Newstyle Issue 52 by NewStyle Magazine

LOCAL IS BEAUTIFUL, MADE IN MAURITIUS

DIGITAL MAGAZINE

A GARDEN BOUTIQUE STORY.. CEDRIX SONGORE (YOUNG SME)

MONOCHROME DIVA DIANA MURDAMOOTOO

WEDDING IN PARADISE

TRHOUGH THE LENS OF VIRESH HURRYPAUL

INFLUENCERS AWARDS IS BACK!

tropical winter JEMIMA BHOOKUN MODEL OF THE MONTH

& JULIEN FRIQUIN FITNESS MODEL & INFLUENCER

ISSUE 52 J U N E

@newstylemauritius | www.newstyle.mu

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CONTENTS

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TROPICAL WINTER MODEL OF THE MONTH : JEMIMA BHOOKUN JULIEN FRIQUIN : FITNESS MODEL & INFLUENCER YOUNG SME : CEDRIX SONGORE MONOCHROME DIVA VIRESH HURRYPAUL PHOTOGRAPHER INFLUENCERS AWARDS

ISSUE 52 EDITOR’S NOTE Dear Newstyle Community, With the rest of the nation and the world, we have been reeling with the fast-paced turn of events as we all manage the national health pandemic created by the exponential spread of COVID-19. Like most other places, staff is working remotely, and we are finding new ways to be in community, to be together, and to uphold one another and our work.

Sandrina Micha

Editor & Stylist

And our hearts are breaking as we witness the fall-out from the effects of the pandemic on our communities. We are holding so much in our hearts and minds. We are holding parents and caregivers at home with their kids, managing the tension between supporting their children’s learning and just wanting to make sure they feel safe and loved in an unprecedented time. More drastic change to education systems has occurred in the last week than it has in arguably the last 50 years. What possibilities does this open up for the future of learning, for the reorganization of our institutions, for the centrality of families and family life? As our daily lives are rapidly reconfiguring, how can we be self-determining in the reconfiguration? We need to hold the devastating impacts of this moment, and can we also reach for what might be possible that wasn’t visible before? We are thinking about these big questions. We hope that you and your loved ones are well. Sandrina Micha Editor & Stylist For any queries regarding the magazine, please do not hesitate to contact us on our Instagram and Facebook page. Newstyle is uniquely suited to bring the world of international fashion closer to Mauritians. With the promotion of local skills through photography, Newstyle leaves no room for money transactions. Our collaboration with make-up artists, fitness enthusiasts, designers or models gives them the opportunity to highlight their work and help them gain further expertise. Our goal is to be at the vanguard of fashion. Each issue of Newstyle focuses on a new face to highlight them.

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Clothes & Accessories : Sinequanone & The African Marquis Stylist : Gabriel Froid Models : Jemima Bhookun & Julien Friquin Make up: Hans Dax Hairstylist: Jasmine Milazar Photographer : Sachin Sagar Location : Sachin Sagar Studio

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MODEL OF THE MONTH

JEMIMA BHOOKUN Model : Jemima Bhookun Make up: Hans Dax Photographer : Sachin Sagar Location : Sachin Sagar Studio

JEMIMA BOOKHUN MODEL OF THE MONTH FITNESS FREAK & LAW STUDENT Jemima Bhookhun, this name should be familiar to you. This talented young woman has become a real model on the web and has gained a lot of visibility in recent times. But who really is Jemima Bhookhun? We invite you to discover her today, through an unfiltered and authentic interview. You’ll love it, we promise! Jemima Bhookhun is just 19 years old and lives in the capital of the island. A law student at the University of Mauritius, she works as a part-time model and is also an athlete. Fitness has always been important to her, and has been since she was a child. She has always had admiration for people with athletic and shaped bodies. Growing up, Jemima also wanted to be extremely fit, so she started training at a young age. “Later I discovered the benefits of regular exercise and the more I exercised, the more I became obsessed with it. My mental and physical health greatly improved. It became part of my routine and believe me, once you make it part of your daily routine, it’s hard to stop.” she tells us. Beyond her love of sport, Jemima also undertakes law studies, which she considers to be one of her greatest loves. It is as challenging as her training, and requires dedication and hard work. In addition, one of her close relatives works in a law firm, which gave her the opportunity to get in touch with the people who work there, and ask them several questions about their careers whenever she had the chance. “At the time, I remember, I was so interested that often, after school, I would use various excuses to visit this relative at his workplace. I developed a great admiration for what the relative did and being exposed to it strongly influenced my career choice,” she says. As for sport, Jemima started training on her own around the age of 11 or 12, as she became more and more concerned about her body and her health. She tried out several sports such as badminton, volleyball and others while she was in high school. At the age of 14, Jemima started training seriously for athletics, and a year later she joined a long jump and triple jump team. She simply fell in 32

