Dianne Harris
Last week, I had the pleasure of photographing an Editorial Mini Session with Dianne Harris! Dianne is a 35-year career hairstylist, salon owner, life coach, writer, entrepreneur, and single mom to three young men. You can learn more about her work at dianneharris.com and you can find her on Instagram @dianneharrislifecoach. Read on for an interview, and to see the portraits from our Mini Session!
Q: Please introduce yourself!
A: Hi, I’m Dianne Harris (@dianneharrislifecoach | dianneharris.com), a 35-year career hairstylist, salon owner, life coach, writer, entrepreneur, and single mom to three young men.
For years, I built a successful career in the beauty industry, helping women look and feel beautiful and confident on the outside. Now, I’m dedicated to helping them heal and rebuild their lives from the inside out.
At 39 and freshly divorced, I fell for a man who, at first, seemed like Prince Charming, quickly calling me his soulmate. But over time, I found myself trapped in a decade-long cycle of love and abuse—marked by emotional manipulation, control, and confusion—ultimately ending in a two-year high-conflict divorce.
My mission is to educate, empower, and guide women who have experienced a toxic relationship or marriage plagued by emotional abuse—whether it lasted months or decades—so they can reclaim their confidence, self-worth, and future.
Emotional abuse is an insidious and confusing experience, leaving no visible scars but deep wounds on the soul of the recipient.
Through my coaching, writing, and advocacy, I help women break free from the lingering effects of toxic relationships, reconnect with themselves, and develop the skills and self-trust to create a life filled with peace, power, and purpose—ultimately attracting the healthy, loving relationship they truly deserve.
Q: What were you like as a child? Did any of your interests align with your current work?
A: I am one of six children and the girl twin in a fraternal boy-girl set. From the very beginning, I felt like I was born to help others—starting with my twin brother. I arrived five minutes before him, almost as if I were sent ahead to make sure the world was safe for his arrival.
Growing up, he was painfully shy, so I became his voice until he found his own in high school. That was my first role as a protector and advocate, and in many ways, it foreshadowed the work I do today.
I’ve always been deeply empathic, a natural helper, and someone who couldn’t stand to see others in pain. As a child, I had a strong voice—so strong, in fact, that I earned the nickname “Mouth” for always speaking my mind.
Ironically, I later lost that very voice in an abusive marriage to someone who claimed to love me but was slowly eroding my self-worth and confidence, leaving me questioning my own reality.
Reclaiming it has been one of the most powerful journeys of my life, and now I use it to help other women do the same. My love for beauty and people naturally led me to become a hairstylist. I found so much joy in making women look and feel beautiful—it never felt like work to me.
Over time, I realized that the most transformative conversations didn’t happen in front of a mirror but in the deep, meaningful moments when clients confided in me about their struggles, unhealthy relationships, and low self-worth.
That was where my love for coaching and guiding women truly began. Today, I continue that mission, helping women rebuild their confidence from the inside out and create the amazing lives they deserve.
Q: Can you tell me about starting your business?
Back in 2019, I started researching my next career path. After decades as a hairstylist, the physical demands of the job were beginning to take a toll on my body.
I knew three things for sure—I wanted to help women, I wanted the flexibility to work remotely, and I wanted to be my own boss. In 2020, during the Covid-19 lockdown—while also navigating escalating marital strife—I took the leap and became a Certified Professional Coach.
Balancing that certification with everything happening in my personal life was incredibly challenging, but deep down, I knew I was on the right path. As a brick-and-mortar business owner, I had confidence in my ability to start and run my own business. But transitioning to an online coaching business as a solo entrepreneur was a completely different challenge.
I quickly realized that being great at coaching wasn’t enough—I had to learn marketing, sales, multiple software platforms, and how to attract the right clients, all while figuring out how to make it all work seamlessly. It’s been a journey filled with challenges, but every obstacle has strengthened my mission: to help women rebuild their confidence and create the lives they truly deserve after toxic relationships.
Q: What is your favorite part of your work?
My favorite part of my work is witnessing the transformation in the women I coach. There’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing a woman go from feeling lost, broken, or unsure of herself to standing in her power with confidence, clarity, and self-worth.
I love those moments when a client has a breakthrough—when she realizes she doesn’t have to settle, when she recognizes her own strength, or when she finally sees herself as the high-value woman she truly is. Watching her reclaim her voice, set boundaries, and step into a life she never thought was possible is incredibly rewarding.
As for running my business, I love the freedom it gives me. It allows me to connect with women from all over the world, work on my own terms, and create impact in a way that aligns with my passion and purpose. Being my own boss is challenging, but the ability to build something meaningful and change lives makes every challenge worth it.
Q: Can you share a favorite story from running your business?
