Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2021 i Her World Singapore

March 8 will always be a special day that I hold close to my heart. Not only is it International Women’s Day (IWD), it’s also my work anniversary at Her World. Joining a magazine that champions women, I thought it made perfect sense to pick IWD as my first day of work. To mark Her World’s 60th anniversary last year, we launched the inaugural #HerWorldHerStory in March, where we featured 60 ordinary women leading extraordinary lives over six months. This year, we celebrate female leaders who are in the roles they have today because they have broken glass ceilings, while being hungry for change and leading the way (page 114). I love Grishma Kewada’s progressive upbringing in Zimbabwe, where she was taught by her parents to not consider gender but…

It’s not difficult to spot Amiera Raushan in a crowded room – she’s the short-haired girl with the most colourful outfits and the brightest smile. The 27-year-old digital marketer and photographer for creative agency Elementary Co. has made a name for herself on Instagram for her bold #ootds, the clashes of colour, style and volume, somehow falling nicely together on her. In an attempt to sum up her personal style, Amiera comes up with words such as “experimental, quirky, colourful and comfortable”. One might find an eclectic mix of muses on her fashion pin board, from Simone Rocha’s statement-making looks and Solange Knowles’ urban-alt vibe to Rachel Greene of ’90s sitcom Friends. “When I was in arts school, I was completely dressed in bohemian attire. Then, my style got pretty…

What she wears every day The Peggy pearl necklace, which goes with everything. Favourite jewellery The Grand Ocean Ensemble ring, which I gifted myself after the birth of my daughter Beate. How she knew she wanted to be a goldsmith Since I was a girl, I’ve always liked to use my hands. I loved drawing, painting, building and creating. Eventually, I naturally started using my hands as a way of expressing myself. I feel that creating jewellery combines the three core elements of craft, fashion and art, and this was something that I really connected with when I started designing. In that sense, I don’t feel I ever chose this career, but somehow it chose me. Her design considerations The way I create jewellery is much more about taking away…

If your eyes have to say everything now that you’re wearing a mask, then they need a bit more TLC. Estee Lauder’s latest, from its top-of-the-line Re-Nutriv range, is the Ultimate Diamond Transformative Eye Serum ($290). It’s an ultra-lightweight, high-tech serum that targets skin challenges around the eyes with its specially extracted black diamond truffle (over 10,000 hours were spent on its R&D). Your eyes get a touch of shimmer and shine with luxe ingredients of refined 24K gold particles and South Sea pearls to illuminate the eye area. If it sounds too OTT for sensitive skin, don’t worry – there’s lady’s thistle extract and marine algae to soothe and calm. The scientifically advanced formula helps improve cell regeneration to slow down skin ageing and regulate oxidative stress. All that…

MORERICH SMOOTHCLEANS, $65 The fragrance-free makeup remover and cleanser is a new addition to the brand, and one that surprised me – it removed traces of my BB cream, tinted cheek stain, concealer and loose powder effectively. The gel applies easily and, with some water, emulsifies to dissolve makeup, dirt and impurities without stripping the skin of moisture. The formula contains Pentavitin, an ingredient that creates a moisture barrier on the skin’s surface. MORERICH FACE MASK PACK, $190 (BOX OF SEVEN SETS) One of the stars of the collection, the mask pack consists of two sachets – a powder and a gel that you mix together. This creates a carbonated effect that helps address skin dullness and dryness. The mask is suitable for acne-prone skin and post-blemish scarring. Sonmi says…

1. Payot Creme No.2 Masque Peel-off Douceur, $19 The single-dose mask softens and soothes sensitive skin with oat extract, and contains pre- and probiotics to balance the skin microbiome. Add water into the tub, stir and apply. Peel off after 10 minutes and rinse with water. At Tangs Vivocity and Lazmall. 2. Estee Lauder Pure Color Illuminating Shine, $52 The big trend this season is shiny, hydrating lipsticks, and this one is a powerhouse of ceramides, hyaluronic acid and triglycerides to plump the lips and prevent them from drying out under a mask. The high-shine finish helps define your pout too. Comes in 10 shades (pictured here, Astonishing). 3. Anastasia Beverly Hills Iced Out Highlighter, $55 This one-shade-fits-all highlighter glides on smoothly and blends seamlessly to give skin any kind…

