We all have a cocoon phase, a time when we feel small, uncertain, and unsure of what we’re becoming. Being confident takes bravery. Especially in an era where social media thrives on monetizing insecurities. The smallest doubt in your self-worth is magnified through a lens of filters and false perfection. We chase an impossible standard that no one admits is false advertising, yet a new beauty ideal is born every day.

Growing up is hard enough. Kids don’t need more pressure; they need new messaging and real role models. My hope with Brave Little Mia is to plant the seeds of self-love early, before the phones, before the comparisons, before they start questioning their worth.

I’m not reinventing the wheel with this message. But the more stories, characters, and conversations we create around confidence and individuality, the stronger the next generation will be. Books, shows, movies, even social media, all of it matters. Because what children see, they believe.

If I had grown up with a phone in my hand, I can only imagine how much harder my own journey to self-acceptance would have been. Even without it, I spent years feeling uncomfortable in my own skin, and I still have moments where I struggle. That is why this matters so much to me.

Brave Little Mia is more than a book; it is a reminder that confidence does not come from comparison. It comes from being brave enough to be yourself.

With love,
Rachael