Ella Rose Female Cadet

GIRL POWER EDITION- For the girl ready to take on the world MISSUNDERSTOOD

Periods 5 protests, mooncups WAYS and more TO BE A BOSS Drag Queen Instagram Dear and Diary makeup Bullying and education

Ella Rose £1,99 FEB 2018 Female cadet OUR COVER GIRL MISSUNDERSTOOD! CONTENTS GIRL POWER EDITION! - Features

What is Love?... page 18

The devil finds work for idle hands... page 12

Scandolous slogans ...page 14

Are you basing your self-worth on the number of ‘likes’ you get?... page 16

1918 vs Now: 5 things you girls couldn’t do 100 years ago...page 28

Young and Healthy... page 30

Flip out- underage clubbing... page 26

The raise of the female cadets .... page 32

Canada Goose...page 35

- Periods

Periods. ...page 20

Period protest!...page 22

- Profiles

5 ways to be your own boss...page 6

Dear Diary, Why am I being bullied?.... page 10

Sabrina Chakici- surfer and model!... page 38

Drag Queen... page 9 CONTRIBUTORS

Shannon Eades- Editor Shannon spends her spare time in vintage shops pretending she can afford everything. Her passion is acting, and her biggest dream is to work in theatre and film. Rosie Drew - Features editor Rosie enjoys running, watching the latest series on Netflix., and blogging. She loves a rainy movie day infron of the TV, eating junk food and napping.

Leanne Carr - Subeditor Leanne loves eating carbs, keeping fit and acting like a clown. In the past her silly behaviour has got her into a few sticky situations, so now she’ s here to give you some advice!

Laura Formby-Creative Director Laura loves writing lyrics for her next pop or- alterna tive song while drinking her morning coffee. An over thinker, organiser and a planner, who carries around too many bags.

Diana Adebayo-Production Editor Diana spends her time cooking, tweeting and browsing the web. Her team leading skills at work and she been approachable is what makes her our Editor at Miss Understood.

Jono Morland -Chief Writer When Jono is not scrolling through Instagram, he can be found in the and at concerts. He is a very curious individual who is looking for the next trending topic.

EDITOR’S LETTER

Hi girls! - Ah, thank god it’s finally February. Wasn’t Jan uary a drag? Felt like it lasted a million years. Luckily we have our girl power edition to get those motivational waves flowing!

Women have hit the news with no holding back. We saw celebrities wearing black at the Golden Globes and BAFTA’s for the Time’s Up movement, this month marked 100 years of women’s right to vote and a huge free periods movement that took London by storm.

We went above and beyond to find unique stories from people you’d maybe not even think about.

From army cadets to drag queens, we have lots of amazing stories waiting for you at the tip of your fingers. We hope this edition will inspire you, give you great advice and most of all… make you smile! - So, just take 5 minutes to sit back and relax, may be make a coffee, green juice whatever floats your boat, and enjoy this GIRL POWER edition from Missunderstood.

Lots of love

Shannon Eades xx 5 WAYS TO BE YOUR OWN BOSS by Shannon Eades

6 MISSUNDERSTOOD FEBRUARY 2018 Emma’s fashion boutique, Victoria Beau, opened in 2015 in a small passage way in Angel, North London. With a big dream in mind, her mum, Gill, 59 says since the age of 6, “She was designing dresses for the imaginary ‘Beau Bou- tique’”.

Now, at only 27, she’s meeting with luxury brands, selling clothes worn by celebrities and was shortlisted for ‘Best new business’ at the Drapers Independent Awards in 2017.

She opens up about the challenges, experiences and gives her best advice to guide you to be your own boss.

Have realistic goals

Dreaming of becoming the next Alexander Mc- Queen, she would be sketching designs for hours. But she decided to put the pencils down (for now) and focus more on the business side when she realised she had a knack for retail. “It was during this time that I realised I would like to sell things I chose my self and then the boutique became the dream.”

Trust your intuition

People always say trust your gut feeling, it’s there for a reason. Emma, who worked at Tom Ford and Selfridges, knew the art route wasn’t for her so she trusted her intuition went in another direction. The challenge came when the nerves kicked in but she remained calm and kept focusing on the sun over the horizon.

Her ultimate mantra is to be confident and just own who you are. You’re unique, show it off.

Be organised

We know organisation differs in everyone. One person is completely organised, everything is neat and tidy but another is an organised mess. Your room’s a mess but you know where everything is. Emma loves making lists, she says: “Otherwise you won’t get anything done”.

Organisation not your thing? Try doing a homework or exam revision timetable. Lifesaver. Be everything and everyone

Emma, who studied at the London College of Fash- ion says: “When you start your own business on a small scale like I did you have to start off by being EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE. You are the sales person, the buyer, the merchandiser, the marketing team and even the cleaner.”

So, you might need 8 pairs of hands and 60 cups of coffee a day. Emma is our hero, she’s like the real life Wonder Woman we all need to be.

Her fiancé, Edward Byrne, she calls him Ed said: “Emma’s determination and drive has been key to the success of VB”.

Don’t be too hard on yourself

The boutique owner says: “Try to stay focused on what you want to achieve so that you don’t waste valuable time working in areas you are not suited to. To ensure this I would get as much work experience in different companies as possible before you make that jump from education to the big bad world!”

Her number one ultimate tip is get experience. Experience is absolutely key to making it in the fashion industry. It’s the only way to learn the ropes. Her first job was working for Urban Outfitters then she moved on to Tommy Hilfiger.

“Work hard to gain as much experience as you can so you are confident that when needed you can make the right choices and decisions to do well.”

Go out into the big bad world and be a boss! We’ve got your back. Being A Drag Queen Is Not A Drag

By Jonathan Morland

is who they are (or a man), but as a drag queen I’m mostly Ryan Hemminge is a Insta- playing a character”. famous, Mancunian drag queen And who inspires this character? “Lady Gaga, she represent- and is talking about all things ed different types of beauty, some of it was ugly, harsh and some of it was eccentric- I like to play around with different from make-up to Gaga. vibes.”

