Celebrating International Women's Month
Issue 3 - March 2018
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH
KATHRINE SWITZER First woman to officially run the Boston marathon & who championed the marathon into the Olympic Games
CECE PENISTON International Artist, Songwriter, Performer talks about nally feeling t and fabulous
FINE DINING with our very own MR TOP HAT, TONY JAZZ Reviewing L’ Atielier de Joël Robuchon French Restaurant
JUMP YOUR WAY TO FITNESS SIMONE WILSON
LAMONT MCLEMORE From legendary group the 5th Dimension celebrates his mother at 103 years old
ERNESTINE SHEPHERD Interview
81 Years young & Guinness Book of Records oldest female body builder
KATHRINE SWITZER, MARATHON WOMAN THE FIRST WOMAN TO RUN IN THE BOSTON MARATHON IN 1967
I
had the privilege of interviewing Kathrine Switzer, who made history when she officially became the first woman to register and run in the Boston Marathon in 1967. Since then she has gone on to break barriers for women, using her Boston experience to champion and campaign for women whilst also creating positive and social change to empower women. Amongst many of Kathrine’s many achievements, she was
inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in October 2011 for creating positive global social change. Her inspiring, authentic and high-energy delivery of creating success in a difficult environment, turning negatives into opportunities, and fearlessly implementing social and cultural change has made many positive differences in lives and businesses.
ESTHER: Kathrine, I usually ask my guests in a nutshell, a peanut shell or a coconut shell who is Kathrine Switzer? KATHRINE: Well, Kathrine Switzer is the first woman to officially register and run the Boston Marathon in 1967 when I was attacked by an official, two miles into the race, who tried to throw me out of the race, because I was a woman. He ripped off my bib numbers. I was radicalized by the experience that no matter what, I would finish that race to prove that women could do and deserved to be in running. It was formerly a men’s-only race up to that point, but it was not written anywhere, you were just supposed to understand these things and so effectively by registering, I challenged the rules. But I love to say that sometimes the worst things in your life can become the best things in your life, because, by the time I finished that race through a lot of pressure, I had a life dream of creating opportunities for women. I knew women would want to run in the field if they only had a chance and from that came a whole lifetime of race organization, of being one of the leaders to get the women’s marathon into the Olympic Games; to continue with my own running, to do broadcasting and to author three books. Right now I’m leading a whole new movement of empowerment called 261 Fearless, which is also active in the UK. 261 Fearless is named after the bib number that the official tried to pull off me. Women everywhere were saying that that number made them feel fearless. Therefore, my goal, my legacy, is to create empowerment through the simple act of putting one foot in from of another. ESTHER: Kathrine, I’d like to go back a little bit, to before the time when you made that incredible stand and in a sense, made history. One of the reasons I feel you were so indomitable was to do with your upbringing. It seems your parents instilled a sense of ‘I CAN’ in you. Can you share about your parents’ ethos of life, because, I believe that was pivotal in terms of the stand that you eventually made. KATHRINE: I have wonderful parents. I often say if every girl had parents like mine they would grow up empowered; it makes all the difference in the world. I wish that everyone reading, no matter what it will take, will take their kids, their friends, their grandchildren or neighbor’s kids and give them a sense of ‘hey you can do this, we believe in you, you’re a great kid.’ 6
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My Family were religious persecutes; Protestants in a Catholic world; we emigrated to the United States back in 1723. It’s a long time ago and it was hard work, i.e farming and digging out a life of success and trying and prevailing. So I grew up on stories like that, but my father and mother were really adamant that I was bought up in the same way as my brother. My father was the one who saw an insecure twelve year old who wanted to make the field hockey team in high school and said, ‘listen, all you have to do is to run a mile a day, and you will make that team.’ So I started running a mile a day and that changed my life. I made the field hockey team, but more importantly, I grew up from the age of twelve with a sense of empowerment, somehow realizing that if I just ran every day, I’d have that magic and that stayed with me all my life. ESTHER: Wow! So what made you want to run in the marathon in the first place? KATHRINE: When I first heard about 26 miles, three hundred and eighty five yards, I was already running up to three miles a day. I was fascinated with the fact that the longer I ran, the better I felt and that it seemed that some days I could run forever. So when I saw that people were running 26 miles, I didn’t distinguish it as just being for men, and I wanted to run as well. I knew it would be a great challenge. It was like mountain climbing. Luckily enough for me I was at the University Syracuse in New York where one of the men’s voluntary coaches was an ex marathoner and he was really old..in his fifties. (Laughter) He told me stories about marathoning and he didn’t realize that he was really psyching me up to keep trying. I proposed to him that I would run the Boston marathon and he said, “Oh no, no, a woman can’t run that!” and I said, “what are talking about?” So, it was a challenge to prove to him that I could run the distance and we did, one day in practice. We ran 31 miles and he almost fainted but by then he was convinced. So many people, men especially, in terms of women’s achievement, once they see a woman do something remarkable, they