Chloé Pierre On Power in the Rebuild: Solo Motherhood, Self-Worth & New Beginnings in Dubai.
Photo Courtesy of Chloé Pierre. Photo By Rebecca Munroe
Motherhood reshapes us. Sometimes subtly, sometimes all at once. For Chloé Pierre, founder of the inclusive wellness platform thy.self, breathwork guide, author of Take Care, and solo mother to a young son, the transformation has been as raw as it is radiant. Her journey, marked by softness and strength, loss and rebirth, speaks to the layered experience of modern motherhood.
In this conversation, Chloé opens up about how becoming a mother has shifted her identity, mindset, and mission. She speaks candidly about the reality of solo parenting, the emotional weight of mum guilt, the struggle to hold onto selfhood, and the intentional, daily work of reclaiming it. She’s softer now, more protective, and fiercely clear on her priorities. But perhaps most striking is her strength: not just in surviving the difficult seasons, but in building something lasting and empowering from them. Her ability to keep showing up for herself, her son, and her community is nothing short of powerful.
After relocating to Dubai in search of alignment, Chloé is in a new chapter, one grounded in risk, reflection, and self-trust. She talks to us about rebuilding her life, redefining wellness on her own terms, and creating space for Black women and other marginalised voices in the self-care conversation. Her honesty is bold, but her hope is even bigger.
Here, Chloé shares the emotional truths behind the Instagram grid: the hard days, the healing practices, the wins that come in quiet moments, and the vision she’s nurturing for her son, her business, and herself. It’s not just a story of motherhood, it’s one of reclamation, resilience, and unapologetic strength.
By Alice Codford
ON MOTHERHOOD
Alice: Do you feel that motherhood has changed you as a person? If so, in what ways has it shaped and influenced who you are today?
Chloé: Massively! In so many ways. To start on a positive note, it has definitely made me a lot softer in all walks of my everyday life. I’ve always been empathetic towards others naturally, but this softness is not the privilege I had growing up. On the flip side, I’m more protective than ever before and more assertive in my thoughts, feelings and how I move through the world. Identity-wise, my wardrobe has seen many shifts in the last three years, and it doesn't seem to have settled yet. I’m still working out my new body, mind and dress sense.
Has motherhood turned out to be what you expected, or has it surprised you in ways you never imagined?
Chloé: It's definitely what I expected, but there's an added layer of WTH! With that softness I mentioned before comes a lot of emotion and outpourings of it. I’m completely obsessed with my son, but I also feel like I need more “me time” than I thought I would when becoming a mum.
Have your goals and mindsets changed since becoming a mum?
Chloé: Definitely! Whilst I’m stronger, I feel this real protective layer to step up (this could also be due to my position as a solo mum and business owner). I’m even more competitive now and business-minded, but it had its moments, like when I could barely hold on to my business, to now, wanting to do it all. Part as a promise to myself, part survival and part legacy for both my son and the movement/community I built with thy.self. That said, I may always be a work in progress, and that's absolutely fine because this is life.
Photo Courtesy Of Chloé Pierre
What has been one of the most difficult points of motherhood for you? Were you able to overcome it, and if so, how did you navigate through that challenging time?
Chloé: Honestly, realising very early on that I was going to become a solo parent. In my case, it was not a pleasant feeling. I honestly don’t know how I didn’t lose it all, but I was not prepared to begin by failing my child, even if his father decided to. From curating my birth experience to the maternity care and life after birth, I threw my energy into this and I’m so happy I made it out and unscathed for the both of us. I was close to becoming a medical emergency from the sheer anxiety, stress, anguish and depression, Whilst my dreams of a loving pregnancy and family was taken away from me, its not the end, there is more love, beauty and positive experiences to come and I have everything I need, my sanity, my son, my business and my confidence. No one stands a chance taking that from me now.
What has been one of the highest points of motherhood for you so far? Are there any particular moments or experiences that stand out?
Chloé: Oh, there are many. Watching my son grow into the person I always dreamed of, looking at the world through his eyes, hands and experiences. Being able to be a present mother despite the crosses thrown on me and being able to still make it through to even moving continents with my son and business. Many people ask me how, and there of course is ground work and confidence to make this happen, but in all honesty, I’m a doer who takes calculated risks. That's all I can tell you.
