Rebuilding After Loss – Sarah Akiba on Grief, Identity & Purpose

In this episode of You vs You, host Lex Borrero sits down with Sarah Akiba — a celebrity stylist, entrepreneur, and founder of AWOM (Angel Watching Over Me), a nonprofit created in honor of her late father. From working with some of the biggest names in fashion and entertainment to helping young women navigate grief and mental health, Sarah’s story is one of loss, identity, and radical transformation.

But this isn’t just about grief. It’s about becoming.

Sarah opens up about:
◽️ Losing her father — and the pain that followed
◽️ The fear of being forgotten
◽️ Performing confidence to survive as an immigrant woman
◽️ How building a persona protected her from pain
◽️ The hidden weight of success when self-worth is wounded
◽️ Why healing begins when you finally stop running

From styling celebrities to creating spaces for women to feel seen, Sarah reveals the story behind the smile — and how grief didn’t just break her… it rebuilt her.

Whether you’re processing loss, questioning your purpose, or hiding behind a version of yourself you no longer recognize — this episode will help you begin again, from the inside out.

🔗 Connect with Sarah Akiba
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sarahakiba
AWOM – https://www.awom.org

🔗 Connect with Lex Borrero
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/lexborrero
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@lexborrero16

🔗 Join the You vs You Community
https://linktr.ee/YOUVS.YOUPODCAST

Rebuilding After Loss &ndash; Sarah Akiba on Grief, Identity &amp; Purpose
In this episode of You vs You, host Lex Borrero sits down with Sarah Akiba &mdash; a celebrity stylist, entrepreneur, and founder of AWOM (Angel Watching Over Me), a nonprofit created in honor of her late father. From working with some of the biggest names in fashion and entertainment to helping young women navigate grief and mental health, Sarah&rsquo;s story is one of loss, identity, and radical transformation.
But this isn&rsquo;t just about grief. It&rsquo;s about becoming.
Sarah opens up about: ◽️ Losing her father &mdash; and the pain that followed ◽️ The fear of being forgotten ◽️ Performing confidence to survive as an immigrant woman ◽️ How building a persona protected her from pain ◽️ The hidden weight of success when self-worth is wounded ◽️ Why healing begins when you finally stop running
From styling celebrities to creating spaces for women to feel seen, Sarah reveals the story behind the smile &mdash; and how grief didn&rsquo;t just break her&hellip; it rebuilt her.
Whether you&rsquo;re processing loss, questioning your purpose, or hiding behind a version of yourself you no longer recognize &mdash; this episode will help you begin again, from the inside out.
🔗 Connect with Sarah Akiba Instagram &ndash; https://www.instagram.com/sarahakiba AWOM &ndash; https://www.awom.org
🔗 Connect with Lex Borrero Instagram &ndash; https://www.instagram.com/lexborrero TikTok &ndash; https://www.tiktok.com/@lexborrero16
🔗 Join the You vs You Community https://linktr.ee/YOUVS.YOUPODCAST

In the podcast "You vs You," host Lex Borrero dives into the personal battles and triumphs of entertainment's most accomplished figures.

Through candid discussions, the show aims to unveil the human side of these celebrated individuals, stripping away their heroic facades. By sharing their stories of vulnerability and resilience, "You vs You" seeks to motivate listeners to confront their own challenges, unlock their potential, and pursue their dream lives with newfound freedom and inspiration.

In the podcast "You vs You," host Lex Borrero dives into the personal battles and triumphs of entertainment's most accomplished figures.
Through candid discussions, the show aims to unveil the human side of these celebrated individuals, stripping away their heroic facades. By sharing their stories of vulnerability and resilience, "You vs You" seeks to motivate listeners to confront their own challenges, unlock their potential, and pursue their dream lives with newfound freedom and inspiration.

You vs You w/ Lex Borrero

Celebrity Stylist: Grief Took Everything… But Gave Me My Purpose

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/49876a21-f991-44f6-bb69-b2f201369251/transcript