Everyday Beauty - Kirty

I first saw Kirty perform at The Garrison in Toronto. She was the opening act for Harvey Cameron, my friend's band that I was waiting to watch. There she was, this auburn hair shaking hip swaying guitar playing girl, and it made me want to find out more.

Kirty grew up in Orillia, Ontario, always surrounded by music. Her mother taught her how to play guitar, and she played trumpet all throughout high school. She attended Humber College for their Contemporary Music program. At 26, she's already released her first album through independent grants from a variety of Toronto art councils, and she's working on a new album that will be released under a label.

She describes her music as beachy, rock, folk. She quotes Bruce Springsteen, Sarah Harmer, Blue Rodeo and Neil Young as musical inspirations, as well as her family and ex-boyfriends.

Everyday Beauty - Adyam

Say hello to my latest Everyday Beauty, Adyam. I met with the budding entrepreneur to discuss self-acceptance, bathing suit anxiety, and pursuing your personal passion.

On a life-changing trip to Brazil, Adyam noticed that women on the beach had an abundance of confidence. All local women, including those who would be considered large by North American standards, strutted down the sand in skimpy, thong bikinis. No one stared at them, and if anyone did, they didn't seem to care.

It was after this trip that Adyam was inspired to start her own bathing suit line, focusing on a more accurate representation of women and their bodies. With no design background and no idea where to start, she brought 20 bikinis back from Brazil to learn about the fabrics and design. She then quit her job in finance (which she hated) and became an entrepreneur. 

From there, she worked with three local women from Brazil to get her designs brought to life. It was important to her that she worked with local women, to support the economy, and avoid child, or sweatshop labour. These women are part of the creation of her line. Her brand name? Filosofia Swimwear. Filosofia is the Portuguese word for philosophy. 

"It focuses on the idea of questioning your own philosophy of beauty, of body image, of swimwear. I want to create a movement of consciousness. I want to change the way women view each other," said Adyam. 

She believes that women also need to embrace other images of beauty by supporting each other, and most of all, accepting their own bodies. Through letting go of stereotypes and expanding the notion of what is considered beautiful, women can feel safe to try on a bathing suit and walk down the beach; even if a magazine doesn't deem them "beach bod ready." 

With springy, stunner hair, wide expressive eyes, and a strong, positive attitude, I don't think anyone needs convincing of her beauty. Filosofia Swimwear will launch Summer 2014.

For more information, visit: Filosofiaswimwear.com, and follow along on Twitter and Instagram.

Everyday Beauty - Meet Jaclyn

Meet Jaclyn! 

One of the first things she told me when we sat down together is that she's a storyteller. 

She's a new blogger, life questioner and pursuer of honest intentions. After receiving her Master's degree in education, she realized that she didn't actually want to spend her life in the classroom. Instead, she set off on a quest to figure out what it is she really wants to do; what she's good at. She didn't just follow a path because it was set out for her.

I soaked up our conversation like a biscotti in hot espresso. I find bravery in people who are willing to ask themselves the big questions and really explore who they want to become. Jac told me about her struggles and ambitions, and we both agreed that 2013 was a lost year for both of us. She is curious to know what young adults define as personal success. 

When it comes to outer beauty, it's hard not to notice her dimples and electric green eyes; I can't.even.talk about her skin. After our conversation, I felt like we'd known each other for years, not just through mutual friends. I can't wait to see where she takes off. 

For more on Jaclyn, visit her blog at Jacgabs.com. 

Everyday Beauty - Emily J

I met Emily a couple of years ago in PR school.

We recently reunited over tea, leaving us with a year and a half gap to fill in. We recapped our travels, career paths, relationships and future ambitions, until we were all caught up.

From invitations inside Buckingham Palace, to yoga spa retreats in Costa Rica, I can't even begin to describe Emily's adventures. Emily is a great listener and a strong conversationalist. She makes you feel like you're really special when you talk to her; she draws you in.

There is really no need for me to go on about her outer beauty. (Those eyes, that skin, her smile). It's the kind that makes strangers stop and stare as we stroll down the street.

We also chatted about the crossroads that people in their late twenties face, and she seems to be facing a few big ones. No matter what uncertainty is ahead, she is one person who I know will always propel forward in the most spectacular way.

All we can do is watch.

Below are the photos! Enjoy.

Everyday Beauty - Laura

Meet Laura!

We work together in "PR land" and spend a good share of our bonding time bouncing out of the office starved for something caffeinated. If you pop by Laura's desk, you will instantly notice her love affair with felines due to her desk decor. My favourite item is a cut-out cat calendar that rests by her keyboard.

Someone once captioned a photo of her saying she looks like a young Meryl Streep. I always tell her that she has the face for the big screen, with her wide expressive cornflower blue eyes, hair that looks like it was highlighted by baby angels and ridiculously translucent skin. Laura also has strength in her stature, and a softness in her demeanour that doesn't make you too intimidated by her. She's cool, without ever dare telling you that she's cool.

Below are some photos I took on a coffee break. Cut-out cat calendar not included.

Enjoy! x

Everyday Beauty - Merve

Meet Merve!

