VIVA GLAM Anniversary Issue 2021

VIVA GLAM Anniversary

ISSUE 2021

An Exclusive Interview with Eric Zayne

Escapism VIVA GLAM SUPERMODEL

$19.99 US Escapism Issue

Amanda Rodriquez

Issue

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Vegan, Cruelty-Free, Natural Looking Lashes

www.glamourgarden.com 2

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Editor-in-Chief Katarina Van Derham Managing Editor Malorie Mackey Beauty Contributor Katarina Van Derham Malorie Mackey Ivana Shteriova Fashion Contributor Katarina Van Derham Malorie Mackey Wellness Contributor Avanti Giridharan Yss Guerrero Entertainment Contributor Katarina Van Derham Malorie Mackey Travel Contributor Katarina Van Derham Malorie Mackey Lifestyle Contributor Katarina Van Derham Malorie Mackey Ivana Shteriova Food Contributor Noha Abuhadra Malorie Mackey With a Recipe by VeganSweetss Graphic Department Gabriela Mohrova Director of Print Advertising Oskar Rivera of Rivera Productions Copyright ©2021 KVD Brand, Inc., VIVA GLAM ® is a registered trademark owned by KVD Brand, Inc. All rights reserved. VIVA GLAM is published annually

by KVD Brand, Inc., 4821 Lankershim Blvd, F-345 North Hollywood, CA 91601. vivaglammagazine.com Escapism Issue, 2021. Issue 15. ISSN 2332-5933

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We Love our SOCIAL MEDIA!

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VIVA GLAM magazine 8. Editor’s Letter

Beauty

10. Katarina’s Cruelty-Free

Picks of 2021

12. What Lipstick is Best for You

Based on Your Zodiac Sign?

14. What Shampoo is Best for Your

Hair Type?

16. How to Rock Edgy Glam in 2021 18. NRomo Beauty Fills the Void in

the Lip Care Market

Fashion

24. The Best Jewelry to Match

Your Skin Tone

30. Amanda Rodriguez,

Lifestyle

52. Retro Things That are Making People Happy Again

56. The Best Hobby to

A Force to Be Reckoned With

Try Based on Your Zodiac Sign

42. Introducing RAMLA, Our Favorite Mosaic Bags with Culture and Purpose

60. Why is the Story of Cinderella Still

48. Present Yourself in the Best Way Possible with Marin Tailor

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So Important Today?

64. Introducing the American Museum of the House Cat, a Treasure for Cat Lovers

Food

70. 4 Food Items that Might Be

Giving You Acne

72. Lavender-Infused Pudding

Tart with Shortbread Crust

74. LOLEA is Here to Refresh and Modernize Your Traditional Sangria

Wellness

78. 3 Myths About the Effects of Exercise on Your Skin

80. Ladies, Use These Underrated Feminine Strengths to Succeed in Your Workplace

84. 3 Kinds of People You Shouldn’t Date

Entertainment

86. Oskar Rivera Discusses Staying Strong Through Present Adversities 88.Tara Rice Inspires Women of All Ages to Reach for Their Dreams 94. Eric Zayne, From Jungle Boy to Artistic Genius 104. Weird World Adventures by Malorie Mackey Shows You

Our Strange World in a Different Way

Travel

110. Ibagari Boutique Hotel is a True Luxury Destination in Honduras 118. Here’s What you Might Now Know About the Titanic and Her Legacy 124. Bonn Redefines Itself and Reminds the World of its Connection to Beethoven ESCAPISM ISSUE 2021 7

Katarina’s Letter Wow, wow, wow! We survived 2020! Now, this year has manifested a ton of changes across the globe for nearly everyone, in good and bad ways. Society has been drastically changing in front of our eyes as the “new norm” is becoming, well, the “norm”, and many wonder where this is taking us.

Here at VIVA GLAM Magazine, we have also done a lot of restructuring, re-planning, and soul searching. Throughout this process, we discovered the importance of trying to focus on what is important and what is not, as now more than ever, there’s a lot of misinformation out there. So, we feel a responsibility to deliver inspiration and educational content for all our readers- our loyal readers and new readers alike.

While the majority of the world is shifting more towards the digital age, I must admit I love seeing that there are still many brands, more than before the pandemic, that started to value the “good old world”, such as tangible print, shooting on film, and more, which you can read about in my article “Retro Things That Are Making People Happy Again”.

So, the one good thing that I feel came out of this global hardship is that people started to value the physical world after many parts of it were taken away from us. In the years to come, I hope to see more of this, as well as the manifestation of more love, kindness, and empathy.

I wish you all health and happiness.

L

ove and

L

ight,

Katarina Van Derham Editor-in-Chief

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It’s a tough time in the world right now (to say the least). Though we are seeing the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel with COVID-19, this pandemic is still haunting us. Our way of life has been forcibly changed, and change can be a hard pill to swallow. Since we don’t have a lot of control out there in regards to the state of the world, it’s important to notice the areas of our lives where we DO still have control- our hobbies, our homes and immediate environments, our makeup application, our fashion, and to some extent, our travel.

Though we may feel helpless in the present time, we do

have many areas of our lives where we can still take the reins and sculpt the lives we want for ourselves.

Perhaps, the most important area of life we do have control over right now is our mindset. As they say in The Greatest Showman, “We can live in a world that we design”.

And we can. We create the world around us down from our clothing choices, our makeup application, our home design, and even our mindset. By getting into a healthy mindset through meditation and positivity, by re-designing our homes to allow us to smile whenever we enter our spaces, to dressing up daily just to feel fashionable and on point, we can create a world we want to live in one step at a time. That way, even though we may still be stuck at home for part of the future, we’ll be stuck at home with a positive and healthy mindset.

So, let’s celebrate and continue to be happy about the little victories as we move out of quarantine. This issue of VIVA GLAM Magazine is designed to give you some inspiration for your end-of-quarantine and post-quarantine lifestyle. It’s here to help give you an escape into better times and provide inspiration for your present. It’s here to help give you beauty inspiration and fashion ideas so you can play and get creative. Travel will be opening up soon (hopefully!), and we’ll be able to step outside and eat at a restaurant again. So, let’s take some inspiration, escape from all the negative, get creative, play, and come out of quarantine shining brighter than ever.

We’re in this together!

L

ove

Malorie Mackey

Managing Editor

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DEFENAGE CLINICAL POWER TRIO The DefenAge Clinical Power Trio is a powerful skincare regimen that has been clinically proven in studies to correct signs of aging. It even shows results as early as the fist week of use. I absolutely love these products. They have become essentials for me. The trio includes the 8-in-1 BioSerum Concept Anti-Aging Cream, the 24/7 Barrier Balance Cream, and the 2-Minute Reveal Masque. DefenAge really gets skin!

THE ‘BLUSHED NEUTRALS’ PALETTE BY BH COSMETICS This 26-color eyeshadow and blush palette features many neutral and rosy shades needed for everyday use. Like all BH Palettes, the colors are highly pigmented, vegan, paraben-free, and crueltyfree. And this one, in particular, is a favorite of mine because I love all the low-key shades it comes with, as well as the shimmers which are perfect for highlighting.

KATARINA’S CRUELTY-FREE erham

Katarina Van D

RAYBAE OVERNIGHT COLLAGEN MASK I recently tried Raybae’s Overnight Collagen Mask, and I was instantly hooked.

You apply this to your face overnight and wash it off in the morning when you wake up. It left my skin feeling moisturized, bright, and youthful. It immediately began minimizing my fine lines.

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Picks of 2021 The cruelty-free lifestyle is pretty much taking over the world. Plantbased living is not only good for people, but it’s also good for animals and the environment. With times changing so quickly, it’s getting harder and harder to find brands that aren’t cruelty-free, as well. With so many new brands launching every week, it’s hard to keep up with all the fabulous products.

Here are ten of my favorite crueltyfree products that I chose to feature in this issue. You can always find more of my favorite picks on www. vivaglammagazine.com.

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WALK OF NO SHAME EYE LINER BY CHARLOTTE TILBURY I love the “Walk of No Shame” Eye Liner

by Charlotte Tilbury because it’s easy-toapply, long-lasting, and very easily blendable.

I feel that it’s hard to find an eye liner that has a good warm tone, but I definitely found that in this. It looks great with my eye color, and, again, it’s easy to blend in with my makeup.

DEEP WAVER BY BELLAMI Let’s face it, deep, mermaid waves are in! And the Deep Waver by BELLAMI allows you to create these retro waves quickly and easily in your hair. The barrel of this waver is made with a curved ceramic-coated plate so you can just press and get instant waves. It looks especially beautiful on long hair.

CASHMERE HAIR SEAMLESS EXTENSIONS Since the launch of Cashmere Hair, I’ve been using their regular clip-in sets that are thick and full.

And that’s why I love Cashmere hair; simply put, their extensions are thick and full. I never imagined I would fall in love with their latest Seamless sets which are designed for women with thinner and finer hair. They blend so beautifully and look beyond natural!

KAT LASH IN EMPRESS The KAT Lash false lashes are clearly our favorite lashes here at VIVA GLAM Magazine. And the Empress style by KAT Lash is beautiful, fun, and flirty. They are perfect for a natural doll-eye look, as they are similar to the Majesty style of lashes, except the hairs are shorter.

They are made from 100% human hair, so they are very realistic and have a thinner base.

TATBROW MICROBLADE PEN The TatBrow Microblade Pen is one of our favorite brow products! We love how natural yet effective it is at drawing and filling in eyebrows. The natural hair-like strokes that this pen offers create reallooking brows in seconds. And the shades are very realistic so you can experience the best brows of your life.

INGLOT SOFT PRECISION LIPLINER74 I fell in love with the Inglot Soft Precision Lipliner in the color 74 when I tried it. It’s a very soft yet beautiful rose color that works for many looks.

My favorite thing about this liner, however, is that it doesn’t come on super dry. It’s a cream liner that applies very softly.

ARGAN OIL BY DAVROE Davroe’s Argan Oil is an instant treatment that you add to your hair for increased moisture.

It’s the perfect treatment to hydrate your hair, repairing any dryness. The best part is that it’s lightweight and not greasy at all. I have blonde hair (and it can be hard to find a good oil for blonde hair), and I utilize it regularly and am always happy with my results.

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k c i t ps i L t a h W n o d e s a B

u o Y r o f Is Best ? n g i S c a i d o Z Your urself, o y t u o b a s thing

any m o s your u n o o y ll d e e t s a n b a r you fo t s Astrology c e b is ciding e ick t d s p e li im t t a h d r w a dah a h including r e v e e is e v id a u h g u k o ic y t s If p . li gical lo o r t s zodiac sign a is h t pick, o t e d a h mma. s e il h d r u o whic y e lv here to so iova vana Shter

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aAquarius

As the dreamer of the zodiac, you’re not the one to play by the rules. With so many options to choose, what lipstick is best for you based on your zodiac sign? We dare you to try a mesmerizing midnight blue shade.

aPisces

As a water sign, your feelings come first for everything you do. Show off your sensitive nature with a romantic, toneddown pink lipstick.

aAries

aLeo

Leo, you’re not the one to go unnoticed.

Lips dripping in gold is what will satisfy your inner celebrity spirit.

aVirgo

What lipstick is best for you based on your zodiac sign, Virgo? You’re not the one to wear loud shades that can get all over the place after a round of cocktails or a greasy meal. A classic nude lip will work best for your practical character.

aLibra

Match your vibrant personality with a dramatic lipstick color like electric purple. It will give you a power-femme look that makes jaws drop.

Nothing resonates with a Libra more than a seductive red lipstick. As a shameless flirt, this zodiac sign uses all the tools in her arsenal to charm everyone around.

As an earth sign, you need a toned-down lipstick that will enhance your natural beauty. A burnt orange shade is not too neutral nor too dramatic, so it is a perfect match for your pout.

Can you guess what lipstick is best for you based on your zodiac sign, Scorpio?

Anything in the vampy palette, from deep reds to black will expose your dark side in full force.

aTaurus

aGemini

Gemini, you’re the social butterfly of the zodiac, always having a party to attend.

And you’re not the one to show up looking ordinary. Paint you pout in two different lipstick colors to show off your dual personality.

aCancer

Romantic and emotional, Cancer prefers natural glam makeup looks. A peachyhued nude shade is the best lipstick to try based on your zodiac sign.

aScorpio

aSagittarius

The curious and adventurous Sag needs something quick and effective to get her looking on point without much effort. A neon pink lip will do the job!

aCapricorn

The hard-working Capricorn needs a statement lip to get her all glammed up in a matter of minutes. A rich burgundy lipstick, for instance, will perfectly fit your tight schedule.

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What SHAMPOO is Best It is not surprising to know that there are a lot of shampoo brands available today. They all claim to be the best. The thing is: there is no shampoo that works for everyone. The truth is that every hair type has different needs, and not one shampoo has it all.

There are many factors that affect the results you can get when using a hair care product for your hair type. These factors can include your age, scalp condition, hair texture, and the type of hair you have. All these factors influence your hair’s health and will determine the type of hair product that will give you the best results. Thus, the first thing that you need to do is to find the best shampoo for your hair type.

Taking a look at the type of hair you have, here are the best kinds of shampoo you can use:

1. SCALP BUILDUP

An itchy and dry scalp can be a sign that there’s buildup on your scalp. Because of this buildup, your scalp can become unhealthy and irritated. You need to use a cleansing shampoo infused with eucalyptus oil, witch hazel water, and tea tree oil. A cleansing shampoo will remove buildup, get rid of the itchiness, and help build a healthier scalp.

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2. CURLY HAIR

Shampoo for curly hair is important for keeping it in shape and in prime health.

You need to look for shampoo designed for curly hair specifically. This type of shampoo should be able to moisturize your hair while reducing the frizz. At the same time, it won’t be weighing down or taking out your curls.

3. DRY HAIR

If you have dry hair, then a common shampoo formula for dry hair is mineral water. However, you need to keep in mind that even mineral water does not suit all types of hair. You need to choose the product that is suitable for your hair type.

It is not necessary that the product should have chemicals added in it because this may damage your hair further.

To ease this condition, you can also use some leave-in products to keep your hair

for YOUR HAIR Type? moisturized. This will not only help with the frizz and dryness, but it will also add shine to your hair.

4. THIN AND FLAT HAIR

There are different shampoos out there that will help you combat thin and flat hair. What you need to look for and use is a volumizing shampoo. This type of shampoo will give your hair an extra boost of volume. Additionally, you should also use shampoo with castor oil to prevent any hair fall.

5. OILY HAIR

If you have oily hair, look for a product that contains natural ingredients like aloe vera and vitamin E. Too many chemicals in your hair or on your scalp might be the reason it’s becoming greasy. Opting for natural products will also keep you from damaging your hair further.

When you apply the product, apply it directly to your scalp and do deep scalp massaging. One way to know that your hair and scalp are clean is when there are a lot of bubbles or foam forming when you shampoo. You know your hair is dirty when there are no bubbles because oil and dirt will usually cause bubbles to collapse.

6. DANDRUFF

For dandruff issues, you should stick with natural products. If your dandruff condition is mild, it is best that you choose a mild shampoo for this condition. Using an oilbased shampoo for dandruff will make the condition worse. People with oily scalps should avoid shampoo for dandruff as there is a risk of the oil blocking the pores of the scalp leading to inflammation of the scalp, which may cause for the condition to worsen.

