December issue 2016 by Afroelle Magazine

Dec - Jan Issue 2017

Celebrating Women of African Heritage

AFROELLE www.afroellemagazine.com

Berlange Presilus Fashion model, entrepreneur and Klippel Trenaunay Syndrome Warrior

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Afroelle Magazine is a monthly digital publication celebrating and empowering women of African heritage in Africa and the Diaspora. FOUNDER & EDITOR

Patricia Miswa PUBLISHER

Afroelle Media FOR SUBMISSIONS & GENERAL ENQUIRIES Afroellemedia@gmail.com

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Moiyattu B.

Ashley M.

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Philadelphia

South Africa

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aminatouray.com

girlsempowermentsummitsl.org

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CONTENTS

Dec - Jan Issue 9 Monthly Gift Guide 10 In Her Good Books â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Queen of Modern Times 14 My Body is Sexual 20 Spotlight On: Catherine Marion 22 In Conversation with Siedah Garrett 34 Focus on Sincerely Cosmetics 44 Get to know Prudence Nkosi + So much more

INSIDE POWER WOMEN 232: Balancing Work, Business and Life Pg. 36

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elcome to our December Issue. We’ve been on a break since July strategizing on a new way forward and it feels good to be back with a new issue.

On the cover of this issue is fashion model and entrepreneur Berlange Presilus who shares her journey as a Klippel Trenaunay Syndrome Warrior. From losing hope, to depression and almost giving up along the way, her story is one of courage and strength. In our books section, Wendi Zahibo talks to us about her coffee table book, Queen of Modern Times and how its encouraging black women to realize their beauty and the power of their culture. Nigerian-born, American raised sisters, Abby and Iviw Omoruyi share about empowering women of color to love and embrace their natural hair through their platform Catherine Marion. In the issue you’ll learn about actress Ciera Payton and her recently launched makeup line, Sincerely Cosmetics. From working in a swimwear shop to owning her own swimwear brand, 25 year old Prudence Nkosi, reveals the lessons she has learnt on her journey to creating ExoticSwimwear. Our contributing writer, Moiyattu Banya gets upclose and personal with a group of women professionals in Sierra Leone sharing tips on how to find that work and life balance and Ashley Makue writes about black women’s bodies being under inquiry. We’ve also put together our Holiday Gift Guide featuring amazing gift ideas for everyone on your list. Hope you enjoy this issue. Till next time, I leave you with the words of Megan Harper Nichols, ―When you start to feel like things should have been better this year, remember the mountains and valleys that got you here. They are not accidents and those moments weren't in vain. You are not the same. You have grown and you are growing. You are breathing, you are living. You are wrapped in endless, boundless grace and things will get better. There's more to you than yesterday.” Merry Christmas and a Happy 2017!

Founder and EIC 8

Wendie

ZAHIBO Bringing to Life Queens of Modern Times Abla Pokou, Aminatou de Zaria, Anna Zingha, Seh Dong Hong Beh, Nandi, Makeda, La mûlatresse Solitude, Yaa Asantewa and Ndaté Yalah, are all names of women who made history but are still unknown by the majority. That’s why 25 year old Wendi Zahibo created Queen of Modern Times (Reines Des Temps Modernes in French), a coffee table book reviving 10 African and Afro descent heroines through women of our time, our century, thanks to poetry, photography, graphic and fashion design. More than a book, Queen of Modern Times, is a piece of art, a mirror in which black women realize their

beauty and the power of their culture. To bring the book project to life, Wendi tried a crowd funding campaign in January, which unfortunately didn’t work out. She also approached publishers, but as an unknown writer and with the kind of project she wanted to pursue, they were not thrilled. Wendi and her team had to find another way to accomplish their goal and stay independent. They decided to pursue the project by themselves and with their available tools and resources. In this interview she talks more about the inspiration behind her book. 10

We all are Queens Of Modern Times from the moment we decide to assume our culture, to be proud of who we are, of what we look like and when we choose to fight for what is ours, for our dreams. Please introduce yourself and tell during a 4 month trip to Brazil in us a little bit about your book. 2014 at the end of my studies. I didn’t want to work immediately after school so thanks to some I’m an Afro Caribbean woman born money that I saved and the support in Marseille (South of France) but of my parents, I moved to Brazil in grew up in Guadeloupe (French order to discover a new country, West Indies) from the age of 3 to culture and language. 18 years old. Both of my parents The fact that I travelled alone was are from Africa - my father is from very inspiring and difficult at the Ivory Coast and my mom from same time. I arrived in a country Central Africa. At 18, I moved to where racial issues are really deep: France to study. I attended a business school in Bordeaux (South the representation of black people in the society, in the media, and the of France) where I obtained a master’s degree in Communication. politic countryside. And at the same time, I think it was the perfect Today, I work as a communication moment for me to step back and officer for a NGO here in Paris. In question what I want, my identity parallel, I’ve been working on and how I see my future as a young Reines Des Temps Modernes black woman evolving in this world. (Queens Of Modern Times) for one So my travels and my own and a half years. Writing for me is experiences as a black woman like therapy, a way to express my feelings, to externalize all the things inspired me to write Queens Of Modern Times. It’s what I needed that I have in me. I also like art, culture, travels and good food. So I when I was young in order to feel more confident and it’s still what I try to live a life according to who I need today in order to become the am and what I love. woman that I want to become. It’s a mirror in which you understand the What inspired you to write importance of knowing who you are Queens Of Modern Times? and how it’s important to understand your culture and wear it as a crown. The idea of the project was born 11

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

For me, all women are Queens. Some are aware, some are not but they all are powerful. Women need to be aware of their greatness, they need to feel confident, to live the life they dream. We all are Queens!

What inspired the title?

why is did you choose to do so?

The title is a way for me to make people understand that those heroines are not really dead, their spirits are still alive. Their spirit lives in each of us. The challenge is to understand that and to become aware of this history. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why, we all are Queens Of Modern Times, from the moment we decide to assume our culture, to be proud of who we are, of what we look like and when we choose to fight for what is ours, for our dreams.

