Pink (April 2018) by Times of Malta

issue162∫ april2018

KEIRA KNIGHTLEY ON THE COCO MADEMOISELLE CHARACTER AND THE “NAUGHTY” AD CAMPAIGN

Celebrating 20 years of Malta Fashion Awards From scepticism and nothin to showcase… to success

Ira Losco in the driving seat THE VERDICT: “A HEAD-TURNER”

STREET-STYLE STALKING BRINGING YOU THE BEST TAKES ON THE CATWALK TRENDS

INSIDE

April 2018 FEATURES

16 PrivateEye he lives on Keeping a business legacy alive 22 LifeStyle three green goddesses Fighting for a better Malta 28 EyeWitness heroes in our midst The vocation driving the teaching profession

FASHION 40 ShowStopper spring is in the air It’s time to blossom 50 TheUniform fashion on demand Inspirational street style from the fashion capitals 55 FashionStory and the award goes to… Malta Fashion Awards are 20 years old

HEALTH & BEAUTY 60 BeautyParlour a lesson in seduction Mademoiselle Keira Knightley and Coco’s message for women 65 PinkShrink an inevitable turmoil? Adolescence isn’t such a struggle

REGULARS 9 EditorsNote 10 MailShot 35 WomanKind the modern medieval woman Margaret Beaufort 37 ThinkPink fashion 68 TableTalk the art in artichokes Artichokes with celery and tofu 70 WomenOnWheels love… at first sight BMW X2 M Sport 73 SnapShot notes on female empowerment Leona Farrugia

COVER Photography Matthew B. Spiteri ∫ Artistic direction Adrian J. Mizzi ∫ Hair Chris Galea @ Michael & Guy ∫ Make-Up Elaine Galea @ Unique Fashion Studios ∫ Model Claire Ciantar @ Supernova MM, wearing designer Rosemarie Abela. The photo is the campaign image for Malta Fashion Week & Awards.

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EDITORSNOTE

It’s not just the fact that almost every other building has that ominous piece of paper, protected in a plastic sleeve, stuck to it these days, and that you find yourself stopping the car time and again, reversing and manoeuvring to check out the destiny – the death sentence – of yet another property. It’s not just the fact that you can count five cranes from the road below Selmun – a sleepy little hamlet, if ever there was one – and an equal amount looming on the horizon as you approach what was once the village of Mgarr. It’s not just the heritage that is lost by the day, and that while most seem to be against this, nothing would appear to come out of their anger and disgust. It’s not just the breaking of… Hold on, are there even any laws to enforce and infringe anymore? It’s also the spill-over from the actual construction works – beyond the dust and noise, danger and degradation – which means too many heavy vehicles, totally unfit

for Malta’s roads, clog the streets, bullying their way through, wiping out anything in their way and driving recklessly to boot. Once upon a time, we would complain about the annoyance the construction work underway next door was causing; but today, it is so rampant that its ripple effect chases us everywhere like a tsunami at our tail. The traﬃc situation is bad enough as it is, but so many monster machines on the roads are really exacerbating the problem, either driving too slowly while spilling debris in their wake [and into your nostrils] or moving at such high speeds and out of control that a collision with something both so heavy and so fast would spell disaster. The ‘kings’ of the road sit up high, aware they are powering mighty trucks that would be unaffected by anything beneath them. The way they are driven is testimony to that. The ‘cowboy’ attitude is no longer conﬁned to the ‘crime site’ and that sense of world dominion knows no boundaries. Just take a look at the only-inMalta photo accompanying this editorial. Yes, it’s exactly what you see: a main thoroughfare completely blocked by a bus that won’t stick to its lane, but worse still [because we are now accustomed to the latter], by a heavy vehicle and its obnoxious driver, who plonked it in the middle of the road for longer than I care to recall. And the worst is when you end up in a war-zone street like Mrabat

– one of the ugliest on the island, narrow as hell, claustrophobic even, and yet attracting the construction magnates to tear down and redevelop one dreadful building after another and make sure the result is even worse. Negotiating a street of the sort is nothing short of frightful as works encroach and eat into it, while heavy vehicles brush both sides of a twolane road and you are, somehow, expected to scrape through and keep the traffic flowing. Driving through these areas is a constant reminder of the farreaching effects of the construction industry’s voracious tentacles, or better still, the venomous snakes that bring to mind Greek mythology’s Medusa. Gazers upon her face would turn to stone. Some things never change… as everything is being petrified [in more ways than one]. Or maybe they could one day… if the story of Three Green Goddesses in LifeStyle on page 22 is anything to go by. The article singles out their environmental projects, picks their brains for ways in which everyone can make a difference, and gives them five fantasy minutes with the Prime Minister [his ears must be burning]. ‘Be the change you want to see’ sounds like a glib slogan, but movements really do start with individuals. These women have some simple tips that can help to preserve scarce resources, to start off with, and make us part of the solution that seems so elusive right now.

April 8, 2018 ∫ Pink is a monthly magazine ∫ Issue 162 ∫ Executive editor Fiona Galea Debono ∫ Publisher Allied Newspapers Ltd ∫ Printing Progress Press Ltd ∫ Production Allied Newspapers Ltd ∫ Contributors Dominic Bartolo, Maria Cachia, Edward Curmi, Iggy Fenech, Mary Galea Debono, Elaine Galea, Marisa Grima, Ira Losco, Caroline Paris, Helen Raine, Lara Sierra, Antoinette Sinnas ∫ Design Manuel Schembri ∫ Photography Jonathan Borg, Marvin Grech, Matthew Mirabelli, Kurt Paris, Chris Sant Fournier, Mark Zammit Cordina ∫ Advertising sales Veronica Grech Sant [2276 4333; veronica.grechsant@timesofmalta.com].

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Pink April 2018 ∫ 9

MAILShO

THINKPı Luxur

THE LETTER THAT TICKLED Pı

SPARKING AN INTEREST I particularly enjoyed reading the latest issue of Pink since seeing the name Gigi Hadid is reason enough to spark an interest in me. As I flicked through the pages to get to Gigi’s interview [Living Inspired, FashionStory, March 2018], I was pleasantly surprised to find various write-ups related to psychology, which I am so passionate about, and with particular reference to the Support after Crime article [InFocus, March 2018]. Gigi’s interview proved to be well worth the read as I love her new capsule collection in collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger and the originality of the look, and I also enjoyed reading about the inspiration behind the style. Finally, the Feeling at Home review [WomenOnWheels, March 2018] was a bonus to me since I am in the process of buying a new car. Thank you for providing such interesting pieces.

2 3

RACHEL GAUCI, VIA E-MAIL

The writer of the letter of the month wins a Modern Princess Lanvin eau de parfum; a pedicure; PLUS a selection of Diego Dalla Palma make-up products, all from Chemimart.

wrıte ı AND WIN

Armani exchange has opened its doors for the ﬁrst time in Malta – replacing Armani Jeans at the Point and Bay Street. this news comes as a result of Giorgio Armani’s initiative to restructure brands under the Armani fashion house. the designer will cease the Armani Collezioni and Armani Jeans brands, and is streamlining the group’s distribution of the Giorgio Armani, emporio Armani and Armani exchange labels.

2. TRIBUTE TO A GREAT WATCHMAKING LEGACY Breitling, famous for its chronographs and its strong link to aviation, has just launched a new pilot’s watch collection: the Navitimer 8. Georges Kern, Breitling’s CeO, is particularly excited about the new product line. “with the Navitimer 8,” he says, “we are honouring not only our rich heritage, but also our pioneering role in building chronographic instruments. while it pays tribute to our past, it also … opens the door to a very exciting future.” Breitling watches are exclusively represented by edwards, Lowell Co. Ltd and are available in Zachary Street, Valletta, and Spinola Bay, St Julian’s. Call on 2138 4503; or send an e-mail to info@elcol.com; www.elcol.com

we want to hear from you. Send us your feedback on Pink and any stories that may have touched you in some way, and you stand a chance of winning a Jimmy Choo eau de parfum; a manicure; PLuS a selection of Diego Dalla Palma make-up products, all from Chemimart. write to Pink, with your contact details, at Allied Newspapers Limited, triq l-ıntornjatur, Mrieћel, BKr 3000, or send an e-mail to pink@timesofmalta.com Correspondence may be edited for length and clarity. If prizes are not claimed within two months, they will no longer be available.

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1. FROM A TO X

3. PERFECTION Serafino Consoli products are the outcome of over 10 years of experimentation, tests and research, which resulted in the perfection that the brand’s products are renowned for. the inventors of the first unique multi-size Brevetto jewels, manufactured using complex technology, they contain thousands of welding spots and more than 100 components that allow the jewel to transform from rings to bracelets, including multi-size rings, pendants and earrings that change shape with a simple touch. Serafino Consoli products are exclusively available from edwards, Lowell Co. Ltd. Call on 2138 4503; or send an e-mail to info@elcol.com; www.elcol.com

4. NEW PRICES YOU’LL LOVE we all know how stressful it can be to wait for a new car to arrive. with the busy lives we lead today, it can be an impossible task to deal with. So, why not opt for a stock car. You’ll deﬁnitely beneﬁt from peace of mind and a hassle-free process, while also enjoying a great discount on a brand-new renault! renault Megane Dynamique Nav is discounted from €21,600 to €19,600; renault Kadjar Dynamique Nav is discounted from €24,700 to €22,000; renault Clio expression is discounted from €14,000 to €13,000; renault Scenic expression is discounted from €25,500 to €23,000. Special offers are valid until stock lasts and are only available on stock models.

PRIVATEEYE Tasha Micallef takes over while her mother Pat takes a back seat and her founding father Frank watches over from above.

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PRIVATEEYE

HE LIVES ON

LARA SIERRA talks to two business owners about what it takes to keep a legacy alive after tragedy. Adaptability may be the key to their success, but it’s also about keeping that missing parent’s work and memory going strong.

