.jpg)
We met Tiffany Gil, founder and CEO of Shezza, in person, and within minutes it was clear why her brand has captured so much attention. There is an unmistakable sharpness to her. She is quick, witty, deeply focused, and exceptionally articulate. For someone so young, her intelligence, motivation, and work ethic are striking. This is not a casual side project turned business. This is a founder with vision, discipline, and the rare ability to execute.
As she explained Shezza to us, the concept felt immediately obvious, yet no one had done it before. Shezza is the first foam padded sock designed specifically to protect the back of the heel, an area nearly everyone has sacrificed to stiff or new shoes. The response has been extraordinary. The brand has gone viral multiple times, amassing more than 157 million views across social media, over 106,500 followers, and approximately 90,000
customers worldwide. That level of traction does not come from novelty. It comes from solving a real, everyday problem with precision.
The idea was born directly from Tiffany’s own experience. She loves fashion and travel, but her leather Doc Marten boots were constantly causing painful heel blisters. She layered socks, used bandages, and tried every workaround available, none of which truly worked. Instead of giving up on the shoes she loved, she decided to invent what did not yet exist. While still in college, she built the first foam padded sock prototype in her house and tested it relentlessly. That prototype became the foundation of Shezza. Winning the grand prize on Amazon Prime’s Buy It Now gave her the momentum to scale the idea into a full brand.
What impressed us most was not just the product, but Tiffany’s understanding of the business behind it. She spoke candidly about the challenges of manufacturing, material sourcing, perfecting fit, maintaining consistent quality, managing inventory, forecasting cash flow, and navigating logistics. She understands that building a brand requires wearing many hats, and she is equally aware of when to delegate. Her maturity as a leader is evident, and it is a large part of why Shezza has scaled so quickly. Even the name Shezza reflects her depth of thought. Tiffany explored Italian words tied to softness and comfort, then discovered the name carried additional meaning across cultures. In Arabic and Persian, it can reference fragrance or ornament, symbolizing beauty and grace. In Hebrew and Biblical contexts, it can be interpreted as this gift or splendor. The name felt warm, distinctive, and meaningful. It fit the brand perfectly.
Looking ahead, Tiffany’s vision is both ambitious and grounded. Shezza is expanding its product line, growing its reach, and continuing to innovate within the comfort and footwear accessory space. One day, she hopes the brand will be acquired by a major footwear or comfort company, allowing the product to reach an even larger global audience. For now, the focus remains on creating thoughtful solutions that make everyday life more comfortable without sacrificing style.
After spending time with Tiffany, one thing became very clear to us. She is a force. Smart, motivated, inventive, and refreshingly real, she represents the kind of founder we are proud to spotlight at Empyreal Magazine. She saw a problem nearly everyone accepts as normal, refused to settle for discomfort, and built something better. This is only the beginning.
