Maniera Magazine June 2012

Vol. 3 Issue 6

June 2012

Thelma Lay Taking it to the next Level

The

Women’s Issue Meet The Ladies Who inspire

Editor’s Note

I have had the great fortune of meeting some pretty amazing women throughout my life so far.

Each one of them unique, special and inspirational to me in her own way.

But the most important woman in my life is mom. She has been a driving a force in my life.

Always wanting me to be the best person that I can be no matter what I’m doing.

Let me tell you, raising three kids as a single parent is no small or easy feat. But she didn’t do it all alone. She had me.

At the tender age of seven, I became a second parent to my sister and brother, who are seven and nine years younger than I am respectfully.

I witnessed their first steps, potty trained them, did laundry, cleaned house and fulfilled many duties much like a homemaker would, while my mom worked to provide for us.

I played parent for them until I was 19. By that time, I had rejected all my college entrance acceptance letters to stay at home and help my mom care for my siblings with no hopes of any kind of future for myself in sight.

8 | Maniera | mymaniera.com

But something finally clicked. I had an epiphany. It was time for me to be selfish for once and do something for me.

So I moved from my beautiful Hawaii to live in California so I could attend school. I’m glad I did. I went to college where I studied journalism and went on to do freelance work for some small publications in San Francisco as a writer, photographer and layout artist.

My childhood was different and could be considered unfair but those experiences helped me become the woman I am now — independent, hardworking and caring.

The experiences in our lives are influenced by the people in them whether they are life lessons or a spark of inspiration to fuel our creativity.

So this month we celebrate the women in our lives who have inspired, motivated and influenced the world around us. The women who we love and care for. The women who make us go wow.

So ladies here is to you!

Got something you want to ask, say or suggest? All you have to do is send us a letter! Letters to the Editor can be sent to: editor@mymaniera.com

JUNE 2012

Assistant Editor’s Note

This issue is dedicated to the special and wonderful women in our Second Life®. This issue tells about a few of the remarkable people who inhabit cyberspace and who have two X chromosomes.

Two articles deal with the effects of disease on women. We profile two women who are living with cancer and explore the process of wellness and the supports found along the way.

One supportive activity is the Pretty Bald in Pink program that began in Second Life and is soon to move into the RL. Five articles look at women in Second Life who have found outlets for their energy and creativity. In the first story we look at an artist who creates immersive environments so that participants go inside art and vicariously inside the mind of the artist.

The second looks at how artistic expression can flow from one medium to another as a digital artist and photographer describes becoming a writer.

The next article examines a singer who found

10 | Maniera | mymaniera.com

her voice in Second Life and hence a medium to share the joys of music and rhythm.

Number four examines a photographer who expresses her noticeable uniqueness in a number of creative outlets.

Finally, the fifth article is a Maniera web, special profile of Metaverse TV and a woman who ingeniously provides the media to distribute the creativity of all the rest of us. Find it at http:// mymaniera.com The pictorial section features hair and makeup creations from four design houses, Urban Lutz, Loovus Dzevavor, Madrid Solo and Head Turners. Each of these Second Life businesses are owned and operated by women.

Maniera LLC. is going to be publishing two magazines in the future. A version for the real world called Maniera and a Second Life version called ManieraSL. As a way to introduce this evolutionary step our publisher Topaz Joubert describes how this metamorphosis came about and introduces us to her real life counterpart — Thelma Lay. Our usual columns also focus on the distaff side. Fashion Passion focuses on fundraising through shopping, Mani Style walks through some women-only entertainment options, and the Men’s Corner tells guys how to dress for an all important first date.

Finally, we conclude with the next installment from the NV Corsetry contest. The modern age has brought greater and greater equality between the sexes, but still a girl looks better in a corset than a guy. Some things never change.

With profound joy,

JUNE 2012

Editor in Chief Ji Nirvana

Writers Aphrodite Brianna Carey DeCuir Cierra Emor Deepthinker Oh Ji Nirvana Leah Portland LovelyMiwako7399 Menna Luc Fray Nisa Constantine Nox Deigan Sherrie Shepherd

Photographers Berto Firanelli Brie Pinazzo Dahriel Resident Eira Juliesse Estela Parx Falbala Fairey Florence Babenco Honey Bender Jax Aster Kynne Llewellyn Latrelly Flux LovelyMiwako7399 Menna Lybra Rage Manu Reggiane Natzuka Miliandrovic Pam Astonia Rabia Baxton Syra Hyun Valeria Endrizzi Zachary Zufreur

Business Publisher and CEO Topaz Joubert

Chief Operations Officer Aphrodite Brianna

Assistant Editor Deepthinker Oh

Read previous editions of Maniera Magazine online at: www.issuu.com/ maniera

Sita Writer

Layout Artists Elissiana Caproni Nox Deigan Ji Nirvana

Sales Director Mercede Kenin Maniera Magazine is a fashion and lifestyle publication owned, operated and published by Maniera LLC. Any views, opinions or interpretations expressed in columns are solely those of the author and do not represent those of Maniera LLC and its subsidiaries.

Maniera LLC will not accept any responsibility for any views, opinions or interpretations expressed in the pages of Maniera Magazine, MyManiera.com or other communications.

Editorial Inquries All editorial inquires including submissions, letters to the editor and ideas are to be sent to editor@mymaniera.com Business and advertising inquires All business inquires are to be sent to our chief operations officer at promotions@mymaniera.com All advertising inquires are to be sent to our sales director at advertising@mymaniera.com.

Second Life速 and Linden Lab are registered trademarks of Linden Research Inc and Maniera LLC is in no way affiliated or sponsored by the aformentioned party.

Visit Us in Second Life速 and Online In-World: http://slurl.com/secondlife/The Regis/156/172/22 Online: www.mymaniera.com.

