Pink (June 2017)

ISSUE152∫ JUnE2017

Summer’s style highlights CAPTURED BY THE PINK CATWALK SHOW

STICK-THIN NOT IN BAN ON SUPER SKINNY MODELS

SPORT AS AN ANTIDOTE to negative body image

Daddy’s girl THAT INDELIBLE FATHER-DAUGHTER BOND

HOW TO BEAT ELECTION DEFEAT

INSIDE

June 2017

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30 12

50

FEATURES 12 LifeStyle loving to bits Fun and fears of fatherhood 20 InFocus too thin to win Skinny models break the law

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REGULARS FASHION 30 ShowStopper make waves The brands at The Pink Fashion Show

HEALTH 43 BeautyParlour deeper than skin deep Freediving champion on the benefits of marine skincare 50 OnForm the fastest woman in Malta Running away from negative body image 55 PinkShrink winner takes it all Emotions in election defeat 57 ParentingTips daddy’s big role Fathers are irreplaceable

9 EditorsNote 10 MailShot 25 WomanKind la senora cultura Victoria Ocampo 40 ThinkPink fashion 41 ThinkPink health & beauty 58 TableTalk something fishy Sea bream with mango and beetroot salad 61 WomenOnWheels the silent ride Smart Forfour electric car 63 StarGazer the future is pink Horoscopes 65 SnapShot as told by Jade Jade Zammit Stevens

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COVER Photography Andre Gialanze ∫ Styling Marisa Grima [www.marisagrima.com] ∫ Hair Priscilla Mifsud from Screen Salon, Zebbug ∫ Make-up Chris Attard from Franks, using Guerlain ∫ Location Ray’s Lido, Armier ∫ Model Jacqui @ Supernova MM, wearing Michael Kors swimsuit, €173; Versace Jeans leather jacket, €726, both Rebelli.

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Photography Andre Gialanze

EDITORSNOTE

With the team behind The Pink Fashion Show - Veronica Grech Sant and Cheryl Gafà [and kids].

Some time ago, my Sunday morning, last-minute slog to meet deadlines was disturbed by the doorbell. How annoying! I almost ignored it… but something told me to [reluctantly] drag myself to open [while huffing and puffing loudly].

I expected to be greeted by one of the villagers, asking for money for the village feast, or the fireworks, which I always like to contribute towards; or by someone telling me to move my car because of some event the only time I didn’t intend to use it.

Anyway, whatever the case, it was an uninvited disruption to my silent Sunday mornings, when the house is usually empty and I remain in my pyjamas and slippers until most of my work is done.

To my surprise, I opened my front door to an elderly English lady, who was waving my purse at me and asking me if it was mine. Indeed, it was… even though I had never missed it. This stranger brought it

back before I could even start fretting about its loss and all the hassles that replacing its contents entails.

She told me she was walking up the road and found it on the ground by a car; she opened it to try and figure out to whom it belonged, found my address and bothered to bring it home.

I suppose this is the normal and right thing to do, and actually, why am I even recounting this anecdote?

Because right as it may be, is it really normal… in a country where theft is the simple term we should probably be using to describe most of what’s going on around us.

This lady’s act went beyond sparing me from losing cash, and possibly worse still, a period of having no access to money and of going through the laborious motions with the banks to stop cards and cheque books and restart them again.

My immense gratitude and amazement were yet another

eyeopener to what we have come to.

That someone returns what doesn’t belong to him and goes out of his way to trace the owner is no longer a given. I wonder how many parents actually tell their children that finders are keepers and losers are weepers? I wonder how many of us think we’ve been hit by a stroke of luck if we chance upon a lonesome, chunky wallet, with no one around?

Given the extent to which people are blinkered, I’m starting to wonder what exactly is perceived as theft anymore. And when exactly did it start being no one’s concern how others are going about it, possibly because they all want to join in too?

Unfortunately, for some reason, I have no idea where I can find the lovely lady, whose act of honesty prevented a normal day from being transformed into a nightmare.

But wherever she is, I want her to know she feels like a rare – and endangered – species, and that she managed to restore in me an element of faith in humanity. Had she been Maltese, she may have revived an element of faith in my fellow countrymen. Sadly, that deficit only gets deeper by the day.

Meanwhile, it’s got to be business as usual. The show must go on, including Malta’s magazine for women and its most anticipated fashion event. Check out ShowStopper on page 30 for a snapshot of the hottest trends on this summer’s catwalk at Ray’s Lido in Armier. In this case, be sure to steal a peek!

June 18, 2017 ∫ Pink is a monthly magazine ∫ Issue 152 ∫ Executive editor Fiona Galea Debono ∫ Publisher Allied Newspapers Ltd ∫ Printing Progress Press Ltd ∫ Production Allied Newspapers Ltd ∫ Contributors Chris Attard, Maria Cachia, Edward Curmi, Mary Galea Debono, Marisa Grima, Dorianne Mamo, Priscilla Mifsud, Jeffrey Muscat, Helen Raine, Stephanie Satariano, Shelley Von Strunckel ∫ Design Manuel Schembri ∫ Photography Andre Gialanze, Matthew Mirabelli, Chris Sant Fournier, Mark Zammit Cordina ∫ Advertising sales Veronica Grech Sant [2559 4706; veronica.grechsant@timesofmalta.com].

THIS PUBLICATION IS BEING DISTRIBUTED AS PART OF:

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© 2017. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole, or in part, without written permission of the publishers, is prohibited.

Pink June 2017 ∫ 9

MAILSHOT

THE LETTER THAT TICKLED PINK PASSING PINK ONTO PATIENTS Dear Pink, I have to be honest. This is the first time I really read into the magazine. Usually, I just skim through, looking at titles and pictures. But surely it shall not be the last time.

Today, something stopped me – the article The New Me [PrivateEye, May 2017]. What an inspiration! The journey of someone having to go through chemotherapy could not have been explained better. It was so down to earth, yet so positive. Being a nurse myself, I frequently come in contact with these stories. I am keeping this copy of Pink to pass it on to patients who are going through this experience and who I have the privilege to care for. Clare Agius has truly set an example by cutting her hair for such a good cause. Well done! Looking After You [ParentingTips, May 2017] is another article I loved reading. I will surely be taking this advice and not lose myself in this roller coaster of a journey, being a mother of three myself. Thank you!

ISABELLE CASSAR, FROM ZURRIEQ

The writer of the letter of the month wins a Giorgio Armani Sky di Gioia eau de parfum, courtesy of Chemimart; PLUS a selection of Deborah Milano make-up products from A.M.Mangion Ltd.

A TREASURE IN THE NEWSPAPER Your magazine is such a beautiful gem to us all. When I was young, I used to buy Reader’s Digest for such stories. Nowadays, it is like finding a treasure in the newspaper. The story I cherish most and felt most for when reading was The New Me [PrivateEye, May 2017] about the woman who had cancer and expressed her deep feelings about the worst illness in human beings.

It reminded me of my uncle, who meant so much to me and died of cancer.

He did everything to help himself, and always told me to make the best of life. After all the courage he had and the fight he put up, he left us in November. He is still in my heart and used to help people in need. May the government plant more trees to fight the exhaust and pollution we have in our streets; may we give more care and attention to trees, which filter our air and are part of our cure…

JOSIANNE ZAHRA, VIA E-MAIL

ANIMAL TESTING Dear editor, allow me to start by saying how I enjoy reading the articles in Pink. The magazine remains on the kitchen table for days and I read an article every time I have some time to myself. This month, I decided to look at the magazine from a different perspective; I decided to check out all the adverts – after all, almost half of the contents are ads. I had a mission. I was looking for one thing in particular: I wanted to know one crucial piece of information from producers of make-up, cosmetics and perfumes. Is any part of the process tested on animals? I want to see this information on every product I buy. I have come across products that state ‘final product not tested on animals’, basically saying the manufacturer does not question testing on the individual components of the product. Other products say nothing at all, meaning they are tested on animals. Have we become so vain that we do not care about what is going on behind closed doors? These animals have no voice to fight for their rights, but the choices we make in products can influence how testing is conducted. I know that many feel the same as I do and my intention is to start a debate about the topic and perhaps lead to an awareness campaign.