become almost evangelists in supporting them. He was then the one who said “Okay, you have earned this, but you have to sign up for Boston. You have to do this legally; you’re a member of The Athletic Federation you just can’t go up there and jump in the race.” Other women had run marathons, this is one important point to make, but not a lot had run. There are up to six that made history if I can recall; even a woman in Boston, who just jumped out of bushes but my coach didn’t agree with that and suggested I register as he’d checked the rule book and it didn’t say that women were not allowed and it didn’t say that it was a men’s only race. So off we went and the rest is history. ESTHER: How did that particular incident change your life? How did people see Kathrine after that race? KATHRINE: Well, it was really interesting, because at the end of the race, I was loved by people and I was hated by people. I got bags of mail that said I was going to fry in hell and I was doing a terrible thing and I got bags of mail that were marriage proposals. So it was an absolutely polarizing experience; but for me, how Kathrine Switzer’s life changed. First of all, I believe that running is transformational especially for women. It gives us creativity, enlightenment, courage and I believed that after I finished that marathon nothing could be harder in life after that experience. In my life now, nothing is difficult; nothing is harder than being a twenty year old girl, facing an enraged official under the world press, who is tackling me and then going on to finish the race. It changed everything in my life. It gave me courage to take on new things, but mostly, I was seeing that women could actually excel at distance TURNINGPOINT
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such terrible headaches, and it felt as if water was running from her eyes; she couldn’t see properly and she couldn’t use her hands. Then finally I said to her, you’d better go to a doctor. So she went to hospital and after they examined her, they found out she had a brain aneurysm and that it had already burst and she said to me, “remember what I asked you to do, would you do it?” There were so many things she asked me to do; she wanted to be in the Guinness Book of World Records; in fact she thought we both would make it, but then, she said since she didn’t think she would make it, would I try? She wanted it so much. She wanted me to be on various television shows, to get the word out to people about fitness. So again, I told yes, I would. But I didn’t do that immediately, because after she died, I just hated everybody; everything and I even hated God, because, I couldn’t understand how He took her away when she was such a good person and I stayed in the house and I was the meanest ugliest person anyone could meet. I suffered with acid reflux, depression, high blood pressure, panic attacks and all those things and I was on all types of medication. I would always have to go to ER because something was always wrong and they got to know me there because I was constantly there.
Then one night I’d gone to bed and Velvet came to me in a dream and said, “You aren’t doing what I asked you to do, get up and do what I asked you to do.” When I looked around the room, I didn’t see anyone, so, I just laid back down. Then I thought about it more and more. It took me a good 6 weeks or more to get up and see what was going on. The first thing I did, I decided I would go to a church. I love to sing and when I went they were playing a song that Velvet and I loved very much and the words were, “Here I am Lord, It is I Lord, I have heard you calling through the night; I will go Lord, where you leave me; I will hold your people in my heart.” The next thing I knew, I jumped up and I disrupted that service and these words came to me and I said them loudly “Restore to me the joy of my salvation. Restore to me the joy of each new day; give me back the love that I once had for you and never ever let me slip away.”
I felt like a brand new person, it felt like I wanted to be different; I didn’t want to be that mean ugly person who said all kinds of things and I gathered myself together and said, now, I would try to do the things that Velvet wanted done. I contacted the former Mr. Universe, Yohnnie Shambourger and told him that I wanted to become a body builder, would he help me. He said, “yes, but you have to go on a long journey and you’re going to have to do everything that I ask you to do, will you be able to do that?” And I told him yes. I was 71 years of age and I started training. He put me through so many exercises. Some of them were so rough, I would look at him with tears in my eyes and say, ‘you know that I’m old, I can’t do this. 12
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I can’t do that. “And he’d say “ You’re an athlete. You said all the things you wanted to do to follow what Velvet wanted, so you’re going to have to work for it.” So I kept working even though I was sobbing and crying. Finally, I did my first bodybuilding show 7 months later. When I did that show, I came in first place. The very next thing I knew Yohnnie had gotten a call from the Guinness World Record people and they said they thought I was the oldest competitive female bodybuilder in the world; but they would have to check it out; they did and I was. So they asked me to go to Rome to get to my medal and my certificate. Yohnnie and I traveled to Rome and arrived there March 16, 2010 - that was my sister’s birthday. I got off the plane and there was a car waiting for us and the tag number on that car some of the numbers were 3-1-6. I looked and I said, no this can’t be happening; then when we arrived at the hotel can you imagine Velvet’s favorite song was playing ‘When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high, and don’t be afraid of the dark.’ Everybody knows that song - You never walk alone. Tears gushed from my eyes and again I said, Velvet is here with me. We did various exercises there; I received my medal and my certificate.
