MY WHY
I have always struggled with my emotions. For a long time, I didn’t cry in front of anyone. I was determined that nobody would ever see me vulnerable. I even bragged about never crying or showing emotion—but the truth is, I felt everything deeply, just in private.
I still sometimes struggle to let others see me “weak.” I feel things heavily—not just my own emotions, but the emotions of those I love. When someone else is hurting, I hurt too. Carrying so much alone has shown me how isolating it can be when others face the same struggles in silence.
Life can be heavy. People’s experiences often carry shame and stigma, making it hard to share. But opening up—sharing our struggles—is how we break stigma and create space for help. Nobody should let stigma stop them from speaking. Nobody should have to struggle alone.
While we can’t avoid hardship entirely, we can make it safer for people to share their struggles. The more we break down stigma and create safe spaces, the more lives we can protect and the fewer people who have to suffer in silence.
The causes I focus on at Beyond the Label—eating disorders, sexual assault, mental health, and domestic violence—are deeply personal to me. Some I have faced myself; others I have witnessed in people I love dearly.
My mission is to raise awareness, break stigma, and create safe spaces for these struggles. I know firsthand how isolating and overwhelming it can feel to face these challenges in silence. By sharing my story and highlighting these causes, I hope to show that nobody should have to endure their struggles alone—and that even small actions, conversations, or expressions of support can make a real difference.
Eating Disorders
In 2019, I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa—a disease that has nearly taken my life more than once. As I build Beyond the Label and write this, I am in the midst of another relapse—one of the hardest yet, and one that almost got the better of me.
From childhood, I learned that smaller was better. Extreme weight-loss content, doctors’ comments, and societal pressures shaped my body image. Coping with trauma pushed me into destructive behaviors: starving, over-exercising, drinking. Recovery has been long and messy, but I’ve learned that eating disorders are life-threatening illnesses that demand compassion and awareness.
I may never fully understand why I developed anorexia nervosa. I think I’ve always had some form of an eating disorder, and unfortunately, everyone feels the weight of societal pressures around body image to some degree. Trauma intensified it. After being assaulted, I felt a need to regain control, and that control came in the shape of my body. In the end, though, anorexia ended up controlling my body, me, my life, and everything I held dear.
Sexual Assault
Travelling the world at a young age was meant to be an amazing experience—but it was overshadowed by sexual assault. I left the job I was working in because I didn’t want to see my assaulter daily. I didn’t tell anyone what happened out of shame, telling friends and family I left to explore Europe instead. For months, I numbed myself with travel and drinking.
When I returned, it was obvious something had changed. I was a shell of myself—not just from weight loss, but emotionally, and drinking was still my coping mechanism. When I opened up to trusted friends, some of their responses reflected my worst fears: “Well, you were drunk, so…” That reaction reinforced my shame and made me retreat further.
Sexual assault thrives in silence, but it is never the survivor’s fault. Consent matters, and no one has the right to cross that line. Breaking the silence is critical—for awareness, healing, and preventing harm.
Mental Health
Mental health struggles affect everyone. For me, they intersected with my eating disorder and assault. Shame and silence prevent people from seeking help, and suicidal thoughts are very real for many.
Mental ill-health can feel isolating, especially when life looks “good” on the outside. That’s why it’s so important to break stigma—mental health doesn’t discriminate, and neither should we. Speak up, check in on others, and be kinder—because we never know what someone is going through behind closed doors.
Family & Domestic Violence
Family and domestic violence is something I cannot personally fathom. The idea that someone could hurt the people they love most is horrifying. Victims often blame themselves and stay in dangerous situations, trapped by fear and stigma.
I love someone who endured years of abuse. They were strong enough to leave, but the trauma remains. Physical bruises fade, but emotional scars—often invisible to the outside world—impact lives profoundly. I cannot imagine anyone hurting someone they love in that way, and yet it happens far too often. We must speak up, raise awareness, and create safe spaces so fewer people suffer in silence.
Even small actions matter. Every story shared, every conversation started, every design worn can create change.
You are not alone. You are more than your struggles.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
If you are struggling, please know there is help and hope:
Eating Disorders: Butterfly Foundation Helpline – 1800 334 673
Sexual Assault & Family Violence: 1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732
Mental Health & Crisis Support: Lifeline – 13 11 14 | Beyond Blue – 1300 224 636
I know I can’t do everything. But I can do something.
Beyond the Label is that something. It’s a movement born from my past, from my pain, and from my belief that we are more than what society calls us. More than our struggles. More than our circumstances.
Every story shared, every design worn, every conversation started creates change. If my story encourages even one person to share theirs, that’s another voice breaking the silence. That’s impact.
Beyond every label. Beyond every limitation. You are unstoppable.