If your condition is already severe, you may have to resort to using stronger shampoos and conditioners in order to avoid breakouts. More importantly, you should consult a dermatologist to get some treatment for severe dandruff.

CONCLUSION

The ingredients that should be included in a shampoo for your hair type will depend on the type of hair and condition that you have.

Always remember that if you have dry or oily hair, you will need to go for a shampoo that is designed to treat the condition of the hair as well as the scalp. You can easily compare different types of products that are available online and read customer reviews to help you find the right shampoo product that will best suit your needs.

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k c o R o t How 1 2 0 2 n i m a l Edgy G

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As we coast through 2021, it’s safe to say that our beauty trends are getting bolder and bolder. With bright colors, money pieces, and Instagram makeup still on trend, we seem to be shying away from the safer, more neutral choices. That being said, edgy glam is in, and we’re here to tell you how to master the edgy glam look in 2021.

Dewey Makeup

Like with many makeup looks, a glowing foundation is key. To master your edgy glam look, it’s important to have a dewy foundation so your skin is left glowing.

Glowing skin is key to any glam look, even the edgy glam.

Accentuated Eyes

An edgy glam look is not complete without accentuated eyes. Lining your eyes with a solid black or dark brown color really turns your look from soft glam to edgy glam quickly. So, be sure to pick a dark color that matches your eye color well. For blue eyes, a nice plain black always makes your eyes pop!

A Killer Haircut with Layers

A healthy hair cut with fresh, strategic layers is a crucial part of having a killer look. And the right layers will surely turn your look edgy very quickly. However, a blowout will add to this, too. You can get inspired by the 90’s blowout, as that’s in again! And a 90’s blowout can quickly turn your edgy layers into an edgy glam masterpiece.

A Bright, Edgy Hair Color

Any edgy glam look is not complete without bright hair that really stands out. A classic staple of edge is definitely pure red. However, think about going a little more coral with your red to give a revamp to the classic red. And don’t forget that the money piece is in! So, be sure to keep that in mind. A money piece is the perfect edition to turn your look into an unforgettable edgy glam look.

Written by Malorie Mackey Photo by Ashlee Norman Haircut and Color by Ashlee Norman Hair Color Support by Anthony Montoya Makeup by MUYvette Model Malorie Mackey

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NRomo Beauty Fills the Void in the Lip Care Market

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W

e are incredibly inspired

by Natalie’s drive and dedication and even more inspired by the future lip serum and line of lip products being created by NRomo Beauty. We sat down with Natalie Romo to talk all about NRomo Beauty, her past, and her future in the world of lip care.

Natalie, you went to cosmetology school. Can you tell us which one?

What are the most important lessons and insights that you took out of your time at beauty school?

I received my cosmetology license from the Regency Beauty Institute in Arizona right after graduating from high school. It was there where I learned how rewarding it felt to make someone feel good about themselves by providing them with a beauty service. I learned about the importance of self-care and have brought that wisdom with me into my new venture, NRomo Beauty. This experience also opened up many opportunities that have allowed me to get to where I am today.

From cosmetology school to hair stylist to performer to beauty entrepreneur and guru, Natalie Romo has built up an impressive resume and taken the beauty world by storm. Using her expertise in many facets of the beauty industry, Natalie created NRomo Beauty to fill the void in the lip care market.

Can you tell us about your history working with hair?

The time I spent working at TONY&GUY is one of my favorite memories because of all the growth I made as a hairstylist.

I learned a lot about the beauty industry during my time there and was able to explore my own creative interests while honing in on my craft. I found standing behind the chair, cutting and coloring people’s hair, so fulfilling that I still do it any chance I get.

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when I worked on the set of The Fast and Furious 7 movie. The energy I felt on set that day is what first sparked my interest in acting and what encouraged me to pursue acting classes.

You also have talent in front of the camera, too. Is it more exciting for you to be in front of the camera instead of behind the camera? Where does your passion lie?

I enjoy being in front of the camera and behind the scenes, too. My passion really lies in the whole creative process. My past experiences within different aspects of the beauty and fashion industry have really helped prepare me for my new beauty venture. I always knew I wanted to start my own business but wanted to make sure the products I produced were unique and effective. My main focus is to create products that aim at filling voids currently present in the lip care market.

We see you’ve been a dancer in many music videos, such as for Jennifer Lopez and Ariana Grande. What are some of your favorite projects that you’ve worked on?

Out of all the projects I have worked on this far, my favorite project has to be 20

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What inspired you to begin a line of beauty products?

I have always dreamed of creating a line of beauty products ever since I was a little girl. My personal experience within the beauty and fashion industry is what inspired the aesthetic of NRomo Beauty.

The first product launching in the Summer of 2021 focuses on hydrating the lips at a preventative and effective level.

This anti-aging lip serum is a custom formula that has been carefully designed with everyone in mind. I saw a void in the market for this type of lip treatment and felt confident I could create an effective one. The beauty about starting your own line is that it gives you the ability to reach more than just one person at a time.

That’s incredible. What an amazing product idea! I can definitely see where there’s a void for lip serum on the market, and I have to ask, why lip products specifically?

NRomo Beauty will initially launch with a custom-made lip serum before debuting the rest of our lip care line. I am very excited to reveal the innovative products my team and I have been working so hard to create. I feel that lips are often deprived and wanted to offer everyone a product that would help to replenish dry irritated lips.

It’s important to me that this lip care line represents my values and my visions as the owner of NRomo Beauty.

You state that your lip products are “the best lip care of your life”.

What is it that makes them so unique? Can you tell us the story behind choosing the products you will be releasing?

It was important to me when I set out on this venture that I created a unique product designed with everyone in mind.

The custom formula is what makes this product “the best lip care of your life”.

Our lip serum was designed to hydrate dry cracked lips while preventing fine lines and feathering. This lip serum was created as a more effective alternative to Chapstick because it is preventative and longer lasting.

Since you went to cosmetology school, do you have a knowledge of

the formulation? How involved are you in the creation of the products?

I have been involved in the entire creative process of NRomo Beauty from the beginning. It’s important to me that this lip care line represents my values and my visions as the owner of NRomo Beauty. My team and I have been working alongside a chemist and a manufacturer to make sure our custom formula does everything it says it will. Since I find face serums to be one of the most effective products in ESCAPISM ISSUE 2021 21

skin care, I set out to create a lip serum that would also produce similar results.

What products do you have lined up next after your lip serum?

After the launch of our lip serum, we plan on debuting an entire line of NRomo Beauty lip care. We plan on producing our own lip scrub, lip balm and lip glosses in order to create a complete lip care regimen.

What roadblocks have been thrown your way with the pandemic? How much harder has this made the process for you?

Starting a business during a pandemic has been an experience unlike any other. Not being able to visit or meet my manufacturer in person has probably been one of the hardest roadblocks thrown my way. I am grateful that this last year allowed me lots of time to reflect on what’s important and put my all into the start of my new

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business. I hope it will encourage everyone to stop and take a moment for themselves, and after 2020, I think that’s something we all need to do more of.

Is there anything else you’d like us to know about your NROMO products? When and where can we expect them? Are you ready to build a big successful beauty company?

NRomo Beauty is set to launch Summer of 2021. I can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve been working so hard to create and hope you will love it as much as we do.

We can’t wait for the release of the NRomo Beauty lip serum and full line of lip products to follow afterwards. Be sure to follow the company’s updates on their Instagram @NRomoBeauty and Natalie’s updates @Nat_Romo.

Radia nt re sults , t ra n sform ing you r sk in wh i le you sleep.

Our Overnight Collagen Mask works while you sleep to restore and protect the essential protein in your skin. Wake up to a firmer more youthful-feeling face.

raybae.com

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The Best Jewelry to Match Your

Skin Tone

When it comes to piecing your look together, most people think about matching their jewelry to their clothing, but they don’t think about matching it to their skin tone. While many believe that jewelry is neutral enough to be matched to any skin tone, we believe there are a few principles to follow to make your jewelry choice the best it can be for you...

General Tips and Tricks

• The very first thing that you need to remember about jewelry is that it should be very comfy and easy to carry.

• In order to prevent tarnished looks, you need to keep jewelry away from water.

Perhaps, think about applying a light coat of clear fingernail polish to your jewelry for enhancing its longevity.

• Always follow your body’s reaction to the jewelry you have on, since some people might have allergic reactions to some types of jewelry.

Finding Your Skin Tone

First, to match jewelry to your skin tone, you need to know your skin tone. In order

to do this, you need a clean face, so wash off all of your makeup and apply your regular moisturizer. After waiting 15 minutes, look in the mirror. Having natural light is also useful. In order to find out the exact shade of your skin, you need to hold a piece of pure white paper to your face. If some pinkish accents appear on the paper, then you have cooler undertones, and if the shade you note on the paper is yellowish, your undertones are warm.

Match warm undertones with warmer colors like red, orange, coral, and gold.

Match the cooler undertones with silver, blue, and green. As a rule, there is a close connection between the skin undertone, the shade of the eyes, and the hair color.

So, this should be taken into account when picking jewelry, as well.

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The Right Jewelry for Your Face Shape

Your face shape will also help you pick the right jewelry.

Heart or Diamond Face Shape

• When picking earrings, you need to pay attention to dangle or drop types to visually lengthen the face.

• As for necklaces, chokers will be the most ideal accessory to contrast and soften the sharpness of your chin.

Rectangular Face Shape

• Short and round are the ways for picking the earrings, in order to create some contrast between their forms and that of the face.

• Chokers are again a do here, especially if you have a long and beautiful neck.

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Round or Square Face Shape

• The earrings for this face shape need to be ovular or other angular shapes like rectangles.

• As for the necklaces, you need to pick options with extended forms below the neckline.

Oval Face Shape

• As for the earrings, you can choose not too long and dangling options of angular shapes.

• Coming to necklaces, we can note a considerable freedom in choice here, since you can pick both long and short options. Still, if you have a long neck, you’d better choose a shorter option.

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Matching the Jewelry with the Skin Tone After knowing everything about matching jewelry shades and shapes with skin types, you can easily come up with impressive and cool combinations. There are, in fact, many possible variants of experimenting with jewelry, and that generally refers to the great diversity of the designs, sizes, shapes, and colors. Depending on whether your skin is dark or light, you can opt for a certain type of jewelry, thus picking some golden accents for warm complexions and shades like silver, platinum, and other tones of rose gold. In any case there are some exceptions from these rules. The middle skin tones, for instance, tend to combine the benefits of both groups of tones in one place. In this case the most important factor that needs to be preserved is the balance.

Picking a Supplementary Color

In addition, you can also pick a second complementing shade for your jewelry, going for the duo of the metal and the complementary proper.

Metals • For cool skin shades, options like silver, platinum, and white gold will be especially effective and well-matching.

• And for warmer tones, the correspondingly warmer metals are suggested, like gold, pewter, brass, and copper.

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Complementary Colors

• Cool skin tones require white pearls and diamonds as key shades, and expanding to jewel tones, the options like pink, blue, red, and magenta will be very useful and effective.

• As for the warmer tones, we should note the coral or golden tone pearls first, reflecting the main principles and compatibility of these tones. Coming to stone shades, the concentration around earthy shades is what can be noted here, exemplified with brown, orange, green, yellow, peachy, and turquoise shades.

Thus, here were the basic rules we would like to note when speaking about the choice of the best jewelry for the skin tone. Just have a look at the tips and consider them for the most impressive results!

On Top of the World

Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles

Katarina Van Derham Editor-in-Chief of VIVA GLAM Magazine

HeyChesto is the VIVA GLAM Approved Way to Travel for the Chic Girl on the Go. Reminiscent of elegant vintage travel chests but designed for modern living. As the HeyChesto is opened, the stylish shelving is revealed allowing your wardrobe to come with you on all your misadventures. www.heychesto.comESCAPISM ISSUE 2021 29

Amanda Rodriquez, a Force to Be Reckoned With

“Sex sells but I am also more than a body or object for sex, I am a woman. A soul. A being and a force to be reckoned with.”

By Malorie Mackey Photos by Deja Jordan Makeup by Katarina Van Derham & MUYvette Hair by Anthony Montoya Location: European House LA 30

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manda Rodriguez is not just

another beautiful cover model.

Though she is exceptionally beautiful, she is also a strong woman with passion and drive, and she is a real force to be reckoned with. We were lucky enough to sit down with Amanda to discuss her career, her transition into motherhood, and her thoughts on the deeper issues- societal issues of mental health that plague so many today. Amanda has beauty and brains, and she’s here to discuss many topics that will make you think long and hard about our current society. And if you’re going to take anything away from this interview, please remember what Amanda says at the end of it, it’s incredibly important to remember “that no one else defines your self-worth. You do.”

Who was 13-year-old Amanda? What were her interests, and where did she see herself in ten years?

I love this question! 13-year-old Amanda was a goth kid in black lipstick and combat boots. I was really into heavy metal music, and I had an obsession with vampires.

Haha. I told my parents I was going to be gothic forever and that it was not just a style but a “way of life”. lol. I was introverted and enjoyed spending time on my own. I am not sure if I really knew where I saw myself in 10 years at that time. I was just going through the motions. But I did really love writing poetry, short stories and journaling my thoughts. Not sure if my writing was actually any good back then, haha (probably not), but it’s something I ESCAPISM ISSUE 2021 33

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still enjoy doing today! Also, some of the old music I used to listen to I still enjoy at heart.

What’s the most positive memory from your childhood?

Camping and hiking as a child with my family are some of my favorite and most positive memories I have. It was a simple time. Maybe that’s why I love being out in nature so much to this day, because it’s nostalgic and reminds me of a nice part of my childhood.

yourself that people don’t see?

Thank you! I think there is a lot about me that people don’t see on the outside because of how I carry myself or things I have accomplished. But what I would love to remind the world is that everyone has feelings and struggles of their own.

Sometimes, we can’t see that by just looking at someone or how they are dressed, the photos they post on their social media.

But that does not make their suffering any less real.

We noticed that you are an advocate Tell us about your journey into against bullying and for mental modeling. What brought you health. Is this something you have into modeling and how has your struggled with in the past? journey gone?

Yes, I had my share of bullying in middle I went to a photoshoot with my girlfriend school as a kid (turns out being goth doesn’t one day during my late teens. She was resonate well with the popular kids), modeling at the and I am really time and asked outspoken about Camping and hiking as a child with me if I wanted my struggles with to come along. I my family are some of my favorite and mental health. didn’t have a lot I think it’s more most positive memories I have. of experience common than modeling then. we realize, and it But seeing the outcome of the images should be normal to speak freely about really inspired me. I loved the idea of how we are feeling mentally. getting to dress up, “transform” and feel empowered in front of the lens.

In your opinion, what are the best tools to help fight depression?

I am really a firm believer of honesty. There is no-one-size-fits-all remedy So, while there have been a lot of great for everyone. Depression is a powerful moments in my modeling journey, there disease. What works for one person may have also been some disheartening and not work with another. I think the best painful experiences. Regardless, I refuse to tool and the first step is being honest let these things set me back entirely from about how you feel. Often times, there what I am passionate about! is a lot of shame, fear or embarrassment carried with depression. That is a very You seem like the epitome of a painful way to live and limits us from beautiful young woman. You’re a getting the help we need. There should cover model who seems to have be no shame in explaining to your family, it all. Are there any aspects of friends or doctor about what you’re going 36

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through. That’s the only way to really start the right treatment plan for you! Whether that means psychotherapy, medication, or a combination. It’s all about treating it the best we can and making things more manageable for you.