Then the next thing I knew Yohnnie got a call from ‘Ripleys Believe it or Not’ and they asked me to come to New York so that I could be in their book and they took pictures, I ended up in ‘Ripleys, Believe It or Not’ as Granny Six pack. From then on, all kinds of wonderful things have happened to me. I’ve been on so many TV shows getting the word out. It’s a joy and the last TV show that I on was with Steve Harvey and I enjoyed that tremendously. I was also on Harry Connick Jr; I did a SKYPE interview with Oprah, I was on Good Morning America. Also as I mentioned before I also train people at the gym. If you don’t get there in time, you can’t get in that room because there are between forty and forty-five people in there. Then I train people in the large section of the gym with the weight machines. I go to various centers to do training and I do motivational speaking. Also, once a month, I have community walks. My walks are always so big; CNN heard about them and they came out and filmed it. They were wonderful to all of us and 25 years have gone by and I’m still being blessed that I still do all of these things. I’m up every morning at 2:30; I say my devotion; I meditate; I eat, then I go out and run and walk. Then I’m at the gym at 7:30 in the morning; I stay there from 7:30 until 11:00am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Then I’m there at night on Thursdays 5:30pm until 7:00pm; then Tuesdays and Thursdays during the day. I’m then at a Resource Center training people from 10:45am to 11:45am that’s my ministry and I intend to do this until I can’t do it anymore. TURNINGPOINT
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TRUE GRIT
THE STORY ‘NEVER TO BE TOLD! ’ BY JENNIFER ANNE-LYNCH
O
INSPIRATIONAL
ften people ask me why I started writing, and the simple answer to that at least in the early days, was easy, to keep me sane. At times, being a single parent with two fast growing sons was an uphill struggle and I frequently wondered if I’d make it through motherhood. Would there ever be a stage where my children were independent? At 28 and 30 with good careers, they most certainly are. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to realise how lucky
I decided to rent a tiny cottage where I started my writing journey, after being forced out of two other rental properties. At this time in my life, I felt as if I was pushed from pillar to post and I was even bribed by a landlord to give up one tenancy early with an offer of £1,000. I didn’t take it because I was physically exhausted from moving with two young children and it was inconceivable that the process would start all over again four months later! I was given an extra two months and I was packing again! I was convinced that I had struck gold with this new cottage where I began my writing journey because it was remote, had no heating and it was also a farm tenancy which meant no-one would want it back in a hurry. We seemed to live off the last bit of the emergency meter, seldom having £5 to take it back to the start! At this point I wondered what I’d done leaving my marriage with my children especially in the mornings when I came down to light a fire, the success of which we depended upon to keep warm! I happily collected them from school everyday at the same time collecting a bag of firewood, from a small furniture maker which fortunately was on the same street corner as the school. Every day I gave the man £1 and he carried the wood to my car and put it in my boot. I was grateful for this because it was cheaper than logs and they burned well. On reflection, I realise that I had several turning points here. One of them was, although my writing was very important
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I am, but I won’t ever forget the challenges that I had along the way. When I wrote ‘The Silver Lining,’ I wanted to explain how I was led into spirituality as well as finding my own sense of identity. This book has been described as a little book of truths, most likely because my heart spilt out onto the pages. I often lived with little money being on a very tight budget and the priority was food and clothes for my sons.
