What is tough?

On a recent sponsored trip to Arizona with Corning Incorporated (see our disclosure statement here), I sat in the back of a jeep with three amazing social media influencers and watched them experience the world. I couldn’t help but be awestruck as these individuals sampled cactus, fired BB guns, and shot arrows (all while catching the moments on their Samsung Galaxy Note5 devices equipped with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 4, which dramatically improves protection against drops).

That evening, I relaxed in the outdoor garden of Café Passe in Tucson and surrounded myself with the powerful, dynamic female travelers that make up the Wanderful Tucson chapter, one of our 21 chapters around the globe. I listened to their stories of traversing the planet and was filled with inspiration and excitement.

#inspiredbytough
Image by Beth Santos.

Suddenly, it hit me. Though these women weren’t firing guns and roping bulls, what they did do was no less of a challenge: They dove into the world headfirst and dared other women to do the same. They spent the evening inspiring one another to get out there and pursue the globe unafraid – or at least to take that fear, keep it in their pocket, and move forward anyway.

It’s what inspired me to reach out to 13 of our favorite influencers from around the Wanderful community and engage with them in a campaign that I’m proud to launch this week called #InspiredByTough, in partnership with Corning Gorilla Glass 4.

#inspiredbytough
Image by Beth Santos.

Over the next 13 weeks, you’ll see the stories of amazing, spectacular, inspiring women around the globe who dare to travel tough. Women who are willing to test their boundaries in order to see how far they can go.

As they take on different challenges around the globe, they’ll share their pictures on Twitter and Instagram. They’ll even be wearing trendy “Inspired by Tough” tank tops – because that’s who we are: adventurous, independent, gutsy, inspired, brilliant, tough women, who look fear in the face.

In some ways, we are creating a digital manifesto – showing the globe that we are inspired by, and not afraid of, tough – energized, and not delayed, by challenge. We are determined to let the world see who we are.

And we want you to be a part of it.

In fact, you can RT any one of our influencers’ posts from May to August or use the hashtags #InspiredByToughSweeps and #GorillaGlass4 for the chance to win a tank top of your own to show the world that you, too, are inspired. We’ll be giving one away each day through the campaign.

Then, join us on Twitter on Wednesday, June 29 at 9 PM Eastern for the most epic #InspiredByTough Twitter chat.

We’ll be reuniting under one Twitter stream to talk about our own tough experiences in the world, and we want you to join us.

In the meantime, keep your eyes out for our influencers taking over Twitter and Instagram each week. You can follow along by searching for the #InspiredByToughSweeps and #GorillaGlass4 hashtags, or check out who we reveal each week:

May 10: Marissa Sutera of Little Things Travel hikes Colorado

Marissa Sutera

May 17: Monica Ortega of Monica Goes takes on rough terrain in California

Monica Ortega Inspired By Tough

May 24: Erin Bender of Explore with Erin journeys through Utah

 

May 31: Lillie Marshall of Around the World “L” finds adventure in Boston

Lillie Marshall Inspired By Tough

June 7: Valerie Stimac of Valerie & Valise explores Jordan

Valerie Stimac Inspired By Tough

June 14: Lizza Monet Morales celebrates #InspiredByTough in Mexico

Lizza Inspired By Tough

June 21: Kay Dougherty of Blonde Brunette Travel ventures through Florida

Kay Inspired By Tough

June 28: Jana Seitzer of Merlot Mommy gets outside in Portland

Jana Inspired By Tough

July 5: Andi Fisher of Misadventures with Andi discovers Oregon by RV

Andi InspiredByTough

July 12: Amanda Williams of A Dangerous Business hikes Ohio

Amanda Inspired By Tough

July 19: Hannah Logan of Eat Sleep Breathe Travel brings out her inner Indiana Jones in Quebec’s Cottage Country

Hannah Logan InspiredByTough

July 26: Sheri McDonald of Kidsumers visits Niagara Falls

Sheri McDonald Inspired By Tough

August 2: Mindi Hirsch of 2foodtrippers tours Stockholm, Sweden

Mindi Hirsch #InspiredByTough

You can join the conversation and enter for your chance to win by retweeting on Twitter or commenting using the hashtags #InspiredByTough and #GorillaGlass4Sweeps on Instagram. See you all online!