AUGUST 2016 ISSUE 6 VOL.02 FREE
WORLD
TENNIS
NO.1
The world @ her feet
Serena Williams Page 8
Page 10
Page 12
Page 14
Health and beauty
Loose your weight
Theresa May PM;
Hot topic: Childlessness in women
Top 5 Natural skincare products to try.
with Shayo Ayoola
Is it finally a woman’s world?
why are women vilified?
Finding The Right Balance.
A
s women we are constantly judged on several parameters . Most very unrealistic. Women all over the world are under pressure to perform to these unrealistic expectations; beauty, class, poise, leadership, home, parenting, boardroom, career, you name it. Despite all the excessive daily workloads, the pressure, expectations, women have continued to give and give of themselves. We have continued to lead. Even when we still are not being paid as much as our male colleagues. This recently is evident in the strides that women have made in taking over the world’s leadership when men have messed things up. We are however not in a fight with men, women regardless of what is out there, we still know that men are our brothers, our husbands, our sons. With love and kindness women have continued to give. Despite the strides achieved, there are still so many women all over the world who are still being undermined, used, abused and not valued. There are still cultures where a woman is viewed from how many children the have, if at all they have kids, if they have sons. Young women are still being forced into marriages are killed for ‘family honours.’ To these women suffering, we want to reach out. In this issue of PearlWoman, we bring you HOPE from achievements of fellow women around the world. And to tell you, do not let anyone tell you you’re a non-achiever. Let no one define who you are or continue to drum the negative rhetoric into your ears. Keep your head up, shoulders high and know that you are a special breed. This issue we celebrate the bravery of women. Women like our cover girl, Serena Williams who has time and again proven to herself and the world that a girl can have it her way. 22 grand slams baby girl!. Read on and be a Serena, have it your way because you CAN!
Faustina Anyanwu Fauntee
Chief Editor
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SERENA WILLIAMS By
Drew Farmer and Faustina Anyanwu
B
orn in Michigan, USA, world tennis no. 1 Serena Williams has lived all her life dominating the every tennis competition she’s ever been involved in. At the age of 4, the child prodigy began to play tennis and 34 years later, she’s still on top of her game. Playing as passionately as ever, as hungry to win as her first. Serena time and again has proven to be the Queen of the court, entertaining her audience with skill, passion, and so much energy. She has always been the one to watch, win or lose. In 2014, Serena won all 4 grand slams.; Wimbledon, The French Open, The Australian open and The US open. Earning her the title - Serena Slam. On and off the court, Serena remains as talented, beautiful, stylish and powerful as ever . A perfect epitome of a world renowned champion. Her grace, poise and authenticity makes her a true role model. A woman true to herself.
THE WORLD 4
AT HER FEET.
Despite odds and tough challenges, from media bias, racism and lack of equal pay, Serena has continued to keep up to her game. Ambitious, talented yet humble and rooted. Still dominating , still the first and the highest paid woman tennis player, breaking records as she goes. Serena’s records have no glass ceiling. She has won a title in all four grand slam tournaments; won 66 singles, 22 double championships and was also Gold medalist at the 2000 doubles, 2008 doubles and 2012 singles and doubles olympics. Miss Williams has graced the cover of every known reputable magazine and a regular at endorsing beauty brands. She is a global philanthropist with her foundation focusing on creating equal access to education and assisting victims of senseless community violence. Serena Williams conquers Wimbledon for a seventh time to win her 22nd Grand slam.