Contents

June 2012 Volume 3 Issue 6

Features The New Writer

Anne Scarlette

The Sultry Crooner

Scarlette LaRoux

16 18

22

The Unique attention-getter Clem Velinov

30

The Virtual Artist

Bryn Oh

24

Overcoming the challenges of Cancer

Two amazing women share their stories of dealing with the disease and what they’ve done to live more positively.

On the cover Model: Thelma Lay Photo by Monica True Makeup by Alina Grechana Brows by YoYo Page 48

Regulars Editor’s Note Asst. Editor’s Note Fashion Passion Mani Style Men’s Corner

38

Beauty in all its simplicity

four female-owned 8 Featuring SL design houses 10 56 NV Corsetry 58 Contest 60

54

The writing landscape

Digital painter Anne Scarlette hopes to do more with her pen then draw

By Sita writer Photo by falbala fairey

I

magine being a writer.

Someone that is always fighting the demons and creatively weaving words to form an intricate basket of thoughts. Sometimes a writer is all emotion in their own mind — living by impulse, emotion and integrity.

In Second Life® we have many paths to choose and many ways to spend time.

Reesekylan Resident, better known as Anne Scarlette — her real name, wants to become a writer in real life. To do this she is transmogrifying Second Life into real life by writing a story about Second Life.

“I read a lot of books and watch a lot of movies and I am especially drawn to fantasy and things beyond the scope of our real life world,” said Scarlette. “SL has inspired many thoughts and emotions.”

For writing a story about Second Life, Scarlette has pulled from deep within herself as well as from films such as “The Black Swan,” which she found inspirational and uplifting. One of the most important things about writing is the response to life and how to tell a tale that will captivate the 16 | Maniera | mymaniera.com

audience.

“The theme of my SL story is a bit dark and gloomy,” she confides. “Not really gothic or something scary. It is a fictional story as well as psychological.”

There is a veritable tradition in composition and rhetoric that sees the process of writing as a series of decisions and choices. Writers usually ask themselves what are the criteria that govern their choices in regard to what to write and how will it relate to the subject, the speaker and the audience.

These intricate conversations writers have with themselves are the elemental building blocks of storytelling.

Scarlette also admits to some hesitations.

“I never really finish writing my stories as they continually evolve with my experiences,” she said. “I don't really know if I will ever publish any of my stories. I usually post them on my website just for fun because I don't think I will have enough time to finish them officially.”

Constantly creative, Scarlette also paints with photography, as she is an excellent digital painter.

Modestly, she admits, “I'm

still learning photography in RL, although I'm more focused on digital painting. RL photography has taught me about lightning, shadows, and angles which I use extensively in my SL photography.”

Scarlette’s digital paintings evoke a phantasmagorical world where Wikin, Bliken and Nod might dwell amid fairies, JUNE 2012

elves, witches and wizards.

“Fantasy of all kinds inspires me,” she said. “Sometimes I get ideas all by myself, sometimes I get inspirations from pictures on deviantart.”

DeviantArt is a place for people to come together to share, sell, create and discuss a variety of art forms. According to their website, DeviantArt JUNE 2012

is world’s largest online art community boasting over 220 million registered artists and art appreciators from over 190 countries. The site has over 100 million original works of art to explore with an audience of 12 million plus. The best part is that you can display your artwork to this community free of charge.

At the moment, Scarlette admits she isn’t focusing her energies in Second Life because she is channeling her energy into her digital painting and will continue to develop her craft.

Looking forward, perhaps we can expect an SL story illustrated with Scarlette’s evocative digital art. Time will tell. mymaniera.com | Maniera | 17

Scarlett Fever Southern jewel still going strong after nearly five years of entertaining across the metaverse

By Ji Nirvana Photo by falbala fairey

A

soft and familiar melody can be heard coming from the stage. The piano player gently taps the ivory keys to the tune of "The Nearness of You." After a few measures, a pair of soft red lips begins to sing "It's not the pale moon that excites me. That thrills and delights me. Oh no.

It's just the nearness of you."

As the song continues, couples take to the floor and begin to sway in time with the music.

Staring deep into each others eyes while more people start to arrive to listen to the voice of this remarkable woman.

Meet Scarlett LaRoux.

It was nearly five years ago back in October 2007, when she first took the stage at Catch a Falling Star where she sang her very first note in Second Life®. "I almost hyperventilated," LaRoux recalled of her first time on stage in Second Life.

"I had a horrible stream. So it was a little like real life with the sweaty palms and all. But now, I'm more comfortable with it."

LaRoux has sung at various venues including The Moulin

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Rouge, Jade’s Jazz Club and Smooth Jazz Club and Lounge.

Along the way, she has met many different types of people and made friends that have stuck with her over the years including Jerry Stinger her current manager and long time friend whom LaRoux likes to affectionately call the “Pit Boss.”

Stinger and LaRoux have been friends since day one.

Even while she is performing, they manage to have a great time. “It has been fun. Getting the crowd involved with her,” said Stinger. “Also seeing what it will take to make her laugh or giggle.”

This southern girl is downto-earth and loves to interact with crowd. LaRoux is always a lady even with hecklers. She never gets mean when she’s joking around.

“I give as good as I get … one of the rules of good manners is never mess with the person with the mic,” she said jokingly.

Music has always been a part of LaRoux's life. She grew up listening to music with her

grandmother, aunts and uncles.

But her love of music goes beyond what she hears. Both her father and sister sing. So it was a very natural fit for LaRoux to have strong roots in music because it’s in her blood.

For her, it all started at church. “My dad was singing in church with this singing group,” she recalled. “I jumped off the pew and ran up to where he was and started signing with him and shaking my booty. I was having fun but my mother was not amused.” Now she occasionally writes songs for the church youth and sings at special events. * * * LaRoux first heard about Second Life while listening to radio back in 2007. “I was listening to The Kim Komando Show and she mentioned Second Life. The first time I ignored it,” she said. “ The second time she said Microsoft and Cisco were hiring in-world and I wanted to see what it was all about.” The was just the beginning of a virtual journey that ultimately led to Second Life’s live entertainment community.