The minute I decided to launch myself in this project and to write this book, this was the way I imagined it in my mind. I wanted the book to be at the image of the content: powerful, royal and precious. This is how I consider my culture and my heritage and I want to share it with the people in the exact same way. Moreover, I wanted to create something that young people will be able to appropriate to themselves, something really modern. It is a way to show that we can explain history in a modern and artistic way. There is something else

You describe your book as a piece of art and a special aspect of the book is that the cover is in wood with embossed and precut pages, 12

to know about Queens Of Modern Times, each version of the book is in 3 languages: French, English and Portuguese. It’s an international book, at the image of the African diaspora all around the world.

Who are some people who have helped with bringing this book project to life?

Sincerely, since I started this project I’ve met so many inspiring women. For me, all women are Queens. Some are aware, some are not but they all are powerful. Women need to be aware of their greatness, they need to feel confident, to live the life they dream. We all are Queens !

Where can readers pre-order the book? People can pre-order the book on the website : www.reinesdestempsmodernes.com

This question is important for me because this project would not have been what it is without the help of Who are some people you an amazing team. I had the chance consider Queens of our times or to meet some amazing people in your life ? during this journey and thanks to them, Reines Des Temps Modernes (Queens Of Modern Times) is what it My mom, aunts and grand mothers is. Especially, Yohan Pedre, my are my first Queens. There are lions, partner on the project who is a tigers. They fight, they fight hard in painter and graphic designer, Manu order to provide the best for their Dorlis, (photography), David Frechou children and I’m really proud to be (graphic designer), Miguel Charles surrounded by such strong and (photograph), Mathieu Party intelligent women. (business partner), Terence Pierrot There are some artists also who (web designer) or Sabrina Gamba really inspired me when I was a little (stylist). I want to thank them for girl like Lauryn Hill. When I was a their trust. As Edmund Lee said : little girl, I wanted to look like her. Surround yourself with the dreamers She was beautiful, she had and the doers, the believers and dreadlocks, she sang, she could rap, thinkers, but most of all, surround she was surrounded by men in her yourself with those who see band but she was as good as them. greatness within you, even when you Yes, she’s definitely a Queen for me. don’t see it yourself. I can also cite Erykah Badu who I really love.

My Body is Sexual WRITTEN By Ashley Makue The black woman’s body is red taped. We learn early that our bodies are not wholly acceptable. There are certain parts that we are required to hide away. We must tuck away the ―taboo‖ and cover up the ―sexual‖ at all costs. Before sex education, we already know to sit with our legs crossed – lest we sit like boys and ruin our honour. We must not play like boys – even when playing with boys, we must remember to cover up what they show uninhibitedly. The boy’s honour is not draped around their skin the way ours is – we must accept this and guard the templeness of our bodies against any contamination. We pay for our breath in pretty. Our beautiful feels incomplete because not enough people who look like us are called beautiful. And what does it matter to be pretty? As a black woman, it matters . We are pressured to fuss about looking too thin, or too voluptuous. We workout so that we are fit, but God forbid we get too fit – then, we worry that we look masculine. Our bodies are under inquiry. Over the years, we have watched black women’s bodies get probed in media; Beyoncé was too sexual in leotards, Lil Kim just didn’t put enough on, Nicki Minaj was fake, Angela Bassett, Viola Davis and Michelle Obama were too fit – all of this in the age of Miley Cyrus, Iggy Azelea, Kim Kardashian and Pink, who are hailed for their bodies. In recent events surrounding the championship of Olympian, Caster Semenya, the whole world offered its 2c on her body and what she should be allowed to do in it. A black girl’s glory is always under question. Whenever we shine our bodies are placed under a microscope – and even our beautiful is harmful under a harsh gaze. Tebogo Ramagaga (26), knows – first-hand – the experience of a body under gaze. Tebogo grew up slender and active. At twelve when her peers were still skipping rope and playing black maipatile, she was growing breasts and aging, rapidly. ―As soon as I got my breasts, I became a woman. I couldn’t walk to the shop without getting advances from men older 14

“ A black girl’s glory is always under question. Whenever we shine our bodies are placed under a microscope – and even our beautiful is harmful under a harsh gaze. “

than my elder sister. It was very traumatic. At first I would get anxious and embarrassed over it – after a few years it became normal. On an ordinary day, I would be harassed by several groups of men and that became some kind of backdrop – a background against which, I learned my body.

mother being asked to breastfeed in the toilet – instead of the restaurant where everyone else was eating. My breasts are a constant trigger. Sometimes when I touch them, I recall all the violent and hateful things that happened to me because I look the way I do. All the times men I considered friends have betrayed my trust, the times lovers have objectified me, and all the women who secretly blamed me for all the ugly things that I experienced. Surviving my body. I have learned how to single my body out from my soul. I am now able to hear my spirit outside my body. And that’s helpful – for me to remember that my body is just a home. And a beautiful home too. I listen to what my spirit needs from me mentally, physically and emotionally. When my spirit needs me to work out, I do that. I pray and eat and love when I need it. Sometimes my body needs me to lay low and be kinder. Sometimes my heart needs me to look at my breasts and cry out all the things I missed, all the things I endured and all the trouble I have seen – that is alright too.

Needless to say, I had a very warped relationship with my body. I spent a lot of time thinking about what it means to love myself – where this body is concerned, and how to remove the backcloth of all the men and women – who have treated my body badly. My nudity is different from a man’s. Apparently, women’s functional parts are different from men’s. Look at men’s breasts for example, what use are they? If anything was for show, wouldn’t it be their chests? I would ban that from day television if anything had to be X-rated – but men’s upper body nudity is completely above board. The breasts that feed babies are what is greyed out on media. My body is sexual. The whole world sexualizes our bodies. More so when your breast-size is 36 DD or E – depending on the mood of your chest. I remember being too young for all the things I found out about sex and sexuality. The interactions I had with men sexualized my body before sex education at school. Even though I am older now and understand sexuality in a broader way than I did as a teenager, I sometimes still battle with the distorted view of my body as purely sexual.

Surviving my body is about the truth of every moment, even when it is just sadness and loss. It is also about fighting to wear whatever I want to wear, when and how I want to wear it. It is about enjoying my sexuality, when and how I want to. It is about saying ―no‖ and saying ―yes‖ as and when I want to. It is about being beautiful for myself. ‖

Ashley Makue is a writer, poet and lover of arts based in South Africa. She is an active feminist and through her work with The Ladies Empowerment Organisation, Love Life and The Lebohang Mokoena Project she contributes to causes for educating African girls about their important and immovable place in the world.

