Author Archives: Emily Facoory

With season 2 of The Secret Daughter currently gracing our screens, we were lucky enough to score an interview with one of the show’s stars Bonnie Sveen.

Known widely for her role as Ricky Sharpe on Home & Away, the actress went on to play Layla Chapple on The Secret Daughter, the best friend and backup singer of Billie Carter played by Jessica Mauboy.

According to Bonnie for season 2, we get to see some highs and lows. “You see Layla fleshed out a little bit which I’m really excited about, it takes my friendship with Billie closer, and it’s so beautiful being able to perform with Jess.”

“We finished on such a high note, just wait until you hear this last track in episode 6, it’s such a banger. It’s a good balance between contemporary original stuff and old Aussie pop songs that everybody knows and loves.”

Performing since she was young, Bonnie went on to study at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts where she found her love for the screen. “We had a small amount of screen experience, but I was always told in the plays that my acting was too filmic.”

“I prefer to act most of the time from the inside out, to make sure I believe myself and I believe what I’m doing and that just takes a lot of imagination. I find it easier to block out the camera then have the viewer observe those intimate moments.”

“No doubt I think life is long and I’ll end up in theatre again but there is a magic for me of being on set and being ready when they say action, delving into it with the full palate of emotions and body.”

Having just directed her first short film Riley, Bonnie said that it was such a nice experience.

“Trying on all those different hats, required so much more bravery than what your professionally trained in. It’s not just one character and learning those lines but actually, everybody’s your responsibility, that was a really enjoyable process and I do think that I’ll be doing more of that.”

The short film revolves around a 6 year old girl’s self conscious that’s exacerbated by her technology addiction. “I’d love to be able to use it to take to schools, to show kids a 15 minute film and really allow for a little bit of discussion about how they are affected in their behaviour and emotions by social media and technology.”

“I think it’s important to differentiate what is real life and what is true to Instagram or Facebook because the friends that are there for you, are there for you. They will pick up the phone or come and meet you at anytime and it’s important to make that distinction,” Bonnie said.

Wise beyond her years, Bonnie said that outside of that, all it really comes down to is being honest with who you are and to know how you are truly happy and what makes you your best self.

“Approaching 30, you really start to notice what makes you happy and the decision you make to create that happiness and to manifest a life that you deserve. I would say that my happiness is my responsibility and that everybody deserves to love and be loved.”

In between jobs Bonnie said that she finds things slow down and that she has some freedom which has afforded her time to write. “It’s like if I don’t have anything on this week, l’ll start to write my own schedule, I find going to the library very useful or getting fresh air and just trying to create a work environment even if I don’t have an actual office.”

A brilliant painter in her own right, Bonnie said that it’s been recommended for her to get a studio and paint. “I have no problem with keeping that easel up and letting the work slowly morph, I wake up and look at it and see it with fresh eyes. If you love what you do, it doesn’t matter if it’s 24/7.”

Published on November 15, 2017 on She Society

SheBrisbane had a chat with Cassie George, creator and performer of her own cabaret show, Something About Mary(s), part of the Wonderland Festival 2017. It details her life as a fag hag, which according to Urban Dictionary has the meaning of a woman who prefers the company of gay men because she recognises their effervescent and sheer brilliance when it comes to the human condition. As Cassie said, “they always seem to have the answers.”

Written by Cassie and her best friend Michael Mandalios, the cabaret show explains how Cassie managed to find the balance between being friends with a lot of gay men and handling relationships and other friendships along the way.

“Growing up, I found that when I was in high school I never met anyone who was gay for such a long time. I was very sheltered in a Christian environment and so when I did my first musical, I met so many gay men and we had a lot of the same personalities, so I happened to make a lot of gay friends during my university years,” Cassie said.

“During my final year of university we had a Liza Minnelli award which is the fag hag award, which I won. But the funny thing was that when we were voting for everybody, I turned to one of my best friends and was like ‘I don’t know who to vote for’ and everyone was looking at me and going, ‘that’s you, there’s no one else to vote for’.”

