Women who you
editors cherish
Do you remember my ode to Emma Watson or that to Michelle Obama? Emma went from a wizard child in Harry Potter to ambassador of the United Nations. Michelle literally put the ladies first as First Lady. And these are life changers on a grand scale. But now that it is International Women's Day, I wanted to see in a small way which woman is great. Who was and is important in your life. Because she stopped you in your diapers, held your hair back during an alcoholic mishap, or showed you how to amaze in that job.
The Emma’s and Michelles in my life? My mother, because she gave me heaps of self-confidence, but also because she took away the sweets when my growth curve in sixth grade got a bit out of balance. Britt, my very best bestie, who sometimes starts a sentence with: ‘You might not like to hear this, but I’m going to tell you anyway.’ May-Britt, yes that one indeed, because she lends me her work methods. The women who make Amayzine, the friends who make me me, my little sister. You too, because you read us. And these are the women your editors cherish…
May-Britt
“Whether I wanted to praise and rock women who have played a role in my life was the question. Well, do you have a moment? Of course my mother. Always sit up straight, never sit on the ground in a public place, please also pay a little attention to romance when you are heavily pregnant or just gave birth, and never leave the house with wet hair. Unless it’s in fashion. Other women gave me snippets of wisdom. Carla Duursma, friend of the above, impressed upon me that you should never speak about diets or lines. “Just don’t eat for a day when your man is not there and keep that body in check a bit. But otherwise, just act like it’s all
naturally given to you. At least in front of your man. Nothing more unattractive than that.”
Then Harriet Calo, my magazine mom, who literally pushed me up in a state of stress, told me to keep my gaze upward. Otherwise, I would have to resign. “We’re not letting this happen to us, you know. Are you crazy?” Or the same Calo who was once not invited to the Chanel show and chicly took revenge by going to Le Bon Marché right at the time of the show (with me, with me) and said “I’ll take this one” when the saleswoman showed a Dior bag. Living well is the best revenge, the only way is up and “When people tell who they are, listen” are her pieces of wisdom that I take to heart every day.
There are a hundred more. Anna of course, Hanneke, Frederike, Daniëlle, Marte, Asjha, Anouk, Roos, Tess, Lilian, Doortje, Bracha, Agnès, Renske, Lucia, Franska, Mariska, Eva, Marry, Femke, Marjan, Manon, Chantal… Women who treat you to wise words and a filled glass and a sharp joke. Exactly when you need it. Cheers to them.”
Lilian
“My best friends, my dearest colleagues and of course my loveliest mother: all power women. But there is one lady special: my grandmother. No matter what happens, wherever I am, her radar immediately starts beeping when I swallow a tear of happiness or sadness. In The Hague or on the other side of the world. It’s my dear grandma Mies, who at 80 always knows how to reach me first. She puts herself last as the best, so despite the dreary weather today, I shine a light on her with a lot of love.”
“Women who treat you to wise words and a filled glass and a sharp joke”
Every
“Women I cherish? Do you have a moment? I can easily write a long list of names, because there are many, both famous and unknown. But if I can really name just one today, I will go for someone blood related. Namely my sister Merel (and actually also a bit her boyfriend, but yes, it’s International Women’s Day so that would defeat the purpose). But back to my big sister Merel: her positivity is admirable. The world could use more people like her.”
Kiki
“Can I also name multiple women? Let’s especially cherish each other this International Women’s Day. Your dearest mom, your nice colleagues, your study friend, your bestie who knows all your secrets, your neighbor, the girl in the supermarket who smiles sweetly at you… Everybody! The task is to give at least one woman you cross paths with today a nice compliment, deal?”
Simone
“Well, very cliché, but my mother. She raised my brothers and me alone, because my father died in an accident when I was one and a half. But I also add my aunt, my mother’s sister. Actually my second mother, because she was often at our house in the first years.”
