Olivia Magazine #1 by Olivia Magazine

OLIVIA.

FREE ISSUE 1 // DECEMBER 2013 WWW.OLIVIA-MAGAZINE.COM

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issue 1 // December 2013 www.olivia-magazine.com

Photography by Kevin Ohana Styling by Jill Bauwens Model Milagros Schmoll

11 12-13 14-17 18-22 24-26 28-37 38-41 42-45 46-47 49-51 53-58 61-64 66-69 70-71 72-73 75-83 84-93 95-101 103 106-109 110-111 112-113 114-117 118-119 120-121

Photography by Kris De Smedt @ C’est Chic Agency Styling by Steffy Bauwens Make-up and Hair by Jill Joujon @ C’est Chic Agency Model Pauline Van der Cruysse @ Next Model Management

EDITORS LETTER CONTRIBUTORS SHORT NEWS SOLDIERS IN PETTICOATS THE HUNT 20 UNDER 30 THE COXLESS ROWERS PROJECT UNBREAKABLE DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS WISHLIST THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT WOMEN WANT CHECK IT OUT BOOBYLICIOUS I DO, I DON’T FASHION NEWS WHITE NOISE HOLIDAY HEAT YOUNG, FRESH AND TALENTED BEAUTY THE HUNKS YOU’RE MY BESTEST FRIEND BOOKS COFFEE ADVICE HOROSCOPE

Photography by Stephanie Potter Corwin Make-up and Hair by Elizabeth Hedley Model Elena Koutsia

O EDITORIAL OLIVIA

A few weeks ago we were walking – more like hysterical running, but ever so elegant of course – into a coffee place, trying to still make it on time for our appointment with Alix (our amazing Creative Director), when a man in front of us opened the door, held out his arm and said “ladies first”. While this act of politeness should be experienced as something completely normal, we looked at each other in shock; surprised that chivalry isn’t dead after all. This small action got us wondering about the entire concept of ladies first. The old frontier of this expression is long gone and men no longer see the need to hold the door open or pay on a date. Their excuse? You wanted to be treated equally. Did we really achieve that though? In this very first issue of Olivia Magazine we’ve put a range of female topics under the microscope: we start off with an analysis of female politicians and the sexual discrimination they still face on a daily basis on p.18-22. While the gender gap is still very prominent in today’s society, the article on p.28-37 proves there is an entire range of female talent to be found in all sorts of different industries. Gender gaps and sexual discrimination aren’t the only thing on a woman’s mind today though – thank god for that. One thing

The small gesture of a complete stranger opening the door for us got us wondering about the concept of ‘ladies first’

that has always managed to keep a girl’s thoughts occupied is, let’s be honest, sex. We’re not talking about lovemaking, finding Mr. Right or a romantic scene out of a cheesy romcom, we’re talking about real, steamy, raunchy and hot f*cking. On p.53-58 you can find out just how sexual us girls really are. For those of you still in need of some naughty holiday outfit inspiration, there’s an entire shoot from p.84-93 that might set the mood. Once you’ve got the outfit down, it’s time to find the right arm candy to match it with – maybe one of our single hunks on p.106-109 fits the bill. We hope Olivia Magazine and its content opens up the discussion again on female equality – without sounding like feminist preachers forcing you to grow armpit hair and burn your bras. We are the new generation of young, smart, talented, independent women and we make our own choices in life. So celebrate the girl you are and want to be and what better way to do so than with a brand new magazine? Happy holidays,

Editors-in-chief

Chloé Bauwens & Carlotta Minderhout

Art Direction

Alix Pamela Shaw

For more information Find us online Like us on Facebook

Oliviamagazine.editors@gmail.com www.olivia-magazine.com https://www.facebook.com/oliviamagazine

Copyright © 2013 Olivia Magazine. Nothing from this publication can be used, copied or published as a whole or partially in which way what so ever without a written permission from Olivia Magazine’s editors-in-chief. Olivia Magazine can not be held accountable for any inaccuracies in this issue. All of the advertisements used in this issue of Olivia Magazine are an example of potential advertisers and are in no way actual sponsors.

ALIX PAMELA SHAW, 24, KENT - CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Meet the team

Alix is a graphic designer based in Kent and has a degree in Design for Publishing. When not designing Alix works as a waitress, runs a blog on design, enjoys home cooking, writing poetry, photography and searching charity shops for old vintage typewriters and ‘toot’.

KEVIN OHANA, 24, PARIS/NEW YORK - PHOTOGRAPHER

Kevin studied Interior Design but has a true passion for photography. He is driven by an insatiable search of beauty and is crazy about Bossa nova and Brazilian culture. Melancholic is a word often used to describe his photographic work, but judge for yourself on p.75-83

OLIVIA PINNOCK, 23, LONDON - COLUMNIST

Olivia is a freelance fashion and lifestyle journalist with a passion for all things cultural. Outside of interviewing rising talent and reporting from fashion shows, she loves nothing more than relaxing after a night of dancing with a bag of Percy Pigs. She tells us about why she doesn’t want to get married yet on p.71.

TOM BAUWENS, 21, ANTWERP - PHOTOGRAPHER

Tom is a photography student from Antwerp who spends a lot of his spare time producing music under the name of Toolbox. He operates on fajitas, Star Wars and beer. His portraits for this issue can be seen on p.28-37 and p.109 – too bad we couldn’t include a soundtrack to go with them.

STEPHANIE POTTER CORWIN, 27, LONDON - PHOTOGRAPHER

Stephanie is a practicing photographer and visual artist, currently finishing her MA in Fashion Photography at the London College of Fashion. Often figurative, her work examines notions of representation and identity. Stephanie’s work has been published in North American and European magazines, and she has exhibited her work internationally. See Stephanie’s artistic take on our favourite NYE’s make-up trend on p.103.

LAURA VANSWEEVELT, 23, ANTWERP – FEATURES WRITER

Laura studied Journalism, worked as a copywriter and is now pursuing a new career in fashion PR. When she’s not juggling her career with her boyfriend and trips to Ikea you can find her drinking a cup of joe at one of her favourite coffee places in Antwerp - maybe barista is a good back up plan for that PR dream? In the meantime you can read her coffee recommendations on p.115.

JILL BAUWENS, 23, PARIS – STYLIST

Jill has been working as a model since she was 16 after being discovered while shopping in Antwerp. Since then she has hit the runway for names such as Chanel and Elie Saab and modeled for Victoria’s Secret and numerous magazines. Her new dream is to join her sister Steffy as a stylist and consultant. Based on the shoot on p.75-83 this dream is becoming reality fast.

BETH LANKSFORD, 22, LONDON - COLUMNIST

Beth works at Families First magazine as a Publications Assistant. She has a degree in Journalism and loves life as a newlywed. Want to know all the ins and outs about married life? Flick through to p.70 to read her column on tying the knot at only 21.

ELIZABETH HEDLEY, 21, LIVERPOOL – MAKE-UP AND HAIR STYLIST

Elizabeth Hedley from Bootle, Liverpool studies as BA Hons student for Make-up and Prosthetics for Performance at the London College of Fashion. She lives in London and loves any excuse to dress up and splash make-up on anybody nearby – model Elena was her gorgeous ‘victim’ on P.103.

KARIN CUPPENS, 23, BRUSSELS – FEATURES WRITER

Karin is a small town girl turned big city marketeer and fashion eclectic. She loves glitter, roses, braids and white. She describes herself as a true girly girl but don’t be fooled by her exterior, this girl means business and knows what she’s talking about on p.24-26.

VICTORIA GARDINER, 23, LONDON – FASHION WRITER

Victoria is a journalist working for 1883 Magazine and The Gentleman’s Journal. She has an unhealthy appetite for sugary cereals, Prosecco and sarcasm. Not necessarily in that order. Skip to p.72-73 to get the inside scoops on this month’s fashion news.

STEFFY BAUWENS, 24, PARIS – STYLIST

After getting her degree in Fashion Business, Steffy worked with Olivier Theyskens for Theory splitting her time between Paris and New York for over three years. Now she’s working as a styling consultant at Maje in Paris and is responsible for the capsule luxe collection for AW14. Flip to p.84-93 to see Steffy’s luxurious but oh so sexy winter styling.

MARIE-CLAIRE CHAPPET, 24, LONDON – FEATURES WRITER

Marie-Claire Chappet is an arts writer for The Times. She’s a Cambridge graduate who lives in London and runs on coffee and cocktails. If anyone can give advice on where to get your jolt of coffee on p.116 it’s her.

HEATHER SINNAEVE, 22, ANTWERP – FEATURES WRITER

Heather Sinnaeve is an eternal student at the University of Antwerp, or so she feels sometimes. Her favourite things to do in her hometown are hanging out at bars with friends or baking a mean pepperoni pizza at home. Read about her favourite friends in film on p.110-111.

KRIS DE SMEDT, 36, ANTWERP - PHOTOGRAPHER

Kris is a photographer who likes fashion stories and robots. He loves colour, glamour and the poetry of the banal. His love for fashion and glamour can be seen in his Holiday Heat shoot on p.84-93.

PROFESSOR TRELAWNY 52, LONDON – ASTROLOGIST

Sybil is a Professor of Divination at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When she’s not predicting the death of a student – there’s one each year but they never actually die – you might find her drinking a cup of tea to study the leaves afterwards. You can read her predictions for you in this month’s horoscope on P.120-121. And don’t worry, no Grims or death forecasts there.

MADALENA ARAUJO, 22, LONDON - FEATURES WRITER

At only 22, Madalena is a Journalism graduate living in London who has just finished her MA in the History of International Relations. She’s a proud Portuguese, passionate about global affairs, good food and traveling. Read her article on sexual discrimination in politics on p.18-22.

JILL JOUJON, 28, BRUSSELS/PARIS – MAKE-UP AND HAIR STYLIST @ C’EST CHIC AGENCY

For the last four years Jill has been working as a professional make-up artist, but she has been passionate about make-up and fashion photography for as long as she can remember. She loves to travel and to be inspired with new souls and cultures. Get inspired yourself for this season’s make-up on p.84-93.

CARLIJN BAKKER, 22, AMSTERDAM - FEATURES WRITER

Carlijn is currently working as an intern at a well-known Dutch magazine. She is passionate about field hockey and skiing and has a (not so) secret obsession with One Direction. Having such a busy life means coffee is a daily must for this talented writer, that’s why she listed down her go to coffee places in Amsterdam on p.117.

NANA PANDOLFI, 70, ROME - ADVISER

Nana is the typical Italian woman who, at the age of 70, has lived and seen it at all. Her advice on everything - from cooking and cleaning tips to how to please your man - is something every girl could do with. So quickly flick to p.118-119 to get your share of advice.

SHORT NEWS MOVE OVER CHARLES, IT’S JANES TURN Novelist Jane Austen is to be featured on the next £10 note, replacing Charles Darwin and resolving the absence of women being represented on British banknotes. Ever since the Bank of England announced the ‘happy’ news, critiques and angry blog posts have been scouring the Internet. While most people are relieved with having a female character represented on the banknotes –after the decision of removing Elizabeth Fry from the £5 note there would have been no more women represented on UK banknotes – a lot of controversy has been stirring. Comments have been raised that the Pride and Prejudice author was nothing more than ‘a bitchy marriage broker who never got married herself’, there have been attacks on the fact that Austen is white, the bank playing it safe – why not go for Virginia Woolf or Mary Wollstonecraft – and her appearance. That last one being the biggest in a series of never-ending criticism. The disapproval for Jane Austen’s looks started with statements that her ‘great gloopy eyes’ and ‘mean mouth’ weren’t an attractive sight to look at on a banknote – one of Austen’s biographers described her appearance as that of a ‘peevish hamster’ so it certainly isn’t the first time those aspects of her are being judged – but are now being shifted to a disapproval of the airbrushing of her image. In short: we hate the way she looks but don’t change it either. The loudest voice on this Photoshop matter came from one of Austen’s biographers, Paula Byrne. She accused the Bank of England of making the author look ‘dim-witted’ and suggesting she was a saccharine writer. Byrne believes the Bank should have used Austen’s original sketch, drawn by her sister Cassandra and the only known picture done during her lifetime. The choice of the portrait that is now being used on the £10 was done in 1870, more than 50 years after Austen deceased and was based on an earlier sketch of her. According to Byrne, even Austen’s family said it was not a proper likeness. The controversy doesn’t end with the Bank’s enhancement and choice of portrait, but continues to the quotation that was chosen to go with it. “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!” is a line spoken by one of Austen’s characters, Caroline Bingley, from Pride and Prejudice and who doesn’t like reading at all. Bingley only pretends to enjoy literature to get closer to the hero Mr. Darcy, with who Pride and Prejudice’s protagonist, Elizabeth Bennett ends up with in the end. This quote is therefore seen as yet another blunder on the banknote, stating that the Bank obviously didn’t read the author’s book unless they might have thought it was comical – seeing the quarrel around it, no one sees the joke in the matter. Twist and turn as you like, but all disputes aside, it is a positive matter to see a strong and independent woman gracing our banknotes in 2017. We might have to wait a little while longer, but at least this gives the Bank time to adjust the quote and image. CB

WHO RUN THE WORLD “I’m reppin’ for the girls who taking over the world, help me raise a glass for the college grads.” Words sound familiar? They probably do since they are from Beyoncé’s hit song Run the World (Girls) from April 2011. While we love the empowerment coming through this song, we never actually thought the lyrics to be true. In the last 30 years the number of people going to university has augmented significantly and this due to the 2.5 times raise of female students.

SHUT UP AND DRIVE For those who thought car racing was only for men were wrong. As Scottish Formula One test driver Susie Wolff will prove, women can be fierce when behind the wheel. Wolff makes motor racing history, as she will become the first woman to compete in this month’s prestigious Race of Champions. During this annual event she will be representing Team GB and racing against legends Michael Schumacher and Tom Kristensen. The race includes drivers from Formula One, World Rally, Le Mans and Moto GP and the contestants will be driving in identical cars. Wolff is proud to be representing Great Britain and stated: “Being the first-ever female in the competition doesn’t bring any added pressure. I’m out there to simply do my best as a racing driver”. You go girl. CM

THIS MOVIE HAS BEEN RATED FEMALE-FRIENDLY FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT We are all familiar with movie ratings telling us whether the film you are about to see contains nudity, violence or sex. But for the people of Sweden this was not enough. This equally minded country (oh how

Female students at UK universities are outnumbering male students by 55 percent. In the Netherlands only 10,000 of the 84,000 students rise since 1980 were male. In Belgium 60 percent of the people graduating are women. Women are beating men and they are now becoming the disadvantaged group at universities. not the film is female-friendly. In order to get an A-rating, at least two named female characters who talk to each other about something other than a man, should be present in the storyline of the film. We can already cross out Pulp Fiction, all but one of the Harry Potter films and the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, The Hunger Games, in which Jennifer Lawrence plays the main character, is the proud owner of the A-rating.

While this augmentation is clearly visible in the educational numbers, the quality of women is still not always recognised in the employment market. According to the Employment Statistics from Eurostat, the rate for men is still at 70.1 percent compared to a 58.5 percent for women. There is however a decrease for the men employment rate of 0.8 per cent when looking at the corresponding level from ten years ago and an increase of 4.2 percent for women. The rates for men are still consistently higher throughout the EU – the lowest female employment rate is in Malta – but we are getting there. We’ll run the world soon. CB

Worried that any of your favourite films will be crossed out? Don’t fear. The A-rating is not based on the quality of the film, but rather an indicator of gender equality in the story. Even though we have to admit, not all films that have passed the criteria are a great example of strong women (think of Bride Wars). But even so, we applaud the people of Sweden for at least trying to come up with a good way to find out whether a film is pro-woman or not. CM

we would love more countries to be like Sweden and not just for their good-looking men) has recently introduced the Bechdel Test to their movie rating system. The name derives from the 1985 comic Dykes to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel and provides a simple way of telling the viewer whether or

To love and to cherish until death do us part November 25th is the annual International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. While this date has already passed, we still found it necessary to draw your attention to some alarming figures and facts. This fight for elimination shouldn’t be restricted to just one day, we have to fight against it throughout the entire year and this can only be achieved by informing and speaking up. More than one-third of all homicides of women are committed by a current or former partner. Nearly a third of women have experienced violence at some point in their lives – physical or sexual – at the hands of their partner. The numbers from The Lancet and Science studies led by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the World Health Organisation and the South African Medical Research Council on ‘Violence against Women’ are chilling.

Rich b*tch Good news for the Dutch females among us. Turns out they have been working hard as Holland has the highest percentage of female billionaires in the world. A recent study of the Swiss bank UBS and research bureau Wealth-X showed that one third of the twenty billionaires Holland counts is female. However, the rest of the world has some catching up to do as only 13 percent of all billionaires are women, even though their average wealth is higher than the male moneymakers. Also, only 17 percent of them are self-made, while 71 percent of the female billionaires gained their riches through inheritance. CM

The study was based on data from 141 studies in 81 countries from 1983 to 2012 and is the first attempt to conduct a systematic study of global data on violence against women. While these studies aren’t providing new numbers, placing them together and analysing them globally creates a rather grim and disturbing picture. Concentrating on Europe, 20 percent of homicides of women were committed by a partner. Between 20 and 30 percent have experienced physical or sexual violence from their partner. While these numbers of physical and sexual abuse are already alarming, there are also cases of emotional and economic (being denied access to money) abuse on a daily basis. We can all help to make it stop, but we all need to speak up to do so. CB

What Google thinks of women Google is great when it comes down to looking for answers to questions you prefer to stay anonymous. Thanks to this useful advanced search machine, that provides you with exactly the information you need within seconds, we have discovered that our potential date is not actually working as an Abercrombie & Fitch model and that high school enemy of yours is still looking for the love of her life, on a dating site that is. So you wonder, if such a highly developed piece of technology can show you all that, shouldn’t it be able to give you up to date answers regarding the social statuses of gender in our current society? Nope, you are so very wrong. Try typing in the words ‘women should’ in the Google search bar and out comes a list of insulting and - most importantly - very sexist suggestions. ‘Women should be seen and not heard’, ‘women should stay at home’, ‘women should know their place’, just to name a few as the list goes on. In a world where we are told that the gender gap is vastly diminishing in size, why are people still intrigued by these questions, enough to make them prominent results in the biggest search machine of the world? As it is in our nature to look for answers for questions we are struggling to understand, it seems that many people out there

still don’t see women as equals. Even to the extent that ‘women should not wear trousers’ is apparently an often typed remark in the search box. Luckily for us, we weren’t the only ones who were appalled by this women’s Google search issue. Thanks to a great series of ads that have been developed by human-rights organisation U.N. Women attention is brought to the matter that puts women in such a negative light. Each ad shows the face of a woman with the offensive Google searches placed over their mouth, as if to ‘silence their voices’. Kareem Shuhaibar, who is the copy writer of the creative team that has developed the campaign said: “The ads are shocking because they show just how far we still have to go to achieve gender equality. They are a wake up call, and we hope that the message will travel far”. Already, U.N. Women have received many positive responses to the ads and hope the campaign will spark a dialogue about the matter in order to open eyes and minds globally. We couldn’t agree more that women can’t and - more importantly shouldn’t be silenced. CM To find out more about the campaign visit U.N. Women online at www.unwomen.org.