It took her one year, but Serena Williams finally tied Steffi Graf’s open era record of 22 Grand Slam titles defeating Angelique Kerber. With style and flair,Serena did it at the tournament in which she has had the most success, although the American tennis star has triumphed everywhere she has played. “This tournament I came in with just a different mind frame,” Williams said. “In Melbourne I thought I played well, but honestly Angelique played great, she played better. So I knew that going into this one, I just needed to keep calm, be confident, just play the tennis that I’ve been playing for well over a decade.” Williams eased to victory in the women’s singles final over Angelique Kerber in straight sets 7-5, 6-3. It was a final that nearly erased the struggles of her previous three Grand Slam competitions. Still the most dominant tennis player in the women’s game, Williams fought to get over the line, and had been sitting
on 21 Grand Slam titles since last year’s Wimbledon tournament victory over Garbine Muguruza. The year hasn’t been an easy one for Williams, she has struggled with the expectations of, not only tying the record, but shattering it on her way to setting a new one. At the US Open 2015 tournament, Williams bowed out at the semifinal stage, losing to Roberta Vinci. It was a painful defeat,
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dropping the second and third set to the Italian after thoroughly defeating Vinci in the opening set. “I’ve just felt a lot of pressure, I guess. I put a lot of that pressure on myself. Obviously I’ve had some really tough losses,” Williams said. “One thing I learnt about last year is to enjoy the moment. I’m definitely going to enjoy this.” Williams started 2016 with a trip to the Australian Open final, but was turned back by Kerber – her newest rival – in a thrilling back and forth affair. Williams next few months saw her withdraw from the Madrid Open due to illness before winning the Rome Master against American upstart Madison Keys. She had said, “I learnt that you can’t win everything, even though I try really hard,” she said. “I do the best that I can. I still am not going to be perfect.” The warm-up in Rome was expected to give Williams the motivation to win that elusive 22nd Grand Slam at Roland Garros in June. However, Muguruza had other ideas, defeating the American in straight sets. Williams’ trip to Wimbledon, a place she had one six times prior, had many thinking her time on top of the sport was over. Yet, the American was phenomenal, being
push to three set only once during the competition. Williams showed an edge and hunger that had escaped her in recent Grand Slams, as she avenged her loss to Kerber earlier this season. Williams can now break the Grand Slam title record at August’s US Open. It is a tournament she has been accustomed to winning. The hardcourt competition has seen Williams win six times in New York City. Like Wimbledon, Williams could take home her seventh title, and would set the new mark of 23 Grand Slam titles. Williams will go down as the greatest women’s tennis player of all-time. A feat that has not only seen her dictate the women’s singles game, but the doubles too. Serena and sister Venus have collected 14 doubles Grand Slams titles. In fact, Serena has won the Wimbledon single and doubles trophies in the same year on fourth occasions. It is not often a sport has an athlete that can be so dominant. The National Basketball Association had Michael Jordan and now LeBron James. Boxing had Muhammad Ali and soccer has Lionel Messi. Tennis has Serena Williams, the best female to ever grace the sport, and one that may never be eclipsed.
Highlights Championships Played
6
Events Entered:
16
Ladies’ Singles, Ladies’ Doubles
Matches Won:
Matches lost:
728
119
Best Singles:
Best Doubles:
Champion (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015)
Champion (2000, 2002, 2008, 2009, 2012)
Rank for Singles:
1
Rank for Doubles:
1
Year Turned Pro:
1995
Prize Money:
YTD Prize Money for Singles:
$80,899,060 USD
$6,525,038 USD
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. e r u t a e f l a Promotion
POWER DRESSING is a new casual T
he 70s and 80s when the expression power dressing came to be, women saw the need and in fact were expected to establish their authority, power and professionalism through their dressing. To be taken seriously in the professional and political environment traditionally dominated by men, a woman needed to dress like a man. Professional women not only dressed to look like men but also had to act masculine too to fit in.
However in this era, a generation of women are redefining the concept of power dressing from the usual conservative masculine outlook which were hugely a way of hiding the woman’s components to make men feel comfortable. This generation of women are more than ever beginning to embrace their body and as such know that it is not their responsibility to dress to make a man feel comfortable rather, women now know that for them to compete effectively and to be more productive, they have to be comfortable within themselves first. Today’s woman wants to be seen as smart, professional, confident, savvy and in control. They are embracing vibrant colours, soft as well as hard cut tailoring, they are comfortable to flaunt what they’ve got as long as it makes them feel more comfortable and sensual too.
They are more than ever more adventurous with their style sense. Choosing when or if they want to be conservative or more liberal with what they wear and how they wear it. Women are more aware of functionality, attractiveness, comfort, purpose and individual style identity as part of power dressing. Women are creating their own brand identity through their dress sense and they’re happy to stick to just that. Michelle Obama epitomises the modern woman owning her own dress sense. Despite the criticism, she is not afraid to show her underarm, show her arm, her legs, wear dresses and suits alike, come out in variations of colours and combining different colours, materials and tailoring. Women like Theresa May, Nicola Sturgeon, Angela Merkel and Hillary Clinton all have one thing in common. They have their style identity and are happy to stick to that. In her own words, Theresa May, these are women who “get on with the job”. Women such as Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Kim Kardashian, Cara, taylor Swift, Rihanna and many more are powerfully dominating the entire entertainment and fashion industry by identifying their own personal style identity regardless of what anyone thinks about them. These are women leading in establish-
ing that a woman’s worth cannot be measure in a piece of clothing. Traditional power dressing concept is no longer a big deal and has nothing to do with defining a woman as power or authority. Women these days know how to make their power known, they choose and decide how to establish their authority, be it on the Tennis court, Football field, in the supermarkets, nursing their babies, or even in the park running around. Women are stepping up their game and are taking control of how they are perceived in any environment knowing that their power can no longer be contained in a box of dressing statement. They now know that they can establish their power by their comportment, what they do, how they do it and their confidence in who they are. Women’s power can no longer be summed up in a tailored suit.