“Each glass ceiling we break takes us one step closer to gender equality. Her World stands with, and celebrates, the achievements of all women who are bold for change, tenacious when challenged, and purposeful in leading the way. For International Women’s Day 2021, our special edition of #HerWorldHerStory turns the spotlight on 10 women in leadership positions. From innovative entrepreneurship to successfully making strides in male-dominated industries, their accomplishments are uplifting and set the path forward. Here are their stories, in their own words.” In Partnership With Photography VERONICA TAY & VEE CHIN Art Direction RAY TICSAY & ADELINE ENG Styling LAUREN ALEXA…

“Being a woman in a male-dominated environment has been more of a strength, because I am able to contribute in ways that are different from my male counterparts.” I am petite and soft-spoken, so my family and friends were surprised by my decision to join Singapore Prison Service (SPS) at 18. After junior college, I was offered a scholarship from the Ministry of Home Affairs and given the option to choose which home team department I wanted to work in. I decided on SPS because its tagline, “Captains of Lives”, resonated with me and my values. I believe that people who have made mistakes deserve a second chance, and I felt that this way, I’d be able to impact other people’s lives and help make a difference. I grew up…

“People assumed that I wasn’t the one leading the negotiation... Some even assumed I was the assistant.” I often call myself a recovering lawyer. Legal practice, while exhilarating in many ways, has left me with some bad habits that I need to purge. I decided to relook my legal career when I realised that even in some of the largest firms and institutions, the legal back end was the same – technology is used to help with the manual labour, but not with the thinking. I began to wonder if, perhaps, lawyers weren’t the right people to bring real technological innovation to law. This led to Legalese, which I co-founded with Wong Meng Weng, a computer scientist by training. I’ve definitely encountered certain gender biases as a female co-founder of…

“Change has to happen at all levels and all fronts. It has to happen at home, in workplaces, and in education.” Be the change you want to see in the world – that’s been my mantra and guiding force in all that I do in life. I grew up in Zimbabwe, Africa, in a family of four girls – I have a twin sister and two younger sisters – and within a multicultural environment. From young, we were taught to never consider gender. Our parents constantly reminded us that a world of opportunity was available to us, and that gender had no bearing on a person’s capabilities. I have carried that thought with me throughout my life and career, when dealing with my team at Coface. In my own experience,…

The modern woman juggles many roles and responsibilities – as caregiver, manager, mother, daughter, partner, and more – which can all contribute to visible signs of ageing. In order to power on and put our best face forward, it’s only natural to change up the products in our skincare routine as we age. After all, the skincare needs of a 20-something differ greatly from someone in her 40s. But skincare is getting smarter, and with scientific advancements in the field of epigenetics – the study of how your behaviour and environment affect the way your genes work – it’s possible to have a constant companion when it comes to your skincare routine. Enter Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair. The #1 iconic serum is already a cult favourite, thanks to its…

Step 1: Accept the discomfort Due to our upbringing or value system, there may be discomfort when others praise us. Acknowledge and accept that feeling. Step 2: Receive with grace Then, we proceed to receive the compliments or praise with grace. Remember, it is a gift from the other person. Accept it like you would accept a present. You don’t take a present and then immediately give to someone else. This is the same. Step 3: Say thank you Thank the person who gave you the compliment or praise. There is no need to add or do anything else but that.…

I just finished reading How to Lead: Wisdom from the World’s Greatest CEOs, Founders, and Game Changers by David Rubenstein. Reading about the different types of leaders, plus their very diverse leadership styles, really got me thinking. When I started my first company in 2008, I never thought about what being a leader meant. To me, a leader was simply someone who was in charge and got things done. I never explored the intricacies of how this happened. And so, I approached leadership as I did project work in school, and assumed everyone was equally motivated in getting the job done. I “led” the only way I knew how – as a friend, a peer, a teammate. This would have worked great if everyone were indeed equally driven, but it doesn’t…

There’s an old adage that “sex sells”, but over at Louis Vuitton’s SS ’21 collection, Nicolas Ghesquiere is resolutely disregarding the old rules and making a strong statement by pushing genderless fashion forward. The creative director of the French maison proclaims: “We’re going beyond the basic idea that a woman gains power by co-opting the masculine wardrobe.” In short, it’s an entire category of clothing that deftly balances the masculine and the feminine. Expect a mix of sartorial opposites, like a shirt or a sweater cut loose, or pants that are tethered to the utilitarian ideal, or even a dress that simply resembles an oversized tee – a vision of a truly non-binary future.…

