May/June 2021

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Volume 6, Issue 9 May/June 2021 Editor-in-Chief, Annette Johnson Fashion Editor, Dr. Courtney A. Hammonds Creative Director, Michelle Lynch Design Director, Joey Shepherd Page Layout and Design, Kiryl Lysenka Design Assistant, Erin Pritchard Sales Associate, Linda Papatsie Staff Writers Ciara Johnson Melissa Lawrence Brooke Stickney Piera Van de Wiel Contributors Jessica Baum Merilee Kern Manette Morgan Lindsay Myers Editorial Interns Hannah Chalker Avanti Tolbert Cover Kenya Moore Photography: Leo Marshall Stylist: Michelle Lynch Makeup: Ingrid V. Sturgies Hair: Walter Fleming

Customer Service For subscription service or change of address, including email, contact info@hersmagazine.net or write P.O. Box 1071, Atlanta, GA 30301 Hers (ISSN 2372-3785) is published six times per year by Allwrite Communications, 3300 Buckeye Road, Suite 264, Atlanta, GA 30341 770-284-8983

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PARIS FASHION: KARNIT AHARONI

CONTENTS

May/June F E AT U R E S 16 Powerful Actor in a Powerful Role: Olivia Dudek

Actress expresses bond of a mother and child in her breakout role

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BEST DESTINATIONS FOR MOTHERDAUGHTER TRIPS The destination options offer rejuvenation, wellness, cultural immersion and more

HER FLAVOR 36 Dionne Miller’s Race to Award Inclusivity

Shauna McGarry is all about leaving sexist comedy in the past

66 Oscar 2021’s Female Winners These women won the big awards and surprised us with their tributes

42 Understanding the Mommy Makeover You may want to know this if considering cosmetic surgery after childbirth

42 Sportswear: Negris LeBrum Collection American sportswear collection epitomizes an era many of us all once loved

HER HEART 14 Can Empathy Ruin Your Relationship?

Expert says too much empathy can actually hurt relationships

38 Celebrity Moms’ Memorable Moments

Look at these special moments with mothers we all know and admire

HER LESSONS 18 Stopping the Cycle of Abuse

Breaking the cycle of abuse in our society can be made more manageable

48 What Makes Daniella Levin Cava So Special?

Miami’s first female mayor moves us closer to women in greater political roles

H E R P L AY 30 Sy Smith’s Kingdom Expands with ‘Camelot’

Neo soul singer dishes on the inspiration behind her music and image

62 The Lion King’ Continues Its Circle of the U.S. Leanne Antonio performs with the reigning king of Broadway productions

64 Can Travel Truly Improve Mental Health?

ON THE COVER 24 Kenya Moore

Journey to Matrimony, Motherhood and Much More…

H E R H E A LT H 12 Getting to the Heart of Hydration

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Eco-Beauty Tips

From the eco-beauty queen herself, Lindsey Coffey shares opens her bag of beauty tips

These tips and infusion recipes could keep you focused on your hydration

32 Finding Inner Peace with Yogmata Keiko Aikawa The ‘Mother of Yoga’ reminds us that self-healing is possible

A good vacation may just offer more than a way to relax and escape

68 Book Review: 'The Rejection That Changed My Life'

Author shares inspirational tales and tips about rebounding from rejection

69 Book Review: 'Dear Chairwoman'

Features the extraordinary voices and personal stories of women leaders from around the world

70 Summer Music

Upcoming summer releases from your favorite artists

71 Summer Movies HER WORK

Start planning your next movie date with these upcoming releases

10 Parents, New S’MoresUp App to the Rescue!

72 This Season’s Hottest New TV Shows

Silicon Valley mom earns points with parents and kids for new app that tracks chores

New seasons and spinoffs are coming this season

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Editor’s Letter

n May, we celebrate Mother’s Day. It is the one time of year that we formally take the time to recognize the sacrifices, nurturing, and dedication of our mothers both alive and departed. In this issue, we highlight former Miss USA and actress Kenya Moore whose journey to motherhood was perhaps more difficult than for the average woman.

Nevertheless, almost two years ago, she and her husband, Marc Daly, witnessed the birth of their daughter, Brooklyn.

Her article in this issue describes that journey and should be an inspiration to other mothers who struggle with fertility.

We also highlight other women, some actresses, who have had to embody the role of a doting mother and/or supportive daughter in a transcendent manner. In playing these roles, they have come to respect and better understand the motherchild bond. Meanwhile, we also present the “Mother of Yoga,” Yogmata Keiko Aikawa, who has gained the respect of millions around the world because of her desire to bring healing and peace to humanity. She contributes to the world the special way only a mother could: doing whatever she can to motivate and make others happy. You can read more about her incredible journey in this issue.

As always this time of year, we anticipate the recognition of our women in television and film, particularly at the Oscar’s.

Frances McDormand was among the big winners at this year’s Oscar Awards, winning Best Actress in “Nomadland.” She

and others like award-winning actress Viola Davis remind us that there is no age, weight, ethnic or other limitations that can prohibit our success. Our only limitation is our imagination and faith.

In terms of our physical health, this issue reminds you to do one basic thing on a regular basis: drink lots of water. Stay hydrated and live! To that end, we include infused recipes from the popular book “Water Wellness” to make drinking water a bit tastier and interesting. As for transforming your body from the outside, we also broach the subject of cosmetic surgery with a doctor who has performed many, specialized mommy makeovers.

We also discover that things we try to avoid like rejection can possibly be a positive thing and set us on the right course in life, according to a new book. Conversely, we learn that empathy could be a bad thing if misappropriated and overindulged in a relationship. As always, we include the latest from our fashion entrepreneurs worldwide—designers in both Paris and New York. Check out their latest styles in our fashion spreads. Also, find out what’s coming to the big screen and little screen this summer so you can relax and enjoy what is truly Hers (yours).

Until,

+ CONTRIBUTORS

JESSICA BAUM Jessica Baum, LMHC is the founder of Relationship Institute of Palm Beach and creator of the SelfFull™ method — a therapeutic path to personal wellness and freedom from co-dependence.

She holds an undergraduate degree from Fordham University and a master’s degree in mental health counselling from South University. As a certified addiction specialist, her focuses are chemical abuse, co-dependency and anxiety. She is also a certified Imago Therapist, bringing her compassionate and effective relationship counselling experience to families, couples, and family programs within addiction treatment centers.

MERILEE KERN Merilee Kern is an internationallyregarded brand analyst, strategist and futurist who reports on noteworthy changemakers, movers, shakers and innovators across all categories.

This includes field experts and thought leaders, brands, products, services, destinations and events. Merilee is founder, executive editor and producer of “The Luxe List” as well as host of the nationally-syndicated “Savvy Living” TV show. As a prolific consumer and business trends, lifestyle and leisure industry voice of authority and tastemaker, she keeps her finger on the pulse of the marketplace in search of new and innovative must-haves and exemplary experiences at all price points, from the affordable to the extreme.

8 HERS Mag azine | D epar tment

MANETTE MORGAN Mannette Morgan is an inspirational speaker, author, and abuse survivor who inspires others to rise above adversity and strive for a better life. After 30 years of intense selfwork, she overcame her past trauma of emotional, sexual, and physical abuse along with powering through the limitations of her learning disability, dyslexia. A life coach certified through the Academy of Solution Focus Training and the American University of NLP, she is a powerful, inspirational speaker and the author of Finding Your Voice.

LINDSAY MYERS Lindsay Myers is a Los Angeles-based budget travel and lifestyle expert whose outside-the-box approach proves you don’t have to pay top dollar to experience all that life has to offer, all you need is a mix of creativity and a thirst for adventure! Myers’ sparkling personality, fresh fashion know-how, and knack for balling on a budget have made her a regular feature on Access Hollywood while earning her a spot as celebrity stylist Brad Goreski’s travel sidekick on Bravo’s “Brad, Brad World,” as well as a solo travel series on KateSpade.com. Myers has made her luxury travel and lifestyle dreams come true and now shares her secret budget tips and tricks, proving herself to be an expert in the field and a true woman of influence.

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May / Ju ne 2 0 2 1 | H ERS M ag az ine 9

+ HER WORK

NEW “S’MORESUP” APP IS CHANGING THE WORLD OF CHORES

BY AVANTI TOLBERT

10 HERS Mag azi n e | H ER Work

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+ HER WORK

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ave you ever felt like trying to get a child to do chores only ended up being a chore for yourself in the end? Well, if you have, you don’t have to anymore. Thanks to the thoughtfulness and creativity of Silicon Valley mom Priya Rajendran, the S’moresUp app is making the hassle of getting children to do chores a sweet memory.

The S’moresUp app is a family management tool that allows parents to program household appliances (i.e. dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, etc.) to assign chores to their children. In return for their completion of chores by the assigned deadline, children are able to earn “s’mores” rewards calculated by a point system that can be exchanged for money or extra leisure time activities.

Rajendran’s motivation to create such a helpful app came only after she realized her own daughter, who now uses the app regularly, was having difficulty completing chores. “I was going through my divorce, [and I] had a tough time managing everything,” the 43-year-old former PayPal engineer said. “…my daughter would do all the chores that I asked her to do in my house, [but] when she went to [her] dad's house, [she would] sometimes do it, [and] sometimes not do it. And he wasn't able to motivate her and like, you know, make her constantly do things. So, like, I was looking for options outside to see how I can solve this. And I couldn't find anything, so that's how the idea started.”

Not only does the convenient system assign chores to children, but it also has the ability to help parents verify that the chores have been completed. “Like for my daughter, when she makes the bed, she will take a picture of the made bed and send it to me, and I can look at it and then I approve the task,” Rajendra explained. “And if I approve it, then she gets the point.”

Many parents may believe that this app will only give their kids something else to argue about, but Rajendran believes that the app’s automatic reward system makes it a great motivational tool. Aside from chores, the desire to earn points on the app also encourages children to “be very

responsible, accountable for their actions, and also [teaches] them financial literacy,” she said.

“It's about delayed gratification, which I think a lot of studies have found out has profound benefit for the kids later in their life,” she added. “To get to know your technology can be madness, but at the same time, you can make huge mistakes. Take advantage of it in a way that [is] good ,and you can gather data about how your kid is doing and show it to them so that they understand [just] how they are progressing and feel good about themselves and [feel] more confident and more comfortable.”

