Moda Chic Magazine - Issue 20

MODA

“THEY TRIED TO BURY US, BUT THEY DIDN’T KNOW WE WERE SEEDS.” - DINOS CHRISTIANOPOULUS

Letter from the Editor

A blind man is not one that cannot see, it is one that can see but chooses to ignore what they see. In today’s world we are witnessing horrific genocides across the globe through our phones. There are 8 genocides that are currently happening in the world: The Palestinian Genocide, Sudan Genocide, The Silent Holocaust of Congo, Tigray Ethnic Genocide of Amhara (Ethiopia), Armenia Genocide (Nagorno - Karabakh), West Papua Genocide, Ethnic Genocide of Uyghurs, and Burma/Myanmar Genocide. WE cannot turn a blind eye to the genocides.

Our magazine has always stood up for humanity, and that is why we continue to say Free Palestine, Free Uyghurs, Free Sudan, and Free Everyone that is currently facing unjust rule, oppression, and illegal occupation. We have never supported violence, and under no circumstance will we ever support violence or terrorism. Palestine has been held under occupation for 75 years, and in order to understand what is going on in Palestine (and not be blindsided by what the news is sharing) you must look into the past. We do not side with Palestine due to religion or oppose Israel due to religion. Religion, regardless of what you believe, does not condone the horrific acts we are witnessing today. This is about oppression and supporting those who are unjustly oppressed.

Our hearts are heavy with grief, and our prayers go out to all the lives that have been lost in Palestine, Sudan, Congo, Ethiopia, Armenia, West Papua, Xinjeng, and Burma/Myanmar From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free; from the east to the west may all the genocides and illegal occupations come to an end

Editor-in-Chief M.Erkin

“We can disagree and still love each other, unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression, and denial of my humanity and right to exist.”

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

F a s h i o n c a n b e

A r t - J o s e N o g a l

Fashion can be art", is a phrase that I have learned along the way in my industry. Working in fashion, for me, is not a job, it is a passion and a privilege that life has given me.

I was born and raised in Mexico City, a city that is euphoric and calm at the same time, a city that has seen the fashion industry grow and was nominated as the "capital of design" a few years ago. So living in a cosmopolitan city has given me the opportunity to grow as a person, it gave me the tools to undertake and create my agency Trendy Management of which I am the founding director, and this year we are celebrating two very important things, we are celebrating 5 years since its inception and we are about to open an agency in Madrid, to bring Mexican talent to the Spanish capital and one of the most important cities in Europe.

Being a former law student, with an architect father and an English teacher mother, creativity has been in my home for a long time, I learned from my parents about art, culture and I introduced them to fashion, it was a "win-win" for all.

Designers Karl Lagerfeld, Gianni Versace and former Vogue Italia Editor, Franca Sozzani; are for me my fashion fathers and there is a lot to learn from them, as together, as a team, they created the "top models". These models, who stopped being "mannequins" and took on a life of their own, were no longer just models, but women who brought something to the world, so thanks to the students of these masterminds, influential women like Carla Bruni emerged, making society interested in the lives of models, putting our industry on the map.

Talking about the fashion world in Mexico is talking about a world that can be criticized or loved, there are no intermediate points, no doubt our industry has a long way to go, but in Trendy Management we want to break paradigms, we are an agency with diverse talent, the first Mexican agency to do 100% of its virtual castings since before the pandemic and also, being a boutique agency, we have a limit of models, so we offer our clients quality and not quantity.

Throughout my career, I have learned that the world of fashion is exciting, dynamic and enveloping, it is a very visual world that depends entirely on the aesthetics and freedom of models and designers is unique, being in the backstage of a fashion show and feel the euphoria of all involved is vibrant, the models have become muses that give life to the creations of designers and are immortalized in runways, magazines, commercials and advertisements in the cities. It is certainly very exciting to see what Mexican fashion can offer us and what I can contribute to make it a more humane industry.

KEEPING PAST STYLES PRESENT Bygone Bettie

Opening a vintage and vintage-inspired boutique has always been a dream of mine. My name is Katy Miller and just this year I opened my online boutique, Bygone Bettie. My love for vintage fashions comes from my childhood. The fashion I remember from reruns of popular shows like Bewitched and I Love Lucy, brings me tremendous feelings of comfort and nostalgia. I wanted to bring this same feeling and fun fashion to others as well.

