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‌On the Vibe of Style and Success
ioness Luxuries
Luxuries
Spring 2014
Rory Hacker, MBA, CIM Investment Advisor
To us there are no foreign markets.™
Whether you’re seeking security, freedom or control over your own destiny, Rory Hacker recognizes that each investor’s aspirations and priorities are unique. Serving as a personal CFO to his clients, he provides a high-level perspective and strategic guidance tailored to achieve desired objectives. Focused on your financial success
About Rory
For investors looking to enhance their wealth, Rory’s hands-on approach to investment management is deep value and contrarian — identifying out-of-favour markets, and investing incrementally at low prices. He often employs cost-efficient exchange-traded funds and minimizes risk by diversifying both within and across sectors. He also provides access to new issues and secondary offerings, leveraging Canaccord Genuity’s award-winning research to identify the most promising global opportunities.
Rory Hacker is an Investment Advisor at Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management with 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. Committed to meeting each investor’s unique requirements, Rory has a proven record both in selecting investments and creating all-encompassing wealth plans.
In addition, many clients take advantages of Rory’s expertise in wealth management — encompassing holistic wealth planning and insurance* advice — and his proven skill managing income portfolios. He adeptly coordinates his services with those of his clients’ other professional advisors, including accountants and lawyers. Rory offers comprehensive, personalized service designed to enable you to achieve your life goals.
Rory graduated with distinction from the University of Toronto with an Honours BA in Environmental Science. He went on to earn an MBA from York University’s Schulich School of Business. He is a Certified Investment Manager (CIM) and is securitiesand options-licensed in Ontario and Alberta. Rory has a deep interest in art and for the past five years has served on the board of directors for the State Hermitage Foundation of Canada, which connects emerging artists with masters in St. Petersburg, Russia, and brings collections from the State Hermitage Museum to art galleries in Canada. Married with two children, Rory recharges by keeping fit, skiing and playing tennis.
Rory Hacker, MBA, CIM Investment Advisor Brookfield Place 161 Bay Street, Suite 3000 Toronto, ON M5J 2S1 T: 416.869.7284 TF: 800.382.9280 E: rory.hacker@canaccord.com
*Offered by Canaccord Estate Planning Services Ltd.
canaccordgenuity.com
A DIVISION OF CANACCORD GENUITY CORP., MEMBER – CANADIAN INVESTOR PROTECTION FUND
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Contents 8
Paying It Forward Almas Jiwani: “F e M a L e» Feminine first, Mothers second and Leaders foremost.
10 Attitude Charm vs Charisma: do we need it and where do we get it? 12 Success Factory Simple Rules to Access Success
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14 Wines and Us Chablis – Your Sophisticated Choice 16 Modern Muses Salvador and Gala Dali: the rock ‘n’ roll couple of the painting world 18 Lioness Portraits Elizabeth Grant, the Woman of Passion and Power 20 In the Arts Loft Gustav Klimt: Love, Art and Women
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Contents
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ioness Luxuries
Spring 2014
Founder Jenny Katkova-Brown Editor-in-Chief Dasha Bosaya-Lazareva dasha@lionesswomansclub.com Director of Communications and Marketing Veronika Barbakadze media@lionesswomansclub.com
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Art Director Olga Petrova Contributors Nicole Ozerova, Teresa Morello, Monique Bourgeois, Anna Lobsanova, Margarita Bazilinsky Photography Artwork Alina Vorob, Liat Aharoni www.lionesswomansclub.com www.facebook.com/ lionesswomansclub All rights reserved.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Lioness Woman’s Club. For advertising, please call 416-661-4487 or email: media@lionesswomansclub.com Lioness Luxuries, Spring 2014
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Founder`s Letter
is no limit to success. Growing and developing, pushing forward, setting goal after goal, and always striving to reach for the stars… Success is a hardearned luxury, but one that infuses our life with a meaning, one that gives us a vector to move along. Style is another luxury of the utmost importance. I don’t know a single woman who can completely disregard fashion, style, elegance and beauty. It is in the very essence of our femininity, and I say, it is wonderful! Style defines who we are and gives us the freedom to express our spirit, to let our appearance reflect our inner beauty.
