Robyn

ROBYN OCTOBEr 2014

£1

special launch price

We believe in you!

Blogging special

get your blog on!

“Some boys are idiots, but you’ll find someone!”

FASHION MATHS High street bargains + catwalk inspo

follow our top tips and conquer the blogosphere

Sexism 101 The lowdown on everyday sexism

COMING OUT “I had my first girlfriend at 10.”

Robyn The Glam Northerner Fun fact: Rosie loves Pinterest. She has pinned 15, 654 pictures to date, and she has no plans on stopping yet.

Teen Rosie was: a moody goth Most cringe moment: Once at a festival, Rosie fell into a knee-deep pool of mud and revealed her bare bum to amused onlookers.

Words to describe her: sleek, witty, ambitious Rosie’s jam: Common People - Pulp

@robyn_magazine

Welcome to the first ever Robyn. So glad you could join us!

P

hew, what a month it’s been for you lot. You’ve waved goodbye to summer and the new school year is well and truly here to stay. SIGH… But not to worry, the Robyn team is here to help you lose those post-summer blues and say hello to Autumn in style!

We’re storming into your lives with an all-singing, all- dancing blogging special. We know, we’re too nice. There’s no doubt you’re going to be blown away by our star blogger and true beaut (inside and out), Olivia Purvis, creator of What Olivia Did. Not only that, we’ve got your Autumn wardrobes sussed, your playlist sorted and your weekend boredom busted. And ‘cause we know you’re a bunch of smart cookies and your brains aren’t completely frazzled by the new school year just yet, we’ve covered some burning teen topics you didn’t even know were a big deal until we came along and said, “Hey! This is KIND of a big deal…”.

We guess all that’s left to say is thanks for choosing Robyn!

Congrats on now being a member of an exclusive bunch of life-loving, fun-driven, smart, savvy and sorted teens who, quite frankly, just make us smile.

Enjoy our mag, girls!

The Friendly Foodie Fun fact: At the weekends, Vicki teaches kids to swim.

Teen Vicki was: a shy bookworm who loved swimming Most cringe moment: Vicki was once having a sing and dance-along to V icki her iPod whilst walking down the street. She thought nobody was looking, until she noticed her best mate’s new boyfriend approaching giving her extremely weird looks.

Words to describe her: kind, cute, quirky Vicki’s jam: Ghost – Ella Henderson The Wise Owl Fun fact: Cat once ran through the streets of Sheffield alone at 3 in the morning dressed as the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland.

Teen Cat was: an adorable geek Most cringe moment: On holiday once, Cat fell down the same flight of stairs twice in the space of 30 seconds, then cried. In front of a huge group of tourists.

Words to describe her: charming, clever, hilarious Cat’s jam: Flowers – Talking Heads

Cat

The Robyn team! x Meet the team!

The Disney Princess Fun fact: Kim has visited Disney Land at least once a year since she was born.

Teen Kim was: exactly the same!

Most cringe moment: Kim once went to a McBusted gig and got mistaken by an older couple for a 13-year-old because she was so excited and hyper. She was 22…

Words to describe her: loud, sparkly, excitable, Kim’s jam: Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble – PJ & Duncan

Kim

Rosie

Amy

The Fun Fashionista Fun fact: Amy has a whole catalogues of ridiculous laughs.

One time in Wales, she laughed and made a cow jump.

Teen Amy was: A happiness-hating emo Most cringe moment: When she was 13, Amy tried to slap a boy at school who broke her heart. She missed, and all of her classmates laughed.

Words to describe her: smiley, bouncing, carefree Amy’s jam: Toxic – Britney Spears

The Rockin’ Redhead Fun fact: Phoebe has had a hair-dying addiction since she was 15. It’s been Auburn, flamingo pink, turquoise, purple, orange, pillar-box red, and smoking paprika!

Teen Phoebe was: A crazy hippy mosher Most cringe moment: When she was 15, Phoebe got caught by her mum with a huge love-bite on her neck.

Words to describe her: musical, bright, kooky Phoebe’s jam: Uptight – Stevie Wonder

P hoebe 3

What’s inside..

Robyn

Oct ‘14 4 6 9 10 12 22 24 27 28 32 34 36 40 43 44 47 51 52 55 56 58 61 62 65 69 4

16 18 21 30 39 48

Robyn Blogs! Blogging special

What Olivia Said... We chat to Olivia Purvis, blogger extrodinaire Youtube’s Next Top Vloggers The bright young things taking Youtube by storm Oh my Blog! Blogging do’s and don’ts, and how to get loads of followers!

“You don’t have to do it alone” Coming out can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be Sexism 101 What even is everyday sexism?

Fashion maths Back to school blues? You need Robyn’s fashion maths

Psst! Have you heard..? All the latest need-to-knows Celebs - they’re just like us! Bit of a clutz? You’re in good company!

It’s nice to be nice How being sweet really does get you further in life A picture is worth 1000 clicks Stay safe online with Robyn’s help “I took down the trolls” A cyber bullying victim who kicked back in style Power to the Girls Has bossy become a dirty word?

All that Jaz We chat to Jaz Sawyer, runner, lawyer, singer and all round Superwoman!

Dreaming ahead Take the hassle out of GCSE choices Boredom banished Fed up? Check out our fab (if we do say so ourselves) suggestions Confidence: Covered For those in need of an ego boost, Dove’s got you covered Ivey’s story One reader’s story of challenging the bullies in a very unique way Friendship fueds: solved! Spat with your mates? Let us sort it out.

Keeping it Clean Health blogger Jordan advises us on clean eats and treats Money on my mind Make your cash go further with our stress-free tips Rising Stars The coolest new acts that should be on your playlist Robyn how-to This month: How to be a pro-tographer!

How do you wear yours? This month: checked shirts Cut out & keep fashion Mix and match the celeb fashions to make your own looks Going for gold Paralmypian Lauren talks to Robyn about overcoming challenges When life gives you lemons... The women who excel for being different Robyn listens A problem shared is a problem halved How did she get that job? We quiz a girl with a cool job on what exactly it entails Robyn reviews Your go-to for the latest books and music All about... Robyn looks at a cool chicks from history.

Your Room, your rules Get your room to represent who you really are

16

Robyn

30 22

65

43 44

34

48

10 5

Robyn Zoella’s secret is out!

She’s gone dotty!

Nope, you probably haven’t, because Robyn is bringing you all the latest goss you can’t live without quicker than you can say, “Thanksyou’reamazing!”

(Don’t mention it.)

The guys have got our backs, girls!

J

I

Teens vs Parents -who will win?!

t’s true! Zoe Sugg has been teasing us with mentions of Zoella Beauty for some months now, but now it’s official.

“I can’t even tell you how hard it’s been for me to keep secrets, guys. This has been the longest year ever!” she said on Twitter last month.

The Twittersphere exploded with excitement (as did Robyn HQ). Visit her blog and you will see lots of pretty dotty lotions and adorable pots, and is that a perfume bottle we spot? Watch this space for a launch date!

F

or the first time 16year-olds in Scotland are being allowed to vote. In the Scottish campaigning Scottish teens Referendum, teens will have te for the YES vo the chance to help decide whether or not Scotland should be an independent country A recent opinion poll found that most Scottish teenagers are going to vote against independence. 60% of 16-year-olds asked said they do not want to leave the UK, with 19% undecided.

The poll also found that these teenagers are more sceptical about the idea than their parents; 50% of people over 25 say they will vote for independence. We recommend you follow the news to see what happens, or follow us on Twitter for live updates!

Are you from Scotland? What do you think? Join the conversation on Twitter using #teenstalkindependence.

ust weeks ago men in Cairo, Egypt, took to the streets to protest against the sexual harassment of women in the city after it finally became illegal to sexually harass women in Egypt.

Men and women Is it just spread awareness us or, are these so fe minists?! wearing high-vis me MAN LY jackets to make sure they were attracting attention. “With perverts, we spray on the backs of Wonka Bar phone their shirts, ‘I am case. We wouldn’t a harrasser’,” blame you if you 17-year-old student tried to eat it!

Mahmoud Adel told USA Today. It is £1.25 amazon.co.uk hoped that the new law will change ot keen on Halloween? Here perceptions and stop harassment. comes the ultimate replacement!

Sadly Egypt is the worst country Chocolate week is between 13th in the Arab world for women to live, and 17th October. Why not celebrate it rated lower than Saudi Arabia where with a few of these sweet (but not women are not even allowed to drive.

We hope this law will make a difference actually edible) accessories?! to women in a country going through Pick up this retro change. But for now, we’re just chuffed lunchbox and satisfy all to see some guys showing their of your sweet cravings! feminist side! £10 truffleshuffle.com

Eek, it’s chocolate week!

N

6

Colour me sleek!

S

cientists in New Mexico, USA, have invented a way of dyeing your hair with hair straighteners!

Their special straighteners etch gratings onto individual hairs to make them shine in all colours of the rainbow.

There’s no news on when and where these magical straighteners will be on sale, but in the meantime, we’re growing our hair out in preparation!

We could use these for this?!

Tanya’s beauty advice teamed with her edgy yet polished look has made her an internet sensation

Bare-faced bullying Lip stuff that tastes like chocolate? Yes please! £5.99 truffleshuffle. com

A

An LA artist plans to display life-size nude pics recently leaked of jennifer Lawrence by a 4chan user.

The artist, known as XVALA told the Independent, “In today’s culture, an individual’s privacy has become everyone else’s business.”

We’re not sure putting the pics on display really helps, XVALA. In fact, in our opinion, it’s nothing short of bullying.

Tweet your opinions on the leaked pics to @Robyn_magazine.

Burrilliant fashion range! (Sorry - we couldn’t resist.)

W

e’re so excited to hear that super cute fashion and beauty vlogger Tanya Burr is launching her own fashion range!

We’ve had a sneaky peak at the clothes and we are IN LOVE with the ditsy fabrics, colourful lace and downright adorable dresses. Explore her gorgeous range on very.co.uk in sizes 8 to 22.

The 25-year-old also has her own cosmetics brand and has starred in photoshoots for fashion hot-shots Mulberry.

She’s had over 6-million views on her YouTube channel every month. If you haven’t already, check out Tanya’s YouTube vids!

HOT

Martha, of the Great British Bake Off. What. A. Sweetheart!

Autumn sunshine.

Perfect Instagram conditions!

NOT Miley’s ice-cream nipple tassles. So unappetising.

The iPhone 6. We’ve grown attached to number 5, thanks!

Strictly Come The trailer for new Dancing. Yawn, when E4 series Glue. We’re will they do one with SO intrigued! cats?

7

THEY’RE LEBS!

CE

S

Being a celebrity does not stop you from making a fool of yourself – just ask Jennifer Lawrence.

aying the wrong thing, wardrobe malfunctions, falling on the red carpet… We’ve all been there, J-Law! Okay, maybe not at the Oscars - but you get the picture.

Felicity Thistlewaite, a 23-year-old showbiz journalist at the Daily Express, knows first-hand that celebs aren’t always as perfect as they might seem.

‘Since my first day on the job, I realised one important

thing: celebrities are just like the rest of us. They might seem perfect on TV and in mags, but that’s because they’ve been edited that way. In reality, they’re as clumsy and dorky as everyone else. I’m pretty sure even Beyonce will have tripped over her own feet at some point.’

So with that in mind, here’s a round-up of our all-time fave ‘celebs-being-normal-people’ pics!

Remember girls, there’s no such thing as perfect – even if you’re J-Law.

e time Who can forget th se vlogging fave Loui met r te lit -G of eSprinkl d, Kylie Minogue an ly lost te lu so ab ly, basical as it? She recalls, ‘I w and ly al ric ste hy g sobbin ually just saying ‘I’m us sure really cool!’ We’re you are, Lou.

in public As if ripping clothes fia Vergara So , gh isn’t bad enou s from Modern (Colombian goddes to tear the back of Families) managed se her entire bare her dress and expo Emmy Awards. backside at the 2012 .

ULTIMATE. CRINGE

Moss? t Kate a h t Is

In McDon ald

s?

...buying a burger?!

aat.

aaaa

aaaa Whaa

6

F Gir angirl l a al f h cri earts ter o ert! e u , she d ACTU Emma r own rec AL T Ston e, vide eive EAR S d all o chat a su when -t rp f the ime fa rom h rise Spic ve b er e G and irls , .

Holly Willoughby broke out into an impromptu song from ‘Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat’, singing her own rendition: ‘Any fish will do...’

The LOLs couldn’t stop. We’re so happy that we’re not the only ones to make up our own songs!

Robyn

JUST LIKE US! OF COURSE Zoella an d Tanya Burr spend th eir Saturday nights singing Frozen in on esies! And that is exac tly why we love you, girls.

n she ocked whe as sh ll e w d t looke en it w Taylor Swif won a Grammy, wh ’d e e her - both thought sh unk. Who can blam ly imgine aft P we can on d actually D n a hear ’ ‘R h ay, we mis gin wit -T e y b a T s y m u rr o lb a n’t w it was. Do how loud ! e time lyrics all th

s Emma Robert t n’ proves she is ild much of a W aps Child as she sw for s her celeb heel flip e normal-peopl ry or flops. Don’t w en be Ems, we’d have by rs in our slippe then.

Jessie J pr when she oved that Nobody’s upl Pe bedtime s oaded this make- rfect elfie to u p free her Insta there’s u gram. And s thinkin g celebs SLEEP in £500 fals ies!

Oh Little M ix, w we’re not th e’re glad e only one s th pretend to karate-chop at our mates, or re -create som e iconic poses with them every now and again.

F eam BF Our dr awrence er L Jennif t on her la fell f front of face in n, whilst tio the na g her Best tin r in collec s Osca Actres wkward A 2013. #

7

Robyn

nice

It’s nice to be

Didn’t you know?

Minding you r manners is kind of the in t hing.

People who shout the loudest get heard, right? Take Lily Allen, outspoken queen of shooting her mouth off. Lily once said on her Myspace blog, “I must say that taking your clothes off, doing sexy dancing and marrying a rich footballer must be very gratifying, your mother must be so proud, stupid b***h.” Her victim? Cheryl Cole. Ouch. We think she heard you, Lily.

We do see her point, though. Stripping off and brushing shoulders with the rich and famous isn’t enough to impress us here at Robyn HQ either. But, and forgive us the cliché, it’s not what Lily said that bugs us, it’s more the way she said it.

Want to get your voice heard, Lily? Here are three big reasons why manners are key...

They get you friends

They make you a lady

Back in 2012, Taylor Swift earned herself the top spot on the Ten Best-Mannered People list. Not that we’re surprised in the slightest.

T-Swizzle is well-known for being an absolute sweetheart to her fans. Check out this absolutely adorable Insta comment she left for a fan with a broken ankle...

OK, we know we sound like your great aunt Ida. Next we’ll be trying to talk about “courting” and telling you to wear pearls and a corset. Actually, call us crazy, but maybe that’s not such a bad idea…

Heard of American teen Maya Van Wagenen? She’s made a name for herself by following a 1958 etiquette manual called Betty Cornell’s Teenage Popularity Guide, which not only told her wear pearls, but said that if she wanted to be popular at school, she had to be kind.

Well, Maya went one step further than getting popular. She landed herself a sixfigure book deal for her diary of her experience, called Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek. Not just that, her book’s been signed by Steven Spielberg for a hollywood film adaptation!

I’m so sorry you sprained your ankle. That’s AWFUL and I’ll bet it hurt so much. Uggggh I’m so sorry. At least you have an excellent sense of humour about it and can laugh at yourself! Thanks for listening to my music in these not-somobile times you’re facing. Get well soon, Kaleigh!!

But Taylor’s most admirable moment was probably when Hailie Mathers tweeted this:

We feel pretty strongly about being nice at work. And when you think about it, Lily is at work 25 hours a day, 7 days a week. Every tweet and blog post she writes is part of her public image. And other celebrities are a little like her colleagues.

Think about it. If Lily shared an office with Cheryl Cole and wrote that blog post, her career would be over before she could say, “hashtag SO unfair”.

It might be the most simple advice we could give you, but that doesn’t mean it’s not the most valuable.

Wherever you end up in the future, ladies, don’t forget you heard it from Robyn that being nice to each other gets us far!

Psst! e! you be the judg

Hailie Mathers @hailiejade_x Dear @taylorswift13, please stop whoring around with every single guy you see. We all know you’re only doing it so you can make another album.

Pretty harsh. So what did Tay do? Well, nothing. Fans flocked to her defence and she rose above the insult by keeping it shtum.

We’ve got all the time in the world for anyone

They work in the workplace

WHICH CELEBS SHOULD MAKE IT TO 14?

LIEST CELEBS 20 ROBYN’S TOP LOVE Lesson learned by young author Maya? It certainly pays to be a lady!

TWEET SUGGESTIONS @ROBYN_MAGAZINE 9

Robyn

a picture is worth to think smart before they post photos or information about themselves that may put them at risk. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand clicks, and you can’t ever delete it.”

As well as thinking about your own safety, f ever we were handed a nice plate of these people?

Nancy warns social media users to be careful food back in the day, we’d give a quick The tiniest of posts can open you up to what they share about other “Wow!” then go ahead and stuff our cyber-bullying and even stalking, without people they know: “Don’t faces. Now, we see one cupcake and it’s you realising that you’ve mentioned be the person who time to whip out the iPhone. We’ll Snapchat anything dangerous. can you spreads photos or our friends, check in at the bakery on our Netsmartz, a charity designed honestl information about y say Facebook timeline and hashtag a million to teach teens about online safety, y others that could hurt o u trust phrases to show just how much we love this did a ‘six-click-search’ experiment a them,” says Nancy. l l of cupcake. your fa to see how much info One young girl cebook But did any of us stop to think they could get on a who knows all about friends about how all of this social person from just ? “don’t others posting harmful media could be affecting our six clicks on their rson messages is Sarah Bell, be the pe lives? If the answer is “No, Facebook page. s d who suffered extreme cybera e who spr I was too busy choosing One girl’s check-ins t bullying at 16-years-old and now u o n ab an Instagram filter,” then meant Netsmartz could informatio travels the US to warn other teens about social at could something needs to change. track the pattern of her media dangers. Turn the page to read her others th Posting the smallest thing .” movements and estimate story. hurt them can give away a whole load of where she’d be at a given time; But don’t worry girls, there are loads personal info. Take that innocent while another girl’s Facebook of ways to protect yourselves from internet cupcake pic. Your intention may have showed inappropriate pictures, easily threats – including these top tips from Robyn been to top up your Foodstagram snaps, but accessible to the general public and future magazine on how to stay safe online. Follow by checking in at that bakery, you have given employers or colleges. these, and you can social network safely all of your Facebook friends your location.

