Trustworthy Magazine
CAHO Kitaori
- “I want to be a person who can give people dreams, love, and power”
Ciera Payton - Bringing many roles to life
The Wellness Wardrobe
5
Health Tips
To Feel Better
Oct 2021
Trustworthy Magazine
Our Goal is to inspire & to be inspired. We know that everyone has a story; we want to know yours
Founder & Editor Amina Touray
Trustworthymagazine.com For comments, submissions & Inquiries please contact: info@trustworthymagazine.com
Trustworthy Magazine
On the cover: CAHO Kitaori Photographer: Amina Touray Page design: Moses Dalton
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Photo: Tatiana Syrikova
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Contents 8
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Lindsey Heppner
The Influencer Game Changer
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Ciera Payton
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CAHO Kitaori
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Darija Varnas
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Angelique Brossard
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Arushi Kapoor
Bringing Many Roles to Life
Cover story - “Be who you really are”
The Wellness Wardrobe Health Tips
Savvy Tunica Biloxi Entrepreneur Does It All
Art Around the World
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Letter From The Editor In a world that is constantly changing, what will not change for you? That is a question (among many others) that I’ve been pondering about during the past few days. If you have an answer, email it to us for a chance to be featured. Don’t forget to add “Changes” in the subject line. While some relationships may change, my faith in God and the love I hold for the people closest to my heart will never change. It’s fundamental to have a base where one can recharge and find peace. In this issue, actress Ciera Payton talks about what she does for self-care while moving full forward in her career. Health coach Darija Varnas gives us quick and easy tips on how to feel better every day. It’s easier than you think! Our cover story is all about how Japanese dancer CAHO Kitaori went from visualizing to living her dream - now touring with worldrenowned artists and leaving her footprint. So please, be inspired, grab a chai tea and enjoy this read! Amina Touray
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Photo: Simon Berger
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The Influencer Game changer
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Lindsey
Heppner
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Digital multi-entrepreneur Lindsey Heppner and founder of the influencer agency VAMPPED, talks about the many hats that she wears. Interview By Amina Touray ou wear many hats in the digital world as an entrepreneur. By just browsing through your Instagram page, we can see that every day seems so unique; we can find you behind the camera, in front of it, behind the microphone for your podcast, and so forth. Tell us more about everything that you do?
I think it has something to do with my zodiac sign, haha. I am a Pisces/Aries/Libre - so I am super imaginative, driven, and impulsive about my decisions. I have always loved having my fingers dipped into multiple things. My parents always told me to trust the process of believing in yourself that you can achieve anything you want….so I have done just that. I don’t limit myself to things; I feel many people think that if they don’t know how to do something, they are incapable. I am the complete opposite; I love the challenge of learning something new. As of right now, I am a marketing specialist, creative director, producer, talent manager, artist, motivational speaker, influencer, podcaster, and I’m learning how to write a book.
Photo by Jethro Alaba
On your Instagram page, in your bio, it reads - “God is directing my life creatively”. I think it’s important to have a strong foundation in your beliefs, especially when living in a big city like LA, which can pull you in so many different directions. I’d like to learn more about how your faith is impacting the things that you do?
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God heals me in all aspects. I have a strong faith in him, and he has given me so many blessings in my life. My entire business is based on a strong code of conduct. I truly believe that is why we have been so successful and hitting almost a decade of being in business. I started this business because of him. He has given me a second chance at life to help others. Marketing is just the surface of the deeper meaning and movement of Vampped. We are trying to be the heartbeat to new developing businesses, assisting influencers in finding a better way to progress in their careers, and we are trying to better people’s lives with how we do in business. Business shouldn’t be depressing, challenging, frustrating, and evil. You’re the founder of the agency VAMPPED, tell us more about it, and how you have managed to change how influencers are being perceived? When I first started in the space, talent agencies and brands, in general, didn’t take them seriously. It was proving ground for our agency to show the world that influencers were the next big thing. I remember when we did our first tour in 2015, people were like, “what is happening??” And people then saw where the industry was going; there was a new type of influential persona. The trust of celebrities was a thing of the past. “Influencer” is a fairly new term and profession. How has the influencer industry changed and developed over time, and where do you see it going? I think we still are very new to the space. The pandemic showcased this because it forced many businesses who had not made online social media sales to step up and either disappear or figure out how to be present in where the world was going. You founded the podcast ReVampped in 2020. What was your main goal and vision behind it? My main goal for the podcast was to give the people I loved and respected throughout the years to have an opportunity to speak how they feel about specific conversations that may have needed to be expressed. I love having a deep connection with people, so I think it was a space for me to amplify myself
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God heals me in all aspects. I have a strong faith in him, and he has given me so many blessings in my life.