JANET BORG, FROM ATTARD

WRITE IN AND WIN 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 Giorgio Armani Sky di Gioia eau de parfum, courtesy of Chemimart; a selection of Deborah Milano make-up products from A.M.Mangion Ltd; PLUS two Kinnie chairs from Farsons.

Write to Pink, with your contact details, at Allied Newspapers Ltd, 341, Strickland House, St Paul Street, Valletta VLT 1211, 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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LIFESTYLE

Loving TO BITS On the occasion of Father’s Day, Pink delves into a daddy-daughter relationship. Pierre Mattocks talks openly about his bond with 18-year-old Bettina; the emotions, fears, fun times and challenges of fatherhood; and his pride in watching the apple of his eye grow into a fine young lady.

Would you say that Bettina is ‘daddy’s girl’ and in what ways does this come across? Could she take advantage of the fact that you may be ‘besotted’?

Or have you built a loving relationship, based on respect?

Well, she’s definitely ‘daddy’s girl’, but not in a spoilt way. She’s the apple of my eye. However, I don’t believe that Bettina would ever intentionally take advantage of me. I trust that our relationship has been built on reciprocal love and respect even though teenagers tend to think about themselves before their parents.

managed to strike a balance along the years?

Bettina does have me wrapped around her little finger, but she also knows that when I mean business, I mean business. She is not the type to take advantage of me, she’s a very responsible person and pretty mature for her age.

How did she change your life when she came into it?

Bettina was born after nine years of marriage. Her mother and I were not interested to know the sex of the unborn child and,

“Bettina does have me wrapped around her little finger, but she also knows that when I mean business, I mean business” She’s an only child, plus being a girl, the bond is different with a father. Do you believe so?

I must say that, somehow, her bond with her mother seems stronger; probably it is because teenage girls are like that.

Does Bettina have you wrapped around her little finger – as the expression would have it – or have you

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strangely enough, we both thought we would have a boy.

Then the most beautiful miracle happened and Bettina was born.

What I felt when holding her in my arms for the first time is indescribable: the love, the bond, the sense of being a father for the first time hit me all at once. Life was never the same again; it became more beautiful, colourful, with a feeling of fulfilment.

LIFESTYLE

Separated but close: Pierre and Bettina Mattocks say goodbye at the airport.

Pink June 2017 ∫ 13

LIFESTYLE And what would you say have been the most fun/interesting/challenging phases of bringing her up over the last 18 years?

Bettina was always a good girl growing up; she never ever gave us any trouble except when she was a baby and would not stop shrieking to be put to bed. I always tried my best to be present in whatever went on in her life, but unfortunately, due to the nature of my work, I did miss out on her growing up.

Whenever she had important events in her life, I always made sure I was present and used to juggle my calendar around her needs and activities. The biggest challenge came when she had the opportunity to go and study musical theatre in the UK at the age of 16; I could not come to terms with the fact that my

thought that we weren’t close. Both her mother and I are young at heart, so we make it a point to discuss matters like mature adults and clear any issues that might give cause to an argument. In fact, she often says that she has the craziest parents. We give her her space and she does not take advantage. Given that I’m quite a colourful person, I do quite often get the ‘pa what are you wearing?’ And occasionally, she actually approves of my colours.

If you argue, what would it be about? And how do you get over it?

There are no specific reasons why we would argue and it seldom happens. But both Bettina and I are short-tempered, and whenever there’s cause for disagreement, she goes on the attack,

“It was also traumatic for me to have to be without her from one day to another; it changed my life completely. Especially in the first year of her being away, I had sleepless nights with worry and I wanted to know where she was every minute of the day” 16-year-old was leaving home to live in the UK, sharing a house with other students. On the other hand, I could not have had her miss out on this opportunity, especially since she was awarded a scholarship. She’s still there now and has another year to go.

sulks and turns away. We both tend to need a cooling-off period, but then we’re cool again.

Would you say that you spoil her and how hard is it to hold back from giving her what she wants? What have you not given her despite wanting to?

I guess I do spoil her, but she isn’t a demanding type of girl. Many a time, when I visit her in the UK and we go to a shopping mall, it’s like I have to force her to buy stuff; she hardly ever asks for anything in particular. Most of the time, she says: ‘No pa, thank you, but I don’t really need them.’ This does not happen when it comes to food: she just loves good food and fancy restaurants and goes crazy over crustaceans. She also loves a welldecorated house and that is where and when she hints at what she’d like.

left for her. However, there are times when she feels she can open up to me, especially on matters relating to teen craziness, college and money. Obviously, her mother and I always share and discuss her best interests so that none of us are left in the dark with regard to Bettina’s life.

Beyond material things, what about on an emotional level? Does she confide in you, or is that then a role reserved for mothers?

I believe she finds it easier to confide in her mother and matters of the heart are

Is the closeness requited, or were there times – say during the teenage years – when she distanced from her parents and you weren’t ‘cool’ enough?

I don’t believe that there was ever a time when she distanced herself from us, or

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The fruit of her studies: Bettina in the role of Sandor in Grand Hotel – The Musical, recently performed at St James Cavalier.

Despite your attachment, you have had to experience a detachment quite early on in life, when Bettina, aged 16, won a three-year scholarship to study musical theatre at Margaret Howard Theatre College in the UK. In a flash, and probably before you expected it, or were ready for it, your baby flew the nest to lead an independent life alone in a big city. How did you react to the idea at first and how did it affect you?

I was hit by a 100-ton truck when I heard she won this scholarship! Between being elated that she managed to get this opportunity and the fact that she had to leave home at 16 years of age, I could not come to terms with it. It was also traumatic for me to have to be without her from one day to another; it changed my life completely. Especially in the first year of her being away, I had sleepless nights with worry and I wanted to know where she was every minute of the day. To make matters worse, when I thought that I could lighten this burden by speaking to her every day on

LIFESTYLE

FaceTime, she couldn’t find the time to connect given the odd hours she was at college, at times arriving home close to 11pm. I wasn’t only worried about her safety, but also about her well-being because she had hardly any time to cook decent meals.

And now, two years down the line, how do you feel about the decision you took, or were forced to take?

To watch her grow into a fine lady and progress in the way she has done fills me with pride. It was never going to be that I would deny her the opportunity, irrespective of my feelings.

“They need to do their thing, and if they have had the right upbringing, they will face challenges with caution and treat their peers with respect. At one point or another, they will return to their nest” What is the hardest thing to come to terms with in this scenario and how do you somehow keep control?

The hardest thing is missing her physically. We make it a point to keep in touch at least a couple of times daily, and if possible, say hello over the phone. I can’t go through the day without hearing from her.

What would you recommend to parents when it is time to let go, albeit possibly at a later stage in life?

I would tell them not to clip their wings, to let them fly and soar as high as they can. They need to do their thing, and if they have had the right upbringing, they will face challenges with caution and treat their peers with respect.

At one point or another, they will return to their nest.

From your experience, how can parents cope with empty nest syndrome?

This is quite a difficult one to answer. I believe that each parent deals with these situations in different ways. I ended up spending more time at work to fill in this void, but on the other hand, with today’s technology, we’re blessed to be close even though we’re thousands of miles apart.

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What milestones are you looking forward to most in the Bettina’s future?

Bettina’s leaving home at 16 years old was never on the cards, especially not for theatre studies. After completing her studies at QSI Malta, she had already managed to acquire two APs [similar to A levels] and the plan was to get her third in the following year and eventually go to university. Going away for her studies was always on her mind, so at one point or another, she was bound to leave home.

Up until two years ago, we were discussing her reading for Business Psychology; I don’t know if this has changed. She still has another year to go in the UK. If she manages to get called up for a good role following her graduation, I guess she’ll give it a go; otherwise, I believe she’ll go back to the original plan. Once she does university, and depending on whether she would want to further her studies, she can either get some experience with a firm or two, and then, if she pleases, she will come on board in my firm. I hope that, eventually, she’ll take over.

And what do you fear most for her in the future?

To be honest, I have full trust in her; it is who she might be around I’m concerned

about. Kids will be kids; they’re bound to make mistakes and the advice I give her is to at least think before she decides to act to minimise any damage she might face. Kids dream, which is great, but disappointments do happen and it is with maturity and experience that they can overcome such situations.

