Ciara Strickland: Redefining Authenticity in the Digital Age
When a Navy veteran builds a brand around ungendering fashion and celebrating authenticity, the impact reaches far beyond follower counts—it reshapes how people see themselves.
Ciara Strickland never expected to be recognized by strangers at Acme or the gym, but that’s exactly what happens when you build a brand around being unapologetically yourself. As a Navy veteran turned content creator and founder of The New Mixx™, Ciara has carved out a unique space in the influencer world—one where suits are her signature, military values drive her work ethic, and her eight-year-old stepson Ezra keeps her grounded in what really matters.
Since moving to Bucks County in March, this 2025 Women of Influence Award Winner has discovered that suburban life suits her mission perfectly: creating content and community connections that celebrate authenticity over conformity.
Ciara Strickland is a 2025 Bucks County Parent Women of Influence Award Winner
Bucks County Parent’s Women of Influence Network and Awards celebrate exceptional women making significant impacts in our community. Ciara was selected based on her achievements and dedication to creating positive change in her community. Each Women of Influence Award Winner has committed to support Family Focus Media’s core values. Together, we are committed to foster a sense of belonging and empowerment for all families. All backgrounds, races, genders, and sexual orientations are welcome and safe with us.
Beyond the awards, our Women of Influence Luncheons and Speed Networking Night attendees come together as our Women of Influence Network, a community fostering connections, collaboration, and mutual support.
From Military Structure to Creative Freedom
Ciara’s transition from her Navy service to entrepreneurship wasn’t immediate—it took courage. “My mentor was my first civilian boss once I got out of the Navy to the corporate side of the military,” she recalls. “She pretty much told me I was too creative to be with the government and that I was just basically too good. I was like, ‘Oh, there’s no way.’ I really liked that security blanket of working a 9-to-5.”
The leap came during an unlikely time: the COVID-19 pandemic. “I took the jump, ironically, during COVID, which is scary to think about now that I did that,” she laughs. But the Navy’s core values—honor, courage, and commitment—became her entrepreneurial foundation. “The courage to do what I do because I get a lot of hateful comments sometimes. My content reaches different countries and things like that. But the commitment to continue to grind and post content and record and edit content.”
Building Authentic Influence
What sets Ciara apart in the crowded influencer space isn’t just her content—it’s her intentionality. “I started my brand because there wasn’t anyone like myself doing what I do,” she explains. “I never wanted to be fake or come off not myself. Once I really started showing who I was—from being active duty military to being a veteran to now being a stepmom—people can relate to that.”
This authenticity translates into real impact. Recently, a woman at the gym told Ciara her content helped her husband dress better. Another person recognized her at Acme just to say thank you. “Being out in Bucks County, it’s nice to see that my content is touching people in the suburbs and reaching different people,” she notes.
The Reality Behind the Influence
One of Ciara’s biggest frustrations is the misconception that content creation is easy money. “People think that either it’s not a real job or that it’s super easy to be an influencer,” she says. “I’m very busy, whether it’s brainstorming, copywriting, concepting, content calendar, going to events. My entire life is online. I live, eat, and breathe social media.”
The industry’s lack of structure particularly concerns her when it comes to supporting underrepresented creators. “Pay transparency is probably one of the biggest things creators talk about,” she explains. “It’s like the wild west. Agencies are either going bankrupt or not paying creators. There’s not really any guidelines. It’s not like a nine-to-five where if you’re not paid by McDonald’s for three months, you’re going to get paid eventually.”
Stepmom Life as Creative Inspiration
Becoming a stepmom to Ezra has shifted Ciara’s perspective on both business and content. “He will tell you his dream is to be a YouTuber and he’s tried to bring me to show and tell a couple times,” she grins. When Ezra was teased for his fashion choices at school, it reinforced Ciara’s mission. “I had a conversation with him because he was getting made fun of for wearing nice things—he likes Nike, he likes fashion. I let him know it’s okay to wear what you want. You don’t have to be the norm.”
This experience directly influenced her clothing brand, Dare to Be Different. “That’s why I created it—be different, be yourself. Really just championing that uniqueness and not shoving down who you really are.”
Veteran Innovation
Ciara’s latest project combines her military background with her design sensibility. “I’m creating some new hats for veterans,” she shares excitedly. “There’s not really unique veteran hats, so to speak. I love my great-grandfather, I love my grandfather—the hats are cool, but they’re not really for me. I wanted to create something that my generation could really get into.”
The hats, expected to launch by September, will include donations to veteran organizations. “My great-grandfather pretty much told me to continue to be different and don’t conform to the norm,” she reflects.
Suburban Authenticity
Moving to Bucks County has transformed Ciara’s approach to both life and work. “When I lived downtown in the city, I was more involved in city stuff. But when I moved to Bucks County, I’m more involved in community service, going to things with Ezra, supporting him, and doing more content creation around my home and community.”
The change of pace has been welcome for someone who, as her fiancé will attest, “never stops moving.” The suburban setting has allowed her to create more “homey” content while still maintaining her authentic voice that resonates across demographics.
Advice for Fellow Veterans
For veterans considering entrepreneurship, Ciara’s message is simple: “Don’t be afraid. Do not be scared to do what you’re passionate about because there are a lot of people that’ll tell you no or that you need to have your ducks in a row. But if there’s something that you want to do, it’s okay to do it.”
She emphasizes the importance of reaching out: “It’s okay to ask questions to people who have done things like that. Never be afraid to shoot off a DM or email because you never know who will say yes or get back to you. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sent off an email or a DM and been very surprised that I got a response back.”
Creating Lasting Impact
Ciara’s vision extends beyond viral content or brand partnerships. “I don’t want my brand to just die once I leave this earth but continue to have that ever-evolving, evergreen content,” she explains. Through her work with CS Creatives, The New Mixx™, and Dare to Be Different, she’s building something sustainable that champions individuality and supports underrepresented voices.
As she prepares for her upcoming hat launch and continues creating content that reaches different countries, Ciara remains focused on her core mission: showing people it’s not only okay to be different—it’s profitable, powerful, and exactly what the world needs more of.
In a digital landscape often criticized for promoting sameness, Ciara Strickland demonstrates that the most successful influence comes from the courage to be genuinely, unapologetically yourself.
