There’s a reason this is the first post on my newly revived blog—
Because this moment wasn’t just a career milestone. It was a statement.
One I’m still fighting to defend.
On June 1, I became the first jewelry designer ever featured on the Forbes cover story for Miami Swim Week®. A show I poured my entire heart into—designing every piece by hand, styling every look, even making the dress I wore down the runway. The necklace I chose? A bold megalodon fossil, symbolizing every storm I’ve survived—literal and emotional.
Let’s call this what it is:
A reintroduction.
A rally cry.
A refusal to play small—ever again.
On June 1, I debuted my jewelry collection at Miami Swim Week® – The Shows, one of the most prominent stages in the swim and resort industry. I didn’t just design the collection—I handcrafted every piece of jewelry that walked down the runway. I styled every look. I directed every creative detail. I even made the dress I wore that night in my own studio.
The necklace I wore—a bold megalodon fossil—was more than a showpiece.
It was my symbol of survival.
A personal emblem of everything I’ve endured.
The literal and metaphorical storms I’ve weathered—from Hurricane Helene and Milton, to the painful losses and near-collapse I faced during the pandemic.
That runway wasn’t just a fashion show.
It was the moment I stood back up.
And then… Forbes called it what it was:
“Female Empowerment Led the Way at Miami Swim Week.”
I became the first jewelry designer ever featured on the cover of a Forbes Miami Swim Week story.
But just days later—on June 5—Instagram began shadowbanning my account.
No warning. No clear reason. Just suppression of content that celebrated strong, confident women in handcrafted jewelry.
Meanwhile, actual explicit content thrives.
But my work—professionally shot, runway-approved, Mondrian Hotel–sanctioned, and matched with Forbes’ own headline about female empowerment—was flagged.
Let me be clear:
If what I posted was truly inappropriate, Miami Swim Week® – The Shows would not have approved those looks.
Nor would the Mondrian Hotel, a major hospitality partner, have signed off on the event.
This isn’t about content. It’s about control.
And I’ve worked too damn hard to rebuild what I lost—to grow this brand with grit, creativity, and intention—to allow a broken algorithm to silence me.
I’ve survived the storms.
I’ve rebuilt from scratch.
And now, I lead from the front.
So here’s what I’m asking:
If you believe in style with story…
If you believe female empowerment doesn’t need approval…
If you believe in fighting back against digital bias that hurts small, independent creators...
Join me.
So if you're here, reading this, thank you.
You’re part of something bigger—something bold, handcrafted, and built to last.
→ Shop the runway collection – Every piece tells a story. Some are still waiting for theirs to be claimed.
→ Join the list – A new capsule is coming soon, and insiders always see it first.
This is just the beginning.
Thanks for walking this road with me—and for standing for something real.
xo,
Ashley