Know Her Stories

Nikki is the Creator of The Belle Method and The Bump Method Inc. She fuses Pilates with Pelvic Health, supporting everyone in feeling confident and strong throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum and beyond. Why do you feel your work is important? Women's health has been largely neglected in many spheres, and now we're kind of behind in terms of research and how we treat women throughout pregnancy and postpartum. The more we educate women, the more they can advocate for what makes the most sense for them.  After giving birth, so many issues are explained away as just being “part of motherhood.” Women think, “I'll just suck it up.” And, unfortunately, when women have issues with incontinence, pain, or their pelvic floor there aren’t many people saying, “Yeah, this is common, but you don't have to live with it.” I'm very passionate about spreading the word because I think women internalize a lot of shame about issues with fertility, miscarriages, and complications with pregnancy when so often they’ve done nothing wrong. How did you get started doing this? I was a dancer. I injured my knee, found pilates, rehabbed it, and it was life changing. After that, I started working out of a physiotherapy clinic. In my mid-twenties, I felt I had no business teaching pilates to firefighters with herniated discs, and 65-year-olds with osteoporosis, and a teen with scoliosis and a rod in her back. But those were my clients. And so, I studied hard before each session and asked the physios, chiropractors, and massage therapists what I could do with each person. I learned so much from them early on.  Then, I started to make group classes. I was really able to fuse my dance background with my injuries and special populations background, which helped me create a class that would be a fun, energizing, accessible workout. I started getting a lot more pregnant women coming, and I thought: “Ooh, you guys need your own thing.” So, I started classes for pregnancy and postpartum.   "I think if we really focus on empathy, community, and support, there's nothing we can't accomplish."  What’s something you wish someone talked to you more about when you were younger?Pelvic health. When I was starting out, 70% of women in my postpartum class were joking about having bladder problems. I had no kids then. I was still in my twenties and I thought, “I need to learn more about this. I don't think this is the way it's supposed to be.” Then, after having my own kids in my thirties, my interest in pelvic health sort of just grew and grew. So, I'm not going to stop talking about it. I also really believe in community over competition. And I think that’s something we really need to teach our young girls about. There's this societal myth that women are catty and cruel to each other, and I really have found the opposite to be true. I think if we really focus on empathy, community, and support, there's nothing we can't accomplish. Can you share one of the hardest things to overcome in your work? I spend a lot of time convincing my students that it's never too late to improve their pelvic health. A lot of people think that peeing their pants, or having symptoms of heaviness, or having bad diastasis means it's over for them. But I have students in their 60s who are improving their quality of life, improving their pelvic health, and just feeling better in their own bodies.   After pregnancy there's a lot of trying to slim down, lose weight, and take up less space to fit a certain aesthetic. I like to come from a place of function. Let’s just work to help our bodies function well. Let’s come from a place of gratitude, especially if you've carried a pregnancy, for everything our bodies have been through and helped us through.   "Let’s come from a place of gratitude, especially if you've carried a pregnancy, for everything our bodies have been through and helped us through."  How are taboo topics about women's bodies, women's health, pregnancy and postpartum sex holding women back?Let's talk about postpartum sex. We are often cleared at six weeks to say we can resume all normal activities, including penetrative intercourse, and some women internalize that as pressure. It’s like “You’ve got to go do this.” And we're not really given any guidance. We're told the advice: “Just use some lube, be on top, have some wine,” and it's like a joke. But a lot of women experience pain, and then they think there's something wrong with them. But they haven't really gotten help. They haven't seen a physiotherapist, or learned about their pelvic floor. This can create a neurological feedback loop where your brain starts to anticipate pain. You can get issues with vaginismus. Or issues with chronic pain during sex. And this is terrible because, again, there's shame. Sometimes your closest girlfriends won’t even talk about this.   Let's talk about the lack of aftercare that women get after major abdominal surgery, like cesarean birth. When you have a cesarean birth they cut through seven layers of tissue. It's a major abdominal surgery, and then they’re like, “You're good. Go for a walk and go home. Take some Advil.” I've had heart surgery myself—it was a catheter ablation, which is a day surgery. It was nothing compared to birth, and yet I got more after care than I did with birth.  "Let's talk about postpartum sex. We're told the advice of just use some lube, be on top, have some wine, and it's like a joke."  What do we all stand to gain by connecting women to their power and inner strength?I honestly believe that women can change the world. Period. Self love can be challenging, especially if you look at your body and you don't recognize yourself, which is unfortunately common. I hope that we can come to this place of gratitude for everything we've been through and then trust that it's never too late to develop the belief that our bodies are stronger than we think. If we can work from a place of self love, I think we can make a lot of headway.   What do you hope people walk away with after working with you? Birth can either be one of the most empowering or traumatizing experiences of your life. And how we are treated, how we are respected, validated, spoken to—everything makes such a huge difference. I get a lot of women in our classes who have had prior traumatic experiences. And it's the most amazing feeling when I hear of a positive birth after that trauma. When I hear women saying things like: “I was able to do it my way” or  “I'm not peeing my pants anymore” or “I didn't tear this time and I feel like a million dollars” or  “You've given me a feeling of confidence about my body that I thought I had lost”—I get shivers every time.  Writing: Carter Selinger

