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Glamsquad Magazine June 2022

The AMVCA Dress: The Celebrity, The Designer And The Controversy

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Glamsquadjune 2022

Special

Gift Ideas

For Father’s

Day

5 Small &

Medium

Scale

Business

Ideas for

Women

20

fashion

moments

From AMVCA

2022 Award

Night

The Best

Looks from

London

Fashion

Week Fall

2022

THE AMVCA

DRESS:

The Celebrity, The Designer

& The Controversy

10

Health &

Wellness Tips

for Every

Woman

www.glamsquadmagazine.com 1


Inside

Glamsquad

Magazine

June 2022

HEALTH

50

48

10 Health &

Wellness Tips for

Every Woman

5 Small &

Medium

Scale

Business

Ideas for

Women

6

THE AMVCA

DRESS:

The Celebrity, The Designer

& The Controversy

glamsquadtv glamsquad3 glamsquadTV glamsquadtvmag

2

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12

20 Fashion Moments from

AMVCA 2022 Award Night

H

ello there, it is such a

great honour to bring you

another exciting edition of

Glamsquad Magazine.

As you would notice, we didn’t

bring you an edition for the

month of April. We decided to

take the time to put the structure

together for a more robust and

rewarding package for our

esteemed readers.

In the next couple of months,

you will notice all the significant

improvements we have made

for your pleasures. So let’s talk

about this edition, shall we?

As usual, we have another

bumper package for this edition

and promise that it will blow

your mind. The stories were

carefully selected and expertly

executed to give you that great

Glamsquad uniqueness you

have grown to enjoy.

Our cover story – The AMVCA

Dress, is special to us in many

ways. From being a victim of

an armed robbery incident,

where my amiable Managing

Editor, members of my team,

and myself lost our valuables, to

being friends with the designer

of the dress in question – this

feature is special and unique.

There is a lot to be

excited about. We have

set up an exciting team

of fashion influencers,

designers, and stakeholders

who would begin our

Glamsquad Fashion Police

segment from our July

edition.

Also, we will soon be

announcing our new

international partnership,

which will put Glamsquad

at the top of the world –

watch out!

Let me allow you to enjoy

this special edition. As

usual, please send us your

letters and comments, and

we promise to feature five

random letters in our next

edition.

Love,

A .

Ameena Dayo

Editor

Editor-In-chief /

Publisher

Remi Diagbare

Editor

Amenna Dayo

Managing Editor

Sebastianne Ebathemi

Deputy editor

Chioma Esui

Stand-By/Ad-Hoc

Praise David

Grace Effiong

Oyindamola

Staff Writers

Sasha Bokamoso

Glory Uyi

Contributors

Dr. Nkechi Omoson

Chef Amaka Obiefuna

Social Media

Yewande Falana

graphics / Web Manager

Layi Success

MARKETING Director

Tega Diagbare

Atinuke Bankole

Head Office:

Suite B70/71, Ikota Shopping Complex,

By VGC, Lekki , Lagos, Nigeria

Tel: +234 803 844 4955, +44 7404 990166

For advert enquiries, please contact the marketing

Director 08115933500 or email,

[email protected],

[email protected]

We pay for exclusive celebrity stories.

Special Gift Ideas

for Father’s Day

(June 19)

4

Disclaimer:

Please note that all photos used in this special

digital edition of Glamsquad Magazine were

sourced freely online.

Glamsquad maintains no rights over the

images/photos, while we have tried to give

appropriate credit where due, we are aware

some artistes were not credited.

We remain committed to supporting

intellectual property and creativity.

© 2022 Tegali Communications

www.glamsquadmagazine.com 3


LIFESTYLE

Special Gift

Ideas for Father’s

Day (June 19th)

By Chioma Esuibom

Travel Mug

Fit for long road trips or his work

commute, help Dad keep his

coffee or tea hot in a practical

personalized tumbler that he can

bring with him anywhere. Choose

some cute photos of his favorite

activity to remind him of good

times during a boring commute or

slow work meeting.

Coming up with gift ideas

for Father’s Day is never an

easy task — what do you

get the man who has everything

and doesn’t even know what he

wants?

Whoever fulfills the father figure

role in your life, they deserve only

the best present you can find. Your

ideal Father’s Day gift has to be

fun yet practical; something that’ll

put a smile on his face every time

he uses it.

Check out our compilation of

special gift ideas for Father’s for

more inspiration on what to give

your dad this Father’s Day.

Don’t hesitate to show your

appreciation and love for dad

with something truly special this

June. Coming up with unique

Father’s Day gifts for the most

important man in your life doesn’t

have to take you hours or cost you

thousands — it can be as simple

as checking out our list below.

One-Of-A-Kind

Hoodie

Although it can be hard to buy

clothes for people other than

yourself, you can never go wrong

with a hoodie. Personalize a

hoodie with a fun photo of the

family or a cool quote he loves.

Custom Socks

Help Dad stay warm with a fun and

useful addition to his wardrobe.

Choose between adding a small

photo or just his initials, or even

having a family photo showcased

on the pair of custom socks to make

this dad’s new favorite pair. He’ll think

of you whenever he puts them on.

Photo Bottle Opener

Give your dad a practical gift

that he’ll surely put to good use.

Customize a photo bottle opener by

monogramming it or featuring some

photos of his loved ones on it to make it

all the more special, and include it in a

gift set with some of his bar favorites.

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LIFESTYLE

Father’s Day Photo Book

Give your dad a classic Father’s

Day gift in the form of a sweet

photo book. Compile all the best

photos from vacations, family

gatherings, and holidays to

remind your father of all the best

memories you’ve made together.

Adorable Photo Mug

Whether he prefers tea or

coffee, Dad will finally be

able to enjoy his favorite

drink in a custom photo

mug made just for him.

Compile a collage of

memorable photos,

write out his favorite

quote, or stick one big

family photo on a ceramic

mug that’ll make him smile

every morning.

Custom Mouse Pad

Remind your dad of his loving family

while he’s at work with a custom

mouse pad that’ll get him through

even the toughest assignments. Write

a fun quote like “Don’t work too hard”

and include some cute photos to

give Dad a little boost every time he

sees it.

One-Of-A-Kind

Keychain

Add a little charm to

Dad’s keychain with a

monogrammed or photo

gallery custom keychain. Now,

wherever he goes, he can

always see the faces of his

loved ones and be reminded

of what’s waiting for him at

home.

Special Phone Case

Whether he has a smartphone

or he hasn’t upgraded his phone

in years, Dad needs a phone

case to keep his documents and

photos safe. A custom phone

case with a cute family photo will

help save his phone and might

remind him to call you a little

more often.