When I became a mother, I, like so many others, lost my identity We put so much of ourselves into our children that we forget who we are. I desperately needed to get to a place where I felt good about myself again. I could see myself dressed as a pin-up style girl with a fun vintage flair but didn’t have the guts at the time to give it a shot. A dear friend told me to go for it what is there to lose?! So, I decided to do it. Dressing myself the way I felt on the inside outside was exactly what I needed I began a transformation that made me feel more like myself than I ever truly had before. THIS is what I would like to accomplish in my business. If there is one main objective for me with Bygone Bettie, it is to help others to find and express themselves. After all, what are we so afraid of? Don’t we want others to know who we really are?

Beginning any business is scary My main fear was failure. I was afraid I would do something wrong, like declare the wrong things in my IRS documents, spend too much money (or too little), branding myself incorrectly, etc.. I was watching Moonage Daydream, about David Bowie (only one of the most creative minds that ever existed and most groundbreaking musician of all time), and his message is to use our creativity and to push ourselves. Once we’re a little out of our depth and our feet aren’t quite touching the bottom, that just about the right place where something exciting will happen.

Currently, Bygone Bettie is still very small. I am not forcing myself to do more than I have time for in the day. After all, I have a family and many responsibilities. I am enjoying the thrill of finding beautiful true vintage pieces and sharing them with potential new owners, while sourcing fabulous vintage-inspired clothing I have been fortunate enough to work with some of my favorite clothing companies in the market. I have items from Retrolicious, Hell Bunny and Heart of Haute. There are some pretty amazing accessories on my site as well.

I am hoping to reach others and help them feel beautiful when putting on that perfect outfit. I very much enjoy making friends with customers too! I am still learning every day—and having fun while doing it! My website is www.bygonebettieshop.com, and follow on Instagram at @Bygonebettie.

EMPOWERING BEAUTY

Why we Chose our Brand for Women

In a world filled with countless options for cosmetics and beauty products, you may wonder what sets our brand apart and why we've chosen to focus exclusively on empowering women. The answer lies in our unwavering commitment to enhancing the beauty, confidence, and lives of women everywhere. At RBF cosmetics we believe that cosmetics are more than just products; they are tools that enable women to express themselves, boost their self-esteem, and embrace their uniqueness. Here's why we're proud to cater exclusively to women:

1. Empowering Confidence: Confidence is a cornerstone of self-assuredness and success. Our cosmetics are designed to boost women's confidence by enhancing their natural beauty and allowing them to shine in their own way. When you feel confident in your appearance, you can conquer the world with grace and determination

2. Celebrating Diversity: Women come in all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. We embrace this diversity and offer a wide range of products suitable for all skin tones and types. Our brand is dedicated to ensuring that every woman finds the perfect match, celebrating her unique beauty.

3. Understanding Unique Needs: Women have unique skin and beauty needs that can change over time. We take pride in creating products that address these specific requirements, from anti-aging solutions to skincare designed for busy lifestyles.

4. Building a Community: Our brand isn't just about products; it's about building a supportive community of women who inspire and uplift each other. We celebrate the achievements of women in all walks of life and create a space where women can share their beauty journeys and experiences.

5. Responsibly Sourced Ingredients: We are committed to sourcing our ingredients responsibly and ethically. We understand that what you put on your skin matters, and we take great care to provide products that are not only effective but also safe and sustainable.

6. Giving Back: We believe in using our success to make a positive impact Our brand is dedicated to supporting causes that empower and uplift women. We know that when women thrive, entire communities benefit. Choosing [Your Brand Name] means choosing a brand that understands the unique beauty and power of women.

We are here to help you look and feel your best, no matter your age, background, or style. Our commitment to empowering women through cosmetics is at the heart of everything we do. In a world where women's voices and stories are more important than ever, we're here to be a part of your journey, celebrating your beauty and strength every step of the way. Join us in this empowering adventure, and let us help you embrace your beauty, your way. RBF cosmetics Beauty for Every Woman, Every Day.

CASEY - JADE CAMPBELL

My name is Casey-Jade Campbell, I’m 26 years old and from a town called Coalisland in the North of Ireland I started this article not knowing where to begin as talking about my own life becomes a bit mundane when there are worse things going on in the world world, war for example. I’m also aware that everyone has their own trauma/downfalls in life and how it makes them feel is totally valid but I won’t go too much into mine, I’ll start here.

I have always felt from a young age that I was at a cross roads in life, one road was light and one road was dark although the pull to dark was always stronger.

