Post by Tiana Villaescusa

Saving the biggest one for last — my career highlight (so far). ✨🩵🤏 Launching rhode skin into MECCA. This one was personal. Rhode has been the one non-MECCA brand I’ve consistently bought since Jan 2023 — waking up for drops, shipping products to Australia however I could (including somehow securing one of the 100 strawberry PR boxes for the LE peptide lip launch). So being part of bringing it to MECCA? A genuine pinch-me moment. And safe to say… I won’t miss the 3am product drop wake-ups now. We came back early from the Christmas break to prep for what was a mammoth few months — launching the announcement at Bourke Street alongside AO, before heading to Sydney for the official launch with Hailey Bieber herself. From a social and brand perspective, this launch was about more than hype — it was about building memory. Transforming AP Bakery into the “rhode bakery” — complete with branded coffee, waffles and even lamingtons — created something immersive, cultural and impossible to scroll past. Moments I won’t forget: • Filming the rhode bakery pop-up come to life alongside Georgie Rafferty & Dominique Temple • Watching the team’s faces light up when Hailey walked into the MECCA Retail Leaders Conference. • And being “locked” inside George Street as she shared the origin story of rhode — before that escalator moment, waving to the crowds on launch day. • Watching my video of that moment take off — shared across rhode, Lauren Ratner and even Hailey Bieber herself — was definitely a highlight. A week that felt as big as the brand itself. So proud to have played a part in bringing this one to life for our MECCA community alongside Hannah Fillis Vanessa Wong Kate Warman Sara Mclean Amara Speechley Sunny Chisholm as well as Jessica Chi & team rhode. And as Hailey said — MECCA = iconic.