For much of my life, my relationship with my body was complicated. As a little girl, I was overweight. As a teenager, I developed bulimia after a friend told me I could eat whatever I wanted and âfix itâ afterwards. When the weight dropped, the attention came - and somewhere along the way, I picked up the belief that thin = good enough.
That belief became a shadow that followed me for years. It shaped how I saw myself, how I dressed, and even how I valued my worth.
But hereâs the truth Iâve come to know: your body is not a problem to be fixed. Itâs the vessel that carries you through life. And learning to love and accept it is one of the most freeing gifts you can ever give yourself.
đ The Battle Years
I spent years stuck in a cycle of comparison and criticism. The number on the scale dictated my mood. A reflection in the mirror could ruin my day. I looked for validation outside myself, and it never felt like enough.
And I know Iâm not alone. So many women carry this same weight - the constant hum of ânot good enoughâ playing in the background of their lives.
đ¸ Shifting the Story
Somewhere along the way, I realized I couldnât keep living at war with myself. I wanted my son to see a mom who embraced life fully, not a mom who shrank herself to fit an impossible standard.
So I made a decision: instead of punishing my body, I would start nourishing it. Instead of striving for âthin at all costs,â I would strive for vitality, balance, and joy.
That shift wasnât instant - itâs still a journey. But it was the beginning of moving from body battles to body peace.
⨠What Body Peace Looks Like
For me, body peace doesnât mean I love every angle or never have a self-critical thought. It means:
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Choosing clothes (and swimsuits) that celebrate me, not hide me.
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Fueling my body with food that makes me feel alive, not guilty.
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Moving because it brings joy (a walk on the beach, a swim, a cycle) - not because I âhave to.â
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Giving myself grace for the days when I donât feel my best.
Body peace is not about perfection. Itâs about partnership with the vessel that carries you through this one beautiful life.
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đş How Positano Fits In
This is the heartbeat of Positano. I know firsthand how it feels to dread trying on swimwear. That vulnerable moment in front of a mirror, under harsh lights, with all your insecurities staring back at you.
I also know how transformative it feels to slip into something that fits, flatters, and whispers: you are enough.
Positano was never just about fabric or design. It was - and is - about creating swimwear that helps women reconnect with themselves. Pieces that celebrate your shape, your stage of life, your beauty.
Because when you look in the mirror, I want you to see more than a body. I want you to see you.
đ For You, Too
If youâve ever felt at war with your body, please know youâre not alone. But also know this: you donât have to stay in the battle.
Peace with your body isnât about arriving at a certain size or age. Itâs about embracing the woman in the mirror today - with kindness, compassion, and gratitude.
Because she is enough.
Because you are enough.
⨠Coming up next in this series: Timeless Style Over Fast Fashion - why style after 40 is about freedom, not following trends.
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Why I created "The Next Chapter"
By Debbie Combrink June 19, 2026
If you'd told me years ago that one day I'd be coaching women through life's transitions, I probably wouldn't have been surprised.
Long before I started Positano, I was fortunate enough to be trained as a life coach as part of my corporate career. I worked with middle managers, helping them gain clarity, build confidence and step into their potential. It was rewarding work, and I absolutely loved it.
There was something incredibly fulfilling about watching someone realise they were capable of far more than they had ever imagined for themselves.
When I started Positano, I thought I was creating a clothing and swimwear brand.
What I didn't realise was that our Live Fabulously philosophy would become the catalyst for some of the most meaningful conversations of my life.
Over the years, women have shared so much of themselves with me. In the store. At the markets. During our Positano Plunges. Over coffee. Through messages and emails.
I've listened to stories of burnout, divorce, menopause, empty nests, online dating, changing careers and changing identities. I've met women who have spent years looking after everyone else and have slowly lost themselves in the process.
And I've met just as many women who aren't sure they've ever really known themselves at all.
Women who did everything they thought they were supposed to do.
Built the career.
Got married.
Raised the children.
Ticked all the boxes.
And still found themselves wondering:
"Is this it?"
I felt that burning question myself over 8 years ago when I made the decision to move from Johannesburg to Cape Town.
What followed was the start of one of the toughest, most rewarding journeys of my life.
One that humbled me in ways I wouldnât want to repeat (thank you COVID!), but also paved the way for a more purpose-driven, authentic way of being in the world.
If you had told Joburg Debbie she would be modelling swimwear on the internet, I would have never believed it. Having been employed my entire career, becoming an entrepreneur wasnât ever on my radar.
And yet, here I am hustling and tap-dancing as only a business owner knows how! And thereâs nowhere else I would rather be⌠well, except Italy. On a beach. Sipping a cocktail! I digressâŚ
Turning 50 has been a pivotal chapter in my own life. It's a new season of stepping fully into my power, caring less about what everyone else thinks, and continuing to focus on creating a life I don't need a holiday from.
It's also made me realise that many women are craving the same thing.
They're also craving connection.
Real connection.
Not another social media follower or WhatsApp group.
Someone who will genuinely listen, ask the hard questions and create the space to explore what comes next.
Not a different life.
A more authentic one.
A life that feels aligned with who they are today. Not when they were in their 20âs or before they had kids.
A life where they feel excited again.
Inspired again.
Alive again.
The Next Chapter was created for those women.
Women who know there is something more waiting for them, even if they can't quite see what it is yet.
Women who want a safe space to dream, explore possibilities, gain clarity and create meaningful change.
Women who want to stop existing and start truly living.
My hope is that every woman who joins this journey leaves feeling seen, heard and empowered to make choices that honour who she is and what she wants from this next chapter.
Because after spending so much of our lives being who everyone else needed us to be, perhaps the greatest gift we can give ourselves is the courage to ask:
"What do I want from this next chapter?"
And then give ourselves permission to find out.
Debbie xx
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I am often asked where I get the energy to do it all - grow a business, raise a teenager, keep the creative juices flowing, and still show up with a smile.
The reality? I don't always. There are days I am exhausted, stretched thin, or operating on silent fumes. Yet, over the years, I've found what restores me to myself - those little rituals and rhythms that fill my cup when life becomes heavy.
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Iâve never really been one for chasing trends. Even when I was younger, I leaned toward pieces that felt a little more classic - things I knew Iâd love wearing again and again.
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