Paige Lorenze Is Charming America
By Katie Walsh
During Joe Biden’s reign, the only whisper of patriotism in culture was the popularity of Ralph Lauren’s iconic American flag sweater. The land of the free became the home of the dejected. Our collective spirit sank under the quasi-authoritarianism of the last administration. The rest of the world watched us waver. According to a Gallup poll, American pride hit near record lows in July among Democrats and Republicans alike. This lack of nationalism was evident in pop culture, fashion, social media, and entertainment. It was actually cool to be anti-America.
As we close out 2024, the national sentiment is starkly different. After a whirlwind election season, we’re seeing a great American comeback. One of my personal favorite brands is perfectly positioned to ride the red wave to success over the next four years and beyond.
Introducing Paige Lorenze, the founder of Dairy Boy and an influencer-turned-entrepreneur who is spearheading a revival of American classical living. Her style is like a contemporary Martha Stewart, vlogging from her home kitchen and horse stables in New England.
It all started with milk. In the summer of 2021, Lorenze lightheartedly advocated for drinking real milk when fake alternatives such as oat, soy, and almond were all the rage. Dairy Boy’s debut products included camo branded hoodies and sweat sets that had a farmhouse, rustic flair. Her merch used taglines like “Dairy Girl Summer” and “Horse Girl.”
Lorenze left the hustle bustle of New York City and returned to her roots in Connecticut in 2022. In her twenties, she was feeling unfulfilled by the fast-paced city lifestyle. Already with big social media followings, Lorenze was faced with the question of whether to stay in the city to fuel her growing influencer career, or pursue something else. She seemed to have it all, so why give it all up at the age of twenty four? It was a glimpse into the truth that most influencers don’t share with their followers: materialism and vanity don’t lead to true satisfaction and happiness.
When Lorenze distanced herself from the NYC it-girl crowd, she shined even brighter. Her new lifestyle was a stark contrast to the vanilla, hyper-consumeristic content we are constantly fed over Instagram. Moving back home meant more family time, riding horses again, and returning to the simple joys of her youth. She started cooking delicious recipes and renovated her quaint cottage. The more authentic her content became, the more her follower count skyrocketed. Much like Martha Stewart in the 1990s, Paige made living and homemaking look fabulous and cozy.
Fast forward to today, Dairy Boy has grown beyond just a fan club. It is a classic American success story of a young, female entrepreneur who brought her creative vision to life and gained the admiration of hundreds of thousands along the way. Her Connecticut life is classy, sophisticated, and whether she realizes it or not, patriotic. She is strikingly more American than the myriad of influencers in the spotlight before her. Her style is full of horses and gingham and bows; things our grandmothers adored.
Unlike the flashy jetsetting Kardashians who relish riches, Lorenze enjoys simple pleasures and embraces the feminine desire to create a beautiful space, while also living glamorously. One day, she may be spotted in a chic Chanel dress sitting courtside while her boyfriend, Tommy Paul, plays professional tennis. The next day, she may whip up delicious lasagna soup in her American Charm dutch oven and relax by the fireplace in a camo hoodie. This balance is so intriguing to her fans. Her success is proof that authenticity is very American, and very charming.
As we enter a new year and administration, it’s time we cultivate our entrepreneurial dreams and return to our core American values of family, individualism, and freedom. As consumers in the United States, we have the power to spend our hard-earned dollars on brands that we believe in.
Katie Walsh is the founder of the k’tea & co, an editorial website that focuses on positive and inspirational media. She works in finance in Cincinnati, Ohio, and you can find more of Katie’s work on @the.ktea.co