Nancy McBride, Executive Director of without losing any of the fun.

Can you honestly say you know and trust all of Netsmartz, says: “We want teenage girls Happy hastagging!

are you just a few clicks away from danger? follow our guide to internet safety and ensure you’re never just a post away from someone nasty

I

Post the wrong thing or don’t protect your personal info and you could be 6 clicks away from an online predator discovering your location

a thousand clicks Protect your personal info Clean up your profile of anything embarrassing, inappropriate or illegal. You might think your pictures are funny now, but imagine how you’ll feel about them in 10 years’ time.

Don’t post any personal info such as phone numbers and addresses, and do not tag yourself in locations. This will only let everyone know where you are – including the people you really don’t want there.

NEVER share your password with anyone, including your best friend. The only people who should know your password are you and your parents or guardians.

Always set your profile to private and do not accept anyone as a friend unless you know exactly who they are and do not mind them having access to your life. Maybe even have a clean-up of your current friends - if there’s people in there you’re not quite sure of, remove them.

Better to be safe than sorry.

Never meet anyone in person you “met” online. If someone asks to meet you, or does anything to make you feel uncomfortable, tell your parents or guardian right away. Not everyone is who they say they are. Always know the difference between cute and creepy.

Tell your parents or guardians what you’re doing every now and again.

They freak out because they don’t know, so keeping them in a loop will actually get them off your back.

For help and advice about cyber-bullying Visit: www.netsmartz.org Call: 1-800-843-5678 Visit: www.cybersmile.org, Email:help@cybersmile.org Call: 0207 241 6472_

10

“if you put yourself out there in a positive, respectful way, that’s usually what will come back. If you don’t engage in gossipy drama (online or anywhere), it’ll be less likely to bite you back.” avoid the cyber bullies IGNORE. BLOCK. TELL. If you get a threatening or upsetting message, do not respond. This is only what cyber-bullies want you to do. Just block the person and file a report with the website, phone company or police.

Cybersmile, a charity fighting cyberbullying, advises that you keep the message.

“While we know that abusive messages can be upsetting to have sat in an inbox, it is a good idea to keep them as evidence in case they are later required by a school, police officer or anyone else trying to help.

“This evidence can be invaluable to back up any future claims.”

Don’t be the fuel for a cyberbully’s fire. If you hear a rumour, do not pass it to everyone you know: you could be affecting someone’s life.

Stand up or stand back? If your friends are cyber-bullying someone, what do

you do?

Do you stand back and watch the victim suffer, or stand up to your friends and maybe even save someone’s life.

The Golden Rule. put yourself out positively online and you will usually receive positivity back.

According to Anne Collier, the CoDirector of Connect Safely, “Just like in offline life, online risk can depend a whole lot on how you present yourself and how you interact with others. The best protection from negativity is positivity.

“In other words, if you put yourself out there in a positive, respectful way, that’s usually what will come back. If you don’t engage in gossipy drama (online or anywhere), it’ll be less likely to bite you back.

That general positivity rule – of respect for self and others – covers a whole lot of ground.”

11

Robyn

Sarah awoke in her family home in Florida, excited for the day ahead. Today was her 16th birthday. She smiled at the thought of the celebrations she had planned with her family. Before she got out of bed to see her loving parents, she checked her phone for any birthday messages. But instead of congratulations, she found something she couldn’t have prepared for. “Wow, you’re still alive?” the text read. “Impressive. Well, Happy Birthday anyway.”

Sarah began to panic. She couldn’t believe the cyber-bullies would even try to ruin what would be her Sweet 16th. Would they ever stop? “No,” she thought. “There’s only one way out...”

S

and you have no idea what to say,” Sarah information on cyber-bullying. arah Bell was just 16-years-old when she first became a victim of says. “I was in so much pain.”

What they found shocked them. cyber-bullying. Until now, she had Sarah began skipping school so Thousands of ‘versus’ sites, active all over been a popular girl at Hernando she didn’t have to face her bullies. She America, flashed up onto the screen. failed tests and her once top grades fell Sarah stared at news articles, featuring High School. She had loads of friends and always achieved high grades. dramatically. the faces of hundreds of teenagers who But when she split with her boyfriend As the cyber-bullying continued had committed suicide because of of 15 months, things took a turn for the on the ‘versus’ page, she cyber-bullying. Unlike for her, became more and more support had not come quick worse.

I ught “I tho dle it desperate. Too afraid to tell enough.

It all started when her supposed ‘best an anyone about her problems, “Something needs to friend’ wrote a Facebook status saying: could h wn. But o y m “I hate Sarah Bell and I don’t care who she eventually turned to change,” said Sarah. “No n o n’t.” self-harm. more young people can die knows it.”

I could “I thought the bullying would because of this.”

Next, Sarah was featured on a social media ‘versus’ page, ‘Hernando Haters’, never go away,” Sarah says. ‘I With the help of her parents, which pinned images of people next thought I could handle it on my Sarah took copies of the ‘versus’ own.’ sites and sent out hundreds of letters to to one another, asking who was better But she couldn’t. So with nowhere to turn, newspapers, politicians, the Hernando looking.

“No light punches!” Hernando Haters Sarah planned her own suicide.

County Superintendent and Facebook, advised, encouraging insults.

Luckily, Sarah’s mum Jennifer had asking for them to warn other teens about always been protective of her daughter. the dangerous trend.

Sure enough, someone commented on Sensing something was wrong, she Soon, she began to receive responses.

Sarah’s picture, holding nothing back. checked Sarah’s Facebook account Politicians sent her letters of support, “Ugly whore,” they wrote.

This triggered bullies to set and discovered all of the hateful the media interviewed and featured messages. her in their publications and Facebook up a separate ‘versus’ site, “Thes e thin Jennifer confronted Sarah, highlighted the media coverage on their with Sarah’s face as the main gs are so hurtfu who confessed everything. page, to directly target the sources of the profile image. Comments l.

I was such as “I hate Sarah Bell” They told Sarah’s dad Brian, problem. in much p so and “Sarah Bell is a bitch” and the family supported From here, her campaign ‘Unbreakable’ ain.”

Sarah back to health. was born. Sarah says, “My vision from the came flooding in.

Then together, they formed very beginning was to bring awareness of Sarah didn’t know what to do. She wasn’t even sure why this a plan to make things right. bullying to the community and promote was happening. “You see other people Sarah and her parents sat down and peace.” searched the internet for advice and She began speaking publicly in her town reading these things and they’re so hurtful,

12

video only encouraged Sarah to pursue about her victimisation, to give advice and her campaign and teach other teenagers to support to those who needed it. deal with threats as she had.

On April 14, 2012 – on the one year A few months later, H.O.P.E – standing anniversary of two teen girls tragically for ‘Help Other Peers Endure’ – was set hanging themselves as a result of bullying – Hernando held its first anti-bullying up. Sarah’s project saw selected high event: ‘The Unbreakable Movement for school teens mentor students in the Peace.’ community who were victims of bullying, There were stalls, crafts, music and through days of shadowing at the even balloon races. As Sarah took victim’s school or a simple lunch “Things to the stage to give her speech, to form positive, healing to cha need she glowed with pride. relationships. nge She had survived her bullies, more p . No

By January 2013, and now she was helping can di eople the H.O.P.E projected e beca others too. use was running in schools o f this.”

But the day after the throughout Hernando, event, the same cyber-bully who helping cyber-bullying victims to had targeted Sarah before posted a overcome their problems as Sarah video on social media. They were back on had.

Sarah’s case.

Now, Sarah is travelling the US with ‘The “Over five minutes of gossip, lies and Silver Ring’: an organisation promoting rehashing old scars were now in a video abstinence, which Sarah believes to be for everyone to see,” Sarah says. “But linked to cyber-bullying due to the online this time, things were different. People pressures of sexting and early sexualisation reached out to me. I knew which channels through the internet. to take, including approaching my School And she couldn’t be happier. “When I was Resource Officer who ensured the video attacked online, it was a very dark time. I was removed.” never could have imagined how wonderful Instead of breaking her down, the my life would be now. The positive choices

I decided to make with the situation I was in, lead me to where I am today: a 19-yearold travelling the USA with a passion and opportunity to help others overcome online hatred.”

“I want to tell them that life gets better, life is wonderful and that people do care.

You just have to give it time and get out from underneath the darkness to see it.”

As Sarah continues to build her campaign, there are two people who couldn’t be prouder.

The same two people who first saved her life with their support: her parents.

“Sarah chose a path that put the focus on others going through the same experience,” Dad, Brian said. “She chose a path to help others which eventually, unknown to her at the time, helped herself, too.”

For more on Sarah’s story, watch her YouTube video called ‘Sarah Ball Unbreakable Anti Bullying Presentation’ and visit www. cyberbullying.us to read about the organisation that helped with Sarah’s project.

Unbreakable: Sarah launched her anti-bullying campaign after bullies hounded her online, branding her an “ugly whore”.

13

Robyn

Robynpicks

Bloggin g Specia l

Blogger interviews Blogging do’s and don’ts How to get more followers Next top bloggers 15

Robyn

What Olivia Said.

fix basic layout problems- but I’ve managed to teach myself! And as I’ve only just started making videos, I’m still trying to get used to this filming malarky on YouTube!”

Tell us more about your YouTube channel! What made you decide to start making videos?

“It was mainly to go alongside my blog, and allow me to be able to create different types of content, that are still in keeping with my written pieces. I’ve wanted to do some tutorials for a long time, so YouTube seemed like the best way of putting them out there, plus, I spend so much time watching videos on there myself, it seemed to make sense!”

“Don’t worry about boys some of them are complete idiots, but you’ll find someone!”

W

hen we spoke to blogger, red lipstick wearer and general stylish girl about town, Olivia Purvis, the writer behind the blog ‘WhatOliviaDid’.

O

ver 10,000 readers go online everyday to look at WhatOlviaDid - the title and online memoir of 21-year-old Olivia Purvis. As she explains it herself, her blog is based around fashion and style, with beauty, music, cooking and current trends scattered throughout, all in all, ‘the ramblings and adventures of a girl called Olivia.

With her dip-dye hair swept up into her signature beehive, there’s everything from photos of her donning her hat and twirling around her dresses, to recipes and interviews with up-and-coming music acts.

She was voted as Company’s ‘Best Blog for High St.Lovers’ in 2012, and Cosmo’s ‘Best Established Fashion Blog’ in 2013 - with that infectious smile and friendly tone, you can see why! As well as being effortlessly stylish and talented, she’s also one of the most helpful and loveliest bloggers out there!

“I left s chool at a real cr ossroad with what I wanted to do.” become a career!”

Wow- that must’ve have been a nice surprise! Are there any downsides to it?

“Yeah, it was! It’s now my full time job, and is part of pretty much everything that I do, which is really awesome. The only bad side is that it seems to take up every hour, and I do find it a little hard to switch off from the internet when I need to!”

“I do find it a little bit hard to switch off from the internet when I need to!”

Hi Olivia! So what made you decide to start blogging?

“I started blogging when I was studying at sixth form, mainly as something to do in between lessons - making wish lists on Photoshop was my fave pastime. And as something to do as a creative outlet. My best friend introduced me all to blogging I would have never dreamt that it would

16

Since blogging for a career didn’t really used to exist, did you know what job you wanted to do when you were younger?

“Not at all! I knew I loved art, photography and writing, but I was never sure how to tick all of the boxes in a career avenue, and I left school at a real crossroads with what I wanted

being a teenager. I seriously suffered with my acne, and that really knocked my confidence but i grew out of it, and it was definitely wasn’t the be all and end all! I was pretty uncool to be honest! I didn’t have a lot of luck with boys, and probably enjoyed MySpace a little more than was considered cool (MySpace was the Facebook back in the day). But I had a great group of friends, and that’s what really mattered. My teen years definitely taught me a lot about growing up and ‘who I am’.”

to do. It’s such a young age to have to know what you’re going to be doing for the rest of your life, so although it definitely helped in giving me a direction, I still wasn’t certain!”

I’m sure a lot of our readers will be happy to hear that, as they’ll be in a similar position. Is there any advice you would give to them if they wanted to give blogging a go too?

“Just do it! I think a lot of people deliberate things too much, and worry about giving it a go- but if you don’t try, you’ll never have something to get better at. In terms of gaining more out of it; I’d simply say keep at it.

“Don’t be disheartened if you don’t have hundreds of followers straight away, if you’re dedicated and making beautiful original content, people will soon clock on - just don’t give up!

Do you have any skills that you’d still like to improve on?

“I’m a real HTML novice, so I’ve had a couple of occasions when I’ve not known how to

Well they certainly seem to be doing really well and attracting a lot of views! With so many young girls reading your blog, and looking up to you, who in your life inspires you?

“My mum and my nans are the most hardworking, optimistic and fun people I know, and I’m so lucky to have them in my life. And I also love the way my mum, nan and best friend dress - they never put a foot wrong!”

What a stylish family! Are they any other style icons that you admire?

“Oh, so many people inspire my style! I love people like Alexa Chung, Florence Welch, Jane Birkin, and a girl called Brianna Lance who a designer from the American brand The Reformation, who always looks totally on point.”

Your outfit posts are always so chic and your life seems so together, but did you have any struggles as a teen?

“Oh, absolutely.

I particularly struggled with the more ‘hormone’ based side of

If time travel was possible - and why isn’t it yet?! Hello? It’s 2014! Is there anything you would like to say to teenage Olivia?

“You should keep listening to the music that you already do. I promise you that you’ll still like it when you’re 21! (but ditch the yellow jeans...) Don’t worry about boys - some of them are complete idiots, but you’ll find someone, I promise! And spots suck - I know they do. But now in the future, they’ve completely gone, so you’ll know you’ll be in there in no time - keep smiling!”

that I have now reading it! I would love to have a book one day, but perhaps that’d being a little optimistic!”

Thanks for speaking to us Olivia! We’ll be keeping our eyes out for your name in bookshops! R www.whatoliviadid.com www.youtube.com/user/whatoliviadid @livpurvis

@livpurvis

Olivia rocks a day and night look.

What about present day Olivia what have you got planned for the future?

“I’d love to keep expanding my blog, or to just have the same wonderful audience

Find Olivia’s recipe’s on her blog!

17

Robyn

‘s next top vloggers Sure, you know Zoella is your go to for make-up advice, and Danisnotonfire and AmazingPhil are the first videos you go to when you want to laugh at some friends failing at life together, but who are the new kids on the block you should be looking out for on Youtube?

Josh Sundquist

J

osh was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer at just nine-years-old, which ultimately led to his left leg being amputated. But that didn’t stop him. Not only a YouTuber, but also a Paralympic athlete, bestselling author, motivational speaker, and just general funny/ nice guy that keeps on inspiring!

Video you need to watch...‘What do I do with my left shoes?’

-revealing what he does with his right shoes with his sole-mate.

You’ll love them if you love…AmazingPhil, and all his random and funny anecdotes, complete with photoshopped images.

Dollface ree

W

ith long, blonde locks, and a friendly smile, Rhiannon talks you through how to do your makeup like Adele, halloween tutorials and even how to turn your shorts into a dip-dyed masterpiece.

Video you need to watch...‘Summer Lookbook ’13- if you’re stuck for some outfit inspiration, or just after something pretty to relax and watch, then this is the prescription you need!

You’ll love them if you love…Zoella’s infectious personality and trinkets.

Dizzybrunette3

W

e have total hair envy over this girl (it’s like a Disney Princess’). Her friendly personality comes through in every haul, tag and tutorial, and she shows that she’s just human with all her mistakes, laughing at them along the way. (Also, her dog Frankie is just the cutest!)

Video you need to watch…‘My hair routine’- see what Corrie’s magical tips and tricks are, to get those luscious locks.

You’ll love them if you love…Tanya Burr with her giggly mistakes and life of pretty thingamabobs.

18

Will Darbyshire

K

eeping an online diary that contains everything from Q&As, videos of his travels, and even a letter to his future wife. If you want to watch something in your onesie, that feel like you’re drinking a big mug of hot chocolate - Will’s your man!

Video you need to watch…‘Paris’- a beautiful film around the city of lights, with a vintage and stop-motion feel, that really shows off all that talent he learnt from film school.

You’ll love them if you love…JacksGap, he’s BFFs with those cheeky twins, they’ve been travelling together and everything, and even has the same profesh and clean kind of editing.

itsamemyleo

H

is quick wit and popular cultural references while he talks about his life, will leave you chuckling, and also feel a bit better about your own, because, it’s not all that different!

Video you need to watch…‘Fingers Violin’- he shares his shattered dreams when he realised he couldn’t grow up to be Action Man. You’ll love them if you love…Jack Howard, and his sarcastic tone, and blunt humour.

Sarahelle93x

T

his All-American girl will make you WISH you were part of a sorority. Sarah’s excitable personality will make you want to have a sleepover with her, complete with manicures and popcorn.

Video you need to watch…‘What was ACTUALLY in my School Bag by the End of the Semester?!’- We’re usually left wondering how on earth these vloggers keep their bag so tidy! But she shows us that we all have mountains of recipts...

You’ll love them, if you love…Elle Fowler, and her happy-golucky attitude.

Little Radge

indieVISUALmad�

W

ith a pile of sketchbooks that are mountain high, Maddy is all about doodling, Along with some magical, plinky-plonky music, there’s plenty of stories and animations for you to get lost in.

Video you need to watch…‘Circle and Squares’- the cutest video of love that will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside!

You’ll love them if you love…KickthePJ, and his weird and wonderful ways of storytelling.

L

iam Dryden, 23, talks about everything in his life. From fancy dress costumes and his love of Doctor Who, to how living on his own wasn’t really what he expected. All done with a Scottish charm.

