1. Hi Vera, where are you from and what was it like growing up there ?
I’m from Porto, Portugal. Porto is one of the oldest European cities and one of the most visited places in the world. To grow up here is to grow up surrounded by Art!
2. When did your passion for fashion start? How did your modelling career begin?
]]>I always had a passion for fashion but during my teen years I was at Vivienne Westwood store in London and next I was working as a model!
3. For those who don’t know what’s the lifestyle/schedule like of a fashion model/brand Influencer?Busy, very busy schedule! I’m always going from one place to another, travelling and moving places in order to get work done, but I’m an expert at time management so that busy schedule is never a problem!
4. What were some of your favorite brand campaigns that you were hired for?
It’s difficult to choose from all the brands I’ve worked for because each brand is a new experience, but I could mention some special ones like KIMMIDOLL and the world’s finest luxury fashion eyewear brand Sama Eyewear, amongst others!
5. Who are some fashion models/brand ambassadors that you looked up to when you were coming up?
No one! I’m my only inspiration! I’m not a mainstream person, I like to be unique!
6. As a public figure, what have you done to make the world a better place?
As a Public Figure, I always used my influence to help Humanitarian causes, having even worked alongside the WHO and UN, helping getting funds, as well as UNICEF. I’m an animal lover so I’m active in several campaigns to protect animals, joining celebrity movements, raising my voice to defend endangered animals, and to encourage people to adopt not shop.
7. So far, can you tell us some important achievements in your career?
One could be placing 2nd in the Worldwide Model Awards by Fashion TV back in 2011. Also being Ambassador for the biggest cosmetic event in Iberian, ‘ExpoCosmetica’ in 2019, and Brand Ambassador for many worldwide Brands. Recently I participated in Maxim Covergirl and Maxim Covergirl Australia being among the top 100 of the most beautiful/sexy women. Recently, I became Ambassador of Douro Region, one of the most beautiful regions in Portugal!
8. What is the driving force for your passion for sports and lifestyle journalism?
I have always liked sports in general, mainly tennis and motorsports. Being a public figure / celebrity always got me invited as a guest to several different events including motorsport events, rally etc. One day I thought, why not use my knowledge in it?!? You could say becoming a sports and lifestyle journalist was like logical!
9. Can you remember the first big interview you did as a journalist? Were you nervous? Take us back to that experience.
I wasn’t nervous, I was rather excited to be interviewing. I’m a social person so interviews come out naturally, I have a preference for interviews where you have to improvise! I love being in the field and I’m known for my sharp questions!
10. Who is the most interesting person you have interviewed to date?Without any doubt... the most interesting person I interviewed is the World Rally Champion, Ott Tänak!
11. How do you balance all of these careers? What advice do you have for aspiring persons in your field ?
When you love what you do, it is easy to balance everything! You just need patience and to face everything with a peaceful mind. I’m positive by nature and successful, so I never think I will fail at something! I love to be busy! I just wish days had more than 24 hours so I could do more! My advice, be consistent, resilient, believe yourself, it’s all about mindset! If you master your mind, you can do anything! You are your own rival!
12. What makes you Addicted To Progress?
Progress never ends, you can’t stay static in your comfort zone! Challenge yourself!
13. How are you dealing with the current pandemic?
The pandemic changed many things for me as it did to most people in the world. While flights got cancelled and most of the events I was going to attend got postponed, I still never really stopped. At first, I focused on helping the WHO/United Nations with fundraising and bringing awareness to the pandemic, but I never stopped any work with brands and such. There’s always a way!
When it comes to Rally, there’s protocols to follow so I feel safe when covering it!14. What projects are you up to an what's next for you in 2021?
During the pandemic I’ve been working in a few projects I had in standby, such as my own company related to Motorsports, even my music projects! People must understand and accept unexpected changes!
I’m Bradley van der Straten and i’m 20 years old. I live in the Netherlands in the province of Utrecht. There are many villages and towns in the province of Utrecht.
I was born in the hospital, this was in the village of Zeist. Officially I live in the village of Woudenberg. I live here with my parents and my sister. It is a cozy village where everyone knows each other.
I like living in the village, because you can be yourself here. But it is also a quiet village and usually in the city it is busier.
2. We see that you are a business, sales and finance student. When would you say your passion for these areas began?
I started this training in the year 2019/2020 last year. During my training I realized that I really enjoyed doing business. At one point, I had just started using Instagram. Then, we got a course where you had to make a business plan. I liked this and started doing this over Instagram, where I now also have my own company in it.
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3. Who do you think are some of the successful people you admire or look up to in these industries?
Obviously there are people you run into working in these branches. Or you meet people who have their own company, so, you can ask how they started this etc. Learning from others is always something that makes it more beautiful. This way you learn from new people, new things that you did not know yet.
4. We see that you are also building your own influencer network. For those who may not know, how would you explain the business of influencer networks?In January 2020 I started a group to support each other. What you do in this is like and comment on each other's photo. This group started with people from the Netherlands & Belgium. Then when this group was going well I wanted to make an international group. Where people from different countries can support each other.
At one point I had two groups that were going well, but I wanted more. After 3 months I have grown on Instagram. In that time I gave many people tips on how to get more likes on your photo, how to you get your Instagram to the level that there would be companies that will want to work together with you. I helped people with this.
Meanwhile, in 7 months time, we have had more than 120 groups. Many people know each other, have mutual contact and have become friends. This way you get to know new people from the groups. In the months that this is all running, I have built a team that helps with this. Maintain, check with the groups. Expand by asking new people. Come up with new ideas for groups. We do this as a team and that's what makes it so successful.
5. Your Instagram profile has a network of more than 200 million and is the # 1 network in Europe. What does this figure mean for you and your business and what do you think makes your network number 1?These are figures that we as a company can be very proud of. We have achieved this in six months. The fact that it is number 1 in Europe, is of course something that we can be proud of. We work very hard to make everyone happy, checking to see whether people would follow the rules to support others.
6. Who are the different types of influencers that exist in your more than 200 million network?There are several influencers in our groups, it is quite broad. From small accounts to large accounts. Every influencer has what he/she is good at. Some are well known in the music world. Others have well-known companies. We mainly focus on accounts in: travel, fashion, music, sports and more. We have accounts from 200 followers to over a million. Everyone is welcome to join in with support.
7. That seems a lot to manage. What is your schedule like?How do you balance all this network management?Indeed it is a lot of managing! I worked on it for 3 months a day from 11:00 am to 4:00 am, to see if people were going to overtake others. In the meantime, more administrators have joined who monitor. For example, we have a group that is opens every morning and closes in the evening. In the evening, we made a list with the links of that day. We also have special rules in other groups that should let people know in some way that there is a new photo. If someone does not catch up, this will be told by some members and then also which group.
8. What do you do in your spare time? How do you relax?In my spare time I do a sport and that is tennis. Preferably hit a ball every week. That way I can relax for a while and not sit on my phone. Also likes to listen to music. Just listen to the music and do nothing. I also enjoy watching Netflix and YouTube. Netflix sometimes you are really deep in a series / film that you forget the time.
What makes you Addicted To Progress?I especially like to see that people grow on Instagram. That they cooperate with companies. You will often hear this that they are proud of you for helping them. They are very happy that you helped them. I also really enjoy seeing progress. For example, when a new group has been created and people support each other again. Deep down you are proud again that you have something new with you.
9. What can you tell us about Instaland Groups?Instaland groups is very broad. There are many different groups that people are in. For eg Do you have a fashion account and would you like to support people who also have a fashion account? But there are many different groups.
We also have special groups. Here, there are models or people with a good feed. If you support people with a good feed, this can motivate you to pay attention to your feed yourself. As I said, many people know each other in the groups. You can see it as a family. If someone has a caption where they say something personal. Will be well responded to below the photo. They show that they are there for them. Or be happy for that person.
10. Has Covid-19 Affected Your Studies or Business Ventures? If so, what are you doing to get around these obstacles?I started this with the COVID-19. Wanted to create something to support each other through time. Through the groups, you get to know new people, even though you were not often outside or could not travel. You meet new people and this was very good for many people. Of course people have suffered from COVID-19. They know people who had or have it.
We deal with this well and have understood when those people were absent from the group. Sometimes they really wanted to support, but we have to understand that them being with their family / friends are also important.
11. What's next for Bradley and the Instaland brand in 2020?This year I had set goals for myself to achieve. I really wanted to get 10,000 followers in 2020. I have already achieved this and am very proud of it. Many well-known influencers in the groups sit and comment under my photo. This has already been successful and would like to expand to more.
I would like to post more photos on my feed and post positive captions or personal captions.
There is certainly a future for the Instaland brand. We would like to expand to specific groups. We think it is important that everyone is welcome. We want to focus on countries, that people from a certain country support each other. But also more travel, fashion, sports, music groups. Who knows, more ideas may come.
1) How, when and where did you develop an interest in fitness/health & wellness?
Unlike a lot of kids, I didn’t grow up playing sports or place emphasis on physical fitness. I was, however, a serious ballet and jazz dancer for most of my childhood, but to me it didn’t translate to fitness.
I think the passion for health and fitness were always inside of me, but it wasn’t until I was 16 when I began working for a gym in La Jolla, California, called The Boxing Club. It seems almost immediate that I became engulfed in a fitness mindset. I would take classes, lift weights, watch the trainers with clients, and take private lessons with them. About 6 months into working out, I had seen some serious changes in my strength, endurance, and mental capacity, however, I wasn’t seeing enough change in my body. I will never forget the conversation with the trainer that day who told me straight, “you won’t see any changes in your body if you don’t change your diet”. That day, I began studying, researching, learning, reading about diet, nutrition, macronutrients, etc. From there I hit the ground running and never looked back.
2) Did you have any other interests/natural talents prior to this that you wanted to explore or wish you did?
A common joke between my personal training clients and me is that I am their “Trainer / Therapist”, because personal training, is personal. We spend intimate time together multiple times per week, which gives us an opportunity to get to know each other and share our lives. I think some clients are drawn to me for this reason because I always thought I would go into Psychology, as a therapist. Aside from the fitness aspect of personal training, I love helping people. Part of my job is training people to believe in themselves, to trust themselves, and to love themselves. I do think I would have been a good therapist, but luckily I get to have a piece of that in my training business!
3) At what point did you realise/decide this was a career you were going to seriously pursue?
While I was working for the boxing club, I got my personal training and group certification. However, I stopped training while in college to get “real business experience”. I worked for a Law Firm, a non-profit organization, a real estate appraiser, and a supplement company. While I was working for the supplement company, people would always ask me if I would train them or help them with their diet. But I always thought my path was corporate business. I graduated college with a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic and Corporate Communication and was accepted to two prestigious Master’s programs. I was abut to pack my bags when I decided that I had an opportunity to do something I loved. I put graduate school on hold because I didn’t think I would ever be as passionate about something so I decided to jump both feet into training. A few years later, I have grown Fitney to be a successful training business and finally putting myself through graduate school.
4) What challenges/setbacks did you encounter in this pursuit?
There are so many! But in all honesty, I have learned to appreciate every struggle and difficult time in my life. I like when my life becomes challenging because it means I am growing. Being comfortable is being stationary. I won’t share every struggle but one of the biggest was a few years into working for the Boxing Club. I became obsessed with diets and nutrition. I did every diet out there, paleo, low-carb, vegetarian, vegan, raw, etc. I started to cut things out that were unhealthy, one by one. At first it was cheese and gluten, then bread, and legumes. Only after a short time, not much in my mind was healthy.
And the more I cut foods out of my diet, the more weight I lost. It was a downward spiral for a few years. From the outside, I looked healthy, fit, and strong. But on the inside, I was in a constant battle with myself. I had developed orthorexia, an obsession with only eating ‘healthy’ food. Nothing was healthy enough. Over time, orthorexia turned into anorexia. I was brainwashed myself that I wasn’t thin enough, I wasn’t fit enough, and I wasn’t healthy enough. I was able to fool my friends and family, but from June 2013 to September 2013, the people around me couldn’t ignore it anymore. I had become a walking skeleton at 83 pounds. I fought tooth and nail that I was fine in my ways, and after 6 months of trying to gain weight back, I admitted I had a serious problem and checked into treatment for an eating disorder.