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And, of course, Loyalty. I sincerely believe that Loyalty is the foundation of a healthy relationship, whether personal or business; it is the guarantee of our personal stability and business success. It is about help and support. It is about connection and promotion. It is about mutual growth – and social change. Here at Lioness, we have come to a point when we are humbled to support noble causes in order to make a difference in the lives of girls and women around the world.
Dear Ladies and Friends!
e have never met on the pages of a magazine before. What you are holding in your hands is the very first issue of Lioness Luxuries, a quarterly print publication of Lioness Woman’s Club. Sharing the Lioness values and ideas through a traditional medium has been my dream for a very long time, and today my dream has come true! I thank you all for sharing this very special moment with us and for supporting our daring undertaking all the way!
Why Luxury, you may ask… because I have always felt that each of us needs a touch of luxury in our life. The greatest luxuries do not have a price tag. You can’t buy them, yet each and every one of them makes our life worthwhile. Among these luxuries is our health, the health of our children, true friendship… Love is a real luxury, no matter who we love and who loves us! Success is definitely a Luxury as well. It is one of the key Lioness values, and I am sure any modern business lady would agree with me that there
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I founded the Lioness Woman’s Club to offer busy modern women a place to foster professional and personal success, as well as indulge in all things feminine, talking about heels and dresses, marveling at the art masterpieces, enjoying each other’s company and indulging in the dynamics of an interesting sophisticated lifestyle.
To bring the values of the Club together in one feasible form, to embrace all these amazing things, we created Lioness Luxuries magazine. For each and every one of us to enjoy more luxury in our life. Have a nice read!
Warmly, Jenny Katkova-Brown Founder
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Dear Lioness!
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e are born to create. We are born to set our minds free and soar in the skies, exploring and pushing the boundaries of what we can and what we know. As we start on the journey, we all have that precious grain of creativity, the wildness of thought, the liberty to get inspired by anything and anyone… But as precious as this golden kernel is, it is very easy to lose or even give up. The daily routine we embrace for the sake of survival leaves little room for wild fantasy and adventure. We even strive to simplify our life and make it more convenient. Just to avoid the unnecessary hassle of going
Photo Credit: Liat Aharoni, www.liataharoni.com
s s e oi n r u L ux L Attitude Golden Lines:
«Creativity can be described as letting go of certainties»
s s e oi n L uxu
against the flow and not fitting in. As our to-do list grows, the key task “to create” is pushed further and further down.
~ Gail Sheehy
Creativity is like freedom. It is easy to lose; it is hard to win back. It takes a conscious, purposeful effort to set your imagination outside the box – where it truly belongs. It takes a fearless spirit to let go of conventional certainties and venture into the unknown. It is like fighting for your life, but when the battle is won, you get a brand new meaning to your existence. Dream! Get Inspired! Create!
Dasha Bosaya-Lazareva
Editor-in-Chief
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Paying It Forward
Almas Jiwani:
“F e M a L e» - Feminine first, Mothers second and Leaders foremost
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You are a worldwide recognized women’s leader, your words and deeds inspire not only women but people in general to move forward towards a world, where freedom and equality are not only abstract notions, but the fundamental elements of society. You say that the women’s empowerment movement is a collective action that begins with the power of one. And your work is a perfect proof that it really is. Why did you decide to dedicate your life to improve women’s conditions around the world?
AJ: When I immigrated to Canada from Africa in my early teens, I noticed that many communities had apathetic attitude towards women and did not allow them an environment for their intellectual and social growth. It was during these times, that I witnessed the work of Aga Khan IV to change this general disempowering attitude various communities held towards girls and women. I also realized the importance of making a difference in the lives of the underprivileged, alleviating poverty, and uplifting women in society. This realization inspired me to begin volunteering with initiatives to promote women
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Nicole Ozerova interviews Almas Jiwani, the President of UN Women Canada. and to advocate for their empowerment. I believe awareness follows a domino effect: it starts with one and, as inspiration spreads, it reaches individuals, communities and nations. Speech is a powerful thing, and I am happy to be able to speak at so many important events around the world to promote women’s empowerment and help foster a global positive attitude towards this goal.