CUT, COPY AND CARRY ON Frank Micallef set up Mr Scissors hair salon in 1977, and it was popular from the start. His family never expected to take over the business in the way they did. “Once we knew Frank wasn’t going to make it,” says his wife, Pat Micallef, “I told him I would take over the business, but he insisted I stay at my regular job. I just had to keep it going. Of course, I would. I wanted him to live on.” Frank started hairdressing aged 14, after the death of his own father. He lived right opposite his future wife’s house, although to say they grew up together wouldn’t be entirely accurate; there was a 14-year age gap. Pat is sitting with her son Dean and her younger daughter Tasha in their newly refurbished salon. Exposed beams and

a white and grey colour scheme make for a modern yet invitingly warm ambience. The photos of Frank on the wall are evidence of a family history. The vivacious Pat relates stories of her and her husband’s relationship in the early stages, while her children, rolling their eyes to each other, still lap up every word she has to say. “I always had this thing about hairdressing,” she explains, “so I started hanging out at Frank’s salon when I was 16, sitting in my school uniform and watching what was going on. “It was a funny situation. It was shocking for my mother when she saw we were together. ‘Not Frank of all people,’ she said. He used to chat with her about all the women he’d met, and of course, she thought: ‘Not my daughter now!’ Fortunately, I stuck to my guns and I said: ‘Ma, I love the guy. I want to be with him.’ It was a tough case and it didn’t Pink April 2018 ∫ 17

PRIVATEEYE happen straightaway. If it were my daughter, I’d have killed him. But they just adored him once they came around. “We kept our relationship quiet at the salon until we were married… I just sat there and watched for ﬁve years until, one ﬁne day, he told me to cut his hair. I was very nervous… “I started helping out more and more until, one day, in 1982, he went away for the weekend. While he was gone, I had the salon redecorated, and when his clients came in, I didn’t turn them away. When he came back, I handed over what I’d earned, and from then on, it just worked.” Married in 1984, Dean came along two years later, and Tasha arrived three years after that, and life carried on, with days turning into months and months into years, as they “juggled and shared the salon … and raised the kids”. And then suddenly, crash!

“I SURVIVED. I SURVIVED SCHOOLING THE KIDS, CARRYING ON THE BUSINESS. NOW, FINALLY, I CAN START HANDING IT OVER TO MY DAUGHTER” “In July of 1997, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. By December, he was gone. The doctor said it was going to be a fast one. They said they’d try. We flew to the UK for treatment and the doctor there tried to be positive for my sake; they sent us back with hope. Frank was given aggressive treatment in Malta instead. When usually you are given a three-week gap between chemotherapy, he had three weeks of constant chemo with only a weekend gap. “One day, sitting in hospital, he told me: ‘This is the life; just sitting here with your wife looking after you.’ I replied: ‘Is this what it takes? Someone to get sick?’ I said the salon should live on. But he hated the idea; he said I had a good job with a regular wage, and that I should keep it going. “But I learnt then that if you have to do something in life, just go ahead and do it. The minute he passed away, I said: ‘That’s it, I’m taking over the business!’ I believed so much in what he had created. “I survived. I survived schooling the kids, carrying on the business. Now, finally, I can start handing it over to my daughter.” Mr Scissors grew and flourished as it strengthened to become the backbone of their family, providing them with a legacy after Frank’s death, which is now being passed through the generations. Dean, now 31, became an accountant. “It was always in me. When you’re responsible, you tend to take on financial matters and I’m obsessed with time management. I am very 18 ∫ Pink April 2018

focused on life being short. It’s all borrowed time, so let’s make sure we make the most of it,” he says. “From 11, when my father died, I became very focused and knew exactly what I wanted to do in life. I was focused on my career. I always loved school, unlike the troublemaker that my sister was. My immediate goal was to be independent as soon as possible, so that I could relieve the pressure off my mother,” he continues. Many people who walked through the door of the salon took on the role of father figure and gave him advice. “One of them drove me home from football practice and guided me through making the decision about whether to become an architect, or an accountant. Another offered me my first job after college, which was a fantastic opportunity. I have now opened my own financial advisory company. “About a year ago, I gave my sister a sort of business 101, because I could see how passionate she was about hairdressing, and when someone has that passion, you know their business is going to work. It’s simple,” Dean, a father figure in his own right, says.

PRIVATEEYE

“IF MY MUM DID WHAT SHE DID, THEN WE CAN DO ANYTHING. MY MUM IS MY HERO. SHE NEVER BREAKS DOWN” Tasha, Pat and Dean Micallef.

Pat cuts in: “That was his father’s doing too. I picked Frank up one day from hospital and he insisted on driving. The chemo gives you a lot of imbalance and he had just had a minor stroke. He was like a drunk person and kept swerving into the pavement; he had no coordination. “When he finally stopped to let me take over, he turned to my son and said: ‘OK Dean, you’re in charge. You take care of the family now.’ I broke down. I said: ‘No, you can’t give him this responsibility from such a young age; it’s not fair. He’s too young for all that.’ But Dean took it all on, full on,” she says in tears for the first time in the conversation. “I don’t think I had time to grieve. In a sense, I alienated myself. I was juggling things, trying to regain the trust of the clientele, while at the same time getting calls from the school asking me to pick my daughter up. You know what it’s like; you want to give everything to your clients, but you’ve got to be at the school in five minutes. I said to the headmaster: ‘Don’t call unless she’s dying. Do you have children? Do you know how hard this is?’

“Slowly, I built the business up. I was getting out there, promoting myself and his most faithful and esteemed clients kept coming, I’m very proud to say. A lot of them were businessmen, who would give me advice, and we had a lot of emotional support. When people would come to sell products, I would keep myself updated and I got involved with a company too. I’m not the sort to just sit around. I learnt a lot more through all this exposure. “My plan was for Tasha to slowly start taking over the business was she turned 16. But when that time came, I was hit with another bang.” She was pregnant! “I had Isaac aged 16,” Tasha begins her side of the story. “I was with the guy and he left me when I was seven months pregnant, but it only made me stronger. “If my mum did what she did, then we can do anything. My mum is my hero. She never breaks down. I started being given part-time work when my employers found out I was pregnant. Mum looked after me a lot and I did hairdressing on the side until a month before giving birth. “Like my parents, hairdressing was always in me; I was always cutting my dolls’ hair. When my son grew older, I decided to start hairdressing again, But I didn’t want to take over, and mummy and I didn’t always work so well together. A contact through this salon got me work at another… “I met my boyfriend, who, after all the tough times and stupid men, is an angel. He brought me back to my senses. I was always a troublemaker; my father’s loss really affected me. His loss made me insecure, so I did stupid things. So really, my boyfriend is replacing my father and I have such love and respect for him. My mind is completely settled now, and I thank him a lot for that, along with my mother and my brother,” Tasha admits. “I got back my conﬁdence and gave my notice, so that in January, I could reopen this salon. I have learnt that you’re never going to be 100 per cent ready, so you’ve just got to go for it. Now I’m here at the salon and I’ve never been so happy. On New Year’s Eve we closed, and in four days, we did everything thanks to my boyfriend, who does ﬁnishing works. “A day before we opened, the carpenter came and everything was just there in a corner. I was panicking. From 9am to 6pm, we were cleaning and getting organised. I closed the door at 6pm, sat on the stairs and thought of my father opening the salon in 1977. Twenty years later, in 1997, he died, and the salon was passed on to me 20 years after that in 2017… I just said: ‘Thank you daddy, for all of this’.” Today, Pat and Tasha are a cutting-edge duo, snipping and styling and offering cups of tea to their clients. “The moment I walk out of the salon,” Pat says, “even if I’ve only earned €10 that day, I say thank you to Frank. It’s thanks to him. Because he built it and he has always provided. About eight years ago, I was given a gift to revamp the salon with an unlimited budget. It was a gift to my husband for the future of the kids from one of his very good friends and clients. So, yes, Frank’s always been there. I’m very grateful.” Pink April 2018 ∫ 19

PRIVATEEYE

“I WAS THE YOUNGEST PERSON IN THE BUSINESS, SO THERE WERE SENSITIVE ISSUES WHEN DEALING WITH HIGH-LEVEL PEOPLE. IT WAS NOT EASY FOR THEM TO LET GO AND LET SOMEONE SO YOUNG MANAGE THINGS” 2006 that I really started to take full control; when I had enough experience,” Geoffrey says. Talking through an impressive business strategy, the passion he displays for the company’s new ventures – including some new driving opportunities never before seen in Malta by the end of 2018 – is unique. Geoffrey Debono holds the reins. In fact, one of the main attributes he has inherited is his father’s passion. “The way I continue my father’s legacy is through respecting Driven to keep GoinG the customer-service experience as time goes by. I am also The story of Michael Debono Ltd runs through much more committed to developing the business with forward-thinking condensed time. Michael Debono and his son, Philip, died approaches to technology,” Geoffrey adds. barely three years apart, leaving two teenage boys with a large “I have respect for other people and determination. Above business and the weight of the world on their shoulders. all, though, I have inherited his willingness to adapt and The late Philip’s wife, Therese, made the decision to run the change. I am very grateful to him.” business while seeing her sons through university. Struggling, however, a general manager was brought in from the UK to keep the ship afloat. “This GM ran the business for three-and-a-half years until I was ready to join,” Geoffrey Debono explains in his businesslike tone. Articulate, polite and decisive, he does not breach much The psychology behind highly successful business people below the surface about the family tragedy that led him to makes for quite shocking reading. It seems that out of become one of Malta’s big business successes. the world’s highest achievers, an unusually high “This company has been representing Toyota since 1960, and proportion lost a parent during their childhood. Let’s take it was always popular,” he explains. “My father ran the business country leaders, for example: 67 per cent of British prime until 2002, when I was 18 and about to start university.” ministers between 1800 and 1935 lost a parent before While he was at school, Geoffrey had occasionally sold cars the age of 16, and over a third of American presidents and worked with the different teams, but coming in, aged 21, did too, Washington, Clinton and Obama included. was a steep learning curve. Nevertheless, he not only stepped It is no secret that a traumatic childhood leads to in, but also stepped on the gas to keep things going. countless socio-economic difficulties in adulthood. But “The GM and I worked together for two years, with me like in the book, David and Goliath: Underdogs Misfits and a sponge, working as hard as I could to learn every single thing the Art of Battling Giants, researcher Malcolm Gladwell possible from him. explains that, with the love and support of the remaining “He taught me how to deal with people; for example, how family members, a child is likely to learn grit, to present my case to others and how to negotiate prices. I was determination and fearlessness. the youngest person in the business, so there were sensitive These children also have an unusually high sense of issues when dealing with high-level people. It was not easy for responsibility; having felt responsible for their remaining them to let go and let someone so young manage things. family members at a young age, they are more than “The questions were always: ‘Why do you want to do it differcapable to take on a large amount of responsibility in ently?’ I had to learn quickly to be convincing and persistent. the workplace. “My mother began to step back slowly and gradually when I came in and as I gained more experience. It was about

LOSS, LOVE AND LIFE AFTER

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LIFESTYLE Clockwise from left: Susan Vassallo, Ghislaine Calleja and Annika Gollcher at Msida Bastion, Garden of Rest, entrusted to and managed by Din L-Art Helwa.

a nation, the Maltese are fat [very fat], pickled in pesticides and mostly blind to the annihilation of nature in these ancient islands. But you knew that already… What you might not be aware of [yet] is that the counter-attack is diversifying. These Green Goddesses are intent on dragging the potatoes off the couch and having them plant spuds and trees instead.