But it wasn’t just the outfits Ryan admired, “Lady Gaga grow- Ryan Hemminge discovered he had a drag queen inside of him at ing up was such an important icon - she was the voice for our a young age, “When I was 5, I raided my Mums make-up draw and generation. Now I hope that as our platform grows with shows made a mess of my face- I hope my skills have improved since then like Rupauls Drag Race”, (a mixture between a talent show and but that is my earliest memory of a desire for drag”. America’s Next Top Model but with drag queens), “And Ins- tagram, also, that we can be those icons for the younger queer Ryan, now 21, has been a professional drag queen for 3 years now kids”. based in Manchester. He appears at LGBT pride festivals, clubs, parties, fashion shows across the world- fabulous, right? He has So, what is next for Ryan; “I want to continue pushing my nearly 70,000 Instagram followers and couldn’t be more comfort- drag, the looks that I do, I would love to somehow get involved able with who he is. with helping the young LGBT and to continue branching my brand out”. One thing is for sure, our eyes (and his 70,000 fol- “When I first realised that this little hobby was part of who I was, it lowers) will be glued to what comes next. was terrifying. I had only just come to terms with being gay, but I had this love of makeup and fashion that I realised I had to follow- so it was scary but empowering.”

The more you look in to drag culture the more you realise there is not just one type of drag queen. Some are pretty, some funny, some “I had this love fashionable and some do not fit the mould of a man or a woman. of makeup and

So, it could be confusing; “People never know what to call me, fashion that I but I am a drag queen not trans- meaning call me whatever you realised I want”. Ryan is talking about whether he is a he, a she or a they, he tells me; “when I am a boy call me a boy, when I look like more of had to follow.” a girl call me she- it’s simple”.

People confuse drag queens with trans women, Ryan says; “trans is where someone decides to live their life fully as a female, a woman 9 MISSUNDERSTOOD FEBRUARY 2018 Dear Diary, Why am I being bullied? By Laura Formby

Dear diary, my name is Gulseren Seyitoglu,

A few years ago when I was bullied, I didn’t want to go to school as when I walked into that place I always had these little questions in my brain- Why me? What makes me different from the other girls? Why am I not good enough?- crumbling me into tiny pieces. Have you ever experienced that?

Thirteen-year-old Gulseren Seyitoglu was bullied for She soon realised that being rude isn’t the correct two years by the popular girls in her school. She has way of dealing with bullying, but at the time she says, realised that taking time off school wasn’t the answer “It felt like it was the only option, the only tactic I to her problems and neither was pretending to be had to help me carry on.” someone she wasn’t. According to Bullying UK, a charity based in Lon- “Every math lesson, she would body shame me and don, bullying “is a repeated behaviour that is intend- make me feel like I didn’t want to live anymore… I ed to hurt someone either emotionally or physically.” wouldn’t attend school as often as everyone else did because I tried my best to avoid her,” she wrote. Gulseren, who also loves doing her makeup and whose eyebrows are on fleek, says that she missed Gulseren, who loves playing football, says that bully- a lot of school because of the bullying. “ I regret ing affected her in a bad way because it turned her into staying off as it made the situation worse and I fell a rude girl. “It isn’t who I am, it was a way of making behind in my course work,” she says. sure I didn’t get bullied again. I had an attitude, I thought in my head -I will show them girls what I am According to the stats from the NSPCC, “ more than made of, if you play me I will play 10 times harder!” 16,000 young people [in the UK] are absent from she adds enthusiastically. school due to bullying.” So, staying off school isn’t the 10 MISSUNDERSTOOD FEBRUARY 2018 answer.

But Gulseren isn’t the only one who felt that way about school. Natalie Lloyd from Islington knows how Gulseren feels. When she was 13 she would wake up in on a school morning feeling nervous and sick as she feared what names the bullies would call her: ugly, fat, silly, dumb…

Now a 24-year-old with an amazing job in finance, Natalie has realised that without her positive attitude and willingness to learn, she wouldn’t be where she is today. “ I missed out on so much education because I had to attend a different kind of school where I only sat my GCSEs in Maths and English,” she adds.

“I get phone calls from my bullies even today, but this time they aren’t calling me names or making fun of me, they are begging me to get them a job. But hell no!” says Natalie smiling.

Rinesa Gashi, who goes to the same school as Gulseren, shares the same experiences. “I was bullied about my teeth because I had a few gaps between them. So, I ended up missing school a couple times,” she says.

The 14 year-old was too scared to say something back. She used to get other people to stick up for her, but that made the popular girls bully her even more! “They would ask me questions like: Why do you get olders to help you? Ain’t you strong enough to stand up for youself? You weak or what?” she adds.

All three girls agree that taking time off school isn’t going to stop those nasty bullies. Gulseren and Rinesa are now enjoying school and have made some amazing friends.

“Oh diary, if girls out there, who are also getting bullied, could hear me… my advice to them would be: Don’t let them get to you. Show your haters you are better than that. Don’t miss out onyour education, I did for irrelevant people. Who knows one day your bully might end up being the one getting bullied,” writes Gulser- en. By Diana Adebayo

Youth crime has soared partly because “This meant the dance project had a positive im- some teens have nothing to do. A dance pact,’’ said Sandy. teacher in Islington is changing all of that. Sandy always had a passion for dancing, but started doing street dance and hip-hop from the age of 16, Since the New Year, more than 24 youths have been after joining an underground dance class in South killed on the streets of London due to knife crime, London, which the classes were four hours long. the highest for a decade. Eighty people were fatally stabbed in 2017, according to official crime statis- Her cousin then persuaded her to join her dance tics. crew. She went to Pineapple Dance Studios and started doing Little Jay’s dance class. Experts say that many teenagers partake in street crime mainly because there are few other activities As an only child, her parents made her attend a lot to keep them occupied. And you think only boys of youth groups to keep her occupied as a teenager. are involved, think again. According to the Evening But when turned she 18 they said she was too old to Standard, teenage girls are also being drawn to this attend. madness. The only way she could get back into her youth Street dancer Nuna Sandy, who started dancing at group was to do some something she could teach the tender age of six, says her dancing workshops to the youths, or volunteer. So, she decided to kill have managed to take some youths off the streets two birds with one stone, she got her dance crew to of Islington and many other disadvantaged areas in come teach dance with her at the youth centre. London. She did this for a year and went onto teaching dance Once she was teaching in Holloway Road and the at Islington Arts and Media school. police patrolling the estate told her they were sur- prised to see teenagers known to them inside her studio dancing instead of being on the streets. 12 MISSUNDERSTOOD FEBRUARY 2018 Dance Team. Photo Credit: Diana Adebayo

