S6E61 | Tarese Estelle - From High-Control Religious Abuse & DID to Award-Winning Fashion Designer

Send me a DM here (it doesn't let me respond), OR email me: [email protected] I’m honored to have back on the show for a second time: Ritualistic, religious and child sexual abuse survivor and overcomer, social media whistleblower and content creator, therapist and educator, award winning and renowned fashion designer, founder of Tarese Estelle Couture and Birds With a Feather, plant parent, passionate speaker and writer, and an incredible DID system sharing their story with the intent that others know they aren’t alone and that hope is possible: Tarese Estelle & Co Born in Sydney, Australia, and soon swept into the isolated strictures of rural Queensland, Tarese grew up as the eldest of eight siblings in a high-control offshoot of the Seventh-day Adventist Reform Movement. Her family believed they were among the chosen 144,000 souls destined for heaven, while the rest of humanity faced damnation. Life was governed by rigid doctrine: no birthdays, no Christmas, no play on the Sabbath, strict veganism with only two meals a day, modest dress codes, and homeschooling that kept them far from the “worldly” outside world.The family lived on a desolate property, hours from the nearest church, deepening their isolation. As her mother battled debilitating illness and slept through much of the day, young Tarese carried the weight of caring for her siblings while enduring a childhood stripped of joy and normal connection. Physical punishments were severe and frequent, and the sounds of her younger siblings’ screams burned into her memory, leaving her feeling helpless and terrified. Sexual abuse occurred at home and extended to others over the years. Dissociation became her silent guardian, turning horrors into distant fragments viewed as if through a wooden fence.Yet light pierced the darkness - and that is what we will discussing today and where we left off in Part 1. In 2009, at 18, Tarese stepped through the doors of Destiny Haven in Newcastle - a sanctuary of unconditional love where volunteers poured their hearts into healing broken women. From that foundation, her wings unfolded. She studied fashion design, launching stunning collections that have been featured in iconic magazines, collaborated with renowned artists, dressed cultural icons, and powered poignant campaigns, runway shows, scholarships, and ambassadorships. CONNECT WITH TARESE: Website: https://thehungryaustralien.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thehungryaustralien TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehungryaustralien Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehungryaustralien Substack (coming soon!): https://substack.com/@tareseestelle Birds with a Feather (sharing stories):YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Birdswithafeather TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@birds.with.a.feather Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birds.with.a.featherCONNECT WITH EMMA:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imaginationpodcastofficialEMAIL: [email protected] OR [email protected]: https://emmakatherine.substack.com/BUY ME A COFFEE: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theimaginationAll links: https://direct.me/theimaginationpodcastSupport the show