and the people around me. Is there a certain pressure that comes with staying put with the constant new trends? 100%. It is hard to keep consistency being an innovator in the space and staying a girl boss at all times. My brain goes a mile a minute, and I can’t stop the train, which is good for the space I am in. I love being creative and thinking of challenging ways to make noise. I think I have built a reputation for our brand with “ What will Vampped do next..” If you had a microphone for 30 seconds, and the whole world was listening to you. What message would you tell people? Stop letting them see a version of you that’s not you. Remember, it’s okay to be unique and being your true self. Trust that you will find others like yourself who will align with who you are and your values. Boundaries are essential on all levels of friendship + business. Don’t focus on others because they don’t pay your bills, nor should they decide your destined path.
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Photo by Lauren Miller
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Ciera Payton “Tap into who you are and find out what gifts you have to offer.”
Bringing Many Roles to Life Written by Mia Nicole Photography By Amina Touray Hair by Matilde Campos Make up by Jayme Kavanaugh
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I wanted to make sure I executed the character and give the audience their Wendy”
ne of the greatest gifts that an actor can have is the ability to become the individuals that they were chosen to portray. Denzel Washington effortlessly became Malcolm X. Forest Whitaker embodied the role of Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland and Ciera Payton – who must have taken a page out of their book, became Daytime Talk show host Wendy Williams. From the first to the last “How You Doin” on January 30, 2021, she instantly became Wendy Williams. Big Shoes to Fill During the Pandemic When Wendy Williams shared with her audience or as she says, her co-host that she was doing her biopic in 2020, social media started talking and her fans decided that they wanted to have a part in who played their Queen. Payton’s name was constantly tossed around the internet. “I kept getting Twitter and Instagram messages from Wendy’s followers telling me that I should play Wendy,” Payton says, “I was thinking that would be great, but because I wasn’t watching the show at the time, even though I was familiar with her, I didn’t know she was doing a movie. So, I thought to myself, okay, let me start watching her to get a sense of who Wendy was. I began to study her, watch the show, find things about her on YouTube – everything about her. Then about eight months later, I got an audition. I got the part, and the rest is history. An Actor’s Challenge As an actress, Ciera knows that bringing a character to life can be fun yet challenging. “Knowing that I was going to be playing Wendy was a challenge. It was not like I was being hired to play someone from the 1800’s or someone that no one knew. I knew that I had some really big shoes to fill and with social media and the fact that everyone knew Wendy, it could become a challenge to become her. I really worked on my portrayal of her.” Payton laughs. “I started studying for her for months, maybe even a year before I even got the audition. I wanted to make sure I executed the character and give the audience their Wendy as much as I could and give them my version
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When you are in a business where you are consistently rejected, it can totally weigh on someone’s mental health”
of her.” Another challenge that they faced was having to shoot the movie in the middle of the pandemic. “We were supposed to shoot March 2020, right when things were shutting down around the country, we filmed in Canada, and production shut down as well. We then were supposed to go back in July and then August, but finally started filming at the end of September,” Payton remembers. “When we finally wrapped up that last day, tears were flowing, and everyone was happy because we were able to get it done during challenging times around the world.” With Williams serving as executive producer, unfortunately, because of the pandemic, the two never met but spoke several times over the phone. “Wendy was definitely a voice behind the scenes. She was watching all the dailies and she had a voice throughout the writing and filming of it,” Payton says. “I had to virtually do the Wendy Show, which was awesome, but I totally wished that I would have been able to be there in person to soak it all in and meet her and stand next to her.” One thing that Payton hoped for was the approval of her portrayal from the Queen of Daytime. “I heard when Wendy saw my audition tape, she was so excited and super giddy and kept saying, ‘Oh my God, she has my mannerisms and my voice down! She is doing my eyes.’ I was told