Video you need to watch…‘“I’m Not Terrible...”- A Guide to Bad Excuses’ -where Liam comes up with some hilarious yet questionable ways to get around admitting you’re at fault. Little note of advice, don’t try these at home… You’ll love them if you love…Charlieissocoollike, and his nerdy and loveable persona and interests.

19

Robyn

Blogging do’s and don’ts Feeling inspired and raring to go on your new blog? Whoa, steady on; let team Robyn give you a few last tips before you get going…

DO pick your topic carefully

DO build relationships

Blogging experts agree that you need to really think about your blog before you start. Don’t be fooled into thinking fashion, beauty and lifestyle blogs are the easiest; more popular topic = more competition. Sure, if you’re really into fashion and think you can add something to the blogosphere, don’t let us put you off - but make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. Got a really unusual hobby or a penchant for making things? Showcase that instead, you’re more likely to stick at it then, too. Oh, and that reminds us…

It’s called a community for a reason - all over the world, there will be people who love the same things as you do and blogging about them. Find them, follow them, like their posts, start conversation - not only is it a great way to get more publicity for your blog, but it might be a great way to make new friends too (but make sure you check out our tips for staying safe online first!)

DO stick at it

Writing two posts, no matter how good they are, won’t get you noticed. Blogging is a lifestyle, so you need to commit if you want to succeed. Not all posts need to be beautifully written essays - mix it up a bit with some picture posts or a video.

Follow our lead

DO be friendly!

Know how you talk to your mates at school, or how you type when you’re chatting to them online? Do that! It’s easy to think that you have to have a professional, grown-up tone when you’re writing online, but the truth is that more people will read your blog if it’s friendly and welcoming. Keep it clean and don’t dumb yourself down, but don’t feel like you have to write like you do in lessons either.

Show off your Twitter! Here are some tips on how to capture some followers.

Don’t be too choosy about who you follow!

Just because you have a fashion Twitter, doesn’t mean you have to restrict yourself to other fashion Tweeters. The simple rule is, the more people you follow, the more people will follow you. Ideally, you want more followers than followings, but don’t stress if it doesn’t happen straight away. Twitter isn’t a competition, it’s all about sharing your interests.

Expert website, eHow warn users to be careful of dummy accounts and not to blindly follow everyone, “Make sure to only follow those who have a real photo and appear to

be active tweeters.”

Use #hashtags and @usernames effectively.

Hashtags and usernames can give your Tweets more visibility, but it’s important to know when to use them. At an event? Use a hashtag! Sipping a coffee? Don’t use a hashtag!

If you are Tweeting about a specific, they will appreciate you promoting them with their usernames. Your favourite band might even retweet or favourite your post, which is guaranteed to boost your followers.

Social media writer Matt Kapco says, “Many users and brands remain confused about their actual role and purpose. Quick

DON’T be put off by writing There’s a blog out there for everyone! Think about vlogs, picture heavy blogs, group blogs or something short and snappy like Tumblr.

Even using your Instagram for a particular topic could be considered a blog. If you want to share your story, there’s the means out there for you to do it. Think outside the box it’s more likely to get you noticed.

DON’T stress!

Hey, we know we just said that a happy blog is a busy blog, but a happy you is a stress-free you. Blogging experts WeBlog point out that “many people start a blog simply for fun,” but here at Robyn HQ, we think that’s why everyone should start! Some bloggers make it big, and that’s great, but don’t torture yourself.

Pick something you enjoy, and don’t beat yourself up about it if you’re too busy to post every now and then! advice? #DontOverdoIt, #KeepItSimple and #BeTruetoYourself.”

Tweet often but not too often If you haven’t Tweeted in weeks, you will appear inactive to others, and no one will want to follow you. This may even make existing followers unfollow you. You need to Tweet at least once a day but equally, there’s no point posting 10 tweets in the space of one minute. eHow say, “Remember, nobody likes a compulsive Tweeter. Instead, follow the rule of thumb of less than 20 tweets per day, maintaining a healthy flow of minimal Tweeting in a short period of time.”

OK, now you’re ready to enter the blogosphere. Good luck, and remember us when you’re stars!

21

Robyn

Power to the g rls Here at Robyn we’re all about the girl power. Cheesy, we know. But after all, the reason we get out of bed every morning is because there’s a bunch of fabulous girls out there keeping us going (yup, we’re talking about you lot!). So imagine our sheer delight when the internet got on our side. We’re talking about the Ban Bossy and Like a Girl campaigns. Haven’t heard of them? Here’s how their feisty fight to let the world know that girls rule caused a bit of a stir…

ossy b n ba nisation Non-profit orga book C.O.O. ce Fa founded by rg be Sheryl Sand

what a great idea it is to ban bossy, not everyone is convinced it’s the winning way to empower girls. Check out some of these responses to Ban Bossy, starting with fasttalking Vlogger and self-confessed geek Daniel Sulzbach (aka. Mr. Repzion), who immediately took to Youtube to air his disgust...

463, 904 YouTube views: 2, ossy.com Website: www.banb t: Ban Mission statemen the word “bossy”

The bee in its bonnet

T

he Ban Bossy campaign says that when boys are confident and self-assured, they’re called “leaders”. But when girls are, they’re called “bossy”. Ban Bossy claims this stops girls growing up and fulfilling their potential as strong, confident leaders. Hence, the fight to ban bossy. Which in our eyes is a pretty bossy move.

The campaign even enlisted the support of Beyoncé to stop the supposedly negative word damaging girls’ confidence. And girl power doesn’t get much more star-studded than that!

The reaction Ban Bossy caught your attention? You and half the internet. And who DOESN’T want to watch what happens when someone tries to erase an entire word from our vocabulary?

But while some people are raving about

22

Nothing says ‘bossy’ like banning a word simply because, hey, I don’t like the word! Now THAT’s bossy. What is it going to be next? That we start banning every single word that ends up hurting someone else’s feelings? If you’re going to ban the word ‘bossy’, then we might as well ban ‘party pooper’.

Mr. Repzion’s raucous rant earned him a whopping 61, 769 YouTube views, and while it doesn’t exactly support the fight to empower girls, we can’t help admiring the fact that he manages to get across strong opinions without being rude and disrespectful. Plus, any press is better than no press! ( We’d still prefer it if you were on our side, though, Daniel!)

Unsurprisingly, the Ban Bossy campaign has got girls around the world talking, which in our books is one step in the right direction towards girls being more aware of issues relating to sexism and gender equality. For

example, check out what these American teens had to say about it on American news channel ABC: It really hurts people. It lowers their self-esteem. I feel maybe we could use a different word to show the characteristics of someone trying to take leadership.

against

like

a gi rl

Video rel eased by the feminine c are compa ny Always

YouTube v iews: 47, 2 09, 843 Website: w ww.always .com/ likeagirl mission st ate “like a gir ment: make l” a posit ive statement

FOR

We shouldn’t erase it because it also lets us know that we’re not doing our job correctly as a leader. Even though we don’t want to hear that, we still need our constructive criticism.

The loudest response to the Ban Bossy campaign was perhaps Bossy and Proud, launched by the American author and feminist Bell Hooks to kick back against banning bossy. She invited girls to use the hashtag #bossyandproud to express what makes them, well, #bossyandproud...

Heather Dann @heatherdann How can some parents not control their kids when being bossy is so amazing?? Try it. You’ll love it!

Trust me. #bossyandproud

The bee in its bonnet

T

hink BanBossy has guts? Think again!

The Like A Girl campaign video released back in June challenges us to consider the meaning of doing something “like a girl”. Ever been told you run like a girl?

Cry like a girl? Even fight like a girl? Well, this campaign asks: “When did doing something like a girl become an insult?”

(Check out the video, “Always #LikeAGirl” for yourself on YouTube and feel your heart melt when a bunch of gutsy, spirited young girls prove that we’re all doing girl power wrong!)

Caroline Hale @caraaaline The 3 yr old boy I babysit said “I want to run fast like a girl.” On their own kids think girls are just as capable as boys. #LikeAGirl

Paladin Adria @PaladrinAdria When women show bravery, they are not waving man-parts. I know “has balls” is a saying, but men do not own courage. #thequest #likeagirl As if the tweets aren’t inspiring enough, a quote from Mia Hamm also started doing the rounds when the Like A Girl campaign started.

Not heard of Mia Hamm before? Well you’ll certainly remember her now.

A retired American professional soccer player, Mia played as a forward for the United States women’s national soccer team.

Until 2013 she held the record for more international goals than any other player, male or female, in the history of soccer.

Hear that? This girl wrote the rulebook for the GUYS. She has a place on FIFA’s 125 best living soccer players list (which, for the record, only has one other female on it), and she once delivered this amazing, inspiring, kick-ass line…

In response to the Like A Girl campaign, blogger Ilana Wells launched #LikeABoy, a hashtag to empower little boys. Her message is that if a little boy plays with a doll, or dresses up and has a pretend tea party, it doesn’t mean he’s any less of a boy. In fact, he’s playing – altogether now – #LikeABoy. We think #LikeABoy is an awesome idea. Check out some of the tweets it got in response…

LGBT Facts @TrueLGBTfacts I work with kids & have yet to meet a little boy who doesn’t like pink, baby dolls, &/or frills until an adult shames him. #likeaboy

Elissa Griesser @lissgr My youngest son is obsessed with Frozen and getting a princess dress for his birthday. #likeaboy

The reaction With nearly 50 million YouTube views and a Twitter storm that just keeps on raging, it’s safe to say that the Like A Girl campaign hit a nerve. Unlike Ban Bossy, Like A Girl has had nothing but praise and support since it went viral, and females from all over the world have been taking to social media to support the message.

We LOVE the tweets giving a whole new meaning to doing it #LikeAGirl…

Maja Aro @majaaro Pretty proud to say I throw, hit, punch and many other things #LikeAGirl

#LikeABoy

What with the fight to empower girls taking the world by storm, we sometimes forget there are boys out there who need a bit of love.

SoapBubble @SoapBubblePop I was just brought to tears reading some of the tweets from the #LikeAGirl and #LikeABoy tags.

Keep on breaking those gender rules people!

join the discussion

!

C’mon, girls! Get tweeting your #LikeAGirl, #BanBossy and #LikeABoy stories. We’d also love to hear your opinions in our Power to the Girls discussion on our forum at www.robynmagazine.co.uk. R

23

Robyn

ALL THAT JAZ! “When I step off the track, I’m still an athlete.”

W

hen 21-year-old Jazmin Sawyers my parents to take me to the local club! And Whereas we would have loved to have met this junction in life though, it all took off from there.” And that was just been an official YouTube videos watcher (that’s what she did was to find out the start of the support from Jaz’s parents. a job right?), Jaz made the decision to go to what she enjoyed doing, and go from there.

“My parents are, and always Bath to study Law, and through And that has led her to winning a medal in have been my biggest fans, and “Sport is like a the Uni applications, her parents the recent 2014 Commonwealth Games in weren’t the only ones who that’s what parents should be to Glasgow, where she got the crowd clapping, their children in my opinion.” performance, were helping her. “My school and cheering along, as her amazing afro, Just like Jaz wanted simply to School] and I love an [Newcastle-under-Lyme bounced along the track and spun around in was great. They helped me do what she loved, that’s all the air, and brought home a silver medal for choose a university that would her parents wanted for her audience!” long jump. support both my sporting and too. “They never pushed me “I started athletics, and tried it at school into doing more, if anything, they only ever academic aspirations. when I was about 11, and I loved it! Ever since gently suggest that I do less - but they know Jaz is constantly training. But while she’s flying I could remember, I’ve always done sports I never listen anyway! All they want, is for and flipping about in the gym, she’s head over - before athletics, I was a gymnast, and I also me to be happy, and comfortable in life.” heels in love with another sport too. played netball and swam “Bobsleigh is probably my true love when it Not only were they at school. I’ve always “My parents are, and behind Jaz with her comes to sport.” she confesses. just wanted to do active always have been, my choices, but they made Yes. You heard right. Bobsleighing. How things, I think it was more do you even get involved in such a niche and sure she was sensible too. that I just couldn’t sit still biggest fans. And that’s “When I wanted to pursue awesome sport?! as a child!”, she recalls. sport as a career, they “I first tried it when I was 16-years-old. what parents should So, like any other were supportive, but also The British Bobsleigh association came to my little girl, she wanted to be.” wanted to make sure that school and they were scouting out athletes of spend more time doing I also had a backup plan. And so, they were the youth Olympics, so I tried out. And I made what she loved.. And how did she manage supportive when it came to my choice to go to the team!” to do that? Persistence of course! “I nagged university, as well as pursuing sports.”

But the rest of her bobsleigh career wasn’t

24

your History work that easily!), and that you always quite as smooth sailing as that. “I always dread doing, then you have to ask crashed all four of my first runs down an ice yourself why it’s in there. If it’s there to make track. But even though that happened, I fell someone else happy - remove it. You’ve got to in love with the sport, and I’m completely not be a little bit selfish sometimes, to make things over it!”, she says with infectious laughter.

Although Jaz isn’t focusing on bob work.”

It’s this dedication and organisation that sleighing right now, she’s achieved a lot, and for the meantime, bobsleighing and went alongside with Jaz’s training, to get her to compete in long jump, her are just having a bit of a break - (they are definitely “The podium was in the 2014 Commonwealth getting back together!) really something Games. “I was a little nervous for Glasgow, but I was more “We won a silver medal at the youth Olympics, but else. I felt so proud excited than anything because there was going to be after that, I hung up my ice seeing that English Ia knew huge crowd, and to me the spikes. But, I definitely intend sport is like a performance, I to return to bobsleighing flag go up.” love an audience! Of course it after my athletics career. was a bit nerve-wracking competing in my 1st And as if athletics, bobsleighing, and major championship, but I loved every second, law wasn’t enough (seriously, is this girl and I was so inspired by the medal winning superhuman?!), Jaz is also a music artist in the performances my team had already put out.” making.

And she didn’t just simply compete. She only “Well, there’s been some interest from went and scored herself people in my songwriting, and me recording a medal! So how did an album. But it’s in the very early stages! For it feel when she found now, I’m just playing the odd gig, and writing songs for fun mainly - sports is my main focus! out she’d be walking But it all started when I first picked up a guitar away with some silver bling, and be standing in May last year [2013]. I saw it in a charity on the podium, amongst shop window, and thought it would be fun thousands watching in skill to have. I taught myself, bit by bit, and the stadium and at home? one day, a friend heard me sing, and booked “I honestly couldn’t me in for a gig. The rest is history!”

With all these different career avenues and believe it when I got silver. Before my final interests on her plate, where does she possibly jump I was trying so hard to stay composed because I realised that no matter what, I’d got fit in her studies?! ( Yes, she has to learn about photosynthesis and figure out algebra, just like a medal, so I had to fight the urge to celebrate there and then, and managed to pull a bigger everybody else!) jump out to take silver.

“Organisation is key - and I’m not going to “Once the wait was over and I realised I’d lie, it’s absolute chaos! As I’m talking to you, got it, I was stood with my wonderful coach, I’m in Belgium. I’m going to be competing in shaking and laughing - was over the moon! about four hours, then three hours later, I fly It was the best feeling I’ve experienced. back to the UK, where I have a gig tomorrow.

Indescribable. The podium was really Then three days after that, I have a law exam. something else. I felt so proud seeing that It’s really is non-stop.” No kidding. We got English flag go up. I wanted to cry, but I was dizzy just reading all that - phew! so happy that I was beaming, and there was But as Jaz shows, although it’s a constant just no space for tears. I’d also managed to state of busy, it’s not impossible, and spot my brother, and it only made me feel committing to plans is just as important as more proud to see that my family were there making them. “You have to make sure that to watch it all happen.” once you’ve made plans, you stick to them.

With all this on her endless to-do list, Because once you start double-booking it’s easy to think that Jaz feels there’s a lot of your time, that’s when you start to run into pressure on her. “I’m the only person who is trouble!” putting this pressure on myself to be honest, As well as good organisation, passion so, I don’t feel it too strongly.” for what you do is still key. “Thankfully, I But that pressure isn’t just experienced don’t actually find it too taxing to balance by her, it’s felt by teenagers and young girls everything, because I love it all! So I make the everywhere. With exams, family, friends, time. My advice to any young girls who are homework and extra-curricular activities, it’s juggling different things, enjoy what you’re not hard to see why, but remember, as long as doing. If there’s a part of your schedule that you do your best, then that’s all you can do! isn’t essential (don’t think you can just skip

(we know, we know, you’ve heard this off your parents a hundred times before - but it’s true!)

And Jaz agrees, “I don’t feel like I have anyone to answer to, but myself. And there’s certainly nobody else pushing me to do so many things at once, but I see it more as an adventure - I love a challenge!”

The future is looking bigger and brighter for this little bundle of energy, there’s no doubt that young girls look up to. And if you too, want to get more involved in athletics, or want to think of sports more seriously, then Jaz has a few words of wisdom. “Make sure you follow something that you really love, because it is such hard work. I don’t think it would be possible for me to make a career out of sport if I didn’t really, truly love it.

“And secondly, prepare to work hard! I don’t mean that glossed-over, ‘Hollywood’ version of hard work. I mean that you’ll have to do things that you really don’t want to do. You’ll find yourself in pain, and realise that to actually get what you want, you have to put yourself through even more pain. It’s not just a job like some professions are, but it’s a lifestyle.” she advises.

And when she says lifestyle, she means it. “When I step off the track, I’m still an athlete. I still have to watch my diet. I have to make sure I get enough sleep. In the past, I’ve had to avoid certain places, and cut certain people out of my life, because they were damaging to the life that I was trying to create.

Be prepared to sacrifice, but I can say, with no doubt whatsoever, that it’s worth it!

With a potential album coming up in the near future, more competitions lined up, a law degree to be had, and even an appearance on ‘Question of Sport’ to be aired, there’s no stopping Jaz. And if anything, whatever you love to do, you can do it all R

“I’ve always just wanted to do active things, I think it was more that I just couldn’t sit still as a child!”

To hear more about Jaz’s adventures, follow her on Twitter at @JazminJayne.

