Not a Glow Up. A Glow In.

If you just looked at the photos, you'd probably assume the first was the more “successful” version of me. The one who had it all together.

Glossy hair. A full face of makeup. A lace dress and wine glass and a camera-ready smile.

She looked the part.

But here’s the truth no one wants to talk about:

That girl didn’t know sh*t about real freedom.

She was smart, sure—but she didn’t know how to trust herself.
She had big dreams—but they were buried under people-pleasing, living quietly and a blueprint that did not work for me, or even feel right. Always chasing what everyone told me success looked like.
She thought professionalism meant always looking polished, staying small, never rocking the boat.

And now I live on a boat, baby.

The second photo? That’s the version of me that built a few business from the sand up. That’s the woman who made money while living in a foreign country with zero safety net. Who learned to fix things with her own hands. Who navigates guests, bookings, logistics, and a hundred little fires every single week—and still carves out time to breathe with the ocean.

That’s emotional intelligence. That’s business savvy.

But no one teaches you that in school. And society sure as hell doesn’t celebrate it unless it comes wrapped in heels and LinkedIn-worthy headshots.

I used to think intelligence had a suit or uniform .
Now I know it has presence and patience.

I used to think being professional meant being palatable.
Now I know it means being rooted. Boundaried. Clear.

I used to think I had to prove myself to be taken seriously.
Now I know my results speak for themselves—and I don’t owe anyone an explanation.

There’s a different kind of glow that happens when you stop performing and start feeling. When you stop measuring your worth by how others perceive you and start building a life that actually fits your soul.

That’s the glow in.

And yeah, she’s barefoot. She’s got scars and salt in her hair. She might not look “put together” in the traditional sense. 

But she knows who she is.

She’s in tune with herself, her energy, her creativity.
She knows how to read a room. Diffuse tension. Lead from softness.
She makes shit happen.

So if you’re in a season where you feel messy, unfiltered, or off the standard branding—good. That’s where the glow in begins.

And it’s worth everything.

Chanty