In addition to the benefits that the S’moresUp app bears for youth, it provides benefits for parents and guardians as well. Because the app is easily customizable and programmable, parents can assign chores without having to say a word. “The parents are getting annoyed [with] saying the same things over and over,” Rajendran asserted. “I think that [the app] takes all of [the frustration] out and just makes it very straightforward and easy. I think that's the biggest advantage.”

Now, three years after its debut, the app is making outstanding progress. With more than 200,000 families using the app, Rajendran’s innovative system is surely on its way.

Most of the app’s success is based on “word of mouth” and the efforts put forth by families that enjoy using it. “That's how we've been going,” the businesswoman said. “It's been good on so far, and that's why we're continuing to invest in it and building more premium features.”

Impressed with the progress that “S’moresUp” has made so far, Rajendran has made big plans for the app’s future. Five years from now, she hopes to have attained the membership of 5 million families.

The “S’moresUp” app is now available on iOS and Android devices. It is free to download with standard features, and premium features are available for as low as $4.99/ month. Give the app a try and see why 200,000+ families are using it.

May / Ju ne 2 0 2 1 | H ERS M ag az i ne 11

+ H E R H E A LT H

GETTING TO THE HEART

OF HYDRATION

‘WATER WELLNESS’

INFUSED WATER RECIPES FROM ‘WATER WELLNESS’ Infused water involves taking filtered water — although you can use sparkling water too — and adding fruits, vegetables, spices or herbs. Here are two recipes directly from the book, which you can order online or from Barnes & Noble in hardback (ISBN: 978-1-941716-03-8, $49.99) or paperback (ISBN: 978-1-941716-04-5, $29.99):

Our bodies are 60% water, and therefore requires proper hydration to function properly. Water is such an essential part of our health and wellbeing, and without consuming enough of it, both our body and brain, which is 80% water, will feel the impact. Water lubricates the joints, removes toxins, and helps deliver nutrients to skin cells for healthy-looking skin. It also facilitates in building muscles, regulating body temperature and helping control our weight. Research even shows that it helps our mood and memory.

Although eight glasses a day is a good reference, the amount of drinking water required to maintain good health varies depending on physical activity level, age, health-related issues, and environmental conditions.

“Water Wellness: Ultimate Guide to Restore, Rejuvenate and Refine Your Body” is a new book that gets to the heart of hydration. It teaches you everything you need to know about water and the benefits of proper hydration. The amount of water you should drink every day and how best to stay hydrated are topics often filled with false claims or misinformation, but this book drills into the details, offers practical tips and solutions, and debunks the myths.

Getting enough water is especially important given the occurrence of the pandemic. Like the flu, contracting COVID-19 (Coronavirus) causes fever. This elevation of body temperature causes your body to expel water from your pores, ultimately leading to dehydration.

Drinking more water can help prevent dehydration and loosen mucus due to illness.

12 HERS Mag azi n e | H ER H ealth

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+ HER HEART

5 WAYS EMPATHY CAN HURT YOUR RELATIONSHIP

BY JESSICA BAUM, LMHC

14 HERS Mag azi n e | H ER H ear t

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+ HER HEART

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mpathy tends to be a valued trait in interpersonal relationships. Simply explained, it is an awareness of the feelings and emotions of other people. It’s also a key element of emotional intelligence.

That said, too much empathy can actually hurt relationships. There are some major problems you can run into with your ability to empathize if you don’t understand how to harness it. For example:

1.

Feeling so deeply that you lose yourself in the relationship: Do you tune in so much to your partner’s feelings that you lose touch with your own?

This form of selflessness is more like self-abandonment because you might feel for others more then you feel for yourself.

2.

Constantly “temperature checking” your relationship: “Temperature checking” in a relationship is where we constantly check the energy or feelings of our partner (or even everyone in the room) instead of deferring to how we feel inside.

3.

Taking on the role of the giver: When someone has a lot of empathy, they tend to be givers because they feel for others. The problem is they usually stop giving to themselves as much.

The relationship can then become imbalanced. A healthy relationship needs to have both give and take on both sides.

4.

Difficulty expressing: From expressing healthy anger, to using your voice, to knowing when to leave a situation that is toxic, an overabundance of empathy can make clear expression of your own feelings and needs a challenge.

5.

Struggling with emotional boundaries: When you have too much empathy, you may find yourself taking on the other person’s problems.

You feel deeply, so you take on their emotions and struggle to maintain a healthy perspective, often not allowing your partner to experience their reality without you absorbing it as well.

The ability to feel empathy for another person is so important, but when you feel for someone too deeply, it can lead to you giving them excuses for toxic behavior. You can become so tied into their hurt and pain that you bypass the pain they might be causing you.

Without healthy emotional boundaries, your relationship can be quite draining. You might even build resentment because you feel like you have to take on their problems and you don't know how to separate yourself in a healthy way.

This can backfire in your relationship when you don’t allow proper space and energy for your own self-care.

3 WAYS TO BUILD AWARENESS AND AVOID OVERUSE OF EMPATHY

1.

BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF: Notice why and how you developed this tendency to over-empathize. Was it taught to you as a child? Did you pick it up later on in life?

Ask yourself if you feel like you give too much and lose yourself because you feel so much for others?

2.

LEARN TO STEP BACK: Recognize when it’s time to switch from empathy to just holding space for someone. Remind yourself that you don't have to fix or take on others’ emotions. You just have to hold space.

3.

TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF: Take the same energy you put towards empathizing with others and dedicate it yourself. Check in with how you feel and what you need. This means spending more time inside your feelings and experiences so you can relate more with yourself.

Having empathy is a beautiful quality and a gift. At times, it may stop you from making healthy choices for you. Self-care is just as important, if not more important, than the love you give to others. Harnessing your empathy will create more energy for yourself, help you set healthier boundaries in your relationships, and improve your ability to care for your own well-being.

May / Ju ne 2 0 2 1 | H ERS M ag az i ne 15

+ H E R F E AT U R E S

POWERFUL ACTRESS IN A POWERFUL ROLE:

OLIVIA DUDEK

BY MELISSA LAWRENCE

16 HERS Mag azi n e | Features

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+ H E R F E AT U R E S

Breakout actress Olivia Dudek makes her film debut as the title character in the upcoming Rafael Agustin-written ("Jane the Virgin") drama “Ana,” which is slated to premiere nationwide theatrically in 2021.

The story is about a young immigrant girl, Ana, whose mother is hospitalized, and she must go to extreme lengths to help her mother pay for medical treatment. “Ana” highlights a wellunderstood, real-life relationship dynamic: the love of a child for her mother. “My child,” no matter how many years pass, is how mothers will always view their adult children. However, the most interesting moment of life is when that protective role fundamentally switches, and although a mother may still view her child as “my baby,” that child one day becomes the caretaker, essentially a parent to her parent. Dudek delivered a beautiful glimpse into this dynamic.

“When I read the script,” said Dudek,” I saw the story and how beautifully well-written by Raphael Augustine it was. I mean I just bawled. I cried, and I just realized, like, ‘wow, this is like my story, like how I hope other people feel the same way.’”

The story apparently engaged her on a personal level, allowing her to reflect on her life choices. “I realized this is what I've been going through, and it's hard,” she added. Dudek understood how the main character’s circumstances and decision-making “are kind of like, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants decisions because she's young, but she doesn't really know better.”

Once Ana’s life is flipped upside down following her mother’s illness, she finds herself in the protective role.

Dudek explained that she didn’t think there was any age that something like a parent’s illness can prepare you. “It was situational,” she explained. In Ana's situation, she was smart enough to feel the immediate shift.

The actress explained that she had more sympathy for herself. She said that being ‘gentler’ with herself was her New Year’s resolution because, as an actress, she has to push herself harder than most people have to push themselves. This means she has to be balance focusing on a stellar performance and maintaining self-care. This role was admittedly “different” from her from other gigs, and she appreciated how much it pushed her.

One of her favorite parts of the film was being amused by fellow castmates while in between scenes, making the heavy scenes ones a little easier to handle, balancing between

intensity and laughter. She said it was refreshing and reassuring to know that the film truly did uplift the community members, with almost everyone being of Latinx heritage—even Dudek, who is half Hispanic and half Russian Ukrainian.

Not only is Dudek an amazing actress, but she is also an accomplished ballerina, having danced for Alvin Ailey and made an appearance on “So You Think You Can Dance.”

She genuinely uses her platform for positivity and to push for love, understanding and empowerment. She started out just wanting to at least make it to New York to pursue her dreams, but now, her final message is for everyone to never let up on their dreams, regardless of those around them.

“I had the chance to come out again,” Dudek said. “You want it even more. And I was like, I'm gonna make it this time.

And I was 18 and I was fearless.”

An LA native, Dudek moved back to the city after a successful stint in New York working in theater. She joined Playhouse West upon her return to Los Angeles to work with seasoned pros in the industry and make her mark. She published her first book, a memoir, about her life and her faith in 2020.

May / Ju ne 2 0 2 1 | H ERS M ag az i ne 17

+ HER LESSONS

STOPPING THE CYCLE OF ABUSE

BY MANNETTE MORGAN

“What will it take to break the cycle of abuse in our society?”

This question likely seems daunting—and rightfully so. It is a huge undertaking. Just like any other societal change, it will take a conscious effort on all our parts, especially those who are immersed in the dysfunction of abuse themselves. As I’ll touch on later, breaking the cycle in families is the first step to a widespread change.

According to many domestic violence and child abuse organizations, abuse—in every form—is more prevalent in our society than anyone might like to admit.

DID YOU KNOW: • It is conservatively believed that one in four girls will be sexually molested before they are 18 years old.

• One in five teen girls are victims of dating violence.

• One in four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.

• Before the #MeToo movement, 90% of victims never spoke up.

• 90% of victims are abused by someone they know, love or trust.1 It’s time for society to step out of denial and stop ignoring the reality of abuse. Once we have accepted how prevalent abuse is in our families and communities, we then must start educating those same people about the different types of abuse.