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GODDESS OF SUSTAINABILITY Annika Gollcher’s passion for the environment grew after she worked with rural women in India and on organic farms in Australia; she began to see the importance of sustainable living. She now works for SOS Malta on the Resilient Communities project, which aims to develop viable community action plans – the pilot project is

focused on Gzira and Mellieha. Their #whatroledoyouplay? campaign will highlight how everyone can contribute to improving the place they live in. The work ties into United Nation Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs]. “The project gives special emphasis to the role businesses can play. Being the drivers of economic growth puts them in a unique position to effect positive change, but this requires a

LIFESTYLE

THREE GREEN GODDESSES HELEN RAINE talks to three women who have joined the ranks of soldiers fighting for a better Malta. She asks them about their projects, gives them five fantasy minutes with the Prime Minister [his ears must be burning] and picks their brains for ways in which the everywoman can make a difference. Here are the results.

transformation – one which sees businesses integrate social and environmental approaches into their business models,” Annika says. It’s not just about the environment either. The campaign is themed upon the 5 Ps of people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership. Annika thinks Malta is changing, but not fast enough to save green spaces. “Malta is prospering, but at what

expense? More focus needs to be given to education, and we need to foster a greater sense of community by involving people … [in] safeguarding this precious island.” The nature of Maltese politics plays a huge part in the wholesale environmental destruction that is going on. “What ultimately needs to change is the deeprooted, age-old tribalism,” she continues. When given a fantasy five minutes with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Annika gets pretty excited. “I would ask him to look beyond economic prosperity for a minute and see how this has affected Malta’s social demographic [with] … homelessness and increasingly marginalised groups. Then there is what we can see with our very eyes – the uglification of the island; the uprooting of trees; the exploitation of boreholes. I take pride in calling this unique place home, with so much history, culture, tradition and natural beauty. But … we continue to ravage the islands with senseless decisions characterised by … feeding the hands of a few, while the rest of us have to lump it. If we are to be a resilient nation, we need to consider the environmental and social implications of our economic choices.” When a green life gets too stressful, Annika escapes by “taking to the peace and quiet of the outdoors, be it lying in the grass, or swimming in the sea. I love to listen to birds sing, or the quiet, as I breathe in fresh air.” And that’s why she’s fighting – to make sure that these spaces exist for the next generation.

GODDESS OF GARDENS Susan Vassallo also works for SOS Malta on the Crop in a Pot initiative, which, in a nutshell, is about “building skills for sustainability and resilience”. The plan is to set up an Urban Garden Exhibition at SOS, displaying different ways to grow produce in an urban setting. The project’s main objective is to help foster social, environmental and economic sustainability by providing groups with skills to grow some of their own food within the space available to them. “Fifty beneﬁciaries will be provided with the means and knowledge to introduce low-cost methods of growing food at home,” explains Susan. That will include workshops, visits to local organic farms, or urban gardens, and a chance for some hands-on learning about sustainable and organic agriculture. The idea is to increase participants’ health and well-being, and contribute to green spaces in urban Malta. Susan notes that Malta has one of the largest obesity problems in Europe and that more than ﬁve per cent of Maltese-grown vegetables have illegally high levels of pesticide in them. “Crop in a Pot aims to tackle these challenges.” Susan rails against apathy: “There seems to be a general indifference to environmental issues in Malta. Considering the rate at which our green spaces are being eaten away, one would expect people to show more concern. Maybe the link between a healthy Pink April 2018 ∫ 23

LIFESTYLE

“UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE FACED WITH A SITUATION WHERE THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN CONVINCED THAT AS LONG AS THE ECONOMY IS DOING WELL, AND THEY HAVE MORE PENNIES IN THEIR POCKETS, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS. IN THE MEANTIME, OUR COUNTRYSIDE IS DIMINISHING AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS” environment and healthy living isn’t being made. These ideas need to be taught to schoolchildren.” And she doesn’t need the full ﬁve minutes with Joseph Muscat – her message is succinct. “Please take a good look at what is going on around us,” she implores. The cooler weather has had Susan “overdosing on dark chocolate and the gym”, but she continues, “hopefully, very soon, I will be lying ﬂat on my back, occupying mind space on my favourite beach” – presuming no one has built a dirty great hotel on it of course…

GODDESS OF THE ENVIRONMENT Ghislaine Calleja’s passion for the environment was fostered in Denmark, where she studied for an MSc in food health, with a focus on education and sustainability. 24 ∫ Pink April 2018

A founder member of Zibel, a community clean-up organisation, she now works for Din L-Art Helwa as their campaign officer, mobilising the public [and especially the younger generation] to “stand up for Malta and fight over the rampant loss of the island’s natural environment due to unsustainable overdevelopment. “We have these complex laws and policies that are meant to safeguard the environment, but they are … dragging out the process and creating loopholes, allowing people to get away with the murder of our heritage. There is virtually no implementation and enforcement. We do not understand what the term ‘sustainability’ is – it is just a buzzword to most people. If we look at the current development in the ODZ land, it is definitely not sustainable,” Ghislaine says.

“Unfortunately, we are faced with a situation where the public has been convinced that as long as the economy is doing well, and they have more pennies in their pockets, nothing else matters. In the meantime, our countryside is diminishing at the expense of our future generations. Citizens [have become] … short-sighted and too interested in materialistic things, which is really sad, seeing as this is not who we traditionally were.” Like Annika, the ‘fantasy Muscat minutes’ involve quite an ear-bashing. “Do you spend any time at all outdoors?” she asks. “I ﬁrmly believe that most people in power aren’t actually … outdoors during their free time, or they are simply blind!” She wants answers from the Prime Minister. “What is your waste master plan, now that we have a conﬁrmed incinerator plant being developed? What was the issue with

LIFESTYLE them to get up and act!” That means volunteering. “I had never done any voluntary work before I moved to Denmark. It feels phenomenal when you choose a cause you care about and dedicate time to it without receiving any monetary reward”. If everyone who cared pitched in, Ghislaine says, “we could turn the adversity into victory, be real patriots and teach our children to take pride in our natural environment and heritage. This is the greatest gift one can give to Malta”. Destressing means exercise for her. “I generally hop on to my bicycle and off-road towards the north-west – an area that is still not very urbanised. When I get too hot, I stop somewhere and immerse myself into the Mediterranean Sea. This helps me reaﬃrm my conviction that our natural environment is indeed worth saving! When stress and anxiety really hit the roof … I go abroad.” It’s a sad indictment that Maltese citizens are now forced to leave the country in order to plunge into the tranquillity of nature.

GODDESS TIPS

“IT’S A SAD INDICTMENT THAT MALTESE CITIZENS ARE NOW FORCED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY IN ORDER TO PLUNGE INTO THE TRANQUILLITY OF NATURE” Marco Cremona’s hydrology project? Malta really needs to act fast on the water scarcity issue.” Some of her questions expose the dubious nature of environmental ‘protection’ in Malta. “How are we the ﬁrst country to certify a white ﬂag beach, which is completely litter-free, when we don’t have marine debris rangers?” she asks.

“Just cycling to work today [all of 10km], I spotted nine cars with excessive exhaust emissions. Can we have a rigorous VRT system, and a functioning tool in place that actually allows us to report those breaking the law?” Ghislaine needs people to join her. “There are a lot people complaining on social media, however, it is extremely challenging to mobilise people; for

‘Be the change you want to see’ sounds like a glib slogan, but movements really do start with individuals. These women have some simple tips that will help to preserve scarce resources and make us part of the solution. • Volunteer for a cause that resonates and stand up against the destruction of our environment and cultural heritage. We need green spaces with trees and vegetation to serve as Malta’s lungs. • Stop buying products packaged in single-use plastic; most of the time, these are processed and unhealthy anyway. • If there is a choice, opt for a glass bottle [then recycle it]. • Save water; keep a bucket in the shower and ﬁll it while you are waiting for the water to warm, than use this water to ﬂush the toilet, or water your plants. • Think more of the repercussions of what we eat, what we buy, what we throw away, and who we vote for! Pink April 2018 ∫ 25

EYEWITNESS Tanya Farrugia teaches hospitalised children. “Little princess” Aeryn was one of her students.

HEROES IN OUR MIDST ANTOINETTE SINNAS was completely unaware that a hospital-based educational service existed for children in the paediatric wards until her daughter’s stint there some months ago. Since then, she has met other inspirational teachers, working in more run-of-the-mill set-ups, but dealing with a broad spectrum of students and having different stories to tell. All are united by the goal to build a society of capable, principled citizens. Here’s her tribute to the vocation that is the teaching profession. 28 ∫ Pink April 2018

EYEWITNESS

ven the shortest stay in hospital can be difficult for children of any age because it challenges them with the fear of the unknown. But armed with courage and compassion, Tanya Farrugia really knows how to deal with the temperament of kids who may be traumatised by the hospital environment. Still fresh in my memory was how I was momentarily taken aback when Ms Farrugia approached a vulnerable Syrian family, who barely interacted with anyone, and called the young patient, my daughter, a “little princess”. Her solicitude was humbling and helped break the social barriers holding me back. Later, we got to know the family and became friends. Until my daughter’s stint in hospital two months ago, I was completely unaware of the existence of a hospitalbased educational service for children in the paediatric wards. The National School Support Services within the Directorate for Educational Services employs certified academic educators to help hospitalised students, aged between five and 16, stay on track with their peers and to assist their transition back to school. Ms Farrugia has over 13 years of experience teaching in hospitals and currently works at Mater Dei. She specialises in one-on-one teaching sessions of children in the Wonderland and Disneyland wards. There is no doubt this is a very different teaching world to enter. Ms Farrugia discusses with the patient and parents what is being done at school and which areas need attention. “Dealing with parents is a real asset,” she says. “They are often the best link to understand where the pupil requires more help, and they can also liaise with the school, ferrying homework back and forth.” The amount of time she spends with each child depends on the gravity of the illness, physical condition and treatment the child is undergoing. There are instances where, after discussions with the medical staff, she encourages the patients who are able to move out of bed to spend time in the classroom situated outside the wards.

The change of scene breaks the monotony and psychologically alleviates the feeling of pain and illness. The classroom is well equipped with books – a fair amount of time is allotted to reading to the children – educational board games and computers. In cases where children do not understand English or Maltese, illustrated ﬂashcards, and basic worksheets are used as methods of communication. One of the major obstacles Ms Farrugia faces is being unable to group children of the same age due to potential cross infection. As a result, she is always on the go, switching between children of different ages, academic levels and abilities. “This can get really challenging,” she confesses.

educational support while they were missing out on formal education. Working in a hospital environment always comes with a fear of the unknown for her too. Ms Farrugia’s expression turns serious when she recollects dealing with life-and-death struggles and the emotional aftermath. “Occasionally, children battling serious medical conditions are admitted. While some respond favourably to the treatment, others may develop complications and end up passing away. Paediatric traumas are such emotional situations for relatives, medical and academic staff alike. It’s soul crushing when this happens. My only consolation is that I would have crossed their paths and been of use when they needed it…” she says.