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that Wendy was over the moon with my portrayal, and really loved how everything turned out.” Lilly Comes to The Oval Payton first met Mr. Tyler Perry in 2008 after being cast as an extra in Madea Goes to Jail. Ten years later, she once again found herself working with him in Madea’s Family Circle. “Then a year after that, I ended working with him on The Oval on BET. When I got the role of Lilly, it was a world that I didn’t know a lot about because it was a brand new fictional show. Tyler is so secretive with his projects which I love, but as an actor I am like, I need more! I need to know what is going on! All I knew about Lilly was that she was a fashion designer, worked for the First Lady, and was married to the Chief of Staff and I didn’t even know his storyline; I was totally in the dark. I had to really peel back my imagination and build the foundation of a woman who would go into an airport bathroom and have sex with a man and then be bold enough to shoot him. Being from Third Ward in New Orleans, I was trying to add some pieces of me. Trying to give a voice to Lilly was the most challenging, but it was also exhilarating. Later in the script and in season one, it is discovered that she is from Watts. I am glad that I used being from New Orlean as my frame of reference. But like me, Lilly came from poverty and a rough upbringing but found a way to really polish herself and get around the elite crowd, stand up straight and speak properly. She became a Chameleon and transformed herself into this fashion designer who is now married to the chief of staff; I go on Twitter and people are so invested in Lilly and that storyline. “ Seasons two and three of The Oval were also filmed during the pandemic. “So many people in the country lost their jobs because of the pandemic and the entertainment industry suffered as well. Tyler made an extra effort to make sure that we were employed during that time and our storylines kept going. Coronavirus had shut everything down and it was tough for a lot of us – not just financially but mentalTrustworthy Magazine
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ly as well. Tyler gave us a playground to be able to do our work.” Finding A Balance “My life right now is about just trying to stay healthy,” Payton states. Hanging out with friends and going out in public is something that she can no longer do. “I can’t hang out or just go in public because I could book a job tomorrow and if I was just hanging out with 10 of my friends, I might test positive, have COVID and I could lose my job. While she doesn’t claim to be an expert or clinical psychologist, from her personal experience, Payton feels that it is important to maintain your mental health. “From my perspective, just trying to maintain a healthy mental health lifestyle as an artist, is so important. Many actors are not aware of the aspect of self-care or taking a beat, just pausing, and setting boundaries. Those things are important for your sanity – especially being in this business. When you are in a business where you are consistently rejected, it can totally weigh on someone’s mental health, self esteem or confidence; I am just a big proponent of taking care of you. If you need a week to yourself or want to go to the beach, then do it. That will serve you 100 times more than going on 200 auditions. You have to take care of yourself.” Meditation is an important part of Payton’s daily routine. “I get up early in the morning and meditate. I also meditate in the evening before I go to bed. I also include exercise as much as I can during the week. For me, it doesn’t have to be a 90-minute workout, I might just go take a walk at the park or I watch a 20 or 30-minute workout video on YouTube, because that works for me. I have been reading a lot of self-help and fictional books. Whether you are a schoolteacher, nurse, doctor or a journalist, you must disconnect. You can’t be that every day. Disconnect and step outside of who you are and shift your energy. Go for a walk, 22
read books, do stuff that you haven’t done before like volunteer somewhere, take a class or even learn Spanish. Tap into who you are and find out what gifts you have to offer.” Spare time and Inspiration from Others “I am not high maintenance, and I just like chilling whenever I can. I love sleeping,” Payton laughs. “But I also like to go to the beach or go for a walk. When I am having a long stretch of time in between jobs, I love creating. I created a blog called, The In Trive - which is a blog about sharing my experiences of the things that I like and highlighting people who inspire me to thrive and inspire others to thrive. In addition, I am finally turning my program that I have been teaching for the last nine years, Michael’s Daughter Project, into a non-profit organization and we will be announcing that in October. When things aren’t super chaotic, I just love to go into the bat cave where I can create and generate some stuff and put it out into the world.” Pulling inspiration from the world around her, Payton loves to step outside of her own world and see what others are doing. She also enjoys reading autobiographies about different people with stories that have paths similar to hers. With new projects on the horizon, Payton hopes to continue playing strong characters such as Wendy Williams and Lilly Winthrop. “I have worked so hard to be a working actor and a convincing actor, someone who can engage audiences. That is what I have been working on ever since I said I wanted to be an actor and the Wendy Williams movie gave me the opportunity to do so.”
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CAHO Kitaori Interview & Photography By Amina Touray
As a teenage girl, CAHO Kitaori had a dream to be a professional dancer. Today she’s traveled and toured internationally with world-renowned artists while creating a strong footprint and name for herself.
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t’s a little before noon, when I meet up with dancer and artist CAHO Kitaori in North Hollywood, to take pictures and learn about her fascinating story from Japan to international tours with world-renowned artists. She’s wearing a beautiful long floral dress with a slit, and the warm wind is sweeping through her long black hair. She truly stands out in the crowd as she walks towards me.
