Jennie Garth on Her Life-Changing Mantra, Thriving at 52 and Empowering Women Through Fashion (EXCLUSIVE)

Known worldwide for her portrayal of Kelly Taylor on Beverly Hills, 90210, Jennie Garth, 52, uttered, “I choose me,” from a script in the fifth year of the series. Little did Jennie know that those words would have such an enduring effect on her own life. What started as a simple line has now become Jennie’s formula for fulfillment and self-love while encouraging fans of her deeply personal I Choose Me podcast to choose health, choose healing, choose happiness. 

And Jennie has done just that in switching careers and becoming one of QVC Q50 Ambassadors while launching her own brand of clothing, QVC x Me by Jennie Garth. 

Here, we sat down with Jennie to get her strategies for health, happiness and peace as our Woman’s World cover girl (get your copy here!).

Jennie Garth on the importance of self-love

Woman’s World: With the launch of QVC x Me by Jennie Garth, it seems to be more than a clothing line. It introduces an entire movement of self-discovery and self-choice. How do you balance self-choice and self-confidence in your own life?

Jennie Garth: That’s an excellent question. I have to daily make choices for myself because there are so many outside choices that can go into negative thoughts. I am the kind of person who has to work daily on keeping myself in the right lane and moving forward and not have any negativity around me. 

WW: How do you accomplish that?

JG: When I wake up in the morning, I say to myself, “This is going to be a great day.” I set my intentions for the day and at the end of the day when I lay down, I ask myself what went well today and I think of three things that went well and sort of end the day on gratitude. 

WW: Was there a special event or an epiphany that brought you a level of confidence to who you are today?  

JG: You just naturally get wiser, you evolve, you think a bit deeper as you age. I was already kind of a deep thinker and I think I felt in my life that 50 years old was a milestone. Look what I’ve done, where am I going next were questions in my mind. I have never been a person that set goals. I’ve never been a person with a set plan. I’ve always had my life just go with the flow. And it’s gone amazingly and up until now. 

Shawn Johnson East Talks Life After the Olympics, Body Confidence & More! (EXCLUSIVE)

I wanted to shift into a more intentional, focus driven version of myself. At that point I was trying to figure out my next move. I guess turning 50 was a special event and it’s a big deal. I started to look at things differently. In doing that, I thought I want to create my brand and I want to help people through my brand and educate people. 

It’s part of my DNA to help people, and then again, I thought I didn’t have anything to share with anybody, but I have given up that dialogue in my mind and I focus on helping people. I had wanted to focus on something else and I got clarity to believe that I wanted to focus on educating and helping others through some positivity.

Inspiring through fashion

WW: The clothing brand brings comfort to fashion. What are a few of your go-to fashion finds that bring you comfort?

JG: I am very comfortable in denim. I’m from the midwest, so it’s kind of ingrained in me. I’m fortunate to have been given the opportunity to have denim in the fashion. It’s all high quality, sustainable fabrics. I just push everyday for sustainability. I like to pair with a white tee or any kind of tee with sneakers . I’m very casual in my life and I dress up when I have to go out or make an appearance somewhere. That’s when fashion takes on a whole other meaning. I’m doing this with my daughter, Lola, who is my second in command.

Vanessa Williams Talks New Album ‘Survivor’ and Chasing Your Dreams at Any Age (EXCLUSIVE)

WW: How do you think the brand is a general cross over to women everywhere?

JG: It has easy and comfortable styles for women of all ages and sizes. I really do feel that I’ve created something with a positive message behind it which emanates from everybody who is a part of it and it’s so important for me to empower women with confidence and self love through the clothes and styles. 

I want women to feel empowered and stylish, to feel sexy and good. It caters to all ages and all body types and includes body positivity and body inclusivity. I hope to create a separate world for women to feel seen, heard and comfortable. At the core of the message is to love yourself, be yourself and that’s what we’re trying to get people to feel good about. 

Jennie Garth’s morning routine for health and happiness

WW: What would you say is your morning ritual?

JG: I get up at 7 a.m. and try to do some exercise because I’m not good at doing it later. I start with a healthy protein shake every morning and that sort of sets my intentions for the rest of the day because I know I’m getting enough protein and fiber which is really important for women my age. 

Celebrity Chef Cat Cora Talks Early Kitchen Influences and Breaking Culinary Barriers (EXCLUSIVE)

So smoothie first thing in the morning right after I’ve worked out. I use plant based vegan protein powder, coconut oil, MCT oil, maca root powder. Sometimes I’ll stay in bed and my husband will bring me tea which is kind of a new thing that he does and it’s been really nice having someone bring me tea in bed. English Breakfast with monk fruit sweetener and almond milk.