“OCCASIONALLY, CHILDREN BATTLING SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS ARE ADMITTED. WHILE SOME RESPOND FAVOURABLY TO THE TREATMENT, OTHERS MAY DEVELOP COMPLICATIONS AND END UP PASSING AWAY … IT’S SOUL CRUSHING WHEN THIS HAPPENS. MY ONLY CONSOLATION IS THAT I WOULD HAVE CROSSED THEIR PATHS AND BEEN OF USE WHEN THEY NEEDED IT” It’s also not the ﬁrst time she would have a child immersed in a maths worksheet… until the intravenous pump starts beeping, or the nurse swoops in for the regular temperature check, or to administer more medication. This inevitably interrupts the session, and the child’s concentration can be lost. But of course, the priority is always the medical treatment. “Every child I meet on the wards is special, and all are given the best educational service possible,” says Ms Farrugia. “Some of the children may be in hospital for long periods; others may have intermittent shorter admissions; while some just stay a few days. Being a teacher here also means being able to create a bond with the patients and their families, helping them make use of their time in hospital despite what they are actually there for.” Ms Farrugia says certain patients, some more than others, manage to build a bond with the academic and medical staff regardless of the length of their stay. However, whatever the case, as the patients are discharged, the satisfaction lies in having provided

Ms Farrugia loves her job and always aims to improve to be able to deliver better quality education. This is achieved by attending courses to keep abreast with the latest teaching methodologies. “Working as a teacher in a hospital environment is challenging, but at the same time, rewarding. It gives me the opportunity to motivate and encourage children to maximise their potential while creating a special bond.”

THE CORNERSTONE OF SOCIETY Teachers are the cornerstone of society and our children’s future would be bleak without them. As we face rapid globalisation, the entire education system needs to adapt to the tremendous change, or it will fail in its quest to train children today for the jobs of tomorrow. A brief conversation with Angela Grixti, head of St Nicholas College Attard Primary School, sheds more light on the demands of this profession, especially in today’s cyber-vacuum world. She has over 35 years of experience. Pink April 2018 ∫ 29

EYEWITNESS

“I BELIEVE THAT IN TODAY’S SCHOOLS, WE ARE BEING ASKED TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING; IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT ACADEMICS AND THE RIGIDITY OF EXAMS. SCHOOLS ARE HAVING TO ACT AS A CLOSE-KNIT FAMILY TOO” Angela Grixti and Josette Dalmas

“Dealing with students in the 21st century has become more challenging than ever, with everything changing at an alarming rate and with the ubiquitous presence of technology,” says Ms Grixti. “While this is an essential tool in present-day scenarios and has improved our lives, it does carry with it a mantle of side effects, such as the perils of social media, which is king! “It impacts a student’s behavioural characteristics, privacy, conﬁdence and mood,” Ms Grixti stresses. “Our strong group of teachers at St Nicholas really have a knack for tackling this fad. Even if we rewind a modest ﬁve years, things were not the same, and the pressure is to continually keep up with the times to equip our students with the skills, attributes and competencies capable to face this day and age,” she continues, adding that a teacher’s role goes beyond academic areas, dealing with students’ food intolerances and allergies, physical and mental limitations, even phobias and cultural backgrounds. 30 ∫ Pink April 2018

A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING Josette Dalmas, head at Saint Paul’s Bay Primary, has nearly 30 years of experience in the teaching profession. Leading a school where race and religion are varied – Saint Paul’s Bay Primary has over 1,000 students of 42 nationalities – Ms Dalmas goes through each day with resilience and empathy. It is a challenging task dealing with a school of such magnitude and with such cultural diversity. But Ms Dalmas’s morale has never been eroded; she always looks into a child’s world, which is a thousand miles away from an adult’s dimension, and has learnt so much along the way. Pausing for a while, a wave of emotion takes over when she speaks about looking into the eyes of children who are suffering. “There are children who are going through diﬃcult situations and they look up to and conﬁde in us. It is important to empathise, react and support. “I believe that in today’s schools, we are being asked to be a little bit

of everything; it is not just about academics and the rigidity of exams. Schools are having to act as a close-knit family too,” she says. Ms Dalmas has never considered jumping ship, despite her challenging position; supported by her staff, she has created a fun and warm ethos at the school, encouraging children from all walks of life to engage in activities and participate, driven by the idea of unity and integrity.

MULTIPLE CHALLENGES Josette Portelli, a supply LSA at St Aloysius Primary School, Balzan, is now in her second year of service there. With almost eight years of educating experience under her belt, going into this ﬁeld was the best decision she ever made, she says, adding that she receives huge support from her colleagues and that everyone works together as a team. Educating children with academic delays such as Down Syndrome, Attention Deﬁcit Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD],

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EYEWITNESS

Josette Portelli

Attention Deﬁcit Disorder [ADD] and other physical and behavioural issues, Ms Portelli faces multiple challenges. “But their issues don’t deﬁne who they are. These children, like the rest of us, have their own features, likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, personality traits and talents, making them unique,” she says. With lots of patience and loads of commitment towards the well-being of children, hers is a true vocation. “It’s a way of life and not just a job,” Ms Portelli professes. She encourages her students and, driven by her belief that there is something great in every child, she can dig deeper to bring out their very best.

Marlene Caruana

amounts of energy despite their rollercoaster ride. This type of care and encouragement shown by parents really plays an important part in the child’s development, she believes. All children will achieve their milestones in life at their own pace, some early and some a little later, she maintains. Eventually, they all get there.

“I FOCUS ON THE LIFE AND NOT THE LABEL. THEIR GLEAMING EYES, THEIR CONTAGIOUS SMILE AND LITTLE HANDS, QUICK TO SEEK MISCHIEF, REALLY CAPTIVATE MY HEART. I GET TO KNOW THEM AS INDIVIDUALS”

“Rewards are indeed rewarding,” she adds, having created a myriad of ways to encourage her students. Each little incentive helps them with their development leaps, she maintains. “Each child presents different learning abilities and my job is to adopt various methods to be able to get the message across to them, knowing they’ve understood. “I focus on the life and not the label. Their gleaming eyes, their contagious smile and little hands, quick to seek mischief, really captivate my heart. I get to know them as individuals.” Ms Portelli says the feeling of accomplishment encourages her to move forward each day. But she has also been lucky to come across families with such nurturing qualities and endless 32 ∫ Pink April 2018

“If we all had a fraction of their bright disposition, the world would be a better place,” she says.

LAUGHTER LINES Teaching adults is another kettle of ﬁsh. Remember the phrases “Oh blimey” and “thousand apologies” from the classic sitcom Mind Your Language? Marlene Caruana, an English language teacher at Clubclass English Language School, is Malta’s female version of the beloved Mr Brown. “Learning a second language is deﬁnitely a challenge at any age and to do so in a foreign country, sometimes alone, can be quite daunting,” says Ms Caruana. Teaching brings her a lot of joy and she has had no shortage of funny

moments and strange encounters during her lessons, having a keen sense of humour herself. “Some laughter is a great way to work off the daily stress. When I look at the funny side of things, I shift my perspective and take the opportunity to learn from my learners. “It is one of those jobs where, when you walk through the door, you never know what kind of day you’re going to have. I could write a book about different instances where we’ve all been in stitches due to the use of a wrong word, or bad pronunciation,” she says. Ms Caruana tries to create a fun learning environment with brainfriendly techniques. “Poetry, gastronomy, role playing, games, or storytelling really help my students to engage in class activities after a heavy night of partying in Paceville,” she says. Listening to them is also a key element. Ms Caruana can’t think of a country she hasn’t had a student from. “We learn as much about their countries as they do about ours,” she says, adding that one never stops learning. “I wouldn’t change it for the world. I thank God for every moment. And the beauty of it is knowing that, at the end of your day, you’ve helped someone improve their life, not because they have to, but because they want to.”

WOMANKIND

The MODERN MEDIEVAL WOMAN Margaret Beaufort lived through 32 years of civil war in England, and not only did she survive all the vicissitudes, but with her astuteness and determination, she also managed to change the course of late medieval history. MARY GALEA DEBONO relates how…

o the medieval woman, the concept of gender equality would have had little or no meaning. Both men and women understood and accepted that an orderly society required that everyone had to know and observe the rank and position into which he or she was born and gender was part of it. One can argue that this was a social arrangement that favoured men precisely because it was ordained by them, but there is very little to suggest that the medieval woman aspired to change her subordinate status. Of greater relevance to her life was whether she was married and, therefore, had the possibility of becoming a mother and a widow; or whether she remained unmarried, or lived a cloistered life. But it would be incorrect to assume that medieval women were passive and powerless. Examples of nuns who contributed to the cultural life of their age in various ways are many and varied, and within their own restricted spheres of inﬂuence, married women sometimes played a pivotal role even in areas which, up to quite recently, have traditionally been perceived as falling within a man’s strict domain, such as politics. Margaret Beaufort was one such woman; she lived through 32 years of civil war in England and not only survived all the vicissitudes, but with her astuteness and determination, managed to change the course of late medieval history.

One of the main sources of information about Margaret’s life is her confessor John Fisher to whom she conﬁded her thoughts. What impressed him most was her piety. Not only did she endow many religious houses, but she was also a good woman in a practical way. She cared for the welfare of her household, visited the sick and helped and comforted those who depended on her. She was also a learned woman and translated Book IV of The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis. Those who knew her were impressed by her knowledge of the legal system of her time and this, coupled with her sense of justice, made her an ideal arbitrator whenever the need arose. That her name is often associated with teaching establishments indicates the importance she gave to education. She is credited with having founded Christ’s College at Cambridge University in 1505 and with having started, in the same university, the development of St John’s College, which was completed by her testamentary executors in 1511. In recognition of her literary patronage, Lady Margaret Hall, the ﬁrst Oxford College to open its doors to women, was named after her. It is on these aspects of her personality that Margaret’s early biographers focused. But recent scholarship has uncovered important information, which has been used to construct a more complete – and more complex – picture of who she really was and what she achieved in her lifetime. Pink April 2018 ∫ 35