NEWS 17

SOLDIERS IN

PETTICOATS

s a new World Economic Forum (WEF) report finds that the gap between men and women has somewhat narrowed in the past year in most countries, Olivia asks what that means for female politicians worldwide. The WEF’s Global Gender Gap report weighed four key areas to measure the relative gaps between women and men: health, education, economics and politics. Iceland topped the list of 136 nations for the fifth time, followed by Finland and Norway. Indeed, it’s good to be a woman in Europe overall, which has seven countries in the top 10. So what does this mean for female politicians around the world? Is the gender gap also closing in the political arena? Let’s start with the UK, a country run overwhelmingly by menfolk, who, rather ironically, are a minority of the population. Women make up only 22.5 percent of MPs and the percentage of women in the cabinet dropped to 17.4, meaning the nation still lags behind most of the rest of Europe. And it’s a men’s world even in public life, including education, finance and the media, where only a shocking third of public appointments are female. The off-putting evidence comes from ‘Sex and Power 2013: Who Runs Britain?’ a report compiled by the Counting Women In coalition. The times of ‘Blair’s Babes’, as they were dubbed when Labour won by a landslide in 1997, are long gone. And while it all looked blissful when Tony Blair was pictured with his new 101 MPs on that sunny morning in Westminster, we now know it wasn’t all roses behind the scenes, with plenty of reports on sexism, bullying and other not-so-democratic episodes. So why is the UK going backwards then? It’s certainly not because women have lost interest in politics. A total of 720 female candidates stood for election in 2005, and that number jumped to 861 in 2010. The explanation may lie in the fact that state institutions and support infrastructure to tackle female inequality have been shelved or weakened. That’s the case of the Equalities Office and the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which “have had their funding slashed and powers reduced”, as a July report from the Fawcett Society showed. And while we should not ignore the ones who are doing a good job, such as Home Secretary Theresa May and Yvette Cooper, it’s a shame the media focus a bit too much on their hairstyle or what designer they’re wearing instead of the real issues. Or if some female politicians act different than usual they’re considered ‘emotional’ or ‘frustrated’, in Nadine Dorries’s case. And that’s just not in the UK.

Nick Clegg, whose party has the lowest representation of females in parliament, said he’s planning on introducing all-women shortlists for the Lib Dems if not enough women are selected in winnable seats in 2015. It’s hard to have faith in these grand announcements and it’s tempting – albeit pretty annoying – to fall into the feminist refrain of why we really need more women in leadership positions. I am not going to do that. I am, however, going to disagree with those who insist women don’t need ‘help’ in this seemingly eternal debate. It’s not that they can’t fight this battle themselves. In the case of the UK, and numerous other countries, it’s about changing mind-sets and adapting the political culture in what has for a long time been a male-dominated game. All-women shortlists (AWS) are arguably a good way to start breaking some ground, but it’s a top down approach that can only work if there’s a genuine and joint determination to carry it out. The Norwegian Labour Party started doing it as early as 1983, followed by Denmark and Sweden a few years later. And as family responsibilities still pose an obstacle in ‘having it all’, Nordic countries also tend to have long parental leave policies and ensure long vacation periods. In the Netherlands, the four-day week is nearly standard particularly among working mums, according to Dutch government statistics. In the U.S., although we got used to seeing inspiring women reach top positions – such as Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton or Condoleezza Rice – women hold only 98 of the 535 seats in Congress, that’s a mere 18 percent. And it means the U.S. ranked an embarrassing 90th on the latest Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) annual report, which looks at the percentage of women in national parliaments around the world. According to an intriguing 2012 survey by the American University, “men are 60 percent more likely than women to believe they are ‘very qualified to run for office’.” Researchers argue that women’s disbelief in their political qualification stems not only from ingrained stereotypical gender roles, but also from a lower degree of consumption of politically based media, which is mostly ‘male-biased’. The way women are portrayed in political news contributes to a deficiency of political knowledge, as another report by the Economic and Social Research Council has also confirmed.

NEWS 19

Professor Kaori Hayashi, co-researcher of the July survey, thinks that this male bias of media content “may curb women’s motivation to acquire political knowledge actively, and discourage them from political participation”. So this imbalanced portrayal is sadly contributing to a lack of political ambition and complacency. Of course, when compared with ultraconservative nations such as Saudi Arabia, where women’s rights are close to nonexistent, women in the UK and the US seem to be doing great. Indeed, it is absurd not only that Saudi Arabian women still can’t vote – they will be able to do so and to run as of 2015 in local elections – but, more importantly, that they are still campaigning for basic rights such as the permission to drive. It’s the only country in the world where such a ban exists, despite the absence of a law saying so. We shouldn’t, however, overlook a historic decree issued by King Abdullah in January, when the 89-year-old monarch allowed 30 women in parliament for the first time ever. Whether such a symbolic announcement will truly make a difference for women, or whether it’s simply intended to quieten a growing network of activists and give the kingdom a more democratic edge, remains to be seen. The sudden implementation of gender equality policies always raises suspicions of potential ulterior intentions.

long-awaited reforms seem to have motivated activists to try and break even more sociocultural barriers, but that’s not the only reason. The root of this growing urge also lies within education, one of the main paradoxes of the Saudi kingdom. After years of heavy spending on education, illiteracy rates have gone down and enrolment for both boys and girls in primary schools has increased significantly, just to name a couple of improvements. And while 52 percent of university graduates in the Arab nation are females according to the U.N., more than a third of Saudi Arabian women are unemployed compared to a mere six percent of men – a recurring situation in the Middle East. Reforming the educational system has put women in the best position they have ever been to demand being better integrated into society. On top of that, globalisation has led to an even deeper realisation that the kingdom is light years away from most other countries. Having female representation in parliament is a positive indicator, but as long as the government and its clerics keep resisting change under the excuse of Islamic traditions, change will continue to come at an agonisingly slow pace for Saudi Arabian women.

The same goes for Yemen also, which continues to lag behind with only one woman in parliament. The fact that Yemeni women gained suffrage in 1967 shows how little they have progressed since in the country that ranked the Saudi women are, however, subtly coming out of their lowest in the WEF’s report. shells and raising their voices. A push for change from the previously all-male Shura Council made international Again, this is a country bursting with female activists, headlines when, in early October, three female members of endlessly pressing for more political participation, but just the Council filed a recommendation that the ban on women like in Saudi Arabia, for basic human rights and needs. Human Rights minister Hooriya Mashhoor recently vowed to ban driving be lifted. child marriage after an eight-year-old girl reportedly died Then, on October 26th, over 60 female drivers went against from internal bleeding on her wedding night. all the social media threats and official warnings and got behind the wheel, according to activists – making it the Women appeared to have played a crucial role in the Yemeni country’s biggest ever protest against the nonsense ban. uprising in 2011, but that seems like an elusive role now, as In short, giving Saudi women the right to vote in the next local elections is unsurprisingly not going to be enough. The

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NEWS 21

DID YOU KNOW? According to the UN, only 17 percent of ministers in governments across the world are women, and just 20 percent of the world’s parliamentarians are female.

they quickly went back to their quiet society roles. They’ve been struggling for years to get a 30 percent quota for females in all branches of government, and while the Consensus Committee at the National Dialogue Conference approved it, they haven’t got any further since.

top of the list is, surprisingly, Rwanda, where over 56 percent of seats in parliament are held by females. Rwanda’s case is even more interesting than, for example, the much-boasted Nordic nations, considering that less than 20 years ago the East Africa nation had just got out of one of the most brutal genocides in modern “The women’s quota is based on the history. idea that it will improve women’s participation in governance, thus Women empowerment owes a lot advancing women’s issues, through a to President Paul Kagame’s reforms, top-down approach”, said Sama’a Al- who took power after the genocide Hamdani, a Yemeni journalist living in and has just won parliamentary Washington DC. Although she doesn’t elections by a landslide. While he has think the latest dialogue on the quota been increasingly accused of wiping will make a real impact on the ground, out opposition and ignoring human Sama’a maintained that women would rights, it was under his leadership eventually prosper if they get elected that women-friendly policies were or selected, as they will most likely the implemented to improve their advancement of women in political economic and political status. affairs a priority. She agrees to a certain This included a new constitution extent with the women who think in 2003 requiring at least a 30 percent enforcing a quota is not democratic, of all seats go to women. Today, the but maintains that change will not proportion of women in office is happen naturally if women don’t stick well above that target. And while the together. African political scene has improved when it comes to gender equality, the But again, the main obstacle to change continent is still heavily dominated by in Yemen is religion, and, as Sama’a men, with only two out of 54 countries told Olivia, that’s not a fair battle for led by women. a woman to be in because no one wants to go against religion. And Gender discrimination in politics has with the country on the brink of civil unquestionably come a long way since war, women’s rights are the last issue the first women’s suffrage was granted on the government’s agenda. “They by New Zealand in 1893. But today’s [women] have to form coalitions and numbers are a painful reminder that networks, and stand strong with each the gender gap is not a thing of the other regardless of their political past, and that there is a lot more affiliation. Women should be the ones progress to be made. that shouldn’t allow the 30 percent quota to be used incorrectly,” Samaa An assessment of gender inequality added. It’s a call for perseverance and in today’s political scene also reveals strength. that it’s not only a matter of skill, but also of not letting stereotypes It’s worth looking at countries with hold women back from running for the highest representation of female leadership positions. It’s been proved parliamentarians in the world to more than once that a legislation push understand how they got there. At the can trigger this time-consuming but conceivable process. And, in some more problematic areas of our planet, perseverance is key since women are trying to modernise religious and secular mentalities – and that’s no easy task. Text by Madalena Araujo

On 19 September 1893, New Zealand became the first self-governing country in the world where women had the right to vote in parliamentary elections. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, three-time prime minister of Sri Lanka, became the world’s first female prime minister in 1960. In Yemen, a woman is not ‘recognized as a full person before the court’, unless it’s backed by a man’s testimony, meaning she’s considered only half a witness. Plus, women can’t testify in cases of adultery, libel, theft or sodomy. They also can’t leave the house without their husband’s permission, unless it’s an emergency. A report by UN Women and the IPU found that 17 of the 59 countries that held elections in 2011 had introduced quotas and, in those 17 nations, women gained 27 percent of parliamentary seats, compared with 16 percent in those without quotas. As of 1st September 2013, Rwanda had the highest proportion of female parliamentarians in the world, an uplifting 56 percent, followed by Andorra and Cuba.

We hear it every day, the crisis is still hitting us right in the face and although finding your first job is always a challenge, today it might even seem like a mission impossible. What do you do when you’re happily graduated and eager to commence your first employment? These young women take us on their journey through the land of ‘the Job Hunt’. Text by Karin Cuppens

xperience might just be the worst word of all times. Or at least that’s how I feel when I hear this as an explanation of why I’m not hired for the job. How can someone who just graduated from university have any experience whatsoever? And although I’ve done two internships already, it just does not seem enough.” Reading this, a depression might linger around the corner but that is far from true for a lot of graduates. After a couple of years in college or at university, youngsters learn to not give up when the first negative job responses sip in. While talking to these two persisting women, it becomes clear that staying positive really can take you a long way. A lot of it all depends of course on what your field of expertise is. And sadly the artistic, cultural sector is not always inviting to youngsters that seek to make a living out of their talent. Yet, there are ways to keep striving for your perfect job. It all comes down to making compromises. Sounds stupid no? How could you ever get the job you always dreamed about by settling for less? Well, Els is making it happen. “I’m passionate about my jewellery more than anyone will ever know. Although I guess my friends sometimes get quite a good idea because I’m constantly going on about it,” says the 25-year-old upcoming designer. “I started my jewel design course with one clear vision: explore my talent and make people happy with that.” Starting out as a designer comes with a lot of hazards though. How do you find the financial resources to turn your art into wearable pieces? How do you

“GETTING A ‘NO’ SEEMS HARSH BUT IT BEATS THE ALTERNATIVE AND THAT IS ABSOLUTE SILENCE”

market yourself? “The business aspects of running your own brand are never really clearly stipulated during your study. Coming out of college, I felt I had no clue where to start. I was able to find some stores that where interested in selling and exposing my work but breaking through to a wider audience seemed impossible” says Els. “That’s why I decided to take up another course to obtain my degree in teaching so I can at least pass on my fire for everything involving the plastic arts. I now give lessons at a secondary school and I’ve never been happier. My heart still lies with my own jewellery, make no mistake. I’ve entered a programme here in Belgium that helps young people from different disciplines such as architecture, interior design and much more, to get in touch with the more technical side of their talent,” Els tells. Programmes such as these can definitely have a positive impact on newly independent graduates that are still looking for their place in the market. They are stimulated to discover the possibilities of their brand and how they can take it to the next level. And with youth unemployment peaking – we’re at 24 percent of youngsters being jobless - according to statistics from the European Union, there is reason enough to be afraid one would say. But the 23-year-old Catherine sees this as a challenge. “When I first graduated as a Communication scientist, I felt like this wasn’t enough to enter the job market. I had done an internship with a cultural music institution so I had already gained my first work experience there, for which I am extremely

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“I KEEP MOTIVATED BY STAYING ON TOP OF MY GAME”

grateful. I still missed a management perspective to complement my cultural background. So after some soul searching, I took up Cultural Management at the University of Antwerp.” But all this studying and doing multiple internships does not always lead directly to a work placement. It takes perseverance and determination to keep going when all you hear is no. Or actually, scratch that. Getting a ‘no’ seems harsh but it beats the alternative every day and that is absolute silence. “A lot of the time when I apply for a job, I get no feedback whatsoever. It looks as if some companies find it useful to advertise vacancies and then ignore you when you show the slightest interest,” says Catherine. During this process of browsing the Internet for work, applying, going on job interviews, it is crucial to look on the bright side of life – cue theme song. Catherine shares her secret: “I keep motivated by staying on top of my game. I read up on new tendencies in my sector and perfect my linguistic skills through the use of autodidactic programmes online. Everything to spice up that CV.” Despite the fact that your first work experience will never be an easy one, you will never forget what got you there in the first place. “When I will open my first store, I will know what it took to get to this point. They say that if you want something, you have to work for it. Well, I guess that might be true.”

Statistics from August 2013 showed 5,499 young persons are still unemployed in the EU. It shouldn’t be a surprise then that generation Y is doing everything it can to stand out from the crowd. These youngsters are filled with fresh and innovative ideas, are willing to work hard to get where they want to be and most importantly, they don’t give up. We are excited to present Olivia Magazine’s first-ever edition of 20 under 30 young talents coming from Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Our all-female list is packed with brilliant minds from a range of different industries. Don’t let their pretty appearances fool you, these girls mean business. Text by Chloé Bauwens

ANNELOUS LAMMERTS

19, NOORDGOUWE, THE NETHERLANDS THE PROFESSIONAL KITEBOARDER You are a professional kiteboarder, when did you realise this is what you wanted to do with your life? From the moment I started kiteboarding I was addicted. At the beginning it was just a passion but when I took a year off between high school and university, I realised that I wanted to do it full time. At the moment I’m in the middle of the 2013 competition season. We still have two stops of the European Championship and two stops of the National Championship. I’m completely focused on training for those competitions right now. What kind of child were you and how did that affect you? I always dreamed about becoming a professional hockey player. I started playing field hockey when I was four years old and spent as much time on the field as possible. I guess it turned out a little different. When I was young I also thought that people with expensive cars and big houses were really successful. Now I’m older I know that success is about loving what you do rather than working at a boring job and spending your money in a way to create a certain image. What’s the best professional lesson you have learned so far? The best professional lesson I have learned is never to sell your dreams to pay the rent. It seems a cliché to say that, but it’s true. Kiteboarding is a relatively new sport, which means it’s really

difficult to get money from sponsors, even if you are getting good results. Many people told me to go to university and focus on my future instead of doing something that will never make it possible to pay the rent. I surely experienced this difficulty in getting money, even to pay for my trips to competitions. It has been pretty hard to train at a professional level and work at the same time just to be able to compete. The wind in the Netherlands is changing all the time and sometimes we have a month of almost no wind. Having to work on windy days was really frustrating, especially when my competition was training at a perfect place somewhere abroad. After working really hard for two years, camping on parking places, saving every penny for food, it seems my hard work has paid off. Next year I will get more support from new sponsors and I will be able to compete in beautiful places around the world. I am happy I will have just enough money to kite all year round, so I will not be able to save money for later. But the most important thing is that at this moment I am my dream. Luckily I will have enough time to work a normal job, since the government changed the laws and we will have to work until we are 70 years old. What has been your most humbling moment in your career so far? My most humbling moment was becoming European Champion in my first year competing.