National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse (NAASCA) http:// www.naasca.org/2012-Resources/010812-StaisticsOfChildAbuse.htm 1

18 HERS Mag azi n e | H ER Les s ons

Most people in society would recognize physical and sexual abuse if they witnessed it. Unfortunately, psychological or emotional abuse can be more challenging to recognize.

Psychological abuse is often difficult to prove and perpetuates the cycle even further as victims feel trapped, unseen, and unworthy. This is why understanding abuse is such a vital part of breaking the cycle. How can we change what we don’t understand? We need to educate society as a whole, including both the victims and the abusers, and it starts with identifying abusive behaviors that may easily go unseen.

PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE IS WIDESPREAD AND CAN INCLUDE: • emotional or mental manipulation • threatening the victim with violence • control • harassing the victim when they are outside the home • passive-aggressive behaviors • denying the victim access to others • confining the victim to home or destroying the victim’s property

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+ HER LESSONS

An abusive individual also has a way of convincing a victim they are unworthy of respect, acceptance, or unconditional love. Once the victim submits to the abuser’s control, it can be incredibly difficult for them to break free from the abuse. However, I am proof that it is possible.

The ultimate goal is for a survivor to gain individual empowerment. For each survivor who gains empowerment, there is a greater chance that they won’t continue the cycle.

Once a survivor starts respecting themselves, they aren’t as likely to accept negative behaviors in their relationships.

They will begin to speak up and stand up for themselves (as well as their children). These new behaviors create healthier relationships for the survivor that they can then pass down to their children, which creates healthier relationships within the family and, ultimately, the community.

SO, HOW CAN YOU HELP BREAK THE CYCLE OF ABUSE IN SOCIETY? 1. Look for signs of abuse in the relationships around you—whether physical, emotional, or psychological—and educate your children on how to do so as well. You might be able to discern someone asking for help when they don’t know how.

2. Remind the people around you of their worth and do everything you can to encourage and build them up.

You never know when they might need it the most.

3. Treat yourself with respect, and make it clear you will not tolerate abusive behavior. Not only will this be of utmost importance in your own life, but it will have catalytic affects in your family and community as they watch you live it out.

I hope this information has been helpful to you and makes the task of breaking the cycle of abuse in our society a bit more manageable. I truly believe if we all do our part, slowly but surely, things will start to change.

May / Ju ne 2 0 2 1 | H ERS M ag az i ne 19

+ H E R P L AY

Best Destinations FOR MOTHER-DAUGHTER TRAVEL

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ravel is the perfect opportunity to carve out time for parent and child bonding, so it’s no surprise that the popularity of mother-daughter travel is on the rise.

These trips, taken once a year, can help ease stress, improve immune responses and decrease the chance of developing heart disease and more. Spending quality time and traveling with those you have good relationships with provides similar benefits to your health as getting a full night’s sleep or partaking in a healthy diet.

20 HERS Mag azi n e | H ER Play

Cultivating relationships with your mother or daughter, in particular, can make a positive impact on your life now and in the future, which means traveling together is a Mother’s Day gift that keeps on giving.

Here are a few life-changing journeys that are ideal for mother-daughter travel, whether it’s your first time traveling together or one of many:

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+ H E R P L AY

WELLNESS AND REJUVENATION THE HIMALAYAN FOOTHILLS Ananda in the Himalayas is a multi-award-winning luxury wellness retreat in the Himalayan foothills, surrounded by the majestic Himalayan Mountains, the birthplace of India’s ancient practices of yoga, meditation and Ayurveda. If you’re looking to rejuvenate—both yourself and your relationship— there’s no better place to do it then at Ananda in the Himalayas. With its peaceful and breathtaking surroundings located on a 100-acre Maharaja’s Palace Estate, Ananda is an ideal place to bond, reconnect, strengthen and nurture special relationships, like that of a mother and daughter. There are mothers and daughters who return to Ananda year after year—one mother has returned five times with both of her daughters. Guests can come on separate or same programs, depending on their individual health goals, and spend quality time together. Choose from personalized programs based on wellness goals, such as detox, weight loss, fitness, rejuvenation, de-stress and anti-aging, among others. Be pampered at the spa, do yoga and meditation together, take the weekly cooking classes, go on the treks to the ancient Hindu temple, go down to Rishikesh and experience the spiritual city together, do an adventurous pursuit together such as white water rafting in the Ganges River and so much more.

This incredibly relaxing spa retreat will help you unwind while you focus on your physical and mental wellbeing. The 5 or 7 night Rebalance or Renew are optimal programs for

mothers and daughters to do together. Rates for the 5 nights program start from $1,330 USD per night on a double occupancy for a Deluxe Palace View Room. Rates for the 7 nights program start from $1,420 USD per night on a double occupancy for a Deluxe Palace View Room. These rates are all-inclusive and include: individual wellness consultation, Ayurvedic consultation, personal fitness consultation, fitness test and body composition analysis, ongoing progress checks with doctor and spa consultants, detailed debrief session and lifestyle consultation and counselling, Ananda Rejuvenation Spa Cuisine (three gourmet wellness meals per day—the daily changing wellness menu is based on Ayurvedic principles and is customized based on individual dosha or body type of each guest with a focus on natural, balanced and fresh foods), daily morning wake-up signature tea and fresh fruit bowl, scheduled wellness activities, daily use of hydrotherapy facilities and more.

May / Ju ne 2 0 2 1 | H ERS M ag az i ne 21

+ H E R P L AY

CULTURAL IMMERSION GUATEMALA AND BELIZE For the ultimate mother-daughter trip, explore Guatemala and Belize for a cultural awakening and bonding experience rooted in the vibrant culture and natural wonders of these two countries.

Guatemala / Lake Atitlan Guatemala—meaning ‘place of many trees’ in ancient K’iche Mayan—stands out with an overwhelming density of natural beauty, architectural marvels, enticing flavors and intact cultural heritage. Lake Atitlan’s iridescent emerald waters set the pace for a peaceful getaway, perfect to slow down the pace and bask amongst pristine natural beauty. Along the verdant shores, small villages are home to Guatemala’s strongest Mayan customs and traditions, offering the perfect setting to engage with local families and delve into their traditional way of life through artisanal weaving workshops, a wonderful mother-daughter bonding experience.

Belize / Placencia Belize has just the right balance of downtime and adventure.

Eternally charming and low-key, the village of Placencia is perhaps Belize’s best-kept secret, having withstood the wave of mass tourism developments taking over other areas of the country. Set on a small strip of land between a peaceful mangrove-lined lagoon and the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, Placencia is the perfect gateway to the wild southern reef—offering unique diving experiences—as well as the tropical mainland jungle—a ideal place for wildlife observation, hiking and horseback riding. The village, minute in size, has managed to retain its old-world charm, calling for serene evenings riding bicycles, eating gelato, or indulging in fresh catch of the day on the pastel-colored, pedestrian-only ‘main street’.

WHY GUATEMALA & BELIZE ARE THE PERFECT DESTINATIONS FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE MOTHER-DAUGHTER TRIP: An (Upgraded) Short Getaway Located in the heart of Central America, both Guatemala and Belize are a short flight away from the U.S, averaging between 3-4-hour flights from major airport hubs.

Convenient and Easily Accessible Though still very much under-the-radar, this last year has seen several U.S airlines launch weekly direct flights from major urban hubs (L.A, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, NYC) to Guatemala City and Belize City, allowing for a convenient, hassle-free and time-saving travel experience to make the most out of your days and trip.

The Perfect Balance Both Guatemala and Belize are small, manageable destinations packed with an overwhelming diversity of nature, culture and adventure, allowing for highly personalized experiences that not only tap into your preferences and interests, but also allow for a balance between exploration and relaxing downtime in beautiful, unique natural settings.

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SLOW TRAVEL SOUTHERN GREECE Embrace the journey, nature and each other on a selfpaced, immersive walking adventure while avoiding the usual tourist traps. Just launched for 2020 is On Foot Holidays’ new self-guided walking holiday in the Peloponnese region of Greece—the travel specialist’s fourth route in Greece.

This is a perfect trip for mothers and daughters who love the outdoors and exploration. On Foot Holidays has worked with the creators of the Menalon Trail to craft their own version of this route. It uses many of the old paths and mule tracks that linked the villages with the fields, pastures and forest of this remote part of the region. This relatively little-known path winds through an area of Greece that was a hotbed of resistance to Ottoman rule and remains proud of its role in the Greek War of Independence. On the final day, walk the dramatic Lousios Gorge, where ancient monasteries cling to the cliffs, and watermills assisted the production of various products including gunpowder. The scenic walking through

rugged gorges, wooded valleys and hills with panoramic views will bring walkers to some very pretty and thriving old stone villages where guests will stay in traditional familyrun guesthouses. Enjoy the villages for their tavernas, local industries (such as jewelry making in Stemnitsa), little shops, churches and old houses, but above all, get a sense of life and liveliness that few can match. Local dancers will be performing, and the wine will flow freely. This is a great route to use as the core of a longer visit to the region—perhaps as part of taking in the sites of Mycenae, Epidaurus, Olympia and many others. Prices start at £720 per person for the full six-night route (five days of walking), and shorter versions are available. Rates are per person based on double occupancy, including bed and breakfast, all luggage transfers, route notes and information pack. Flights and airport transfers are not included.

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KENYA MOORE’S Journey to Matrimony, Motherhood and More

BY ANNETTE JOHNSON

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A

s she answers my questions in pseudo-engaged detail while getting her hair and makeup done, I see the striking boldness of Kenya Moore’s features that struck the attention of the judges at 1993 Miss USA pageant. I can only imagine what was going through Kenya's mind as she strutted across that stage giving the audience a signature pageant wave. That night, beaming with tears of pure joy and relief, Kenya became the second African American woman to be crowned Miss USA. She later went on to compete and became the fifth runner-up in the 1993 Miss Universe pageant.

Obviously, this woman is not new to the TV screen, critics, and adversaries in relationships or business, but she has maintained her baton twirling approach with a confident poise. The American actress, model, producer, author, television personality, and entrepreneur has co-starred in the Bravo series “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” from 2012 and still is holding her peach. Among her many TV cameos and film roles, Kenya was also a member of the cast of The Celebrity Apprentice 7 in 2015.