Monogrammed

Business Card Holder

Help your dad keep track

of all his business cards

and look extra snazzy

when networking with a

personalized business

card holder. He’ll love

something that helps

him stay organized and

makes him look extra

professional around new

work acquaintances.

www.glamsquadmagazine.com 5


REPORTAGE

THE AMVCA

DRESS:

The Celebrity, The Designer

& The Controversy

By Ameena Daayo

The famous American fashion

designer, Rachel Zoe once said,

“you don’t have to be famous to live

out – and own the red carpet.” The

real essence of these words played to

the gallery at the just concluded Africa

Magic Viewer’s Choice Award (AMVCA)

2022.

Indeed, contrary to what many

people thought, you do not have to be

the most famous in the room to own the

red carpet!

At the AMVCA’s this year, there was

a certain dress that got more attention

than the event itself! Guess what! It wasn’t

even worn by the most famous or sortafter

celebrity in the room! Now, that’s the

power of a fashion stylist who was born for

the headlines.

Coupled with a celebrity who isn’t

scared to stir controversy, we had the

biggest fashion controversy in Nigeria

since Nigerian fashion designer, Maryam

Elisha, who was dragged for giving out a

bride’s wedding dress to actress Mercy

Aigbe for her birthday photos in 2018.

It’s true that not every red carpet dress

is worth a second look, but there are

often so many great outfits deserving of

their own Wikipedia page. There are those

that do linger in the cultural zeitgeist

for decades, and stay long enough

to influence trends and conversations

across the fashion sphere. If there is a

dress that stands out and is still making

the headlines weeks after the event, then

that designer deserves a crown!

For 2022’s highly anticipated return

to the prestigious Eko Hotels and Suites,

the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Award

(AMVCA) attendees were expected to

dress to kill, following a grim, pandemicera

ceremony last year.

As anticipated, the stars didn’t

disappoint - they dialed up the glamour.

While Denola Grey stunned in a burgundy

velvet beaded tuxedo by Mai Atafo,

BisolaAiyeola makes a statement in a

perfectly fitted Somo gown with tulle

shoulders. Toke Makinwa dripped in a

sexy outfit that perfectly blended royalty

and sultry. BonangMatheba stepped out

in a rose pink gown with sheer-feather,

lined dramatic sleeves. The list is endless.

But one dress would go on to become

‘the dress’, and be talked about for weeks

after the event. It was none other than

the ‘skull-dress’ designed by controversial

celebrity designer, ToyinLawani, and

modeled by former Big Brother Naija

housemate, IfuEnnada.

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REPORTAGE

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REPORTAGE

It is true what they say that it

takes a colossal personality to

bring some outfits to life. The irony

of this outfit is that it is black and

full of skulls – representing death!

But it needed someone who

is full of life and controversy to

handle its drama. In Ifu Ennada,

Toyin Lawani found the perfect

muse – and she was right!

Toyin Lawani herself was

present at the AMVCA. She wore

a dress which she said was ‘a

dress from hell.’ It was a pitchblack

dress with a bull’s horn

fitted at the front. Although this

was a lovely dress, a member of

our Glamsquad Fashion Police

team, however, pointed out that

the dress failed to highlight Toyin’s

great figure, which we all love

and admire.

After photos of Ifu Ennada

in the skull dress hit the internet,

it got millions of views and

comments within the first hour.

Basking in the attention she was

getting, Ennada lived up to her

controversial billing by making

a post that her outfit cost one

hundred thousand U.S. Dollars.

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REPORTAGE

The post was greeted with

huge criticism and a media

backlash from critics who

claimed that the dress did not

worth that much.

After much media backlash

and perhaps a back-channel

intervention from Toyin Lawani

herself, Ifu Enada would finally

spill the truth about her AMVCA

skull dress.

In a different post, she cleared

the air, saying that the designer,

Toyin Lawani, had created a

dress worth more than one

hundred thousand dollars, and

she was honoured to model it.

Her new post proves that she

didn’t buy or own the dress, and

that Toyin Lawani may have

called her to order – perhaps not

to overprice her outfits and scare

potential clients. But whatever

it is, the truth is that AMVCA

dress would remain the topic of

discussion for a long time.

In your books, rate the

AMVCA skull dress on a scale of

1 to 10.

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REPORTAGE

Ennada

lived up to her

controversial billing

by making a post that

her outfit cost one

hundred thousand

U.S. Dollars.

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REPORTAGE

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FASHION

20 Fashion

Moments from

AMVCA 2022

Award Night

This year’s AMVCA showered us

with beautiful fashion moments

to feed our eyes. Celebrities

went to extra lengths to look

glamorous for the award night.

While many battled for the best

dressed award, unfortunately, it

can only go home to one person

per gender.

The African Magic Viewers Choice

Awards shortened for AMVCA is

an annual accolade organized

by Multi Choice to recognize

outstanding achievements in

television and film. The 8 days

event holds in Lagos with the

award night rounding up the event

on the final day. The Award night

is one of the most anticipated

fashion events which usually

witness glamorous celebrities

dressing and designers showing

off their creativity.

For this year’s award night,

celebrities pulled up in style

and a lot of them left us

mesmerized. Nigerian Actress

OsasIghodaro and Nigerian

model Denola Grey took home

the award for the best dressed

celebrities in their respective

genders.

From Mercy Aigbe’s beautiful

dress to Erica Nweledim serving

us with royal looks at the event,

we decided to bring you 20

awesome fashion moments

from the AMVCA 2022 Award

night.

1

Osas Ighodaro

Class, elegance, and beauty were some of the

highlights of OsasIghodaro’s dress for the African

Magic Viewers Choice Awards. Her silver and

gold lace dress looked so gorgeous it bagged

the best dressed female celebrity award. Her

award-winning dress is designed by Nigerian

designer

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Veekee James.


FASHION

Nini Singh

Just when we

thought the

fashion moments

were over, Nini

appeared like

Cinderella in a

beautiful bold

colored ball dress.

She wore a kharvia

woman collection

and is styled by

Swazzi. Nini was

our princess for the

night.

3

Female Celebrities

4

2

Nonye Udeogu

We cannot talk about the beautiful fashion

moments from the AMVCA night without

mentioning the ball gown worn by NonyeUdeogu.

Popular for exploring creative looks, Nonye

attended the event in an English gown. From her

gloves to the styling of the ball gown, all we have

to say is to commend how prepared she was for

the event. Her ball gown is designed by Mofari, a

clothing brand.

Idia Aisen

When Fashionistas

grace a fashion

event, they will always

serve up more than

beyond expectation.

IdiaAisen left us

amazed by her outfit

to the AMVCA. She

attended the event

wearing a purple dress

designed by one of

the popular Nigerian

designers Ceoluminee

and styled by popular

Nigerian stylist Swanky

Jerry.

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FASHION

Natacha

Akide:

Tacha has always

been creative with her

outfits and we aren’t

disappointed by her

outfit for the award.

Matching the elegant

theme of the fashion

event, Tacha appeared

in a dress designed

by Nigerian fashion

designer Xtrabrides

and is styled by one of

the most sought-after

celebrity stylists Medlin

Boss. Tacha’s outfit

dazzles as she graced

the AMVCA in style.

