In this episode of The Style Project, host Caitlin Taylor, a style coach and personal stylist, sits down with Cassie Roma, modern media storyteller, content creator, and notable face from The Apprentice Aotearoa. The two explore how personal style is deeply tied to identity, self-acceptance, and the courage to show up authentically in the world.

- How Cassie defines her personal style and why dressing like her grandfather makes her feel powerful

- The non-negotiable boundary Cassie set before appearing on The Apprentice Aotearoa regarding her wardrobe

- Cassie's journey of coming out in her mid-30s and how dressing authentically transformed her confidence, body composition, and outlook

- The moment Cassie's "give a damn got busted" and she stopped dressing for other people's expectations

- Why the clothes that don't fit are the garment's fault, not your body's

- How casual, off-the-cuff comments about appearance chip away at confidence and silence entire communities

- The importance of body neutrality as a starting point, and why you should never wait until you reach a goal weight to express your style

- How to navigate body image conversations with children and why gassing each other up as women creates real social change

Resources and People Mentioned:

- Wildfang (womenswear brand, wildfang.com)

- The Apprentice Aotearoa (TVNZ)

- Jess Quinn, body image advocate and friend of both hosts

- Nikki Parkinson, stylist and blogger at Styling You (Australia)

- Finery Cocktails, season sponsor (finerycocktails.co.nz)

- Chasing Kate blog and style coaching (ChasingKate.com)

- Instagram: @ChasingKateStyleCoach

- Facebook: @ChasingKate

• (00:00:07) - The Style Project: Season 2
• (00:01:47) - How We Got To Know Each Other
• (00:05:56) - Three Descriptive Words For Your Style
• (00:07:36) - The Celebrity Apprentice
• (00:10:52) - The Real Apprentice: When You Don't Have to Conform To
• (00:16:18) - Have You Lost Any Body Confidence?
• (00:21:38) - The Apprentice: Personal Style
• (00:27:28) - The Power of Clothes
• (00:31:12) - What Would I Tell 15 Year Old Cassie About Body Love &
• (00:38:41) - Chelsea's message about dresses
• (00:40:02) - Chasing Kate on Fashion and Body Image
• (00:45:22) - Caitlin on Comments on Instagram
• (00:50:21) - What advice would you have for others struggling with their body image?
• (00:55:11) - Body positivity
• (00:59:22) - Turning 40