nl magazine issue 2

www.naijalivinguk.com 1 Naija Living Magazine

Brenda EmmanusWhy Im still

loving my career, even after 20 years

Spring/Summer 2015Issue 2|Volume 1

NL Women Meet The

12 Coolest Black Women

in Media Right Now

Spring Cleaning Out with The Old Welcome a New YOU!

The Return of the 70s chic the best Spring trends to shop now

How to get beautiful Summer worthy skin

How To Live Your Life & Be Amazing

LIVING|FASHION|BEAUTY|FOOD|TRAVEL|ENTERTAINMENT|HEALTH

2 Naija Living Magazine www.naijalivinguk.com

TABLE OF CONTENT

4568

101214

16

1922

252830

33

3638

41

49

5051

53

5557

606264

70

Editors Letter

Contributors

Fine DiningScene

Spotted

Art

Music

Travel beauty guideWeekending

Fashion designer

Fashion Week is coming

Interview with Jason Boateng

Follow The Fashion Blogger

Join The Conversation Online

How To Bake.Madeleines

Food

Beauty: Best products for glowing summer skin

Beauty: Hair column: Spring 2015 hair trends

Beauty Notebook

10 top Black British women in media

Food

NL Travel : Amsterdam feature

Spring cleaning

Handbag

InterView with Afua Hirsch

Dream- Empower- Succeed

Spring 2015 trends (Saturday night fever)

Water Sport Holidays from around the World

The Spring Dress

6 products for glowing summer skin

Hair Trends to ensure you are On Fleek this season!

NL Women: The Women you may not know, but SHOULD know

The Canals of Amsterdam Have More To Offer Than You Might Think

Chilling with Afua Hirsch: The Coolest Girl In Broadcasting

Brenda Emmanus

NL Travel Feature: Active Travel Ideas

The 10 Best Apps Every girl should have

Fashion: Spring 2015 trends

The best summer sandals to shop now

Fashion

Cover Story

41


64

22

06

34

16

57


Ed

ito

rs

Lett

er

Just the other day, I was walking down my street, when a complete stranger smiled at me in

greeting and said hello. I knew it had to be the spring effect. Theres just something about

the fresh, crisp air. The promise of new beginnings and the start of a new season that makes

people (in my opinion) happier and more amiable as the temperature start to rise.

In the light of said new beginnings, flip over to page 24 for our spring cleaning guide to help you get rid of the crap and reveal a new, organised you. If youre out shopping for new items

to update your wardrobe this season, weve put together a smashing spring dress edit with

the latest must have dresses. For those of us lucky enough to be going away, there are some

hidden treasures in our Amsterdam travel guide. If youre tired of the usual city break or

holiday in the sun, our activity inspired travel guide should get you some unique ideas (if

your heart can handle it!).

This issue, were shinning a much needed spotlight on Black British women in the media.

One of whom is our cover girl, Brenda Emanus whose fabulous broadcasting career is an

inspiration to us all. Cool as ever, her interview is a revelation and we cant wait for you to

meet her too.

Perhaps most interesting of all is the fact that the70s are making a roaring come back this

season and were right in the middle of it. Think Saturday night fever, flared hippies and platform shoes. Ladies, I believe its time to bring the big Afro back. Did someone say chic?

Azeezat Fadekemi Sulaiman

Follow me on @mediamom

Love


The NL Team

Azeezat Fadekemi Sulaiman

Tayyaba Riaz

Temitope Beesley

Joanna Webley Brown

Keren Wilson

Deborah Ayoade

Dany Rizki Trimulya

Editor in Chief

Features Editor

Beauty Editor

Fashion writer

Features Writer

Travel Writer

Art Director

Naija Living Magazine is published quarterly by Talk Media

Ltd. Registered in England and Wales.

For all advertising enquiries,

please contact [email protected]

Write to us at [email protected]

For more, visit www.naijalivinguk.com

Follow us on twitter @ Twitter.com/NaijaLiving_UK

Like us on Facebook Facebook.com/NaijaLivingUk


Fine Dining, Fun Nights out and Concerts: The best of the world of entertainment and arts.

Scene


Crme Egg Burgers Launched at Studio Kitchen in K West Hotel- K West Hotel & Spa, Richmond Way, London W14 0AXThe restaurant, within K West Hotel & Spa in Shep-herds Bush, will be serving up sweet crme egg burg-ers on the dessert menu and on the new Spring Rocks Afternoon Tea from the end of March 2015 and through-out the spring.

The mini slider burgers are made from a sweet brioche bun dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with hun-dreds and thousands. This is topped with the burger - a gooey melted crme egg, mascarpone cream, and a good helping of strawberry jelly.

The sliders are priced at 5.50 for a portion of two, and the Spring Rocks Afternoon Tea starts from 22.50 per person.

Enjoy some fine wine with SearcysLondons largest collection of Champagne bars has created its own unique blend of the drink, which will go on sale at its venues across London. Searcys, which was founded in 1847 and has worked alongside the renowned Maison Burtin in Epernay to produce the capitals newest Champagne, Searcys Selected Cuve. Pop into their St Pancras Grand and One New Change venues to try the new tipple. Served in an innovative new tower of six glasses, the Coupe Stack will see the 75cl bottles of Searcys Selected Cuve perfectly flow like a waterfall into half a dozen glasses that form a tower. Happy days.

The Lawn at the Tower Hotel - St Katharines WayLondon E1W 1LDPretend youre in Monte Carlo (not London) as you sip ice cold drinks surrounded by the beautiful views of London. Located at the foot of the iconic Tower Bridge, The Lawn is a quirky outdoor pop up bar with informal seating, deck chairs and garden games. Themed on the Great British summer and serving freshly prepared street food featuring dishes such as fish and chips and quality beef burgers, The Lawn really does offer the very best of Britain in a unique outdoor setting. With its brand new bar serving cocktails, ice-cold beers and the best of British street food, The Lawn is the perfect riverside venue to soak up the sunshine this summer.

Prices start from 50 per person.

Dining Out

The Terrace Chapters- The Royal Horseguards, 2 Whitehall Court London SW1A 2EJChapter One involves the ultimate chocoholic experience. Indulge in a luxury chocolate picnic experience at Chapter The Terrace with magnifi-cent views of the Thames. This is the perfect place for chocoholics to spend the afternoon or evening cuddling up on comfy sofas sampling Hotel Choc-olats exquisite chocolates. If its chilly outside, warm yourself up with hot chocolate or better still, try Hotel Chocolats very own cocoa gin cocktail. And then in May, get ready for Chapter 2.


SpottedP Square in concert in Wembley :

The dynamic Nigerian duo headlined the Dance Afrique concert at the Wembley arena on March 25. Joined by Flavour and Congo superstar Awilo Logomba, the concert was nothing short of what weve come to expect of the twin brothers. Nolly-wood actress Funke Akindele also made a cameo, hosting the event with Eddie Kadi and a glowing Tiwa Savage provided a surprise addition to the line-up.

Rihanna, J Lo and Viola Davis at the pre-miere of Home in LA

If you follow Riri on Instagram, then youll be no stranger to her love for her little cousin Majesty. The singer dolled up the toddler for her limelight on the red carpet of the family friendly movie, which she stars alongside Jennifer Lopez, who also brought along her adorable twins.

Londons Nollywood takeover

Nollywood heartthrob Ramsey Noah and actress Mercy Johnson turned the BFI IMAX into a screaming fest when they arrived for the worldwide premiere of Thy Will Be Done, a film by Obi Emelonye. It was hard to tell women apart from girls as fans strained to get a glimpse of Noah, who is arguably Nolly-woods first crush. New mum Mercy Johnson was also mobbed by fans, but not before we caught a glimpse of her new baby who accompanied her to the premiere.


ArtWHAT TO SEE AND DO

Staying Power: Photographs of Black Brit-

ish Existence 1950s- 1990s

15 January 30 June 2015 Black Cultural Archives, BrixtonStaying Power is an important exhibition featuring photographs drawn from the V&As collection. From documentary to portraiture to staged allegorical photographs, Staying Power documents experiences

from post-World War II through to the 1990s, covering topics from mass migration to hip-hop fashions of south London.The exhibition is part of the Staying Power project to increase the number of Black British photographers and images of Black people in Britain in V&As Na-tional Collection on the Art of Photography. It aims to raise awareness of the contribution of Black people to British culture and society, as well as the art of photography.


NS Harsha- Upward Movement

6 March - 25 April 2015 Victoria Miro Mayfair 14 St George Street London W1S 1FE One of the most significant Indian artists of his gen-eration, Harsha draws on a broad spectrum of Indian artistic and figurative painting traditions and popular arts as well as the western art canon. He has worked

across a range of media including painting, sculpture, installation and performance.Featuring a series of paintings that explore notions of ascent. Each canvas features variations on the motif of a particular human, animal or hybrid figure en-gaged in a singular activity, which may involve phys-ical elevation, technological innovation or spiritual transcendence. These figures are striving to reach something above or beyond, acknowledging and attempting to connect with unknown regions.