Cassie said that while in so many other places it’s a derogatory term, she’s never been offended by it. “I feel like there must be another descriptive word for it but the one’s I’ve found are like queer dear or fruit fly. So I think fag hag is the best way for the general public to understand what I’m talking about, as opposed to saying I have so many gay male friends because it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue.”

Playing music since she was 5 years old, Cassie has gone through the piano, saxophone, guitar and ukulele and also started singing when she was just 12 years old. She studied musical theatre at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and watched a lot of cabarets throughout university.

“One of my first singing teachers wrote her own shows and musicals and I got to see a lot of her work which really encouraged and inspired me to create new work. I find that there’s a lot more freedom in cabarets.”

One of the stories that Cassie includes in the show is about someone she used to date. “I think when I first started writing the show I found it good to seek closure, to end that chapter of my life. So I think the first time we performed the show in full with adrenaline it was actually quite confronting to relive that memory again.”

“As I’ve gotten older and I’ve met new people and had different relationships, I realise that you come to acknowledge what has happened in the past and I’m a big believer in people having chapters in your life. With that chapter meaning something and being there for a reason and once you find what that chapter’s purpose was, I find that it’s not as confronting.”

Cassie’s show has an impressive 90’s soundtrack, with her love of strong female groups shining through. “As I got older I started listening to Salt-N- Pepa and TLC, what I love about 90’s women girl groups is that they’re not aggressive and they know what they want, they’re not polite about it.”

“They are very much I want to be with you, I want to date you, let’s make it happen, which I really appreciate and I think has even helped me to become more bold in the choices I make and not be so afraid to stand out in front of the crowd,” Cassie said.

The takeaway message that she hopes viewers get from the show is a better understanding. So that, “people can see the relationship between a woman and gay men. For men I’d like them to not feel intimidated by that relationship, I feel that both can work in magical ways.”

“But also as a general rule even if people have relationship mishaps, heartbreak and pain and things like that, there’s always great stories to tell. I think that storytelling is such an important factor in life and even though I’ve had some funny stories and some heartbreak in my life, I am definitely very entertaining at dinner parties because half the stuff that happens to me you can’t make up.”

“It’s a show to have fun, to enjoy and to listen to a local Brisbane girl talking about her love life and being okay to laugh at herself,” Cassie said.

Published on November 16, 2017 on She Society

If you’re getting tired of your Instagram newsfeed and are in dire need of some fresh inspiration, then go ahead and check out these 5 quirky Instagram accounts that we guarantee will liven up your day.

1. @baddiewinkle                                                                                                                              With a whopping 3.2 million followers on Instagram, Baddiewinkle is one badass grandma. 89 years old, the American internet personality has a distinct style, known for wearing eccentric and quirky outfits that can often be a little risque. But it doesn’t faze the now great-grandmother that the clothes may not be typically worn by her age group. After all, age is only a number and it’s your spirit that really counts. Her tagline sums it all up, ‘stealing your man since 1928.’

2. @bymariandrew
After visiting Mari Andrew’s page, we guarantee you will be scrolling all the way into the wee hours of the morning as you can get sucked into her drawings. Extremely relatable, you’ll be surprised at how much she nails about human beings and life in general.

3. @extraordinary_routines
Everyone needs some inspirational messages in the morning and what better way than to get them from a series of creative people. Extraordinary routines is an account by Madeleine Dore a freelance writer from Melbourne who is dedicated to discovering the daily routines of creatives. Highlighting that it’s how we deal with the seemingly ordinary parts of our daily lives that makes us extraordinary. You’ll pick up meaningful snippets of interviews that really resonate.

4. @talinegabriel                                                                                                                                     If you’re in the mood for gorgeous pictures of healthy food and exotic places then we recommend TalineGabriel. Based around her love of natural food, Taline boosts 515,000 followers, also having released a Hippie Lane app and Cookbook that details all of her highly sought out recipes.

5. @mirandamondays
This is for all you Sex & the City girls, especially the ones who identified as a Miranda. The Instagram account, Miranda Mondays, is dedicated to spreading the gospel according to Miranda Hobbes. Her wittiness and realistic view on the world is why she is a much loved character and why you’ll relish each nostalgic post. While everyone wanted to be a Carrie, Miranda was always underestimated, but here, her quotes are poignant and quite often relevant to the exact issues of the day.

