now? Oh, can you, like, do something with me? And you know what it is?

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

See, this is. This is getting interesting. This is. This is what life's really about right now. I think that's good, though.

[Diana Mirage]

You know what it is? He's busy. I feel like after. He looks really young. I'm 44 years old. I'm very proud of my age. I feel like after 40, I found myself. He's eight years older than me. He's 50. And I feel like after 50, all he wants to do is for me to be right next to him. But I'm at the point in my life, after Covid, Five, six years after Covid, I'm a Lot of doors are opening.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

And you have to take it at that moment. He's like, oh, do I really have to go? Do I really have to shave? I'm like, babe, you tell me, do

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I have to shave? That is such a freaking man, dude.

[Diana Mirage]

He's a real madman. And I like it like that.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I ask my wife all the time, hey, should I shave? Like, should I? I mean, is it too long? No, you got one more day. Yeah, I have to ask her, right? Because I don't know what it is, is. I think it's like the man wanting.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Wanting to know where the wife's at. Like, hey, do you like this? Or you know, do I look stupid? Should I shave it? I mean, I can, I can.

[Diana Mirage]

I mean, me and my husband don't even have that time because it's like in and out, in and out, in and out. When he kisses me and I see something like perking, I'm like, okay, you're going to have to shave.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, you said perking. I didn' where you were going with it.

[Diana Mirage]

You said kissing.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You're like, in and out, in and out, in and out. I'm like, it sounds like he knows exactly what the to do with you.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah. You know, I'm like, oh my God. He just knows. I mean, like sometimes he'll, he'll be like really aggressive. My husband is an Aries and he's, he's a very straight up person and he'll tell you how it is. If he doesn't like something, he'll just tell you. And I'm just looking at him. Okay, we do not need to get there. And you know, I just, I was like, babe, if somebody like sees us together, they'll think you abusing me or something. He's like, they don't know us.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

They don't know us. That's another thing. It's like when you've been, and this is, this is why I love that we're, you know, the conversation has shifted into family and shifted into partnership, you know, with your, with your spouse. And I think that, you know, in this life, no matter what it is we're doing, like the home base is so important, but also your relationship is so proprietary, of course.

[Diana Mirage]

Like, you have to feel safe, you know what I mean? Like for me, I'm such a girly. Girly. I mean, I've been with my husband since I was 16.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

That's wild.

[Diana Mirage]

Like, I mean, that's crazy. Like sometimes I'll go, like, one time I went to LA and It was Grammy weekend, and it was an opportunity to get into the Grammys. And then it started raining, and something canceled. And then I literally, like, picked up my husband's like. I called my husband, and I was like. I started almost crying, and he's like, babe, do you want me to just buy you a first flight right now? You need to actually have that type of person in your shoulders. Like, do you want me to come? Like, who's bothering you? Like, I have to have your back. So that's the type of person I married again.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

That's the support aspect.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes. Like, we have no time for feelings.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

You know what I mean? He'll get over it. He'll be okay. But the love has to be over everything. You know what I mean? Like, I understand sometimes you don't have to talk to your partner about certain things, but it has to be, like, sometimes just the visual. You just look at her in the eyes, and she understands what you are saying.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

And that's what me and my husband do. I just look at him, and I'm like, okay, he needs some space.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Mm. Mm. Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

I talk to you tomorrow, y'.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

All See, I'm gonna go over here. But it's important to know your partner and to understand the needs of the other person, because if you don't understand the needs of the other person, it. Things can get very contentious.

[Diana Mirage]

Right.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Very rapidly, and everybody's sensitive.

[Diana Mirage]

It doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman. And it's really just getting to the bigger part and. And just moving on.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You said everybody's sensitive. I subscribe to that. I. I don't.

[Diana Mirage]

Okay, Sean.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I do. I do. I. I truly believe that everybody's sensitive. I think there's a lot of people out there that say, I don't deal with emotions. I don't have emotions. I have thick skin. I am not sensitive. That is. That is such a lie.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And I just don't know where. I don't know how we got there. Every. I mean, like, you are born with feelings, of course. And I don't care who you are, male or female. You can be an alpha female, alpha male, whatever. Doesn't matter. You have feelings because sometimes. And you can always tell. Right? You know, like the. The macho man or the. You know, they call them the. The manosphere. Right? They get on. They get on social media, and they just puff their chest, yelling and screaming.

