We are a community of teen girls across Ghana; doing our thing and staying true to who we are through the choices we make.
We celebrate the things we love and support each other in staying true to ourselves. To us, it’s all about knowing what’s our thing and knowing what we just don’t want in our lives. It is about making choices that are true to us. We love hanging out from time to time. So keep an eye open for our next hangout. Tell us whatever you’re passionate about and let’s get you covered. We connect with each other on Facebook and Instagram (@skygirlsgh), and have dope videos on our YouTube too! (@SKYGirlsGH) To become a SKY Girl, take the pledge below and hit us up on Facebook to let us know if you’ve taken it.
I pledge to be true to myself and what I believe in. To be who I am, not who someone else thinks I should be. I’ll hold tight to the things I’m all about – like friends and dancing And I’ll stay away from yawa things I know I’m good without – like backstabbing and smoking. Because knowing what’s my thing and what’s not my thing helps make me who I am. I will make choices that are true to me. I pledge to find my SKY.
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Editor’s Note Grab Your Popcorn Secure The Bag Insta SKY Girl Going Places Aerogram Competition
~14 Interview With Skyscraper ~16 Creative Juices ~18 Letter To My 16yr Old Self ~20 No Troll Cos We Roll ~22 Old Trendz = New Trendz
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Editor’s Note
What ’ s good?
I know you’ve been waiting for this edition of the SKY Magazine for like foreveerrr! Well, here we are, back like we never left. This edition is so spiced up with creativity. If you don’t know what creativity is all about then find out here. Many girls don’t know if they are even creative. Well, here’s the thing baby girl, you got these juices in you whether you know it or not and we are here to squeeze it out of you! We’ve got exciting news for you: An aerogram competition! Send us your aerogram letters and stand a chance to win some amazing prizes. Who’s the winner gonna be? YOU? Check out the deets on how to be a part of it. Who recalls that just some years back fanny packs were only used by traders to keep their monies safe? Now it’s an accessory to complement any lit hangout outfit. Find out other trends that have evolved too in this edition. This edition features 3 dope and creative personalities - graffiti artiste Sky Scraper, fashion illustrator Araba Eshun-Wilson and our very own DJ Switch! You may not know this, but creativity is not only about drawings and paintings. It’s basically being able to bring an imagined picture to life and these guys have got it! Before I sign off, let me bost your mind, lol. SKY Girls has a “SKY DO YOUR THING -Art Unleashed” competition coming up soon. It’s going to be a showcase of original creativity from different Junior High Schools. Fingers crossed, we might make it to your school. So roll up your sleeves to indulge in some bad ass creativity YOUR WAY. Stay tuned to our social media pages (Facebook & Instagram @ skygirlsgh) to know when it starts. Giiiirrrrl, can you flip through the pages already? Enjoy!
-Thelma 04
Seeing a movie at the cinema with your BFFs is always a perfect bonding time. Here is a list of movies you should definitely get tickets for in 2019.
Sugar, Spice N’ Sauce 1&2 Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw If you’ve been following the Fast and Furious series, then you should look out for this one. You can never be disappointed with all the suspense that comes with a new villain threatening the future of humans.
We know, we know! These two are 2018 movies. But who’s to say we can’t binge watch them on YouTube again? And if you haven’t already watched it, get ready for the ride of your life as a couple of teenagers navigate friendship, their passions, and peer pressure. Every Ghanaian girl can relate. It’s lit! Take our word for it.
Captain Marvel
Frozen 2
Another super hero is going to be unveiled to save the day when two alien races go to war. Strap your belt and let’s see what super power they possess.
Who doesn’t love the little snow man Olaf? What’s going to happen on the journey Elsa the snow Queen and her sister embark on? We hope they stay alive!
John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
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What is the super assassin up to in this chapter? What is his next assassin mission? Don’t try what you see at home or in school.
How will you feel if you were transformed to your younger self and treated like a 4-year-old? Horrified? Excited? That’s exactly what happens in this movie!
The Lion King
The Angry Birds 2
We all got our hearts broken when Mufasa died years ago. Imagine what the experience with him, Simba, Scar and the rest of the gang will be like now that it’s more life like.