to me, so was my need to get us out of this situation. I couldn’t remain on my current income and I was going to have to take a giant leap of faith into the unknown. When I was married I hadn’t worked for over ten years so employment was a challenge along with the fact that technology had changed, and I wasn’t up-to-date. My only option was to update my skills and look for a job. I managed to enrol on a word processing course to improve my secretarial skills, but it was 50 minutes from where I lived and a journey through dark country lanes which was tiring, plus I hated driving at night. I stuck with the course but on the day of the exam, it was snowing heavily, and I felt that it was one challenge too many. I made myself go, and my old little blue metro finally got me to class but I was in such a state when I took the exam, I couldn’t remember a thing and failed. Still exams were never really my thing and I knew I now had the experience I needed, so who needed the exam! Eventually I landed a job which started a procession of jobs which eventually improved my circumstances. Apparently my first employer wasn’t that interested in the wordprocessing but she was interested in my voice, “you have the perfect telephone voice” she said, “that’s why I employed you.” That job ended in disaster after having a head on collision with a lorry but that’s another story and I was once again without work after my employer tried to force me to do her gardening and replenish her log store, when I
into the future and just dealing with what is, can help with stress. I work now giving soul coaching sessions as well as being a writer. I became a firm believer in angels when I started to see them in the cottage – without feeling their presence around me, I often think that I may not have got to this point. Sometime after that, I trained as a therapist having worked in a gift shop for a year, which sold greetings cards. I was the one who went out in the rain and broke up the cardboard boxes.
was still suffering from the accident – so I walked! However, her words led me to thinking that maybe my perfect telephone voice could be a good voice for other things too and I’ve discovered in the past couple of years that I’ve got a great voice for radio! It’s always important to remember the little gems of information people give you and don’t ever dismiss them because the words of a few, are often more valuable than the words of many. I love to write about single parents and their struggles because I’ve been one and I still am one really as my children’s father died when they were teenagers. So for many years I’ve been the post on which to lean. Sometimes even posts get tired and I feel that stopping and re-assessing where you are, is a good thing. Life can be tough but things change and adopting this attitude is a good motivator to take you forward. Plus staying in the now moment, not projecting too much
You may ask, is the life of a writer glamorous? Well, it’s been a learning curve, managing money has been challenging for me but in recent years I’ve had a little help along the way. I wanted to leave the shop half an hour early on a Thursday afternoon so that I could attend the massage therapy course but unfortunately there was no way they would allow this to happen and I was told quite plainly ‘NO’ which led me to quitting job number 2! I knew this would lead to more money problems but it was necessary for me to get this so I could work in the career I wanted and have a recognised qualification. Doing this course meant I had to find babysitters but at least it made me feel as if I was on the right path and I was now doing something which really meant something to me. Going back to college was a huge turning point for me and one I loved. I felt valued and I was determined to finish the course. Whilst working as a massage therapist along with various temp jobs, I attended a Mind Body Soul exhibition in Buxton where I met a man who sold magnetic wristbands. I became extremely interested in these and he gave me a couple to try, one for myself and one for a friend. After being amazed by the results I asked Ray if he’d basically give me a job, convincing him that I could sell as I had been doing telephone sales for the lady who liked my voice! At this point I was unemployed again and back on the emergency electric meter! Ray told me that he would give it a go if I could get to the Vitality Show in London in Islington. I hadn’t been to London since I was 10 years old and didn’t have a clue where the Angel tube station was. Not only did I have to sell a product I had never sold before, but I had to cope with the tube and attending a prestigious exhibition. It was winter, and I slept nearly every night in a full set of clothes trying to keep warm. My sons were a bit better off with a blow electric heater but mine had flashed and died. I had to find something decent enough to wear for the upcoming exhibition and to launch myself into this situation in two days was a challenge that seemed TURNINGPOINT 23
almost impossible, yet what I could earn doing this, could turn my life around. So I said yes and then surprisingly I found myself at this large exhibition. I then realised that I was good at selling magnetic therapy bracelets and I started to enjoy myself. I was offered two more jobs that day from people but I decided to be loyal to Ray after all he believed in me and so that journey began from 2001 – 2009 when I gradually stopped selling the magnets. I began to write more and started my novel ‘William’s Wishes’ about adoption, then came ‘Liberty Angel’ and then the book I am really proud of ‘We Hear You Angels’ which got to number 1 in Angels on Amazon, something I am very proud of. What happened after 2008? Well 2008 was a very difficult time for me financially because despite opportunities, I still had the restrictions of being a single parent and although I could sell, the money side of things never really seemed to balance out. I began more temp jobs and at times I was temping, still selling magnets at the weekends, doing large events and the occasional massage. I became completely exhausted
