Tag: Featured

Isa Beljaars

Where does your love for traveling and sense of adventure come from?

My love for traveling and adventure is something I definitely got from my parents. As long as I can remember they’ve been telling me there is nothing more valuable than seeing the world and getting to know different cultures.

Every summer we go on a long trip together to new countries, new continents and I love everything about it. That is why now I am older and able to travel on my own I want to explore as much new places as I can, there is no better feeling.

What is the biggest life lesson you have picked up from traveling?

The biggest life lesson I have picked up from traveling is that it is not the things that happen to you that decide your happiness. It is the way you as a person react to those things happening. Every trip I have ever made, something goes wrong. Stolen phones or cars breaking down. Things you of course don’t plan on, but they happen anyway. It is you who decides what happens after that. I think in life it is the same way.

Tell us about your most special interaction with an animal.

I have always had a great love for all animals but as long as I can remember my favorite animal has always been the leopard.

One day we were on a safari in Botswana, it was already getting dark and we were about to head back to the camp when out of nowhere a leopard appeared right in front of us. It walked towards my side of the car where it stood for a while and I looked it straight in the eye. After it just walked off and that was it. It was such a special moment and I will cherish it for the rest of my life.

Tell us your most cherished travel experience.

There is not really one travel experience that stands out for me above all the others. There is one thing that is always the same in every journey you make to a foreign country, which is meeting new people and getting to know their cultures. That is the thing I cherish most about traveling. Every culture is different, and I believe that you become richer as a person by getting to know new cultures. It can teach you to look at things differently.

Which travel experience is at the top of your bucket list?

On the top of my bucket list is seeing the northern light. As much as I love the beach and a hot climate, there is something special about a landscape covered in snow. I love snow and I haven’t seen that much of it in my life which is why it fascinates me. Besides that, with all the climate changes we are facing at the moment, who knows for how long they will still appear. The northern light is such a beautiful phenomenon and I have always wanted to see it with my own eyes.

Where is your favorite spot to surf?

My favorite spot to surf is Killalea beach in NSW, Australia. It is also called ‘The Farm’. At this beach I learned how to surf. Because of its unique position it has a really consistent surf all through the year and it is surrounded by beautiful nature. Beside the sound of birds and breaking waves you hear nothing.

We would drive up there with our surfboards on the roof of the car, our lunches packed, and we would spend the entire day at the beach with friends. I have made some amazing friends and memories at that beach so that has got to be my favorite surf spot!

Tell us about your passion for photography.

My passion for photography comes from my love for storytelling. I love creating an image, a picture in people’s minds and a photograph is one of things that can do that. A picture can say more than a thousand words. Capturing a moment in time that can be saved forever is what taking a photo is like to me.

If I look at old photos that I’ve taken, I feel exactly what I felt at that time or I’ll remember what I did that day. I love experimenting with colors and lighting for example and I hope to become better and better at photography.

When do you feel most at peace?

I feel most at peace watching a good sunset. First of all, it is absolutely beautiful. A sky filled with all these warm colors. It also reminds me that every day, no matter how bad it was and what has happened, will eventually have an end. It is a moment where I feel some sort of connected to nature and that feeling gives me peace.

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Georgie Spurling

Have you always been sporty and active?

No, I actually haven’t. I was restricted from taking part in sports when I was younger due to being unwell. As I got to be older I wanted to move so went against the advice and started to dance. I feel in love with movement and knew I needed to do it regularly.

What is your key to staying motivated and focused?

To be honest finding a type of movement or fitness you really enjoy is the key to being motivated. I am passionate about my method and how it makes me and my clients feel. It’s my favourite way to move and create.

What would be your advice to someone who is in a fitness rut?

Again, the first thing I would recommend is finding a type of exercise that you enjoy. Secondly, take the pressure off, everyone goes through periods where they get stuck and unmotivated. Thirdly, find a really good PT. I find that someone with knowledge can help you fire your fitness love again.

Tell us your best travel experience.

Sri Lanka hands down. Culturally beautiful, amazing people and the food is out of this world, just brilliant!

Name one place you’d love to visit.

I would love to visit the Galapagos. The ocean and snorkelling is my favourite thing ever!

How do you try to start each day?

I’m lucky as I’m a morning person but I always start each day with three deep breaths. It helps set me off on a positive note and also just to take in the day. Highly recommend it!

What would be your dream date?

My dream date would be going to the theatre. I used to be an actress and love anything to do with live theatre so a nice meal and a theatre trip would make me a happy lady!