WW: Do you have healthy snack options?

JG: Papa Steve’s No Junk Protein Bars is a favorite snack. Another favorite snack is the Siete brand and their almond flour tortillas. I also like an apple with peanut butter which is good protein. And unfortunately, I love chips, but I really need to let those go.

WW: What is your exercise of choice?

JG: I go to the gym and workout with a trainer three times a week for an hour. We do a lot of intense weight training – 12 to 15 reps a set. Working out allows me to reset my mind while taking care of my body. I always do some stretching because my body needs it. 

WW: What might be a few of your everyday little stresses and how might you cope with these stresses?

JG: A lot of times if I’m really stressed, I’ll sit down and do some deep breathing. You count four breaths in, hold it for four and let it out for eight. That’s one of my favorite ways to calm myself down. I also like to meditate. I studied Buddhism. I’m not a Buddhist, but I learned a lot through my classes. And I do a lot of self-talk now. I’ve learned to look in the mirror and say I love you, even when I don’t feel like it and I’ve learned to put my hand to my chest and say everything is going to be okay. It kind of frees my inner Jennie, the little girl in there. I do that a lot actually. It doesn’t really relieve the stress at all. It just calms me down to my core, that little sensitive person inside of me who’s freaking out.

WW: What might be a little stress?

JG: Flying. I don’t like flying and I do it all the time. I don’t understand the concept of a metal tube speeding through the air. I am very anxious on planes. I don’t let people know that but they will now, I guess. The last flight I was on by myself, the woman sitting next to me…there was turbulence and I grabbed her arm so hard…at first she was freaked out, and then she said it’s okay…and she clasped my hand. 

‘I Choose Me’ and the influence of Kelly from 90210

WW: Kelly Taylor was a big part of your early life. What do you think she brought to you that carried over into your adulthood?

JG: There is so much of Jennie in Kelly. We started out very different in the first several episodes. She was a typical b— from Beverly Hills and I am just a girl from the midwest. So we were polar opposites. Going back now and watching the show for the very first time, we do a podcast called 90210MG and we’ve gone back and watched some of our favorite episodes. 

Blanche Baker Talks ‘Sixteen Candles,’ Growing Up in the Film Industry and Moving Behind the Camera (EXCLUSIVE)

I just had the most amazing time watching it. I’m a full on fan of the show now. I get it why people were so crazy about it and connected with the characters. It opened my eyes to Kelly and all that she went through and conquered…she was very strong. Kelly Taylor is a strong female to think about because there’s nothing she couldn’t handle.

WW: “I choose me,” these three words that Kelly said in the fifth season, seem to have motivated you with the podcast. Is this a mantra for your own life?

JG: It is. At the age when I thought, what am I going to do next, how am I going to reinvent myself and change, I decided to look back in order to go forward. The podcast helped me do that looking at young Jennie and young Kelly. In the episode where she said “I choose me,” I hear it from super fans that it’s something they use in their lives. I warmed up to the idea of letting that be my motto, and pushing that out there to everyone – every girl, every boy, every man, every woman – because it’s such an important concept. 

It’s about taking care of ourselves so that we can take care of other relationships. That’s where my brand kind of came from, that line of “I choose me.” The podcast discusses choices that we make, where they lead us. And I’m inspired by being part of the QVC over 50 group and for me, turning 50 meant developing the podcast, developing the clothing brand and this has been some of the most rewarding work I’ve ever done.

Overcoming health challenges

WW: You were diagnosed with a leaky heart over 20 years ago. What steps do you take to monitor it?

JG: My dad struggled with his heart health…he had his first heart attack at 37. So when I turned 37, I thought I had this in my genes on both sides because my family is very heavy and I decided to see a cardiologist. He did some tests and said my heart looks great but you do have a slightly leaky valve and I was in no danger. It was something to know and something to watch as I get older. It’s information that is vital that you need to know in order to take better care of yourself.

WW: What might be something you’d tell your younger self?

JG: I’d probably just say to have a beautiful, wonderful life. And if it has to do with beauty, it’s stay out of the sun.

WW: With Shannon Doherty’s recent passing, what was your first impression of her?

JG: My first impression of her was to look up to her. She had already been a working actress. I quickly realized that she had strength as a woman I had never seen before. It was inspirational to me. I think I was able to learn of some of that strength from her.

What the Late Shannen Doherty Revealed About Her Cancer Journey Before Her Tragic Death: Her Words