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Beauty & Becoming: When I Stopped Doing the “Clean Girl” Aesthetic, I Finally Felt Like Myself
For a long time, I thought becoming beautiful meant becoming invisible. Not literally invisible, but muted. Soft. Scentless. Beige. Polished. Pulled back. Like a whisper in lip gloss. That’s what the clean girl aesthetic taught me: that effort is fine — but only if you pretend it’s effortless. Everywhere I turned on social media, I saw the same faces: slicked-back buns, laminated brows and clear skin that looked like it had never met a breakout. Minimal makeup (that still cost $200). Dewy, but never greasy. Matching gold jewelry, matching white towels, matching emotional detachment. It looked beautiful. Peaceful. Controlled. And I wanted in. Becoming a ‘Clean Girl’ (Or Trying To) …
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I Woke Up Early for Two Weeks. Here’s What It Did for Me
I’ve never been a ‘morning person.’ You know the type — glowing skin by 7 a.m., green smoothie in hand, casually journaling their goals under the sunrise. Meanwhile, I was hitting snooze three times, waking up stressed and doomscrolling before brushing my teeth. But something shifted. I’d been feeling like life was happening to me instead of with me. So, I made a deal with myself: wake up at 5:30 a.m. for two weeks. Not to be productive. Not to hustle. Just to see what would happen if I reclaimed my mornings. Week 1: Groggy Starts, Small Wins The first few mornings were rough. My body fought it hard. I…
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Only Fans: Women rebelling
Women rebelling against the porn industry with Only Fans. Courtesy of lyle simes Society, as we see it today, has become hypersexualized which has allowed the porn industry to become a normalized topic of conversation. While everyone knows about it, they aren’t necessarily aware of the brutal treatment porn actors have had to endure during their careers. Many people justify the industry because they believe women are consenting to it, but online porn has extreme underlying issues of sexual violence, addiction and exploitation. Just because these women feature in videos, doesn’t mean they like it or willingly consent to it. The porn industry’s underlying issues can begin with drug addictions…
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Interview with F45 owner: Andrea Lorenzon
An interview on business ownership with F45 owner: Andrea Lorenzon. Andrea Lorenzon is the owner of three F45 locations across Toronto, Ontario. She is a 33-year-old fitness enthusiast with a passion for living life to the fullest. She is an inspiring woman who was unhappy in the corporate lifestyle, took life by the rains and changed the course of her life to be happy and live it to the fullest. Andrea is originally from Maple, Ontario, but has lived in Toronto for 12 years. She is a dedicated dog mom to her 13-year-old puggle, Timmy, and he is Andrea’s best friend. She loves to take him on adventures. Throughout her…
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Going solo
Tips for women who want to safely travel alone Courtesy of vlada karpovich Travelling alone as a woman can be scary because of all of the safety precautions recommended to take, but it’s not as difficult as many make it out to be. It can be very intimidating at first and used to be an extremely controversial idea, but the world is ever-evolving. Women who travel solo around the world have built a growing community over the years and it has become beneficial to their personal growth. It has the power to help inspire women long term. The nature of confidence is that it only comes after you take the…
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It’s for the girls
Events BY women FOR women in the GTA Courtesy of Vantha Thang Living in a big city can sometimes be very intimidating, especially as a woman. These come with challenges like meeting new people in a safe way, making friends and finding new hobbies. In the Greater Toronto Area, there are so many events that happen daily but they can be scary as you’re surrounded by so many new people. Have you ever wanted to participate in events happening but are more comfortable with something that’s run by women and meant for women? Below are some events run virtually and in person by women who want to help other women.…
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Solo dates: Fall in love with yourself
The benefits of venturing out on your own, and ideas for solo dates. Recently, the practice of taking oneself out on a date has been growing in popularity. It may seem strange, but whether you have a significant other or not, taking yourself on solo dates can be a great way to connect with yourself, gain independence and experience things you might have missed out on otherwise. At first, taking yourself out might feel lonely, awkward and maybe even embarrassing. However, many women who go on solo dates have reported learning some pretty life-changing lessons. Take for example, Natalie Lusinski. Lusinki is an online blogger that decided to travel the…
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Camp Cucumber: With Jennifer Werry
Disadvantaged mothers and their children find refuge at camp **This interview has been edited for length and clarity Jennifer Werry is a director and chair for Camp Cucumber, a registered non-profit charity staffed entirely by volunteers and funded by private and corporate donations. Camp Cucumber is a place for struggling mothers to rest, relax and find peace in Northern Ontario in the last week of June. While attending the camp, they are encouraged to embrace change, meet new friends, challenge themselves and share special moments with their kids. Werry’s involvement with Camp Cucumber is one facet of her long-term commitment to philanthropic endeavours, including chairing fundraising events and developing educational…