JUNE 2012

Performing is something LaRoux loves to do in Second Life and it would not be possible without the support from her friend and fans. “There is a group of people who you know are there to support you whether having a good show or a bad one,” she said. “There has always been a core group and I try to be there for them too as much as I can.”

She performs classic jazz and blues ballads as well as songs from the 70s, 80s, 90s and some more modern tracks too. In addition to her regular list of songs, occasionally LaRoux sings a couple of her original songs including “What About Next Year,” which was written for the Second Life machinima, “I Propose” and “Daddy Come Home,” a song written for the perspective of a child who’s father has gone to war.

A typical show for LaRoux is prepared ahead of time with a set song list but she doesn’t let that dictate how she performs.

She loves audience participation and allows the crowd to guide the mood because in the end she is there for them whether it’s to entertain or heal them through song.

But beyond just doing normal gigs at various venues, LaRoux is always looking for new opportunities to share her voice in Second Life. She has done performances for Relay for Life in-world and hopes to do some work with the Alzheimer’s groups on the grid JUNE 2012

as well, because she has been personally affected by the consequences of both diseases.

“I participate in those events because I’ve lost dear friends to that horrid disease,” said LaRoux of cancer. “I hope to work with Alzheimer’s groups in-world. My mom has the disease. It helps us understand the processes better I think. It also helps us be a part

of the community as a whole.”

Scarlett LaRoux is truly a remarkable woman with a heart of gold and great sense of humor. Be sure to catch one of her 6 p.m. SLT shows on Sundays at Scarlett’s Place or Wednesdays at Smooth Jazz Club and Lounge. For more information, videos and calendar visit her website: www. scarlettlaroux.com. mymaniera.com | Maniera | 19

A

ll great people need to have something that defines what they are all about. The film star Charlie Chaplin was best known for his character The Tramp. Marilyn Monroe ditched her dark locks and dyed her hair blonde. The incomparable David LaChapelle only needs his camera and a subject to create his masterpieces.

So how can a simple girl who possesses a very unique style and an alluring personality be one of the most incredible talents in Second Life®? Simple, her noticeable uniqueness.

Velinov was attracted to Second Life in 2009 by a family member who was already a resident.

“I was hooked immediately because it’s like Barbies 3.0 to me. I realized now that I have never stopped playing with dolls, the technology just advanced,” she said.

And like a lot of the residents, she discovered something that made Second Life special to her and that was the creative outlet she was needing to express anything she desired.

“I can do nearly anything,” she said excitedly. “Go anywhere.

Make anything. I love freedom.”

Velinov finds inspiration in nearly everything. “Lately, villains have been a great inspiration. I love villains,” she said.

Her photography began to garner attention when people started approaching her for work, but it was her profile picture that got her started.

“I just wanted a nice profile pic,” she said. “I still remember shooting it.” Like most artists Velinov started to improve and received more and more attention from people.

But Velinov’s talents are not limited to photography, she works for magazines, does special projects with other collaborators and makes poses under her brand Clemm.

“Poses and pics go hand in hand I think, so I thought, well why not just make my own?” she said. “Makes things a million times easier.”

But one may wonder, after all of this, what is she planning to do next?

“I am planning a million things. Will they all get done? Probably not,” said Velinov. “It is my hope that I get the Clemm mainstore back up. To learn Maya, so I can make stuff. To make more pics that are straight from the depths of my imagination — that one is very likely to happen. To continue doing my little column C L E M for the ‘Oh Boi! Magazine.’ But most importantly, my greatest hope is to find more synchros and eat more mango ice cream mochi.”

Velinov’s unique style combined with her incredible talent has led her from profile pictures to the pages of the Modavia Fashion Directory, “Oh Boi! Magazine” and other Second Life publications. She has new ideas flowing and the only thing we can do is wait for what this cute, adorable and unique personality will surprise us with next.

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JUNE 2012

Article and photos by LovelyMiwako7399 Menna

Can a digital identity like Bryn Oh succeed within the real world of flesh and blood artists?

I

mmersed in Art

By Deepthinker Oh Photos by Natzuka Miliandrovic Art follows many paths and at its ultimate destination art merges with life. Bryn Oh herself is an experiment to see if a digital character can succeed in real life.

“Bryn Oh is a metaverse artist who is meant to exist only online. She is a concept, a pixel character who inhabits the virtual world of Second Life®,” said Oh of her virtual self. “The idea is to see if a virtual identity can succeed within the real world of flesh and blood artists.”

Oh’s passion lies in building immersive environments within Second Life and then bringing that experience to people into real life. She does this by creating movies — more accurately called machinima — of her environments and displaying them at real life museums and galleries.

“Some really interesting things have happened with Bryn Oh despite being essentially a cartoon,” explains Oh. “Her work has been in movies and taught in universities, she was written about in “Vogue” magazine and has had exhibits in galleries. People are going to a real life gallery and speaking to flesh and blood artists about their work, but then they see artwork created by JUNE 2012

an anonymous, digital character, who lives on the Internet, and they find it bizarre but they accept it. I don’t know why but I find that really compelling.”

Her work process begins with inspiration from many sources.

“Some are tiny things like hearing a strange sound on the street and imagining what it would look like. Some come from authors like Philip Dick, China Meiville or artists like Georges DeLaTour, Edward Gorey and John Tenniel,” said Oh. “I will look under stones or dig up my back garden to find old keys and bottles. Most of my narratives are sort of like a warped diary. My family is not overly expressive so I began to use SL as a means to say certain things that I couldn’t express in my RL.” After inspiration, she turns to writing poetry to convey the emotion.

“It has the rare ability to feel like a fairy-tale and still feel accessible and relevant,” said The Looking Glass owner, Marcus Inkpen of her poetry. “Most fairy-tale imagery, as wonderful as it might be, has the effect of distancing the reader/ mymaniera.com | Maniera | 25

“

People are going to a real life gallery and speaking to flesh and blood artists about their work, but then they see artwork created by an anonymous digital character, who lives on the Internet, and they find it bizarre but they accept it. I don’t know why but I find that really compelling.