Adopting Britain- 70 Years of Migration

April 17 6 September 2015Southbank CentreSouthbank Centres Changing Britain festival interrogates 70 years of British history, focusing on society, culture and politics. The exhibition will explore ways in which, in the midst of Islamophobia and hostility towards immi-gration, people have reached out to communities that are stitched into the fabric of the country. Highlighting stories from British recruitment campaigns in the Car-ibbean in the 1950s to Indian sub-continent and Eastern European migration, as well as the contribution made to the British economic and social landscape.


Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2015 29th April- 4th May

Spend your May Bank Holiday shaking your tail feathers to the best of Jazz music from around the world.

With a line up including Jazz Legend Van Morrison, alongside Kizzy Crawford, Laura Mvula, Tony Allen, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, what more could you ask for?

Mobb Deep- London Concert2nd May

O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, Shepherds Bush Green,

London, W12 8TT

Hardcore rap fans can get their fix as the US Rap duo bring their 20th anniversary tour to the capital.

Glastonbury FestivalJune 24-28th, 2015

Arguably the UKs most popular music festival Glastonbury is the worlds biggest green field and performing arts festival in the world. This years Glasto will be headlined by none other than Yeezy himself Kanye West. Other acts lined up include The Foo fighters and Lionel Richie.

This will be Kanyes first appearance at the festival.

Africa At Spitafields10am-5pm

Bank Holiday Monday 25 May

Spitalfields Market

On the last bank holiday Monday in May, the Spital-fields Traders Market will be transformed to bring you Africa at Spitalfields, a new shopping experience celebrating the vibrant African culture and showcas-ing the talents from Africa and the Diaspora in the UK. The day will to include an array of stalls of Afri-can Music, Film, Fashion, Interiors, Street Food,Art, crafts and Literature.

Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2015

Africa at Spitafields

Mobb Deep Concert

MUSIC


While wed all love to be able to take two weeks off to jet out to some really exotic location every year, the demands of everyday life often makes this an improbable event. More and more fami-lies and Brits generally are opting for short city breaks (lets face it, theyre much cheaper anyway), or weekends away in the sun.

There are many budget airlines that offer last minute holidays to sunny Islands in Spain, Greece and the Algarve- all favourites with cost savvy Brits. So if work is getting in the way of that dream holiday, we say stop waiting for the perfect time to go. Take a weekend off work and just go for it. Its about time you gave yourself a little treat so take life by the horn and do some-thing different this spring.

For the ultimate weekend getaway, take off on Friday preferably during the day. That way, youll have some time to get your groove on on Friday night and wake up to a sunny day on Saturday morning - probably with a hangover, but who cares? Youre finally on holiday! You can then spend the whole of Saturday chilling out by the pool or on the beach eyeing up the eye candy on offer (if youre single of course).

The best thing about taking a short trip is that you re-ally dont have much to pack. A small hold all or if you really are specific about your beauty regime, a small hand luggage would do.

The Essentials: Moisturiser : To keep your skin glowing in all its glory. Dry skin is the bane of all swimwear.

Sunny Weekend Getaways

Travel

Beauty Guid

e

Maximise Your Stay

What to pack

Flash some skin:Whether youre taking your weekend getaway on your own or with your partner or girlfriends, your swimwear game has got to be impeccable. Take a pick of our se-lection of bikini and swimsuits for that body beachside body confidence people will find irresistible.

And for all your beachside essentials:

Red Sangria Bikini 40 Bahimi.com

Alex Foster Bag 20 www.doodle-bag.com

Blue and white Torqouise mohi-to bikini 40 bahimi.com

Palmers Cocoa Butter Cream Concentrated 1.99 Boots

Dead Sea Spa Magic

miracle moisturiser

John Lewis

Mona Salamander print one piece 130 monas-wims.com


Dont believe the myth that black women dont burn because we have a high melanin content. Its not true! We spoke to beauty brand Skeyn-dors CEO Jordi Morcillo regarding just what us women of colour need when it comes to caring for our skin in the sun. Everyone, no matter what skin colour you are is in danger of sun damage when exposed to UVA, UVB and infrared rays, says Jody. Although the amount of melanin does increase with the darkness of the skin, it is only a small increase. This small increase of melanin means it takes slightly longer for the rays to be absorbed by the skin but does not mean the skin is anymore protected from sun damage compared to someone with light skin and lower melanin. There you have it ladies, make sure you dont go on holiday without sunscreen.

Sunscreen:

Skeyndor Invisible Sun Spray SPF50 39.95 www. skeyndor.co.uk

Youre going to be showing off your talons for the next couple of days, so give them a bit of TLC BEFORE you leave as you wont have time while youre away. Be-sides, youll need to maximise all the time you have on your holiday, so why waste it painting your nails when you could be sipping a lovely cocktail at the pool side bar?

Tip: Get the nails done a couple of days before your depar-ture. If you havent got time to visit the nail bar, fish out your nude coloured polishes and nail file and give your nails some love before going to bed.

Sun Tan lotion: Yes, you heard right. Brown skinned women can now have their own skin smothered in chocolatey good-ness thanks to Sunless tanning beauty boutique Karamel & Brown. Designed exclusively for ladies with brown and darker complexions, the Classic Glow range disguises scars, smoothes stretch marks, lev-els uneven skin tones and of course, emits a radiant post-holiday glow.

Up Your Nail Game

When youre wearing little more than a few strings of clothing strung together all day (yes, bikini, were talking about you), its easy to feel as though theres no way to jazz things up unless you have a body to die for. Weve got the ultimate bling accessory solu-tion. Pack along a pair of Bassbuds earphones. These tiny beauties come engraved in Swarovski elements crystals so you can plug in fashionably on your iPod during your flight, on the beach or by the pool. Happy days!BassBuds earphones 39.95 bassbuds.co.uk

Bling it on

Karamel & Brown Ex-press Glow legs: 19.99 Superdrug

Nail Berry Pop my Berry and Co-quine nail polishes 14.50 each nailberry.co.ukbahimi.com


JASON BOATENG

Fashion feature

Interview with

At only 26, British Ghanaian designer Jason Boateng is fast distinguishing himself as a rising talent in the UK fashion sector. We sat down for quick chat with the luxury womenswear designer to find out more about his inspiration and how he got into fashion.

NL: Tell us about yourself and how it all started?

My name is Jason Boateng. Im a British designer born and raised in London. I am organically from Ghana. After studying a degree in Marketing and Accounting from Middlesex University, I started my own styling consulting business in 2010 called JB Styling. I have currently been working as a fashion stylist and personal shopper for almost 5 years now.

NL: Did you ever dream of becoming a fashion designer?

I would say yes. For as long as I can re-member; way back to when I was a little toddler, I was having dreams of dresses, fabrics and design ideas for garments! Having a huge appreciation for styling and the fashion industry, I knew I wanted to be involved in the fashion world in one way or another.

NL: How would you describe the Jason Boateng Brand?

The brand is luxurious, high-end and fash-ion forward womenswear.

NL: Who do you design for, what stories do you aim to tell with your label?

I design for the confident woman that is comfortable in her own skin, appreciates style and timeless clothing.

NL: What inspires you when creating your pieces?

The most important thing I always bear in mind is the womans body. I always aim to design and make clothes that complement a womans curves and show off her frame in a classy and elegant way.

NL: Tell us about your latest collection

This Resort 2015 collection is my heart, my first born, my God given talent. I feel it shows off my skills and my extensive experience in the industry. Its my debut collection and its inspired by red carpet looks throughout the ages. The resort 15 collection emphasises and pays homage


to beauty and the power of sex yet simplicity. It is a reflection of the way these qualities can often seem abstract. The collection of dresses and dinner jackets fea-ture black, white, champagne, rich gold, shades of blue, subtle flower prints in sheer lace, ele-gantly placed on softly textured fabric. The pieces are fundamen-tally feminine and are guaranteed to give a woman the power and sensuality that comes with being glamorously dressed.

NL: What aspect of design are you most interested in?

The actual making of the gar-ments I would say. Its just the best feeling to see an amazing dress you are proud of at the end of the day after all the hours and workmanship you put in.

NL: What are the challenges of being a young designer in the UK?

Im a new designer so I havent had that many lows should I say. Its definitely been difficult putting everything together in terms of the lookbook shoot, campaign shoot and all the or-ganising that comes with it. Get-ting in touch with press and put-ting together media packages and so much more. I have definitely had more highs. Its an amazing feeling to know that even though Im only 26, I am fortunate to be able to use my God given talent

to do what I love as a career.

NL: Who is your design icon?