5

Female Celebrities

FunkeAkindele

Having been a regular AMVCA attendee, Nigerian

actress FunkeAkindele took it upon herself to style

her outfit for the event. FunkeAkindele attended the

event wearing a green silk dress designed with slits.

The result we got is pretty captivating.

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FASHION

Carolyna

Hutchings

Nigerian Actress

Carolyna Hutchings

attended the

award night

wearing a custom

dress designed

by Magnetic

elegance. Her

outfit highlighted

creativity and

colorful fashion.

From the color

to the fabric, the

Creativity, and

vibes, she graced

the award night in

style.

8

7

Bonang

Matheba

South African Multi-Award

Winning Radio Host and

the host of the event night

BonangMatheba left us

mesmerized with her outfit.

Glitz and Glamour were a

highlight of her gorgeous

dress.

Wearing a dress designed

by SheyeOladejo and

styled by Dahmola,

Bonang turned heads

on the red carpet. She

has always been known

for being a style icon

and she delivered up to

expectations.

Bukunmi

Oluwasina

One of the interesting

things about the

award night is getting

to see creative

outfits and dressing.

BukunmiOluwasina left

us in glitters with her

silver dress designed by

Ceoluminee. Her outfit

shows she understood

the assignment well.

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FASHION

10

Ifu Ennada

Ex BBNaija housemate

IfuEnnada sparks loads of

controversy with her outfit to

the AMVCA. For the event,

IfuEnnada rocked an Avant-

Garde designed and styled

by popular Fashion Goddess

ToyinLawani. The black ball

dress is designed with face

masks and the cost of the

dress was highly disputed

by Nigerians. IfuEnnada had

referred to the cost of her

look to be 100k USD and

a lot of Nigerians were in

disagreement. She however

clarified the amount to be the

cost of her entire look.

11

12

Rebecca

Nengi

Hampson

Nengi attended the

AMVCA wearing a dress

designed by Xtrabrides

and styled by Medlin

Boss. Nengi’s rocked

the latest fashion trends

in style to the award

night. Her sleeve style,

fabric color, and quality

highlighted the beauty

of her outfit. Her outfit

can be referred to as

statement worthy.

Erica Nweledim

Reality Tv Star and actress Erica

Nweledim arrived at the award

show wearing a dress designed by

Poland Designer PatrycjaKujawa.

Her dress speaks so much of

elegance and creativity. Erica’s

dress set a new standard for the

fashion event almost stealing all

attention. From the styling of her

dress to the cape, the butterflies,

the make-up, and the hair, not only

was her outfit captivating but the

worth of the dress also got a lot of

fans curious. Some fans called the

dress “Met Gala worthy” and we

couldn’t dispute that.

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FASHION

13

14

Iyabo Ojo

Having been a highlight of

the previously held AMVCA

award night, IyaboOjo

decided to change to a

more colorful and comfy

outfit. From previously

wearing a black ball gown

to appearing in a stunning

pink dress this year, we are

always looking forward to

her appearance. Her dress

for the event is designed

by Erica Moore and her

creative sleeve design

left us amazed. IyaboOjo

mixed trends with glam to

give us a memory-lasting

fashion moment.

Chioma Akpotha

Wearing a dress designed and styled by

Becca Needle and stitches, ChiomaAkpotha

attended the award night in a gorgeous dress.

Her outfit proves that fashion does not have

to be uncomfortable. Her dress is designed

simple and yet she looks so stunning.

15

Mercy Aigbe

Talking about one of the

best fashion moments

of the AMVCA 2022,

Mercy Aigbe served all

categories. From her

unique dress and color to

spicing up her outfit with

a feather headpiece,

mercy Aigbe made

the award might more

interesting. The recently

married actress arrived

at the event wearing an

Orange dress designed

by Becca Needle and

stitches and styled by

Gabriel Anthony.

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FASHION

16

Tope Tedela

Award-Winning actor

Tope Tedela graced

the AMVCA in style.

Wearing a three

pieces suit designed

by TaryorGabriels,

Tope Served glam,

looks, vibes, and

creativity with his outfit.

The dazzling look of

the blazer made it

quite memorable.

Male Celebrities

Denola Grey

We all know Denola Grey to be

a fashion model but his outfit to

the AMVCA was a little beyond

expectation. Wearing a three-piece

beaded suit designed by Mail

Atafo, Denola Grey bagged the

best dressed male celebrity award

for the night.

From his outfit to the cool vibes, and

classy look, we cannot argue the

fact that he deserved the award.

His beaded suit set a standard for

the AMVCA.

17

18

Steve Chuks

Nigerian actor Steve

Chuks attended the

Award night wearing

a three-piece

suit designed by

EmiolaL’Afrique and

styled by Ila bespoke.

His three-piece suit was

a highlight of the night

serving us with cool and

rich man vibes.

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FASHION

20

19

Etim Effiong

When you have the

honor to be one of the

hosts for the night, it

means you have to wear

something remarkable.

Well, EtimEffiong sure did

a good job with his suit

designed by Deji and

Kola and styled by Swanky

Jerry.

Timini

Nigerian actor Timini

walked the red

carpet in style and

fans literally couldn’t

stop drooling

at the looks. His

outfit designed by

SevonDejana and

styled by Swanky

Jerry served both

Vibes and class.

We almost mistook

him for a prince

because he looked

very charming.

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FEATURE

Glam Model

The

Queen

Of

Dark

South Sudan’s

Nyakim Gatwech

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FEATURE

BIOGRAPHY

Nyakim Gatwech

is an Ethiopian-born

American model

of South Sudanese

descent. She has

attracted attention for

her dark skin color and

has achieved significant

popularity on Instagram.

General Information

Age: 29

Birthday: 1993-01-27

Birth Sign: Aquarius

Physical Info

Height: 185cm / 6.1ft

Weight: 65kg / 143lbs

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LIFESTYLE

5

Top Hollywood

Entertainment

News Round-Up

By Glory Uyi

Hollywood is never short

of news, gossip, and

controversies. But come

to think of it, isn’t that what

the media and entertainment

world is all about?

Below, we have provided the

most recent updates on the

Hollywood entertainment news

making the rounds.

Check them out, and don’t be

left out!

1

Jennifer Lopez Spends Quality

Time with Daughter Emme, 14,

on Mother’s Day

J.Lo had such a special Mother’s

Day this year, enjoying a lunch in

Malibu with her teenage daughter

Emme and her sister Leslie Lopez.

Jennifer Lopez, 52, spent time with

her 14-year-old daughter Emme

on Mother’s Day. The multi-talented

star was spotted walking into Soho

House in Malibu, California on

Sunday, May 8 with her daughter

and a friend.

The trio was joined for the meal

by J.Lo’s older sister, Leslie Lopez.