At 19 she was sent to well-known notorious estates “Apart from school, my daughter Lola doesn’t do such as Brixton and Hackney to teach teenagers how to much in her spare time. I wanted to keep her occu- dance, most especially teenage girls. pied because I read the news every day and see how young kids are of this generation are throwing away “This put me straight into the deep end,’’ said Sandy. their lives, partaking in dangerous activities,” said She worked for a company called Access to sports, an Lola’s mum Corina Smart. organisation for young people in Islington, Tottenham and areas in North London, they had schemes which “Dance is more than just dance it’s a form or art, be- provided activities that stopped teenagers from before I started dancing I used to partake in road life ing in the streets called ‘’Devil makes works for idle with my boys, that was my only source of keeping hands.’’ myself active and feeling important,’’ said Gurdial Bhachu, who used to spend his whole life on the Thirteen-year-old dance student Lola Smart looks streets. forward to going to Sandy’s dance classes because she gets to chill with friends, be with other teenagers like After watching a few dance shows, Bhachu, now herself and has something to look forward to during almost 25, decided to re-evaluate his life and try the weekends. something new - which was dance.

‘’I love to go to dance every Saturday, what I look for- ‘’I did not want to be roaming the streets of Eastham ward to most is our big shows at the end of the month, for the rest of my life, even though back then It was performing in front of your family and friends after my comfort zone, I wasn’t happy, and my parents weeks of practicing is such a good feeling,” said Lola. were not happy,’’ he said.

‘’Teenagers are honest they only do things that they “I lost a few friends during the process of rebirthing want to do, you need to work hard to gain their re- myself, I started the so-called street life at the age of spect,’’ said Sandy. 12 with my cousins and I started dancing at 16,’’ said Bhachu. Scandalous Slogans! By Shannon Eades

Fashion enthusiast Georgia Thompson is a 13-year- old who loves watching Keeping Up with The Kar- Send me nudes is basically inviting people tosend dashians and Dance Moms, Little Mix and her nan’s naked photos to whoever wants them and wearing homemade crisps and chips. it on a shirt is implying the wearer wants them, even if that’s not the case. She also would love to wear clothes that make a statement and are capable of shocking her friends, What’s the big deal about dirty slogans? It’s all for a good laugh, isn’t it? Or is it? her family - and even complete strangers. Imagine having dinner with nan. Would a raunchy Slogan tees are one way of making a shocking state- slogan be a great conversation starter? Probably not, ment. They are likely to cause some controversy but, says Georgia’s mum Vanessa, a 44-year-old Teaching at this point who cares if they are a bit dirty? Geor- Assistant. gia certainly doesn’t. “I personally think they are not nice and can be of- Her favourite t-shirt, for example, says “BITCH fensive and I would not let her buy one and definite- CLUB!” in big letters. In fact, she loves slogans on ly would not let her wear one,” she said. “I feel that t-shirts - the raunchier the better. “I think they are teenagers don’t understand why or how inappropri- really funny and yeah, I would wear them,” says the ate they are.” blonde, who is always looking for the latest trainer trends but is currently not allowed to wear or collect Sorry Georgia, looks like you won’t be getting them anything with a rude word on it. any time soon.

‘Let’s get naked’ and the classic ‘send me nudes’ are Ellie Fawcett, 15 who loves Paramore and Fall Out some examples from Nasty Gal, a brand loved by Boy thinks they say things on them which could you and the Kardashians. Also, there’s some swear be offensive to others. “It might also make people words included in there too. You’d have to be pretty change their opinion of you.” brave to wear some of these.

14 MISSUNDERSTOOD FEBRUARY 2018 They aren’t all bad, though!

Most slogan t-shirts you see in shops are all about female empowerment which is great. As Beyoncé says: “Who run the world? Girls”. ‘The female revolution’ and ‘Girls’ are just a few examples.

We are all about empowering women, especially you Scandalous Slogans! younger girls. Having more exposure to this teaches you about being kind and to build each other up. So there is a plus side after all If you fancy a change, why not try graphic tees. They are like slogan t-shirts but include pictures. Band t-shirts add a cool, edgy look to any outfit you wear.

They are like marmite. Love them or hate them, they are a trend for a reason. They do look good tucked into a pair of jeans teamed with Old Skool Vans. You can wear them with literally anything.

If you want to express yourself through slogan tees go for it! But maybe stick with ‘send me dog pics’ from Forever 21 for awhile. Do it for your mum’s sake and for a peaceful life. So, you’re looking for some cool, causal slogan tees to wear at the weekend but there’s so many to choose from, not to worry, here is a list of places perfect for you:

Urban Outfitters: A bit more on the higher price side but if want some edgy, vintage tees then Urban is the best place to go. They have a huge range of different brands to choose from like, Adidas, Tommy Jeans, Calvin Klein Jeans, Levi’s and of course, their own brand.

Topshop: For more on trend pieces, Topshop is your best friend. They have cute tees, with nice messages on them like, ‘You make me smile’ and ‘Nothing to wear’. A popular trend is using French words and sentences across t-shirts because, you know, c’est chic. They also have a few band tees.

Missguided: Although they have some nice slogan tees, they are clearly winning in the graphic t-shirt department. They have a Disney themed collection. You can’t say no to Disney. For those of you who don’t like Disney (we don’t judge), they are still selling their popular MISSGUIDED X BARBIE collection. These are wardrobe essentials. Are you basing your self-worth on the number of ‘likes’ you get?

By Rosie Drew

16 MISSUNDERSTOOD FEBRUARY 2018 Research has found that young people are feeling pressured to get “likes” on social media which is having a detrimental effect on their lives.