love with the sport and now trains 6 days a week. During these days, she has had to deal with issues such as injuries and, more importantly, coming back from an injury, just like any other athlete. However, she tried to find a good balance between her studies and her sport, dealing with successes and failures in both areas and finding time for social activities, which was really difficult. “Also, at one point I was my biggest obstacle, because I lacked confidence in my abilities all the time and I lost myself in my journey. But everything I mentioned is not something you can’t overcome, it’s just part of the process, having confidence in yourself and having a very supportive environment will help.” she says. For the young lady, the most difficult time was probably the year she had to deal with the loss of a loved one. After that, she had a very difficult period and was unable to concentrate on her studies or her sport. In the same year she had to take an important exam, namely her Cambridge O level exams, and it was also her first participation in an international sporting event. “It took me a long time to get back on track, but thank God I have people who have helped me a lot,” Jemima says. She is fortunate to have a very supportive environment that believes in her potential even when she can’t believe it herself, especially her mother who is always proud of her each and every achievement, making her proud is one of her reasons for success. Now her plan is to focus on her goals. She wants to accomplish things that her future self will thank her for. Sharing her journey, which still has a long way to go, with Newstyle magazine has increased her motivation, especially after what we have all been through with the pandemic and the lockdown. “It’s not always easy to keep working hard, honestly, it’s really hard sometimes. But I think when you’re passionate about something, you can adapt to any situation to achieve the goals you set for yourself.”

FIT &

TNESS MODEL & INFLUENCER JULIEN FRIQUIN

Model : Julien Friquin Photographer : Sachin Sagar Location : Sachin Sagar Studio

JULIEN FRIQUIN FITNESS MODEL & INFLUENCER PERSONAL COACH

With the amount of followers he has on Instagram, Julien Friquin has established himself as one of the key figures in personal fitness. However, he is not only a sports lover, he can also be considered as a fitness influencer. Would you like to discover this ambitious entrepreneur with a passion for sports? You have come to the right place! Interview with Julien Friquin... Julien Friquin is 24 years old and lives in Roche Brunes. As a personal trainer, he has been doing fitness since the age of fifteen or so. He has no typical day as each day for him is different. The highlights for Julien, since he made fitness his career, are those moments when he can see his clients improve not only physically, but also in their well-being. Challenges are, for Julien, part of the game. “I love fitness and I love coaching and helping people achieve their goals, so why get discouraged and give up? For now, Julien only

practices personal coaching with a Diploma in Physical Education, a Personal Trainer Specification (ISSA), an endorsement in Sports Nutrition (ISSA) and a Certified Transformation Specialist (ISSA). Nutrition is essential when it comes to fitness. For the young man, clients are able to effectively follow the scheme he has proposed because it is sustainable and flexible too. It is based on their preferences and needs. Strict and trendy diets are not sustainable and many give up after a few weeks. They are more motivated when they know they can indulge occasionally and are not hungry all the time. His advice to others is to be patient and believe in oneself without comparing to others. “There will be bad days, but don’t give up. To achieve your fitness goal, you need to focus on three essential elements: nutrition, training and sleep.”