[Diana Mirage]

It doesn't inspire me, but.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Right. No, no, it's. It's hilarious to watch. I laugh My ass off. I just don't care. Like, dude, if you didn't care, you wouldn't be so energetic if you didn't have an emotional response.

[Diana Mirage]

They have. That's what's called a disorder. I'm sorry.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

That's not feelings. That's in a different level sometimes, just being a wife and. And a husband to anybody, would I say, if your husband looks good, be like, babe, oh, you look really good today. Yeah, you should, like, amp them up. Like, oh, that color looks really good on you. And. And, you know, sometimes I'll just do that to my husband, and sometimes he just needs it.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

Or somebody. He'll call me. Somebody's making me a hard time at work. I'm like, babe, they can't even afford you.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Mm.

[Diana Mirage]

I'm like, can you look at the big picture? Like, you are here, and they are way below there.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

What does he do?

[Diana Mirage]

So he's. He's a, like, instructor also, like, he used to have his own trucking company, and after Covid, we did sell it. So he went into management of trucking, and he works for a big company that we actually donated a hundred thousand masks. That's called waste management.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Oh, wow. That's a small company, right?

[Diana Mirage]

It's a. It's a very small company.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, for the audience. That's. That's sarcasm. That's a mess.

[Diana Mirage]

And you know what it is? They want him to do much bigger in management and a lot of different things, but he refuses because he just doesn't. I mean, at the same time, like, I tell him, babe, you are worth too much. You know what I mean? At the same time, he goes to work driving a $200,000 car. I mean, that's pretty badass. Plays with their emotions. You know what I mean? But at the same time, we do need the health insurance, and I am in a small business, and we have to play the cards right.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You know, Listen, it's all about teamwork. Hey, no, that makes. That makes perfect sense. You know, there's. There's. It reminds me what you said to him. What's his first name?

[Diana Mirage]

His name is Omar.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Omar. Okay. What you say to Omar in those situations is a lot like what my wife Jacqueline says to me. I remember when I was starting this, and I would get a relatively bigger name, right? Like, oh, my God, I can't believe it. And she looks at me, and she goes, they get to talk to you?

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Like, what are you. What are you talking about? You're. You're the one. Like, they get to be in your presence. They get to have this conversation with you because they're gonna figure out who you are.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And they're gonna be like, wow, special dude.

[Diana Mirage]

And even though you're a really amazing, nice guy, but.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

But we.

[Diana Mirage]

I don't think sometimes you can be too nice, you know? Yeah, it's okay.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

But, like, my thing is, is, like, you don't look at yourself or I don't look at myself. Like, okay, that person gets to talk to me. I still don't, because I believe, like, everything's, like, really a really level playing field, and we're all on this earth together.

[Diana Mirage]

Right.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And we're all going through. We're equal.

[Diana Mirage]

We all believe the same.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

We're all going through something. Right. The only difference is I like being connected with people that love to have good conversation, that are vulnerable, that are open.

[Diana Mirage]

Right.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Closed off.

[Diana Mirage]

But she keeps you grounded.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Oh, dude.

[Diana Mirage]

She actually tells you what's what you worth.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Oh, yeah. Oh, no. You know, she'll ground the out.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah. So even though. Yeah, exactly. That's great. That's a good person to be with.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I. Trust me. Pulls no punches.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Pulls zero.

[Diana Mirage]

That's what I saw. My husband, I'm like, okay, come on. This is just an employee, and you work in for a public company, and it's okay. And I'm like, babe, well, do you want to take responsibility and be like the big, big manager? He's like, no. I was like, okay, so just. Just ignore it.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, but. But it's. It's. It's good to have that because. And. And. And again, I love that the conversation shifted here because there's so many people that are listeners that have questions about how to run a successful relationship.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You know, how to. How to improve their marriage. And I think it's really about communication, but most of it really is. Like, if you can find a way to be empathetic towards your partner, no matter what they're going through, no matter what you feel about that moment, like, how you feel about what Omar is going through means nothing. You have to dive into, like, what he's going through me. Like, okay, like, I hear you. What do you need from me? You need me to listen? Do you want advice? Because I'm here in. And if you can't do that as a partner, it's just headbutting.