Nevertheless, all her accolades and success have not matched the moment on November 3, 2018, when her daughter, Brooklyn, with husband, Marc Daly, was born.

Getting to this place was not easy, though, as the newly wed struggled with infertility in her late 40s and opted for in vitro fertilization (IVF). She reportedly had no issues with the IVF procedure or pregnancy other than being tired and experiencing some nausea.

Enamored with her success and wanting to help other women, Kenya teamed up with Baby Quest Foundation to promote the charity’s mission to provide grants for infertility procedures. Kenya became an ambassador to the organization and personally donated to create Kenya Moore’s Baby Quest: Gift of Life Grant. The candidates must be based in her hometowns

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of Atlanta & Detroit and she will pick and personally present the grants to the recipients.

The Kenya’s involvement in the foundation’s mission is significant for those who lack financial resources to afford IVF. The average cost for one in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle is $20,000, excluding medications, which typically run another $4,000 to $5,000. The average couple undergoes two IVF cycles before successfully achieving fertilization, so the cost would be double, totaling approximately $50,000.

During our interview, we talked about her outlook on life both before and after motherhood. As she changes outfits for the cover shoot, I notice how each piece complements her skin tone perfectly, thanks to stylist Michelle Lynch. She changes into three outfits before baby Brooklyn walks in with her nanny and a pink tablet in tow.

Brooklyn percolates with excitement when she sees her mother, following her into their dressing room to continue the adorable mommy-daughter shoot. Brooklyn is hesitant, though, quite possibly by the new faces, including mine, the photographer, and assistants. When cajoled to change into her matching outfit, Brooklyn recoils from the nanny, preferring to play with her tablet. Neither the nanny nor Brooklyn’s aunt have any luck by bribing her with cookies or songs hers-magazine.com

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(“Baby Shark”). When Kenya walks in the room, the whole environment shifts, though. Within five minutes of Kenya entering the room and telling Brooklyn to get dressed, the toddler straightens up and can be dressed. By all accounts, Kenya is a no-nonsense, loving mother who provides her baby with a balance of autonomy and structure. Once dressed, Brooklyn joined her mother on set wearing a linen romper with yellow floral designs while mommy, Kenya, wore a plain, strapless yellow romper.

As I listen to Kenya’s account of how she dealt with painful fibroids, it is a wonder how she now vibrantly takes on managing her body, mind and heart, which her daughter clearly has a lock on. The spitting image of her father, baby Brooklyn is nothing less than miracle, and Kenya treats her role as mother as such. Nothing Kenya has done before in her life has prepared her for motherhood, and we talked about that and more in our interview: Annette: I'm going to get started with your questions. The first questions are always easy questions. These are ones you probably answered a million times. How has motherhood changed you?

Kenya: Gosh, I don't know. It's changed me in every way

possible. On the one hand, I just want to stop everything that I'm doing all the time and just watch my daughter 100% of the time because everything she does is so amazing to me. And so I don't know. It’s incredible to see just how she discovers the world of new things, how she learns or sees or picks up or says something new. In that regard, it taught me how to slow down, but then, on the other hand, in my work, it's taught me to speed up because I want to make the best possible life for her so she is safe and okay. Like, I mean, more jobs, more streams of income, more exposure. I just want to keep going.

Annette: What have you brought to motherhood that is different, something that you do differently or uniquely perhaps than most mothers?

Kenya: I don't know. I can't answer that question because I

don't know what other mothers have done. My goal is to just give my daughter 100% of me 100% of the time.

Annette: What are you doing to juggle and balance your many hats because that's the toughest thing for working moms?

Kenya: I just think prioritizing so you can have that work-life

balance. Prioritizing is always going to be my daughter, and then everything falls in place after that. She is always going to be the priority.

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Annette: How did you imagine life as a younger woman being a beauty contest winner? Did you think, ‘I'm going to have my kids soon’? Basically, how did you envision motherhood as a younger woman?

Kenya: I felt family, husband, multiple children probably by 28

to 32. You know, I thought that would have been a good age to start.

Annette: So what was it that delayed motherhood for you?

Was it career?

Kenya: Yeah, it was not finding the right person for me. I

didn't want to be a single mom. I didn't want that. I didn't grow up with a two-parent household with my mom and father together. It just was an incredibly challenging time in my life and very painful because of everything that I went through in my childhood as a result of that. So my vow was to do it differently. To me, what that [family] looked like for me was a two-parent home where there was lots of love and support.

Kenya: Yeah, but I found great doctors, and even my first

doctor was an oncologist. He said the fibroids were so large, that they were larger than a full-term baby Annette: So, did they affect the look of your midsection? Did your stomach protrude at all?

Kenya: No, it was in my back, toward my back. Like, my

stomach was so flat, and the way they were growing, they were starting to hit my spine.

Annette: What kind of pain were you in?

Kenya: I was not in a lot of pain on a daily basis. But when

my period would come and my uterus would swell, it was debilitating pain. Initially, I just thought it was normal [pain] because you are on your period, right?

Annette: Given your medical history, you must have been somewhat nervous about the IVF procedure. How did it go on the first time?

Annette: Do you feel like you overcompensated at all, like there could have been a guy in your past that was ‘the one’ so to speak?

Kenya: I definitely looked over some good guys for sure. Um,

That yeah that I ruined the relationship that that was totally you know my fault.

Kenya: It was not successful the first time, but the second time

it was.

Annette: How excited were you? Tell me about your reaction when you found out, ‘I’m going to be a mother?’ Were you giddy?

Kenya: Well, you know I didn't have that reaction because

Annette: Sometimes we try to reverse past situations and we overcompensate, missing out on something or someone important in our present. Now you have a beautiful baby who can erase any memory of past relationship mistakes or failures. Still, you never thought about trying to have a child before that?

Kenya: Oh, I wasn't trying because I was not married. So, I

didn't get married until 47, and then a year later, we had IVF, and a year later, Brooklyn was born.

Annette: This is kind of personal, but how did you know [so soon] you would need a procedure like IVF if you hadn’t tried to get pregnant previously?

Kenya: Throughout my entire life, I had been under treatment

for fibroids. The doctors told me that I would not be able to conceive because the fibroids had, you know, they were in different stages. So, at some point, they were saying I had to get them removed. I had them surgically removed in my 30s. Then again, two or three more times, and so because of that, they were like, there is a very small possibility that you could carry because of the damage done to my uterus.

Annette: Oh, my gosh.

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of everything everyone told me. They said, 12 weeks but you never know. You don't know the condition [of the embryo].

You don’t know if it's going to hold. It was just so many things.

I just refused to get excited because I didn't know if I would carry and deliver to full term. And every step of the way, I had so many scares, so many scares where we just didn't know. So that is why I didn't have the best feeling during my pregnancy because I was like, ‘I just didn't want to get excited to be disappointed.’

Annette: At what point in your pregnancy, seven months, eight months, where you are like, ‘Okay, my baby is coming. She will be here. I'm going to be a mom.’ Did you ever. settle down in your spirit?

Kenya: I don't remember. I think maybe around seven and a

half months?

Annette: No, you felt you feel movement way earlier than that.

Did you have seen our shows on cable when those women claim they never knew they were pregnant?

Kenya: I remember when I think I was maybe around 12

weeks when I first felt flutters. No, it was more than a flutter.

Like, it was the weirdest feeling, and then when they start hers-magazine.com

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kicking, there’s no way to deny that those are kicks. That's not a flutter. It woke me out my sleep the first time I felt it. I never felt it before moving and then when I felt it, I just woke up and I was like, ‘Oh. my god!’ I then waited to see if that's what it was. Yeah, then it happened again. It was a kick.

Annette: What was some of the best advice you got and who was it from?

Kenya: You know, I just don't know if anyone ever gave me

advice about motherhood. The advice that I remember was just how my grandmother raised me and the things that she taught us. That was my guide. My aunt, who was my mom's sister, I remember her telling me to write down every time, you know, the little things every day about Brooklyn so that I can always flip back to that day and show her or remember when she said this word. Or, ‘on this day, you took the comb and combed your hair.’ You know, she said to just keep like a diary of things that she does and says, with all the memories.

That's the only thing I can really honestly, absolutely say I got in terms of advice.

Annette: What is the biggest surprise Brooklyn has shown or done for you?

Kenya: I can't point to one thing because it just happens in way.

No, but she is very highly intelligent. The way she perceives things and how she processes information is astonishing to me.

It’s to the point where I believe she will surpass me. Okay, you know, I’m not even talking about in the long haul. I mean soon. What I do not want to do is not cultivate that.

And so I want to get her in school and just, you know, challenge her as much as possible just to see where she is she when it comes to percentages with other children and stuff like that. But she's so smart, the things she says [is incredible]. It’s her way of learning that when you really pay attention to her, you can see the genius in her. There is a genius there.

Annette: So, is she predominately left-brained like mathematical or do we have a right-brained creative genius?

Kenya: I'm left and right. Yes, she is also. Because she loves to

be creative. I'll look up and she'll have a lot of my clothes on.

She'll just put them on all over. She'll go play with things that you don't even know go together. She is highly creative. She'll cook, and she'll be doing her imaginary meals and stuff. She will bring it to you and tell you what they are—spaghetti or like bananas, whatever. She'll have it on a little tray.

Annette: What do you owe that genius to? Is it because of the environment you encourage or do you think it is just genetic?

Kenya: That is a good question because you know there's that

debate, nurture versus nature. I just have to probably say it's a bit of both. I think it's probably a bit of both. I always play with her. I always like to let her have fun and be a child, but at the same time, you can't discredit genes. Her dad is, you know, a genius or smart. You know what I mean? Okay, I think it's honestly a bit both.

Annette: We'll go with both. What do you want or foresee her doing in terms of a career one day?

Kenya: Yes, yes. A neurosurgeon, something where she is

required to use her brain and hear complicated things to figure out. A scientist or something along those lines.

Annette: So what do you do to challenge her on a day-today basis?

Kenya: I'm just pushing the

limits to what she knows.

Instead of counting 1 to 10, I'll count 20 to 30 or 30 to one backwards. I’m constantly introducing her to new things to see how well she picks up on them.

