The Many Labels We Wear—and Let Go OfMy whole life, people h..

The Many Labels We Wear—and Let Go Of

My whole life, people have assumed I’m something I’m not. It’s wild how quickly labels get slapped on you based on a tiny sliver of what people see. But here’s the thing: labels rarely tell the whole story.

I grew up an athlete—sports were my world from the moment I started walking at 9 months old. I was the quiet kid, the peacemaker, the one who never rocked the boat at home. My daughter? She’s got sass for days, and while I love that about her, I have no idea where she gets it. I never had the courage to speak up or push boundaries like that. Funny thing is, now as an adult, I apparently push boundaries all the time—just not in the way people think.

Growing up, my dad was always naked. He taught me it was natural, not something to be ashamed of. But the world? The world tells me my comfort with my body is “inappropriate.” It’s confusing, to say the least.

I was the girl who didn’t drink until I was 25, who drove everyone home from nights out, who loved dancing for the joy and sensuality of it, not for attention. People assumed I must be wild, untrustworthy, or reckless—just because I swayed my hips with freedom. On a cruise ship job, my nickname was “filthy pirate whore” (yes, really) because I loved to dance and I didn’t fit the mold. I wasn’t drinking or hooking up; I was just a broke personal trainer trying to make ends meet.

Social media was no different. When I started sharing my body and movement online, people called me “that naked girl.” It broke my heart. I’ve always been the person who works hard, who’s kind, who tries to do the right thing. I studied so hard in school people called me “Spock,” and with dyslexia, nothing ever came easy. I’ve had to earn every inch of success, flexibility, and strength through sheer determination.

So here’s the truth:

Yes, I like being naked.

Yes, I swear like a true Aussie (though less now as a mum—except when my mum accidentally taught my daughter the F-word at age 1, but that’s a story for another time).

Yes, I love dancing sensually.

But I’m also just a woman who works 7 days a week to provide for her family. I’m not rich; I’ve traveled the world because I chose that over drinking, smoking, or dining out. I train in the early hours, not because I’m naturally talented, but because I put in the work. My health is a daily battle with autoimmune challenges, but I keep going.

The most important version of yourself is the one YOU decide to be—not the one the world decides for you.

So let’s take a break from labels. Let’s stop hiding behind filters and masks. Let’s be real humans sharing real stories. Maybe then, we can build connection instead of disconnection.

Love,

Rhy xo