IN CONVERSATION WITH LEXI HENSLER

interview by JANA LETONJA

Lexi Hensler is helping redefine what modern wellness looks and feels like. As a co-founder and creative force behind Hugz, she is part of a team building a premium wellness brand rooted in mental health and intentional design. Hugz is redefining comfort through both form and function. Built around the science of deep pressure therapy, Hugz transforms the benefits of weighted blankets into a soft, portable companion you can hold. Each piece is thoughtfully designed to deliver gentle weight, with heat and cooling functionality to support relaxation, ease anxiety, and provide physical relief—from stress to sleep to everyday tension. At its core, Hugz is about creating a more approachable form of self-care—something that feels as good emotionally as it does physically. The mission behind the brand is deeply personal. After experiencing severe panic attacks, Lexi turned to tools that both physical grounding and emotional reassurance. This experience helped inspire Hugz—created to help others feel supported, understood, and less alone. Through the brand, and her candid presence online, Lexi has become a powerful voice in shaping a more open, accessible conversation around mental health—while helping build a company that is reimagining how comfort fits into everyday life.

Hugz began with a very personal mission. What was the exact moment you realized this idea needed to become a real product, and a company? 

I’m incredibly proud of Hugz, and deeply grateful for the opportunity to have created something that has genuinely impacted people’s lives. There wasn’t a single “eureka” moment, it was more a culmination of quiet realizations over time. As I navigated severe anxiety, I kept noticing how much weighted blankets helped me regulate my nervous system and feel grounded again. The feeling of pressure, of being held.

What struck me wasn’t just how effective it was, but how inaccessible that comfort felt once I stepped back into the world. I couldn’t carry a weighted blanket with me. At the time, there was nothing on the market that was comforting, or emotionally validating that fit into everyday life. I began to see Hugz Weighted Friends not just as an idea, but as something meaningful we could bring into the world.

From the beginning, our goal has been simple and intentional, to create moments of relief and support in the form of a weighted, heatable best friend. Something that offers comfort without stigma, and reminds people they don’t have to face hard moments alone.

Weighted blankets have been around for years. How did you envision reimagining that comfort in a way that felt new, portable, and emotionally meaningful?

Weighted blankets have been incredibly helpful, but they were never designed for real life beyond the home. I remember not even wanting to carry mine from room to room. They’re heavy, bulky, and impractical. That friction stayed with me, especially as I thought about how often anxiety shows up unexpectedly, in moments when comfort isn’t easily accessible. 

Hugz was created to meet that unmet need. In a fast-paced, always-on society, I wanted to reimagine comfort as something more immediate, portable, and emotionally resonant. Not just a tool, but a companion people could genuinely connect with. The form mattered as much as the function.

Through product development, we discovered that using non-toxic glass beads allowed Hugz to be safely warmed in the microwave or cooled in the freezer, adding another layer of therapeutic support. Every detail was intentional, from the weight, to the temperature, to the softness. All designed to create a sense of grounding and relief that could move with you through daily life.

As Founder, what part of building Hugz has challenged you the most, and what’s brought you the most joy?

One of the most challenging parts of building Hugz has been carrying the responsibility that comes with creating something so personal, while continuing to grow with intention. From day one, our founding team has felt a deep obligation to get this right, not just aesthetically or functionally, but emotionally. Every detail matters because Hugz shows up in moments when people may be struggling, and that is something we take seriously.

As the category grows, we have seen more products enter the market that prioritize speed over substance. That has only reinforced our commitment to staying focused on thoughtful design, quality, and care. We are not interested in chasing trends. We are focused on building something that truly resonates and lasts. A big part of that comes from staying closely connected to our community. We listen, we learn, and we continue to evolve the product based on real experiences and real needs. That ongoing dialogue shapes how we design, how we improve, and how we think about every new release. It allows us to build with intention, not assumption.

We have also kept our team lean and deeply involved in the creative process, which helps us protect the integrity of the brand and the feeling behind each product. That level of care is not something we are willing to compromise. At the same time, it has been the most rewarding part of the journey. Hearing from customers and seeing how Hugz fits into their lives is incredibly meaningful. It reminds us that what we are building goes beyond a product. It is something people turn to for comfort, and that is what continues to drive us forward.

How do you balance being the face of a brand while also running it behind the scenes?