HELEN & TINE VAN DEN POEL 20, ANTWERP, BELGIUM

THE TWIN STREET STYLE BLOGGERS WWW.ANTWERPENSTREETSTYLE.COM

You’ve started the Antwerp Street Style blog three years ago and you are

both still studying. What are your lives like now? Tine: My life slash career revolves around these two things right now: attending classes at university and blogging in my free time. Although I do not get paid for blogging, I pretty much see it as my job because I put so much time and effort into it. I do it all because I love writing and because I learn a lot of skills that I can use later in an actual job Helen: I’m studying very hard to have good grades and in my free time I blog about Antwerp and its street style. My ultimate dream is to start my own magazine. In Belgium we have a lack of magazines, I think, so it would be great if we had some more. If you could switch lives with anyone else under 30, who would it be? Helen: Nine Marie d’Urso, the daughter

of Ines de la Fressange. I would love to live in Paris and she has that awesome Parisian style. Tine: I would love to switch with Stephanie Duval: she has an amazing job, an amazing eye for the aesthetic and she travels a lot. She’s a very inspiring woman. What has been your most humbling moment? Tine: Now my grandfather has Alzheimer’s and cannot communicate properly anymore, I often regret not having asked more about his younger years. It made me realize you have to cherish every conversation with your loved ones. Helen: I always say to everyone that they don’t have the right to judge someone if they don’t know the person, but I catch myself doing that when someone’s walking by. Stereotypes are malicious things.

VICKY YANG

21, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

THE ILLUSTRATOR

WWW.VICKAAAYYANG.TUMBLR.COM You’ve just graduated, what are your career goals now? At the moment I am hoping to get a job in an advertising company or creative studio, anything that’s involved with design really. My ultimate dream is to be the one creating the artwork for big advertisements for online or offline media. When you were a child, what did you think you’d be doing at this age? I thought I’d become a comic illustrator or an air hostess. But I guess comic illustrator is much closer to what I’m doing at the moment. The passion for drawing has always been there but I didn’t realise until secondary school that I actually wanted to be an artist.

What’s the best professional lesson you have learned so far? Working with clients is tough, and they can be very unpredictable. Do try your best to negotiate what it is they are looking for in your work, but do not let anyone walk over you. Do you have a mantra you live by? You don’t do, you don’t get.

When did you realise you wanted to become a fashion photographer? I was 12-years-old when I went to a ‘special’ high school, called The School for Young Talent. Every day I did courses at the Royal Academy of Arts in different subjects, including photography. When I was 15 I knew for a fact that I wanted to become a photographer – it was the one thing I was good at.

ROMY TREEBUSCH

22, THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS

THE FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER WWW.ROMYTREEBUSCH.COM

How did you find your first job and how long did it take you to find one after graduating? I’ve never been without work, if I’m honest. After my final exams, jobs came along and one led to the other. Luckily for me, I never have to look long and hard to find a new one. I’ve recently shot the new campaign for fashion label SuperTrash so this will open new opportunities for me yet again. Tell us a true-life tale of the last completely awesome thing you did.

I’ve done a four-month internship at Alique, a famous fashion photographer. At first she told me she wasn’t looking for an assistant and was too busy to help me. I felt so bad afterwards that I phoned her back two days later asking if I could help with boring things like paperwork. She hired me immediately due to my persistence. Next thing I knew I was flying from Paris to London and Amsterdam for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. What has been your most embarrasing moment? Once I wrote, on a very important invoice, ‘Vogue’ with a Q… I got reprimanded quite a bit for that.

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EMMA FABIUS

22, VOORBURG, THE NETHERLANDS

THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STUDENT You are an International Business Student, you’re doing a minor in Spanish and in Global Development, to say you are ambitious is the least. What has been the personal highlight of your studies so far? Last year I was the treasurer of the board of directors of The European International Model United Nations. We organised several events of which one was a one-week conference where 250 students from all over the world had the opportunity to experience the workings and decision-making processes of the United Nations

and NATO through role-playing in one of the simulated councils. Organising an event where people from all over the world made great effort to attend was truly an amazing experience that I am proud of. As the Board of Directors of TEIMUN 2013, we were allowed to show a video at a conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which celebrated the 100-year existence of the Peace Palace. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Frans Timmermans and many foreign diplomats were among those who saw our video.

It was special that we, as students, were allowed to attend such an important and special day. What’s in store for the future? Next year I will do my masters, probably in strategy. I would like to find a job in consultancy, where I will have contacts with many different companies.

LUCY SCOTT

23, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

THE STYLIST ASSISTANT (FOR HILARY ALEXANDER) Could you tell us a true-life tale of the last completely awesome thing you did. For me it was styling the Breast Cancer Care gala show this year. Being a part of making the models so happy – all the women have suffered from breast cancer and some of them are still battling against it... Being able to make such inspirational people so happy was awesome to me.

You are working as a stylist assistant for Hilary Alexander and combining it with university. What are your big career goals? All I can see at the moment is this next year of trying to get through all this work for my fourth and final year of university and for Hilary. My big dream is to venture over to the United States.

pressure of a creative job in the cutthroat fashion industry? By thinking it’s only a few weeks of my life and that somehow makes me able to handle it all. I also remind myself every so often to take some time to myself.

How do you cope with the uncertainty and constant

JILL SMEYERS

24, ANTWERP, BELGIUM

THE POLICE INSPECTOR When did you realise you wanted to join the police force? I’ve known for a really long time what I wanted to become. I grew up surrounded by police officers and their stories always intrigued me. Plus, I have a weakness for any job in uniform.

training as a police inspector now. It’s a bit weird to start at my age and it certainly isn’t the traditional way of doing things. It took me some time to follow my dream and I made mistakes on the way, but the important thing is that I’m making it happen now.

What path are you following towards your goal? I took a bit of a detour. While normally everyone graduates and starts their careers at this age, I’ve just started my

What’s the craziest thing you’ve done so far? I just got a tattoo with my life’s mantra, miles to go. It reminds me where I’m coming from and where I’m going.

©Tom Bauwens

ESME BECH

24, ZIERIKZEE, THE NETHERLANDS

THE VIDEO JOURNALIST

When did you realise being a video journalist is what you wanted to do with your life? I never really did actually. I did know university wasn’t something that suited me. Hours of listening and making notes… After graduating from high school I started working for a year. Then I started thinking about journalism. During the study I was convinced it was the right path for me, but during my last year I had my doubts. Then I did my internship at Atv [regional television in Antwerp]. That showed me what a job as a video journalist looks

like in real life. I got so excited and realised that this is what I wanted to do. Every day is different and you get to know so many people. That, for me, is the most interesting part. So journalism did turn out to be the right choice after all. What are you doing right now with your career and life? After studying in Antwerp I moved back to Holland and I’m working for Omroep Zeeland [regional television station based in Oost-Souburg]. I’m still a video journalist working

mostly by myself. Everything from interviewing to filming and editing is done on my own. I have my one office in Terneuzen with a colleague. We work independently from the main office and cover the Zeeuws-Vlaamse region. In my life it’s just like others, I guess. I have a boyfriend, for five years now. We live together, no children, no pets but we have a great place to live, with a garden next to the harbour, so I have my ‘own’ swimming pool. If life stays like this for a while it’s perfect for me. I’m happy.

ALIX PAMELA SHAW

24, KENT, UNITED KINGDOM

THE GRAPHIC DESIGNER (SHE DESIGNED OLIVIA MAGAZINE… THAT ON ITS OWN SAYS IT ALL) WWW.ALIXSHAW.COM WWW.DESIGNBREW.TUMBLR.COM When did you realise you wanted to pursue a career in graphic design? I have always been quite artistic through different media but it wasn’t really until college that I realised that graphic design was the route I wanted to take in terms of a ‘real career’. I studied photography at A-Level and thought about going into that for a while until I saw the design course at my university and fell in love with it. What are you doing with your life and career right now? I’m back living at home with my parents (what we all said we would never do after uni) and I have a few freelance projects on the go (like Olivia Magazine), which are keeping me busy whilst I find a ‘real job’ in a magazine or design studio. I also run a design blog which features different graphic design from all over the world. Can you tell us a bit about your ultimate career goals? One day I would love to own my own magazine, providing a variety of crafts, art, illustration, photography and funny stories. I am always trying

out new things creatively. At the moment I am experimenting with ‘black out poetry’, which is where you take an old book and black out the words you don’t want or need and it leaves you with a sentence or poem. It’s really fun. When you were a child, what did you think you’d be doing at this age? I used to proudly announce that I was going to ‘be a builder and build my own rainbow house and never use electric, just candles’. To be honest, I never really seriously considered my life until I was at college and thought, ’Whoa, time to make some life choices here.’ What did you buy with your first paycheck? With my first paycheck, from working in a chip shop whilst at college, I bought a film camera for my photography course. When I get my ‘big break’ I am going to buy myself a new watch. Which celebrity would play you in the movie version of your life? Probably Renée Zellweger, but as Bridget Jones. I can identify with her 95 per cent of the time.

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ALINE VERMEIREN 25, ANTWERP, BELGIUM

THE SOCIAL MEDIA CONSULTANT & FREELANCE JOURNALIST How has your idea of fame and success changed from when you were young? I used to believe everyone could be successful and make something out of his/her future if they only had the will and the drive to do it. Now I do believe that a lot depends on your background and the chances you get in life. Of course you can create your own chances, etc. – at least that’s what they say – but I know if my parents were not so supportive I would have never been where I am today.

was the right person at the right time and they wanted me on their team. The cooperation ended this year, because I felt my job was done and they needed someone for more administrative, routine jobs. Not my cup of tea. What was the last completely awesome thing you did? I attended all four fashion weeks in September 2013. Tiany Kiriloff and I went to New York, London, Milan and Paris and we had an amazing time. Attending all four weeks is crazy but I enjoyed every minute and I could not be more grateful for the opportunities I got. I don’t think that in Belgium there are journalists who even go to all four fashion weeks so I am kind of proud and happy and I could not wish for a better ‘teacher’ than Tiany.

it be? I might want to switch with Mary-Kate or Ashley Olsen. These twins are just the perfect example of perseverance. I’d love to live their lives even only for one day (maybe without the famous part). Don’t get me wrong, I’m perfectly happy with my own life, but when I look at them I think: if they can do that and reach their goals, so can I.

How did you apply for your job after graduating? After graduating for the third time, in London, at London College of Fashion, I started looking for a job in fashion. I actually only applied for one job, at Essentiel, a fashion label in Antwerp. I was so lucky as they If you could switch lives with were immediately convinced I anyone else under 30, who would

UTPALA BARVE 24, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

THE COSTUME DESIGNER

When did you decide to become a costume designer? When I was around 13 to 14 years old, and each textbook was filled with sketches of clothing, my mother suggested looking into costume design. It was like suddenly everything clicked together and I knew that was what I wanted to do. When you were a child, what did you think your life would look like at this age? I thought I’d be married by now (product of an Indian upbringing) and making a living as a poet.

What’s the best professional lesson you have learned? Nothing speaks louder than hard work. Though bull-shitting can sometimes take you farther than you think. How do you cope with the uncertainty and constant pressure of the fashion industry? By talking about it to people I’m close to. I try to make sure I don’t go to sleep stressed.

SIGRID SPAAS 24, MOL, BELGIUM

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION RESEARCHER How did you apply for your job? How long did it take to find it after graduating? I got lucky for once. I found a job after two months of sending my skills out to the world. In one week I was so fed up by getting turned down by some really cool companies, I decided to broaden my searching area. First I only applied for jobs in the big city but I decided to also look for a job in my hometown. I applied for a really abstract vacancy as a copywriter. I was invited to an interview and I realised that it was a scientific department of the European Commission, only 15 minutes away from my

elderly house. So when life gives happy, interacting with people, learn something new every day you lemons… and make enough money to What did you buy with your make myself happy – sounds first pay check? like a great goal to me. I want I didn’t plan to spend my first my work to fit into my life and self-earned money in an erotic not the other way around. If I shop. But I did. can manage to do that before I The job you are doing now is have children and a mortgage, an interim one, what are you I’ll high-five myself. planning to do after it? What’s your mantra in life? I’m trying to make something I don’t live by a mantra, just by out of my first job experience. lyrics from the 70s. After my contract is over in February, I want to travel or have a long, adventurous vacation. There is no five-yearplan at this point. As long as I’m

©Neil de Westelinck

ENA HOEGAERTS 22, ANTWERP, BELGIUM

THE MIDWIFE

You’ve recently graduated as a midwife, what are you doing now in your career? For a year now I’ve been working as a midwife in a hospital called Sint-Vincentius in Antwerp. The first six months I worked in the prenatal care department, guiding women during their pregnancies, taking ultrasounds and detecting prenatal development problems and how to cope with them. The past six months I’ve been working in the delivery room itself, the maternity ward, and with sickly and premature-born infants in the couveuse.

What has been your most humbling moment as a midwife so far? As a midwife you experience many humbling moments, but there’s one recent one that clings to me most of all. During my studies I went on an internship to Ecuador. There I had to experience a lot of the less ‘fun’ side of being a midwife, like coping with death. There was one 16-year-old girl who I had to help and guide giving birth to her already deceased baby… I was very affected by this and got a strong emotional response. The hospital staff made fun of my tears

and me. They didn’t understand why I was crying about it. It even made me feel humiliated. Apart from going to Ecuador, what’s the last amazing thing you did? I moved out from my parents’ house into a place of my own. I think that’s the biggest thing I’ve recently done and I don’t regret it for a single second. I love taking care of myself.

ELIZABETH HEDLEY 21, LIVERPOOL, UNITED KINGDOM

THE PROSTHETIC DESIGNER Where does your interest for prosthetic design come from? I have always been interested in performance as I danced on stage at an early age. I am a fine artist who studied through to A-Level and an art and design foundation. There’s always been an interest in painting portraits and distorting the body and face.

child. It’s a fact that I have always been passionate about performing and dancing but I was a bit of a tomboy growing up, always going to football matches with my dad. When I wasn’t doing that you would find my drawing and sketching. It’s what I remember doing most. It formed a good base for the intense art based degree I decided to do later on.

Apart from your love of dancing and performing, what where you like as a child? I was the oldest of four children so I’ve always been quite a mature

What’s your mantra? Dreams are illustrations from the book your soul is writing.

EVELIEN DE ZEEUW 23, VOORBURG, THE NETHERLANDS

THE MAKE-UP ARTIST

What’s your ultimate goal in life? I never knew exactly what I wanted to do. After a spontaneous trip to Italy I wanted to get a degree in Hotel Management in Amsterdam. During the course we went on an internship to Aruba… there I realised I loved life there more than my actual internship; I ended my degree and stayed for another three months on the island. After that I decided it was time to get serious. I moved back to The Hague, worked in a trendy clothing boutique and found my real passion, make-up artist. I

registered at one of the finest courses at House of Holland and I’m now in the midst of it. I’d love to work for Vogue, travel around the world and combine that successful career with having a family and children.

nice age to have my first child. I melt away whenever I see someone passing by with a baby, but luckily my heart also beats faster when I’m buying make-up. For now, I’ll focus on that.

When you were a child, what did you think you’d be doing at this age? When I was eight-years-old I’d tell my mother I wanted to have children when I was 15. Luckily, I added a few years to that number when I actually turned 15. I’m 23 now and I think 28 would be a

A perfect day in your town always includes these three things... Vino vino vino and friends. Oh wait that’s four.

LAURA DAVIS 25, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

THE FAMILY SUPPORT WORKER When did you realise you wanted to work in family support? When I was 14-years-old, I was quite disengaged and naughty at school and lots of people supported me to get through that stage. From then on I knew that’s what I wanted to do, to help people in difficult situations. Now I’m working in a refuge with women and children who have or are

escaping domestic violence. I’m supporting them to resettle in a new community and access a range of opportunities that are available to them.

simply applied for it online. Sometimes you can get lucky like that.

What’s the best professional lesson you You are working in a refuge in ever learned? London now, how did you land To always look at the that job? whole picture. I have always been working in this sector, the job I’m doing now in London I found 14 months after graduating and I

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KATRIN SWARTENBROUX 26, ANTWERP, BELGIUM

THE JOURNALIST

WWW.FAKEPLASTICRUBY.COM What are you doing with dinner ‘to discuss my career your life and career at the plans’. As far as I’m concerned,

©Tom Bauwens

moment? Isn’t this the question every 26-year-old is asking themselves nowadays? If you want the simple facts, then my answer would be that I’m working on a new media project for Sanoma Media at the moment, but don’t ask me to dig deeper because a panic attack is never pretty, not even on paper. I have a whole list of things I should be doing with my life, and a bunch of motivationals on Pinterest to back me up, but I don’t know if I’m moving in the right direction or if the choices I make in life are the ones that will later on serve me well. I can only hope and try not to think about it too much. A few weeks ago someone who I really admire asked me to have

my career plans consist of ‘doing what I do best and crying in the tub whenever I fail’, but that won’t even last us through the first course, so I never replied.

What is your ultimate career goal? I really really really want my own magazine. I think there’s a real market now for the magazine I want to set up, I already have a whole businessplan set up in my head, I just don’t have the courage to go through with it. yet. Starting your own zine from scratch with zero funds is a very scary thing to do, and it’s not that I’m scared of failing or going flat on my face because I probably will. It’s because I’m scared that that experience will make me

love my job less. I love what I do and honestly: it’s the only thing I know how to do. If I end up hating journalism because of a really bad experience I have nothing left. I have no specific talents and I’ve never had other dreams than to “write” in some way or another. If my passion for media is over, my life is over (even though I’d still have my sense for drama). What’s your mantra? “Make every song you sing your favorite tune”. I can’t do something that I don’t love, in which I don’t believe in.

CHARLOTTE KOELEMAN & LUCIËNNE HOOGMOED 23, THE HAGUE & DELFT, THE NETHERLANDS

THE COMMUNICATION EXPERTS WWW.LESFABULEUXDEUX.COM What gave you the idea to start the lifestyle website Les Fabuleux Deux? Luciënne: When we were 16, Charlotte and I organised a benefit concert for Plan Nederland (a part of Plan International). After that we got asked to come up with the campaign for ‘Because I’m a girl’ which we realised with television and radio advertisements and all sorts of different platforms. Ever since doing that I knew I wanted to do something with marketing and PR. Les Fabuleux Deux is a platform for us to write fun

and easy texts going from food to style and showcase them to an audience at the same time. Charlotte: In short, we started a creative challenge for ourselves that allows us to share everything we love and like with the world. How do you deal with pressure and uncertainty? Charlotte: Don’t think, just do it. Luciënne: In my opinion this insecurity is a drive to go after something, if everything was certain in life it would turn out boring.