Caho was born and raised in Japan, but was introduced to dance early on - “I was there for 24 years, I started dancing when I was three years old, it was ballet, but I quit after two months because I didn’t like it”, she laughs. Instead, Caho learned swimming, but seven years later, she was brought back into the dance scene. -” I found a place where they were teaching hip-hop. I went there and fell in love with hip-hop. That’s how I started dancing!” Although Caho’s father originally wanted her to get a regular job and only keep dancing as a hobby, due to the nature of the dance industry being hard to survive in, Caho initially agreed with him. But her life completely changed when watching a live video of Beyonce performing her song Crazy in love. - ”There was one person
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who changed my life when I was 15 or 16 years old! When I was watching Youtube, I randomly found the live footage of Beyonce’s “crazy in love” video. There were four female dancers that came to the stage, performing with Beyonce. Most of the dancers have curly hair, which makes them feminine. But there was one female dancer who had super short hair - She was walking towards the stage. Those three seconds changed my life! I was like, Wow, who is she?”. Inspired by her unique style and approach, Caho wanted to be just like her - “I was like, wow, I have to be like her, like an Asian version of her. Her name is Saidah Nairobi. Back in the day, she was dancing for Ciera, Beyonce, Usher, Neyo, everybody”. Caho started to get a clearer vision and goal of what she wanted to do and started planning in her own head where she pictured herself. - “I’m going to be on stage, and I’m gonna be traveling worldwide”, Caho thought to herself. - ”Saidah gave me a dream. I want to be a person who can give people dreams, love, and power”. That same moment Caho knew that she wanted to pursue dancing professionally, and hasn’t looked back ever since. Three years later she’s living in Los Angeles, doing just what she loves. As we sit down at an Italian restaurant, Caho orders a meal of pasta. It’s a place that she’s been to a few times, so she’s familiar with their dishes. She continues to share what brought her to The United States. -” This is a funny story” she adds, as she takes a bite of her pasta that was just served. - ”When I was 20 years old, I had the opportunity to audition for a Japanese tv show called Road to Broadway. They were looking for a Japanese dancer who could perform on Broadway in New York. I was participating and got to the final round”. Out of thousands of people, Caho was chosen, and got to showcase her talent. - “So I went to New York for two months to perform on Broadway. That was my first time in The United States. In those two months, I was thinking to myself “I think I can make it here” “. While her parents supported her dream, her dad still wanted her to graduate from college. At the time, she was in her second year of college but had already made up her mind that she wanted to quit. - “So to get agreement from my dad I had to show my talent to him. That was the reason why I decided to take this audition so that I could prove my talent to him. I made it to the final!” After performing on Broadway, she convinced her dad of letting her quit college. -“At that moment he was like, “you proved it, so I’ll support you”. After college Caho worked to save money for nine months before she moved to New York. After three months she went back to Japan to tour with a Japanese female artist. -” Her name is AI. She’s a really important person in my life. She booked me for her tour, and I was working with her for a whole year. Then I officially moved to LA after that.” Moving to The United States required a lot of preparation for Caho, but with her previous experience and skills, things fell into place fast. - “ So to get a visa and be allowed to work in The United States I had to get an agency first. Also, I had to get a deal memo, which is like future work. Those two things are needed to get a visa.”
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Be who you really are”
she says. - ”So I got the flight!”. Caho had made up her mind that she would have an agency and deal memo, within the two months that she planned to stay in LA, to then go back to Japan and apply for the visa. - ”After I came to LA, luckily they had an agency audition; I went to three agency auditions and got all of it in the first two weeks!”. Although Caho didn’t know anyone in LA, her next mission was to network and build relationships, in order to get the deal memo that she needed. So she decided to take dance classes in order to meet people. - ”So there’s this one dancer, whose name is Brian Drake. Luckily while I was in New York for the training, I met him. He was visiting there. When I came to LA, he DM:d me”. Brian asked Caho to join him at an event, from there and forward he was able to provide her a deal memo! As things fell into place, Caho went back to Japan to prepare for her visa. While Caho has danced behind world-renowned artists such as Janet Jackson, and with Usher just recently in Las Vegas, her years of experience in the dance industry have taught her one important lesson. -” Be who you are! Be who you really are!”, Caho says firmly, as she looks straight into my eyes. - ”Because most of the time the client already has the vision of what kind of person they want. But for me, I’m going to be who I am all the time because I have my own style. I have this look”, she points at herself and her long hair. - “I never ever want to change my look! I love it because this is my natural long straight black hair”, which makes her so unique. A normal day in her life consists of self-care, building her brand on social media, and with her agency. -” When I don’t have any rehearsal in the morning, I wake up in the morning, and I go running. That wakes up my body, it also makes me feel refreshed. After I run, I take a bath. I love taking baths! I take a bath like three times a day! I’m Cancer! Cancer is like a water sign, so I think because of that, I love being by the water”, she laughs. - “Whenever I don’t have rehearsal, I have a gym in my apartment, so I always go there to create my style and videos. After that I come back to my home, I record myself, post to Instagram, and send to my agent.”. Caho hopes to inspire people with her unique style and to continue to showcase her talent and style worldwide. - “Next five years, I’m going to be on TV shows more. To be honest - when I was doing the Usher show, I got the opportunity to be on a TV show as an actress for the next six months. But because I was doing the Usher show, I picked Usher. They watched me last year in audition and wanted me to showcase my own style on TV”, she adds. - I want to be who I am! I like to work with artists but I’m an artist, I have my own style and want to work individually”. With hard work, passion, self-care, and love, Caho continues to show that there are no limits to what can be accomplished. Be on the lookout!