This is where us parents come in to comfort them.

Like many fathers, are you ‘jealous’ or ‘sceptical’ of her boyfriends, or do you manage to do away with any feelings of possessiveness?

I’m definitely not ‘jealous’, but always ’sceptical’; I believe most parents are sceptical, especially when they get that feeling that their children may be being used. Every parent wants the perfect gentleman for their daughter and the perfect lady for their son. The best we can do is try to make them see clearer and not become blinded by whatever possesses them. Needless to say, for our kids, us parents are the last to understand this! I only want the best for her – to be genuinely loved and respected.

Where would you be if Bettina were not in your life?

I have no idea, but now that she is my life, I cannot imagine it without her even though we are miles apart. I love her to bits.

Check out what it means to be a dad in ParentingTips on page 57.

INFOCUS

TOO THIN TO WIN HELEN RAINE looks into a new law introduced in France, whereby, from now on, models will need a doctor’s certificate to strut their stuff and those deemed ‘unhealthy’ will be banned. Fashion designers and magazines who flout the law could be fined, or even jailed. If this can happen in the capital of style, there’s hope for the rest of the world.

I

f you’ve ever been taken aback by the sight of a skeletal model teetering down a catwalk, take heart from a new law introduced in France. From now on, models will need a doctor’s certificate to strut their stuff – those deemed ‘unhealthy’ will be banned. If this can happen in the capital of style, there’s hope for the rest of the world.

The aim of the French ban is to look after the health of the models, according to web activists Feminist Info, but it will also help to fight eating disorders and unrealistic beauty standards. Fashion designers and magazines who flout the law could be fined, or even jailed.

But supporters say the industry forces women to starve themselves, take drugs, or vomit up their food in order to get hired [or avoid getting fired]. They hope the ban will keep people with eating disorders off the catwalk and out of magazines.

Unfortunately, however, the ban is not foolproof. Although doctors will look at models’ overall health, paying special attention to their weight in relation to height, they will certify them for two years, which is more than enough time to shed a dangerous amount of weight.

There is also no minimum Body Mass Index [BMI] stipulated.

Still, even with potential flaws, the law can only help to change

“DIGITALLY ALTERED IMAGES WILL NEED TO BE MARKED AS A ‘RETOUCHED PHOTO’; NO MORE SMOOTHING AWAY OF LOVE HANDLES, BULGES AND WRINKLES WITHOUT A NOTE TO SAY SO” The ban has unleashed a storm of protest, with some arguing that it discriminates against people with a naturally fast metabolism, or the super tall, who are often correspondingly skinny, and takes us back to the dark days when women were thought too weak to work.

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perceptions in the fashion industry, where ultra-thin is still very much in.

France follows in the footsteps of Italy, Spain and Israel, which have all introduced similar legislation.

In another bold move, secret airbrushing in France will become a thing of the past. Digitally altered

Isabelle Caro

images will need to be marked as a ‘retouched photo’; no more smoothing away of love handles, bulges and wrinkles without a note to say so.

This is important because the idea of the stick-thin, ultra-chic French woman, surviving on coffee, cigarettes and a light misting of Chanel No. 5 has taken root in the national psyche to the point of making women ill. Over 30,000 French women now suffer from anorexia. France’s Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Marisol Touraine, who introduced the law, said: “Exposing young people to normative and unrealistic images of bodies leads

INFOCUS

Models on the runway at Paris Fashion Week.

Caro went on to develop a severe eating disorder and was photographed naked for an Italian anti-anorexia campaign in 2007. She intended the images to shock, and they do – in fact, they are gut-punchingly awful. Weighing around 31 kilos at 165cm tall, her haunted eyes are huge in a starved face, her body wasted and her hair, by her own admission, ruined. In interviews at the time, she said the campaign was “a warning that this is a serious illness”.

Caro died of complications related to anorexia in 2010 at just 28 years old. She is just one in a long line of women whose lives have been ruined by a poor body image and it’s a problem that has been years in the making. Between the 1950s and 1990s, fashion models in magazines became increasingly thin. At the same time, normal women got larger and the number of adverts for slimming products grew, explains Dr Wendy Spettigue in the Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

By using thin models, Dr Spettigue says: “Not only do the media glorify a slender

In Fiji, researchers got a rare chance to analyse a society before and after the advent of mass media in 1995. They looked at the attitudes of young girls to their bodies before the introduction of regional TV, and then again after prolonged exposure. The results were alarming. Prior to having access to TV, a traditional compliment was telling someone she put on weight, while being accused of having skinny legs was an insult, according to The New York Times. [This is also true in many African countries. It might be disconcerting to have a man say: “Madam, you are very fat,” but it’s a sincere appreciation of beauty.]

After TV arrived in Fiji, however, adolescent girls showed an increase in dysfunctional attitudes and behaviours when it came to eating. Fifteen per cent said they had vomited up their food to prevent weight gain [compared to three per cent before TV] and 29 per cent were identified as ‘at risk’ of an eating disorder [compared to 13 per cent before]. Study after study in the West has shown a similar link between media and body image and eating disorders.

Carina Camilleri, founder of Maltese model agency Models M, supports the idea of keeping models with an unhealthy weight off the catwalk, saying: “Excessive weight, from very thin to obese, is not healthy, so banning it is a good start.” However, she doesn’t think that such a step is required in Malta.

“WHEN YOUNG GIRLS GROW UP IN THIS CULTURE, THEY END UP WITH ‘NORMATIVE DISCONTENT’ – THE IDEA THAT IT’S OK TO FEEL UNHAPPY ABOUT YOUR BODY AND WANT TO CHANGE IT” to a sense of self-depreciation and poor self-esteem that can impact healthrelated behaviour.”

The poster child for the obsession of the French fashion industry with an unhealthy body image is model and actress Isabelle Caro. She began modelling while in secondary school and said, in a TV interview with Jessica Simpson, that she was immediately asked to lose 10 kilos. Even when her weight continued to plummet, she was never asked to stop dieting. “People are just used to seeing skinny people at the modelling agencies,” she had said.

ideal, they also emphasise its importance, and the importance of appearances in general.”

Feminist writer Naomi Wolf notes that this culture “disempowers women by holding them prisoner to an unattainable beauty ideal”. However, that same ideal conveniently generates billions of dollars for the diet and beauty industry so there’s little incentive for them to stop. When young girls grow up in this culture, they end up with ‘normative discontent’ – the idea that it’s OK to feel unhappy about your body and want to change it.

“I doubt we need it,” she says.

“The industry is small here and Mediterranean girls do not have the same tendencies as French. We at Models M constantly talk about eating healthily and make sure that models eat and drink water, even when on a job. It is one of the main things we stress.”

She goes on: “The industry here is not as competitive. The demand locally is not to be a super skinny size 0.

In fact, most Maltese clients prefer a woman-shape kind of model to a super skinny one. Also, this is a tightknit, family-oriented community; Pink June 2017 ∫ 21

INFOCUS being close to family, with the majority of the models living at home, means mums [besides myself] keep a close eye on models’ figures, eating habits and exercise regimes.”

Consequently, Carina says she has only encountered one model with a serious weight issue.

To protect young people from negative body issues, she maintains that as a society, we need “reassurance from when models are young that aesthetics are not the be-all and

bombarded by images of international models with dangerously low BMIs. And Malta is not immune to eating disorders – a study of 6,000 people by Dr Anton Grech in 2013 showed that the island has a similar percentage to other European countries, with almost three per cent of respondents having suffered from an eating disorder. Binge eating was the most common, followed by anorexia and then bulimia. Dar Kenn Ghal Sahhtek was created in 2014 to offer treatment for these conditions.

“beIng Close To famIly, wITh The majorITy of The models lIvIng aT home, means mums keep a Close eye on models’ fIgures, eaTIng habITs and exerCIse regImes” end-all. Keeping healthy by eating the right food and exercising should be instilled as a way of life. Having a sound personality and being a leader, not just a follower, will protect young people from many negative issues”.

Still, size zero is considered an industry standard by many fashion designers and we are, therefore,

Of course, it’s too simplistic to equate eating disorders directly with images of skinny models in the media. Caro, like many anorexic women, had other issues in her life, but it’s undeniable that the pressure to lose weight from her agency was, for her, a trigger that lead to tragedy.