Why do you think that people who tell the truth are often not believed?

I think that the judgement of society can be brutal. There are a lot of preconceived notions out there. Sometimes when speaking the truth, that very truth may shatter someone’s false idea or perception of whatever you’re speaking about.

And that’s hard to accept sometimes.

Sometimes the truth can be painful or disappointing. So, it’s easier for some to deny or refuse to believe.

We used to live in a society where sex sells. After the “Me Too” movement, things have changed in many ways regarding the way women are perceived. Do you feel that sex still sells? And, if so, how do you feel it is different now?

I do think sex still sells. But I think now the conversation is very conscious and more careful. Especially with the powers of social media. I think the topic has changed a bit now from “sex sells” to “sex sells but I am also more than a body or object for sex, I am a woman. A soul. A being and a force to be reckoned with!”

Your Instagram profile states that you are breaking industry beauty standards. Can you tell us what you mean by that?

The fashion industry has told us what is beautiful for many years. I am not 5’10’’, and I am not a size 00. Because of that, many would ask why I would set out to 38

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model in the first place. Yet I refuse to conform to the belief that you can only be successful or “beautiful” in this industry if you attain those cookie cutter attributes.

Do you feel more Sicilian, Puerto Rican, or American at heart?

Honestly, I’ve never really felt like I belonged to one region at heart. Although my bloodline is Puerto Rican as well as Sicilian, I was born in and live in America... I have kind of always felt like a black sheep that didn’t really belong to one culture or place because of that.

Becoming a young mother is challenging enough already. How is it for you as a model? Is it more difficult with your schedule changes and the standards the industry puts on you?

It definitely is challenging! Motherhood is a full-time job on its own. Yet I know myself and I am the best version of me when I am also working outside of motherhood. I can give the most of myself to my family when I am working, as well. It was very difficult at first because it was a huge adjustment to my schedule.

Especially when I used to breastfeed in the very early days! But I have learned it’s just about adapting. I have found ways to work around these things.

Have your modeling opportunities increased or decreased after becoming a mother? Why do you think that is?

Honestly, motherhood did not impact my job opportunities as much as I thought it would. I receive the same type of booking opportunities; I think it just all boils down to what I am comfortable with and willing to do now.

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What bothers you the most about today’s society?

Currently, I am really bothered by the disregard the fashion industry has towards predatory behavior. I believe not only should predators be held accountable for their inappropriate or damaging behavior but also the institutions that surround them or “protect” them. There should be serious model protection implemented in every fashion company and if that protection is violated there should be serious consequences.

What is the message you’d like to send to young aspiring models?

Always remember your worth. Stand up for yourself.

Don’t do anything that makes you uncomfortable!

And if something does make you uncomfortable, please say something. Mental and physical health comes first. Your voice matters.

How can someone discover their self-worth?

If they are feeling down, this can be hard.

That’s a great question. I have struggled with that often in my own life. Whenever I get to that point of questioning my own self-worth, I know it’s time to immediately start looking inward and focus on whatever healing needs to be done.

I think an important reminder to tell yourself is that no one else defines your self-worth. You do.

So, despite any feedback you may be receiving from friends, family, workplace, or home life... That does not determine your self-worth. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in our surroundings or believe we are only what others say we are. But in reality, we are worth so much more than that.

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Introducing

RAMLA, Our Favorite with Culture and Purpose

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Ikram Ramla is a revolutionary mind who is focused on protecting the world and changing it little by little. She is both a world traveler and an inspired creator who crafted her own business when she founded RAMLA, a line of gorgeously artistic bags. ach mosaic bag created

by RAMLA is a piece of art that was uniquely handmade by Indian craftsmen, and they are definitely a statement piece for any look. We highly recommend you add at least one of these incredible bags to your collection if you’re looking to take your image to the next level. But, before you do, we’d love for you to hear Ikram’s inspiring

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story, so we sat down with her to discuss her motivations, inspirations, and what makes RAMLA so special.

Ikram, you are the CEO and Founder of RAMLA. Before we discuss your brand, we’d love to discuss your past. You grew up in Morocco. How do you feel growing up in Morocco helped pave your way and inspire you to create your brand?

My upbringing in Morocco definitely shaped my view of the world. Morocco is a wonderful place, mind you I am not without bias, but it has been throughout the years a melting pot of different civilizations and cultures. It was a major stop in the Silk Road and a bridge between Africa and the west. So, we grew up with an abundance of exotic scents, colors and flavors from all around the world. I think that definitely had a role to play either directly or indirectly when I had the idea to create my own brand.

You love to travel. What’s your favorite travel destination that you’ve visited thus far?

Hong Kong, which is hands down my favorite city in the world. There is something about HK that I am not able to explain, maybe it’s the vibe, the diversity, the unbeatable nightlife or the food. I am a big foodie, and HK is a foodie’s paradise with all the different cuisines due to the mix of ethnicities. I love cities with “vibes.” If I can spend 90% of my time walking around, observing people, and trying new food, I’m happy.

exotic about the place. I wanted to find a way to bring the two cultures together, so when I came across their mosaic work, it seemed so evident. Morocco is known for its ancient mosaic, and India’s way of working this basic material got me inspired!

You were heavily inspired by India, as well. Can you discuss when you first visited India and how it helped to influence and develop RAMLA? When I first visited India, I was truly

What’s the full story behind RAMLA’s creation? What led to you create the brand?

I was always animated by the desire to create something of my own. I had a

I think that definitely had a role to play either directly or indirectly when I had the idea to create my own brand. fascinated by the people and the culture.

It is a land of great diversity. In many ways, it reminded me of Morocco. There was something very familiar yet wildly

creative energy that needed an outlet; I just didn’t know that outlet would come as a collection of bags honoring my heritage and my journey. However, what ESCAPISM ISSUE 2021 45

I knew was that I wanted to become an entrepreneur and write my own story.

Following that desire and believing in myself led me to start RAMLA building block by block until it became a clear vision and a reflection of my dream and who I am. The Moroccan/Indian mix that gave birth to RAMLA came as a revelation when I discovered India with all its promise and beauty. The warm colors and originality of our designs are a testimony to these two ancient cultures, countries where exoticism joins simplicity and where contrast is as common as the most unusual pairings.

Each bag is a unique piece of art handmade by Indian craftsmen using metal and mosaic stones.

What is the mission behind your brand? What do you hope to achieve by creating RAMLA? The mission behind RAMLA is to give everyone an opportunity to express their unique personalities through stylish handmade bags at the best price possible.

What’s it like running a company and serving as a CEO? It is not easy, and that’s an understatement.

Especially because it’s a new business and you are trying to make a brand out of your vision, a vision that only you have and see. Dealing with all kinds of people and doing everything by yourself can be very challenging and exhausting most of the time, but when you see that your vision is finally coming to life, it’s very rewarding and it’s worth overcoming all the obstacles and challenges.

There are other companies that create mosaic bags. What makes 46

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RAMLA bags different and so much more unique than these other bags?

Mosaic bags have always existed; it’s one of the traditional fashion accessories in India. When I came across these bags, I fell in love with the concept and fascinating details. I used the mosaic idea, that was not very known at the time, to start making my own designs. The same parallel can be drawn with leather bags.

Each bag starts off as a roll of steel. From there, we cut the patterns for the unique models, assemble them,and recover them with the wanted materials to achieve the desired look of the bag.

A large number of brands manufacture and/or design leather bags, the key differentiator is the style, the design, the concept behind the brand. For RAMLA, I work on different designs ideas and colors. Every bag has unique detailing and is supported by the use of the best quality materials.

Each of your bags is unique and beautiful. Can you explain the full process of what goes into making one of your bags?

Each bag starts off as a roll of steel. From there, we cut the patterns for the unique models, assemble them, and recover them with the wanted materials to achieve the desired look of the bag. Each piece is individually and manually positioned into the bag. That’s what makes them unique from one bag to the next.

We absolutely love that RAMLA is a cruelty-free brand. Why did you

choose to go cruelty-free? What does this mean to you personally?

I think we are, collectively, a generation that grew up in a very different world than that of our parents because of advances in technology and the population growth the paradigm shift is substantial, so wanting to change the world is an undertone to everything we do. For me, changing and protecting the world starts by the little steps, the everyday choice, whether it is protecting animals, wildlife, or the climate.

What is RAMLA’s demographic?

RAMLA is for everyone that is open minded about fashion. We are unique and definitely stand out from the crowd, and that’s how we like it.

Is there anything else you’d like our viewers to know about yourself or your brand?

I want them to know that RAMLA is a young brand that was created and marketed through a digital media platform and that only succeeded thanks to their support and appreciation for the singularity and diversity that it stands for.

And for that, I am immensely grateful and will continue to work hard for their support. I am a reflection of my brand, different, carving my own way in life and in entrepreneurship.

Ikram’s intention and passion is very clear through her words and her uniquely beautiful bags. Be sure to follow Ikram on Instagram at @Ikramla and follow the latest from RAMLA at @ramlaofficial.

And be sure to get your own bag today at ramlaofficial.com.

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Present Yourself in the Best Way Possible with MARÍN TAILOR

By Malorie Mackey

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You may not know this, but the main secret to being perfectly presentable at all times is wearing immaculately tailored clothing. Because of this, it is absolutely crucial that you have a tailor on your speed dial for all your new articles of clothing. Lucky for you, MARÍN TAILOR is conveniently here in Los Angeles, Calfornia, and they are the best of the best.

MARÍN TAILOR

is a family-owned business, which is a dynamic that many can look forward to. In our experiences, we’ve found that a familyrun business can easily be more honest, true, and skilled than those big-chain retailers.

The VIVA GLAM team was lucky enough to sit down with Diego Marín to discuss all about his past, his inspirations, and the future of MARÍN TAILOR. Diego, can you tell us what it’s like working with your family? What are the benefits of getting to work with your family and sharing a passion for tailoring with your family members?

It is great working with family. There’s always going to be differences, but at the end of the day, we are all working together to take care of our brand, which is our last name, Marín. My father started the tailor business, and I came in a few years after. I made adjustments to take it to a new level and modernize the businesses. I was very lucky to have my younger brother, Alex Marín, join the family business nine years ago. He has been a very big support and very innovative to make the business what it is today. Each of us brings something to

the table which results in a solid team and business.

You mentioned that your father inspired you to get into this industry.

Can you tell us how you founded MARÍN TAILOR with your father’s help?

It all starts with someone, and in my case, it was my father. My father has been a tailor since the age of 9 back in Michoacan,

Mexico. Every year when I was on school vacation, up until high school, he would take me to his tailor shop to help him out.

At that age, all you want to do is have fun and hang out with your friends. On the

work for someone else. After I graduated high school, I had other plans and worked regular minimum-wage jobs.

After seeing my first paycheck working graveyard, I was so disappointed and

When I finally decided to start my own business, nothing was going to stop me from working hard and making it work. It took years for the business to flourish and to become what it is today. way to and from his shop, I would get the same talk every day of how it was very important to either get an education or learn a trade. He would always tell me that it’s better to work for myself than to

tried to figure out how people survive with this income. Every payday, I would hear my dad’s voice in my head, “You either get an education or you learn a trade”. It would play over and over in my head. I do think prior jobs prepared me for what was soon to be my future.

When I finally decided to start my own business, nothing was going to stop me from working hard and making it work. It took years for the business to flourish and to become what it is today. I give credit to my father, mother and my brother who joined me a couple of years ago.

What were your aspirations before you found your love for tailoring?

I didn’t know what I wanted to do in life; I especially didn’t think I’d be a tailor.

I come from a family of entrepreneurs, so I always enjoyed selling products to others. My dad had his business, and my mother had her full-time job, but they always had a side hustle. I was inspired by how they could make something out of nothing.

What are the most common requests you provide for your customers?

The most common requests from customers are suit alterations, women’s

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dresses, and jumpsuits.

questions. A great tailor will listen to what you are looking for and will suggest ideas and will never do adjustments that you don’t want. Many old-school tailors do not understand that times change, trends and people change. As a tailor, you have to be up-to-date with what is in and listen to your customers and deliver.

With all that said, I think a man in a suit is a trend that will never go away. A suit is like your armor to go out in the world and handle business.

I don’t think many people understand the importance of having their suits and dresses custom-fitted to their bodies. Can you explain the importance of having your clothing fit correctly?

You can buy a very non-expensive suit, and with the right alterations, that suit can look like a custom or designer suit.

You can buy a $5,000 suit, but if you don’t tailor that suit, it can look How did the Many old-school tailors do not like a simple off2020 pandemic understand that times change, trends the-rack suit. Just affect your and people change. because you buy business? a designer suit As a tailor, you have to be up-to-date What did you does not mean have to do with what is in and listen to your it’s going to be to adapt to the right fit. A customers and deliver. With all that the changing tailored suit, times? said, I think a man in a suit is dress, or any other The pandemic a trend that will never go away. garment looks a did affect our hundred times business since a better with alterations. Once you put lot of people are working from home now; on your tailored garment, you feel more we now do online zoom consultations confident and you get a swag to your and go to homes for pickups while taking walk. the right safety measures.

What do you think is the most stylish look for a man? Can you provide us with a few important styling tips?

A tip for any man out there is to get everything tailored. No matter the size or shape of the person, if you tailor your dress shirts, jeans, or even t-shirts, yes t shirts, so that your clothes don’t look oversized and sloppy, that actually changes the way you feel. A lot of people don’t even know what a tailor is or have no idea what a tailor can do. Do research, call different tailors, and ask

What are your aspirations and goals for MARÍN TAILOR in 2021?

Our aspirations and goals for 2021 are to meet our clients’ needs and be the onestop shop for men’s and women’s wear.

I hope you are as inspired as we are by Diego’s passion for tailoring. Be sure to go out and get your suit (or any outfit for that matter) tailored to perfection so you can take on the world and handle your business with dignity and class in 2021. Be sure to keep up with MARÍN TAILOR by following them on Instagram at @marintailor.

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Retro Things

That are Making People Happy Again 52

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By Katarina Van Derham Photo by Payam Arzani Hair and Makeup by Ricardo Ferrise

The term “retro” refers to things of the past. It doesn’t refer to any particular decade, but it is something that was once trendy and is outdated in the present time.

Some say to be considered retro, something must be at least 15-20 years “old”.

Why is retro more important today than ever before?

But why is retro more important today than ever before? In the past, you could see the concept of retro mainly in fashion.

For example, the fashion of the 50s and 60s had always seemed to inspire many fashion houses and beauty gurus.

Everyone was building modern structures with a modern interior design of that era.

Everyone was simply happy to modernize

and dismiss the idea of “grandma’s old”.

However, in the 2000s, we entered the digital age. Everything went digital; digital

photography, streamed music, cell phones that we can’t live without, magazines… just to name a few. Technology started to make our lives easier and things have become more affordable. While, on one hand, the digital world does make life easier and connects people, on the other hand, it really disconnects people.

Perhaps, being so close to everything and everyone is not such a great idea.

Just going back to the 90s, people used to walk the streets and say, “Hello” to each other. Now, for the most part, people pass by you with their headphones on, buried in their “Me” world. Even when you try to say, “Hello”, they simply don’t hear you, and no reaction from them only ESCAPISM ISSUE 2021 53

bums you out. Social media sounded like an amazing idea at first but has become a burden over time.