Im a lover of personal style and fashion in general. My design icons list is endless! Everyone from Cristbal Balenciaga to some of the more current design-ers like Victoria Beckham. I have studied the history, trademark, fashion icons and quotes for de-signers all over the world. I would say Im most influenced by Oscar de la Renta, Emanuel Ungaro, the Versace house and Hubert de Givenchy to name a few.

NL: What is your take on the fashion industry in general?

The fashion industry is no joke. Not many people get accept-ed by the big dogs and theres nothing like second chances. You either get it right the first time or forget it. Anna Wintour will not come to your second show hoping it might be better than the first, so it was very important for me to take the time to perfect my craft before launching my first collection. I respect myself and the industry too much to mess it up.

NL: African fashion is at a very delicate place at the moment, how important do you think it is for African designers to take charge and tell their stories themselves?

African fashion is definitely get-ting the attention of the Western world. African based designers are trying and doing well in my opinion. I feel most of them just need a bit of guidance and busi-ness experience within the indus-try. I always say not every nice garment is actually wearable and sellable, so getting the balance right when designing a collection as well as being very original is key.

NL: What has been your best moment so far?

The continuous good press, media support and all the new people that suddenly want to be friends now.

NL: Which three people you would love to see in your clothes?

Our modern day style icons like Rihanna, Rita Ora, Michelle Obama or Beyonc

NL: What does the future hold for Jason Boateng?

Im half way through the design process of my next collection. I am confident it will do well and my aim is to be stocked in some of the biggest fashion depart-ment stores and boutiques.


Follow The Fashion Bloggers


Inside Fashion Week; theres a new breed of deci-sion makers and they dont sit behind the desks at Fashion magazines nor do they write for them. Yet, theyre dominating the fashion landscape with their individual sense of style and massive followership. Step into Somerset House during the Fashion sea-son and there, youll find the people who are actually championing the trends- Fashion Bloggers.

Fashion week is renowned for being the first stop for all the latest seasons trends and fabulous shows, but in recent years, its also been all about the bloggers. If you still think fashion blogging is just a hobby, think again. There are fashion blog-gers with nothing more than an Instagram page with 1 Million followers designing capsule collec-tions for top fashion houses like Louis Vuitton, while many more are paid just to tweet about a brand to tens of thousands of Twitter followers. Bloggers like Aimee Song, Chiara Ferragni and Nicole Warne have made a career out of fashion blogging. Of these, perhaps the most famous black fashion blogger is Claire Sulmers of popular fashion blog Fashion Bomb Daily. These bloggers can usu-ally be found hobnobbing with the biggest names in fashion, taking their place on the front row along with the likes of Vogue Editor Anna Wintour. Make no mistake, fashion bloggers are a big deal and the

fashion world is beginning to recognise the power they wield, hence why many brands are looking to align themselves with some of the top names in the business. From the gates of Somerset House to show spac-es and on the streets, Fashion Bloggers have long eclipsed Fashion Editors and Journalists as the cen-tre of attraction during Fashion Week. They attract throngs of street style photographers and adoring fans with their outfit choices and for many bloggers, this is their time to shine. This year, we noticed a rise in the number of Black fashion bloggers defining the style game during London Fashion Week. These bloggers dont follow the trend; they create their own, bringing an eclec-tic mix of African inspired fashion combined with contemporary pieces. Its not hard to see why some of them are hotly sought after by designers who are keen to have their designs photographed on these fashionistas or at least sat at their front row. In the UK, bloggers including menstyle blogger Prince Cassius, Lifestyle blogger Shirley B Eniang, Marsha Campbell and Charley Van Purpz are cur-rently some of the most sought after Black British fashion bloggers. Forget the status quo, these are the new faces driv-ing fashion and were glad to see that black fashion bloggers are not taking a back seat.


Phot

o cr

edit:

Mic

hael

Tub

es


Join The Conversation OnlineFashion Week is comingFollow Naija Living on Instagram for the best coverage during London Fashion Week.

See all the latest catwalk trends and events first. Share, pin, and like to

your hearts content.

Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Log on to www.naijalivinguk.com


Photo credit: Michael Tubes


Apparel Polo AW 15 available now on

www.shop365.com


Dream- Empower- SucceedLiving

Why You Should Cut The Crap and Start Feeling Amazing


There are moments in life when you feel the walls are

literally crashing upon you. Your career is going nowhere,

youre still single and searching and you can feel your

childhood dreams slipping away. No matter how bad

you think the situation is, you can still take control and

charge and get your life back on track. People struggle

to move on from past events or disappointments as they

are seeing the event as either black or white and not the

grey area of possibilities in between, says author and

hypnotherapist Ailsa Frank. Ailsa says instead of focusing

on the negatives, the key to moving on and taking life by

the bull is to turn the experience on its head and start

feeling positive. To get your life on track you first have to

release the negative thoughts. Imagine throwing pebbles

into a pond as you throw away the negative thoughts

from your mind. People say things like this has hap-

pened so it is rubbish now, instead of This has hap-

pened, it doesnt seem great at this point, but I will find a

way to make it work out well. In her book Cut The Crap

And FEEL AMAZING, Alisa provides exercises to unlock

the mind from limiting negative beliefs which stop peo-

ple seeing the whole picture. I advise when something

bad happens to set a goal of turning it into something

good. Do something that you wouldnt have done before

because the difficult events have happened e.g. take up

art classes, learn something in an evening class, go on

a Ferrari race track day. This way, every time you think

about the difficult event, you will automatically feel the

good feeling of the new things you have done as a result

of it. Presume somehow it will work out amazingly well.

To make the right career choices you need to keep focussed on the long term plan of what you want to achieve. Developing a career takes time so dont be put off by training or how long it will take, says Ailsa. Think of the time spent as an investment as your career will probably be your biggest source of income over your life. Think of the benefits to sticking with your plan of suc-

ceeding. Do what feels right for you at each stage as one work experience will lead to the next stage. If you hate what you are doing from the outset then the chances are you will build a career you hate. Imagine it is this time next year and you made all the right choices for you to have had a good year. This will positively coach your mid into the positive belief.If you plan to have children you may want to factor this into your career choice, for instance choose something you can become a consultant in later so you can earn highly but be more in control of your working hours if you want to flexible when combining work with kids.The ability to react to situations is also key. Youve got to be flexible. US Broadcaster Robin Roberts learnt to see the bigger picture after abandoning her initial dream of being a tennis player for a career in TV. I used to dream about one day being at Wimbledon. I could taste the strawberries and cream. I could see myself curtseying there at centre court. And I didnt make it there, obvious-ly, as a tennis player, but let me tell you even though I had a mic in my hand instead of a tennis racket for ESPN, when I went to cover it for the first time; to me it was like check! Wimbledon. You have to be creative in reaching your goals and I think thats what really helped me so much in my life both professionally and personally. Just not being too rigid. Having goals and setting goals, but being flexible with them and knowing that it might not quite look like how I think its going to look and thats okay.

One of the reasons the hit TV series Scandal is hugely popular is thanks to the lead character Olivia Popes unshakeable confidence. Her ability to command re-spect and put the shiver into the spine of even the most important men in the world is a quality many women crave to exude. Particularly for women who work in male dominated careers, it can be challenging to face a boardroom full of men, with your companys future rid-ing on your performance. The solution involves looking inward. For women to break into male orientated work places it is important to stop seeing those areas as male dominated, instead focus on the fact that you can do the work and will find a way through to being at the top of the field, says Ailsa. My advice would be to work on your confidence so you fully believe in yourself. Think of other women who have broken the mould and pushed through to success in traditionally male roles. Actress Mindy Kaling says to never be apologetic; say it and own it. I love women who are bosses and who dont con-stantly worry about what their employees think of them. I love women who dont ask, Is that OK? after everything

Make The Most Of Your Career

Want to be the boss lady? Break The Mould


they say, says Kaling. If men are dominating in a work setting, visualise them as a cartoon and shrink them down in your mind so they seem more manageable. Remember their behaviour is based on what is in their subconscious mind, so dont take things personally. Just know it is their belief that is out of date. Let their bad behaviour empower you. Take a leaf from Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg. Im a pragmatist. I think, as a woman, you have to be more careful. You have to be more communal, you have to say yes to more things than men, you have to worry about things that men dont have to worry about. But once we get enough women into leadership, we can break stereo-types down. If you lead, you get to decide.

Recommended ReadingCut the crap and FEEL AMAZING Ailsa Frank 14.99- AmazonWomen, Work and the Will To Lead- Sheryl Sandberg 11.89 AmazonThe Desire Map- Danielle Laporte 18.99 Amazon


The 10 Best Apps Every girl should have

Awesome Note:

Nike Training Club:

RunKeeper:

Buzzfeed:

Sleep Cycle:

These apps cover everything from planning a night out to tracking your sleep. You can learn new skills, capture photos at their best, and track workouts. Say hello to the best apps you should be downloading right now

Unlike other organiser apps, which can be pretty inconvenient to use, Awesome Note is simple and straightforward. With no over-cluttered features and poorly designed tools, Awesome Note gets straight to business. With a built-in calendar, to-do list, par-ty-planning section, and photo journal, this app is the next best thing to having a PA. Additionally, tabs for anniversary reminders and travel diaries, never forget another birthday.