Perhaps her death, and the deaths of others like her will not have been in

The other face of Isabelle Caro.

vain now that France is taking steps to protect not just models themselves, but those who might be negatively influenced by equating ‘too thin’ with ‘perfection’. If it saves one life, the ban will be worth it; and if the ban contributes to changing the mindset of a generation of young women, we might actually see a reduction in the insidious eating disorders that claim too many lives.

WOMANKIND each other. To start with, they came from different social backgrounds. Rejected by her natural father, Evita abandoned provincial life and arrived in Buenos Aires in search of a better life. Her stockin-trade was a boundless ambition to succeed, and when she met Juan Domingo Peron, 23 years her senior, but with matching political ambitions, she knew immediately that she was on the right track to attain her goal.

Victoria, on the other hand, came from a wealthy and aristocratic family, with a list of illustrious and historically prominent ancestors – generals and statesmen – on both sides though there were some black sheep too. She was the first of six girls. Besides the parents, to take care of them, the six Ocampo daughters also had four unmarried great-aunts and their grandfather who doted on them and pampered them in every possible way.

The family lived in palatial villas, moving from one to another depending on the season.

Family holidays, when taken abroad, consisted of year-long trips to Europe, visiting the main capitals.

These were grand affairs.

On one such holiday, taken in 1896, when Victoria was six years old, Victoria Ocampo, a contemporary besides one of the greatof Evita Peron, may have been aunts, they took with less known and certainly no myth.

Victoria Ocampo with her review Sur. them several servants as But she too had an influence on well as provisions and Argentinian society as a pillar of feminism in foodstuffs, which included the country. Mary Galea Debono weighs her achievements against cases of live chickens and two cows to the prevailing situation of women in Argentina’s patriarchal society. provide milk for the children during the crossing by steamer. They visited several ost people associate 20thlife story into a soap opera, did the rest: cities and stayed in the best hotels. In century Argentina with the myth ‘Eva Peron’ was born.

Paris, the children had their own French the name of Evita Peron.

But there was another Argentinian governess and it was during this holiday To the many descamisados woman, a contemporary of Evita though that Victoria learnt to speak French [the shirtless ones], who supported 30 years older, less known and certainly fluently.

Peron, Evita represented the link no myth. She too had an influence on For Victoria, who from a very young between them and their leader.

Argentinian society. This was Victoria age had a spirit of adventure, was She was a woman with whom they Ocampo. Together, they were the two naturally curious and loved a challenge, could identify and whom they could most outstanding women of the century these visits opened a window on a new trust to intercede for them. Her in Argentina. world that coloured the rest of her life. untimely death from cancer at the age of There are not many similarities Europe was, in the first decades of the 33 turned her into a saint. Films, plays, between them. They themselves knew it 20th century, the hub of all that was books and songs, which distorted her and, most probably, they did not like avant-garde and for the rest of her life

La senora cultura

M

Pink June 2017 ∫ 25

WOMANKIND she remained indebted to the influence that this close encounter with European thought had on her own mental development, opening for her new vistas and challenging her thinking.

She learnt to appreciate the taste of a different and exciting cultural flavour.

At the same time, she understood that although in Buenos Aires she was culturally isolated, in Europe she remained, as she put it, “a soul without a passport” and she could never get rid of what she termed that “orphan feeling.”

These trips were learning experiences that revealed to her that the country of her birth, the continent that had formed her and the people who understood her is where she belonged.

Her cultural mission was to construct bridges between the two worlds.

To do this, Victoria felt the need to explain America. As she wrote in one of her many essays: “If I hadn’t been American… I probably wouldn’t have felt this need to explain, to explain us, to explain myself.”

From a very early age, her urge to write was very strong. Even as a teenager, she had always been a prolific letter writer.

More than a means of communicating her thoughts to others, for Victoria, writing was the vehicle to clear her own thoughts to herself. Her favourite medium to express her ideas was the essay. Later these essays, collected in 10 volumes with about 30 in each and covering a wide

world-renowned writers such as Ortega, Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore, Andre Malraux, Albert Camus and a host of others.

For an Argentinian woman to establish such a relationship was no mean feat. This was an era when society labelled a woman who ‘meddled’ with culture as a marisabidilla – a miss know-it-all. Yet it was her ability to engage with foreign writers and thinkers that contributed towards making the literary climate in Argentina an international one.

Victoria had all the necessary qualities to see it through in spite of all the difficulties.

Its success can be gauged from the impressive list of its contributors. It also needed huge financing, and although the money was there, its publication left its founder financially poorer.

As her biographer, Doris Meyer, writes in her biography Victoria Ocampo – Against the Wind and the Tide: “When she [Ocampo] is called ‘la senora cultura’ or ‘the intellectual ambassador of Argentina’ her fame rests on her contribution through this literary review…”

These achievements have to be weighed against the prevailing situation of women in Argentina’s patriarchal society. Before the outbreak of World War II, women in Argentinian society had, as in many other countries, begun to make some advancement in gaining more equality. They had won for themselves the right of equal education and various rights that promoted equality had also been implemented by law. What had not changed was the male mindset.

The Argentinian man, whether as a father or as a husband, continued to believe in his superiority vis-à-vis the ‘weaker sex’. Men remained reluctant to accept that women were intelligent enough to be able to take Victoria and Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore decisions on their own. in Paris in 1930.

Because they were inherently ‘weak’, women needed the “FOR AN ARGENTINIAN WOMAN TO ESTABLISH SUCH protection of the A RELATIONSHIP WAS NO MEAN FEAT. THIS WAS AN stronger sex. For the ERA WHEN SOCIETY LABELLED A WOMAN WHO Argentinian male, the ‘MEDDLED’ WITH CULTURE AS A MARISABIDILLA – A role of the married MISS KNOW-IT-ALL” woman was in the home as an idealised The rebel: In the 1920s, driving a car was considered range of subjects, were published under Victoria understood housewife/mother; at scandalous for a woman. the title Testimonios. She also wrote very well the importance best, she could also be biographical studies and translated of introducing literary the muse. several works into Spanish. internationalism. It was her answer to Victoria had always been a rebel. She Yet Victoria’s fame in the world of Peron’s attempts to suffocate intellectual rebelled against her father’s insistence literature does not rest on her writing. freedom in her country. As a tool to that writing was not a suitable career for If she was described in her time as “the combat unhealthy fascist nationalism, a woman; in the 1920s, she drove a car intellectual ambassador of Argentina”, Victoria decided to publish a literary when it was considered scandalous it is for two other reasons. First of all, review with contributors from America behaviour for a woman to sit behind a no other Argentinian woman had ever and Europe. wheel; in an act of rebellion, she got managed to establish such close contact Sur, as the review was called, first saw married, but when soon afterwards she with the leading thinkers of her time light in 1931 and it kept going for the next discovered she had merely exchanged from outside her country. She knew four decades. The concept was an one subordinate role for another, she on a personal level and corresponded ambitious one and needed courage and packed up and left; and when she with established intellectual leaders – dedication to be brought to fruition. But decided to live on her own instead of 26 ∫ Pink June 2017

WOMANKIND returning to her parents’ house, her behaviour was considered unacceptable by society.

Unlike her grandmother, who was happy to wear a bracelet given to her by her husband, engraved with the words ‘Chained and Content’, she developed from a very early age a feminist consciousness. Writers such as Virginia Woolf, with whom she established a personal rapport, reinforced this outlook.

It is as a pillar of feminism in Argentina that she remains best known.

In 1936, together with two other women, she founded the Argentine Women’s Union with the aim of stopping the passing of a bill that threatened to reduce married women to the status of a minor by repealing a previous law that had granted them certain civil rights. This is only one instance of her commitment to raise consciousness of women’s position of inequality in Argentinian society.

Although Victoria disliked involvement in politics, during the Peron era, it was not easy to steer clear from them. As with all fascist regimes, Peron advocated stereotypical sex roles for women.

A visit by Indira Gandhi to Villa Ocampo.

Feminists were labelled as women who aspired to be men and activists in women’s associations were discouraged as was their employment in industry and commerce. When, therefore, prior to his election as president, he advocated women’s suffrage, she realised that his only aim was to win the women votes.