Published on November 6, 2017 on She Society

5.4 Meals combine healthy options with the quick and easiness of TV dinner meals, without the high fat and high calorie content. They cater for both men and women, creating low carb meals as well as muscle gain and vegan meals, they also provide a meal plan that you can follow along to reach your health and fitness goals even faster, where you can lose 1-2kg per week.

The Beef Chilli Con Carne and the Chipotle Chicken were among our favourites in the office, bursting with flavour and just the right portion size to feel full enough that we didn’t need to grab any snacks afterwards. Other meal options include Chicken Korma, Thai Style Beef, Lemon Chicken and Beef Rissoles among many others.

The meals that are specifically designed for women help to improve wellness, increase energy and burn stubborn fat. High in protein and low in calories, fat and sugar these meals are perfect for the health conscious individual that wants to eat healthy, but may not necessarily like to cook all that much. The 5.4 meals steer clear from a lot of processed foods, including cheese, bread, white potato, white rice and pastry. They also use 100% chicken breast, 100% Aussie lean beef and low-fat premium mince.

You also have the option of getting the meals delivered straight to your door, either at home or at work. Providing breakfast, lunch and dinner options so you can skip cooking altogether if you’re not in the mood.

5.4 meals are great if you’re looking for more healthier options that can help with your weight loss goals or just your general health and wellbeing.

Published on November 2, 2017 on She Society

Australia’s media and entertainment industries are bracing for an expose (names and all) of scores of men alleged to have been involved in the sexual abuse of hundreds of women in the workplace.

Leading the attack is former Network Ten newsreader Tracey Spicer.

Now a freelance writer, speaker, media trainer and broadcaster through her two media companies, Spicer Communications and Outspoken Women, Spicer has enlisted the help up to 400 women who say they were victims of assault while working in the media and entertainment industries.

Spicer has put together a team of police, legal representatives, witnesses and victims all ready to go on the record. Many of the sexual assault stories outlined to Spicer allegedly involve the same 40 offenders.

Spicer, a broadcast journalist with twenty years experience, has for the past few years focused on advocacy work on behalf of female victims of sexism.

Her incredible TEDX talk is called The Lady Stripped Bare and she continued to speak out against workplace misogyny in her book The Good Girl Stripped Bare. It’s no wonder these 400 women are trusting her with their stories.

Tracey has two children – Taj who is 12 and Grace who is 11.

“And this is the main reason why we do it, isn’t it,” Spicer told 9Honey. Australia’s leading women’s network covering news, opinion, homes, food, fitness, travel, parenting, fashion and beauty.

“Aside from protecting women in the workforce now, we want to ensure our children are safe when they go into the workforce, particularly our daughters,” said Spicer. She says by the time her daughter enters the workforce, she doesn’t want her to have to go through similar experiences Spicer was forced to endure as a young journalist.

“I don’t want her to have to go in there and put up with the groping, the grabbing, the threats of rape that go on in workplaces that go on when there is a huge power disparity between male bosses and younger female employees,” she said.

Spicer’s quest to bring perpetrators of sexual abuse and assault in the Australia media and entertainment industries to justice began during a visit to a police station. She was there researching a story on cyberbullying.

“An officer who worked with victims of sexual assault brought up the Harvey Weinstein scandal, saying she was surprised a similar outcry against perpetrators of sexual abuse hadn’t happened in the Australian entertainment and media industries,” she said.

The officer told Spicer to tell anyone who reached out to her that there is no statute of limitations for the vast majority of these cases. “If something happened 30 or 40 years ago, tell them to go to their local police station and report it,” Spicer was told in what she describes as a real “light bulb moment” for her.

“A lot of the time these things happened years ago and get swept under the carpet because that was the workplace culture at the time. But can I tell you that the same people who were offending in workplaces 30 or 40 years ago are still doing it in media workplaces now, and I’ve got countless examples of that.”

