Finding My Way Back to Me: The Journey Behind StyleByToyoC

Woman wearing a top and dress as skirt

Life happened. Motherhood happened. And somewhere along the way, I lost a part of myself. This is the story of how I’m finding my way back to style, confidence, and the woman I am becoming.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you might remember that I officially started blogging in 2014. One of my friends convinced me to start a blog, and honestly, looking back, it made so much sense.

I genuinely love helping people feel good about themselves. My friends would naturally come to me when they had an occasion and needed help figuring out what to wear. I enjoyed putting outfits together, suggesting pieces, and helping them feel good in what they wore.

And then came the familiar question: “Where did you get this piece from?”

Before I knew it, I was blogging more frequently, sharing outfits, and gaining traction on Instagram. At one point, I had built a community of about 8,000 followers! It was exciting, and I genuinely enjoyed creating content, sharing my style, and connecting with people who loved fashion as much as I did.

Then life happened. If you know, you know.

Then Motherhood Happened…

Let me tell you, motherhood came with a few surprises I was not prepared for.

I wasn't expecting an emergency C-section. And just like that, my body went, “Peace! I'm heading out.”

My tummy changed. My weight changed. My body changed. And if I am being completely honest, so did my relationship with getting dressed.

Here I was, someone who genuinely found joy in putting outfits together, suddenly struggling to figure out what to wear. I would look at my old pictures, remember my previous dress size, and compare that version of myself to the woman staring back at me in the mirror.

And it wasn't just about the clothes. It was about how I felt about myself.

I was frustrated. I was unhappy with how I looked, and I was mad at myself because I couldn't seem to figure out how to dress my new body.

Now, I know someone might be thinking, “Why didn't you just go to the gym?”

Honestly? It was a mental battle.

When you're struggling with how you see yourself, it isn't always as simple as deciding to exercise or buying new clothes. I had to come to terms with the fact that my body had changed and that I couldn't keep dressing, thinking, or seeing myself through the lens of who I used to be.

I remember taking family portraits, having my makeup done, and looking at the pictures, wondering, “Where did this woman go?”

I could see the pictures, but I was struggling to recognise myself.

And somewhere in all of that, I stepped away from something I loved.

The Instagram Page I Couldn't Bring Myself to Face

Around 2018, I also lost access to my Instagram page.

Now, you would think I would have been eager to get it back, especially after spending years building a community of about 8,000 followers. But I wasn't.

Part of me wondered if I should just leave it alone.

I told myself that I didn't want people to see how much weight I had gained. I wasn't happy with how I looked, and the thought of showing up online in a body I was still trying to accept felt uncomfortable.

Besides, I had spent years building that page. Starting over on a new account felt like too much.

So I left it.

Looking back, I realise that losing access to the page wasn't the only thing keeping me away. I was also hiding from a version of myself I hadn't yet learned to embrace.

I wasn't ready to be seen.

And that was hard to admit.

August 2025: A Little Reminder From God

In August 2025, something started to shift.

On several different occasions, my friends and family individually asked me why I had left my other love.

Now, my first love is God, just so we're clear! But blogging, fashion, and helping people feel good about themselves? That is another love of mine.

Each time someone asked, I gave more or less the same answer.

I wasn't happy with how I looked. I didn't want people to see me. And I didn't want to start a new Instagram page after spending years building the one I had lost.

Then, one day, out of nowhere, I was in my bedroom when a thought came to me: “Why don't you see if you can get your Instagram page back?”

And I thought, you know what? Let me try.

After several attempts, two-factor authentication, and identity verification, I finally got back into my account.

I wish you could have seen me!

I honestly felt like God was giving me a little nudge, saying, “Girl, go on ahead!”

Maybe I had spent enough time waiting to feel ready. Maybe it was time to start showing up again, even if I was still figuring things out.

So, I decided to celebrate my birthday with a photoshoot.

And guess what? I dressed UP!

I put on my outfit, got ready, stepped in front of the camera, and felt beautiful.

Not because I had lost the weight. Not because my body had returned to what it used to be. But because, for that moment, I allowed myself to enjoy getting dressed again.

I didn't have everything figured out, but I was beginning to see that I didn't have to.

2026: Coming Back to Myself, One Outfit at a Time

Fast-forward to 2026.

For my birthday celebration this year, I had another photoshoot, and something felt different.

I felt comfortable. I felt beautiful. I felt like I was reconnecting with a part of myself I had missed for a long time.

And as I looked at the pictures, I had this feeling that this was where I was meant to be.

I knew I wanted to return to Instagram, but this time, I wanted the journey to mean more than simply sharing outfits or showing people where I bought my clothes.

I wanted to create a space for women who might be experiencing what I had experienced.

Women who have gone through motherhood, experienced body changes, entered a new season of life, or simply looked in the mirror one day and wondered how to find their style again.

Women who love fashion but no longer feel confident getting dressed.

Women who are tired of comparing their current bodies to their old ones.

Women who want to feel beautiful without waiting for a particular dress size or number on the scale.

I want to help those women find their way, because I know what it feels like to be on that journey myself.

And this brings me to one of my favourite moments from this season of rediscovery: wearing this two-piece matching set by Yeno Label.

I put it on, looked at myself, and felt that little reminder again: I'm on the right path.

Was everything perfect? No.

Have I completely figured out my style? Absolutely not!

But I am learning to appreciate where I am while working towards where I want to be.

And that, for me, is what this journey is all about.

I am still moving between these three stages myself. Some days, I feel like I have found my rhythm. Other days, I am back to experimenting, trying things on, changing outfits, and figuring out what works for me.

And you know what? That is okay.

I don't want StyleByToyoC to be a space where I pretend to have all the answers. I want it to be a space where we can learn, grow, experiment, and rediscover our confidence together.

Because you don't have to wait until you lose weight, fit into your old clothes, or become a different version of yourself before you start enjoying fashion again.

You can start right where you are.

So, Where Are You on Your Style Journey?

If you're reading this and you see a little bit of yourself in my story, I want you to know that you are not alone.

Maybe you're a new mum trying to figure out how to dress your postpartum body. Maybe you've gained or lost weight and your old wardrobe no longer feels like you. Maybe you're entering a new season of life and want your style to reflect the woman you're becoming.

Or perhaps you have simply spent so much time taking care of everyone else that you've forgotten to make room for yourself.

Whatever your story is, there is room for you here.

We don't have to have it all figured out. We can start with the basics, explore what works for our bodies, learn how to put outfits together, and gradually build the confidence to show up as ourselves.

And if you need a little support along the way, that's exactly why StyleByToyoC is here.

I'd love to hear from you! You can reach out by filling in the contact form on the website, and let's talk about how I can support you on your style journey.

Here's to rediscovering ourselves, embracing our fit, and learning to own our style, one outfit at a time.

Until next time,

Much love,

StyleByToyoC