once again and then decided I’d stop working in offices and focus on being a therapist. I fully understand the challenges women face when trying to juggle the different parts of their lives as well as being a parent. Even now, I am still juggling some aspects, but I am fortunate in having the skills to dip in an out of regular work when I need to. The biggest lesson I have learned through my various turning points is to enjoy the journey. My latest novel ‘Never to Be Told’ is about a woman called Angela who also experiences tough challenges – but along with that she is learning how to navigate through various romantic situations and to have fun. The book explains how she uses mindfulness and meditation to help her through the difficult times but it also contains a lot of twists and turns with some great surprises. It’s a journey that many of us can relate to but it is also shows us that it is really up to us! JENNIFER LYNCH Author of Never to Be Told available on
HTTP://AMZN.EU/6EILJEI
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IN FOCUS:
INSPIRATIONAL
SHEILA NEWTON MOSES; BRILLIANT DEVELOPER AND DESIGNER, PROJECT CONCEPT - OPENED UP THE SOUTH OF ST. LUCIA. A MESSAGE BY ASHBURN HOLDER, CCFED PRESIDENT An Ivy Leaguer, educated Caribbean American and citizen of St. Lucia, this dynamic female destination tourist developer/designer is the brain child for what is hailed as the best concept for a project since Sandals in the Caribbean. It is called the Caribbean Market Village, St. Lucia, “the happiness place to be in the Caribbean.” A brilliant new concept. The end result will be an all-inclusive authentic tourist destination, catering for the new age tourist, with the destination as a true Caribbean experience, while addressing the economic sustainable focus on the south side of St. Lucia. The concept aims to preserve the essence of St. Lucia as well as preserve the native arts and crafts industry. It addresses the needs of the people in the south side of St. Lucia and was the first project in St. Lucia from the diaspora that talked directly about opening up the south side of St. Lucia to empower the people. The CMV St. Lucia aims to provide a platform for over 50 small and local businesses; provide over 200 jobs, focusing on women’s economic empowerment; showcasing the authentic local arts and crafts, foods, etc, all made in St. Lucia, or the Caribbean, giving Caribbean
artists a platform. This project is not just a brilliant idea; it is a concept already approved on the island with equity of over 29 million dollars via land value. The developer is actively seeking other investors and is presently in talks with a few prospects. Currently, she is travelling throughout Europe pitching the project. She has rejected offers in the past that sought to disrupt the pride and authenticity of the project. She has insisted that the people of St. Lucia be empowered by this project and reap the direct benefits of their tourist industry. She called it “the trickled down effect.” Therefore, the people are at the center of real empowerment. Much work has be done for years on this project to form the type of support needed to bring about a launching and she has been diligent and focused in her approach of this project development. This 40 million dollar Caribbean style, Disneylike resort, is the first of its kind, with a synergy of inclusiveness. It allows the tourist to experience local culture and entertainment, with a luxury known only in most secluded resorts. The CMV will act as a tourist destination, providing a platform for local
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equipment, including the bikes and rowing machines, she also joined some of the exercise classes that were held at the gym. She started making small changes to her diet and realised she felt better and had so much more energy. It was one positive upward spiral as she began to lose weight and feel better about herself and her appearance. Once her weight normalised her periods returned and she got pregnant. What was striking to me however was the way she presented herself, she grew in confidence in front of my eyes. Wonderful. ESTHER: You published a book called ‘Sorted The Active Woman’s Guide to Health’ tell me a little bit about what prompted this book. JULIET: After several years answering women’s health questions for Women’s Running Magazine, helping new runners in my club with running-related niggles and advising patients I saw there was a need for a handbook to cover the issues and concerns that can stop women getting or staying active. Many start with great enthusiasm and then stop when a health concern throws up a barrier and many never start at all. I wanted to write something useful that would help women, that would help health professionals and be a resource that women could turn to. I also wanted to normalise some of the more taboo topics and bring them into everyday conversation. For women who are too embarrassed to talk about issues they can get basic advice whilst reading the book at home. There are tips on things to try and when to see a health professional. I’ve covered women’s health issues but also fatigue, injuries, illnesses and motivation. I’m forever grateful to the wonderful women who provided quotes and stories to encourage others to keep going and seek help. ESTHER: When the going gets tough and the tough gets going what tips and tools do you offer to keep individuals motivated and inspired? JULIET: It’s all about choices and lots of healthy choices add up. Huge lifestyle overhauls are possible but incredibly hard. Just make a few healthy choices over a day, week or month. Gradually they will become habit because you will realise that you generally feel better and can enjoy life more. At the end of each day congratulate yourself on the choices you made. It might be that you chose to walk to the shops instead of getting the bus. It might be that you said, “No’ to a piece of work you knew you couldn’t manage or simply that you chose to go to bed half an hour earlier. Keep chipping away and if you have a day full of bad choices, just move on to tomorrow.