Let me congratulate you on your being honoured with the Outstanding Women Leadership Achievement Award from the World Women Leadership Congress. What does it mean to you? AJ: Thank you. It is a great honour to be recognized in regards to my contributions towards social change, especially with the tremendous calibre of women leaders in the world today. I accept awards and accolades with hope that others will follow and be inspired to make a difference. This recognition not only stands as a symbol of the obstacles women have overcome, but also highlights the next benchmark we need to reach. There is a lot more to do in the short www.lionesswomansclub.com
and long terms. It is only when women are universally recognized as equal partners in all domains to their male counterparts that we will have truly achieved equality.
As the President of UN Women National Committee of Canada you do a lot to advocate gender equality and fight discrimination and violence against women worldwide. Do we still have serious gender equality issues in Canada? What can Canadian women do to solve those issues in Canada? AJ: The magnitude of disparity between sexes exists worldwide. Although it is easy to stereotype inequality to developing nations, it still exists in North America, including Canada. We hold many advantages, such as possessing more economic and political stability compared to various developing nations, and as a result we have been able to make comparatively more progress towards achieving gender equality. One of UN Women’s goals is to accelerate this process and close this gender gap. When more women work, economies grow. If women’s paid employment rates were raised to that of
men’s, the U.S. GDP would be an estimated 9% higher. Hence, Canadian women need to remain cognizant of not only the struggles they have overcome through the development of this country, but also of societal problems that still hold them back. By striving for equality and by refusing to settle with sexist norms, more and more organizations continue to abide and adopt more rights for women. Canadian women can support UN Women’s mission to make gender equality a lived reality.
When you see someone doing things that others would consider almost impossible, it seems natural to ask, – How do you manage to do this? How do you make those impossible things possible? What is the secret? AJ: I have chosen to travel Robert Frost’s path “less traveled”. I also often use this quote in my speeches with regards to empowering women: Even if you’ve knocked on ten doors, don’t give up because the eleventh door may open for you. Persistence is key – that’s the secret. It is very difficult to accomplish anything without persistence. Networking is another key asset. In my
many travels, addressing many audiences and nations around the world, I often find other individuals with similar or complementary objectives to my own or to those of UN Women. This also provides me with a platform to raise awareness of UN Women’s programs worldwide, and on many occasions have helped to bridge the gap between different domains in economy to achieve gender equality.
You are a leader yourself and you meet and work with powerful leaders of all kinds and levels. In you opinion, is there any difference between men’s and women’s leadership? What do women leaders have that make them different though effective? AJ: I personally believe women are better risk-takers, and they are more willing to take the initiative to achieve results. Women have the ability to shatter the “glass ceiling.” A recent study by the Harvard Business Review revealed that women’s advantages are not at all confined to traditional women’s strengths. The facts show that at every level more women were rated by their peers, their bosses, their direct reports, and their other associates as better overall leaders than their male counterparts – and the higher the level, the wider that gap grows. Part of the reason for these results might be the constant pressure women are constantly under to prove their value to an organization or work harder than men to prove themselves. This
drive is what differentiates women’s and men’s leadership styles.
You will be a keynote speaker at the Lioness Woman’s Club Glam Gala on March 27, 2014, which is an opportunity for the Lioness members to meet a woman who makes a difference in the world. Lioness is all about empowering women by sharing inspiration and knowledge, supporting each other and building bridges between women who are successful in different spheres. Lioness also stands for style and success. What appeals to you in the Lioness philosophy? What resonates with you? AJ: The Lioness community is incredibly positive, generous, pro-active and participatory. These are the characteristics UN Women National Committee Canada is trying to foster in our worldwide initiatives for women’s empowerment. Lioness is a brand name for women to expand their knowledge on culture and lifestyle issues while effectively networking to expand their business and their brand. Likewise, this is a mindset of UN Women when trying to bridge the gap for women in developing nations, which I believe can be achieved through the promotion of education for girls. Education is a huge factor that will help women to reach closer to the level of parity compared to their male counterparts and enables women to defend themselves whether within a business setting, the domains of a household, or against sexual violence. www.lionesswomansclub.com
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Attitude
Charm vs Charisma: do we need it and where do we get it?
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by Jenny Katkova-Brown
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e all can recall meeting a woman who left an unforgettable impression in our memory. She was not necessarily beautiful, but definitely different from many others. She was hard to forget. We felt comfortable and welcome in her company, we wanted to prolong the moment of connection with her and that very special pleasant impact her presence has had on us.
one of the least understood personal qualities, charisma is the culminating point of personal magnetism and influence. It is a personal skill of making an unforgettable impression, inspiring loyalty, admiration and respect; it is a product of persistent and tireless work on creating our own image.