Gyms are boring. Running facing a wall, towards nothing, is mundane. But we need the abs and we need the glutes for that perfect bikini you have been meaning to rock. Summer wont be too long now, a matter of 8-12 weeks and you will need that chiselled, toned look. Look no further; packed with intense workouts, this app is the personal trainer you need to target specific areas on your body. With no gym fees or heavy equip-ment required, let Nike Training Club get you the voluptuous butt or the perfect flat tummy you have been working on since New Years!

Personally, we couple this with the Nike Training Club. It goes hand in hand with the gym is boring sentiment, run outside absorbing nature. Whilst the Nike Training Club works on tone and definition, with strength or building lean muscle, RunKeeper ensures you get the sweaty cardio, which comes with a side of satisfaction. The app is equipped with GPS which tracks your routes, mileage, and even inclination you have run to help you measure your progress over time. Set weekly or monthly goals and storm past them on your way to a healthy and fitter self.

You know when you have those evenings where you want to cocoon in a blanket, have the TV play in the background and have nothing to read? This website brings everything right to your mobile device: from dos and donts in a fight with your significant other to the newest movie trailer releases.

Never be groggy again! We all hate mornings, espe-cially the extremely early one. But also the late ones where we end up hitting the snooze button one time too many. This app is smart, and we meant very smart. Integrated with an intelligent snooze option, which almost slowly wakes you up, this app is far from the loud alarms you hear snapping you out of La La Land. The app monitors your sleep patterns and wakes you up in the lightest of your sleep, so goodbye groggy mornings. You can also measure the impact of daily activities like working out, coffee or tea intake etc. on your sleep patterns.

Words by Tayyaba Riaz


VSCO:

Citymapper:

Make up genius:

Clue:

Depop:

Lets leave the Instagram filters to teenagers and amateurs. This app brings a certain je ne sais quoi to your pictures, with sophisticated filters. It is particularly helpful for the indecisive part of us, as it does not spoil you with a large quantity of filters, but the filters available are no short of the term professional. With subdued blue tones to darkening silhouette shots, this app will get you a little closer to professional looking pho-tos. When it comes to VSCO, it truly is quality over quantity.

Stuck in the city? Baffled by the intricate tube maps? This app simpli-fies it all, suggesting connections that are most efficient in reach-ing your destination at a specified time. So, dont be late for another inter-view. Whats even better is that you can take this

This recent LOreal release lets you see what you will look like wearing different eyeliners, blushes, and lipsticks without having to apply the prod-ucts. The app shows selected products on your face, accurately portraying what you would look like in different cosmetics from different angles and with different facial expressions, in real time. The app contains every LOreal cosmetic product available, excluding foundations, bronzers and mascaras. Never again will you buy a shade that is too light or too dark, nor will you struggle with the right look for a specific occasion.

Keep a track of your menstrual cycle by keeping a track of your mood, sexual activity, pain or other personal notes. The more you use the app, the more accurate it becomes. With the app you will know when the next period or PMS is on the way. It also helps with understanding fluid or other discharge, so you know when something is out of the ordinary. The app is also efficient for those of us who are looking to get pregnant, track your fertility and plan ahead. This app really brings us one step closer to being Wonder Woman; you can plan your missions ahead when you know your-self inside out, literally.

Spring-cleaning? De-cluttering? Moving houses and want to trim down the amount of personal things you own? Dont hand them out for free, sell them! This app is a garage sale brought to your phone. Snap pictures and upload them straight on to the app, add a description and a price and you are good to go. It works both ways; you can snatch a great bargain on your personal favourites too, from make up to designer brands. So, this app is a thrift/vintage shop and a car boot sale, all in one.

app with you on your travels. With every update a new city is added to the already existing arsenal with San Francisco London, New York, Paris, Chicago amongst others. They app is also available in lan-guages like Spanish, French etc. Getting around a metropolis has never been easier.


Spring 2015 Trends

Bring that La Chic vibe back and get ready to hit the town like a true 70s disco diva! Take a cue from image consultant Anna Mewes from Colour me Beautiful on how best to incorporate the seasons top trends into your existing wardrobe.

Saturday Night FeverAnna says: In keeping with the 70s vibe, the denim shape of the season is most definitely the flared jean. These are available everywhere and you can invest as much or as little as you want in finding the right fit.

Top tip - if youre petite be careful with the amount of kick your flare has - go for a softer boot cut to maintain balance with your proportions. If youre tall and long-legged then go for it! Lucky you!

Fashion


1. Dorothy Perkins 282. New Look 24.993. River Island 424. New Look White Top 24.995. Topshop 296. Topshop shirt 347. Next jeans 288. Just Fab VIP Bag 389. River Island Platform shoes 5810. Shoes: Swedish Hasbeens 155

2

6

8

4

9

10

3

1

7


11. Mango fringed brown bag 79.9912. Next floral trousers 3613. Next shoes 2814. Boho Necklace Stradivarius 12.9915. Forever 21 Flared trousers 1816. Newlook skirt 19.9917. Suede Fringed Jacket Forever 21 4018. Purse L. K Bennet 27519. Floral heels: Just Fab

For

mor

e st

yle

tips,

vis

it co

lour

meb

eaut

iful.c

o.uk

Boho ChicAnna Says: A fringed accessory will instantly give you a boho feel - so if youre going to invest in one bo-ho-inspired piece this season, make it something with fringing! There are some great, statement bags (go for a neutral shade like brown and a suede finish for a true 70s feel) in stores now as well as some fabulous fringed boots which will see you through Spring and into early Autumn too. If you want to be really subtle opt for a necklace or earrings with some fringed or tassel details.

Top tip - if you really want to embrace fringing this season go for a suede fringed jacket, worn with denim, for a real 70s rock look!

2. Take it to the maxMany of us will have a maxi dress or skirt from last season hiding away in our wardrobe somewhere. A billowing dress gives a distinctly 70s feel whilst still looking current.

Anna says - pair with wedges or a wide belt to finish off the look. Also, find your florals. Clashing patterns will seem a little counter-intuitive for some but take a look at any existing prints that are in your wardrobe and experiment with wearing differ-ent pieces together.

Top tip- when clashing prints keep the colour ways the same to give your look a cohesive feel - dont take the clashing to extremes!!

13

11

14

19

17

18

12


Looking to spice up your summer holiday with a wet and wild adventure this year? Weve put together our top five water sport escapades from across the globe to get your wanderlust all fired up!

Go on a canoeing safari in Botswana For over 30 years the Selinda Spillway in northern Bot-swana was bone dry but due to exceptional rains and high flooding since 2009 you can now enjoy a once in a lifetime safari experience by exploring its game-rich floodplains by canoe.

Whats involved? A five day self contained expedition involves camping under the stars and carrying all your equipment with you in an open Canadian canoe. With the help of an experienced guide youll paddle deep into remote parts of the African wilderness and even get a chance to explore some of the surrounding territory by foot.

Good to know: The trip involves the ability to paddle a 45 kilometre stretch of river. While the rivers currents are not usually strong and frequent stops are made along the way, its advisable to have a good level of fitness be-fore you embark on this unique and exceptional safari adventure.

Have a windsurfing adventure in TurkeyTurkeys Aegean coast, with its sandy beaches, crys-tal clear waters and steady yet reliable winds, offer unbeatable conditions for you to put your windsurf-ing skills to the test, or even try your hand at this exhilarating sport for the first time.

Whats involved?Whether you are a complete beginner or windsurfing fanatic, a tailor-made windsurfing holiday at a Roy-al Yachting Association Training Centre in Turkey allows you to benefit from expert tuition whenever you like. Holiday providers like Neilson can include all aspects of tuition, courses and RYA qualifications in their packages.

Good to know:For experienced wind surfing enthusiasts who want to take their own equipment away with them, check out this useful guide offing information on airline fees and baggage allowances.

NL Travel Feature:

--------------------------

Water Sport Holidays from around the World


Discover scuba diving in the Florida KeysRunning five miles off shore along the length of the Florida Keys is the continental United States only living-coral barrier reef. With over 500 species of fish, fascinating marine life and ship wrecks of Spanish explorers dating back to the 1700s, theres no better place for a scuba diving vacay of a lifetime.

Whats involved?For those new to scuba diving and looking to gain entry-level or open water certification, allow three to five days for your training. The course requires some classroom work and youll be taught how to use the equipment in a swimming pool before experiencing open-water dives to explore the reef.

Good to Know:Almost anyone can learn to scuba dive, however to get the most out of your experience its advisable to ensure you can swim at least 200 metres without stopping and can tread water for around 10 minutes.