Who doesn’t love social media, right? Trying out the latest Bishamber, who has been a victim of “fat shaming” both Instagram filter with your bestie or keeping up as many online and in the real world, believes there is a common streaks as possible on Snapchat makes everyone feel good. trend that seems to be appearing regularly on Instagram: nudity. Or does it? What happens when we get obsessed (which is easily done) and start taking the number of ‘likes’ we get “I constantly feel the pressure that I need to pose either in personally? my lingerie, swimwear or other revealing clothing to prove that I am also ‘deemed’ as confident,” she said, adding that A recent study called “Life in Likes”, by the UK’s Children’s for cultural reasons this is not something that Bishamber Commissioner, Anne Longfield, has found that for children personally does. as young as 11, the harmless ‘fun’ of social media apps soon can soon turn into an ‘an avalanche of pressure’. Think about it, how many times have you clicked on your Instagram explore page and seen nude or semi-nude photo- Jessica Devey, 13, who admits she spends “loads of time graphs of unrealistic body types which of course are bound each day” scrolling through social media, said: “When I to make you start doubting your own body? first post my picture on Instagram I always think: is it pretty enough? Will people like it? How many likes will it get?” Although Bishamber understands that these pictures can “I’m always scrolling up and refreshing the page to see be seen as “empowering” and she loves to see the “con- how many likes I get,” she said. fidence” of these women, she believes that this is “pretty much all we are seeing at the moment” and these often have Kate O’Hara, who is also 13 said: “If my pictures don’t get the most ‘likes’. enough likes then I would think about deleting them.” She would never post an Instagram picture without either “It’s true, people are obsessed with seeing ‘perfection’ and a snapchat or Instagram filter on because she feels it makes the sooner you realise nothing in life is perfect the happier her look better than a “natural picture”. you will start to become”, she said “likes or no likes always be proud to present yourself in the most authentic way The study also found that young people are anxious to possible.” keep up their online image and are often worried other people might post what they think are bad pictures of them The report also found that the constant notifications are online. “stressful” for young children, who may be transitioning from primary to secondary school, to manage. One women who has first-hand experience dealing with the pressures of social media is the UK’s first plus-size Asian Niamh McDade, Senior Policy & Communications Exec- model and social media influencer, Bishamber Das, 30 who utive for the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), which feels proud to be part of an “accepting and real” online com- has conducted research into young people’s mental health munity. and social media, suggests that a “digital detox” is key to improve mental health in teenagers.

“Young people who are heavy users of social media, are

B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L more likely to report feelings of anxiety and depression, Photo Credit: Rosie Drew experience poor sleep, cyberbullying and negative body image”, Niamh said.

In their research, the RSPH found that a staggering one in five young people wake up during the night to check messages on social media, leading them to be three times more likely to feel constantly tired at school than their classmates who don’t use social media during the night.

So maybe it’s time to put down your phone or cut down on the number of hours you spend scrolling and focus on what really matters: you. 5signs YOU might be in LOVE!

Miss Understood have come up with five top signs you might have been hit with Cupid’s bow. By Leanne Carr

Being a teenager in love can be a very complicated time. But fear not! You are not alone! Being in love is an amazing feeling but can also be tricky to understand all those new feelings whizzing aorund in your head.

There’s no age limit on when to fall in love and no rules on who to fall in love with. You might have a crush on a girl when you’re 13 and be completely head over heels with a boy when you’re 16. Love knows no bounds!

Check out our top 5 tips to help you decide if you’re in LOVE! 18 MISSUNDERSTOOD FEBRUARY 2018 You can’t stop thinking about them. If you1. find yourself thinking about someone more than usual or daydreaming about them during class, it could be a sign you’ve been bitten by the love bug!

2. You put their feelings before your own. This can sometimes be a tricky part of being in love. It’s great to want to make someone else happy and always consider their feelings but just be careful you don’t forget to look after yourself too!

3. You don’t mind the gross stuff they do. If all of a sudden watching them pick their nose or scratch their arse doesn’t make you go ewwwww you might just be falling of for them!

4. You get butterflies when you see them. Getting butterflies in your stomach when you see someone is a sure sign that you’re developing feelings for them. It’s like feeling nervous, anxious and excited all in one.

5. They’re the first person you think about in the morning- If you wake up and the first person you want to text is them, then you defo fancy them! PERIOD.

By Leanne Carr

Lauren Wasser, 29, is an American model who has right leg below the knee and toes from her left foot. just had her second leg amputated all because of a Although determined to get better and save her left tampon. leg, Lauren had her second amputee operation just last What started as flu-like symptoms ended up with week and is now on the road to recovery. Check out her having a heart attack and being put on life her Instagram page (@theimpossoblemuse) to follow support. her amazing progress! As shocking as this story is, it’s not here to scare you. She had contracted toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a Here at Miss Understood we want you to be able to rare but life-threatening condition caused by bac- talk openly about your periods and be aware of all the teria getting into the body and releasing harmful options available to you. toxins. Young girls and women are becoming increasingly These bacteria normally live harmlessly on the aware of the effects on themselves and the environ- skin, nose or mouth, but if they get deeper into the ment from wearing tampons and pads full of chemi- body they can release toxins that damage tissue cals, but that is all slowly starting to change. and stop organs working. There are so many options for you now. Reusable After gangrene took over, doctors amputated her menstrual cups, period proof underwear (yes that re-

20 MISSUNDERSTOOD FEBRUARY 2018 ally is a thing!) and biodegradable tampons and pads are becoming an increasingly popular safe alternative “Know that you have not done anything wrong- as to traditional sanitary wear. the Freda period manifesto says, getting your period is a completely natural process, not one that is dirty or But how do you know what’s best that you should be ashamed of! for you and your flow? “Make use of the many activists and campaigns on- We spoke with Affi Parvizi-Wayne, the founder of line that can make you feel empowered about your Freda, a new period subscription service where all the monthly cycle. The only way that the taboo will be products are biodegradable and safer for you and the broken is if we all start the conversation.” environment, to get her take on the way we are dealing with our time of the month. Freda also have a period box specifically created “I think the more the taboo around period care prod- with teens in mind. ucts is broken down and we start discussing these top- ics openly, the more women will begin to think about Affi said: “There’s a choice of night pads, day pads, where their products have come from. pantyliners and applicator tampons, so that young women can explore which options work best for “It’s now important to consider not only the impact them.” that period care products have on your body, but where these products were sourced and the impact If tampons and pads aren’t for you, there is a new they’re going to have on the environment. As half of period game changer out there. The menstrual cup the world’s population will have monthly periods for aka Mooncup aka Divacup. These bad girls are capa- an average of 40 years, there is a lot of potential for ble of holding 3x more than a regular tampon. You harm to the environment, so it is really empowering to can wear them up to 8 hours and unlike tampons, take control and make sure the products you use are they won’t dry you out or leave any nasty fibres sustainable!” behind.

