19/01/2026
2016.
32, 33. The year I chose myself.
I’d been living independently on and off since 17, and this was when I really owned it — finally learning to eat well, train consistently, and understand my body, sleep, and overall wellbeing.
It was also the year I was finishing my last toxic relationship — the final chapter of a pattern I was ready to leave behind. Yep, I dated a few absolute do******gs along the way. Lesson learned.
Resilience wasn’t new. I’d already spent three years at Parliament House, working incredibly hard in an environment most couldn’t handle — shaped not just by my early life, but by everything I’d learned navigating past relationships.
(Stories for another day.)
That year I worked a lot — long days, high pressure — but I also went to countless events, worked alongside politicians, met people I never imagined I’d cross paths with, and brushed shoulders with stars from that era. Some moments were surreal. Some people too controversial to even make it into photos.
Before this, I didn’t really have social media. In 2016, I fully started using Instagram — I had about six posts before then. I started documenting moments and thinking: pinch me — look at this life.
I travelled more, learned to love that, and kept discovering who I was when standing fully on my own.
False lashes were still a thing — and yes, I had my lips tattooed again. It wasn’t really a thing back then like it is now. Maybe I was just ahead of the times.
…And how bad were those camera phone photos back then?!
Every moment, every choice, shaped the woman I am today.
Snapshots of 2016 Trend✨