Looking back, this was one of the best things that happened to me. While my eating disorder only showed up later in life, I believe it was always there. Like most young women, I was uncomfortable in my own skin, judgmental about my appearance, and insecure. I thought obtaining the highest “health” and “fittest body” would change the way I felt about myself. What I learned in short is that confidence comes from within. What we tell ourselves everyday is what we believe. I learned to love my body at any size and for what it can do, rather than what it isn’t.
5) What would you say was the main turning/tipping point in your career that really put you on a forward path?
When I stopped worrying about what people thought of me and my business is when it truly took off. In society, a personal trainer isn’t on the same echelon as a lawyer or doctor, but I believe I am an expert in my field. I take my job seriously and I am a professional. When I began looking at my business and my profession as every other professional, it took off!
6) What are your key objectives now and what future goals do you have your eyes on?
I just moved back to my hometown of San Diego, California and I am rebuilding my business. I am pursuing my Master's Degree as well. Moving forward, I have my eyes on continuing to grow as an expert in fitness and health while providing and teaching my clients about the love of health and fitness!
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5) What do you do when you aren’t working? How do you unwind?
When I'm not working I like to unwind by working out, watching football, reading a good book or cooking/baking!
6) Who is your favorite football player and why?
My favorite football player is the original Ronaldo. He had every quality you could ever need as a player and was completely lethal when it came to goal scoring.
8) We see from your profile you are also a journalist. How do you juggle being a player and reporter?
9) What is your favorite quote?
"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift"
10) Do you have a dream place you would love to visit? If so, why?
I'd say probably Argentina, because it's somewhere I haven't been yet and I want to see the way they live and experience football - it's so passionate! I'd also love to see a Boca Juniors vs. River Plate game at the Bombonera.11) What’s on your music playlist right now?
Anything by Drake.
12) What makes you Addicted To Progress?
The fact that it never ends, you can always improve and set new goals to achieve.
13) Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
Happy and doing what I'm passionate about!
Hi, I’m from Basingstoke, which is 45 minutes away from London. It was okay growing up there, but there was always stuff going on in my town, so I decided it would be best for me if I moved, which was a very hard decision as I am very close with my family. I now live in Portsmouth and have done since August 2018. I love it here!
I had a really good childhood. I always knew I was born in the wrong body and wanted to be a boy. I was at a very young age, maybe around 9 or 10 years old, when I started to realise that I was a boy, I started to dress in a different way. I would use boys' deodorant, i was never interested in make up, nails, or the typical ‘girly’ things.
The thoughts that would run through my head was “What would my family think?” And “am I doing the wrong thing?”. I was always scared to do anything about it. up until the age of 18, which is when I finally began to identify as a male in September 2017. It was the best thing I ever did.
My family was amazing, especially my mum, she just wanted the best for me and was happy because I was happy. My brothers took it really well too. My dad on the other hand, still to this day, calls me by my old name. I don’t have contact with him now as he doesn’t respect me enough to refer to me as a male and as Macauley.
There are plenty of misconceptions about the trans community, but just to name a few; some people think that it’s a phase, some people think it’s wrong, some say that you were born with female genitals therefore you are a female, same for males being born with male genitals, therefore they are a male and nothing else. Believe it or not, some people even see it as a trend!
Nobody knows what it’s like to be transgender unless they are in our position. It is most definitely not a trend, or a choice, if it was, I wouldn’t of put myself in a position to lose family, friends and to be seen as a “freak” over an apparent choice.
Transxunited came around because me and my best friend thought it would be a good idea to help those who go through the daily struggles just like we do. Whoever needs support they can come to us, trans related or not, because whatever struggles a person may face, we want to feel like a safe place for people to open up if they need to. For the future I still don’t have a clue, hopefully we can get our page and our stories known, so others know it is okay to be who you really are and they are not alone.
There are many offensive names, the most common being “tranny” or “it”. This happens daily.
I wish people would understand that even if you aren’t trying to be hurtful, we are not objects. We are human beings with feelings.
I would’ve come out a lot sooner than I did, I would’ve saved up money and got myself further into my transition at a younger age. Never stop chasing your dreams, you will get there in the end and never be afraid to let go of people who aren’t good for you because you’re worried of being alone as you will be much better without them than with them. That’s my advice to the younger me.
In terms of looking after them, I support them to cook their dinner, I support them with showering or baths (personal care), I just support them with their everyday lives, giving them the best life they could possibly have. I had never actually been in a role like this before, I thought I’d try something new after being in various job roles, such as retail, cleaning, etc.
Now I’d never go back! I absolutely love my job it’s so rewarding looking after people who really do need you.
Nothing special, I enjoy just sitting down and watching a few films or catching up on some TV. I’m a big fan of watching videos of barbers cut hair though, as when I was younger, that was my original career path!
My dream place to visit would be Rome because not only is it beautiful but it’s also got so much ancient history behind it.
My favourite artist is called Geko! I’m actually going to see him in November, I got meet and greet tickets!! That’s if this virus is gone by then! I have a lot of dancehall, uk rap, hip hop, they’re definitely my favourite genres.
Being me! I am currently in progress to be who I really want to be and I won’t stop until I get there.
I see myself a lot further in my transition on male hormones and hopefully surgeries completed or at least started! Married to my girlfriend, with children in a lovely home and helping a lot of other people in the trans community.
Just respect that, just because our struggles may not be something they understand, they don’t have to be horrible or negative about or towards us.
Please understand we are humans, and this is not a phase, we are not jumping on a trend. This is our real lives and it’s hard enough every day having to look in the mirror and be reminded of the fact we’re not yet happy with ourselves, we don’t need to be reminded from you either.
Be kind, always.
The advice I would give is don’t ever give up or think you're wrong for doing something. Get yourself out there and don’t be afraid. Speak to someone about it, whether that’s someone close to you or someone you don’t know. I’m always happy to help and every random person I reached out to for advice was more than happy too. Don’t be afraid to speak out! Be you and follow your true self!
At the moment, because of the virus most things have stopped. So, being able to move on with the transition is pretty hard, I’m still waiting to hear back from my gender clinic.
Another thing, because of the virus and some of us being in lockdown, there’s a lot more time for the internet and social media, which means there are more trolls and cyber bullies. People need to realise we are in 2020, and there’s a lot more to worry about than what someone wishes to identify as!
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I am from and live in Bradford but work from Leeds city centre. Things are as good as they can be during the difficult lockdown situation. Us Yorkshire(wo)men are made of strong stuff, so I am told!
2) Your Instagram bio indicates you wear many hats, namely that of Influencer, Recruiter, Entrepreneur and Mental Health Ambassador. How do you juggle all these disciplines and career pursuits?
As a high functioning borderline personality disorder sufferer, I feel that the best way to keep my mental health issues at bay is to stay busy and motivated!
9-5 Monday to Friday I work as a Recruiter for Venatu Recruitment Group in Leeds. It's a very "hands on" and "involved" role requiring multiple conversations with hiring managers which I quite like, as I get to help companies and candidates with problem-solving that is personalised to them. I really enjoy getting to know people's circumstances, whether it's their specific job role and function, or their personal and professional journey.
My Influencer status comes from a social media network through which I'm regularly approached by brands for advertising opportunities. I suppose you could see this is a side line venture I have, and hey, who doesn't love free goodies?
3) From our understanding, Borderline Personality Disorder is characterized by difficulties regulating emotion and self-image. Tell us more about your experience living with such a disorder.
BPD is one of the most misunderstood within the mental health illness as both its symptoms and impacts can vary widely.
I was diagnosed with high functioning borderline personality disorder (BPD), depression and anxiety in 2018. However, I feel that this is something I have struggled with since being a teenager. It massively affected my personality and emotions where one minute I'd be on top of the world and ten minutes later I'd be having suicidal thoughts where I felt worthless for absolutely no reason. My family and friends would always comment asking “Which Jamie is joining us today?” and after a series of attempts to self-harm and commit suicide, I decided that I needed professional help. So with the help of my parents and a few close friends I spoke to my GP and was referred through to the mental health team where I got my diagnosis.
Acknowledging and owning that I had a problem is definitely the best thing I ever did. Yes, I may need to take medication daily to help with my illness, but it allows me to think and react more rationally in situations that I couldn't before. I also see a councillor regularly to discuss things my issues and learn new coping mechanisms for them.
4) How did you go from being a victim of BPD to a Mental Health Ambassador?
This happened almost accidentally. Being a mental health sufferer, I started sharing my personal experiences with friends and family to offer advice and support from my personal situation, which then lead to a number of them telling me I should share my story to a wider audience. I soon realised that even if I could make a difference to just one other person, then I'd have achieved something which you can't put a price tag on!
5) Social Media Influencers often get called out for portraying unrealistic lifestyles which some persons believe have become increasingly contributory to mental issues stemming from low self-esteem. Do you ever feel that your role as an Influencer competes or conflicts with your role as a Mental Health Ambassador?
I certainly agree with this view on social media, and I think as a society all we ever want to do is advertise the ‘good things’ whereas the bad gets hidden. However, if you look through my social media, you will see a real mixed bag of content. I'm not afraid share a post saying I'm having a bad day, be seen without make up or my hair undone, or an unflattering picture from a bad angle.
I really do think that there should be more normality and realism on social media platforms, but I also think this is the case for all mainstream advertising, marketing and branding too!
When it comes to being an ‘Influencer’ I only partner with brands and services I believe have the same visions and values that I do - that of realism and awareness!
I have also recently started my own brand and website (www.mentalhealthmattersgroup.com) which is still under construction, but through it I aim to provide services and information at the click of a button for mental health sufferers.
6) During the COVID-19 outbreak, which had a notable impact on the UK and even saw the British PM battle the virus, there’s been increased reports in pandemic-related mental health issues. What advice do you have for persons suffering mentally due to concerns over their physical safety, financial security and social isolation at this time?
COVID-19 has certainly had a massive impact on mental health globally, and I believe the same principles should come into play, that is, don’t suffer in silence - speak out. While mental health issues do not pick when they want to affect people, unfortunate circumstances do tend to trigger them.
Isolation, physical safety, and financial security are already some of the top issues that mental health sufferers deal with on a daily basis. So I think some positive outcomes from the pandemic would be less of a stigma around mental health issues and the need for more awareness, since people who usually aren't affected by such problems will now get first hand experience of what it's like to be a sufferer. The lockdown also seems to be generating some great exposure for mental health awareness at the moment, with more functions readily available for the general public. Anyone who feels they are being affected by any of the above mentioned issues I would urge to contact the Samaritans helpline 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org (this is a 24/7 – 365 service throughout the UK.)
7) In addition to your many professional roles, you’re also a fiancée and mother. How do you juggle your multiple career functions and still make time for your family?
I make sure that I keep the two separate as much as I can. Monday – Friday 7am – 7pm I am a worker bee; I will do my recruiter role and any promotional work etc during these times. I also get my partner and son involved in as much of my work as I can, whether this be promotional pictures and case studies, or when I am working from home letting my son watch and listen to what I do. 7pm is bath and bed time for my little boy Arthur so I always make sure that this is a routine is constant to provide us both with that stability and switch off! Weekends are also strictly family time, during which time we make plans for travel and other leisure activities. One of the most important parts of being a family is making positive memories together, and we have an aim to visit as many places in the UK together once lockdown is over!
8) You’re openly gay and while England and the wider UK might be more progressive than most as developed nations, there are still a lot of persons who actively or passively oppose same-sex relationships and parental partnerships. How do you handle any negative stigma or discrimination that comes your way?
I just say I wish their parents would have raised them with an open mind, like we are raising our son. Sexuality should not define a person, the same way race and gender shouldn't either. Love is love at the end of the day and if our child is being raised in a loving, caring household then that's all that matters!
9) What does progress mean to you?
Progress to me is seeing a positive outcome to something I set my mind to, whether that be a personal or professional goal. I am a keen believer in setting measurable targets for myself and achieving them.
10) What’s next for Jamie in 2020 and beyond?
I have lots of ideas up my sleeve for my Mental Health Matters Group, which include a clothing line, awareness groups and charity days, and I can't wait to see all of these become a reality.
