Exclusive Interviews Jewel Wicker Mar 04, 2024 11:00 AM EST Nazanin Mandi is never out of options. About a year ago, the 37-year-old life coach and actress was navigating life after divorce and determined to experience homeownership for the first time as a single woman. She’d been married to for three years, following a long-term relationship that started when she was 18 years old. But, in 2022, she filed for divorce. It was certainly the most public change she made but, in reality, it was just one of many decisions to refocus and reach her full potential in recent years. “During my 20s, I was not ready for more. I was living a really crazy life. It was unpredictable. I was helping somebody else grow. It was a lot, and it was intense. I was not pouring into myself the way I should’ve been,” she says in an xoNecole exclusive. Still, as Mandi worked to get to know herself and her needs during this new phase of life, she realized the home she’d purchased wasn’t a good fit. Overwhelmed by the echoing of her voice in the spacious home, she had a breakdown and called her cousin, who immediately suggested she lease the home and live somewhere else. “I woke up in my house, and I was like, ‘This is not it for me,” she says. “All those years, I had been accustomed to living a certain way [and] in a certain house, so I bought myself a house like [my old home]. But my family was not the same. Waking up in that house by myself, it highlighted the divorce. I was like, ‘Oh, no, we can’t do this. This is not it.’ My life has changed, so my choices need to change.” At that moment, Mandi became open to the idea that there wasn’t one set way to achieve ownership on her own. “I feel so much better. I’m in a smaller place. My best friend lives a minute from me and I can walk to her house,” she tells me during a Zoom interview from her home one recent afternoon in early February. In the past two years, she hasn’t just been advising other people on varying circ*mstances, she’s also been healing herself. Credit: Solmaz Saberi If supporters began following Nazanin Mandi because of her conventional beauty or the contagious, bright, white smile she often wears in many of her photos, that’s likely not the reason they’ve stuck around. Instead, she’s amassed a following based on her transparency about her own anxiety and depression, along with the encouraging messages of self-acceptance, gratitude, ambition, and humility that are often sprinkled into her social media posts. In an era where looking at Instagram photos of models can often lead to feelings of self-doubt and insecurity, Nazanin Mandi is determined to be more than eye candy. She’s food for her follower’s souls, too. Since being recruited to model while dining at an In-N-Out at 10 years old, Mandi has worked in many areas of entertainment. The Valencia, California native has modeled for brands such as Olay, Savage X Fenty, and Good American. As a teen, she sang at Carnegie Hall and auditioned for season 1 of American Idol, making it all the way to Hollywood before producers disqualified her for lying about her age. (Mandi was 15 at the time, and contestants had to be at least 16 years old.) Mandi has acted, too, including appearing on Disney’s That’s So Raven as a teenager and on the BET+ series Games People Play and the Prime series Á La Carte in more recent years. In recent years, though, she’s also expanded her professional goals outside of entertainment, too. After becoming a certified life coach in 2020, Mandi launched the membership platform You Bloome in 2022 with the hopes of providing wellness services to others, including her self-published gratitude journal. “I wish I had access to something like You Bloome earlier in my own life,” she writes on the company’s website. The actress, who has been forthcoming about her struggles with anxiety and depression, has never had a life coach, but credits therapy as a tool that “really, really saved me and it laid the foundation to who I am becoming.” Credit: Solmaz Saberi While she’s always had a nurturing personality, Mandi says her interest in becoming a life coach was inspired by the women who would message her for advice on social media. “I would answer them back. It really sparked a fire within myself to help people,” she says. You Bloome currently has three membership tiers, ranging in price from $2.99 to $39.99 per month. The highest tier offers a motivational text message twice a week, two live, group coaching sessions per month, and more. “We get emotional. We cry. We laugh. It’s really beautiful. I’ve built close relationships with my members through this. It’s been inspiring both ways,” Mandi says of the sessions. Still, the founder says she hopes to take on more motivational and keynote speaking opportunities in the future with the hopes of impacting as many people as possible. And, she’s hoping to do all of this while continuing to explore a career as an entertainer. At this point in her life, Mandi says she’s gained enough perspective on modeling, music, and acting to realize what she wants to prioritize moving forward. “We are going full force with acting,” she says, noting her goal is “to book a series regular or a film that impacts my career and the world.” She plans to continue to model, too, but has no desire to pursue music. “I don’t want any part of that because I know what that life entails,” she says. “I don’t want to tour. I don’t want to do any of that. That is not where my heart is at.” Credit: Solmaz Saberi If you ask Mandi, she’ll tell you she feels most comfortable in front of a camera, but she’ll also admit that she’s recently experienced a lot of imposter syndrome when thinking about her acting career. “I think it’s a fear of not succeeding,” she says. If anything, she adds, she’s harder on herself now than she’s ever been. “There were distractions before. There’s no distractions now,” she says. “I’m putting pressure on myself for no reason.” This is where the life coach’s own personal healing comes into play. Mandi says she’s learning recently that “slow progress is still big progress at the end of the day.” “Currently, I’m trying to find the balance between living life and knowing that whatever is meant for me is going to happen, but also know that I’m doing everything in my power to make those things happen and better myself,” she adds. Still, one of Mandi’s strengths is that she doesn’t feel the pressure to limit herself to just one passion. From working as a life coach to pursuing acting, she has given herself grace to explore all other dreams. “We can be allowed to be many different things in this lifetime,” she says. “As people, our identities are allowed to expand. Don’t put us in a f*cking box. I cannot live that way anymore.” For more of Nazanin, follow her on Instagram @nazaninmandi. Featured image by Solmaz Saberi KEEP READINGShow less Exclusive InterviewsBoost PostBOSS UPCelebrity NewsBoost SectionBoost HomeBoost"During my 20s, I was not ready for more. I was living a really crazy life. It was unpredictable. I was helping somebody else grow. It was a lot, and it was intense. I was not pouring into myself the way I should’ve been."
