02/09/2026
Happy Market update: Please read below if you have a minute. ⬇️
Smiling after the event chaos is something worth celebrating. 😊🙏
I have absolutely no issue using the platform I’ve created to be open, get personal and speak about things that genuinely matter to me.
Behind this business and behind the screen is a real person. I’m not a robot, and I’m never going to pretend to be one. 🤷♀️🤖
As many of you know, following our event there was a LOT of online feedback. Much of it was welcomed, and it actually gave me valuable insight into how we can continue improving our future events. I’ve publicly acknowledged the genuine feedback, and I’ve taken it on board. 😊
Unfortunately, there was also a level of online negativity and personal commentary that became incredibly mentally draining.
I think I’ve learnt something new about myself almost every single day since the event. 😅 Some of the things I’ve read just flat-out never happened, which has certainly been interesting. It’s been constant, every day for over two weeks.
Because the internet is obviously the most reliable source of information, right? 😜
For a while, I allowed it to affect my wellbeing during a time when I should have been celebrating an incredible achievement with the people I love.
I almost allowed myself to go backwards when I have worked SO hard to get where I am.
To create this opportunity for small businesses.
To create something beautiful for the community.
And to build something from absolutely nothing.
At the same time, behind everything happening publicly, the work never stopped.
Behind the scenes, I’ve been working on relocating our events to larger venues, developing new partnerships and collaborations, listening to feedback and putting everything I’ve learned into what comes next. 💪
And thankfully, the positive has far outweighed the negative.❤️
This experience has taught me something really important:
I don’t need to convince everyone of my character, and I don’t need to defend myself against every comment, rumour or opinion online.
Sometimes being in the public eye comes with controversy, theories and people forming opinions about you without actually knowing you.
No matter how much you defend yourself, some people will believe whatever they choose to believe. At some point, fighting every keyboard warrior simply isn’t productive.
Sometimes the best thing you can do is keep showing up and prove people wrong through what you do next.
At the end of the day, I’m just a woman who popped up out of nowhere and was brave enough to start something new for the community.
That takes courage — especially when you’re suddenly being put beside people who have been in the industry for 15+ years.
I’ve seen myself compared to some of them, and in reality, I’m flattered. If I’m even remotely comparable after one huge event, I must be doing something right. 😂 I genuinely hope to one day be as amazing as some of those people. I look up to them. 💗
Just because I ran an event that brought in around 10,000 people does not mean I know everything.
I don’t act like I’m the smartest person in the room, and I never will.
I’m always going to be learning. I’m always going to make improvements. And I’m always going to try to become better at what I do for the sake of the small-business community I created this for.
The people who actually know me, work alongside me and have watched me build this know how much work, care and determination I put into it.
Those closest to me also know I genuinely haven’t taken a day off since before launching this business — and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve managed to create in such a short amount of time.
So I’ve made the decision to stop reading the negativity and stop feeling as though I constantly need to defend myself. Any group or poster allowing an open comment section to abuse someone is simply not right.
My energy is much better spent on my wellbeing, my business, our stallholders and creating even better experiences for this community.
I’m still here. I’m still smiling. And I’m just getting started. 🤍
I know I’m capable of adding something positive to Cairns.
I’m also always willing to listen, learn and improve. Every event teaches me something, and I’ll continue taking those lessons forward to make the next one even better.
To everyone who has supported me, checked in on me, attended our event, supported our stallholders or simply sent me a kind message — thank you.
Your support has meant more than you probably realise.
I also want to make sure I use the platform and community I’ve built for something bigger than events.
It’s my voice, and I want to use it for things that matter. 💗
Behind every business, profile and social media account is a real human being.
Words online can have very real consequences.
I encourage everyone to take it seriously when somebody says they’re struggling with their mental health.
It should never be dismissed, mocked, speculated about or treated as a joke.
You may never fully understand what somebody is going through behind closed doors, and a little compassion can go a very long way.
⏭️ And to be clear: this isn’t me publicly saying that I’m struggling with my mental health.
My wellbeing isn’t the business of strangers, nor do I believe it’s appropriate for anybody to speculate or publicly comment on another person’s wellbeing.
Nobody’s mental health should be spread around like wildfire or used against them. Information about somebody’s wellbeing should be treated sensitively and with compassion. 🎤
I’m doing well.
However, I genuinely believe that if anybody else were put through some of what I’ve experienced over the past few weeks, they just might struggle….
You need some seriously thick skin for something like this.💪
Nobody deserves to be slandered, bullied, defamed or harassed.
I could honestly write a book about what I’ve been dealing with. 😅
Never in my life have I experienced anything quite like it.
And that’s partly why I’m talking about it.
There’s a reason people are sometimes afraid to start new things.
You can put yourself out there, take a risk, try to create something positive — and suddenly find yourself being publicly torn apart for trying. 🙃
The event industry is tough.
You’re not only catering to your vendors; you’re catering to an entire community.
That’s a huge responsibility, and it’s one I take seriously. It’s not an easy job by any means, and it does require passion which I have a lot of. 💗
At the centre of all of this was an event that positively impacted 80 small-business owners and brought thousands of people through the doors to support them.
That’s what I choose to focus on.
I share these things because, again, I see no reason to act like a robot online.
Authenticity is important to me in business.
If I’ve been open about sharing the behind-the-scenes journey of building this business, I’m also going to be open about some of the difficult realities that can come with it.
And I share this for another reason.
If you can resonate with even a small percentage of what I’ve written — whether you’ve been bullied, piled on, misunderstood, had rumours spread about you, or simply felt like everybody had an opinion while nobody actually asked you what happened — you’re not alone.
And I genuinely empathise with you. 🤍
If you’re struggling, please reach out for support:
🤍 Lifeline — 13 11 14
💙 Beyond Blue — 1300 22 4636
💜 Su***de Call Back Service — 1300 659 467
💛 Kids Helpline — 1800 55 1800
🌿 Queensland 1300 MH CALL — 1300 642 255
If you or somebody else is in immediate danger, call 000.
Be kind. Keep going. And don’t let somebody else’s opinion convince you to give up on something you believe in. 🤍
Onwards and upwards, Cairns. ✨
I can’t wait to share what’s next on the event agenda and continue building this amazing community together. 😊
And let me tell you…
The 2027 calendar is looking SO good!!! 🔥
Markets, festivals, expos, live audience experiences. 🎙️🎪