Who would not want to be one of those unforgettable women, who leave behind a trace of charm, warmth, and exclusivity? Who would not appreciate a compliment on their elegance, interpersonal skills, charisma?
* We begin with self-confidence and self-assurance. Only this absolute belief in ourselves, confidence and determination can impact the others, make them believe in us and what we do;
What makes us charming and what constitutes a charisma? Is it our appearance and natural beauty, or a very special skill of expressing ourselves that we possess? Are charm and charisma inborn qualities, or can we learn, develop and perfect these traits? Let us talk about it... Undoubtedly, charm is the quality that we can acquire in life. Charm is a skill of expressing ourselves in a positive and uplifting way. It is a touch of our smile that reaches out, that happy energy we ooze, that emotional appeal that makes others feel good in our company. Invisible at the first glance and
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So, if we are to find our charm and charisma, where do we start?
* That very empathy that we always value in others towards us, the ability and desire to listen and understand the counterpart is an ingredient trait of a charismatic woman. Look into the eyes of your vis-a-vis ` and start building a relationship based on trust; * Feminine, friendly, charismatic woman has excellent manners, a mastered skill of style and elegance, presenting herself with dignity and warmth; * Our knowledge and intelligence, competency, ability to keep up the conversation and to be an engaged listener makes us captivating and attractive; * The quality of communicating on a powerful and emotional level, our ef-
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fective vocabulary, ability to reach out to the listeners makes us even more special; * Our open smile always charms and makes those around us feel special. Whatever we call this quality charisma or charm - the benefit will be immeasurable! Accompanied by a compliment “She is charming” or “She is charismatic” - the return will be immense. It will open new doors and take you places, expanding your circles, creating new opportunities, and – most importantly – will make you feel great about yourself! We are the masterpiece of our own creation!
«Charisma is a sparkle in people that money can’t buy. It’s an invisible energy with visible effects» Marianne Williamson
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Success Factory
Simple Rules to Access Success
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by Teresa Morello
e it success at home, at work, in relationship, the key to unlock your success is pretty simple. But the grand change is possible only once you start with the right mindset. First, begin with the “Time is Now” attitude and try to never have the “Someday Syndrome”. Today is the time to begin. Tomorrow never comes, and the road to someday always leads to nowhere. Start by listing all your achievements, all the good things that have happened to you, the names of new people who have come into your life, and the things that you are grateful for. And each time you feel unmotivated, refer back to these statements and remind yourself of the exact reasons behind your motivation for success and why it is that you need to take another step towards achieving your goal for success. Please note that beginning the process with a clear healthy mindset is crucial. It may seem easy, but in fact a healthy mindset may be difficult for many. It is that place where you choose NOT to visualize yourself as a victim of circumstances. It is that place where you take responsibility for your own situation and effectively improve your life.
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Not only you should take ownership of the challenges before you, but always have this healthy mindset and make the right choices (which almost always seem to be not easy choices). The right choice will become clear only when you have a healthy mindset.
And then ask - why do you want it? Are these goals the things that will serve you well? Will these goals help you achieve a more fulfilling life? You must understand why you want to achieve these goals, because the purpose is your ultimate motivation to achieve your goal.
Next, optimize the use of your time. Distractions are the greatest hindrance on your way to success. By choosing to use your time efficiently, you open yourself to a more disciplined and focused you.
The process is fairly simple, but do take enough time to be thoughtful in your planning.
A rule to live by: if distracted, remember to immediately return to what you were doing. Snap back to the task at hand the moment you notice you are distracted. This is a muscle you have to work on to ultimately be distraction-free. Then, you need to have a clear vision of success and to understand what it means for you. Begin by asking yourself specifically, “What do I want?” Ask this question under each of the following Life Categories: Environment Health Family Friends Career Finance Spirituality
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When the goals are set up, figure out the necessary action steps that you are committed to take in order to achieve each goal.
Make sure you include action steps that you can do Right Now that will get you on your way. Doing something now – or within the next 24 hours – will not only create instant momentum for you, but will give you a sense of completion and achievement, which positively reinforces your healthy mindset, and you will find yourself easily on your way to achieving your goals.