Joleen is the founder of Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week and the co-founder of Supernaturals—the world’s first all-Indigenous modelling agency. Through the organization Urban Butterflies, she helps Indigenous youth in foster care connect with their culture. She's an athlete, advocate, activist, and former model. We spoke with Joleen about basketball, Indigenous fashion, and forming strong relationships. You’re going to want to get to know her. What role has basketball played in your life?Basketball is pretty huge for Indigenous people all across Turtle Island. I’ve gotten to meet and learn about so many different nations while travelling for basketball. The All Native Basketball Tournament is the biggest basketball tournament for Indigenous people. It’s like our olympics. Our practices like Potlach and other ceremonies were kind of stolen from us so the only places we could gather as Indigenous people was through church or sport. That’s why our basketball team, All My Relations, is so important. It gives us a chance to gather. There’s also a large gap between the oldest and youngest players. Our oldest player is 41 and our youngest just turned 18 so there’s a lot of intergenerational mentorship happening. Your team All My Relations won the All Native basketball tournament in 2022. What do you think helps women feel empowered and work well together in a team setting?We had a matriarch—a great coach who’d won at another big Indigenous gathering for sport and basketball. We also got elders involved with the team and changed our style of practicing. We did a lot of praying. It can be hard to keep up with your cultural practices in a big city because it’s expensive and we all have busy lives. But then, during the pandemic, we didn’t really have much going on so we’d get together a lot outside and do workouts, which helped keep us sane. We’d take spirit baths where we’d all jump into freezing glacier waters. We really made sure our spirits were taken care of. Getting together more often really helped us form strong bonds, and it became like a sisterhood where we really relied on each other for emotional support. I think that’s why we won. You’re the co-founder of Supernaturals modelling agency, and the founder of Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week. You were also a model yourself. What experiences while modelling propelled you to form both this agency and event?I just feel like I’m trying to push the needle as much as I can for Indigenous people. Back when I was modelling Indigenous people weren’t as revered as they are now. No one wanted to be Native. And now it’s like everyone wants to be Native. My goal is to make Vancouver as Indigenous as possible and I think we’re helping do that with these organizations. What historical aspects of Indigenous fashion do you find inspiring?I think we dress for the next generation. When you go into a Potlach or a ceremony, the significance of wearing a button blanket, or your hide, or your ribbons is to show the sacred items that represent you and your clan. Indigenous fashion is completely different from Eurocentric fashion because it tells a story. Our fashion isn’t about what colour is “in” this year. It’s about animals, or seasons, or berries, and we’re able to understand this because we still have our elders who pass down the stories that give these items meaning. A lot of your work is centered around building and strengthening community. What do you feel are the keys to building a strong sense of community?I think it’s about relationships. It’s also about learning systems and identifying the gaps within those systems, and bringing in Indigenous knowledge to help create solutions. It’s also important to help show people the way as opposed to doing things for them. You work with Urban Butterflies, an organization that helps Indigenous youth who are in foster care connect with their culture. Can you tell us about some of your favourite experiences working with this organization?My mom was a Sixties Scooper so, if she was a little kid, she would have been in my program. I think working here has helped heal that relationship between me and my mom and given me a deeper understanding of where she came from. But the experiences with the kids—they’re all so good. It’s amazing to get to teach these kids about aspects of their culture like button blankets and take them on trips to go swimming and things like that. When I was growing up I was often the only Indigenous kid around. So, it’s really special to watch all these little kids who are so happy to meet other Indigenous kids. I’ve known some of them since they were 10 and now they’re 25 or 26. I’ve gotten to be a constant in their life. Getting to witness these kids heal has been very impactful and powerful, even to my own development. What pieces of jewelry help you feel grounded in who you are?My cousin is a jeweler and he made a necklace for me that has “turtle” written on it in our language. Turtle is our last name. I’m not originally from the coast, I'm from the sovereign nation Sawridge Nation, which is in northern Alberta. So having that necklace makes me feel pretty grounded. It reminds me of where I come from, and it’s nice because we’re on Turtle Island and it’s our last name. What are some of the strongest relationships in your life? What makes them strong?I got really close with my Aunty who started Urban Butterflies. She actually passed the program on to me so I could keep the torch going. She was also a Sixties Scooper. She didn’t get to meet her mom. Community work can be daunting—there’s always so much to do—but I think that’s also what helped keep our relationship strong. Beau Dick was another great mentor to me. He was a hereditary chief and a master carver. He taught me a lot about how to read a room and place people during Potlach ceremonies. He smashed a copper shield on the legislature to break the colonial spell. He’s kind of a magician. I have a lot of great relationships—Patrick is like my life partner, the basketball team feels like a sisterhood, the little ones at Urban Butterflies feel like my kids, and so do the models. So many of the relationships with people around me have been deepened because we’re all interested in pushing Indigenous issues and showing people that we’re strong. Is there anything specific that you’d like to talk about or draw attention to?Come to Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week. We have a really great market there. It’s a great place to get moccasins and blankets. It’s a come one come all event. We want everyone to come and buy from us. It’s also a really fun time with musical guests and tons of cool fashion. If you’re looking for things to support this month, All My Relations Indigenous Society, Urban Butterflies, and Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week are really great organizations.

