Why Tess Holliday's Cosmo Cover Is Important

A recent conversation at work had me disagreeing with some of my colleagues, so much so, I've bashed out a bunch of words on my day off trying to get my head around it.

Tess Holliday, the cover star

If you're still one of those people who stops to look at the magazine shelf in the shop, you'll have seen the red head model blowing you a kiss from the Cosmo front cover. She stands out for obvious reasons. Her pale skin decorated with tattoos, and her size 26 figure.

Proving itself a hot topic, I found myself disagreeing with my entire team on Friday afternoon. Discussing their points that the plus size model shouldn't be on the cover because it promotes unhealthiness, a dangerous excuse for young minds, I simply can't help but wonder, where the eff is the girl power?

Mental health is just as important as the physical. To me, I see a young woman who is confident, and happy, and that's inspiring. She's so obviously not telling anyone to go out and eat three Big Macs for lunch.

Speaking to Holly and Phillip on This Morning, Tess said: "My message isn't, 'Let's all be fat!'. My message is, 'Let's love yourself, regardless of how you look in your current body'.

Instagram super babes like Ashley Graham, I Weigh's Jameela Jamil and Florence Given have given women a new burst of life to celebrate every single type of woman, from those who've battled eating disorders, to the ones on the larger side and the ladies who don't give a shit what you think of their casual sex habits.

The I Weigh movement

"WOMEN DON'T OWE YOU PRETTY" tee as worn by the artist, Florence Given

Florence released a line of t-shirts this weekend for Weekday, proudly displaying the hand printed slogan "Women Don't Owe You Pretty" across the front. This is the perfect comeback for Piers Morgans unwanted comments on the September 2018 magazine cover.

Donald Trump's buddy and the Good Morning Britain host wrote on Instagram, "As Britain battles an ever-worsening obesity crisis, this is the new cover of Cosmo. Apparently we’re supposed to view it as a ‘huge step forward for body positivity.’ What a load of old baloney. This cover is just as dangerous & misguided as celebrating size zero models"

Presumably, if you're obese, you probably know the health risks. So, let's get one thing straight, obesity has always been an issue. Heart disease isn't something that has recently been discovered, and diabetes and cancer haven't just sprung up over night. Can someone please let Piers know, and tell Some Black Guy that women don't exist for your "land whale" comments whilst you're at it.

The history of womens magazines is soaked in hidden sexism. If it's not a spread on the latest diet, it's a perfectly toned young woman, with every inch photoshopped, next to cover lines like, "How To Give The Perfect Handjob", or "Lose 10 Pounds In 10 Days". And people think a fat woman is the dangerous one here?

Speaking on This Morning, Tess said "At the end of the day, I'm not doing this for people like Piers".

"I'm doing this for women around the world that need to see someone that looks like me to feel less alone and to understand that the way they look is beautiful."

She said that the majority of her following is not plus size, but that it's quite diverse, and a lot of women have issues with their bodies. The fact that her image on a magazine cover could make the news, cause a 53-year old male divorcee to comment to such an obsessive extent and the Cosmopolitan editor to receive death threats, made her suggest, "We could go a long way with a little bit of respect and kindness".

"I'm doing this for women around the world that need to see someone that looks like me to feel less alone and to understand that the way they look is beautiful."

Women care about what they look like; The fitness market is helping women to get strong, not skinny, more and more people are choosing to go vegan, and with body positivity movements gathering further representation, I would go as far to say, it's never been better to be a modern female. All hail new wave feminism and how it's helping to change how women see their bodies. 

Which is why Tess Holiday on the front of Cosmo is so important folks. Let the people who don't understand play the shame game. Your happiness, character, intellect, personality and self worth are so much more important because beauty comes from the inside.

Here's to the art of absolutely loving yourself above anything else.

Girls Just Want To Have Fundamental Rights

Referendums are difficult. It’s not a case of agree to disagree. It’s a fight til the end. It’s Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali. It’s Thanos versus the Marvel Universe. It’s a long emotional process, with nail-biting nerves and a wavering uncertainty of the end result. The 8th Amendment referendum has divided the nation. The cultural and political barrier between the two sides is more evident than you could ever imagine. It ain’t pretty, and you probably will never look at some people the same way ever again.