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Theresa May, Angela Markel, Christine Lagarde, Hillary Clinton. Is it finally a Woman’s world? Aurélie Nguepegne
N
ow that Theresa May is Britain’s Prime Minister and Hillary Clinton, favourite to become America’s first female President the world is one step closer to being led by women. United-States, Germany and England, world’s top military powers are giving the lead to women. One could say that five years later, Beyoncé’s song is about to come true. As much as we want to embrace this new trend, it’s also important to point out how it still looks like the usual thing in the patriarchal world where women are only called to clear the mess in the home. It’s noteworthy that women from time have never been cowardly to handling and fixing the mess left by men. However, we hope that this time with women taking over, it will become a norm for men to clear their own mess too. Which is why we can’t help but fall in love with Mrs May’s ‘clear your mess’ style of leadership. Can other female leaders be bold and courageous enough to adopt her style?
They earned their legitimacy
M
rs Clinton was previously seen as the wife of the president Clinton, but has now redefined herself as this Democratic heavyweight hale presidential candidate. Over
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the years, German Chancellor Mrs Merkel has become Europe’s most powerful leader. She has been working to unify the continent, to face major crises that befell the EU. The latest being BREXIT and what seems like Islamist insurgency in Europe. Now 59, Theresa May has stayed at Government’s toughest job for six years. Known as ‘a safe pair of hands’, she remained loyal to David Cameron through the BREXIT ‘in’ campaign. Even though she is Eurosceptic and takes a stand for national sovereignty. While her colleagues were putting on a populist show, she was almost absent from public debates. After the ballot which led to BREXIT, came the
spectacular self-destruction of David Cameron & Boris Johnson. Then her only rival in the race for leadership of the conservative party (Andrea Leadsom) fell, because of sexist and outdated stereotypes claiming that May had less stake in Britain’s future since she has no children. Theresa May finally had a golden road to become the Queen’ 2nd woman Prime Minister in history. Theresa May leaves a very few arguments to her critics. In 2014, she passed a law allowing the confiscation of the passport of the jihadists apprentices. But her policy of ‘deradicalization’ is disputed, as her bill to monitor communications. Very firm in words on immigration, she can easily link it to unemployment and
low wages. A clear round, a good management of the security services, she survived crisis periods where her predecessors have bitten the dust. It leaded her to become the record holder of longest-serving Home secretary in modern times. Britain’s 76th Prime Minister studied at Oxford. There she was introduced to Philip May by none other than future PM of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto. Like her husband, she followed a career in high banking. She got involved in politics and became city councillor. Then she was elected Conservative MP in 1997. In 2002, she became famous for delivering a speech at the Congress, warning the conservative Congressmen against the image of ‘nasty party’ that clung to its skin from Margaret Thatcher. Her growing popularity in her constituency of Maidenhead and long experience in the party ‘shadow cabinet’ led David Cameron to appoint Home Secretary in 2010. Sometimes deemed icy, a lack charisma. Her only originality is on her feet. Theresa May admits that she owns an impressive collection of stylish shoes, like those red & leopards she was wearing when she pronounced the famous “Brexit means Brexit”. She’s got both calm and steady hand, drawing comparisons to the iron lady. But contrary to Margaret Thatcher, May defends women leadership. She is co-founder of Women2Win, a campaign to elect more Conservative women. As new Prime Minister she gave 30% (7 among 23) of Her Cabinet Positions to Women. she appointed seven women to her cabinet including one of ‘Great Offices of State’, filling her previous role with Amber Rudd. Theresa May appears to be the best pick to bring the party together and lead BREXIT negotiations. Actually, May and Merkel have quite similar profile, they are two conservatives married women without children, ambitious careerists devoted to politics. Like the German Chancellor, the Prime Minister is the daughter of a protestant clergyman. A week ago, they first met to discuss the terms of BREXIT. Merkel said “We will have difficult negotiations with Britain, it will not be easy.” To preserve the interests of both parties, they decided to not rush the issue of BREXIT (article 50). There were 18 female world leaders in 2015. According to the UN, in a decade, the number of female leaders has more than doubled. Yet the glass ceilings seem to finally break, a woman in power is hardly the norm around the world. Nevertheless, imagine Mrs Clinton in the White House by November, Mrs May in Downing Street, with Angela Merkel in charge in Germany, Christine Lagarde Director of the International Monetary Fund, and probably a female secretary-general of the UN late December. 2016 would make history again but this time for good reasons bringing to fruition the dream that one day gender inequality will become history.