[Diana Mirage]

I mean, sometimes. Sometimes I'm super busy, but he is trying to tell me something. And sometimes he. He calls me and wants to talk to me about certain things, but I'm. When I'm right next to him. He wouldn't talk to me about nothing.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

He's just, babe, he misses you, dude.

[Diana Mirage]

I'm like, yeah. I'm like, babe, can you say that when I'm right next to you? Like right now on the phone? It's just I have people in front of me. I don't want to talk about it. But, you know, like, again, like I said, women, men, you can be whoever you are, you still sensitive in your own way. You still have emotions, and it's really a strong woman and a strong man to pull you through. And that person really has to love

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

you unconditionally, you know, I love that. It's, you know, knowing your partner is so important.

[Diana Mirage]

You know what? A friend of mine was like, like, you know, I mean, some people, you see them online or on Instagram or like flashing things and that and that whatever, and you think they are the happiest couple ever, right? And then after a year or so, you see them getting divorced and I'm like, oh, my God, I couldn't believe. I feel like they were the perfect couple. And you know what? A friend of mine was like, you know, you know why we were carrying divorce? Because when I seen you and your husband, I always thought that person was not for me. Because it's just the way he was looking at you sometimes he. He's not telling you how he feels. It's really those eyes, like the eye moment, how he looks at you. Like. Like he doesn't tell you because he doesn't want his, like, emotions to get, like, to a different level. And he feels like he's. He's like, low in front of you, but it's just. It just like when that person looks at that person and they just love

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

them unconditionally, you know, you're bringing up something that struck a thought.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Words are cheap. Action means everything.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And so what Omar does is he takes action. And that's something that Jackie does. That's something that I do. She's better at it than me.

[Diana Mirage]

I can't wait to meet her.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Oh, dude, you're going to love her.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah, I don't.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I don't know if I want you to in the same way. Like these. They will dominate all of us. Like, we'll be done. Like, we're not even allowed to speak. Like, the energy that the alpha ness is just. Is crazy. But no, it's like, you know, like those are the things that, that couples need and it's super important. Right? Because, you know, without her. Like, this would not happen. Oh, just did. You know how. Okay. How many wives would truly be like, all right, go for it. Yeah, go for it. You know, quit your corporate job that you're making a couple hundred grand a year. We're super comfortable. We have the best benefits ever. Because you're in the medical industry.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Go. Go talk on a microphone in front of the camera. Like, that's exactly.

[Diana Mirage]

It takes a lot of work. I mean, sometimes you have to sit down and say what. What makes sense, you know? But you are building something big. And, Sean, I'm super proud of you.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Thank you.

[Diana Mirage]

And sometimes, as a friend, you just have to say to the other person, you did it. I'm proud of you.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

And you're a great person. I know. I will meet this beautiful Jackie soon.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You will.

[Diana Mirage]

And I'm not forgetting her name, which is amazing.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. See, that's good. That's good. That's really good. But, you know, it's. It's like that. That's it. It's when you can truly understand your partner's passions and in purpose, then you allow it. Right. Because if the role was reverse. Right. So let me stop real quick. Me back up. When I met Jackie, we were both in sales, and we were like. Her and I were. You know, I remember killing. I mean, we were. She was in the Miami office. I was in the Fort Myers office. And I said to Dan, I'm like, who's that chick? Like, who is that? Like, she's kicking my ass.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And he goes, go get it. I'm like, she's got a target on her back.

[Diana Mirage]

Okay.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And I had never met her, but I wanted to beat her because I wanted her to notice.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And then she did, and we formed a friendship. And then, you know, now it's. You know, the rest is history. Right. But after, like, right around Covid. Right. It's such a. I hate that. It was so terrible for so many people, but I love what it did for my family. Of course, you know, because it was a reset, you know, she left corporate America and went to work with one of her. With one of her friends, and then eventually said, you know what? I want to be a teacher. Like, I. Something I've always wanted to do. Will you support me in this? I'm like, what do you. Absolutely, 1,000%.

[Diana Mirage]

What do you need me to do?