Freda pads are made from 70% renewable materials, Actress Siu-See Hung, 31, is a huge fan of the reus- compared to the normal 40%, and the eco-friendly able, silicone cup. But says it took her a few periods materials they use are super absorbent. Their tampon to get the hang of it. applicators also use a safer type of plastic, which mini- mises harmful impacts on the environment. So don’t despair ladies, do your research and be patient with yourself . You’ll get the hang of your If you’ve recently started your period, it can be a period in no time! daunting time trying to figure out what products are best for you. Try speaking to your older sister, cousin, friend, mum about their experiences and don’t Just remember, every one of be afraid to ask any awkward questions. Remember they’ve all been in your position! us are unique and you’ll find Affi told us her best piece of advice on dealing with what’s best for your body! those moments that make you cringe.

“Using tampons – particularly if you leave them in for longer than recommended or you use “super-absorbent” tampons can increase your risk of developing TSS.” DAISY LOWE, ADWOA ABOAH AND SUKI WATERHOUSE protest against period poverty

Hundreds of protesters join 17-year-old A-level student Amika George to fight outsie parliament against period poverty By Rosie Drew

n a rainy dark Wednesday evening right before Christ- mas, instead of doing last-min- ute shopping or wrapping presents, hundreds of badass women O(and men) were protesting outside Parlia- ment against period poverty. Crowds dressed in red, held up signs to support organiser Amika George’s fight for girls on free school meals to also receive free sanitary products. Speaking exclusively to Missunder- stood, Amika, 17, said: “It’s totally wrong, on absolutely every level, that the inability to afford menstrual products can hinder a child’s educational attainment. “One thing we need to do is to break the stigma surrounding menstruation. It’s 2018 for goodness sake, but period taboo is still so deeply entrenched in our culture even though we’ve battled against so many societal taboos.” The words ‘periods’, ‘tampons’, or ‘pads’ are always ones which some girls and women – not to mention most men - feel embarrassed saying out loud. But why? Periods are a natural part of life so why should we lower our voice when asking a friend if they have a spare pad? Or go red with embarrassment 22 MISSUNDERSTOOD FEBRUARY 2018 when you’re taking your monthly trip to Tesco to stock up on essentials and Amika explained that the hardest part there’s a male cashier behind the desk? of the campaign has been staying on “There’s always haters”, she admits, “Women and girls need to talk about top of her A-levels. However, she feels “there’s always people out there who will menstruation so much more, with confi- “humbled” by the daily support from belittle your voice and undermine your dence, with pride, with a tone of cele- people who offer to help her maintain the cause, but it’s important to stay focused bration, rather than in apologetic tones,” campaign’s momentum. on what you’re trying to achieve”. urges Amika. “When I see the way the #FreePeriods YouTube superstar Tanya Burr, who “What do we want?” “Free periods,” movement has been embraced by people has three million subscribers, took over “When do we want everywhere, it really the stage and also praised the ‘incredible’ it?” “Sometime this “There’s always people out spurs me on and I Amika George as she spoke about the month” the crowds open a tub of vanilla struggles women face. demanded as pass- ice-cream and get to “When you’re trying to get people in ing byers stopped there who will belittle your work!” she says, refer- power to listen, a number of voices really to ask questions ring to her studies. matter”, Burr said, “female activism is so and commenters on voice and undermine your She advises young important because we mustn’t forget that nearby buses took people to never see it’s only been in the last 150 years that pictures from the cause, but it’s important to their age as a limita- women have been able to own property upper deck. tion when they want to and only in the past 100 years that we’ve Model Daisy make a change. had the vote. Lowe, one of many stay focused on what you “As young people “Our fight for equality is far from over inspirational women who are savvy about but it’s moments like this evening that are on the stage outside are trying to achieve” using social media, really special.” Parliament, spoke up we can use so many about the struggles different methods to that girls are facing project your message every day. out there, and actually “It’s heart-breaking already that one that gives us a real advantage.” says in ten school children have to have Amika. free school meals”, she said, “but if you think half of those people then have to deal with the stigma and the shame of perhaps not showing up to school at all because they’ve got their bloody period. It needs to end. It needs to end right now!’ Camera crews from the likes of BBC, Channel 4 and ITV news battled to get exclusive camera time with Amika as the protest was being broadcasted live on TV and as #periodpoverty went viral on Twitter, more and more crowds of people Story continues.... carried on arriving. Another AMAZING woman, who has been fighting to abolish the tampon tax since 2014, is Laura Coryton (the women who got George Osbourne to say the word ‘tampon’ in Parliament).

he tampon tax refers to forward for the government focused and believe in your- If you or a friend are Tthe VAT that is automati- to help in this situation: to self, you really can change the struggling to afford sanitary cally added on to the price of provide free sanitary products world from your laptop.” products Laura suggests the sanitary products. According in schools. Period! For some reason, talking best thing to do is talk: “Tell to the BBC, tampons and “It’s never the fault of the about periods is seen as a your teachers, guardian or sanitary towels are current- girls and I feel we have all taboo in most countries in the anyone you feel comfortable ly taxed at 5% but Coryton failed as a society until we can world. This is something that around about the problem. wants this figure abolished start to fight period poverty bothered Coryton and she “In doing so, you can make completely. And too right! and the period taboo.” was determined to normalise sure you get the education you Coryton, who set up her If you are also passionate speaking about mensuration. deserve, you’ll fight the period online petition whilst stud- about changing the world, “With the Tampon Tax taboo and should be so proud ying at university, expressed then Coryton has this advice: campaign, it wasn’t always of your bravery in coming for- her frustration that many “Never give up! The end about ending tampon tax,” ward with this problem,” said young girls in the UK don’t goal is not always the big- Coryton said, “simply getting Coryton, “once you start to have access to sanitary prod- gest achievement you can people to talk about periods talk, you empower others to ucts. “It’s awful,” she said, “be- make. Know that you can do was actually a bigger achieve- follow you. You can do it!” cause it’s relatively straight- anything at any age - keep ment!” Are you stuggling to afford sainitary products? TALK: “ tell your teachers, guardian or anyone you feel comfortable around about the problem” Flip OUT! Underage clubbing that gives you the wildest experience, don’t worry Flip Out’s got you.