Chelazon Leroux is a Two-Spirit Dene First Nations Multidisciplinary Artist who appeared on season 3 of Canada’s Drag Race. She joined us to talk about drag, family, identity, jokes, and jewelry—all with their signature insight, glamour, and humour. You’re going to want to get to know Chelazon. How did you get into drag? Did it feel like something you were always suited for? I got into drag after watching Rupaul’s Drag Race, season 6. I explored with makeup and wigs at first, it very quickly became a love of mine. I feel that drag came into my life at a time where I needed it, and I never questioned its presence, I suppose it was meant to be.    You post a lot of hilarious videos. Can you talk a little bit about the role of humour in drag?Humour is a central part of indigenous identity. It’s the way we connect, show love, and heal trauma. It just so happens to be a wonderful add on to drag as an art form. Before finding drag, were there any aspects of life where you’d catch yourself performing?As a young kid I would always dress up in Halloween costumes and find myself creating stories and entertaining an audience or just myself. I’ve always been an entertainer, from the start. What do you think about when you’re styling a look for a drag performance? Is there any jewelry that helps you get ready and feel yourself?I can be inspired by many things as a source reference. Whether that is a fabric, texture, or a beaded earring that will inform a whole concept on what the final look will be. Are there any big differences between who you are on stage and who you are off stage?   Chelazon is the microphone to the words I already speak, slightly louder, a bigger stage, and a lot more glamour.      When do you feel most yourself?  When I am at home, having dinner with my mother while she’s visiting. I’m lucky she has meetings in the city I live in, we always make it a point to catch up and eat good food.    Tell us about your experience on Canada’s Drag Race. What was your favourite part?  It was the most stressful, magical, and vulnerable part of my career. I think the gift I was given is that it meant so much to people across turtle island. The representation I gave to my peoples is all I could have hoped for.   Are there aspects of drag that help you feel like you’re connecting, or reconnecting, with the history of Two-Spirit people within Indigenous culture?  Drag and Two Spirit identity go hand in hand, not necessarily the same experience, but they’ve come together in my work of advocacy, education, and entertainment. For me the art of drag, and identity of Two-Spirit come together to tell a story and create a whole realized experience.     You talk a lot about being an Aunty, and aunties in general. Can you define what Aunty means to you?   Aunty is an Indigenous woman who has taken part in raising you, not necessarily blood relations. But those women who showed you love, humour, and kindness, even when they are often dealt the toughest cards in life, they still manage to laugh and have a heart of gold.    If you were a Sparkle colour, which would you be and why?  I would be lavender, to me it’s calm, beautiful, and the midpoint between red and blue, a midpoint of a spectrum, something I feel closely as a Two-Spirit person. 

If you’re feeling stuck in a style rut, poised for a refresh, or ready to break free from the rules of the fashion world—you’re going to want to get to know Lizzi Kapran. Lizzi’s free-wheeling fashion philosophy has helped empower her growing online audience to dress for themselves. We spoke with Lizzi about comfort zones, trends, adventurous outfits, her style icon (mom), and her hairless cat Zeus.  What’s your style philosophy on comfort zones? Should they be pushed? Or should we wear whatever makes us feel good?     Comfort zones are created so you can stay out of them, in my humble opinion. Obviously, don’t wear clothes that make you feel uncomfortable, but pushing boundaries is what fashion is all about. Growth happens outside of the comfort zone. Some of my biggest shifts in personal style came from wearing something I initially thought I couldn't "pull off." Nowadays, that doubting mentality is pretty much gone. I actually feel most like myself when I wear something that makes heads turn.   "Comfort zones are created so you can stay out of them...”  Do you have any tips for owning an adventurous outfit? Vintage stores, thrift stores, and mom's hand-me-downs are my favourite places to source the funkiest of the funky, the weirdest of the weird. When it comes time to wear said adventurous outfit, just remember that the looks people give you are almost always looks of admiration, inspiration, and curiosity. Not a lot of people feel comfortable wearing a tutu to the local coffee shops, but I do it all the time. Embrace the fact that you have the confidence to even put it on, and own it like it's no one's business. (Hint: it isn't!) Do you have a favorite fashion rule? What style rules are made to be broken?   There's a quote by Picasso that I think strongly applies to my outlook on "fashion rules": Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist. There are zero rules to "follow" in my fashion book, just principles. Kind of like how art has principles of design, my outfits have principles of style. One principle of mine is called the "sandwich":   one solid colour on top (can be a hat/shirt)  one print/complimentary colour in the middle (can be pants, skirt, blazer, etc)  the same solid colour on bottom (pants, shoes, bag)  The sandwich is a great way to methodize my outfits when I'm in a creative rut.  Can you tell when Zeus (your hairless cat) likes an outfit?   Zeus loves colorful sweaters, sweater vests, the works! Winter is his favorite style season because he gets dressed in sweaters himself. He's like a tiny senior citizen with his affinity for cable knits.  “I really hope to see more metal mixing... Such a fun way to give more edge to the daintiest of outfits.” What jewelry trends do you hope to see in the future? What accessory trends are you loving right now? I really hope to see more metal mixing. I don't know why so many see it as a fashion crime! Such a fun way to give more edge to the daintiest of outfits. I love the maximalist jewelry trend peaking just in time for summer. A fully stacked ear and/or wrist just does something to me. What do you think about while choosing an outfit for an occasion? Ie. Festivals, nights out, dinners, weddings?   I only have one thought when choosing an outfit for any occasion—what will inspire, provoke curiosity, and make me feel like a million bucks? I ask myself this whether I'm styling a look for a press gala, or if I'm simply meeting a friend for lunch.  “I only have one thought when choosing an outfit for any occasion—what will inspire, provoke curiosity, and make me feel like a million bucks?"  Where do you get your style inspiration? My #1 style inspiration is my beautiful mama. My mom is an immigrant from Eastern Europe. She came from a place where self-expression was frowned upon and even politically suppressed. As soon as she landed in Toronto, she ran to the nearest department store looking for a job. To her surprise, she was hired as a sales representative while only knowing a handful of English words. Her first paycheck was spent on the necessities: rent, food, and of course, for me she handpicked the chicest baby clothes that store had to offer. As the years went on and my family fortified a stable life here in Canada, our shared love for shoes, accessories, and dresses only grew. My mom would show up to parent-teacher conferences in colourful, daring looks that were straight out of fashion magazines (or at least 8-year-old me thought so). I always look back fondly on the times she would bring home stacks of ELLE, Vogue, and any fashion magazine she could get her hands on for me.   What does your jewelry say about you?   I'm all fun loving and free over here—metal mixing, dainty necklaces stacked on the chunkiest of chains. It’s all colourful today and totally toned down tomorrow.   What’s it like getting ready in front of such a large online audience? Does it affect your style choices?   I don't see it as getting ready in front of anyone. When I'm styling outfits for content it's just me and the creative juices flowing. Sometimes I'll edit a video and look back and think, "Hmm. This might be too out there, too unrelatable in terms of other people's style choices." Those are usually the videos that end up getting the best engagement and commentary because they provoke curiosity and get people thinking outside of the box.  "I wish there wasn't so much of a collective focus on what's "in," and I wish people didn't feel so pressured to participate in it all.”  Say you can change one thing about the world of fashion, what would it be? I wish the concept of "trends" would cease to exist, to be completely honest! Things that are trendy this summer were deemed "weird" and "unusual" last summer. I wish there wasn't so much of a collective focus on what's "in," and I wish people didn't feel so pressured to participate in it all. Living in the city really highlights this because you can actually see a new "aesthetic" take over, but then it changes as soon as there's a new trend cycle. It all just looks super commercial and forced, even a bit robotic when you see the same "trendy" outfit multiple times in a single day. Shopping exclusively according to trends is a huge disservice to your wardrobe and our planet. 