For whatever reason, Emme’s

twin brother Max, also 14, wasn’t

on the lunch date, which meant

J.Lo’s Mother’s Day was a girls-only

celebration.

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LIFESTYLE

Kylie Jenner Gives Glimpse Of

Newborn Son’s Hand In Video

Honoring Mother’s Day

In a Mother’s Day tribute video,

Kylie Jenner snuggled up to her

daughter, Stormi, while reflecting

on pregnancy. She also shared

another small glimpse of her

son, who was born in February.

Kylie Jenner was in her feels

this Mother’s Day. Even one

day after the holiday, she took

to Instagram to share some

video clips that represented her

journey as a mom. Most of the

footage is from when Kylie is

pregnant, with her baby bump

on full display.

She poses for photos during

various photo shoots, and even

lifts daughter, Stormi Webster, in

her arms for some of the shots.

At the end, there’s a quick clip

of the beauty mogul holding

onto her tiny, newborn son’s

hand, as well.

2

The Death of Kailia Posey and the

Heartbreaking Side of Young Fame

3

Toddlers and Tiaras

star Kailia Posey’s

death by suicide at

only 16 years old is a sad

reminder that outward success

is no assurance that everything’s fine on the

inside.

Celebrities opening up about their mental

health struggles has undoubtedly been

one of the more positive developments

in our public discourse in recent years, the

reassurance that a person isn’t alone at any

given moment sometimes making all the

difference.

Yet still too often, those who’ve spent

time in the spotlight have also ended up

becoming reminders that, no matter the

resources at hand or how big and loving

the support system, a person’s pain can be

unknowable until it’s too late.

The family of former Toddlers and Tiaras

star Kailia Posey were left reeling after

the 16-year-old died by suicide on May

2, sharing in a statement two days later,

“Although she was an accomplished

teenager with a bright future ahead of her,

unfortunately in one impetuous moment,

she made the rash decision to end her

earthly life.”

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LIFESTYLE

Pregnant Rihanna Rocks Tiny Mini

Skirt & Crop Top For Mother’s Day

Outing With A$AP Rocky

Even though she’s not a mom

just yet, Rihanna still celebrated

Mother’s Day with a romantic

dinner in Santa Monica with dadto-be

A$AP Rocky.

Santa Monica, CA - Parents-to-be

Rihanna and ASAP Rocky take

advantage of their last moments

before their child is born as they

step out for a dinner at Giorgio

Baldi in Santa Monica. The two are

seen arriving for their baby shower

dinner with friends and family.

Ahead of the arrival of her first

child, Rihanna enjoyed a Mother’s

Day dinner with her boyfriend

A$AP Rocky on Sunday, May 8.

The power couple were pictured

walking into Giorgio Baldi in Santa

Monica, Calif., and like always, RiRi,

34, was glowing.

How Johnny Depp Feels 4 Weeks into

Amber Heard Trial after Support From

Fans & His Famous Exes

Johnny Depp, 58, is feeling

the love from his fans amid his

$50 million defamation lawsuit

against ex-wife Amber Heard,

36, who wrote an op-ed piece

in The Washington Post in 2019

that claimed she was a victim of

domestic violence.

A source close to Johnny told the

media that he is “feeling their love

now almost everywhere that he

goes.”

As the trial, which started on April

11 in a Virginia courthouse, enters

week five, the insider added,

“Johnny is extremely grateful for

his fans being so vocal on social

media and in-person throughout

this entire case. It has given him a

renewed energy to keep fighting

for what he feels is right.”

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FEATURE

Glamsquad

Exclusive

Enter In The Legend -

Alain

Zirah

GLAMSQUAD : Alain Zirah, you

are known as an French artist,

photographer and writer. Did you

always live in that universe of

creations and Arts?

Alain Zirah: Not totally yes. I began

my career in real estate and business

for more than twenty years before I took

the plunge in 2005, choosing to devote

my life fully to Art and Culture. In fact, I

have been writing and drawing for as

long as I can remember. In high school,

I wrote fantasy and science fiction

stories and draw comics.Then, my very

atypical formation led me to the Fine

Arts School of Marseilles, in 1981, where

I learned the various techniques of

drawing. We had live models to study

the nude. It is also at that time I began

to practice photography in studio with

Sud Images. We had 200 models that

we were 20 photographers to shoot

them. With a first collective exhibition in

1983.Flowers of Men Evil.At the same

time, my father was a real estate

developer and he introduced me in the

exciting world of business.

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FEATURE

GLAMSQUAD: What were

the important moments which

marked your education?

Alain Zirah: In 1973, I took

part in a month-long school trip

between England and Scotland

: The Franco-Scottish Encounter.

For the 15years old teenager I

was, it was a great opportunity

to discover the world, to speak

English… and to have my first

love stories. With several boys,

we lined up to have our farewell

kisstoo, with the beautiful sports

teacher on the last day. With

my friends, we discovered the

Rock and Pop music, the Rolling

Stones, Lou Reed, Andy Warhol,

Roxy Music and I watched David

Bowie at Top of the Pop. I went

back to Scotland the following

year with my little brother Patrick.

He was shocked to see me kissing

a young English girl, Mahry. Four

years later,my art teacher,Alain

Hontanx, appreciated my

drawings of women and the

comics I submitted to him. He

corrected and gave me tips for

improving perspectives.

In 1977, our teacher, Ferdinand

Lallemand, introduced himself

by explaining that before being our

professor of philosophy, he was an

adventurer who went in search of

Atlantis with Commander Cousteau

and a writer. After reading my

essay on the subject “Is it better to

know everything about nothing or

nothing about everything?”,told to

me in front of the students: “Alain

Zirah, you are the spiritual son of

Nietzsche”. So, I have been the

Saturday in a bookshop buying the

books So spoke Zaratustra and By

the Good and Evil. I was so surprised

to recognize my own universe in

these books written quite a century

before. Twenty years later, in 1997, I

dedicated my book ROCK FICTIONS

to Ferdinand Lallemand and

devoted a program 20/20 CULTURE

to him, in 2020.

GLAMSQUAD:That’s incredible.

This shows how important

education is and how essential is

the role of teachers for teenagers

to open them to curiosity. You are

now a complete artist and your

writing is especially dedicated to

women. How do you know usso

well? It’s a kind of fascination for

all kind of women?

Alain Zirah: My father was very

busy and often away. I was raised

by women. There were often four

women in the house. I watched

and listened to them. My aunt often

spoke with my mother, grandmother

and cousin in a language that I

couldn’t understand. They were

mysterious and fascinating. Women

have always been the source of

my inspiration, my driving force,

my energy. I have published six

books, to date, with a form of writing

specifically for women, from God

created Women at Her Image

to my latest book is Forbidden

to Men.(Éditions Thierry Sajat).My

unpublished texts from 1976 to 2016

were collected in the book ROCK

FICTIONS (Society of writers). When I

am asked, during book signings, how

long it takes to write a book, I explain

that it goes from 3 months (Glitter &

Glam) to 40 years.