Learn to kite surf in Morocco Combine the rich and mystical culture of Morocco with the thrill of learning one of the worlds fastest growing water sports. But beware, from the minute you feel the power of the wind and the thrill of being on the sea, youll be hooked!

Whats involved? Week long kite surfing courses take place on Es-saouira beach where the conditions are perfect for be-ginners. Youll be fully kitted out with everything you need and lessons take place daily. Accommodation consists of a boutique style Riad and when youre not learning the art of kite surfing a visit to the Souks or the experience of a relaxing hamman is a must.

Good to Know:Kite surfing can look physically demanding which often puts people off giving it a go. In actual fact strength is not needed. You only use your hands for steering while the kite pulls you along, once youve figured out the technique it is not exhausting at all!

Try surf school in Portugal With its beautiful unspoilt white sandy beaches, the best waves Europe has to offer and its laid back surf culture, its easy to see why the coast of Portugal is fast becoming a Mecca for surf lovers.

Whats involved? Surf school holidays offer a great way to learn to surf or, if youre already an enthusiast, develop your tech-nique under the expert eye of a pro. Many courses in-clude optional early morning yoga sessions, followed by daily 2-3 hour surf lessons tailor made to improve your skills. Afternoons are usually left free for you to practice your new found expertise or explore the local area.

Good to know: Portugals surfing hotspots such as Ericeira, Cascais and the Algarve have great surf schools all offering packages designed to suit a range of abilities, accom-modation desires and budgets!


The best summer sandals to shop now

Spring has sprung and you know what that means- Its time to get your pedis in order. So pack up your boots, splash on some nail polish and let your feet loose in these

gorgeous beauties.

1. Red Sandal 25 fashionworld.co.uk2. Black beaded sandals 27.99 New Look3. White caged sandals 24.99 New Look

4. Steve Madden espadrille wedges 29.99 TK Maxx5. Leopard Print wedges 75 Dune

6. London Rebel Tan sandals 19.99 TK Maxx7. Yellow sandal 20 Debenhams

8. Suede Sandal Marks & Spencer 459. Suede Lace Up Marks & Spencer 49.50

10. Brown sandal 35 JustFab11. Pink footbed sandals 20 Next

12. Hawaiian Print sandals 20 La Redoute13. Pink Slip On Sandals 39 La Redoute

14. Red Leather sandals 60 Etsy15. Crocs 40 Schuh

16. White slingbacks 25 Boohoo.com17. Black strappy peep toes 50 Office

1

12

10

16

15

14

13

11

2

3

17

9

8

7

6

5

4


The Spring Dress EditSpring has sprung; so now is the time to update your wardrobes with the splashes of 70s silhouettes, bold floral print and off the shoulder dresses that dominated last Septembers Fashion week.

Head-to-Toe WhiteThe white-on-white look is set to be a key trend throughout 2015. Be experimental with shades, shapes and cuts to make the most of this classic fashion trend.

Next White Embellished Layer Dress: 45

Elise Ryan Cross Back Flower Dress: 58.00

H&M One-shoulder dress: 49.99

New Look White Wrap Front Mini Dress: 27.99

New Look Closet Cream Racer Back Skater Dress: 48.00

Words by Joanna Webley-Brown


The Spring Dress Edit

The 70s Throwback

Think suede, retro prints,

denim fabric and flared and

maxi silhouettes. Dig out

your groovy fashion pieces

because this spring is all out

about the 1970s.

Urban Outfitters Cooperative Denim Dungaree Dress in Blue: 55

Urban Outfitters Staring at Stars Andree Parachute Peasant Dress in White: 85

New Look Brown Patchwork Tile Print Strappy Midi Dress: 19.99

Zara jacquard dress: 35.99

Topshop Floral Print Overlay Dress: 48


Warehouse Statement Floral Midi Dress: 85.00

River Island Yellow Crepe flower dress: 35

Zara floral printed tunic: 39.99 GBP

Ted baker CADIE Cascading floral layered tunic: 149

Warehouse Floral Jacquard Dress: 80.00

Motel rocks off the shoulder dress in geo maze print: 35

Topshop Cold Shoulder Broiderie Dress: 60.00

Fashion Union Off Shoulder Crop Dress In Floral Lace:28.00

Glamorous Petite Floral Print Cold Shoulder Swing Dress: 36.00

Carven Cobalt Satin Off The Shoulder Dress: 480

Flower Power

Floral for spring is not exactly

groundbreaking, but this is a

trend that never gets old! This

season the floral prints are

loud, bold and beautiful.

Off the Shoulder

This spring its all about the

subtle flash of skin. From

modest, to the daring, the

cold shoulder look will be

sweeping all the high street

stores this season.


Cover Story :Brenda EmmanusWords by Azeezat Fadekemi Sulaiman

Photography: Rohan InehStyling: Azeezat Sulaiman

Make Up and hair: Temitope BeesleyJacket: Jason Boateng

Dress: Ted BakerAccessories: Brendas own


Im preparing for my chat with her at a restaurant in west London and I find myself poring through my notes, nervous about making a complete idiot of myself. You may not understand the reason for my fidgeting, but when I came to the UK years ago, Brenda was one of the first black women I saw on mainstream TV and Ive since looked up to her as an inspiration. Her spot is usually one of the last during the news hour, but its by no means the least as she always has something hot and engaging to serve in arts and entertainment, so well worth staying up for. Brenda is a permanent fixture on Londons red carpets often reporting live as some of the biggest names strut their stuff around Leicester Square. I tell her I think shes arguably the only black woman constantly on the red carpet to which she replies that its not such a big deal now as shes done it for so many years and now, all the PRs and organisers know her. It probably doesnt hurt that youve got the BBC on your name badge too I suppose.

Seeing how confident she is on screen and the lon-gevity shes enjoyed in her career, youd think she was one of those who always knew they were made to be in front of the camera, but pursuing a career in journalism wasnt actually her first choice. After a brief stab at a career in the arts which that didnt fly, she turned her attention to broadcasting to see if she could make a go of it.

Im quite shy by nature and I felt that I was too sen-sitive to be a great actress. It was fun and everything but it wasnt like I was that motivated about it, so I explored a few options. You know, pilot, teaching, the army etc. It just so happened that at the time, media studies were in vogue and this allowed me to explore which part I wanted to be in. I went on and registered for a course, found out that I had a voice;

I could write and it didnt take long for me to know that TV broadcasting was the direction I wanted to go.

Her first foray into Journalism came when she landed a job at The Voice while studying at the University of Westminster. A job she continued even after her graduation working on the fashion magazine arm of the Newspaper. Her big break came, however after she tentatively applied for a job with the BBC Clothes show. She never expected to actually get the role.

Ive always liked fashion, so when I heard the BBC clothes show were looking for somebody and that they were trying to make it more ethnically diverse, I thought, hang on, this could be my chance. Like a lot of people, I had this assumption that the BBC was more like white Oxbridge and for years, I didnt ap-ply because I felt I couldnt possibly fit in. I applied discreetly for the job without telling anybody and I was surprised when I actually got it.

With a career spanning over 20 years in the media, BBC London News Art, Culture and Entertainment Correspondent Brenda Emmanus needs no introduction.



Make Up and Hair: Temitope BeesleyOutfit: All from Stradivarus


It was in this role where the 25 year old Brenda cut her teeth in the media as part of the Clothes Show family. You can tell shes still passionate about the show even decades on as she chats animatedly about her fascination for the fashion industry and muses about the good old days being gone.

But her career has evolved since then, presenting shows for the BBC covering travel, entertainment and more recently the arts. So how did a self-pro-fessed fashion lover like her end up trawling through countless art galleries in London and interview-ing Hollywood royalty? She tells me having such a rich and varied career is actually what makes her a well-rounded broadcaster. I started in news and current affairs, lifestyle and magazine programmes so Ive had a real wonderful range of experience within the industry, but now I think Ive found my niche. I love arts and culture, entertainment, music and theatre, so its working out really well for me in that I get to fill my passion. I love creative minds and nothing gets me riled up more than people who are clever and bright and artistic and to spend my whole life meeting and talking to them can only be a blessing.

In the ever evolving media land-scape, its a tough gig for women as we have a shorter shelf span than men. Add to that being an ethnic minority and the challenge becomes even greater. She tells me the reason she and a hand-ful of other black women in the industry have managed what seemed impossible years ago is because theyre willing to adapt to the industry as it evolves. I and the other girls Lukwesa, Gillian and Ronke get on very well and go for drinks. Charlene and I have mutual friends and I think the reason is because weve all been through the same struggles and value and respect each other. I feel very fortu-nate to have been one of the few black women to have remained consistent in this field, despite the tough times, this is something Im really proud of.