"I’m trying to find the balance between living life and knowing that whatever is meant for me is going to happen, but also know that I’m doing everything in my power to make those things happen and better myself."
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FAQs
What is a smart thing to do with your refund? ›
It can be tempting to treat a tax refund as found money, but instead, you should use it to better your finances. Boost your savings, pay off debt, and invest for your future. Also consider using your refund to further your education, upgrade essential items in your life, or make home and car repairs.
What are two ways you can use your tax refund wisely? ›Experts agree that prioritizing savings and debt payments are the best ways to use a tax refund. A refund presents a great opportunity to shore up your emergency savings, make investments or increase your financial security.
How should I use my tax refund? ›- Make a Payment on Your Debt. Another option for using your tax refund is putting it toward paying off your debts. ...
- Boost Your Retirement Fund. It's never too early to plan for your retirement. ...
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- Save It for a Rainy Day. ...
- Overspending & Splurging.
7 Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund That You Should Avoid
- Unneeded Material Things.
- Casinos.
- Don't Put It in Your Checking Account.
- Don't Use It on a Car You Can't Afford.
- Refund Advance Loans.
- Paying Off Credit Cards You'll Max Out Again.
- Excessively Expensive Vacations.
- Tips for Using Your Refund Wisely.
Mar 30, 2022
Other essentials that a refund check can be used for are investing in a college fund for graduate school or using it to pay off other debts, such as credit card debt. Remember, your school gave you financial aid because they thought you'd need it. Don't feel bad about spending your refund check if you have to.
What's the best thing to do with a tax return? ›To get you started, here are six smart things to do with your tax refund other than spend it right away.
- Pay off high-interest debt. ...
- Top up your emergency fund. ...
- Contribute to your retirement savings. ...
- Set aside money for short-term goals. ...
- Pre-pay bills. ...
- Put it toward education.
Apr 18, 2023
Paying Off Debt Was the Next Most-Popular Choice
According to our survey, 15% of respondents said they plan to use their refund to pay off debt, while 13% said they will use it to pay bills.
Requirements to receive up to $7,000 for the Earned Income Tax Credit refund (EITC)
- Have worked and earned income under $63,398.
- Have investment income below $11,000 in the tax year 2023.
- Have a valid Social Security number by the due date of your 2023 return (including extensions)
Apr 12, 2024
In total, 67% of taxpayers say they expect a refund this year, a recent Bankrate survey found. So what do Americans plan to do with that money? Nearly 30% of taxpayers receiving refunds plan to put theirs into savings, Bankrate found.
How to boost tax refund? ›4 easy ways to boost your tax refund, according to experts
- Contribute more to your retirement and health savings accounts.
- Choose the right deduction and filing strategy.
- Donate to charity.
- Be organized and thorough.
Mar 4, 2024
What is the biggest tax refund ever? ›
Ramon Christopher Blanchett, of Tampa, Florida, and self-described freelancer, managed to scoop up a $980,000 tax refund after submitting his self-prepared 2016 tax return. He also allegedly claimed that he earned a total of $18,497 in wages — and that he had withheld $1 million in income taxes, according to a Jan.
How to use your tax refund wisely? ›Strategies for using your tax refund wisely
- Plan ahead before spending. Without a plan, you may spend impulsively. ...
- Pay off bills. ...
- Save for needs in the coming year. ...
- Save for short- and long-term financial goals. ...
- Save for long-term financial security.
You could end up with a $10,000 tax refund if you've paid significantly more tax payments than you owe at the end of the year.
What can take your IRS refund? ›All or part of your refund may be offset to pay off past-due federal tax, state income tax, state unemployment compensation debts, child support, spousal support, or other federal nontax debts, such as student loans.
How can I get the most back from my refund? ›4 ways to increase your tax refund come tax time
- Consider your filing status. Believe it or not, your filing status can significantly impact your tax liability. ...
- Explore tax credits. Tax credits are a valuable source of tax savings. ...
- Make use of tax deductions. ...
- Take year-end tax moves.
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What will give me a bigger tax refund? ›Specifying more income on your W-4 will mean smaller paychecks, since more tax will be withheld. This increases your chances of over-withholding, which can lead to a bigger tax refund. That's why it's called a “refund:” you are just getting money back that you overpaid to the IRS during the year.