KLTV 7 News Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville |Entrepreneur and East Texas mom starts wholesome, local mag for girls

Entrepreneur and East Texas mom starts wholesome, local mag for girls

Modern and modest for the east Texas teen, one woman's pet project will soon hit your local newsstands. Today, KLTV 7's Layron Livingston sat down with Heather Nielson, a mother and budding magazine mogul who's hoping to make a difference.

Every day she takes care of four boys, and now she's reaching out to young girls.

"To me, this is the ultimate expression of what I've been doing for all these years...that's why I'm so excited about it."

For nearly 20 years, Heather worked in the modeling and fashion industry. She says she led youth groups, even opened a modeling school.

Now she's channeling all that experience into one place.

"I was just sitting in the living room one day and was like, oh a magazine would be fun to do, then I went to my computer and drew up what I wanted to look like, and started talking to people..."

Three weeks and a trip to the graphic designer later, East Texas Teen Magazine is Heather's vision being realized.

"They'll be fun cute shots, but they'll be modest."

She says she wanted this fashion magazine to be a safe, wholesome alternative.

"That's why it's got the news in there, the essays, the photojournalism. I hope to be able to reach all girls."

A personal outlet of expression, featuring the regular East Texas girl.

"They can pick up a Seventeen magazine, and it's all fun and cute and everything, but there's a different kind of excitement with this because it's local. They're seeing their friends...they're reading about things that are happening in their community," said Heather.

And for this mom turned East Texas entrepreneur, that's the most exciting part.

Heather wouldn't give us a sneak peak of her cover. She says in the magazine industry, covers are top secret until the release.

She hopes to have her first issue out later next month.

Layron Livingston, reporting. llivingston@kltv.com