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SME

A GARDEN BOUTIQUE STORY... People : Cedrix Songore Photography : Sachin Sagar Location : Albion Workshop

INTERVIEW WITH CEDRIX SONGORE

A GARDEN BOUTIQUE STORY... “As far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur: to create, bring to life and develop ideas. I also see an interesting parallel in entrepreneurship with the values of surpassing oneself in sport. As a passionate sports enthusiast myself, involvement, commitment and determination are daily driving forces for me. These are the first exchanges we had with Yonathân Cédrix Songore, the manager of Garden Boutique. Met during the interview in the June edition of the magazine, Cédrix Songore is a determined and spirited young entrepreneur. We invite you to read his interview. Yonathân Cédrix Songore, 20 years old, lives in the Western part of the island, in Albion. He has been an entrepreneur since the age of 16. The spirit of an entrepreneur has always been with him. Born in Mauritius, but raised in London, he and his family returned to Mauritius 7 years ago. Garden Boutique offers high quality pots and boxes to the Mauritian market and makes sure to provide an excellent service. The aim is to have a one-stop shop for gardening in the future, which is why the company has the name “Garden Boutique”. Specializing in concrete molding and casting, they design and manufacture objects from the use of cement. They handcraft modern pots and planters from the material itself. At Garden Boutique, a wide variety of indoor and outdoor pots made in Mauritius are offered.

It all started 6 years ago when the young man’s grandfather made a large concrete pot. Cédrix was amazed and wanted to try making it himself. “ With secondary school, it was a bit difficult for me to make one as it takes time. During the school holidays I tried to make one at home, I made a few. They were not so perfect at first. That was all I wanted to do after university. But at the time I had a small business, a small property management company for short-term properties. With the pandemic, my business stopped,” he says. During the lockdown, Cédrix had some free time and used it to design, manufacture and test some pots. And that was the start of it all. Once the lockdown was over, he went in search of material suppliers and started designing, manufacturing and testing. “The journey was certainly not easy, because sometimes when I was testing the product it would break and I would have to start all over again. And because the pots are handmade, it’s really tricky to get them done properly; sometimes when I was making the pot, the cement would fall out and I had to start all over again. So, it takes a lot of patience,” says Cédrix. Making the pots was not so easy, finding the right source of materials was not easy either. As this is something new, Cédrix had to do his own research. For him, this passion is what motivates him every day. He wakes up every day, eager to start his day and get to work making garden boxes. Cédrix has many plans for the future! He is opening his first mini showroom in Albion to start with, where everything will be operated on appointment only. They will be open for appointments soon. and will also have the flower boxes on display in Tamarin. They are in partnership with Earth Art, the pots will be on display there. “We’re going to be launching some very nice products soon. Lots of good things to come. Dream big and always believe in your dreams, even if others don’t. Be patient, patience is the key to success.”

MONOCHROME DIVA Model : Dania Murdamootoo Clothes : Own Make up: Viickshay Chamooya Photography : Sachin Sagar Location : Sachin Sagar Studio

WEDDING IN PARADISE Through the lens of

VIRESH HURRYPAUL

PHOTOGRAPHER

Photography : Viresh Hurrypaul Location : Mauritius

THROUGH THE LENS OF VIRESH HURRYPAUL PHOTOGRAPHER He loves doing wedding and event photography. Moments that are very intense for him. Every moment is important. Starting with the preparations and the euphoria of the occasion. Meet Viresh Hurrypaul, professional wedding and event photographer... 1. Can you introduce yourself? Viresh Hurrypaul, living in Brisée Verdière, is a Director of Photography with 10 years of experience in the business, specializing in weddings and events. I did my first degree in banking and finance at the University of Mascareignes and my Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Mauritius. 2. Tell us about your passion for photography? I started at the age of 11 with a traditional film camera. My mother bought it for Rs 50. Later on, I gave up my passion because of my studies. After that, during my college days, I was working in trucks and wedding decorations. I saved money to buy my first DSLR camera. I was so crazy about photography and cameras.