25

Robyn

Dreaming Ahead

5 F

tips for choosing your or some 14-year-olds, picking GCSE 2 subjects is a no-brainer. But for others,

it’s a pretty daunting prospect. What if their love of History fades out? What if they love Art AND they love Music?

But it doesn’t have to be such a scary process. Your GCSE choices do play a part in shaping your future, but they don’t have to be limiting. You’re still working out what you do and don’t like, and you can’t be expected to know exactly what career you’re going to follow, or what life will bring when you leave school.

That’s why the team at Robyn have compiled a failsafe list of top tips to help you pick your GCSE subjects without the sweat.

Aaand relax!

1 Do some daydreaming Yep, we really are telling you to sit back, relax, crank up your iPod and do absolutely nothing. Well, almost nothing.

Why not find out what some jobs involve and create scenarios in your head? If you need some creative help, careerpilot.org.uk has a list of different job sectors ranging from media to finance, law and nursing.

Like we said, there’s no pressure to know what career you’ll pursue yet, but dreaming a little can help you realise what you truly enjoy doing. So let your mind wander free!

GCSEs no sweat!

Talk to your favourite teacher

Your favourite teachers are the ones who will bend over backwards to make you laugh, help you achieve, or get to know who you really are. So there’s no doubt they’ll be excited to help you plan for the next stage in your life.

Grab them at break or lunch time and have a chat about any concerns you have. We bet it’ll make their day, and yours too when you walk away brimming with advice and encouragement.

3

Listen to your parents

As much as it’s great to be independent, sometimes we forget that our parents have gone through it all too.

Your parents may not be following career paths that you find interesting, but we can guarantee that they’ve had A LOT of experience making choices, and they understand how it feels to make decisions that directly affect their futures.

Visit www.robynmagazine.co.uk for more handy tips like these!

4 Get clued up Whether you’re already thinking about the career ahead of you, or you’re not at that stage yet, it’s still a good idea to be as clued up as possible about the decision you’re going to make.

Aside from the resources your school gives you, there’s some great stuff online to guide you through the whole process. We recommend careersbox.co.uk, brightknowledge. org, and plotr.co.uk.

5

Forget about your gcses!

Nope, we haven’t gone mad.

Sometimes, trying to force yourself to make a decision is the worst thing you can do.

If you have enough time before the deadline, give yourself a week or so to forget that GCSEs exist altogether and come back to the decision with a fresh, clear mind. You might just realise you knew which choices to make along!

More useful links www.studential.com www.futuremorph.org nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

27

W

“I

Boredom banished!E

t’s raining outside, I’ve got no money, my friends aren’t around, I’m bored, I’m hungry – Oh my God, THERE IS NOTHING TO DO!!”

That was just a short sample of what we imagine goes through your lovely little heads on a dull weekend or long school holiday. If only someone was there to give you a fabulously long list of super-exciting things to do in these times of boredom… Oh wait, WE ARE! Here are our top tips for tired teens, to put the ‘Eek!’ back into your weekends.

g n i p e e K f it

U

se your boredom as an opportunity to get fit. And you don’t even have to go to the gym to do it these days – check out Netflix, where you can find a bunch of fun dance and workout programmes.

For even more fun, scrap the DVDs, put your earphones in and just go crazy to your fave song! Doing this once a day will have you fitter in no time.

Or, for those budding dancers out there, make up a dance routine and keep practicing til it’s perfected.

Try out the latest fitness craze that’s as effective as it is fun – hula hooping!

Visit your local sports centre to see what’s going on. There might be tennis/badminton/squash courts you can use, running tracks, or even a few clubs to join.

Make super healthy smoothies! Have fun experimenting with all kinds of flavours. Go to www.robynmag.co.uk for scrumptious recipe ideas!

xperiment with your hair.

We’re not talking about dodgy cuts or hair-dye disasters! Think about that hair style you’ve wanted to try for a while or search the internet for funky dos, then just grab your straighteners, curlers, bobbles, hair clips and get styling! If it goes wrong, who cares?

You’re not going anywhere, so noone will ever know about the time you tried to rock 12 pigtails at once.

Looking fab

Give your wardrobe a quick fix by customising your own clothes.

You can add some sparkle by sticking glitter to your shoes using fabric glue; spruce up your crop tops by sewing lace ribbon around the edges; and create gorgeous patterns by spray painting fabric using lace as a stencil. Fabulous in no time!

Gather all your mates and tell them to bring any old clothes that they don’t wear much anymore. Then play frock swap! All of you will leave with new wardrobes and no less money.

If you fancy a total re-style, get everyone to bring their fave makeup too. Put all of your products in the middle then give each other makeovers. This way, you can find out what makeup suits you well without risking the hefty price tag. AMAZE. Get a free makeover at a shop makeup counter. They’ll tell you exactly what colours and styles suit you and you don’t have to buy a thing.

What is there not to love about nail art? It’s fun, creative and leaves you looking fab. Katie Suttle, 16, from Selby says: ‘I like to experiment with my look on rainy days. I’ve always loved drawing, so one day I figured nail art could be a fun activity – and now I’m hooked! I’ve spent hours doing all sorts of patterns, playing around with colours, textures and sometimes gem stones. I would recommend it to anyone.’

Robyn tips Robyn

S

tart a blog. It could be anything - fashion, food or just general writing.

Then think of an angle. What’s different about your life or situation? It could be something as simple as writing down what it’s like to be an only child. Every time there’s a moment when you love or hate not having siblings, do a new post. You can help others in your situation.

C lever clogs

Starting a diary is not only fun for the meantime, but can fill time for weeks if you keep it up. Write down what you do every day – this will be so fun to look back on in a few years. Or, if you’re so bored that you have nothing to write, start a ‘happy diary’ and note down one thing that made you happy each day, no matter how small.

Why not try to write a novel? It sounds like a lot of work, but it’s not something you need to stick to (unless you desperately want to be the next JK Rowling). Start writing for fun and once you get the hang of it, you might get hooked! Move over, JK. If music is more your thing, learn to play an instrument. You might be surprised how good you are. If things go well, you could even start a band! And it doesn’t get cooler than that.

Go for a long walk and find somewhere to sit that has a nice view. It could inspire you to write beautiful songs, stories or poetry.

Shannon Fuller, 14, from Surrey said: ‘I like to go on long walks and listen to music. It gives me space to think and I come up with loads of ideas for projects!’ You can send your best writing into us at Robyn magazine on www.robynmagazine.co.uk Learn a new language with online tutorials. It’s a handy skill that will stay with you for life and something that gives a great sense of achievement when it comes together. Plus, it you never know when it will come in handy. Err, bonjourno monsieur Christiano Ronaldo…. We heart you!

Think about a business you’d like to own one day and make a plan. This might sound boring, but it can be absolutely anything.

The more outrageous the idea the more fun it will be to create. Ice cream parlour on Mars, anyone?

G

Ready, steady, bake! Try out any of our easy, yummy recipes on www.robynmagazine.co.uk or experiment with whatever goodies you find in the cupboard. You could just stumble across a gorge new combo!

There’s nothing better than going out into the wilderness with your bff, toasting marshmallows and telling stories by a camp fire... Apart from doing all of this in the comfort of your own garden! Camping in your backyard means you can still do all the fun parts of camping, but still nip in the house to use the microwave or your straighteners!

Forget Angry Birds, the new game of the season is called ‘Secret Kindness’. And not only will it cheer you up in times of boredom, it will put a smile on someone else’s face too. All you have to do is think of ways to spread a little kindness - but without telling people it was you.

Buy a cookie and leave it on your best friend’s desk at school. Leave a note on a park bench saying ‘Have a lovely day!’ Little gestures mean a lot to people and you will feel great knowing you made someone happy today!

Bead some bracelets from online tutorials or do some crazy loom band designs, then sell them for a charity close to your heart. Your hard work (that was actually really fun too!) could help loads of people everywhere.

Look through old family photo albums and talk to your parents and grandparents about what it was like being a teenager in their days.

You’ll be surprised how many interesting stories they have!

Kit out your room with beautiful new décor. But don’t upset your parents by getting your inner painter on without asking first! See page 65 for easy, fun ideas.

Take up a new hobby. It can be absolutely anything, from yoga to martial arts. Look online to see what’s going on in your area then take it from there. Rachel Harris, 14, from London, has recently taken up skateboarding. ‘I randomly bought myself a skateboard when I was bored last summer,’ she says. ‘Then when it arrived, I couldn’t stop using it!’ And who knows, it could inspire a Brooklyn Beckham, Chloe Moretz style romance!

Look into potential future careers and college courses. This is such an important life decision, so use your free time wisely by researching some options. www.chooseyourfuture.org is always a good place to start.

Bucket list

Now you’ll never be stuck for things to do on a rainy afternoon, here are some for the long game. Try and tick ‘em all off before your 16th!

28

Get e v i t a e cr

ather all of your mates, tons of food and every board game you have between you. Then hold a board game night! With a bunch of good pals this can be loads of fun. If you don’t own any board games, find some cheap ones at your local charity shops.

cut out & keep! x

Study date!

You know that one subject at school that just isn’t your thing? Put the work in. You’ll feel so proud when you get your results no matter how you do, and you might even end up loving it.

Tell them how you feel.

If you’ve got a mate or crush who’s getting you down, time to swallow your pride and talk it out. It might be awkward at the time, but you’ll kick yourself when you’re older if you don’t.

Don’t waste your time.

We know the last person to say, “only boring people get bored,” was your Grandma, but Robyn agree. Read, dance, get a new hobby, make a new friend or discover an awesome new band; there’s nothing wrong with the odd after school Twitter binge, but the best memories are never made sitting on the sofa.

29

Robyn

Coming out “It can mess up your head, even your whole life. But it doesn't have to.”

Every year, hundreds of young people come out as gay or bisexual. Robyn spoke to Kerri, a chef from Bradford, who had her first girlfriend when she was 10 and came out to her friends when she was 14. She opens up about the highs and lows of her experience.

Different

I wanted to be anywhere but there.

I always knew I was gay, Lauren’s Mum didn’t say but I didn’t always know anything for a few moments, what it was. I didn’t know and then quietly said, “Get the word ‘lesbian’. When your stuff together. I’ll ring my friends had posters of your Mum and then I’m going boy bands on their bedroom to drive you home.” walls, I loved Sporty Spice The drive home seemed from The Spice Girls. But I to take forever. When we thought it was ok to like girls, finally got back to my house, like boys, kiss girls, kiss boys.

Lauren had to wait in the car I learned on my own that I and my Mum send me straight was different, from watching upstairs. I think they talked in TV shows and talking to my the kitchen, but I don’t know friends. And after that, when what they said. I knew I was everybody had ‘boyfriends’ in trouble, but I didn’t really at primary school, I made understand why Lauren’s Mum sure I did too. I’d run around was so angry. kiss-chasing like everyone else, I denied it all to my family when really I didn’t have the over and over again. I didn’t slightest interest in the boys. want them to think I was By the time I was 10 anything other than normal. though, I had a ‘girlfriend’ Not long after that, too, called Lauren. I when I was still about didn’t tell my Mum, 10 or 11, I really “I thought it was liked my friend’s or any of my other friends, but I older sister, who ok to like girls, really liked her. was about 18 at like boys, kiss Her parents were the time. I think very traditional, girls, kiss boys.” all little girls idolise and one day her older girls and think Mum walked into her they’re really cool, so I room and found us sitting probably wasn’t that different.

But it felt like more to me. on her bed, kissing. Straight So I wrote her a love letter, away, my face burned red, and

I

30

and posted it under her door my best friends. We were at a friends house; her Mum had when I was round playing at gone to a neighbours and let my friend’s house. Later, she her have a party. We’d came to find me, and had a great night; hugged me and we had a couple said everything of drinks and was going to “my stomach dropped loads of food, be OK. But danced a lot as i looked around the then my and were Mum found room, waiting to see just getting out, and who’d be the first one ready to ring again, I was in the New Year so adamant to speak.” altogether.

Nicola that it wasn’t took me to one me. Now I can see side, ten minutes before how obvious it was, but at midnight. the time I was determined for “Why don’t you tell them my Mum to know as little as tonight?

We’ve had a really possible. nice time and it will be fine I carried on hiding my look how happy everyone feelings for a few years, but is!

Please do it, it’s really secretly knowing that I was important to me.” different was plaguing me.

Spurred on by her words and the fact that I felt closer I came out to my best friends than ever to my friends, I at 14, and I wish I’d done it decided to go for it. New year, even sooner. I was so worried fresh start, with all my friends about telling my friends. I’d finally knowing the truth. With had a girlfriend, Nicola, for a just a few minutes left before a little while, who nobody knew brand new year, I sat everyone about, and she really wanted down. me to tell them.

“I just want you all to On New Years Eve, after know that I’m gay. Nicola is a couple of drinks, I plucked my girlfriend and we’ve been up the courage to finally tell together a while now. We

FRIENDS

really care about each other, widely accepted that sexuality 11 when you have exams and and I hope this doesn’t change is a spectrum, and that you are starting to think about anything for any of you.” don’t have to be completely your future. I don’t think that Silence. Nobody said straight or completely gay. You I gained anything from coming anything at all. My stomach can like whoever you want to out to everyone and if I could dropped, as I looked around no feelings are wrong. do it again, I would have only the room, waiting to see who’d told my closest friends. be the first one to speak. My It can mess up your head, I didn’t tell my Mum until I friend Louise finally broke the it can even mess up your was 16. But when I did, she silence. whole life. But it doesn’t cried because she was “OK Kerri, cool. Oh my have to. If you want so relieved that god, it’s two minutes to to tell everyone, I’d finally told twelve! Someone put the telly and you’re her! She said “The people that on for the countdown!” confident she’d known I didn’t mention it and proud love and care about all along. again that evening. Weeks and don’t I suppose you will accept your passed, and still my friends care what there were said nothing. Eventually, I news one way or small-minded lots of telltale just burst out with it and people have to another.” signs, but I asked them why nobody say, then that’s honestly thought was acknowledging the fact excellent.

But you she wouldn’t believe I that I had told them I was a shouldn’t feel pressured was gay. Or at least, wouldn’t lesbian. It turns out they’d all to tell everyone who will accept it. As it was, she thought I was joking! Some of listen. The people that love couldn’t have been better. them were surprised at first and care about you will accept Even my grandparents, who (remember, this was a few your news one way or another are quite traditional, weren’t years ago, and coming out, - and why should you care surprised and were pleased. especially as a teenager, was what anyone else thinks?

Everyone could see that I far less heard of ) but they was so much happier - a all accepted it quite quickly. weight had been lifted off my Despite everything, I wouldn’t They made jokes, but funny shoulders and I could be change my experience. I’m 23 jokes that we all laughed at myself around my loved ones now, so it’s been almost ten together. Jokes aren’t alright for the first time. years since I started to think for everyone, but I’m quite seriously about coming out. laid back. You need to set I’m comfortable with who boundaries for people around I wouldn’t necessarily I am, in a loving same-sex you, based on what you feel recommend coming out relationship and have loads of comfortable with. to everybody at school. mates who would never dream The worst part of coming Obviously, some people out was that my best friend, of judging me. My girlfriend will, and that’s their choice.

Jack, had secretly fancied my and I are going travelling Everyone is different, and it girlfriend for ages! I felt guilty around the world next year, depends on what’s right for and that was a bit awkward and I’ve never been happier. you. for a while. But he was Regardless of what happens in For me, coming out just happy that I was the future, I’m completely at to my close friends happy, and we’re peace with who I am. felt right. I’d still great friends I do have friends who have recommend “Everyone could see now. had negative experiences with everyone that I was so much Nicola coming out - old-fashioned does that is now in a parents who couldn’t accept you need happier - a weight had long term it or friends who got ‘weirded someone been lifted off my relationship out’. In the end though, to talk to, with a guy. shoulders.” they’re all happy and living because it’s Sexuality their lives to the full - the such a difficult definitely isn’t black people around them have time. But when and white, at any age. either come to terms with it, everyone at school found Don’t let having feelings or they’ve drifted apart from out, I was teased by people for both genders scare you, them anyway. Remember that I hardly even knew. High there’s millions of people who school is such an important everyone is different, and experience that. Nowadays, it’s time, especially year 10 and maybe some people will need

Family

it explaining to them. If you value them, talk it through with them. But keep in mind that you don’t have to justify yourself or your choices to anyone.

There’s amazing support networks out there if you really don’t feel like you can talk to anyone. Coming out can be amazing, but it’s a big, life-changing, scary thing.

Don’t do it on your own R Kerri (left) and her girlfriend Amy

R

Future

Trust

If you need help, support or someone to talk to about anything to do with gender, sexuality and coming out, visit www.lgbtyouth.org.uk.

31

Robyn

e h t CONFIDENCE g n i Find When Ellie George from Sheffield started high school, she looked forward to a fresh start. However, the popular people in her year had other plans. Now a confident 19-year-old, she tells us how her insecurities grew, how she fought back and how being a 'nobody' was a blessing in disguise..

Y

ou've got a gap in your teeth!” exclaimed a popular guy I'd never met before. I was 11 and it was my first week of year 7. I was shy, whilst he was instantly popular. His opinion was everyone's opinion. He'd decided he didn't like me, which meant everyone had already judged me. People would either avoid me or whisper as I walked past. I'd never really noticed a gap in my teeth before, but now I was begging my parents for a brace and counting all the other things that were wrong with me.

I knew I’d have to try extra hard to get people to like me, but because my confidence had already been knocked at my previous school, I sunk even further inside myself.

We were all from the same form, but eventually, people from other forms joined us too.

A girl who’d been bullied by people in her form approached us and we accepted her right Through ou away because we knew what it herself t school, Ell ie she wa felt like to me picked on. From s a nob convinced ody. then on, I made a conscious decision to be nice to everyone, including those I didn’t know yet.

However, this didn’t stop me feeling they’d say, “Don’t be silly. You’re beautiful.” useless in front of the popular group. I’d Although it didn’t silence the voices in my decided to go to this school because it was a head saying I looked ugly, one compliment performing arts school and I’d always wanted from them would turn my day to act and sing. The popular people around. It felt like a supportive were chosen for the parts family. every year and my lack of Where it began My mum also gave me confidence meant I never “We would My confidence issues started in year 5, when I lots of advice because she fought for a part of my decided to go to a different secondary school tell the insecure struggled with similar own. I loved to sing, but to my friends. They all decided to go to the girls in our group issues at school. She found it hard to sing in rival school, which automatically meant we that we loved them said “If things get hard, front of anyone for years. weren’t friends anymore.