I cannot recount how many men I have seen half naked men. But I can count the number of times I have worn a tank top and shorts. I remember all the comments and the stares. I remember being told that sex blew up my breasts. I was called promiscuous before I had sex for the first time. I remember my 15

Catherine Marion On empowering women of color to love and embrace their natural hair by Patricia M. Nigerian-born, American raised sisters, Abby and Iviw Omoruyi are the owners of CatherineMarion.com, a website catering to natural hair girls, offering a natural hair growth book focusing on type 4 hair, organic products and handmade protective style wigs. Together they share a desire to embrace and grow their hair in its natural texture using healthy products. 16

After studying Business Administration with a concentration in Finance at Northeastern University, Abby spent some time in Paris studying French, where she was exposed to a wider range of beauty enthusiasts that encouraged her to learn more about the hair and beauty industry. She moved to New York after college and worked in finance for a NYC commercial real estate firm. Bored with the financial industry, she discovered a love for blogging. It was then she decided to quit her job and pursue all of her dreams of entrepreneurship. Ivie on the other hand graduated from Temple University with a degree in Biology. After going natural in 2010, she started researching and accumulating information on growing out her natural hair, her goal being to grow it as healthy as possible. While researching, she discovered that because there was so much information available on growing and maintaining natural hair, it became difficult to commit to a certain regimen. Also, the products available were most times filled with sulfates and other ingredients that can be harmful for natural hair. After Ivie went natural, Abby was motivated to go natural too and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where their natural hair journey began. They got right to work in an attempt to gather up the most useful information they could find. It was then they decided to create their own homemade natural product line called â&#x20AC;&#x2022;Flower Child Curls.â&#x20AC;&#x2013; This gave them the ability to control exactly what they were putting into their hair, and made sure it was healthy and not harmful. In developing Flower Child Curls line of natural hair products, their goal was not just to make it natural, but to go 17

the step further and create products that actually incorporate the earth. ―We set out to replace the function of certain common harmful chemicals found in commercial products with natural earth based ingredients that can actually do the same work but at a significantly healthier capacity. Our clay shampoo uses its powerful negative charge to attract and clear away the positive charge of buildup, while not stripping the protective oil produced by the scalp, unlike harmful/drying sulfates. Soap berries (which come from the soap berry trees) release natural saponin (cleansing agent) and can also be found in the shampoo and conditioner. The conditioner also includes Moringa oil which is an amazing oil that increases hair health. Our Leave-in conditioner is infused with aloe vera and many

other ingredients that attracts just enough moisture into the hair. Lastly our oil is very similar to the natural oils released by the scalp, which means it will seal in moisture while creating the ideal environment your natural hair needs. Our goal was to create products specifically for Kinky hair girls like ourselves that are organic but also effective.‖ ―While experimenting with different ingredients we wanted to make sure that we were using earth based ingredients like clay, soap from real berries that grow from trees, aloe vera, etc. We find that our customers love using the products together and love the feel and health of their hair after this combined effort, but the shampoo is definitely a favorite. The brown color immediately strikes you that our products truly cleanse with the earth and the light mint smell is very therapeutic.‖ 18

follow.

The sisters have also published their first book, "Guide to growing Long natural hair" - a coffee table like natural hair book that combines and simplifies all of the true hair growth strategies and makes it all make sense in a fun and simple way. The book combines beautiful design elements of illustrations, graphics and creative photography with helpful information and detailed procedures to growing long natural hair. Instead of bits of information here and there, you will get a simplified guide that includes all the steps to growing long, healthy hair, including a 42 day calendar hair regimen for both short and long hair. They point out that the main objective with the book was to simplify the natural hair maintenance process while still giving a comprehensive understanding of what it entails. They also wanted to include an actual hair regimen calendar which incorporates all of our products and that any natural girl can

â&#x20AC;&#x2022;During the early stages of our natural hair journey, there was plenty of research involved and we underwent the task of doing as much research as possible into really understanding what it entails to have a healthy natural hair journey. Through this research we discovered many things, from the correct proteins to use to why many vitamins created for hair are not in the correct form that our body recognizes and many more. Also, we went through many different articles, books and experiments because the information was scattered and not cohesive, which was understandable because most articles or books would focus on one or a few aspects of natural hair. We saw how this process of understanding oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hair and discovering what exactly to do can be very confusing and exhausting for naturals who want all their information in one place and simplified. Every chapter in the book is aimed towards increasing their hair length and health and is best for Kinky Girls (4A, 4B, and 4C hair). â&#x20AC;&#x2022; Find out more at CatherineMarion.com 19

PRESILUS At an early age Berlange Presilus pictured herself as a super model. She began to live that dream by making the church walkway and the routes to school her runway. Moving from Haiti to the United States at the age of 12 enabled her to dream on with greater aspirations of making her dreams come true. But being with Klippel Trenaunay Syndrome (KTS) - a rare syndrome that affects the development of blood vessels, soft tissues and bones, also caused her a lot of worry. Despite this, Berlange has been able to achieve her dreams. As a fashion model she has modeled on the Samasung Galaxy S5 commercial, Babies R Us, Johnny Walker commercial, Mac cosmetics, Toronto Fashion week and other international shows. Berlange is determined to show the world that beauty is beyond what the eyes can see and she shares her story to raise awareness about KTS and to encourage others to believe in their beauty, inner courage and strength.

From the Beginning ―The one thing I once considered my biggest flaw and a life curse, is the very thing that I now realize has set me apart from others and one of my greatest blessings. I was born with KTS (Klippel Tranaunay Syndrome) on my right leg. KTS is a rare syndrome/ condition that affects the development of blood vessels, soft tissues and bones. This disorder has three different characteristics; a red birthmark called port-wine stain, vein malformation which affects the limb and an abnormal overgrowth of soft tissues and bones. Unimaginably, I suffer from all three characteristics and they are quite visible. This syndrome has caused me a lot of problems, stress, and insecurities.

of all that, I was fine with who I was and the life I lived. By the age of twelve, I moved to the U.S.A and it was then that I started to feel abnormal, inadequate and selfconscious. The uphill battle then began!

