Moms Beyond Motherhood: Three Women, Three Countries, One Shared Conversation
Written By: Susan Le
Date: Mar 8, 2026Motherhood changes you. It expands you. It grows you. It becomes part of your everyday in ways you never expected. But it doesn’t erase who you were before.
This International Women’s Day, we’re sharing Moms Beyond Motherhood, a conversation with three women from three corners of the world: Madina from China, Ssonia from Canada, and Marine from France.
What they shared looked different in every way. Their stories are shaped by culture, experience, and the lives they’ve built. And yet, one thread ran through each story. Although motherhood matters deeply to each of them, it is also just one of the many roles they hold.
Three Women. Three Perspectives on Motherhood
Across three countries, these women reflect on what motherhood has meant in their lives: what it changed, what it deepened, and what remained.
Their stories are not meant to define motherhood. They offer a glimpse into three different journeys.
Madina from China
“Becoming a mother is the most meaningful role I've ever played.”
For Madina, motherhood is something she carries with pride.
She speaks about stepping fully into the role by embracing the responsibility and the meaning it brings to her life, while continuing to hold the many other parts of herself.
Motherhood, for her, didn’t replace who she was. It expanded her life in new ways.
About Madina
Madina Memet (麦迪娜) is a celebrated Chinese actress of Uyghur ethnicity, born in Urumqi, Xinjiang. She began her career as a professional dancer before rising to prominence in television and film, starring in popular productions including New My Fair Princess, Ice Fantasy, The Investiture of the Gods, and the acclaimed film The Final Master.
Beyond her work on screen, Madina shares a glimpse of life at home with her family. With millions of followers across Weibo, Douyin, and other platforms, her warm, family-centered content resonates strongly with young parents.
As a mother of two, she often speaks about the importance of comfort, safety, and thoughtful design in everyday family life. Madina has long been a loyal user and authentic partner of Nest Designs.
Ssonia from Canada
“We need to support moms, no matter what journey they're on.”
For Ssonia, motherhood is deeply connected to community. She believes mothers should support one another through every season whether a mom is struggling, thriving, or somewhere in between.
Her story is grounded in the idea that there is no single right way to mother. Every journey looks different, and every mother deserves understanding and support along the way.
About Ssonia
Ssonia Ong is a Canadian mother and content creator behind Ong Squad, where she shares honest glimpses into life with her family. Her content reflects the everyday realities of motherhood: the joyful moments, the challenges, and everything in between.
Through her platform, Ssonia has built a strong community of parents who value authenticity and support. She often speaks about the importance of showing up for one another and creating the kind of village every mom deserves.
Her voice in Moms Beyond Motherhood reflects that belief: that every motherhood journey looks different, and every mother deserves understanding along the way.
Marine from France
“My advice to new moms is to take care of yourself. You deserve it.”
Marine’s perspective is steady and reassuring.
She believes that loving your child fully doesn’t mean losing yourself in the process. That caring for yourself isn’t selfish. It’s necessary.
Her story is about making space for herself alongside motherhood, and about recognizing that women are allowed to remain whole.
About Marine
Marine de Quénetain is a French mother and creative who brings a thoughtful perspective to motherhood and personal care. Her voice is grounded in the belief that loving your child fully should not require losing yourself.
Recently, Marine collaborated with Nest Designs to create a collection inspired by the realities of motherhood. Pieces designed with comfort, softness, and everyday life in mind.
Her story in Moms Beyond Motherhood reflects the quiet permission many mothers need to hear: that caring for yourself is not selfish. It is part of caring for your family too.
The Woman Behind the Role
Motherhood becomes part of your life in ways you never expected. It reshapes your days, your priorities, and the way you move through the world. But it doesn’t replace the person you were before.
Madina, Ssonia, and Marine remind us that motherhood can be deeply meaningful without becoming the only definition of who you are. That you can give fully to your children while still holding onto the parts of yourself that make you whole.
Because motherhood is not the end of your story. It is simply one chapter within it.
This International Women’s Day, Moms Beyond Motherhood celebrates the women behind the title — the ones continuing to grow, evolve, and discover who they are, both within motherhood and beyond it.
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