- Bryn Oh on her SL avatar’s success as an artist

viewer, but hers really grabs you and pulls you along for the ride.”

From the poem she sketches out ideas, plans the 3D environment and then builds it. The final environment evokes an emotion through “. . . ambient sound, interaction, machinima, color and composition,” said Oh. Oh’s style has the ability to get viewers completely lost in her narratives and the intricate details of her art said fellow artist Claudia222 Jewell.

“I liked ‘Anna’s Many Murders’ a lot. It was so playful and often made me giggle. It reminded me slightly of an Arthouse film with its tint of sinister humor, art and macabre,” said Jewell “Bryn teases us. The stories are all very different but at the same time they are deep and almost sad at times.”

One of Oh’s projects called “The Path” was an immersive environment with a sequential story. Nine artists each created a step in the narrative. Oh said this method is called an “exquisite corpse build.

26 | Maniera | mymaniera.com

“The first artist starts a narrative and passes it on the next artist who adds to it until it reaches the final artist,” said Oh. “The artists were Claudia222 Jewell, Rose Borchovski, Colin Fizgig, Marcus Inkpen, Douglas Story, Desdemona Enfield, Maya Paris and Scottius Polke.”

Along with eight new artists — Glyph Graves, Parammparam Papp, Alpha Auer, Oberon Onmura, Euplalinos Ugajin, Ux Hax, Romy Nayar and Ub Yifu — Oh has created a sequel, “Further Along the Path.”

Oh also has her own sim — Immersiva — to use as a workshop. The sim itself was originally given to her by Dusan Writer, who enjoyed the work she did and let her create freely.

After Writer left Second Life, Immersiva went offline but with the help from Selby Evans, Lovers Lane Studios and Entermeta. Real life film director Peter Greenaway also gave Oh six months tier to help bring Immersiva back online.

“In the exciting new arena of immersive art which offers

so much to the future of communications,” said Greenaway.

“Bryn Oh is an important, fascinating and innovative pioneer and should definitely be supported.”

Currently Oh is building a new immersive environment called “Virginia Alone.” This new project deals with a woman who lived alone in the Canadian woods and made voice recordings of all aspects of her life.

Visitors will explore Virginia’s property and home and listen to excerpts from her recordings.

This work was possible with the help of a grant from the Ontario Arts Council and will be shown at the Santa Fe International New Festival from June 22 - July 8. ”I am always impressed by both the technical qualities as well as the story-telling quality of Bryn’s work,” said Polke, a fellow artist and collaborator of Oh’s. “It is intricate and multi-layered. There is in fact a mechanical fairy tale feel to her works, that can be read on different levels.”

JUNE 2012

Anna’s Many Murders Visit this immersive installation

by Bryn Oh

JUNE 2012

mymaniera.com | Maniera | 27

Living With

Cancer

By Sherrie Shepherd Photos by Natzuka Miliandrovic

In Second Life® reality often breaks through with profound stories of experiences that are both heart wrenching and inspirational. It’s the pleasure and privilege of Maniera Magazine to introduce you to two remarkable women who have graciously offered to share their courageous stories as cancer survivors.

SALEENA

HAX

Saleena Hax is an accomplished SL model who has won many titles. Her warm and friendly personality comes through as she speaks about her modeling career.

“Modeling has been a rollercoaster of fun, friendships, hard work, hours of styling and some disappointments, but with every step I learn more about myself,” said Hax. “So modeling for me has been educational and a trip of self-discovery. I always feel I am not ‘quite there’ and it pushes me to keep going.”

Hax earned titles in several competitions including Virtual World Miss Ireland 2012 and

Saleena Hax faced breast cancer not once but twice and survived.

Miss Mohna Lisa Couture. She recalls how excited she was when she won her first title and how emotional she felt when she was named Miss Virtual World Miss Ireland.

She is more than just a Second Life, she is a survivor of cancer but it hasn’t been without its challenges especially with a recurrence of breast cancer.

“This is my second goaround. The first was my left

breast and I was truly terrified when I heard the doctor say ‘malignancy,” said Hax. “I stood there like I was in a firing line but I made it through and I have both my ‘girls’ and I was in remission for some time but then, the bad day came again. It happened when I found a lump during a self-exam . . . I had another malignancy.”

Hax feels self examinations are extremely important and

all women should check themselves regularly.

“At this point, I was just done, tired of it all, tired of the worrying, fretting, the chemo, the metallic taste that infected everything I ate. I was just done and then I hit stage 1B. I was more mad than anything else, enraged actually,” said Hax. “I never felt sorry for myself but I did let myself feel rage and anger. I did the chemo, I did

“

“Ironically, our very first show

was ‘Save The TaTa’s’ to

benefit the

“

Susan G. Komen

Foundation. Little did I know what was coming.”

- Giselle Temple

32 | Maniera | mymaniera.com

the biopsies, constantly getting poked and prodded and felt up, and I get Stage 1B? I was so angry. But then, as I saw the children’s’ faces in the cancer ward, I knew that if they can take it, then so can I and I threw myself completely into getting better. I changed my diet some, ate every four hours even if I wasn’t hungry so that I could start gaining weight back and I rested when I was tired.”

Hax said her family is always there to support and have been extremely patient with her because some days are good while others aren’t. But Hax’s biggest supporter is her mom who has her own room for when Hax needs some to help out on the bad days and thinks “everything can be solved with a bowl of her ‘Cure-All Stew.’”

But Hax doesn’t just rely on her mom and family for support.

“I do also get support from the Cancer Survivor group at the hospital and I do Skype with a few of the members there and we share stories and try to keep each other up,” said Hax. “I am all for talking about it, to hide from it is to give it power over you and I can’t have that. Nothing controls me, let alone some disease!”

The connections made in Second Life are just as important as those in one’s first life.