Merve is from Germany and she is also studying Italian in Florence for a portion of the summer. While we are not in the same class, (Merve speaks much better Italian than I) we met on a trip to Cinque Terre a couple of weekends ago. I also run into Merve often at our local cafe where we both seem to enjoy a daily espresso. When I asked Merve if I could take her photo, she responded the way most people do,

"Oh me? Really?! I don't look good in photos."

I assured her that everyone says this exact thing, and everyone who says this about themselves is very wrong. The Everyday Beauty series is about capturing people in a natural state: staring off into the distance, walking down a cobblestone street, enjoying a laugh with a friend. It's about noticing something special about someone. For me, I noticed Merve's relaxed approach to style and killer sunglasses.

I took these photos as we waited for the next train, and while they are a little grainy (the sun was strong and I couldn't quite see the final results on my screen) I loved Merve's positive attitude towards the whole thing. x

Everyday Beauty - Vanessa

Back when I tried to become an editor and work with contributors, my most enthusiastic writer was Vanessa. Vanessa can make anyone feel like a slacker even on a busy day. She blogs almost daily, interns at a notable publishing house, reads books the way people tweet, and self-published a novel at only 22.

She has an exuberant, uncynical view of life that is extremely rare in young people, like finding a constellation in the sky in the shape of Ryan Gosling's face.

She also has an old soul sense of maturity. She openly talks about how she likes to be at home, and how she loves being with her family. There is no FOMO for her; no desire to be at some crowded, fake event or win a popularity contest. She's honest, and you can see no fear in her lovely almond-shaped golden eyes.

In a Thought-Catalog world of jaded twenty-somethings, Vanessa is all, hey people, life is great - let's take it on!

You can't help but want to dream again.

Everyday Beauty - Nicole

If Katie Holmes and Kate Middleton ran at blazing speed and morphed into each other, it would result in Nicole. (In my celebrity-hybrid opinion).

A recent art history graduate, Nicole spends her days working at an art gallery in Toronto’s Distillery District. Despite her title as a “gallery girl” she is nothing like that Bravo reality show with the same moniker.

With alabaster skin and golden eyes, she is undoubtedly a classic beauty. While I don't like dropping people into categories (what does "classic beauty" even mean, and who does it exclude?), it's hard to get past her striking appearance and stature. However, the moment she speaks, it is clear that her gregarious personality and warm laugh could easily make a King, or that boy across the lake fall in love with her.

Below are photos from our shoot in the Distillery District. Enjoy!

Everyday Beauty - Naho

You know those people, who sit around and gossip and complain the whole time you hang out with them and when you leave, you feel depleted and irritated?

Hanging out with Naho, or Na (as I affectionately call her) is the complete opposite of that.

Being around her is like doing a yoga class, while day-drinking in the sunshine, while laughing at a hilarious movie, while drinking your favourite cup of coffee, well..you get the idea. You feel happy and energized because she has good energy. The kind of energy that spills out and makes you want to be a more positive, outgoing and happier person. (I rarely have met enough people like this). When I moved the New York, she made the effort to take me around during the day on her days off because she knew I didn't know many people.

While she may be small, she is the mightiest. She's originally from California, has been on exchange to Australia, has parents who live in Hawaii and now lives in Brooklyn. She furiously bikes across the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan, where she weaves through gridlock traffic and pedestrians with ease and control. Do you EVEN know how hard that is? She has a kind, welcoming face with graceful features, and hair that is always spun and pinned, and arranged in a way that can't quite be duplicated; not that she would want anyone to.

You see, she embraces being different in a way that only makes people want to be just like her. In any case, we're all better for just knowing her.

Below are some photos (I forced her to take) when we went for coffee before one of my flights back home. Enjoy! x

Everyday Beauty - Mel

To cap off the week, here is another feature from the (long overdue) Everyday Beauty series.

While it seems that I've lost the gumption to go up to strangers and ask to take their portraits, I have to rely on people I know for this series until I get my courage back. Good thing I have some beauties in my life.

You may recognize the above lady, as she's all over this blog. It's my sister. I took this photo of her last weekend. She was walking in front of me and I said,

"Hey Mel, turn around."

And in one shot, she managed to look like that. 

Sometimes it seems that the glossy glossy world would have you believe that only the tall, lithe women warrant attention. However, I've witnessed all kinds of males trip over shoes with no laces to get to my 5ft nothing sister. She even managed to once soften the usually mean guards at airport customs. The guard then questioned how we were sisters and told me I needed to wear more makeup.

All asshats aside, I do sometimes questions which gene pool she swam in.

x

Everyday Beauty - Jenny

For the second installment of the Everyday Beauty series, I chose Jenny.

From the moment I met Jenny, I was always envious of one thing: her impossibly shiny, shake your head like a cheesy shampoo commercial hair. As loyal readers would know, Jenny pops up here and there on Not A Model. She is also one of my best friends and her beauty can be found in the laughter that comes from the animating storytelling of her daily escapades. Recently, she stepped up her mane game by getting on-trend fringe doll bangs.

The rest is head turning history. x