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Specifying an absolute favorite is difficult because there is just so much to love! I’d say that right now, I’m in love with the creativity I’ve witnessed during this period of national, and global, difficulty (COVID). It is near impossible to rob a Trinbagonian of their drive for finding joy through creative expression. It may even be a coping mechanism to stay sane, and if so, what a profound and meaningful way to cope!
2. In your Instagram bio, you describe yourself as a ‘Renaissance Woman’, which can be defined as ‘a woman who has broad intellectual interests and is accomplished in areas of both the arts and the sciences’. When would you say your passion for both arts and sciences began? Were you dabbling and experimenting in both fields as a child?
I’d say it all began when I was chilling in my mama’s womb while she and my father played in an orchestra. My parents met in guitar school as teenagers. Their love affair with music merged with my father’s love of engineering and birthed me, a kid born with an inescapable obsession for both. We had a family “band” so to speak (all gospel music) so I had an avenue for expression. My dad and I sang together while he played the keys and my brother played the drums. I also touched as many instruments as I could back then (keys, drums, guitar, violin, African drums, saxophone, clarinet, etc.… really, anything I got my hands on). Still, I could never stick with one for long before another seduced me. In my later years, I finally understood that I was trying to produce songs, but back then I felt guilty for my polygamous music affairs LOL! Even worse, I was smitten with science and, like the difficulty I had sticking to one instrument, syllabuses were my torture. I wanted to know the more “intriguing” details beyond the scope being tested, and I would often find myself getting very carried away in off-topic studies. My coping mechanism through this great divide was none other than writing.
3. Who or what inspired you to start writing? And what was that defining moment that made you decide to do it professionally?
I don’t have a starting point for when the words began, but I do have a duffle bag chockful of my writings since I was a single-digit human. Words were my way of trying to make sense of the chaos in my head by imposing the order of articulation. There is a distillation structure that language imprints upon noise, beyond which you can perceive the various connections that underpin your life.
I don’t think I ever decided to do it professionally, but I did decide to be open about the worlds that have dwelt within me for a long time. The choice to write this particular series (The YaraStar Trilogy) came from an aching need to tell Yara’s story. The lessons riddled within the tale were, at times, hard to write because I’ve had to learn many of them painfully firsthand.
4. Who are some of the authors you look up to or inspire you?
Gosh, more than I can name! The ones whose words have inspired me include Malcolm Gladwell, Paulo Coelho, James Redfield, Susan David, Don Miguel Ruiz, Jen Sincero, Steven Pressfield, Dr Jordan Peterson, Mark Manson, Cal Newport, Rachel Hollis, Louise Hay, Clarissa Pinkola Estés, and Dr Norman Doidge. Many of these are non-fiction authors because I dedicate a large part of my life to personal and spiritual development. There is no disconnect for me between the quality of one’s creative expression and the quality of the vessel through which it must pass.
5. We checked out your fantasy series Yarastar Trilogy online and it seems very exciting. We love the artwork btw! Of all the genres of literature, what attracted you the most to fantasy? Also please, can you tell our readers more about the series? Where can we purchase it?
Fantastical worlds for many are a form of escapism, but for me, they are alternate realities at play. As a result, many of my more “normal” dreams at night tend to carry apocalyptic signatures with dystopian aftermaths. World-building intrigues me, and character development even more so. It helps when the source material can be a good night’s sleep or a life experience that induces a wakeful imaginative way to cope.
The YaraStar Trilogy was the latter of the two—a life experience that caused a series of connections and landed me with the sixteen-year-old, blue-haired Yara, a strong girl with a lot of understandable identity issues. She was found as a baby on a planet with two distinct tribes, and she looks nothing like either of them. The trilogy embarks the reader on a journey of what it means to find yourself, know yourself, and be yourself. It is available on Amazon (Kindle and paperback), and the artist behind the artwork is the incredible Israel Silva.
6. We did some digging and discovered that you actually come from an engineering and project management background and also worked on the business side of the entertainment industry in your home country. What was the experience like transitioning from a more corporate/professional environment to a more creative/entrepreneurial environment?
Before the final transition, I admittedly had moments when I stretched my legs from the corporate rivers and dipped my toes into the vast oceans of creativity and entrepreneurship. Although nothing enticed me the way the oceans did, those short periods never lasted because soon enough, a “safe” offer would appear and shake my faith. However, I finally knew it was time when I grabbed my own faith and shook it with an earthquake of a decision that was beyond the scope of any Richter scale. The aftermath? I found myself still standing firm. I knew then that I was ready to be the most unadulterated version of myself. The challenges are very real with transitions such as these, but the joy is even more so. It has been about two years since, and there hasn’t been a moment that I’ve looked back.
7. What is your writing process like and how do you get yourself inspired to write? What can you share with us about the ‘method to the madness’?
I’m a spurt writer, meaning that I grab the reigns of the “word-horse” and hold on for dear life until I’ve ridden so much of it, I might burn out for a little while. Then, I’m back on the horse again. In between, I pursue my other passions so that each passion is a form of active rest for the other. Downtime for me is always rejuvenating. An example of this is if I’m watching Netflix, I ensure I’m still learning and being inspired by paying particular attention to the use of words (scriptwriting) and the placement of songs (music supervision and synchronization). The experience is far more enjoyable for me that way, and the guilt is far less LOL.
8. You are also the CEO and Founder of the Mark Made Group Ltd? Can you tell us more about this venture? Also what inspired you to set up this particular initiative?
Mark Made Group Ltd. has a singular mission: to enable adept humans, and choice projects, to make their mark on the world. It is a holistic process that is transferrable to most fields. I used my trilogy as proof of concept. I believe that exceptional excellence is always the MVP of a process (the minimal viable product AND the most valuable player). While everyone’s standards for defining excellence may vary, I think some are willing to give their absolute best for their ideas, and that is what makes them exceptional. I want to help exceptional people do excellent things with their lives.
9. From digging a bit into your social media, we observed that you are also experimenting with visual art. Can you tell us more about that journey and about Looping Layers?
Gosh, Looping Layers is another one of those “active rest” passions. As someone whose dreams belonged in fantastical lands, it was painful to be unable to draw or paint them. I was pretty ‘meh’ when it came to art, but I loved the thought of being able to express my mind visually. I only gained the confidence to try digital art at the end of August last year, mostly because I believe that everything we love, we love for a reason and we owe it to ourselves to understand why. This may be a weird way to put it, but I think each of our senses has at least one alternative expression, so our ears have eyes, and our eyes have a voice. Looping Layers is the representation of my eyes’ unique vocal frequency. Art speaks.
10. You are also a fitness enthusiast and proud mother. How do you balance it all? Your schedule must be insane!
Firstly, I am soooooo proud to say that I have THE MOST incredible parents (Alyx’ grandparents) who have contributed in immeasurable ways to my son’s development. They are my village (thank you, my beautiful human gifts from God).
Regarding fitness, I’ve been an enthusiast since I was a teenager. Still, it was a very targeted pursuit: I wanted the health and stress management that fitness gave so that I could savagely pursue my dreams without dropping dead one day.
I loved feeling strong and having a large endurance capacity, but after I hurt my knees a couple of times, the joy I derived began to decrease as the pain of the exercises I pursued increased. I had an on-again-off-again relationship with fitness after that until I found back my joy through connecting deeply with my body from a place of love versus treating it like a workhorse. Now, I am gently sculpting who I am with my body, versus trying to sculpt my body so I can be who I am.
Photo credit: Jerome Mc Clean
11. What makes you Addicted To Progress?
I see no point in living if you aren’t growing. In fact, as plants have long tried to explain to us humans, if you aren’t growing, you’re probably dead.
12. What’s on your workout playlist now and what are some of your plans for 2020?
The song I’ve had on REPEAT while answering these questions is “Tidal Wave” by Andrew Bayer featuring Alison May. I LOVEEEE THIS SONGGGGGGG! My workouts tend to begin with me saying “Alexa, play Chill Electronic Music” and it is thanks to Alexa that I found Tidal Wave.
My plans for 2020 are to “find a new way to make a move in spite of the tidal wave” – yes, that’s what the song says. See why I love it? :)
Note: All interviewee responses have been stated verbatim to maintain honesty and accuracy in translation"
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I had never even heard that pole dancing was a ‘thing’ in the fitness world, until I received a flyer in my letterbox for a free trial class. So I found a girlfriend at work and we gave it a try! That night I was hooked!! I bought my first pair of pole shoes and signed up for an 8 week term. It was love!
Pole dancing/fitness does and always will have the tie to its roots. Growing from strip clubs and into mainstream fitness, pole dancing can be whatever you want it to be. Over the years people have become more educated around others’ choice of pole training for fitness. Another misconception is that you need to have upper body strength to start pole dancing. We hear this all the time! Starting as a baby poler, I could not lift myself and the idea of going upside down was terrifying. Time, patience and practicing your skills makes all the difference.
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Being able to work on something you are passionate about and bring it to a stage is an incredible feeling. I’ve always loved being able to perform so this was the biggest driver for me. Winning the titles ‘Miss Pole Dance Victoria 2020’, ‘Victoria Pole Champion 2018’, and ‘Vortex Champion’ was an absolute dream. Australia has a fierce level of competition in the pole world so it is an honour to place and win in these well regarded competitions.
Song choice is everything for me. I consider this the first and biggest part of my prep. I need a song that the audience won’t get bored with and will keep them engaged but something that when I hear it I can ‘feel’ the routine in my body. Then it is research and exploration of movement to see how I will master my pole work.
I also have to be selective with the tricks that I train to do and those are where I spend my time in the lead up to the competition. Every training session I will work on my technique and execution and make hard decision to ensure that only things that are the best they can be make it into the routine.
In the weeks leading up to the competition I will start aiming to get at least 2 full run throughs in a training session all out. Giving it everything I have. If I can get two in a session and they are executed well then I know I’m on track to have the stamina on the day.
I keep my gym training at my normal 5-7 day training schedule until the last week before Comp where I give my body a chance to refresh and prepare for the demand of performing a routine.
I spend down time coaching pole dancers for competitions and working on their dream tricks. I mostly have advanced and competitor level clients but I do have a mix of people who attend workshops I may run at various studios and any classes I fill in for.
I am an independent pole dancer in the competition world, so not affiliated with a particular studio. This can make it appealing for people. Some people are attracted by my musicality and choreography, others like my dynamic movement and some want to work on some of the tricks that I would be known to perform in my routines. (Check out a bird of paradise or a fonji :) )
The pole community is a very supportive group of people, who have all been in that same position. The nervous walk into the studio for the first time is inevitable, but after that, you’ll be hooked! You don’t have to wear little teenie tiny clothes, we all start out in shorts and singlets, just normal sports clothes. Pole is challenging and exciting and such an incredible way to build self-confidence.
I love dancing to something with an epic beat. And then some days I am in the mood to flow around the pole to something more smooth and slinky. You’ll find tracks from Truth and TroyBoi in my exotic playlists.
Yes! Male pole dancers are incredible. I am always amazed at their strength! There are some very inspiring male dancers all over the world who have such different styles!
So I am a normal desk job kind of person. Pole is a hobby that turned into a passion, that I have been lucky enough to be good at! When I’m not at pole, I’m at the gym, another thing I have developed an incredible passion for. I love seeing my progress (#addictedtoprogress) week on week either physically or through my strength or technique! If I’m not doing either of those things, I’m a home-body who has an amazing husband and 2 fur babies.
Be you. Do you. Find what works for you and your body. Find your super power, your strength and use it. Do it because you love it and remember why you are competing. Don’t lose sight of that. Get a coach and be open to feedback. Make sure you stay true to yourself and keep your style. Work at what you want to achieve and it will happen.
Lastly, I read this a little while ago and I think it is quite relevant.
‘Be yourself because an original is worth more than a copy’.
March 14th I will be competing in the first Australian Exotic Generation competition.
March 21st I have been invited to compete in the championship division of the Pole Championship Series at the Arnold 2020.
I will be continuing to coach pole competitors and working hard at my physique this year.
Thanks for your support and interest in the pole world!
Note: All interviewee responses have been stated verbatim to maintain honesty and accuracy in translation"
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1. Hey Roddy, where are you from originally and where are you based now?
