October is the month of Halloween. Halloween falls on 31st October and its origin goes back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. It was believed that on that night the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.
This month we will be bringing you a special horror feature. Each of our model’s photos will be accompanied by a three sentence horror story. Who doesn’t love a good horror story? 👻 😊 So stay tuned and get ready for some thrills and chills.
Retro fashion has an unique charm. It keeps making a comeback. We often rummage for vintage items in flea marets or raid our parents/ grandparents’ closets for yesteryear outfits. From bell-sleeved hippie dresses, floral shirts, checkered outfits to chokers, hair accessories and neckties, 60s and 70s fashion surely catches the eye and suits all body types.
Our ‘Blast From The Past’ photoshoot is a tribute to that era. Stay tuned for more photos.
Meet our featured beauty with brains Sarah Elizabeth Paget, a photographer based in the Gold Coast (Australia). Here is an interview with the lovely and talented lady:
Tell us more about yourself – what you do, your hobbies, passions etc
I am a freelance, professional photographer based on the Gold Coast. I offer a wide range of services and have a passion for capturing genuine moments and emotions. I also create a healing, crystal jewellery line called Sarasvati Jewelry and each piece is designed with a purpose. I have worked as a professional chef and love working in the kitchen. I am very passionate about healthy living and also help women look and feel amazing and confident in their skin by selling amazing skincare devices and products. I organise a monthly, charity photoshoot collaboration. There are usually 30-50 photographers, 20 models and companies who fit to the theme. We also have hair and makeup artists for all of the models. We all pitch in about $5 or however much we are able and choose a different charity each month. I am very passionate about connecting with and supporting other creatives in my community.
Who or what inspires you?
Helping people grow their businesses, talents and networks inspires me. Also, helping people feel happy and confident and empowering women to go after their dreams. It also inspires me to be able to give back to my community and people and organisations in need
If you could photograph any celebrity, who would it be and why?
If I could photograph any celebrity it would have to be Audrey Hepburn. She was a fashion icon, spent a lot of her life pursuing philanthropic work and seems like she was a classy and intelligent woman.
Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
In ten years from now I would love to be living on a self sustainable island with my partner, friends and family. I could remotely run my online businesses and would fly into bigger fashion shoots or campaigns when needed. I would like to have a vineyard to make my own, organic wine as well as grow organic fruit and veg. I want to have free range chickens who will lay delicious and healthy eggs and lots of animals running around.
Feel free to check out her website & social media:
Meet our featured beauty with brains Ankita Chopra, a Dhol (Indian Drum) player based in Melbourne, Australia.
Here is an interview with this talented artist.
Tell us more about yourself – what you do, your hobbies, passions etc.
Hello everybody, I am Ankita Chopra and I am a dhol player in Melbourne, Australia. Basically, I hail from India and here in Australia I am pursuing my studies and my hobbies. Playing my instrument is my passion as it acts as a stress buster for me.
You play the dhol. Who or what inspired you?
Yes, I am a dhol player. As I said earlier that I hail from India and in India we have our temple of Baba Balak Nath ji where dhol players come to play. My parents told me that God has gifted me with musical talent. I learnt dhol from my father (Hardeep Chopra), my dhol teacher Kasturi uncle and Raju paji.
Do you think there is a difference between dhol players here and in India?
Yes, there is huge difference between dhol players in India and here as in India they are more professional and they work on minute details but here I can’t find professional Dhol players.
Would you like to collaborate with other artists?
Yes, I would love to collaborate with other artists because if we have talent, then we should showcase it and in future with God’s grace, you will get to see me playing dhol with other artists. But till then I will entertain you all on my YouTube channel, as a number of my videos are uploaded there, and the response I receive on the videos is very overwhelming.
Meet our featured beauty with brains Mani Dixit, a YouTuber based in Sydney, Australia. Her YouTube channel ‘Bindaas Baatein’ (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxHVlonTwV3njt0yKK_yi4A) has been gaining in popularity and garnering lots of attention.
“My videos are compilations of my experiences with life. I narrate stories from my life and what I have learned from them. My videos talk about all aspects of life, as such they are full of fun, facts and emotions.” – Mani.
Here is an interview with this talented lady.
Tell us more about yourself – your hobbies, dreams, passions.
I am from Allahabad (India), we moved to Australia in 2004 as I was really very ambitious for my family and wanted to give them better opportunities in life.
