Charlie.
She’s an inspiration.
— a force of resilience, adaptability, and grace.
An employment lawyer by trade, Charlie has spent the last few years mastering the delicate balance between a demanding career and the equally demanding role of being a mother. It’s a juggle so many women know intimately—carrying the weight of ambition while nurturing a family.
Life in Queenstown is picturesque but not without its pressures. The cost of living is staggeringly high, and decisions aren’t made lightly when it comes to family. So, when Charlie and her partner welcomed their daughters, it was agreed—he would stay home with the kids while she returned to the corporate world after maternity leave.
For Charlie, it wasn’t just about navigating the traditional roles of parenthood; it was creating a dynamic partnership where both parents contributed in their own powerful ways.
As 2024 drew to a close, she felt a shift—a yearning to recalibrate. It wasn’t about walking away from her career; it was about stepping into something more meaningful. She wanted time with her daughters, Koa and Kuini, and to fuel her creative spirit that had been quietly waiting in the wings.
2025 marks a new chapter for Charlie—a year of motherhood and creative rediscovery. In this fresh season, she’s embracing her role. As we photographed her daughters Koa and Kuini got involved, brushing her hair then twirling to the iconic tunes of Frozen.
For this shoot, we dressed Charlie in a sleek black merino dress—her go-to colour, one that exudes understated elegance. Accented with her treasured pounamu, she radiates both strength and heritage. A style icon, Sade, inspires her effortless cool—and she embodies that same quiet confidence and timeless grace.
Charlie’s story reminds us that there is strength in simplicity, power in reinvention, and beauty in the courage to change. She challenges the narrative that women must choose between family and ambition, showing instead that it’s possible to weave them together in a way that’s deeply personal and profoundly impactful.