I was born and bred in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (Borneo Malaysia) but I am a doctor in Public Health, so I am required to travel frequently.
2. When did your passion for martial arts begin, and why was Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu your main choice?
Embarrassingly (or not) my exposure to martial arts was through LesMills BodyCombat classes and I picked up Muay Thai after that. In 2016 I reluctantly tried Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu just because a good friend was asking and I got hooked on it right at the first session. The cardio component of the workout and non-aggression skill works were the first lure for me to stay. As I went along, I realised that Jiu-Jitsu is really a perfect science; it’s all about applied physics in speed, centre of gravity, distribution of force, and probabilities which is applied mathematics. I'm such a nerd!
3. Would you say the discipline of martial arts has helped you in other areas of your life?
Oh yes, Jiu-Jitsu for me has always been philosophical. I love how it makes me think and contemplate ways which Jiu-Jitsu philosophies can be applied in life, such as the pull and push movement, waiting for the right timing, finding centre and balance, the importance of the right amount of pressure and force applied. and so on. It’s philosophy in action! But more than anything else, Jiu-Jitsu calms me down.
4. What else can you tell us about your Brazilian Jiu- Jitsu school?
I train with a bunch of down to earth mat-mates from all walks of life. So on the mat, we take care of each other, learn from each other and above all, respect each other. The coach emphasizes that training consistently is much more important than winning in a match. Progress and winning, according to him, is when we attend the training; competition day is just another day (where we pick up the medal or decide to train more).
5. You are also heavily involved in CrossFit training? What aspect of CrossFit makes it your top choice for physical exercise?
CrossFit exercise is the functional training that helps me with my Jiu-Jitsu and overall fitness. I love it that CrossFit focuses on multiple components of fitness in every workout to include cardiovascular and respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance and accuracy. I am also attracted to the way CrossFit workouts are programmed to vary every day.
6. We see that you are taking part in the Reebok CrossFit 2020? How has that experience been so far where training and competing is concerned?
This is the second CrossFit Open that I’ve taken part in. While making the ranks of top-athlete has never even crossed my mind when doing this, it was fun and motivating to challenge the community to participate and complete the workout. What I take out of the experience is the awareness of areas to improve and friendship. Somehow being competitive with each other builds stronger friendships.
7. You also compete in marathons (wow! Is there anything you don’t do?!?!) What would you say has been your best race to date?
I’ve not done a proper marathon yet, perhaps sometime in the near future I would have the courage to conquer it. I am a medal-whore so I take part even in virtual runs, as long as there are medals involved :)
8. For our readers who are unfamiliar with the term, what is a Spartan Race? And what is the experience like taking part in one.
For me, Spartan Race is the marriage between CrossFit and cross-country trail running. It challenges the endurance of the mind more than anything, because once the race starts, the only way out is to finish the trail, attempt the obstacles and have fun while doing it. For first timers, enroll in a group and help each other out to complete the race. Expect to get dirty and muddy, and in my experience, the muddier it gets, the more fun it becomes!
9. What is your favorite quote?
My first tattoo reads: BIS VINCIT QUI SE VINCIT, which means "He who conquers himself is twice victorious."
10. What’s your favorite music to listen to when you are training?
I love Club Remix genre for CrossFit and running. It takes my mind off the perceived suffering mid-workout and focused on completing instead.
11. What makes you Addicted To Progress?
The end point, from where I started my fitness journey, seems far and almost mythical. I was a 125kg obese person with diabetes and hypertension, and I never thought that I’d be good at anything. So every little achievement needs to be celebrated and every little improvement counts. Progress, it turns out to be, is very addictive indeed.
12. What’s next for Roddy in 2020?
My checkbox for 2020 is 1 Crossfit comp, 2 Jiu-Jitsu comps and 3 Spartan races. I aspire to motivate and inspire others towards fitness and health seeking behaviours, celebrate every progress we make, be it in fitness, work or relationship; because wholesome is awesome!
Note: All interviewee responses have been stated verbatim to maintain honesty and accuracy in translation"
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]]>1. Hi Garth! It’s a pleasure to finally get a chance to interview you! You have been a friend and supporter of the brand for a long time. For those who don’t know, where are you from originally and where are you based now?Originally from East Trinidad (Arima) and now based in Texas.
2. Firstly , you are definitely a go getter! And someone who is always keeping himself busy. Where does your drive come from?
The drive comes from wanting to provide for my family and also to serve as many people while on this journey of mine. More of an impact than just an impression.
3. Many persons in Trinidad and also in America know you as a model. How did you initially get in to modeling?
It was while doing personal training that I stumbled upon an opportunity to do a modeling show for an upcoming fashion designer from Atlanta.
4. What would you say was your most memorable experience in the world of modeling?
Most memorable experience was winning a model competition in Dallas Texas making the cover of Krave magazine as a result.I would also say that being picked for the GNC campaign in Trinidad runs a close second.
5. You are also known for being a fitness enthusiast and professional trainer. Were you always into fitness as a kid and teenager or was it something you picked up later on in life?Was always into training, played football for a while (soccer), so fitness and activity was always part of my life. The desire to help others is what got me into personal training.
6. What inspired you to want to train others? Would you say that this came from your passion to help others?
Absolutely!! The need to serve and help others is what got me into training others. wanting to help them live a better, healthier life was the objective. Definitely a passion of mine.
7. You are also known for your signature Red Hat. What can you tell us about ‘The Red Hat Brand’?
The Red Hat Brand came from me actually wanting to show how something so simple once consistent can become a brand. It's such an inexpensive hat that became a signature of mine simply because I remained consistent.
8. You are also an author who recently did a book tour in Atlanta and other parts of the US. When did your your passion for writing begin and who or what inspired you to take it to the next level and bring out your own book?
I've been writing since I was a teenager. Needed an outlet for the thoughts I had while growing up and having a journal was my first step to becoming an author. Started writing quotes on Facebook in 2009 and it took off from there, the feedback was great and I realized that what I was experiencing along my journey others could relate to. I guess it was an opportunity to serve others.
9. What do you do when you aren’t working , writing or working out ? How do you relax?
Feels like i'm always working, as an author I don't think you ever stop, there's always a topic. But to answer the part about relaxing, I guess I'd say traveling is my escape, a beach and some sand can definitely help me relax.
10. What makes you Addicted To Progress?
FAMILY and being able to serve others through my writing. The ability to do things for my family that at times they may not be able to do for themselves. They have always been my main priority.
11. We know that you have a love for music as well. What’s on your workout playlist right now?
Funny enough RnB music most times makes the playlist. Would say however my old school mate, soca artiste Bunji amps me up when needed.
12. What does Garth Voisin have planned for 2020?
2020 is a year of service like no other for me. Founded and created The DEAR MEN project, geared towards building a bridge between Men and themselves, while giving some insight to the people who love them. This started as the Dear Men series on Instagram and has now taken life in the website www.dearmenproject.comI am very excited about this project!!!
Note: All interviewee responses have been stated verbatim to maintain honesty and accuracy in translation"
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Growing up in Williamsburg Brooklyn, it is a very culturally diverse area with different ethnicities. There was a lot of gang violence & drug abuse going on, but thankfully never in my home. I called it “walking on egg shells” as we grew up. I was even falsely arrested and sent to trial for a charge I knew nothing of and was mistaken for.
I always had some sort of connection with sports, my dad signed me up for baseball at age 8. Although I was terrible all the way till about 13 years old, then went on to become high school captain & went on to NCAA college. I wasn’t able to hold my grades up to par in college. because of partying & lack of effort. I was the ONLY freshman on the team to be on the active starting 9 roster.
Best memories were our mandatory team homework/study times over at John Jay College, and being lectured by my former incredible coach Mr. Dan Palumbo. I’ll never forget running at 6am till the bell rung at 8:15am,, literally dead lol. Some of those stories can go on forever!
As a young kid I looked up to Derek Jeter. I just loved how professional he was able to remain, regardless of the situation. True class act.
When I was 23 my dreams of signing a MLB contract were diminishing as I aged. I ended up completing a 6 month-500 hour course and obtaining a national personal training institute diploma. I almost hated being in my skin because of how skinny or not up to par of my standards. I also learned how to sculpt my body. Today I have clients who love how they look or even enjoy their new social life or have so much more strength in their day to day activities with their kids. That’s my passion, progression.
In 2018, I won four 1st place awards at one contest in NPC Brooklyn Grand Prix; Fast forward 364 days later returning as the division champion, only to claim a 2nd place title in each physique and classic bodybuilding categories. It absolutely stings to not win every-time but that’s where the daily drive resonates from!
I don’t quite have a playlist because I don’t like to hear much words when I’m training. I feel it’s a total distraction from my work ethic, if you’re not in the mood for that current song you’d have to stop and change it huh. So I stick to my absolute favorite which is 90’s freestyle music!
What makes me addicted to progress is the opportunity to seek change. Every step forward is a new step forward, and any progress is a good progress. I love looking back at old photos and seeing the progress over time instead. I usually hear people say oh I want to get back to the old me or when I was thinner, well I never want to go back to the old me I’m addicted to progress and moving forward!
Next goal is on March 5th, I’ll be competing internationally for the 2nd year at the Arnold Sports Amateur in Columbus Ohio.
Note: All interviewee responses have been stated verbatim
to maintain honesty and accuracy in translation"
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(i) if you workout hard enough you can eat whatever and how much ever you like; and
(ii) that you need to be on a strict diet and remove carbs and sugars completely.
however it's a big NO to both. In my opinion Balance is key!
(a) I'm either at the beach or on a road trip exploring somewhere beautiful on the island;
(b) I'm out trying a new food place; or
(c) I'm on my bed catching up on all my favourite TV shows.
11.Any plans you want to share with us for 2020?
For now I'm planning on doing the Fusion Lite 2020 Tobago Series that's coming up in March, which is an uphill trail race. Also, once I get in some more riding and swimming, I'm considering trying a triathlon some time this year.
12, What’s your favorite fitness quote?
Be Your Own Fitspiration
Note: All interviewee responses have been stated verbatim to maintain honesty and accuracy in translation"
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Note: All interviewee responses have been stated verbatim to maintain honesty and accuracy in translation"
1. Hey Rik, we know that you are originally from the Bahamas. Where are you based now?
I was born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas and still reside there to this day.
2. When would you say that your musical journey began?
I would say from I was little boy. I was a natural on the Drumset from I was 5 years old...I was making my own beats on a keyboard workstation from I was about 16 years old...Singing didn’t really come to me until I was 17 or 18 years old. After I graduated I joined local Bands as a Drummer, interned and worked in recording studios in Nassau.
3. We did some digging and found that your dad is a respected guitarist and popular singer. Would you say that he was one of your biggest musical influences? Who were some of your other musical influences on the come up?
My Dad most definitely is one of my main influences growing up in music, now that I’m older we perform in our Band and do local Gigs, and also he is still my main musician I record on most of the records I produce. My Pops still is a Guitar Beast. My additional influences for my music come from Junkanoo music, Rake and Scrape music, Hip Hop, AfroBeat, Soca, Edm, Reggae and Dancehall music.
4. We see that you started off as a drummer and producer? Can you tell us about those early days in your music career? What were some of the obstacles you would have experiences coming in the industry?
Those early days were all about discovering and getting great at the craft. Working with a lot of other talented artists and creating really cool songs in the studio was one thing, but getting the final product to radio stations for airplay was another. Having supporters call the station to request my music was one of the things I relied on, but it still wasn’t enough for me and many other local artists. We didn’t have the luxury of having access to record companies and other vast music networks like where I’m from because we are such a small country, we are often over looked by the rest of the world. That was in the 90’s though.....In recent years everything would’ve changed with the help of social media. Artists, Producers, Musician’s are now easily discovered but with a price, the pool is even Bigger now I feel. But I try to encourage others like myself to be as independent as possible and grow your own fan base with your music. Being discovered by a multi-million dollar record company is a whole other ball game that is greatly appreciated, but even they are still a business and they are only going to show interest in the artist if you have a strong brand and product. I learned that from personal experiences.
5. What’s the music scene like in the Bahamas. Is Junkanoo the most popular music on the island. For those who don’t know what Junkanoo is how would you explain it?