Annette: Does she ever get frustrated?

Kenya: She's such a boss.

She'll tell you like, ‘Bye, Mommy.’

Annette: Okay, so she's like her mom.

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The Queen Storyteller of Underground Soul

BY MELISSA LAWRENCE

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eing called the “Queen of Underground Soul” may seem like an oxymoron for some who would question when has soul been to music in almost any modern form. Sy Smith explains it like this: “Underground soul is the R&B that you hear on the radio when people say, ‘They don't make this like they used to.’ It's usually underground soul that they're talking about. They just don't know that it's still around or that we exist.”

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This queen has been keeping this nostalgic R&B culture going through her music and overall artistry, which is nothing short of authentic. She shared her insights on the music industry, how she got there, and what her world looks like right now.

“The love for the music” is what she says is keeping soul music alive right now. “It's really simple as that. Most of us that make the kind of music that we do, make it because we love it.”

To be connected to our livelihood through love is something that many of us might still be searching for, and Sy’s story inspires us to find that. She went to L.A. only expecting to be part of small play without any knowledge of what else awaited her in the City of Angels.

Having a supportive, positive group of friends has been a constant aspect in Sy’s life, seeing as how a friend helped her land one of her first gigs as a background vocalist for Whitney Houston. This was after Sy took a leap of faith and decided to stay in L.A. after the play in order to see what else she could possibly conquer. hers-magazine.com

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“When I first moved to LA, I met other singers and other musicians and, you know, those singers sort of took me under their wings and said, ‘Make sure that you are in places where you need to be and when you need to be there.’ One of those places happened to be an audition for Whitney Houston, and I wasn't actually planning to audition. I was actually just there to pick up a friend who was auditioning for her, and when I picked her up, she introduced me to Rickey Minor, who was Whitney's musical director. She said, ‘You know, Richard, you should hear Sy,’ and he said, "Okay, let's hear you." It was really as simple as that.”

Little did she know that she would also go on to work with the likes of Chaka Khan, John Legend, Raphael Saadiq, etc.

Sy also found herself thriving in this underground soul scene becoming known as a “queen” in her own right.

Her creative kingdom is quite vast, including acting, singing and playing.

She’s at home on any throne where she can tell a story through artistry.

“I love being on stage, whether that's performing concerts or theatre or whatever because I just love telling stories. Sitting at the piano and writing songs is another place to tell stories too.

So, I don't know that I have a favorite.

I just like to have a platform. I just love to have a place where I can be amplified and tell a story.”

Her neo soul image is “authentic” and Diana Ross was part of her inspiration to be uniquely elegant. “Diana Ross, she's one of my idols because she was one of the first black woman that I ever saw be glamorous in places where black women weren't typically seen as being such or allowed to be that. And I always loved her for showing me that it's okay to be glamorous like I wanted to be and still be unapologetically black.”

She says her mother likewise reinforced the fact that she could own her ethnicity with beauty and style. In fact, her mother taught her how to tie a headwrap, or a gele, when she was a little girl. “[My mother] might've thought I wasn't paying attention, but it wasn't until my college years when I started, you know, going back to those lessons with fabrics and how my mom taught me how to wrap a gele…I guess people are expected to have image but what you see with me it's really just me. It's not an image. It's the way I am all the time.”

Sy’s music video “Camelot” was spontaneously shot by her husband and doting hype man on a vacation to Tanzania.

Although most people would come to reimagine Camelot as a fictitious place, she wanted it to be perceived as a real place that actually exists right here on Earth, instead of being in England or medieval someplace. “Camelot could be in East Africa and in Tanzania, and maybe it could be on the island of Zanzibar, or maybe it could be in the Serengeti.”

In terms of her artistic process, she believes in going after her goals while allowing life lessons to be guideposts. “If you have a vision for yourself, stick to your vision, but never stop learning. Never stop learning and never stop finding the joy in discovery. The discovery phase is really a beautiful a beautiful part of creativity, and as long as you can discover, you can just keep making yourself new all the time.”

Look out for what’s next and what new with this queen…

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FINDING INNER PEACE WITH YOGMATA KEIKO AIKAWA

BY MELISSA LAWRENCE

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he world has felt slightly hectic in the past few years, to say the least. However, there are people who have dedicated their lives to finding inner peace even in the face of a sometimes-difficult era, and Yogmata Keiko Aikawa is one of them.

Known as “the Mother of Yoga,” she has gained the respect and following of millions of people around the world, including some of society’s biggest names such as Paul McCartney, Madonna, and Holiness the Dalai Lama 14th.

After being given the chance to explore Yogmata’s mind regarding both herself, her practice and global concerns, her love for humanity was consistently evident and unwavering.

According to the official website for the Himilayan Siddha Masters, Yogmata made history by becoming the first female and non-Indian to join the organization and reach Samahdi. In order to understand the significance of this accomplishment, it’s essential to understand some of the phrases and titles in the world of yoga. The Himilayan Siddha Masters have proven to be a very sacred and mysterious group especially when looking at their website, which doesn’t go into too much excessive detail. However, they are best understood as a rare group of individuals who have realized “a state of Oneness with the time, space, and the Godhead ,'' better known as Samahdi. Thus, this sets them apart from their fellow Himilayan sages.

Yogmata achieved this for the first time back in 1986, initially learning from her mentor Master Hari Baba. She explained something very interesting about the culture that she found herself immersed in. “In India, women are powerful and respected,” she said. “You probably think it’s a hard life for a woman, but it is different. I am also an independent woman. This is one of the reasons I like yoga practice because it develops your consciousness. I did not feel any weakness because I am strong and aware.”

She went on to train deep inside a Himalayan Cave, practicing intense meditation, where she finally reached Samahdi. In order to gain a little more detail on this sacred process, many people attend her lectures around the world, which she does at least three or four times a week.

“The Mother of Yoga” currently resides in Japan. However, she is one of only two Himilayan Siddha Masters of who make public appearances, again proving their mysterious nature. She explained that both her and her fellow Master Pilot Baba were

“instructed to go out in public and return to society and develop humanity further” due to their “karma to help people.”

Meanwhile, other Himilayan saints reside deep in the caves ensuring their balance because their own karma is finished. The most intriguing part about their existence is that they have “no more mind and body and are totally deep in Samadhi.”

This calling wasn’t surprising in the least bit, as Yogmata explained her faith in human beings being able to strengthen ourselves through heightened consciousness and constant release of stress through yoga and meditation. Yogmata’s grasp of peace and happiness has also allowed her to pay not so much attention to the various countries she travels to, but more so pay attention to the people there who she touches. She even said that her days are based around doing whatever makes others happy, while helping them to awaken the strength within themselves.

Her selfless attitude may also be a testament to her inner peace. She believes that Japan and the United States are two countries in need of deep healing, along with our biggest problem as a planet being environmental destruction that is causing intense weather changes. Her belief is that improved human relations could spark the changes we need in order to address these issues both personally and collectively.

Yogmata firmly believes that meditation and yoga can improve one’s physical and mental health with consistent practice. She has developed and organized what she calls “Aikawa Yoga” for all age groups, but she encourages that everyone practice yoga in some form. Ultimately, she wants to show people the power of self-healing and how they can transmit anugraha shakti to heal others.

Once a child simply intrigued by exploration, she has evolved into a woman in her own league, navigating her way through society with grace, peace, insight, determination, and love for humanity. At the age of 76, this seems to still be her peak and she urges us all to find a good master to learn from.

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ECO-BEAUTY TIPS From Eco-Beauty Queen

LINDSEY

COFFEY We spoke with Lindsey Coffey, model and environmental activist and the reigning titleholder of Miss Earth, the beauty pageant that celebrates our planet by raising awareness for environmental causes and sustainable practices.

Lindsey shares her beauty routine with us and shows us how to care for self and planet at the same time.

BY MAI VU

1

The beauty queen’s routine starts with a great cleanser and she recommends One Love Organics Botanical B Enzyme Cleansing Oil which helps take off all the heavy pageant make-up while upholding the skin’s natural moisture barrier and pH balance. It’s also naturally fragranced with pineapple and citrus and cruelty-free.

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Since every great routine must have a moisturizer, Lindsey recommends Origin’s Clear Improvement™ Pore Clearing Moisturizer With Bamboo Charcoal. It offers hydration along with gentle exfoliation from Salicylic Acid and Bamboo Charcoal, and is vegetarian (except honey & beeswax), gluten-free for those with sensitivity, and made without parabens, sulfates or formaldehyde.

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For a “power” product Lindsey’s go-to is Drunk Elephant’s C-Firma™ Day Serum. “I swear this stuff makes my skin glow,” says Lindsey. “I can see the difference even with all the red-eye flights I take and long days on photoshoots. It’s my holy grail product.” And when she can’t get enough sleep or has to travel a lot, she’s also been relying on The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream to help with puffiness and dark circles.

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“With skincare, I really believe it’s better to prevent issues than to fix them, so I always-always use sunscreen,” says Lindsey, and for that she uses La Mer’s The Broad Spectrum SPF 50 UV Protecting Fluid.

“It’s light but offers so much protection!”

6 For her ultra-pamper days she loves LUSH’s Mask of Magnanimity which has Kaolin clay and peppermint oil that deep cleans and soothes the skin. The brand also supports communities by buying honey for the mask directly from apiaries local to their manufacturing centers.

Lastly, at the end of the cycle, Lindsey recommends discarding the packaging properly. “I love Nordstrom’s BEAUTYCYCLE program which takes all my old product containers and recycles them which will greatly help us move towards a more zero-waste lifestyle. A lot of people think that all these items can be recycled but it’s actually quite challenging for local municipalities to do so. Nordstrom’s is really dedicated to taking on this challenge and aims to recycle 100 tons by 2025.”

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DIONNE’S DETERMINATION FOR DIVERSITY

BY PIERA VAN DE WIEL

“There are a lot of people without a seat at the table.”

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W

hen Dionne Miller first moved to Los Angeles, she recognized the challenges of living in Hollywood. “There were a lot of people without a seat at the table,” Miller said. “Artists and filmmakers deserve to celebrate their own work, but the question remains: where do they go to celebrate?”