What do you want to achieve in the coming years?

I hope to keep growing my method online and helping others work with their own bodies. My passion is to help people lower their stress through their workouts rather than higher it. I love to help individuals release stress and realign their bodies.

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Jasmin Young

What is your favourite travel destination? 

I don’t really have a favourite destination. I fall in love with each new place I visit as they all offer something unique. Two of my most memorable travel destinations would definitely be India and South Africa. I love destinations that push you outside your comfort zones and teach you not only about other cultures but about yourself too.

Do you prefer a lazy holiday or an adventurous one? 

I’m such an adrenaline junkie, so I definitely prefer an action-packed holiday. I was the youngest person to bungee swing in New Zealand (at age 10), have skydived over the Swiss Alps, white water rafted in Indonesia and skied the slopes of Japan. I crave adventure and adrenaline, so I usually pick a holiday that has lots to offer. However, there’s something to be said for relaxing on the beach with a good book too!

You won the 2018 Gold Coast Business Woman of the Year. What is the secret to your success?

I don’t think there is any secret to being successful. At the end of the day, it really comes down to hard work (and lots of it). I think in business, every day there is a new challenge to overcome. It’s not so much about the challenges but what motivates you to overcome them. 

In the beginning, my biggest challenge was probably time-management. Managing a full-time job, building my first home plus all the extra life admin things you have to do, it’s really hard. But when you’re passionate about something, you just find ways to make it work and motive yourself.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

Like Albert Einstein said, “anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” Every person in life will make mistakes (it’s inevitable), but it’s how you learn and grow from them that really matters. Our mistakes give us real and meaningful insight into who we are. They also fuel our hunger and desire to do better and to continue to grow.

What is the most important thing to you in a relationship? 

Trust. If you don’t have that, then don’t even bother (harsh but true). 

What is your drink of choice?

A Pina Colada for sure. Mainly because it’s pretty, delicious and reminds me of my favourite tropical destinations. 

Tell us your favourite party story.

Sorry, I’m pretty boring and don’t really party. I prefer to save my money for holidays than party🙂.

What is the proudest moment of your life?

Being awarded the 2019 Gold Coast Business Woman of the Year is definitely one of my proudest achievements. When I first created Summer/Addiction this is definitely not something I ever dreamed of achieving. There was a lot of long days, sleepless nights and hard work devoted to creating the brand, and it was super special for my determination and dedication to be recognised. 

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Joey Staerkle

What are your memories of the first pageant you took part in?

I first entered Miss Teen Galaxy Wales when I was 16. I didn’t know anything about pageants or the positive impact it would have on my life and how it would shape me to become the best version of me. I had always assumed that the pageant winners were perfect and on the verge of anorexia. However, this pageant system and those belonging to “Pageant Girl” changed my mind as they are inclusive of every type of body shape and disabilities.

Looking back at my first pageant journey I made so many new friends, became part of a community and pageant family. I believe being involved with pageants really supports young girls growing up in this modern society to follow their dreams and never give up. Moreover, the society we live in puts so much pressure on young girls and being part of such a positive circle makes you look to the future and focus on self development.

What did it take (in terms of sacrifice, hard work, etc) to earn the right to be Miss Intercontinental Wales?

Well I won Miss Supranational Wales 2016, where I learnt the key fundamental aspects to do well in pageants. These included learning how to perfect my pageant walk, understanding how to showcase myself in interview and dress for my body type.

I entered Miss Intercontinental Wales ten days before the final so I needed to work extra hard to show I was worthy of the title. During the run up I did at least two appearances a day and raised money for the Christie Charity. Additionally, I put a lot of effort in to eating healthy and exercising to make sure I was ready and confident for the bikini round.

Who is your favourite Welsh icon?

I would have to say Sir Martin Evans as he generated some incredible breakthroughs in stem cell research which has allowed stem cells to replace cells that may have been damaged through chemotherapy or blood related-diseases.

You got to travel to the Philippines for the Miss Intercontinental Pageant. How do you reflect upon that experience?

The Philippines was amazing and I met some truly lovely women from Miss Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and of course the beauties from the UK England and Scotland. I think it was really great for confidence boosting because we did so many shows during the weeks that it became  a routine and the nerves slowly disappeared.

The wrap party was so much fun, after three weeks being surrounded by a  high level of emotions it was great to see everyone relax and let their hair loose. Let’s just say things got pretty wild.

Where does the Philippines rank on the different countries you’ve visited?