The music scene in Nassau is competitive...To sum it all up in one word. There are several Local Bands gigging at hotel functions, private parties, Festivals and concerts, but not big on the Night Club scene anymore unfortunately. I feel this is where we as a nation fell short and we need to work on this more. Most night clubs are literally about DJ’s now. If you are looking to hear some good live band music, what just listed are the ways experience that.
There’s also Bahamas Carnival which is a scene where my brand is most present. Some local artists get the opportunity to promote their music and brands during the Bahamas Carnival events leading up to the big concert series where international and local artists share the stage for a weekend of live performances.
Now on the other hand, if you want a rich Bahamian Cultural Music experience, you have to check out our Junkanoo Summer Festival, Regatta and True Bahamian Concert series’ that happen yearly. Then our biggest celebration is our Junkanoo parade that happens on Boxing Day and New Years Day. It’s truly an experience like no other.
Junkanoo is Bahamas’ number 1 cultural experience for those participating in it. Apart from the competition between several groups competing for prizes and bragging rights. Bay Street, Nassau comes alive. This is where you feel real vibes and where locals and people from all around the world get to see the craftsmanship and artistry of the beautiful costumes designed. My favorite part is getting to feel the pulsating rhythms of the music of Junkanoo with group sections of Drummers playing Goat skin drums and Tum-Tum drums, Bellers shaking Cowbells, Koonkalakas playing percussions, and the Brass section playing familiar tunes that get the crowd hyped.
6. You are also the lead vocalist for the bit making Bahamian group “The Baha Men” , whose single Who Let The Dogs Out topped the charts. How was the group formed and who are the other members?
The group was around from the 70’s/80’s but under a different name...obviously I was too young to be in the group at this time. When they got their first record deal in the 90’s that’s when they changed the name of the group to BahaMen and did a great deal of records for the Japanese music market.
To me it was a strange era growing up and and watching tapes of my Dad performing live with band in for Japanese crowds....but it was amazing to see that the language barrier didn’t mean shit cause they absolutely loved the band and the music. That’s when I started to wonder what that would feel like if I was the band’s front man.....sure enough I can say I have exceeded that experience over and over and over again in my current state as lead vocalist of BahaMen NOW. LOLOL!
The members of the band are as follows:
7. What was the transition like being more behind the scenes as a drummer and producer to being put in the spotlight as the lead singer of a popular group? How did you deal with that change?
It wasn’t hard at all. Back then it was just about producing music for whom ever I was around, then when I joined the band, I obviously had to turn focus on performance and putting a show together. I was able to still use my production talent to also help program the live show as well. Now on off season in recent years, this is where I produce a great deal of music for other local artists including my self.
I have created a niche for my brand as a solo artist, so I continue to make music that fits both Bahamas Carnival markets and local cultural festival markets.
8. Who Let The Dogs was and still is a mega hit internationally. What would you say is your most memorable moment or performance to date related to that song?
To be honest I am jaded with this question....there are just too many to great experiences to name. It’s always the same reaction from the audience and it’s always great.
9. We always heard being on the road touring and performing all over the world is crazy schedule wise. How do you balance it all?
Balancing all of this is never easy but God never gave me anything I couldn’t handle. I do have to give credit to my Wife and my Mom for taking care of the home front when I have to travel with the rest of the Band. Even when I have long and late sessions in my studio, they step in when I fall short. That’s the bulk of my balance right there cause I don’t think I would’ve been able to do this if I was a single parent.
10. What do you do when you aren’t making music or working ? How do you relax?
When I’m not making music, I hit the Gym, I spend a lot of time with my family, I travel a lot with my wife, my son and I spend tons of time with our dog, and I have lots of dates with Netflix!
11. What makes you Addicted To Progress?
This may sound cliché, but part of the reason I am wired the way I am, is because of being from a very small country that is hardly ever noticed. The only thing for sure that Bahamas is predominately known for is our beautiful Beaches and marine resources. I have always been a cut from a different cloth because of the music background I was raised in so I was always taught that the music coming out of this country should be treated in the same high regard. So there for, when it comes to making music I push and push and push the boundaries towards the greater good. I love the feeling I get when others around you see that all your hard work you do is an inspirational them and others so that further motivates me to do more. I also like to encourage everyone around me to aim high and take necessary steps and achieve those goals bit by bit, nothing happens overnight so patience and hard work is the key.
12. What do you plan to accomplish in 2020?
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1 . Hey Alex, where are you from?
Born in Minnesota, raised in New Hampshire and now I live in South Carolina.
2. You seem to have an immense passion for fitness and you are very much in shape. Where did your fitness journey and passion for fitness begin?
I've always been really active. Growing up my parents home-schooled us, and to combat the possible social issues of being home-schooled my parents enrolled us in a ton of different sports/activities. I did a ton of activities, my favorites being gymnastics, swim team and mixed martial arts.
3. Do you prefer to work out at the gym or otherwise? Also how often would you say you work out?
I prefer working out at a gym, just because I'm more inclined to workout and keep disciplined if I have somewhere to show up to. Most weeks I workout six days a week, with the seventh day being an active rest day.
4. You refer to yourself as a 'weightlifter' on your IG profile, which is a very specific fitness discipline. Do you engage in any other forms of exercise and what about weights do you like so much?
As of right now, my routine consists of a mixture of weights and HIIT workouts. I'm certainly open to any other kind of activities or exercise, I enjoy the occasional yoga, swimming and biking. I prefer weights because from a health standpoint and an aesthetic, it's better for you in the long term and it yeilds better results. There's also nothing better than lifting a new heavy weight.
5. We got a chance to view some of your work on Instagram and its really impressive. How long now have you been doing photography and who or what sparked this passion?
I've been doing photography for eight years now, it's started by just taking pictures on my iPod touch. When I was thirteen my great grandmother passed away after a long life of 100 years. She had memory problems for as long as I could remember, but she always remembered people in her photographs
6. Having the dual talent to be both in front and behind the lens, being model and photographer for various shoots. How does experience in one role help the other?
It definitely helps, the ability to see both sides and understand the difficulties with either role makes the shoots flow easier. There's no part of me that gets frustrated with a technical issue a camera presents, or when I model gets uncomfortable and needs more conversation or space to prepare for the shoot.
7. You're also comfortable showing off your body during shoots in various outdoor settings. Were you always this confident and proud of your body or did this come as a result of your fitness journey?
Truthfully, I've never been comfortable with my body and I'm still not fully. There was a lot of shaming that I grew up with, and the fitness industry, being concentrated on selling sex instead of health, convinces you to look perfect. Weightlifting has improved my relationship with my body, being able to concentrate on how I feel and what I can do takes my focus off how I look, to an extent.
8. With a passion for both travel and food, how do you maintain a solid training and diet regimen?
If I'm honest, I don't. I love fitness, I love food and I want to experience everything. I wish I could say what everyone wants to hear which is, I just do, I sacrifice the foods of other cultures for chicken and rice. I couldn't give up one for the other. What I do is just travel, stick to my macros, try to eat as clean as possible and then go back to eating right when I'm home. Fortunately most other countries have much cleaner and healthier foods than the US. When I travel is when I get to try out the body weight exercises or different things I normally wouldn't. It's good to shock your body and change up what you do and eat.
9. What makes you Addicted To Progress ?
There's nothing better than beating yourself. Bettering yourself is the only thing you completely control.
10. What is your dream place to visit
Dreaming about Iceland right now and planning it out. But I want to see everything, there's no way to pick one dream.
11. What’s your favorite quote?
I don't have one yet. I don't know enough, I haven't been around enough people or books to have a favorite. Just a bunch of good ones.
12. What’s next for you in 2020?
Who were some of your inspirations entrepreneur-wise on the come up?
This is a tough one as during my come up, entrepreneurship wasn't valued the way it is today. Ten years ago, being an entrepreneur meant you were labelled as unemployed, worked from home or often a dreamer. It was difficult to discern how I wanted to define myself.
The farmers I worked with were those I drew inspiration from, they are chemists, accountants, weather men/women, great drivers and some of the best cooks I know. To me entrepreneurship resonates key elements, versatility, expertise and patience so farmers really spoke to me on that level.
What inspired you and your team to bring the Market Movers concept to Trinidad and Tobago?
I grew up around agriculture and met my business partner David Thomas, while working at the Bank (that safe job your parents always told you about). There we both began bringing fresh fish from Las Cuevas (David's home town) and seasoning from my brother's farm, for co-workers.
We quickly realised that the way things were shifting, people were becoming busier, spending more time at work, in traffic but still needed access to fresh food but in a convenient way that fit into their busy lifestyle. The opportunity to be of service to others is a very satisfying feeling; making someone happier, healthier, just felt good and I still can't really seem to get enough of it.
Innovations in Agriculture and Technology, on the service end, was a very new concept but we knew our fast paced lifestyles would catch up with us and people would want to easy access to healthier foods.
The biggest challenge was the waiting game and making ends meet until the tide came in.Who would you say are your main customers or target market for Market Movers?
I wouldn't get technical with the specifics but our customers are conscious of the benefits of healthy food, care about the environment by consuming as much local food as possible and are living in the 21st Century which means they need all of it conveniently..
Tell us about Our Moving Table? How does it tie in with Market Movers Ltd.
Our Moving Table is a roaming, monthly Farm to Table Dining Experience that began in July of 2015. We take guests on an epicurean adventure through the diverse landscape that is the food of Trinidad and Tobago. It was founded by Chef Sonja Sinaswee and ourselves.
Collectively, we wanted a platform to showcase the value of our local ingredients in T&T and what better way to do so than through the sharing of food. Each event we use 95% local inputs including what's in season so people can experience a true farm to table meal in a communal dining setting. These events show the value of using fresh ingredients and how guests can access them
What was your favourite venue to host Our Moving Table so far?
San Antonio Farms is our home and favourite place to host Our Moving Table, the owners have truly welcomed us and believe in our cause. Upick Farms was a special venue also because we were on an actual farm and used the ingredients that grew there. To see someone pick fresh corn just minutes before it was marinated and grilled was the truest form of Farm to Table for us and our guests to experience.
What does the future hold for both Market Movers Ltd and Our Moving Table.
Predictions are guided by preparation and the path I hope to see is sustainable, growth. We want everyone in T&T to have easy access to safely grown foods and truly value its source. We also hope to have our brand of frozen fruits, Farm & Function be exported across the globe because we have witnessed the direct impact we were able to make on the lives of our farmers who we work with. We also compost all our waste to ensure true sustainability for our brand. The goal is to always love what we do and hope our customers keep loving us back for it.
What music inspires or motivates you while working or working out?
It is actually very difficult for me to listen to music while working or concentrating on anything. My only workout would be swimming and music is never a part of that. However, when I do listen to music that's all I do and in those times I listen to quite a varied mix butthe music that usually inspires me most would be anything from The Roots, Lauryn Hill, Ryan Adams & The Cardinals and Kanye West (side eye).
Rice Bowls, Smoothies & Chow.
12. What does progress mean to you?
Watching other's I respect and love, continue to feel the same way about me in return.
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2. What inspired you to get into fitness? How did it become your passion?
I got into fitness due to sports. I have practiced Hapkido, Fuji- Ryu Jujitsu and amateur boxing alongside running track and field. I saw how intricate training was in order to perform to the best of my abilities and what it entails( discipline, dedication and consistency).
3. What’s you fitness schedule like? How do u balance your week training clients and staying fit yourself?
For the most part, I train my clients early in the morning during peak hours
(6-9 am), I workout during the off peak hours and then train clients during the evening.
4. What advice would you give to someone who is intimidated by fitness and keeps procrastinating into making the lifestyle change?
5. What’s your fitness goals for 2020? And What’s on your workout music playlist right now?
My fitness goals for 2020 are
1) to put on more beneficial muscle. I’m currently bulking to get to 210lbs then cut to 180-182 lbs with 7-10 percent body fat.
2) To run the 2020 Marathon in NYC.
Current Work Out Playlist:
Dababy- Off The Rip
DMX- Get At Me Dog
DMX- Stop Being Greedy
Korn- Did My Time
These are a few songs on my playlist
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Name: Bee Touch
Location: Australia
1. Hi Bee, where are you from ? And what’s life like there?
I’m from Brisbane Australia, at the moment it’s summer so it’s nice and hot but also very relaxed state.