Allie and Sam got married in 2019. They live in Nova Scotia with their twin boys, two cats, and three dogs. They also make a pretty incredible parenting team. Allie and Sam were even able to share some of the physical responsibilities of having a baby. Allie carried the twins and Sam was able to breastfeed them. They spoke with us about finding balance in their life, motherhood, and their journey with reciprocal IVF and induced lactation. Their story expands and alters the traditional perceptions and expectations surrounding motherhood, and we’re so excited to share it with you. It’s time you got to know Allie and Sam.  Your story is so unique and special. Allie carried the pregnancy and then Sam breastfed through induced lactation. Could you tell us a little bit about that experience, and what it was like to share these responsibilities that typically fall to one person?When we started our fertility journey, the plan was for Sam's eggs to be used and for Sam to carry our kids. However, after a few losses, we decided Sam's body needed a break and I thought I would try carrying. So, we put in two embryos and were in complete shock when they both stuck! I never wanted to breastfeed, but Sam wanted that experience. So, when she heard about induced lactation, she thought she would give it a shot. It worked out, and she's been breastfeeding our boys since they were born. It’s really nice to be able to share the responsibility because I had a really hard pregnancy and after that I needed to recover and have my body as my own again. Photo Credit: Makenna Reid Has motherhood changed your relationship with each other in any way? With twins it was really challenging to adjust from zero kids to two. It was hard to navigate, but now we’re definitely in a rhythm. We've adapted and now it feels like we have a lot more time to spend with each other! We're still "us" and I'm very glad. You answer a lot of questions from curious people on your social media. Are there questions you love answering? Or ones that you get a bit tired of? Have you received any funny questions or comments?  We do love to answer questions and we do get some repeat ones like, “Are you sisters?” - I don't see it, but we get that a lot. I love answering questions about coming out and the fertility process because I think those are topics that can be hard to talk about. We're really open about sharing our journeys, and I hope that helps others feel less alone.  "We're really open about sharing our journeys, and I hope that helps others feel less alone."  What aspects of parenting do you see each other being good at as your twins get older?Something really unique about becoming parents together is that we actually nannied together. We were au pairs in separate homes, and then au pairs in the same house. So, we've had childcare experience together. We knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses going in. For instance, Sam is eternally patient, which is such an amazing quality. Whereas I think I’m strong at multitasking, which comes in handy for things like cooking and cleaning. Photo Credit: Makenna Reid Was there anyone that you looked to for non-traditional motherhood advice? How did you go about finding information on reciprocal IVF, sperm donation, and induced lactation? We followed a lot of different accounts where people were going through IVF, or reciprocal IVF, and learned a lot that way. But we also did a lot of research and talked to many different fertility clinics. You’re very open and transparent on social media. How do you draw boundaries for what you will and will not share?As much as we share online, there's so much more that we don't share. For example, we don't share our boys’ faces or names anywhere to respect their privacy. We have hard boundaries within our own relationship of what we will not share. We always laugh that people say: “Oh my god she's sharing so much.” But in reality you're probably only seeing like 5% of our lives. There's so much more that goes on behind the scenes, and it's so nice to have some things that are just for us. What excites each of you most about your future as mothers? We're excited for everything—travelling with the boys, watching them become friends with the animals, just doing everyday things, holidays, and just watching them be kids. I really hope they will share my love of music. But mainly, I just can't wait to see who they become. "I just can't wait to see who they become."  In addition to your twin babies, you also have 5 pets. What’s it like being moms to seven little beings all at once? What helps you manage your own, and everyone else’s, needs? It's actually so much fun! We often joke that—since we already had five pets—what’s two more? Obviously, fur babies and human babies are very different, but it's been a pretty seamless transition overall. I definitely often feel like there are not enough hours in the day to attend to everyone, but we always make a point to give all the animals snuggles and get them out for walks. We’re always trying to take the boys out for things, too. We try our best to make sure everybody's needs are met and that we still have time for each other at the end of the day.   Photo Credit: Makenna Reid "We try our best to make sure everybody's needs are met and that we still have time for each other at the end of the day."  It’s rare for two people in a relationship to be able to share some of the physical and biological processes of becoming a mother. How has this experience brought you closer? It's such a unique thing for us to share the load when it comes to pregnancy and feeding our kids. It's been really cool to both feel like we contributed, especially as a same sex couple. Usually, one person in the couple does all the pregnancy-related stuff, so for us, it's cool that we’re both part of the process.