I eventually sang distance yourself from the way they At first, my best friend told me, “Don’t in front of Annie, but I it. Don’t try to attack it. were.” worry, I’ll come to the same school as you!” became self-conscious and Just surround yourself with I felt reassured, but on the last day of started singing in a joke voice. people who care.” school, she said, “I’m not going. I’ve never She asked, “Why do you do that?”

So I stuck with my friends and been friends with you and I don’t like you.”

I realised that if she had criticised decided not to become a social climber.

I’d never felt so alone. I started me when I was actually trying, I’d be I realised these people got noticed and were asking myself, “What’s wrong too vulnerable to take it. I was consequently bullied. with me?” and worried that so afraid of standing out that I Funnily enough, a popular boy came up “They no one would like me at chose Geography instead of to our ‘nobodies’ group in class one day and all decided secondary school either.

Drama for my GCSEs. said, “I really like you guys. I like that you to go to the rival Thankfully, when I The turning point don’t feel the need to get involved and kiss started secondary school, school, which people’s a***s. You just stay true to who you Once my unpopular a girl in my form called automatically meant are.” friends got to know me Annie, who didn’t know we weren’t friends I’d learnt to stop waiting for their approval, and I got to know them, I anyone either. Everyone anymore.” but I did think, “Finally, someone gets what became outgoing and chatty. else was already in their we’re about.”

We had a laugh and cheered friendship groups because each other up when we were Fighting back they had come from the same feeling down. Whilst the popular By the time I reached year 11, aged 15, I had junior schools. I latched onto girls who were insecure about their weight been quietly battling insecurities for over five Annie and then a bunch of us, who felt like years. Annie was one of my most supportive nobodies, formed our own group and we kept would copy each other’s trendy diets, we would tell the insecure girls in our group that friends and I admired the way she had dealt ourselves to ourselves. We were all people with her bullies. She’d say, “If they say bad who had either been picked on or felt insecure we loved them the way they were.

If I told them, “I feel like s**t today,” things to you, they aren’t worth it”, but I in some way.

834

couldn’t see that until much later. when I was younger. I do so much more now Annie was bubbly and had that inner because I believe I can. You only have one life strength I needed to stand up to my bullies. If so if you want to dance, dance! If you want they said to her, “You’re small!” to sing, sing! Even if you are bad at it and She’d reply, “Wow, I’ve never heard that everyone is watching, do it! before.”

I’ve never had negative feedback She realised the bullies would in the ‘real world’ outside school. back down When I worked as a chef for if she didn’t give them any seven months at Nourish, insecurities to feed off. With “I’ve realised a healthy fast food place nothing to lose, I decided to save up money to go that if you hold onto to give it a go. travelling, people would that grudge, you’re One day after Maths, tell me, “You are such a being just as bad as I decided to confront a bubbly, outgoing person.” them.” guy who had been doing Whereas, I’ve heard impressions of me when he that the popular people who thought I wasn’t looking. I have gone to university, have noticed he wasn’t with his mates really struggled to get on with so he’d be off guard. I had a friend people and have dropped out. I think to back me up, so I plucked up the courage it’s because they haven’t got used to dealing and asked, “What’s this impression that you with different social situations; they’d got so do of me?” used to having things their own way.

“What are you on about?” he said putting When I’ve bumped into popular people his head down and walking away. from school, it’s been tempting to be mean to As soon as he left the classroom, he met them, but I’ve realised you have to move on the popular guy that commented on my teeth and forgive them because if you hold onto that and as they walked away they shouted some insult at me. It was so pathetic that he couldn’t grudge, you’re being just as bad as them. I’m grateful for what they put me through because confront me in person. my experiences have taught me how to deal Confident at last with people in a mature way. It’s such a relief I think struggles at school are normal. It’s that popular and non-popular labels don’t great if you have real friends around you to exist in the real world. support you, but if you don’t, don’t worry too You don’t need much because things can get better. My dad other people to make always said, “Tomorrow is a different day. It you feel confident. can only go up.”

Annie and my friends And it’s true! Since leaving school, I’ve have taught me it’s gone travelling around Thailand, Cambodia, something that comes Vietnam and Laos on a gap year, I’ve got from within. If you a great boyfriend called Cole, and my real stay true to who friends from school have stuck by me. After you are, you aren’t travelling and working abroad, I feel so going to struggle to outgoing and less socially awkward. Why fit in. You’ll make should I let my short term experiences at school determine how I live the rest of my life? true friends instead.

I know that I am the Now, I’ll be sitting at home and suddenly same person I was at get this burst of energy to call Annie and say, school. Only now, I’m “Let’s do something new!” We’re planning more confident and to do dance classes, yoga and fitness pole happy to be who I am dancing, which I’d never have imagined doing

The Self-Esteem Health Check!

We asked education officer, Cherry Ackerley, from Sheffield Futures some questions about how to overcome low self-esteem.

and we are seeing an increase in bullying and pressure to live up to expectations. We also see confidence and self-esteem linked to ability and what girl’s feel they will or won’t achieve in life.

What are the most common reasons for low self-esteem?

The main factors that affect girl’s self-esteem are body image and physical appearance, which has increased due to peer and media pressure. Social media has put the focus on ‘exposing’ young women to scrutiny

What are the signs that someone has low self-esteem?

Many girls become withdrawn, isolated and shy. Little interaction with peers and an increase in social exclusion are noticeable. In some cases, eating issues and raised anxiety can be signs of underlying self-esteem issues.

Confidence Facts & Figures Dove has launched the Self-Esteem Programme to try to change the way young girls perceive and embrace beauty. Dove’s research found:

1 in 4 females aged between 11 and 17 feel pressure to conform to an ‘ideal’ of how they should look.

Almost 50% described themselves as ‘average’ and ‘ordinary’, with a further

10% feeling ‘plain’, ‘unattractive’ and ‘ugly.’

On average, the girls spent

23

minutes a day applying make-up, 19 minutes a day choosing what to wear, but only 52 minutes a day on homework.

5% of girls say they hate the way they look.

20% say, “There is a lot I would change about myself.” Negative comments about their appearance were one of the biggest factors making girls feel less confident.

To learn more about Dove’s research and self-esteem workshops, visit selfesteem. dove.co.uk

Left Confidenc e at last: Ellie travels. Right on her Tr Ellie with best ue friends: 13-year-old friend Annie.

What can we do to overcome low self-esteem?

Sheffield Futures do girl-only group work where we discuss empowerment and confidence issues. We encourage girls to focus on their strengths, celebrate their achievements, and help them to build mental resilience to see opportunity in difficulty. It is important girls accept themselves as they are, develop their natural personality traits and surround themselves with positive, likeminded people.

33 9

Robyn

“I DECIDED TO ESCAPE TO A PLACE WHERE MAGIC FLOWED AND BULLIES CEASED TO EXIST” Ivey Byrd hated books. But she hated the bullies more. So she decided to do something that most young girls would think impossible. Exclusively to Robyn, the 19-year-old tells the captivating tale of how her mission to read 1,000 books changed her life in ways she never expected...

I

I used to hate reading. I skimmed books, but I never actually read any. One day my mum and I went to see Twilight and throughout the whole movie I struggled to hear what half the actors said. When I found out the movie was based on a book, I decided I’d read it because I wanted to find out what had been said in the movie. Crazy, right? What teenager decides to read the book just because she couldn’t understand half of the movie?!

So I picked up Twilight by Stephenie Meyer and was hooked. I finished the whole series in five days. I was 15-years-old back then, and my family thought I’d gone insane. I was

34

questioning my sanity too at this point!

After I finished reading, I realised what I’d been missing. There was a whole world that I was oblivious to. I decided to read more. I searched the young adult section at a local bookstore and found more books that interested me.

But there’s another event that inspired me to do something as extraordinary as this.

In high school, I was a very shy girl. I had three friends who I still love dearly, but I was practically invisible to my other classmates.

However, something did catch the attention of a few cruel boys in my class –

my weight. Like most girls at that age I was extremely insecure about my weight, and when boys started picking on me I sort of crumbled.

After one horrific scene in the cafeteria when a boy in my class looked at my plate and called me a fatty in front of the whole school, I decided that I needed something to keep my mind off of the bullies.

So, I set myself the goal to read 1000 books before I graduated high school. That gave me four years. I decided to escape to a

“Something did catch the attention of a few cruel boys in my class” place where magic flowed and bullies ceased to exist. I became the heroine who fought for her freedom. I became the girl who kicked butt. I became someone else.

In those hours that I read, I felt free. I felt like I could do anything. I was inspired to read because it helped me heal. I’m serious when I say that books kept me going.

I had to make time to read enough to achieve my goal. My grades may have slipped a little, but I remained an A, B or C student.

I read during lunch-time, finished my homework in study hall, and when I got home I picked up a book and didn’t set it down until dinner. After dinner, I picked the book back up and read until I was finished with it, or until my eyes started to hurt!

I ran on four hours of sleep for most of my high school career. Just thinking about the dark circles I probably had under my eyes during high school makes me cringe! On weekends, I read non-stop all day. Sometimes the only thing getting me through a school day was remembering that I had books waiting for me at home. I probably read for a total of thirteen hours a day at the most. At the least, eight hours a day. You’re probably shaking your head right now thinking there’s no way!

Believe me, there is a way – there just has to be a will, and boy was I willing.

I am shocked at how much I have changed.

Reading aged me, not physically, but mentally and spiritually. People often tell me that I have an old soul, but I also believe that reading so many books, and experiencing so many lives through those books gave me the wisdom to mature. Through reading I experienced girls overcoming bullying, dealing with their terrible home lives, and so much more.

Usually, we only see what is in our own lives, not others, and that makes us look at things from one side of understanding. I got to look at how different characters reacted to certain events, and I began to realise that each book was teaching me a lesson, giving me the experience that character had. I lived a thousand lives and walked in a thousand

most important lesson of all, the one I needed to learn, was that you don’t need to change yourself to please others. You change yourself because YOU want to change. Being you is the best thing you can be.

“I became the girl who kicked butt. I became someone else.”

I’m grateful that I learned so much from reading because now I am more mature, wellrounded, and accepting of myself.

I’ve also met lots of my favourite authors!

Sarah J. Maas was the author who had the biggest impact on me. It was the second time I had ever met an author (I met Sarah Dessen a few months before), and this one I absolutely loved, and I was so excited I couldn’t contain myself. I was vibrating with excitement. That night was the best night of my life.

Now, I am about to start my first year of college at my local community college (like an English university) where I am going to get my degree in Criminal Justice. I will then get my doctorate in Psychology.

My ultimate goal is to work for the FBI helping solve crimes against children. I have a passion for helping children who need it. Most people would expect me to become a writer, journalist, or editor, right? Nope, not me. I always do the unexpected!

I do still read a lot, but now that I am out of high school, life is making it a little harder for me to find the time to read. But in total, I’ve read over 1,800 books in four years (and counting)!

For other girls wanting to set themselves a similar challenge, my advice would be don’t be afraid to set your sights high. The higher the goal is the better you will feel when you exceed it. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it, let that be your motivation and prove them wrong. Only you can decide if you can’t do something, not anyone else. I have faith in you. You just have to believe in yourself! R

Find ivey on twitter at @alanabwaters read her book reviews at thehopelessreader.blogspot.co.uk turn to page 76 to see her review of robyn’s top read this month

“I ran on four hours sleep for most of my high school career” characters’ shoes, and I learned a little more about life and the world around me.

I am who I am today because each book taught me a little more about my world and those in it. It doesn’t matter that they are fictional books, there are lessons to be learned everywhere.

I learned that high school ends and you grow up. I learned that goofing off and acting crazy won’t get you anywhere in life. But the

Ivey meeting one of her favourite authors, Sarah J. Maas

35

Robyn

Friendship Feuds

S olved!

A

nita Naik, author of ‘Bras, Boys and Bad Hair Days’ and agony aunt at Teen Now, says: ‘Friendships problems are all part of growing up and finding yourself, which can easily lead to female power struggles. We call this ‘relational aggression’.’

Anita says that a way to deal with relational aggression is to learn to compromise and to deal with each friend individually.

If you’re a strong character yourself, avoid conflicts with another strong-headed friend by sometimes sitting back and letting them take centre-stage. If you have a problem with something a friend does over and over, sit them down and explain your feelings.

Each type of friend can cause different issues, and each will need dealing with in alternative ways.

So to make your teenage years a MILLION times easier, here’s our list of the most common types of mate and how to deal with each one.

THE SHOW-OFF Good Lord, does this girl ever shut up?! No she does not. But she also never stops laughing, telling snort-worthy stories about her weekends and generally spreading her unfailing positivity.

Why she’s a fab mate really: Even if it’s at the expensive of your ear-drums (and sometimes sanity), there’s never a dull moment with this friend.

She will always use that gigantic gob of hers to stick up for you if there’s ever a problem.

If you’re more of a wall-flower than this girl, use her as

i nspiration on how to become more confident. One day, you may thank her for that non-stop jabbering!

Anita’s advice: “Attention seekers are hard work to be with. But as long as you don’t mind the limelight always being on her, you’ll be fine. Just bear in mind that you don’t always have to be her personal fan club.”

36

Maintaining friendships as a teenage girl is tough. There are fall-outs, mean girls, bullies and sometimes just being completely ignored. But don’t worry ladies – most girls suffer from similar problems.

THE JEALOUS FRIEND She’s one of your all-time besties, but the second you hang out with another friend, there’s an influx of passive-aggressive messages and pointed Facebook statuses. ANNOYING, right? But this girl is far too good a mate to just brush off. Instead, sit her down and explain your feelings.

Why she’s a fab mate really: Fiercely loyal and genuinely loves your friendship. There’ll be no grudges held here.

This girl obviously admires you as a person, so use this power for good! You can help your friend grow as a person by sharing advice, skills and your brilliant life lessons.

There’ll always be someone there to remind you how amazing you are, if ever you’re in doubt. Do we smell a pep talk?

THE KNOW IT ALL This girl is frustratingly good at EVERYTHING. A* in physics?

Got it. Brilliant sports skills? Obviously. Plays an instrument?

The violin - practically in her sleep, darling. She’s the kind of person you really don’t want around when you’re struggling to remember that important maths…. Thing. (Something about apple pie?)

Why she’s a fab mate really: She will always help with school work when you need it.

This friend could inspire your own success. Instead of comparing yourself negatively, look at what she does to achieve her goals then try to do something similar. If she can get top marks in everything, why can’t you?

You know that there’s more depth to this girl than just her stack of award (for EVERYTHING). Being in on her secret My Little Pony obsession makes knowing her even more fun.

The Know It All: Anything you can do, I can do better!

Anita’s advice: “Don’t let her dictate how you should think and act. She may know everything but you are your own person too and she should respect this.”

THE AWOL FRIEND The AWOL Friend: Now you see me, now you don’t

Anita’s advice: “Be honest about how her behaviour is making you feel. Draw up boundaries becauswe, although it’s flattering, having a jealous friend can be destructive.”

This friend forgets everything. She never turns up to friend-dates, she never remembers your birthday and she has never, ever – not even once – been on time. EVER. But once you accept that you might never be able to change this, you’ll see the beauty in her hilarious uselessness. And maybe also start giving her an earlier time than you really want her to be somewhere…

Why she’s a fab mate really: She probably falls over a lot, too. Always funny.

Having someone irresponsible in your life can help maintain your own balance. You won’t want to be too much like this friend when you experience how annoying lateness can be, encouraging you to become more responsible, but her infectious ditziness will remind you not to take life too seriously. Win-win!

As scatter-brained as she is, this girl will never go AWOL when it’s important. She may have spent her life running for the school bus, but when you really need her, she’ll be on the first bus to your house to lend support. That’s what really matters.

The Show-Off: Move aside, VIP coming through!

Anita’s advice: “Be honest with her, and say you can’t put up with it forever. (1) Tell her how her behaviour affects you and makes you feel. Then (2) set up boundaries so she knows if she’s late or doesn’t turn up again, you’ll start making plans without her.”

FORGIVING FRIENDS

When Cheryl and Simon Cowell fell out in 2011, after the big man sacked poor Chezza from American X Factor, we thought there’d be no chance of reuniting the two strong, stubborn characters. But the pair are back together on this year’s UK X Factor, poking fun at one another as if nothing ever went down. If these strongheaded superstars can kiss and make-up, we reckon anyone can.

AMAZING BFFS We can’t get enough of Cara Delevingne and Selena Gomez’s new-found friendship. Not only is it beyond amazing that two of the coolest girls in celeb-world have united, they also provide us with super-cool Instagram friendship snaps almost every day. Can we join the gang too, girls?!

37

Robyn

Sexism isn’t as all-or-nothing as you might think; if you’ve ever been told you can’t play a certain sport or dress or act a certain way then congrats, you’re in the club!

L

SEXISM 101

but sadly not everyone’s so open minded. uckily, @everydaysexism is on hand - where girls and women can share That’s not fair! Are we doing their stories so that, together, we can something about it? do something about it. Sexism is often billed Well, yes, actually. Women and girls all as ‘banter’, but the bottom line is, if you’re saying one gender is inferior to the other, then over the world have been submitting their experiences through the Everyday Sexism you’re being a sexist. Here’s a couple that website or via Twitter. Since 2012, over 50,000 people have tweeted, but honestly, there’s women have risen up to tell their stories and hundreds like it. raise awarness on the path to equality.

“Watching my brother playing a shooting Laura Bates, journalist and the brains soldier type game, and actually really enjoying behind the Everyday Sexism project, launched it, when my dad says ‘If this game was for girls the project and said, “Again and again, people then they’d be accessorising everything.’” told me sexism is no longer a problem – “Overheard one of the boys on my that women are equal now, more bus (who I’m actually friends or less, and if you can’t take a with) say that it’s disrespectjoke or take a compliment, ful when girls don’t shave.” then you need to stop “People told me We could go on, but being so ‘frigid’ and get you get the picture. if you can’t take a a sense of humour. Even joke then you need to if I couldn’t solve the So, what exactly is stop being so ‘frigid’ problem right away, I was sexism? and get a sense of determined that nobody People who haven’t given should be able to tell us humour.” it much thought might we couldn’t talk about it think sexism starts and ends anymore.” with wolf-whistles in the streets Smart cookie, huh? or smutty music videos. But anyone who has ever felt held back or discriminated against because of their gender has been the Yeah! How can I be a part of it? victim of sexism - that’s girls or boys.

