Meet Marymarie Nevels

We recently connected with Marymarie Nevels and have shared our conversation below.

Marymarie , we can’t begin to explain how much we appreciate you sharing about your PPD experience, but we can say that so many in our community are suffering from or have suffered from postpartum issues including postpartum depression and so you sharing your story and how you overcame it might help someone who is going through it right now or in the future. What can you share with us about how you overcame PPD? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

Motherhood? I thought I could multitask it in. After all, I had conquered AP classes, balanced cheerleading with student government, and climbed my way up to prom queen. In college, I was running through the streets of New York City, chasing my dream of being a fashion designer—accepted into FIT, interning at top fashion houses, working behind the scenes at major runway shows and ultimately working in the industry . If I could handle all of that, surely I could handle a baby. A piece of cake.

I had no clue.

Four years into motherhood, I find myself negotiating with a toddler at 11 p.m., pleading with her to go to bed. I still haven’t cracked the code on getting her down by 7 p.m., and her preschool makes sure I know it. Their reminders about structure and routine feel like thinly veiled judgment, as if I’m not trying.

The truth is, I’ve spent these years in a fog of imposter syndrome, not fully feeling like a mother. For the longest time, I was just going through the motions—doing what people said I should do. But lately, something has shifted. I feel myself loving my daughter in a deeper, more conscious way. And I’m realizing that maybe, just maybe, I’ve been in postpartum for four years.

The Silent Weight of Postpartum

People talk about postpartum depression like it’s a fleeting phase—something you get through in the first few months. No one tells you it can linger, morph, and show up in unexpected ways. For me, it was the exhaustion, the sadness that came in waves, the inability to complete tasks that once felt effortless.

I remember the moment it became painfully clear. I had taken on a fashion assignment, a photoshoot that should have been my escape—my return to the creative world. But when the time came to select 10 images from a thousand, my brain shut down. The photographer, someone who prided herself on understanding people’s emotions, had no patience for me. She picked the spread herself, slapping together a half-hearted layout.

I was too drained to fight it. Too overwhelmed to explain that my mind couldn’t focus, that I wasn’t just being difficult—I was struggling.

Motherhood is hard. And the hardest part? The judgment.

I used to be guilty of it myself. Before I had a child, I thought I knew everything about parenting. I would see mothers struggling in public and think, Just do this. Just be better.

Now, I know better.

Learning to Find Myself Again

Four years in, I’m feeling better. Not perfect, but better. Happiness still feels like a moving target, and depression comes and goes like the tide. But I’ve found things that help:
• Exercise – Moving my body, even when I don’t feel like it.
• Therapy – A safe space to unravel the weight of it all.
• Eating better – Fueling myself in ways that don’t add to the exhaustion.
• Selfishness – Carving out time for me, unapologetically.
• Getting out – Staying engaged with the world, even when isolation feels easier.

The other day, I was at the salon, half-listening to the conversations around me. Someone under the steam bowl said, Postpartum lasts seven years. Another woman called out, Your whole life!

Laughter rippled through the room.

I laughed too, but the truth hit differently. My life is not the same.

The Motherhood I Missed

I’m a COVID mom. I didn’t get a proper baby shower, didn’t have those dreamy maternity photos, didn’t get to dress my bump in cool, designer outfits. Looking back, I wish I had splurged on that Gucci baby bag—because when will I ever be pregnant again? Adoption lingers in the back of my mind, but that’s a thought for another time.

For now, my daughter is four, still fighting sleep like it’s her personal rebellion. I wonder if something is wrong—why does she have so much energy at night? But then, maybe she’s just like me. Maybe we’re both still adjusting.

Some nights, I let her watch TV longer than I should, too exhausted to argue. I mumble, Five more minutes, then bedtime. Most nights, I don’t even follow through. And I feel guilty.

But for the first time, my body feels like it’s coming back to me. My mind, too. I work a lot, I try to eat right—sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don’t. And that’s okay. Or at least, I tell myself it is.

I glance at my daughter’s photo on my phone as the stylist rinses my hair. She looks happy. And despite everything, so am I.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) alum, fashion designer by trade, and Visual Merchandiser, I’m also a proud mom to a vibrant soon-to-be five-year-old. With over eight years of experience as a plus-size model, I’m deeply passionate about fashion and aspire to open my own boutique—blending vintage and contemporary styles in inclusive sizes—alongside a studio for my own designs. My goal is to be a respected voice in the industry, inspiring others to embrace creativity, inclusivity, and the pursuit of their dreams.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Key Skills to Know
1. Dress with Intent:
Even if work guidelines limit you to jeans, button-downs, and comfy shoes, style them in a way that makes you look cool and confident.
2. Embrace Change:
Don’t cling to every project. Be open to change and let go when necessary. Fashion is fluid, and your creativity is strong enough to reinvent and adapt .
3. Stay Engaged Outside of Work:
Participate in other activities so that when work gets challenging, you have a personal outlet to relieve stress and refocus so your identity isn’t your job.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

Honestly, the book Fabulosity by Kimora Lee Simmons helped me a lot. I’ve also found that reading autobiographies of models and fashion designers is incredibly valuable. If you want to become successful in a certain field, read about the people who have already achieved it—they share valuable advice in their books/ articles .

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.marymarienevels.com
• Instagram: @marymarie.nevels / @marymariestylist

Image Credits

1 . Caroline Schwartz walk shoot
2 . Jacob Howe baby shoot
3 . Joseph’s Patrick denim baby shoot
4. Jennee Johnson black and gray
5 . Casino – Gold Strike
6. Elizabeth Suzanne- Company
7. Perla Maarek – Long hair – beach vibes