10:AM Dialogues with Freja | Presence, Energy & Becoming in New York

Freja, a creative with roots in Copenhagen and life in New York, moves through the city with a presence that is both soft and magnetic. In our 10:AM Dialogue, she shares how kindness feels like true connection, why water rituals ground her in moments of stillness, and how 10:AM embraces every side of her identity; confident, vulnerable, and always becoming.

Q: What kind of energy do you feel drawn to, the kind that makes you feel seen without needing to explain yourself?

A: Living in New York, energy is often something borrowed; a temporary transaction, not always equal. Your energy can quickly disappear into someone who has no intention of returning it. Many people put up walls to protect their energy.

But whenever I meet someone with their guard down, someone who meets my eyes, makes me smile, maybe even laugh, I feel something shift. It could be someone I know, or a stranger at Trader Joe’s or on the subway. Whenever I meet someone who is kind without precaution, that’s when I feel most seen. That’s why I love wearing pieces from 10:AM; They’re conversation starters and create a soft, yet clear presence in a chaotic world.

Q: Where do you go when you want to return to yourself, not your role, not your look; just you?

A: Whenever I feel the need to return to my core, I have one trick that always works: be quiet with water. When I lived in Copenhagen, I would bike to the nearest body of clean water and jump in - all year round. In NYC, I walk to the Seaport or the West Side Highway, close my eyes, and listen to the waves. There’s nothing more soothing. When I leave, I breathe deeper, and my mind feels clearer. Like I’ve returned to myself.

Q: What part of your presence feels most like 10:AM; soft, clear, and impossible to ignore?

A: 10:AM embraces the many different parts of my presence. When I feel confident, when I want to take up space, when I feel vulnerable, strong, soft, loud, or quiet. 10:AM makes me feel comfortable in my skin, comfortable standing out and creating connections with the city and its people. It reflects who I am, even as I’m still becoming.