However, at an early age growing up in Haiti, my family knew something was noticeably different about me when I was an infant; my right leg was longer, bigger than my left leg a bit deformed. My right toes were a dark red colour, whereas my left toes were normal. As a toddler, I crawled and walked differently than a normal child would. Nevertheless, I was a happy baby. We thought the discolouration was just a birthmark and the abnormal overgrowth of my bones, soft tissues, and vein lumps were just extra skin fat. Regardless

I have always been tall, ―a toothpick‖ as most people called it. I was always in bright colors just because colours complemented my bubbly personality, there is no way anyone would’ve missed me! The finger pointing, the questions, the laughter and the teasing started early in middle school. To add fuel to this fire, my English was not up to par. In fact, I didn’t speak any. However, I understood the finger pointing and 22

worse; I was always low on energy, even when I wasn’t doing anything to expend my energy. I had severe migraines, almost every day, always tired, restless and paranoid (especially during the nights). Most of my nights were filled with pain and some I was just sleepless. I would wake up from sleep with a cold leg due to insufficient blood circulation and numb curled toes from the subsequent cramps. Other nights were spent sitting up on my bed just because I was too afraid that my heart would give in to the pain and stop working. Things got rocky, my pain got worse and my blood started to clot more often.

the laughter very well. I would cry most nights, but that didn’t help; I tried wearing long socks to cover the huge lump on the inner side of my right leg, but that didn’t help either. I became very stressed and depressed for the fact that nothing about me looked like anyone else at school. By the grace of God I made it through middle school and entered high school. What I didn’t know is that my leg would cause me far more pain than the hurtful words and actions from classmates, strangers and my other affiliates. My pain became

My parents became worried, so we started to seek doctors’ help but we were in disbelief that not one doctor was able to help; all of them were clueless about the syndrome. At that time, I was just tired of hearing the doctors telling me over and over that there wasn’t anything they could do to help. Yet, they suggested that I amputate the leg in order to eliminate the suffering caused by the pain and circulatory complications. I stopped going to my appointments and seeing new doctors completely. Nevertheless, I was drinking all sorts of different teas and oils, taking numerous pills as well as using several natural oils to massage my leg. There were times where I would be taking a shower and I would feel a sharp stabbing pain and consequentially feel weak, just to realize that I've been bleeding without any visible wounds. 23

Despite my medical situation; sleepless nights and restless days, I was able to hide my pain and stress through laughter and my love of fashion. Sometimes, I just felt like screaming and shouting. My pain can be so utterly horrific that I preferred hiding most times. I felt so disconnected and I didn't know how to explain what I was going through to people. Hence, I continued to feed into my state of depression.

later I had different open wounds with blood seeping through them. In the midst of all this, one thing that I never stopped doing was praying. I prayed, and prayed for my pain to go away, but it never did.

The Unknown

I went back into seeking medical help from another specialist. who broke the worst news to me, words that no one wants to ever hear, no matter how sick one could be. He said, "You will die before the age of 19â&#x20AC;&#x2013;

In 2005 at 16 years old, I made the choice to live a little, wanted to live, so I started to live, but that didn't last long. Two times in that year, I had a terrible blood clot in which I had to be rushed to the hospital, however, no helpful treatments were given because the doctors didn't know anything about my syndrome and what caused the blood-clots. I was hoping their referenced doctor would be great and helpful. Three weeks into seeing him for about 2-3 times weekly, I did some testing in which they all came out negative (which was a good thing). I also had some MRI scanning and X-rays done and everything was normal. Then unexpectedly, an unbearable pain struck once again. It was extraordinary and uncontrollable. This time I thought that was it, my leg turned purple and my veins were popping. The following day, parts of my leg got very lumpy and my skin slowly began to soften. Two days

I remembered smiling because it was a hard pill to swallow. I left believing that I will die in three yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; time. My world came crashing down because it had been confirmed that I was going to die soon from an unknown syndrome. I became more depressed, anxiety and insecurities had a greater effect on me in comparison to the actual physical pain. I battled with turbulent mood shifts and selfconsciousness. I became numb to my abilities as I was confused and aimless. I completely stopped wrestling with my inner-self and caring about not feeling or looking good, I stopped caring about life all together because I believed there was no purpose to fight for but, the internal battle continued. I often isolated myself in silence and became less courageous and more indifferent. I gave up fighting with my destiny because I was made to believe that I was going to lose the 24

fight anyways. In the midst of all that, I never talked to anyone else about my inner, but yet externally apparent struggle. I tried to always keep a smile in public, but slowly dying on the inside. New Start In 2007, I moved to Canada hoping to find great physicians. With all the anxiety, pain, curiosity and depression that were present, I wanted to have a new start. Fast forward, I turned 19 years old and guess what, I didn't die. Life started to look bright and hopeful, so it got better. History repeated itself and I could not get help. I went through several doctors, surgeons and dermatologists to no avail. Later on it was recommended that I seek help in Cuba, and it was there after very many years that a female doctor told me that I had Klippel Trenaunay Syndrome.

extremely hard. In 2013, my last semester was the hardest experience. I got to a point where I felt like I fought enough. I couldn't understand what was happening to me and this time I wanted to end my life once and for all. Honestly, I wanted to do myself and my parents a favour. I was determined to commit suicide and be freed from my chronic pain. One particular night I was in such severe pain that life itself was a burden. I remembered putting some clothes on and told my mom I'll be back. She wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t allow me to leave. She insisted that I tell her where I was going while I was in pain. I then broke down in tears and disclosed to her what I had planned. That night she prayed with me and she managed to get me to sleep. Choosing Life From then on, my life has gotten better in comparison to what it has been over the past 15 years. I still wear my compression stockings in order to keep my circulation going. My worst days are when I wake up with skin ulcers draining with nasty fluid. Those days, I would feel a sharp stab in my heart, and then my heart would skip a beat and continue to beat faster than normal. Some days I would mentally drift to an unknown fantasy world just to escape reality.