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Hoptic To
Childlessness. Women still bear the brunt of it. Unfortunately, around the world and in several cultures, a woman’s worth is still being measured with the parameter of having children or being married regardless of what they have achieved or contributed to the society. As we have seen during the conservatives leadership campaign between Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom. This is one area in women advancement and liberation that global women are eager to address in this era as women gradually take over world leadership. In this issue’s HOT TOPIC, Mandy Sanghera uses her own story to encourage women facing any form of bullying because of their inability to bear a child. Mandy Sanghera is an international human rights activists who has spent the last 26 years supporting victims and survivors of Honour Based Violence and cultural Abuse: FGM, Forced Marriage , Faith Based Abuse such as witchcraft etc. Mandy is an international motivational speaker who has spent years supporting and empowering others find their purpose and rebuild their lives after abuse. And her personal story and challenges of not having children makes her the best person to speak on this issue.
Women should never be judged by their inability to have children says Human right activist - Mandy Sanghera as she tells of her personal experience. happy. Not being able to have kids is devastating. We never really get over it; some just learn to get on. Sadly in some communities women are defined and labelled, if you can’t produce an heir or son you have failed. I am one of those million women.” She says. I was a lucky one because I found my calling. I have spent the last 26 years helping victims of abuse and violence. I have never allowed words of others affect me, I have learnt to rise above it.” Almost poetic, the world renowned speaker recounts her life in such an emotional way, and evidence of the emotional turmoil women can face due to this social expectation. She, just like many women have the need to defend their love for self, and people around them. “I love my life. I have my nieces and nephews who I love very dearly. I look at the bright side and what I can give them back. I can do all the fun things and be there friend.”
Not denying her ordeal and heartbreaks at having tried to have her own children but failed, Mandy lets us know how she coped and hopes other women can find the same strength in themselves to be able to cope too. I coped by telling myself I need to find my hap“If you’re one of a million women cop- piness & life purpose, my bliss. I acing with childlessness, you know there cepted that there are some things in are no quick or easy tips on how to be my life beyond my control. I am beautiful and amazing just the way I am.
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The sadness of childlessness never, ever goes away for many women – “including me. It can be tough on Mother’s Day, but we learn to deal with the clouds and every cloud has a silver lining.” Mandy finally explains and encourages women to find the joy within and hang around like minded people who understand their struggle and are able to give each other the adequate support they need. She tells our editor, “I’m one of those lucky people who are naturally happy, positive, and optimistic. I always bounce back I never let things keep me down. I have several friends who don’t have children and we all just hang out we never have to speak about not having children; if we do its ok if we don’t it’s no big deal. I surround myself with like-minded people.” Over the years I’ve mentored, supported so many young people I love empowering and opening doors for the next generation. I have found the balance of having children & young people in my life and most importantly on my own terms.
INSPIRATIONAL BLUEPRINTS
FOR PERSONAL SUCCESS
FOR WOMEN
Promotional
feature
by Dr Nkem Ezeilo
E
arlier this year, a sought-after speaker, health coach, and GP, Dr Nkem Ezeilo (Dr Kem) selflessly offered her latest book; “Inspirational Blueprints” which will serve as an interactive personal development Bible and personal success guide for women who want to take their journey to the next level. The great principles shared in it have been proven to work in any area of Personal and Professional Life. In March 2015, Dr Nkem Ezeilo was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, a diagnosis which carries a poor prognosis of weeks to months. Determined and strong willed, Dr Nkem knew she would beat it, by practicing what she teaches about Optimal Mindset being the key to success in any area of life, including health. While on her sickbed - defying medical expectations and prognosis, Dr Nkem decided to update her life transforming book, “Inspirational Blueprints for Personal Success for Women”, as a lot had happened since the first edition was published in 2010.
Women would love the
Women would love the new insights, strategies and findings in this revised edition of her book as she has meticulously written the contents with great compassion to liberate women from suffering and negative thinking. This book will serve as daily guide for a lifeshaping process to greatness in all areas of life, notwithstanding the profession or career nor social and economic status.
new insights, strategies and findings in this revised edition of her book as she has meticulously written the contents with great compassion ...
Available on any good
Recommended read of the year.
and as paperback
bookstore 15