While there are still some advantages to social media, the enormous amount of cyber bullying resulted in depression, and since people are not able to have a normal conversation without attacking one another, it made many people permanently leave social media. Social media also became an unrealistic world full of advertising that is incredibly skewed and can’t be trusted.

Vinyl records have survived amongst some of the music enthusiasts after record stores shut down.

All that and realizing that everyone is living in their “Me” world has left us sort of desperate to create our own bubble more than ever before and to protect it. That is the reason why many people reflect on the past and recall the things that used to make them really happy. It’s the tangible things that you could grab, feel, and connect with, besides the obvious, a physical interaction.

What retro items are having a major comeback?

Vinyl records have survived amongst some of the music enthusiasts after record stores shut down. But today, more and more people are shopping for vinyl record players, and bands such as Bon Jovi still sell vinyl records of their new music. Plywood is another thing that has come back. While plywood used to be considered a cheap material, now it is super trendy and more 54

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valued in today’s architectural designs.

And then, there is wallpaper!

Many young photographers are starting to shoot on 35mm film! Can you believe it? Even though it is still expensive, shooting on film can’t be replaced by any pixel-based technology. Do we even need to mention the popularity of the polaroid cameras today? Even celebrities such as Kim Kardashian use the polaroid look for the packaging of their cosmetics and campaigns. And how many people have a retro rotary phone in their home as a decoration? Have you seen anyone with a flip phone instead? Yeah, I didn’t think so. Fashion today goes even further back.

All the ruffles and bows you see in brands such as Zimmerman are inspired by the Victorian and Renaissance eras.

doesn’t necessary mean it is better. Trends are created for one reason only: for those who create them to make money.

So, protect your physical world, value the “old”, live life and don’t live just on your phone.

In the past 20 years, people have fought to preserve the good of the past. Perhaps that’s why we still have successful radio stations and print magazines, and books are still in demand. Just because something is modern

Many young photographers are starting to shoot on 35mm film!

Can you believe it?

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The Best Hobby to Try Based on

Your Zodiac

Sign

By Ivana Shteriova

When adult life hits hard, we often forget the importance of having hobbies. Taking some personal time to do stuff that makes your body and soul smile is critical for a fulfilled life. If you can’t decide how to spend your free time, astrology might have the right answers. This impressive discipline can reveal many things that suit your personality best, from turning to astrology for your perfect hairstyle to picking a power color that will boost your energy and confidence. Continue reading to discover the best hobby to try based on your zodiac sign.

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Aries

Cancer

Taurus

Leo

(March 21 – April 19) HAIR & MAKEUP TUTORIALS Your ruler, Mars, provides you with a major energy boost, among other things. To channel this energy positively, turn to your creative side. An exciting hobby to try based on your zodiac sign is filming beauty tutorials.

(April 20 – May 20) YOGA & MEDITATION Tune into your spirituality by developing a yoga and meditation habit. It will help you open your chakras, release your stress, and strengthen the best aspects of your personality.

Gemini

(May 21 – June 20): PARTY ORGANIZER You’re a die-hard social butterfly whose life looks like one big party. So, why not use your communication talents and entertaining nature to throw the best parties ever?

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(June 21 – July 22) START A COOKING BLOG Your friends and family endorse you for your cooking skills, so what are you waiting for? Start a cooking blog in your free time or post your delicious meals on Instagram.

(July 23 – August 22) EXPRESS YOUR CREATIVITY THROUGH ART Sign up for ballet or a local poetry class, or do anything that will get your creative energy flowing. Your artsy nature needs something expressive, so you might want to try different creative activities to be able to pick the one that suits your personality best.

Virgo

(August 23 – September 22) CHESS The best hobby to try based on your zodiac sign includes fun sports and games.

Chess is undoubtedly a perfect match for your analytical mind!

Libra

(September 23 – October 22) INTERIOR DECOR You have a keen eye for everything aesthetically pleasing. So why not turn your natural talent into a side hustle or a fun hobby you would do for your dearest and nearest? Take on an interior design project and get creative with DIY activities.

Scorpio

(October 23 – November 21) FENCING You can get pretty intense in challenging times, so the right hobby to try based on your zodiac sign is something that will help you release the accumulated negative energy. Fencing is one great option due to its dynamic and analytical nature.

Sagittarius

(November 22 – December 21) SKYDIVING You love to be surrounded by nature and engage in adrenaline-rushing activities. Anything that involves adventure is your cup of tea. The next hobby to try based on your zodiac sign is skydiving – it will give your Sag spirit the right dose of excitement.

Capricorn

(December 22 – January 19) READING FOR PERSONAL GROWTH Nothing makes you more fulfilled than advancement in your career. So, you might want to pick a hobby that serves this purpose. Stocking up on self-help books and reading other materials that will contribute to your personal growth is a great match for your ambitious nature.

Aquarius

(January 20 – February 18) DIGITAL DESIGN As the techno freak of the zodiac, you might want to engage in projects that support your passion for the digital world.

Why not mix this interest with your creativity and take on a digital design course?

Pisces

(February 19 – March 20) DRAWING Your artistic nature calls for activities that are creative and expressive. The perfect hobby to try based on your zodiac sign is drawing. If you don’t consider yourself a natural talent, you can take on fun DIY projects.

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Why is the Story of Cinderella Still So Important Today?

By Malorie Mackey

The story of Cinderella has been around for centuries.

Yes, centuries. And it has been told in many different variants.

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hile it was originally thought to be created by Charles Perrault with his story Cendrillon in Tales of Mother Goose, which was written in 1697 and supposedly served as a major inspiration for Disney’s 1950’s animated film, perhaps the most famous written Cinderella adaptation was created by the Brothers Grimm. The

her father is still alive and does nothing to stop the torment. The young cinder girl’s stepsisters cut off pieces of their feet to fit into Cinderella’s shoe, and, at the end, they get their eyes pecked out by vengeful birds. While that’s definitely not the beautiful tale we know with magic mice and fairy godmothers, it is the bestknown origin for Cinderella’s tale. So, how did something so dark transition

The young cinder girl’s stepsisters cut off pieces of their feet to fit into Cinderella’s shoe, and, at the end, they get their eyes pecked out by vengeful birds.

Grimm Brother’s tale Aschenputtel, written in 1812, paints Cinderella in a much different light than the kinder versions we are used to. As she suffers the horrors of her mother and stepsisters,

into such a whimsical story?

Despite some of its darker roots, the story of Cinderella still brings forth hope to many young ladies today while also providing inspiration for some ESCAPISM ISSUE 2021 61

particularly beautiful adaptations, such as Disney’s new Cinderella that released in 2015. So, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Disney’s animated Cinderella, we’re going to discuss the reasons why Cinderella is still so important to our society today.

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We Can All Relate to Some Aspect of Cinderella It’s a tale as old as time. A beautiful young girl gets treated like a doormat, her kindness horribly taken advantage of. Or maybe it’s the tale of the ambitious young woman who finds her way into the life of the rich prince. Perhaps, Cinderella is so important to us today because she’s

a reflection of many aspects we see in our lives or the lives of those around us.

Frankly, it’s relatable. Many young ladies can relate to being treated poorly. We all start out so innocent in our lives, and it’s hard to find one person who didn’t have

Cinderella means never letting our inner child die. The imagination that sparks from seeing pumpkins become carriages and mice become horses while a poor young girl gets to experience that life-changing night; there’s nothing like it. That feeds

Perhaps, if we let Cinderella inspire us, we can move forward from our harder pasts and experience courage and kindnessexperience love and happiness and embrace the fantasy of what the future could be. their innocence taken advantage of in one way or another. As we age and mature, we begin to value and miss the innocence of the beautiful young princess-to-be.

And, in our culture, Cinderella represents innocence, something we’ve all had. There are others who see her struggles as a fight to become one of society’s elite, as a drive for ambition, and they relate to Cinderella in that way. Whatever the aspect, there are many ways to look at and relate to Cinderella in your life. Maybe that’s why she’s so important to our culture?

our inner child and our positivity and happiness- something we absolutely need more of right now. Cinderella could be our proverbial light at the end of our dark tunnels.

Perhaps, if we let Cinderella inspire us, we can move forward from our harder pasts and experience courage and kindnessexperience love and happiness and embrace the fantasy of what the future could be. Just maybe, Cinderella can help us see the goodness in what is to come and change our mindsets for the better.

Perhaps, that is why she is still so important to us after all these years.

A Love of Fantasy Or more innocently, perhaps Cinderella represents our inner child, our imagination, our love for stories, and the ideal of fantasy! It’s almost always one of the first stories that gets read to children, being so incredibly famous for generations. It embodies the ideal fairy tale. It represents fantasy- the fantasy that is important now more than ever in our lives to help us start over after a global pandemic and begin new again. Perhaps, giving our attention to ESCAPISM ISSUE 2021 63

Introducing the American

Museum of the House Cat, a Treasure for Cat Lovers Help Dr. Harold Sims Keep His Legacy Alive

By Malorie Mackey

Dr. Harold Sims

is one of the most inspiring people I have ever met with an incredibly unique story that comes with him. In the 1990s, he found that in his area of North Carolina, there weren’t any shelters that didn’t euthanize pets. Upon finding this out, he worked to open CatMan2, a private, no-kill, cage-free shelter in Cullowhee, North Carolina. CatMan2 not only saves the lives of many cats, rescuing those 64

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who have been in accidents and saving many kittens from shelters that kill, but they also offer low-cost spay and neuter services, help many cats find their forever homes, and provide resources for those with cats. They recently opened a wildlife rehabilitation section of their shelter, as well.

But this kitty-filled tale doesn’t stop there.

Around 30 years ago, Dr. Harold Sims realized that there were no cat museums

in America. It took him years to bring his dream to life, but in 2017, he opened the American Museum of the House Cat within an antique mall. His museum grew and thrived, allowing him to transition to

and for someone or an entity to take the title to his land to continue his work.

Please help Dr. Sims spread the word to keep his legacy alive by donating to his incredible cause at the links mentioned

He wants to leave this world with his legacy safe and thriving and for someone or an entity to take the title to his land to continue his work. a new building across the street. Proceeds from the museum go to help fund the CatMan2 Shelter. It’s also important to point out that his museum houses an exceptionally large and impressive array of cat items dating back hundreds of years. It’s a cat collector’s dream!

As someone who has experienced much in his life, Dr. Sims is concerned for the future of his legacy and is looking to seek funds for and legal advice for an endowment fund to keep his legacy alive for many years to come. He wants to leave this world with his legacy safe and thriving

on the last page of this article. We sat down with Dr. Sims for Weird World Adventures and discussed all about CatMan2 and the American Museum of the House Cat. Please read on below to hear Dr. Sims’s story in his own words.

I’m sure it will inspire you as much as it has inspired me.

Dr. Sims, what stimulated you to open a no-kill, no cages cat shelter in 1995?

After I retired from being a Professor of biology, I had a chance encounter at an animal shelter in Florida. The shelter

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dealt with both dogs and cats. The dogs were housed in runs that included covered spaces and a fenced run. The cats were sheltered in what were “Kitty Condos”. Each was a 400 square foot concrete area surrounded with 16 ft high, roofed-over chain-link fences. Each condo had a two-door entrance to allow human entry without a cat escaping, open space for cats to run and a house with many rooms to sleep in. Each condo could accommodate up to 15 to 20 cats based on their size and temperament.

At the time of my volunteering, it was something to do before my wife retired, and then we would move to our home in North Carolina, but my time there set me on a lifelong adventure with cats.

Soon after we moved and settled in North Carolina, I learned that the town we settled in was trying to build an animal shelter, and I volunteered to help.

I invested a modest sum of money and donated items to be sold in a thrift shop.

I even was given a low-level membership on the BOD. The cat problem there was serious as no one was rescuing cats there, and the county shelter at the county seat was a kill-shelter, and it euthanized more animals than it found homes for. To help save cats’ lives, I started transporting cats to the shelter I’d volunteered at in Florida and I waited, in hopes that the town where I had settled would someday open their shelter. I tried to encourage the town to shelter their cats as they were in Florida but had no luck in doing so.

When the shelter opened it had no condolike accommodations, the cats lived in small cages and it opened as a kill-shelter.

Kill-shelters seem to be more interested in animal control than adoptions, and

they don’t have the time to do animal control (getting strays and abandoned animals off the streets). On the whole, they euthanize more animals than they find homes for.

How were you able to do this?

I’d inherited a sum of money from my great aunt and used most of it buy the land, move to Cullowhee and build the shelter. I didn’t get any help doing this. I couldn’t raise a cent. I paid for it with the

My wife and I were riding through a town one day, and we saw a sign advertising The Museum of the Mule.

In 1996, I gave up trying to change things at both the town and county shelter near Sylva, and I opened a small shelter of my own in a refurbished tool shed. It was both a no-kill and a no-cage cat shelterA first for the county as no-kill and a first for the local area as a no-cage shelter.

This became known as The Catman2 Cat Shelter. I operated and expanded it until 2001 when I moved to the county seat and built the 4000 sq ft facility near Cullowhee.

money I inherited and built everything myself.

What was your inspiration for doing it?

I saw the need for a no-kill shelter. I had the money. The cats needed it. So, I built it because I saw the need.

How did you come up with the idea to open a cat museum?

AMERICAN

MUSEUM OF THE

HOUSE CAT

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My wife and I were riding through a town one day, and we saw a sign advertising The Museum of the Mule. My wife asked if I knew any museums of the house cat. I learned there were many overseas but none in America. This happened in the 1990’s, so I guess my idea for a cat museum predates the cat shelter.

Who owns the items in the museum?

I own all the items in the museum. I found them during our travels. I bought them on the internet and at auctions. I’ve collected cat memorabilia long before the 1990s and up to the day I opened the museum. Before then, my home and the cat shelter looked like a museum. I didn’t get any help finding items for the museum. Everybody said I was crazy. I knew nothing about operating a museum.

People said I wouldn’t be able to do it, but I did.

How did you pay for the museum?

I had started buying cat-related items long before the idea of opening a museum. I like cats and art, so I bought art and small items that I could afford, so my investment was made over a long period of time. After the idea of opening the museum, I bought a lot more. I had a plan in my mind, and I bought things I wanted to have in a cat museum.

Did anyone donate any money or items for the museum?

No, not one cent until it was opened.

Then, I was given a few items. I made a video and put it on YouTube. It asked for help. It found none.

How were you able to afford to do this?

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I sold my first home in North Carolina for much more than I paid for it. I banked the money. It earned interest. My wife and I could have had a life of travel, but I had a cat shelter to run. So why not open the cat museum I’d dreamed about?

How does the museum operate?

The museum and its contents belong to me. I do not accept items for the museum unless they are given to me. The museum operates as a non-profit 501 C3 (as does the cat shelter). Income to operate the museum comes from ticket sales and monetary donations. This income pays operating costs and salaries. I do not take a salary from either the cat shelter or the cat museum.

What are your hopes and plans for the future?

I would like to have both of them operate with a foundation. I think the cat shelter

has a good start towards that. It has run and grown larger for the past ten years without much help from me.

The museum is in jeopardy. It needs to find the funds to form a foundation.

It needs help from major charities, the corporations that profit from the sale of cat-related products, and the people, who I built it for, the people who love cats. Without a foundation with people of worth to operate it, the future of the museum seems bleak. I see it as a treasure that needs to be preserved for all cat lovers.

It would be a shame and a great loss for all if the museum were to die with me.