For one, check out Bates’ book, ‘Everday Sounds obvious, but gender roles go sexism’. It’s brilliant (and an eye-opener!). back so far that people still think they’re And if you’ve got a story, whether it’s big or automatically true, even when they’re waaay small, think about sharing it on the website. It outdated. But we at Robyn think that people can be anonymous if you like, and the more should be allowed to be whoever they want momentum the project gets, the more likely it to be. is to make real waves against sexism. But more Sadly, young women can be particularly to the point, do whatever you want to do. If targeted by sexism. Most people don’t doubt you want to play football, play football. But if that we’re strong, independent young women, you want to wear pretty floral dresses, do that

too. It’s important to remember, too, that most people are not sexists, but lovely, reasonable people that want equal rights for everyone.

And if enough of us make ourselves heard, who knows what we can do.

Say WHAT?!

“In school, I took DT and the boys would always say I should be doing Home Ec., to make them a sandwich and get back in the kitchen. The funny thing is I was getting better grades than them.”

“In year 7, a woman came in to talk to the girls and boys separately.

The girls got a talk on how to look after their skin and make-up. When we asked the boys about their talk, it was about porn and putting on condoms.”

Got an opinion or an @everydaysexism story? let us know! @Robyn_ Magazine

Laure Bates pioneered the Everday Sexism movement.

39

Robyn

Keeping it Clean

do it’s like a snowball effect. Besides, you can connect online with people who are in the same situation so easily that it kind of just feeds itself - and before you know it, I think you can be in over your head.

I think it ties in with fat shaming, ‘strong not skinny’, and the idea of ‘real women’. Real women are different shapes and sizes!

CELEBS LIKE MILLIE MACKINTOSH ARE IN THE PUBLIC EYE FOR BEING STRONG, NOT SKINNY, AND THEY LOOK TOTALLY AMAZING. HEALTH IS THE NEW IN THING, BUT IF PEOPLE BECOME OBSESSED, CUTTING OUT FOOD GROUPS AND SPENDING EVERY WAKING HOUR IN THE GYM, IT CAN BE JUST AS BAD FOR THEM AS ANY EATING DISORDER. ROBYN ASKED THE FITCHEN BLOGGER JORDAN CORD ABOUT HER JOURNEY INTO CLEAN EATING, AND HOW SHE KEEPS IT IN CHECK.

Jordan and her boyfriend, Clark

H

ey Jordan! We love your blog.

What made you start The Fitchen? Was it just a passion for healthy eating?

Hi! Well, I would post pictures of our food to Instagram and people would ask for the recipes, and it went from there. I just wanted to share my recipes with people my own age, because there’s the perception that it’s difficult to eat healthily on a budget, but I wanted to show that there are simple recipes that are healthy.

Have you always had a healthy lifestyle, or did you have an epiphany moment?

No I haven’t always! My parents actually owned a bowling alley, so I grew up around loads of chocolate and pizza. So I was probably a really unhealthy child, actually,

40

although it never seemed to bother me! My family must have needed a change, because my Mum got into healthy eating but I was about 11, and I didn’t want anything to do with it!

It was only after I gained weight in my late teens (as everyone seems to at university!), I got interested in health and how to cook, so my boyfriend, Clark, and I learned about it together.

We bet it’s hard to get started, though. What did you do to really get into it?

I started out by making sure I was eating five potions of fresh fruit and veg a day. We all know we’re supposed to do it, but it doesn’t mean that any of us do! Before that, I think I probably ate five a week! But when I was at university, learning to cook and trying to lose the weight I’d gained, I made a conscious effort just to go for it.

It was difficult at first, because I wasn’t used to having to prepare all my food! It’s so easy just to grab a chocolate bar that you never really think about chopping up a mango instead. But once I’d made myself do it for a few weeks, I found that I was enjoying my food so much more! And now I love eating healthily! Some of my favourite foods are avocados, papayas and brazil nuts, which are all things I don’t think I’d even tried before!

You have to experiment and play around with your tastes, it can be so much fun once you get into it!

What’s your favourite thing to cook?

Oh, it changes all the time! I love experimenting and I’m always discovering new things that I love, even now! I never used to be able to cook at all, in fact my Mum used to joke that I couldn’t boil an egg (which was probably true). You never know what you can do until you try.

At the moment, I love coconut ice cream with spicy grilled peaches. I only put the recipe up on the blog last week, but I’ve been perfecting it for a while! I have a real sweet tooth so I love guilt-free puddings, and the ice cream only has three ingredients so it’s really easy to make. You should definitely check it out.

My guilty pleasure, too, is a takeaway.

I love recreating big bowls of pasta, rice or noodles without all the fat and grease - which definitely means I’m allowed to eat more of it, that’s what I tell myself anyway!

“Spending time looking at ‘body inspiration pics’ is a black hole.”

There seems to be a growing culture of girls taking fitness too far. Do you see that a lot?

You definitely do see it. It’s like with anything, people can get addicted to it. And when you

So as someone who has been doing it for quite a long time, almost 6 years, and knows about it, how do you find moderation and avoid taking it too far?

I know it’s a cliché phrase and everyone says it but moderation is the key. I do try and work out most days, but if I can’t I don’t worry about it. Some days there’s no way you can get one done, and some days you just don’t feel like it.

But equally, if I have a bad day, I won’t go out and binge eat a pizza, just because I had a bad day. If you go out with friends for an indulgent meal, you have to remember that’s absolutely fine, and completely normal!

I think it’s also important to not get carried away with calorie counting, or specific diets. I don’t stick to a diet at all, I just eat what makes me feel best. I was vegan for a little while and I hated it! But it’s right for some people; everyone’s different.

Jordan makes sure she doesn’t get too carried away with exercise.

Hey Robinistas, got a healthy recipe of your own, or tried one of Jordan’s? Show us what you got! @robyn_magazine and it gives you more energy. Being a teen is a tiring time but if you eat right you won’t have to go out and buy energy drinks because you’ll naturally just wake up and feel more energetic. It’s about respecting your body.

Not just that, it’s about how much better you can do too. Before you know it you’ll be running faster, thinking clearer and generally feeling better about yourself.

And that completely extends to exercise, too. I spent a lot of time finding out what I liked and what didn’t make me bored. I don’t know how people spend hours at the gym, I never work out for more than 45 minutes!

Again, everyone’s different - I know a lot of girls who love to lift weights but it’s not for me. I think it’s just a case of mixing it up and trying what’s best for you. There’s always

more to achieve, as well. I’d really love to get more into yoga and pilates - it’s just finding the time!

We know the feeling! And if girls have taken it too far, how do you suggest that they pull it back a notch, but stay healthy?

I think, first and foremost, it’s important to step away from social media. For example, unfollow certain Instagram accounts that you find yourself constantly looking at, and Pinterest, too - you can constantly find ‘body inspiration’ boards on there and it’s a black hole. You keep seeing it and it just perpetuates a stereotype - a stereotype that you end up comparing yourself to. And when you do that, you’ll end up trying too hard and hurting yourself in doing that. It makes it too easy to compare yourself to everyone else, and that’s what drives the obsession.

Remember that a lot of social media uses Photoshop and clever lighting! You shouldn’t aspire to be others, just be the best possible you R

breakfast has been associated with better performance at school and higher levels of concentration. Yet it’s important to make sure that the breakfast you have is a healthy option, not just a sugar coated cereal or chocolate filled pastry (but it’s okay to treat yourself sometimes).

So with a bit of help from our friends at Tropicana we’ve come up with tasty, balanced breakfast that’s quick and easy to prepare (and tastes amazing with a Tropicana juice!).

We all know it’s better to just grab something healthy and sustaining before you leave the

house, especially because breakfast has been associated with better performance at school and higher levels of concentration.

Yet it’s important to make sure that the breakfast you have is a healthy option, not just a sugar coated cereal or chocolate filled pastry (but it’s okay to treat yourself sometimes).

So with a bit of help from our friends at Tropicana we’ve come up with tasty, balanced breakfast that’s quick and easy to prepare (and tastes amazing with a Tropicana juice!).

“With exercise, I spent a lot of time finding out what I liked and what didn’t make me bored.”

So it’s a case of experimenting with health? The Robyn team are all for eating healthily, but we don’t believe in diets!

Me neither! I think the most important thing is to not focus on your weight or size, but to focus on how much better you can feel. When you take care of yourself it takes care of acne, it makes your skin and hair shiny

breakfast “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day”. Your mum says it, your gran says it and even your teachers say it. But sometimes it’s just easier to skip, isn’t it?

You shouldn’t though - research has shown that skipping breakfast can increase your risk of getting diseases like diabetes.

We all know it’s better to just grab something healthy and sustaining before you leave the house, especially because

41

Robyn

on my mind

1

Draw out all the money you need

Work out how much you can afford to spend each week, then draw out that amount of cash. Next, hide your bank card so you are not tempted to over-spend.

When you use your card it doesn't feel like you are spending real money or you tend to forget to account for it in your budget. That is until you look at your bank statement and get a nasty surprise. Eeek!

2

Literally freeze your bank account

This is a drastic measure for all you shopaholics out there! Draw out all the money you need for the week or month, but this time, put your bank card in in a plastic lunch box, fill it up with water, and literally freeze your account.

If you have an urge to buy something, you can take it out of the freezer and wait for it to defrost. Hopefully, by the time it has defrosted, your urge to spend will have melted away too.

3

Get the Spendometer app

This handy app records your budget for the week and how much you have spent each day, calculating your position on the Spendometer.

If you’re in the red zone, it’s time to scrimp, but if you get to the end of the week having spent less than your daily budget, you’ll have some spare cash to put towards a muchneeded shopping trip at the weekend.

4

Get paid to play video games

Consider yourself a bit of a gamer? You don’t have to be a World of Warcraft geek to make money from playing video games.

Recording yourself playing games and posting them on YouTube can also make you money. The catch? YouTube's terms and conditions say, if you want to make money, you have to do a running commentary over the entire video and not just play big sections of the game in silence. There is loads of competition, so you would need to make sure you get tons of views to make it worthwhile.

Alternatively, there are professional websites teams already set up that pay you to play live streamed video games. The more viewers that watch you play, the higher the pay! Check out TwitchTV for more details.

5

You gotta shop around

High street shops are always in competition with each other, so you’re likely to find similar clothes and accessories cheaper elsewhere.

So, before you put your hand in your pocket and buy that expensive dress in Top Shop, head over to Primark and H&M who usually have similar and cheaper versions.

This even applies to things sold in the same store, such as toiletries. For example, Boots sell cotton wool in their cosmetics section, but if you head over to the baby section of the store, you can buy more cotton wool for less money. Its exactly the same and does the same job.

Got a money-saving tip for fellow Robyn readers? Tweet @Robyn_magazine #Robynmoney

43

Robyn

Rising St rs!

The next

THE NEX

Elli Ingram

Who? Best described as “Adele if she did hip hop”, Elli has already earned herself a Best Newcomer nomination at the MOBO Awards after the release of debut EP, Sober last year. She has toured with Chase and Status, appeared with them at Glastonbury and sang on their track, ‘Heaven Knows’.

Why you will love her! Her quirky style and soulful voice make her stand out, whilst the videos for ‘All Caught Up’ and ‘Mad Love’ show she doesn’t take herself too seriously.

Listen if you like Adele, Amy Winehouse, Ella Eyre.

Latest release The Doghouse EP

THE NEXT

Who? James Page, who takes his name from the Finnish translation of his last name, played this year’s Reading and Leeds Festival and has supported London Grammar. He’s worked with Charlie Andrew (the Mercury-Award-winning producer of Alt-J’s An Awesome Wave) on his EPs The Bodies and 'I Lost Myself' and the two are now working on Sivu’s debut album.

Why you will love him! His chilled indie-pop is the perfect playlist for long journeys.

Listen if you like Gotye, Wild Beasts, Arcade Fire.

Latest release The Bodies EP

ct NTRY a

T COU

X THE NE

Lucy Hale 44

nd

Blessa

Whether you’re a rocker or a raver, Robyn’s got your music covered! Here’s our pick of the next best bands and artists predicted to make it big!

RTIST T FEMALE A

rock ba

MALE A

RTIST

Sivu

Who? If you’ve watched Pretty Little Liars, you will be no stranger to her character, Aria Montgomery.

Although best known for her acting, Lucy first came to America’s attention in 2003 as one of the winners of the reality singing show American Juniors. Debut single, ‘You Sound Good To Me’, from her first album, Road Between, was released earlier this year.

Why you will love her! Her pop vocals and goodgirl image mean she will be adored by both mainstream and country music lovers.

Listen if you like Taylor Swift, Michelle Branch.

Latest album release Road Between

Who? Poetic lyrics meet 80s-style indie to create what might have happened if The Smiths had an optimistic, female vocalist. They've received critical acclaim from 6Music, NME and the Guardian, and recently released their debut EP, Love Is An Evol Word.

Why you will love them Old school indie has made a big comeback in recent years and its refreshing to hear gorgeous female vocalist from a genre usually overcrowded with guys.

Listen if you like Haim, The Smiths.

Latest release: Love Is An Evol Word EP

Who? Fans of Drake will already have heard his collaboration with rapper, Kendrick on single, ‘Poetic Justice’ last year. If a tour supporting Kanye West and collaborations with hip hop heavy weights, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre on his second album, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City are anything to go by, this smooth lyricist will go far.

Why you will love him! His bad-boy, Compton attitude is beautifully balanced out with laid-back, melodies.

Listen if you like Drake, The Game, Lil Wayne.

Latest album release: Good Kid, M.A.A.D City

CT

THE

NEXT

PA HIP HO

Kendrick Lamar

Who? Ed Sheeran has Tweeted about them and they've toured with a diverse range of acts including Wretch 32, Ciara and Disclosure. This cool, 90s style, R'n'B singers aren't just any girl band. The Guardian even gave them the stamp of approval saying, “They could be the first decent British female R&B group.”

Why you will love them! If you've outgrown your Little Mix phase or long for a time when TLC and Destiny's Child still dominated the charts, this is the band for you.

Listen if you like Neon Jungle, Stooshe, Little Mix. Latest single release Dance On My Own

Y BAND

THE NEXT BO

Rixton

CE ACT

Lxury

CT

T GIRL B

AND

M.O

Who? Radio 1 listeners are guaranteed to have heard their catchy single, 'Me And My Broken Heart' from their EP of the same name. The British pop band first found fame on YouTube, where they posted covers of songs such as Sisqo's, 'Thong Song' and a comeback version of Taylor Swift's, 'I Knew You Were Trouble'.

Why you will love them! They can sing, they're cute and they know how to play their instruments.

Listen if you like 5 Seconds of Summer, One Direction, Maroon 5.

Latest release Me And My Broken Heart EP

Who? After spending much of his time in Vienna embracing the electronic music scene, British artist and producer, SOHN has emerged with a sound brilliant enough to battle James Blake's. Since receiving media praise from the Guardian and Pitchfork magazine, Dazed and Confused were so impressed, they premièred his new album, Tremors in their magazine this year.

Why you will love him! If you are a fan of pop vocals over unique, busy electronic noise, you will not be disappointed.

Listen if you like James Blake, Brian Eno. Latest album release Tremors

AN THE NEXT D

THE NEX

THE NEX

T ELECT

RO ACT

USIC A M Y D OME

XT C

THE NE

Jack & Dean Who? This YouTube comedy duo have a channel chock full of surreal sketch shows and but are now following in the footsteps of acts such as Lonely Island and moved onto music. Consent, a pop-dance song about respecting girls in clubs has had over 367,000 views and they've even been played on Radio 1. Their singles are available to download from iTunes but make sure you check out their videos too.

Why you will love them! These boys have a geeky charm and their music videos are hilarious.

Listen if you like Lonely Island, Flight Of The Concords.

Latest single release Consent

Next on the big screen?

NEXT ACTRESS

oJenna-Louise Coleman

SOHN

Who? A house act who lays down strong club beats and airy melodies. NME have tipped Lxury as the next DJ to “steal Disclosure's crown”. A festival appearance at Leeds and Reading, praise from Radio 1 DJ, Annie Mac and the release of his latest EP, Playground are sure to secure his spot at the top.

Why you will love him! His club beats will get you and your mates dancing, but he's equally easy to listen to when you're chilling in your room.

Listen if you like: Disclosure, Tokimonsta.

Latest release: Playground EP

oWho? Best known oas Doctor Who’s fiesty sidekick Clara oOswald, this actress ois slowly but surely omaking her way into movies, having already had a snippet part as Captain America’s mate’s girlfriend in Captain America: The First Avenger.

NEXT ACTOR

oJoseph oMorgan

Who? That cute oactor that plays Niklaus Mikaelson oon The Vampire oDiaries. Having broken into U.S television with Hex, it’s just a matter of time before this Swansea hottie makes it onto the silver screen. We’re crossing our fingers for you Joseph!

45

Robyn

how to be a... pro-tographer!

W

e all love to share photos, whether it’s on Facebook of our weekend with our besties, or posting a OOTD on Instagram (and let’s face it, who doesn’t snap a selfie now and again?!)

So here are some tips to get the most out the camera on your phone. Sure, you know how to take a photo and choose your fave filter, but you have your phone on you all the time, so take advantage of it! Learn these tricks and you’ll be flying on all social media before you can say, “hashtag”. And if you want to get a bit more serious with your photography, we’re here to help you get started and make sense of all that weird jargon R

S

Happy App-y

peaking of apps, there’s loads of great ones out there. From ones that allow you to stick emoticons and write on your photos (PhotoWonder) to ones that guarantee your photos are Instagram ready, without having to crop and cut any of your masterpiece out (Squaready). And the best thing is, most of them are free! Our favourite though here at Robyn HQ, is the VSCO app. Not only can you tweak all the specifics of your photo - temperature, contrast, brightness - but it has endless filters that make your photos have an edgy feel. Cool points all round.