Among them are Hax’s partner Locked Semaphore and close friends Morgane Batista and Catlyn Sahara. She has many Second Life friends support her over the years, while there are

too many mention each one is important to her, Hax said.

Recently Hax was in the hospital for a minor unrelated cardiac incident and with the help of her best friend, information and updates on her condition were sent to Semaphore, Batista and Sahara.

“When I got home, I went into SL and there were all these notecards and IMs waiting for me, words of encouragement and love and strength and I felt as if I didn’t deserve all of that,” she said. “It was so amazing!

It really helped me to recover.

Even today when I feel down or tired, I read and re-read those wonderful sentiments and I keep going.”

Semaphore is an important person in her life. While it isn’t easy all the time, he does his best to be there when she needs him — listening, supporting and encouraging.

“It is an emotional roller coaster with good days and bad days. The worry that comes when your partner isn’t online at their normal time,” said Semaphore. “It’s about sacrifice and giving of yourself. As a partner of a cancer patient you often have to supply the positive energy into the relationship that your partner at times is unable to provide. So you make up the difference.”

But Hax isn’t always on the receiving end of help, she also gives back when she can.

“I volunteer at the hospital as a clown for the kids on Saturdays and sometimes I take my Boston Terrier, Gomez, as well,” JUNE 2012

Saleena Hax

Giselle Temple she said. “… to see them laugh and pet Gomez and to really engage and interact with you, that is what makes me feel better and it gives me encouragement that cancer’s time is near an end.”

Hax also gives back in Second Life. She gets involved in shows and events that focus on contributing to charities who JUNE 2012

work with real life organizations like Relay for Life and Wigs for Kids.

Despite all the suffering, fatigue and worrying about a recurrence, Hax is still an optimist.

“I am more self-aware than I ever have been. I am braver than I ever thought I would be.

It spurs me on to help others and to continue to help others,” she said. “It also really showed me the humanity in people from all over the world. It drove home the fact that, even in SL, there are real people that truly cared whether I lived or died.

How can I repay such faith and generosity?” mymaniera.com | Maniera | 33

RL partner Midi Aeon (right) became Temple’s biggest advocate after Temple’s diagnosis.

G

iselle Temple is a major force in the Second Life fashion industry. She is the CEO of Spirit Modeling Agency, founder of the International Modeling Convention and directed shows for SL fashion houses like Tres Beau, Blacklace, Purple Moon, Prism and Lady Thera.

“I first got involved in modeling after attending a few fashion shows for Lady Thera Taurog.

The designs were stunning and I quickly became dazzled by the fashion industry in SL,” said 34 | Maniera | mymaniera.com

Temple.

After graduating from two modeling schools, Temple then had the opportunity to direct a graduation show. She enjoyed it so much it was the catalyst for her to get more involved in that aspect of the fashion industry.

“I was asked to teach [fashion] and found that for me, it came naturally. I had learned something about myself that I’d never known — I love teaching and mentoring! I taught at several schools and did some one-on-one mentoring,” JUNE 2012

said Temple.

After coming to the realization over time that there was a need to recognize compassionate and helpful colleagues in what could often be a tough industry, Temple founded the Av In The Mirror Award as a contest to recognize and promote kindness in the modeling profession.

Temple also recognized that charities were an important part of the SL environment and decided to co-found Spirit Models, with the motto of “Raising Hope, Faith and Miracles,” using models who volunteered to work without payment.

“Ironically, our very first show was ‘Save The TaTa’s’ to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Little did I know what was coming.” Temple said.

Temple was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer.

After finding a red spot on her breast, she first shrugged it off as an arm impression from sleeping. But she when it hadn’t gone when got home that evening from work she decided to look into what it was. Temple was shocked by what she found — it was IBC. “I had just lost my Mom to lung cancer in November 2009 and was still grieving. I had no family history for breast cancer, never smoked, rarely had a glass of wine, have been vegetarian for years. I never saw this coming.”

But the news hit her SL and RL partner Midi Aeon hard.

“Midi, my SL and RL partner, seemed as devastated as I JUNE 2012

was but she quickly became my advocate, went to every single treatment with me and stuck with me through this,” said Temple. “My SL inventory was filled with notecards and well wishes. I was overwhelmed with love and sweet sentiments.

It all helps so much and I’d like to say thank you to everyone who thought of me.”

Temple also received support from her participation in the Susan G. Komen Group on LinkedIn. “The women on there are all in different stages of treatment and they will share, candidly and passionately everything they’ve gone through,” she said.

“I knew what to expect for every stage of my treatment, thanks to those lovely ladies who I now consider friends. One of them gave me the best book on breast cancer that I can recommend. It’s called ‘Diagnosis: Breast Cancer’ by Cara NovyBennewitz.”

Through it all Aeon has been extremely supportive of her partner. Standing by her side every step of the way.

“I did what any person in love with another stricken with cancer would do . . . I encouraged her, made her laugh as often as possible, held her, loved her and let her know that she was not fighting this alone,” said Aeon. “I cried inside a lot but remained strong and smiling on the outside.”

Aeon feels “the experience brought us even closer if that’s possible to imagine.” It’s almost as if they are the same person.

“We are not done yet, but one year after diagnosis, Temple is completely cancer free. We are now focusing on improving our lifestyle, eliminating toxic products from our lives, eating organic,” said Aeon. “We’ve rejoined the gym and have started exercising again.”

If Aeon, has learned anything it would be enjoy life and don’t take loved ones for granted because “in a moment they can be taken away from you,” she said. “Focus on quality in everything, each and every moment. I believe that we are creating our heaven or hell right now and once we die, we reexperience it forever, constantly.

For Temple and I, sharing our lives together is heaven.”

Reflecting on the insight she has gained, Temple said she learned that life is a gift to be cherished. She isn’t only living life to the fullest but she fulfilling things she has put off for years include a novel she has been wanting to write. Temple believes there is no room for drama or negatives in her life and has learned to live positively.