I am age 85. How much time is left?

When I retired, I never thought I would end up being a philanthropist, but I could because I lived during some of the best of times in America, at a time when a person like me could make money by selling his home for more than he paid for it. He could buy CD’s that earned 10 percent interest, be paid a good retirement for as long as he lives and be lucky enough to have inherited some money. I had a good life, and I am glad that I was able to give

back what I could for the benefit of man and cats.

It was Andrew Carnegie who said, “No man becomes rich without himself enriching others.” And, “The man who dies rich dies in disgrace.”

And, I think somebody else said, “We should not be judged by how rich we are when we die but by how much we have given away before we die.” …Maybe I said it.

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4 Food Items

That Might be Giving You Acne Acne is smart. It really is. It’s like that clever bad guy in every movie. It knows just when to screw you over. Who hasn’t woken up on the morning of a very important day to find some new friends on their face? Try as we might, acne always gets the better of us.

S

By Noha Abuhadra

ome forms of acne can be much more severe than others. It depends on a number of things from genetics to hormones. Whether you have acne or not, we have all suffered the occasional breakout. Sometimes it seems like nothing can work to fix them. We all sadly end up popping our pimples and are left with scars. Well, no more! We are so over it. We’re determined to do whatever we can to prevent acne, and we’ve found some ways.

watch what you eat. We all constantly hear that we need to pay more attention to our diets; well, we definitely started listening when we realized that what we eat can be reflected on our faces! Here are some food items we can all avoid to try to keep our skin clear.

Dairy

You Are What You Eat “Drink more water,” is a statement that will forever and always be everyone’s top tip to avoiding acne. Well, sometimes that just doesn’t seem to cut it! Acne is so difficult to treat. There are countless spot treatments on the market and yet they never seem to do the trick. That’s why we’re all about prevention.

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The biggest and most drastic change that you will visibly see on your skin is cutting out dairy. Vegans have constantly swore that their skin clears up dramatically as soon as they go vegan. It is crazy to see how much of a difference one simple food group can make.

Dairy is known to be the number one food category that is prone to causing acne or breakouts. This can be in the form of cheese or milk or whatever dairy product you eat most regularly. Give it a try. Cut out dairy for about a month.

You’ll be wowed by the results!

Starchy Foods It’s starting to sound like all the joys of the food world are perpetrators. Why is our skin doing this to us!? Unfortunately, starchy foods also commonly do more harm than good for your acne.

Breads, bagels, and potatoes are great options to cut out to see if your acne goes down. We’re constantly told to cut these carbs out for weight loss purposes, and it turns out that they help tone down your acne, as well!

Fried Foods

You’re done with us, right? Trust us, we’re hating every second of this, too. It seems like all those foods that dieticians tell us to watch out for actually affect a lot more than just our waistline!

Chocolate

Ah, the ultimate comfort food. Hearing that you should cut out chocolate is probably the biggest heartbreak of them all! The things we do for our skin.

It’s no secret that chocolate is a sugary treat; well, all that sugar is terrible for your skin. Now, we aren’t evil; we’re not trying to tell you to completely cut chocolate out. A few squares every now and then is fine. Overindulging in chocolate, however, is where the issue is.

Fried foods are the ultimate comfort foods.

What binge watch of a tv show is complete without some fried fast food? Well, fried foods can have the biggest impact on your acne! The more fried foods your diet consists of, the more aggravated your skin can look. Even people that aren’t acneprone can expect the odd breakout if you indulge in too much KFC! ESCAPISM ISSUE 2021 71

Vegan Recipe:

Luckily, in our vegan society, so many of our favorite desserts can now easily be made with a vegan recipe and taste almost the same. Some even taste more delicious than their egg-andcream-filled counterparts.

We have found the best vegan dessert recipe By VeganSweetss.

Find here below a recipe for a vegan lavender-infused pudding tart with shortbread crust.

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Lavender-Infused Pudding Tart with Shortbread Crust Recipe by Vegan Sweetss

It can be hard to find a good vegan dessert sometimes. Some of the best sweets are baked with eggs and filled with cream.

Ingredients to make the crust: 1 3/4 cup regular flour 1/3 cup powdered sugar 100 grams regular / dairy-free butter 1 tsp vanilla extract Pinch of salt Ingredients to make the filling: 2 cups soy milk 2 tbsp culinary lavender buds 1/4 cup caster sugar 8 grams dry blue butterfly pea flower 1 tsp agar agar powder 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 1 cup coconut cream 2 tsp beetroot powder Recipe to make the crust: Place all ingredients in a food processor, pulse until everything is incorporated.

Transfer dough to desired tart pan, press the dough firmly to the side and bottom of the pan, shape it well. Once done, store it in the chiller for 15 minutes.

In the meantime, preheat your oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Right before baking, pierce all over the bottom of the crust with a

fork. Then bake it for 20-25 minutes or until the edges become golden brown. Remove it from the oven and let it cool on the wire rack while you make the filling.

Recipe to make the filling: Add soy milk to a small saucepan over low heat. Heat until it starts to simmer, turn the heat off and add in lavender buds. Let it steep for 15-20 minutes.

Strain the lavender buds out then add in all other ingredients except beetroot powder and coconut cream. Cook mixture on medium low heat for about 20 minutes (stirring constantly). When the mixture is turned blue, turn the heat off and add in coconut cream and beetroot powder. Mix well. Strain mixture thru fine mesh shift when pour it over cooled tart shell. Store it in the fridge for couple of hours before serving.

Enjoy

Check back for more delicious treats.

And be sure to follow VeganSweetss on Instagram and YouTube!

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LOLEA is Here

to Refresh and Modernize

Your Traditional

Sangria When it comes to a lady’s night out or a hangout with your closest girlfriends, it’s safe to say that Sangria is a staple of these events.

Here at VIVA GLAM Magazine, no hangout is complete without a Premium Sangria.

But after seeing the same-old traditional 70’s pitcher Sangria, we wanted something new and premium.

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Then, we found Lolea! Lolea Sangria offers a refreshing, modern take on traditional Sangria. It’s vegan, gluten free, free of preservatives, and has no artificial flavors. What’s even more exciting is that Lolea Sangria is an all-inclusive brand that supports the LGBTQ+ community and is in trend with the current times of social media. In other words, it’s the perfect brand for us. Lolea is really a breath of fresh air when it comes to Sangria. Plus, the packaging is chic, stylish, and perfect for any VIVA GLAM girl. We were happy to sit down with Brooke King, the brand manager of Lolea, to discuss the brand in greater detail.

Sangria has been around for a very long time (since 200 BC, actually), though many associate Sangria with the 1970s pitcher Sangria. But Lolea is different, and we love that! What makes Lolea so much trendier and more premium compared to other Sangria brands?

The iconic packaging is what gives our consumer that “trendier” feel that you get with the Lolea brand; our polka dots represent a bright and modern look that also ties in our cultural Spanish past.

Compared to other brands, we are all about quality. We break this down into six key factors and ideas: 1.) No pasteurization 2.) No preservatives 3.) No artificial flavors 4.) Gluten free/vegan 5.) High quality grapes produce a high quality wine 6.) And of course, a natural frizzanté touch elevates all of our Sangrias It’s also important to remember that Lolea isn’t just a Sangria; we position ourselves

as a “lifestyle” brand. The experiences that Lolea provides to our consumers from a digital, event, and traditional marketing aspect truly set us apart from our competitors. We don’t just want our consumers to taste Lolea, we want them to experience the “Lolea Lifestyle” and what it truly means to enjoy a Frizzanté Sangria.

How is the Lolea team working to refresh and modernize the idea of traditional Sangria?

The Lolea team works very hard to modernize the idea of traditional Sangria by ensuring we offer our consumers the most innovative and updated product that you wouldn’t typically expect to find everyday on the shelf. We like to think outside of the box. For example, our Lolea N5 is our version of Sangria Rosé that’s unlike anything else on the market.

On top of the chic look, your bottles are made to be upcycled!

Can you tell us about this process and what upcycling means for the environment?

Lolea takes pride in producing a product that not only tastes great and looks amazing but can also be repurposed for your everyday needs. We wanted to ensure a product that was environmentally friendly so we can truly make a difference in the world. Each 750ml glass bottle is crafted with a resealable lid, making it easy to reuse. It’s very important that our brand assists in creating a better future for tomorrow.

As a vegan brand ourselves, we are excited that Lolea is vegan, glutenfree, and all natural. Can you tell us about your ingredients and the story behind Lolea being a vegan, gluten-free brand?

As more awareness was brought to both food sensitivities and preferences, we knew we needed to produce a product that could be enjoyed by everyone. As mentioned before, Lolea really goes the extra mile to make sure we use premium quality ingredients for our brand, and that includes making sure we are vegan and gluten-free.

We are thrilled to hear that Lolea is a huge supporter of the LGBTQ+ community. Can you tell us a bit about this?

Lolea is an inclusive brand, and we have found that over the years, some of our greatest supporters have been part of the LGBTQ+ community. From celebrities, influencers, LGBTQ+ bars, we are being supported by an amazing following of people who are not afraid 76

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to be themselves. Lolea is a product for everyone, and we want to make sure we take a strong stance on how we support a community that has given us so much love and support.

In the age of social media, the world of marketing is changing a lot. Can you tell us a little about how Lolea is growing its presence in the era of social media?

Lolea isn’t just a Sangria, we are truly a lifestyle brand. From the moment you spot us on the shelf of a store, behind the bar at your local restaurant, or even in your own home, our packaging is making a statement. Although you can’t enjoy the in-person experience of opening one of our bottles and pouring yourself a chilled glass of our premium Sangria, we continue to strive to bring that experiential branding to our followers and consumers via social media. While we work hard to create our own content and branding from in-house, social media influencers/content creators have played a huge role in making the brand what it is today by offering their own organic take on what the Lolea Lifestyle and experience is for them. We have cultivated these relationships that we are very fortunate to have with so many amazing social influencer/creators.

You can also visit our website to purchase directly online should you not be able to secure a more local store. However, shipping is dependent on individual state laws.

Where can our readers purchase Lolea for themselves? And where can they find you online?

This is dependent on where our consumers live. We are located in Whole Foods on a national level, but each state varies. The best way to find Lolea in a store near you is to visit our website, Lolea.com, and type in your information into our product finder.

The next time you’re looking to sit back and enjoy a refreshing bottle of Sangria, make sure it’s Lolea Sangria. After hearing about this Lolea N5 Sangria Rosé, we know that will be our next choice. Be sure to learn more about Lolea at Lolea. com and follow their Instagram @lolea_usa.

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3Myths About the Effects of Exercise on Your Skin

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2

It doesn’t make sense to Myth: Not all deny how good you feel after exercises are a good workout session. good for your skin Exercise is always good, Your body has energy, False. considering that you are doing it in a your blood is flowing, your clean place. Training, whatever it is, blood flow which nourishes muscles are more flexible, increases skin cells. If you end up with too much your skin looks radiant and redness on your skin, there are some post-workout neutralizing powders that flushed, and you finally feel can help to neutralize and minimize So, you can exercise as hard like you have achieved redness. as you can without being noticed. Just something during the day. make sure to wash your face after your workout, as mentioned in myth 1.

But what about all that you had to do to get there?

By Yss Guerrero

It is likely that the internet and your friends are filling your head with ideas that are not true; although they probably have the best intentions in mind, these are often based on rumors. So, in order to clear your head and let you in on some factual knowledge, here are three super common myths about the effects of exercise on your skin that you need to ignore once and for all.

1

3

Myth: Only some people get skin benefits from exercising

The benefits of exercise are universal, even if you have a tendency to break out.

Going to the gym for at least 45 minutes improves circulation and oxygenates the body, nourishing it and helping the cells to regenerate, which is why it is great to prevent aging. In addition, it gives you that natural healthy glow that is always fashionable.

Myth: Exercising helps you eliminate skin toxins

This is partially true but less than you think. Your sweat is mostly water, and while there are residues in it that can be considered toxins, it remains mostly water. In fact, you must be careful with sweat because it can have some impact on your skin, especially if you are prone to getting acne. As a rule, you should wash your face before and after going to the gym and of course, take a shower if you sweat too much. Look for body cleansing wipes: these items are very practical and can be carried in your gym bag. Use them to remove dirt, grease, and sweat that can cause pimples.

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Ladies, Use These Underrated Feminine Strengths to Succeed

in Your Workplace

By Avanti Giridharan

“The times are-a changing’’. They definitely are, with women taking the labour market by storm.

Unfortunately, though, more and more women are being forced to put their natural femininity on the backburner to try to be just like their male colleagues to be taken more seriously at work.

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It’s a popular belief that women can’t succeed in the workplace unless they act like men. That’s a myth. In fact there are several underrated feminine characteristics that can help women get ahead in their careers. While men can absolutely possess these qualities, most of them are common to women. Women should be encouraged to express their authentic feminine selves in the workplace, which will empower them to be the best version of their professional selves.

FEMININE STRENGTHS FOR SUCCESS:

Before we begin, I’d like to start off by saying that one of the most important decisions regarding any woman’s career is that of choosing one which she’s passionate about. When you take a job you like, your own enthusiasm will motivate you, and your passion will push you towards success and innovation. While that may not always be possible, if it is, then don’t let anyone shame you for the career choices you’ve made or the industry you’ve chosen, whether it be male or female dominated.

1. Emotion

On a general basis, women are considered more emotional than men.

These emotions have often been sighted as a detriment, but it needn’t be so. If channelled appropriately, emotions can be quite beneficial since they provide a unique perspective on work-related issues. You can empathize and relate to your colleagues and clients better.

If regulated well, they can improve communication as well as interpersonal relationships necessary for any job.

2. Persuasion

Persuasion is the hidden weapon in a woman’s arsenal. What makes it powerful is that a woman’s power of persuasion is not just limited to convincing others. It includes collaboration, understanding and teamwork. All of these can work wonders for your projects, presentation and team interactions. Marketing, sales, customer support services etc. can really benefit from good persuasion. You can even take this skill a step further to negotiate promotions and pay raises.

3. Multitasking

This is truly an underrated quality. An average woman has several things to do: housework, shopping, and work meetings. Add a husband and kids and your time is literally not your own. But you can use your multitasking ability to round things up, meet deadlines, manage multiple schedules and come up with more innovative solutions to get work done faster. You will also be able to manage time and utilize all your resources. If that isn’t a professional asset, then I don’t know what is.

4.Intuition

According to research, in general, women are better than men at ESCAPISM ISSUE 2021 81

reading facial expressions since they have a heightened sensory ability which helps them to pick up on more subtle emotional messages. This is called intuition, and it’s a critical negotiating leverage. This can be particularly helpful when it comes to interaction and communication by giving you the power to identify people’s needs and perceptions, thereby allowing you to voice your suggestions/feedback and assert yourself better while networking and managing work-related projects.

5. Compassion

The best leaders are the ones who care.

Considering the current circumstances, this quality is of even more importance. The reason this has always been considered feminine is because it’s associated with mothering and nurturing.

Being compassionate in the workplace means that you nurture talent, encourage your team to perform to the best of their abilities, and help people with their problems. You offer support and inspire. You can use this during negotiation, pitches and meetings.

When you make people feel heard and understood, they respect and connect with you on a deeper level. There’s nothing like compassion and concern to enhance your reputation and improve your relationships as well as self-esteem.

6. Looks and Make up

Looking good and doing your makeup are skills that can help a woman cement and enhance her reputation at work.