2. How did you get into fitness? Was it someone who encouraged you or an experience that made you want to make a life change?
No one encouraged me to get into fitness. About 7 years ago was diagnosed with depression and anxiety I didn’t want to go on any medications for that. I read up that staying active like going to the gym helped with the endorphins. I loved how I felt after the gym I didn’t feel negative I didn’t feel depressed or anything. Gym saved my life! Have never looked back!
3. Where is your favorite place to work out and what’s your favorite body part to work out ?
My favourite place to workout is @worldsgymbrisbane. The atmosphere and the people there are amazing! Every body part is a favourite but I love back and biceps day legs isn’t that far behind lol
4. Is fashion important to you when working out ? If so what’s your favourite type of workout clothes?
When I train I love to be comfortable. I want something I wear to be like a second skin where it doesn’t annoy me or get in the way. My favourite workout clothes is from @fkngymwear good quality and soo damn comfortable
5. What are your fitness goals for 2020?
My fitness goal for 2020! To compete in @wbff_aus in October 2020. I have an amazing coach @tracey_guile_wbffpro who has helped and encouraged me with every aspect of my training!
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1. Your Instagram bio says that you are on a journey to lose 20% fat. What inspired you to begin this particular fitness journey, and what was the reason for choosing that specific percentage as your goal?
Back in September 2018, I wasn't feeling happy with my body. Every time I looked in the mirror, I was disgusted with myself and finally took the courage to start going to the gym. In the beginning, I was going 5-6 times a week with zero progress until I started with 'Kinobody' in March 2019.
I saw Gregory O'Gallagher do a DEXA scan, and I wanted to try one myself. So in September 2019, I did my first DEXA scan to see how much fat I have on my body and got a shocking result of 34.5% fat (note that I was already cutting for six months before this, so I don't want to know what my fat percentage was when I started). I always dreamed about having visible abs, so to have those, I need to be at around 10-15% body fat, so that's why I want to lose 20% fat to get in that area.
2. Do you have a target date in mind for achieving your fat loss goal? Also, as the saying goes, "abs are made in the kitchen," so tell us, how important has diet and overall nutrition been in this journey towards a leaner Gautier?
My initial goal to achieve my target is one year after my first DEXA scan, so the end of September or the begin of October. Around that period, I want to redo a DEXA scan to show and encourage people with it. I want to show them that you can achieve the body of your dreams, no matter what!
I 100% agree with the quote, "abs are made in the kitchen"! The moment I started with tracking my calories and macros, my results skyrocket, and I almost saw my fat melting away! The hardest part of all this is, in my opinion, the nutrition part, not the "going to the gym" part. Everyone can go to the gym, but not everyone has the discipline to put that much effort into nutrition. I believe that the diet is 80% of the total work and going to the gym itself, only 20%!
I take my food scale everywhere with me nowadays. I am someone when I do something; I want to do it as well as possible; I'm a real perfectionist.
3. You mentioned earlier that you're a follower and big fan of the Kinobody movement and its founder Greg O'Gallagher. What attracted you the most to this particular training program, and how does it compare to others you've tried?
Yeah, I'm a massive fan of Kinobody. The reasons why I'm such a fan of Kinobody are;
1. The programs are made from someone who is 100% natty and has real personal experience. So no bro-science or juiceheads involved.
2. The programs are very simple to understand. It's almost a blueprint. You don't have to do any thinking yourself. You get it all laid out.
3. The number of training sessions in the program is limited to only three times a week, which is perfect for me since I'm a University student. Going more frequently to the gym is tough for me.
4. The cost of the programs are ridiculously cheap compared to other brands. Your first program is only $49, and you have lifetime access.
5. The guidance you get on the Facebook group by the admins is fantastic. You can ask for a form check, questions if something is not clear to you, whatever you desire, it's an incredible community!
4. Your immediate goal is to lose 20% body fat, but once you do (and we're sure you will), what future fitness targets might you already have set for yourself?
After I achieved my goal (and confirmed by the DEXA scan), I want to start doing a "lean bulk." My first body goal is the "Hollywood Physique," like Greg O'Gallagher. Once I achieved that, who knows what the future brings for me! Maybe one day, you see me stepping on stage to compete! I am also planning to do a Personal Trainer course once I'm finished with University (I'm doing something completely different right now). I want to help other people and show them that it's possible to make gains (without having to be lucky with excellent genes)!
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]]>1. Where are you originally from and where are you based now?
I am originally from a very small town called Canaan, Maine. I now live only about 20 minutes from there in an even smaller town called Cornville, Maine.
2. When did fitness start become such an important part of your life?
Fitness started becoming an important part of my life almost about 10 months ago, in February of 2019.
3. What inspired you to become a fitness coach? What was the experience been like so far?
My inspiration was my up line coach, Ashley. I watched her on Instagram for at least a good year and always wished I could do what she did but was too afraid to take the leap. I finally said yes to the opportunity of starting Beachbody workouts and only 2 months later, jumped into being a fitness coach. Being a health & fitness coach has seriously impacted my life in a way that I never thought it could. I'm able to focus on my health & fitness journey, while also inspiring others to do the same, and I've been able to build connections and relationships with a community of women that I would have never met if I wasn't a fitness coach.
3. You must have a hectic schedule, how do you balance your time to get in your workouts ?
I have a VERY hectic schedule. I work Monday-Friday and some weeks Monday-Saturday 8-5 and also work some overtime on top of that. During the summer I also work part time at a family owned Dairy Treat, all while trying to keep up on house work, spending time with my boyfriend & dog, my family, and my boyfriend's family. The workouts I do are designed to do right in the comfort of your own home, which does make it a bit easier, but when I first started these workouts I would do them in the evenings after work - I then became so burnt out because I felt I had no time in the evenings to spend with my family, and there would also be evening plans that would come up unexpectedly and then I'd end up skipping my workout. I recently got into a morning routine, where I now wake up at 5:00am to get my workout in and do all of my coach work before getting ready to head into my 8-5 full time job. It's tough sometimes getting up that early but I ALWAYS feel so much better getting a good sweat in before starting my day. I always say, you need to fill your cup before trying to fill others, you can't pour from an empty cup.
4. How important would you say a proper diet is to staying fit?It is VERY important. Getting results is 20% working out and 80% your nutrition. I'm not about "dieting" or cutting out certain foods, because in my mind that is not a lifestyle, eventually you're going to go back to eating those certain foods and it's just a vicious cycle. I focus on portion control and choosing healthier snacks. You can still eat pasta and bread and pizza, just focus on your portions! You don't need a giant bowl of pasta but you can still enjoy soma pasta, that is a lifestyle. If you despise the "diet" you're on, you're not going to stick with it.
5. What makes you Addicted To Progress?
I am Addicted To Progress because of how much healthier and happier I am since focusing on the health & fitness. I've become a better person, girlfriend, dog mom, daughter, and friend. Also, I've never been one to focus on weight lifting, even when I used to go to the gym, I'd always just focus on cardio. But since weight lifting, I've become absolutely OBSESSED with seeing the progression on my muscles. I've always been self conscious of my arms and legs, but I now love my body and love seeing the progress each and every day. I never really understood when people said it's addictive, until I started seeing results.
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2. At what age would you say your passion for basketball began?
My passion for basketball started at a young age watching my brother play against his neighborhood friends. I became so enamored by the intensity and aggressiveness that I instantly wanted to pick up the sport.
3. Who were some of the basketball players you looked up to growing up and why?
i looked up to local Los Angeles legends like Cheryl Miller, Tina Thompson and Lisa Leslie. They inspired me to attend USC and set the benchmark for the type of player I wanted to become.
4. What made you take that leap beyond just a passion, to play basketball professionally?
When I was younger, I always thought there would eventually be a women’s professional league. But I’ve always been super competitive and it was natural for me to be ALL in with my training and team.
5. We see that you played professional ball in countries such as Turkey, Italy, Lithuania and Israel just to name a few. What was that experience like, traveling the world, doing what you love?
Playing overseas was amazing and changed my view on how I saw the world.
I realized quickly that the world is big and that the best stories are told through the pages of a passport.
6. We saw that you also spent some time playing in the WNBA, for the Indiana Fever and in 2008, you were awarded WNBA’s Most Improved Player. How did it feel to achieve such a progressive award?
It felt great to be recognized for all the hard work I put in to become a better player. Some don’t get that opportunity but I was extremely proud of the work I had put in. When I got better my team got better!
7. What was the experience like transforming from player to coach? Would you say it was a natural progression?
The experience for me was natural to transition to coach, I’ve always had a gift for being able to form special connections with people.
8. If you could go back in time and give any advice as a coach to yourself as a player what would be that main piece of advice you would give a younger Ebony Hoffman?
I would tell my younger self, give yourself a break. Your time will come, continue to be true to yourself and confident in your convictions!
9. We see you are also an entrepreneur and CEO of The Hygh Society, can you tell us more about this business venture and what motivated you to invest in it?
Well I want all athletes to know that being an athlete is what you do, not who you are. I try to learn and research things that I’m passionate about and how I can monetize them. I started Hygh Society over a year ago, we specialize in CBD pain management. From humans to pets. Being an athlete I’ve had many painful injuries and since I’m retired I no longer wanted to use prescription drugs.
10. You are truly Addicted To Progress, How do you balance it all? Is there any thing else you are involved in that we may be leaving out?
To me progress is daily, and working to become our higher self is something that we should all strive for.
11. What does Ebony do when she isn’t playing, coaching or running her businesses?
Well I’m retired so I hung up my basketball shoes. But I have a 3 yr old daughter who is my life’s greatest joy.
12. What’s next for Ebony? Any 2020 plans you can give us a hint about?
I’m tired as heck at the end of the day but being financially free is my ultimate goal!
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As we aim to achieve our 2020 dreams and goals, daily motivation and affirmation continues to be an integral element of the grind, it keeps us going and encourages us to maintain the right mindset on the go! With that said, it is our pleasure to introduce to you, Charlotte, North Carolina based, motivational speaker and author, Mr. Wayne Eric.
- Are you originally from Charlotte, North Carolina?
What’s life like there?- At what age would you say that your passion for motivational speaking and writing began?
Was it a particular experience or series of experiences that fueled this passion?
3. The Breakfast Club host, Charlamagne Tha God is from South Carolina and is a best selling author and is very encouraging and motivational , especially towards the Black American Community.]]>
Would you say he is someone who inspires you?
If so/not, who are some of the other motivational
speakers and authors who inspire you?
4. We always look forward to your motivational videos on social media.
What’s your process like for creating this content?
5. What’s the response been like so far towards your motivational videos?
6. What does progress mean to you?
7. What’s your favorite quote ?
8. Tell us a bit more about Wayne Eric the author.
What are some of the writing projects you are working on now?
9. What do you do when you are not working or motivating others?
How do you relax?10. What type of music motivates you the most?
Any particular songs worth mentioning?11. Da Baby is a popular rapper whose recent success has really put Charlotte, North Carolina on the map.
Do you think his success has been motivating others from the city?
12. What’s next for Wayne Eric in 2020?
Also Any advice for other authors on the come up?FOLLOW WAYNE ERIC ON INSTAGRAM
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5. What advice would you give to aspiring super moms who wish to make that change into a healthier lifestyle and fitness for 2020?
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With that in mind, we decided to look into global trends within cosmetology and while doing so, we had the honor of interviewing a young progressive Mogul from the Caribbean who agreed to share with us, part of her come up story. Ladies and Gentlemen, we present to you Madame Aruna Maharaj!
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The Beauty and Cosmetology industry is continuously growing worldwide. According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S Department of Labor, employment of barbers, hairstylists and cosmetologists is projected to grow by 8 percent from 2018 to 2028. That's faster than the average for all occupations, with population growth leading the greater demand for hair care services in particular.
With that in mind, we decided to look into global trends within Cosmetology and while doing so, we had the honor of interviewing a young progressive mogul from the Caribbean who agreed to share part of her journey and come up story with us. Ladies and Gentlemen, we present to you Madame Aruna Maharaj!
]]>1. Hey Aruna, where are you from originally? We see you are based in Trinidad & Tobago, what’s life like there?