So, in order to achieve success, start with the right mindset, set up your goals and follow your plan, remembering not to be a time-waster, and know that you are not superhuman and may have setbacks. Revisit your achievement list to remind yourself of the rationale behind your motivation to succeed! Good Luck!
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Wines and Us
Chablis - Your Sophisticated Choice
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by Margarita Bazilinsky
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f you didn’t have the opportunity to spend your last vacation by the sea, I suggest purchasing a bottle of Chablis to remind you of what you have missed. You will be instantly exposed to the bright aromas of a salty breeze and citrus , similar to a Mojito cocktail. You will also notice a light golden colour and subtle elegance typical to French wines. Chablis is not your regular wine - it is first and foremost a statement of style and class. This classic dry wine originates from the very North of Burgundy, where Chardonnay grapes grow on steep hills and where limestone soil is rich with fossils, especially oysters. A long time ago, there was a sea where vineyards are today. There are four different types of Chablis, and each is used for different occasions. Petit Chablis can be
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an excellent aperitif. This light and lovely wine should be consumed very young, one to two years after bottling. This wine is great in informal casual settings. The next type, simply named Chablis, is best served at the age of two to four years. Keep a few bottles in your fridge to serve when friends drop by. This wine is seductive with subtle fruit aromas and hints of mineral. Chablis is a perfect match for a variety of seafood, green salad and white fish. It is great for a casual dinner outside or a picnic. If you have a wine cellar, the next two kinds of Chablis should definitely be there. The first one is Chablis Premier Cru. This elegant wine should be stored for 10-15 years. It will age gracefully and show interesting mineral tones, with a variety of nuanced
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flavours to impress sophisticated wine connoisseurs. This is a very safe choice and a statement of good taste, as well as your knowledge of wine. This kind should be matched with oysters on ice and complex seafood dishes. The most expensive Chablis Grand Cru is the most complicated and aromatic. It might be used for special occasions and could be cellared for 1015 years. The food match is similar to previous type of Chablis. Suggested Wines: *Domaine Des Malandes Vieilles Vignes Montmains Chablis 1er Cru 2007 * Domaine Christian Moreau Pere & Fils Les Clos Chablis Grand Cru 2006 * Bouchard P & F Petit Chablis * Alain Geoffroy Beauroy Chablis 2006
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modern muses
Salvador and Gala Dali:
the Rock ‘n’ Roll Couple of the Painting World!
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by Monique Bourgeois
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There was much more to Salvador Dali than first meets the eye… just like his paintings. Each look at his works reveals a new dimension not seen before. Oftentimes, he would masterfully use the shapes and objects in the main picture to create a secondary picture. In “Galatea of the Spheres”, the spheres create a portrait of his beloved Gala. A reflection of his own life, where at first you see his eccentric side, but lurking just beneath the surface is a pin-drop quiet observer, absorbing the intricacies of life around him. A powerful combination of qualities, which – when brought together – created some of the most acclaimed artwork ever made. Though not creatively inclined herself, Gala had almost a sixth sense for talent; it is easy to see why Dali’s work caught her attention instantly. Gala was not one to follow the crowd or to live by a rulebook, so the fact that she was married when she met Dali did not stop her. Gala was well-known within the surrealist community; somehow, she brought out the best in those she took interest in. When it came to Dali though, it was different. They were mutually awestruck, Gala –
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by Dali’s raw talent, and him – by Gala’s all-encompassing personality and looks. They were a perfect couple, in both business and pleasure, and fell for each other hard and fast, much to dismay of Dali’s father. Also named Salvador, Dali’s father didn’t approve of his son’s new love interest. The fact that Gala was ten years senior than Dali and a divorcee did not bode well for him. Their relationship already strained due to some of Dali’s controversial works. Unwilling to yield, at 25 years old, Dali was kicked out of the family home. Years passed before his father would finally come to accept their relationship. Unusual for that period in time, Dali and Gala met and moved in together within the same year 1929. It turned out to be a big year for Dali, as it was also the same year he became an official member of the Surrealist Society. Gala went full throttle doing everything and anything possible to allow Dali focus solely on his painting. They each knew their strengths and took full advantage of them. Dali let his imagination take over in his work, whether it was painting, writing or taking photos. Gala, on the