One of the most rewarding parts of running my business has been the incredible connections I’ve made with other women—especially through Boston Business Women and networking events.
These spaces have introduced me to so many inspiring, driven, and resilient women who are not only passionate about their businesses but also deeply committed to uplifting and supporting one another.
One of my favorite moments was attending a networking event where I met a woman who had just come out of a toxic marriage. She was successful in her career but felt completely lost in her personal life. As we talked, she shared that she had been following my content but hadn’t yet found the courage to reach out.
That night, something clicked for her. She realized she wasn’t alone and that healing was possible. A few weeks later, she became a client, and over time, I watched her transform—gaining confidence, setting boundaries, and finally believing she was worthy of love and respect.
Stories like hers remind me why I do this work. The connections I’ve made through networking and community events aren’t just about business—they’re about creating spaces where women can feel seen, supported, and empowered.
The friendships, collaborations, and life-changing conversations that have come from these experiences are truly priceless.
Q: What is a typical day in your life like?
No two days are the same, but my mornings always start with 30 minutes of quiet—whether it’s journaling, meditation, or reading a personal development book while enjoying my coffee before the day begins. A daily workout or walk outside keeps me physically and emotionally fit.
As a mom of three young men, I balance family life with running my coaching business. My days are filled with coaching sessions, content creation, writing for my memoir, and engaging with my community.
I’m also working on a podcast, developing digital courses, networking, and managing the behind-the-scenes work of my business. Evenings are for unwinding—whether with family, friends, or reflecting on the day. My schedule is full, but every moment is dedicated to my mission: helping women heal, rise, and reclaim their lives.
Q: What are your hopes and dreams for your business?
My biggest dream for my business is to create a movement of healing and empowerment for women who have survived toxic relationships, emotional abuse, and high conflict breakups or divorce.
I want to expand my reach through digital courses, my podcast, and speaking engagements, making my coaching accessible to women everywhere. I envision The Empowered Woman becoming a transformative program that gives women the tools to rebuild their confidence, set boundaries, and create the life and relationships they truly deserve.
I also hope my memoir, will inspire and educate women on the insidious nature of emotional abuse while showing them that healing and thriving are possible.
Ultimately, my goal is to build a thriving business that not only supports me but allows me to serve as many women as possible—helping them heal, rise, and step into their full power.
Q: Are there any other businesses or people who inspire you with your work?
I’m deeply inspired by women entrepreneurs, especially those who have built businesses centered around healing, empowerment, and transformation. Women coaches with missions similar to mine remind me of the power of turning pain into purpose, while female-led businesses in wellness, personal development, and advocacy show what’s possible when women support each other.
I also draw inspiration from communities like Boston Business Women and other networking groups that foster connection and growth. Seeing women build thriving businesses and create impact motivates me to keep expanding my coaching programs, launching my podcast, and publishing my memoir, to reach and empower more women worldwide.
Q: Are there any words of wisdom that you live by in your work?
One of the guiding principles in my work is:
“It’s never too late to become a new version of you—one who is wiser, stronger, and unapologetically in control of her own life.”
Healing after a toxic relationship isn’t about returning to who you were—it’s about creating a new, empowered version of yourself and stepping into the life you truly deserve
I also live by the belief that “Self-love isn’t selfish; it’s survival.” Too often, women are conditioned to put others first, but true healing begins when we choose ourselves. My mission is to help women not only break free from the past but also reimagine their future—one filled with confidence, peace, and purpose.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share?
If there’s one thing I want every woman to know, it’s this:
Healing is the key to becoming the future version of you—the one who is confident, strong, and no longer defined by her past. It’s not about going back to who you were, but about stepping into the most empowered version of yourself.
No matter how long you were in a toxic relationship, it’s never too late to rewrite your story, reclaim your confidence, and create the life you truly deserve. You are worthy, you are powerful, and your best chapter is yet to be written.
About Editorial Mini Sessions
If you’re interested in signing up for an Editorial Mini Session, please email dianalevinephotographer@gmail.com to sign up! At Editorial Mini Sessions, Diana uses the same backdrops and studio lighting she uses when photographing magazine covers. You can book 15 or 30 minute photo sessions—so that anyone can join for beautiful, creative, magazine-style portraits! You can learn more at dianalevine.com/editorialminisessions
About Diana
Diana Levine is a Greater Boston based editorial, headshots and branding photographer, specializing in portraits of people of all ages. Her clients include Boston Globe Magazine, Boston Magazine, BC Law Magazine, Simmons Magazine and more. She has photographed notable personalities such as Kim Kardashian, Alicia Keys, Usher, New Kids on the Block, One Direction, among many other musicians, actors, politicians, athletes and more. You can find her full portfolio at dianalevine.com
To sign up for an Editorial Mini Session, please email dianalevinephotographer@gmail.com