I thought I would share my Canva collage and be brave eeek! Thank you!

Before I’ve always been super connected to the creator within me . I loved to draw, make things, and especially design fashion looks. My love for design wasn’t about knowing every brand or reading Vogue, it was about how different colours, textures, and personalities came alive through looks. But the way I was raised contrasted with that passion. Like most kids, I wanted to dress myself and express freely, but I was taught not to stand out. Growing up in a Greek household, that came from a place of love protecting me from judgment, gossip, and evil eye. The message was clear: dress respectfully, don’t do too much. Crisis Working hard at university, I got accepted into a semester abroad at one of the world’s most renowned fashion schools, FIT in New York. Living there, learning from incredible creatives, and being surrounded by the artistic pulse of the city cracked something open in me. I was relearning that it's safe to express yourself, and it is encouraged. Coming back home to Melbourne, though, I felt empty. It was as if I’d taken ten steps forward and twenty steps back. I felt unaligned with my hometown, my environment, even the life I thought I was supposed to want. Deep down, I knew I wasn’t meant to just stay put, get a job, and play it safe. Chase After finishing my bachelor’s degree back home, I was determined to move back to New York. Then Covid hit. I refused to let that stop my momentum. I started taking fashion content creation seriously. Styling outfits and shooting content consistently. I also interned with a start-up to understand the business side of building a brand. Even in lockdown, I stayed in motion, building toward my dream in the industry and gaining the knowledge and experience I needed. Conflict That experience taught me a harsh but defining truth not everyone who appears successful deserves your trust. The person I had interned for, someone I deeply admired, saw the drive and creativity in me and took advantage of it. He positioned himself as a mentor, convincing me that I needed his approval to succeed, while slowly crossing lines that should never have been crossed. What began as admiration turned into control.