In recent years, big names like Prada, Raf Simons, and Gucci have re-examined their past to revive previous seasons’ designs and codes for their contemporary collections. Both a creative and commercial gesture, this not only demonstrates the enduring beauty of fashion, but also how the industry has decided that it is better to be more sustainable than to chase fast-fashion trends. Plus, it helps to recruit a new generation of consumers. One of the latest is Raf Simons’ Archive Redux, launched in January 2021. Available at Dover Street Market Singapore, the collection is a reissue of 100 pieces charting 25 years of the brand. Standouts include the slogan-print cotton sweatshirt from SS ’02 , and a roll-neck logo-embroidered modal-blend top from FW ’98. “I had a lot of reactions from…

CRYSTAL/LENS The protective transparent layer over the dial. BEZEL The piece surrounding the crystal. The bezel can either be fixed or rotating. Uni-directional rotating bezels are specifically related to diving or timing functions. DIAL The dial registers and displays the time. The dial communicates the functions of the watch, including the movement. It does this with numbers and/or indices and hands. SUBDIAL The subdial is a secondary dial within the main dial that communicates secondary functions of the watch, such as a chronograph. ROTOR A pivoted eccentric weight in an automatic watch that swings back and forth when the wearer moves his arm, thus winding the mainspring of the movement. JEWEL Used as bearings to reduce friction, which improve accuracy. They’re set in holes drilled into the movement plate and…

We’re slowly but surely bringing more makeup back into our lives, beyond mascaras, brow tints and eyeshadows. And that means wearing base makeup again, even under our masks. Here are the new rules for bases: To achieve an even skin tone, opt for a lightweight base, such as a tinted moisturiser or colour-correcting primer, that won’t clog the pores. For more lasting coverage, use a foundation with added skincare properties, like hydrating active ingredients that care for your skin throughout the day. And, you might also want to set your makeup with a light dusting of powder to minimise transfer, keeping foundation on your face and not on your mask. There are base makeup options for every need here, whether you prefer something lightweight, transfer-resistant or with heavier coverage. LONG-LASTING…

AMPED UP CAT-EYE Dr Suhina Singh, 39, COO of investment firm Macan “I love the cat-eye look. For me, it’s as essential as sunscreen, and I almost feel naked without liquid eyeliner. My mornings are very busy and I don’t have time to play around with eyeshadow, so cat-eyes are a super fast and easy option. This look is a dressier version of my daily makeup, but it looks a million times better. If you’re going out in the evening, it’s a fun way to look much more punchy. Also, if you don’t have the time to change your outfit, you can already create quite an impact with this amplified do.” GET HER LOOK: “Anyone can wear this look, you just have to vary the length of the line to…

I wouldn’t call myself a born leader, but I’ve found my own voice and leadership style from my past experiences, relevant reading, and observing other leaders. Today, at Love, Bonito, I’m responsible for driving its vision, growth and strategy across a variety of functions, from brand to business development to technology, and work closely with our leadership team on many aspects. I’m really proud that we are accelerating our ambitions beyond Singapore. To do all this takes the collective efforts of passionate and talented people. I believe leadership boils down to five things: infectious energy, thoughtfulness, compassionate candour, courage, and tenacity. People often do themselves an injustice because of their age or lack of experience. You need to hold the same standards for yourself as other managers in your organisation.…

I took a break from my career when I had a baby – for me, it was the natural thing to do, and a choice I was fortunate to be able to make, because of the support and resources I had. Kaira Ventures is named after my daughter. It comes from the Greek word “kairos”, which refers to “the opportune moment”. I founded the company earlier this year to embark on the next chapter of my career, as I take a step away from The Working Capitol to pursue another passion of mine. As a founder, you’re forced to wear many hats, and launching The Working Capitol required me to adopt various roles. One I became particularly fond of was in building our culture – defining our values, designing our…

“Even today, the share of female leadership in corporates is abysmally low – less than 10 per cent of Fortune 500 CEOs are women.” The idea to go into the bedding business started when my husband and I started shopping for our new home. We realised that it was easy to get lost in the jargon, and that not many people know that the quality of the bed sheets can affect our sleep. It doesn’t help that good quality sheets are often expensive. Being a huge advocate of sustainability, I wanted to set up a company that was closely aligned with my personal goals. Our long-term goal is to nudge consumers towards bamboo, organic cotton and linen – they rank quite high on the sustainability scale – bed sheets to…