Dressing well and looking put-together 82

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is a big part of self-presentation. It makes you look sharp and professional, like someone who pays attention to details and invests in herself. Chic, professional attire, grooming and some good makeup can do wonders for your confidence and set the precedent for how you’re perceived and treated at work.

And confident women are the ones who conquer the world. (Just remember to be comfortable in what you wear and hold your head high.)

Being compassionate in the workplace means that you nurture talent, encourage your team to perform to the best of their abilities, and help people with their problems.

Another important thing to note is that there’s no need to feel guilty for desiring a relationship. It’s totally okay (and healthy) to have a balanced personal life. Contrary to what many say, being (or wanting to be) married and having children does not make you weak or drag you down. Instead, it helps you to define your goals more clearly by fueling your work ethic and dedication. Your family and friends are your support system, and they’ll push you to perform better at work.

Women aren’t men. And they don’t need to be! Masculinity and femininity should complement each other for a good balance.

Women shouldn’t have to compromise on being women; instead, they can double down on their strengths. The right way to empower a woman is through letting her be her authentic feminine self.

KINDS OF PEOPLE YOU SHOULDN’T DATE

By Avanti Giridharan

Unfortunately, a lot of us end up in the second category. We settle for people we shouldn’t be wasting our time on. Because we’ve been fed many confusing messages about relationships by media, books, movies and TV shows, most people don’t even realize it until it’s too late.

It’s every person’s dream to date a confident, mature person who makes them feel like their best self.

Conversely, it’s every person’s nightmare to be with an incompatible, immature partner who frustrates them.

RED FLAGS

But never fear! It’s not that hard to spot these red flags. The signs are all there. You just have to know and observe them. Here are some – 1: Flakes: They promise the world but don’t give a dime. Sound familiar? If yes, then watch out! Their talk is cheap. They use words to charm you but will never follow 84

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through with anything.

Such people can never fulfill their promises and priorities and are generally unreliable. It’s only a matter of time before they backtrack on your relationship and you.

2: Entitled: Initially, this may start off as minor requests. Then a few favors. And before you know it, they expect you to clean up after them and do everything for them.

They simply can’t or won’t do anything themselves. They often take you for granted and forget to even thank you! These are all signs of entitlement displayed by spoiled people. This is definitely not something you want in your relationship.

3: No Planning: It’s okay to be confused.

We all have times when we don’t know what

to do. Things are uncertain sometimes. But having no plans, goals or ideas regarding anything is a recipe for disaster. Going with the flow is okay as long as it doesn’t extend to every aspect of your relationship. You’re worth committing to and deserve a bright future in your relationship. But someone who doesn’t have any idea of anything will definitely not have any for a relationship.

may even cheat on you. They use you for their own benefits but blame you for being concerned. Uncommitted is too complimentary a word for them since they deserve worse ones. These people are so selfish and narcissistic that they won’t understand kindness or generosity. Such people will never value you. Don’t fall into their trap.

4: Weak: No matter how well you’re doing, there are always obstacles. It’s how you deal with them that matters. That’s the difference between strong and weak people. The strong ones are resilient and face challenges head on. Weak ones just bolt. They won’t stand by, support or be there for you when you’re having a bad day. Such people are too easily influenced by other’s opinions and won’t fight for you. It’s an especially worrying sign if they dismiss your struggles and are self-centered. They’ll ditch you at your worst and come crawling when you’re succeeding. Do you really want to be with such people?

6: Emotionally Uncontrolled: Now this is a dicey one. We all let loose and vent from time to time. It’s alright to express your emotions and just rant, as long as it’s done in a healthy manner. If your partner can never restrain themselves or handle their emotions, that’s a big red flag. Emotional regulation is a must for healthy relationships, otherwise you’ll end up as their emotional punching bag. Uncontrolled emotions can often lead to toxic behavior like gas-lighting, manipulation and even downright abuse. If you see these signs, get out while you can.

5: Uncommitted: We all know them.

They lead you on but never commit. They don’t want a label on the relationship and

FINAL TAKE:

Life’s too short to squander your love away.

You deserve better. So, make sure that the person you’re with values you and is worthy of your time and efforts.

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Oskar Rivera

Discusses Staying Strong Through the Present Adversities

By Malorie Mackey

Oskar Rivera is a long-time friend and partner of VIVA GLAM Magazine. He’s the most fashionable man we know, and when it comes to public relations, he is an absolute pro. We know that we can trust his brand, Rivera Productions, with all of our PR needs.

But even more than that, we see Oskar as a well-rounded person we can all look up to. He’s health conscious and knows how to stay fit, he’s extremely social, and he’s very knowledgeable when it comes to marketing and management. It’s been a while since we sat down with Oskar, so we were thrilled to check in with him and talk more about his business, his lifestyle, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oskar, it’s so good to hear from you after this crazy year. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about some tough times for everyone. How did the lockdown affect your public relations business, Rivera Productions?

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by the pandemic. For one year, I did very little business which made me transition into new industries. My primary business was producing events for my clients, and all that got cancelled due to Covid-19. It was really tough for a person like me who is continuously working on my business, as I was forced to stop doing what I love, which is producing events, socializing and connecting with people.

What did you learn about yourself and your business while being stuck in quarantine?

I learned a lot. I learned that when you are alone, and no one is around you, that you find answers through silence. For one moment I stopped, and I started to worry about my income. That’s when I started exploring other revenues that were thriving during

quarantine. I found out that online businesses such as digital marketing were doing very well during this time. I learned that I’m a natural go-getter, and I was open minded enough to add digital marketing as a service inside my company. I realized that everyone was stuck inside alone on their computers and cellphones, spending hours a day on social media. This is why I started offering and selling the service of setting up Instagram shopping and content creation for e-commerce businesses. I also learned the value of spending time with family members and being present in the moment because when the world is open, everyone is busy doing their own thing. But during the pandemic, I learned to enjoy time with those who matter the most.

Do you have any other advice or insights for everyone as we emerge from quarantine and get back to our normal lives?

I encourage you all to be grateful and to be kind. Focus on what matters, and take care of yourself, your family and those around you. Incorporate a regular workout routine into your life and take care of yourself, especially to avoid getting sick. Wear a mask, be responsible and considerate when socializing, but still try to get back to your normal life and incorporate activities into your schedule that you like to do. This was a hard time for all of us, and it really taught us how to be present in the moment and to appreciate life and health even more. It taught us who the real people we can count on are.

Most importantly, it taught us that life is fragile and that we should enjoy it and appreciate it while we are here.

I heard that your Instagram got hacked and deleted. I’m so sorry.

How did that affect your business, and how are you bouncing back from this?

Yes, unfortunately my account got hacked and deleted. I would go into more detail on how this happened, but I don’t want to give those con artists any power or attention. I don’t think this will affect me too much because I have strong business partnerships that I’ve made over the last 12 years. The only issue I’m worried about is reaching those who are new to working with me or the people that don’t know me well. I’m taking this time as a rebirth to reconsider who I want to have business relationships with and who I want to give my time and attention to.

You can follow the new account I just created at @riveraxproductions.

I hope we were able to give you a daily dose of inspiration through Oskar’s perseverance during this hard time.

Despite the challenges COVID-19 threw his way, he was able to adapt and stay strong physically and mentally. And he was able to change and grow Rivera Productions throughout these strange times. Be sure to keep up with Oskar on his new Instagram, @riveraxproductions.

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Tara Rice Inspires Women of All Ages to Reach for Their Dreams

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Tara Rice does it all!

As a successful model, actress, mom, and entrepreneur, she is inspiring our team at VIVA GLAM Magazine along with everyone around her.

And when COVID-19 struck and took down many business owners, Tara quickly adapted and brought forth her California United States Pageant in a different way. She saw these challenges as an opportunity to grow.

S

he believes in the power of resilience, and her great efforts continue to shine through as she prepares for both her California United States and Miss West Coast pageants in the summer of 2021. We sat down with Tara to discuss all about her career.

Before we discuss your successes in the world of pageantry, let’s talk a little about you and your background.

You’ve had many successes as a model and actress. What are your favorite projects that you have worked on?

One of my favorite shoots was with celebrity photographer John Russo shooting for the Sacoor Brothers Campaign with actor Billy Baldwin. Another memorable shoot was shooting for Maxim Magazine in Peru. For the Maxim shoot, we stayed in huts along the Amazon River. There was no electricity, phone service or electronics. I held a sloth, saw a pink dolphin (river dolphin) and danced with the natives. I ended up getting a 4-page spread in Maxim.

One of my favorite films I worked on was a film that I co-produced called “Hitting the Nuts” which is a mockumentary poking fun at the poker craze phenomenon. There were many laughs on set with the talented cast I worked along the side of. I learned how to play Texas Holdem when I was 21 by well-known professional poker players, and before I knew it, I was a sponsored poker player playing in big tournaments like the World Series of Poker.

In January 2020 you were in the Genesis Super Bowl commercial with Christy Tiegan and John Legend.

What was it like working with those incredibly iconic stars?

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It was an incredible experience working with both of them. They were both kind and cool to the crew and talent.

You were also recognized as part of the top 25 most influential people in Los Angeles. Congratulations! Can you tell us about this?

Los Angeles Entrepreneur Magazine selected 25 influential people whom they felt were making a positive impact on their community and others. It’s my mission in life to help others learn how they can greatly impact

their communities by helping others by volunteering, advocating and becoming inspiring leaders. It’s one of the main reasons why I’m a pageant director, because it gives me an opportunity to

I can honestly say it was the greatest challenge of my life.

The one word I kept repeating to myself was “adaptation”. inspire girls and women to become young leaders in their communities. I was also honored to receive the “Top 4 Under 40 Award” in Santa Clarita Valley two years ago.

You’re also a family woman! Is it difficult for you balancing your career and your family?

Yes, it can be a tough challenge balancing career and family life.

Last year, when the pandemic hit, I panicked. I kept asking myself, “How will I be able to take care of my family on a daily basis 24/7 while trying to work?” I can honestly say it was the greatest challenge of my life. The one word I kept repeating to myself was “adaptation”. I had to learn to adapt to our new norm and like many others, became innovative and found new ways to still work. I would help my 5-year-old with distance learning online in the mornings. Then, when my baby would go down for a nap, I would conduct zoom pageant coaching sessions and make my business phone calls. Then, I was back to mom after the nap. Then, once I got the boys down to sleep, I would work again until late at night.

It’s during challenging times we must

become resilient and stronger.

What’s your take on beauty and its importance?

I believe beauty truly shines from within.

When I became a Pageant Director, I decided I didn’t want the word “beauty” to define my pageants. There is no height, weight or specific “look” requirements to participate in my pageants. I believe beauty comes in all shapes, sizes and colors. We’re each unique and beautiful in our own way. I always tell my contestants that they are in competition with themselves and ‘nobody else is you’. What makes us all beautiful is that we’re all unique.

You are also a runway teacher. Can you remember the first time you ever stepped out on the runway? What was it like? Can you tell us about your history on the runway?

I was 20 years old when I did my first big runway show for Billabong. I remember I was nervous but excited. One of my favorite clients that I modeled for was Casablanca Bridal. I did 4 shows for them every year in LA, Chicago and New York for about 9 years, so they became like family, and I worked with models that are still my friends 20 years later. I mastered how to walk in a gown with a huge train.

Tara, you are the Director of the California United States Pageant and Founder of the Miss West Coast Pageant.

2020 has been a life-changing year for everyone. The pandemic has pushed most to either step up or step aside.

You, yourself, were telling us about the importance of staying resilient and adapting to the new norm. Can you tell us how you have done this and how it applied to your 2020 California United States pageant during the pandemic?

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I made the decision that I couldn’t let 80 to 100 girls down, and when our world was filled with so much darkness, I wanted to provide some light and hope.

I see my titleholders as essential workers.

They volunteer and provide so much to others and their communities. Viki Le, my Miss West Coast US titleholder, is a nurse, and she is on the frontlines helping others. She goes beyond the call of duty.

She has organized, with her sister queens and I, meals for the nurses and doctors in the hospitals, and she has done missions in Vietnam helping children and families get the health care that they are in great need of. Annika Heieck, my Miss Preteen California US titleholder, created Senior Pals and brings joy to the seniors isolated in senior homes. I could go on and on about how remarkable all my titleholders are. They inspire me and others! When I decided to conduct the California United States Pageant during the pandemic, I had to completely change the way I usually produce a pageant, but it was my

What’s it like holding coaching sessions over Zoom? Is this more of an obstacle in the coaching process?

At first, I was like, “How in the heck will this work?”, as I barely knew how to set up

I realized that I could be more productive with my time while saving my clients’ time. There are many pros to Zoom sessions, like less time sitting in a car in LA trying to get to a studio. number one priority to keep everyone safe. I implemented all safety measures with temperature checks, masks, as well as greatly limiting the number of contestants and audience applying to the rules that were in place by LA County.

Do the new protocols have you putting in more hours to adapt?

Yes, I’m putting in more hours, but where there’s a will, there’s a way.

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a zoom meeting. But after a few coaching sessions, I realized that I could be more productive with my time while saving my clients’ time. There are many pros to Zoom sessions, like less time sitting in a car in LA trying to get to a studio. I’m glad I learned other methods on how to coach.

I see all the challenges that occurred last year as an opportunity of growth.

The Miss West Coast & California United States pageants are both

coming up- being held in the summer of 2021.

Can you tell us what we can expect from these upcoming events?

Yes, the 2021 Miss West Coast Pageant will be held in June 2021 at the Downey Theatre. If the theatre can’t open to the public at that time, then I will hold the pageant at the Santa Clarita School of Performing Arts.

I will limit the audience to follow the social distancing rules and have contestants walk on stage one at a time like I did last year. I work with 8 different age divisions (ages 4 years old up to 60 years old) so I split up the pageant into multiple pageant show times. I’m currently seeking Sponsors for the 2021 Pageants, and interested contestants can apply at www.misswestcoastpageant.com or contact tara@misswestcoastpageant. com.

The California United States Pageant will be held in August 2021. Last year, three of our state titleholders won national titles.

Tiffany Rea won Miss United States, Joanna Trialov won Ms Woman United States and Caitlyn Schollmeier won Mrs United States.

What’s your advice for young girls looking to join these pageants in 2021?

Call or set up a zoom meeting with me so I can inform you about our upcoming pageants. You don’t have to be a “pageant

girl” to participate in a pageant. Anyone can participate in a pageant, and it’s a great way to advocate for a platform you’re passionate about, network, get modeling opportunities, find brand ambassador opportunities, brand your own business and get more exposure. The United States Pageant is also a televised pageant.

I hope you are as inspired by Tara and her passions as we are! She is proof that you can work hard, reach for your dreams, and succeed. Be sure to follow along with Tara (@TaraMaeRice) and both of her pageants (@MissWestCoastPageant and @MissCaliforniaUS) this year! These events are inspiring, exciting, and not-tobe-missed.

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Eric Zayne From Jungle Boy to Artistic Genius Interviewed by Katarina Van Derham Written by Malorie Mackey Photos by Katarina Benzova Makeup and Hair by Kim Ex Location: European House LA 94

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Imagine that you are a young child, and you spend much of your time with exotic animals. You are a real “jungle boy”, living a carefree and happy life in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Times are simple, yet everything is wonderful. Your scenery is green and tropical. You can spend your time playing creatively in your room. You take inspiration from your family, and you find true inspiration and wonder listening to your older brother’s Prince records.