As a result, Miller founded Griot Gala, bringing diverse and underrepresented voices to the table. Her company, Griot, provides a platform to recognize diverse voices and the need for equality for all people regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation.

As CEO and founder of Griot Gateway Productions, co-founder of the Griot Gala, and head of Surge Marketing, she is a seasoned professional with an extensive background in the areas of strategic partnerships and alliances, branded entertainment properties and lifestyle marketing.

She has been instrumental in constructing brand partnerships and alliances between Chevy, Black Girls Rock, AT&T and Drake, and she has even brokered talent relationships and brand partnerships for Common, Nelly, Fabulous and Queen Latifah!

Miller aims to bring diversity to branded content and entertainment.

In 2020, Miller hosted the Oscar afterparty to which you want to be invited, including about 600 attendees and hosted by award-winning actor Michael K. Williams. Honorees at the Griot Gala were CEO Peter Luo of Starlight Culture Entertainment Group (the company that financed Crazy Rich Asians, Marshall, Aquaman); and David Steward II, CEO of Lion Forge Animation and producer of the 2020 Oscar winning animated short Hair Love. Miller believes “the more call to action there is, the more likely change will happen.”

Miller studied marketing in her collegiate career, but always had a passion for entertainment, arts, TV and branding. Through experience, she realized the importance of positioning a product and how one needs to gain an understanding of what drives a consumer to brand loyalty and brand affinity. Miller knew it was all about impactful

connections. What’s impactful is that entertainment has the power to resonate with a viewer of any age, and one can do that by telling many different types of stories.

While Miller wears many hats, she is also a mother. When she had her daughter, she realized she needed a more flexible schedule, and she knew that the only way she could be flexible was if she worked for herself. When Miller discovered the world of entertainment and brand partnerships, she found that the “doors were flying open.” She was wearing a lot of different hats, “Being a mother is a balancing act, but it is also motivational,” Miller explained. “You’re motivated in a different way. You ask yourself questions—what is my child seeing? What type of role model am I?”

It’s the drive to be the best mother you can be and letting your child know that you can do anything you put your mind to. Miller finds that she has a different level of determination and drive, and that “you have to pick up the pace and do well, [if] your child likes to eat and wear clothes! You have a responsibility to [provide for] them.”

Miller feels she has the responsibility of making sure that her daughter sees many different types of representation on the TV, and she aims to aid this movement with Griot. “Kids want to turn on the television and they want to see someone that looks like them,” she said. “We need to show [them] that it’s ok to be different. Everyone is different, and that is beautiful.”

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MEMORABLE MOMENTS WITH

CELEB MOMS

BY CIARA JOHNSON

A mother is kind, loving, a nurturer, a caregiver, a teacher, a nurse, counselor, a disciplinarian if need be, and most of all, an accepting person who is always willing to listen and care for with patience and grace. These are a few celeb moms in laid back, no red carpet and chill moments with their beautiful heirs.

Kim Kardashian, who is no stranger to big families, has created her own big family memories. She and the kids, North, Psalm, Chicago and Saint West, share a picture together at the beach.

Meghan Markle and baby Archie enjoying a good book! There is nothing more precious than a mother taking the time to read to her child. Archie is definitely one royal starting on the right path: plenty of love and literacy.

Tamara Mowry-Housely is a mother of two adorable kids: Aden and Ariah. The host on “The Real” talk show took a step back to focus on her adorable children and other opportunities. She enjoys some downtime and still absolutely stunning without make -up.

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Model and designer Kimora Lee Simmons and her children, Ming Lee, Aoki Lee, Kenzo Lee, and Wolfe Lee, look as if they’re enjoying downtime with mommy.

Ms. Okurr herself, Cardi B., constantly posts videos of her darling toddler Kulture saying and doing the cutest things.

There are even a few videos of Kulture’s tantrums, which mom Cardi B isn’t a fan of, but she does enjoy twinning with her Minnie.

Gwyneth Paltrow is one protective mama bear.

In multiple interviews, she has made it clear she does not want her children, Apple and Moses, in the public eye. Her main language with her kids is clearly love.

From ‘Pretty Woman’ to a pretty mama, Julia Roberts is always serving killer looks with those big, beautiful locks. She enjoys time with her children, Hazel, Phinnaeus, and Henry, while out and about.

Gwen Stefani is a mother to three children, Kingston, Apollo, and Zuma. Herself a fashionista, Gwen brings her children to the Moschino Fashion Show. One thing she discovered due to motherhood is that she is dyslexic, which she realized after her sons began to read.

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Is Having a Mommy Makeover Right for You? Double-board certified plastic surgeon discusses the options, expectations and realities

BY WENDY PHAN

O

ne of the most rewarding yet fulfilling experiences in life is motherhood. However, post-pregnancy bodies can take a toll on a woman’s confidence due to stretch marks, extra weight, excess abdominal tissue, and other bodily changes. Sometimes not even dieting and exercise aren’t enough to rebound a mother’s body.

Given this, mommy makeovers have gotten popular. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Killingsworth offers mommy makeovers in metro Atlanta, Georgia.

It involves a variety of surgical procedures, including breast lift, breast augmentation, liposuction or tummy tuck, to help women restore their pre-pregnancy bodies.

While some think mommy makeovers are harmful to the culture around women's beauty standards, others have their definition of beauty and how it makes them feel. “As a husband and father of three daughters, I am entirely sensitive to that,” said Killingsworth. “All the people that I will operate on, are doing it. They're coming at it from a place of doing it for themselves.”

This procedure has gotten so popular because people are willing to talk about it more as a restorative option. “I also think people are more accepting of the fact that some things they can't change,” said Killingsworth.

Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, Killingsworth specializes in cosmetic surgery of the face, breast and body.

His wife, Lindsay, is an OB-GYN in the metro area as well. He said, “We kind of see the same patients and it sort of happened just to be synergistic that you know she has post-baby patients as well.”

Both their patients have the same kinds of post-delivery complaints about their bodies as well. “I saw a patient, same situation, just kind of fed up. She's not seeing the results from exercise.”

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Steps Before Surgery The most important step is to contact a plastic surgeon who is certified with the American Board of Plastic Surgery and set up a consultation.

During the consultation, the patient and the doctor can spend time discussing patient expectations. “That's actually kind of one of the most challenging things in cosmetic plastic surgery is setting expectations appropriately,” said Killingsworth.

This is also when the doctor will walk the patient through the process and steps. Doing this over the phone is not advisable. “In-person consultation is important because the doctor can do an exam for the patient and figure out what the patient's goals are and set realistic expectations,” said Killingsworth, who offers complimentary consultations.

When to Have Surgery Before getting the surgery, Killingsworth BEFORE determines if the timing of the patients' surgery is right. He said it’s best to wait until after a mother has her last planned pregnancy or when her child is done breastfeeding because breastfeeding does change the shape of the breast. “Waiting a good six weeks until after breastfeeding is done is recommended because obviously there’s some things going on with the breast when you’re breastfeeding,” said Dr. Killingsworth.

He also said that if a mother is not breastfeeding or is done breastfeeding, she wants to be near her goal weight of five to ten pounds. It will give her the best results. “You have to be medically fit for surgery,” suggested Killingsworth.

He said that surgery isn’t for everyone and is something to be discussed with your doctor. “Not everyone needs surgery,” he said. “You know there are risks and there could be complications. It's something that we really have to walk through together.”

Costs and Options Obviously, the cost of the surgery depends on what the patients want to get done, but that’s not the part doctors usually discuss with prospective patients. Killingworth said his patient coordinator handles that. “I mean, just having the breasts done, the price range could be like $5,000 to $10,000. If we’re doing more than that, it could be up to $15,000 or more. If we're doing more than that, it could be more,” he explained.

Like with most cosmetic procedures, patients can finance the procedure because they aren’t typically covered by most insurance companies. Breast reductions, however, are one of

the few plastic surgery procedures covered by insurance. Based on your credit, CareCredit® and Alphaeon® Credit offer patient financing option cosmetic procedures.

Beyond costs, women can sometimes have unrealistic expectations when going into their mommy makeover surgery.

“There are certain things about the body I cannot change,” said Killingsworth. For instance, some women think that the doctor can make their breasts perfectly symmetric. “You can't be perfectly symmetric. You can be better, but not perfectly symmetric.”

Many times, people confuse a breast lift with a breast augmentation and have the expectation that a lift will restore the fullness in the breast. “Effectively, over the long term, you really need an implant, or breast augmentation, to do that, and then also sometimes I think weight can be an issue,” said Dr. Killingsworth.

AFTER

An abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, does not address intraabdominal fat. Instead, it is designed to remove excess skin and repair stretched or separated abdominal muscles. Liposuction can remove subcutaneous fat on the belly and back. “If you’re not at your weight goal, you can have extra intra-abdominal fat,” he said.

Operation/Recovery Process A breast augmentation or implants could take an hour and a half, but a mommy makeover usually takes about six hours. “If we do a breast lift with an abdominoplasty, which is the most common combination, that’s around six hours, six and a half hours,” said Killingsworth.

After surgery, there is the recovery process mothers should follow. They are looking at a week before returning to a desk job. “I do inject a long-acting pain medication that helps with pain control for 72 hours,” he shared.

For any type of surgery, patients will not be able to work out or do heavy physical activity for six weeks total. “In between that two- and six-week period, you know you’re going to work and do normal things, but you’re just not having a really active workout.”

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ew York runway collection Negris LeBrum has released a capsule collection of styles that epitomizes an era that so many of us hold near and dear to our fashion hearts. It was a time of bold graphics, exaggerated silhouettes & prepster moxie. Negris LeBrum creative director Travis Hamilton has interpreted the era with markedly restrained proportions, but in no way has he dialed down the graphic elements, the surface treatments or the preppie attitude. With this capsule, you’ll feel like you’re channeling Mollie Ringwald vibes while the synth beats of Depêche Mode’s “Just Can’t Get Enough” fill the soundtrack of your mind.

Polka dots are the centerpiece of the capsule with Hamilton preferring an oversized scale, perhaps as a nod to the proportions of the original era. Combined with the brand’s “N” logo seen on a sweater pulled straight from the wardrobe of a co-ed in “N” University or on a cropped vest that looks to be walking straight off the grass courts at Forest Hills.