“This diagnosis has opened my eyes to all the toxic chemicals and known carcinogens that are allowed in products we use every day! It’s heart-stopping,” said Temple. “I encourage all of you to take those steps in preserving your health. And to everyone in SL, get up, stretch for a few minutes, walk around the block. SL will be waiting for us when we return just a little bit healthier.” mymaniera.com | Maniera | 35

Left to right: Model: Blair Leifstrom Hair: UrbanLutz - Anna in Blonde, Makeup: Madrid Solo - Minimal Spring; Model: Imani Enzo Hair: [[LD]] SlickBack in Godiva, Makeup: HT! Toffee Sauce; Model: Anabella Ravinelli Hair: UrbanLutz -Yula in Red, Makeup: Madrid Solo - Carne; Model: Xi Zane Hair: [[LD]] Flipped in Noir, Makeup- HT! Black Cherry;

Simply Be

Featuring designs F Urbanlutz, Madrid So

PHotos by

eautiful

From Loovus Dzevavor, olo and Head Turners

Jax Aster

Model: Anabella Ravinelli Hair: [[LD]] - Capped in Rouge Makeup: HT! - Rainbow 005

Model: Xi Zane Hair:[[LD]] - Major Beret in Noir Makeup: HT! - Monochrome 007

Model: Imani Enzo Hair: [[LD]] - Cannon in Godiva Makeup: HT! - Sequin Purple Haze

Model: Blair Leifstrom Hair: [[LD]] - Absent in Ditzie Makeup: HT! - Aphrodite in Fuschia

Model: Anabella Ravinelli Hair: UrbanLutz - Studio in Red Makeup: Madrid Solo - Karma

Model: Xi Zane Hair: UrbanLutz - Leto in Black Makeup: Madrid Solo - Wicked Carnivale

Model: Imani Enzo Hair: UrbanLutz - Forren in Brown Makeup: Madrid Solo - Temptress

Model: Blair Leifstrom Hair: UrbanLutz -The Bow in Blonde Makeup: Madrid Solo - Misty

Maniera LLC. CEO Thelma Lay, the woman behind avatar Topaz Joubert.

Photo by Monica True

Introducing

Thelma Lay As Maniera LLC. prepares itself for the launch of its real life online digital publication, CEO Topaz Joubert reveals the person behind the avatar.

S

By Aphrodite Brianna tepping forward is Thelma Lay, an attractive AfricanAmerican woman with a passion for publishing and fashion. The launch of the real life digital magazine will be the culmination of almost two years of meticulous planning and the realization of a personal dream for Lay. Back in 2008, as a new model she was increasingly frustrated with the slow pace of progress in her model training. An advertisement for a stylist post in a newly launched magazine caught her eye and she started to practice her styling skills on any unsuspecting avatar she could get her hands on. Although she didn’t get a position as a stylist, she was instead offered the post of fashion editor for Maniera Magazine.

“I had never worked on a publication before, not even on the college newspaper,” said Lay. “But I decided to research what the job of a fashion editor entailed and decided that I could do that.”

So she joined the Maniera team along with photographers AtomicSparkle Skytower and Spartin Parx and layout designer Nox Deigan.

The original concept for the magazine, under then CEO Halle Genira, was to be exclusively focused on fashion. However, just three months into the planning stages of the magazine, Genira decided to leave the company. Lay found herself occupying both the

CEO and editor positions. It was at this point publishing the magazine she began to feel inthat she decided to do something different. creasingly frustrated and looked for ways to With an already saturated market for fashion develop it further. She fell in love with publishing magazines in Second Life®, Lay decided a themed but Second Life did not seem to offer her enough lifestyle publication was the way to go. She beof a challenge. She was faced with three options. lieves this is what makes Maniera special.

The first option was to sell the magazine. Lay “The two magazines that influenced my deci- admits this was a non-starter, because she could sion were ‘Vanity Fair’ and ‘Rolling Stone,’” Lay not bear to see the magazine run by someone else explains. “I wanted the combination of the style who would most likely have a different vision of and sophistication of ‘Vanity Fair’ and it. Maniera is clearly an important part of the ‘hipness’ of the early ‘Rolling Lay’s life and her dedication to it is Stone.’” palpable.

Lay is aware the ultra The second option was sleek “Vanity Fair” and to shut it down entirely.

Follow the anti-establishment Jokingly, Lay said the “Rolling Stone” may temptation to quit ocManiera’s seem to be strange curred each month bedfellows, but she around the publicatransition from virtual was aiming for a lifetion date. It can be world magazine to real style magazine with difficult sometimes an edge. to balance real life world digital magazine With this remit responsibilities with at MyManiera.com. in mind, Maniera has the work load involved subsequently covered in producing a successa multitude of topics, ful monthly magazine she reaching into the many said. diverse communities in Second Lay also admits that SecLife. It has also provided excellent ond Life and Maniera, in particular, coverage of the fashion industry. helped her through some tough personal In addition to the magazine, times including her recent divorce. However her Lay also runs a successful modeling agency — dedication to the magazine required her to make Maniera Model anagement — as well as a styling large sacrifices, particularly in her social life. academy — Maniera Institute of Style. The latter Her third and final option was to take the is where both beginner and experienced Second magazine as far as she possibly could. Her longLife models can receive training. time Second Life friend Sami Kutanaga offered Lay finds choosing a favorite issue of Maniera encouragement, advising her that it was time to from over the past three years of publishing take the skills acquired at Maniera and transfer difficult, but finally selects the “I love the 80’s” them to real life. issue published in June 2011. This issue marked a After discussions with Skytower and Deigan, critical turning point in the quality of layout and she realized that this was a move that she wanted design of the magazine, which has continued to to make but that there was a lot of work to be grow and evolve over the last year. done before the dream could be made into a realAlthough Lay gained great satisfaction from ity. What works in Second Life publishing does 50 | Maniera | mymaniera.com

JUNE 2012

October 2011 Maniera Editor Photo for Lay’s avatar Topaz Joubert Photo by SL’s Spartin Parx

July 2011 Maniera Editor Photo for Lay’s avatar Topaz Joubert. Photo by SL’s Lybra Rage.