After a particularly tough day of juggling parenting, work, and life in general, what do you do to recharge or unwind? What helps you find some calm amidst the chaos?
Chloé: Living in the UAE gives me access to readily available childcare that doesn't cost the earth - not only am I grateful for that, but I know I deserve that. It's taken a while, but sometimes, I don’t rush home, I book time to debrief, even if it is walking around the mall or shopping. I’m working on a more consistent workout schedule now, and that just feels wonderful. Doing that alone gives me hope. I hope to be able to do at least one solo trip a year moving forward for at least 4-7 days at a time. When life doesn't allow for this, I’m into my homoeopathy and breathwork whenever I need it (I’m a practitioner, which helps), going for late-night walks - because it's actually safe to do this where I live now, and also sleep music. My son loves this too.
Photo Courtesy Of Chloé Pierre
Have you found it easy or challenging to maintain your friendships since becoming a mother? And have you made any new mum-friends along the way?
Chloé: It's been a struggle for sure. I wonder now about the strength of my friendships all along, but that's not necessarily down to motherhood and more pleasing people… boundaries or the lack of them that I had in place. The great news is, the person I am, I make friends going to the shop, so it has reassured me that by not conforming myself anymore doesn't mean I’m less likeable or popular. In fact… I like myself more than I ever have!
“It has definitely made me a lot softer [on motherhood] in all walks of my everyday life. On the flipside, I’m more protective than ever before and more assertive in my thoughts, feelings and how I move through the world.”
It is a fact that women often feel a loss of identity after becoming a mother, did you experience this?
Chloé: Yes, and I think I may have touched on it above, but truly, loss of identity was just one part of my journey. I think it was a journey of loss, birth and rebirth. It’s so hard to explain, but I’m really happy that I’m here to be able to even say this. There were some very dark and numb times that felt like forever.
What advice or words of wisdom do you want to share with other mothers that you wished you knew before becoming a mother?
Chloé: Just what I said above. This feeling, whatever it is - doesn't have to last forever. Take every day as it comes. Make decisions for what's in front of you, plan the rest, but with grace. Take stock of what is truly important to you, not what you are told to, by whoever or whatever. Don't wait for the dark times to hold onto what you treasure the most. Also, get yourself some good jeans and a tailor - it’s not new things that you need - just you, as your best self.
Do you ever experience mum guilt? How did you cope with this?
Chloé: Oh, often - if not every day. The only way I cope is by doing. If I could avoid it, I would, but sometimes I can’t and sometimes I shouldn't. I think Mum-Guilt can be a personal issue, much like self-harm or sabotage and other times, it’s proof of the life and connection you have with your child. It’s whatever you look at it. But in the moment, I make a decision and I have to move on with it. I try to make up for it with exercising more presence and more unconditional love with him and myself.
Photo Courtesy Of Chloé Pierre
ON THY.SELF, YOUR BOOK TAKE CARE, AND RELOCATING TO DUBAI
You moved to Dubai nearly a year ago with your son. What made you move and why Dubai?
Chloé: It was nearly a year! I moved because as you know, I’ve been in the wellness and self-love space for a long time and as my life shifted due to… well everything… it became very apparent that the sync wasn’t there… to the point where I felt like a fraud in the business and movement I created because I wasn’t prioritising myself - it was literally everyone else and my baby. The feeling of impostor syndrome in the movement I created and the book I wrote crushed me. Along with relationships and life, I realised the life trajectory I was on would have broken me and taken me away from the two parts of my life I love the most, being with my son and running my business. It was a huge risk and I’m still in the testing phase even close to a year in but its a huge move and settling takes time, just as it does to stay in something toxic, which I’ve done for most of my life but I realise now, that I always had control, its just now, that I take it and I will continue taking it and choosing me.
How has this transition been for both of you?
Chloé: It has definitely been a transition for us both. For the most part, my son has been great, and that's because he is with his mother, she has curated a safe space and community with him, despite being in a new land and regular activities and a schedule. In all honesty, it’s me in survival mode working it out, and it's hard, trust me. I have had plenty of doubts, but what I do know is I don't want to go back to my former life or environment, so I work my mindset around that and I just do and I try and fun to ease my mind racing so much.