other hand, had a knack for business, especially when it came to publicity. Together, they believed the difference between goodness and greatness was publicity. Whether it was Dali presenting at the London International Surrealist Exhibition in a deep-sea diving suit, saying that he wanted to “plunge” deeply into the human mind, or when he smashed in the store window he designed, because the store owner changed the outfit the mannequin was wearing, the media ate it all up, making Dali one of the first household names ever. As Dali became more well-known, tension started brewing between Dali and Gala. Though she still loved him, she wasn’t used to being in tow instead of towing. She took refuge in one of her most notorious vices, sex. Though they always had an understanding between them that theirs was the primary relationship, they both had wandering eyes, especially Gala, who had an
unstoppable sexual appetite. She started courting young artists again, lavishing them with expensive gifts. To appease his wife, Dali designed a castle for her, which – by Gala’s rules – he was only allowed to visit with a written consent from her. It was this castle where she would host these young men, and in 1982, at 87 years old, it would become her final resting place. After Gala’s death, Dali basically gave up. He was already ill, and without Gala he became even more sick and lucid. It has been rumoured Dali attempted to commit suicide a couple times, once by dehydration and another by purposely setting his room on fire. Almost symbolically, on January 23, 1989, he died of heart failure. Leaving behind enough paintings to fill museums exclusively for his work and a legacy of intrigue that made him not only a practicing surrealist painter, but as Dali put it, Surrealism itself. www.lionesswomansclub.com
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Lioness Portraits
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Elizabeth Grant:
The Woman of Passion and Power
ioness Woman’s Club is honoured to present Ms. Elizabeth Grant with the Woman of Passion and Power Award. Ms. Grant is the most distinguished, elegant and ever young Lady, the Epitome of Style and Success, the founder and CEO of luxury skin care company Elizabeth Grant International. While it was most unusual for women to run companies in 1958, this amazing woman challenged the norm and dared to reach for the stars, when she launched her own skin care treatment line to share her miracle blend Torricelum™ with people everywhere. On the strength of her own determination and perseverance, Elizabeth evolved the company from a home-based business to a multi-million dollar global corporation. Ms. Elizabeth Grant shared her success and beauty secrets in the conversation with our journalist Nicole Ozerova.
Dear Elizabeth, once you said that you love the beauty industry and it keeps you on your toes. Why does the beauty industry appeal to you so much? EG: It makes women smile to feel beautiful and be the masters behind their own art. Women are always guided to what is on trend or in fashion, but every woman is an individual who is able to create her own reflection, and that’s something beautiful to me, to see a woman smile so genuine you know it is from the inside shining out. Because when you look good, you feel good.
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Estée Lauder used to say that in order to make a sale, you must touch the customer. What is your sales philosophy? EG: My philosophy is “I am you, and you are me” We are all consumers, and we all have the right to have an amazing product, not because of our status in life, but because we are important. As an individual, I want to feel like I matter too, and that’s my goal, to make sure my Torricelum™ Girls (and Torricelum™ Boys) realize they matter as a person, not as a dollar sign.
Besides successful international business, you possess amazing looks and style. If your dedication and restless work contributed to your business success, what is the key to your ageless beauty? EG: I have always believed that age does not matter, it is simply a mere number, it is how you feel that keeps you young and fresh. We have all lived through a lot (I am in my nineties, I know I sure have) and you have a choice, you either keep moving or you stand still. And life to me is too exciting to keep still.
In your book My Life - My Story you name some traits of your character: “I had enormous reserves of strength. I was passionate, well spoken, uniquely stylish, bold, and determined – and I owned a wry and bubbly sense of humour.” If you were to choose two most important qualities to live with, what would they be and why? EG: Determination and Humour. Why? Because without determination
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you will believe you cannot do something, and that’s wrong, because you can do anything if you have enough belief to keep pushing towards your goal. And Humour, because frankly life isn’t always a dream, but you have to laugh when you can, and remember a smile can change your whole world.
Developing business and promoting your products you need to be convincing. What helped you gain customer’s trust in your product? EG: I always believe in telling the truth, and as mentioned before, I am a consumer too – you can only fool someone once. So you tell the truth from the get-go, but I also have to believe in what I am selling.