52 | Maniera | mymaniera.com

JUNE 2012

not necessarily transfer across to real life so the product needed to be fine-tuned.

The move to a real life publication was a gradual and cautious one. Maniera began to include real life content with interviews with real life designers working in Second Life. Several months ago, Lay included her real life picture on her profile as a way of gradually revealing herself.

She has spent months in meetings with lawyers discussing the legalities of running a real life and Second Life business in tandem. Some of the main issues centred around issues of identity and privacy.

Many people wish to maintain a separation between their two lives, and retain their anonymity. When establishing a real life business venture this causes a multitude of problems.

“You cannot do business as an avatar,” said Lay. “You simply cannot.”

This meant staff involved with the real life publication would have to provide their real life details, something Lay knows will not suit everyone.

She appreciates the enormous leap of faith required to step out from behind the avatar. But she is also clear that publishing is not a place you can be anonymous and there are a myriad of legal reasons why personal details are required in a real life business, which is what Maniera LLC is now.

JUNE 2012

“

You cannot do

business as an avatar.

You simply cannot.

- Thelma Lay

Of course those staff working exclusively on the than Second Life side of the business will continue to operate under their avatar names, just as before. It is only those staff involved with the real life version of Maniera that will be required to provide real life identities for tax and other legal reasons.

Lay admits to being “embarrassed” to admit to family and friends that she was involved in Second Life because she feared a lack of understanding and ridicule. However she was pleasantly surprised by the support and encouragement she received when she finally decided it was time to step out of the closet.

She thinks that her old real life friends and colleagues will probably be more surprised at Topaz Joubert than Second Life friends will be by Thelma Lay. Lay admits to a slight pang of nostalgia for times when Second Life was just a means of escape and she could be what or whoever she wanted to be.

For Lay those days are over now that she has fused real and Sec-

ond Life businesses together.

Maniera will now be the name of the real life digital publication, and the Second Life version will be known as ManieraSL™. Lay hopes that the established Second Life readership will be able to enjoy both versions of the magazine, which will be available on the Maniera website. She intends to have some cross-over between the two publications, both of which will be similar in their style and aesthetic.

One of Lay’s aims is to introduce the real life readership to the positive aspects of virtual worlds. She wishes to highlight some of the amazing talent that exists in Second Life and explore the potential that exists for real life business.

Lay herself personifies all that is positive about Second Life. She has used it to garner a set of skills that she has then been able to transfer to her real life. Topaz Joubert has managed to enhance the life of Thelma Lay and help her realize her dream. mymaniera.com | Maniera | 53

March Face Of

NV

Corsetry Winners

Maniera Magazine is the proud sponsor of the Face of NV Corsetry Contest. These lovely ladies were selected from all the entrants in their categories. Will you be next?

Avant Gard Puhi Rotaru

Photo by Magissa Denver

de

Club Diva

Sterlingzen Harbour Photo by Sterlingzen Harbour

Steampunk

Federica Galtier Photo by Magissa Denver

FASHION PASSION

THE BENEFI T S OF SHOPPI N G WOMEN ACROSS THE GRID HELP RAISE MONEY FOR RL GROUPS

BY PARTICIPATING IN RETAIL-BASED CHARITY EVENTS IN SL

BY LEAH PORTLAND

wanting to spend copious amounts of time virtually living and working in this virtual world. Each woman has a different story to tell. Stories about struggles, successes, losses, triumphs, passions, strengths, pains, sadness, heartaches, joys, resilience, persistence — the list goes on. Each person brings something unique to the Second Life table of life. But there is something that attracts droves of women to sims only to clamber over one another.

Sometimes it gets to the point where these women barely see the kicking and screaming man they’ve hauled along with them, to battle the kind of lag hell that could only be described as walking through treacle. But such lag only heightens their determination. What is this phenomenon that draws women like magnets to this hub of activity? It’s shopthen there is another kind of shopping. Anyone can visit their favorite store to engage in retail therapy. But the alternative is shopping with a purpose.

Event organizers like Chic Management pool together groups of designers, who are willing to create goods and services — which will draw dozens of consumers to shop with the purpose of helping less fortunate individuals worldwide. While both men and women play a large part in helping to raise

JUNE 2012

on the female fashion items that attract shoppers and their friends in an ingenious way to help raise awareness and funds to assist others in their hour of need. Events such as these serve as social venues as well as fundraisers where friends socialize in groups while advice on what’s hot and what’s what things drive the female shopper and they seem to supply it just at the right time.

New items — such as hair, shoes, handbags, accessories, make up, skins and clothing — make their debut in new forms and cause a stir that draws large crowds. Second Life fashion bloggers deserve just as much praise for bringing these items to the attention of the masses through their posts, where they add their own fashion interpretation coupled with styling abilities. Everything has its place, even being a compulsive shophelps someone else, whether it be saving a life or making life more bearable, than something has been accomplished. Without realizing it, the strength of many Second Life women lies in being able to indirectly pool our resources together through our need for fashion, shopping and willingness to support calls of outreach.

Second Life women are united in fundraising through fashion.

Each woman has a different story to tell.

Hair - Romance - Vainille Highlights - Vanity Hair (Featured in Fashion for Life fundraiser) Skin - Amy - SultrySage - Hush skins (Featured in Fashion for Life fundraiser) Top - Linney Halter Top - black MOLiCHiNO (Featured in Culture Shock fundraiser) Pants - Kay Pants - Cream MOLiCHiNO (Featured in Culture Shock fundraiser) Gloves ion for Life Fundraiser) Chair - Chic Sit 2 Prop Chair - BehaviorBody - (Featured in Ashraya Project) Brooch - Fabrege - Finesmith Designs

mymaniera.com | Maniera | 57

MANI STYLE

One for the Girls

BY APHRODITE BRIANNA PHOTOGRAPH BY LOVELYMIWAKO7399 MENNA

F

emale friendships are often some of the most longstanding and valuable relationships in a woman’s life.