WOMANKIND In Philippa Gregory’s book The Women of the Cousins’ War, the historian Michael Jones, in his contribution to the book, highlights her political acumen and “ruthless pragmatism” – traits in her personality that, until recently, had largely been overlooked. Jones shows how when it came to safeguarding her interests and those of her son, she showed that where survival was at stake, “she never let her emotions cloud her political judgement”. Margaret was born in 1443. She was the only child of John Beaufort, Earl of Somerset, and Margaret Beauchamp. The Beauforts were an important aristocratic family, but they could never shake off the stigma of illegitimacy, not even after their father, John of Guant, married his mistress and legitimised his children. An added cause of distress for Margaret was the painful knowledge that her father had not only, before her birth, been captured and taken prisoner, where he languished without being ransomed for 17 years, but that when she was just one, he had committed suicide – a serious blot on the family’s reputation. Margaret was a rich heiress and, as was customary in those days, the king, Henry VI, appointed a ward to administer

protection, she chose her second cousin as her new husband, another supporter of the ruling house. It is during these wars that Margaret showed her intuitive understanding of the political situation, which helped her to switch alliances and forge new ones with whoever was the victor. Because during these fratricidal wars the political landscape kept changing, Margaret was constrained to make opportunistic adjustments by cultivating new friendships and winning the trust of whoever happened to be in power. When the Yorkist King Edward IV seized the throne, she made overtures of friendship, which he accepted, and it was as a sign of goodwill towards her that, in 1461, he appointed as her son’s ward one of his own staunch supporters thus ensuring that the boy was protected. Margaret was of course grateful, and a few years later, judging that the time was ripe for consolidating this friendship, she invited the Yorkist king to Woking Park, where she lived with her husband. While the latter was entrusted with keeping the King entertained, hunting in the park, Margaret took charge of the organisation of the festivities. She left no stone unturned to make the event a

“MARGARET WAS CONSTRAINED TO MAKE OPPORTUNISTIC ADJUSTMENTS BY CULTIVATING NEW FRIENDSHIPS AND WINNING THE TRUST OF WHOEVER HAPPENED TO BE IN POWER” her inheritance. When she was just six, her ward drew up a marriage contract between her and his seven-year-old son, but three years later, the same king sent for her and her mother, annulled that marriage contract and chose as her new husband his own half-brother, the 22-year-old Edmund Tudor. Their marriage took place on November 1, 1455. It was common practice that such marriages were not consummated before the bride was at least 14 years old, but Edmund had other ideas. He wanted to make sure that his bride got pregnant since that would have given him a right over her property irrespective of what might have befallen her or the child. Margaret did get pregnant but, being very young and frail, both her pregnancy as well as the actual childbirth were a painful experience, which left her unable to conceive again. Edmund never saw his son as he went to war and died from plague during his captivity before the baby was born. From the age of two, Henry, as the boy was called, was brought up in his father’s family. A strong relationship between mother and son was sustained by letters and occasional visits. The year 1455 saw England plunged into a devastating civil war between the two main ruling families, the Lancastrians and the Yorkists. These wars lasted for over 32 years and came to be known in history as The Wars of the Roses. Margaret’s family supported King Henry VI, who came from the House of Lancaster. When Edmund died, knowing that she needed 36 ∫ Pink April 2018

success; she ordered a fine new dress for herself; bought the choicest food; and a new pewter dinner set to serve in was brought purposely from London as well as a special silk canopy under which to dine, as befitted a king. The message was clear – a Yorkist king was attending a dinner given by a Lancastrian aristocrat, closely related to the deposed king. It was a move that paid. Her Beaufort cousins did not fare so well. Persisting in opposing him, Edward IV became their inveterate enemy and he vowed that he would exterminate them for their disloyalty – a threat he carried out. These were fluid times – the victor today was tomorrow’s defeated. Internal strife added to an already complicated situation. During the 30 years and more of civil strife, Margaret witnessed not only the defeat of her king and protector, Henry VI, his imprisonment in the Tower, his brief return to power and finally his murder, but she also learnt of the killing of her son’s ward, followed by the boy’s exile in France when he was just 14. Years later, she would also learn of the murder of King Edward’s two sons in the Tower by their own uncle Richard, who had been appointed as protector until the elder prince, Edward V, came of age. Margaret, an astute fighter, managed to survive throughout all these difficult situations. In a political context, the word ‘survivor’ has negative connotations, but in those fluctuating – and even brutal times – a false step would have meant more than just the loss of estates and titles.

THINKPINK FASHION

Lady Margaret Beaufort’s tomb in Westminster Abbey.

“IN A POLITICAL CONTEXT, THE WORD ‘SURVIVOR’ HAS NEGATIVE CONNOTATIONS, BUT IN THOSE FLUCTUATING – AND EVEN BRUTAL TIMES – A FALSE STEP WOULD HAVE MEANT MORE THAN JUST THE LOSS OF ESTATES AND TITLES” As Jones writes, Margaret’s “instinct for political survival was acute”. Pragmatism, a term now often used cynically to describe a political decision justifying the unjustifiable, was for Margaret a medieval version of realpolitik, or as Jones puts it, the belief “that a genuinely religious person could be a politically ruthless one nonetheless”. Margaret knew that marriage to the right person was an important weapon to consolidate her position, and when her husband died in 1471, she married Sir Henry Stafford, who was very close to King Edward IV. With her connections to the court strengthened, she was able to negotiate the return of her son, now 25, from exile in France. But these plans were thwarted partly because both sides were suspicious of the real intent of the deal and partly because Edward IV fell ill and died. After his death, his brother, Richard, claimed the throne for himself. At first, Margaret, trying to seek his friendship, attended his coronation, but later, had second thoughts and changed allegiance. She plotted against him. She also started negotiations of marriage between her son and Elizabeth Woodville, Edward IV’s eldest daughter. Margaret’s son, Henry, landed in England in 1485, and with the help of the French, defeated Richard III at the battle of Bosworth Field. With his marriage to Elizabeth, as Margret had foreseen, his claim to the throne was strengthened and he was crowned the first Tudor king of England. The relationship between Margaret and her son was close and affectionate; Henry was not only devoted to her, but he trusted and relied on her judgement. Margaret outlived her daughter-in-law Elizabeth, her eldest grandson, Arthur, and her own son by two months. She died on June 29, 1509, one week after taking part in the marriage festivities of her grandson, Henry VIII, to Katherine of Aragon. Her effigy can be seen at Westminster Abbey, where she is buried.

THE SEASON’S TREND DIRECTION Introducing Marks & Spencer’s Spring/Summer 2018 womenswear and lingerie collections… placing flattering fits and contemporary style and quality at the heart of thoughtful design. Marks & Spencer approaches Spring/Summer 2018 with style and finesse – and now also at new lower prices customers will love. A considered approach to colour, print and fabric combinations define the season’s trend direction as feminine style and confidence are explored through edited collections. The warm colours of khaki and aubergine in the Explorer trend offer an elegant journey into spring to easily shop the season’s key pieces at great prices. Botanical prints and muted blooms on separates and soft lingerie constructions elevate the everyday as earthy hues become the season’s neutrals. The Horizon trend sees a classic spring mood reworked in a crisp palette of reds, blues and greys. Blown-out checks, gingham and stripes are overlaid onto exaggerated silhouettes, with subtle sports detailing. Perfect whites in beautiful lingerie meet sleek and innovative under layers as modernity informs a timeless aesthetic that will transcend the seasons. Colour moves in a confident direction throughout the summer months and into the Art Haus trend. Bold primaries sit alongside buttery pastels as tones are contrasted. Tailoring is given a seasonal overhaul in fresh shades and layered with ultra-feminine separates. Vivid print combinations create a fresh take on the new season, from outerwear to beachwear, as the colour rules are reimagined. An awareness of the ever-changing needs and desires of the modern woman are inherently woven into edited Spring/Summer collections, offering her quality statement pieces and a fresh look at the Marks & Spencer style, which places a flattering fit and contemporary style and quality at the heart of thoughtful design.

Pink April 2018 ∫ 37

SHOWSTOPPER Photography Marvin Grech Styling Marisa Grima [marisagrima.com] Hair Dominic Bartolo @ Dreads Hairdressing Make-up Elaine Galea Model Sarah @ Supernova MM

GET OUT OF YOUR SHELL; IT’S FINALLY TIME TO FLOURISH AGAIN.

Spring is in the air

Dress, €335, Karen Millen.

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SHOWSTOPPER

Dress, €66, Oasis ∫ Jimmy Choo sunglasses, €360, O’hea Opticians.

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SHOWSTOPPER

Dress, €275, Karen Millen.

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SHOWSTOPPER Dress, €76; jeans, €62, both Oasis ∫ bag, €49, Marks & Spencer.

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SHOWSTOPPER Dress, €39.99; scarf, €15.99; denim jacket, €59.99, all Noos ∫ Tom Ford sunglasses, €338, O’hea Opticians.

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SHOWSTOPPER

Dress, €119; trousers, €69.99, Corteﬁel.

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SHOWSTOPPER

Dress, €178.99, Pedro del Hierro ∫ bag, €59.99, Corteﬁel.

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SHOWSTOPPER Dress [worn open], €55; trousers, €49, both Marks & Spencer ∫ top, €39, Noos.

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SHOWSTOPPER

Dress, €89; trousers, €89; bag, €39, all Oltre.

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MOA 69, TOWER ROAD, SLIEMA

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THEUNIFORM

FASHION ON DEMAND If it’s pretty, wear it, says fashion blogger and stylist CAROLINE PARIS, back from Milan Fashion Week, where she was so inspired by the street-style trends that she has created an online gallery to remind her of any memorable looks that strike her.

n the fast-paced world we live in, the validity of fashion weeks that mainly showcase designs set to appear in six months’ time has, of late, been questioned. We are the ‘on-demand’ generation; instant gratification and instant response is what we have grown accustomed to. Fashion Week is the opposite of that. It will, however, continue to serve its purpose because the retail world actually needs that time period and because it has given birth to something almost as big as itself – street style. For many brands, what they showcase on the street has become as important as what is showcased on the catwalk. Trends will continue to be set throughout Fashion Weeks. The street-style world will convert the catwalk trends, sometimes the day after they appear, into something that can instantly be adopted; something that can be copied. This also satisfies the consumer’s on-demand needs. Meanwhile, these were some of the unmissable trends set on the rainy streets around Milan Fashion Week: OPAQUE TIGHTS I know there are a lot of tights haters around, but they’re back and in all styles and colours. Forget about wearing leggings under dresses; it’s now all about fun, coloured, or black tights. There’s really no need to hate tights. Just try different brands until you find the fit that works well with your body. Some of the best brands for black tights are those that cater for dancers: they are super comfortable and made of durable, breathable material. THE TRENCH COAT This one never really goes away, but it really did make a big presence in Milan, helped, of course, by the lousy weather that lingered on for the entire duration of Fashion Week. The oversized shape is very popular, worn even by shorter women – yes, indeed, and it still looks good! Sometimes, it is worn open; and other times, belted to create a cinched-in, small-waist effect. The beige trench coat will always be the classical go-to piece, but patent leather and denim are also notable options. If you prefer fitted options to oversized, no worries – there were plenty on the catwalk too.