Because she saw that this move was

merely to serve his political purpose, she urged women to fight against suffrage granted for the wrong reason.

There was never much love between Victoria and Peron. Ideologically, they were on the opposite sides. Already in 1952, the ‘peronistas’ had painted the entrance to Villa Ocampo with crosses to brand her “as an oligarch and a dissenting intellectual”.

One early May morning of the following year, she was arrested in her house and was imprisoned for 26 days without being informed of the charges. In 1973, they set her house at Mar del Plata on fire. But Victoria was not intimidated and refused to leave Argentina even though she was urged to do so even by her international friends.

In 1977, at the age of 87, Victoria was elected to the Argentine Academy of Letters. She was the first woman in Argentina to be awarded this honour. On that occasion, she started her acceptance speech by thanking and congratulating the members of the Academy saying: “… you have conquered a prejudice, and that always requires effort.”

Victoria died in 1979 and is buried in La Recolta Cemetery in Buenos Aires.

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Pink June 2017 ∫ 31

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Pink June 2017 ∫ 33

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Pink June 2017 ∫ 35

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Pink June 2017 ∫ 37

THINKPI FAShIoN

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1

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5 DAD’S DAY The Timberland Bolton watch features a three-hand date, has a stainless-steel crown, stainless-steel dial, a beige band and a brown leather strap. The watch is also water resistant and a great gift for the sporty dads out there. Available from Sun Lab at The Point, Plaza, Valletta, Baystreet, Paola and Arkadia, Gozo, as well as VIP in Sliema and Valletta.

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3 4 5

THINKPINK HEALTH & BEAUTY

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2 THE SPIRIT OF A SICILIAN SUMMER Sixteen years after the launch of Dolce&Gabbana’s Light Blue, master perfumer Olivier Cresp writes a new chapter of the saga with Light Blue Eau Intense pour Femme. The fragrance opens with a sharp, addictive duo of scents: luminous lemon and crisp Granny Smith apple. Light Blue Eau Intense is more than a scent; it is the aura of Mediterranean beauty.

Dolce&Gabbana is exclusively represented by C+M Marketing Ltd. T. 2142 4079

3 MASCULINE FRESHNESS

Pink gathers together everything you ever needed to feel great!

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The time is right – and so is the watch – to rock ‘n’ roll this summer.

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First launched in 2007, Light Blue pour Homme offers a magnetic, masculine alter ego to Dolce&Gabbana’s iconic feminine perfume.

Today, master perfumer Alberto Morillas continues to tell the story with Light Blue Eau Intense pour Homme, whose signature contrast of freshness and sensuality becomes more assertive. A chilled citrus cocktail of refreshing mandarin and frozen grapefruit gives the top notes a cool, elegant twist, while the aromatic juniper dives into the heart.

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BEAUTYPARLOUR

DEEPER THAN SKIN DEEP

Photography David Luquet

T

he mere thought of freediving could send shivers down someone’s spine.

Being underwater, without access to oxygen, would be many people’s panic, and yet this is your life. How do explain how what gives you great pleasure could be someone else’s greatest fear? And what do you feel has placed you on the freediving side of the fence?

Some people are happiest underwater. Describe the feeling to the non-believers?

Freediving in the sea is different from freediving into a pool. In the sea, you feel far from any ‘inland’ daily preoccupations and the feeling of freedom is so huge that the discomfort of not breathing is diminished. The immensity and the blueness of the sea make your soul breath.

It’s all a question of adaptation.

The more you train, the more you improve your breath hold and your swimming style and the more you enjoy flying underwater into the wilderness.

What does a three-time French freediving champion have in common with a cosmetics brand?

Aurore Asso explains why she has endorsed Thalgo, experts in marine skincare and spa therapies for over 50 years.

The two share many similar values, including ocean conservation and the search for beauty secrets in water.

Pink June 2017 ∫ 43

BEAUTYPARLOUR composition of marine water.

That’s why all marine active principles reach human cells easily and help them to regenerate.

Thalgo pursues an active approach for the preservation of marine wealth and biodiversity. How do you feel about the state of our seas, what is the biggest threat they are facing and are you doing anything about its conservation on a personal level?

What sort of training and commitment are required to be able to do this? A perfectly healthy lifestyle

from the oddest and most attractive sources. Why do you believe Thalgo’s concept? I have a scientific

is required for freediving. This includes good sleep; healthy food, with a lot of fruit and vegetables; good physical training to be in a good shape and tone, and at the same time, moments of rest for the body and soul.

background and I did a lot of biology before; that’s why I am very interested in marine biodiversity and all the treasures it contains. The Thalgo research department is huge and is working very hard with a lot of scientists to find new marine active principles especially in algae. I’ve met some of them many a time and I do trust their research.

As a world-class freediver, you have endorsed Thalgo, experts in marine skincare and spa therapies for over 50 years. It makes sense that the French cosmetics brand chose you for this partnership. Was it the only one and why did you accept? I share many

similar values with Thalgo, including ocean conservation; the search for beauty secrets in water; the quest for performance as much as the search for kindness. That’s why we could connect to create a solid partnership.

The connection between Thalgo and the sea is clear. It draws on the riches of the ocean to develop exceptional skincare products. But some may be sceptical, given that the trend is for beauty brands to be experimenting with natural and ecological ingredients, extracting them 44 ∫ Pink June 2017

With Thalgo, we have a team effort to communicate about the preservation of marine biodiversity. Industrial fishery, illegal fishing and pollution are killing the marine biodiversity. Each time I can be a witness to that, I try to raise the consciousnesses of people on the urgency to stop plastic rejection and the fish mass market, illegal fishing etc… On a personal level, I’ve stopped eating seafood coming from industrial fishery and I try to reconnect people with the sea by transmitting my experience of freediving and making documentaries showing the beauty and fragility of marine ecosystems. If people feel good in the water they will better understand how to preserve marine life, because you can’t protect something you don’t like.

As a sportswoman, who spends a lot of time underwater, skincare and cosmetics may not be foremost on your mind… or maybe they are, given that you are exposed to the elements and may need to counteract that.

Exposure to the sun and sea salt may

“IT REALLY SEEMS LIKE MY SKIN IS DRINKING THE SERUM AFTER A DAY OF BEING AT SEA” The marine algae used in Thalgo’s skincare is packed full of active ingredients, used for their rebalancing, protecting, nourishing and anti-ageing properties. Do you think the sea is a bottomless pit to draw beauty and skincare benefits from? Have we just scratched the surface? What is so special about marine molecules? What powers does marine biodiversity hold?

Marine cosmetics, and especially Thalgo, follow the key idea that all our cells’ composition is close to the

not be the best for the face. So what is your beauty regime, if you have one? What are your all-time favourite Thalgo products; the ones that have shown you visible results and that you would take with you everywhere? All Thalgo products are

very good, with a fine texture and a lot of natural active principles. I’ve used them daily for four years and now especially the Prodige des Océans cream, mask and serum. It really seems like my skin is drinking the serum after a day of being at sea. I feed my hair

BEAUTYPARLOUR and skin with coconut oil before my training in the pool to avoid dehydration, and I drink a lot of water and eat a lot of fresh fruits to get vitamins and antioxidants after my training. I also try to take time to go to the Thalgo thalassotherapy spa to give my muscles a rest and get some massage and face treatments to preserve my body and mind and be more efficient in my dives.

become more beautiful when they get older because they look more in harmony with their environment and are shining from a deeper light.

As a three-time French freediving champion, what are your future goals in the field? I am training

Given your love for nature, would you say you have a more natural look and seek out the ‘greener’ aspects in life? Or would you consider yourself vain and are you afraid of ageing?

I feel both natural and sophisticated.

I think, today, the real luxury is going back to natural values. I am inspired by the beauty of nature. With my quest for the depths, I try to be closer to it.

I train hard to make my body more hydrodynamic and I dream of swimming like marine mammals. It’s the work of a whole lifetime to try to be as graceful underwater as they are.

I am not afraid of ageing because I

Photography Luis Léal

think beauty is a question of harmony between oneself and people and oneself and nature. Some people

hard for the Freediving World Championships that will take place in Roatan in August. One day, I would like to reach 90m with my monofin and 60 without fins, but I don’t know yet when I will be ready for that. What I do know is that I will go there however long it takes. The world championships will be a step in that direction for sure.