Audrey Rivet is a Montreal-based influencer who has worked with some of the biggest names in fashion. We spoke with her about astrology, style, stacking, tattoos, and how becoming an influencer empowered Audrey in her life and career.   What’s your Zodiac sign and does it align with your personality? My zodiac sign is Aquarius! We are usually unconventional people, rebels even, comfortable with straying from the norm. Not only are we creative, but we’re also idealistic humanitarians. What role does astrology play in your life? I think it explains a lot of our personality traits and life paths. I, for myself, am the blueprint of Aquarius (Sun in Aquarius and Aquarius rising!) Whenever I’m struggling on a certain aspect, astrology helps me to remember why I am the way that I am and how I can switch my energy to evolve as a person. It’s also a fun way to get to know new people and what to expect from them (always to take with a grain of salt). What is your favourite Zodiac sign and why? I tend to get along with other air signs, like Gemini or Libras! I love to surround myself with other creative, original people! I also love mysterious, mystical people, such as Scorpios. What does ‘believing in your own magic’ mean to you? It means believing in my higher self and trusting the energy I put in the universe. It’s also being proud of my divine femininity and trusting my intuition. What are your tips for styling jewelry? Stacking, stacking, stacking. I love bold, eclectic matches and mixing gold and silver jewelry! I think it’s fun to accessorize with pieces that show your personality. Describe your perfect Fall outfit. Usually go for earth tones and more masculine outfits during Fall! I love layering vests and shirts with oversized blazers and trousers. Add a designer bag and your favourite jewelry and you’re good to go! What is your favourite thing about the Fall season? The coziness of it all! The gloomy weather, hot coffee, long wool coats… The colour of the trees! All my favourite tones. We love your tattoos! Can you tell us more about them and how they add to your personal style? Thank you so much! I think they’re my favourite permanent accessories. Tattoos say a lot about someone’s personality. I love how you decide on a piece of art that you wear for the rest of your life. They’re amazing artistic statements and show a great sense of commitment. I personally love to pick a flash from an artist I love. It’s the best way not to outgrow your tattoos and appreciate the art for the longest time. When they don’t mean anything too specific, they go through time way better. If you were a Sparkle colour, which one would you be and why? Probably a mix of gold and white! As a good indecisive Aquarius, it’s hard to settle for only one, but a mix of both is definitely a match for me! They’re good neutral tones that fit with every outfit. What social causes are you passionate about? I’m a proud feminist. I’ll never stop educating people on how our society forges us as women and how strong we are to thrive through these impossible beauty standards. What makes you feel empowered? To be my own boss and own my business. I want to feel strong, creative and independent. I always aim towards goals that allow me to be fulfilled in these aspects.

A longtime partner of H&B, Ashley Callingbull joined us to talk about the many exciting things in her life. She just signed a book deal, she’s going to be the first Indigenous woman to model for Sports Illustrated, and she recently collaborated with us on the new Ashley Callingbull Collection. In a very special Know Her, Ashley talks to us about the significance of her Cree and Blackfoot names, and how the experience of growing up in poverty gave her the drive to chase, and accomplish, some of her wildest dreams. You’re going to want to get to know her. What aspects of your identity are you most proud of? Probably my culture all around. There are so many beautiful traditions and beliefs that have shaped me, and there's a lot of strength that comes from my culture. I love the spiritual part of my life and going to sweats and ceremonies, and I love dancing at powwows. I'm really proud of the resiliency that runs through our blood. It gives me strength in every part of my life. "I'm really proud of the resiliency that runs through our blood. It gives me strength in every part of my life.” Have you had any experiences at any of those ceremonies that really stuck out to you? The first time I ever danced at a powwow was really significant to me. I won all my princess titles at my powwow on my reserve. I never knew I would be competing in big international pageants later in life. It's crazy that my pageant career actually started through my culture. "I’m fiercely independent and driven because of the life I had.” I also did an editorial campaign shoot at the same arbor where I started dancing. It was so cool to go back and be little Ashley again—she would have never even dreamed of doing something like that. Growing up in poverty really humbled me. It made me thankful for everything that I have. Coming from a place where you have nothing and no dreams changes you. It makes you want to work harder. I’m fiercely independent and driven because of the life I had. That's so neat how things came full circle with the pageant. I know. And never in a million years would I have thought of doing regular international pageants because pageants on the reserve are so different. You’re showcasing your culture, your language, and your community. But I always wanted the crown! Where do you feel the most like yourself? Honestly, probably on the reserve where I'm from. That's where all my family lives. It's like over 300 acres of land in the middle of nowhere, and that's where I get to see all my favourite Alberta sunsets. It's quiet. I just feel at peace because that's where I grew up. That's where all my memories are. Were there any significant life events that gave you a better grasp of who you are? Definitely. I was invited to speak at Harvard University and that was surreal. They wanted to hear me. After I finished speaking and got the reactions I did, I thought, wow, my voice is really powerful, they want to hear it at an Ivy League school. Now I speak at stadiums of 20,000 people. It’s all just helped me realize how much my voice resonates with people. Who were your role models when you were young? My mom was always my number one role model. My mom and my grandmother raised me to always be proud of who I am. They gave me the love I needed. I also really love and idolize Buffy St. Marie. She's really done it all, and she's still doing it. When I went to compete at my first international pageant, I experienced racism at a whole different level. I don't know what Toronto newspaper it was, but this was back in 2010, and they wrote something really gross about me. They made a joke because I was the only Native woman competing. They wrote, “Oh, what is she going to do for a talent? Chug Lysol or something?” I