Pretty Hard

Poppy Lissiman has spent nearly two decades building one of Australia's most recognisable independent fashion brands, doing it entirely on her own terms.
 Known for creating accessories with personality and cultivating a fiercely loyal global following, I had been wanting to catch up with Poppy for years since we first met, and am grateful that she made the time to share her relationship to beauty with me. 
Poppy and I talk about so many things - her relationship to hair, cosmetic tweaks, fashion, and eyewear, as well as more broadly - inspiration origins, and comparing life in Perth, Australia, to Tokyo Japan. 
We unpack the realities of building a creative business built on integrity and originality, in an industry obsessed with trends, and what the future looks like for herself and her business. 
I learnt so much about Poppy in this conversation and am excited for you to get to know the woman behind the brand too. 
Find Poppy on Instagram at @popsqueek and @poppylissiman

After a 15-year rowing career, Rosie Popa retired as an Olympic Champion and Olympic Record Holder following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. She quickly transitioned into the corporate world, where deeper questions about her identity, ambition, the hidden costs of success, and purpose reared their head. 
These questions now shape Rosie’s writing, speaking, and work with individuals and organisations. Her passion is helping individuals and teams perform at their best while staying connected to what truly matters. This is no easy feat. 
Rosie and I met at yoga through a mutual connection that guessed we might have something to talk about together. They were right, and I’m glad we pursued the friendship that I now hold very close today. 
In this discussion we talk about what happens when your self-worth becomes entangled with achievement, navigating life after elite sport, and redefining success on your own terms. It's a conversation about ambition, resilience, accepting change and discovering the beauty of who you really are. 
Find Rosie on IG @iloveitwhenyoucallmebig_popa
And substack at @rosiepopa

Fashion journalist and author Lucianne Tonti has spent years examining the stories our clothes tell about us—and the systems that shape the industry from which we buy from every day. Having recently published her latest book, The Good Witch, I was curious to understand how her career led her here, and if the idea of witchcraft or magic has influenced Lucianne’s relationship to beauty and identity. I also wanted to question the idea of whether getting dressed, or wearing makeup, is ever really just about getting dressed or wearing makeup, or if Lucianne believed there was something more personal or deeper. We explore how the history of the witch-hunts intersects with culture, politics, the environment, and the loss of feminine power. And why buying less, choosing better, and reconnecting with nature, creative acts and craftsmanship, might be one of the most radical things that we as women we can do for ourselves and each other.  
Find Lucianne @luciannetonti

Mukti is a pioneer of Australia’s natural beauty movement and founder of Mukti Organics, blending science and sustainability to redefine conscious skincare. She’s also the author of Truth in Beauty, a book I continually return to when navigating ingredients and formulations in this noisy, complex industry. Mukti has been in business for 25 years, more than most founders can lay claim to, which is why I have so much respect and had so many questions for someone who started before Instagram was a thing, and before being a founder was something to aspire to. She is a wealth of knowledge and incredible humble human who I hope to meet in person soon. I hope you enjoy this conversation.
Find Mukti on Instagram at @bymukti @muktiorganics

Felicity Evans is the founder of Imbibe Beauty, the ingestible and topical skincare brand. She is known for her holistic approach to beauty that bridges nutrition, skin health, and modern ritual. As a mum of three daughters, Felicity is ever conscious of her role in modelling a positive and sustainable approach to beauty, while sharing her love of all things timeless, beautiful, and chic. This conversation took place between Melbourne and Paris, where we speak about the pressures of ‘looking like a beauty founder’, our respective brand’s origin stories, and what we hope comes next for our industry.  
Find Felicity at @imbibeliving @thefelicityevans