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

So I went, you know, she goes, well, I'd really like to teach at this prep school. Not saying the name, because that's where

[Diana Mirage]

my kids go yeah.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And so I went to the headmaster, who I know very well, and I go, hey, here's this resume. This is my wife. Like, can we find a sub position for her? He's like, a week later, she was in the building.

[Diana Mirage]

Oh, my God.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

All right. And then she. I think she did like, maybe four days, and then they offered her a contract for the next school year.

[Diana Mirage]

Wow.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And so, as you know, when two salespeople are crushing it and then they both transition to different careers, finances take a dip.

[Diana Mirage]

Right, Right. And relationship starts hitting.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And that happened was. It was. It was a turbulent time, but we both supported each other.

[Diana Mirage]

Right. The love has to be insane.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. You know, I mean, I want her happy.

[Diana Mirage]

Right, of course.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You know, I mean, eventually I'm going to steal her and she's going to be here full time. I have every intention of doing that as quickly as humanly possible.

[Diana Mirage]

Of course.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

But.

[Diana Mirage]

But, like, she has the benefits, so don't forget that.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

No, I do. I do. I. I have. I. Well, she has hers.

[Diana Mirage]

Right.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

But then I. Me and my kids.

[Diana Mirage]

Oh, you have yours as well.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. You're private. I mean, okay, it's. It's not as great as it used to.

[Diana Mirage]

It's not as cheap.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Oh, my God. No, it's cheap.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

But it's like. Like I'm building my own castle every time I need to submit a claim.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You know, I was like, I gotta do it myself.

[Diana Mirage]

I understand.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Well, she does it. She's a rock star.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah. That's amazing.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. What started off in fashion and turned into relationship.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You know, that's. That's just cool.

[Diana Mirage]

I mean, you have to understand, we bleed the same. We are human beings.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

You know, so it doesn't matter. Fashion, pharmaceutical, teaching, it all connects.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. What were some of the other hard moments, other than the COVID You.

[Diana Mirage]

You know, to tell you the truth, I was not the person that really dated or went through different relationships. So that's why I tell my brothers they've been in many relationships, many marriages. So I never actually went out of the box because I love my husband. And I feel like when you switch relationships, your life kind of dips. And I just feel like you should choose the right person in your life, and if it's not the person that's for you, do not settle.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

It's a good point.

[Diana Mirage]

I just felt like my husband was my support system. I felt safe. I did not know that my business is going to grow this big, you know, and he was just super supportive, and I just felt Safe question, because

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I know when you got. So you. You said that you started Dana Mirage Couture, it was at 90.

[Diana Mirage]

1999.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

99. Okay.

[Diana Mirage]

I was in the industry since 1994.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Correct. So five years after being in industry, you start your own brand. Right. And like you said, you didn't know your company was gonna get this big.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And so just everybody who's watching and listening just knows. Yes, she's a small business, but she is not a small business. Right. There's a big difference. Right. And so you had mentioned you didn't know it was gonna get this big, and I didn't know we would be here. But now that we're here, I know where we're going. So I'm like, holy shit, this is overwhelming. And you can't do that without an understanding partner. It keeps going back to that theme, right, of, like, you adjust and you. Sometimes you have to, you know, kind of. It's like Play doh. Life is like playo. Sometimes you have to mold it a little differently, make it work. Right.

[Diana Mirage]

And sometimes Jackie probably looks at your interviews and she says, I like this person that was in the interview. And sometimes maybe she says, otherwise, I don't know. You should not bring them around because. Because you know what it is? She feels it. There's a synergy.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Dude, she's a witch.

[Diana Mirage]

I mean, dude, she feels everything you do. Yeah, my husband feels everything I do, even though he's not here and present with me all the time, but he's watching every step I do.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

We have him on that camera right there. You can see you. There's one up there, you know.

[Diana Mirage]

Hi, babe.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Hey, what's up, dog? But no, that's the thing, right? And, you know, it's not so much about the guests that she would say that about. It would be people who come around and, you know, want a partner or, you know, I mean, like a business partner. I mean, like a brand or an individual. And she'll say no, like, right. That I. I feel. It's so weird. She goes, I see a dark energy, you know?