reached out to Buffy because she was in the public eye. I told her what I was experiencing and that I wanted to sing one of her songs for my talent. I thought, there's just no way she's going to reach back out. But she did. I really needed someone, and she took the time to reach out to me, call me, tell me all these things that I needed to hear. She lit a fire under my ass. It made me want to do what she was doing—chasing big dreams and helping women. If she didn't give me that strength, who knows if I would have pulled through that, right? And still to this day we're in touch. She's more than a role model. She's a friend. You must have a lot of people looking up to you now. What sort of advice would you give to them? I always encourage people to love and live fearlessly, and to always love and appreciate themselves for the way they were created. I want you to love yourself regardless of what you think your flaws are. Those are the things that make you different. And when I say live fearlessly, I mean never live in fear of chasing your biggest or smallest dream. Go big, show the world what you're made of. "I always encourage people to love and live fearlessly, and to always love and appreciate themselves for the way they were created.” What are you excited about lately? So many things. Wow. I'm really excited about the official Ashley Callingbull collection coming out in September. I've been working with Hillberg and Berk since probably 2018, and I get to have my own collection now. It's exciting because I get to share a piece of myself with everyone and also the story behind it. Also I'm going to be the first Indigenous woman to become a Sports Illustrated model, and I just signed my first book deal with Harper Collins. So I have a book coming out in 2024! Did you ever go through any interesting phases as a kid? I was always super nerdy. Everyone knew me as the science fair geek. I was just so proud of what I could figure out and what I could put together on display for everyone, and I loved presenting it. It’s funny because now I present at a lot of shows. I'm currently a CFL host. I guess it was always there, that want to be in front of an audience. Like if I ever found a camera, I would always start recording myself, pretending I was doing on-air shows. Is there anything you do that other people describe as weird that you think is totally normal? 100%. I talk in weird voices all the time, especially to my husband and my dogs. I like making random weird voices. Kids really love that side of me when I work with them because I'm just being myself.   Can you talk about the significance of your Cree name? Yeah, so my Cree name was given to me by an Elder quite a few years ago. They gave me the name Shining Rock because they said everywhere I go, I shine and bring light into people's lives. And then they chose “rock” because that's the purest thing on earth. You just received a Blackfoot name also. Congratulations. Could you talk about that as well? I was named after an Elder who's part of the Horn Society. He’s a pipe carrier and said he wanted me to have a powerful name that was connected to him and carried on a legacy. So Sacred Pipe Woman is the name I was given. It's amazing to be gifted these names. They have such deep stories behind them. "It's amazing to be gifted these names. They have such deep stories behind them.” How did it feel to be given these names? With the first one, Shining Rock, I was surprised, really. I was excited. It had such a beautiful meaning. And with my Blackfoot name, I've been going to Sundance with my husband’s Blackfoot family for the last five years. It's really important for us to be a part of each other's cultures because that's what we want to pass on to the next generation—knowledge of our cultures and languages. When I was given the Blackfoot name recently at Sundance, I had my husband's family and my family standing with me. It was such an emotional moment because after they gave me my name, everyone started celebrating, crying, and smiling. I had all my supporters and I just felt complete. I felt like a piece of me was missing and there it was. Have these names influenced your identity in any way? They make me feel more powerful. More connected to my culture. Being able to say these names—it just creates this really good feeling. A feeling that gives me strength and I just want to pass that strength to everyone. What does it mean to find yourself? There was a point in my life where I felt lost. But I realized that in order to find what I was made of and who I was, I needed to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. Once I did that, I realized that I should never set limits for myself. I learned I was stronger than I thought I was, more independent, and a lot more fierce. I found myself by persevering through hard times and loving myself no matter the outcome. "I realized that in order to find what I was made of and who I was, I needed to step out of my comfort zone and try new things.” What is the significance of the colours you chose for this collection?   I chose these blues and golds because they remind me of the sunsets on the reserve. When I’m there and I go outside, the sky is always this beautiful ombre blue that turns gold. When I see those colours, I think, this is home. Written by Carter Selinger

Shannon Christensen is the founder of Mamas for Mamas—a non-profit based out of Kelowna, BC that has grown across Canada. We spoke with Shannon about how she started this organization, the vital work Mamas for Mamas does, and how her experiences as a young mother inspired her to alter the course of her life to help mothers facing poverty. You’re going to want to get to know her. What services do you provide at Mamas for Mamas? Mamas for Mamas is an online community and a sharing economy. When moms can't meet each other’s needs peer to peer, we provide internal poverty relief resources through our social work team. We help moms with whatever they need: rent, groceries, dental care, mental health care, clothes, even gym memberships. There are a lot of people who fall outside of the poverty relief cutoff. So our programs are specifically designed to identify families who would fall through the cracks. We’re creating this real sharing economy among mothers and caregivers, which is what it used to be like hundreds of years ago. “Mama” can mean mom, dad, caregiver, uncle, and foster parent. Basically, if you're raising a child and you don't have what you need, come to Mamas. It’s just called Mamas for Mamas because it started with me, my garage, my babies, and a bunch of other moms. Can you talk a little bit about your motivation for starting this organization? When I had my first baby, I had just lost my dad. It was a really lonely time. I was 22 and my dad died the day after I got married. I had this epic perspective shift. I realized I wanted children. I was going to wait to have babies until I finished my doctorate—I had all these goals—but I