Are you ready to see the bird with the thick brows? Hopefully the brows don’t pass for a trend. That will be outrageous! A villain will try to take revenge on the angry birds but who can stand against a mass of angry birds? No one!
win two free tickets
Tag us in your picture on Facebook wearing your wristband and enter a draw to see any of the movies featured here!
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What if we told you, you can take your creativity to the next level? When Adwoa started making beads for her friends in school, everyone loved it. In this social media era, her friend, Ama did not hesitate to post it on her WhatsApp status and Instagram story. In no time, she got over 10 messages from people asking about the price and where she got it from. Adwoa got 7 new customers from Ama’s post. That was just how Adwoa started making money out of her creativity. She was challenged every day to make more beautiful beads based on what the customers liked. That’s the ish sisters. How cool is it that you can actually make some extra money just by doing the things you love? Remember Nadia Gyimah, the big SKY sister who wrote “A letter to my 16-year old self” in the 5th edition of the SKY Magazine? (refer to page 24 & 25). She slays with her hair on Instagram and gets to market the hair too. Check out a few ways you can make some money while you slay on the gram.
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It starts with a page! Create a page on social media where you can post your creative works. Let it only serve the purpose of business. Use it to show off your creative side.
Tell your friends Don’t hesitate to bug your friends with it, especially those who have large followings on social media to post your business on their pages. Let them tag you in their posts with your products and mention you in their stories.
Don’t stop posting! Growing your page may seem like a daunting task. You might have only 10 likes for a post at the start but don’t give up. There will be that one post that will go viral and make your page blow. Be consistent with posting pictures of your work and of your clients slaying them. Take your creativity to the next level. Social media is a whole lot of fun when you can secure the bag out of it too. So don’t only stunt on the gram for the slay, stunt for your creativity too! But remember to manage your time well, so all your other responsibilities like school and home work aren’t ignored.
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Tag us in your pictures on Instagram wearing your SKY wristband. You might just be featured here.
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Girl DJ SWITCH DJ/STUDENT
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Tell us your real name and what you do? I’m Erica Armah- Brah Bulu Tandoh and I’m a student and a DJ. Has it always been your dream to DJ? Your passion is not commonly pursued by girls. How did you know this was what you wanted to do? Honestly, it was never my dream to be a DJ. I was a poet when I entered the “Talented kids “competition in 2017 but my parents realized that I had the potential to do anything creative. So they suggested I try DJing and I liked it. I knew this was what I really wanted to do when my coach at the time left me in the studio alone. I moved a few buttons on the board and boom! I loved it! How did you learn to DJ? I learnt how to DJ when I was 9. My parents hired a DJ to teach me and I learnt in 5 days. What have been some of your happiest times DJing? I’m always happy when I’m DJing but my happiest time is when the crowd roar and dance to the beat. What’s your thing? I love to play football and watch wrestling. What’s not your thing? I don’t like it when I have already read a book several times and I have to read the same book again during reading time. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? To be humble, obedient and prayerful. We hear you have a foundation. What is the name and what are some of your goals? It’s called the “DJ Switch Foundation”. Our goals are to provide quality education, good health and promote gender equality. Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years? I see myself helping the needy through the DJ Switch Foundation. . Any words of inspiration for your fellow SKY sisters? Focus on your education and let no one deceive you. Say no to anything which can stop you from having a bright future.
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We are back again with another aerogram competition! – a letter writing competition. Is the winner going to come from your school? For our last two aerograms, we had the winners from St. Martin de Porres and Services Basic School. The first winner’s story was about her bestie and how she stays true to herself “ …when I’m sad, she tries the hardest to make me laugh, she doesn’t know this but she has changed my life for the better…she doesn’t pretend to be something she isn’t to please me. She’s so unique in her own way…” The second aerogram competition was about an interesting adventure with your friend - “…He sat down with his canes by him while he waited for us to come down. After some time, he pelted stones at us. He didn’t really target us but it was a ruse for us to get down. At this point, news had circulated that we were in trouble….” Check out their letters. You can bet the prizes were gooooooddddd!!!! So let’s do this again. Y’all have been bugging us about when Sugar, Spice N’ Sauce 3 is coming out. Keep calm! We are going to blow your minds again but in a more exciting way.