Let there be light!

L

Lighting is key - it can make or break a photo. If you have light behind you (standing with a window behind you), then you’ll just be one big shadow and no-one will be able to see your beautiful face. But if you stand in direct light (the sun shining on you), then it will erase all the features on your face and squinting’s not cute!

When it comes to lighting, it’s not just the outdoors that affects yours photos, but indoor lighting can make your photos have a yellow tone. This can be easily fixed by altering the temperate of your photo - if it’s warmer, it’ll be more yellow, and if it’s cooler, it’ll be more blue. And most free apps out there have this feature, so get going!

I

Step it up! f you want you move up from your

trusty camera phone - there’s a whole world of options out there!

A digital camera is small enough for you to take everywhere, just like your phone, but the quality of the photos are tons better.

They’re easy to use to, just point, and click away!

If you want to venture into something a bit more high-tech, then DSLRs (Digital Single Lens Replex) are the way to go.

These bad boys let you control everything before you take your photo (Psst! there’s a little dictionary over there to tell you all the settings mean). The quality of the photos will make you gasp ‘wow’ every time.

Or how about something retro, how about a Polaroid? The photos shoot out of the camera and watch them develop right before your eyes like magic. They’re fun and have an element of surprise to them.

Now, all this comes at a price though.

None of these cameras are cheap, so think carefully before you consider getting one.

Research and talk to you parents or older siblings - you never know, they might have one lying around that you can try!

I

no zoom zone!

f you can, try not to use the zoom on your phone. Being a digital zoom, the lens doesn’t actually get any closer to what you want to take a photo of (it’s the same as if you took a photo, and zoomed into it afterwards). If you can, get as close and possible as you can to the object you want an image of, and tap your screen to get it focus. That way, you get a quality photo with lots of detail in! No more blurry or fuzzy messes!

T

Selfie S.O.S.

aking a selfie can be a struggle sometimes - just ask Kim Kardashian - from trying to keep your arm out of shot, to holding it steady.

If you plug in the headphones that came with your iPhone, you can use the volume button on them as a remote. No more arm ache!

DSLR DICTIONARY

Aperture: opening of the lens that lets light in. The smaller it is (f/11), the more focus your photo will have, and the larger it is (f/1), less light will be let in and therefore, your photo will be less in focus.

ISO: your camera’s sensitive to light. A lower ISO (100) means it’s less sensitive, and a darker photo, whereas a higher ISO (3200) means it’s more sensitive and a brighter image, but also a more grainy image, so it’s best to keep this digit as low as poss.

Shutter Speed: the amount of time it take for the shutter on your camera to open and close. A faster speed (1/800) will ‘freeze’ and capture motion better, but also means a darker photo, and a slower shutter speed (1/10) will be a brighter image, but create more of a blur - try experimenting with this to create some cool effects!

47

Robyn

Fashion Maths

We’re all different - that’s what makes us so great! - so whereas you might just wear your jeans with a plain white tee, your BFF might team them with a chunky neon knit.

So here’s 5 key items that you can add to your wardrobe this autumn, and 3 different ways you can style them. Whether that’s adding a jacket, splitting it into 2 pieces or subtracting a layer - it’s time for some fashion maths! School’s in session!

A U T U M N

+

&

+

B R I G H T

+

B L O O M

W H I T E

Y

ou can never go wrong with a white t-shirt, and this ones even better as it’s got while polka dots sewn on that give it loads of awesome texture. So keep it cool and monochrome with this tartan skort (and you won’t have to worry about the wind blowing your skirt up opps!), and add a big pop of colour with a relaxed blazer on top. Sometimes, even jeans are too uncomfy, so some patterned legging will give the laid backed ‘jeans-and-tee’ combo, a new twist. Or if trousers just aren’t your thing at all, a floaty, pastel, lil’ skirt will look really cute, but the wool coat will keep it looking cool, and keep you warm all at the same time!).

J

ust because the leaves are turning brown, and the days are getting shorter - that doesn’t mean that your favourite florals from summer, can’t be brought through into autumn! It’s all about layering - pairing some patterned jeans with a sheer kimono and a bright top will be smart and fun - perfect for going out for dinner!

Why not double up on print and clash your patterns, or contrast it with a cozy, plain, jumper for a relaxing weekend of movies and chocolate (Mean Girls and Dairy Milk is a killer combination).

+ + +

A 48

T A N G E R I N E

D R E A M S

statement piece that’s a whole outfit in itself, but can be transformed instantly. With an iconic biker jacket, you’ll be ready for any gig , but a fun, leopard print raincoat and some wellies, you’ll be ready for any weather. Even though festival season’s over, it’s a look that even Kate Moss would be well jel of. Or for something more different, a studded shirt under it will shout out ‘geek chic’ - you’ll be top of the class for sure.

+

D

B A C K T O S C H O O L

o you remember those dungarees you wore as a kid? Or those pinafores you had to wear at primary school? Well they’re back! But not as you know it. With a pastel t-shirt under it and a denim jacket on top, you’ll look perfect for going shopping or having a day out with your friends. How about throwing a slogan jumper over the top to keep you warm? ( You’re never too old for a bit of Mickey!) Or a shirt underneath it, complete with a bow, will make you the coolest kid on the playground!

For your daily dose of fashion, follow us on Instagram! @robyn_magazine 49

Robyn

How do you wear yours?

A

s much as we love seeing how Cara Delevingne styles her skinny jeans, we always want to know what our stylish readers are wearing too! With Autumn well and truly underway, a checked shirt is the perfect thing to layer and button up. Whether it’s a festive red or forest green, we wanted to see how you wore yours!

This m

C heck ont h. . ed Sh irt

“I like finding shirts that have different sized and coloured checks on them” -Michaela Claricoates, 23

into checked “I’m not really adding a shirts, but love f instead, checked scar ing up to especially lead Christmas!” , 19 -Chloe Kimmel

“I like to wea r my shirt wit h my favourite lea the jacket. It’s ca r sual and cool, per fect for the weekend .”

-Maddie Faw cett, 17

inspiration

Robyn’s very own Amy loves to tie up her shirts at the waist, and use them to dress down some pretty swish dresses!

Here at Robyn HQ, we love these ideas we saw on Pinterest - tying your shirt around your waist gives a laidback vibe, or mixing your checks with some stripes is a fun way of layering. Instant pin to our style board!

has t which y ir h s is h t s, and m “I love r check to rock e l l a m s ves !” uno, lo dog, Br ked jacket too c e 2 h , ett 0 his c a Tripp n n a o J -

Holler at your Collar!

Show your collar some love and add a statement necklace or pretty pearls under it. Or go backto-school and whip up a smart bow.

Better than any school tie!

Next month: Slogan tees

Tweet us with how you wear your fave t-shirt @robyn_magazine, complete with sassy slogans. And don’t forget to use #HYWY to tag us on your posts on Instagram!

51

Robyn

Cut out & Keep Fashion We all know that no-one rocks a cupcake bra like Katy Perry, and when you see some pink hair, Lousie-Sprinkle-of-Glitter, immediately comes to mind. hile they may get a bit more pocket money, and have an army of stylists to help them get photo-ready, you can still get your favourite celeb’s look. Whether it’s their red-carpet or everyday look that you’re dreaming of, a full outfit, or just some style inspiration, here’s some fashion pieces along with their celeb owners, that you can cut-out and keep (you may not rememeber these, but we loved those paper dolls back in the day at Robyn HQ!) Why not even start a scrapbook or outfit ideas that you can mix-and-match. There’s even a Kate Middleton paper doll for you to dress up, if you want to see her out of her killer dress suits, and rocking a sequin bralet.

W

Emma Watson

has come a long way from her Hermione Granger days! Always looking sophisticated - both on and off the red-carpet. You might need to use your ‘wingardium leviosa’ spell to pick up everyone’s jaw off the floor when they see you looking pretty in pink in this crop top. Add a pair of highwaisted trousers to get that complete, magical look.

R

Ellie Goulding - the queen of workout outfit selfies and rocking short shorts. You’ll leave everyone looking all ‘Starry Eyed’ in this sparkly lil’ beauty! You’ll be shimmering so much, that even The Little Mermaid will be envious.

Team with high-waisted shorts á la Miss.

Goulding, or slip into some disco pants for ultimate shine appeal.

Tanya Burr

Beauty blogging babe, , has got the perfect balance of grown-up chic and adorable playfulness. Everyone will spot you walking by a classic polka-dot number (we love the twist of lace shoulders on this one). Like this YouTube princess, wear your spots with a bright, straight, skirt, or whack out your trusty jeans for a more laidback look.

Never one to play it safe,

Zoella

has got wearing co-ordinating separates down to a tee! Looking cute as always, have a go at this smart and sassy trend yourself with these matching powder blue shorts and top. They get extra style points for having that sweet scallop edge!

52

Rita Ora

has hit the nail on the head when it comes to fun outfits that are actually wearable (sorry Lady Gaga, there’s no way we’re ever going to wear a meat dress). Go like Rita and team these patterned jeans with a matching, busy jacket., or keep it more simple with a plain t-shirt or bold, coloured blazer.

53

Robyn

going for gold B

ubbly, confident and self-assured, Lauren Steadman is a 21-year-old paralympic athlete who’s letting nothing stand in her way. Born missing her right arm from the elbow down, she competed in her first Paralympics in Beijing when she was just 15-years-old.

Recently she decided she needed a bigger challenge and swapped swimming for the triathlon, bringing home a gold medal from the World Championships.

Exclusively to Robyn, Lauren talks about winning, losing, and those all-important teen years.

Lauren on...competing

It’s the chance to prove to everybody else that even though I’m missing an arm I’m capable of doing just as much as you are. You always have rivalries because everybody is racing for that one gold medal but everybody can’t win.

There has to be one winner and a loser unfortunately.

Lauren on... friends and family

I surrounded myself with constant, good friends, so for me my teenage years were really good. My friends didn’t pick on me, they were supportive and they didn’t think of me as any better or worse than them. Make sure you surround yourself with people who love you, and do things that make you happy.

Lauren on...teen years

As a teen, people haven’t categorised you in a certain way and the world is your oyster. You can try anything, do anything. If you’re struggling, find something that you do outside of your school life. For me, it was sport.

Lauren on...her disability

In everything I’ve done I’ve never known anything different. It wasn’t an issue that I noticed. I had a bit of bullying when I was younger as a kid, but I just got on with it and got through it. I’ve always been able to do everything and if I couldn’t do anything, I’d make sure I’d keep going until I could do it. Really, it’s never

Lauren on... Beijing at 15

I would say that was my most memorable achievement wasas qualifying for Beijing because it was the first thing that I’d been to, and I still remember touching the wall and them saying, “Lauren Steadman has qualified!”

Even though it wasn’t my best performance, it was one of my best moments.

Looking back it was daunting, but at the time it was just another competition for me. I don’t think I quite appreciated what I was doing and what I’d achieved.

It wasn’t the best I’d been in my life, so I accepted it,

Lauren on...swapping swimming for the triathlon I just thought I needed a new

challenge. I felt I pretty much achieved the goal I set myself in swimming, so I decided that I needed to push myself to the next level. I didn’t plan for it to be triathlon, but I did well and that made a place to transfer over.

for more from Lauren, read her blog at www.lauren-steadman. com

55

Robyn

When Life

Gives

You

Who she is

Lemons

Lily Cole

Lily is a 26-year-old English model, actress, and charity campaigner. She has modelled since she was 14, but also bagged herself a degree in History of Art from Cambridge along the way.

How we know her You’ve probably seen Lily in loads of fashion and make-up adverts. She’s modelled for Vogue, Alexander McQueen and Louis Vuitton, as well as staring as a school girl in St. Trinians.

From the girl teased for being ginger to the model attacked with acid, meet the stars who turned their vulnerability into their greatest strength.

Laverne Cox

Who she is

Why she’s so fab

Laverne is a transgender American actress, TV star and LGBTQ campaigner.

Born as a boy called Roderick, Laverne never felt right in her gender, craving to become the girl she is now.

We think she’s great because she uses her fame to stand up for other men and women in her position. Hosting TRANSform Me in the USA she gave confidence to other transgender people in America.

She told gawker.com about her connection to her character in OITNB. “Looking at myself with all the imperfections that I see, and still people are relating to this character, people are connecting to her. On social media people love Sophia.

So I’m on this show that is kind of a hit now and I don’t look like Beyoncé. I haven’t had the extreme makeover to look like that, so maybe I can just be authentically myself. Maybe that’s enough.”

Her dedication to being herself isn’t just inspiring for transgender women, but for all females who have insecurities about their image.

How we know her She plays Sophie Burst, transgender inmate in Orange is the New Black. She’s the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy in acting.

Oh, not to mention the fact that she’s drop dead gorgeous!

Why she’s so fab She’s proud despite some horrible experiences as a teen.

“I was bullied because I have red hair,” Lily told the Daily Mail.

“If you have red hair and you’ve been picked on, you’ll know the horrible things other people will say. The names I was called – carrot-top, ginger, all the usual ones – sound quite trivial. But it’s not so much the words; it’s the meanness behind saying such things to a child.

“When I’d meet people, I would think they wouldn’t like me – that was an actual thought process – because I’m a redhead.”

However, Lily has used her striking hair and quirky, babydoll looks to pave her way in the world of modelling and film, proving that breaking the mould is beautiful too.

her attitude “People make assumptions about models. That’s their issue, not mine. I’m comfortable in my own skin. I love my hair, it’s a wicked colour!” She told the Daily Mail.

56

laverne as a young boy

Katie Piper

Cassandra Bankson

Who she is

How we know her

Who she is

How we know her

Katie Piper is an English former model, TV presenter and philanthropist.

Katie was a promotional model and TV presenter, but her life was cruelly changed when her former boyfriend arranged for a man to throw sulphuric acid on her face. This has permanently damaged the skin on her face and blinded her in her left eye.

After the attack, a Channel 4 documentary called Katie: My beautiful Face followed Katie’s emotional journey to re-build her face.

Cassandra is 21-year-old model from California who suffered severe acne as a teen.

The YouTube regulars amongst you may have come across Cassandra. She made a name for herself doing amazing make-up tutorials on how to cover up bad acne.

As a teen, her acne was so severe it covered her whole face and most of her body. She was pulled out of school because she was so badly bullied.

Why she’s so fab Katie has bounced back from the attack even more beautiful than before. She has had 40 operations to treat her burns, and has now set up the Katie Piper Foundation to support burns victims.

In 2009, the year after her attack, Katie told the Daily Mail, “I could hear someone screaming and screaming and kept wishing they’d be quiet.

Then I realised it was me. I was standing in the street with people walking past me and I could feel my face evaporating. I thought I was on fire as the acid ate at my skin.”

Despite her horrific ordeal, Katie is possibly one of the most positive, happy people you’ll ever meet, AND she’s got a wardrobe to die for! She continues to claim back the life her attacker tried to rip away from her, and gave birth to her first child, Belle, in March this year.

Stunning Katie shows that beauty is definitely more than skin deep.

her attitude “I learned the hard way in my mid-20s that you simply can’t control everything that happens to you, and you have to accept that some of it just won’t make sense.” she said in an interview with the Express.

katie as a young fashion model

Why she’s so fab Cassandra isn’t afraid to bear all and show the world her imperfections.

In her YouTube tutorials she reveals her naked face before showing viewers how to cover up bad blemishes with make-up.

She shows immense courage, struggles to speak and choking on her words as she talks about her skin problems.

“I feel really disgusting. This is probably the most nerve-wracking thing I could possibly do because it is my biggest insecurity... But this is my face.”

In an interview with the Daily Mail Cassandra said, “I thought I was going to get the same hate I got at school over my skin.” She received taunts like “pizzaface” and “exorcist” from other kids at school. “But I thought if it could help one person, one girl or guy with the same condition,” she says, “it would be worth it.”

her attitude “I used to use make-up to cover up, and to hide who I was. Now, I use it to express myself and show the world who I truly am,” she said in one of her videos.

cassandra bearing all to her youtube viewers

katie After the horrifying acid attack

her attitude “Everyone is insecure,” she told gawker.com. “I think it comes from like a desire to want to be in control of how you’re represented.”

Well, if there’s anyone who’s in control, it’s sassy, sorted Laverne!

57

L

Let’s face it – being a teen is HARD. But no matter what the problem, it CAN be solved.

Here’s a round-up of all the main issues faced by teens, solved by our wonderful agony aunt, Katie Fraser.

B

C “I

sibling feuds

Katie says: “When you leave school and step out into the real world, you’ll realise that grades are just a small part of what makes you the person you are.

Yes, it’s great to achieve your potential, but being a rounded, positive and enthusiastic person, a reliable and dependable worker and a loyal friend counts for a lot more than straight As - both in the eyes of your peers, your family and your potential employers.”

your future

ollege? Apprenticeship? Work? What course or job? Where and for how long? What about after that?

Choosing your next step in life is a huge decision - but see it as an exciting, rather than scary one. The world is your oyster! And if anything goes wrong, so what? You’re still young- just start again!

Katie says: “Try not to get stressed about deciding on a ‘career for life’ - it’s important to do something (both for your self-esteem and your finances!), but remember that the first job you take doesn’t have to be your job for life.

So often people start off in one career and realise that it isn’t for them. But that’s fine, especially when you’re young. Just see it all as experience - work hard at whatever you do, show dedication and motivation and you’ll make the most of every opportunity.”

can’t live with my sisters and brothers anymore, they’re driving me mad!”

Honestly girls, if I had a pound for every time I said that sentence throughout my life, I’d be the next Victoria Beckham (except smilier). Sibling feuds are all part of growing up.

And as much as you want to kill them sometimes, the nice thing about having brothers and sisters is that no matter how much you argue, they’ll always be some of your best friends.

Katie says: “It’s easy to get wound up by your siblings - they know what makes you tick and which buttons to press to make you cross. But the lessons you learn in a family will set you up for life - being able to resolve a dispute, say sorry or compromise are all character-buliding assets (even if they don’t feel like it at the time!). A brother or sister can be your worst enemy at times, but ultimately they can also be the best friend you’ll ever have, especially as you get older.”

