07/09/2026
Today was a full-circle moment.
This morning I woke up feeling a little emotional. Being away from my daughter is never easy, and sometimes it’s hard for the people closest to me to fully understand why I make these sacrifices. It’s difficult to explain the magnitude of being here in Japan, representing a company that started as a dream. To top it off, my AC broke back home, so my mind was racing. Thankfully, I have an incredible family and an amazing boyfriend holding down the fort while I’m away.
Then I got to the event… and everything changed.
A few months ago a 15-year-old student from Osaka reached out to me with questions about why I started Raw Love and why reef sate sunscreen matters. I answered his questions, never thinking much more about it.
Today, he walked up to my booth carrying a report and a newspaper clipping.
He attends a prestigious high school here in Japan and used our conversation as the foundation for a business and economics competition. He won!!
When I started Raw Love, I always said my mission wasn’t just to make sunscreen. It was to inspire people, educate the next generation, and prove that one person can make a difference.
Standing on the other side of the world, realizing that a conversation I had, had inspired a young student to achieve something so meaningful… that’s something I’ll never forget.
His mom thanked me for taking the time to encourage her son, but honestly, I should be thanking them. They reminded me exactly why I started this journey in the first place.
Some days are hard. But then you have days like today that remind you every sacrifice has a purpose. ❤️
