Online Network Attracts 500K Diva Mommies

When Lyss Stern entered motherhood nine years ago, she didn’t want to give up her chic sensibilities. She searched for an organization for like-minded moms, but couldn’t find anything.

The Manhattan resident then established Divalysscious Moms, a web and email network that connects moms with advice and events, with only six followers. Over the years, that number has swelled to an astounding half million mothers, according to Stern.

“It’s just been one mom telling another mom,” Stern told Patch. “Just from that it’s become a mom movement.”

Stern, who grew up in Woodmere and graduated from Lawrence Woodmere Academy in 1992, started writing at a young age, and built a career as a columnist at the now defunct New York Sun and then Cookie Magazine. She helped launch New York Observer’s supplement Observer Playground in 2010, where she is founding editor in chief. When she had her first son in 2004, she focused on motherhood and grew Divalysscious Moms and its website DivaMoms.com. She also released a book, "If You Give a Mom a Martini: 100 Ways to Find 10 Blissful Minutes for Yourself," which has been optioned as a feature film.

Businesses seek out Stern and her seal of approval, so she can spread the word to her 500,000 moms. Divalysscious Moms makes money through ads and sponsorships and planning events for businesses.

“People want to come to the events, they're fun,” Stern said. “It's like an offline sorority for these moms. Whatever it is, it's an experience.”

Stern — who spends a lot of time in Atlantic Beach — suggests that her Five Towns upbringing has helped her in her success.

“It was a very positive, great place to grow up,” she said.

She added that her mother “put so much time and effort” into planning events, which helped Stern develop her networking skills.

Her next big event is coming up next Saturday, July 27: Camp Divalysscious at Super Saturday in the Hamptons, which benefits the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (video of last year’s event here).

Divalysscious Moms events are  a way for mothers to mingle, get pampered and have fun, according to Stern.

“You were fabulous before you had a baby, why should you stop? Moms kind of go into a slump, and they forget about themselves,” Stern said. “Our children come first, but we need to take care of ourselves. Happy mom equals happy family. I want moms to have that mission statement for themselves.”