Pink April 2018 ∫ 51

THEUNIFORM STATEMENT PIECES Every outfit needs a statement piece at Fashion Week, but some of these looks have three statement pieces. Mixing different colours and prints together in one outfit is not a new idea, but in recent years, it was not as widely adopted, with many favouring the minimalistic approach instead. It feels like the fashion crowd is now ready to have some fun once again and experiment with different ideas. COLOUR Both on and off the catwalk, bright colourful outfits made for a pretty sight. Black will always have its place, as will monochrome, but there’s something about seeing bright pinks, oranges and yellows that can truly lift your mood. CHECKS AND PLAIDS Checked coats have been everywhere this winter and the trend is set to continue with lots of plaid and tartan fabrics added to the mix next season. If you haven’t bagged that checked coat yet, you might want to look through the last remaining sale items. There just might be that perfect coat lurking on a rail. ‘NATURAL’ BEAUTY When it comes to beauty looks, hair is neither too messy, nor overly groomed, the idea being for it to look natural and low maintenance, however far that may be from reality. The same goes for make-up, which is almost invisible, enhancing but not altering facial features; the skin is never overly caked. On the catwalk, a few 1980s beauty trends prevailed, including big curly hair, blue eyeshadow and pink, rosy cheeks. FANCY FOOTWEAR When it comes to footwear, the street-style set always goes all out. Statement shoes seem to garner more attention than bags, especially since the majority of street-style photos are taken as ‘walking shots’. From brogues to sneakers, boots and stilettos, so many styles of shoes are around that it is almost impossible to say what is no longer fashionable. The rule of thumb seems to be: if it’s pretty, wear it. After every fashion week, I’m almost sad that the warm weather arrives so soon in Malta. There’s no time to adopt these emergent trends, transform them into something personal and wear them. The truth is they’d still be relevant in six months’ time – even more so perhaps – but often, I get caught up in something new by then. So, I’ve started creating an online gallery for inspiration; different looks that I feel have something memorable, either in the way clothes have been layered, or in the way colours have been combined – anything that strikes me, really. This also helps me decide which pieces to keep and which ones to pass on to a better home at the start of a new season. Photography Kurt Paris

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The ﬁrst ever portable laser was used to illuminate the stage.

FASHIONSTORY Below: the ﬁrst winners; right: the statue in the making by ceramist Paul Haber.

Twenty years ago…

AND THE AWARD GOES TO… Founder and executive producer of the Malta Fashion Awards and Fashion Week Malta, Adrian Mizzi goes back 20 years to the first competition he organised, where a fashion scene didn’t even exist and doors were shut in his face. Armed with nothing more than a small desk in his bedroom, but big dedication and imagination, he is now celebrating two decades of the awards and would need half the magazine to tell Pink what he plans to do next. Watch this space! It’s the 20th anniversary of Malta Fashion Awards. When you ﬁrst started out, did you think you would get so far? And do you see yourself organising another 20?

My aim was very speciﬁc; I wanted to create an event related to the local fashion scene, which would go viral. My target was very clear even though the resources at hand were limited and everyone around me was sceptical about my dream. As regards seeing myself organising another 20, well, when I was 24, it was easier to forecast 20 years ahead. At 44, it is more diﬃcult.

Compare and contrast the ﬁrst Malta Fashion Awards with the upcoming one.

I organised the ﬁrst event at the New Dolmen Hotel, using bits and pieces from the remains of carnival ﬂoats and the Malta Song Festival stage. There was almost nothing to showcase related to local fashion as, in reality, there was no fashion at that time. I wanted to create this event so that all those who were eager to one day stand behind that podium and hold an award would follow my guidelines for better results. This was the main aim of the fashion awards – to create an event where those who wanted to take part had strict guidelines to follow, created to improve the local fashion industry. Pink April 2018 ∫ 55

FASHIONSTORY And now…

Photography Clint Scerri Harkins

Shooting this year’s ad campaign for the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Malta & Chamilia Malta Fashion Awards.

What makes you cringe about the early days?

A lot of things: no ﬁnances, no talent to create the event with and the so-called big shots of the time trying to ‘eradicate’ me from the scene. I had literally nothing; just a small desk in my bedroom and a lot of dedication and imagination, although I cannot fail to mention a small core of good friends, and a very supportive girlfriend, who were always there for me. And what would you never have done in hindsight?

I think that what I did at that time was the best for that time. Today, I see it from a completely different viewpoint because many years have passed. However, considering that time, I took the best decisions every time. 56 ∫ Pink April 2018

You have watched Malta’s fashion industry grow from practically nothing over the last 20 years. In what way has it developed and how much has Malta Fashion Week & Awards helped?

At that time, there was no Internet, and no digital photography, so I couldn’t know what fashion was in other countries except from what I read in the very few imported magazines. So, I contacted all the people who, at that time, were considered fashion related, from photographers to hairstylists and make-up artists. From the photographers I collected all the best fashion photos they had, and for hair and make-up artists, I used to go from salon to salon, waiting for them to create the best style, while we used to set up a

FASHIONSTORY small studio to take photos of the ﬁnal result. Then I managed to set up meetings with some top experts in Milan by means of hand-written letters and phone calls [no e-mail at that time] and I got an appointment with all of them in the same week. I still remember ﬂying to Milan with three suitcases full of physical photos. Among those who offered their assistance were The John Kaverdash Institute of Fashion Photography and Aldo Coppola. I was going to faint when I got their feedback. I still remember clearly some harsh words: “In Malta, you do not have any idea of what fashion is. For example, the only way this photographer can earn money from the camera is to sell it and buy food with the money he gets”; “Forget about these people; they are now old, and you will never manage to convince them that they are not fashion material… Invest in the next generation. They will try to destroy you for this. You will reach your target depending on how strong your will is to succeed.” At that time, I was just 24, and I was not ready for such comments. But I came back to Malta with a mission.

“A GOOD FASHION DESIGNER ALSO NEEDS TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR. YOU CANNOT EXCEL IN DESIGNING, SEWING, SELLING, MEETINGS, CONTRACTS, MARKETING ETC… ETC… THEY NEED TO HAVE A PROPER TEAM SURROUNDING THEM, AND IF EMPLOYMENT IS NOT A POSSIBILITY, THEY NEED TO CONSIDER PARTNERSHIPS” What do you think was the most important element you ever introduced that took the event to another level?

Almost every year, there was something new, which helped the event to go to the next level. I still remember going to the Mediterranean Conference Centre [it was my dream to organise the Fashion Awards there] and the person I met looked at me and said: “I will show you around only to show you the place, but you will not be entitled to organise whatever it is you are doing. Only the big events are given permission to be organised here. Not to mention the budget, which is something you can only dream of having.” I did not say anything apart from thanking him for the tour, but as soon I stepped outside, I said to myself: “We will see!” The fourth edition of Malta Fashion Awards was organised in the MCC’s Republic Hall, and remained there for six consecutive years, ﬁlling each and every little seat. Having said that, I think the creation of Malta Fashion Week as part of the Malta Fashion Awards was the best move of all. What would you say about fashion models, photographers and designers in Malta today?

Since this relates to three different sectors I will give three different answers. As regards photography, there is still a lot of room for improvement. Fashion designers need to learn how to become more commercial. And as for models, we are very limited in numbers, mainly due to height requirements. They should all consider going abroad to take in-depth courses and learn the tricks of the trade; otherwise it will take them a lifetime to get close to what they can be. Also, fashion is art and some need to accept the reality that this may not be their main line, even though it’s the love of their life.

Do they really have a future in Malta, and can the island be a stepping stone to the international scene?

Deﬁnitely! However, it takes more than just talent. A good fashion designer also needs to be an entrepreneur. You cannot excel in designing, sewing, selling, meetings, contracts, marketing etc… etc… They need to have a proper team surrounding them, and if employment is not a possibility, they need to consider partnerships. In come the bloggers… How quickly did you embrace them and how did they change the dynamics?

The blogging industry was ampliﬁed in a way by Malta Fashion Week. There were some people who were not yet bloggers, but interested in fashion; we invited these over, seated them in the front row and encouraged them to write and grow. This helped people onto the path of creating their own blogging platforms. Some have been quite successful; others not as much; others perhaps have an inﬂated view of themselves. What are the obstacles you continue to face, apart from the fact that MFW can never be like the fashion capitals of the world?

Lack of budgets is the main issue, and the reason why we can never be like the big ones! Today, in 2018, I can guarantee that if proper budgets were allocated to Malta Fashion Week & Awards, in a span of nine years, Malta would become a hotspot for fashion shows, on a par with the big ones, and would be self-sustained. Moreover, Malta Fashion Week can bring over different types of investment, different type of tourists and offer a different exposure for the Maltese Islands. But with budgets that don’t even cover the cost of the lighting equipment, we will never get close to this. The budgets I am referring to are nothing other events have not already been given over the years. I have all the necessary contacts in the international scene, together with their respect [which is of utmost importance]. All I need is the budget, and I will do it. The street style that slips out of the international fashion weeks is almost taking over the catwalks themselves. Is this unlikely to ever be the case here?

They are like two different types of drinks, which when combined together, form a wonderful cocktail. There cannot be one without the other. What can we expect that is new and exciting on the local scene at the next MFW?

I suggest that you attend and see for yourself, but with more than 30 different events in just one week, we will deﬁnitely offer a great experience to all those who come. Apart from the local fashion designers, which are growing from year to year, we will also have designers from France, Serbia, Romania, Spain, Australia and even Argentina. And where would you like to take this event in the future?

To answer this question properly, you would need to allocate half the magazine. The new website with the calendar of events of Malta Fashion Week & Awards will be launched on April 11. www.maltafashionweek.com

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BEAUTYPARLOUR

A LESSON IN SEDUCTION The new advertising film for Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum Intense is a bit more fun, a bit naughtier and a bit more empowering, says British actress Keira Knightley, who has been the face of the fragrance for the last 10 years. Here, she reprises her mischievous role as she plays an irresistibly carefree game of seduction.

n 2001, the dawn of an unexpected formula started an unpredictable olfactory movement. Created for rebellious personalities with a taste for elegance, Coco Mademoiselle launched a new form of seduction. In 2018, the fragrance is reclaiming its territory. Remaining true to its oriental origins, Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum Intense is for all those who wholeheartedly embrace their folly, their passion and their excessiveness with an open smile. It’s a captivating fragrance that makes a strong impact, with no intention of being forgotten; a creation for women who always want more…

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Like Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum that wavers between its seeming frivolity and a strong character, between the freshness of citrus peel and the ardent blaze of wood, the Intense version turns this play of seduction up a notch. The face of Coco Mademoiselle for the past 10 years, British actress Keira Knightley has reprised her mischievous role as she plays an irresistibly carefree game of seduction in the new advertising ﬁlm. The campaign reveals a new personality trait of the temptress; a new lesson in seduction that encourages embracing life and all its adventures.

BEAUTYPARLOUR

& CHANEL How would you describe your relationship with the house of Chanel?