We want you to help us write Sugar, Spice N’ Sauce 3 - that’s the competition! Your favourite SKY Girl Naa Shawele is the leading lady of our next film. What interesting thing can happen? In your own words, help us create an amazing story about Naa, which the movie will be based on. (maximum number of 300 words)
And if you’ve not seen Sugar, Spice N’ Sauce 1&2, what are you even waiting for? Run to our YouTube page now (SKY GIRLS GH)
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Submit your essay to the SKY Girls rep appointed in your school before May 10, 2019. Y’all know our prizes are always superb! The winner will receive a ‘Kindle Fire’ tablet fully loaded with GHC100 data to download any book of your choice and a $100 shopping voucher. The second and third winners will receive $100 shopping vouchers each.
Our winning letters from the last Aerogram Competitions
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The glitz and glam of the previous decades have made a come back in the 2000s and since 2000s fashion is all about minimalism, why not? It goes without saying that every era has its trends but it doesn’t mean that you need to pick one and roll with it. More likely, you can find at least one detail from each decade that you like and incorporate it ttinto your own style. The bottom line is just have fun with it.
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CULOTTES
STRAW BAGS
Is it a skirt? Is it a pair of pants? At one point in time, the world thought it may never know.
Straw bags were basically baskets, but guess who transformed and had a glow up?
Whether they are used as an accompaniment to a fabulous top or incorporated into a jumpsuit, culottes have evolved way past their humble beginnings.
Now they have become cute, fancy bags with better structure and more embellishments. Just an effortless way to achieve glamour.
FANNY PACKS It was a common thing for all traders to have fanny packs strapped around their waist to keep their money safe. Currently, big fashion brands like Gucci, Chanel and Supreme have given more life to it. Fashion influencers rock it in different ways, strapped to the waist or to the side. Either way fanny packs are all you need for that edgy look.
CHUNKY SNEAKERS They were just comfy wear for girls who had to travel long distances. These shoes made their way back to the fashion scene when trendsetters like Lharley started rocking them for their form and not function but who even cares? And oh it’s unisex now. Check out King Promise’s feet.
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We are super stoked to interview the brain behind our beautiful graffiti walls. Tell us all about yourself.
Do you do other things apart from graffiti painting? If yes, what are they?
My name is Daniel Mensah, Mensah means I’m the third born of my family. I am friendly and love challenges, they make me happy.
I do music and write songs for artistes, modelling, acting, MCing.
What inspires your graffiti design? The youth, society and most especially hip-hop music. Graffiti originated from hip-hop music. It’s also a way for me to express myself so I tell stories through my designs.
How do you care for your beard? We could use the same tip for our hair too. I just wash it thoroughly with a shampoo first, blow dry it and moisturize with coconut oil. What will you tell a teen girl whose passion is painting?
Share a secret about graffiti painting with us Graffiti is a signature and you have to do it whole heartedly and accept whatever comes out of your design. There’s really no such thing as a mistake because in doing it more and more, you basically just find your style. Did you face any difficulty in the pursuit of your passion (graffiti design)? Yea, graffiti materials are quite expensive, so I’m forced to improvise and that always results in another beautiful outcome. Secondly, there are not a lot of free walls in Ghana for art. There are laws that prohibit designs on some walls too. What course path did you pursue in school? And do you need school to be an artiste? I studied visual arts in school. Arts has always been my thing for as long as I can remember so my parents just accepted it. I proceeded to study fine arts at the University ( KNUST), where I majored in painting. What’s your biggest pet peeve? I really don’t like hypocrites. Just be real and be yourself.
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Believe in yourself, be confident and keep expressing you!