What’s your ultimate goal with Les Fabuleux Deux? Luciënne: I’d love for Les Fabuleux Deux to turn into an international platform, allowing us to travel, experience and discover as much as we possibly can. I’d also like to expand our website further to communication, marketing and PR to cater for new brands and concepts. Charlotte: I can only agree with Luciënne, expansion is the ultimate goal and it’s in our hands to reach it.

LYNN VERNIEUWE 24, ANTWERP, BELGIUM THE MEDICAL STUDENT

©Tom Bauwens

You’re studying to be a doctor, something a lot of children say they want to become when they grow up. When did you decide to go after it? I always thought I would be a veterinary physician. I was a perfectionist and eager to learn, always wanting to be number one in class, music, sports…I believe those traits are what led me to studying medicine, and I still like studying and knowing a lot about everything. It was in high school during a biology class that I realised the human body was pretty nifty, and the past few years have only confirmed that. Now, I am in my final year of medical school and will be applying

for a ‘real’ job soon. I would like to be an emergency physician and maybe study or work abroad for a couple of months. What has been your most humbling moment during your medical degree? Patients with terrible life-changing diseases who manage to keep a positive attitude. A perfect day in your town always includes these three things... My boyfriend, the sun and ice cream. If you could switch lives with anyone else under 30, who would it be? My cat. Sleep, eat, repeat.

PATRICIA GOIJENS

©Tom Bauwens

25, ANTWERP, BELGIUM

THE ONLINE BOUTIQUE OWNER (WITH HER MOM) WWW.LILYANDTHELADY.COM Together with your mom you own the online boutique Lily and the Lady, why did you decide to jump into business with your mother? I’ve always known that I wanted to be my own boss some day, I just didn’t know it would happen so soon. We have a family full of entrepreneurs: my dad, my aunts and uncles, my grandparents... It was bound to happen some day. When I was working at what I thought was my dream job (as a fashion journalist/ in a fashion production company) it hit me that it really wasn’t. That was a really tough moment for me, because I knew my bosses well, and I had been working towards this for years, but it didn’t feel right. Around the same time my mom asked me to start working for the webshop full time, and we decided to go for it. I know I was hesitant at first because I didn’t want people to think I was ‘working for my mom’ and actually not doing a thing, but as I get older that matters less and less to me. I know I work hard, that should be enough. I’m really happy with how things are now, I think I’m working at my dream job now, even though I didn’t know it at first sight. Apart from Lily and the Lady, are there any other creative endeavours on your horizon? I’m working on two new websites. One will launch very soon, but to me these are more a creative outlet, not a career move. In the future I would really love to

see Lily and the Lady grow so we can hire a team, although I know I would miss the way we work now. I would love to own a concept store one day in the city – in my mind I already know how it looks. It could be Lily and the Lady or it could be something else, I haven’t decided yet. Also, my boyfriend is an architect and I would love to work with him on some interior projects –that would be so great. When you were a kid, what did you think you’d be doing at this age? I wanted to be a pharmacist. That seems so weird now. How do you deal with the pressure of having your own business? The thing about having your own business is that you can’t ever really turn it off. It’s always on your mind. When it goes bad, you feel bad; when it’s good, you feel good. I still have to learn to keep more of an emotional distance without losing my passion. I think it will better with age. Sometimes it is hard, but it doesn’t compare to the freedom I have. And I wouldn’t want to have it any other way. What’s the best professional lesson you ever learned? Work hard but take no shit. Still working on that last part.

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“Don’t be put off by stereotypes”

THE COXLESS ROWERS 8,446 miles. Four women. Three world records. 6,000 calories. Twenty-four hours per week of training. A six-month journey. Eight litres of water a day. One boat. If we were to break the journey of Laura Penhaul (30), Natalie Miles (31), Ella Hewton (24) and Emma Mitchell (28) into mere numbers and facts, we wouldn’t do justice to the incredible challenge they are undertaking. These four women are going to row across the Pacific Ocean, try to break three world records (first all-female team to row the Pacific Ocean; first ever team of four to row the Pacific Ocean; fastest ever Pacific Ocean row) and raise money and awareness for Walking With The Wounded and Breast Cancer Care. Olivia Magazine talked to Laura to find out what drives these women, how they are preparing and what it takes to row an ocean.

Chloé: Laura, first of all I just want to say how amazing and inspiring we find the challenge you all are undertaking, but we are curious as to the big why. Why rowing? What inspired this wild idea to go and cross an ocean? Laura: There are lots of reasons really. The row originally started with an associated Co-Founder, Annabel Hancock, who unfortunately is no longer involved, but it was Annie’s idea to row an ocean and bring a team together and she had been inspired by a woman called Sally Kettle who had rowed the Atlantic with her mum. I then was contacted via a friend of mine who had been approached by Annie in her search for a team and that was it – when I heard about it I was hooked and knew it was the challenge that I had been looking for. My background lies in triathlons and marathons, and, previous to starting this expedition, I had never once sat in a rowing boat. I like to do a challenge and from my physiotherapy background I have an understanding that it’s often better to start from a clean slate where there are no bad habits embedded already. When you get the right coaching, they can work from a blank canvas. You do what you are told to. You replicate what they tell you because you have nothing to compare it to. For me as a physiotherapist I wanted to bring together a really strong support team and say, ‘If you believe in it strongly enough, if you’ve got the mental attitude and you have the expertise behind you, then you can achieve what you want to achieve.

did you look for the expert coaching that you just mentioned? I spoke to Alex Wolf, who’s a good friend of mine and who’s the lead strength and conditioning coach of the GB rowing team. I contacted him and said we might be doing this challenge, so I said, “First things first, I need to learn to row. Have you got any ideas?”. His natural reaction was that it might be a good start to jump in a boat and try it, but Alex also put me in touch with Imperial College, who kindly said that they would sponsor us with coaching.

But after the coaching was taken care of, you still needed to find two other rowers for the team, since you want to be the first group of four to undertake the challenge. Plus, they needed to be female. The team recruitment has been the hardest part so far. You are looking for a number of things. You need to look at the personalities you’ve already got and at the areas you might need to fill in order to get a well-rounded team. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses in their personality so it’s not about changing, it’s about understanding your own weak spots as well as others on the team and then management processes around them. So there’s that, the personality side of it all, but you are also looking at the skill set. My background is medical so to a certain extent there’s no point in having two physiotherapists on board if you can find someone with, for example, sailing experience. It’s looking at what skill sets we need now to get to the start line and to Never having rowed before, you’re now those we need during the row. training for a six-month journey. Where

All of the girls that were being interviewed for a place on your team had to show their skillset, something I believe that can be tested more easily than the personality part. How did you do that? With some really simple things. It was all about the basics of understanding yourself. A lot of people don’t analyse themselves enough. I understand myself on a much deeper level now than I ever have done. It’s things like writing down the three situations that get the best out of you and the three that get the worst out of you. One of the situations I get strength from is being surrounded by positivity and that can be in a number of ways: people around me being positive, seeing the glass half full, those sorts of things. Whereas people who are constantly quite negative and see the world in a different light in that sense, I can give them so much of my energy for a short time but then they start getting the worst out of me. It was really interesting to see who was open enough to share those three things and who really thought about the question. Some people would write down really shallow stuff and other people really put some effort into it and said this is how I react when I’m tired or hungry, or that combination would make me get cranky. It’s understanding that those things will make you that way and it’s humbling when people are completely open about themselves and understand themselves.

PEOPLE 39

You know and understand yourself now better than ever, you say, but where does your adventurous spirit come from? It’s not every day that someone decides to learn to row and tread water for months. You know it’s funny, my parents say that to me as well, they don’t know where I get this, although I definitely get my stubbornness from my mum. I’ve always been this way. Everything I do is a challenge. One thing I always say is, you’ve only got one chance in life and if you would ever write your own biography, you would want someone to read it and enjoy it. If you say I went to university, got a job, worked nine to five… There’s nothing wrong with that, but I just want to strive to achieve as best as I possibly can and leave a footprint. When I was 12 I said I wanted to work at the Olympics and was fortunate to have worked at the Paralympics in Vancouver 2010 and then London 2012. I didn’t realise until afterwards that I actually had achieved what I had set out for myself. Sometimes you just know you are on a path and you do everything in your power to make it happen. When at first you don’t succeed, I just go: “Come on, keep going, keep persevering.” That perseverance is something you will most definitely need when the four of you are surrounded by nothing but water. Can you help translate the picture of living on a boat for six months a bit? What visual can I create with that? Basically we will row for two hours – two of us – and then rest for two. So it’s two hours on, two hours off. That’s the basic daily routine, but within that you have another daily routine of eating, hygiene, first aid, looking after the boat and its equipment. In those two hours off you still have loads to do plus you need to sleep. In the nighttime you’ll try to sleep as much as you can when you have your break, but you’ll eat first. That means you might get an hour and a half of sleep maximum at a time. In the daytime you’ll do all the other things, and stretching, looking after your personal health and your co-pilot. We also have to take navigational logs of where we are and make sure we document them for when the electronic system fails. We also need to do communication via satellite phone to talk to the expedition leader, Tony Humphrey, who will be looking at the weather reports and feeding it back to us. There are loads and loads of routine checks we need to do. Eating is key when you are doing such a physical challenge. For women, food has always been a bigger subject than for men. What will your diet be like? We work with a company called Fuizion Foods and they are amazing. They freezedry things like Thai green curry and put it

into a packet and all you do is put in water. You have to imagine that we’ll have around four meals a day, breakfast and three warm meals. Each of those meals will maybe be around 800 calories each, so we need to eat to around 6,000 calories a day. That’s the hardest thing, especially as females. From a female aspect we’ve always got this thing about our personal appearance and body shape; I’ve always been the athlete and been quite lean but I need to put on another 15 kilos. You put it on in muscles so you just look broader and stronger but we also need to put on a fat layer as well. It gives you a bit of a buffering because muscle takes longer to break down. If you imagine burning 6,000 calories every day but only putting in 4,000, those 2,000 have to come from somewhere. That’s why you need to give yourself a bit of a buffering. The size we’ll be at the start is going to be hilarious. Another thing we still need to figure out exactly is how much water we’ll have to drink, but we’ll be having at least seven to eight litres a day because the heat is there. Each two hours you’ll need a litre and a bit. From a female perception, this challenge doesn’t really fit with stereotypes that unfortunately still exist for women. True, it still seems like why would you want to do this as a woman? Why would you want to get your nails dirty? From a female perception you are suddenly a tomboy or really butch, but it’s not. We all still like putting our dress, heels and make-up on, but that’s what makes it even more special when you do something like this. The interesting thing is that we get more support from men than women though that isn’t our target audience. Having four women rowing, guys find that impressive, while women might find it intimidating. That’s not what it’s about though: we want to inspire women. If I could give one piece of advice, it would be not to be put off by stereotypes and the perception of what is the norm for females. If you want to do something, believe in yourself and do it – whether you are male or female. It’s not about feminism. It’s just about showing women you can do what you want to do. You can still be feminine; doing sport doesn’t make you masculine. Go out there and go after what you want. Put the hard work into it to achieve it, but give yourself a realistic timeframe to achieve it. Text by Chloé Bauwens

To find out even more about these amazing women, go to www.coxlesscrew.com and BuyAMile to show your support and to get your name on the inspiration wall in the boat – be honest, that’s the closest you will ever get to crossing the Pacific.

“Everything I do is a challenge” PEOPLE 41

“I have always been surrounded by survivors and been confided in by them. One night in October of 2011, another friend shared her story and it was the last straw for me: I knew I needed to do something. I woke up the next morning with the idea for the project.” Starting a blog filled with stories might not sound like the most innovative idea on the planet but wait until you know exactly what type of stories 21-year-old Grace Brown is bringing

his Massachusetts photographer’s blog, Project Unbreakable started two years ago and now features over 2,000 photos. All of them are victims of sexual assault. Each and every one of them is holding a poster on which they quote their attacker. The project’s purpose is to increase awareness on the issues surrounding sexual assault and to help victims recover. “I think the power of the project and writing down the quotes is that it places the blame back on the attacker, rather than the survivor,” Grace tells us. Starting with Project Unbreakable Grace turned to her friends first, asking them to share their story, completely unaware of the impact and power her project would generate. “Survivors who participated said they felt like they were taking their lives back. Survivors who simply viewed the images felt less alone,” Brown explains. “Nonsurvivors are often surprised at how common it is and attempt to do whatever they can to change it.” Grace now receives feedback from all over the world, thanking her for what she’s doing, asking her to take their picture or submitting one themselves if they live too far away. The power of the project lies in the fact that victims are taking the power back with words that were used against them. “I think it’s a way of letting go,” Grace says, “a way of standing up and saying ‘This happened to me, but it doesn’t define me.’” In January a joint official statistics bulletin of sexual violence in England and Wales by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Home Office revealed that approximately 85,000 women are raped on average in England and Wales every year. In Belgium the statistics in 2011 counted 3,024 charges for rape, 1,454 charges for sexual assaults with violence and 2,121 for sexual assaults without violence. In the Netherlands 24 women report a sexual assault every week but that’s only 11 percent of the offenses that happen. It’s mostly shame that keeps victims from reporting these crimes but they all need support and professional help.

Project Unbreakable places the blame back on the attacker, rather than the survivor

With Project Unbreakable Grace Brown provides survivors with a safe place to tell their story and to take back control of their lives. The stories are moving, heartbreaking and distressing and it’s time that shame and keeping quiet are no longer associated with cases of sexual abuse. Text by Chloé Bauwens. Photography by Grace Brown. www.project-unbreakable.org

One of the 2,000 victims of sexual assault photographed for Project Unbreakable by Grace Brown

DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS ONLY 44 PERCENT OF PEOPLE ARE FULLY SATISFIED WITH THEIR SEX LIVES. 58 PERCENT OF PEOPLE ENJOY A LITTLE PAIN. THAT COULD EXPLAIN WHY THE FIFTY SHADES SERIES HAS SOLD OVER 70 MILLION COPIES WORLDWIDE.

Average number of calories in a teaspoon filled with 300 million sperm semen? Seven. The average male orgasm lasts six seconds; the average female orgasm 20. Lucky us. Good grief, no. That’s the reply of 66 percent of women when asked if they would sleep with their best male friend. 64 percent of men would however sleep with them.

The world’s longest unbroken kiss last for a dizzying 31 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds. Chapstick anyone? Don’t feel like going to the gym? Have sex instead. We burn 100 to 150 calories during intercourse.

MOST TURKEYS & GIRAFFES ARE BISEXUAL.

DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS AFTER FINGERS AND VIBRATORS, CANDLES USED MOST OFTEN BY FEMALE MASTURBATORS. UNLIT ONES, HOPEFULLY.

Worried your boyfriend thinks about sex too much? Men have an average 11 erections per day.

THE AVERAGE SPEED OF MALE EJACULATION? AN ASTONISHING 28 MILES PER HOUR.

‘La Petite Mort’ Humans have more in common with dolphins literally than you think: we both translated, are the only species who have sex for pleasure. the little death, sure Looking for a new moisturiser? Semen contains proteins that is a nicer tighten the skin and give an way of instant face-lift. saying ‘I THERE ARE ROUGHLY 100 just came’. MILLION ACTS OF SEXUAL No wonder INTERCOURSE EACH DAY. French is FACT: THE considered GRUESOME AVERAGE VAGINA IS as the most THREE TO FOUR INCHES LONG BUT CAN EXPAND romantic BY 200 PERCENT WHEN language. SEXUALLY AROUSED. OUR BODIES 47

Wish list

WE’VE BEEN GOOD GIRLS ALL YEAR

TEXT BY CARLOTTA MINDERHOUT

ARE YOU A TIE-ER OR RATHER THE TIEEE? BOTH ARE JUST AS FUN. WANT TO TAKE IT EVEN FURTHER? FULFILL THAT PARTICULAR FANTASY OF DRESSING UP AS A POLICEWOMAN. DID WE HEAR SOMEBODY HAS BEEN A BAD BOY?

OUR BODIES 49

LET OUT YOUR INNER DOMINATRIX BY PLAYING WITH THIS CLASSIC TOY. TURN PAIN INTO PLEASURE (AND OF COURSE A LOT OF FUN) WHEN RIDING ON THE BACK OF YOUR LOVER PRETENDING HE’S A HORSE.

DIAMONDS ARE A GIRLS BEST FRIEND THEY SAY, SO WHY NOT STICK THEM ON YOUR VIBRATOR? ORGASM IN MARILYN MONROE STYLE BY MATCHING YOUR TOY WITH A BRIGHT RED LIPSTICK. HOW CLASSY.

DELVE INTO THE DARK AND FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LOSE ONE OF YOUR SENSES, MAKING SMELL AND TOUCH ALL YOU CAN RELY ON. BESIDES, LEATHER MAKES EVERYTHING SO MUCH SEXIER.

OUR BODIES 51

THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT

WOMEN

WANT

We women are emotional and submissive creatures. When having sex with a partner, we need to feel a connection and prefer it to be soft and sensitive, which can only be achieved when in a long-term and monogamous relationship. Agree? Neither did we. We wanted to know what sex means for real women and we’re not talking about lovemaking. We mean doing the nasty, including the habits we’d rather deny or even hide. So we conducted a sex survey among 80 women to find out what stimulates us and turns us on. Spoiler alert: we most certainly like porn (and sometimes even anal). Text by Carlotta Minderhout

We all do it (26 percent twice a month and 22 percent twice a week), but never have we found ourselves discussing it with friends. Sure, watching it being spoken about on Sex and the City is totally fine, but sharing it with our closest girl friends? No way. It’s the one dirty little secret we can’t seem to talk about. Men go on about wanking all the time, so why is us talking about pleasuring ourselves such a taboo? Not only do we do it, regularly, we also watch porn along with it as many of you stated in the survey: it helps you getting in the mood and is really hot when watching with your guy. As many women will agree, to get us going we often need a moving visual image. Where men can get aroused by just looking at the picture of a naked woman, we might need some extra help. So porn is the perfect solution to get your motor running and don’t forget the best thing about it: it’s quick and easy. Why bother to go through the hassle of dressing up and being your best you on a date, while you can just as easily reach an orgasm from the comfort of your favourite chair in your pajamas, thanks to Google. Hey, you might even learn something along the way too. Research has shown that porn has an instant effect on the human body and mind, even if you disapprove of what you are watching. So you might find your body is saying ‘Yes’, while your mind is saying ‘I’m not sure’, which can explain the embarrassment we feel that is related to masturbating. Here’s another shocker (or maybe not): most porn watched by women is girl-on-girl porn. Let’s face it, a man’s body is not particularly arousing. Yes, nice abs and tight muscles are sexy as hell but won’t get you to climax and a penis is just not a nice thing to look at, whereas our own bodies, in both aroused and not aroused status, look soft, curvy and smooth. Also, most regular porn is not very female friendly, as all the girl does is suck, squirt and get f*cked hard – excuse my French. That porn is no longer just for the male inhabitants of our planet is proven by the fact that more and more women seem to get addicted to this particular passing of time. Turns out that having an orgasm is just as addictive as taking a hit of heroin. When you reach your climax, something called dopamineoxytocin is released and can be compared to the effect of heroin, giving you that feeling of euphoria. So logically, as with any addiction, it might be hard to stop. Ladies, you have been warned, masturbating can have serious psychological effects.