3. Can we have all the details about your choice of photography as a career? Actually, it was not a choice. It was simply that I was taking beautiful pictures. I started to get a lot of work and projects. I got a lot of name recognition and renown at that time. It became a natural choice; people would recommend me for weddings and other work. And very quickly, I became well-known in wedding photography in Mauritius. Leaving all these good things and starting a career in finance was not a wise decision at that time. So, I went with the flow. Maybe sometimes in life you have to trust your intuition. 4. How did you start? Well, it started at university; I bought a digital camera and started taking pictures of friends and relatives. A friend asked me to photograph a wedding reception, I was quite reluctant at first, but my friend told me that my pictures looked good and that I could do it. At the time I had very little equipment. I took the job to get some money to buy equipment for the camera itself. To my surprise, the client was very happy and even paid me extra. I had other weddings in the same family. So, I started to take more work to buy more lenses and equipment.

5. Did you encounter any problems during your trip? Yes, I did. My family was not happy at the beginning. Because people tended to think that someone might not make a career out of just taking pictures. Then, when I achieved many things in life, they realised that anything is possible. And taking pictures is not a simple job. It requires preparation, fieldwork and post-working. 6. Tell us about your most difficult moments? Well, maybe at the beginning. When your business is new, you have to invest heavily and learn a lot to be ahead of the competition. But most challenges make you grow from within. And you tend to give your best to every project. 7. Have you encountered any difficulties with clients? If so, how did you deal with them? Clients have become very demanding these days. But my experiences and suggestions help me to deal with clients. In the first meeting I explain clearly what is possible and what is not. And I make them sign a contract to have a written proof of what we discussed.

time of memories. You can’t redo things. You have to be sharp and quick. In addition, you have to face the audience while taking your most creative shots. You have to practice to do better every time. Photography has brought a lot of good things into my life, which may not have been possible with a desk job. 9. What are your plans for the future? Well, I have many plans. One of them is to become a travel photographer. I have already started my collection of photos from different countries. 10. Any motivational words for the readers of Newstyle? How do you think this magazine can help you in your career and your passion? I would say follow your passion. In the beginning you will face the challenge of rejection, less people will support you, you will earn less money. You will have to work day and night. But believe me, these things will give you so much motivation and courage that nothing will be impossible. This magazine will promote my passion for photography and my career. It will encourage readers to follow their passion. Take the risk and fly high.

8. What are the main things that motivate you every day? My love for photography is the only motivation I have every day. Wedding photography is the most difficult of all photography. You have to be like a journalist and have limited time to capture a life83

INFLUENCERS AW IS BACK

WARDS K!

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INFLUENCERS AWARDS IS BACK! After the success of the first edition and despite the current situation, the organising committee of the Influencers Awards Mauritius made up of Ally Royals, Ashley Rambhojun, Bobby Ramasawmy, Kelly Cheong and Catherine Capdor launched the 2021 edition on the 15th May and within a week, 20 participants registered. For the second edition, the registration is open for eight categories: Artists, Beauty, Entertainment, Fashion, Fitness & Wellness, Food, Philanthropy, Travel & Lifestyle. The categories which registered most of the participants so far are Entertainment, Artists and Fashion. The juries comprising of Mansoorah Issany, Jean Maurice Valery, Katia Moonchooram, James Agathe et David Jay, all well-known on the social media arena, will deliberate during the first week of July and the nominees will be announced on the 09th. From this date onwards, the nominees will have to surpass each other to stand the chance to win in their respective category and the trophy of the Best Influencer of the year with the star prize of Rs100,000. Nom-

inees will be evaluated according to their originality, creativity, content, engagement and reach, and will have to follow the guidelines and tasks set by the organising committee. Launched for the first time in 2020, the Influencers Awards Mauritius rewards the most brilliant, the most creative and skillful influencers, bloggers and digital content creators in Mauritius. The promotion of our island and the savoir-faire of our local influencers were the main objective of setting up this awards ceremony. The organising team wishes to thank its partners who supported them in the first edition and who renewed their collaboration for the Influencers Awards Mauritius 2021 and to our new collaborators. Save the date - the Awards Ceremony will take place on the 09th October and those wishing to attend, tickets will be available for purchase on the website www.influencersawards.mu as from the mid of August.

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