MAJOR SKYSCRAPER GRAFITTI ARTIST/ RAPPER/SKY GUY
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Growing up, you may have thought all your other friends who could draw or paint were the creative ones and you just didn’t have it in you. However, one can be creative without being “artistic”. Creativity is bringing to life what you have imagined. It flows in our daily activities. Dressing up is creativity because you have a mental picture of the look you want to rock, and you put it together. Laying your edges the way you want, is creativity. Making a bead neckpiece is creativity, taking dope pictures of your friends (as surprising as it may sound) is creativity. Your creativity allows you to express yourself in a way that is true to you. It’s often assumed that creativity is bestowed only on a lucky few. How ironic, that almost everybody is unlucky. A lot of teens would probably have their hands down when asked if they are creative, because they think they are not. There is nothing magical about creativity. All it takes is for you to be open-minded and free to create whatever it is you want. Creating stuff helps you explore yourself and celebrate your uniqueness. It’s an almost perfect way to release stress too. More often than not, people are not free to create because they fear criticism but why let other people’s opinions stop you from doing your thing? Rather, feed your mind with stuff that will leave you feeling inspired and get your creative juices boiling. One of the best ways to recharge your creativity is to keep using it. Instead of zoning out to telenovelas when you’re tired, why not try watching a few “Do it Yourself” videos that keep your mind engaged- whether about makeup, fashion, photography, cooking, carpentry, the list is truly endless! You will be surprised at how much you’ll learn and the tricks you’ll pick up. In fact, there are lots of people who have developed careers from tapping into their creativity. You are a chunk of creativity girl, feel free to create!
Keep your eyes peeled for the “SKY Do Your Thing - Art Unleashed” competition – a perfect time to squeeze out all those creative juices in you!
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FASHION ILLUSTRATOR & DESIGNER
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Hey love, Stop drawing on the cover of your books and listen lol ! I know all you want to do right now is run away from school and spend time on fashion drawings aaaall day but be patient, a time will come when you’ll have all the time in the world to draw and actually make a living from it like you’ve always dreamed. I know you hate the morning sirens, the rigid school rules and your square blue uniform but love, all these struggles are shaping you into a wonderful woman. Thanks so much for being confident in your gifts despite being scared and skeptical about where it would take you. There’s been a lot of doubt from your family but you still have so much drive and fire in your heart about your dreams and goals . To their surprise, they are going to be immensely proud of the great artist and business woman you’ll become. At this point every teacher keeps calling you to draw on the board and students from different classes want your drawing books at prep time because they’ve heard of your amazing art works. Don’t be annoyed, it’s all a sign of the light that shines deep within you and soon you’ll be even more grateful for this gift. I know you’re wondering how you’ll make money from your gift since it’s the only thing you want to do in life but God worked it out for you. So stop worrying about money. In a few years, your cup will overflow to your amazement because you obeyed your soul’s calling and persevered through all your challenges. Your future is brighter than you could ever imagine. Your dreams will really come true and God will hold your hand tightly through the whole journey. I’m currently designing a dress for your favorite celebrity, talk soon love:) I love you,
Ara
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NO COS WE Is there even a person alive who isn’t on social media? Chale, we all dey! Whether it is WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr, you name it! No doubt, its perks are limitless - connecting with friends, staying up-to-date on trends, source of entertainment and even inspo for anything. It’s basically great on there. Unfortunately, the internet is also swarmed with not so nice people, or so called trolls. They leave unpleasant comments under people’s posts, cause trouble and try to push people’s buttons. If we’re being honest though, trolls are kinda cowards. They often don’t have the courage to face people in person, that’s why they hide behind social media accounts to speak badly about them or threaten them!
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Entertaining a troll is not an option. Once you identify one, you can:
Dawg them When you don’t react to their negative comments no matter how many times they do it, they are most likely to go away. Trolls just want to get you angry and frustrated to force a reaction but when they don’t get that response from you, they take an L.
Use Them
If you think posting a picture or an opinion online will attract trolls and you’re not having any of it, then use the app features. Social media sites have special functions in place to keep you feeling safe online. You can disable comments, delete unwanted comments or block the person. You can even report the comment or the page. Ain’t no room for negativity on your page!
Log Off
It can be really overwhelming when trolls are constantly pestering you. While you can’t control other people’s trolling behaviour, you can try to limit the amount of time you spend dealing with it. Logging off social media can be really difficult, but it’s a good idea if you’re feeling upset. If you don’t want to completely go off the grid; you could just try turning off push notifications, logging off from the accounts that are most affected by trolling, or deleting social media apps from your phone and only logging on when you really want to do something there. Just never let shade thrown at you by trolls get to you, otherwise you take an L. Also, spread love, not hate. No matter how much you’re tempted to, don’t troll another person and make them feel bad.
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