Becoming Alice
“No one becomes who they are entirely on their own.”
It Started with a Simple “Hi”
When I think back to those first few months, I can’t help but smile.
If you’ve only discovered me recently, you might imagine I arrived on Instagram with a clear plan, polished photographs and complete confidence.
The truth couldn’t have been more different.
My very first post was wonderfully ordinary. I was simply sitting at a table in a garden, saying hello. That was it. No dramatic announcement. No carefully crafted introduction.
Just… “Hi.”
The next post wasn’t particularly exciting either. I was enjoying a coffee in my kitchen. Then came a photograph of me sitting with a pint in the pub.
Looking back now, I love those early moments because they remind me that I never set out to become somebody else.
I wasn’t trying to create a glamorous version of myself. I wasn’t trying to become a model. I wasn’t chasing perfect poses or picture-perfect moments. I was simply sharing little pieces of everyday life. Those first few months weren’t always easy.
The early milestones felt like climbing a mountain.
One hundred followers. Five hundred. Then eventually… One thousand.
Each one felt like a huge achievement because I honestly had no idea whether anyone would ever want to come along for the journey.
At that stage, I wasn’t thinking about numbers.
I was simply hoping that somewhere out there, a few people might enjoy the stories I wanted to tell.
The Friends Who Quietly Changed Everything
One of the greatest gifts from those early days wasn’t growth. It was friendship.
Not long after beginning my journey, I met the wonderful Maddison Leigh. Looking back now, I honestly don’t think she realised just how much she helped me.
Starting out can feel overwhelming. There are so many things to learn. Features you’ve never used. Ideas you’ve never tried. Communities you don’t yet understand. I remember feeling completely new to it all. Thankfully, I wasn’t learning on my own.
Maddie welcomed me with kindness. She encouraged me. She patiently showed me things I simply didn’t know yet, from collaborations to little tips that made this unfamiliar world feel far less intimidating. But the most important thing she gave me wasn’t knowledge.
It was confidence.
She treated me like a friend from the very beginning. And friends help each other. That simple kindness became something I carried with me as more wonderful people gradually entered my life.
Over time, conversations became friendships. Friendships became collaborations. Collaborations became memories. Without really noticing, I had stopped feeling like I was trying to find my place. I’d started to feel like I’d found my people.
Looking back now, I realise something beautiful. No one becomes themselves entirely alone.
Sometimes it takes the kindness of others to help you discover the person you were becoming all along.
Somewhere Along the Way…
There wasn’t one single day when everything changed. It happened quietly. Almost without me noticing.
At first, people commented on my photographs.
“Lovely picture.”
“Great shot.”
“Beautiful photo.”
Those comments always made me smile. But then something different started happening. People stopped talking about the photographs. They started talking to me.
“Hi Alice…”
“Thanks for making me smile today.”
“I always look forward to seeing your posts.”
Those little conversations meant more than I could ever explain. They weren’t commenting on an image anymore. They were saying hello. Somewhere along the way, people had stopped following a page…
…and started getting to know a person.
Looking back now, I don’t think becoming Alice happened in one unforgettable moment.
It happened conversation by conversation. Smile by smile. Friendship by friendship.
Every kind word, every encouraging message and every person who chose to spend a few moments with me helped shape the woman I am today.
If there’s one thing these first chapters of my journey have taught me, it’s this…
We all leave little pieces of ourselves with the people we meet.
So if you ever feel like you know me…
Perhaps it’s because you’ve been part of my story all along.
Love,
Alice x