I joined Methodist Welfare Services about two and a half year ago, after 28 years in the banking industry. You could say that I contributed to the economy as a banker, and now as someone in the social services sector, I hope to contribute to society and help shape a better and more resilient Singapore. As a corporate banker, I was the first woman in management at the corporate banking division of Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd (now MUFG Bank) in 2015. I was recommended by my Japanese boss – he was my sponsor, and knew that I was capable of doing the job. I was quite gratified because I had always wanted to be assessed on my abilities and to lead by example. When I was a young female…

Quote “Her World” at Estee Lauder ION and Estee Lauder MBS stores to redeem your complimentary 3-Day Advanced Night Repair Trial Kit* (worth $16), or enjoy two additional 7ml* deluxe-sized bottles of Advanced Night Repair serum (worth $50) with every purchase of a 50ml bottle of the #1 Advanced Night Repair serum. Follow Estee Lauder on Instagram at @EsteeLauder_SG and receive an additional Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex 1.5ml sample* worth $11. *Limited to one redemption per customer, while stocks last.…

WHERE TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE IF YOU NEED CLARITY, DIRECTION AND ADVICE IN YOUR CAREER JOURNEY: •Half The Sky: A career platform that connects female professionals with the right employers to help you reach your fullest potential. www.halftheskyasia.com •Lifework Global: Run by a certified life coach, this helps women facing difficult career transitions and obstacles find freedom, clarity and joy. www.lifeworkglobal.com •The Happy Mondays Co: A women-led career consultancy focused on empowering individuals through holistic one-on-one programmes. www.thehappymondays.co…

I live with my boyfriend, and over the past month, he’s been gaming on the computer till 3am every night. I get that he needs his alone time, but how do I get him to see that this is a problem? Gaming is never a problem! Okay, that’s my initial reaction, but yes, I see what you mean. But is it an actual problem? Psychologists agree that we all have traits of psychological disorders, but they only become problems when they interfere with life (ie your OCD compulsions make it difficult for you to get to work, your narcissism has pushed away everyone in your life). So, is the gaming affecting his work, or perhaps your relationship? If it is, let him know. Gaming should be a fun side quest,…

Glow Up Meet the latest addition to Illumiaskin’s skincare series. With 97 per cent pure hyaluronic acid, the Hyarum Skin Booster is a powerful serum formulated to intensively hydrate parched skin, while helping to smooth fine lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid is a key component in skin tissue and aids in skin repair, so if your skin is under a lot of stress at the moment due to sun exposure or other damaging environmental factors, this is one serum that you’ll want to keep close. Besides delivering intense hydration, the Hyarum Skin Booster also works to minimise pigmentation, smooth skin texture, and restore a youthful glow to your complexion. Hyarum Skin Booster retails for $109, and is available at Illumia Therapeutics Wheelock Place and www. illumiatherapeutics.com. A LOVE STORY UNFOLDS…

Not everyone would take a leap of faith and quit school to start their dream job, but Meryll Rogge did just that. The Belgian designer, who studied at the prestigious Antwerp Royal Academy of Fashion, left school when she got hired at Marc Jacobs in 2008. Rogge, who credits landing that job with having a good foundation in fashion, says a personal highlight was meeting Jacobs for the first time in August that year. “The team was very small, so we did absolutely everything from the early research, fabric development, trim buying, embroidery development, design and fittings, to the show fittings. The way garments are made is touching perfection,” says the 35-year-old. After seven years with the American label, she landed at another major label, Dries Van Noten, where she…

Inspired by the Roman numerals on the iconic clock at the Tiffany Fifth Avenue flagship store and the original Atlas designs that launched in 1995, the Atlas X collection is about taking time into your own hands and making your mark in history – just like the 2.4m-tall statue of the Greek mythological figure outside the New York boutique. Putting a bold spin on the iconic collection, the Atlas X makes an impact with clean lines, strong silhouettes and a graphic simplicity. Crafted from 18K gold, sterling silver and pave diamonds, there are three different motifs: Closed, X and Open. With sleek knife-edge profiles – part of the brand’s code since the introduction of the Tiffany Setting engagement ring in 1886 – the Closed and Open styles are pushed to…

