In a world obsessed with certainty and clarity, few people have the courage to embrace confusion as a guiding force. Giovanna Silvestre, author of “Confused Girl: Find Your Peace in the Chaos,” is one of those rare individuals who transformed her moments of greatest uncertainty into catalysts for profound personal growth and discovery. Her journey takes us from the high-pressure environment of Hollywood to the peaceful shores of Bali, showcasing how embracing confusion can lead to our most authentic path.
Photos Courtesy of Giovanna Silvestre
Giovanna’s story begins in San Luis Obispo, California, where she grew up working in her family’s Italian restaurant. With an Italian father and Irish-American mother, she developed strong people skills by interacting with hundreds of customers each night. These early experiences shaped her entrepreneurial spirit and ability to navigate diverse personalities—skills that would serve her well throughout her journey. After graduating from USC with a degree in international relations and global business, Giovanna found herself drawn to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, despite having no formal film education. The entertainment industry was, at that time, the “cool thing” to do in Los Angeles, offering networking opportunities and exciting parties with industry insiders.
However, the initial excitement of Hollywood quickly faded as Giovanna found herself living in a constant state of high stress and nervousness. The pressure to be perfect as an assistant, dealing with difficult bosses, and experiencing workplace sabotage took a significant toll on her mental health. Recognizing that this path wasn’t bringing her fulfillment, Giovanna made the difficult decision to leave Hollywood behind. This choice marked the beginning of her true journey of self-discovery—one that would eventually lead her to create the “Confused Girl in the City” brand that resonates with so many today.
After leaving Hollywood, Giovanna returned home to consider taking over her parents’ restaurant. For almost two years, she tried to make this work, feeling a sense of obligation as the child of an immigrant. However, the experience became increasingly toxic as she butted heads with her father and felt growing resentment. Eventually, Giovanna realized she wasn’t being true to herself and made the painful decision to walk away from the family business as well. This led to a period of depression as she returned to Los Angeles feeling like she had failed at multiple careers and disappointed her family.
The turning point came when Giovanna recognized that she had attached all her self-worth to external factors—her job in Hollywood, the potential of owning the restaurant, having a successful relationship. With characteristic discipline, she committed to fixing what was inside, turning to yoga, meditation, and gratitude practices to rebuild her sense of self. These practices eventually led to what Giovanna describes as a spiritual awakening—a moment when she woke up feeling an incredible natural high and a profound connection to the world around her. This experience fundamentally changed her perspective, elevating her baseline level of joy and inner peace to a level she had never before experienced. 
From this newfound clarity, Giovanna launched her “Confused Girl in the City” video blog, where she tried something new each week to discover her authentic interests and passions. These adventures—from bungee jumping to flying trapeze—taught her that confidence comes from putting yourself outside your comfort zone and knowing you can handle yourself. A chance meeting with a healer in Los Angeles sparked the inspiration for her crystal-inspired yoga clothing line, which she successfully sold around the world through grassroots marketing and social media outreach.
Eventually, Giovanna felt inspired to write a book about her journey. Seeking a change of environment to fuel her creativity, she made her business mobile and spent two years abroad—one year in Bali and another in Berlin. In Bali, she practiced yoga in open-air studios surrounded by jungle, and in Berlin, she challenged herself to endure a real winter, something she had never experienced growing up in California. These contrasting environments provided the perfect backdrop for completing her book, “Confused Girl: Find Your Peace in the Chaos,” which encapsulates the wisdom she gained throughout her journey.