I was happy and relieved but I was sad at the same time. I was happy that I finally had a name for my sickness, however, I was sad that there isn't a cure and/or permanent treatment for it as per the doctors. Nevertheless, I left Cuba grateful and hopeful that the information gathered. In spite of everything, I tried my best to remain positive to a certain level. I fought and made the choice to attend college. The years were 25

Find the beauty in you and celebrate it. Make peace with yourself and enjoy who you are no matter what your circumstances are. ____________

Nonetheless, I am striving! In a way, I appreciate the battles as they have prepared me to face life's difficulties that have come to pass and feel ready to encounter each tough step onward. I still get complications as there isn’t any cure for KTS, but, life is meant to

be lived, so I am living the best way I know how. Life hasn’t been easy, especially being in the fashion industry. When I didn’t deny myself of opportunities (due to my perception of self), they denied me because I was not seen as their ―ideal beauty‖ (due to my syndrome). 26

as spark your inner fire. You are different and that’s OK! Be willing to stand firm and strong in your self-belief and self-worth. It’s a major damage to ourselves when we view our self-worth through the lenses of other people. The power and ability for us to see the amazing beings that we truly are is the greatest gift we can give to ourselves. The sooner you realize that you have the power to establish your own value and set yourself free of outer negative influences, the sooner you will start living the life you deserve to live. Only you have the power and ability to evaluate your self-worth. You have the power and ability to live your life the best way possible. You have to do what’s best for you. Reach and understand your greatness, be phenomenal.

However, I kept trying anyways. I released my fears and self-doubt and then things began to look up. If you’re not tested, you will not have any testimony. It’s very easy to shield ourselves with pity when we feel inadequate. However, it’s imperative to understand that the whole world is inside of you, in your perception. Only you can chase your dreams as well 27

Find the beauty in you and celebrate it. Make peace with yourself and enjoy who you are no matter what your circumstances are. You are enough. Read more about Berlange’s journey on her blog www.bellenge.com/blog

Tamara J. Archer Life by Her Design

By Patricia M.

“It’s very rewarding to be able to do what I love, and make other people happy in the process. Great interior design can drastically improve your quality of life by evoking positive emotions through things like moodenhancing use of color, therapeutic lighting, and art. To me, it’s like magic. “

orn and raised in Brooklyn, NY with Caribbean roots, interior designer, Tamara Archer remembers being Five when she discovered the love of interior design, before she even understood what the concept of interior design was.

Contemporary Coastal Living Room

―One day, my mother surprised me with a new bedroom, complete with a Strawberry Shortcake themed canopy bedroom set and accessories. It was the most beautiful room and I remember how happy it made me feel.‖

Tropical Dining Room

Ever since that day, Tamara knew she wanted to feel that way whenever she walked into a room. As a teenager, Tamara would spend hours arranging and re-arranging her bedroom. Even though décor was important to her, she also understood how essential space planning and functionality was. ―I was still unaware at the time that interior design was even a ―thing‖, or a career choice for that matter. I was extremely fortunate to be able to experience the best of both worlds.‖ She adds. In New York, she started her career working in advertising, which she found exciting because of her love 29

for energetic and creative environments However, Tamara knew it wasn’t her calling so she went back to school to pursue a bachelor’s degree in interior design and later, a master’s degree in design management. ―10 years ago, I moved to Miami, FL where I began building my clientele.‖ She says. Inspired by the tropical and urban landscape of the city, she continued honing her skills and cultivating her personal design aesthetic. A year ago, ready for another change, she and her family moved to the Tampa Bay area where she re-launched my business, T. Archer Design.

Industrial Eclectic Family Room T. Archer Design provides a full range of interior design services, from single room to multi-tiered projects. Their niche is eclectic style rooted in holistic design, creating uplifting environments that are a reflection of the client’s vision and style. As a designer Tamara helps clients tell their own story by articulating their taste and style through her designs. She describes her distinctive style as an eclectic blend of classic with contemporary, old with new, and east with west in fresh exciting ways. Tamara attributes her design aesthetic to different cultures, customs, her travels, and nature. ―Exotic flair with an urban edge is my approach to creating beautiful timeless interiors. I believe style isn’t just about what

you wear—your home should be a reflection of your individuality and selfexpression.‖ When it comes to major influences to her work she mentions her parents inspiring her eclectic design style. ―My mom always had a flare for mixing and matching furniture and patterns. She had an innate talent for curating our home, and would allow me to select furniture, carpeting, and décor for my bedroom. As a student, my dad studied in China, Paris, and Hawaii so he developed a very worldly sense of style. I was constantly fascinated by the different cultural influences around our home like African art, exotic wood tables, and Oriental rugs.‖

www.tarcherdesign.com

Sincerely Cosmetics

Photography & Interview by Amina Touray

many women who have sensitive skin just like her. She began teaching herself how to make homemade lipsticks and lip balms. Whenever she wanted to add a pop of lip color for her red carpet appearances, she would whip out her homemade product. Soon friends and family started inquiring about the unique lip shades Ciera would wear. After creating a few samples to give out, Ciera found herself catering to the demands of her female friends, "we want to buy some more!" This led to the creation of Sincerely Cosmetics.

Being a ten-year Hollywood veteran , actress Ciera Payton started her cosmetic line, Sincerely Cosmetics after several unfortunate experiences in the make-up room chairs that left her with swollen lips and unflattering rashes on her face. Ciera found it particularly important to be aware of the cosmetic products that wouldn’t harm or irritate her sensitive skin. Her personal research led her to the discovery that many of today’s most popular cosmetic products are made with harsh chemicals and toxic dyes that cause allergic reactions to

In summer of 2016, Ciera launched her line debuting 12 exclusive shades with specialized ingredients that are safe and natural enough for daily wear! She talked to Amina Touray about what it takes to start a cosmetics brand and what she’s learnt in the process. Amina Touray: Tell us more about your make up line? Ciera Payton: Sincerely Cosmetics has been years in the making. Ever since I was a teenager, I discovered I can’t wear all of the cool and in style lipsticks that most women flock to, simply because I’m allergic to them. So I’d always opt for a sheer lip gloss or Vaseline. However I loved the way my lips would look in bright vibrant colors and found it quite frustrating that I couldn’t wear them. So I began a trial and error to find out which ones I could wear and not wear.