Underage clubbing in the UK is not that com- using an iPad, after signing in you were giving mon. But many teens want to experience the a wristband with your number, and then you clubbing life before heading to university, just to collect a pair of socks that you had to wear inside have a taste of the nightlife atmosphere. the venue - speaking of making you feel at home!

Now there’s a safe way to try clubbing – and Everyone looked so comfortable walking around something your parents won’t flip out about. Flip in their psychedelic green socks. Phones were Out After Dark is clubbing with a twist, for all not allowed inside the trampoline for health and the teens out there who want to kick start their safety reasons. This was two hours of jumping, clubbing life with no worries in the world. foam pits, and stunt boxes.

Flip out is the UK’s leading trampoline park op- The atmosphere was wild, there was about twen- erator, it aims to deliver a healthy and awesome ty to thirty teenagers in the venue, ranging from environment with its big indoor trampoline, the ages thirteen to sixteen. stunt box zones, ball games, resident DJ’s and special events. When the lights went off at 8:30 pm you knew it was time, the smoke filled the air and you could Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday the venue has barely see anything. There was complete silence “club nights”, where teens can dance the night for about 30 seconds, then out of nowhere the DJ away on a trampoline in a safe environment. On started cutting on the mixer and the crowd went the last Friday of every month, there’s even a DJ wild. playing your favourite tunes. ‘’Ever since flip out opened I’ve been here like “The queue is mad on Friday nights and some- 4 times already, it’s such a fun place to go with times we only have two people at the tills. Who friends, the food is amazing, and it’s a cheap would think teenagers would be so excited to go entry, so I can’t complain at all.’’ Said 14-year-old out Friday nights,’’ said Ramla, a Flip Out staff Destiny Brennan a year 9 student from Dagen- member at Barking Road in East Ham. ham.

“When I was fourteen I was at home Friday This is the only place my mum approves me nights either doing homework, or watching the coming to, I really like it, I plan on celebrating Simpsons,” said Ramla. my sixteenth birthday here. My friends love it and I love it.’’ Said Jess also a year 9 student who The venue is urban and trendy, with all sorts of didn’t want to disclose her second name. smart art and graphic designs. It is also reasona- bly priced only £15 per head, can you imagine! The DJ started off playing old school funky house music, and all you could see was teenagers Upon arrival the staff were very helpful, willing jumping and dancing at the same time. to answer any questions. At the desk you sign in 26 MISSUNDERSTOOD FEBRUARY 2018

1918 vs 5 things you girls couldn’t do Now: Imagine turning 18 and wanting to celebrate your birthday on a night out with your best friends and drink your first vodka and lemonade, then finding out that you can’t buy a drink unless a man is with you… What the hell?

Well, 100 years ago there was a lot women couldn’t do and a lot men could do.

Tuesday the 6th of February marks a 100 years since millions of women got the vote in the UK. But women are still fighting for gender equality every day.

So, the story of women’s activism doesn’t begin or end with the suffragettes. That is why Hackney Museum has an exhibition called “Making Her Mark- a 100 years of women’s activism in Hackney” to show us loads of inspiring stories of women who have made a difference over the past 100 years. by Laura Formby

1 - Not being 2- Not being able to able to buy your own vote drinks at a pub As you enter the exhibition there is a purple poster explaining that “In 1918 the first British women gained If a woman walked into a bar or pub and tried to the right to vote, thanks to the activism of the suffragette pay for a drink with her own money, she could movement.” be refused. As a 100 years ago women would only be served if they was with a man. So what But do all young girls know who the suffragettes are? happened to a girls’ night out? Thirteen-year-old Ruby Lawson says she does, “Of course I know who they are! They are the women who fought for women’s rights, they helped us gain the right to vote. We learnt about it in history, duh.”

28 MISSUNDERSTOOD FEBRUARY 2018 Not being able to take the con- traception3- pill

A poster was shown in a frame at the museum, it spoke about the contraceptive pill. Did you know single ladies weren’t allowed to use the pill?

In 1961 the pill was launched in the UK but initially it was only available to married women. Finally in 1967, contraception was made readily available through the NHS Family Planning Act.

Equal pay- not being paid the4- same as your brother

Women are still fighting for equal pay, but according to a poster in the museum, “the working women’s charter is now over 43 years-old and since then a lot of things have changed” - One of them being equal pay and minimum wage.

Lauren Rogers, secondary school teacher from London, says that the poster made her realise that years ago she wouldn’t have been earning the wage she is earning today.

5- Having to wear high heels to work! Even nowadays!

“When I saw that glass box with a pair of New Look flat black shoes inside it, I thought it was weird as I was expecting it to be all old stuff at the exhibition. Then I read the small explanation and it said that this was from 2015! A woman, named Nicola Thorp, was actually sent home without being paid because she wasn’t wearing high heels! Like why don’t the men wear heels then?” Ruby says.

“So but so disgraceful!” she adds. YOUNG AND HEALTHY

By Diana Adebayo

The greatest wealth is your health. maintain your body, your mind and keeps you looking younger and living longer,” said Pedro A healthy lifestyle not only changes Vasconcelos. your body, it changes your mind, As a teenager you drastically change, having to your attitude, and your mood, the deal with elements such as peer pressure, social sooner you start the better for you. pressure and of course academic pressure. The word pressure literally defines your teenage years, According to The Guardians Young at heart article, a new you simply cannot get away from it. research suggests that childhood exercise has protective effect on health in later years as well as improving one’s Most teenagers deal with pressure by eating junk brain power. food, laying around watching TV, browsing the internet and playing video games. Last year, British kids were portrayed as the least active in the world after an international study took place. The fitness habits you develop as a teenager are likely to last a lifetime, and studies have shown that exercise can be beneficial to a teens overall health while of course pro- moting a good body image.