Women have always been at

the center of my texts, illustrations

and photos. I like the paradox.

I appreciate femininity, fragility

and power of the women. With

photography, I am very directive, but

more contemplative with writing. The

sentences come out by themselves,

without erasures. I like the Girl Power

and introduce it in all my kind of art.

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FEATURE

GLAMSQUAD: You are now

a complete artist and also a

recognize painter with a very

colorful and innovative abstract

universe and who received an

Awards as 2020 Best Artist. ?

Alain Zirah: In 2015, I received

from Los Angeles a Who’s

Who Worldwide Awards. It was

complemented in 2020 by two

World Of Winners Awards including

that famous Best Artist presented

to me by the artist and business

woman Rachanaa Jain from

London. I amveryhonored andvery

grateful to this team that organizes

the WOW Pageant every year. My

activities have always brought me in

contact with personalities from the

film, music and fashion industries.

I had the chance to be on stage

two meters away from David Bowie

and was very lucky to meet Elton

John several times. He proposed

me to reduce my name to two

letters: AZ. “All Americans are able to

remember two letters he told me. AZ

it’s easy. Since then, I completed my

education at the Fine Arts School of

Marseilles with a training in New York,

in 1998. I express myself by making

the colors vibrate between them.

This allows everyone to discover

their own emotions in my abstract

expressionist paintings. And since

the lockdown of 2020, I animate my

works. I make hypnotic painting. I

listened to Elton John and I sign my

works AZ for the Anglo-Saxons and

Azed for the French-speaker

GLAMSQUAD:What projects are

you working on?

Alain Zirah: The principle of Total

Art is to create universes from words,

illustrations, photos and colors to

tell feelings, emotions, bring new

sensations. It’s quite paradoxical,

but I love solitude, being alone with

a text to write or a painting to make,

which will lead me in a direction

that I am totally unaware of at the

beginning, and I also love every

time I can gather a whole team of

actors and technicians to shoot a

film, like for my film Forbidden Visions

co-directed with Anne Gomis. Finally,

the stories I used to tell, in the form

of comics or short stories I wrote on

cards at the beach, gave way to

the production of films. Some of

them can be found on my YouTube

channel

https://www.youtube.com/c/

AlainZirah/videos

Finally, the stories I was telling,

in the form of comics or short

stories, gave way to films. Writing,

directing and producing films

allow me to escape from an

often anxiety-provoking world to

create surrealistic universes. The

Kat Ladies are women who don’t

let themselves be pushed around.

But I also go back to the basics

with a comic book with a spirit

between manga and comics.

The Kat Ladizare teenagers

who have decided to become

superheroines, masterfully drawn

by Lionel Demai. It takes place

in the future between Cannes

and Marseille. For the moment.

I’m also finishing a book about

Rock music. A non-chronological

essay, in which I tell the influence

of music on specific moments of

our lives. How Rockstars became

legends. We’ll talk about it soon.

More information about Alain

Zirah can be found on his website

at :https://www.alainzirah.com

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FEATURE

Meet Erin

Jackson:

The Black American Athlete Who

Touched Hearts at the Winter

Olympics 2022

By Ameena Daayo

The 2022 Winter

Olympics, which was

officially termed the XXIV

Olympic Winter Games,

was the 2022 edition of the

international winter multi-sport

event held in China.

This year, the event took

place between 4 and 20

February 2022 in Beijing,

China. Some of the events

which required outdoor facilities

were also held in surrounding

areas.

A total of 91 nations

took part in the 2022 Winter

Olympics, which was held at

the National Stadium in Beijing,

China, under the theme –

Together for a Shared Future.

Due to the COVID 19

pandemic, athletes, coaches,

staff, and journalists were

required to stay in enclosed

cubicles – separate from the

few spectators at the games.

The athletes performed before

live cameras and a handful of

spectators.

This year’s edition witnessed

a lot of highlights, but notable

among them was the story of

Erin Jackson. The American

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FEATURE

athlete won a gold medal

despite almost missing the

games.

Erin Jackson of Team USA

skates to victory to win the gold

medal during the women’s

500-meter on Feb. 13. She

became the first Black woman

to medal in speedskating at a

Winter Olympics.

American Erin Jackson

won gold in the women’s

500-meter speedskating

competition — becoming the

first Black woman to medal

in speedskating at a Winter

Olympics.

The last time an American

woman took the top spot in

this event was in 1994. The

whole feat was made even

more incredible given that

Jackson almost missed

out on the chance to

compete in Beijing

entirely.

Jackson was

top-ranked in

the 500-meter

speedskating event

leading up to the

qualifying trials. But

a shocking stumble

in her race at the U.S. trials

pushed her to third place,

thereby disqualifying her from

a spot in the Winter Games.

That’s when her teammate

and friend Brittany Bowe gave

up her spot in the 500-meter

race so Jackson could

compete in Beijing.

“This medal means so

much,” Jackson said after

she won gold. “It has been a

tough couple of years and a

tough beginning for this year.

For this to come around like

this, I am so happy.”

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FEATURE

Women, We Are

Beautiful, and

Stronger – Together

Word By Anonymous Guest Contributor

Dear strong woman,

see the pain behind your smile.

I know the tears you cry every

night in the comfort of your bed.

I know how difficult it is to get

up in the morning and hide it all

behind a smile. I know what goes

on in this beautiful mind of yours.

There are people who need you

and you can’t let them down. I

see you putting yourself at the

end of the line because you

don’t want people to hurt like you

do. I see you fighting your own

demons to be there for them.

Being strong isn’t really a choice,

is it? You become it because of

circumstances.

You have endured unspeakable

pain and despite your scars, you

surpass every obstacle. You rise

with strength and power that

radiates off of you with brilliance.

Each foot you place on the

ground is with purpose and

intention. When your feet lift off the

ground you dance with every part

of your soul. With every spin and

every jump you feel invincible.

There is nothing you can’t do.

Sometimes being strong is the

only choice you have, and the

world thanks you for making this

choice. Because you’re strong,

the world is changing for the

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FEATURE

better.

With every breath, fire escapes

your mouth and ignites the

ears of those around you. Your

words are powerful and honest.

You radiate with light and you

influence every person you meet.

You are unwavering in your beliefs

and you are mature enough to

respect others’ opinions. Loud or

soft, your voice is a sound wave

that never fluctuates.

People are drawn to you with a

force stronger than gravity. You

are loved, feared, liked, and even

hated, but your head remains

high and your shoulders strong.

People would love to see you

fall. You ignore these people and

focus on the ones who are there

for you when you hold the power

of the world within your clutch.

Most importantly, you are okay

with yourself. Being alone does not

mean you’re lonely. You indulge

in time that you have to be with

yourself. You do not need a man

or woman by your side to feel

complete. You love who you are.