HTTPS://DRJULIETMCGRATTAN.COM/ Credits: The closer up image of Juliet running to be credited to Eddie Macdonald
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FINE DINING
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STUDIO@KITTYFERREIRA.CO.UK WEBSITE: HTTP://KITTYFERREIRA.CO.UK
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PUBLISHED DATE MARCH 31ST. DETAILS CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.ESTHERAUSTINGLOBAL.COM
a week and also to eggs and all different things. Then the doctor said you can eat duck eggs and I was like what? I now got to go to the farm and pick out Duck eggs? (Laughter). Then I had this idea to do a fitness competition something I had always wanted to do. This seemed impossible to do for a girl who was fluctuating, who was heavy and that label was on me, someone who wanted to take part in a fitness competition? So I put myself on blast to make myself do it because you know that if you put it on social media they’re going to be saying “um hmm yes we going to be watching you, we see you.” It was one of the best moments of my life because it really pushed my will and told me that hey if I really put my mind to it I could do anything. That’s another thing, for women over forty, which I am, I’m 48, so all of you googling me don’t go adding on an extra stuff or extra years. For women over forty you can still be beautiful and do all the things that you want to do physically, use your skincare and work on your journey on an everyday basis to become your greatest self. ESTHER: Also as part of that journey CeCe, is your internal dialogue and work, your spiritual self, how has that journey been for you? CECE: It has definitely been a great journey. For people who saw me on UNSUNG, people saw things that I went through with trying to have children and that caused a depression in me. It was something I had to deal with to a point and people were like ‘I’m so glad you shared your story because there are people who are going through the same thing and that people look at your life and think it’s perfect and I’m like ‘far from it!” I said it’s how you choose to deal with what happens to you. I do vision boards and different things like that and that is something that helps me every New Year. I do vision boards because they help me get past those moments and be more accepting that whatever the gift that God has for me is for me in a situation I don’t have to like everything that is served on my plate, but I know how to deal with it. ESTHER: What is your latest stuff? What’s coming up? CECE: New single, new EP, new pictures. I’m still travelling to a city near you. I have LA Pride, Kentucky Pride, I have West Palm Beach coming up. When I’m thinking of sitting down it’s like ‘we need you’. I’m like I’m packed let’s roll. ESTHER: So when are you coming to London? CECE: You know I would love to come as soon as I get a chance. I so love your British accent. Someone enquired about me doing some shows - hopefully I might do some live band stuff – a possible collaboration with 480 East. ESTHER: By the way how’s that dog of yours? Gucchi or was his name Pouchi? (Laughter) CECE: Gucchi passed away but I got a new baby. I just got her actually. I’ve put her on Instagram. It’s going to take a while to get over Gucchi caused I loved him so. This one’s name is GiGi and she is so little. ESTHER: Do you still carry her in your handbag?
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CECE: Yes I do and people are like ‘you’ve got a rat’ and I’m like ‘you leave my chile alone, she’s my baby.’ (More laughter) ESTHER: CeCe we’ve got International Women’s month coming up and also Mother’s Day in the UK what is it you can share with women generally to keep going. What’s nice is that you shared about your journey even though you’re on stage and performing, behind the scenes you’ve still got your own stuff going on! CECE: I think that women need to talk to each other more and share more. I think we need to share our experiences to say ‘hey I was going through this experience and I wanted your opinion and have you ever had this experience?’ It’s through these experiences and being transparent that you’re able to help one another with things going on because it’s like damn I’m going through that too, I didn’t know you were going through that as well. I think people need to get off their ego and talk. People tell me all the time you’re not what we expected you to be – you’re easy to talk to. I say I’ve been through my share of things in life. I say to them that CeCe Peniston the artist - she’s giving you the stage, the glamour the glitz but I’m a real person at the same time. You have to work on your journey every single day. Spend time with people close to you. I spend a lot of time with my Mum. We hang out and have girl days out, go eat, go shopping and go to the movies. You’ve only got one mum so please cherish her. ESTHER: Thank you for sharing, thank you for your authenticity and thank you always for giving me time. CECE: I appreciate you and thank you so much
CECE CAN BE CONTACTED AT THE FOLLOWING: info@thejumpcollective.co.uk cecepentiston Cece Peniston fan page cece_peniston www.cecepeniston.com
Full length audio interview with CeCe Peniston can be found at: http://www.estheraustinglobal.com/podcast
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