There are seasons in life and motherhood where life asks more of you, not in one way, but from every direction at once.
Children who need you. Work that matters. Homes to run. People to show up for. And somewhere in the middle, a pull to build, create, or to stay connected to what matters to you.
This Muse conversation is about that season. Not the polished version, but the real one; where energy is finite, trade-offs are constant, and you’re figuring out how to make what matters work within everything else that’s already there.
In this conversation with Georgie Gilbert and Camille Peressini (ex-Mecca execs) mothers and now founders of Bronte Body Care and Soma Personal Care. We talk about building during full seasons of life: the expectations that shift, the routines that help, and how they make work in practice, while while raising five young children between them.
We share these stories not to hold them up as a blueprint; but to remind you that however your own season looks right now, you’re not alone — we’re all finding our way through.
The Journey
In your own words, where are you right now and what turning points or experiences have shaped the path that brought you here?
There wasn’t one big “aha” moment that got us here. It’s been a collection of small leaps: diving in, saying yes to opportunities, figuring things out as we go, and learning quickly from what worked (and what definitely didn’t).
It’s been demanding, energising, and yes, sometimes exhausting. Like many millennials, we’ve put a lot of pressure on ourselves, but looking back, we’re incredibly grateful for every high and low that’s shaped Bronte into what it is today.
Right now we are excited that Bronte is on the cusp of turning 1! This time last year, Bronte existed as a single pilot product, created as a gift with purchase for The Tenth Co. We didn’t even have a website. Fast forward to today, and Bronte can be found at David Jones, Myer, Atomica, Priceline, The Memo and online at brontebodycare.com.
One thing that’s never changed is how protective we are of the small, grounding routines that help us feel good. No matter what the day throws at us, Camille can’t start without a shower using our Multi-Mineral Body Cleanser in Green Fig (which she loves so much she jokes she could drink it), and I always follow with a head-to-toe layer of our Multi-Oil Body Lotion. Once we’ve had a shower, done our skincare and body care, we feel good in our skin, and ready to take on just about anything.
Roles & Identity
Whether in motherhood, business, or life, what expectations did you once hold that shifted over time? What surprised you, and how has it evolved?
Georgie: I used to think roles were meant to fit neatly, that you could focus on being one thing at a time and do it well: mother , founder, wife. What surprised me most is how fluid it all actually is. Some days one role takes over completely, other days it’s messy and overlapping. I’ve learned to stop fighting that (still learning).
I used to think roles were meant to fit neatly, that you could focus on being one thing at a time and do it well: mother, founder, wife. What surprised me most is how fluid it all actually is. Some days one role takes over completely, other days it’s messy and overlapping. I’ve learned to stop fighting that (still learning).
Instead of striving for balance every single day, I now think in seasons, and that shift has brought a lot more ease, and far less guilt. So this time in our lives is focused on building and growing these businesses, and this year our focus will be on finding better balance.
The Catalyst
What was one moment or challenge that changed the way you look after your energy and well-being whether it's in motherhood or career?
Realising that burnout doesn’t always look dramatic, sometimes it’s just feeling flat, uninspired, or disconnected.
When I noticed that even the good things felt heavy, it was a wake-up call. I had to stop treating rest and wellbeing as something I’d “get to later” and start seeing them as essential fuel for everything else. I’m still not great at it and it will be a big focus for 2026: prioritising diet, movement, sleep, and time for play much more intentionally.
Framework to Feel Good
What helps you feel good and grounds you daily? And what’s one unhinged thing that just makes you feel better?
It’s often the in-between moments. After my shower, I always religiously take the time to moisturise my whole body - each and every morning. Covering my skin in Bronte Multi-Oil Body Lotion, feeling it absorb, and pausing to simply breathe, it’s a small ritual, but it grounds me, reconnects me to my body, and sets the tone for the rest of the day.
We created the brand because we were juggling careers, kids, family, and life, and wanted products that didn’t just perform, but created an experience. A moment of escapism. A small pause that makes you feel good in your skin.
Now, with two beauty brands, we can say with full transparency: we have even less time. We’re not nailing every wellness habit, the perfect workouts, the perfect meals, or the perfect sleep. For Camille, it’s about committing to regular Pilates and gym classes, small, consistent acts that help her feel grounded, energised, and ready to take on the day. For me, drowning very dehydrated skin in Bronte Multi-Oil Body Lotion goes a long way in making me feel instantly better.
One slightly unhinged thing? Cold ocean swims. A small group of us, including Frida, meet down at the bay in Elwood, Melbourne, and take the plunge. It’s nothing short of god-awful freezing — but absolutely incredible for the nervous system and mental health. We get to connect with friends, soak up the benefits of sea salt and water… it’s pure heaven.
Motherhood & Creativity
How did building brands help you protect a space for your own creativity and imagination?
Motherhood can easily consume every part of you if you let it, and in many ways, it should, because our children always come first.
But finding the space and opportunity to pursue your own passions alongside that is incredibly hard. Building Bronte and Soma gave us a space that was just ours, to imagine, create, problem-solve, and dream.
It reminded us that creativity doesn’t disappear when you become a mother; it simply changes shape. Having that outlet, alongside motherhood, has been both deeply challenging and incredibly fulfilling, and we believe it has given us so much as individuals.
It reminded us that creativity doesn’t disappear when you become a mother ; it simply changes shape. Having that outlet, alongside motherhood, has been both deeply challenging and incredibly fulfilling, and we believe it has given us so much as individuals.
Leaving a powerhouse like Mecca to create your own brands is bold. What was the moment you knew you had to back yourselves, and how did you find the conviction to do it?
It wasn’t one dramatic moment, it was a growing feeling that if we didn’t try then, we’d always wonder “what if?”. Working at Mecca taught us so much, but eventually the pull to build something of our own became louder than the fear.
Taking on a new start up is never easy, and we knew it would only work if we had the right partner beside us.
It takes a critical combination of complementary skills, but even more importantly, deeply aligned values, why you’re building something, how you make decisions, and how you want to get there. Supporting each other through the tough times has been just as important as celebrating the wins. Conviction came from trusting our experience, trusting each other, and reminding ourselves that we could figure things out as we went, and we still do.
If there’s one message you would have wanted to hear earlier in your journey, what would you tell your younger self?
You don’t need to have it all figured out to begin. Start messy. Say yes before you feel ready. Protect the small things that make you feel good, they matter more than you think. And trust that you’ll grow into the version of yourself who can handle what’s next.
You can find out more at www.brontebodycare.com.au and please follow their journey at @brontebodycare and @somapersonalcare.
