Okay, real talk? I didn't really practice self-care and self-love growing up. I was that person just cruising through life on total autopilot, checking boxes and doing what I thought I was "supposed" to do. Then 2022 hit...
Picture this: me, in college, smack in the middle of the pandemic, trying to figure out post-grad life in this weird, mostly virtual world. Everything felt weird and disconnected—my daily routine, my connections, even my sense of self. There were days I was seriously harsh on myself, beating myself up on every little thing. Purpose? What purpose? I felt totally lost.
I kept most of this to myself, but I started trying to piece my life back together in these tiny ways. A walk here, a therapy session there, slowly learning to give myself some grace. It wasn't a straight path—more like a wobbly, but the more I started caring for myself, the more I began to forgive myself for not being perfect. What changed? Realizing I didn't have to live up to these expectations I created. I started unlearning all the things I thought I needed to achieve to feel "worthy" and instead focused on figuring out what made me feel alive. That’s when I discovered my love for creating and began learning to love myself, too.
At first, making clothes was just this awesome hobby that cleared my head and gave me a sense of freedom I'd been missing forever. I was making stuff just for me, just for fun. But then the universe did its magic—people started noticing and asking to buy my pieces. Wait, what? I could actually do this?! That's how Kilig Ko was born.
Today, Kilig Ko is a love letter to myself and to anyone who wears my clothes. It’s a reminder to feel "kilig" for yourself—to embrace the joy of loving who you are, because it’s okay to take up space and prioritize your happiness. I’m still figuring out the full direction of this brand, but I know one thing for sure: I want to share this feeling with the world. This brand became my love letter to... well, me (and my first spark of kilig).
This brand became my love letter to... well, me (and my first spark of kilig). It's about giving yourself permission to take up space, to feel joy, to love who you are—messy parts and all. I'm still figuring out the full journey, but I know one thing for sure: I want to spread this feeling of self-love like confetti.
And to anyone else who needs a reminder: It's totally okay to celebrate yourself!