Whether they are old school friends, women we work with, women we met at a prenatal class, sisters, cousins, aunts, mothers or grandmothers, most women have a special group of girls with whom they share their innermost thoughts. And sometimes only their company will do. Who else are you going to talk openly to about the latest jerk you managed to pick up, menstruation and bowel movements, the amount of chocolate you managed to eat today, and whether your bum really does look big in this dress, all in the same conversation?

So this month I went in search of places where women can just have fun.

What better way to start than with a shopping marathon at Euphoria, a popular destination packed with superb stores. You can find everything here — hair, skins and make-up, jewellery shoes and accessories, and outfits created by some of the best designers on the grid. A map of all the stores can be found at http://euphoriasl. wordpress.com/map.

Euphoria also features regular special promotions, often with specially made exclusive items at bargain prices. In addition, they also have a customer reward program that gives you 10 percent of all you spend back as credit points to spend in the mall. There is no expiration date on these credits, so you can build them up to treat yourself at a later date or spend them immediately. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ The%20Euphoria/83/91/21 After all that shopping, ladies definitely need to sit down for a large glass of wine. The Del Vino Italian Tapas Bar, founded by Umberto Giano, is an ideal choice. Enjoy a leisurely choice of tapas served to you at your table in this intimate and chic restaurant that overlooks the stunning Casablanca Bay. Enjoy your choose between Tapas and Wine, Pizza Margherita and Wine, or Wine Tasting. Make your reservation

JUNE 2012

online at http://www.emailmeform.com/builder/ form/0R1EfV0ue0m5jS4A Del Vino is able to accommodate parties larger than 8 in the wine vault located on the level beneath the main dining room. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Casablanca%20Bay%20South/81/199/32 The Pura Vida Wellness Resort is the perfect place to relax and recuperate. Stroll around the tropical gardens and immerse yourself in the sensory experience this unique spa resort has to offer. The spa itself offers an amazing choice of treatments. Pura Vida aims to provide the experience of Bio-Acoustic Massage Therapy which works on your imagination and senses to produce a relaxing experience. Although you can just walk in for individual treatments, discounts and custom packages for groups require advanced booking. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/La%20 Bella%20Bonaire/48/21/23 Fed, massaged and pampered and with a whole new outfit to wear, it is time to hit the town for a ladies night out.

If it really is a girls only night you are looking for then The Black Angel Lesbian Club situated on a women-only adult sim may be the ideal place to visit. The huge pyramid shaped club is surrounded by tranquil gardens complete with ruins and fountains. On one side is an Arabianstyle house and courtyard with a bedroom for those who require a little privacy. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20 Lovers%20Isle/128/140/496 If however you are looking for entertainment featuring some serious male eye candy then The Chippendales, run by Clint Quandry, provides a fun packed night out. Visit them at their friendly Casanova Lounge Club, where this fabulous bunch of guys will literally dance their pants off.

You can find times of performances at http:// www.my.calendars.net/slevents. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/ Sunwi%20Do/94/206/119 mymaniera.com | Maniera | 59

MEN’S CORNER

First Date

BY LUC FRAY PHOTOGRAPH BY LOVELYMIWAKO7399 MENNA

tiful woman can be exciting and awkward. You look at her and she smiles at you. Next thing you know, you’re back home with her number. You pace around wondering if you should call her up enough courage and decide to ask her out. She says yes and you try hard not let her know how excited to take her out. You place the phone back on the receiver while grinning ear to ear.

You got a date!

First impressions are always essential step that could make or break an emerging relationship.

Sure, judging appearances can sometimes be shallow, but how you present yourself says a lot about your character too. dent because you can take care of yourself well. Your date can also catch glimpses of what kind of individual you are, as certain studies have proven that your to other people what mood you are in or what personalities are dominant in you.

Most importantly, by dressing up, you’re covertly saying that she’s someone important enough look presentable.

JUNE 2012

“

choose something comfortable but nothing too sloppy. You’d want to get that smooth, clean look that you can later add a bit

blazers are always safe choices, just like this blue leather jacket from Aleida. Blue is the color of loyalty and dependability. It’s also the color that most people associate with calmness.

Wearing blue, will make her relax around you and will also show you’d be someone faithful and responsible, should you two work out.You also can’t go wrong with a nautical style in Spring.

For that, brown striped shirts like this one from Aoharu are great to wear underneath a jacket. Brown indicates reliability and stability. It is also the color of friendship.

Wearing blue and brown are the perfect combination because faithfulness and friendship are keys for any relationship to succeed. A pair of gray sneakers from Redgrave and blackrimmed glasses from Kumaki

a pair of black jeans from 22769 Couture. Gray indicates practicality and solidity, while black suggests intelligence, power and authority. Wearing black and gray on the lower half of your body shows you have a pretty sturdy base. And since the eyes are the windows to your soul, wearing the dark-rimmed glasses emphasizes strength and brilliance.

You Got a Date!

Finally, when the look is all set, wrap the entire package with your not, if all goes well, a second date is in the bag.

Style Card: Jacket: I ALEIDA I Allan leather jacket (long) - blue http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bonaire06/48/109/3819 Shirt: AOHARU_BT_ DrapeNeck_T-Shirt_Border/ Brown http://slurl.com/secondlife/AOHARU/124/38/24 Jeans: 22769 ~ [homme] old leather jeans style: black http://slurl.com/secondlife/22769/156/108/94 Glasses: K_gs Bolg - Kumaki Sunglasses - Glasses - Goggles http://slurl.com/secondlife/Immidae/4/69/29 Shoes: [*RG*] Classic Sneakers -Grey- *REDGRAVE* https://marketplace.secondlife. com/p/RG-Classic-SneakersGrey-REDGRAVE/2985991

mymaniera.com | Maniera | 61

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