Content creator. Entrepreneur. Mum. And a Jack-of-all-trades. For over 15 years, Victoria Duckitt has followed her calling at full-speed, which has been to educate, to build, and to keep going, no matter what the day throws at her.
She founded Kiss, Blush & Tell in 2009 and has spent the years since innovating and evolving in an industry that never sits still. Along the way, she's balanced motherhood with the demands of running her own business, without ever losing momentum. Her resilience and her refusal to do things by the book have inspired us, which is exactly why Victoria is Almost Monday's Good Morning star this Women's Month.
We sat down with her to talk about staying the course, finding balance, and what wellness actually looks like in real life.
You've run Kiss, Blush & Tell since 2009. What has kept you going for over 15 years in an industry that changes constantly?
It started as a passion project, which has obviously turned into my full-time job, but that's exactly what keeps me going. I truly am so passionate about it. I love sharing. I love my audience, and I feel incredibly grateful that I get to call this "work," when really, it's just me doing what I love.
As a qualified aesthetician turned content creator and entrepreneur, what was the hardest part of building a business around your own name and expertise?
I think the hardest part is that it's all on me. That feels like an odd answer, but it means that if I'm having a down day, if I'm sick, or life just feels like a lot, I can't hide behind a laptop like you would at a normal job. It takes a lot from me, and sometimes I'm just not really in the mood, but the work still has to happen.
You've written openly about running your business through many challenges. What does resilience look like for you as a working mother and small business owner?
It's that ever-elusive balance we working mums are always trying to find. It's a struggle we all battle with, and I by no means have the answers. I know I'm in a season of having small kids who really need me, and ultimately, that's my priority. I am good at doing things for me, though, whether that's my daily gym session, seeing my girlfriends, or doing things that inspire me. I definitely don't have the time I used to have, but finding small pockets of it is so important to make sure I still feel like myself, and still feel inspired.
What do your morning and evening wellness routines look like, and what gets you up in the morning?
I get up pretty early each morning (well, early for me, we are not early birds in this house). I go straight to the gym and see a personal trainer four to five times a week, which is crucial for me both physically and mentally. Then I come home, make breakfast, have a delicious coffee, and catch up on work. My personality finds wellness and calm in quiet moments, so I really try to find those pockets before the chaos of the rest of my day kicks in, which is school pickup and an afternoon full of kids' activities.
Almost Monday is all about feeling ready for the week ahead. What are your top tips for longevity and wellness?
I think wellness as a whole can feel very unattainable and intimidating in the world we live in, when honestly, it often just feels like we're in survival mode, rushing from pillar to post. I keep wellness really realistic. We love cooking in our household, so food is a big one for us. We eat well and focus on never excluding anything, just keeping it fresh and clean. I really focus on self-care (shock horror) and always carve out time for a full skincare routine, and for making myself feel like the best version of me.
Looking back at everything you've built, what are you most proud of, and what's next for Tori and Kiss, Blush & Tell?
I'd say I'm most proud of the trusted audience I have. That's been a focus from day dot. I've stayed true to me, and that's really all that matters, because without those two things, my job would feel pointless.
What comes through most in talking to Victoria isn't a formula for having it all figured out, it's the honesty in admitting she doesn't. She shows up for her business, her kids, and herself, not because she's cracked some perfect balance, but because she keeps carving out the small pockets that let her feel like herself.