At just 15 years old, when most teenagers were still figuring out what they wanted from life, Preslee Riccioni dared to dream bigger. In her sunlit bedroom on the Sunshine Coast, she sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by fabric scraps, elastic bands, and a sketchpad filled with colorful ideas. While others her age were focused on school dances or video games, Preslee was crafting the first prototypes of what would become a brand that twisted tradition into a new generation of confidence—Twista Sista.
Preslee wasn’t born into a world of fashion empires or business moguls. She was raised in a nurturing home that valued creativity, courage, and kindness. Her mother often braided her hair before school, and Preslee, even then, noticed how a simple scrunchie could make someone feel bold or beautiful. She realized that hair accessories weren’t just fashion statements—they were little expressions of personality. That realization became her mission: to design pieces that made girls feel fierce, fun, and fully themselves.
One Saturday afternoon, after a particularly frustrating experience with a low-quality hair tie that snapped in her hair, Preslee exclaimed, “Why can’t anyone make cool, strong, fun hair stuff that actually works?” That question became her spark. Armed with a sewing machine, a handful of fabrics, and relentless determination, she began experimenting.
She named her brand Twista Sista, a name that echoed sisterhood, movement, and attitude. Every piece she designed—whether it was a sparkly velvet scrunchie, a tropical-patterned wrap, or a custom-dyed twistband—was infused with her belief that girls deserved more than boring black elastics. She created color collections inspired by moods: “Boss Babe” pinks, “Skater Glow” neons, “Dreamstate” pastels. Her products weren’t just accessories; they were declarations.
Her small business started at local markets, where she would set up her vibrant display booth with ribbons streaming from the tent and a mirror framed with fairy lights. Girls stopped. They smiled. They tried things on. They brought their friends. Preslee listened closely to every compliment, every suggestion, every giggle of delight. By the end of her first month, she had completely sold out of her stock.
Social media became her runway. Preslee posted styling tips, time-lapse videos of scrunchie-making, and “twist challenges” where followers showed off their favorite Twista Sista looks. She didn’t just sell products; she built a community. Young girls messaged her saying her designs gave them confidence to wear their natural curls, to speak up in class, to start projects of their own.
Orders flooded in—not just from her home city but across Australia. Preslee reinvested every dollar. She upgraded her packaging with biodegradable, eco-friendly wraps. She sourced stronger stitching techniques and elastic cores. She designed a “Sisterhood Starter Kit” that included three accessories and a hand-written note reminding each customer: “You’ve got the power to twist the world your way.”
Preslee’s impact did not go unnoticed. At only 16, she was recognized in the Sunshine Coast’s prestigious “30 under 30” list—not just for her sales, but for her soul. She had turned a humble idea into a brand that celebrated strength and style. Reporters asked her what the secret was, and she answered simply: “Be brave. Even if your hands are shaking when you sew your first scrunchie. Even if no one believes you can. Even if it’s scary. Just twist the story your way.”
Twista Sista expanded into local stores and then national outlets. Preslee began collaborating with Australian athletes, dancers, and activists to create limited-edition collections. Each one told a story. One series supported mental health awareness. Another celebrated Indigenous art and culture. Preslee made sure her brand did more than look good—it did good.
By 18, she was mentoring young girls through workshops on confidence and entrepreneurship. She spoke at schools, not in a suit, but in her signature tie-dye hoodie, sharing her story of starting small and dreaming loud. She reminded them that age is not a barrier, that big things start with tiny stitches, and that passion can outshine any doubt.
Preslee Riccioni’s journey from a girl with a scrunchie idea to a fashion-forward entrepreneur is a radiant example of what happens when youthful creativity meets purpose. She didn’t wait for permission. She didn’t let her age define her. Instead, she stitched her dreams into reality and showed the world that boldness can come wrapped in satin, sparkle, and a whole lot of spirit.
Her story is still unfolding, one twist at a time. And every strand of it reminds us: You’re never too young to twist your dreams into life.
Preslee Riccioni didn’t stop with just scrunchies and cute packaging—she started building a movement. What began as a teenage girl’s solution to boring, breakable hair ties grew into something far more powerful: a platform for self-expression, a brand that celebrated uniqueness, and a reminder that age doesn’t define impact.
One of the most inspiring twists in her journey was the creation of the “Power Pony” Campaign—a storytelling series where young girls and teens from across Australia shared how wearing their favorite Twista Sista accessory made them feel braver at school, prouder of their curly hair, or more themselves in a crowd. Each photo came with a small story: a girl who wore a leopard-print bow on her first public speech, another who wore a rainbow wrap on the day she stood up to bullying. Preslee personally messaged each one, reminding them: “You’re not just wearing it—you’re owning it.”
She also launched a Twista Lab, where she invited customers to co-create products. Teens could vote on color combos, submit mood boards, and name upcoming collections. It wasn’t just about selling—it was about belonging. And Preslee made sure everyone felt seen. Her accessories came in a variety of sizes, strengths, and textures to suit all hair types. Every twistband or headwrap was designed with the message that beauty comes in every curl, coil, wave, and strand.
Then came the “Twist Back Time” initiative, where customers could send in their worn-out scrunchies to be recycled and turned into new products. This eco-friendly loop not only reduced waste but honored every piece that had held a dream, a secret, or a strand of growing confidence. Each recycled item was tagged with the message: “You’ve been part of someone’s story. Now keep it going.”
Preslee also surprised everyone when she took Twista Sista beyond hair. She began designing limited edition twistbands that double as wristwear, creating symbols of inner strength. Some came with mantras embroidered inside: “Twist through fear” or “Hold your head high.” Girls wore them during exams, auditions, interviews—whenever they needed a little reminder of who they were.
She collaborated with youth mental health advocates and created a “Breathe & Be” bundle, which included a calming hair wrap, a small guided journal, and access to an online breathing space—filled with meditations, music, and affirmations. Her brand was now not only styling heads but soothing hearts.
Preslee’s journey reached new heights when she hosted a Twista Fest, a one-day empowerment pop-up where music, dance, styling sessions, and confidence-building workshops came together. Local artists performed, speakers shared their startup stories, and every attendee received a “Twista Token”—a charm symbolizing the dream they promised themselves they’d chase.
With every new collection, campaign, and cause, Preslee showed the world something profound: that even the smallest ideas can create the biggest waves, that a teenage girl with a sewing machine can change the way thousands of others see themselves, and that success isn’t just about sales—it’s about soul.
She often says, “If you have an idea tugging at you like a loose strand—pull it. Follow it. Let it twist into something beautiful.”