If you were born a creature of the sea, what would it be? A sea lion.

ONFORM

THE FASTEST WOMAN IN MALTA Olympic athlete Charlotte Wingfield takes a breather to talk to HELEN RAINE about how it feels to be the fastest woman in Malta, what she’s aiming for next and how sports can help with a positive body image.

Photography Chris Sant Fournier

C

harlotte Wingfield is going places fast. In May, this Maltese Olympian smashed the national record for the 100m and 200m sprints and broke her own record for the 60m.

She also brought home two gold medals and a silver in the relay at the San Marino Games of the Small States of Europe, breaking her own record in the 200m. The 22-year-old has competed for Malta in Baku, Reykjavik, Tallinn, Guernsey, Rio de Janeiro, Beijing, Amsterdam and Belgrade.

Tell us about your new national records.

They were set in the 100m and 200m at Marsa Athletics Stadium and San Marino. The times I ran were 11.54s and 23.78s. When I finished and saw the times, I was so shocked! I didn’t think I would open my season running times that fast.

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This year, I was determined to run better than I did last year, so I told my coach that I need a bit more endurance in my training. I have trained very hard and the work I have put in is clear.

What is your next goal?

I want to represent Malta at the April 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, so I really hope that I run the qualifying times [which are yet to be released in Malta].

Nutrition wise, what do you focus on to keep yourself in peak condition?

My diet isn’t always my main concern; I just make sure that what I do eat isn’t rubbish. After my sessions, I either have a protein shake, or a protein bar, and I take some good carbs in, such as pasta and rice. On my rest days, I have a cheeky little bit of chocolate.

ONFORM

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ONFORM

“YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULDN’T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE. IF THEY EAT HEALTHILY AND FEEL GOOD, THEN THAT’S WHAT MATTERS”

Competing at the San Marino Games of the Small States of Europe.

Photography Dominic Borg

What are your top nutrition tips?

The best tip I learnt was not to eat for the sake of eating. If you want a snack, eat fruit and nuts as that’s a healthy option; don’t eat chocolate and sweets.

What does your training schedule consist of?

I train six days a week. On Monday, I am in the gym doing bench presses, power cleans [a complex weight-lifting exercise that has an explosive, throw-and-catch component), squats and abs work. On Tuesdays, I have block starts with some short speed wicket runs. Wednesday is a circuit, and on a Thursday, it’s a speed endurance session. Friday is another gym session, Saturday is my day off and Sunday is about endurance.

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Apart from sprinting, what other sports do you enjoy?

I really enjoy going to the golf driving range and playing netball.

Even though I’m not amazing at playing them, I like having fun.

In France, models who are too thin have just been banned by law. As an athlete in fantastic physical shape, do you see yourself as a more positive role model for young Maltese people?

In athletics, it is not about what you look like; it’s how you perform and how strong you are. I believe I am a positive role model as all athletes are different shapes and sizes.

ONFORM

Do you think that sport is a good antidote to the negativity about body shapes and sizes in our society?

I do like to look strong. Young people shouldn’t need to worry about what they look like. If they eat healthily and feel good, then that’s what matters. Social media nowadays has a lot of editing, so those who look fit and thin may have been photoshopped.

What kind of look do you go for?

As an athlete, I don’t get to wear many fashion brands as I am studying for a sports master’s degree so I go to university

I LIKE FEELING NATURAL AND NOT HAVING ANYTHING HEAVY ON MY FACE” in kit. I also work in a sports shop wearing kit and then I train. Nike makes some amazing sports clothing, which I love to wear. When I go out with my friends, I tend to just shop in New Look and Missguided, but I do love Michael Kors. I don’t worry much about make-up; I just wear mascara and eyeliner. I like feeling natural and not having anything heavy on my face.

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11, Tower Road, Sliema F: Coccinelle Malta

PINKSHRINK

WINNER TAKES IT ALL Dott. EDWARD CURMI analyses what actually happens to the emotions of candidates and supporters defeated at the polling booth.

W

hen an election takes place, people invest their hearts and souls into the party they support and wish to elect. Once the result is out, defeat becomes the main fear due to the perception that the winner takes it all. So, what actually happens to the emotions of the candidates and supporters who are defeated at the polling booth?

According to psychologist Dr Robert Butterworth, an election defeat may cause emotional reactions that are very similar to a strong sense of loss and grief.

The first reaction of most people who suffer a defeat is to go into complete denial. The classic statement is: ‘No, this cannot be true; there must be some kind of mistake!’ The disbelief is a very clever way of our conscious protecting us from the truth of the matter. It shields us from the traumatic truth after all the time and effort we have placed in our belief. Therefore, our conscious bypasses the truth to be able to cope with the reality of the defeat.

Anger seems to be the order of the day for a number of people the moment

they learn about a defeat in an election.

Once the negative result is out, they will do everything in their power to lash out at anyone they feel deserves to be blamed for the defeat. Ironically, such anger is often addressed at the leader and strategists surrounding the party, who, up until a while ago, were idolised and placed on a pedestal.

theories, which allow a person to feel the defeat was inevitable.

Such theories have the ability to soften the blow of the true reality of the matter.

One of the most painful stages in a defeat is sadness as the reality begins to sink in and evidently hurts. A person feels enshrouded with hopelessness and helplessness. A strong sense of disorientation and lack of motivation may tend to kick in.

However, the good news is that through this suffering, they are able to start the process of recovery. This pain has to be seen as the beginning of healing.

Blame and guilt seem to accompany sadness on the journey to recovery from an election defeat. Typically, people feel a strong sense of self-doubt and possibly blame themselves for the loss. Often, the guilt kicks in with typical statements such as: ‘I could have done more’; or ‘I should have seen this coming.’ It’s yet another phase of emotions that allow a person to process the pain and move on.

The possible final stage of recovery in an election defeat is acceptance. This brings with it a strong sense of relief.

Only through acceptance can they begin to understand fully what actually happened and what needs to change.

The quicker the result is accepted, the quicker the move to a new beginning.

Only now will a person find the energy and space in their head to start

“A STRONG SENSE OF DISORIENTATION AND LACK OF MOTIVATION MAY TEND TO KICK IN” From a psychological perspective, such anger is nothing but a defence mechanism, which protects them from feeling depressed about the defeat. A psychologist would encourage a person to move on and develop these emotions because staying in the phase of anger can only help build an even bigger sense of injustice.

Bargaining is another tool that may often be used in defeat. Through bargaining, a person is able to concede defeat by making good use of distorted thoughts. A typical example of bargaining is the use of conspiracy

a new journey, whatever and wherever that may be. In fact, many world leaders have often recounted how they learned the most important lessons in life through defeat and not necessarily victory. After all, it is pretty ridiculous to link self-worth to one defeat in life.

It has so much more to offer.

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 June 2017 ∫ 55

PARENTINGTIPS

Daddy’s BIG ROLE Educational and child psychologist STEPHANIE SATARIANO asks what it actually means to be a dad… and highlights how irreplaceable his role is.

A

s most parents will know, there is a lot of emphasis on the mother-child relationship, while dads can often be sidelined and overlooked. However, over the years, dads are becoming more and more involved in their children’s lives – and this is a good thing, especially since there is growing research that dad’s play an important and irreplaceable role in their child’s development.

The most obvious difference between fathers and mothers is the type of play. Typically, mothers are more nurturing and tend to do more ‘teaching’ in their play, whereas dads do a lot more physical and active play. As expected, this has differential effects on children’s development. Obviously, physical skills are impacted and, interestingly, this type of play has also been found to teach children how to regulate their behaviour and feelings.

It is not just playing with your child that is important, but also just being involved in the day-to-day stuff. Children who have involved fathers [from a very early age] have been found to show a range of positive outcomes, including better verbal skills, greater emotional security, more confidence and the ability to create better social connections. They have also been found to have better educational outcomes.

In most situations, dads form part of a larger system – a family. And it is not just the father-child relationship that

is important to the child’s development, but also the parental relationship. Relationships with high levels of stress and discord have found to negatively impact children, particularly psychosocial outcomes. Furthermore, it has long been established that maternal mental health impacts children, although recent research has also found that paternal mental health has an equivalent effect.