Physical education teacher Pedro Vasconcelos, who went from teaching secondary school children in Portugal to now teaching at Gascoigne Primary School in Barking talks about how fitness gives you the perspective as a human being.

“Having a healthy lifestyle gives you the possibility to 30 MISSUNDERSTOOD FEBRUARY 2018 Experts say that most teenagers spend more than 8 There’s more to keeping fit than just looking good, the hours a day on various medias. health benefits of physical activities include building and maintaining healthy bones, prevention of illness- So, it’s no surprise that teenagers can’t seem to find es such as high blood pressure and, hypertension in the time to exercise. adolescents.

It’s recommended that teenagers partake in at least “It makes me feel good afterwards and I feel like I’ve 1 hour of physical activity on most. These physical actually accomplished something good in a day men- activities can be worked into their everyday routines. tally and physically,” said Amanda. Simply walking to school, finding an active part- time job or even doing chores at home.

There’s a lot of positive outcomes when you choose to have a healthy lifestyle, for example reduced stress and an increase strength.

As a teenager it’s hard to stay motivated, so, the activities must be fun and engaging. Fitness is not always Fitness activities you can enjoy can include bike about keeping a good riding, tennis, swimming or football. body image, but “I take part in a lot of sport activities, I play football for my school team, I take swimming lessons and I about being healthy. plan on joining a volleyball team this summer,” said 16-year-old fitness enthusiast Amanda Genys.

“I’ve tried to get some of my female friends to join these sports activities with me, but they refused because they see it as a tomboyish thing to do,” said Amanda. The Rise of the female cadets By Laura Formby

Ask 13-year-old Tilly Lawson what she thinks when someone tells her that girls aren’t as strong as boys and the response is immediate.

“I get so angry and I want to tell them to f**k off as girls can do the same as boys,” says Tilly, an army cadet who takes pride in wearing her military uniform and her bush cap.

“Girls are just better than boys,” she says.

According to the army cadet force, 30% of the cadets in this year’s force are female and 70% are GIRL POWER! male. So since 2013, 1,040 females have joined the cadets. But there is still a big difference between the number of boys and girls at the army cadets. I bet you are wondering: err… what the hell is the army cadets?

Well missy, it’s a national youth organisation spon- sored by the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence and the British Army. In other words, it’s a volun- tary youth centre where girls between the ages of 12 and 16 can join. Oh - and boys of course…

When you sign up and join the army cadets you have to wear a uniform. So, picture in your head a soldier and their uniform colours - green, dark green and brown- as well as their black boots and green caps. How cool is that!

According to the army cadets force website, some of their activities have a military theme, including shooting, first aid and marching. Others have an

32 MISSUNDERSTOOD FEBRUARY 2018 adventurous theme, like kayaking and mountain bik- “If a boy were to tell me that army cadets is only for ing. They all inspire young people to challenge their boys, I would tell him that he is an idiot. Come one limits, become more independent and confident. it’s 2018! It just makes me so angry and annoyed! They forget that girls fought on the frontline,” she Tempany Starkey, a Sergeant (SGT) at Finchley De- says while posing for the camera. tachment ACF, says that it was full of boys when she joined eight years ago at the age of 13. The other cadet sergeant at Finchley is Jakub Le- Nowadays, they get two types of girls joining. “Girls gowik. The 17-year-old says that he has noticed a that pull a face when they see all the mud and other lot more girls joining in as a group. “Sometimes girls that don’t mind getting down and dirty,” she adds girls can do better than boys and three years ago the laughing. majority of our seniors where girls,” he adds.

The 21-year-old, who works as a manager when not The other female cadet, Tilly Lawson, says that she being a sergeant, says that there are more female sen- enjoys the army cadets but she wouldn’t like to join iors now as opposed to when she was one - actually, the army “as it’s too violent”. she was the only one! “Now the senior girls have the voice and authority above the boys, which is always The 13 year-old says that she feels very lucky to be a nice to see, just a little bit of power feels good,” she part of the army cadets but warns girls that there is says. a lot of marching and discipline when you join the cadets. Did you know that 100 years ago British women were given the right to vote! But women still strive to be “I would defo tell other girls to join as you learn a as equal as men - earn the same wage, get the same lot of things and its good practice for when you are respect and have the same authority. older. I have learned CPR, how to build tents, how In January, thousands joined Women’s March in Lon- to iron and to march,” she says. don for gender equality, so girls we are still fighting for our rights!

Sergeant says that only four out of 30 members off staff are female. What a shocking number! “Us girls need to prove to the boys that we are capable of the same and much more,” she says.

Two of the female cadets that joined in 2017 say that they joined because they wanted to prove to the boys that they are as tough and disciplined as the lads.

Thirteen-year-old Ella Rose Curren joined the army cadets a year ago and says that she is so happy that more girls are joining as there are lots of boys. “We need more girl power!” she adds while adjusting her twists that keep her trousers tucked in.

ELLA ROSE IS ALSO OUR COVER GIRL! ELLA ROSE FEMALE CADET

“ US GIRLS NEED TO STICK TOGETHER AS BOYS FORGET HOW AWESOME WE ARE!” Meet the group trying to expose Canada Goose Animal rights campaigners protest weekly outside Canada Goose on Regents Streets about the use of coyote fur on their luxury coats by Rosie Drew

f you’re a frequent shopper on London’s Regent Street “When I see people wearing Canada Goose jackets, I see then there’s no doubt you would have seen the weekly them wearing fur from coyotes, who share the same canine protests outside Canada Goose. family as my rescued dog, Ellie, a border terrier. Seeing people wearing dead dogs makes my blood boil.” IThe Canadian brand has come under fire for its use of coyote fur on its luxury winter clothing, with claims from Coyotes, although not found in the UK, are closely related animal rights group PETA (People for the Ethical Treat- to dogs and wolves, which is perhaps why many people feel so ment of Animals) that the animals are caught in steel traps strongly against the use of their fur. and left to die. Henry believes that the problems lies from the lack of Walking past the protests it is hard to turn away from education at school. “If everybody knew about animal agri- the horrific placards of photographs of coyotes screaming culture, we would all be vegan,” he said. “People need to be in pain with their legs trapped. educated about where fur comes from just as equally to where meat, dairy, eggs, wool and leather etc. come from.” King’s College student and vegan activist Henry Hutching, 20, attends the protests every week. He moved He believes that young people are fundamental for social to London from Peterborough around the same time the change because they have the most energies. store opened.