realized nothing mattered without connection. And so my husband and I had a baby who was seven weeks early. That was an incredibly lonely and scary time. I had postpartum depression. I was doing my master's in forensic psychology at the time, and I was feeling really shameful that I was experiencing these depressive moments. I had all the things: I had the house, the safety, the kind, respectful husband, the food on the table, everything. But I didn't have a connection with other mothers, and I was devastated for a long time. I found the community around motherhood to be more cutthroat than trying to get into your master's program. When my second baby was born, I realized this lack of community wasn't going to get any better unless I did something about it myself. I desperately needed a place where people would be kind so I started a Facebook group in 2014, and I decided I was going to give away every single thing I owned that other moms might be able to use. Were there any important moments that made you feel like you were on the right track in those early days? I saw a really horrific post blow up on an online shop and swap page. This young mom, who was like 19, was asking for food and the people on this page absolutely destroyed her. There were like 300 comments, and they were all like “If you can't provide for your children, you shouldn't have them.” So I messaged her and said, “Hey, take that post down. I'll bring you groceries. What do you need?” And she said, “Honestly, I just want spaghetti.” I’ll always remember that because my favorite meal is spaghetti. So I went and bought her a bunch of groceries and brought them to her house and my son was in the wagon, my other son was strapped to my chest, and she opened the door and the look on her face is something I’ll never forget. She truly didn't think I was going to show up. Well, then she started to cry, and then my baby started to cry, and then my toddler started to cry, and then I started to cry. She hugged me while my baby was still in between us. I’ll never forget that. I don't think she realized that I needed that expression of kindness in that moment as much as she did. I thought, “Oh, my God, I think I found it. I think I found a way to unbreak my heart from my dad dying.” I started to feel joy again, and I thought “If this works for me, maybe this will work for other moms.” What do mothers facing poverty need most? Mothers who are experiencing poverty need somebody to listen to them, and to help them navigate the support that’s available out there. They need a caseworker that will help them identify their needs, and the highest need is housing. It’s $2600 a month to rent a 2 bedroom in Kelowna. It's impossible to live here if you aren't wealthy. But at the same time, people live here because their families are here and their connections are here. They can't just leave. Beyond that, I'd say day-to-day material items fill such a massive gap. And food of course. We realized 90% of families are eating out of cans when they're going to government assistance programs. So we decided to build a farm. We got the land donated, we got the irrigation donated, we got the seedlings donated from West Coast Seeds, we pay the lease on our farmland by selling half the eggs our chickens produce, and then we got every single elementary school in town to plant and grow seedlings so they can understand where their food is coming from. We produce 80,000 pounds of fresh organic food every year for families in need. And, because of amazing volunteers like these kids and Penny, who runs the farm, it costs next to nothing. Have your experiences running this nonprofit shifted your outlook on motherhood in any way? Definitely. Through Mamas for Mamas, I think we’ve started to shift mothers away from competition and towards kindness. We like to say, “kindness is our currency.” It's just about working hard and only worrying about who gets the help instead of who gets the credit. I built Mamas for Mamas because I didn't feel like I had a sense of belonging; I figured there might be 10 or 15 other moms out there who felt this way. It turns out, every single mom feels like she doesn’t belong in one way or another. What is something about motherhood that continues to surprise you? The strength of mothers. The strongest people I’ve ever met in life are mothers. You see that strength in the way they show up for each other, and show up for their kids in times of great hardship. There's an iron will inside of each mother. Sometimes you just need to be reminded it’s there. Why do you believe partnerships between nonprofits and brands like H&B are important? The sharing economy we engage in with moms on Facebook groups, or other social media platforms, isn’t that different from the sharing economy we engage in with our business partners in the community. We have the ability to improve and increase the quality of life for moms that are struggling financially by working with these organizations and companies that have the financial ability to give back in some way. Their reason for wanting to give back is intricately tied to our reasons for starting Mamas for Mamas. When a company decides to make a tangible difference, we get to be the conduit for their energy, kindness, and compassion. Can you talk about the evolution of your personal style as you became a mom? It's hilarious because there was none. I always joke that my style is whatever's clean. I've got two little boys, 8 and 11. Style has only recently become something I put time and energy into. I wore the same pair of earrings for, like, 15 years. I'm actually wearing them right now because I just took off my Sparkle Balls™ last night. These are my wedding earrings that I got five years ago. I just like to express my personality with my style. I'm a sassy girl, you know, I'm a little bit fiery, and a bit bold, I want my style to represent and reflect that. I just got a beautiful necklace with my name on it from H&B, and I love that because people are always checking it out and reading it. I'm all about customizing. You have to customize every case that comes in for every mama. You need to customize every grant proposal. So customizing my style, my jewelry, and my hair, it just makes sense. Are there any pieces of jewelry that help you feel empowered and ready to tackle everything your busy work and home life might present? Yes. Well, I love bangles. Like I'm a big bangle girl; I do a lot of public speaking and, if I'm nervous, I like that I can jingle them a bit. I also really like a nice long necklace. I've got one that says Mama and I wear that whenever I’m really tapping into my mama vibes. If I'm nervous about something I put on my power stuff like my diamond earrings. They’re a classic. Is there a woman in your life who inspired you to dedicate yourself to this advocacy work?My Nana was the most special person. She passed away in January of 2020, but she's still very present in my life. I had a long struggle with