I do not have any hobbies however there are a bunch of things that I enjoy doing, like:
* reading
* Listening to music
* Watching movies
* Dancing
* Interior designing
* Making my weekly videos
* Spending time with my kids and listening to them
My Passion and dreams:
* my thoughts reaching huge audience and making some difference in our way of thinking
* One day making enough from my channel ( presently making nothing 🤣)to then pursue my other passion to design rooms and flip houses
* Succeeding in making my kids follow their passion and not give in and settling for alternatives
* Moving into a self designed tiny house
* Travelling at my own pace with no pressure or return tickets
* Making a difference and doing good for the society and kids in general
* Becoming a foster parent one day
2. You started a YouTube channel sometime ago. Who or what inspired you?
My YouTube channel is just a platform for me to share my stories with the world and hoping that one day it will make a difference and that people will relate to my experiences and will learn from them.
I am fond of narrating stories and my friends have told me that I am good at it; one of my friends actually always told me to do something with this talent.
My daughter when she was in Year 11 wanted to start her YouTube channel and while helping her with her channel I realised that this could be a great way for me to share my stories with a wider audience.
My channel was born on February 2019. I had started with no expectations however now I love making my videos and have never missed uploading.
I have since February 2019 released a video every Friday and will continue to do this.
Although my videos have not done great but it is growing slowly and I am really proud of that.
3. What does women empowerment mean to you?
On 8 March 2019 (international Women’s Day) I made a video that shares my thoughts on women empowerment fully, will share the link here for all to watch, bit in short I feel women are already empowered we just need to stand together for each other 😊
Below is the link to my episode from my channel talking about women empowerment:
4. What obstacles did you face in life? How did you overcome them?
I believe obstacles and huddles are opportunities in disguise and I have had my fair share .
I conquer all the challenges by being determined and by convincing others I never force my thoughts on others I convince them and convert them.
* Just moving my family to Australia was a huge challenge as no one supported that decision
* Letting my daughter follow her passion was a challenge
* Standing strong with my daughter when she came out as a lesbian was a challenge
* Giving equal attention to both my kids is a challenge, sometimes
* Kids feeling my love is a challenge
* Giving back to the society is a challenge
* Following my passion and dreams is a challenge
With all the challenges life throws at me I become a better and a stronger more loving person.
I love life and I live for and value good priceless relations.
“With Spring well and truly here, summer approaching, weather warming up and days getting longer, you may be feeling the need to clean up or change a few things and your diet may be one of them.
Spring is that time of the year dedicated to new beginnings and making those changes, let’s do that change you have always wanted NOW!
CHOOSE MORE Spring foods with tastes that are pungent (spicy), bitter, astringent (these increase metabolism – a good thing in Spring!) and prepare them in a way that’s light, dry and warm: well-steamed veggies, brothy soups, rice (after all, it’s not Summer quite yet!). Especially veggies and greens that are loaded with water and low in sugar, such as cucumbers, lemons, spinach, kale, lettuce, cabbage.
CHOOSE FEWER foods that are sweet, sour, salty, heavy, cold, oily: like fried foods, ice cream, heavy dairy, heavy grains and breads (all more strongly associated with Winter).
A person may experience a variety of symptoms during Spring season such as foggy thinking or forgetfulness; tendon tightness; red, or dry eyes; lethargy; dry and itchy skin, or rashes. Through harmonizing with the spring energy we begin to feel energized, light and open. When spring arises, if you begin to feel out of balance, it may be a good time of year to receive bodywork like gentle energy and balancing chakras treatment through Reiki, Nutrition and Naturopath treatment in order to facilitate the body in opening and relaxing.
YOU CAN now book an appointment at Go Vita Blacktown, Westpoint Shopping Centre (https://www.facebook.com/wellbeingkarma/) to see a registered Reiki Practioner, and for Naturopath and Nutrition Consultations.
Enjoy your health and clarity this spring!” – Shilpi (Nutritionist & Model).
Photoshoot Theme: Spring Fashion Model: Shilpi Shah Gupta (Www.instagram.com/crazysii) Organised By (Concept & Execution): Sakhi Magazine (http://sakhi.online) Empowered Beauties With Brains
“It’s the time of year when everything in nature is changing and promising new life and new hope. After the long, dark, winter months, spring is literally a breath of fresh air. And as the days get longer, the nights get shorter, and it starts to feel warmer, nature responds in a big way.” – Piyali.
Photoshoot Theme: Spring Fashion Model: Piyali Chatterjee Organised By (Concept & Execution): Sakhi Magazine (http://sakhi.online) Empowered Beauties With Brains
“For me spring is the festival season, with colourful florals everywhere, like a welcome back to the outdoors. It feels like an awakening, like fresh new growth.” – Sony.
Photoshoot Theme: Spring Fashion Model: Sony Reddy Organised By (Concept & Execution): Sakhi Magazine (http://sakhi.online) Empowered Beauties With Brains
Empowered Brave Women Building Futures 