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And she goes, no, that person's like, I see gray.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah. Well, you know what it is? My husband is the same way. He can meet a person in five minutes, and he's very street smart. And not as. Not as me. I'm not. I haven't been in the street. I didn't date anybody before my husband. Yeah, I mean, I must have had, like, a crush here and there, but not really anything serious. But he'll meet you in five minutes. And he'll be like, I don't like that person. He'll definitely like you, Sean and Matt.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Thanks, Elmore.

[Diana Mirage]

But, you know, he'll be like, I don't know. This is too much. He's like, billionaires are not on Instagram.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. And see, that's the thing, though. Like, what you just said, Like, I don't like. No, not that person. Like, Jackie will literally tell me, no. Like, there's. There's something I don't. Within five minutes.

[Diana Mirage]

Like, she's a smart woman.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I don't even think it takes her or your husband five minutes. No, I. I think it probably is. Like, it's an energy. Right. And a lot of times I'm very gracious with it, and I have more of a. I would like to try it. Yeah. I was like, let me see.

[Diana Mirage]

I think we should give them a chance. Why not?

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Maybe I'm misreading this. And she'll be like, no, you're misreading the levity of this. That this is not good. Do not do this. And there's times where I listen, and

[Diana Mirage]

sometimes it comes to be being true. Jackie is really right.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Right. Yeah. There's times where I don't listen. You're right. I'm sorry.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Because when are you gonna listen to me? 100 of the time? I was like, probably never.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah. But you have to understand, we have passion. We are creative.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

They are not.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yep.

[Diana Mirage]

Even though my husband has some kind of creativity, but they look at it from the visual part. We are in the production. So sometimes somebody wants to collaborate with us and be like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes, yes. And then they're like, no.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, no. And then they're right. And they write like, it's like having, like, having another parent just like, yeah, can you just chaperone me, please? I don't know what's going on.

[Diana Mirage]

He's like, what they bring into the table, what they promising you? What are they doing for you? You know?

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

And it makes you, like, it's good to have that person in your circle.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, no, it sure does. It sure does. And you have that.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes. And you have that, too. You have Jack.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Sure. You know, but the thing is, is, like, you know, I. When I look at. When I look at that, like, it takes a special partner to be like, we were at that fashion show, and there was hundreds of people. Hundreds. How many models did you have?

[Diana Mirage]

So we had about 80 models, and we have about 250 people. That's all that we can actually get into the space because I could have had 5, 600 people.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, you, you know, it's just, you

[Diana Mirage]

know what, like what I learned in the industry. Don't burn your bridges with people. Let them burn their own bridge.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Where did you learn that though? Did you have a moment where you burned a bridge and you're like, I

[Diana Mirage]

can never do that again? No, I never learned it anywhere. It's just I was a self taught type of person and I was just, I, I taught myself to just kind of like, I'm just a genuine nice person, you know, and if I like somebody and having the passion for fashion, it's just, I want to just create.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

And when the person has a different vision to do something, otherwise, how can I protect myself from them?

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

I can't. So they are burning their own bridge.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You know, I, I don't, I don't burn a lot of bridges.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah. But I have Naples, but I have very nice here.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

But I have burned a few. That is nice. It is nice.

[Diana Mirage]

It's not New York, baby.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

No, but I have definitely burned a few.

[Diana Mirage]

Listen, it's okay. As a man, like my husband comes, he's friends with somebody over a sudden, he would never call them. And sometimes I don't even ask him that question because I know deeply inside he didn't like something that that person did. And as the leader of his family, he cut it off. Because I'm the type of person that doesn't cut it off and he does.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

It's hard for me too. Yes, it's hard for me.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

But when there's certain things that will get me to a point where I'm

[Diana Mirage]

like, honey, you have Jackie.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I know, but it's okay. But like if, if I am looked down upon or if I am discounted, that bridge, I'm gonna light that fucker on fire.

[Diana Mirage]

Listen.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Because I can't be around it.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah, exactly. Well, I agree with you 100%. Like, you know, as us as people, just like coming into Diana Mirage, being a brand ambassador is something, but being also a client and you are like, when they are low ball on you, on how much you are worth, you like, do you know how much is my rent Hard?

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, that's hard. Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

Do you know what is my payroll every Friday and Matt seen it, I have to take out cash, check everything. I have to just keep signing envelopes,

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

making it work, you know.