Confession *

Sales assistant, 26

y first encounter with porn was when I was 14 and discovered the not so well hidden stash of my brother. These naked women looked so strange to me then and almost gave me a feeling of disgust. Fast forward a few years and my then boyfriend suggested we watch porn together to get us both in the mood. Pirates XXX was the very naked version of Pirates of the Caribbean and had no storyline whatsoever. While I could feel my boyfriend getting turned on, all I could think about was how ridiculous the girl looked who was having sex in nothing but a pirate’s hat. When I started growing, so did my sex life and I started exploring what I was and wasn’t into. That’s when I found that masturbating is the perfect way to do just that. Not only did I figure out exactly what I liked and what my body wanted, I found porn to be the best way to get me turned on. Apart from getting me in the mood, seeing what those women were doing on my screen was something I could practice with my boyfriend. Also the excitement of doing something secretive, something that wouldn’t be approved of, just made me want it more. At night, when everybody was asleep, I would be exploring the magical world of online porn and would search for as long as I had to find just the right video. However, afterwards all I wanted to do was erase my computer’s history, put the computer as far away as possible and go to sleep right away, as I felt embarrassed. Now, I only watch it when masturbating, which I do about twice a month, and that feeling, that’s just something I take for granted.

Some love it, some would like to try it, some are horrified by the idea of it. But almost all of us have been asked for it. Anal sex. What is it about this particular act that makes women blush and men excited? The answer to that lies in the simple explanation that it has always been a taboo, the forbidden fruit, particularly to men, who always tend to want what they can’t have. However, with women being open about their sex lives more than ever, we have discovered that it’s not just the boys who are getting keen to try. Twenty percent of our candidates stated they have had and enjoyed anal sex. Maybe it’s porn that almost always involves a girl getting pleasured from behind, giving us and our partners the idea that it’s mindblowing and all we want. However, when you type in ‘anal sex for women’ in Google search, you will be amazed by the many replies of women stating they actually really enjoy it. So why do 36 percent of girls have an imaginary No Entry sign above their butt? First of all, there is the fear that it hurts and that along the way something might rip or bleed. Yep, the visual idea of that is horrible, but a fear of many of us. Then of course there is the icky factor. How can such a dirty place be the desire of so many men? And finally, it seems pointless because there is nothing up there for us to make it pleasurable in any way. During that same Google search you also come across many tips on how to make it enjoyable for women. We wonder, if it’s not enjoyable in the first place, how can it ever be? Then again, our first time doing it the ‘regular’ way wasn’t such a pleasurable experience either. So, for those of you out there who are brave enough and not scared off by the horror stories, here are some must-do’s when attempting the forbidden fruit. Most importantly: relax. Have a bath or a nice glass of wine to help you feel at ease. Secondly, make sure you are aroused enough by having foreplay, ‘regular’ sex or whatever turns you on and take your time with it. Also make sure you use enough lube and take it slow. And lastly, just have fun and don’t forget to tell us all about it.

Confession *

Stylist, 28

y anal sex story is not one with a happy ending. I wish I could say I’m one of the women that tried it and enjoyed it all the way, but unfortunately it wasn’t like that at all.

I love sex. I don’t want to go the extreme and call myself a nympho, but I do really enjoy it and for that reason I like to be adventurous at times too. So when I found myself to be in a long-term relationship, experimenting was all we did. Sex outdoors, different positions, role play. The only thing missing was anal sex, something I had never been curious about and never crossed my mind. That is until my boyfriend mentioned it – “Babe, I think it’s really hot if we try it, just do it, I’m sure you will love it too”. At first my answer was: no f*cking way. That hole is only meant for outgoing traffic and besides, what’s wrong with my vagina? But when he told me he had tried it with his last girlfriend and she loved it, I felt I couldn’t stay behind with my behind and agreed to give it a go. The next day, as I like to be prepared, I paid a visit to the nearest drug store and made sure we had enough lube to make it through the night. That evening, after many deep breaths, I had anal sex for exactly one full minute before I screamed I had had enough. Now I don’t want to scare those of you who would like to try it, but my experience was painful and gave me chills (and not the good kind). That experience was many years ago and since then I have never tried it again. When I hear girls say they love it, I wonder: are they just lying because we are expected to enjoy it or did I do something wrong and am I missing out on something amazing? Whichever one it is, my sex life is no less fun without it.

OUR BODIES 55

As you might think, this category is part of the previously mentioned masturbating. However, as you will find out, we believed that this particular subject deserved to be a category on its own. Most of you will know the classics: handcuffs, blindfolds, and there is nothing wrong with them. Having sex becomes a whole new experience when you can’t use your hands or can’t see what’s happening. However, a shocking 40 percent of us are not satisfied with their sex life, whether it’s a lack of it or there is not enough excitement. Since we feel there is absolutely no need for that number to be so high, we found it was time to introduce you to the less known but definitely more fun toys that are out on the market. And the best thing about them is: they are especially designed for our pleasure. If you’ve read Fifty Shades you will be familiar with them: the Ben Wa balls. These little and heavy stainless-steel spheres that always come in a pair, are simply inserted down there and are used to strengthen your vaginal and pelvic floor muscles. That doesn’t sound sexy, you might think, but the major plus side of these little balls is that they cause better and more frequent orgasms. They don’t even look like a sex toy so you don’t have to worry about somebody finding them lying around your room, and when inside of you nobody notices. Worried about getting them out again? Don’t. A quick cough or push should make sure they pop out right away. The We-Vibe 4 is marketed as the first couples vibrator, but, selfish as we are, we don’t need a man to enjoy this toy. This U-shaped vibrator is designed to be inserted so that it hugs your curves down under. The one side stimulates your clitoris and the other, which goes inside, your G-spot. The last part is also meant to pleasure your partner during sex, but as the toy comes with a remote we know we can have just as much fun without him. If you enjoy oral sex, you will love the Sqweel. This funnylooking machine has ten silicon tongues. Yep, you’re reading it right. The toy is meant to replicate the feeling of him going down on you. With the three variable speeds you decide whether you prefer it slow or want to take it up a notch. Also, it comes in a miniature size to take with you for some fun on the go. As you can see, ladies, we don’t need a man anymore to satisfy our needs (even though we do agree, nothing beats the real thing), and playing with toys is the perfect way to discover your sexual anatomy: what turns you on, how you can reach that orgasm and what simply feels good. If you don’t know what gets you going, how is he supposed to? One last bit of advice: don’t forget you have a life and leave the house every once in a while.

Confession *

Air hostess, 25

first became curious about toys after watching the famous ‘Rabbit’ episode of Sex and the City. So after many searches online as to which one would be just right for me (so much choice: bullets, bunnies, Tarzans), I decided to opt for the most girly and less intimidating-looking vibrator in a regular size. Going to the sex shop almost felt like doing something illegal as I hoped I wouldn’t bump into anybody I knew. With my head down and my sunglasses on I carefully entered the shop. Quickly I searched for my chosen pleasure machine and went straight to the counter. I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible, but the woman behind the desk decided she had to show me all the different speeds it vibrated on and kept on asking me whether I was sure I didn’t need extra lube. When I got home, I eagerly opened my special package and immediately tried it out. At first, it felt very uncomfortable and cold, but after a while I got into it and I can assure you: the end result doesn’t disappoint. After experimenting a bit myself I decided to introduce my beloved toy to my boyfriend – instead of me having to hold it, I allowed him to have a go. Turned out I wasn’t the only one loving it. After this experience we decided to try other things: handcuffs, vibrating rings and even played dress up. Experimenting is fun, especially when you do it with the right person, but don’t underestimate regular sex as that in the end is what it’s all about. Nonetheless, my pink, girly vibrator is still in my bedside drawer and during a lonely night it knows exactly how to cheer me up.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Men

go on about

wanking

all the time,

so why is us

talking

about

pleasuring

ourselves such a

taboo?

When trying to reach that desired orgasm, for us ladies concentration is of great importance. Compared to guys, who seem always to be thinking about something sexrelated, we tend to have so many things on our mind that this can turn out to be quite the struggle at times. When we realise we need to clear our minds, the only thing we can think about is to stop thinking. All this while worrying whether he is still excited enough, if our asses don’t look too fat from that particular angle or if he thinks our boobs are too small – 52 percent worry about what the guy thinks of us when having sex – and don’t forget that hopeful look in his eyes. Yes, at times it is just easier to fake it, pretend he was amazing – who doesn’t remember the ‘I’ll have what she’s having scene’ from When Harry Met Sally? – because how do you explain why you didn’t come without making him feel like he did something wrong? Plus they always seem to enjoy your orgasm just as much as you do yourself, so it would almost be cruel not to, right? Then, at times, they really don’t know what they are doing down there so it might be easier to just get it over with (even though that doesn’t really seem fair: shouldn’t we teach them rather than praising them for something they are not good at?). Anyway, it seems that most of you agree, as 60 percent of our survey candidates admitted to fake every now and then. Reasons? He’s bad in bed or, sweethearts that we are, we don’t want to hurt his feelings. Sometimes we wish we would get the same appreciation from them. Fact of the matter is, most guys have great expectations when it comes to getting you to reach that climax. But the truth is, and here it comes again, we are not like the double-D-ed brunettes and blondes they see orgasming in a split second (often three or four times in a row) on YouPorn.com. Most of us need more time, different stimulation and variation. Some of us can’t even come at all – but even so, we still have a good time. So don’t blame us, boys, blame the porn stars.

Confession *

MA student, 23

didn’t actually know I had been faking till I had my very first orgasm. I was 15 when I started being sexually active and didn’t quite know how my body worked exactly. So when my then-boyfriend started spasming from the effort his arm was undergoing when we were lying on my bed with both our pants down to our ankles, I started feeling sorry for the poor guy. I threw out some ‘Oh, my God’-s and ‘Yes, yes, yes’-es, moaned a little and that was it. That happy look on his face I will never forget. The following times, him being overconfident, I did feel something, a weird tingling feeling in my stomach. So when the tingling became too much I went over the same rhythm I did the previous time and experienced my very first orgasm. At least, that’s what I thought. Many faking years later, when I was about 20, it all ended when a particular one-night stand blew my mind. I got chills in places I never even knew existed. There were fewer ‘Oh, my God’-s, but more Yes, yes, yes’-es. So I am happy to say I am no longer a full-time orgasm faker. However, every once in a while I still like to put my acting skills to the test when I’m just not that into it or don’t want to disappoint the guy. But at least now I can tell the difference between what is real and what isn’t.

*All confessions are anonymous and made by real women and their real experiences

We all know the feeling: you’ve met that special guy (or girl, whichever you prefer) and he is so incredibly sexy you just can’t wait to rip his clothes off and jump his bones. Nothing wrong with a bit of primal feelings, we all have them. But, and we really don’t want to sound like your high school biology teacher, it is really important to be safe when getting intimate with your crush. If you don’t want to use condoms, at least make sure you both get tested to ensure you are healthy before jumping in bed with each other, and both your previous sex partners. We know it can be quite scary, so, especially for you, we at Olivia Magazine bore the brunt and paid a visit to the clinic. 61

“WHY NOT JUST PEE IN A CUP?’, ONE MIGHT THINK, BUT THAT BECOMES QUITE THE PROBLEM WHEN THE PERSON IN QUESTION DOES NOT PERFORM WELL PEE-WISE WHEN UNDER PRESSURE.”

“Just do it!” I reply to the woman asking me whether I want her to count down before sticking the needle in. I didn’t mean to snap at the relaxedlooking lady, but I can feel the drops of cold sweat slowly running down my forehead. I can tell she has noticed my nerves and casually starts asking me about my degree and what I want to do in life. I give her some vague answers and distracted looks, as the only thing I can concentrate on is that little bowl with my blood mixed with some weirdlooking medical fluids. ‘Please let it only be one dot’, I start praying to myself while worst-case scenarios start quickly flashing through my mind. I admit, I can be a bit of a drama queen at times and I’m sure Chloé wasn’t too thrilled with me discussing these scenarios out loud, as her nerves started hitting the panic zone too. But hey, doesn’t everybody get nervous when taking an HIV test? And the dreadful day of testing didn’t end there. Just when I wiped off my forehead and felt the worst part was over, the nurse produced a long Q-Tip out of her pocket and started dangling this in front of me: “It’s your turn, honey”. Within a second I felt the blood streaming out of my head and my hands went back to being sticky again.

I took the Q-Tip from her and started examining the weird-looking thing that in the next few minutes would have to go inside of me. ‘Why not just pee in a cup?’, one might think, but that becomes quite the problem when the person in question does not perform well pee-wise when under pressure. So, brave girl that I am, I chose the most faraway toilet, took a deep breath and inserted the Q-Tip. Scrape, scrape, scrape and out it went again. ‘That wasn’t too bad’, I thought to myself. Hiding the Q-Tip, which I carefully placed in the see-through tube (why the hell do they make them see-through?) on the inside of my sleeve, I walked back to the nurse. I discreetly passed it to her, almost making me feel like I was in the middle of a drug deal, passing the goods to a buyer. And what do you think she does? Yes, she starts thoroughly examining the Q-Tip, holding the tube up against the light. As you might understand, my face flushed bright red and I couldn’t wait to get the hell out of there after the nurse told me I would get the results texted to me within the next two weeks. Luckily I can release all of you from the suspense and tell you I was tested HIV negative, since only one dot appeared (if you see more than one you are allowed to panic) and no other diseases were found in and around my private area. My first reaction when I got the result? ‘Of course I knew I didn’t have anything.’ Then why is it we get so nervous about getting tested? I’ll tell you why. Even though we might feel healthy and take care when having sex with others, our partner might not. So when sleeping with him – or her, whichever you prefer – you also sleep with their previous partners. Getting yourself tested is not the most pleasant experience and is definitely not in my top three of favourite things to do, but getting those results back assuring you that you are OK are so worth it. Worstcase scenario: your results don’t come back with such a positive message. Luckily the world of medicine has developed enough to prescribe you some antibiotics or other remedy for you to have a healthier and safer sex life. And knowing is always much better than ignoring.

“I LOVE CARLOTTA TO PIECES, BUT AT THE TIME I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO SMACK HER PRETTY LITTLE HEAD AGAINST THE NEAREST WALL.”

If there’s one piece of advice I can give you before you decide to not so casually hop down to a clinic or GP to get checked, it’s this: don’t do it with a friend. You might think that the support you’ll get from each other will help you through – that’s exactly what we were thinking – but it’s the complete opposite. You stress each other out. I love Carlotta to pieces, but at the time I thought I was going to smack her pretty little head against the nearest wall.

‘Every 70 minutes someone gets diagnosed with HIV in the UK. There is still no cure. Donate NOW’, the nurse helping us with filling out forms noticed our pale faces and enlightened us with that fact you are more likely to win the lottery twice in a row than to have AIDS. My first thought? If I do have it, I’m buying a lottery ticket. Carlotta was still the same colour as the wall behind her so when they asked which one of us would like to go first she nearly knocked her chair over. I was left waiting, looking at posters and reading about support groups – hey, at least there’s that.

Here’s the thing about getting checked: somewhere in the back of your mind you know that you couldn’t possibly have something. Or at least I did (I had even been checked twice before). You know whether or not you’ve been safe and if there were an itch or another weird thing going on down there I wouldn’t be calling it a ‘routine’ check-up. If that’s the case, please tell me you already went to a doctor. So, even though I was 99 percent certain nothing was wrong with me, sitting there started to freak me out. What if? I just got a boyfriend, I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t last if I would casually say, “Oh, I went for a routine STI check-up for this article I’m doing and, guess what, I have HIV”. While those thoughts were running through my mind Carlotta was stressing me out even more, “Chloé, I’m 100 percent sure I have AIDS and now they are going to tell me and then I’ll die” – I did start my article by saying she wasn’t the best support system at the time, right? Luckily for both of us, the doctors and nurses at a clinic know how to set you at ease. While the poster on the wall was screaming right at me in big, terrifying letters,

As you can tell, the entire experience is quite stressful. That’s only because we turn it into something stressful. Doing the swab test in the toilets is finished in five seconds and you do that yourself – the results are phoned or texted a week later. The HIV test is a tiny finger prick and you can see the one dot (hooray, you are clear; two means you might have it and need a full blood test) appear within ten seconds. As expected, I was totally fine. We scared ourselves. Everyone does. But it’s so important to get tested on a regular basis – even when there’s a bigger chance of you winning the lottery. It’s about your health and the health of the people you are sleeping with. So get checked. But go by yourself.

Sitting there, I started to wonder why we all get so scared. Apparently it’s normal, but why? Is it because of the no cure thing? Is it because of how everyone keeps warning you and explaining how to use condoms properly? If it’s true that 95 percent of people diagnosed with HIV are Africans and gays, then why do I nearly pee my pants over it? Plus, why are we only scared about AIDS? The other STIs might be treatable with antibiotics but a lot of shady things could happen down there because of it and you might end up being infertile.

OUR BODIES 63

CHECK IT OUT EVEN WHEN HIV POSITIVE, A WOMAN HAS A 99 PERCENT CHANCE OF GIVING BIRTH TO A BABY FREE FROM HIV IF TAKING TREATMENT.

GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN AND UK-BASED AFRICANS ACCOUNT FOR THE LARGE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV IN THE UK. Many sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, can be transmitted through oral sex. The number of people living with HIV aged over 50 has been increasing, from one in 10 in 1999 to one in five in 2010.

ROUGHLY 75 PERCENT OF ALL REPORTED GONORRHEA IS FOUND IN PEOPLE AGED 15 TO 29.

A GIRL IS FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO CONTRACT AN STI THAN SHE IS TO BECOME PREGNANT.

Young people aged 15 to 24 continue to be the group most affected by STIs in the UK. Italians and Germans call syphilis the ‘French disease’, and the French call it the ‘Spanish disease’.

A BRAZILIAN WEBSITE LETS PEOPLE SEND THEIR PARTNERS E-CARDS INFORMING THEM THEY HAVE AN STI AND THAT THE ONLY STI THAT AFFECTS THEY SHOULD SEE A DOCTOR.

MORE MEN THAN WOMEN IS SYPHILIS.

While some STIs—such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis—are curable, if left untreated, they can cause death, infertility, chronic pain, serious birth defects, and miscarriages.

WITH A SINGLE CHLAMYDIA INFECTION, THERE IS A 25 PERCENT CHANCE OF STERILITY FOR WOMEN. WITH A SECOND INFECTION, THERE IS A 50 PERCENT CHANCE. Al Capone had syphilis and it may have driven him mad. Other notable people who most likely suffered from syphilis include Adolph Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Friedrich Nietzsche and Napoleon.

BOOBY LICIOUS

Boobs, tits, breasts, bazongas, bosoms, mosquito bites, cans, rack, melons, hooters, jugs, knockers, tittiesâ&#x20AC;Ś They come in all shapes and sizes and have a 100 different names but whatever you prefer calling them, each and every woman has a pair. We asked six confident young women to get intimate with us and to share their personal relationship with their boobs.

“

I used to look in the mirror after a shower and jump to see if they moved yet

”

SERENA (19) 34F ISABELLE (20) 34B UK Serena: “I think I was around 10 years old when my boobs started showing. In Dubai the rumour was that when it’s hot your boobs grow faster, so that kind of freaked me out at the time. I didn’t wear a bra until I had a B-cup because my mum told me to wear a sports bra, but then my friends told me I was doing it all wrong. That’s when I started feeling comfortable with them. I still hate sport bras though, when I go running I even wear two of them or my breasts bounce all over the place.” Isabelle: “Although mine are quite small, I was one of the first girls in my class to get boobs. I remember when I was 10, I used to look in the mirror after a shower and jump to see if they moved yet. As soon as I had them I started wearing a sports bra like you did, but I would go and do cartwheels on the fields with a loose top so boys could see I had breasts (laughs), at 10, can you imagine? I was flaunting them, it was terrible actually.” Serena: “I didn’t have to flaunt them, they did that for themselves.” While Serena portrays the poster girl of someone blessed with a nice and full bosom, both Isabelle and her agree that big boobs come with a series of stereotypes. Isabelle: “Big boobs can be so ‘in your face’ and it makes it difficult for a guy to look beyond them I think. I really like being flat chested.” Serena: “True, they just have the connotation of porn stars and strippers or girls that work at Hooters. I feel like every girl says that she wants big boobs because they think that guys notice that first, but you can’t wear low-cut tops, they get in the way when you hug someone, they cause back problems… this is just my point of view but I’m someone who always had to live with having big boobs. All women from my mum’s side of the family have smaller breasts so they don’t get where I get it from. If it were possible I’d prefer a ‘normal’ size. I don’t want them this

big. A B-cup or a C would be perfect.” Isabelle: “When I was younger I wanted to have a pretty lovely rack but now I really like mine. I couldn’t imagine having bigger breasts because I’m so short and I don’t like wearing bras.” Serena: “They would look weird on you proportion wise. You are so petite.” When you think about boobs, there’s one thing that we all associate with them immediately, lingerie shopping and while this can be a fun experience for some, for Serena, it’s a real adventure. Serena: “I made peace with my boobs, but when I’ll have kids they are even to get bigger. Where will I buy a bra then? Marks & Spencer is the only place I can find lingerie that fits.” Isabelle: “Maybe custom made is the way to go. Or a hammock, just kidding of course. I only wear a bra on a bra-day. For me it is boringly easy to find them though, I’d love to experience the adventure you are going through.” Serena: “You don’t want that trust me. I’m even wearing a minimiser now so it makes them look smaller than they actually are. That’s one bra I definitely love.” Apart from bras and cup sizes, there’s one last issue that’s on women’s minds when it comes to boobs. Breast cancer. Isabelle: “It’s something I’m very worried about. It freaks me out. I check them every so often, but I’m not sure if I’m doing it right. Maybe I need to look up a tutorial or something. Or ask a guy. How do you feel a girl up?” Serena: “Not a lot of people are aware of that fact that men can get breast cancer as well. My dad had it. It’s a disease I’m very familiar with, but I don’t check myself yet. The doctor said it doesn’t pass from father to daughter, but if my mum had it – god forbid – then I would be checking myself already. I’m not too worried though. I’m hoping a healthy lifestyle is the way to go.” CB

OUR BODIES 67

“

I also have this weird habit of holding my left breast when I’m sitting down, so they just get that little bit of extra attention they deserve

”

NIENKE (25) 70D KELLY (22) 70B HOLLAND Kelly: “My girlfriends in high school used to have way bigger boobs than I did and when we would go clubbing I felt less sexy than my friends. I guess at the time I thought guys were more into big boobs and I used to think mine made me less attractive.” Nienke: “With me it was just the other way around. I got my boobs at quite an early age and all my friends were still flat when I was already shopping for bras. So I would always wear big jumpers to hide them, I felt different and uncomfortable. I think that when you’re younger you’re just really insecure about your body, but at some point you just realise that it’s OK the way it is.” Even though they are proud of their looks and boyfriends have never complained, having plastic surgery done is something both girls have considered. Nienke: “I would like to lift them. But only after I have had children and have gone through breast feeding which is why it all starts hanging in the first place.” Kelly: “I would like to have a cup size bigger. I don’t necessarily want to have watermelons, just a nice handful. My boyfriend would think I am crazy though if I would get something done.” Nienke: “I think it also depends on wether they suit your body type. Somebody I know used to have an AA cup, but body wise she was quite chubby, so it didn’t make sense.

She now has a small C cup and it just fits is mostly sold out. Quite a lot of women her.” actually have this size, but not enough for the shops to have them in stock. So your Big boobs, small boobs, it doesn’t choice is to go to a more expensive shop, really matter. But how do you dress or you are stuck with those horrible white accordingly? granny bras. H&M sells some cute ones Nienke: “I don’t really hide my but they give me zero support, so I rather breasts, but I do dress in such a way that spend a bit more money and everything they are not too obvious. Not that I am being in the right place.” embarrassed or anything, but I wouldn’t Kelly: “Funny enough those H&M bras accentuate them more. But I guess that’s are the only ones that fit me. When I go just what I’m like.” to other shops they are too wide at the Kelly: “I often wear high closed tops, top or they’re not pre-shaped enough, because it makes them look bigger. If I making me look super flat or as if I’m not wear a low cut top, I always wear a push- wearing a bra at all. When I’m at H&M I up underneath, which is not always a know exactly what size I have and what great idea. Once I went to the gay parade fits me.” in Amsterdam and thought: why not try a maximizer for once? A maximizer is a But wearing a good-fitting bra is not bra that gives your breasts an extreme the only thing for having happy boobs. push up, so you really go a full cup bigger. Giving them a bit of TLC is important Everybody that saw pictures of that day too. asked me how come I had such big boobs. Nienke: “I check them for breast cancer Even my mum said they looked huge. So once a month and I scrub them with the it’s funny to see that people do notice rest of my body.” if you change something about your Kelly: “I too check them for cancer breasts.” and moisturise them everyday. But I also have this weird habit of holding my left You would think with all the different breast when I’m sitting down, so they just body shapes women of today have, get that little bit of extra attention they finding a bra that fits you while still deserve.” CM making you feel sexy shouldn’t be a problem anymore. But the girls prove the opposite. Nienke: “I have a 70D, which is a size that

“

I got the feeling that everything I had in my closet was too sexy

FRIE (23) 95D HANNAH (24) 75B BELGIUM

”

Dressing to your body type is something all women do, but we also have to embrace the way we look. For everyone the most difficult time for this is puberty. Hannah: “I paid a lot more attention to my boobs back in high school than I do now. All of my friends, their boobs kept on growing and mine just stopped (laughs). Then I thought, shit, but as it turns out my boobs kept growing longer than I first thought. They didn’t stop at 16, they are bigger now then they were then. You can spot them.” Frie: “I never paid a lot of attention to the way I looked when I was growing up. So I guess I never even noticed mine were bigger than my classmates’. In the last year of high school I suddenly started putting an effort in my appearance and I noticed that they were an advantage and that they were nice if I wore something fitting. But I’d never use them to get a drink faster in a bar or something like that. I’d even find Both of the girls agree clothing racks nowadays offer as much it offensive if I saw another girl do that.” for big as for small boobs. It just depends on what you want to wear and feel comfortable in. Something for which both Loving and accepting yourself and the way you look is key but having a boyfriend who can’t keep his hands off them that might do Hannah and Frie take their bosom size into account. Hannah: “The push-up bra helps, but I still think there are a the trick as well. Frie: “My boyfriend is very happy with me and the my boobs. If it lot of clothes out there that are nicer on women with a bit more to show. I like my body though. There are loads of girls with small were up to him to decided their size I think they would even be bigger boobs wishing they had a bit more there, but I love them. They (laughs).” Hannah: “Mine thinks there lovely as well. Maybe it’s also because might be small but it’s not as if they are non-existent.” Frie: “I’m happy with mine as well. I do however take them of him that I’m so confident about them. There are men who consider into account when deciding what to wear. I was interning once big breasts as something really important and of course he’ll look with a dress I got from H&M, not provocative at all, but I got a around when someone with huge ones walks past – which man comment about it, saying that my cleavage was too revealing and doesn’t? But he always tells me how pretty mine are.” CB offensive… After that I wore things with a collar or turtleneck because I got the feeling that everything I had in my closet was too sexy.” Frie: When I was younger I would have the occasional shout out of something in the line of ‘hey you, with the big tits’. They were mostly drunks, but it has happened to me more than once. Not just young guys, even men of around 50 or older see no offence in denigrating me like that. That’s one of the reasons why I sometimes think I shouldn’t wear a certain piece of clothing. I know I’ll get a remark if I do.” Hannah: “That’s the thing that’s so stupid of men. I personally love a woman with bigger boobs showing a bit of cleavage. At least then it’s filled. I once bought a dress for a wedding; it was so pretty, with a draped V-neck. But I had to buy a push-up bra to go with it. The way it was draped my boobs were invisible without a little help.”

OUR BODIES 69

I do! If you’re ‘young’ and desperately want to marry your partner but feel that too many people will judge your decision, screw them. Text by Beth Lanksford, 22, United Kingdom I got married two weeks after my 21st birthday. I had been with my fiancé (who is two years older than me) for just over three years and we got engaged a year before while holidaying with my family in Cyprus. The timing was perfect for us. For a lot of people getting married in your 20s - and early 20s at that - is considered too young but I’m going to tell you a bit about why I think it’s great being a 20-something-year-old wife. As you can probably imagine, some people were quite shocked at the news of our engagement. My family and close friends were very supportive but I remember hearing comments from colleagues and friends from uni along the lines of, “But you’re too young, you should live a little first, experience the world and all that it has to offer”. The comments made me angry but didn’t change my mind. I’m a firm believer in marriage and in no way do I feel that being married means I can’t have fun, ‘live a little’, or experience all that the world has to offer me. In many ways my experiences have been enhanced because I am now sharing them with the one person who makes me happiest, my best friend, my lover and husband. I realise that in general, the older you get the wiser you become – or so you would hope – so for some people getting married at 21 would be a bad choice. Let’s face it, twenty-somethings can sometimes be a little immature and a lot of them would say they are in no way ready for marriage. I understand this but I think too many people are putting marriage off because of what society says to us about it.

The average age to get married in the UK is now 30-years-old and in the rest of Europe it’s pretty much the same. A benefit to getting married ‘young’ is that you mature as a person alongside your partner. Rather than developing your own habits, characteristics and interests throughout your 20s, which could cause conflicts when you finally decide to settle down. I now have the benefit of growing up with my husband, and working these things out with him. Everyone’s different no matter what age you are and some people will be ready to get married at 25 while some not until they’re 45. My advice to you is this, if you’re ‘young’ and desperately want to marry your partner but feel that too many people will judge your decision, screw them. Marriage is about two people coming together as one. If you’re worrying about what other people will think of your marriage before you’ve even got one then that’s not a good start. You and your partner are happy together and ready to make that commitment so go for it. And don’t forget, your wedding day should not be the best day of your life, “You have to be kidding me?!” I hear you say. Let me just tell you that if that’s the case then your marriage will be all down here from that day forward...

I don’t! If you’re lucky enough to have someone who’ll stick with you through those tough spells, they’ll stick with you until the time is right to put a ring on it. By Olivia Pinnock, 23, United Kingdom Marriage is more romantic than it has ever been. The most vital ingredients to a relationship that’s heading towards a contract legally binding you to each other until the day you die, I think we’ll all agree, is love. Yet, despite marriage existing for thousands of years, this ideal only really began to seep through society from around the Victorian era onwards. Of course, love played its part but building family ties, having financial security and having a roof over your head were the main reasons to want to get married. In the present day, now that the pressure is off to find all those other things through a spouse, we’ve been given the luxury to find someone we truly want to be with. Not because we need them, but because we want them. This also buys us the luxury of time.

you want to be before you decide on a partner that fits in to the picture too. Because while love is a foundation of marriage, it’s not the blind, all-consuming love we experience in the early throws of a relationship, it’s the maturation of that love in to something more enduring that, though it will inevitably involve compromises, should take your life in a direction you want to go. When we think of romance we tend to think of spontaneous, illogical acts that prove that love conquers all including our own sensibilities. However, I believe that true romance is when, even after all the soul searching, the life-defining moments, the growing up and the settling down in your 20s, you still believe they’re the one, emotionally and logically.

In your 20s you have only just been unleashed into adult life and there are a lot of big decisions to make and a lot of changes to go through. We’re all so terrified of growing older and yet if you ask many people in their 30s if they would go back to being in their 20s, the likelihood is that they’ll say no. It’s an exciting time but it’s also often plagued with a lot of self-doubt, unnecessary competition amongst your peers and a general lack of direction in life. Why make it even harder for yourself and add another life-changing event on top of that? If you’re lucky enough to have someone who’ll stick with you through those tough spells, they’ll stick with you until the time is right to put a ring on it. On the other hand there’s one person who you truly will be with your whole life. Yourself. Spending time learning to enjoy your own company often comes second to finding that one special person to keep you company but it’s incredibly rewarding. Your 20s are the perfect time of life to enjoy the freedom and space to become who

TALKS 71

FASHION NEWS

Isabella Blow: Fashion Galore! Cigarette burns, lipstick smudges, torn hems and scuffed shoes - and still she looked better than most people in the room. We are of course talking about the incomparably eccentric and sartorially instinctive, Isabella Blow. Blow is famed for her remarkable talent and subsequent track record of discovering and launching the careers of many fashion designers and models as well as her extraordinary personality, lifestyle and wardrobe. From the 20th November to 2nd March 2014, fashion and art lovers will flock to experience Somerset House’s most anticipated exhibition yet. The event - which is in association with the Isabella Blow foundation and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design - will take visitors on a journey through the life of the British patron told through her beautiful and expansive wardrobe which features the designs of Alexander McQueen, Philip Treacy and Julian McDonald. The exhibition, which has been co-curated by Alistair O’Neil and Shonagh Marshall, will be accompanied by a specially commissioned catalogue of photography by Nick Knight with essays from Alistair O’Neil, Professor Caroline Evans, Alexander Fury and Shonagh Marshall. Blow’s close friend and owner of the collection, Daphne Guinness (the iconic pieces were going to be sold off individually by Christies before Guinness swooped in and bought the whole lot), says of the exhibition: “It is, to me, a bittersweet event. Isabella Blow made our world more vivid, trailing colour with every pace she took. It is a sorrier place for her absence. When I visited her beloved clothes in a storage room in South Kensington, it seemed quite clear the collection would be of immense value to a great many people. I do believe that in choosing to exhibit them we’ve done the right thing – and that it is what she would have wanted. I am doing this in memory of a dear friend, in the hope that her legacy may continue to aid and inspire generations of designers to come”. Though she struggled with depression and other illnesses she tragically commit suicide in 2007 - Blow dedicated her life to fashion, her 30 year career taking her from Anna Wintour’s assistant at US Vogue to Tatler, British Vogue and Fashion Director of the Sunday Times Style. In this time, Blow is known for discovering models Sophie Dahl and Stella Tennant and was instrumental in the launching of Alexander McQueen and Julian

McDonald’s careers. It is clear to see how far Blow’s cultural significance extends when The British Fashion Council honour her by naming an award for this year, Blow will be honoured at the British Fashion Awards for ‘a British stylist, make-up artist, photographer, art director or producer whose creativity has been a major inspiration and influence’ after her at The British Fashion Awards. It seems that everyone that knew her personally, not only had a fun story to tell of their eccentric friend but also described her as incredibly kind, generous and selfless. Head to Somerset House for you to experience her through her first love, fashion, for yourself.

Text by Victoria Gardiner

FASHION 73

WHITE .

Blank canvases, crisp snow and fluffy clouds. While white makes us think of serenity and tranquility, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no other colour that screams luxury this well.

NOISE

Photography by Kevin Ohana Styling by Jill Bauwens Model Milagros Schmoll

Holiday

Heat THIS SEASON IS ABOUT GIVING YOUR WARDROBE A TIME TO CELEBRATE. BUNDLE UP IN COSY FURS, WRAP YOURSELF IN ACCESSORIES AND ADD AN INJECTION OF SEDUCTIVE CHIC WITH SOME FESTIVE LINGERIE.