Image Source Unknown

The Bible says "Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward," and in a predominately catholic country, it’s sad that abortion stigma is still prevalent in Irish society today. To put this all into words, is some form of closure for me too. My mother had a terminated pregnancy in 1996. She was mentally unwell and had an addiction to alcohol. Not coping with her everyday life, the financial and personal burden of a third child was not the ideal situation for my family in that moment in time. I was always told she miscarried, last Christmas, 21 years later and twenty-seven years old, I found out the truth. It's upsetting that it was hidden from me for so long, but this is the nature of the environment we live in: Abortions are "a licence to kill", morally wrong and a dirty secret.

Whilst I have thought about the sibling I might of had, I know that my late mother made the best choice for her. As every Irish woman should be rightfully allowed. In Her Shoes - Women Of The Eight has been a blessing for the population by helping break the shame of ending a pregnancy. Judgmental free, these brave women have allowed us to see the reality of difficult decisions made, and the ones they could legally not.

I’m not fortunate enough to get on the electoral register, but I’ve done my best to discuss the referendum with just about any one I can. Living on the other side of the Irish Sea for six years, I can still appreciate the reforming attitudes from within the isle I grew up on. In 1995, divorce became legal. In 2015, Ireland legalised same-sex marriage, and legislation to decriminalise drugs could come in early 2019. Ireland has progressed massively since I first called it home in December 1995, and we shouldn’t stop here. We should keep fighting for change. Since the church lacks creditability, it has never been more important to question outdated catholic “rules”. Abortion is not child abuse. Child abuse is 796 children in an unmarked grave in Tuam. Where was the No campaign when babies were getting thrown into septic tanks? Do they not care about the mothers who were denied of basic human rights and compassion in the 1950s? Do they not see how the law must change?

Ill informed information has been thrown into the public during this referendum. Fact checking doesn’t seem to concern the No campaign. How can any one honestly believe that 1 in 5 children here in the UK is aborted? Or that 90% of British babies with Down syndrome result in a terminated pregnancy? It makes me think of the lies Nigel Farage fed his Leave campaign promising £350 million to the NHS, or the poster of queuing refugees proclaiming that the country was at breaking point. Speaking of posters, the distressing graphic images of late developed foetuses outside schools and hospitals are nothing but vile desperate tactics used to intimidate and scare voters into their irrational beliefs.

I know the majority of my friends here are putting an “X” in that Yes box tomorrow, but if there is anyone undecided, please vote Yes.

A Yes vote does not mean there will be no restrictions. A waiting period of 72 hours for reflection and counselling will follow. The period up to 12 weeks is termed early pregnancy and terminations beyond this will remain illegal, except in very specific circumstances such as rape or incest. Late term abortions will be illegal.

However, there will still be abortions even if No wins. We don’t need to turn our Irish women away. We do not need to send them to the UK, or resort them to ordering dangerous pills online.

This isn’t about robbing a child of its future. An abortion does not make you a murderer. It does not make you a killer. It’s most definitely not about religion, and it's not about getting abortions on demand.

You are voting for Savita Halappanavar. You are voting for my mother. You are voting for women’s rights, and the women that will come after them, and those after them. You are voting for access to safe, potentially lifesaving healthcare. You are voting for the state to not have control over your body.

A termination is not a decision a woman makes lightly.

You may not agree with abortion, but if you respect women, respect our fundamental right to choose.

Repeal,

Repeal,

Repeal.

Grá mór Éire.

Rave To Save: Walking With Elephants

Thailand is a huge holiday destination. The all-night beach parties and spiritual retreat are an allure for some, but travellers are now opening their eyes to the seedier sides of the country's tourism.

It's standard practice for holidaysmakers to Southeast Asia to pet a tiger or hop up on an elephant. Instagram posts may seem like everything is fine, but behind the filter all is not what it seems. The animal tourism trade is based on the cruel treatment of these magnificent creatures and exploiting the customer by removing them from the truth.

Using animals as begging instruments or masquerading them in wildlife sanctuaries, these oddly calm tigers, monkeys and elephants are subjected to humans force bottle feeding them or an iPhone shoved in their faces for a selfie. Many of the animals which are trafficked, or illegally bred, are taught to fear and are subjected to being drugged and mistreated daily.

One organisation stepping away from this type of trade, is the Mahouts Elephant Foundation (MEF).