“It went from frustration and heartache, to research, a community, a business, a book and life. Pretty incredible how one idea can change your whole life.”
Can you tell me what your typical day looks like?
Chloé: A typical weekday is I wake up, exercise for 15- 20 minutes with home weights (I have a gym in my building, but my nanny doesn’t arrive in time). I jump in the shower, she arrives, we prepare my son’s breakfast, I check emails and my phone for 5 minutes max, I wake him up and get him ready for nursery. The driver collects us and drops me first to the nursery and then to my day job. I get to work - I head up the Digital Marketing and Social Media for a Luxury Lifestyle & Entertainment agency here in Dubai and across the Middle East - handle pitches, content, strategies and teams. I’ve just managed to negotiate leaving early, but to be honest, I was advised to just do it and not make it official - corporate life is killing my creativity, but we move! My driver comes to collect me and take me home or to an event, hang out with friends or run errands, then home where the nanny should have cooked, but then I promptly usher her to leave so my son recognises he is the priority. We play, eat together (if not late), Facetime family or friends, read a book, play sleep music and bed. If I have deadlines, I sneak out of the bed to work on that, but that’s really not something I’m trying to continue with anymore, as it’s also a recipe for burnout. Weekends are spent exploring new places, or just ballet and enjoying the neighbourhood!
You founded Thy.Self, a platform for inclusive wellness through self-care. Tell me how the idea started and how you got it off the ground?
Chloé: I started it through another low-point (to think I thought that was the worst - ha!), a heartbreak and a complete 360 of the life I was preparing myself for. I had access to wellness, which I was so grateful for through my personal brand and platforms, but I would often notice I stood out in these environments and that made it hard to prioritise my wellbeing, which defeats the purpose. The more I researched these spaces and the industry, I realised many gaps and injustices and started calling them out. Then I formed a community for people who wanted access to wellness but also felt marginalised. I jumped on Instagram and the rest was history. It went from frustration and heartache, to research, a community, a business, a book and life. Pretty incredible how one idea can change your whole life.
You wrote a book called Take Care: The Black Women’s Guide To Wellness. It focuses on topics like self-care, personal wellness and more. What pushed you to write this amazing book, and how was your experience throughout completing it?
Chloé: Thank you! I knew this book was needed, and I hope that I can create similar books and spaces for other marginalised groups of people. It’s all about getting the message of thy.self out there, in my way and tone, as that alone makes it an intersection. I’m really proud that my first book was for Black and Women of colour because as an intersection, they really do need it. People say, it’s one thing being disabled, or a woman, but then to add your race (a word I hate) or your heritage into the equation really does push you lower down in society's graces. I wanted a book which recognises them and helps them. It’s a guide, but not one that dates. And although it’s titled for Black women, and on the inside women of colour, anyone who reads it will know they too are addressed and mentioned in the book. It just takes one brave step to pick it up. When you get to the end, you may just understand why you struggled to pick it up in the first place. I think Take Care is refreshing and a forever book.
Do you have plans to write a second book in the near future?
Chloé: Yes, but when… I don't know. There's a bit more learning and growing for me, I believe - but I’d love to hear what people want to hear lol so hit me up!
“Loss of identity was just one part of my journey. It was a journey of loss, birth and rebirth.”
You are also a Breathwork Guide and are doing some incredible breathwork sessions in Dubai. What got you into this, and how has it personally helped you?
Chloé: I am! Thank you! It added a new dimension to me, my thoughts, awareness and access to broader communities as a way of supporting them. With my business aiming for inclusivity as hard as companies strive for B-Corp recognition, I knew I needed to grow in this area, to build my offering and practice, but not many things supported me personally. I realised breathwork was probably the only wellness tool my mother passed onto me, other than controlling the way I look or behave for others’ pleasure or acceptance, so discovering that spiritually and more fully felt right. I always tell people that breathwork has got me out of so many sticky situations my whole life, but especially in motherhood and my pregnancy. I recognise it as the one core support of bringing my baby boy, earthside, without stitches, grazes or medical issues. I don’t and won’t ever take that for granted. Ever,
What tips can you give mums who are juggling it all, to lower their stress levels and practice better self care?