Hi, I was born and raised in Trinidad & Tobago. It's a small Caribbean island very close to South America. The weather is mostly tropical, with some rain from time to time. Trinidad has both island-life & hustle and bustle corporate world. It's a great balance of both work & relaxation.
2. When did your passion for cosmetology begin?
I was born into the industry so I was doing everything naturally. There was never a real moment when I discovered my passion for beauty, it was more like it was pre-destined. Even the courses I did in my earlier years, I was forced to do it by my Mom; at age 14 was my first makeup course.
3. Who were some of the cosmetologists that inspired you during your come up?My grand-mother was the first and original Madame Maharaj.She was the first woman in Trinidad to color her hair. And she established the first cosmetology school in Trinidad. She would have been a MAJOR inspiration.
4. What would you say is the biggest misconception people have about cosmetology and/or cosmetologists?
That people who do cosmetology are dumb or not academically inclined. But we have had doctors and attorneys quit their jobs to pursue a career in cosmetology at our school.
5. We see that you have the #1 Hairdressing Academy in Trinidad & Tobago! Congratulations! That’s amazing. Can you tell us a bit more about the Madame Maharaj School of Cosmetology?
6. You must have a crazy schedule balancing career and business. What do you do in your down time, when you aren’t working or running your academy?
I love adventures and nature, so whatever little time I get to myself I try to go to the beach, or a park somewhere!
7. What does progress mean to you?
Progress means learning and growing. It means evolving not just professionally but also personally, as a human being.
8. We see that you are a proud vegan and animal lover. What inspired you to turn vegan?
I had an awakening earlier this year when I started to lose touch with those closest to me, and it took my world almost crumbling around me for me to wake up and see what is really important in life. I've since put my ego aside, and worked it out. Healing parts of me, opened up a new side to me that I did not know I even had. From this a lot of clarity has come and with this clarity I realized that we have to LOVE everything and everyone around us, including animals and trees. We are just as much a part of nature as a tree. We are no different from a tree other than the fact that we have intellect. Apart from that, we are the same and as such, I don't think we have the moral authority to hurt an animal.
9. What’s your favourite animal and why?
Dogs for sure! Only because they give love so unconditionally and so willingly. We can learn a lot from how a dog is capable of loving.
10. What advice would you give to aspiring cosmetologists coming up in the industry?
To focus on yourself and your clients. Yes it is important to have an idea of what the competition is doing, but not to the point where you compare your work to theirs or yourself to them. Each of us is unique, so once we mind our business and focus on ourselves, success is inevitable.
11. We see you love to travel as well. Where is your dream place to visit that you haven’t been to as yet?Indonesia!!!
12. What’s next for Aruna and the Madame Maharaj School of Cosmetology?
We are planning to start placing more emphasis on inner beauty and not only outer beauty. We are including new modules in our cosmetology syllabus to cover not only hair, skin, make up, nails etc. but also things like Inter & Intrapersonal development, communication, customer service, small business planning and more. This way students can have the soft skills needed to complement their technical skills.
Mme Maharaj School of Cosmetology was established in 1957 by Ramdoolarie Maharaj and was the first Hairdressing Academy in Trinidad & Tobago. When she went by boat to France to further specialize in the field, no one would ever imagine how one woman would so considerably contribute to shaping the beauty industry in Trinidad and by extension, the Caribbean. It was in Paris, France, that she was bestowed the title of "Madame." Since then the school has educated over 6000 students in the field of hair and beauty culture. The main goal of the institution since its inception is: "To provide the highest quality education for all students. To prepare them for the world of work and to ensure that they become professionals in the field of Cosmetology."
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To be honest, it started with guests asking me if I knew how to make a cocktail. At the time I was eighteen years old and knew very little about mixing drinks, so I went to a book shop the next day with the last little bit of money I had and purchased a small cocktail book. I paged through the book, found a few drinks I could make with the ingredients we had and started practicing. The next time those guests came in, I had a small menu ready for them and I guess I never stopped from there.
I honestly think it was the guests at the bar who first inspired me to take it seriously and pursue it full time. There was something magical and rewarding about having the opportunity to serve people every night in a manner which made leave the bar happier than when they arrived. I spend a lot of time developing drinks and working on my technique, but those are not my primary focus. I see the drink as a tool for providing a person with an experience and when the attention to detail coupled with warm hospitality come together, it results in happy people. How cool is that?
To be honest this industry is terrible for achieving a work/life balance. The hours are long and in many, many cases with very little form of a break or time to eat properly. As a full time bartender, my hours were generally 80 hours to 100 hours per week and it was very rare that I would have a break in that time. The hours of a bartender in a high end bar are similar to the hours of a chef in a Michelin starred restaurant. You sacrifice your social life, your time with family, it puts big strain on your relationships and when you are off, your friends in “regular jobs” probably won’t be available to meet with you. So, for social interaction, you hang out in bars where friends of yours in the industry work. It's very easy to get sucked into a vortex of poor nutrition, lack of sleep and a potentially toxic social life. Chefs and Bartenders have some of the highest suicide rates, so this is something which must be addressed and improved on in the industry.
I love creating new experiences or changing a guests perception of spirits. Very often I hear people say they hate Tequila or Rum or some other spirit and that is where I see an opportunity. I guarantee you, I can make a drink based on a spirit you think you don’t like, which you will like. I believe in serving people, not drinks, so when I see an opportunity to provide an experience through a drink, I take it!
I love bartending, but it's not something I see myself being able to do in ten or twenty years time. I guess I started thinking about where I could potentially have a future in the industry without smashing out 300 cocktails a night or working the crazy hours. Since I started bartending, rum has always held a special place in my heart so I decided to create my own opportunities within the industry and fill a gap I saw in the white rum market.
It's very much Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica vibe, which I know sounds weird as they’re very different styles, but I think that's what makes it work. As for visiting Trinidad and Tobago, although I’ve consumed vast quantities of your rum, I am yet to actually visit. Something I need to rectify very soon!
The response has been amazing! We’ve had people reaching out from all over the world and one of the best feelings is receiving a message from someone in a country where we aren’t for sale yet, but a friend of that person has taken the time to purchase a bottle as a gift and take it to them. It's genuinely a feeling I can’t describe. The response from bartenders around the world has been amazing too, and we’ll often get messages out of the blue from a bartender, saying that a guest brought a bottle of William George into their bar for them to try. Moments like that make all the stress of being a start-up worth it.
To be honest, I’m still figuring that out. I still have not achieved balance and it's one of the most difficult things to get right. I guess it's one of the many aspects which are a constant work in progress.
Oh wow, this is another tough one. I guess sometimes I have to force myself to make time for my personal life, or maybe I should say that my body and mind force me too. Sometimes I can feel myself becoming less and less productive and have to force myself to take a day or two off. It ties in with that whole balance side of it all. I try to meet with friends occasionally or spend time with family doing something unrelated to the industry I’m in, but it doesn’t always end up that way. It's so easy to get caught up in things you feel need to get done now, when in reality, some of it could realistically wait until tomorrow. I think when I was in a relationship it forced me to take more down time because you want to spend time with that special person in your life. As a single guy however, I tend to forget that I still need that down time.
I'm one of those people who quite literally listens to everything. In a single day I can switch between Classical, Hip Hop, 90’s rock, Reggae, EDM, Country, various forms of African music and everything you can think of. Sometimes I love to sit and listen to a story being told through music and other times I just need a beat or varying forms of rhythm with no words. When working out I tend to stick to Hip Hop, EDM or Rock. Something to get the heart racing.
This is something I get asked a lot and it's actually quite difficult to answer. Kind of like asking a mother to pick her favourite chid. I guess if I had to choose just one drink to enjoy for the rest of my life, it would be a shaken Daiquiri with fresh lime juice (none of that premix stuff thank you) and of course, a hearty measure of William George.
Man, I wish I knew what the future holds. I hope it holds financial and personal success and that I can build William George up to the point where it allows me to make a difference. I’m a big believer in the education of people and conservation of our natural world. I would love to be able to contribute to both of those through William George. I would love to be a Partner and Dad one day and be able to offer some form of support to people in this industry trying to figure out how to balance work and life.
As for what progress means to me? I see progress as a journey which involves good times and hard times and although the hard times are sometimes really hard and make you question your choices in life, if you can absorb the blows and learn from them, I believe you’re one step closer to more good times. I think Rudyard Kipling summed it up in his poem If, when he said the following:
If you can dream and not make dreams your master;
If you can think and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
In my opinion, Progress is very often being humble enough to admit to your mistakes, the wisdom to learn from those mistakes and the will to simply hold on…
William George ™ rum was created to honour two great men who pursued honesty and embodied strength. The drive to honour two grandfathers led to the pursuit of perfection. This unique blend was crafted with passion and commitment to offer the world an exceptional taste, so you can once again embrace the iconic experience of white rum. William Simpson and George Nicholls were Grandfathers to Andrew Nicholls and Richard Nicholls, two of the founders of William George Rum. William moved from England to Zambia in 1938 and returned to England to serve during World War II. William then returned to Zambia after World War II. George moved from England to Zimbabwe in 1956, after having served in World War II. Both men had a deep love for Africa.
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Hi, Yes I am. I think that it has been a blessing to grow up here. Finland is an amazing place to live and I think, here in Finland, we have great opportunities for example, we can study for free, we have a good health care system, peace and equality. I think that it is safe to grow up here. I`m very proud that I´m a Finnish. It is always an honor to represent Finland in international competitions.
I indulged in sports from an early age. I`m a very active person and I love to move my body. Sport is not only a part of my life, it’s bigger, it makes me feel alive. I started to play ice hockey when I was about seven years old. I have been practicing in the gym since about 2010. I injured my ACL in 2014 during one game. I started to mainly lift weights, when I was rehabilitating my ACL. At some point, I realized that lifting weights and shaping my physique was so amazing and it became my passion. And I am also addicted to progress. It was very interesting and motivating to see changes in my own body and my power levels. By then, I was also interested in the importance of nutrition. Ice hockey gave me a good base. My injury opened my eyes and led me to this sport. Cliche, but ”everything happens for a reason”.
My inspiration is progress and developing myself to a better and better physique. I do this, because I love to live like this sport requires me to. Fitness is not just a workout or eating, it`s more and just that makes it so awesome. You have to be an athlete in every part of your life, if you really want to do your best and find out what is your best physique. In this sport, you need a lot of mind power and attitude. I love to lift heavy weights, push myself to my limits and over them. Last reps are my favorite, because of that burn in my muscles and soul, it’s amazing.. Sport wakes up so many amazing feelings in me and that just makes it so great. After training I want to be able to look in the mirror and be able to say to myself, that I did my best. I have always liked to do things where I can see my result of the work. This sport is that kind of sport. It`s so cool to see changes and results in my own body. I really want to see where I can develop my self.
It was a wonderful journey and I want to emphasize that it was the journey that made winning feel so great. I really like competition prep and the road to competition. I have an amazing coach, Jiipee Pulkkinen, who I trust like a stone, so it was easy to just do what he says. Of course, at the same time, I want to learn what we are doing and why. I can honestly say for myself. that I did my best every day at the prep. During prep, I keep my focus during workouts, so that my set weights don`t fall down and that my workout doesn`t get lazy. I can honestly say that I really enjoyed my journey to the competition. I think that is why it doesn`t feel ”bad”; for me it is that I like to challenge my self, work hard at the gym, go to my limits, use my mind power and just enjoy this lifestyle.
I think it`s result of years doing it. I have been training like an athlete for maybe 10 years, so my body is accepting that athlete position. I eat clean food around the year, train hard and I´m also a very active person.
I workout 5-6 times in a week and basically after three hard weeks, I have 4 days rest. I like to workout before school. I wake up early and also go to bed early. I sleep 8 hours of quality sleep every night because rest and sleep also are very important part of this sport. Almost every decision that I make is connecting to this sport and ensuring that my development is the best possible. In some situations that means more rest.
When I have holidays at school, I train two times a day, morning workout and evening. By then the sets and reps are almost the same as when I workout once a day but the workouts are shorter and at evening, I can use more weights in sets than if I do everything in one workout. So both workouts are very high quality and I have good energy and power levels throughout the both exercises.