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hen, tragedy strikes. As you are leaving school at the age of 12 on a Friday, you get a slip of paper handed to you by a soldier.

It says, “Don’t leave your house on Monday. A war will start.” Can you even imagine the reality of your world changing so dramatically in such a short period of time? Come Monday, there are bullets covering the sky, explosions sounding off on all sides, and people you’ve known your whole life are dying. What do you do in this terrible situation? How do you begin to cope with it?

Well, this is what happened to music artist Eric Zayne. He explained, “This life that I knew was being completely torn apart. These packs of rebels were going house to house killing, pillaging, and raping what they found. There were no police. There was no international help. We were completely on our own.”

For days, Eric and his family stayed huddled in

A few days later, after receiving a call from the Israeli embassy, his family was offered one seat on the last plane being evacuated. their home, hiding their candlelight so no one would discover them. His family was fearful each second for their very lives.

A few days later, after receiving a call from the Israeli embassy, his family was offered one seat on the last plane being evacuated. The rest of the family was on their own. As the youngest member of his family, Eric was given a special opportunity that the rest of his family wasn’t.

He was picked up, put on a plane with only a small bag of clothes and his troll doll his mother gave him, and sent over to family in Canada to escape the fighting. His mother packed his bag, and he was gone.

For 2 years, Eric didn’t know if his family was alive or dead. Can you imagine growing up without your parents? “The next time I saw my whole family together was ten years later.” Eric added.

Reflecting back on his childhood, Eric told us, “My parents flew me to Canada to be born and flew me back to the Congo when I was eleven days old. And I lived my whole childhood over there. It was like a ‘Mowgli’ sort of life. I had all these animals. I had a pet snake I used to go to school with… I did not think about music at all. I was very, very shy. I was very creative in my room. That was the only life I knew.”

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“I was really close to my older brother Rom, who was one of my biggest influences in the world.”

He added, “He was an amazing DJ, musician, and I was really close with him. And he loved Prince. I was probably 5 years old or 6 years old.

He left, and he had these turntables on. And there was a Prince record on. I remember I climbed on the chair and put on the record, and I heard Prince’s song, For You, from his first album. There

life. He claims he should have been dead on many different occasions, but some divine force was looking after him, holding him in its arms.

They say that through great suffering comes great art. This kind of traumatic strife is the kind that can really reach deep inside and change a person- allowing them

They say that through great suffering comes great art. This kind of traumatic strife is the kind that can really reach deep inside and change a person- allowing them to transform, to reach their full potential. were all these angelic voices that came in, and I was just touched. I became in tune with what music is. Prince became my obsession.”

After being taken out of the Congo, Eric said, “I felt like an orphan. I felt like I had a whole ‘nother life all of a sudden. It was a whole different world.” Eric acknowledges that he has had angels looking after him his whole 98

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to transform, to reach their full potential.

And, perhaps, that is what happened with Eric. In fact, he even admitted, “I think my emotional reservoir definitely contributes to my artistry in an enormous way.”

Through all his hardships, Eric was where he needed to be at the right time, collecting experiences that moved him down the path

to put him where he is today.

And it seems he is exactly where he needs to be now- creating exceptional music through his gifted talent.

He told us, “One day I was walking through this construction site, and instead of hearing the ruckus, I heard symphonies. I heard music inside of me. I asked my friends if they heard it.” He was the only one who heard it, “I walked around with them for 45 minutes looking for speakers. I

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was convinced there was music playing,” The music was still playing as he went on the subway. Eric added, “Some channel opened up.

I started hearing music in everything- in people yawning, hitting the table, in the water faucets.

At this point, I had to find an instrument and lay my hands on something to get it out. It was like a curse. It wouldn’t stop. That’s how I learned how to play drums, guitar, bass, keyboard, because I was driven by the radio that would not go away.

I knew at that very moment that music is what I was put on this earth to do.”

Eric’s musical journey had him dressing very eccentrically, playing many different venues, and being called “The Kid” throughout his teenage years. He became this mini celebrity around his city, which provided him with the opportunity to play around the world at such a young age. He toured through Asia for 5 years playing

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five shows a night, six nights a week, switching instruments back and forth in Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and other locations. “I knew I wanted to do that for only a few years. I saw that you’re playing covers.

You’re not playing original music. So, it’s a great way to learn, but at one point, I wanted to make my own music, so I left. I have music to create, and I have to do something with it. So, I went back to Montreal. I used the money that I had saved up in that time to buy studio equipment, and I taught myself how to produce and write music.

From there, I had a bunch of hits on the radio that I produced and wrote myself. Success came, which got me signed to Sony ATV in LA.” “Since I moved to LA, I’ve been the luckiest man in the world.” Eric added, “I’ve met so many good families who just took me on- from Jeremy Renner to Dallas Austin to Naz Tokyo to Dwayne Johnson to Sayers, it’s just been one thing after the

next where I got pushed up on this pedestal for just being myself. It’s the greatest feeling. LA feels like my home, and there are so many tribes for me over there. I just feel like the luckiest man in the world to be honest to you.”

After all the struggles throughout his youth and the successes throughout his musical career, Eric is still heavily inspired by Prince.

out of the way, the music is already there. I’m just lucky enough to get out of the way and let it come through me and put it out in the purest form possible. That’s what I truly believe. I’ve always been humble in that fact. The minute you take ownership of talent and art, you’ve lost it.

Because it doesn’t come from you. It comes from somewhere else. You’re just lucky enough to have the receptors to pick it up.”

And Eric left us with a lovely tie back to his youth, explaining, “I’m still that kid in the Congo who just put on that Prince record.”

“After I got evacuated from the Congo, my way of reconnecting with home was Prince. He became, sort of, my Spiritual Father because that’s what my brother loved, and I loved my brother, and I missed my family. Prince became an obsession. And him and I were sending letters to each other before he died through my sister-in-law…Having Prince as a role model was one of the greatest things I could have as a musician.”

And as the story goes, now, Eric’s a true one-of-a-kind creator that produces the most unique and exceptional pieces. You can read our past articles about his work and see how much we love what he does.

Though, it’s not always easy, even now.

Eric says, “regularly my life is about 95% ‘nos’.” So, it isn’t just talent that drives Eric and leads to his success but also his hard work, drive, and resilience.

An incredibly humble person, Eric doesn’t quite see himself as talented in the way that we do; he feels as if he is receiving this musical information intuitively from a greater source out there. He explained, “I’m just lucky to have these antennas that I pick up. I just get out of the way, and the more I get

Whatever the case, Eric’s career is continuing to climb. At the time of our interview, Eric was busy working away in Atlanta with Dallas Austin for Puff Daddy’s new album all while creating new music for himself. In two days, Eric had worked on 19 songs! He is a powerhouse, and nothing can stop him. When we showed astonishment at how quickly he was creating all of these songs, Eric added, “Music is my first language. I’m just constantly at it.” He added that his lyrical brain was up in the morning while at night, “when you’re tired and your ego and sense of self are just gone, that’s when the music just flows.”

Eric gets so much accomplished because he doesn’t think of music as work at all.

He told us, “I don’t feel like I’ve worked a day in my life. I don’t feel like I’ve worked a song.”

He added, “I try to be responsible with music in a way where I want to not only be a person who has ‘success’ but who wants to try to teach something, as well, bring something new to the table; give a message-not just be like ‘I’m aiming for another hit.’ That doesn’t interest me. That does nothing for me. By the time I die, I want to ESCAPISM ISSUE 2021 101

be remembered as someone who pushed the limits. Who was brilliant at what he does and has brought something new to the tablewho has influenced things in a positive way.”

Quarantine really didn’t change anything for Eric. He told us, “I’m in the studio all the time, anyways, so it’s not like there’s a big difference. I built my entire life to be able to be close to my music at all times.”

At this time, Eric isn’t ready to show the world his true vulnerable side yet, but he hopes that one day he may be able to put his heart out there and allow others to hear the creations that make him truly vulnerable, but, for now, he’s embracing his inner Prince and rocking out on stage. Though, he does prefer music that comes from the heart, not music that is there just to make a buck.

We ended our interview asking Eric about what he anticipated for the future of his career. He replied, “I want to be able to go on tour for three quarters of a year. I want to perform to an audience and have a tour. That’s what I want to experience next. I want to experience a tour with my own music. The next level after that, for me, would be to open up my own label. I want to open up my own label called Playground Records… I want to have this label where I’m finding amazing artists on the street level where I am who don’t get seen by the high tower and put them out in a way that’s good for the artist and actually puts good music on the planet.

And the dream after that is to be a philanthropist.”

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And Eric left us with a lovely tie back to his youth, explaining, “I’m still that kid in the Congo who just put on that Prince record.”

Over the next year, Eric will be releasing a lot of music. He anticipates releasing 1-2 songs per month throughout 2021. We will definitely be there following all of his releases, and we hope you will be, too. You can continue to follow Eric’s releases by following his Facebook and his Instagram.

Both are @ericzayne.

Sublime quality and ethically sourced clothing www.tonamearose.com

Weird World Adventures

by Malorie Mackey Shows You Our Strange World in a Different Way

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We can never say it enough, but we sure do live in a weird world, don’t we? Think about it. With some of the biggest tourist attractions drawing people in being paranormal, such as the Winchester Mystery House and the Whaley House, and some of the largest blockbusters consisting of stories based on the lives of real hauntings, such as the Conjuring series being based on the Warrens, our world is pretty out there.

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ut some of us love the unusual. In fact, our very own Malorie Mackey has created a new show that will be airing on Vidi Space that will feature some exceptionally interesting places. We are proud to introduce you to Weird World Adventures.

Weird World Adventures shows you this weird world in a different way. The strangest and dorkiest regions of the world will get brought to the screens of the everyday American who may be too afraid to or unable to see them for themselves.

This 22-minute episodic will showcase the oddities and bizarre hobbies of the world, providing you with travel inspiration to non-mainstream locations. It will also be celebrating weird people living weird lives.

Come with Malorie as she introduces you to this weird world of ours.

Malorie, congratulations on your show! Weird World Adventures will feature travel across the globe to some of the most exceptional locations.

Before we discuss that, let us discuss your past. You have a history with travel, right? Can you talk about your past experiences in travel?

Absolutely! I have been branding myself for years in the travel industry. I actually didn’t travel out of the country until I was 20 years old. At that time, I studied theatre for a month in Serbia, and it was such an eye-opening, liberating experience.

Since this new strange travel and adventure show was created by and will be hosted by one of our own, we decided to sit down with Malorie to talk all about the show, its guests, and her life traveling the globe.

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In fact, I loved it so much that as soon as I got back, I planned a trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Since then, thanks to my work with VIVA GLAM, as well as my love for planning frequent bizarre vacations for myself, I found out how much I love obscure locations. Some of my favorite locations that I’ve been to consist of Finnish Lapland, which was an arctic wonderland, Hidalgo, Mexico, which was

Why do you feel it is important to showcase bizarre, weird, and/ or generally non-mainstream locations?

In the world of travel, everyone focuses on the mainstream resorts and getaways.

In fact, when you say “vacation”, people usually immediately think of a beach.

Almost no one thinks outside of the box and challenges their mind. When we are

Weird World Adventures will feature travel across the globe to some of the most exceptional locations. a tropic jungle, and the lush countryside of Ireland. Over the last few years, I started an online travel blog and use my Instagram to provide travel facts and inspiration. With the start of my travel hosting career, I have been collecting new skills related to travel, as well, by volunteering with the nonprofit Earthwatch. Last year, I volunteered on an archaeological dig in Cambodia, and next year I will be helping with penguin research in South Africa.

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given an “easy cut and paste” experience, as most inclusive resorts provide, we don’t stimulate our minds. I want to see things I haven’t seen before-and maybe many others haven’t. I want to experience things that are out of this world, even if that means figuring out how to get myself from point A to point B without help. And, frankly, I’ve always just loved weird stuff and the paranormal. And as I’m getting to showcase these locations,

the more I’m finding that there is a huge market for them.

The experiences I’ve been on that have been the most challengingsuch as when I got really sick in Finland or got drenched in sweat every day at an archaeological dig in Cambodia-those are the real memories that stick with me. Those are real life adventures. No one ever goes to the same beach they always do and says, “What an adventure!” To me, adventure exists in the unknown.

What’s the strangest place you’ve visited thus far?

While filming the pilot episode of Weird World Adventures, I visited this park attraction called ‘Dinosaur Kingdom II’.

Artist Mark Cline created a theme park that depicts what would have happened if the North used dinosaur warfare against the South during the Civil War. And, of course, the dinosaurs are not controllable. And it is a trip! Mark is so creative, and I have never in my life visited anything like his park.

Needless to say, that was one super strange place, but it sure was a lot of fun, too.

The other experience that may not have been the strangest but was the most surreal also came from filming our pilot episode of Weird World Adventures. I was lucky enough to meet the real Annabelle doll that inspired the hit movies. She resides in the Warren’s Occult Museum. Just seeing the Warren’s haunted treasures and meeting Annabelle and the NESPR team was such a strange and surreal experience that I will cherish forever.

Where is your favorite place to visit?

I have so many favorite places. Every place has its own unique beauty. It really depends on what I’m looking for in a trip. Ireland is my favorite location for a mystical adventure. Finland is my favorite place for a unique, serene getaway. Saint Paul de Vence is my favorite place to get that small-town, medieval feel. There was this little hidden art structure within the mountains in Xilitla, Mexico called Las ESCAPISM ISSUE 2021 107

Pozas, and that was my favorite place to get creative inspiration and play. I really do love so many places. Picking one would be like picking my favorite star in the sky.

Which country do you currently want to visit the most?

Romania! Right now, I really want to visit Transylvania (in Romania). I’m sure it’s just because of how much I love Gothic Horror and, of course, the unusual, but I really want to visit Bran Castle and Bucharest. Also, for Weird World Adventures, I’m dying to experience the Ma’Nene celebration in Sulawesi, Indonesia. I’ll wait for you to see that one on the show, as it will hopefully be on an upcoming episode of Weird World Adventures. So, keep an eye out for it!

What can readers expect to see on Weird World Adventures season 1 and what is to come after?

Season 1 of Weird World Adventures is going to be incredible. I am floored at the variety of amazing places that have allowed us to feature them on our show. In the pilot 108

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episode alone, we visited the Winchester Mystery House, the Whaley House, The Monroe Institute, Dinosaur Kingdom II, and the Warren’s Occult Museum. They are all diverse places that each bring something truly special.

We really got every location we were hoping for in season 1 thus far. I can’t say much about it yet, but I can tell you that it will be a very exciting season. We feature some pretty cool natural phenomenon and haunted locations. Land of Oz makes an appearance! Plus, we showcase some obscure things that everyone should know about. It is going to be a wild season full of adventure! I can’t wait for you all to see it!

As for what’s next, during this experience I have been and will continue to work on my second book, a travel book covering the most surreal places around the world.

It will also feature my travel tips and suggestions. And we already have fantastic places lined up for season 2 of Weird World Adventures, as well.

Is there anything else you’d like to say about your show?

Yes, I definitely want to thank Vidi Space for hosting my show, as well as my team at Fantasy Forge Films. Vidi Space is a great streaming platform that I highly recommend to everyone! It’s especially great for those who love the paranormal, supernatural, and/or indie features. But I think it has a little something for everyone to enjoy!