I grew up in a society that had a ‘small town’ mentality where judgement, laughter and gossip came easy to people. Not only outside but at home, I always felt like I had a point to prove and people to prove wrong, I never liked rules and had an attitude that many people probably didn’t like either (welcome to teenage years).

I was surrounded by people riddled with generational trauma, addiction, people pleasing and an overall negative, toxic environment. I too got caught up in the whirlpool of it all, where it dragged me to the bottom and I had to, what it felt like, breathe again.

Once again, the pull to darkness, I fell. My love for performing throughout all the noise never wavered, it was my escape for a lot of things, also my way to validating my self-worth in a way which I struggled with greatly back then, performing never let me down and I got to be all kinds of people whilst running away from the realm of reality.

Whilst my family had their own struggles and certain generational traumas had been passed on to me/us, I will say that I was raised by damn strong women which I’m grateful for every day, my warrior spirit has dragged me out of places where I shouldn’t have been at all.

I dropped out of school in 6th form to do a course in performing arts, my family were gutted as they thought the ‘brains to burn’ were going to waste and I had gotten myself in a rut, they felt that I was throwing it all away. Looking back now, it was their expectations of me that I was dropping to follow my own path (maverick).

I was such an unhappy teenager, angry, frustrated and just angry at the whole world which probably makes sense for most teenagers I suppose but there was a stage that I was just not a nice person to be around and to this day, I thank my nearest and dearest for sticking by me. Not that it was all bad, my heart was good.

When I started the course in performing arts, I remember having to wake up at 6am in the morning to get two buses there because it was further away than the school, so many times I wanted to quit on the cold dark mornings but my stubbornness and will to escape the town along with a big personality wouldn’t let me. I would be carrying bags to the bus stop with costumes I’d designed for my classmates and makeup for the show, working a weekend job and doing rehearsals for other projects as-well as dealing with everything going on at home, as my nanny used to recite a line from an Elvis song, “a little less conversation, a little more action please” and that’s something that’s stuck by me.

Throughout the course I met best friends for life, I was doing what I loved and my teachers saw something in me and always reminded me of it. At this stage I was still wrestling with light and dark and I can remember one of the best teachers I ever had saying “The only person standing in your way is you.” I finished the course with distinctions all the way and my walking earth angel of a nanny (who I lived with from 15) asked me “what’s next” I told her I would go to university now to do performing arts, she replied “there’s no point in telling you to reach for the stars when it takes money to get there, we’ll get you sorted.” And away I went to Edge-hill university on the outskirts of Liverpool.

In the time studying at university, I met some amazing people once again who had become lifelong friends, I got home sick, I had panic attacks, I leapt out of my comfort zone many times, I laughed, I cried, I partied, I nearly set the place on fire trying to cook and at the end of it all came out with a firstclass honours degree in performing arts. I was so blessed to have the support system that I did at the time, my family would fly over to see the shows that I would’ve written, directed and acted in.

One of my core memories in life is, my grandpa who has lost most of his mobility due to multiple strokes got on a plane to see my final performance, not to mention his biggest fear is flying and he hadn’t got on a flight in over ten years... that’s bravery and love right there.

Since leaving uni, I’ve acted on screen for film, got one of the best agents on the island of Ireland, written a children’s book, performed in theatre shows, directed and co-directed performances one ending up in Times Square NYC (this was for an artist called Lauren Craig who has an amazing album out called ‘The Chase’, it’s worth listening too it’s class!!) I done photo shoots, performed in music videos, acted in advertisements, wrote songs and joined a band, travelling around the country doing what I love!! I’ve travelled to Hollywood, NYC and other places in the world that my younger self had always wished for me!

Throughout the climb to my achievements, I began my healing journey and inner work which is something I’m even more proud of. I began therapy a few years back to learn how to deal with the anger that I held on to and handling my emotions, this journey took me to working on my inner child who had been hidden away by what was in my eyes, the warrior version of myself that had to be tough and forgot what it felt like to be gentle. I learned how to tackle my hyper independence, my commitment issues, amongst many other things. You see the unfortunate thing about healing is that these outcomes are not usually something we brought about ourselves, the trauma comes from other people but it is our responsibility to heal.