Breaking the glass ceiling is all well and good, but that comes with responbilities as people start to see you as a role model. I ask if she feels any pressure to maintain the status quo and she says, Of course you do. I feel the pressure of responsibility, because theres so few of us, I feel like people will judge by me and I have to set an example. You know, I mentor a lot and Im really fortunate to always have positive feedback from my community and thats what fuels me. To know the difference it makes to see a black person on television. I remember the effect it had on me. It was because of Moira Stuart and Sir Trevor

McDonald that made me realise that there was a possibility for me to do the job I do now.There has been a lot of talk about the lack of diver-sity in the media, in broadcasting and the arts with the likes of Lenny Henry leading the call for equal opportunities for black and ethnic minority talents to be represented in mainstream media. As someone on the inside of the system, I was intrigued to find out what her take was on the issue and if she had experienced any form of racism or sexism in her long career.

Theres sexism and theres racism and the reality is that we need to be realistic about things and those of us who are in there need to make sure our voices are heard and put pressure and influence the out-come. I think the trouble is when there are people recruiting only people they can relate to, so diversity is a big issue despite all the chat and the talk about being positive and making an effort to have a fairer representation of minorities in the media. The BBC in particular should be pressured to be represent-

ative of the audience it reflects. We have a right to demand fairer representation and I think we underestimate our power, unlike in America where African Ameri-cans have a stronger base, finan-cial strength and are very united. We moan a lot, we talk a lot, but we dont really take constructive action. Im the deputy chairperson of the black and Asian forum and internally were pushing for them to become fairer, because every-one needs to be represented.

Thanks to all the campaigning by people like Bren-da, Shami Chakrabarti, Dany Lee Wynter and Lenny Henry, broadcasters are finally beginning to listen and take action to ensure a fairer representation of ethnic minority talents in the media.

For someone who constantly talks about being shy, Brenda is actually one of the most self-assured women Ive ever met. She exudes the confidence and knowledge that comes with years and years of ex-perience and you just want to listen to her when she speaks. However, she strikes me as someone who doesnt like being fussed over and protests when I call her a celebrity. Im not glamourous or anything like that, she says. Im just like everyone else. I throw on clothes when Im in a rush, have chipped nails and dont always look perfect, but being on TV means people expect a lot from you. Today, shes wearing a pair of slacks and a lovely top. She does look like shes just thrown the outfit together, but when you spend your day running around Londons art galleries trying to uncover new stories; itd hard-

I constantly put extra pressure on myself to be

better and it is a bit daunt-ing being the only black person in the room with such huge personalities sometimes, but I do feel

incredibly blessed to have had the opportunities Ive

had.


ly be practical to be expected to trot about in 6 inch heels. She laughs, saying shes learnt to accept that shes never going to be able to please everyone and has in fact made her peace with that.

One thing you learn as a presenter is that you cant please everyone and the only way you can survive is to be authentic. I dont like being referred to as a celebrity. Im quite a shy person and as long as peo-ple respect me for my work, Im good. I love clothes, but Im not high glamour, Im just like every other woman out there.

The second of four children born in London to Saint Lucian parents, her strict upbringing meant shed inculcated the values of working hard, and making the most of opportunities from a very young age. This she says is what gives her the ability to go on in a highly pressurised industry. That being so, its not a job without many perks. For instance, shes been flown to Vegas to interview Clint Eastwood who she says was sweet. The roll call of big names and celebrities shes met and interviewed will simply make you swoon.

You can tick off everyone from Mohammed Ali, Oprah Winfrey, Desmond Tutu, Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Lopez to Spike Lee in that list. Shes interviewed so many celebs that she has a hard time remembering some of them. Has she any favourites? I did David Hockney the artist once. He was amazing! Will Smith is also one of my favourites to interview and I enjoyed interviewing Paul Smith. His creativity is mind blowing and hes such an amazing and inspiring designer.

The week before, shed interviewed Angelina Jolie for the second time and was scheduled to meet with the cast of Fifty Shades of Grey the week after our interview. Does it get any easier with time? No, it doesnt, she laughs. I constantly put extra pres-sure on myself to be better and it is a bit daunting being the only black person in the room with such huge personalities sometimes, but I do feel incredi-bly blessed to have had the opportunities Ive had. It feels like shes met everyone there is to possi-bly meet on every journalists list, but there is one person whos remained elusive so far. My inspira-tion is Michelle Obama. I love everything about her, as a mother and as a woman. She is authentic and glamourous in her own way and not trying to be everything to everyone. Thats the kind of person I want to be and it would be an honour to be able to interview her.

While I envy her enviable roll call, working in broad-casting means many long hours and she admits to not getting home most days until 10pm. Her daily routine involves getting up at 6.30 and going to bed at 1am and she admits she doesnt get enough sleep, something many who work in media can resonate with. How does she juggle family with her work commitments, especially as she has a 10 year old daughter Marley, to look after? You have to make time, she says. I invest a lot of time in my relationships, be it with friends or family and when I do get the time off work, theres nothing I enjoy more than just relaxing with my loved ones. I make time to go away every August with my daugh-ter and my sister. Its a tradition weve kept up for years and all three of us have come to look forward to it.

Her close knit relationship with her daughter is something shes very proud of. As any mum to a pre-teen would tell you, theyre not exactly the easiest to

live with. But by drawing inspi-ration from her own upbringing, shes hoping to get the balance right between being a disciplined mum and allowing Marley have a wholesome childhood. Im a very loving mother but Im also a very strict mum, she says. I make her pray every morning and night and while I allow her to have her own voice, I want to know where she is, what shes doing and I want to know how shes feeling. Shes only 10, but shes a bit of an old soul and very emotionally intel-ligent. One time I hung up the

phone on her while I was angry and she called me back and told me off! We have that kind of relation-ship and its taken a while to get there, but Im very proud of that.

Being a mother means she sees her community as her extended family and even though shes relatively comfortable, shes not a stranger to the many chal-lenges faced by black youths and is very passionate about giving back. My community is important to me and Im very proud of what weve achieved together. As a mother, my heart bleeds to see some of the challenges within the community and we have to take responsibility as a community to rectify the situation.

My community is important to me and Im very proud of what weve achieved together. As a

mother, my heart bleeds to see some of the

challenges within the community and we have

to take responsibility as a community to rectify the

situation.



Make Up and hair: Temitope BeesleyDress: Forever 21


What advice would she give to new talents coming to the industry, especially women who are in such short supply? Youve got to set your goals and try to create your own opportunities. Whereas Ive got a staff job, those are very hard to come by nowadays. You have to cease the moment and jump on any op-portunity that comes on. I also think young people have to be more fearless. When I started my career, I was too careful and played things safe. If I had my time again, I think Id be far more ballsy as a woman, I really do. Were thought to be polite and well-man-nered and to wait, but in this industry, youve got to be on top of things. I dont mean for you to be-come ruthless or insensitive but you have to work hard, develop a strong skills set and make sure you know your stuff. As women, our shelves lives come a bit quicker than men and people are harder on us, especially if youre an expert in a certain field. Thats why its great to see an expert like Maggie Aderin- Pocock. I get such as buzz when I see her, and when I see women in sports and presenting football, its really amazing to see what we can achieve when were allowed to do things other than the obvious. The reality is when were given an opportunity; we prove that we can do it. The sad fact is that were not given enough opportunities, but the BBC is making a conscious effort to employ more ethnic minority talent so well see.

Ever before I met her, there was something else I found fascinating about Brenda other than her talent obviously. Her signature bob. The moment that bob comes on telly, you dont need an introduction to know whos in front of the camera. Us black women arent exactly known for sticking to one hairstyle for so long, so I had to ask, whats with the bob?She gives me a hearty laugh as she explains that her beloved hairstyle which has apparently been seen to by the same hairdresser for almost a decade is both for aesthetic as well as practical reasons. When I was at the clothes show, I used to have all kinds of styles, and then I was into hats for a while. Ive tried having longer weaves and it just doesnt suit me. Ive had variations of the bob, shorter, lighter, and shoul-der length, but I always retreat back to it because long hair just doesnt suit me. Also, its more practi-

cal because I dont have time to faff around when Im on set.

Today, the bob is just above her cheek and its got tiny blonde highlights in. Knowing her attachment to her hair, I was surprised she allowed us play with her for her photoshoot. As you can see in her spread, shes got wavy shoulder length hair. She shows me a photo of another shoot she did previously, where she spots a huge Afro and I tell her she looks amaz-ing and different. I cant go on screen like that. You and I both know that, she laughs. Now that shes climbed up the ladder, whats next for Brenda I wonder? Oh, Ive still got a lot to do. Id like to make some longer form programmes, travel and make documentaries. Id also like my own kind of magazine programme that covers arts, lifestyle and fashion. Now, thats something we look for-ward to watching.