The Philippines is lovely, we spent a lot of time in Manila and indoors but when we did get the chance to travel and see things it was beautiful. My favourite part that we visited has to be Las Casas Filipinas as it was tranquil and reminded me of Venice. Although, there is so much work still to be done to help people in Poverty in the Philippines and raise human and animal standards it is great to see that the tourist attractions are having a positive impact on these people’s lives by offering them a place to work.

The most memorable and heartwarming visit was to Northern Zambales College, I have never met more kind hearted and welcoming  children. It really emphasises how much of a big deal pageants are in the Philippines.

How do you balance the pageantry lifestyle with the demands of university?

I honestly cannot tell you I just do it. I never like to stop and I always try to do more and more. I don’t like to do the same as everyone else, similar to my parents they have always aspired to great things and achieved them. The same goes for me and during this period I was also working on filming a series in the UK. I have been told many times that I wouldn’t achieve the things I wanted to, even by close family and I believe that has furthered by motivation to achieve all my goals as I don’t take “No” for an answer. That is not in my dictionary.

I did take around two months off my academic timetable as I had other commitments such as competing or filming. However,  I would spend a night or two writing my papers and get a high 1st, these things just came naturally to me and the less time I had the better my performance as I work best under pressure, otherwise I get bored and lose interest. People always assume that pageant girls are dumb but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

We’ve seen your gorgeous dogs on Instagram. What do they bring to your life?

I have Eddie the Poodle and I did have Bruce a French Bulldog but unfortunately, he died at 8 months old when I was away competing as he was very sick from birth. I would never recommend a French Bulldog to anyone and if people are adamant on getting them they should have the money to spend £8,000+ on surgeries. Unfortunately, we did all of these but the size of his brain outgrew his skull and he had a seizure and died (very common in Frenchies).

However on a brighter note after Bruce died I made a promise to him that I would change a dog’s life for the better and if Bruce hadn’t of died Peanut my poodle (arriving from a charity called Little China Dog Rescue) would have been slaughtered. So there is light within the darkness.

My animals bring me the most joy in my life, I prefer them over humans. I have also rescued a little cat from the street now named Olive that has also brought me so much joy.

Where do you get your beauty and fashion inspiration from?

I don’t tend to follow any trends as such. I just like to do my own thing and focus on me. Fashion and beauty trends come and go and I believe people focus too much on becoming something that in a few years will be branded as ugly and very false. So I just do me and hope for the best. I used to spend a lot of time when I was younger wanting to be like others but then I found myself and can follow my own path to success.

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Faye Louise Brennan

Describe your personality in three words.

Affectionate, ambitious, gregarious.

Where do you get your fashion inspiration?

My fashion inspiration comes from so many different influencers that I look up to. In my spare time I love to online shop, ordering clothes is a bit of a habit of mine. When the clothes come I love to stand in the mirror trying on outfits, mixing and match the items of clothing I bought and my outfit ideas come to me, with the inspiration of all the amazing different influencers out there was such as Emily Shak, The O’Donnell sisters, Bla Murphy and many many more amazing influencers that inspire my outfit ideas!

If you could transport anywhere right now, where would you go? And why?

If I could transport anywhere right now it would probably be Thailand. The culture and their way of life is so different, I would absolutely love to experience it and to see all the beautiful destinations it has to offer. Of course, I would also like to see the amazing, fascinating animals that are not in captivity. 

What do you love most about your dog?

What do I love most about my dog, this is a hard one. To name one thing seems impossible, everything that my little fluff ball does I love. He has the cutest little underbite and when he’s sleeping his tiny little teeth stick out, it’s just the cutest thing.

We also have a little game, when I howl he howls back at me and he sticks his head back like a little wolf and let’s out the biggest howl he can and it’s still so small and quiet! He also loves a cuddle, every single night he cuddles up to me and sleeps in my bed right next to me like a little spoon, I wouldn’t have it any other way! I could go on and on about my baby Monty but I would be here forever! 

When do you feel at your happiest?

This is between when I get to go home and visit my family and we all sit around and have one big family dinner. It means so much to me and I couldn’t be happier. Or when I am just at home (when it’s clean! I’m a clean freak) with my boyfriend and my little baby Monty curled up on the couch or in bed watching a movie with a cup of tea!

Tell us your wildest party story.

There’s so many stories, so many parties that it would be so hard to pick one specific story, but I do absolutely love a party! 

What do you value the most in a relationship?