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Photo: Julia Volk
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The Wellness Wardrobe
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Interview and Photography By Amina Touray
hat exactly does a health coach do, and what do I need one for? - You may ask yourself. I didn’t realize I needed one until after a zoom consultation with health coach Darija Varnas. Despite the different time zones - me being in Sweden and her in California, we managed to schedule a time that suited us both. Darija will consult anyone willing to jump on the wagon towards a healthier lifestyle. Before our consultation, Darija emailed me a health history form to fill out so that we both could get a better sense of my health habits and goals. With just three months left in 2021, now is a great time to get a head start! Answering the questions was both awakening and necessary as you’ll be held accountable. For someone like myself - who generally avoids conversations about myself, the consultation was beyond my expectations! Darija’s approach is warm, loving, educational, and non-judgmental. When you’re happy - she’s happier! So if you have asked yourself what a health coach does or if you need one, this read will help you find the answer.
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What is a health coach? A health coach is your support systerm for your journey to better health! We gently guide the client by educating, motivating and empowering individuals by using a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. In short, we put the client in the drivers seat to be able to reach their health goals with a little accountability and guidance along the way :) There is a renowned quote that says - “let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food”, by Hippocrates. Where are your stands on that, do you think that we can cure ourselves with the right foods? First thing that came to my mind was when I read my favorite book that my best friend had gifted me years ago. “Healing with Whole Foods” by Paul Pitchford. It really opened my eyes to a whole new way of eating. Especially in 2011, I was diagnosed with a Bone Marrow Failure Disease called Aplastic Anemia, and I really put this type of mindset to the test. Not only was Western medicine a huge and crucial part to my remission, I think also having a positive mindset, and a nutritious diet really helped put me in a better space mentally and physically. Setting new routines, and enforcing better eating habits can really make a big difference. I love supplementing with different kinds of food, oils, and herbs by using them in teas, food combining, and even as topical treatments! However, everyone is so different, that bioindividuality plays a huge role in this. One persons medicine can be another persons poison. You have to really listen and tune into your body to figure out what’s right for you, but knowing where to start is sometimes the biggest challenge. What fruits, vegetables, and foods, do you always have at home, and why? I’m a huge fan of rotating foods regularly to keep me on my toes and be able to try new things. But here is a list of my favorites! ● Sauerkraut adds so much delicious taste
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to everything and you can throw it on top of anything! Packed with probiotics and great for gut health! ● Micro greens sometimes we don’t have time for salad, but throwing this on top of eggs, avo toast, sandwhiches, and even take out meals. It gives that extra nutritional boost you need from your greens. They're so cute too ! ● Radishes perfect to slice into slivers for dipping instead of chips! Gives a delicious spicy, juicy, crispy crunch ● Frozen Berries for smoothies, jams, chia puddings, desserts. They last a lot longer when bought frozen, and I love eating them just like that on hot days. (have you tried frozen mangoes?! YUM) ● Seeds, nuts, and grains are my staple for salad toppers, snacks and sides to get my healthy fats and protein in a pinch ● Beans My favorite source of protein and fiber! Canned or in bulk, just give them a good rinse to wash off excess sodium to prevent bloat! So filling and so versatile. ● Miso paste/ Seaweed! I usually sub seaweed for salt, which provides a great source of iodine and iron. And miso, (another gut friendly, fermented food) really adds so much flavor and nutrients too! ● Mystery Farmer Market Purchase fun to pick a product you’ve never had (or heard of) before to experiment and research! (Who knew you could mash parsnips like you would mashed potatoes?! Such a unique taste and flavor!) By doing this, you’re not only supporting a local farm, but you may also surprise yourself with finding a new favorite food. What common mistakes do you often see, when people are transitioning to healthier lifestyles, and how can they be avoided? I think not believing in yourself is a really huge setback for a lot of people. Having that positive support, and the “I can do it” mentality will really get you far! When people give up without giving your body a chance to adjust to it’s new regimen is very common and can be so disheartening. We’re constantly looking for a quick fix in our fast paced society, so slowing down to be mindful of what your body is asking for can be easily overlooked. Patience is a virtue, and if you give yourself a chance and enough time to see those results you may be pleasantly surprised. “Slow and
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You have to really listen and tune into your body to figure out what’s right for you”
