Despite Joanna Gaines‘ massive success, she admits she has struggled with imposter syndrome. The former HGTV star shares how she got her start as a designer, which got the ball rolling on her rise to fame.
Joanna Gaines Says Her Introduction to Design Is ‘Humorous’
During the July 9, 2025 episode of “Making Space With Hoda Kotb,” Gaines discussed how she got started as a home designer.
“It’s actually quite humorous because, you know, you always hear people who are designers, they’re like, ‘I redid my room,'” she said. “I didn’t [when I was a kid].”
“I never even thought about decorating,” Gaines said. “It really started … I started Magnolia in 2003, the year Chip and I got married. It was really just like a little boutique, I was putting like candles and home decor [out on display].”
She continued, “But people would come in the shop and say, ‘Can you help decorate my home?’ And I would go into their homes, Hoda … you want to talk about like truly no idea what I was doing and completely faking it.”
Gaines recalled that the stress of the situation prompted her to pray, “Dear God, give me something … God I need something because I have no idea.”
The “Magnolia Table” star said she realized that throughout the process, people were patient, and she got more practice at design over time.
She also shared how she would ask clients, “What do you want [the space] to feel like,” noting, “That’s what I always based my designs on.” That question continues to help her with design choices to this day.
Joanna Gaines Discusses Having Imposter Syndrome
Gaines recalled how she and her husband were first offered their own TV show and when “Fixer Upper” got a second season, she started to worry more about being judged for her design choices.
Kotb noted, “So many women who are wildly successful” have imposter syndrome. “It’s like you don’t know if you belong, although you’re there.”
The podcast host wondered if there was a point where Gaines moved past that. The Magnolia empire owner credited her husband with helping her through it.
“I think the point was Chip saying, ‘I don’t want to hear this anymore.'”
“He was like, ‘Jo, you are incredible’ and so when you keep saying that, it’s actually off-putting because … the confidence Jo that you have to rise up for this moment,” she shared.
“I don’t know what it was, but it became this like crutch, where just in case, I’ll say ‘I don’t know.’ And I feel like there is that apologetic thing in us, you know. So I’ll say it still creeps up, but I do feel like there is something about learning [design] this way,” Gaines said.
She continued, “But it’s something that’s always in us, but also you’ve got to immediately when you feel it, step above it and say ‘No, this isn’t about that.’ It really isn’t.”
The former “HGTV” star added, “When I’m creating a space, it isn’t for someone to notice it … that’s not why I do this.”
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Joanna Gaines Admits She Struggles With Imposter Syndrome