Brendas Beauty secrets- Im big on skincare. Cleanse, tone, moisturise!- I love food and I try to eat healthy. My last meal will probably be rice and peas.- I used to do Taekwondo and I do a lot of working out at home now- Im very into Anthonia Burrells beauty products, I love her stuff!


Beauty :

Six Products For Glowing Summer Skin

Words by Temitope Beesley

Theres nothing like getting up on a beautiful summer morning and looking in the mirror and feeling so happy and confident in your own skin that you decide that you really do not need to wear makeup because

in the words of Bey, youre flawless. But to get to that point, you need to start weeks or months in advance. Getting gorgeous looking skin doesnt happen overnight. Its all about finding the right products that work for your skin and sticking to a routine that works for you. We would recommend gentle but effective products and

diet as these are quite literarily the Holy Grail for achieving flawless skin that requires little to no makeup. Here, weve put together a quick guide to help you spring clean your beauty routine and get into some habits

that will produce results. Youll need to evaluate the products in your stash then decide if they are working for you. If not, get rid of them and start trying other more suitable ones.

4. For ladies who prefer minimal makeup in the summer, Id suggest the Ben Nye translucent powder 30. They come in different shades and

are very light weight, give a bit of coverage and keep the shine at bay. Perfect!

5. Nivea fruit shine 2.50 for soft, supple, pouty lips. This is a chap stick with a kick.it smells great, tastes nice and will keep your lips from splitting all day long.

6. For that super glow from within. Id recommend a glycolic peel from skinclin-ics.com 70 ; Its a deep exfoliation that gets rid of the first layer or dry dull skin. This treatment will make you look like youve never had a day of stress in your life and if you can afford it, then you should have one every month.

3. Lancme Gnifique Crme Youth Activating Day Cream 59. Its lightweight, but packs a punch. Super Hydrating and gives you a radiant glow.

2. Next step is to use a mask (only 3 times a week). I recommend Hydra Intense by Lancme 33. Its hydrating and soothing for those with sensitive skin, plus its oil free.

1. First step is a cleanser: I rec-ommend the SK:N VITAMIN RICH CLEANSER -for OILY SKIN 16.75.

Its actually suitable for all skin types but always follow directions. This particular one has a small percentage of glycolic acid in it, which will deeply cleanse your skin and gently exfoliate. Its like a liquid exfoliator you can use daily plus it gives such an amazing glow.


Beauty Notebook----------------------------

Say hello to defined cheek-bones with Illamasquas lat-est offering. The Gel Sculpt is a light, water resistant contouring stick which sub-tly creates natural contours; and Gel Colour, an innova-tive, water resistant and highly pigmented tint that provides an instant flush of colour. 8. 22 illamasqua.com

And to keep your nails in great shape during summer, one of our favourite nail brands O.P.I has introduced yet another collection that apparently gives you longer lasting finish for up to 10 days without the need to use LED light or a soak off after your mani. The Infinite Shine Gel Effects Lacquer System is available in 30 shades including summer favs pink, pur-ple, nude, red, blue, green and.7. 13.95 nailpolishdirect.com

New Haircare brand Roots & Rituals is introducing a new product range for dry, damaged hair. Each product is formulated using coconut, olive and avoca-do oils infused with pure ingre-dients including amla, argan, almond, abyssinian, sesame, hibiscus and basil oil to provide deep hydration and nourishment to both hair and scalp. 5. Deep conditioning oil 6.49 6. Hair oil: 15.99

Melvitas Lor Rose firming oil is apparently the answer to banishing all signs of cellulite. This blend of oils is a naturally effective slim-ming body oil that tackles the appearance of cellulite. With regular use, skin is suppos-edly toned, smoother and firmer. It apparently smells good too.4. 30 lookfantastic.com

Japanese skin care brand RMK has relaunched its Skin tuner and exfoliating mix with a brand new improved formula. Said to exfoliate and evens skin tone while diminishing pores and providing the right amount of moisture. We like the sound of that!3. 32 Selfridges

Renowned anti ageing beauty brand Zelens has designed two new serums- The Intense Defence 1. Antioxidant Serum 125: This lightweight and hydrating formulation supports natu-ral collagen production and combats the effects of glycation to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, providing a tightening effect, and the Z Luminous, 2. Brightening Serum 135 created to even skin tone, bright-en and enhance the skins luminosity, while tackling dark spots and discol-ourations. Both products are oil free and suitable for all skin types. www.zelens.com

Our top picks of the latest beauty innovations destined for a beauty store near you soon.

1 2 3

4

5 6

7

8


Hair column: Spring 2015 hair trends

Hair Trends to ensure youre On Fleek this season!This spring, its all about colours. Every girl knows the easiest way to give yourself a lift is with a fabulous colour. A new hair colour can instantly change your mood and even stop traffic (literally)! Some of us may choose to go for a bold statement colour, whereas others prefer subtle colours that are still bang on trend.

By : Chanel Brookelyn Radiant Salon

Grey will still be very popular this Spring/Summer. From dark greys to silvery greys, the mind-set towards this colour has changed dramatically and has become a fashion statement for both younger and older women. Various celebrities have been spotted sporting the trend, from the likes of Kylie Jenner to Rihanna to Toya Wright!

Tie-Dye hair is back! Whether it is hues of blondes, pastels or bolds, hav-ing a standard ombre is no longer an op-tion! Update your look by adding hints of complementing colours to the tips.

Tip for this trend

- Adding hues of bold or pastel colours can instantly update your look- The tone of grey you choose should complement your skin

Tip for this trend

- Choose tones that complement your skin tone- Avoid too many colours unless you really want to go full force for this punk-inspired look. - Have a conservative job? You can easily mask your inner punk by pulling your hair back into a neat bun

As the CEO of a leading hair salon, I see trends come and go and this year, were weighing in on the must have looks this Spring.

Go daring in different shades of Grey:


Twighlight Hair Colour on @chanelbrookelyn

Credits: Install, Colour and Styling by

@radiant_salon | Hair Colour Cambodian

Straight Hair extensions provided by @

marrikashair -

www.marrikashairextensions.com |

Make-up by @rayjeweledbeauty | Jewellery

by @glamifi / @fi_racksey | Photography by @

ao_photography

Tips for making colours last longer on weaves:

- Use minimal heat on your extensions- Co-wash Hair rather than shampoo: Have you ever coloured your hair and noticed the colour running? Well I can guess that. 1. You were using a shampoo and 2. You were using hot water. Am I right? Well these two factors actually contribute to the colour strip ping. What I would recommend to minimise colour fading is rinsing hair with lukewarm water (cold if it is off the head) and conditioner. It closes the hair cuticles (locks in moisture) and seals in maximum colour.- Avoid Direct Sunlight: Too much direct sunlight can actually strip your hair colour, so bear in mind that if you are going for a pastel colour whilst away on holiday, your hair will get lighter from the sun. - Avoid Swimming: Chlorine will strip the life and colour from your lovely hair so please AVOID!


Sarah Jane CrawfordRole: Radio/Television presenterThe BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ whose career began on Channel 4s Shipwrecked 8 years ago is easily one of the most recognisable faces on British TV nowadays. After hosting a host of TV Chart Shows, Sarah Jane became a regular fixture on our TV screens last year when she landed the gig to present ITVs Xtra Factor.

Clara AmfoRole: BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge hostAmfo has been the girl of the moment for the last few months after being announced as the voice for the Radio 1 Chart show in 2014. The 30 year old DJ began her media career as a mar-keting intern at Kiss FM and worked her up in the Industry to become a presenter on BBC Radio 1 Xtra, where

After moving from the BBC in 2005, Gillian has made Skys morning news team a comfortable home as part of the team the nation wakes up to every morning. Her Broadcasting career spans over 25 years having worked in radio and TV, fronting shows for the likes of Radio 5 Live, BBC Breakfast and Newsnight.

Vanessa KingoriRole: British GQ Publisher/ Associate Publisher GQ StyleDont be fooled by her baby face. Sitting very comfortably at the head of one the UKs biggest style title, Vanessa Kingoris story is one that proves that with hardwork, anything is possible. Brought up by a single mum in a working class family, she worked her way from retail assistant to become the youngest ever publish-er of GQ and the only black person to have ever held the title.

10 top Black British women in media

NL Women : The Women you may not know, but SHOULD knowHere Are The Black British Women Making Waves In The Media.Theyre in your newspapers, on your TV screens and you listen to them on Radio. You may not always see them or even hear of them, but Black Brit-ish women are making huge contribu-tions to the British media landscape than you may think. From Broadcast-ing to print and digital media, youll find black British women holding the forte.

In celebration of their contributions, in this special Black British women in media issue, weve featured 10 amaz-ing women of colour who are making it big in their fields in the media.

Lukwesa BorakRole: Sky News CorrespondentThe Zambian born beauty joined Sky News in 2006, left and came back again in 2013 after taking up various other broadcasting roles with eNCA and East Midland Today. Lukwesa handles the channels news reports from 12am to 6am.