Chloé: Carve out time for you. What served you prior to motherhood might not be your go-to now, so don’t be afraid to explore. Find a safe space to do that in and enjoy it even for 5 minutes. Just try again and again. Don’t be defeated, and again, prioritise what matters to you and make sure you and your life/presence are included in that. You are a priority, if not THE priority.
What women do you look up to and why?
Chloé: I like to see women doing what feels right for them and being honest about the journey, no matter what others say. I look up to my friends and the people around me, and to be honest, I have always used them as icons. Moving and readjusting my boundaries means I’m really happy with those who surround me, and I look up to them individually. Of course, there are people I like on the internet, like Hannah Bronfman, Emma Grede, Rochelle Humes, but I also think it’s nice to have that representation where that wasn't available for me growing up outside of Mel B. She, too, is an icon to me. I’m very much inspired by everyone and everything, but women… we’ve come so far, and Black women… oh, we are special!
Photo Courtesy Of Chloé Pierre
What are you most excited about for the future?
Chloé: I’m excited to feel more secure in myself, root myself in confidence, have clarity and see my babies grow - my son and my business. I’m open to love, success, safety and happiness in all forms for whatever period of time or frequency.
Do you find it hard to switch off work at the end of the day? Any tips on how to help with this?
Chloé: Yes, but I revert to what I know to be true, free and inclusive - breathwork, dancing, water and walking.
What are some of your favourite achievements in your business and life, so far, that you're particularly proud of?
Chloé: I’m just happy I created a business, that it is recognised globally by people, brands and companies. That it's served a true purpose and has legs for legacy and impact. I’ve created life so many times with this company, business, brand and life. I have everything to be proud of.
ON HER STYLE SINCE BECOMING A MOTHER
Has your personal style changed since becoming a mum? If so, how has it influenced the way you dress?
Chloé: I definitely turned down the hype - ie buying curated sneakers, and I moved away from skin-cut clothing, but I’m slowly getting back to that, not to feel sexy for anyone other than me, but also to stop hiding myself in safe and large outfits and pieces. I dress more freely now. Another element is living in the UAE, and that has taught me a lot about subtle dressing, modesty and sophistication. I love the growth.
What is your go-to outfit for every day? Any particular pieces you wear on repeat?
Chloé: Go to is a white outfit - preferably a dress as I can tailor everything around that, and some nude thong sandals. The outfit is really the perfume - I’m trying to grow my new collection with pieces from the region.
Whose wardrobe would you love to raid? Do you have any style icons?
Chloé: The people who have the style I like or seem to follow and save don’t share the same dress size as me, but if I had to choose, probably JuJu - J Ghaz on IG, who I recently met. I love her modesty and layering techniques. She also has the best makeup, skin and face card tbh. There are more, but I don't remember their handles. That said, I love the 40+ fashion influencers popping up. That's really inspiring to see finally!
“I created life so many times with this company, business, brand and life. I have everything to be proud of. ”
Have you received or gifted yourself something special to commemorate the birth of your child?
Chloé: I don't think I did, not intentionally anyway. I have always prioritised travel over physical things, so our first holiday was to Dubai, no expenses spared.
Let's talk a bit about beauty, has your skincare routine changed since becoming a mother? What skincare products or treatments do you recommend?
Chloé: I have less time to do and explore when it comes to skincare for sure, and the stress that I had, had to go somewhere, so it flares up. I truly believe my trauma is stored in my body, and my skin is really supporting that area of my journey (or taking the battering for it). I keep it simple now, but naturally SPF is important on my face, lips, scalp - everywhere. I really like the Laser Facial by Skin Laundry - no downtime, and you can see the effects.
What makeup products do you use daily?
Chloé: SPF on my lips - Ultra Violette in the brown or sheer shades currently. UK Lash Mascara. Merit Flush Balm - In Bespoke. Caudalie Vinosun 50+ SunWater is my go to. The Caudalie Sun Water can be used on kids from 3+, so that’s super helpful.
Follow Chloé on Instagram @Chloepierreldn