You own it. Finding a significant

other who respects your power

and is not threatened by your

strength is rare, and that’s okay

with you. You know that whether

or not you find this person you will

be fine because you have your

strength to fall back on.

You don’t show your pain because

you heard that to be vulnerable is

to be weak, that crying is a flaw,

and that you need to get back up

as soon as you fall. Yet you don’t.

I’m here to tell you that it’s okay if

you can’t. It’s okay. It takes time to

unlearn these things — you were

trained to be someone you aren’t.

Hear me out. Strength isn’t about

being able to hold in your tears

when you feel sad. Strength isn’t

about keeping your feelings inside

when they’re too intense.Strength

isn’t about pretending that

everything is okay when your soul

is hurting. Strength is the opposite.

Strength is allowing yourself to feel

whatever it is that you need to feel

in the moment.

Strength is feeling deep when

the world expects you to hide

your sensitivity. Strength is finding

the courage to speak up in a

world that has been cruel to you.

Strength is letting people in, no

matter how many times you’ve

been hurt before. Strength is being

able to say, “I’m not okay right

now. I need you.”

Never feel ashamed of the power

and strength that you embody.

Strut down every sidewalk and

smile at every person who glares

towards your direction. You are

more than the judgments society

creates about you. You believe in

controversial topics like feminism

and you are not afraid to speak

your mind. You are brilliant and

unstoppable.

Just remember, it’s okay to need

someone. It’s okay to need a

shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen

to you, a hand to hold. We all

need someone to remind us that

we’re not invincible — that we are

not alone.

Stay strong. Stay true to you.

Change the world.Women, We

Are Beautiful, and Stronger –

Together

Love,

A strong woman with a message

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FASHION

The Best Looks

from London

Fashion Week

Fall 2022

Words by - Amenna Daayo

London Fashion Week is a

prestigious fashion and clothing

trade show that takes place in

London twice every year, in the

months of February and September.

The show showcases over 250

designers to a global audience of

collectors, media agencies, retailers,

and the general public.

Fashion and lifestyle experts rank it as

one of the ’Big Four’ fashion weeks in

the world today, putting it in the same

class as the New York Fashion Week,

Milan Fashion Week, and Paris Fashion

Week.

The London Fashion Week, February

2022 edition took place from 18 Feb

2022 to 22 Feb 2022, and it was all we

expected and more! Indeed, London

is making its mark on the global

fashion stage.

This season, industry darling

Harris Reed kicked things off

with a presentation featuring

a live performance from Sam

Smith. Conner Ives presented

his second-ever collection with

supermodel Jourdan Dunn in

the front row.

Meanwhile, Irina Shayk, fresh

off the Michael Kors runway in

New York, hopped the pond to

close out Matty Bovan’s show.

From Molly Goddard’s tulle

visions to Simone Rocha’s

idiosyncratic designs, see all

the standout looks from the

fashion showcase below.

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FASHION ESCAPE

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The Style

Evolution Of

Queen

Elizabeth,

& Her Regal Rainbow

Fashion Statements

Words by - Amenna Daayo

As the world is set to

stand still – again, for

one of the most iconic

moments in history

to celebrate the 96th birthday

and platinum Jubilee of Queen

Elizabeth, there are many things

to look forward to.

Over the years, the Queen

has become a symbol of royalty,

peace, happiness, unity – and

fashion! The Queen of the

Rainbow – as the Glamsquad

fashion team often refers to her,

is indeed a beauty and fashion

icon - among many things.

Her style evolution over the

years is worthy of note – and is

nothing short of impressive.

Whenever the Queen steps

out, jaws drop at her beautiful

dresses, fabulous hats, and

minimalist jewelry. Not to forget

her lovely smile and signature

wave - which is bound to melt

every heart.

As we prepare to celebrate

the Queen’s official birthday on

June 11, what better time than

now to take a retrospective look

at her most memorable and

colourful fashion moments over

the years.

Despite sticking to her

signature fashion uniform of a

coat dress, with a matching hat,

hand gloves, and accessories,

the Queen has never failed to

impress.

One way she has impressively

kept her signature look fresh and

new, is her uniqueness and

creativity with the colours of

the rainbow. See why we

call her the Queen of the

Rainbow?

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With the Queen, there is never

a dull look! She is always a breath

of fresh air – of hope. The Queen

says so much with her outfits,

and no matter the dignitaries

and flamboyance in a room, the

Queen always stands out.

As a young princess who

came into prominence during

World War II, the Queen’s fashion

style has always reflected the

state of the nation.

An early example that comes

to mind is her wedding gown

which Norman Hartnell designed.

It was designed using Duchesse

satin purchased with ration

vouchers.

Many decades after, she

has continued to use her

fashion as a symbolic means

of communication with an

underlying meaning. It is beautiful

how she is able to fuse history,

communication, and fashion

relevance into one simple outfit.

The Queen’s wardrobe is

packed full of historical fashion

statements that document her

seven decades on the throne

as the world’s most powerful

individual.

Her Majesty’s love of bold

colours – not to mention her

statement millinery – ensures one

of the world’s most influential and

recognizable women always

stands out in a crowd.

The Queen’s style revolution is

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spot on – from her early choice

of court dressers by Norman

Hartnell and Hardy Amies, to her

more modern choices. She has

trusted her senior dresser – and

close confidante – Angela Kelly,

to advise on her outfits.

Needless to say that Angela

Kelly has never disappointed.

Who can forget in a hurry that

Lime-green ensemble the Queen

sported for Prince Harry and

Meghan Markle’s wedding in

2018?

Despite all the attention on

Meghan’s dress and fashion

flamboyance of international

dignitaries, many fashion critics

still named the Queen as the best

dressed at the event.

We can go on and on, and

we can assure you that the

Queen of the Rainbow has never

had a bad outfit!

Below, to celebrate the

Queen’s birthday, we have

shared our best style moments

served by her Majesty over the

years. The team had a hard time

selecting these photos from the

large pile; enjoy them – just as we

have!

Happy birthday and

many more years,

may you reign,

our Queen of the

Rainbow!

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HEALTH

5

Small &

Medium Scale

Business Ideas

for Women

By Candice Helfand-Rogers

Online Retail/

Wholesale

The power of technology meets the

desire to sell a physical product.

We’ve spoken with women who

run websites selling bras, high-end

watches, eco-friendly clothing,

baby supplies for parents of multiple

children, and much more.

And many of them are thriving

doing so — especially in the case

of immigrant entrepreneur Anna

Metselitsa, a chance to thrive in

a new country. She launched her

online boutique, Haute Rogue, not

long after arriving in the United States

with just $300 in her pocket.

Today, she sells thousands of

garments each month.

Thinking of starting up? Check out our shortlist of business

ideas for inspiration.