Negris LeBrum was inspired from a love story that began during 1940’s, between a young beautiful French Creole woman and a handsome man. Although their love was forbidden by societal difficulties, these individuals were brought together by a force that was greater than the both of them and through fashion their love story is being told to the world.

Negris LeBrum Nostalgic Nod

‘80s

to the

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DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA MARKS THE SOUTH FLORIDA MAP

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava taking a moment to joke with the audience during the Be Strong International Spring Charity Awards 2021 on Key Biscayne

Our By Example feature highlights one woman who is or has been an exemplary inspiration to women of all ages.

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WHO IS SHE? Daniella Levine Cava was elected Miami-Dade County's first-ever female mayor. In 1996, Mayor Levine Cava founded Catalyst Miami to help low- and middle-income families through service, education, and advocacy. Catalyst helps approximately 5,000 people each year to become more selfsufficient and civically engaged. She has served on the Florida Bar Committee on Legal Needs of Children, the boards of League of Women Voters, Orange Bowl Foundation, North Dade Medical Foundation, South Florida Health Information Initiative, and several national boards hers-magazine.com

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WHERE IS SHE FROM?

WHEN IS/WAS HER TENURE?

Born in New York and raised partly in Latin America, Mayor Levine Cava received her bachelor's degree in psychology with honors from Yale University and graduate degrees in law and social work from Columbia University.

Elected in November 2020 and previously served as a MiamiDade County Commissioner (District 8) from 2014 up until she was elected as mayor

WHAT MAKES HER SIGNIFICANT? She now oversees a metropolitan government with more than 28,000 employees serving nearly 3 million residents, managing an annual budget of approximately $9 billion.

Since the coronavirus pandemic began, she has advocated for a more effective public health response and worked to provide millions of federal CARES Act dollars in relief to struggling families and small businesses.

WHY IS HER EXAMPLE IMPORTANT? According to UN Women calculations, women serve as heads of state or government in only 22 countries, and 119 countries have never had a woman leader, including the United States.

At the current rate, gender equality in the highest positions of power will not be reached for another 130 years.

(L-R) Michelle Shirley, Be Strong International CEO; Commissioner DanielleCohen-Higgins (District 8); and Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who presented the honoree awards during the Spring Charity Awards 2021 on Key Biscayne

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KARNIT AHARONI CAPTURES CONTEMPORARY FEMININITY

Although designer Karnit Aharoni’s whole career in the fashion industry has been as a menswear designer, first in Italy for Emernegildo Zegna and then for Donna Karan in NY, she decided to design a womenswear line.

The inspiration behind her spring/ summer 2021 collection is her own grandmother, who she says was a very stylish woman. Karnit, as always, mixed it up a bit, trying to keep some elements that are loved and recognizable, adding to that some new fabrics and colors, especially the jacquards that are exclusive and always tell a story.

“I am a woman and I come from a line of very strong women. My grandmother was an incredible person, as well as my mother. Both very strong and creative. I also have to two sisters, two daughters, and friends. I’m always sensitive to their feedback, comments, and needs. It’s the contemporary femininity,” Karnit say.

All the fabrics are 100% natural et eco responsible from Italy or France, and all the production is either in France or Portugal.

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Photography Greg Alexander Art director Sebastien Vienne Hair&Makeup Carine Larchet for LaRoche Posay & Eugène Perma Model Angeline@EliteMilano Production www.Mephistopheles.fr Wardrobe Karnit Aharoni

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LEANNE ANTONIO SWINGS AND CIRCLES THE U.S. IN ‘THE LION KING’

BY MELISSA LAWRENCE

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“The Lion King” captured almost everyone’s hearts over 20 years ago with a heart-warming story about the significance of family and the circle of life. This transcendent story has found itself on the screen not only twice, with Beyonce and Disney’s revival, but also on Broadway and on national tours ‘till this day two decades later. The stage production has made a somewhat separate name for itself apart from the movie, and the accolades tell it all. Surpassing the “Phantom of the Opera” as the highest earning Broadway production of all time in 2014, this show has won six Tony Awards and is the third longest-running Broadway show in history. The show is experiencing its third national tour right now and many actors and actresses have found somewhat of a home on the road telling this story of the circle of life to thousands of people.

One of the newest “residents” on The Rafiki National Tour is someone I had the privilege of growing up with, competing with, and performing with. Many people have specific goals, yet not everyone reaches there. Leanne Antonio is someone who’s been known by almost everyone she meets as an invested, hardworking thespian with the voice of a powerful angel.

Originally born in the Bahamas, Leanne eventually found herself in South Florida with her parents and siblings.

Invested in church at a young age, she, as with many singers, found her start in church. Leanne was able to carry over that musical poise and grace into theatre through some powerful performances, even while in high school. During senior year, as we prepared our Florida State University Thespian selected show “Ragtime,” for which she played the lead role Sarah, a moment occurred that vividly remains in my mind remains even now because the joy was immeasurable. After four years hers-magazine.com

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of hard work in both academia and the theatre department, followed by a series of intense auditions, Leanne received a full-ride scholarship to the University of Michigan’s BFA Musical Theatre program. This little girl from the Bahamas was only witnessing the beginning of her dreams come true.

When she graduated from the University of Michigan, the casting director for ‘The Lion King’ was at her showcase in NYC. Two days later, she auditioned for “The Lion King” but didn’t hear from them. “I got an agent and then they called me back,” she said. “I was to be a Nala cover on Broadway.”

After auditioning at least three other times, she got the call that she sould be on the U.S. National Tour of “The Lion King” as the understudy for Nala and Sarabi, as well as a swing. Leanne is going on her second year of being a part of the tour and has already stepped in for multiple ensemble roles as well as for both Nala and Sarabi. She works with some people who have been on the tour for over 15 years.

As a swing, Leanne covers multiple ensemble roles, so when somebody is sick, can't do the show, is on vacation or just has a personal day, then a swing will jump in for that person.

“I cover five of the ensemble female singers,” she explains.

“Whenever one of them is out, I go on. I can also cover anyone that I have a costume for technically. So there have been times where I've gone on to be the body of a male singer. So, technically, I can cover any of the singers in certain situations.”

Even after performing or seeing the show performed repeatedly, she feels a sense of exhilaration because the show is a different world from the movie. “I feel like the musical is, it's like the movie but it's like a world of its own. So I think people get sucked into that and stop comparing. But yeah, it's a beautiful story. So, it feels good to tell it. It's a lot of fun to do as well, and the audience response is always amazing, which is why it's been running for so long. So yeah, it feels really great.”

She says she has grown as a performer all around, while even recognizing some strengths in the characters of Nala and Sarabi, namely as a mother. “I think [Sarabi] makes a lot of

sacrifices, which I think is a huge quality within mothers of having to sacrifice certain things for the greater good. I know I talked to my director about it, and the question was, ‘Why does Sarabi allow Scar to continue in the way that she does? Why doesn’t she step up? Why doesn't she fight? I think it's just her having to sacrifice for the greater good of the pride as opposed to getting hot headed and fighting this man.”

Although she can appreciate Sarabi, she says she can personally relate to Nala a bit more because she’s “take charge kind of woman,” says Leanne. “So she's like, ‘I'm going to do what I need to do in order to save my family and not sit back,’ and I like that about her. I like how sharp she is. But I also like how vulnerable she is because she is leaving her family to go find this person that may or may not be alive. Then she finally finds him and then she falls in love.

So she has that vulnerability of love and also having to fight for her pride.

So there's those two things that are pulling each way for her, and she's there's a lot of dynamics to play with her, which is fun.”

Leanne not only praised the University of Michigan’s Musical Theatre program for making her the performer she is today but also for having such a strong alumni family that has carried her from Michigan to New York to now different states all across the country. “Literally, it made me into the performer that I am today. Like the training was rigorous but at the same time, so open to new things because they didn't try to make us into a specific type of thing. You came in as an individual and left as an individual.

So they really nurtured our individuality a lot and allowed us to create what we always wanted to create and gave us a space and utilities to do so. And the faculty out there, they are your biggest supporters, they still are my biggest supporters.”

She urged us all to never forget the importance of “The Lion King” and the message it’s always strived to teach: “...the strength of family….that's a beautiful thing that ‘The Lion King’ teaches us and I think that's something that everyone should take away from it.”

Visit their website www.lionking.com/tour for more details. The Rafiki National Tour of The Lion King launched will close on Jun 18, 2022.

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How Travel Can Improve Mental Health

BY LINDSAY MYERS

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s women, we are responsible for so much in our lives. We may have fulltime jobs or school, and we usually care for and are responsible for other people, including our families and even friendships.

We fill so many roles in everyone’s lives, and we often forget the role of being a friend to ourselves. We may even feel guilty about carving out some “me time” that we occasionally allow ourselves, let alone having the nerve to take an entire vacation.

In the blink of any eye, life circumstances can change quickly. We may think we have lots of time for work or play one day, but the next day, something changes all of that. As life goes on, most people think that the window of time for us to travel closes. I am here to tell you that you need to make it happen for yourself while you’re making it happen for everyone around you. Traveling doesn’t only make us happier, but it enhances our lives as well. With every new adventure, we can grow and change. Isn’t that the point of living—to enhance and be the best version of ourselves?

Let’s break it down. Why does traveling make us happy?

This might seem like an easy answer, but it’s much more than us just being happy on vacation. New places, new cultures, and new adventures expand our mind and have been proven to do wonders for our mental and emotional well-being. When you step outside your day-to-day routine and really relax and recharge, the stress starts to melt away. Stress is toxic to our mind and body and can affect all aspects of our lives.

While on vacation, we do the things we love: sit on the beach with a drink, read books, take hikes, eat and drink well, explore, dance or just do nothing. All these things re-train our brains to recognize the simplicity of life and remind us of what makes us truly happy. Maybe you just do nothing or maybe you like to explore new cultures. Either way, you are still reflecting.

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to do the activities that you enjoy. When you start enjoying your time on vacation, there are no distractions of the daily grind, and you can truly clear your head. If you can travel with a clear head, you can see your priorities clearly. You can reflect on how important it is to make yourself a priority.