"They're basically giving the captive elephants a free life," said the Synthapise event organiser Tonia Nee.

"All the money from the tourists is given to the Mahouts, a person who works and rides with elephants, so they can be sustained. 

"The tourists do not touch the elephants, there is no riding, no bull hooks, no abuse. Just go observe with the Mahout, and see the elephants living in their original land."

After raising £1,000 for Tower Hill Stables Animal Sanctuary from the first Synthapise event last September, Tonia has directed her attention to raising money for her "four legged friends".

"I started researching vegan, elephant, sanctuaries back in October last year, I wasn't satisfied with the ones I came across, some things didn't add up, then I went on a vegan forum and it was suggested to me to check out MEF - I did and liked what I saw."

After 10 years, the MEF idea is only really starting to take off now. The UK registered foundation was started by the Blaine family from Worcestershire. Working in partnership with the Karen Hill tribe, a remote and rural village in Northern Thailand, they developed a safari-style model for ethical elephant tourism.

Money raised by the MEF enables the Karen people, who live in Mae Hong Son (Thailand’s poorest province), to remain in their home village and look after their elephants with the highest welfare standards in the forest surrounding the village.

"Tourists do what’s called 'Walking with Elephants', and live with the Karen Hill Tribe and absorb their culture", said Tonia.

By offering different priced packages, it's a unique concept that allows the tourist to trek into the forest with the mahouts, meaning they get the best experience possible. 

As the Karen community demonstrates, man can live alongside elephant. Prior to 1989, this was exactly the case. In the same year, Thailand made logging illegal, and overnight, 2,000 mahouts found themselves out of work.

"It stemmed from The Western world. Man took away their land by destroying it to make furniture back in the 80s, and the Thai people were left with nothing," said Tonia, talking about the logging ban.

"They have no food and no homes, as the forest was that place for them", she continues, "they were forced into the city, a place that was so foreign to them; it was so messy. And abuse became an action out of fear and desperate times. That's when the abusive elephant tourism started."

Elephants play an important role in the continent's culture but only around 50,000 Asian Elephants remain in the wild. The biggest animals on land need help. Now featured on the endangered list, habitat loss; farmer and human conflict; and poachers and ivory hunters, also contribute to their decreasing population.

Tonia, a huge believer in animal rights, says a performance is an expression of one's beliefs. Literally taking the Electrowerkz stage this Saturday are eight of the best up and coming talents from underground clubs in London and Berlin. Playing dark, industrial techno are Karen Wilkins (Opulence), Claus Fauss (Khemia), JASMIN (Housewife) b2b Tonia Nee (Synthapise), Sllav (Koden), Ireen Amnes (UnderMyFeet.) b2b Anirec, Vishscale (LIVE).

"I've heard these guys play out and they deliver every time," said Tonia

"Beautiful beats and that magical atmosphere while we lose ourselves on the dance floor, all whilst our tickets go to helping improve these intelligent mammals lives."

They say an elephant never forgets, but you might. Purchase your ticket ahead of the event.

Can't make it? Donate to MEF directly.

Rave To Save: Meat You On The Dancefloor?

"We get techno, the animals get support." 

It might seem like an unlikely pairing, but thumping electronic music and an overwhelming dedication to the vegan lifestyle, gave Tonia Nee the idea to put on a night to remember.

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"Synthapise is a non-profit techno event raising awareness and funds for individual causes," said the budding DJ.

After bringing Synthapise from concept to creation, Tonia, who has also been vegan for three years, jokingly says: "Yes it is a mouthful and not so that I can watch people struggle, I promise!"

Pronounced Synth-a-pise, it is inspired by the words Synth, an electronic musical instrument, and Empathise.

From there it was a ripple affect of finding out more and more about what happens to these voiceless animals - who in her opinion could teach us a thing or two about life rather than vice versa.

Tonia first opted for a meat-free lifestyle when she was made aware of what happens behind the scenes in the dairy industry.

"I always had this mentality that cows produced milk for us, but the truth is that its for their babies, not us."

In order for cows to produce milk, farmers must keep them in a constant state of lactation, by repeatedly artificially inseminating them. After carrying a baby for 10 months the calf is separated from it's mother just seconds after birth.

If male, the baby is sent to the veal industry, and to the dairy farms if female.

