After becoming a mother, I also felt such a strong connection to other moms. I am passionate about showing up for other women wherever they are in their life, because I can't tell you how much other women have shown up for me -- everyone from moms on Twitter giving me advice on what to do when Estela was running a fever, vomiting and I could not get in touch with my doctor, to mom friends [watching] Estela for us when something unexpectedly came up. Becoming a mother has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. I can finally say that I now experience true joy in my life, and it is because I am a mother.

ml: What's the best part about being a mother?

AL: The best part about being a mother is the unconditional love I receive from my daughter.

ml: Where did the idea for Belle Parish come from?

AL: "Belle" means Southern belle, and "parish" is a term used to describe towns in Louisiana, my home state. So it's Southern girl meets Southern town. Essentially, it's a world that we've created. My business partner, Annie Kate, and I are both from the South, and the concept of Belle Parish is derived from our Southern upbringing and what we were taught as kids. It's all about nostalgia, charm, being a lady, classic styles, etc.

Belle is the inspirational character of the line, and she lives in Belle Parish -- a world of simpler times. I think that in this recession, our ideas about dressing your children really resonate with people. Most people are going back to the basics, thinking about how their parents did things, and Belle Parish represents the sweet simplicity of life. It's not all sparkles and glitter; we believe little girls have the rest of their lives to wear that kind of thing!

ml: You held the title of Miss USA. Do you think you'll enter your daughter, Estela, in pageants?

AL: She's beautiful! I am very grateful for my experience as Miss USA, and I probably would not be where I am today if it wasn't for that opportunity. But I don't think that we will be putting Estela into pageants. We live in a city that offers so many other creative outlets that she can explore. I was not as fortunate, being from a very small town where my resources were very limited.

ml: There is so much pressure on little girls to be thin and beautiful, just like models in the magazines that we seem to idolize. What would you say to moms who want to raise independent and confident girls?

AL: We are very conscious of that, and we are constantly explaining to [Estela] what beauty is. We also try to lead by example in celebrating the differences in others. We also tell her that when you are kind, when you share, when you are loving and giving, thoughtful and respectful ... THAT is beautiful!

ml: How do you balance work, family and the business?

AL: I am trying to figure that out every day. It is definitely a daily struggle. It seems like something always falls short, whether it be not spending enough time with my husband and fulfilling his needs; not always being fully present when I am with my daughter; not giving enough focus to my business because I have so many other hats to wear; or even not having enough "me time" so I can rejuvenate and be my best for everyone else.

The guilt is always there, but I try not to beat myself up about it. I try so hard to do my best, and I know that some days I will do a better job than others. I feel very blessed for the life that I have, and at the end of the day, when push comes to shove and I have to make a choice -- family wins, hands-down.

ml: Where can we buy Belle Parish clothes? We love them!

AL: Currently, we are in about 60 boutiques across the country. You can find a store locator on our website -- www.belleparish.com -- but we also plan to start selling online this summer. We want to be in more boutiques, and we would love to be in a major department store soon!