depression as a teenager. She's the reason that I am who I am today. She's the reason that I'm still alive. It’s powerful to know that one person can make that kind of a difference in your life. My Nana was instrumental in building the Motherless Babies Home in Lagos, Nigeria, and I grew up always wanting to be like her. I just kept thinking to myself, if I could be half of Nana, I'll be a full me. And she always told me, “Don't cut yourself down like that. You're everything you need to be.” This woman was incredibly resilient. She grew up in a residential school, and had to run away from it. My goal in the next five years is to launch a second stage homelessness support program, and it's going to be called Nana's House because that's where you go when you can't go home. Jewelry seems like an endless source of fascination for kids. They’re often grabbing at earrings or necklaces. Do you have an early jewelry memory from when you were a kid? My Nana had this cross necklace that she wore every day of her life. I remember playing with the cross at a very early age, almost unconsciously, it was like sucking my thumb, but playing with the cross. One time she lost it and ripped up the entire house looking for it. It ended up being in the lint trap of the dryer. After that, she never took it off again until she gave it to me on my wedding day. Years later, my babies played with it just like I played with it. Writing: Carter Selinger

Megan Nespliak is brimming with positivity and bold, colourful style. Her daily mantras, looks, and outlooks on life make her a constant inspiration to her many followers and fans. We spoke with Megan about style, social causes, and the power of positivity. She also gave some great advice for handling unthinkable adversity. You’re going to want to get to know her.What inspired you to become a content creator? I have always wanted to be famous from a very young age. But I discovered my love of content creation when I started my online clothing business Day In Night Out. Instead of hiring models, I decided it would be easier to just model the clothes myself. So I purchased a tripod, practiced a lot, and started posting as an influencer in February of 2021. Since then, I have had the chance to work with brands I’ve supported my entire life. To say this is my dream job is an understatement. We love that you have a mantra you post on social media everyday, tell us about your mantra and how you created it. My mantra is actually partially someone else’s. Gabi Daiagi, another much more popular influencer, says: “You are beautiful, you are kind, and you are the only one of you on the entire planet and if that’s not the coolest thing you’ve ever heard, I don’t know what is.” I added “I hope you do something today that makes you and someone you love smile” because I think that is just such a great reminder. I often wake up already in a bad mood, or overthinking, so having positive affirmations to start the day has really changed my outlook on life. It’s now routine for me to say the mantra to myself before I get out of bed. "Having positive affirmations to start out your day really has changed my outlook on life.” Why is it so important for you to radiate positivity on your page?Positivity is something I have very recently become acquainted with. When I was diagnosed with cancer in March of this year my whole world was flipped upside down. Instead of taking my terminal diagnosis and feeling bad for myself, I decided I wanted to make the biggest possible impact on the world before I go. I want to make other people smile because it brings me joy, I want to advocate for those who may not have a voice, and I want to enjoy whatever time I have left living my life to the fullest. Positivity is a choice we can make everyday. "Positivity is a choice we can make everyday.” What advice would you give someone who is overcoming adversity?Control what you can control. Stressing about things out of your control will only make the situation seem worse than it is. When I’m faced with any kind of adversity, I like to make lists of things I can do that will make me feel accomplished. Where do you find inspiration for fashion?I look to some of my favourite creators for fashion inspiration but I also feel like I found my own fashion sense quite naturally. I love to experiment, to be colourful, and be comfortable! My favourite creators are @emmaleger @sophiesuchan @mjhedderman and @gabidaiagi Why is colour so important to your aesthetic? Colour just makes me so happy. I think that the way you dress is just another way to express yourself. I am very extroverted, happy, positive, and outgoing so a lot of colour in my wardrobe makes sense. But don’t get me wrong, I love a classic black and white moment but I will always find a way to make it funky fresh. What tips do you have for styling jewelry?I think jewelry is a very overlooked accessory. A pair of earrings, a few bracelets, and a necklace can take an outfit from basic to chic very quickly. I would say that my go-to styling tip is to play around with layering necklaces. Also, you can never go wrong with a statement earring. "I would say that my go-to styling tip is play around with layering necklaces and you can never go wrong with a statement earring." If you were a Sparkle colour, what colour would you be?I mean rainbow would probably be an acceptable answer. But my favourite colours right now are pink, purple and green so probably a Sparkle Ball™ with all of those colours to match my Instagram feed aesthetic! What social causes are you passionate about, and why?Well there is no shortage of social causes to support at the moment with the way the world is. I am obviously a huge advocate for young adults with cancer, but I am also a sexual assault survivor so supporting women in that community is very important to me. What is happening in America right now is a very difficult and touchy subject, but I strongly believe that every person should have the right to choose. Having the platform that I have, I want to use my voice to speak about current events and issues that not only affect me, but my entire gender. Everyone has the power to make a difference so I just want to do my part. "Having the platform that I have, I want to use my voice to speak about current events and issues that not only affect me, but my entire gender. Everyone has the power to make a difference so I just want to do my part." What makes you feel empowered?I feel empowered when I am around my friends, when I am posing for the camera, and when I am wearing a funky fresh outfit. My friends are supportive, kind and caring, and I learn from them everyday. We empower each other to chase our dreams no matter how crazy they may seem. When I am working and taking pictures for brands I feel empowered because this is my dream job and what I hope to be doing for the rest of my life. And of course, a funky fresh outfit is not only going to look great, but it will give you the confidence to feel great too.