Instead of being pulled by the darkness this time I jumped straight into the middle of it and that is where I found my answers, the cracks began to appear in a dark room and light crept in. I’m learning self-love and that everyone has anger, it’s an emotion that steps in when we feel we’re not being treated correctly, there will always be that bit of fire and fierceness in me and I’m okay with that. My climb is realizing that we are all unique souls on our own unique journey.

“There’s no glory in climbing the mountain if all you want to do is get to the top. It’s experiencing the climb itself in all its moments of revelation, heartbreak and fatigue- that has to be the goal” Karyn Kasuma.

We cannot control people, places or things, we can only control ourselves and that is where our peace lies.

Whilst I’m proud of everything I’ve achieved in my life so far after coming out of a dark place physically and mentally, I’m prouder of the person I’ve become in doing so. I was brave enough to do the shadow work, willing enough to be vulnerable as hard as it is for me and I stopped looking for outside validation. I began measuring myself not on my achievements but as who I am as a person and my heart.

Don’t let people beat you down and if they attempt to, that’s a reflection on them, not you

Final note- these lyrics always hit.

“Put your sword down and let the light in, stay unfiltered and loud you’ll be proud of that skin full of scars, that’s all I know so far” -PINK.

Social media: Casey-Jade Campbell

Band social media: Big Love- A tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Photography: Julie M Keenan and Nicole Hughes

Rachael Mac Gregor

Embracing Authenticity:

A JOURNEY FROM COVER GIRL TO BODY CONFIDENCE ADVOCATE

The journey from being the cover girl of Moda Chic Magazine to becoming a body confidence advocate on social media is a story of self-discovery, perseverance and allowing others to see my most authentic self.

In 2016 it felt like an absolute dream to not only be featured in Moda Chic Magazine but also be their cover girl for their inaugural issue. At this stage I was still hiding from most people, even my closest friends, that my creative outlet and the way I shared my voice with the world was through content creation. Little did I know that this opportunity would not only mark the beginning of my confidence journey as a content creator but enable me to connect with and be inspired by the most incredible group of women. Moda Chic Magazine, was a fresh and vibrant publication, sought to celebrate diversity and challenge conventional norms.

In the realm of digital storytelling, my journey continued on Instagram, where I began sharing my love of fashion and styling looks for different body types. Each week trying to push through the anxiety of how I felt about my own body whilst helping others feel confident in their own. Anxiety and I ‘became besties’ but I knew I had to push through if I wanted to continue to share my little light. The force to make an impact had to be stronger than the self-doubt and fear of what others might think

Tok marked a pivotal ent creation journey. It ere I slowly felt less pressure greater force to be on started to transcend to speak up about the ing what makes you y and showcased my own re I became used to seeing ly perceived as flaws, the myself and turn these into ek, I dedicated myself to at went beyond fashion, w to slowly develop their d how to dress for anxious ion shifted from merely style the latest trends for ostering a culture of body tance. Secretly in the s helping to grow my own ok the plunge and began erful tool for authenticity. I ng my skincare routine, g and styling an outfit as a wever, I love that I can I am feeling about my body ime. There is just something connection rather than an d time to overthink. Whilst es it has continued to g deeper and build a small akes me grateful for what I ty, I have discovered munity that had initially shared interest in fashion for those seeking fidence through fashion. nger about my own nd mental health but a journey. I am incredibly essed that my love of has become about

"You must not lose faith in humanity Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty."

The world can be a cruel place. From personal losses to global tragedies and everything in between, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

Thinking about the amount of atrocity around us can be paralyzing These problems are far too big for any one person to solve. So, what can we do? Should we do anything? Should we give up?

Have you ever heard the expression “if you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention” - it’s normal to feel discouraged about the world, especially when humanity is suffering. It’s normal to feel:

Grief about what has been lost

Guilty for not doing more

Disillusioned by the people in power

Anxious about what’s going to happen next

Regret about daily life continuing as normal

BE THE REASON SOMEONE BELIEVES IN THE GOODNESS OF PEOPLE

By Lesliee Magee

These feelings are normal and beating yourself up about them is unhelpful. Equally unhelpful, is being told to “stay positive”. Ignoring the horrible things around you will not solve the issue.

The desire to help make the world a safe place for everyone is an incredible thing. But remember, you are only one person, so you need to priorities your own mental well-being You are going to get burnt out if you are constantly thinking about the problems in the world. Don’t rush in trying to save the world all at once. Take little steps towards making a difference.

The world’s problems will not get resolved just by talking about it, but talking about it is a step in the right direction And “one step at a time” is how things get better.