Gillian JosephRole: Sky News Correspondent


Busola EvansRole: Editor Mother and Baby MagazinePrior to joining the parenting title, Busola was previously a freelance writer and acting Health Editor at OK! Magazine. Her work has also appeared in The Guardian, The Telegraph and Fabulous Magazine.

Des LewisRole: Senior Style Editor Marie ClaireOne of the UKs leading names in Fashion, Des leads the fashion team at Marie Claire UK, bringing you the latest trends in the world of fashion. An amazing stylist whos worked with some of the biggest celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow, Des has also previously worked with Conde Nast before she left in 2010 to join the Marie Claire team.

Abisoye OdugbesanRole: Senior Style Assistant Marie ClaireIn addition to being an integral part of the Marie Claire UK fashion team, Abisoye also acts as Editor for beauty website for women of colour Beauty and Style Edit (B.A.S.E). This is your go to girl for all the latest fashion trends and inspiration.

Reni Eddo-LodgeRemember those new crops of writers we talked about earlier? Well Reni sits comfortably at the top of that list. At only 25, Reni is already an award winning Journalist for her work campaigning in feminism and racial equality. She received a high commendation from Channel 4s Best Young Blogger Competition in 2010 and is a regular contributor for The Telegraph and The Guardian. Reni has also written for The Voice and New York Times amongst others.

she made a name for herself. She has now been confirmed to take over the Live Lounge from Fearne Cotton who will be leaving the radio station in May, so more of Clara for us!

Charlene WhiteRole: ITV News CorrespondentCharlene began her broadcasting ca-reer learning the trade in Radio. Hav-ing worked with the BBC in various capacities, she joined ITV in 2002 and can be seen often presenting some of the channels bulletins. In 2014, the 45 year old media veteran became the first Black woman to present ITV News at 10.

Bim AdewunmiRole: Buzzfeed UK Culture EditorThere is a new breed of Black British writers taking the media world by storm and Bim Adewunmi is right at the centre of it. Arguably one of the coolest and funniest media personalities on Twitter, Bim started her journalism career as a freelance writer through her blog Yoruba Girl Dancing. Shes written for the likes of The Guardian, New Statesman and The Independent. Prior to taking up her role at Buzzfeed, Bim was also acting Editor at The Guardian.


mixture to stand for 10 minutes. At the end of 10 min-

utes, the yeast would have activated and the mixture

would have increased in volume and be foamy on top.

(2) Melt the butter and set it aside. Beat the egg and set

is aside too.

(3) In a large bowl, combine the flour, remaining sugar,

salt and grated nutmeg. Mix them together and create a

well in the middle of the mixture.

(4) After the yeast has activated, pour the yeast mixture,

melted butter, milk and egg in the middle of the dry in-

gredients and mix everything with a wooden spoon until

you get a shaggy dough.

(5) Turn the dough unto a lightly floured surface and

knead for about 5 minutes, just until the dough comes

together. Form the dough into a ball and cover it with

the mixing bowl for 10 minutes. This resting period

will allow the flour soak up all the liquid and relax the

dough, thus making it easier for you to knead.

6) After 10 minutes, knead the dough until smooth. This

will take about 5 to 8 minutes, depending on your skill

level.

INGREDIENTS:

(1) 520 Grams All Purpose Flour (4 Cups) (See Note 1)

(2) 2 Teaspoons Salt

(3) 3 Tablespoons Granulated White Sugar

(4) 1/4 Teaspoon Grated Nutmeg

(5) 3/4 Cup Milk (See Note 2)

(6) 1/2 Cup Warm Water (See Note 3)

(7) 1 Large Egg

(8) 56 Grams Melted Butter (1/4 Cup)

(9) 1 Tablespoon Active Dry Yeast

(10) 1 Egg (For wash)

(11) 2 Tablespoons Melted Butter (For Brushing)

NOTES:

(1) Bread flour can be used in place of all purpose flour.

(2) You can replace the milk with more warm water.

In this recipe demonstration I have used coconut milk

because I wanted a nutty coconut flavour.

(3) This cannot be over emphasized. The water must be

warm, not cold, not hot, but warm.

PROCEDURE:

(1) Put the yeast in the warm water along with 1 table-

spoon of sugar. Mix all of them together and allow the

FOODWith Spring here, no doubt your attention will soon turn to baking some delicious

homemade recipes. This simple, everyday bread roll recipe is great for breakfast, or even

to go as a side during dinner.


NOTE: The above process can also be executed with

a stand mixer. Place all the dry ingredients in a stand

mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Pour in the wet

ingredients and mix at medium speed until a shaggy

dough forms. Switch to the dough hook and knead at

medium speed until the dough is smooth. This should

take about 8 minutes.

(7) Oil the mixing bowl, form the dough into a ball and

roll it in the oiled bowl. Cover the bowl with cling film

and leave it in a warm place to double. This would take

about 1.5 hours.

TIP: Keep the dough in your oven with the light on.

Bread rises faster in a warm environment.

(8) After the dough has doubled in size, deflate the

dough and divide it into 12 equal parts.

TIP: I weigh my dough using a kitchen scale (It weighed

1 kg, 4 grams) and divided it into 12 equal parts by

weighing each part (each part weighed about 83 grams).

(9) Shape each part into a ball making sure you tuck the

seam underneath the ball.

(10) Line a 9 x 13 baking dish/pan with parchment

paper. Try not to use a tray for these rolls or they would

spread out horizontally which is not what you want.

(11) Place the rolls in the lined baking dish and cover

them lightly with cling film. Leave the dough to double

again. This takes about an hour.

(12) Close to the end of the second rise, preheat the

oven to 375 degrees.

(13) Brush the rolls with a lightly beaten egg and bake in

the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the rolls are

golden brown.

(14) As soon as the rolls come out of the oven, brush

them with melted butter.

(15) Now, here lies the trick to getting very soft and fluffy

rolls. Cover the pan containing the hot rolls with cling

film for about 10 minutes. The generated steam will

soften the crust of the rolls.

Serve warm.

Recipe taken from gratednutmeg.com.

Courtesy of Terry Adido. A self confessed foodie, Terry

is passionate about showing people how easy it is to

recreate restaurant quality meals in the comfort of their

kitchens. With a style of cooking he refers to as Af-

ro-European Fusion, his meals are influenced greatly by

French and Italian Cuisine with a West African twist.


NL Travel

Words by Deborah Ayoade

The Canals of Amsterdam Have More To Offer Than You Might Think

For more information on what to do when in Amsterdam log on to www.iamsterdam.com/en/visiting/what-to-do


Amsterdam is the city better known for its can-nabis selling coffee shops and red lights, but the city is more than just haze and sex for sale. The Dutch capital has a wealth of recreational and cultural sites that are a must see! And all will have you falling in love with this old city.

Although there is no worst time to go to Am-sterdam, the summer months give you the chance to get a real feel for the Dutch lifestyle because the weather is awesome for biking around the city, canal rides and picnics in one or more of the number of parks. Amsterdam is a cosmopolitan city filled with diversity and almost everyone speaks English, so unlike other European countries, you wont have to struggle for help with directions and getting further information to help you get to the sights listed.

Attractions Dam Square Although arguably not the most breath taking

sight in Amsterdam, The Dam is the heart of the city and the centre of Amsterdam attractions, so its worth taking time out to appreciate it. Take a moment to rest your feet from all the walking around the nearby attractions and ap-preciate the scenery and architecture.

Canal tours and cruises Not too far away, youll spot Amsterdams ca-nals and your trip would not be complete with-out a canal tour or cruise. Tours commence from morning to late in the evening and many recommend evening tours and I agree. Theres


something enchanting and romantic when sailing through the canal at night- youll find the view illumi-nating. There are a number of different tour packages you can pick from. You can enjoy an evening along the canal with a delicious full course candle light dinner while soaking up the magnificent views. With such ambience, who can dispute that Amsterdam isnt a city for romance? So long Pari! Most tour boats leave from the docks in front of central station and tickets can be bought at the docks. Some hotels also offer discount vouchers for the canal & cruise tours so be sure to

enquire at your hotel front desk.

Museums and exhibitionsYou will find a broad spectrum of museums to visit while on your trip. From sex museums to those that celebrate historical and great artists. If youre not in Amsterdam long enough to explore the offerings then you might want to check out the two most visited mu-seums/exhibitions ; which are Van Gogh and the Anne Frank House. Use your morning to visit the house where the diarist Anne Franks family took to hiding during World War II has been restored. Have a wonder around this interactive exhibition and have a read of Annes original diaries. Later in the afternoon, you can head off to the Van Gogh Museum and view the col-lection of art from the torched artists and learn a little colourful history about his family and background. Be sure to pre-book your tickets online a couple of days

before going to either attraction to guarantee yourself entry, otherwise you will have

nl magazine issue 2

Documents