I’ll leave you with this: Weird World Adventures uses the term “weird” in an endearing way. I’ve always been a proud “weirdo”, and I love to feature others who think outside the box like I do. We will happily celebrate weird people living weird lives in weird locations, as that’s my passion behind the show. I hope you will all watch Weird World Adventures on VIDI Space! I really hope you enjoy it!

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Ibagari Boutique Hotel is a True Luxury Destination in Honduras

By Malorie Mackey

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What started as an elegant restaurant and diving spot turned into the most luxurious resort in Roatan, Honduras.

Ibagari Boutique Hotel is a beautiful artistic structure located on the beachfront of one of Roatan’s most exclusive areas, and it has become a favorite vacation spot for the VIVA GLAM Magazine team.

Ibagari means life in Garifuna, which is a language spoken on the Atlantic Coast of Honduras. Each room of the resort was given a different name in Garifuna. For instance, there’s a room called “Garabali” which means wind, and another room was given the name “Uruwa” which means sun. The classy, elemental style of the rooms was unique and created the perfect sanctuary for a truly relaxing getaway.

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In fact, Ibagari is the perfect place for an extended stay. There really isn’t anything else in Roatan on the same level as this gem. It is the most exclusive and top-ofthe line hotel in Roatan. The hotel rooms in the Igabari are bright, spacious, clean, and artistic. Most rooms have a table and 2 lounge-like chairs set up by a sliding door near the balcony so guests can watch the sunrise or sunset from the comfort of air conditioning. It’s also a great spot to work

if you need to. The table is a stump-shaped, wood-like construction that screams modern art, and it is gorgeous.

My room had an extremely large bathtub that I filled up to steaming hot temperatures at the end of every day. The beds are very comfortable, and there is plenty of room to make you feel at home.

The rooms come with a beach bag and a laundry bag for your convenience and a mini fridge, as well.

The art is something that stands out about Ibagari, making it a unique destination. The walls of the structure are covered in gorgeous pieces. Take an art tour or an art class while you are on the property to learn more about the creative pieces found throughout the hotel lobby and rooms.

Why Stay at

a Boutique Hotel ??

The advantage of staying at a boutique hotel like Ibagari is that the staff gets to know you personally. They take the time to learn your schedule and your preferences. I never saw the maids or cleaning crew during our stay at the Ibagari Boutique Hotel because they watched me leave and then went in to clean when I was gone.

How perfect! At the same time, when I wouldn’t eat a part of my meal, (papaya on a fruit plate- for instance), the staff would remember

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that I didn’t prefer it and make the meal without it the next time. It was an extremely catered experience, which is why staying at a boutique hotel is so important. And Ibagari really had that aspect down, making me feel special by catering a personalized experience to us.

Recently, the hotel doubled in size, undergoing a truly ambitious renovation. However, while the place expanded, it is still a boutique hotel with the intimate, luxury feel. So, it is now much grander but still caters the same custom experience. With the expansion, a library was built on property for those who love reading while relaxing. I think this is a great idea, as I am always looking for good books to read while I’m on vacation.

Luna Muna Restaurant

Luna Muna, the restaurant attached to the resort, is divine. Every night the same table would be reserved for each guest staying at the resort so that they would never miss out on getting a table, despite the restaurant being open to the public. The chef provided true culinary excellency.

They aren’t afraid to mix and

play with flavors to create truly unique dishes, and there was a large vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free menu, as well. But don’t worry about the noise from there!

The restaurant closes at 11pm at the latest, giving you that serene peace and silence to sleep at night so you don’t hear the commotion from restaurant guests all night long.

Activities at Ibagari

Definitely try some of the activities offered through the Ibagari Boutique Hotel. If you’re going to try anything on the property, however, we recommend trying diving. There are 75 dive sites within 30 minutes of the resort, and you can easily do a quick “Discover Scuba Diving” session without getting certified. Or, if you have the time, you can get certified in diving while on your vacation.

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Ibagari Boutique Hotel pays great attention to details, as well. While going out into the resort to relax by the beach, take time in the pool, eat, or try an activity, the Ibagari kindly provides bug spray and sunscreen to keep you protected throughout your trip.

While this all seems too good to be true, here’s another thing that makes Ibagari that much greater than any average resort: they designed and built their own water treatment filter. Used water

gets recycled into other systems, keeping the resort sustainable and Eco-friendly.

Plastic is not used on the resort property- only glass and recycled materials, and they work with a company that recycles, as well. They also use biodegradable straws. So, they are very sustainable. What more could we ask for from a hotel?

All in all, the Ibagari Boutique Hotel provided a genuinely grand experience.

It blew my already high expectations out of the water. I recommend everyone take a trip to Roatan, Honduras where they can enjoy their stay at the Ibagari Boutique Hotel.

To book your stay at Ibagari, contact our favorite travel designer Donna Wong at AllurePlus.com or email info@allureplus.com.

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Here’s What You Might Not Know

About the Titanic and Her Legacy

By Katarina Van Derham

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April 15th marks the anniversary of the day the Titanic sank in the North Atlantic. The so-called “Unsinkable” ship surprised the world that day in 1912 when she went down, proving those boasting of her sturdy nature wrong. The VIVA GLAM Magazine team had the pleasure of visiting the Titanic Museum in Belfast, Northern Ireland this past year, and we were blown away by the greatness of this museum. The structure is distinctly modern on the outside, but as you enter the museum, it is as if you walk back into the past. The details and technology put into this museum are unlike anything we’ve seen before. A video introduction immerses you into what every floor of the ship looked like back during its glorious maiden voyage. That mixed with holograms that were scattered into the displays make it seem as if you are actually there on the ship. And it is breathtaking.

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ext door to the Titanic Museum, the SS Nomadic sits waiting to be toured. And, with your admission to the Titanic Museum, you can also board the Nomadic. She is the last remaining White Star Line ship in the world, and she was the tender ship that took passengers to the Titanic, as the Titanic was too big to dock in Cherbourg harbor.

In honor of the announcement of the Titanic II, here are some surprising facts that you probably don’t know about the Titanic and her legacy that we learned at the Titanic museum.

On May 31, 1911, the Titanic was launched into the Lagan River in Ireland with over 100,000 people watching the ship take off.

The Titanic was built to carry up to 2,435 passengers and accommodate a crew of 900 people. This means there were roughly 3,300 people on board the Titanic.

There were no facilities on board the Titanic to wash linen, so all linen for the entire voyage was carried with the ship for the full duration of its anticipated voyage. There were 18,000 bed sheets and 45,000 table napkins on board the ship.

Naturally, the Titanic carried different tableware for each class. The first-class dinner plates were made out of the finest bone china which was custom of the time. Bone china is derived from animal bone and calculated calcium phosphate.

The Titanic’s first suite B64 had a bedroom decorated in Queen Anne furniture. It was decorated in Old Dutch styling with wooden paneling.

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The Tragic Sinking of the Titanic

Many know that the musicians performed for the passengers to make them feel better as the ship was sinking.

This was covered brilliantly in James Cameron’s 1997 film. However, what you may not know is that Wallace Henry Hartley led the band as they played. Hartley and the other musicians

last words many remember him saying to his crew were, “Well, boys, do your best for the women and children, and look out for yourselves.”

After the Tragedy After the sinking, the survivors of the

Titanic disaster were considered minor celebrities. They were sought after by many autograph hunters.

Many know that the musicians performed for the passengers to make them feel better as the ship was sinking. were declared heroes after the ship sank. Hartley’s violin and its case were recovered from the shipwreck and are now considered one of the most valuable artifacts from the Titanic’s legacy.

The survivors of the Titanic were well taken care of by many countries around the world, as people wanted to express their grief in helpful ways.

What was in the lifeboats? We don’t usually think about it, but the Titanic’s lifeboats carried food, water, and other equipment to help keep the passengers nourished and taken care of until they were discovered.

Everyone knows that Captain Edward Smith went down with his ship that fateful day in April.

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Money was given towards the victims’ families from private investors and public funds. The Women’s Relief Committee in New York provided survivors with food, transport, and money. The Red Cross helped survivors deal with loss of property. The citizens of Belfast donated over 12,000 euros to the Lord Mayor’s fun for bereaved relatives in Britain.

On June 11th, 1912, the last body found arrived in Halifax. It was that of FirstClass Steward James McGrady. Only 10% of the bodies were found from the disaster.

Of 330 bodies found, 150 were buried in Halifax. Another 59 were shipped home, and 119 were disposed of at sea. Over 40 bodies remain unidentified today.

The survivors of the Titanic were well taken care of by many countries around the world, as people wanted to express their grief in helpful ways.

The British Board of Trade’s Inquiry was done much more formally than the American investigation, making it longer, as well. The British investigation relied more on experts and facts whereas the American investigation relied more on the memories and personal experiences of the survivors.

Finally, we all know that the Titanic has been immortalized in many different media. It is a disaster never to be forgotten. One of the iconic memorials came from Thomas Hardy in his poem “The Convergence of the Twain”. So, we’ll leave you with a piece of it, “… as the smart ship grew, In stature, grace, and hue, In shadowy silence distance, grew the Iceberg too.”

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BONN Redefines Itself and Reminds the World of its

Connection to Beethoven

By Malorie Mackey

Many do not know this, but 2020 marked the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth. That’s right! Beethoven was born 250 years ago in Bonn, Germany. What we find so fascinating about this is that many people do not associate Beethoven with Bonn, nor do they even know he is from there.

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ecause Beethoven wrote his most wellknown symphonies in Vienna, that’s where people tend to associate Beethoven with.

Well, we’re here to change that.

Ludwig van Beethoven spent the first 22 years of his life growing, learning, and perfecting his musical skills in Bonn, so it

face peering at you. You see, Beethoven is very important to Bonn. He was born in their city, and this vibrant city full of art and culture is ready to celebrate all things Beethoven and remind the world of his heritage. So, we highly recommend you head to this musical city and celebrate Beethoven in 2021. Plus, Bonn tourism is increasing tremendously, and Lonely Planet just listed Bonn in their top 5 “Best Travel 2020” to celebrate Beethoven’s anniversary! So, it’s the place to be these next few years!

Bonn’s Beethoven Musical Highlights

is important to connect the two together.

Plus, in 1999, the transfer of the capital of Germany occurred, moving from Bonn to Berlin. So, while the old capital buildings are still in Bonn to view, there isn’t the draw of the hustle and bustle of the government anymore. But there should be the draw of Beethoven, as this is where he grew up!

Because of this, the city of Bonn is celebrating all things Beethoven this year! In fact, Beethoven is in every detail of Bonn right now. For instance, as soon as you get off the train into Bonn, you will see Beethoven in the glass railings of the train station. And, at almost every green light in the city center, you will find Beethoven’s 126

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While seeing the house where Beethoven was born and the Bundeskunsthalle museum with a large collection of artifacts and information on Beethoven’s life is a must, we think one of the most important ways to celebrate Beethoven is via music: not only by listening to and celebrating his music but also by seeing how he has influenced the music of today. And this year, Bonn is absolutely booming with musical highlights! Here are a few of them:

250 Piano Pieces for Beethoven

For Beethoven’s 250th Anniversary, pianist Susanne Kessel invited 250 composers from around the world to each compose a piano piece inspired by Beethoven in some way. (And now the project has increased to 260 composers). These composers range from 10 years old to 80 years old, and each piece written is unique and related to Beethoven in some way. Susanne’s project was a huge undertaking, having started in 2013, and is a project of passion and love.

Susanne played a few select pieces for us you are unable to attend, purchase her in Bonn, and they were truly moving. So, first CD of the project and celebrate Beeto celebrate Beethoven’s 250th anniversary thoven from anywhere around the world. with someone who has such a This is especially important as it strong shows us how Beethoven’s piecBecause of this, the city of Bonn is passion es are affecting modern comfor mu- celebrating all things Beethoven this year! posers working in today’s world. sic and B e e thoven’s work, follow Susanne and attend one of her concerts for the anniversary pro- Over the warmer months of the year, 6 ject. If you are in Bonn, try to time your exceptional castle venues will combine trip with one of her performances. Or, if their special ambience with good food

Musik Picknick

No. 7. It was a true delight seeing such a famed composer perform one of the greatest works of all time live. It was truly moving and definitely not something to be forgotten.

Orgelbau Klais Bonn

and Beethoven’s classical music. The six events each represent a different aspect of Beethoven’s life, and the musical guests range from modern to classical entertainers. This is a must-visit to celebrate Beethoven’s anniversary if you will be around in the summertime and have a love of the outdoors!

Beethoven Orchestra and Opera Concerts

This year, there are over 80 concert and 100 operas planned under the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn and General Music Director Dirk Kaftan with a steady parade of stars coming into Bonn to perform.

The life and works of Beethoven will be presented at these events which will take place at a stream of impressive locations.

While we were visiting Bonn, we had the distinct pleasure of watching Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra perform Beethoven’s Symphony

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While celebrating Bonn’s music scene and the works of Ludwig van Beethoven, it’s important to understand how Beethoven’s work affected modern composers (which is why the 250 Pieces for Beethoven is so important). So, it’s important to look outside of the classical pieces and take a look into today’s music scene. And one of the most interesting ways to do that is to visit Philipp Klais in his workshop.

Orgelbau Klais Bonn is unlike any factory we’ve seen before. They make pipe organs and have since 1852. It is a family-owned business that has passed down through generations. But unlike many modern companies that are trying to use 3D printers and other shortcuts, they make all of

their organ parts here by hand- this includes both the metal and timber materials. They carefully select their employees and interns, and all interns are sent to school for musical theory and education on top of their practical work.

This really shows through in their pieces!

The organs created by this company are pieces of art. They are always unique and fit the perfect aesthetic to match each location they are installing their piece at.

Philipp Klais pressed on the importance of getting our youth into music, as well, saying, “Our audience in classical music is getting older so we are trying to make what we do attractive to the younger audience”.

While there are over 700 companies building pipe organs, Klais’s company stands out as it has for generations because of their craftsmanship. Their recent installations include pipe organs at the following locations: Beijing National Center for the Performing Arts, Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, Cologne’s Cathedral, Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas Philharmonic Hall, Leon’s Cathedral in Spain, Madison Wisconsin’s Overture Hall, Mainz’s St. Stephan, Singapore’s The Esplanade, and

many more famous locations.

While not everyone may be able to step into a tour at Orgelbau Klais Bonn, it is important to try and see modern musicians and musical technicians in action. Beethoven was a revolutionary looking towards the future of music, so it’s important to look for the future of music as we take inspiration from him and his past.

Other Upcoming Events Inspired by Beethoven

2021 will continue on strong with countless events all inspired by Beethoven. Many non-musical focused events will feature Beethoven, as well, in an attempt to bring nonclassical-music-lovers into the Beethoven mix. For instance, Karenval’s theme in 2020 was Beethoven, and the theme for Rhine in Flammen will be Beethoven, as well!

Be sure to follow the #Bthvn2020 hashtag for upcoming Beethoven events, as well as the Beethoven 2020 website (https://www. bthvn2020.de/) as the Beethoven events spread into 2021.

We hope that we were able to remind you here that Bonn, Germany was the birthplace of Beethoven! And we hope that you choose Bonn as your primary travel destination in 2021 to join in all the amazing upcoming festivities.

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We would like to give a special thanks to the official sponsor of our last VIVA GLAM Model Search, Davroe, without whom this issue wouldn’t be possible.

www.davroe.com

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