Women business owners are on the rise. That’s according

to the 2018 State of Women-Owned Businesses report, which

finds that female entrepreneurship has increased by an

impressive 3,000 percent since 1972. And between 2017 and

2018, women started an average ofof 1,821 new ventures per

day.

What kind of businesses are all of these women starting?

According to our own research effort, 1,000 Stories, personal and

professional services — think dog walking, law and beauty — are

frequent choices, as is selling goods online.

There are ample reasons to start up — seeking work/life

balance or financial stability, or wanting to be your own boss

— and milestones to work toward, like expanding from a homebased

business to having a brick-and-mortar location.

Whatever your reasons or goals, here are some industries you

can look to launch in.

Life

Coaching

Are you the person people

turn to for advice? Why not

turn that clarity of thought

and ability to guide others

into a business?

Plenty of women have.

Whether you’re best suited

to counsel clients on their

careers, health, businesses

or mental well-being, there

are opportunities to start

and grow a venture based

on your talents.

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Cooking, Catering and

Restaurant Management

Like tech, the food industry can be tough for women to

navigate — just ask chefs Jody Adams and Ana Sortun.

They run successful Boston-area eateries, but had to rise up

through sexist work atmospheres. But if you have a knack for

cooking, or baking, you can turn that idea into a profitable

venture.

Just turn your best pound cake, health food, quiche or truffle

recipe — or whatever else you can whip up — into a product

to sell. (You can also turn your love of food into an app, if that’s

more your speed.)

Beauty and Skincare

This is a booming industry, with lots of ways to

break in. Whether you start an app like Melody

McClosky of salon-booking app StyleSeat, craft

skincare product like Daisy Jing of Banish and

FunlayoAlabi of Shea Radiance, sell perfumes

like Carina Chaz of DedCool, or do hair and

makeup for special events like Takia Ross of

Accessmatized, you can find a lovely future for

yourself in this sector.

Agriculture and Farming

For nature lovers, this could be the perfect startup area.

Kristy Allen certainly made it work. Her business,

The BeezKneez, sells freshly made honey and teaches

paid beekeeping classes to Minneapolis residents, and

makes hundreds of thousands of dollars every year doing

so.

The Piggery’s Heather Sandford is also thriving — her

humane pig farm makes millions every year selling

bacon, sausage and other pork products

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HEALTH

Health & Wellness

10 Tips for Every

Woman

Credit: Dr. Priyanka Marakini (BNYS), Alpa Momaya

(B.Sc., PGD, RNC), Swati Shukla(PhD)

Build a support circle

Several research studies show that social circles of

friends and family increase your likelihood of surviving

health problems, increase your level of happiness and

even help you live longer. The best way to build a support

circle is to be a part of someone else’s support circle.

That way you can be there for each other. You can also

build a support circle by volunteering. This way you get to

meet new people and also make new friends. Helping can

mean as simple as picking up a friend’s child from school

or even visiting your elderly neighbor for coffee.

Balancing the demands of

career, family, significant

other, and sometimes

even coping with societal

pressures to look good or

conduct oneself in a certain

way can be quite draining for

women. As she passes through

several milestones in her life, it

is necessary that every woman

out there makes sure to put her

health above everything else.

Although ‘taking care of yourself’

doesn’t rank #1 in the priority list

of most women out there, this

year ‘It’s Time for You’ to take

care of your health, your fitness,

and prioritize yourself among

other things. After all, all the

people who do depend on you

can only do so, if you are at the

top of the pyramid in terms of

health and wellness.

To help women in their quest to

take better care of themselves,

we have compiled 10 health and

fitness tips that will come use to

women from all walks of life.

These tips are based on

information gathered from

several sources and personal

experiences. So, no matter

what your age or overall health

status is, these tips will help you

increase your chances of better

health and fitness all through

your life.

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Exercise

Did you know heart disease

is the leading cause of death

among women? However, this

disease can be kept at bay with

exercise. Women must make

sure to get at least 30 minutes of

exercise every single day to keep

the heart functioning properly.

Aerobic exercise which includes

walking, jogging, bicycling and

dancing are good for women’s

health. In fact, any form of

physical exercise, even the usual

running around to the grocery

store is better than nothing.

Ultimately, it’s all

about you!

One of the best health and

fitness tips for women is to

make time for “just you”. A

happy and healthy woman

is way more driven than a

stressed-out one. The time

you take out for yourself

should be filled with what

you want and the things you

want to do, and you get to

decide and dictate. A daily

dose of just 10 minutes for

yourself is one of the many

healthy habits you can do

every day that will keep you

feeling you’re very best.

Ladies, it’s called

the most important

meal of the day

for a reason

We, women, love reading up

on health and fitness tips, but

always feel we do not have

the time to honor them. Well,

it’s time we change that.

Having breakfast not only

provides you energy for the

rest of the day but also kick

starts your metabolism. So, it is

very essential you keep aside

15 minutes in the morning to

make something healthy and

set yourself up for a productive

rest of the day.

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HEALTH

Regular checkups

This is one point that we cannot

emphasize enough on! Health

screenings are an important

way to help recognize problems

in the body – sometimes even

before you show any signs or

symptoms. Even if you feel well,

early health checkups and

screening tests can not only spot

signs of serious diseases and

conditions but also have a better

chance of successfully curing or

effectively treating them. Thus, we

recommend that you schedule a

checkup every year with a primary

care doctor to stay on the safer

side of things.

Two most important

minerals every woman

needs

Apart from calcium, Zinc and Magnesium

are two other minerals that are most needed

by women’s bodies. Consume Zinc, because

a deficiency in this mineral impairs the

immune system, which results in thinning of

hair and acne. Magnesium, on the other

hand, is most essential as it helps with sleep,

bone health, and may also help in relieving

premenstrual symptoms, anxiety, and

migraines.

Keep calm and hydrate

This tip may seem basic, but it is one of the most crucial steps to a

healthy life. Staying hydrated leads to healthy physical and mental

functioning. Drinking lots of water during the day is also key to keeping

yourself fit from the inside out. To avoid dehydration, it is best to carry a

water bottle as a reminder. Hydrating yourself is also crucial to weight loss

or maintenance because it not only reduces the feeling of hunger but

also helps you eat less during meal times.

Sleep solves

everything

Sleep is one of the best things

women can get with all the busy

schedules, cooking, and running

around they do. For a productive

day at home, or at work, or even

at the gym, it is imperative that

you get a good night’s sleep.

Insufficient sleep not only brings

down your productivity but also

affects the mental and physical

state of your body and overall

well being. While 8 hours can be

a luxury, a minimum of 6-7 hours

is vital. So, do make sure to clock

in those hours.

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HEALTH

Eat well, live well, be well

As women, many of us are prone to

neglecting our own dietary needs. You may feel

you need to put your family’s needs first or you

are too busy to adhere to a set diet. However,

you must ensure that you get all the nutrients

you need from the foods you eat. You want to

eat as close to a natural food diet as possible.