steady wins the race!” What do you do to quiet the “noise” and stay spiritually balanced and motivated, in a time when there is a lot of fear and uncertainty? When I feel overwhelmed or anxious, I find that slowing down, drinking a lot of water, and taking long deep breaths really puts me in a relaxing state. Or even some light exercise like taking a walk, doing yoga, or deep stretches will help me take those deep breaths without even knowing that i’m doing it! It’s like tricking my brain into slowing down and focusing on just myself and the task at hand, while reminding myself to be grateful for the things our bodies can do and are capable of. In doing so, I always feel so much happier, lighter and calmer afterwards. (and it also helps gives me the best sleep!) You always seem so energized and happy, what’s your secret? Ha! THANK YOU! That means a lot :) I’ve always loved to laugh. I joke a lot and find silly situations in everything. It’s also contagious! Sharing a laugh with someone always snaps me into a good mood, it’s my favorite thing. The energy part ebb and flows. I am a highly sensitive person that definitely needs to recharge after being around loud noises, and big groups of people. I think that is the most important thing I’ve learned with balancing my energy. Knowing when to set boundaries and never feeling guilty for taking care of yourself and your needs. I feel the most happy and energized when I’m able to hydrate, get a good night's sleep, and a mindful, balanced meal to get my full recharge. Sounds so simple, but it can be really hard to do in a daily routine. It’s become invaluTo learn more, visit: Wellnesswardrobe.com IG: @wellness_wardrobe
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The Wellness Wardrobe Health Tips 5 quick and easy tips to feel better everyday!
Healthy diet and exercise play a major role in your health, but there are also many other factors that go way beyond the plate. I like to call this building a “Wellness Wardrobe”. Just like building a clothing wardrobe, you must start with some basic foundation essentials. Once you get into the routine of finding what works for you and incorporating these into your daily life, you can start adding and building onto this foundation to support and cater to your own unique needs. Having this simple guideline by getting us “back to basics” will help you achieve long term health and wellness success. Here are my favorite wellness wardrobe components that ANYONE can start implementing today!
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Crowd out your plate with whole foods! Get back to the basics by eating a traditional diet high in fruits, veggies, quality protein sources and healthy fats. By crowding out your plate with organic produce and avoiding added sugars, processed foods and unfamiliar ingredients, you are adding potent health benefits that can help you live a long and healthy life! TIP Start with vegetables. When building meals, put veggies on your plate first. “Crowd out” your plate and aim to do this two meals a day to increase your veggie intake!
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Move your body! (At least 20 min a day) We are all so different, so it’s important to find an exercise that is unique and works for you. Start by getting outside to hike or take a walk, especially if you can get some sun while you’re at it (for a natural source of Vitamin D!). Walking is a great choice and you can start small by walking at least 10-20 minutes a day. Not only does exercise burn calories, it also improves your hormone levels, reduces stress and improves your overall body function. TIP Stand up and stretch every 60 minutes to get the blood flowing on a regular
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Stay hydrated! Hydration is an important and often overlooked marker of health. Staying hydrated helps regulate body temperature, aids in weight loss, may relieve constipation, delivers nutrients to cells and keeps organs functioning properly. It also improves sleep quality, cognition and mood. TIP Drink a glass of water right when you wake up in the morning, and carry a water bottle throughout the day. If you have water on hand you’re more likely to drink it. If you need an extra element with taste, add lemon, mint and/or cucumber for a fun “spa water” twist. Also, coconut water is a great source of electrolytes for
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Reduce stress by increasing self care for mental wellness Excess stress can raise cortisol levels and severely impairs your metabolism. Stress can increase junk food cravings, fat in your stomach area and raise your risk of various diseases. Some things to help ease stress are practicing deep- breathing techniques, exercise, and even meditation. TIP When feeling stressed or overwhelmed, stop to take a few deep breaths and/ or drink some water. My favorite breathing technique is the 4-7-8 “relaxing breath” routine. Breathe in for 4 counts, hold that breath for 7 counts, and then exhale out for 8 counts. Repeat 4 times, twice per day!
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Sleep like a baby! (7-9 hours) Poor sleep can disrupt your appetite hormones, and reduce your physical and mental performance. People who do not get enough sleep tend to make food choices that are higher in fat, sugar and calories, potentially leading to unwanted weight gain. TIP
To sleep like a baby, pamper yourself like a baby. Shower, dim the lights, get into a slow and relaxing mindset. Also, make sure your bedroom is conducive to good sleep by adding black out curtains, a cool temperature setting, and reducing screen time an hour before bed time.