I’ve always been drawn to both creativity and business. I studied business in college before stepping away to pursue my social media career full time, and Hugz has allowed me to bring those two worlds back together in a way that feels meaningful. Being both the face of the brand and involved behind the scenes can be demanding, but whenever I feel overwhelmed, I remind myself how fortunate I am to build something that engages both sides of who I am.

That balance is only possible because I’m very intentional about how I take care of myself. I rely on simple, grounding routines that support my mental and physical health. Moving my body every day, spending time outside whenever I can, eating in a way that truly fuels me, and prioritizing therapy as a consistent part of my life. When I stay connected to those habits, I’m able to show up fully, both publicly and privately. When I don’t, I notice how quickly things feel heavier.

You’ve been open about struggling with severe panic attacks growing up. How did that experience shape your relationship to mental health today?

I’m no stranger to mental health struggles, and if they’ve taught me anything, it’s that you can only ignore your needs for so long. Experiencing severe panic attacks at a young age forced me to slow down and listen to what my body and mind were asking for. It reshaped the way I understand health, not as something you push through, but something you actively care for. 

That experience made mental health a non-negotiable part of my life, rather than an afterthought. It’s also shaped the mission behind Hugz. I want to help normalize taking care of your mental health in the same way we talk about physical health. Without shame, without stigma, and with compassion. For me, that understanding is simple but foundational. There is no health without mental health.

Your community praises you for your unfiltered honesty. Has sharing publicly ever felt healing, or heavy?

There is something incredibly freeing about allowing yourself to be fully honest. Sharing my struggles publicly was naturally scary at first, and there are moments when that vulnerability can feel heavy. But overall, it’s been deeply healing. Seeing how many people resonate with those experiences has helped all of us, myself included, feel less alone.

My intention has always been to turn pain into something meaningful. By speaking openly, I’m not only processing my own experiences, but hopefully creating space for others to feel seen, understood, and less isolated in theirs. That sense of shared humanity is what makes the vulnerability worth it.

How do you navigate the responsibility of being a mental health advocate while still protecting your own emotional wellbeing?

My favorite word lately is boundaries. I believe deeply in transparency and openness, but I’ve also learned how essential it is to protect your peace. Being an advocate doesn’t mean sharing everything, all the time. It means being intentional about what you offer and when.

I’m still learning how to navigate life in the public eye, and that growth has taught me that caring for others starts with caring for yourself. Setting boundaries allows me to show up authentically and sustainably, without sacrificing my own emotional wellbeing. It’s an ongoing practice, but one that’s become central to how I live and lead. 

Your content ranges from lifestyle and travel to beauty and now wedding diaries. How do you maintain authenticity across so many facets of your life?

I’ve always admired people who can stay within a single niche for their career, but that’s never felt true to who I am. I’m naturally curious, I have many interests, and my life exists in chapters rather than categories. For me, authenticity doesn’t come from consistency in content, it comes from consistency in honesty. 

Sharing different facets of my life, from beauty and travel to more intimate moments, feels authentic because it reflects the full picture, the joy, the challenges, and the growth in between. I think people connect most when they’re allowed to see someone as a whole person, not a perfectly curated version. That openness is what keeps everything grounded, no matter the medium.

As Hugz expands, how do you ensure the brand stays grounded in its original mission of emotional support and mental wellness? 

I’m incredibly grateful to have founded Hugz alongside partners who are just as deeply committed to mental wellness as I am. From the very beginning, we’ve been aligned in the belief that Hugz is more than a brand, it’s a form of support, and that responsibility guides every decision we make.

As we grow, protecting that mission means being intentional and uncompromising. We’re thoughtful about what we create, how we expand, and the standards we hold ourselves to, always asking whether something genuinely serves our community. We’ve made it clear that we will never pursue growth at the expense of the people we’re here to support. Staying grounded isn’t about scaling faster, it’s about scaling with care.

What can you share with us about the upcoming plans and projects for Hugz?

Hugz has a lot of exciting plans on the horizon. We recently hosted our first retail pop-up on Abbott Kinney Boulevard in Venice, which was incredibly meaningful for us. It marked the beginning of bringing Hugz into physical spaces where people can experience that sense of comfort and connection in person.

Looking ahead, we’re focused on creating more live pop-up activations and immersive moments that extend beyond traditional retail. Community has always been at the heart of Hugz, and these experiences allow us to meet people where they are and create spaces rooted in warmth, care, and presence. Everything we’re building next is guided by that same intention, expanding thoughtfully, while staying true to the emotional support that defines the brand.

TEAM CREDITS:

photography BEN COPE