"This cycle continues until the mother is of no "use" anymore and is disposed of - it's really heartbreaking," says Tonia.

For the first Synthapise event, the proceeds will go to Tower Hill Stables The shelter, which is run by Fiona Oaks and her partner Martin, have saved over 400 animals from abuse, neglect and slaughter.

"I was completely in awe of the work they do and knew I wanted to help them through Synthapise," said the DJ.

Originally hailing from The United States, her love for music came from the days of burning dance music CDs for kids in her school.

"I used to visit Ireland a lot as a kid," adding, "when I was there my cousins would introduce me to "dance" music."

"So with all my new found knowledge I would come back to America all clued up on on the "cool artists", like Scooter and Gigi Di Agostino, and be trying to explain to everyone about this dance music."

Instead of telling people about the genre of music, she decided to burn CDs and hand them out to the kids in my school," earning her the nickname Dj TNice by her classmates.

"My mom would have to buy me loads of blank CDs - and I would block the phone line, back when it was dial up, for hours downloading music and freaking out if anyone interrupted the internet connection!"

Describing the situation as mad, she assures people loved the CDs and she got known for making these "techno" discs.

Fast forward over 10 years later, Tonia has made her footprint on the scene. Enrolling in a course back in 2014, that taught her the basics, she has gone on her own little journey and met some amazing people who equally as passionate about electronic music.

Using her connections, Tonia has assembled the Synthapise lineup with artists who also support the cause. 

"I wouldn't have asked these guys to be a part of this if I didn't believe in them."

She adds, "I've heard all these guys playing out and have been impressed every time."

"After I open the event, our first guest is Karen Wilkins, she's all about deep groove and she knows exactly how to get a crowd going.

"Cat Hooper and Mariano Cicciarelli are a magnetic duo when behind the decks together- expect lots of high energy and moody baselines.

"Following Cat and Mariano is Tzapa and T. Tzapa has played at some of Londons biggest underground clubs and his partner in crime T has over 15 years of guitar expertise under his belt and is not a stranger to techno, so I can only imagine what these two are going to create!

"Odd Hills brings deep dark techno to our line up, using 4 channels to create hypnotising grooves.

"And last up with we have Anirec and End Train - both known to the London scene and also for their international gigs. Anirec, is a pseudonym - the person behind it is a wizard at break beats and heavy baselines. Joining Anirec in a B2B performance is End Train who is famous for his melancholic melodies and fast paced drums.

"I'm very excited to have them all on board and to be involved in such a great cause - we get techno, the animals get support."

All the Djs on the lineup are on SoundCloud and Facebook to get a preview. Follow Tonia for updates on this Saturdays event.

Tickets are available now on Resident Advisor for £6 + a £1 booking fee.

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Girls, Uninterrupted

It was only the second week of 2018, but bored with gloomy January already, an exhibition with colourful feminist art was exactly what the doctor ordered.

Curated by Florence Given, and in collaboration with Creative Debut, Girls, Uninterrupted held its private viewing last Thursday. First wave feminism is a rising culture. It's packed with passion and every one of the 21 artist on show have their own interruption of it through photography, print, paint, illustration, and sculpture.

With a waiting time of twenty minutes, the bulging queue on Shoreditch's Curtain Road eventually intertwined with after work pub goers outside The Barley Mow. Fashionable attendees were greeted by one half of the Creative Debut duo at the door.

Inside, the dimly lit ground floor was buzzing with people grabbing a drink at the bar. Descending down the concrete staircase, the basement was the real star of the show. The art space was jam packed, there wasn't an inch of space available. Curator and London College of Fashion student Florence was floating from group to group greeting guests. Manoeuvring the exhibition was a bit of a task. My friend was so conscious of her massive bag that she found it easier to step aside. As far as opening night shows go, these vibrant walls were a roaring success.

Artist Eve De Haan

Artist Georgina Elizabeth

Artist Jessica Ross

Artist Venus Libido

Artist Florence Given

Artist Sophie Brampton

Artist Panteha Abareshi

The uncensored exhibition discussed everything from religion to mammories, and judging from social media, the party went on late with Femme Culture suppling a DJ set.

If you enjoyed Girls, Uninterrupted, on March 8th, AKA International Women's Day, Creative Debut are preparing to host Nasty Woman. For further information and tickets visit Eventbrite.