Lexi Hensler Opens Up About Mental Health, Entrepreneurship, and the Mission Behind Hugz
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and entrepreneur and creator Lexi Hensler is using the moment to spotlight Hugz, a comfort-focused wellness brand inspired by her own experience with panic attacks and anxiety.
Hensler, who built a large online following through YouTube and social media, says her transition into entrepreneurship and wellness was intentional and reflected her own personal growth over time.
“I am proud of how much I have evolved and that my audience has been right there with me,” Hensler shared. “Evolving my content was not an accident. It was a conscious decision to grow into who I was becoming and bring my audience along honestly.”
The Hugz brand centers around weighted plush companions designed to provide comfort, grounding, and stress relief through soft textures and evenly distributed weight. Hugz grew from Hensler’s search for tools that could provide emotional reassurance during difficult moments.
One of the moments that confirmed the broader potential of the idea came during the brand’s first in-person product test, where the response exceeded expectations.
“We realized we were not building something niche,” Hensler explained. “We were building something that could reach anyone who has ever just needed something to hold onto.”
The product line includes several character-based designs, including Shelly the Turtle, a weighted plush created with a lie-flat design intended to provide a calming hugging sensation, and Peach the Pig, designed around softness and relaxation.
Hensler says one of the goals behind Hugz was to move away from products that feel overly clinical while still offering practical emotional support.
“There is real science behind why that matters,” she said, referencing object attachment theory and research tied to comfort objects, stress reduction, and emotional regulation. “It does not ask you to choose between what works and what feels good. It gives you both.”
The company has also integrated philanthropy into its business model through partnerships with mental health organizations, including the Inspiring Children Foundation. Hensler says the mission behind the company has always extended beyond product sales alone.
“I want Hugz to grow into something that transcends a product,” she said. “A movement around mental health that makes people feel seen, supported, and less alone.”
Hugz is offering 15% off sitewide throughout May during Mental Health Awareness Month.
As Hugz continues expanding, Hensler says authenticity remains central both to her content and to the business itself.
“Vulnerability is not weakness,” she said. “It is the most powerful connector there is.”