Ever been caught with your shirt off... as a woman?
Well, I have.
Although I wasn’t quite a woman yet—I was in the 5th grade and the Student of the Month. This honor meant I got to create an entire poster board of my life outside of school, proudly displayed in the classroom for the ENTIRE month.
Excited beyond belief, I gathered photos with help from my mom.
This was the pre-digital era, so it was all print photos.
The young designer in me carefully curated my selected photos on the poster board and glued them down. There was a full-spectrum visual display of Christmases, family time, vacations, and pets—over 50 photos in total.
The next day, I strutted into school with my masterpiece.
I refused to roll it up—ever the perfectionist—carrying it in full form for everyone to see. My teacher hung it up, and I took my seat with a smile, feeling accomplished.
Minutes later, a friend rushed over and whispered, “Don’t you know you need to wear a shirt?”
WHAT?!
A lump rose in my throat. REALLY!?
Let me explain... My afternoon routine after I got home from school and walked my half-mile driveway was to rip off my socks and shirt, often down to my underwear, and go about my business.
I wasn’t a clothes girl, okay!?
The odd part? My mom, the entire bus, and my teacher all saw the poster filled with shirtless pictures of me and said nothing.
What the f*ck!
There was quite literally not ONE picture of me WITH a shirt on.
I started to feel the color rise in my cheeks... I was supposed to be embarrassed, right!? And trust me, my mind and body thought about going there.
But instead, I shrugged.
At 10 or 11, I’d already realized conformity wasn’t my style.
It was too late. Being ‘normal’ just wasn’t in the cards for me, it seemed.
My mom was comfortable with her body, and minimal dress codes were normal in our house. My brothers never wore shirts, and I didn’t see a physical difference between us at that age.
Albeit, it might have been nice if one of the adults in my life could have warned me!
Needless to say, that poster board of me in oversized whitey tighties hung for the entire month for everyone to see.
Side note: I did ask my mom to find a picture of me from that time (in those exact whitey tighties), but I suppose you are fortunate she couldn’t come up with it in time... Saving you that eye sore!
To this day, I love pretty bras, only to never wear them. Uncomfortable clothes? Not my jam.
Expression is crucial, especially when it comes to body image.
Of course, I learned to wear a shirt in public, but I still cherish that little girl who said ‘f*ck it.’ She seemed to know a secret we often forget as we grow up.
Over the past few years, I’ve embraced that same boldness through brand photoshoots, my business, and online marketing—continuing to show up unapologetically as myself.
It’s funny how I naturally gravitate toward outfits and imagery that reflect my personality, even if they don’t fit the conventional mold. I’ve shared snapshots of these moments online, and, unsurprisingly, lost more followers than ever before.
But you know what?
It was an authentic expression of myself, so I didn’t care.
I wasn’t crafting a contrived image; I was embracing an experience that felt genuine.
Over time, I’ve continued to ditch the inner critic and censorship—through my business, online marketing, and creative expression. To me, that’s a win... especially as a woman.
When we show up as our true selves, we positively impact others. It’s a ripple effect of permission, encouraging them to see what’s possible beyond judgment.
Sure, it might be polarizing, but as the saying goes: “If we aren’t pissing someone off, we’re doing it wrong.”
So, for those of you ready to step boldly into greater expression in life or business, I say, seize the moment and go for it!
It’s through these expansive moments we grow, reach the right people, and impact others in unimaginable ways.
It’s through our expression that we find our true community of like-minded people.
It might sting when we get a weird message or someone misinterprets our intentions.
But that’s the game, my friends, and we have to be in it to win it.
I’ve learned to honor my true expression without judging the outcome. Rediscovering what my 11-year-old self already knew has taken years, but I’m grateful to be here now.
Outward expression helps us embody our inner life—activating our desires, hopes, and dreams into reality.
Your true expression—in life and business—is what sets you apart.
But are you building a brand that fully reflects who you are? Or are you watering it down to fit in?
That’s where the Brand Archetype Quiz comes in. It reveals your unique brand strengths and how to grow your business with authenticity, confidence, and impact.
Take the Brand Archetype Quiz now and create a business that feels 100% YOU.
Stay wild and live large,