My search disappointed me even more. And on top of that I kept having to go to the Emergency Room or urgent rooms to get steroid shots after enduring the horror of the big swollen lip due to my allergic reaction. That led me to search and inquire, what in the world is in lipstick that is causing this reaction.

and we never compromise on quality. Our pigments are bright and vibrant. The long lasting colors glide on smoothly. Our Shea butters and avocado oils leaves a nice comforting scent as you wear our shades throughout the day. We are the healthy alternative for the naturally beautiful Queens! AT: You are a one-woman show. What are some of the challenges you have faced so far?

My curiosity brought me to discovering all of the number of ingredients found in our cosmetics that are just harsh! I even took an allergy test and found out the ones that don’t work for me. So I wanted to set out and create a lipstick that I could wear. I would stay up late in my kitchen with my beeswax, crushed beet powder, crushed roses, and Shea butter, mixing and molding. Finally, I found something that worked for me that could wear to auditions and wear on set!

CP: My challenges have been really to find the strength to trust myself and my decisions. For a while I was going through a number of logo designers and relying on friends and family to give me their opinion of the name or the packaging. Finally, I had to stop and taking on everyone’s different opinions and just trust my gut. And so I did. Another big challenge and lesson I’ve learned, was to know the right time to go. I did myself a disservice in launching the line in the summer. I was in the midst of running my other business and balancing a number of projects, so launching during that time, a lot of things fell through the cracks. I wasn’t able to give my full focus and attention to everything at the time it needed. So timing is always key in all that you do. I’m glad I learned that lesson now!

Family members and girlfriends started inquiring about my lip color and I would proudly say, ―I made it!‖ Soon I began selling them and then took the leap to branch out and create a brand! It’s been quite a journey but I’m so glad that I did! Cosmetics are free of preservatives and unnatural, synthetic ingredients. We are a cruelty-free cosmetic company; we do not test on animals and all of our products are mineral based. Our products are hypo-allergenic

AT: How do you just start your own makeup line ?

CP: After figuring a formula that worked for me, I had to seek out packaging and branding. Again, I spent lots of money and lots of time debating on the name, the logo, the packaging. Then I had to seek out a manufacturer to help take the weight off of me making these lipsticks out of my kitchen. It was a lot of work and took me about two years to finally get to a stage where I was comfortable to announce the official brand. I’m still learning and I’m sure I’ll be revamping throughout the coming years. It’s not easy, but as long as you are passionate about it you can stay at it. Since I’ve launched, I’ve experienced moments of high sales and moments of disappointing sales. I just love seeing the orders come in and women sharing their pictures to with me in my lipstick! That’s what keeps me going when I’m unsure or I when I may doubt myself. It’s fun and it is such a pleasure to serve all women of all races and shades! AT: Currently you are only making lipsticks. Do you plan on expanding your line and create more products in the future?

CP: A classic red is always key! I sell a beautiful color that I call Woo . It’s such a sexy red that seems to work on all skin tones. What I LOVE about it is, it has a matte look but is rich with moisturizer so your lips won’t dry out. Red seems to be the go to color and it just looks beautiful on the modern day Queens! AT: What is your life’s mission? CP: My life mission in the all of the work that I do, is to give back. I wouldn’t be where I am now if I didn’t receive the guidance and mentorship from people I’ve met along my journey. So it is with that I’ve made it my mission to set Sincerely Cosmetics as a social enterprise. I want my customers to know that with a every purchase a portion of the proceeds go towards arts-based programs that serve youth living in underserved communities. One of our biggest proponents of this venture are the students of Casa Esperanza Blythe Street. This summer SCP Cosmetics was able to give some funds to help support the arts-based education.

CP: Yes I will be expanding beginning in the Spring. I can’t wait to debut my liquid lipsticks, lip-glosses and eye Sincerely Cosmetics is available shadows. I want to perfect the for purchase online at formula and packaging first. I anticipate those to be launched in the www.sincerelycierapayton.com Spring of 2017, so stay tuned!! AT: Is there any lipstick color that always seem to work on everyone? 37

Self Care Check-in with

POWER WOMEN 232: Balancing Work, Business and Life INTERVIEW BY Moiyattu Banya ll over Africa women are taking the entrepreneurial landscape by storm. If there is one sector I would say is promising for women to make strides and reach gender equity I believe it is entrepreneurship. This trend is no different in West Africa particularly in Sierra Leone. Over the past decade there has been an increase in women breaking into various business sectors and exceling at their careers as well as businesses. One of the critical supports women need when building their start ups are networks, mentorships and resources. In Sierra Leone young women have found a way to support each other through the development of a professional network.

Power Women 232 is a network of women professionals in Sierra Leone. The network aims to create an ecosystem of professional and entrepreneurial women who promote career advancement and leadership 38

development. The network aims to meet this mandate through the provision of opportunities for networking, support, social events, and community service. The network consists of business women who are event planners, day care owners. Some of the women also own logistics and courier services, beauty salons, fishery companies, pharmacies etc. As women build their businesses it is just as critical for them to balance their work and life balance for them to grow and develop wholistically. I had the opportunity to speak with some of the ladies of the organization of how they incorporate self care and work life balance into their busy lives. >>>

Asmaa JAMES is award winning female radio broadcaster with over 14 years of broadcast experience in post conflict Sierra Leone. Her passion and interests include upholding and promoting independent media platforms, creating safe spaces for diverse voices, positions and interests, with the aim of promoting an active citizenry, and strengthening democratic governance. She is currently Station Manager of Radio Democracy an independent and civil society owned radio station that promote the ideals of open and transparent governance and contributing to universal access to information in Sierra Leone.

MOIYATTU BANYA: How do you balance work life balance? ASMAAA: As a broadcast journalist my daily schedule starts at 5am when I get up and prepare for work. As I prepare, I also get my two boys ready for school and we all drive to town discussing school work and activities, then drop them off. Once in my office I prepare to anchor one of the most listened to radio show, good morning Salone, then plan for the next day's radio program with staff and then focus on administrative and operational tasks. Work ends at 6pm and after I drive home to help kids with homework, catch up on school work, family dinner whilst continuing to work through phone calls and social media. As a mother and Wife, I like cooking and Saturdays are set aside for this with the help of the boys and my husband. After cooking, I take my boys to either the golf club because they play golf or take them to the beach for football. My 39

work as station manager is very demanding and have no weekends, I receive work phone calls, from staff, our radio technicians and the public even during weekends, because as a broadcast journalist there is always news out there and people trying to reach me. I also make time in my schedule for PowerWomen232 we often hold workshops, meetings or social events where we talk, challenge, and support one another. On Sundays, the family and I go to church and the rest of the day dedicated to visiting other family members in the city, a way to continue connecting with our larger family and friends. But as with Saturdays, I also receive work phone calls on Sundays as we go around visiting. All of this is possible because of a very supportive husband.