[Diana Mirage]

And sometimes they don't understand. As a small business, you do not have to get paid certain weeks or certain months. Because you have to make sure that your business is running. And when people don't know how much you worth or they don't appreciate what you do, they do not belong in your circle because you can see them from far away and say hi and bye.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Sure.

[Diana Mirage]

But to tell you the truth, you have to know what you worth.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Well, see, in. In value. Value is an interesting one. Right. Because we're where you get low ball. Where it comes to me is, hey, I want to pick your brain. I want you to help build my show, and they expect me to do that for free.

[Diana Mirage]

Well, honey, they do that with me for production. Remember my shows? I'm the producer.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

You know.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

And it's.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

But it's interesting, right? It's like, yeah, I can't. I can't do that. Like, you want to build something or you want something from Diana Mirage, you got to understand that there's a. There's a value attached to the cost to that. But it's. It's not necessarily just the. The garment, the brand, or, you know, whatever it is I'm wearing. It is the knowledge. It is. You are asking for a piece of my intellectual property.

[Diana Mirage]

Well, I just feel like I get that a lot, honey. I'm just used to that. So. So. So a lot of people, I want to collaborate with you. I want to do this, I want to do that. And they want to really use your name to build their production. And you have to be careful. That's when you come in and you become really smart and you say, listen, let me send you my proposal.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

Let me send you my deck.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

This is what I do. What I do. We can do this for two weeks. We can do this for a week. We can do a consultation online, and you cannot give more than what they paid for. Maybe you'll give, like, one freebie here and there, but you can't give everything.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

No. And. And again, like, I want to be. I want to be clear because I don't want everybody to think I'm. I'm. I'm just a complete, like, producer. If I know somebody, right? And. And they need my help, I'm there, you know? But like a stranger being like, hey, can I. I pick your brain? I'm like, I don't.

[Diana Mirage]

It doesn't work like that.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I don't know you.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah. Like, you can order something for me and support me, and then maybe we can work on something together.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

But it takes time for things.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I am.

[Diana Mirage]

It's not 1, 2, 3.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

There's this one person, one time that kept sending me messages. I really want to pick your brain. I'm like, I'm sorry. I just. I. I don't.

[Diana Mirage]

It's just that word turns me off.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And so they asked probably 10 times.

[Diana Mirage]

Oh, my God.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

So I'm thinking, this person's must. This person must be motivated.

[Diana Mirage]

Really, really in love with you, Sean.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

They really. They really want to learn from me. So I sent them, you know, a calendar link with a payment attached to it, and it dates, like, hey, you could pick these times. But, hey, to book the call, you got to pay me $2,500, right? Oh, yeah. They didn't respond.

[Diana Mirage]

They didn't.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

So then you learn, like. No, no, no. They. They just wanted something from you. They don't actually value you.

[Diana Mirage]

I mean, you know, when people see something really interesting and great being built, they want a part of it as well.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

And, you know, as a producer myself, I used to have a lot of photographers that I just. That I just invite. I invite random people. Even in my show, I had to block a lot of people and not invite them because they come in as a poison, almost as a cancerous cell into my event. And I am trying to have the best of the best in my show. You have to be inspired by. By the fashion and the production and admire the show. You cannot come in and you're not like a potential buyer, or maybe you do have buyers, or you just in love with fashion. You cannot come in with a. A bad attention that, oh, I just want to do whatever she's doing.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

There's so many people that want what somebody else has.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes. You have to be like. You have to be original. You can be you.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

You don't have to be Sean. You don't have to be Diana. You could be Jessica.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. I think that comes from childhood. Right. It's like there's not enough or not enough love or just, I don't feel like I'm enough for whatever reason it is.

[Diana Mirage]

Right. I mean, well, that's. Then that's when there is education and people go to college and they pay for college to learn, or sometimes you just have to take classes. And again, they can have a consultation with Sean and pay for it, and you can inspire them. And they can have a consultation with Diana.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

They can. They really can. So what's next for Diana? Mirage.

[Diana Mirage]

So, as you know, I already released my first perfume. And the second thing we are doing is the second perfume. It's called Vanilla Musk.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Oh, is that also unisex?

[Diana Mirage]

Yes, it's unisex, so I'm gonna make sure you have one.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Oh, thank you.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

When's that coming out?