“Canada Goose seemed like the perfect target for me to get active in London not only because of its sudden opening, but also because it’s the perfect location to campaign against fur in general,” Hutchings said. “Many people walk down Regent Street wearing fur and can often buy it from other shops on the same high street.”

Missunderstood contacted Canada Goose about the allegations although they failed to respond.

However, the official website for the brand promises that fur is “ethically sourced” and says it does not condone any “willful mistreatment and neglect of animals or acts that maliciously cause undue pain, injury or suffering”.

Although Henry expresses that he’s not ‘speciesist’ (a term used by animal advocates which means they are prej- Protestors! Photo Credit: Rosie Drew udice towards a certain type of species) his love for dogs means that he feels “slightly more connected to canines.” 35 MISSUNDERSTOOD FEBRUARY 2018 “I am also concerned though, that the young people are It also claims that geese are ‘plucked alive’ to provide feath- outnumbered by an ageing population of old people we have. ers for the expensive coats, leaving the birds “paralysed with This makes it very difficult to change society dominated by fear” and with “gaping wounds” which often result in death. people who have done certain things their whole lives.” It also suggests that workers often “sew the birds’ skin back The company, which has fur coats ranging from around together without using any anesthetics”. £750 - £1,500, is often criticised by PETA and it has even been reported that the group are even looking to buy shares Student Abigail Myers, 20, has attended the protests “every in the company to put a stop to it (The Independent). few weeks” since it started because she feels that the “mistreatment of animals’ by the brand should be ‘brought to the Support worker Tom Gale-Batten, who started attending consumers’ attention.” animal activist events after becoming vegan three months ago, often goes to the weekly protests. “I have met so many “Coyotes caught in steel traps are used to make the fur trim kind and compassionate people as part of my journey into and the feathers of geese to make the downing’, she said “there activism,” said Tom, 34. is no need for unethical sourcing and abuse towards animals in order to make a good quality winter jacket.” Gale-Batten, who attended his first protest out of curiosi- ty, said: “I wanted to support the other activists as I knew of Myers believes that an ideal alternative to using animal other friends who had attended and from there on it became fur are synthetic materials, “There is no reason as to why the something I realised I was passionate about.” jackets of Canada Goose cannot be produced without the use of animals.” Before the store opened in the autumn of 2016, an online petition aimed to stop it opening gained over 15,000 signa- tures - and that number is still rising. Despite the protests the store The petition claimed that the steel traps used to capture coyotes made the animals “suffer for days and face blood remains open for business. loss, shock, dehydration, frostbite, gangrene, and attacks by predator”. BUY YOUR VEGAN TOTE BAGS NOW VISIT US 8 CAMDEN PASSAGE LONDON N1 8ED ISLINGTON’S INDEPENDENT SHOPPING DISTRICT in-residence.co.uk Sun, Sea & Sabrina!

Blogging and documenting every part of your life on Instagram is fast becoming the ca- reer that everybody dreams off. Who doesn’t want to get paid to travel the world, wear beautiful clothes and take selfies? But it’s not all that simple.

Miss Understood interviewed Sabrina Chakici- Luxury travel and fashion blogger, TV presenter and radio host to find out what it takes to become a successful blogger. by Leanne Carr

Sabrina began her blogging journey by accident. She was working as a presenter in shopping TV during the evening and her regular viewers would text the show and ask about what she was wearing and about her holidays.

“I wasn’t allowed to mention brands so I stared taking pictures of my outfits to direct the viewers to my blog. I then blogged about a trip away to Morocco and realised that I had a passion to write about travel and my readers loved it.

Sabrina’s blog, Clutch & Carry On, has taken her to every corner of the earth. From going on safari in Tan- zania, swimming with sea lions in The Galapagos to dining in an underwater restaurant in The Maldives, she really has seen the most beautiful places on earth with Tahiti being the place that stole her heart. Google it!

Sabrina’s success didn’t happen over night though. Like anything in life, if you want to succeed you have to put the work in and she’s done just that. After running her blog for six years, she’s only made money from it for the last four years AND still works lots of other jobs alongside writing on her blog to make a decent living. Sabrina enjoying the sun. Photo Credit: Sabrina Chakici She said: “If you are trying to write for freebies or to travel the world for nothing then it’s not the job for you as the reality of the hard work is something that people on the outside may not realise. It’s a slog!

38 MISSUNDERSTOOD FEBRUARY 2018 “There’s absolutely nothing stopping anyone from becoming a blogger and that’s the beauty of it all.

“The only problem is the market is very saturated and is difficult to be seen amongst the pool of bloggers but there is definitely room for everyone as long as you are willing to put the work in and in most cases though not all, invest a good amount of money into your br an d .”

As well as all the awesome things that can come with running a successful blog there can also be some tough times, especially having nearly 45,000 followers on social media to comment and judge you.

“Managing your success on other people’s views can be quite dangerous for your mind. Luckily my social media isn’t the most important factor of my job. My blog site, Female First column and print articles are what gets me the most work but it is quite tough on the self esteem at times with so many avenues of praise and criticism open!”

Beginner blogger, Sarah Horton has been running her blog ‘Sarah Says Salut’ for just under two years now and can appreciate all the hard work that goes in to making a successful blog like Sabrina’s.

“It’s hard to get started. I knew I wanted to create a blog but I had no idea how to do that.

“I’m still learning now and everyone’s trying to sell you stuff so that’s hard to know what to trust.”

And just like Sabrina explained, Sarah has also had to work alongside blogging to use the money to put in to her brand.

“As a new blogger you have to put out money to create good content and probably won’t make that money back for a while.”

So if you’re thinking of starting a blog make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. If you’re passionate about something, determined and most importantly hard working maybe you too can spend your time jet setting! Isn’t our cover girl fab!

Got an amazing story to tell? Share it with us! You never know, you could be our next cover star.

To enter our cover girl competition email us at: missunderstoodmag@gmail. com or use #MISSCOVERGIRL on Instagram.

ELLA ROSE 2018