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Oven Roasted Veggies Recipe Ingredients: ● 3 Large Carrots ● 1 small head cauliflower ● 1 small head broccoli ● 1 medium red onion ● 6 cloves of garlic ● Olive oil for drizzling ● Any other seasonal vegetable you have on hand (potatoes, squash, brussel sprouts) ● Salt, pepper, and any other seasoning of choice to taste (Turmeric, rosemary, oregano, cumin, all taste great!) Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees 2. Cut up all the vegetables into large chunks 3. Place onto a sheet pan and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper, and seasonings. 4. Place into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes 5. Toss the vegetable ten minutes into cooking time so they cook evenly 6. Crowd out your plate and enjoy!
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Angelique Broussard
Savvy Tunica Biloxi Entrepreneur Does It All Written by Mia Nicole Photography By Llaremi & Charles Williams, Ambedo Photo and Film
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f you were a devoted viewer of the ABC hit series, Scandal, then you remember being on the edge of your seat every time the shows’ powerful, female lead, Olivia Pope [flawlessly played by the amazing Kerry Washington], boldly said, “It’s handled.” When she proclaimed those words, you knew at once that whatever task she was called upon to do, no matter how difficult it was, it was taken care of. That dogged determination that Olivia possessed, no matter the situation, task or circumstance, is displayed daily by women around the world. Someone who is not afraid to take on a challenge or create new opportunities for herself and others, is Angelique Broussard. Born as a member of the federally recognized Tunica Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, Broussard is a mother and successful businesswoman who holds titles such as CEO and Founder within her many companies. A Mother’s Love No Matter the Distance A single parent of two, taking care of her daughter who suffers from autism disorder, is the first order of business for the busy entrepreneur. “I wear many different hats,” Broussard says. “My 27-year-old daughter has severe autism and I have been advocating for her for years. In 2001, my daughter was the first person to be a part of a project called Consumer Director Care Plus. It is a state-funded program run by the parents that allows us to choose someone to serve as a provider for them; I am her sole provider. She currently goes to a life skill program during the day. Taking care of her is a 24 hour, 7 days a week job. I provide her transportation and I have transported her 45
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minutes one way per day.” Music and Fashion Make Her World Go Around When poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “music is the universal language of all mankind,” he was on to something. As the CEO of Clemcreations, LLC, an entertainment consulting firm, along with her partner, Cacique Jakar – whom she manages as an artist, Broussard does everything from booking gigs, landing record label deals. Broussard’s desire is also to bring people together by creating musical events around the country, which she does through her entertainment firm and her non-profit organization.
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we were able to get all of our land back and then utilize the money to create businesses for ourselves as a tribe”
A Great- Grandmother’s Legacy Helps Others Broussard founded the Clementine Pierite-Broussard Foundation, a non-profit organization to ensure that women and children of the Tunica Biloxi tribe had the proper education and housing they needed to survive. The foundation is named after her great-grandmother, Clementine Pierite-Broussard. Originally called the Tunica People, [Tunica intermarried with the Biloxi tribe] the modern-day tribe was federally recognized in 1981. Broussard remembers meeting her [great grandmother] after returning to the United States from Germany, where her father had been stationed. “I remember when we came back to the States, my father took me to visit my great grandmother, Clementine Priete-Broussard on a reservation in Marksville, Louisiana - where her tribe has been for the past 400 years. “My great grandmother was 100 percent Tunica and the Matriarch who provided the historical blood marker for our current tribe,” Broussard says. “She and her oldest son Harry, Jr., would speak to me as a young child about how important it was for me to recover land and other treasures that belonged to us. There had been a lot of thievery going on and my family wanted to groom me to be the one to recover land and treasures and give it back to the Tunica people, so that we could once again thrive. Of course, being only six or seven years-old, this was confusing to me.” Broussard also remembers how after getting their land back [the tribes], her father and the tribe’s first chairman, Earl Barbry drove all the way from Marksville, Louisiana to Washington DC to prove that there were faulty trea-
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ties. “Through the direction of my father and Earl Barbry, we were able to get all of our land back and then utilize the money to create businesses for ourselves as a tribe to support ourselves as a unit,” Broussard says. With home offices in Chicago, Illinois and Houston, Texas, their home base is known today as Cairo, Illinois, which is located at the base of the Mississippi River. Although scattered across the country, there are 1226 tribal members. The tribe also has a plethora of businesses. “We have Casinos, restaurants, hotels, and an entertainment company that has produced a couple of films. Our tribe is an 85-million-dollar company,” Broussard says. Unfortunately, the effects of the pandemic have taken a huge toll on their community. “COVID-19 has been spreading from one tribal member to the next because a lot of them live on the same reservation,” Broussard shares. “I don’t live on the reservation, but I know it was a huge spread. They had no other choice but to close our gaming commission office, as well as our government offices. This caused many of the programs that are needed to help our people to close; and they are still closed today.” Creating New Opportunities at Fifty Fifty was the turning point in Broussard’s and she is now working towards receiving her master’s degree specializing in the law studies of indigenous people. “I am hoping that the program will prepare me to take a role as a tribal council member in the future of my tribe so that I can be a leader that is well versed in policy for our tribe. Because there is homelessness, domestic violence and an underrepresentation of our people in careers and education, I felt like those were the things that our people need help with. So, I am going to present myself under my grandmother’s name since she was the one who instilled in me the desire to help my community. I will be working with our education department, our housing department, and social services department to provide help for our people.” “When I turned 50,” Broussard says, “I really wanted to prove to women my age that they can still be older and look great. I created my blog, Fifty Under Forty to help women 50 and over find looks for under $40.” Just like Olivia Pope, Angelique Broussard is handling things.