DAILY ROUTINE when I have school 8 am to 4 pm:
4.00 am WAKE UP
4.30 BREAKFAST (liquid ”meal”)
5.00-7.00 WORKOUT
7.00 POST WORKOUT DRINK
8.00 MEAL
8.15-16 SCHOOL: two meals during my school day
HOME: sauna, homework, food prep, home stuff, stretching, some times netflix etc.
19.00 EVENING SNACK
19.30 BED TIME
20.00 I START TO SLEEP
Usually after school, I just chill at home doing school work, stretching, listening to audiobooks or podcasts, watching Netflix or You Tube. My favorite thing for relaxing is a Finnish sauna. I like cooking and for me it`s relaxing. So I like preparing my meals. Almost every day, I speak with my mum on the telephone. She is my mom but also at the same time my best friend. She lives in same country and we usually see each other on weekends
I have always been interested in the human body. I think that the human body is so amazing and it`s so amazing what you can do with it. I also like to help other people. Now, I have one year left in my studies. In Finland, we have a sports academy, which supports the combination of school and sport. They give us the opportunity to practice in different places, do blood tests and support us, if we have some problems. But in the end, I have the responsibility, how I balance my daily life. I think that the key for balance is that I love to live this way and I’m very motivated to develop myself as an athlete. It required a lot of scheduling and planning but I like to make schedules and plan my days.
I don`t have anyone special. Of course some athletes have my dream physique.
I really like hard workers who are not getting every thing so easily and are not as talented. So I look up to them. I think that hard work beats talent in some places and that inspires me so much. I believe in hard work.
You are never ready and you can always get higher and higher. You can't get progress if you don`t earn it and push yourself to limits and over them. So, I think that you have to earn your progress by doing your best and I think that makes the progress feel so amazing. It`s the prize for daily decisions.
With my coach, we have plans for 2020 and we are gonna make them happen. Just now it`s time to make progress to my physique and then show it. Our target is to compete at 2020 autumn, and if/when all goes well, I will compete more than once next year and continue to compete more frequently. In the future, I want to compete abroad and win there. We also have to do some big plans for the future but I won`t tell it yet, I will show it.
Understand that this sport asks for dedication and real motivation. Stay consistent, focus on your daily routine, be yourself, enjoy the journey, learn to push yourself to limits and have a good coach.
All kind of music. Usually it´s something that wake up some feelings or wakes up me when I´m warming up. Sometimes I might be whistling or singing at the gym and I don`t even notice that myself. But when I´m doing my sets I don`t even hear the music, I think that I´m so in flow mode and in some ”other world”.
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]]>Ladies and Gentlemen, we present to you Maite Montenegro!
]]>Ladies and Gentlemen, we present to you Maite Montenegro!
Hi Maite!
We just wanted to start off by saying you are awesome and such an inspiration!
Thanks for taking the time to do this interview with us.
(You Can Listen To Her Answers Below)
1. Where are you from originally and at what age did you start singing and performing ?
De dónde eres y a qué edad empezaste a cantar y hacer tus presentaciones?
I'm from Colombia. I don't remember when I started to sing, so... in my brain, I have memories, when I was 3 or 4 years old and I sang in every place.
In the room, in the store, in the school, in the bathroom, really, everywhere. And the people heard me and they said "Wow, that girl sounds like an angel!" and I said, "Seriously? This is my talent, this is a dream, oh my goodness!" And my first performance was when I was 5 years old, in front of so much people. So, in that moment, I decided that music will be my life.
Soy de Colombia, bueno no recuerdo exactamente cuando empecé a cantar; tal vez tendría tres o cuatro años y yo ya me sentía una pequeña shakira jejjejeje. Mis padres me cuentan que yo cantaba siempre y en todo lugar si íbamos de compras al centro comercial yo estaba cantando, si me estaba bañando yo estaba cantando, si estaba en la escuela yo estaba cantando realmente todo el tiempo estaba cantando era algo que estaba en mí, como una necesidad de querer expresarme a través de la música. Ya mi primera presentación la realice a los 5 años frente a un público fue la primera vez que tuve la oportunidad de tener un micrófono en mis manos entonces fue algo muy bonito porque fue de esos momentos donde tú sientes que esas son las cosas que te gustan y que te hacen sentir feliz.
2. When did you and your parents decide that this is something you wanted to do professionally?
Cuando tus padres y tú decidieron que querían tomar la música de manera
profesional?
After my first performance, my parents saw potential in me, how I did it with passion, how I like it so much, and obviously, how I feel like Beyonce on the stage. And then they put me in musical school, and then, I began to take music seriously.
Después de esa primera presentación en público mis padres se dieron cuenta que no era un Hobby sino que de verdad era algo que yo disfrutaba muchísimo y que me veíamuy decidida a hacerlo, mis padres empezaron a ver el potencial en mi con los instrumentos musicales, veían mi manera de interpretar y de sentir la música, mi
manera de expresarme en un escenario y tomaron la decisión de ponerme en escuela musical donde aprendí a tocar piano y tuve la oportunidad de desarrollar mucho más mis habilidades musicales, mi oído musical y creo que ya fue en ese momento cuando en familia decidieron darme su total apoyo y permitirme dedicar a la música claro sin dejar de lado mi educación.
3. You spent some time in Trinidad and Tobago, what was your experience like while you were there? Did you get a chance to perform?
Tú pasaste un largo tiempo en Trinidad y Tobago cuéntanos cuál fue tu experiencia y si Tuviste la oportunidad de hacer alguna presentación?
Yes, I love Trinidad and Tobago, it is my second home, because my dad is a Trinbagonian. My time in Trinidad is the best time. I love my school, my friends, my house. I miss doubles, seriously, my pets. I love soca. Trinidad give me the wonderful opportunity for singing at Queens Hall, Decibel 2017, at the Savannah, Movie Towne, at Gulf City, many karaokes and Red Runway. I had the opportunity to sing with Nailah Blackman and dance with Xtreme Dance Academy. For that, Trinidad, will always be in my heart.
Sí claro Trinidad y Tobago es mi segundo hogar mi padre y toda su familia son de ese país y tengo maravillosas experiencias, siempre que estoy en trinidad disfruto mucho mi tiempo. Yo amo mi escuela en Trinidad, amo a mis amigos, extraño mucho mi casa, mis mascotas, extraño la comida; sobretodo los doubles. me encanta la música (Soca), el Carnaval, además tuve la oportunidad de cantar en Queens Hall (decibeles el 2017), también cante en la Sabana al lado de Naila Blackman eso fue fantástico, en Movietowne, en City Goll, en diferentes karaokes, participe en un concurso gane y me presente en Red Runway, extraño mi academia de baile X-trame Dance Academy; de verdad que Trinidad me ha dado momentos especiales y amistades muy valiosas y por eso Trinidad y Tobago está en mi corazón.
Maite performing at the Kaiso Blues Cafe in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
Maite performing at Decibel 2018 at Queens Hall, Trinidad
Maite performing at Fiesta Plaza, Movie Towne.
4. What do you like to do when you are not singing?
Que te gusta hacer cuando no estás cantando o en tu tiempo libre?
I like to play with my pets. I like to dance, paint, I do craft, I see tv, I go to the pool with my friends, I like to design my outfits. I have a particular style, I work in my own style, that is what I like to do in my free time.
Me gusta mucho bailar, pintar, hacer manualidades, diseñar mis propios outfits; tengo un estilo muy particular entonces me gusta diseñar mi propia ropa, mis propios trajes para mis presentaciones y shows, me divierto mucho con mis amigas, voy a la piscina, voy a cine, Leo, veo mucho Animal Planet, Me encantan mucho las películas de princesas de Disney Eso es lo que hago en mi tiempo libre.
5. You are such a brave young girl. Where does this come from? Do you ever get nervous before you perform?
Siempre te ves como una chica fuerte en el escenario; Sientes nervios cuando estás apunto de salir a hacer tu show, tu presentación?
Thank you (laughs). Of course, I get nervous all the time, but I have God on my heart, and I know that I have to do my best and the people don't feel my fear. The most important thing for me is that the people enjoy my performance and leave with a smile on their face.
(Jejeje) Muchas gracias, Sí claro! por supuesto Siempre tengo mucho miedo y nervios de hacer algo mal o de equivocarme. Pero antes de salir le pido a papito Dios, le hago una oración pido su bendición y me lanzó al ruedo. Lo más importante es que el público y que la gente que esté presente no perciban mi miedo y que regresen a sus casas con una enorme sonrisa y satisfacción de haber disfrutado de un buen show o concierto.
6. You were a very popular contestant on La Voz (Colombia’s version of the Voice), what was the experience like?
Fuiste una concursante muy popular en la reciente versión de La Voz Kids en Colombia. Cuál fue tu experiencia?
Wow, I have so much wonderful experiences. I met exceptional people, I grew professionally and as a person. I had the opportunity to reach many hearts, through the TV, and to take our messages to children , who are like me, to follow their dreams.
Sí gracias a Dios tuve el privilegio y la gran fortuna de hacer parte de La Voz Kids
Colombia y fue una experiencia inolvidable, muy enriquecedora; me hizo crecer
profesionalmente, como niña, como persona, conocí gente maravillosa, gente
excepcional, y sobre todo me dio la oportunidad de llegar a muchos corazones a través de la televisión y de transmitir un mensaje de amor de paz de Esperanza, de mostrarle a los niños y decirles que si es posible soñar, que si nos preparamos con mucho amor con mucha disciplina y dedicación podemos cumplir nuestros sueños. entonces fue una participación muy bonita un recuerdo que quedó y quedará para siempre grabado en mi corazón.
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7. Are you working on new music to be released in the upcoming months ?
Estás trabajando en tu nueva música, tienes proyectos para los próximos meses?
Yes, I am working on music with my parents and my vocal coach from The Voice Kids. I hope to have my songs out within the next coming months and be on the digital platforms like Spotify, Deezer, You Tube and i-Tunes.
8. Can you give us any hints?
Puedes adelantarnos algo?
(Laughs) No, I can't give you anything right now, because I want it to be a suprise. You can follow me on my social networks:
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Jejeje No puedo es una sorpresa, sólo puedo decirles que es un trabajo muy bonitohecho con mucho amor desde el corazón y que espero que se lo disfruten y si gustan. Pueden seguirme en mis redes sociales en instagram como Maite @maitemusic 08 en mi fanpage como Maite Montenegro Artista y en YouTube como Maite Montenegro Artista ahí estaré en los próximos días subiendo toda la información de lo que se viene para los siguientes meses así que todos súper pendientes y conectados conmigo.
9. Who are some of the artists who you look up to?
Tienes algún artista que sea tu referente en la música?
My inspirations in the music industry are Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Etta Johns, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson and of course, Shakira.
Bueno tengo muchos en realidad por ejemplo me encanta mucho Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Michael Jackson, Etta Johns, Frank Sinatra, Bruno Mars y por supuesto Shakira de mi país.
10. What is your favorite subject in school?
Cuál es tu materia favorita?
I have two favourite subjects, Science and Art.
Tengo dos: Ciencias y Artes
11. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
Cómo te ves en 5 años?
In 5 years, I would like to see myself on the world stage, touring and hearing my music on the radio. I hope to transmit positive messages of love, peace and hope.
Me veo como un artista ya consagrada en los grandes escenarios del mundo, haciendo mi shows, haciendo mi música, produciendo mis propias canciones, dirigiendo misvideos, con mi propia línea de perfumes y de ropa, me veo recorriendo el mundo llevando alegría a través de mi voz y siendo una abanderada de las causas a favor del planeta y de la igualdad social.
12. What advice would you give to other young kids like yourself who want to get into music professionally?
Quisieras darle algún mensaje a los niños que como tú desean iniciar desde jóvenes una carrera musical?
My central message is to fight for your dreams, with hard work, passion and desire to succeed and belief in God, all things are possible.
Claro! Mi mensaje principal para los niños es que peleen por sus sueños, con su
corazón con sus ganas, con sus deseos, Que se preparen, que se dejen guiar por sus padres, que sean disciplinados, que se pongan metas, que este es un camino largo y un poco difícil pero con amor y si tienes a Dios en tu corazón todo es posible.
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