Previous page: Red belted coat, Marni. Tights, Dolce & Gabbana. Pumps, Christian Louboutin. This page: Underwear Agent Provocateur. Black with pearls embellished t-shirt, Balmain. Denim shirt, Leviâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Black boots, Phi. Black fur hat, Prada.

Grey shorts, Prada. White distressed t-shirt, Balmain. Leopard coat, Isabel Marant. Tights, Miu Miu. Lace up ankle boots, Balmain. Cross necklace, Emilio Pucci.

Golden shorts, Golden Goose. Red checked shirt, What comes around goes around. Blazer, Chanel. Black star earrings, Yves Saint Laurent.

Grey jumper, Dries Van Noten. Denim shorts, DSQUAREDÂ˛. Fur scarf, Prada. Black boots, Phi.

Blue checked shirt, Yves Saint Laurent. Sequined blazer, Emporio Armani. Underwear, Agent Provocateur. Black boots, Phi.

This page: Red blazer, Ralph Lauren. Black velvet trousers, Isabel Marant. Studded loafers, Christian Louboutin. Leopard purse, Christian Louboutin. Snake ring, Delfina Delettrez. Next page: Black corset, Agent Provocateur. Black fur hat, Prada.

Photography by Kris De Smedt @ C’est Chic Agency Styling by Steffy Bauwens Make-up and Hair by Jill Joujon @ C’est Chic Agency Model Pauline Van der Cruysse @ Next Model Management

JUST AS A BOTTLE OF CHATEAU PETRUS GETS BETTER WITH AGE – NO NEED TO GOOGLE IT, IT’S RED WINE – THESE YOUNG AND NEW TASTEMAKERS ARE SHOOTING FOR THE STARS AND EVOLVING AS WE SPEAK. IT MIGHT BE TOO EARLY TO TELL WHERE AND WHEN THESE UP-AND-COMING FASHION GRADUATES ARE GOING TO MAKE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES, BUT JUST REMEMBER: OLIVIA MAGAZINE TOLD YOU ABOUT THEM FIRST.

ID KIT NAME: LOEKIE MULDER AGE: 22 HOMETOWN: THE HAGUE, HOLLAND EDUCATION: BA FASHION DESIGN AND TEXTILE @ ROYAL ACADEMY OF ART THE HAGYE GOAL: OWN INTERNATIONAL LABEL

“You get no sleep, which isn’t good for anybody, but I guess that’s part of the deal”

pening the door to me is a tall girl with a friendly face. Her name is Loekie Mulder, a 22-year-old Dutch fashion designer who has just graduated from the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague. She leads me into her cosy, typically Dutch apartment, which immediately shows her passion for her craft. In the centre of the room is a huge design table covered in fabrics, scissors and measuring tapes. Next to it is a rail full of her designs, which I am immediately drawn to. When I ask her if she can show me some of her work, she eagerly sits me down at the table and starts pulling out several books which all pile out with patterns and sketches, plus catwalk and promotional shots of her latest collection. Her enthusiasm is infectious, making me wonder where this passion for designing clothes originated from. ‘I have always been the creative type, even from a young age. I enjoy expressing myself visually in something tangible, like a dress or a jacket, because it’s immediately positioned on the female body.’ Top of the class Let’s go back a few years. While still in high school, Loekie’s parents thought it best that she start taking classes at the Academy, which is where she discovered a whole new way of expressing herself – a way in which she felt comfortable. In fact, she felt so at ease at the Academy that she decided to do a whole study dedicated to her passion. And all the hard work paid off. She was the lucky girl who for four months could call herself the intern of internationally acclaimed designerduo Viktor&Rolf. ‘I never expected to get the internship. I was supposed to go to a different designer in Antwerp. But I sent my application to Viktor&Rolf anyway, as it’s the biggest fashion brand in the Netherlands and such a dream of mine to have a look at how things work over there.’ Viktor&Rolf is a huge name in the fashion industry, what was it like being thrown into the deep? ‘The whole internship was very intense. Fashion is such a tough world and it’s simply hard work. To be honest I didn’t expect it to be this extreme, especially in Paris, where the pieces were finished for fashion week. It was the first time I saw how heavy the job can be and I don’t think it’s totally healthy. You get no sleep, which isn’t good for anybody, but I guess that’s part of the deal. You just carry on, because nobody is going to say: ‘Well, I am going to bed now’.”

Was that a price you were willing to pay? “I have learned so much there. At first I thought it would be best to go to a smaller brand in order to get to do more. But I was really surprised. I never thought I would get so much responsibility – they really involved me with the whole process. All the hard work was so worth it. You’ve been working towards something for such a long time and afterwards it really gives you a high.” And Viktor&Rolf weren’t the only ones to take notice of this talented young lady. She was one of the lucky few recently graduated students who got the opportunity to show their collection to an audience of influential fashion journalists and stylists during Amsterdam Fashion Week’s ‘Lichting’show competition. The concept, which has been running for seven years, is simple: the best academy graduates of one year in one central catwalk show. Each academy is asked to assign their two best students and, you’ve guessed it, Loekie was one of them.

“It’s such a great opportunity because it gives you the chance to show your work to a different and larger audience. Afterwards there was time for me to get some feedback on my collection and even though I didn’t win the competition, everybody was really positive. I was even approached by several stylists who wanted items for shoots and I was asked to participate in Vogue’s Fashion Night Out in Amsterdam.” Just like a goddess Seems like her parents did the right thing making her take those classes. With The Hague not being much known for its fashion, but rather for being the seat of government, with its theme park showing a miniature version of the Netherlands, I wondered why Loekie decided to stay in the city where she was born and raised to pursue her dream. “What I loved about the Academy is that they don’t only focus on Design, but also have a separate section dedicated to Textile. For me the fabric is just as important as its shape. There are so many possibilities when working with textile, which is something the Academy focuses on really well. Plus the work you do is very much collection-orientated, compared with other academies or schools that usually work with different assignments and then all of a sudden you have to create a grtaduation collection. In The Hague we work towards that final collection for years, as in each year you make a different collection out of something that inspires you.” The second ever collection she created, influenced by ethnic costumes, including different colours and textures, showed her what kind of a direction she wanted to follow as a designer. “When I was working on that collection I realised: ‘Yes, this is so me, this is what makes me happy’. It was a great platform for me to experiment and make the designs really me.” And the results of these experiments are stunning. Her graduation collection, which is also the one she showed at Amsterdam Fashion Week, consists of a beautiful combination of silky dresses, jumpsuits and jackets in the most extraordinary colours and patterns, making them very

wearable and chic at the same time. What influenced you to create this collection? “My collection is entirely based on prints which are created out of symbols and colours that I found in mythological stories. Ten ancient Greek goddesses have found their way into this collection and their stories formed the basis of the silhouettes. To give an example, for one of my designs I took the story of a particular goddess who was banished to the underworld for eating a pomegranate seed. This story then inspired me to create a textile print that is composed entirely out of small pomegranate seeds. In this way I tried to project the story on the female body as a sort of painting and that is how I work with all my designs.”

Loekie Mulder

What made you choose to base your designs on Greek goddesses? “Greek mythology is something I randomly came across and the stories immediately grabbed my attention, especially these strong and powerful female figures. And that is exactly what I want my collection to render. The whole purpose of wearing my clothes is to make women feel strong and powerful, just like a goddess.” The process of the creation of one of her pieces is almost as much of a story as the ones her designs are inspired from. She begins with lots of sketches and by draping the fabric over a dummy with a technique called moulage. The next step is to find the right balance between all the various colours and prints – drawn by hand or created on her computer – that she uses in her designs. And the happy ending to all this is of course the shaping of the garment combined with its unique fabrics in that typical asymmetrical Loekie Mulder style. So what does the next page in the Loekie Mulder story hold? Her own shows during Paris and Milan Fashion Week, preferably. But she takes it one step at a time. The first thing on her to-do list is having her own label, which she would like to sell abroad as well as in Holland. “I don’t want to limit myself to the Netherlands. It’s a small country and I believe my collection could sell internationally. At least, that’s what I hope.” But having your own label doesn’t come cheap, literally, and the quest to finding an investor is a long one. “It’s very difficult right now to make a name in the fashion industry, but I guess it’s like that everywhere for young graduates. Finding someone that can fund your work is difficult as there are so many talented designers, so it will be hard to distinguish yourself from the rest.” What the future holds for this colourful and ambitious designer nobody knows. But as long as she dreams big, the world of fashion is at her feet. “It might not be the easiest way, but as long as I keep following my own concepts and ideas I’m happy doing what I do.” And with that she ends the interview in that typical Dutch way: down-to-earth and optimistic. www.loekiemulder.nl Text by Carlotta Minderhout

FASHION 97

ID KIT NAME: JAIMEE MCKENNA AGE: 24 HOMETOWN: LICHFIELD, STAFFORDSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM EDUCATION: BA TEXTILES @ CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS. MA FASHION @ CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS. INTERNSHIP: MARK FAST GOAL: OWN SUCCESSFUL KNITWEAR LABEL

f I had to sum up my last collection it would simply be: Klein Blue,” McKenna tells us. In reality the list of words to describe Jaimee McKenna’s MA final collection from Central Saint Martins is endless: Yves Klein Blue, pleated, knitted, origami-like, ribbed, structured, fluid… It’s thanks to McKenna’s amazing technical skill, the fact that she didn’t opt for just any old blue and the extremely flattering effect of this maybe not so wearable collection that makes it more than blue knitwear. There’s a feminine elegance in this complex hues of blues that intrigued us and made us want to know more about this young CSM graduate. Charlotte Brönte Trying to understand Jaimee and her love for fashion brings us all the way back to her childhood days of growing up in Lichfield, Staffordshire. There, in the countryside, this designer grew up in what she explains as living in a Brönte novel. “I was always roaming through fields and playing in the abandoned, derelict, burnt-down mansion house by the ponds.” This picturesque image of a child playing around with scuffed knees makes Jaimee sound like any typical countryside child. It’s her mother, who was a student at CSM in the 80s herself, who made fashion a part of the otherwise Brönte scenery. “My first fashion memory goes back to searching through my mum’s old sketchbooks from when she studied at CSM,” Jaimee reminisces. “I also have this vivid memory of dressing up in this particular old lace dress she had and wearing shoes ten times to big for me.” Hippy & emo Given her childhood of growing up with a designer for a mother, it’s very clear to see where the spark for fashion originally came from. “I guess it is my mum who I have to thank or blame for my interest in fashion,” McKenna says, “but during my A-levels I was adamant I was going to go and study performing arts...” While the designer was set on performing arts, we believe fashion was already set as a clear path for her to follow and not only thanks to her mum. Thinking back to her high school years, McKenna remembers her phases of experimenting, “I had a hippy phase when I was younger, running around in a dip dye dress and round, tinted-pink sunglasses. I was always barefoot and refused to wear shoes anywhere. I had a small chav phase when I started high school and I remember the horror in my mum’s face when one birthday I asked for a sovereign ring from Argos and a Pod bomber jacket. Then in my mid-teens I had a small emo phase with dyed dark hair and swooshed side fringe.” Ball gowns, CSM & Mark Fast “The first piece I ever made was a hilarious ball gown for my GCSE art project that was based on punks, Vivienne Westwood’s Watteau dress and under the sea… There was a lot of iridescent fabric,” Jaimee says, and while this ball gown may have been her first creation, it surely wasn’t the last. Stepping away from her plan of studying Performing Arts, Jaimee applied to Central Saint Martins to study a BA in textiles. The interest in fashion had always been there but it wasn’t until during her BA course that McKenna really started considering fashion as a career. “I interned at Mark Fast in between my second and final year of BA, then later went on to work with him. It was the best internship I could have asked for,” the designer says, “I learnt so much about the actual process of taking an idea and developing it into an entire collection.” After her BA degree she tried her luck for the MA in fashion at CSM and while she never thought of getting in, we know how that panned out.

“Shut the fuck up and get on with it”

Inspiration A three-year Bachelor’s Degree in textiles, an internship at Mark Fast, a Master’s Degree in Fashion Design. The pace of which a designer needs to come up with new ideas for collections is extremely fast – just think about the number of collections they need to bring out every year: Pre-fall, AW, Resort/Cruise, SS, … It’s only common sense that students get prepared for this mad tempo of designing as soon as possible. “When I need to evolve from one collection to the next I do it with similarity and dissimilarity,” Jaimee explains, “Taking aspects from a previous collection and developing it in a new and exciting way. Or simply by scrapping everything and starting with a new idea.” Those ideas, however, need to come from somewhere, they don’t drop out of thin air. In McKenna’s case, the inspiration for her final MA collection came from a 1950s Vogue image of a woman wearing a sculptural pleated skirt. Same as for every other designer, inspiration can hit her anywhere, anytime. “The other day I was getting excited about this peeling bark tree, which apparently in Swedish is named Björk, and I got about twenty different ideas of techniques on fabrics that I could create like this bark,” she says, “The point of that odd story is to show just how anything can spark an idea.” Future Graduated from her Master’s, it’s time for Jaimee to plan her future as a designer. While she would love to have her own successful label at some point, her main goal is to keep designing knitwear in any way possible. Doing something independently requires the right amount of industry experience and that’s what she’s gaining now by doing freelance work and soaking up all of the information and advice she’s getting. “The best piece of advice I ever got was to shut the fuck up and get on with it. It’s very suitable for where I’m standing now as well.” Text by Chloé Bauwens

Jaimee McKenna

FASHION 99

ID KIT NAME: ALICE DUPRAZ-TOULOUSE AGE: 21 HOMETOWN: LYON, FRANCE EDUCATION: BA FASHION DESIGN @ ROYAL ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS ANTWERP. MA FASHION DESIGN @ ROYAL ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS ANTWERP. GOAL: OWN LABEL WITH A LOCAL PRODUCTION TEAM

“You have to put love in everything you do”

Photography by Frederic Bastin Make-up and Hair by Evara Collin Model Eleonore @IMM

i, kifak, ça va?’ In English, Arabic and French, that’s how you say hello in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. This cosmopolitan city formed the inspiration for Alice’s Master of Fashion Design collection after a trip she took there over the summer to visit some of her friends. Olivia Magazine spoke to the MA graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp about Beirut, growing up, life lessons and the future. Men are boring “I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember, I think it started when I was only three years old. I had a babysitter who studied fine arts and it was a way of keeping myself occupied. I was quite a lonely child. My mother would make sure that I’d always have a sketchbook and felt pens so you could find me drawing anywhere and I would only draw women. I found them so interesting to draw, with their garments and the fantasy I could put into them. I remember thinking as a child that it must be so boring to be a man because you couldn’t have fun when you got dressed. That, combined with my mother who would always take me to see exhibitions and look at different books, is what first sparked my interest in fashion. When I was six I decided I wanted to be a fashion designer and I’ve never really changed my mind since then. In high school it was pretty embarrassing. I was studying sciences at the time and when teachers would ask the typical question at the beginning of every school year – what do you want to be when you grow up? – I told them I wanted to be a fashion designer. They didn’t take me seriously at all.” Antwerp or London “I grew up in Lyon in France so when I was deciding between schools to go to, I knew I wanted to stay in Europe. The two obvious choices were the Academy in Antwerp or Central Saint Martins in London, which are some of the best schools in the world. I visited the Academy once before deciding and really saw myself going there. It felt like a personal environment, nice and not too big. I didn’t want to go anywhere else so luckily for me I got in after the first try.” Entrance exam “Before the entrance exam for Antwerp I realised I had never seen a pattern in my life. Naturally that freaked me out so I took some sewing classes and bought the easiest Burda dress pattern I could find and made it for myself. I’ve never worn it but I still have it hanging in my closet and I’m pretty proud of it. Sewing is not my strongest point but I did my best because it was necessary.” Love what you do “The biggest lesson you learn at the Academy is the first thing they tell you when you arrive, ‘You have to put love in everything you do. Put love in your drawings. This is the start of a challenging first year and the only thing you have to bear in mind is keep enjoying what you are doing.’ I think

that’s the best piece of wisdom they could share with us. When you do something artistic you should never feel constrained or sad about doing it. The Academy helps you gain confidence in yourself and remember to always smile. It’s a good school for life. Even if you don’t end up as a designer in the end.” Beirut “My master’s collection was inspired by a trip I did to Beirut last summer. I knew I needed a substantial concept to work on the entire master year and I was pretty stricken by my trip. I had a wonderful time during the holiday but afterwards I was left with a very strange feeling. You feel free and you see people enjoying themselves but at the same time there’s this cloud of war hanging over them and their troubles with Syria. There are bullet marks in the walls, tanks and soldiers on the street… you don’t pay attention to it then because you get used to it but once you get home you realise how weird the situation is. I wanted to work with this bittersweet feeling and try to wrap army and war references around softer feminine, Arabic and glamour ones. I always like to dig deeper when I’m working on a concept so I also looked at different Lebanese artists who talked about the feeling that I experienced, which helped me to feed my collection. In the end I’m still not sure if I chose the right concept. It’s a very difficult feeling to translate into fashion.” Innovation & Creation “The advice I follow is something my mother told me as a child, ‘Always aim higher than what you could do.’ It’s pretty basic but it’s how I work. I don’t know what I want to do in the future yet. I think I need to start working to get an idea of what the job exactly contains. I’ve always been designing in my own room on my own collections; I would love to see what it’s like to work in a team. I have little favourites of where I would like to work, like Prada and Dior – big fashion houses that remain innovative and creative. One day I’d maybe like to have my own label but I would need people around me to collaborate with, people I can trust. You go so much further in a team when you can communicate and brainstorm on a creation. I’d also love to make the production local again. Almost all of the factories are gone in Europe. That’s a big goal though, it would require teaching people again because all the knowledge is gone. Maybe that’s just me aiming as high as I can.” Text by Chloé Bauwens

Alice Dupraz-Toulouse

Photography by Sarah Hermans Model Stephanie Demeyere

FASHION 101

Northern IF IT WERE UP TO US IT WOULD BE PARTY-SEASON ALL YEAR ROUND. WE CERTAINLY DON’T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH COVERING OURSELVES WITH GLITTERS EVERY DAY. SO EVEN THOUGH THIS MAKE-UP LOOK WAS INSPIRED BY PETER PHILIPS’ CHANEL AW 13 LOOK, WE LEAVE IT UP TO YOU TO DECIDE WHETHER TO COPY IT JUST FOR NEW YEAR’S OR ANY OTHER PARTY NIGHT.

lights

As with any make-up look it’s important it stays in place when you are out partying and don’t have time to worry about whether your mascara has smudged. Lucky for us technology has developed enough for it to create our equivalent to the holy grail: the primer. Just a few drops are enough to make sure your face is the perfect black canvas and your foundation glides on more easily. MAC’s Prep + Prime skin lotion also calms your skin and evens out redness (£20.50). After you’ve applied a light foundation, start by colouring your eye lid with a golden bronze shadow. We would recommend the bronze MAC Eye Shadow we used for this look (£12.50) as it applies evenly and blends well. If the shadow isn’t enough shine for you, make your eyes pop even more by adding a copper sparkle MAC Pressed Pigment (£17.00). This highlighter can be applied dry for high shine, or on damp skin for a more dramatic wet look.