Despite the hundreds of cases she and her team are already dealing with, Spicer says they are keen for more. “Even if it happened all those years ago, please come to me or report it to the police or report it to your union or report it to your workplace because this person, it’s likely they are still offending now,” she said.

Of the 400 victims, Spicer says they are aged from anywhere in their twenties to their sixties. Some were hair and makeup artists. Others were producers, personal assistants, executive assistants and young journalists.

When it comes to the historic cases, Spicer says the victims told her the behaviour was so pervasive they thought it was “normal” and they “just got used to it.”
There are many more victims of workplace sexual assault and abuse who are yet to come forward, and they may never do.

For those accusing Spicer of a witch-hunt which will result in men feeling as though they can’t even ask a female colleague out on a date, the broadcast journalist explains why they have nothing to fear.

“We’re not trying to restrict human behaviour. We’re trying to restrict criminal behaviour,” she told 9Honey.

“What we’re talking about are the kind of things that really do lead into the narrative that leads to sexual assault of women. The demeaning treatment of women, the pinging of the bra strap, the tickling under the arms that ends up being a groping of the breasts…these are the sorts of stories I hear an awful lot.”
In many of the cases that have been reported to Spicer, the most serious ones involve rape.

“There have been dozens of allegations of rape,” she said. “It doesn’t get more serious than this.”

Published on November 1, 2017 on She Society

Would you be able to go 24 hours without brushing your hair? Well you better try, because leaving home with untamed locks is now going to help raise awareness for mental health and wellbeing.

Professional hair detangling brand, Dessata, has partnered with mental health organisation Headspace to help raise awareness and funds to assist in the development of mental, physical, vocational and substance-related support programs.

Dessata has also teamed up with beauty influencer, Natalia Webster, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the All You Need Is Love range through filming her take on the #24hournobrushchallenge. This challenge encourages consumers to go without brushing their hair for 24-hours in order to raise awareness for Headspace’s pioneering work

Dessata has released an exclusive range of limited edition detangling brushes where $5 from every brush sold is donated to Headspace. Titled All You Need Is Love, the colourful print pays homage to the flamboyant ‘flower power’ era of the 60’s and 70’s and celebrates the promotion of love, peace, equality and freedom.

According to the national youth organisation, 75% of all mental health issues emerge before the age of 25, with 1 in 4 young people aged between 12-25 years old having experienced a mental health issue in the last 12 months. With suicide considered the leading cause of death in young people, the need for early intervention and holistic support is immensely important.

Available in the maxi, ideal for thicker hair; original, best for normal or thin hair; and mini, suitable for travel and children; the ergonomic brush moulds to the contours of the user’s hand and detangles knots, even 24-hour ones. So put that hairbrush down and let your wild locks loose for the day.

Join the challenge today and find out more here!

Published on October 27, 2017 on She Society

Lauren Shuttleworth is determined to create change in the most sustainable and impactful way possible. Creating Words with Heart, her custom design stationery business, she is an inspiration to women entrepreneurs everywhere. Helping to fund education days for girls in developing countries as well as only using eco-friendly materials for her products.

Her interest in social enterprise came about after a volunteering trip at a school in Kenya, where she saw firsthand how hard it was for girls to stay in school because of a lack of funding.

“I always knew that I wanted to run my own business and philanthropy was always something that was built into me and my siblings lives as really important growing up. I’d always done lots of volunteer work and wanted to find a way to bring that into my job.”

“Coming back to Australia I was trying to think of what would be a really good model for a social enterprise. I was at the airport, and walked into a stationery store and saw a notebook that had this really awful messaging. It said something like boys, heels, blogs, lets go back to the basics and I just thought that this isn’t the type of messaging that should be on notebooks.”

“I then thought that I could definitely do something that would be more sustainable, that could have an impact and that would have more meaningful and empowering messaging.”

“I’ve always been a fan of messages that are a bit more feminist and kind of tongue in cheek, we had one notebook that said, girls just want to have fun-damental human rights,” she said.

Lauren said that it wasn’t that hard to figure out how to create the notebooks sustainably. “There are a lot of sustainable options for stationery in terms of the core product, like recycled paper is not a new thing but its not branded well. A lot of people don’t realise just how much water, energy and wood they save by choosing recycled products.”