I’ve been so lucky in my relationship with Chanel. It’s a fashion house I have always been fascinated by because of its history and the person who started it. I ﬁrst signed to the house when I was 21, and I never thought that, over a decade later, I would still be working on new and beautiful Chanel campaigns. What is the synergy between you and Chanel? It’s always just been very easy,

natural and relaxed. I like the simplicity of the fashion, I like the clean lines and I love the simplicity of a beautiful black

jacket. In fact, black is generally what I’m most comfortable in, so I think probably a house that is known for its little black jackets was always going to be one that I’d feel very comfortable with.

smelling all the different raw materials is something I love so much… I feel lucky to be able to peer behind the scenes.

Would you say your relationship with Chanel has changed over the years?

time I move onto a different project, I get a new enthusiasm for something. At ﬁrst, I think: ‘Oh, that’s a nice ring.’ But then, when you hear about the inspiration behind it, and the workmanship that has gone into it, and where they ﬁnd the materials… you suddenly see something in a whole new way.

The ﬁrst campaign I did was for a fragrance, but since then, I have also appeared in a lipstick campaign, and right now, I’m with ﬁne jewellery. Part of the joy for me is seeing the different facets of the house and how they all work: for example, talking to the head of jewellery and hearing about the whole universe around it is just fascinating to me; and for fragrance, going into the lab and

How would you describe the work of Chanel? It’s the attention to detail. Each

Is there a feeling that you get when you’re wearing Chanel? Yes, it’s quite

powerful! I ﬁnd the clothes have a Pink April 2018 ∫ 61

BEAUTYPARLOUR structure that gives you an air of conﬁdence. It’s a bit like with the classic 2.55 bag; it’s a proper handbag, it’s sturdy and there’s something about the chain that stops it becoming too girly. I ﬁnd with much of Chanel, it plays on the masculine/feminine and it’s the same with the jackets and the shoulders. It’s not romantic; it’s always quite a powerful silhouette – which I think can help, especially on a day when you’re not feeling so powerful… What are some memorable creations you have worn? I’ve worn such amazing

dresses, but one of the most extraordinary things for me was meeting the women have made them. Some of them have been there for years. They make such detailed, exquisite pieces and it’s an art form that’s being lost, so it’s really amazing to meet the people who still do it. I recently wore a Chanel suit to a redcarpet event [ for the Colette premiere at the Sundance Film Festival] and I loved it so much. I had one of those collars that Karl [Lagerfeld] has, and suddenly I felt like: ‘Yes!’ I can see what this is about, because you can’t slouch, and your head is suddenly at this angle. I felt like a boss!

& THE NEW AD CAMPAIGN What was it like shooting the movie for the new Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum Intense? It was interesting

because there’s a new director this time, Johan Renck. For him, it was about taking some of the ‘polish’ off the ﬁlm and making it a little naughtier somehow, and I think we achieved that! It’s a bit naughty… I wouldn’t say dirty, because Chanel would never be that, but… it’s naughty and that felt quite fun. Had you worked with Renck before?

No, never. I obviously knew his work, especially the collaborations with David Bowie, so I was so excited when I heard he would be shooting the ﬁlm. He’s such an aesthete; he’s so exacting about how the scenes should look, and of course, the ﬁlm just looks amazing. He does such interesting work that he was the perfect choice for the shoot, and he was a lovely man to work with. This is the fourth movie you’ve starred in for Coco Mademoiselle. Is there a common thread between them? 62 ∫ Pink April 2018

“IT WOULDN’T BE A COCO MADEMOISELLE AD IF SHE ENDED UP WITH THE GUY” I definitely think of her as a character, and there are definitely common links between the films: like it wouldn’t be a Coco Mademoiselle ad if she ended up with the guy! This story is not about Prince Charming; it is about there being many Prince Charmings and you can have a nice time with them and then you throw them away and then you get a new one! It’s like, let’s have fun, let’s be flirty; we can have a great time, but then I’ve got things to do in the morning, so goodbye! I really like that attitude! How do you think this film is different from the other Coco Mademoiselle movies? I think it looks a little more ‘lived

in’, so there’s slightly more of a playful feel this time; and the whole thing feels a little more like a fairy tale, which I just loved being a part of. Is there a message behind the Coco Mademoiselle story? I think, generally,

Coco Mademoiselle is a bit more fun and a bit more empowering, because it’s absolutely not about looking for Mr Right; it’s about having fun right now, and I think that’s quite a nice message for women. What was the shoot like? It took a week, which is quite a long time to do a campaign shoot, so it felt lovely that we had time to get it exactly right. It’s a luxury you don’t always have. It’s also lovely going onto a set and being told: ‘We’re just going to try and make you look as good as possible!’ How nice! Thank you! What was your favourite part? I liked that we were trashing an apartment! I thought that was quite fun… And what an apartment to trash; it was so incredibly beautiful. I kept worrying about who was going to clean it up! Do you create a storyline for the shoot?

As an actress, I work in narrative, so I always like to have something to cling onto. My narrative is always much darker than the real storyline, and then you see the advert and it’s nothing to do with the story that I came up with, but that’s ﬁne.

BEAUTYPARLOUR existed, and yet, it’s such an incredible, magical thing to do. The idea that there’s a sort of tapestry of scents that comes together in such a beautiful way, created by a real master of the art, is incredible to me. What I love about scent is that it’s a bit like tasting wine; you can have such a personal reaction to it.

a small child, there’s never any time to relax… except maybe a glass of wine when she has gone to bed! That is bliss… and maybe a nice relaxing bath, if I manage to have one that she doesn’t get in and therefore we are playing with dinosaurs. In fact, the other day, I had gone upstairs to have a bath and my daughter was with my

“IT’S ABSOLUTELY NOT ABOUT LOOKING FOR MR RIGHT; IT’S ABOUT HAVING FUN RIGHT NOW, AND I THINK THAT’S QUITE A NICE MESSAGE FOR WOMEN” Where can you imagine yourself wearing Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum Intense? Everywhere! Can you imagine, you

could be somewhere very non-glamorous like the Tube, and if you were wearing this beautiful scent, you’d be so happy! When you’re working, do you ever associate your movie characters with particular perfumes? Yes, I have done

What was the story of the amazing dress you wore? The dress was in the

Chanel Cruise show in Cuba, but in black. We did a ﬁtting, and that was when we talked about making it in a beautiful dusky grey that feels very ethereal and slightly ‘other’. It was so beautiful and felt exquisite to wear.

that. I think it’s because I have always worn the original Coco Mademoiselle and I’m very much a one-perfume kind of person; I can’t imagine changing my scent to suit a particular mood, or situation. So, I do sometimes give my characters a perfume: it can be helpful, because you don’t smell like yourself, therefore, you’re not yourself. Scent is one of the senses that you can instantly trick yourself away with; you can leave yourself behind. And then when I ﬁnish a ﬁlm, I never want to smell that other perfume ever again!

& BEAUTY & THE FRAGRANCE How would you describe the new Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum Intense fragrance? I think the new fragrance has

a real presence to it, which I love. The original to me sits much more happily in the background, while this one is in the foreground; it’s a little more punchy and assertive – just like my character in the ﬁlm, which is what we tried to do; to make the Coco Mademoiselle character have some of the intensity and sensuality of the new fragrance.

Do you also enjoy experimenting with beauty? Generally speaking, when I’m

working I have to wear a lot of make-up, so when I’m not working, I don’t wear any. I enjoy both those extremes: when I’m at work, I enjoy creating a character and playing with my facial features and becoming someone else with the help of make-up; but I also really like days when I don’t have to wear any make-up at all.

Do you learn about the fragrances when you are going to be advertising them?

How do you take care of your skin? I’m very low-maintenance; I don’t go for facials or anything like that… I do a bit of rosehip oil, and occasionally, I mix it with some moisturiser, and other than that… nothing!

Yes! I love learning about the fragrances because I ﬁnd scent so magical; it’s such alchemy. I didn’t even know a ‘nose’

What do you do to relax? I don’t feel like I’m doing anything to relax right now! With

husband downstairs, but she came up to ﬁnd me and said: ‘Mummy, no toys!’ and deposited a load of dinosaurs in the bath with me. It only happens very rarely, but occasionally, I have a lovely indulgent bath to myself and think: ‘Ohhhhhh I remember how nice this is!’

& THE CINEMA Do you feel we are in an interesting moment for women in film? Yes. It feels

like there is a shift. There are more scripts written by women; it’s the female directors that have been massively lacking. It’s a big problem. When there are female writers and directors and producers, the parts for women are better, and so the way that society views women through drama is much better and much more wellrounded. We recently had the premiere of the movie Colette, in which I play the French writer who, in many ways, was questioning the idea of gender and the idea of what ‘femininity’ means. It’s wonderful to play inspiring women and get their stories and their voices out there. Would you ever consider directing?

I have thought about it. Maybe one day I’ll get over my fear and just do it. I hope there are many more courageous women than me who actually will. What projects do you have coming up?

I’ve just finished a reshoot for The Nutcracker and the Four Realms [a magical Disney movie in which Keira plays the Sugar Plum Fairy], which will be coming out at the end of the year, and I’m about to start a film called Official Secrets, a thriller based on a true story about a whistleblower, who, in 2003, released classified papers in an attempt to stop the Iraq war, and was put on trial for treason. Pink April 2018 ∫ 63

PINKSHRINK

AN INEVITABLE TURMOIL? Dott. EDWARD CURMI looks into adolescence and finds the positive aspect of what can be considered a problematic phase in life.

dolescence is perceived by many as the best years of life. However, several academic researchers, the media and parents tend to view young people in a more negative and problematic way. Although adolescent years may be pretty challenging for society, psychologists are now calling for less stereotyping and a more cautious approach towards understanding youths. WHAT IS THE AGE OF ADOLESCENCE?

Most experts in the ﬁeld of developmental psychology believe there are three deﬁnite stages in adolescence: early, middle and late. These stages range from the age of 10 to 22. However, according to psychologist Jeffrey Arnett, what most people experienced between 18 and 29 has changed dramatically, so much so that most youths are entering marriage and parenthood at a much later phase, in their early 30s. In fact, Dr Arnett believes that there is a fourth stage called the emerging adulthood, which stems from the age of 22 to 30 years old and is in between adolescence and adulthood. WHAT EXACTLY IS ADOLESCENCE?