Ariana

OLUWALE Founder and Owner Narnia Daycare Ariana is the proprietress of Narnia, an early learning center which caters for children between the ages of 0- 3 years. Narnia prepares young minds at one of the most critical learning periods in their life equipping them with the knowledge, skills, values and confidence necessary to successfully adapt to an increasingly complex world. She believes that every child is born with genius potential that is waiting to be discovered. might end up being a tough day where we are focused on calming and relaxing them. It's at those times that I indulge myself in essential oils, a quick dab of peppermint, lavender or rosemary on my pressure points does the trick! My responsibilities include overseeing the ARIANA : I start my day administrative section plus following through at 4.30am with meditation and that management practices are in sync. I love prayer this sets the mood for a generating specialised activity plans on social productive work day. At 6 am I am awareness and emotional intelligence pathways on my way to Narnia Daycare to suit our local context, researching improved because we are open at 7:00am and strategies and implementing educational need to sanitise the toys, floor area activities with the toddlers. My favourite and sterilise the utensils. The first moments with me are reading a motivational clients sort of define the vibe of the novel, walking on the beach, watching the center, if the babies come in sunset and the waves hit the sand. grumpy for whatsoever reason it MB: Describe a typical work day and what are some of the self care activities you indulge in outside of and during work?

MB: How do you exhibit work life balance in your various businesses particularly with your employees? ALITTA: Striking that perfect work life balance has always been a challenge for ODSSA staff. The schedules of our clients are getting busier than ever before, which often causes our workers personal lives to suffer. However studies have shown that employees who have a positive work-life balance do a better job at work, so as a CEO I try to facilitate this balance because of it immense benefits to the individuals as well as the company.

Alitta ODSSA is a Recruitment and Hospitality Management Agency connecting trained personnel, goods and services to companies and other institutions in the public and private sectors. EatSmart delivers fresh and wholesome meals in the most convenient way possible to homes and offices at Lunchtime from their production kitchen.

At ODSSA these are some of the ways we try to achieve this balance without compromising productivity or efficiency. As a parent, I know childcare duties don’t always stop when you leave for work in the morning therefore at ODSAA we allow our employees at least some flexibility to care for the needs of their children. Our internal staff are allowed to take time off to pick up a sick child from school, the ability to see a child’s school play or attend end of year school event, attend PTA meetings, a flexible start/end time for parents who drop off or pick up their child from school. We allow a Flexible Schedule for employees who do not need to arrive at work in-person due to an emergency that requires them to work from home. ODSSA also has a policy of an unpaid time off for our external staff by sending a replacement to our client so there will not be a break of service. We are very considerate about our employees’ emergency family needs for example, we could offer unpaid leave for events such as helping care for a parent with a serious illness or extending maternity leave for a couple more months after the birth of a child. What you are assured of is a job after the crisis or events. I believe the best way to retain an awesome workforce is to serve the needs of your employees so that they can best serve your organization. With some simple tweaks, worklife balance can be sustained to meet the needs of staff and keep them employed. 41

Emma Fofanah is a seasoned business, management and development specialist and she resides in Sierra Leone. For the past five years, Ms. Fofanah has focused on developing an international focused career. She has lived and worked in six African countries and accumulated valuable work experiences in international development, private sector development; private equity; and small-and-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) advisory services. Currently, Ms. Fofanah is serving as a Project Manage at Airtel Sierra Leone; leading cross-functional telecommunications operations and cost MB: Why do you believe work life efficiency initiatives. balance is important and Give us your top 3 favorite places to relax and unwind with your sisters from Power Women 232 in Sierra Leone) conversation is about constructive feedback to each other on professional Emma: From a mother and young and social challenges we may encounter. professionalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perspective, it's a must to maintain work-life balance. Power Women Another favorite place to relax with the 232 are mothers, wives, entrepreneurs, ladies is our occasional house gatherings. and business/community leaders. We The energy in the room is contagious! It practice time management and amazes me to see the strength of our prioritization to maintain balance in individual personalities, and the manner fulfilling our professional and personal in which we are all able to vent, make commitments. decisions, and have funâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;with delicious homemade foods. These ladies are We all have busy lives, and face many special. You can see the genuine care to challenges, but we make time for each make a difference in changing our other and organizational initiatives. My narrative. first choice of places to relax with the Power Women 232 ladies is our Whatsapp Overall, there is never a dull moment group. The conversations on the group with Power Women 232; to achieve are typically funny, inspirational, and/or work-life balance is not an easy task. If supportive. I love the fact that we all have diverse viewpoints to contribute to current you are committed to your personal and professional growth, you have to master events debates. The best conversations balancing the important aspects of your are when we are provocative with each life. otherâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;these are the moments when our sisterly love comes out. Sometimes the 42

MB: What is a challenge you experienced in balancing work and life and how did you overcome that challenge? Roselynn: One of the challenges I experience is feeling overwhelmed. My solution is daily prayer and meditation. I used to find myself extremely overwhelmed with my goals for the day. I am pulled in various directions with my work in commercial real estate; My mentorship and leadership coaching, for which I am currently creating a master class for creative entrepreneurs; My board level commitments to SBTS Group and TrainingSol; my continued commitment to my own personal development â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I take classes and read up on personal development whenever possible, my personal commitments to my family and friends, which I constantly have to work harder and harder to ensure I stay connected to them. I hated feeling so overwhelmed by work I enjoyed.

Roselynn

Lewis

is part of founding executives SBTS Group and Training Sol, SBTS Group develops several enterprise solutions including a Biometric Registration Solution and an ERP for the national pension system. TrainingSol is the fastest growing instructor led and elearning school in Sierra Leone that provides IT and Business Skills Training.