With so many more choices becoming available for the creation of eco-friendly products, Lauren believes that, “even as consumers we can look at how we purchase products every day and how those decisions can make a big impact on the environment.”

“Often, we talk about climate change as this huge big intimidating problem that not one person can solve but there are a lot of things that we can all do. Like recycling, not using plastic straws or bringing our own coffee cups. Small changes like that which are really not that difficult to implement add up to a big impact over time,” she said.

As another part of Lauren’s vision, Words with Heart is passionate about providing empowerment for women and girls, “I think just talking about it is important and acknowledging that there is still a very big gap. It’s also important for women to lift each other up and to mentor and share knowledge to help those that are coming up behind us.”

“Also, I think that a lot of men I speak to are not aware of the difficulties that women face in life, and I definitely think men becoming allies in the movement is important,” she said.

The fact that she is still in business is one of Lauren’s biggest achievements so far, “there are a lot of social enterprises that start but find it hard to push past that first phase. But to still be growing and to be profitable nearly three years down the track is definitely a big win.”

Another achievement is the fact that she is a woman in a male dominated space, as only around 4% of founders of tech start-ups in Australia are women. “It’s a really tough environment for women, it’s still very much a bro-culture and its still well and truly thriving in Australia. Its definitely tough to break through that,” she said.

Lauren’s ultimate goal is to fund a million days of education by 2020, with 80,000 days being funded so far, she is also looking to expand Words with Heart into the US next year.

But she said that “there are times when I have big lofty goals and there are other times where I feel grateful to just be doing something I love and to be creating an impact and to be growing at a good rate. I’m very thankful but also ambitious at the same time.”

Published on October 4, 2017 on SheBrisbane

Confidence always seems to be that secret trait that only a lucky few appear to possess, but I’ve come to realize that it isn’t something that they are inherently born with. Instead they have sought it out and cultivated it, watching their own confidence expand as they experience the world. Nothing worthwhile comes easy, and the major step of gaining confidence is embracing fear and stepping outside of your comfort zone. It doesn’t matter if you take baby steps or giant leaps, anything will do to help you spread your wings and light your inner fire. Though it may feel scary at first, know that you’ll eventually become used to it and you will end up reaching for bigger and better goals. So, go ahead and fuel your inner fire by adopting any of these tips and tricks.

1. Take an improvisation or drama class

Taking either an improv or drama class is a great way to build up your confidence slowly and surely. Playing fun games and letting loose is the perfect way to de-stress and not over think. It will also help with developing your public speaking skills and help you learn new ways of expressing yourself. Also, the main rule of improv is to always say yes, and confidence is just on the other side of yes!

2. Start a sport like roller derby, kick boxing or self-defense classes

The crazier the sport the better, as it teaches you fearlessness and new ways to have fun. Kickboxing and self-defense can give you a sense of confidence in your own physical abilities, and you will be amazed at what you can achieve if you are constant and are putting in your best efforts. Roller Derby is a fantastic team sport that will boost your spirit and let you become a true badass on the rink.

3. Take a solo trip

Everyone knows travel is good for the soul, so why not take a trip. It doesn’t have to be to the other side of the world. Even just to the next town for a weekend away by yourself will do wonders. Traveling alone fosters independence and leads to a greater sense of self and the confidence to face anything.

4. Volunteer

What better way to improve yourself then to help others. Whether you volunteer at a local thrift store, or at an animal shelter, get out there and help in any capacity that you can. You’ll view the world differently and gain a new perspective on life, appreciating everything you have.

5. Dress up for yourself

Put on THE OUTFIT. You know the one, where everyone compliments you and you walk down the street with your head held high and a flirty wiggle to your walk. The kind of outfit that makes you glow from the inside out, giving you the kind of confidence to glance a little bit longer at that cute guy or feel like your strutting down a runway. While it may seem superficial, it’s really not, it’s a way of projecting your inner flame that just needs more coaxing to burn brighter.

Published on October 5, 2017 on TotalMeTox