Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Borrayo.
Hi Michelle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I actually started creating a swimwear line about 7–8 years ago, but at the time I never did anything with it. It wasn’t until I worked regular 9–5 jobs that I realized everything I was doing for other people, I could be doing for myself. I kept my job so I could fund my business, starting with cover-ups and eventually expanding into bikinis once I found a manufacturer whose quality matched my vision.
A major turning point came when I reached a low moment in life and began intensive EMDR therapy. The reprocessing pushed me to slow down, step away from my regular job, and focus on healing but it also gave me clarity. I finally understood that my creativity wasn’t just something I was good at; it was my path.
Two of the first people who believed in me were Vanessa and Melissa, founders of YOGITHOT STUDIO. They shared my creative abilities with others, and soon I began working with clients who filled my creative cup. My parents also supported me unconditionally, allowing me to chase this dream even when things were uncertain.
Around this time, I started vending at wellness events from Miami to Palm Beach often working every single day for months. My sister, Jimena, and I were vending together, taking MABOH THE LABEL anywhere we could, especially next to the cold plunge where girls loved buying bikinis before jumping in. Those months taught me resilience, community, and what it means to build something from the ground up.
As I became more involved in the event world, I started naturally noticing ways things could be done better how these events could eventually become my business. I was given an opportunity to help with events for a well-known wellness company, but ultimately our values didn’t align. I believe in fairness, transparency, and making sure everyone involved is compensated properly. Even though I had already spoken with friends and partners about future events, I knew I couldn’t keep moving in a direction that didn’t feel right.
I still had commitments and people who trusted me, so I decided to continue, but under my own company: MABOH WELLNESS COLLECTIVE, my “last-minute made” project that was born out of necessity and heart. And the support that followed was incredible.
My clients-turned-friends Carli, Giselle, Jenesty, and the entire YOGITHOT STUDIO family (founders and teachers) were some of the very first people to support my new wellness business. They didn’t need to purchase tickets because they were already helping so much by teaching, sponsoring, and supporting the event… but they bought tickets anyway. That’s when I knew I was surrounded by truly good people. Tina from Force PT was also one of the early supporters.
And I can’t forget my vendor friends, the ones who follow me to every single event, believe in me, show up early, stay late, and support this journey like it’s their own. Friends like Bianca from HOLA CREATIVES, who has become part of this community in the most meaningful way and Amy from Resilience Wear remind me that building something from scratch is never done alone.
Fort Lauderdale showed me a sense of community I had never experienced before. Because of the foundation I had built through my bikini brand and the support of all these amazing women, my first event ended with more than 130 attendees.
From there, everything started flowing. Now my three brands MABOH THE LABEL, TYPO HAUS, and MABOH WELLNESS COLLECTIVE all work together naturally, allowing me to move seamlessly between fashion, design, and wellness.
And through it all, my sister Jimena has been the backbone of everything I do. She’s the numbers girl, the grounding force, and my biggest supporter. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her belief in my dreams.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I wouldn’t say it’s been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been losing longtime friends along the way. For a long time, I felt stuck in my head constantly thinking I was “behind” in life because everyone around me seemed to have figured out their path earlier than I did. People were getting married, having kids, buying homes, settling down… and I was still trying to understand my purpose. There were moments when I really beat myself up, looking back at my early 20s and feeling like I hadn’t made the best decisions.
I’ve also struggled with anxiety since 2017, and some seasons have been harder than others. Most people wouldn’t know it because I’m social, outgoing, and always pushing myself forward but internally, I’ve had to face things head-on. Honestly, every day feels like a form of exposure therapy, and I’ve learned to be proud of myself for simply showing up.
There were also times when I was surrounded by a lot of opinions advice about my relationships, my career choices, and even my family challenges. Some of that guidance truly came from love and the desire to protect me, and I’m grateful for those voices. But some of it, I eventually realized, came from “fake love” people who weren’t genuinely rooting for me, who projected their fears or judgments onto my decisions. Navigating all those opinions while trying to listen to my own heart wasn’t always easy, and it did lead to losing even more friendships along the way.
Still, I chose to trust myself, even when it felt uncomfortable or lonely. And now, looking at where I am today, I feel genuinely excited and grounded, in my love life, in my friendships, and in my business.
Losing friendships, going through anxiety, and feeling “behind” were difficult chapters. Especially after years of hearing, “You have so many friends,” only to suddenly look around and realize my circle had become much smaller. But with time, I realized that this wasn’t a loss… it was a refinement. The people who stayed the patient, kind, and supportive ones became the foundation I needed. And I also gained beautiful new relationships that feel aligned with who I am now.
Overall, the journey hasn’t been perfect, but it has shaped everything I’ve built and everything I’m becoming. I’m grateful that I get to share my success with the people who have stood by me through it all.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I wear a few creative hats… I’m a fashion designer, a wellness event curator, and a graphic designer. Most people first know me for my bikinis through MABOH THE LABEL, but what many don’t realize is that the same “bikini girl” also designs graphics for well-known Fort Lauderdale businesses and produces the wellness events they attend. I’ve always loved staying behind the scenes, so a lot of people don’t initially connect all three worlds back to me.
In fashion, I specialize in high-quality, Brazilian-made swimwear with a focus on fit, comfort, and confidence. In design, I create branding, logos, packaging, merch, and social content for small businesses that trust me with their vision. And in events, I curate wellness experiences that combine movement, community, and local vendors in a way that feels inviting and uplifting.
What I’m most proud of isn’t just the work itself, it’s the relationships and communities that have formed because of it. If I ever become “known,” I don’t want it to be for a single product or talent. I want to be known for creating a sense of community, for helping people find friendships, and for giving small businesses a platform to shine. I want to be the person who brings people together and becomes the go-to for connections, support, and collaboration.
What sets me apart is that everything I do, whether it’s a bikini, a logo, or a full wellness event comes from a place of heart, intention, and genuine love for helping others grow. My work spans different industries, but the purpose behind all of it is the same: connection, creativity, and community.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I was born and raised in Guatemala, and I moved to the U.S. when I turned 18. One of my favorite childhood memories is going to the beach with my family. We had a beach house surrounded by black volcanic sand and these incredibly loud, powerful waves. I loved waking up there the sound of the waves crashing felt like my own version of peace.
My mom and dad always made those trips magical. My mom would dig into the sand looking for ghost crab burrows, and the moment the crabs ran out, she would scream and make everything chaotic and hilarious. It’s one of those memories that still makes me smile. I also loved going fishing with my dad. Back home, he had a full fishing team, and we would join fishing tournaments together, something that felt so normal back then, but now I realize how special it was.
My dad was also a well-known professional race car driver in Latin America and was even featured on SPEED (which later became Fox Sports 3). And my mom was a go-kart driver herself. So many weekends were spent at racing events, watching either my mom or dad compete. I grew up around adventure, passion, and the belief that you can pursue any hobby or sport you want and that shaped so much of who I am today.
Those moments the beach, the fishing, the racing are some of the core memories that define my childhood, and they’re ones I carry with me wherever I go.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mabohthelabel.store
- Instagram: @mabohthelabel @typohausco @mabohwellnesscollective
Image Credits
Snow Picture
@schultzphoto.co
Model Pictures
@momentsbymo