Doing well at school

onstantly getting good grades is something everyone in the world dreams of, but hardly anyone manages. School is tough. It’s great to aim high, but don’t be angry at yourself if you fall short sometimes. It is important to always try your best by working hard - but just as vital to not get dragged down by remembering that we can’t all be good at everything. If you’ve tried your best, that is what’s important.

58

Our mo nthl y pr o b l em page to keep you s mi l i ng!

bullying

ullying affects, on average, 1 in 5 teenagers every single day.

It can be anything from physical harm to name calling or being forced into situations against your will. And with the growth of social media, bullying no longer finishes when you leave the school gates (see pg.12). Being bullied is horrible, full stop.

But you must remember that there are things you can do to improve the situation.

Katie says: “Bullying is never justified nor acceptable. If it’s happening to you, tell someone NOW. Every establishment, be it school, college or a sports club has rules and regulations in place to tackle bullying, but you need to let someone know what’s going on so that these can be implemented. Do not suffer alone.”

C

Robyn Listens

Robyn For advice, contact us on the Robyn website www.robynmagazine.co.uk and Katie will respond to your problems personally.

RELATIONSHIPS

Y

ep, we just dropped it. THE ‘R’ BOMB. If there’s one thing causing problems in your life right now, I’m guessing it’s your heart. Be it confused, longing, hurt or just completely broken, always remember one thing: anything can be fixed over time. Even if you’re coping with a giant secret about your feelings, there’s always a way to deal with it.

Katie says: “No one gets through life unscathed by a relationship crisis - it is part of the rich tapestry of life! Lean on your friends and your family. Talk about how you feel and ask for their advice. Don’t be alone with your problems and if you’re ever worried, tell someone. There’s always a way to deal with things and sometimes other people have a different perspective that you can learn from.”

LOOKING GOOD

E mental health

I

t’s no secret that the hormones we experience as teenagers bring us new inner challenges every day. Whether you’re constantly upset and don’t know why, feeling ecstatic one minute and angry the next or just don’t know what you’re feeling at all, the best thing to do is to talk to someone.

Katie says: “There’s nothing wrong or weak about asking for help. The older you get, the more you realise that you’re not the only one feeling like this - everyone does so at some point. Confiding in a trusted friend or family member can seem frightening and overwhelming, but the moment you do, you’ll feel a huge weight lift from your shoulders. Your voice is a powerful tool - use it.”

urgh, what we all would give to look like Cara Delevingne as soon as we woke up in morning. But everyone comes in different shapes, sizes and heights with all sorts of skin, hair, teeth and, well, boobs! You might hate being a size 14 with brown hair and feel like you’re surrounded by slim, leggy blondes, but I can guarantee that, at some point, every one of those blondies has felt conscious about their weight and hair colour too.

Whatever we’re given, us girls are pretty much programmed to find faults with our appearances. But for girls everywhere, we need to learn to love ourselves!

Katie says: “Forget botox, caked-on foundation and hair extensions - look in the mirror, take a deep breath and smile. Inner confidence is the key to looking and feeling good, whether you’re a size 8 or a size 18!”

59

Robyn

How did she get that

Charlotte Underwood 25-years-old rpool from live

associate producer

jack morton worldwide Charlotte has helped plan some of the world’s biggest and coolest events, including many of Samsung’s epic mobile phone launches, and has travelled all over the world in her mission to make things go with a bang.

Just a little bit jealous? Yup, us too. Lucky she’s here to tell us the secret to her success, then...

Before university

I

originally wanted to be a primary school teacher!

When you have to fill in the UCAS forms, you have that panic of, oh, my God, is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?!

My cousin asked me what I enjoy doing, and as a joke I said, “I like planning parties and telling people what to do.” And he said, “I think events management will suit you.” I went home, researched it, and it was true.

I studied a degree in events management at Leeds, which is the UK centre for events management. For my course I had to plan and run an event for actual people!

After university

Jack Morton jm worldwide are the creative

WORLDWIDE

brain behind the show-stopping Global brand events that launch brands experience agency and products

It’s for 20,000 people in San about it. talk to people.”

Francisco, then for 9,000 It’s not only finding the I get to see some amazing people in Barcelona. My job location that you like, but also cities and venues, and work involves everything the course and the resources of with some incredible from registering the university that will help you names. A lot of the the delegates progress. press launches to the event, we’ve done “I’ve not worked through to the had big names at another experience supporting company, but this they have as them. Gary one’s the best soon as they Barlow, just arrive, what it to mention so I don’t need looks like, the one, because JM plans th to!” e London Ne entertainment, w Year’s he is beautiful!

Eve celebrat ions the exhibition stands, I didn’t get to meet and what people take him, though, I was too far home. That’s pretty much the job away! I was in Sydney at another I’m doing right this second! launch.

Oh, I’ve seen Bon Jovi – that was exciting!

Skills needed

Attention to detail, ability to manage a team, and flexibility with time. It’s not a nine-to-five job – you can sometimes be working from the early hours of the morning until the middle of the evening.

I did a placement year working for General Motors, then started as an intern at Jack Morton.

That was three-and-a-half years ago, and I’ve progressed through “Oh, my God! the company since Watching people Is this what I then. Aside from getting the want to do with General Motors satisfaction from I’ve not worked at the rest of my the event that you’d another company, life?!” hoped is probably but Jack Morton’s the the biggest high! best so I don’t need to!

You slog over an event, then watch a completely empty venue become this amazing I’m currently working with experience. Hundreds of press walk in, watch an incredible our San Francisco office on an show, then walk away and blog event for a large tech company.

Best bits

The job

in london

The future

I eventually see myself moving back towards my hometown of Liverpool, bringing my Londonbased skills and developing the industry.

I would like to think that I’ll find a way to be a bit more philanthropic with it. I can’t be a doctor and save a life, but I can give back to a community through my abilities.

Charlotte’s advice

I suggest contacting a promotional agency. They will ring you up and say, for example, “We are doing a pop up event in the city centre and we need people to give out leaflets and

ated rt of an anim ent ev bikes were pa on ss ic Er city for an

a 24-hour fashion show for cotton incorporated

We wanna hear from you!

Know anyone with a cool job or lucky enough to have on yourself? We’d love to hear from you! Drop us an email at editor@robyn.co.uk.

We’d also love to hear your suggestions - what jobs would you love to hear about?

61

Robyn

listen up!

New album releases tickling our eardrums this month!

Jessie Ware - Tough Love

>>This month’s top rated!

J

essie Ware effortlessly sooths on her second electro-pop album, which amongst others attracted the help of Ed Sheeran and Drake’s producer, Nineteen85. It opens with her beautifully airy, first single and title track, ‘Tough Love’, before showing off a more upbeat, R’n’B side to her vocals on ‘Cruel’. By the end of last track, ‘Desire’, it’s easy to see why her winning combination of chilled dance beats and faultless voice has gained her a sudden surge of popularity.

The deluxe version puts the cherry on top of this album, with bonus track, ‘Share It All’, which was co-written by Romy Madeley-Croft from The XX. Madeley-Croft’s musical touch can be heard in Ware’s vocal delivery and touches of The XX’s signature, echoing guitar.

If this album was a place it would be… Blissful bedtime 3 word summary: Soothing, faultless, pop.

Rating:

On the Robyn Team’s stereo this month....

Taylor Swift -1989

T

Philip Selway - Weatherhouse

T

70

Sivu - Something On High

S

his album by the former drummer of Radiohead shows that Thom Yorke was not the only talented force behind the band’s success. Philip Selway has created intriguingly dark, indie electro, fittingly recorded in Radiohead’s Oxford studio.

‘Coming Up For Air’ belongs in a genre alongside Yorke’s electro side project, Atoms For Peace, than Radiohead’s earlier guitar indie, with its booming bass and electro buzz.

However, tracks such as, ‘Let It Go’ show this is not a one-genre album, with lethargic indie guitars and organic drums. Selway drifts into emotional territory with violins and twinkling snippets on, ‘Drawn To The Light’ and finishes with optimistic chimes and strings on ‘Turn It Inside Out’.

ivu is virtually unknown, but we predict huge things for this guy (check out our Next Big Music Alert! page), especially as this indie offering was produced by Charlie Andrew who worked on the Mercury-Award-winning Alt-J’s 'An Awesome Wave'. Whilst their music styles are completely different, with any luck, this album will receive a similar amount of critical acclaim.

Tracks such as ‘Can’t Stop’ have an uplifting charm with building guitars and Sivu’s quirky pop vocals. In contrast, ‘Sleep’ towards the end of the album, is a gentle Britpop song that becomes bigger and louder, whilst still managing to remain optimistically light with the odd twinkly sound here and there. His sound is simple, but Sivu’s sunny personality beautifully shines through.

If this album was a place it would be…

A dark, but enchanted forest 3 word summary: Emotional, lethargic, indie.

Rating:

If this album was a place it would be…

The sunny seaside 3 word summary: Optimistic, quirky, indie.

Rating:

aylor Swift leaves her country sound behind with this new album named after the year of her birth. We absolutely love the 80s-inspired pop and we can’t stop dancing to first single, 'Shake It Off', which sets the fun-lovin’ tone for the whole album. Girls, get on those dancing shoes at the ready!

>> Next month, we review Foo Fighters, Rihanna and more!

62

Robyn

READ UP!

Hey, bookworms! Here’s our favourite page-turner of the month that’s sure to take your breath away...

A

s much as we would have loved to while away an afternoon sifting through candidates for the next best read to share with you book-crazy lot, we sort of had no option but to step down, what with having the queen of books in our midst (turn back to page 34 to read Ivey’s amazing story).

The lovely Ivey Byrd kindly took some time out from, y’know, reading nearly 2,000 books, and is kick-starting our monthly book review with an absolute corker of a read that even the bookworms at Robyn HQ hadn’t heard about.

Pfft, it would be the queen of books who shows us all up…

A

nnie is a typical sport-hating high school student. But when her boyfriend, Kyle, dies in an accident, she can’t escape the niggling guilt that if she hadn’t broken up with him, perhaps the accident would have never happened. Perhaps he would still be alive.

So to honour his memory, Annie deicdes to train for the marathon Kyle intended to race before he died.

Training for the marathon is tougher than Annie had ever imagined, and not just physically. Soon it’s not just her love for Kyle that keeps her running, but the encouragement and attention of the charismatic and athletic Jeremiah, And the further Annie runs, the harder it becomes for her to know whose arms she really wants to run into…

Psst!

Queen of the books Ivey says if you love Breathe, Annie, Breathe, you’ll LOVE these great reads too!

the catastrophic history of you and me Jess rothenberg

Brie dies of a broken heart at the age of 16.

But her journey isn’t over when she returns to Earth to heal her heartache amongst the living...

ANNA and the french kiss stephanie perkins

Anna is shipped off to boarding school away from a budding romance. But will the bright lights of Paris bring what she is longing for ... a french kiss?

Read her reviews of all her favourite reads on her blog at thehopelessreader. blogspot.co.uk!

Love Ivey’s AMAZ ING taste in books? !

The story...

Ivey says..

Miranda Kenneally’s books always have relatable characters, engaging story lines, swoon-worthy romances, and deeper meaning, and Breathe, Annie, Breathe is no exception.

I love how Kenneally brings Annie to life. I could practically feel her pain and determination throughout the whole story. Not only is this book about finding love again, but also about working through grief, which makes this book that much better. There wasn’t a part of it that I didn’t love. Breathe, Annie, Breathe is definitely a favourite of mine.

I usually read young adult books, but what drew me to Breathe, Annie, Breathe in particular was the storyline. Even reading the synopsis, I could tell that this book would be an emotional yet inspiring read, and I am a sucker for those types of books.

better off friends elizabeth eulberg

Playing With The Boys Liz Tigelaar

Can guys and girls be just friends? Or are they always destined to wonder, what if they tried to be more than that?

For Macallan and Levi, it’s the burning question.

New girl Lucy is desperate to make friends. But when she develops a surprising passion for football, the whole world seems to be against her ever fitting in.

63

Robyn Tips Robyn

, wire in place. I plugged the fairy lights in and my canopy was complete.

I used to hate my little room because I couldn’t move my furniture around or fit much in it. The fairy light canopy is really simple, but it’s made my room look far more cosy and interesting. Lying on my bed and looking up at the twinkly lights chills me out and my friends say it reminds them of a den. I used to prefer going to my friends houses, but we love hanging out in my room now. thought it would be nice to use fairy I think it’s important for teenage girls to lights to make something new and decorate their rooms because your room that's when I got the idea to create a should be somewhere you like to hang out, bed canopy out of fairy lights. My dad that expresses who you are. I’m an arty, was supportive and after a little dreamy person and I think the convincing, let me use the lights show that. I also love lights we usually put on the posters of rock stars such as “I’ve created a Christmas tree.

David Bowie, pictures I’ve I have a small room so personal space doodled and taking photos of the head of my bed is against to escape my friends, so I stick these on one wall and the foot of everyday teenage my walls too. the bed is against another.

I guess there aren’t many stresses.”

This used to annoy me, but it teenagers my age into old rock turned out to be an advantage. music, but then I think quite a few I created a rectangle out of the fairy teenagers are afraid to let the world know lights by attaching the plastic covered wire to what they like. Having a place to decorate any each wall with tacks, making sure not to pin way I want, without fear of being criticised, through the wire. has been a great way to boost my confidence.

I started at the foot of the bed where the The canopy and pictures make me feel like plug socket is. I pinned the tacks half way in, I’ve created a personal space to escape from balanced the wire on top of the points, then pushed the tacks in all the way to hold the everyday teenage stresses R

I

Your room is your space to express yourself and reflects who you are. Here's how Heather WrightPurcell, 15, from Sheffield put her personality into her room without any major DIY.

Get the room you want! Struggling for inspiration? Go to the www.robynmagazine.co.uk for our top tips on how to decorate your room your way!

When rooms go wrong!

Sarah Lewis, 22, from Nottingham explains what NOT to do when your parents disagree with your décor choices...

When I was a 15-year-old Goth, it was made clear that my choice of “black with stars on the ceiling” was not a bedroom décor option, whilst my parents’ suggestions of “cream or magnolia” weren’t my bag either.

“Fine!” I snapped sarcastically after our hundredth argument, “Bright, baby pink for the blinds and lovely lilac for the walls.”

“Oh great!” said my parents, happy they wouldn’t have to do 20 re-coats when I finally left home.

So, Barbie pink blinds and girly lilac walls it was. Of course, my decision was meant to be ironic, but now I was stuck with the colours I most despised.

I plastered the walls with posters of Kurt Cobain and swirling gothic trees, to cover it, but friends’ surprised utterances of, “Very... pink” cut me to my core.

At 17, I decided enough was enough.

I waited for my parents to go out for the day and used brown fabric paint to cover the blinds and teal paint to cover the walls. I somehow made a decent job of it and after my parents’ initial anger that I’d “disrespected their authority”, they agreed it did look better, and said they never understood why I’d gone for pink and lilac anyway!

Sarah then and now

65

£1.99 + 6 ISSUES FOR JUST

EACH

(NORMAL PRICE £2.99)

A FREE simple GIFT set!

ROBYN

Robynon the move!

Buy a subscription to Robyn and get the digital addition absolutely free!

Or buy the tablet addition priced £1 per issue.

CHEC THE K OUT ROBYFREE CREA N T APP! ES

.hO M rl st new gi e t t o e Th eal all band rev

Download it now on these devices!

Subscription hotline: 08701241080 www.greatmagazines.co.uk/west

Robyn

Cool chicks in your lessons...

W

e know school can be a bit of a snooze, but some of the ladies you’re learning about were actually pretty sorted. Here are some of our faves and why you should listen out for them…

Joan of Arc 1412-1431 Born to a peasant family, Joan led an army in the Hundred Year War after she claimed she had visions telling her to do so. She was tried for treason and hanged, but 25 years later she was found innocent. She’s now officially a Saint.

Mary Seacole 1805-1881 Mary learned about medicine living in the Carribbean, but when she applied for medical office in the Crimean War she was refused. Not one to take that lying down, she travelled on her own to help out wounded soldiers.

Fun fact Mary did similar work to Florence Nightingale in the Crimean War, but was forgotten in the 20th Century because she was black. In the last few decades though, she’s had tons of awards dedicated to her.

fun fact She was burnt at the stake three times, so that her executers could make sure she was actually dead. Seems a bit excessive to us!

Cleopatra 69BC - 30BC Cleopatra was the last Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. She was famously formidable and, as your Gran might say, a bit of a goer! After her troops lost the Battle of Actium, she and her husband, Mark Antony, both committed suicide.

Fun fact Scholars say Cleo wasn’t actually beautiful, and she’s considered a sex symbol because she was clever and charming. Early proof that beauty isn’t only skin deep if ever we heard it.

Mary queen of scots 1542-1587 As the only surviving heir, Mary took to the English throne when she was six days old!

As an adult, her first husband was murdered, and Mary married the man suspected of killing him! There was an uprising against the two of them, and they were imprisoned. She fled, but was caught and held hostage by her cousin Queen Elizabeth I for 19 years. She was found guilty of plotting to kill Elizabeth, and was executed.

Fun fact On the day of her execution, Mary threw off her customary black cloak and white veil combo to reveal a bright red dress underneath. Sassy to the very end!

Boudaccia ?-60AD Welsh queen Boudaccia led the British Iceni tribe with her husband Prasutagus, but when he died, their kingdom was conquered and Boudaccia and her daughters were attacked and forced to flee. We know, totally Game of Thrones material.

Fun fact(ish) According to myth, Boudiccia is buried under King’s Cross railway station in London. Apparently, between platforms 9 and 10 (under platform 9 and 3/4 probably coincidence? We think not!)

Marie Antoinette 1755-1793 The Austrian princesscum-French Queen was popular at first, but the people of France ended up disliking her because they thought she was promiscuous and spent too much money. During the French Revolution, she was executed just months after her husband.

fun fact Choupette cocktail glasses are said to be designed to be the same shape as M.A’s boobs! Raunchy!

HAVE WE MISSED ONE?!

Drop us a tweet if you think we’ve missed out an awesome leading lady in history! @Robyn_magazine 69