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Arushi Kapoor
Art Around the World Interview by Amina Touray Photography By Mara Friedman
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Arushi Kapoor started her first business at the age of 19. She’s the founder of ARTSop Art Consultancy and the Co-founder & Director of Arushi Arts Galleries, with locations in Europe, North America and Asia.
an you tell us more about what an art dealer and consultant do? As an art consultant, I help clients acquire artworks. I educate them about the art market and how to purchase art as an asset. I buy and sell artworks in the secondary and primary markets. As a primary art dealer, I represent artists, organize shows, place artists in the top collections. Both titles are overlapping. Both aim at providing asset class artworks to clients. At such a young age, you’ve accomplished so much internationally, such as founding ARTSop art consulting, written your book, you’ve hosted previews and exhibits everywhere from Hong Kong, Bombay, Paris, New York, and more. How does one even begin the path to working with art internationally? To work with art internationally, you need an amazing trustworthy team around the world. You need to be perfect at logistics. I had a client base in almost all cities I showcased in. Or I had a great dealer that I worked in conjunction with who helped bring in the client base. The art world insiders are a very small tight knit circuit. Inviting the art world and connecting with them is important. I do have many plans for expansion coming up. We just opened our first permanent space in Echo Park. Our first artist, Lindsay Dawn, had a sold out first show.
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Even if you’re watching a movie or going out for a coffee, everything teaches you something.”
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As a citizen of the world. What has each continent taught you about art? Like, how would you compare the views of art in, for example, Bombay and in Los Angeles? Each museum or art exhibit has taught me something. Just helped me build an intuition about art and artists. I make a lot of decisions intuitively. South-East Asia has so many different types of art. Indian contemporary and South East Asian vernacular art are my favorite. European museums are some of the best institutions in the world. I am a member of Tate Moderns South- East acquisitions committee. I started dealing in the art once I moved to the US. A lot of my initial experience in sales within the art world is here. Each continent has its own charms and art to offer. Is art something that runs in your family, or where does your interest in it begin? Yes, My family are long-time art collectors and enthusiasts. My mother started dealing in Indian contemporary art around 25 years ago and has an extensive collection of top South East Asian artists. My uncle is a very avid international art collector. My family is all located between UK, India, and the US. They made sure that my and my sisters’ education was through in the arts. You just opened an art warehouse on the East Side of Los Angeles. It has a lot of unique aspects to it. What details can you share about it? The art warehouse on the east side of LA is
called ARUSHI. It is a gallery dedicated to empowering not only female artists but female small businesses. Our first show is called Lawless Reflections by the artist Lindsay Dawn. Now that you’ve been in the art industry for quite some years. What career-oriented advice would you give your younger self? Don’t stress about small situations. Time is always on your side. Are there any books, documentaries, movies, or courses, that you would recommend toanyone that would be interested in following in your footsteps? Destination art is great to identify particular artwork in your cities. I like looking through Taschen books for particular artists’ works and life. Art is War is great in life generally and Machiavelli. I watch all possible documentaries. Lost in ghost town is another good one I recently read. I would say just don’t be free. Even if you’re watching a movie or going out for a coffee, everything teaches you something. Are you living your dream? Not yet. In my life, aspirations and wants are unlimited. Every time I come close, the dream shifts. Hopefully one day I will be living the dream.
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