That means a variety of fresh vegetables,

fruits, whole grains, meat, fish, poultry, low-fat

dairy products, and lots of nuts. Among other

things, women, in general, need lots of calcium

to build healthy bones and teeth to keep them

strong as you age. Good sources of calcium

include dairy products, grains, leafy green

vegetables, tofu, and cabbage.

Maintain a healthy weight

Weight loss is a subject that runs in the minds of

most women. Although quite distressing, reaching and

maintaining a healthy weight is important for your overall

well-being. Being overweight can significantly increase

the risk of several chronic diseases and can reduce the

quality of your life. Therefore, the best way to maintain a

healthy weight is to have a good relationship with your

food, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly.

www.glamsquadmagazine.com 57


FOOD

Green

Smoothie

vs

Green Juice:

Know the Difference

Dr. Juliet Omoson

reen smoothies or green juices, which one should you pick? This

G

is one of the most commonly asked questions as more and more

people are opting for healthy eating habits.

To help make the correct choices, nutritionist Farzanah

Nasser took to Instagram to explain what to pick based on one’s

individual needs and preferences. “I like both smoothie and juices and will have

them for different reasons,” said Nasser.

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FOOD

What are Smoothies?

According to the expert, smoothies are the

whole fruit/vegetables blended together with a

liquid. They are full of fibre and hence, support

blood sugar balancing and act as a meal

replacement as the fibres slow down the release

of sugars into the blood stream and keep one

feeling fuller for longer.

“It also helps you meet your daily fibre

requirement that most of us fall short of, and

also feeds the microbes in the gut – which are

responsible for immune and overall good health,”

she explained.

What are Juices?

Juicing is extracting the fibre and drinking just

the juice. “A study had showed that you get 30-

40 per cent more of the nutrients when it’s not

buffered by fibre. However it can cause blood

sugar issues if you are having mainly fruit, and

it’s also not a meal replacement. You do lose a

lot of the fibre but you can save that and make

overnight oats or crackers, or add them to

pancakes. Juicing is also great when you want

to give your digestive system a break or feel you

need the hit of nutrients. Just make sure you use

more veggies/greens than fruits to avoid spiking

your blood sugar,” she mentioned.

What should you pick?

“When I am sick and need a pick

me up, I will always opt for juice. I will

also have a juice when I need some

nutrients; I will have it 30 minutes

before a meal. That way it can get

absorbed before I have the meal,”

said Nasser.

However, Nasser mentioned that

she would opt for smoothies as a

“meal replacement or substantial

snack”. “I also use them as a way

to get more vegetables into me

and something I can carry with

me if I know I’m going to have a

long day,” she noted.

However, when making green smoothies, do

note:

• The blending process breaks the fiber down

in a smoothie, but you still need to chew it

to activate the digestive enzyme in saliva,

amylase. Amylase begins the digestive

process.

• Choose combinations like leafy greens with

less starchy fruits like berries, green apples,

pears, peaches and plums to ensure

healthy digestion, healthy elimination and

reduce the risk of fermentation or gas.

• Use only fresh produce. Disregard recipes

that suggest using frozen kale, for example.

Fresh fruits and vegetables deliver the live,

vital, electricity your cells need to activate!

• A smoothie cannot take the place of green

juice.

Green juice is made by extracting the

vegetable and fruit water from the whole foods

used, and discarding the fiber, unlike with

smoothies.

This is what many do not understand. They ask,

why would you separate the fiber from the water in

the vegetables and throw it away?

In a nutshell, when you drink juice, no digestive

fire is required. Your digestive system doesn’t have

to do anything to take in the nutrients provided

from the foods you juiced.

Green juice offers the most easily accessible

and assimilable form of live, vital nutrition. But do

consider this, juice is concentrated because fiber

was removed, so you want to limit sweet fruits, or

it will blast your system with sugar. Sweet fruits are

best in smoothies, rather than juices.

www.glamsquadmagazine.com 59


FOOD

Kung Pao

Chicken:

The Delicious Chinese cuisines

You Should Try Out This Weekend

By Chef Amaka Obiefuna

W

ith a long history, unique features, numerous styles, and exquisite cooking, Chinese cuisine is

one of the essential constituent parts of Chinese culture. Chinese traditional dishes are famous

for their color, aroma, taste, meanings, and appearance.

Chinese cuisines are one of the most significant exports from the Asian giants, and today,

we will be highlighting a simple but delicious meal you should try out this weekend.

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FOOD

What is Kung

Pao Chicken

Kung Pao chicken is a type of

spicy Chinese chicken prepared by

stir-frying. Preparations vary widely, but

some version of this dish has existed

since at least the late 19th century.

Kung Pao chicken is a simple dish

of chicken breast, cut up and stir-fried

in “Kung Pao sauce,” primarily flavored

with soy sauce, vinegar, and a bit of

sugar.

Ingredients

• Boneless Skinless Chicken

Breast

• Soy sauce (or Tamari)

• Vinegar

• Cornstarch

• Granulated Sugar

• Toasted Sesame Oil

• Red & Green Bell Peppers

• Onions

• Cashew Nuts

• Dried Red Chili Peppers

• Fresh Garlic & Ginger

How to Make

Kung Pao

Chicken

Make the Kung Pao sauce: Mix the

soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar in a

bowl.

Prep the chicken! Cut the boneless,

skinless chicken breast into uniform

strips. This is a little easier to do if your

chicken is slightly frozen. Then, toss it in

a bit of soy sauce and cornstarch to

coat.

Cook the chicken until crispy!

Working in batches so as not to

overcrowd the pan, stir-fry the chicken

pieces in sesame oil until they’re

cooked through and gorgeously

crispy.

Stir-fry! Stir-fry the bell peppers

until they’re a little soft. Then add the

scallions, cashews, ginger, garlic, and

dried chili peppers. Stir fry all of that for

a minute or two, and then stir in the

Kung Pao sauce and cooked chicken.

Simmer. Let all of the flavors meld

over the heat for a few more minutes.

The Kung Pao sauce will thicken slightly

and really coat the veggies and

chicken, which is what you want.

Serve! We love to serve this over

steaming bowls of white or brown rice.

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Glamsquad Magazine 2.0 is a Women’s Fashion, Culture and Lifestyle Magazine.

Targeted at an upwardly mobile segment of the Nigerian and African market,

Glamsquad seeks to provide inspirational yet attainable fashion, entertainment, and

lifestyle culturing to Women.

Contributing to conversations on contemporary fashion, dining, beauty, wellness, music,

and movies; our goal is to positively shape the conversation on these topics in a way that

Informs, inspires, empowers and ultimately entertains Nigerian and African women.

Glamsquad is for the sophisticated, tasteful, yet fun loving woman.

Let’s hold you by hands into the world of fashion. Like and follow us on any of our social

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