Adolescence is seen as a struggle along a continuum between the need to stand out and the need to belong. It’s a time when there is a strong urge to ‘push away’ parents and develop their own identity. More often than not, such

behaviour can create a crisis between the parent and child as feelings of abandonment and rejection become the order of the day. We need to come to terms with the fact that adolescence is ever-changing. Contexts that have a historical, economic, cultural and social role may inﬂuence future generations. Adolescence is a constantly developing process, where biological [physical changes within an individual’s body], cognitive [changes in thinking and intelligence] and socioemotional processes [relationships, emotions, identity, personality and social contexts] are all key factors in the process of this complex age bracket. According to positive psychologist Daniel Siegel, there are four basic stages that each and every adolescent should go through: • emotional spark – the ability to use and feel their emotions; • social engagement – the importance of bonding and socialising with their peers; • novelty – young people love new situations and need to explore new experiences; • creative engagement – to grow up, one needs to experiment and develop ideas together with others. BOXING ADOLESCENCE

Unfortunately, there are a number of overgeneralisations about adolescence. The Greek philosopher Socrates, back

in 469BC, described adolescents as tyrants, bad mannered and disrespectful towards their elders. Stanley Hall, a pioneering American psychologist, described adolescence as “an inevitable turmoil”. Anna Freud, daughter of Sigmund Freud, said “the adolescent manifestation of growth comes close to the symptom formation of the neurotic, psychotic or dissocial order”, while psychosocial theorist Erik Erikson described youths in a slightly more positive tone, stating “they can be violent or depressed, delinquent or withdrawn, but theirs is an acute possibly passing crisis”. The media, on many fronts, does not help the situation much; more often than not, adolescents are depicted as delinquents, aggressive and rebellious. Also, policymakers tend to perceive adolescence as a problematic stage in life, where authorities often feel powerlessness. But a rather interesting cross-cultural study by Daniel Offer found little support for such a negative view about adolescence. Seventy-three per cent of adolescents around the world did not ﬁt this negative self-image that researchers, policymakers and parents seem to be talking about.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT I often come across people who tell me that, today, adolescents have all the information and power that was inconceivable in their days. They believe it has never been so easy to grow up. I beg to differ; at the rate things are moving in today’s world, adolescents need to be given more space and a positive voice in society. It is not necessarily a time for pathology, crisis and deviance, but a time for hope, where we need to cherish more their enthusiasm, excitement and perseverance to commit towards a better world. After all, they do hold the key to our future.

Dott. Edward Curmi is a registered clinical psychologist, psychotherapist and author of the book Common Sense: a Better Understanding of Emotional Well-being, and its sequel More Common Sense: a Better Understanding of Emotional Well-being, available from Agenda Bookshops.

Pink April 2018 ∫ 65

TABLETALK

The art in artichokes MARIA CACHIA mixes her artichokes with celery and tofu.

METHOD INGREDIENTS Serves 4 2/3 artichokes per person, depending on size ½ a lemon 6-7 cloves garlic, finely chopped 2 tbsp olive oil 9 celery stalks, peeled and finely chopped 2 cups fruity white wine 4 cups vegetable stock 1 sheet baking paper 300g firm tofu, cut into large square chunks 2 knobs of butter crusty bread or rice 10 stalks of chives, finely chopped

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Squeeze the lemon in a bowl. Place the actual lemon in the bowl too and fill with water. [This will be used to place the artichokes after prepping them to avoid their discolouration.] For each artichoke, cut the stalk and remove all leaves. [Be careful as some leaves will have a spiky tip.] With a paring knife, also remove the very tiny hairy leaves, or choke, just on top of the heart. Trim the sides of the artichoke with the knife to remove any leafy parts that are too fibrous to eat. Peel the stalk. Place the artichokes in the bowl. In a medium hot, wide pot, sauté the garlic with the olive oil. Place the artichoke hearts and sauté for about five minutes, turning the artichokes halfway through. Add the chopped celery and sauté for another few minutes. Add the wine and the vegetable stock and lower the

temperature to its lowest setting. Season with freshly ground salt and pepper. Scrunch the baking paper and soak it under running water. Carefully place it onto the artichokes and try to cover them all. Cover the pot with a lid and let the artichokes simmer for about 45 minutes. Gently remove any smaller ones that will be cooked through. Add the tofu and continue simmering, covered, for another 10 minutes. Once all artichokes are cooked through, remove them together with the tofu. Place the remaining liquid with the chopped celery in a food processor. Add the knobs of butter and process for about 30 seconds. If the sauce is too runny, place again in the pot and reduce it. To serve, place two tablespoons of sauce onto each plate. Add one tofu piece per plate, and place a couple of artichoke hearts on top. Serve with freshly toasted crusty bread, or rice. Garnish with the chives.

WOMENONWHEELS

LOVE… AT FIRST SIGHT BMW is synonymous with style, the X2 M Sport is the epitome of class and IRA LOSCO is also loving its luxurious interior.

on’t you just love the smell of a new car? As soon as I set foot inside the gorgeous BMW X2 M Sport, it is diﬃcult not to fall in love! At ﬁrst sight, the sheer beauty of its bold yet sleek exterior is breathtaking. The sun is shining, so I open the panoramic sunroof, pair my phone, turn on the music and let my hair down. BMW is synonymous with style, the X2 is the epitome of class and

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I am loving its luxurious interior! Needless to say, I’m crazy about the iDrive Controller, with touch-screen operation. The 8.8˝ screen is useful while parking and I bet some of you are nodding their heads in approval right now, thinking that’s one feature Ira really needs… My parking skills are awesome! This Sport Activity Coupé is ideal for anyone with a sense of adventure and zest for life. For an island where most people enjoy boating, the X2 comes with a tow

ball, which also elegantly folds in electronically. For those of you who like the outdoors and might enjoy cycling, a foldable bike rack can be quickly and securely attached to the tow ball and accommodates two bicycles. Aftermarket accessories include the boot mat, which protects the interior of the boot from wear and tear; rear screens are also available and are ideal for children sitting at the back; while a super sleek dash cam is also one of the original BMW accessories.

WOMENONWHEELS

Tech savvy individuals will love what BMW Connected offers. For those of you who find music to be an integral part of their lives – like me – the digital bridge between your smartphone and the car allows you to enjoy anything stored on your mobile efficiently. Something I absolutely love is the head-up display, which projects all important driving information onto the windscreen into the driver’s field of view. I thought this was kind of futuristic and sexy!

“SOMETHING I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IS THE HEAD-UP DISPLAY, WHICH PROJECTS ALL IMPORTANT DRIVING INFORMATION ONTO THE WINDSCREEN INTO THE DRIVER’S FIELD OF VIEW. I THOUGHT THIS WAS KIND OF FUTURISTIC AND SEXY!” And speaking of sexy features, I despise carrying my charger everywhere, but when I forget it at home, it’s even worse. So, the wireless charging is the coolest thing I’ve ever heard of ! During the 1960s, the lavish design of this brand included a side BMW badge, so for its 50th anniversary, it’s being brought back. The model I’m

driving is available in an exquisite array of colours, not to mention the stunning interior colour options. So, I keep driving and I can tell that the BMW X2 M Sport is a real head-turner! As I meander through the winding streets of our capital city, gripping the leather steering wheel, it feels sturdy, quick and sharp. And I feel I’m going places! Pink April 2018 ∫ 71

SNAPSHOT

NOTES ON FEMALE EMPOWERMENT The frontwoman of all-femme, alternative, post-punk band Cryptic Street, Leona Farrugia, sits down with IGGY FENECH to discuss their new album, how it all began, and why patriarchy isn’t doing anyone any favours.

eminism comes in various shapes and sizes: it’s the parent who treats the son and daughter in exactly the same way; the man who sticks up for his female colleague, who is earning less than he is for the exact same work; a band that uses its talents to highlight injustice between the sexes… Leona Farrugia is a stubborn dreamer and fronts such a band. Called Cryptic Street, the group formed seven years ago while the daring women were at secondary school. Now, their latest album, Titty Monster, which has just been oﬃcially launched, is a new chapter in their manifesto.

What inspired you to start singing?

Well, I’ve been singing since I was little, but it was only when I got older that I started classical training and musical theory to further my studies. Apart from that, experience is always a considerable way to learn things and further your work, so the more I sang, the more I wanted to sing. In fact, I like to see everything as a learning curve and I’m always up for garnering some new nugget of knowledge. Cryptic Street… What does the name stand for? And how did the band come together?

Not everything stands for something, or has to have a particular association, or a meaning… It came about when we were still starting the band at secondary school and it stuck!

Tell us a fun fact about each of the other band members.

Leanne, our bassist, has a ﬂair for artiﬁcial intelligence; while I wanted to be an astronaut when I was young! Then there’s Michelle, who is the youngest of the band members – although that is supposed to be a secret. Janelle… She’s a big Harry Potter fan and she used to dress up as Hermione when she was young! Another piece of fun trivia is that three of us are left-handed! Why did you decide to go for an alternative post-punk genre?

It wasn’t really a choice, but rather a gradual change that happened in all of us. The addition of Leanne and Michelle to the band six years after we started has also left an impact, of course, but it seems to me that each of us had something to protest about. Many of us agree that it’s down with the patriarchy… But what’s your argument for this?

Patriarchy can be attributed and ampliﬁed in different ways and challenging that

Michelle, Janelle, Leanne and Leona.

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SNAPSHOT mindset is something that has been on the cards for generations, and it will take many more before it can ﬁnally be eliminated. I do believe, however, that there are various options we can take to push back against the system of patriarchy; no matter what ﬁeld, or time of life we may be in.

Titty Monster – What. A. Name! What can fans expect from this album?

What you see is legit what you get! The album can be described as a fusion of styles, with a hint of psychedelia and a ‘riot-grrrl’ punk-vibe. It deﬁnitely shows a development in style compared

“TOPICS REVOLVING AROUND LONELINESS, MENTAL HEALTH, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, THE EXPERIENCE OF LOVE AND LOSS, AND INNER AND OUTER CONFLICT AND ANGER CAN BE FOUND WITHIN TITTY MONSTER!” This challenge affects our music, lyrics and lifestyle constantly and we focus a lot on how women’s rights should not be limited, on the ﬁght for all gender identities to be considered equal, and we emphasise the importance of embracing oneself… My motto for all this is simple: be bold, be brave and be colourful!

to our previous work, especially with the whole line-up change, which really and truly pushed this ‘style’ further. Topics revolving around loneliness, mental health, sexual harassment, the experience of love and loss, and inner and outer conﬂict and anger can be found within Titty Monster!

What topic regarding women’s rights do you think needs more [or better] debating in Malta?

What’s next for Cryptic Street? And for Leona?

Deﬁnitely abortion… Why shouldn’t there be a choice? Everyone should have a choice in life. Period.

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As Cryptic, we’re always working on new songs and performing here and there… In fact, on April 22, we’ll be playing at the Rock the South

Festival, so make sure you join us! Meanwhile, I will also be touring with nosnow/noalps this summer, as well as creating more future projects for my musical and artistic journey. In fact, I’m hoping I’ll get to collaborate with other local and foreign artists. www.crypticstreet.com Photography Matthew Attard