Imagine building a globally recognised swimwear brand, going viral with Kylie Jenner & Hailey Bieber, seeing your products constantly on pre-order…and then choosing to walk away.
That’s exactly what Rebecca Klodinsky did. And in this raw and refreshing episode of SHE-talks, she shares why.
From bootstrapping IIXIIST Swimwear with just $2,000 and no fashion experience, to launching her current jewelry brand The Prestwick Place (now a thriving $3M+ business), Bec has always done things differently. She’s fiercely independent, financially savvy, and unafraid to let one chapter close so another can fully bloom.
In this conversation, Bec and Lisa dive deep into the real journey behind the glossy Instagram grids – talking about business pivots, bootstrapping without debt, battling anxiety, balancing (or letting go of) motherhood guilt, and fiercely protecting family privacy in a world that rewards oversharing.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re allowed to choose peace over pressure, or passion over profit, Bec’s story will remind you: you’re the one writing the rules.
How Bec Built Two Businesses from the Ground Up
Bec’s entrepreneurial journey started like so many great ones do – by spotting a gap in the market she couldn’t ignore. In the early days of Instagram, she launched IIXIIST Swimwear to fill the void between high-end designer bikinis and budget department store options.
By riding the first wave of Instagram marketing (and without any influencer deals or paid endorsements), she caught the attention of global celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber, helping catapult Exist into cult status.
But despite the success, Bec eventually made the difficult (and powerful) decision to close the brand, choosing to fully focus on her new passion project: The Prestwick Place, a lab-grown diamond jewelry brand disrupting the traditional luxury space.
Why She Chose Purpose Over Profit
IIXIIST Swimwear was still thriving when Bec decided to step away. But as she shares, you can’t ride two horses at once.
Facing two growing businesses, and raising two kids, Bec knew she had to pick one path.
Rather than sell her original brand or stretch herself too thin, she made the emotional (but ultimately empowering) decision to close IIXIST and go all-in on building The Prestwick Place the way she wanted: sustainably, authentically, and without sacrificing her sanity or her family.
“You can’t ride two horses at once. And I’ve suddenly got two of these businesses that I’m at the helm of that are money makers. It’s paying the mortgage. It’s gotten me to where I am. I’ve got all these connections because of it. So there’s an emotional connection there.”
The Power of Staying Private in a World That Wants You to Overshare
As the wife of a well-known AFL footballer, Bec could have easily leveraged her private life to fast-track brand exposure. But she made a different call: to fiercely protect her family’s privacy.
In a world obsessed with personal branding and voyeuristic content, Bec’s approach is a refreshing reminder that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of your soul – or your kids’ childhoods.
She believes in building brands on trust, integrity, and quality…not clickbait or curated perfection.
Real Talk on Anxiety, Resilience, and Letting Go of “Balance”
This episode also gets refreshingly real about what it’s like behind the scenes: the anxiety that sometimes cripples high-achieving women, the myth of “balance” (spoiler alert: it’s a lie), and why letting go of perfection is essential for both business and personal survival.
Bec opens up about her daily reality as a mother, entrepreneur, and human – and why allowing some things to be messy or imperfect has been a crucial part of her growth.
“I do beat myself up about that. I won’t dress it up. It’s very difficult. I’d probably cry four times, four days out of the seven of a week. It’s very overwhelming.”
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✨ How Bec built two successful brands from scratch without ever taking on debt
✨ Why going viral with Kylie Jenner didn’t magically solve everything (and what really matters)
✨ The emotional journey behind closing a thriving business – and why she wouldn’t change a thing
✨ Why anxiety and intuition are secret weapons (not weaknesses)
✨ The mindset shifts that helped her navigate motherhood, marriage, and entrepreneurship
✨ Why you don’t have to overshare (or sell your soul) to build a wildly successful brand
Bec’s raw honesty will inspire you to trust your gut, stay focused on your vision…and remind you that you don’t have to play the game the way everyone else does.