[Diana Mirage]

It's. It's already. The production is done.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Beautiful.

[Diana Mirage]

Now we're working on shipping.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Okay.

[Diana Mirage]

And that's it. It should be in the store within a month.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

That's really cool. Yes, that's really cool. The one that you have currently, what's it called?

[Diana Mirage]

Yes, it's called the Miracle Oud by Diana Mirage.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

It's really good. Yes, it's really good.

[Diana Mirage]

I need to get you that one too.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

So good. Yeah, yeah. And. And it's quality.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes. Listen, everything that's quality is better than quantity. It's better to have one blazer that you love instead of having 50 that are just average and you're not getting the shine when you enter the room.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

You know, and that's what I concentrate on is quality.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Well, you know, and it comes out in the work.

[Diana Mirage]

Right.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

It comes out in the material, the production of it, how it fits.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Blazers are not comfortable. I felt so freaking good.

[Diana Mirage]

Right. And that.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I'm like, dude, I could wear this all.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And then I was like, at the end, I'm like, what do I do with this? And they're like, oh, yeah, you got to give it back. I'm like, I want to give it back. I won't give this back. I don't know where I'm aware in Naples, Florida, but yeah, I'll wear it around the house. I don't care. But. But you know, it's. I don't know where I was going with that. But, you know, just the quality of everything is.

[Diana Mirage]

I mean, you know, it's. Diana Mirage is about wearing something that you feel good in that represents your personality, but at the same time, it's comfortable in your own skin. You don't have to lose weight. You don't have to gain weight to actually wear it. You can just stay you. And we personalize it exactly for you.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You know, one day when we go to these award shows and we're accepting an award, I'm gonna have a full on Diana Mirage.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And the inside of it's going to be low. The TDS logo.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And we're going to customize, customize. So customize the hell out of it. It's going so bad. Yeah. I'm excited for it.

[Diana Mirage]

I'm. I'm excited.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I already know what it looks like.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You know what it looks like.

[Diana Mirage]

You imagined that. You design it. Listen, I inspired you.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yes, you did. Yes. And I was in your store this last week and I'm like looking and I'm like, oh, my God. Like what? You know, like. Okay, I got it. This is going to be really cool.

[Diana Mirage]

It's going to be really cool.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Okay, so we have the, the new fragrance coming out within a month. What else? Like, what else can we talk about that you have going on?

[Diana Mirage]

As you know, I'm based in New York and we do have a store in Jersey, but we also based in Dubai.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I didn't know that.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes. I'm also an Emirati resident.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Oh, damn.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes. And Dubai is an amazing country. Oh, we have to get you there.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

My wife went, I need to go.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah. But you know, just linking you with the whole women leaders club. So a friend of mine started this women leaders book and club and I think I'm going to be bringing the book. I'm going to be the presenter in New York.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Cool.

[Diana Mirage]

And I think it'll be great. It just, she, she really inspired me, but at the same time I kept it very super. She was a person that I was dressing like just brand ambassador. And she actually inspires you. And she says, I've done like a big show that I invited her. It was called Dubai Luxury Fashion Week that I've done in the Atlantic's hotel in the Palm, the best hotel in Dubai. And she came in as a guest and she goes, diana, oh my God, this is amazing.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I'd really like to go there. Yeah. I'd really like to do something.

[Diana Mirage]

We have to have you involved.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

So, you know, just with everything coming in the world right now, we're taking a break. We are thinking maybe November, December or even early next year and doing another event. But right now we're just trying to come city. No, in Dubai.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

In Dubai. Okay.

[Diana Mirage]

But we will be building the book to be Diana Mirage on in the book.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

So awesome.

[Diana Mirage]

As a woman leader in New York.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

So bad.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Such a badass.

[Diana Mirage]

I think it's. And she was a speaker in TEDx, so it's an amazing. She's doing some great stuff. I'm super proud of her.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

That's really cool. I mean, you know, you have someone notable, you know.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And that's important.

[Diana Mirage]

And sometimes you just have to be kind and you have to stay in your lane.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah. And that's how it started, right?

