We whole heartedly welcome both Renee & Kate from Breaking Beige, as our first ALL OF US Ambassadors.
The journey of two 30+ mums finding their way post babies, they are the friends you never knew you needed. They hold a powerful platform for woman to be real, relatable and share their journeys navigating these uncharted waters of motherhood, business, the juggle and all the goodness in between.
RENEE
We'd love to hear a bit about you, as much as you want to share - family life, Breaking Beige, where you live, age, children, values, how you show up in the world?
I am currently in my last year of the 30’s, I am a wife and a mother of 3 beautiful children Mace (10) Thea (8) and Jax (6). I have owned a skincare salon “R & Co Skin and Beauty” for nearly 7 years, which currently has 4 staff including myself. My best friend and I started a podcast 6 months ago to help other woman/mothers feel empowered and help find themselves again. We are all on the same journey and finding our groove again while juggling motherhood.
Can you share with me your so called ‘imperfection’ and when you felt less powerful?
Mine will always be my skin - as a teenager I had severe acne, Im
talking face, chest and back, it was everywhere. I guess this is why I got into my industry. I never want anyone to ever feel the way I did when I had acne, it was all consuming and all I ever thought about.
Can you recall a moment when you realised what you once saw as an ‘imperfection’ was actually a unique ‘superpower’?
This is 100% my super power now as a skincare professional. Letting them know that I know exactly how they feel and sharing my story is so empowering. I still get hormonal breakouts from time to time which is a reminder that we are all human and nobody is perfect.
What valuable lessons has embracing your 'imperfection' taught you about who you are, and how you show up in the world?
I spent my teen years desperately trying to cover the imperfections on my skin. Now I love to wear minimal make up and love the skin I am in. I think it is refreshing for people/clients to see
imperfect skin. Especially in these times of bloody filters and social media!!! It’s NOT REAL!!!
In the light of self-acceptance, what personal strengths have you discovered or developed?
My knowledge is now my strength, the extensive knowledge I have about the skin and how it works, ad the power it has given me to help others.
We all have those moments that make us chuckle when we think about our quirks. Do you have a humorous story about your imperfection that you can share?
I mean I have become a pro pimple popper I feel like I should have my own show haha.
What inspired you to join the ALL OF US family as a brand ambassador?
100% it was the owner Natalie, she is truely a wonderful human with incredible values. I love everything that she and ALL OF US family are about.
Kate
We'd love to hear a bit about you, as much as you want to share - family life, Breaking Beige, where you live, age, children, values, how you show up in the world?
Kate Basher… what do I say about myself? I’m 37 and still don’t know what I’m supposed to be, but the journey so far has been the BEST and I’m grateful for every happy/hard/exciting/sad moment.
Mum to my two most precious creations, wife to my hero.
I'm creative: I work as an interior designer.
I’m passionate about supporting other women; using breaking beige podcast as our platform to celebrate this.
I’m a lover.
I am growing.
I add value by being wholeheartedly who I am. I’m not making big waves but that would give me the shits anyway, I’ll take a paddle in the shallows any day.
Can you share with me your so called ‘imperfection’ and when you
felt less powerful?
As a teenager I spent A LOT of time desperately waiting for the titty
fairy to sprinkle her boobie dust on me. She had visited most of my friends, and chests were enlarging around me before my eyes… just not mine. I felt less than the other girls, almost babyish, like i wasn’t quite there yet. Late teens and twenties didn’t seem to progress the situation.
Can you recall a moment when you realised what you once saw as an ‘imperfection’ was actually a unique ‘superpower’
I met my now husband who never seemed to notice that I hadn’t grown the appropriate appendages on my chest, he just seemed to love me how I was. When we had babies, I finally grew boobs full of alllllll the goodness my babies needed to become chubby well fed little humans, and what’s more, I hated having big boobs! I knocked into everything, my tops didn’t fit, I would open doors into them, god forbid I would break into a jog and knock an eye out!! I realised that the ‘no boob life’ was the life for me, but I really appreciated having had the chance to try tits for a while and to know that even though mine are small, they did a mighty job.
What valuable lessons has embracing your 'imperfection' taught you about who you are, and how you show up in the world?
The valuable lesson was that small tits, big tits, medium tits - they
all do the same job. Just because they were little didn’t make me any less of a woman, they fed the babies, and my body did what it needed to do at the time. What a miracle the human body is right!!
In the light of self-acceptance, what personal strengths have you discovered or developed?
I’ve discovered that titties don’t make a woman. Titties make a
lovely play toy for your spouse, a wonderful drink bottle for your babies, but are otherwise pretty bloody useless. I am who I am as a woman not because I look womanly, but because I am a WOMAN deep in my core.
We all have those moments that make us chuckle when we think about our quirks. Do you have a humorous story about your imperfection that you can share?
Being mistaken for an 8 year old boy at the beach. Or trying to gather skin from my stomach and heave it up and into a push up bra just to have it slide back down as soon as I stood up. The tit-less woes of a flat chested girly.
What inspired you to join the ALL OF US family as a brand ambassador?
I love the realness attached to this brand, the inclusive nature of
the styles and the delicious fabrics that are actually good for the planet. I appreciate how thoughtfully this brand has approached its path in a very hectic and variable industry. I know that everyday mums just like me will have pride putting these garments on, and will feel comfy and special- even with baby puke on the shoulder or spag bol splatters on the front! All of us community is exactly what I want to be part of, it’s thoughtful, considerate and right up my alley.