I decided to create a more defined morning prayer session to start my day. I used to hurry up and pray so I could get to my day. I made it more deliberate. I started to take my time in the morning so I could really center myself and start my day feeling internally peaceful and purposeful. I also subscribed to a daily prayer email, so on a daily basis, one of the very first emails I read is a bible passage. I don't always get it right, but starting my day from a place of peace really helps me get through my day in a more productive and centered way. It could be starting with meditation or a moment of silence, what ever you believe. It really helps me be more balanced and get to my life's work.

Conversation with

Prudence

NKOSI

Founder of ExoticaSwimwear From working in a swimwear shop to owning her own swimwear brand, 25 year old Prudence Nkosi always knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur . In this interview she talks about the lessons sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s learned as an entrepreneur in the swimwear industry. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND HOW YOU STARTED YOUR SWIMWEAR BRAND.

to find a way to express my African culture here in Australia by doing something I like.

I was born in Paris to parents from Congo-Kinshasa and Angola. After completing my Bachelor in Marketing at the National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts, I decided to see the world and travel. I visited around 10 different countries or so and ended up in Sydney-Australia where I have been living for the past 3 years. I started my brand because I wanted 44

Australia is a sunny multicultural country where we always wear bikinis and go to the beach. From there, it was obvious to me that this was where I should promote the beautiful African prints from. So I started doing some research, got a job in a swimwear shop and built ExoticaSwimwear. I designed my first bikini, an Exotica two piece, then posted it on the website then did two more. I am now looking at doing beach

accessories.

to hold so I just hope that the positive response I have had since the beginning gets bigger.

WHAT INSPIRED THE NAME? I chose to call my brand Exotica because having not many African people in Australia compared to France or America, I am always considered here as an ―Exotic‖ woman from Africa. It is a really small community of us. So it is naturally that I called my brand ExoticaSwimwear. I also wanted the name to reflect the product ―colourful‖ ―exotic‖ ―print‖. WITH SOME OF THE PRINTS BEING AFRICA– INSPIRED, WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE TO YOUR SWIMWEAR LINE IN AUSTRALIA?   It has been a great success at the moment. I do have upcoming events

IN TERMS OF DESIGNS, WHERE DO YOU DRAW YOUR INSPIRATION FROM? Having no fashion background, I must say I was little bit nervous about which print and design I would make. When I got this job at the swimwear shop, I could clearly see what design, colour, prints and kind of bikini work and sell the best here. I try to get my inspiration from the trends. I look at blogs, read articles and I do surveys to directly know from my potential customers what they would like to wear. I can say I draw my inspiration from them as well. I ask them what they want

and try my best to match their expectations. WHAT'S YOUR DESIGN PROCESS FROM CONCEPTION TO HAVING THE FINAL PRODUCT? I have family in Congo-Kinshasa where I mostly get my prints from. I learnt how to do swimwear patterns, after designing I explain to my manufacturer exactly how I want them for her to be able to put together the final product. It is a pretty long process where I need to be specific and clear. When my sample is ready, I get potential customers to try them on before sending to production and have the final products. WHAT PART OF BUILDING / SOURCING MATERIALS FOR YOUR BRAND WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT? The most difficult part to me was starting. I just didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how and where to start. Should I first look for a name, or do the designs or look for the manufacturer? The organization was, 46

for me, the hardest and most confusing part of building my brand. I had the chance to be around people who already have successful businesses that could help me by giving me advice. As soon as I started, everything became more clear and organic. WHAT OTHER CHALLENGES DID YOU ENCOUNTER WHILE SETTING UP YOUR BRAND? Not being from the country and with a specific visa, I had some challenges building my business administratively. The paper work was heavy. Speaking French and not understanding 100% of everything made it even harder for me. I would also say finding a manufacturer that could make my bikinis with good quality. I had to change a few times before finding the one I liked and enjoyed working with. THIS SUMMER WE'VE SEEN MORE SWIMWEAR BRANDS LAUNCHING AFRICAN INSPIRED COLLECTIONS, WHAT CAN YOU SAY MAKES EXOTICA SWIMWEAR STAND OUT? My collection is not only

restricted to African inspired designs. The whole collection is more exotic than African I would say, so that everybody can find the right swimsuit according to their taste. I also design my bikini to match all different body shapes. A woman with any shape can find a bikini that is going to fit her in my collection. I cover from cup A to F, even more. I am also based in Australia, which is the country of beach and bikinis and there is no African inspired swimwear brand here yet. The last thing I would say is that my prices are cheaper than some of the other brands. However, the quality is still high. I want to make African inspired swimwear affordable for every woman.

Be informed on the swimwear market and the different competitors to see what is already out there. Do research, participate in fashion shows with swimwear brands, be creative and make your brand stand out One thing I would say is to always believe in you, start and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop!

WHAT ARE 3 MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS YOU'VE LEARNT AS AN ENTREPRENEUR? The most important lesson I have learnt as an entrepreneur is to be patient. The first two weeks of launching of my website, I was not happy with the sales I had made. But I forgot I was only out there for WHAT KIND OF WOMAN WEARS TWO WEEKS! By August I already EXOTICA SWIMWEAR? sold half of the stock I had and ExoticaSwimwear is for every type of made more designs, which was women. The working woman who amazing. I had bad weeks and good finally got an holiday and wants to weeks and during the bad ones I look sexy at the beach, the beautiful would be demotivated. I learnt to curvy woman who wants to wear never give up even during the bad something exotic without showing moments because they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t last too much, the woman who always go and are only there to help me to the beach and wants to try improve. something different and colourful, the woman who likes to show off her The last lesson I have learnt to body at the beach with a Brazilian accept my mistakes and turn them cut. ExoticaSwimwear is for women into lessons. I do everything myself that love their body, love their culture and embrace their shape with and have no associate with me. I had to learn many things on the job, color and joy. The ExoticaGirl wants so I made some mistakes, obviously. to have a swimwear of quality I hated being wrong or making without having to spend $200 on a mistakes, I now know that from bikini because it is African print. them I can really learn how to do better next time. WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO NEW ENTREPRENEURS ENTERING THE SWIMWEAR FIELD? 47

Vintage vibes

Photographer: Amina Touray Model: Tailah Bijan Makeup Artist: Niehla O