Building your beauty empire you made a challenging journey through the world of business at times when it was exceptionally men’s territory. Have you ever happened to sacrifice your femininity to business? EG: I never tried to be masculine; in fact, I always found being a woman to be very helpful. It is a choice one has to make: am I equal or am I less because of my gender? I feel you are who you work towards to be, so if you want to be the best in the room – go for it.
What would you advise to those women who forsake their feminine looks and manners to fit in the world of business that is still very masculine? EG: There is an age-old adage: behind
every successful man is a woman, and behind every successful woman is herself. Don’t bother to compete with a man, he won’t compete with you, and more so he won’t like it. Be who you are, not who you think you should be. Not only will you be happier, but you won’t waste so much energy trying to be someone you are not; instead, you will have all that extra time and energy proving your worth and supporting who you are.
You created beauty products to help women preserve youth and beauty of their skin. But it seems you know a recipe to keep the spirit young as well. Could you please share the secret of your vitality with our readers? EG: I always find SOMETHING to laugh about each day and better yet, I always try to make others laugh, that’s my recipe. I find that adults don’t laugh enough and take life too seriously (taxes and bills have a way of taking the fun out of things). Children are always laughing, playing, having fun. It’s time to tap into your inner child and find a way to take life a little less seriously or even dare to daydream, because this is when life happens: when you take a step back and let the world happen.
You are an epitome of style and success. Please share your secret. EG: First off, thank you. Secondly, I don’t have a secret, I just had a dream of who I wanted to be when I was younger. I was influenced by the starlets of my day and my mother who was beautiful. There is an art in being a lady, and I have always believed that women are the strongest, most beautiful creatures around. You just have to embrace who you are, no matter what, set goals and walk with your head held up high. Because that’s life, you have choices of who to be, what to wear, how to act… and you have to decide if someone is going to choose for you, or you are going to choose for yourself. I decided a long time ago to always choose for myself and never apologize for who I am. www.lionesswomansclub.com
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In the Arts
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Gustav Klimt:
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Love, Art and Women by Anna Lobsanova
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any artists have endeavoured to express the beauty of romance. Gustav Klimt masterfully captured the power of romantic love in his famous painting The Kiss. Surrounded by a golden glow of love, the kiss of two figures in a passionate embrace seems to last forever. Painted with gold leaf and intricate ornamentation, it is a celebration of pleasure, joy and life. The work of Gustav Klimt is renowned for golden decoration, colourful patterns, spirals and swirls. Influenced by historic traditions such as the Egyptian, Minoan, Classical Greek and Byzantine styles, the art of Gustav Klimt reflects an eclectic range of symbols and designs. He was also inspired by the engravings of Albert Durer, the Japanese Rimpa School and Freudean
psychology. Gustav Klimt used symbols to convey psychological ideas, and his distinct symbolist style was part of the Art Nouveau movement. Gustav Klimt adored women; the female body was the main subject of his paintings, and he freely explored the sex appeal of feminine beauty. Many of his famous nudes such as Judith I and Danae are overtly erotic. The romantic artist had numerous affairs with women and models, and he fathered at least 14 children. Despite many relationships, Gustav Klimt’s lifelong companion was Emilie Floge. Born in Baumgarten, Austria in 1862 to an artistic family, Gustav Klimt spent most of his childhood in poverty, but his creative talent earned him a scholarship to the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts. He began a successful career painting murals and ceilings in public buildings, such as the Burgtheater in Vienna. For this work he was awarded the Golden Order of Merit from Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria. During his life, Gustav Klimt was a very popular artist; he was one of the founders and the president of the famous Vienna Secession group. Although the response to some of Gustav Klimt’s work was negative due to excessive sexuality of the paintings, his “golden phase”, a period where he extensively used gold leaf, was well received by the public. It is during this time that he painted The Kiss and Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, which was one of the highest priced artworks to be sold at an auction. Throughout his artistic career, Gustav
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Klimt enjoyed great fame and financial success. He once said about his art: “I have never painted a self-portrait. I am less interested in myself as a subject for a painting than I am in other people, above all women...There is nothing special about me. I am a painter who paints day after day from morning to night...Who ever wants to know something about me... ought to look carefully at my pictures.” There is no doubt that Gustav Klimt dedicated his love and art to women.
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Lioness Recommends
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Lioness Luxuries, Spring 2014
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