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And that's how we started, you know, this conversation was, as long as we stay in our lane, no matter what happens, something is always going to. Another opportunities could be presented.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

If you lose something because, like, there was, like, I think it was about two, three weeks ago. Matt and Dan know, and everybody knows, like, hey, we lost something. It crushed me. I. For three days, I was like, I don't know how the hell.

[Diana Mirage]

Oh, my God. It's okay. But something better is coming.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

It already has.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And we're waiting on it. I should have it today. So it's like, you know, you. If we just stay the course. Right. And that's what the determined society is. That is the nature and the foundation of this brand is like, hey, look, we know there's gonna be times where you just want to give up and say, fuck it. We know there's gonna be times where you're gonna want to hit the snooze button. There's gonna be times that you want to break your word to yourself, but you can't. Because if you said it and you don't do it, then what you're telling yourself is, I can't trust you. I can't trust myself.

[Diana Mirage]

Listen, I think you should keep this attitude going. I loved you from the minute you came into my store.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Sweet.

[Diana Mirage]

And, like, every time Matt says something about Sean, I'm like, oh, I love him.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I love you, too.

[Diana Mirage]

It's just. Yeah, it's just one of, like, I feel safe with you. I feel like you should be safe with people that you work with.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Sure.

[Diana Mirage]

If you don't feel good about something, don't do it. Yeah, it's fine.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

That's alignment, right?

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah. The next wave is gonna come. And I know in business, we want everything. We want every opportunity.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Sure.

[Diana Mirage]

But sometimes not everything is good.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

No, it's not. And. And sometimes things that you think are for you are not for you.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

In those moments where you fall down in that trench and. Because you want to curl up and just cry.

[Diana Mirage]

Yeah.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Because you. You. You are equating to what you think you lost, but you don't ever think what God saved you from or, what did I gain?

[Diana Mirage]

You didn't lose anything.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Nothing.

[Diana Mirage]

You are worth more.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Right?

[Diana Mirage]

Yes.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

And so those moments, you just really have to pay attention to and just know, like, okay, this is not the end of the world, like I think it is, because I have a. I have a tendency to catastrophize, like, big time.

[Diana Mirage]

Listen, you're working on it.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah.

[Diana Mirage]

You're working on yourself.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Work in progress.

[Diana Mirage]

We all working on ourselves.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I tell you what, man. I tell you what I love.

[Diana Mirage]

Thank.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Thank you so much for coming on. Have this amazing conversation, sharing things about your business, your relationship. And, and just, just the essence of Diana Mirage.

[Diana Mirage]

Diana Mirage is here in Naples again.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Website. Diana Mirage.

[Diana Mirage]

Diana Mirage.com DianaMaraj couture.com Listen, I love you guys. You can always reach me. WhatsApp me 917-723-5357. Diana Mirage couture.com is open for business.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

I hope you don't get penile pics now. Like, that's just, you know, you know you're gonna get all these crazy messages. No, but that's the one thing I do adore about you is your authenticity and your openness. And so take advantage of that, guys. Be respectful, though, in your. In your messages. Yes, and. And go to. Go to the website, check it out and buy the shine blazer, please.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes. You know, you should search the Sean Blue blazer.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Work it, work it. You gotta have the chest hair coming out like I did. You were. You were. You were hairspraying that shit. I'm like, damn it. I knew I should have shaved it. Let's put that down a little bit. Let's get this down.

[Diana Mirage]

It's like the manly part of you. I like it. I think it was selling the jacket. It was selling the look. Like, listen, I have so much more to come for your looks. Coming. Coming soon.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

Coming much more. Hey, and I mean, stay tuned. Whatever you need from me, I'm there.

[Diana Mirage]

Yes, I got it.

[Sean (Podcast Host)]

You know that. You know that. So thank you guys for watching again. Go to www.thedeterminedsociety.com NextLevel and get ready for something big, guys. Hope you enjoyed today's episode. Share it with somebody you know love and trust. And until next time, stay determined.

[Strayer University Announcer]

At Strayer University, we help students like you go from will I? To why not? For over 130 years, we've been innovating higher education to make it more affordable, accessible, and attainable so you can reach your goals. Go from thinking, can I? To yes, I can. And keep striving. Visit strayer. Edu to learn more. Strayer University is certified to operate in Virginia by Chevinus. Many campuses, including at 2121 15th Street north in Arlington, Virginia.