Photo Credit: @realericvaughnfor photo and hair transformation
Ashleigh Medford’s Crowned State empowers women to lead with presence and self-trust by blending neuroscience and intuition.
In the heart of a high-pressure, high-visibility moment at the Miss California USA pageant, Ashleigh Medford experienced a life-altering transformation. Competing for the crown, Medford suddenly lost nearly 80% of her hair. This unexpected and visible change could have been her downfall, but instead, it became the catalyst for her journey into deeper self-discovery, rooted in neuroscience and embodied self-trust. It was in this moment of vulnerability that she realized the truth: the crown was never something to wear on her head; it was always within her.
As Medford continued her journey, she had to wear a wig to conceal her hair loss. This moment, captured in a post on her Instagram, marked a turning point in her understanding of beauty and power. The wig became a symbol not of insecurity but of her resilience and determination to move forward, regardless of external appearances. Rather than allowing the hair loss to define her, she embraced the experience as part of her growth, finding strength in vulnerability. (For more on her wig experience, visitthis Instagram post.
This revelation didn’t just shape Medford’s personal journey, it birthed her mission. Crowned State, her platform, was born from the intersection of her own life experiences and her commitment to helping others, particularly women, reconnect to their innate power. Crowned State isn’t just about external beauty or accolades; it’s about learning to lead from a place of grounded presence, not performance. Through a unique blend of neuroscience, intuition, and nervous system wisdom, Medford is helping women step into their full potential without relying on external validation.
The Origins of Crowned State: A Journey of Transformation
Ashleigh Medford’s journey to founding Crowned State began in one of the most public and difficult moments of her life. As a contestant in the Miss California USA pageant, Medford was expected to epitomize beauty, confidence, and composure. Instead, she faced a challenge that threatened to unravel her very sense of self-worth, she began losing her hair. Medford’s hair loss, which took place in the very public eye, could have shattered her identity.
However, in the midst of this transformation, Medford experienced an epiphany that would forever alter her path. Rather than letting her physical appearance define her, she began to see her worth not as something that could be stripped away, but something unshakeable, rooted deep within. In front of an audience, titles, and expectations, she learned the invaluable lesson that true power isn’t about external validation, it’s about staying connected to oneself, even when everything else seems to fall away.
This realization would become the cornerstone of Crowned State. By embracing this newfound understanding of her own inner strength, Medford moved from a place of vulnerability to one of empowerment. Her journey through adversity became the foundation for a platform dedicated to helping women experience the same kind of transformation, leading from a place of presence and self-trust, not performance.
The Birth of Crowned State: Empowering Women to Lead from Within
Crowned State’s mission is clear: to teach women that their worth and leadership do not come from external sources. The crown is not something that can be given or taken away; it is a symbol of inner authority, and it lives within every woman. Medford’s work is about guiding women to reconnect with their innate power and lead themselves with clarity and calm. This is where neuroscience meets intuition, the brain and heart coming into coherence, and the nervous system becoming an ally, not an obstacle.
Through Crowned State, Medford offers tools and teachings rooted in nervous system wisdom and embodied self-trust. By understanding the biology of the body and the way the nervous system influences thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, women can learn to regulate their emotional responses and stay grounded in the face of stress and external pressures. This connection to self is what allows women to lead with confidence, free from the need for external validation.
“When a woman is regulated, present, and self-led, her power becomes sustainable, authentic, and unshakeable,” says Medford, reflecting on the essence of Crowned State. It’s about teaching women that no matter what happens outside of them, whether in the pageant world, the workplace, or personal life, their worth is never truly at risk.
The Struggles Behind the Platform
The road to creating Crowned State wasn’t without its obstacles. For Medford, the challenge wasn’t just losing her hair; it was confronting the societal pressures and expectations that define beauty, success, and self-worth. As she navigated the world of pageants, beauty standards, and external expectations, Medford realized that so much of what the world considered valuable was tied to appearances and validation from others. This realization became a turning point for her, a moment that illuminated the need for a different approach to confidence and leadership.
In turning this challenge into a platform of empowerment, Medford had to first dismantle her own internalized beliefs about self-worth and success. This journey of self-discovery required deep emotional work, including confronting old stories and patterns rooted in fear and insecurity. Through this process, Medford was able to cultivate an unwavering sense of self-trust that became the foundation for Crowned State.
Today, Crowned State is not just a platform for self-empowerment, it’s a movement. Through workshops, speaking engagements, and personal coaching, Medford helps women access the deep well of confidence that resides within them. By teaching nervous system regulation techniques, intuitive decision-making, and embodied self-trust, Medford is helping women lead from a place of grounded presence rather than the pressure to perform.
What Makes Crowned State Unique
What sets Crowned State apart is its holistic approach to empowerment. Many self-help platforms focus solely on external success or mental resilience, but Medford’s work goes deeper. She blends the science of the brain and nervous system with the wisdom of intuition and embodiment. It’s a unique synthesis that helps women lead with authenticity and clarity, without being swayed by external circumstances.
Crowned State is rooted in the understanding that women don’t need to be perfect to be powerful. Rather, they need to be whole. When women reconnect with their inner crown, they can lead with unwavering confidence, knowing that their worth is not defined by the judgments or expectations of others.
Empowering the Next Generation of Women
As Medford prepares to compete in the Miss USA state preliminary pageant, her journey is far from over. Crowned State continues to evolve as she builds a community of women who lead with presence, not performance. Her vision for the future is clear: to reach more women, to offer more tools for empowerment, and to continue breaking down the barriers that define what it means to be a successful woman in today’s world.
Through Crowned State, Medford is not just changing the narrative around beauty and confidence, she is creating a new paradigm where self-trust and inner authority are the foundations for all forms of leadership. Whether on the pageant stage or in everyday life, Medford’s message is the same: true power comes from within.
Join the Crowned State Movement
Are you ready to lead from within? Join Ashleigh Medford’s Crowned State movement and rediscover your inner crown. Learn how to lead with presence, self-trust, and clarity, no matter where life takes you. VisitCrowned Stateto begin your journey today. Your crown was always within you, it’s time to embrace it.
For more information, follow Ashleigh Medford on Instagram at@ashleighsacheenmedfordand check out the series on her hair transformation by visiting@realericvaughn.