Fast beauty has, in recent years, made it easy for us to satisfy our beauty cravings for new, trend-focused and entertaining products. Just look at K-beauty’s fast-moving ingredient discoveries, innovative products and quirky packaging. But sometimes, we need a simpler approach. And that’s what Japanese beauty, or J-beauty, brands with their slower, more measured approach, offer. In fact, the Japanese term “wabi-sabi” is the perfect description of how beauty is viewed in the country. Known as the art of “imperfect perfection”, it translates into a minimal aesthetic and a less-is-more philosophy. “J-beauty is all about simplicity… we try to utilise products that are used in the way they are conceived or [how they are sourced]. This is something that makes J-beauty quite different from other types of beauty care options,”…

MAKING AGE-OLD INGREDIENTS BUZZY “My greatest reward is when customers send me before-and-after photos or testimonials of how our products have dramatically improved their skin.” CHIA SU-MAE, 32 BSKIN The beauty industry is often fixated on new things like the latest ingredients. But when Chia Su-Mae started BSkin in 2015, she based it on something with a long and storied history. “Bee ingredients are not faddish or novel. They have been used for centuries as medicine and in beauty treatments. Having these tried and tested ingredients as my brand’s foundation gave me the confidence to go through with it,” she says. She hit on the idea when customers of her family’s bee wellness business began asking for skincare formulated with honey, royal jelly, propolis and pollen. They were convinced they’d…

“Don’t let the roadblocks ahead discourage you. Get past them, prove yourself, and be an inspiration to the next generation of women entrepreneurs.” The inspiration to start Halalfoodhunt came from my first job as a halal auditor at Warees Halal Limited, which is part of Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS). My job was to research various ingredients and examine the validity and authenticity of halal certifications. The experience really opened my eyes to the world of halal. It also made me realise that all the information I was privy to was very industry-specific and not available for consumers. That was the premise we started Halalfoodhunt with in 2014. The objective was to create a safe space where consumers could gain information on the halal versions of foods they love. This…

“Safe Space was set up to help people have access to therapy when they need it the most.” The concept of Safe Space, a tele-therapy platform for mental health, was borne out of my personal experience of trying to find a therapist to help me deal with work stress. But I found the entire process of finding the right expert – one who was the right fit for me – to be very tedious. It made me realise that there was a need for a private and safe space for people, especially considering the stigma around mental health that still exists in Asian society. The system at Safe Space is designed to recommend therapists based on users’ symptoms and therapist preference, from language, to gender and price. We launched Safe…

My first entrepreneurial venture was with a nail salon business in 2005. A bad experience with an investor made me realise that I did not want to be solely motivated by money, so I decided to start a social enterprise. The Nail Social is a nail salon that trains and employs underprivileged women who lack a support network. We’ve trained over 30 beneficiaries since we started, and while some of them have moved on to other types of employment, we’re comforted in the knowledge that they now have an employable skill that no one can take away from them. One of our first trainees, a single mother of six, now manages the daily operations of our Haji Lane outlet. We’ve also had beneficiaries who joined us when they were at…

Tell us how you power on, from your self-care methods to your motivations. We’ll pick 10 readers with the most inspiring and empowering IG posts to win a 50ml bottle of Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum and Advanced Night Repair Eye, worth $280. Make sure that your IG profile is public, follow @HerWorldSingapore and @EsteeLauder_SG, and include the following hashtags in your post: #HerWorldHerStory #HowWePowerOn #EsteeLauderSG. Contest ends March 28, 2021.…

Picture gender inequality in the workplace and the first thing that comes to mind is probably the gender pay gap. After all, it’s still considerably problematic. In January last year, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) released a report detailing the gender pay gap in Singapore. It found that in 2018, the unadjusted pay gap was at 16.3 per cent. The adjusted pay gap was at 6 per cent or $324 a month. And while the study noted that the gap in Singapore is lesser than the latest available figures from countries such as the United States (8 per cent), Canada (7.7 per cent to 8.3 per cent) and China (18.3 per cent), the World Economic Forum ranked Singapore at 54th place on its 2020 Global Gender Gap Index. But here’s…

They struggle with personal perceptions of their appearance Social perceptions of beauty affects a woman’s confidence. A high percentage of women surveyed hoped for a more nurturing environment. 63% wished for a more loving and supportive partner 57% wished to be surrounded by people who were less critical 27% wished for more validation They aren’t made to feel confident of themselves Social media has a huge influence on women’s self-esteem, especially among younger women. Majority of women agreed that it makes one feel insecure about their physical appearance and life achievements. 57% felt that there should be more realistic portrayals of women in media and advertising 44% want more diversity shown in media and advertising Their partners are not doing enough What working women sought most from their partners or…