Visiting new places and meeting new people is easier while traveling. We tend to let our guard down, which makes us more social. If you can step outside your comfort zone while traveling, it can be a great confidence booster. You can learn things not only about the world, but also about yourself.

Finding inner joy and peace on vacation can have you bringing those emotions back with you in your daily life. Furthermore, you can make lifelong friends anywhere in the world.

Traveling can change your life and heal your mind if you let it. We do things that make us happy while we travel that we may never do back home, but why is that? It’s because travelling allows your mind to relax and rebound, releasing tension and sometimes your inhibitions.

You can feel overall healthier when you travel, but remember to bring that travel mentality back home with you.

You’ll need to savour that until the next trip!

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Female Oscar Win

Frances McDormand, ‘Nomadland’

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ilmed inside of L.A.’s historic Union Station with only nominees, their guests and presenters were in attendance, the 93rd annual Academy Awards was certainly less ostentatious but always significant nonetheless, especially for females in film and television looking to be recognized for their contributions in every regard.

Nomadland led the awards, winning three of the six prizes, including Best Picture. Frances McDormand won the Oscar for best actress for her performance in the film. Chloé Zhao became the first woman of color and second woman ever to win Best Director.

McDormand’s award-night speech came with a surprise twist, witnessing the 63-year-old actress howl like a wolf . “We give this one to our wolf,” said McDormand. She was paying

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(L-R) Producers Peter Spears, Frances McDormand, Chloe Zhao, Mollye Asher and Dan Janvey, winners of the award for Best Picture for ‘Nomadland’. Photo: AP

homage to the film’s production designer and sound mixer Michael Wolf Snyder, who had committed suicide just the month before in March 2021.

This Best Actress win makes three for McDormand, who also won for “Fargo” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”

“I have no words: my voice is in my sword,” said McDormand in her speech, quoting Macduff as he fights Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Her howl spoke loud enough.

While award-winning actress Viola Davis may not have prevailed in the Best Actress category, her hair, makeup and costume designers, Mia Neal, Sergio Lopez-Rivera and Matiki Anoff in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom captured the essence of the titular character, played by Davis, and an Oscar.

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nners & Wonders

2021

Viola Davis in ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’. Photo: David Lee/Netflix

FEMALE WINNERS AND PRODUCTIONS: BEST ACTRESS Frances McDormand, ‘Nomadland’

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY ‘Promising Young Woman’

BEST DIRECTOR Chloé Zhao, ‘Nomadland’

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Yuh-Jung Youn, ‘Minari’

BEST COSTUME DESIGN ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’

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BOOK REVIEW

‘THE REJECTION THAT CHANGED MY LIFE’

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on the fact that even though her lab studies “grit,” she ike achievements, rejections are part of every successful herself can get thrown by rejections. person's career. Some are easy to brush off, but there • Creating possibilities: Researchers in social psychology are those that sting and stay with you. Women are have found that rejection can actually spur creativity more likely to ruminate and overthink work rejections, to the at work—and Ally Einbinder, bassist of the band point of making them even more painful. Studies show that Potty Mouth, knows that better than most. When her after being rejected multiple times due to bias, women are management didn’t know how less likely to try again for top roles at to market Potty Mouth to record high-powered companies. However, labels, it tried to cut the band loose. in this moment, when glass ceilings Einbinder and her fellow musicians still pervade office cultures around the fought for studio time to finish world, it’s essential for working women their album, paid for their own to see rejection not as an end, but as mixing, and released it on their a chapter in their career’s long and own terms—soon after, LA Weekly varied narrative. named them the “best punk band This is where Jessica Bacal, the in Los Angeles.” beloved editor of “Mistakes I Made • Importance of resilience: at Work,” comes in with her newest Comic Sam Jay gave herself one book “The Rejection That Changed My year to try stand-up comedy. Open Life: 25+ Powerful Women on Being Let mics, actual gigs: She committed, Down, Turning It Around, and Burning It even when she was booed during Up at Work” (Plume). She recruited her first time on stage. Being over 25 powerful and successful rejected is painful, but it makes women from all walks of life to you stronger—something that she talk about how rejection catalyzed continues to learn as a staff writer movement in their careers, offer advice on Saturday Night Live. for anyone learning to navigate the • Embracing change and trying workforce. This collection is pivotal for new things: Knowing what you professionals who aspire to persevere, ISBN: 978-0593187654 don’t want is as important as knowing to achieve, and to find meaning and joy at Trade Paperback $17.00 what you do—and rejection and work. failure can help you realize both. Chef and James Beard In “The Rejection That Changed My Life,” Bacal and her Award semi-finalist Unmi Akmin came to understand, early interviewees examine how being turned down can lead to hope in her career, that she was hungry to learn but didn’t like and positive growth. Highlights and themes include: being told what to do; that’s why she took a risk and opened Universal lessons offered by women from many cultural her own restaurant. backgrounds: • Learning and adapting: Rejection is a learning tool; Bacal also created a series of exercises for readers to use in interviewees describe using their own reactions as data, developing a habit of reflection about their diverse identities and their experiences as preparation. Angela Duckworth, a MacArthur “genius” grant winner and psychologist, reflects and goals, accessing the power of their ever-evolving stories.

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BOOK REVIEW

“DEAR CHAIRWOMAN,: Letters from Today’s Trailblazing Women Board Leaders to the Fearless Directors of Tomorrow”

BY MERILEE KERN

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his Mother’s Day, there is an inspirational new career success book that serves as a perfect gift for aspirational women as well as daughters, granddaughters, nieces, friends and colleagues of women and men everywhere. Amid her life’s work helping advance women executives, leadership diversity authority Rika Nakazawa has authored the newly-released title, “Dear Chairwoman: Letters from Today’s Trailblazing Women Board Leaders to the Fearless Directors of Tomorrow.”

The book features the extraordinary voices and personal stories of women leaders from around the world who have trailblazed their way to the board room, which are availed as letters to enlighten, prepare and inspire the next generation of women in business and government to pursue board-level positions.

With each leading with the salutation “Dear Chairwoman,” these letters are infused with the energy, personal experiences and front-line perspectives to motivate young women to not only pursue board governance early, but also claim the “Chairwoman” title when taking that senior-most seat in the board room. “Dear Chairwoman” is replete with letters from some of the world’s most esteemed women executives who have ascended the senior leadership ranks at premier companies such as Microsoft, and who sit on boards for global behemoths the likes of The Coca-Cola Company, MGM Mirage, JPMorgan Chase, Alaska Airlines, Nordstrom and more.

The stories are offered in the form of personal letters to the next generation of women leaders. They illuminate each leader’s journey to the boardroom, including the challenges experienced along the way and triumphs realized as they are fulfilling their roles within them.

ISBN: 978-0578248103 Price $9.95

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WOMEN IN MUSIC 2021

Carrie Underwood

Demi Lovato

My Savior is Underwood’s 8th studio album. This is Underwood’s first gospel album. She is known for her country melodies. This album was released March 26, 2021.

Dancing with the Devil is Lovato’s 7th studio album. It was released April 12,2021. The album consists of 19 songs and 3 bonus tracks. This album also serves as her soundtrack to her upcoming documentary where shares her battle with drugs and the overdose that changed her.

Selena Gomez Releasing her first album primarily in Spanish. Revelacion is her 4th studio album. Selena is making her name known in the Latin pop world. She combines Spanish music with reggaeton.

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Ariana Grande

Dua Lipa

Although the original album was released October 30, 2020, she came back to give us more in a Deluxe Edition of that’s album named Positions on February 19, 2021. It has 5 new songs.

Its her 6th studio album. The genre for this album is Pop, R&B.

This English singer and songwriter is taking over the charts. The album Future Nostalgia was released in 2020 but Lipa released The Moonlight Edition for that same album in 2021.

This is her 2nd studio album. It was the most streamed in a day by a British female artist globally.

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MOVIES STARRING WOMAN Malcolm and Marie Zendaya is the leading lady is this new Netflix release. She co-stars with John David Washington in a film that dissects their glamorous but also very flawed relationship. The movie is in black and white.

Cruella

Don’t Worry Darling

Emma Stone plays a younger version of the icon villain Cruella De Ville is Disney’s 101 Dalmatians. The film takes place in 1970’s London. Fans can’t wait to see Emma Stone play this role.

Oliva Wilde is doing double duty as director and star of the thriller, ‘Don’t Worry Darling’. It is set in the 1950’s.

This is about a housewife that worries her husband’s company is keeping sinister secrets.

In the Same Breath Nanfu Wang directs a documentary that reflect the times we are living in currently. She is no fan of the Chinese Government and they would the same regarding her. This is a documentary that chronicles the spread of Covid-19 from Wuhan, China to the U.S. this film was debuted at the Sundance the past January.

The Dig Lily James stars in this 2021 British drama directed by Simon Stones.

Alongside James are Carey Mulligan and Monica Dolan. In this movie, Edith Pretty hires amateur archaeologist to investigate mounds on her property.

They find a ship from the Dark Ages.

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WOMEN ON TV Call Me Kat Mayim Bialik plays the title character in Fox’s new comedy. Kat is a 39-year-old woman who happily quits her job to open a cat café. She gives her friends jobs, and she goes on to try to convince her mom she can be happy and single.

Search Party Season 4 This season opens with Dory being kidnapped.

Dory was played by Meredith Hagner. Her friends think she is on vacation and focus on themselves but after her friends realize she is missing they begin searching for her. The showed aired on January 14 -28th 2021. I t has 10 episodes this season.

Clarice A spinoff from the movie Silence of the Lamb. An agent Clarice Starling played

by Rebecca Breeds that returns to the field to pursue serial murderers and sexual predators. The showed premiered February 11 on CBS.

WandaVision Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) aka Scarlet Witch and Vision play house as a married couple dealing with dull problems. They live an idealized suburban life and she has superpowers, and she begins to suspect everything isn’t as it seems. This showed aired January 15th on Disney+.

Superman and Lois This show focuses on journalist Lois Lane played by Elizabeth Tulloch and her husband Clark Kent aka Superman played by Tyler Hoechin, as they move their kid’s to Smallville, Clark’s hometown. The show premiered February 23, 2021 on CW. 72 HERS Mag azi n e | H ER Play

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