It is natural for couples to have arguments, but how the argument is handled is imperative to children’s well-being and psychosocial outcomes. Parents who show greater marital satisfaction, and who treat each other with mutual respect, tend to have children with an enhanced well-being.

“GET DOWN ON THE FLOOR AND PLAY WITH YOUR LITTLE ONES, CHANGE NAPPIES AND FEED THEM!” What about when parents are separated, or divorced?

Or when dads just don’t live in the same house? It is important to remember that there are many ways you can remain bonded with your child even if you are not physically there every day. It is important to continue to provide a strong, consistent and loving role in your child’s life – one that will build their resilience and help make the transition more successful.

So, in a nutshell, yes dads – you play an important and invaluable role in a child’s life. Get down on the floor and play with your little ones, change nappies and feed them! When they’re older, take an interest in their life, go on outings and do things that only a dad can do. And kids, appreciate your dad – they too play an important role in your life.

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TABLETALK

Something

FISHY MARIA CACHIA serves her sea bream with a mango and beetroot salad.

INGREDIENTS Serves 4 4 whole sea bream, gutted and scaled 1 tsp ground turmeric 1 tbsp fish sauce 2 tbsp soy sauce 1 tsp soft brown sugar 1 tsp powdered garlic 2 tbsp olive oil Half a lime For the salad 1 cucumber Salad greens Half a mango, cut into thin slices, or through a spiraliser 1 beetroot, shredded, or cut through a spiraliser 2 carrots, shredded, or cut through a spiraliser A small handful of parsley leaves, finely chopped A small handful of mint leaves 1 tbsp olive oil Juice of half a lime

METHOD Preheat the oven to 220°C. Place the cucumber, salad greens, mango, beetroot and carrots in a mixing bowl. Add the chopped herbs. In a 58 ∫ Pink June 2017

smaller bowl, blend the olive oil with the lime and season. Gently blend in the dressing with the salad ingredients.

In a glass dish, large enough to contain the fish, mix the turmeric, fish sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar and garlic. Drizzle the olive oil.

Season with freshly ground salt and pepper. Blend the ingredients.

Marinade the fish for a couple of hours. Turn the fish after an hour, making sure it is evenly coated.

Place the fish onto a roasting tray and bake for 15-20 minutes until it is cooked through. Add a drizzle of half a lime if desired, or serve with lime wedges for squeezing over.

Serve with the salad and rice if desired.

WOMENONWHEELS

THE SILENT RIDE

As smart as her Smart Forfour electric car: Dorianne Mamo wears a dress from Mangano and Aldo shoes.

Fashion and lifestyle blogger Dorianne Mamo [askdorianne.com] may not be the most knowledgeable when it comes to engines and vehicles, but she does know what a great car ride should feel like. It should feel Smart!

A

s I tied up my hair in the usual ponytail and eyed my dress in the mirror one last time, I hummed along to some song in my head. I was excited! Lunch with my girlfriends always makes me feel bouncy, but what I was mostly excited about was the test drive booked right before that.

On my way to Auto Sales Ltd to test drive the new Smart Forfour electric car, I wondered where I could take it for a spin. Still undecided between somewhere in Rabat, or the Coast Road, I made my way inside the huge showroom in Lija to find the sales rep waiting near the adorable four-seater I was about to drive, keys already in hand.

He went over the numerous cool features of the new Smart, including the car’s media package [complete with 7” touchscreen and navigation system] and heated seats for driver and passenger.

Right as we started the emission-free engine and were about to set off, I [ashamedly] fell for his “don’t leave the engine on please, we wouldn’t want to waste fuel now, do we?” tease. A couple of minutes later, I was on my way to Mdina, driving an automatic Smart electric drive model.

Now, I’m not the most knowledgeable of people when it comes to engines and vehicles, but I do know what a great car ride feels like. As I made my way up the hill, I couldn’t but immediately notice how incredibly silent this model is. In fact, I was enjoying the quiet ride so much that I made the conscious decision to switch off the car’s audio system.

As the traffic thinned and I could go a bit faster, I was not expecting such seamless acceleration from a fully electric car.

The Smart electric drive model is also popular for its cute and compact exterior, but the car’s interior is what won me over. I couldn’t but lust over the Smart’s fresh design, the leather details and the high-quality materials used inside the surprisingly spacious vehicle.

Turns out I had every reason to get excited about my test drive. Going to Rabat has never been so much fun! So, I’m sure you can understand how the hardest part of it all was having to hand back the keys to the cheery sales rep.

Pink June 2017 ∫ 61

STARGAZER

THE FUTURE IS

PINK ARIES MARCH 20-APRIL 18 When your ruler Mars moved to accent the structure of your life in early June, you began questioning both existing plans and your priorities. Thus, July’s first half is about a serious review of who you spend time with, at home and out in the world. You’ll realise certain oncerewarding arrangements must end. This is sad, yet a blessing, since letting these go clears the way for new ventures, personally, professionally and romantically. Take it slowly. What’s best may not appear until late July.

CANCER JUNE 21-JULY 21 What you think and do during July will be shaped by the Cancer New Moon on June 24. The insights and fresh ideas it brings, both about existing plans and future arrangements, could lead to substantial changes. These, in turn, result in frank and often revealing discussions.

Thus, by mid-July, you’re rethinking both your objectives and those with whom you’ll be pursuing them. Be bold. If this seems worrying, remember, you’ll only regret the changes you didn’t make, not those you did.

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 22-OCTOBER 22 By no means is your mind closed to new ideas. On the contrary, you adore hearing what’s going on in the world around you and about what others are doing. However, you’re being oddly secretive about your own life, possibly because you’re worried discussions would lead to questions about changes you’re struggling to avoid in your life, activities and certain unsettling relationships. At least explore your options. You’ll soon realise minor changes could relieve anxieties and, better yet, result in unexpected happiness.

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 21-JANUARY 18 There’s no avoiding the events triggered by the powerful Capricorn Full Moon on July 9, and resulting dramatic changes and heightened feelings they’ll trigger. However, these will be a relief, as both a serious rethink of certain arrangements and the resulting heartfelt exchange isn’t just important, it’s crucial. What’s more, because certain of these matters are unfamiliar, you’ll need to consult experts. Their guidance so broadens your horizons that you’re soon viewing dilemmas as an opportunity to make much needed changes.

According to astrologer SHELLEY VON STRUNCKEL… TAURUS

APRIL 19-MAY 19 July is a month of review. This means examining how you use your time, money, ideas and even whether you’re loving wisely. Soon you’re having frank, often surprising, but always worthwhile discussions. While some will lead to immediate action, others will inspire extended questioning and exploration. This forces you to consider changes you’d once dismissed as unrealistic, if not impossible. Now they’re in your best interests and, as things proceed, to your surprise, they soon prove profitable, bring you joy – or both.

LEO JULY 22-AUGUST 21 The situations you’re facing as July begins are complicated by manipulative manoeuvres, or obscured by falsehoods, so much so that you’re wary. While you can’t ignore these, you can make a point of learning from them. The resulting insights will equip you to deal with the less complicated but crucial financial or practical matters.

These arise suddenly and, while they’re dull, tackle them first. This then frees you to concentrate when, from July 20, developments involving who and what’s dearest to your heart take centre stage.

SCORPIO OCTOBER 23-NOVEMBER 21 In late June, events force you to talk about certain issues you’d rather not discuss. The reaction, and resulting ideas and support are surprisingly positive. And others are helpful, enough you’re willing to take a chance and discuss other equally sensitive matters. The resulting discussions are helpful and certain individuals make worthwhile suggestions, or introductions. True, this means rethinking arrangements – some that have been reassuringly unchanging. Yet, once you begin, you feel freer and more excited about life.

AQUARIUS JANUARY 19-FEBRUARY 17 During July, you’ll be conducting a major clear-out – of possessions, habits, certain friendships, goals and even ideals. That seems extreme. However, this is preparing you for the thrilling, if dramatic, changes triggered by the powerful Aquarius eclipsed Full Moon on August 7. Certain elements of your life have become far too predictable. This is about breakthroughs, and often in ways that once seemed impossible. The more you let go of in July, the better prepared you’ll be for what’s next.