Obviously the - maybe not so - secret ingredient of this look are the eye glitters in gold and silver. You can go for a subtle sparkle by applying glitter dust (£3.49), or - for a bigger shine effect - use actual sequins (£3.40), which you can apply easiest with eyelash glue. The best thing about it is you can just find them in your nearest Arts and Craft shop. Finish it all off with a nice lick of mascara for a sensuous glance. MAC Zoom Lash mascara has a great brush which separates each lash and feels light on your lashes (£14.00). We would suggest to keep your lips plain so your eyes get all the attention they deserve. Maybe opt for a natural lipstick or just a simple transparent gloss combined with just a touch of soft pink cheek bronzer (MAC Rosy Outlook Pro Longwear Blush, £20). Obviously all this hard work needs to be kept so we have a special secret we are sharing just with you. MAC’s Prep + Prim Transparent Finishing Powder (£20) which you apply on your make up when you’re done, is a great way to set your beauty look. It reduces shine while optically minimising the look of pores, lines and imperfections. So when you’re dancing your ass off during those New Year’s drinks you don’t have to worry about a thing. Text by Carlotta Minderhout Photography by Stephanie Potter Corwin Make-up and Hair by Elizabeth Hedley Model Elena Koutsia

“

Some days I can be worried about the way I look and others I just don’t care

”

Image: Carlotta Minderhout

THE FULL PACKAGE WITH TEMPERATURES HITTING THE METRE BELOW FREEZING POINT, WE ARE HELPING YOU WARM UP THIS WINTER AND NOT IN THE TRADITIONAL ‘CHRISTMAS JUMPER AND HOT COCO’ KIND OF WAY. INSTEAD WE ARE OFFERING YOU A CHOICE OF THREE VERY HOT GUYS TO SNUGGLE UP TO. THEY CERTAINLY GOT OUR BODY TEMPERATURES RISING. LADIES, TAKE YOUR PICK.

MITCHEL RAMDJIAWAN (22) HOLLAND

Communication & Multimedia design student/taekwondo teacher Single Instagram @mitchramdjiawan

ilms are my passion, particularly making them. I would love to make money creating great productions that people would find interesting to watch. Another thing I really love is music. I can’t go a day without my iPod. To keep in shape taekwondo is great. I’ve been practicing this since I was a little boy and I used to do competitions for the Dutch team but now I teach kids from ages 5 to 23. I go to the gym a lot and every once in a while you might find me running, that’s if the weather is nice. Also I try to eat as healthy as possible, but during the weekends I don’t care because then it’s time to party. Which, by the way, is another thing I really like to do. Some days I can be worried about the way I look and others I just don’t care, it really depends on my mood. I am quite happy with my hair though as I don’t have to spend too much time on it. I would have liked to have had the eyes of my mum as she has green eyes and I think they would look cool with my skin colour. But I can be very insecure at times. Especially when hitting

on girls, I never know what to say. Those weird silences and her staring at me: makes me feel awkward. In a girl I look for somebody I can laugh and have a good time with. She has to share my taste in music and it would be great if she is as obsessed with Game of Thrones and Harry Potter as I am. Her appearance is important too, obviously not as important as everything else, but the outside is the first thing you judge someone on. It’s the whole package that counts. I’ve never been there but I would imagine that in Brazil the girls are stunning.” CM

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People started saying I look like Miley Cyrus, so it might be time to get a hair cut

Image: Carlotta Minderhout

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CHARLIE CROWHURST (23) UNITED KINGDOM

Photographer specialising in sport Single (has been forever) Instagram @charliecrowhurst

y biggest dream was realised last year when I got to go and take pictures at London’s 2012 Olympics. It’s funny, when I was 15 and still in high school the dates were announced and from that moment on working at the Olympics was my number one goal. So it really was amazing for me to be a part of that, even though it was really hard work. I have always loved what I do for a living, but now I feel I need to go back into doing it in my spare time. Because it’s my job, whenever I got a camera in my hands I feel like I’m just at work. So my future plan is to take pictures of the things around me, like landscapes and sunsets. The countryside is what I like most about England. I’m from Brighton, which is right by the sea and is just so peaceful and beautiful. During the weekend I love getting on my bike and cycling to the beach and just have a relaxing afternoon. I don’t know what it is but there’s just something about it. Apart from cycling I love swimming, which I do about three times a week, and going to the gym to keep in shape. I’m quite sporty, not because I’m so vain or want to look amazing, but just because I can’t sit still. And because it’s healthy, which is way more important to me

than the way I look. Having said that, dressing well is something I do pay attention to. I hate trainers, they look horrible. I only have one pair that I wear to the gym. So I rather buy clothes I actually like because it’s important you feel comfortable in what you wear. I don’t really pay that much attention to my hair and I used to like it. That was until people started saying I look like Miley Cyrus, so it might be time to get a hair cut. I can be insecure at times, especially when I’m at the beach and have to take my top of. I have, what we in England call, a pigeon chest, which is when your ribs go in. It’s not really bad but the little kids stare so I just tell them I had a heart transplant. In a girl I just look for somebody who is kind and caring. Oh, and with a similar music taste to mine, as long as she has that we can work it out. I would like a French girl, I like that they are arrogant. I love the accent, I don’t know why, but there is just something about them.” CM

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Call it shallow if you must but in my opinion first impressions are everything

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MATS VERTESSEN (22) BELGIUM

Image: Tom Bauwens

Interior Design student / Tennis teacher Single Instagram @matsvertessen

ast summer I had an accident on my Vespa. A car didn’t notice me when I turned into the street, hit me and I ended up breaking my neck. Afterwards I realised how sudden your life can end. It truly is in the blink of an eye. I didn’t change into a different type of person, telling everyone to cherish every moment they get… but it did change me. I became cautious when I’m driving and at the same time extremely impulsive when it comes to living my life. If I want to do something I’ll do it right now, there’s no point in postponing it to the ‘right’ moment. That moment is now. Apart from taking more chances and being more impulsive than I used to be, I’m obviously still the same guy. I love having a drink with friends, I love traveling and experiencing different cultures and I love tennis. I started playing when I was 11-years-old and it quickly became an addiction. I was spending a lot of my time on the courts until I was 15 and puberty hit me. The passion disappeared and was shifted to other things but after two years of goofing around I started missing my sport. Now I enjoy it again and I even started teaching, children and adults. Tennis keeps my body in shape but I also try hitting the gym a few times a week, not only for my appearance, it’s also necessary to be on top of my game. While the love for the sport is the main reason I smack that yellow ball over the net over and over again, I also want to look good. Call it shallow if you must but in my opinion first impressions are everything. Someone who looks polished will get further in life than someone scruffy. Do I spend hours looking in the mirror grooming myself to what I

consider perfection? No, of course not. But I do think about my outfit, figuring out what works and what doesn’t. For a future girlfriend, looks are as important as they are to myself. She needs to take care of herself and make an effort. Being naturally stunning is a plus for men or women I guess. I still need to meet the guy who didn’t fall for his girlfriend’s look before he liked her personality. It’s the first thing you notice. Unless you meet each other on an online dating site without pictures where it’s all about your personality. Does that even exist? Then again, looks aren’t everything. I need to be able to be myself around her. Share passions and travel the world together. Oh… and she needs to be okay with tattoos. After my accident I had a triangle tattooed on my arm and I’m trying to resist getting a second one. That it’s hard to stop once you get started isn’t just an expression.” CB

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You’re my bestest friend

WE ALL HAVE THAT ONE PERSON IN MIND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A BFF, HOMEGIRL, OR BIATCH (EXCUSE MY LANGUAGE). IN SHORT: A GIRLFRIEND TO SHARE THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE CRAZY TIMES WITH. ASSUMING EVERY GIRL IN THE UNIVERSE HAS ONE, IT IS OBVIOUS TO SE HOW THIS RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN PORTRAYED ON SCREEN AS WELL. SO FORGET BATMAN AND ROBIN AND LET’S FOCUS ON SOME FIERCE AND FUNNT FEMALE DUOS. TEXT BY HEATHER SINNAEVE

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WORDS

WHEN IT COMES TO LITERATURE AND MUSIC RECOMMENDATIONS THERE’S TOO MUCH GROUND TO COVER EVERYTHING THAT’S OUT THERE. FROM MUST READ CLASSICS TO CATCHY NEW HITS, EVERYONE CAN LIST MORE THAN A DOZEN FAVOURITES IN THE WORLD OF BOOKS AND MUSIC. THAT’S WHY WE ASKED YOU, THE OLIVIA READERS, ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR YOUR ALL TIME FAVOURITE PICKS. TO SAY THAT ANY OF THESE ARE ‘THE BEST’ IS RIDICULOUS, HOW DO YOU EVEN MEASURE THE BEST WHEN IT COMES TO PERSONAL TASTE? BUT THEY ARE THE ONES YOU WOULD SUGGEST TO YOUR BEST FRIEND, THE ONES THAT STAYED ON YOUR MIND AND CLOSE TO YOUR HEART. SO MAYBE THEY ARE THE BEST AFTER ALL?

AND TUNES

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ROAST IT, GRIND IT, BREW IT, BOIL IT, POUR IT, TASTE IT,

SERVE & SIP IT You should never have to go without your daily shot of java. Not even when traveling abroad. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we selected the best coffee bars in London, Antwerp and Amsterdam. Our criteria? High quality coffee, a cosy interior and some sweet tunes in the background. And Wi-Fi. Duh.

Text by Laura Vansweevelt

BELGIUM

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Text by Marie-Claire Chappet

Text by Carlijn Bakker

HOLLAND

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Dear Nana When it comes to basic chores or even life advice, not all of us know exactly in which direction to go. But fear no more ladies, Nana has got all the answers you need to become that (domestic) goddess you aspire to be.

Dear Jess, You are definitely not the first person to come to me with this problem. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry, I have a great solution which will remove the stain in a matter of minutes. First of all itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to know to never rub the stain as the gloss or lipstick will only fix itself deeper in the leather and it becomes almost impossible to get the paint out. Start by softening the fabric by spreading a bit of butter on it and then gently scrape the paint of the leather with a thin knife. If you then wash it in warm (not hot) water with a bit of soap the bag should be as good as new. A quicker but less effective way is to dip the stain with cotton soaked in milk. This way the paint should be absorbed by the cotton. Just to give you a heads up: nail polish is an even tougher stain to get out as it bites in the fabric. So the easiest way is to spray some perfume or deodorant that contains alcohol on it, leave it for a minute and then softly deb - not rub - with an old cloth.

Dear Emma, This often occurring problem has a very simple solution. Obviously you could buy a descaling spray in the supermarket, but usually these are very expensive. So a cheaper solution is to simply fill a sandwich bag with vinegar, tie it around your showerhead and leave it to absorb. After a few hours take it off and rinse and you will see: no more scale. For your sink and bathtub the same applies, just leave the vinegar for a few hours and then rinse. Vinegar has been around for ages and is a cheap remedy for many house troubles. Since it is acid, even though the lightest form of it, it eats away the scale. You can also use it as a remedy to keep moths away if you mix it with water and spray it over fabric, or to easily swallow a fishbone if one gets stuck in your throat.

Dear Laura, I definitely agree, and I think your date will too: there is nothing sexier than a woman that can cook. So no worries if you’re not a kitchen goddess, with this simple yet delicious recipe you will impress him for sure. They say a man’s love goes through the stomach, don’t they? Start the evening off with some crackers with lemon and coriander humus which you can simply buy in the supermarket. Pour him a nice glass of wine which you then serve with sliced baguette you’ve put in the oven with melted goat’s cheese, walnuts and honey. Very easy, but the ingredients taste wonderful put together (on the plus side: honey has an aphrodisiac effect). As your main course why not prepare a delicious plate of ‘Bucatini all’Amatriciana’. Rest assured, it sounds more complicated than it is. Slice an onion and cut some bacon into small pieces - to make it even easier, most supermarkets sell already cubed pancetta bacon - which you fry in a sauce pan with olive oil. After about 15 minutes add chopped tomatoes, a teaspoon of sugar and the seeds of a chilli pepper, it’s up to you how spicy you want to make your dish. Leave the sauce to thicken for another 15-20 minutes, while in the meantime you cook the spaghetti or Bucatini in water with salt. Pour the sauce over the pasta, add some grated Parmesan and voila. Finish your meal off by frying some bananas in a pan with sugar, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and your night is assured of a happy ending.

Dear Juliette, I understand your fear, I know how hard it can be trying to find a job in our society during this particular economic period. Where before one was special when only attempting to get a Master’s degree, now you can be replaced in a second. But this is the important message I want to give to you: you are everything but replaceable and all you have to do is make sure your future boss sees that too. Show him or her your organisational skills by presenting them a clean and professional looking curriculum (I’ve seen Legally Blonde, don’t go there). Make sure it’s not too long as most big shots simply don’t have the time to read through all of it. Also show them your persistence and motivation by ringing them up if you haven’t had a reply yet. I would suggest you wait at least a week before picking up the phone, because you don’t want to come across too eager. Another thing you mustn’t forget is to clean up your Facebook. You certainly don’t want your future employer to see those party pictures where your mascara is smudged all over your face and you’ve spilt your drink over your beigecoloured top. Once you’ve made it to the interview, make sure you’ve done your research and know everything there is to know about the company and job. Show your dedication by asking questions, you need to make sure that the job fits your standards too, not just the other way around. Oh and don’t forget to wear that outfit that makes you look and feel like the smart young woman that you are (that means leave your leather miniskirt at home). 119

Horoscope LOVE IS IN THE AIR, SAGITTARIUS

Text by Sybil Trelawney

SAGITTARIUS (NOVEMBER 23 – DECEMBER 22) Love is in your corner this month, whether it’s a new guy that’s coming your way or your current boyfriend who surprises you with a romantic gesture, cupid has his arrows pointed at you. Enjoy this burst of romantic attention without over-analysing it.

AQUARIUS (JANUARY 21 – FEBRUARY 18) We would love to tell you that this month is going to be easy breezy for you, but hélas. December is all about paying extra attention, scanning documents twice and putting professional before personal affairs. Oh, and don’t forget your Christmas shopping either.

CAPRICORN (DECEMBER 23 – JANUARY 20) Family doesn’t need to be your new f-word Capricorn. It’s true that they can be demanding and controlling, but try to remember that they have your best interest at heart and just want to be there for you. This month could be the time to make the changes in your life you’ve been thinking about for a while.

PISCES (FEBRUARY 19 – MARCH 20) Those colourful ribbons and shiny wrapping papers are enchanting to all of us, but try to make a list before you hit the store Pisces. This month is a bad month for anyone’s wallet but yours in particular. Try to save a bit of your budget for after the New Year.

ARIES (MARCH 21 – APRIL 20) Aries (March 21 – April 20) With everyone else picking out presents for under the tree, this is the perfect time for you to choose your next vacation. Is there a place you’ve always wanted to go or are you more the pack your bags and see where you and up type of girl? December is the month to do it. So go and be the adventurer you want to be, everything will still be here when you get back.

TAURUS (APRIL 21 – MAY 20) Out with the old and in with the new that should be your new year’s resolution. The friends that have been bugging you, the job that leaves you unsatisfied, the boyfriend who stopped making you happy a while ago… Make a clean sweep with anything and everything that has been an annoyance throughout the year and start 2014 with a new and fresh

GEMINI (MAY 21 – JUNE 21) This month is your chance to do something for someone else. This doesn’t mean you have to get your gloves and ladle ready to go and volunteer in a soup kitchen – then again why don’t you? It can be something small like helping your neighbour carrying his Christmas tree or offering advice to your best friend who’s looking for a gift. Your contribution will be priceless for them and yourself.

CANCER (JUNE 22 – JULY 23) Try to decompress and allow yourself to relax. This past few weeks have been très frustrating and the only way to get your energy back is if you give yourself some much needed me-time. Book a day at a spa, indulge in your favourite book with a glass of wine or cuddle up in front of your favourite TV show. You deserve it.

LEO (JULY 24 – AUGUST 23) The sky is the limit for you Leo. The stars are in your favour for you to find new challenges. Whether you want to go flat or job hunting or even take a trip around the world, we say go for it. Your strength and inspiration levels are at their peak so make the most of it.

VIRGO (AUGUST 24 – SEPTEMBER 23) Looking for love? Try getting out of your comfort zone, chances of finding Mr. Right in the pub where you always go are… well, almost non-existent. Try a new bar, go running in a new park or switch supermarkets. Already in a relationship? Try spicing it up a bit, who says Santa’s little helpers can’t be naughty?

LIBRA (SEPTEMBER 24 – OCTOBER 22) Mean girl alert. And we don’t mean this in a good let’s watch the film and quote along kind of way. Someone close to you is spreading rumours so steer clear of cattiness. Find out who is going Regina George on you, give her an ice-cold stare and move on. You’re bigger than this.

SCORPIO (OCTOBER 23 – NOVEMBER 22) Changes. That’s what this month is all about for you Scorpio. Try to remain calm and go with the flow. Every change needs some time to adjust and no one is expecting you to do everything perfectly right away. Take a breath and try, that’s all we’re asking.

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