Becoming Her

A Bonjour Bali Portrait Series for International Women’s Day

Dress: Lyne Goods - Bernadette Long Dress, Jungle Chic

This International Women’s Day, Bonjour Bali celebrates women who dare to redefine strength, rewrite identity, and build something that reflects who they are becoming.

In a place where cultures meet and creativity flows freely, Bali has become more than a destination. For many women, it has become a place of reinvention, a place to build not only brands, but new versions of themselves.

For this portrait series, we sat down with two designers who are shaping their own paths on the island: Alexandra, a French designer and the Founder of Aanoukis, whose work blends effortless femininity with island living, and Jo Hana, an Indonesian designer and the Founder of Just Jo Design, who built her brand through courage, creativity, and persistence.

Different backgrounds. Different journeys.

Yet both are part of a growing community of women who are choosing to create, lead, and evolve on their own terms.

Because here, building a brand is rarely just about business. It is about becoming.

And for many women who arrive on the island, that process of becoming begins with a leap, leaving behind familiarity to build something entirely new.

 

Women Building Away From Home

Dress: Just Jo Design - Malika Maxi Dress

Bali has long been a magnet for artists, designers, and entrepreneurs. But for women especially, the island offers something deeper, a space to question expectations, reshape identity, and create something meaningful.

For some, that journey means leaving home. For others, it means rediscovering it.

Through their brands, Aanoukis and Just Jo Design, Alexandra and Jo Hana explore what it means to build something authentic while navigating creativity, independence, and personal transformation.

For Alexandra, building a life and brand far from home required courage, resilience, and trust in her vision.

“You need a lot of strength and courage. I came here alone, starting from scratch. I had to stay confident in my vision and keep going, even when it was challenging.”

— Alexandra, Founder of Aanoukis

For Jo Hana, the experience has been shaped by something equally powerful, the spirit of collaboration she found on the island.

“I found Bali to be very inspiring. People here don’t see each other as competitors. They actually like to help each other. When you ask someone for information, they share it. That spirit of support is something very special.”

 — Jo Hana, Founder of Just Jo Design

Alexandra: Designing Between Worlds

Originally from France, Alexandra first came to Bali twenty years ago. What began as a visit soon revealed something deeper — a way of living that resonated with her in ways she had never experienced before.

”It was a trip 20 years ago when I discovered Bali and I was in total awe. Here I found slow living, a deep connection with nature and spirituality. It opened my heart to who I was becoming.”

— Alexandra, Founder of Aanoukis

Her brand reflects that transformation. Aanoukis embodies a vision of femininity that feels fluid, confident, and deeply connected to the environment around it.

But building a brand far from home is never only about aesthetics. It also requires resilience, patience, and constant adaptation.

Living on the island gradually reshaped Alexandra’s understanding of what strength looks like.

”Back in France, strength was often defined by achievement — career, success, reaching goals. Living in Bali helped me see another side of it: building a life that feels meaningful. The balance between the two is what I had been looking for.”

 — Alexandra, Founder of Aanoukis

Today, her work is not only about designing beautiful pieces. It is about creating a world that reflects the woman she is becoming.

 

Jo Hana: Designing with Courage and Joy

For Jo Hana, the journey into fashion began in an unexpected way. Originally from West Java, she moved to Bali for work in a completely different field. Her path changed when she began working at a restaurant that also had a small boutique.

Fashion had always been something she loved and when an opportunity appeared to create a few pieces for the shop, she decided to try. That moment became the beginning of her brand.

What started with simple designs gradually evolved into vibrant resortwear collections known for their bold colours and joyful spirit.

”My brand is for women who have the courage to wear something different colourful, happy, and confident. I always like to stand out in the crowd and that spirit is part of my designs.”

 — Jo Hana, Founder of Just Jo Design

In the early days, Jo Hana balanced multiple roles — working at the restaurant, designing for another brand, and slowly building her own label at the same time. Over time, her confidence as a designer grew.

Behind that determination is a powerful influence from her mother, whose resilience shaped Jo Hana’s understanding of strength.

”My mother always taught me that if you want something, you have to pursue it. Just work hard, be honest, and never give up.”

— Jo Hana, Founder of Just Jo Design

For Jo Hana, building a brand is not only about fashion. It is about expressing joy, courage, and individuality.

 

Beyond the Brand

Dress: Aanoukis - Holly

Behind every brand is a personal story, one that rarely fits into a simple narrative of success.

For both designers, the work they are building goes far beyond clothing. It reflects deeper intentions about identity, confidence, and the women they hope to inspire.

For Alexandra, the vision behind Aanoukis was never only about clothing. She hopes to create something that empowers women to reconnect with their own sense of beauty and strength.

”When I created Aanoukis, I was inspired by the Egyptian goddess, Anoukis. I wanted women to feel like goddesses to shine their femininity, feel confident in their bodies, and express who they truly are.”

 — Alexandra, Founder of Aanoukis

For Jo Hana, the vision extends further, beyond the brand itself and into supporting other women.

”What I hope to build, outside of the brand and as a woman, is empowering other women to achieve what they want. I want women to know they have the potential to be someone and to do something. ”

 — Jo Hana, Founder of Just Jo Design

Their journeys remind us that entrepreneurship is not only about building companies. It is also about building confidence, identity, and legacy.

 

Becoming Her

Top: Amore Sample - Flower Top

This International Women’s Day, Bonjour Bali celebrates the women who are quietly reshaping the creative landscape of the island.

Women who cross borders.
Women who challenge expectations.
Women who redefine what strength looks like.

Because the most powerful thing they are building may not be their brand. It is themselves.

Looking back, both designers share a message they would give to their younger selves, one about trusting intuition, embracing possibility, and daring to choose your own path.

Alexandra reflects on the importance of confidence and trusting the voice within.

”To my younger self, I would say: never dull your light. Be confident and trust yourself — trust your intuition more. Maybe do it faster so you can go further sooner. But I also believe there is a timing for everything. Still, if I could go back, I would tell myself to trust my intuition 100%.”

— Alexandra, Founder of Aanoukis

For Jo Hana, the advice comes from years of experience and the realization that it is never too late to pursue what you truly want.

”I wish I could do something I wanted to do when I was younger. Before, I always thought you had to follow a certain road. But now I keep telling my daughter — and everyone — it’s not too late. You never know what will happen. If there is something you want to do, just do it.”

— Jo Hana, Founder of Just Jo Design

And perhaps that is the real story behind every woman building something of her own. Not perfection. Not certainty. But the courage to keep becoming.

Explore Aanoukis

Explore Just Jo Design