Visit www.shelleyvonstrunckel.com to learn more and order your own chart.

GEMINI MAY 20-JUNE 20 You’re inquisitive by nature, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be especially interested in certain dull practical matters. However, they’re pressing, if not crucial. Some are, admittedly, issues you’ve been ignoring in the hope they’d resolve themselves. Others appear suddenly. In each, the key is finding the angle that rouses your curiosity.

That way, you’ll tackle these once, and in depth.

And move swiftly, because by midmonth you’ll want to focus on new ideas, offers and, often, the intriguing people you meet pursuing these.

VIRGO AUGUST 22-SEPTEMBER 21 You’re in a position to profit from a range of activities, some solo, a few involving others, but all complex. Yet you soon notice these are raising questions about certain long-standing arrangements. Even more important, you realise this review means rethinking activities and relationships you’ve regarded as unchanging. Actually, this is about broadening your horizons, personally, in terms of relationships and your activities.

You’ll soon be enjoying this process. Besides, what you discover could add magic to your life.

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 22-DECEMBER 20 Practical, business, or financial matters have long been on your mind, but other things have come first, so you’ve made only quick fixes. By early July, you need to dig in, seeking out the source of persistent problems and investigating in-depth solutions. Once you begin, this proves surprisingly easy and prompts you to streamline other increasingly demanding elements of your life, especially certain demanding relationships. Worrying as this tough approach seems, others seem as relieved as you are.

PISCES FEBRUARY 18-MARCH 19 Being told you’re about to be disappointed may not sound like good news. But you’ve been tolerating unfair situations with certain individuals, at work, or in practical matters for too long, yet haven’t had good reason to take action. Early July’s events justify either that you demand changes, or make a break. Waste no time debating strategy, or worrying about causing upset. Move swiftly and, not only will these issues end, but in the process, you’ll also kickstart a thrilling new cycle of your life.

Pink June 2017 ∫ 63

SNAPSHOT

AS TOLD BYJade

Artificial Intelligence graduate, Betsson software developer and fashion blogger, Jade Zammit Stevens has just won the blogger award at Malta Fashion Week. She tells Pink keeping it honest is what being a digital influencer is all about.

H

ow would you describe life without the internet and social media? Could you even begin to imagine it?

Considering that my passion is blogging, this is pretty hard to imagine! The internet and social media are the main tools for us bloggers, social media – mainly Instagram – is where I get my main inspiration from.

Having said that, social media isn’t my life; if this didn’t exist, I would focus on other things, I guess.

Given that these are your tools, can you get yourself to see anything negative in Facebook, Instagram, You Tube, Snapchat…? I think the

overuse of anything is always negative.

It’s still important to socialise in real-life situations and step away from social media once in a while to get back to reality. Also, I think social media can be a big cause of low self-esteem because everyone’s life seems so perfect on it and so you start questioning your own. We must remember that not everything we see on social media is true and so we must not let it influence us too much.

How did it all start, and when it did, did you think you’d win the blogger award at this year’s Malta Fashion Week?

Ironically, it was only the first time you attended the event… I had been

thinking about starting my blog for a very long time. In early 2016, during my thesis, I was spending a lot of time at home and I needed something to get my mind off university stuff, so I decided to go for it and start my blog. I did not expect the win at all; I was very shocked, but very happy and thankful. To be recognised for doing something you absolutely love feels amazing. I have no words!

What does fashion mean to you, how much of your day does it occupy and how would you describe your style?

In my everyday life, my style is very casual and my aim is to be as comfortable as possible. I then try to be a bit adventurous when I go out, but I would still classify my style as casual.

What should we be wearing this summer, according to Jade? I think

summer is all about fun clothing.

Anything with flamingos, palm trees, pineapples etc… is in my wardrobe. Have fun! It’s the season to do it!

“TO BE RECOGNISED FOR DOING SOMETHING YOU ABSOLUTELY LOVE FEELS AMAZING. I HAVE NO WORDS” What do you think attracts readers to what you have to say? What’s the secret to creating interest and online success – and maintaining it? From day one, I just kept my blog as honest and as ‘me’ as I can. I guess people appreciate the honesty and can relate to it.

How does it feel to be a digital influencer – and at only 21 years old?

It’s quite cool that I inspire and influence other people in fashion, or make-up. I think the fact that I am a new, young face in the industry is what helped in building a good following.

Pink June 2017 ∫ 65

SNAPSHOT Who is your audience and who would you most like to reach out to and ‘influence’? My target audience are

people who are into fun, casual and affordable fashion.

Are there really people out there who hang onto your every outfit post when it comes to deciding about their look etc…? Can you relate at all to that – the fact that some people don’t have a clue about fashion? I think everyone has their

own style. Even if you have no clue about the current trends, you should just wear what you like and feel comfortable in. I think that’s what fashion and style are all about – individuality.

How much effort and time goes into doing your make-up and how far in advance – honestly – do you plan outfits? For weekend outfits, or special

already a mouthful in itself. Gone are the days when IT was a male-dominated job? Or are people still surprised at what you do? I think we’ve come a long

events, I do plan my outfits and take around an hour to get ready, realistically.

way since it was a 100 per cent maledominated area, especially where I work at Betsson. However, I think women still shy away from such roles. Yes, people are very shocked because they say I don’t look like I’m into IT; they seem to think fashion blogging and IT are two completely different worlds.

Does what you do put you under pressure to always look groomed – even if you run down to the grocer? Would you feel liberated if you could relax about your appearance, or do you detest the natural look? It honestly doesn’t. For

everyday dressing, minimal effort is made.

I just wear comfortable clothes and go for the no-make-up look. I’m comfortable in my own skin and so I’m all for the natural look.

“I THINK A FASHION ENTHUSIAST SUCH AS MYSELF STILL ENJOYS THE PHYSICAL MAGAZINE AND CONSIDERS IT A COLLECTIBLE” If you had to choose between great make-up, a great outfit, or great hair, which would you go for? It’s definitely

between great hair and a great outfit, but I think I’d go for a great outfit. Even with simple hair and no make-up, a killer outfit will make you look put-together and very stylish.

How would it feel to have brands knocking at your door to endorse their products? So far, I haven’t been

approached by many brands. Until now, I’ve been promoting brands I wear and genuinely like. If a brand I like approaches me, that would be amazing and I would love to work with them.

Would you ever draw the line as to what you would promote and endorse?

What’s a no-no? Yes, definitely! If I don’t

like the product, or the brand is just not my style, I don’t feel comfortable promoting it because, as I said, I keep my blog as honest as I can.

You probably never look like you’ve just walked out of the shower. How long does it actually take you to get dressed?

66 ∫ Pink June 2017

Are too many people doing the same thing as you? In pretty much the same way, with the same way of talking and tackling the same ‘frivolous’ subjects? Is there fierce competition with other influencers, or do you work in harmony? I think

recently, blogging has become very common. In fact, I discover new bloggers every day. I really don’t think it’s a competition. I personally don’t have one favourite blogger, but follow a lot of blogs and I think everyone is the same. We should work in harmony to promote fashion and new products to people who are interested to read.

By day, you are a junior software developer at online gaming company Betsson, where you analyse, develop and support features for IT systems –

How inspiring is your job and work environment for your blog? And how much does what you do by day help you in your other role of blogger? I don’t

think my job directly inspires me for my blog, but it definitely helps in other factors. Working with websites and optimising online tools makes me learn more about how to improve my own website.

Can blogging ever be a full-time job, or would you never consider it, being an Artificial Intelligence graduate?

I think it’s very hard in Malta, but not impossible. I think if the opportunity came along, I wouldn’t say no. My degree is there for life; I can always go back to it.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want to have? A good book, sunglasses

and sunblock!

Have you ever thought of what it would be like if the views started decreasing…

What next? To be honest, I don’t do it for

the following; I do it because I genuinely enjoy blogging. If the views decreased, or became constant, I would focus on my existing followers and continue doing what I love.

Where do you think this whole phenomenon is going? Will it kill fashion magazines etc… – or can they collaborate and live in harmony, like you are doing with Pink? They are

definitely affecting magazines just because everything can now be found online, but I don’t think they are killing them completely. I think a fashion enthusiast such as myself still enjoys the physical magazine and considers it a collectible.