What I value most is having someone there for me no matter what, someone I can talk to and depend on. It makes a huge difference when I’m upset about something that I can sit there and talk about it, a problem shared is a problem halved, isn’t that what they say? 

Tell us a secret about yourself. 

If I was to tell a secret it wouldn’t be a secret anymore now would it? My lips are sealed, maybe next time! Xo 

Stacey Louise Grant

How has your upbringing in Japan shaped your outlook on the world?

I think it’s made it much easier for me to relate to different kinds of people, and to adopt all kinds of ideas into both my work and general lifestyle. Not to mention all the funny habits I picked up. Shoes off at the door and slippers in the house, face massage before makeup and I mostly cook Japanese food at home. Spending most of my teen years there, I was never able to shake my habit of whipping out the peace sign in almost every happy snap.

What is your favourite memory from life in Japan?

I have so many! I did many of my first big modelling jobs in Tokyo, so many of those memories stand out. Doing a shoot right at the base of Mount Fuji, and another for Paul Smith in a studio decked out entirely like a desert wasteland. The incredible characters I met in the city. Or before that, middle school in Nagoya. My initial struggle to get a grasp on the language. Riding my bike to school past the endless expanse of fields. Catching an infinite amount of trains. Drinking litres of barley tea on hot summer days and the bento my host mother would prepare each day.

When did you first start getting interested in makeup artistry?

I didn’t have much exposure to makeup as a kid; my mother never wore any and I was a total tomboy growing up. The first time I was asked to apply foundation for a job I couldn’t even do it. Getting to collaborate with so many talented artists really exposed me to it initially.

I started doing makeup when I was modelling in London in my late teens. A friend of mine was a wonderful makeup artist and often couldn’t find assistants. When I had spare time I would help her out, which is how I began learning. One day I was shooting an editorial for Ones2Watch and the makeup artist didn’t show, so I did my own makeup, and that was my first editorial as an artist. After that I began testing and eventually decided to go to makeup school. I’ve been working ever since.

Who or what gives you inspiration for your makeup designs?

I get a lot of inspiration from iconic photography, and much from films. Working as a model with a myriad of other talented artists also helps a great deal!

How do you try to approach each day?

I try to just take each day, each job and each experience as it comes. I generally love my work and derive a lot of pleasure from it, but  I can be too hard on myself. I’m a bit of a perfectionist and can get hung up on the little problems and dramas one experiences often in life. Sometimes it can be challenging to step back and smell the roses.

What do you love about writing?

I love how writing allows you to convey sensations and memories, that seem almost indescribable, in such a way as a reader can empathize and connect with you through your words.

What is your favourite way to unwind?

I’m a voracious reader, and I love nothing more than sitting in a cafe, getting lost in a book for an afternoon. I also really enjoy blasting my music and going for long runs; it feels very meditative to me.

What do you want to achieve in the coming years?

I’d like to be able to take on more writing clients, and publish more personal work. I’d love to publish a novel. I hope to continue improving and diversifying my makeup skills, and shoot with a few more of my dream clients, both as a model and a makeup artist. Maybe fit a little more travel in somewhere, I don’t get out of New York as much as I’d like.

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Shaye Haunschild

Where do you get your sense of adventure from?

I get my sense of adventure from how I was raised I suppose. I moved around quite a bit in my youth, so I was always experiencing new places, new food, new experiences etc.

Tell us your most cherished travel experience.

One of my most cherished travel moments was when me and my brother and mom travelled to Cancun, Mexico when I was around 9 – I believe. I’m bi-racial, but I had never experienced Mexico or that part of me as intensely as that before. Really made me proud to see where my roots are.

If you could transport anywhere right now, where would you go? And why?

I would love to go to Tokyo! I’ve always wanted to travel there. The food and culture of specifically that city is so rich it’s definitely on my bucket list.

Tell us something about yourself that not many people know.

I’m actually terrified of hamsters. I’m scared of all rodents which is normal- but it really surprises people when they realize the extent of my fear.

Which music artist (past or present) would you love to see play live?

Rap and hip-hop is my vibe, YG is my favorite but right now I really want to see a Lil Baby or Young Dolph concert.

When do you feel most at peace?

I feel the most at peace by the ocean. I always grew up close to the beach, I would feel incomplete without it.

What is the most important thing you look for in a partner?

The most important thing I look for in a partner is intelligence and drive. I like when someone is bright and alert and has goals for themselves.

What is at the top of your bucket list?

I have a very long bucket list, but right now the very top would be a girls trip to Miami! Me and my friends have been talking about it… hopefully we get that figured out soon!

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