GUEST EDITOR’S LETTER

When I was a kid, I didn’t write in a diary. I wrote stories. Fullblown holiday recaps with dramatic headlines, critical reviews of theme park hot chips, and an editorial tone that made absolutely no sense for a ten-year-old. At 13, one of my poems was published in Dolly magazine, and I’m fairly sure it was the last time they ever printed poetry.

Writing didn’t make me the coolest kid in the schoolyard, but it was mine. A way to hold onto magic, organise the chaos, and evoke feeling in its reader.

Not much has changed.

Now, more than a decade into calling this my job (that kid would be smug as hell), putting pen to paper still feels like home. It’s how I untangle big ideas, capture the heart behind a business, and help others say what they’ve been meaning to.

In our industry, the best ones always come with a bit of grit, a lot of heart, and a fire that doesn’t burn out.

That’s what I set out to capture in this issue.

Lauren Wells, Founder of The Facial Co Skincare spoke openly about what it means to walk away from something you love and what calls you back. This wasn’t a relaunch story but one of purpose, identity, burnout, and rebuilding on your own terms.

Rachel Stevens, CEO of Circadia Australia, broke down circadian rhythm disruption, but more powerfully, held up a mirror to the habits draining those who give everything to others.

Dermal Therapist and Educator Lainie Porter shared her lowand-slow approach to RF microneedling for rosacea and melasma, a quiet rebellion against the idea that high-tech must mean high aggression.

Angeli Shaw has officially farewelled The Bliss Coach to make space for something bigger. If you’ve ever felt the weight of leading a team in today’s climate, this one’s for you.

Lia Trebilcock, Director of Skin Educational International, brought it back to basics, reminding us that when you focus on skin function first, the results follow. In a world chasing the next big thing, her message was a steady, needed pause.

Jessica Giraldi of Professional Beauty Solutions and I unpacked handheld skin technology not just as a business strategy, but as a creative tool to design facials that feel distinctly yours.

Lastly, I wrote about the role your copy plays in building connection because when your words reflect who you are, they speak directly to the people who need you most.

Every one of these stories reminds us all why words matter. Why our industry deserves stories told that respect the work, that don’t gloss over the grit, and make you feel proud to be a part of it. Thank you to the Mocha team for holding space for these kinds of stories, and for having me as Guest Editor.

Our industry is full of brilliance, guts, strategy, and soul. I hope you find a little of all of it in these pages.

Rach x

@rachelmedlockcopywriting