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Well done!
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9:31AM, Wednesday, 07 Feb, 2007
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It's been a hectic couple of weeks - sorry I've been so quiet! The start of the new year has already run away with me, and I've been superbusy on the mag, but more importantly, trying to choose the winners of the Bloggers Unite competition.
The idea was for seventeen readers to log onto my blog, register as friends, and stand the chance of winning a cool prize. I was only meant to choose one blog winner, but there were so many inspirational blogs, I couldn't decide... So I chose three!!
And the winners are.... (drum roll please!): Caryn-Anne ; Ashy and Renie
Well done girls - your blogs display a high level of creativity, passion and humour, and kept me highly entertained for many hours! A great way to avoid work he, he, he!
Each one of you will receive a bumper seventeen hamper - we'll be in touch soon!
OK gotta dash - chat soon
xx
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The Platinum Child
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1:58PM, Friday, 12 Jan, 2007
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It's Friday! Wow, it's been a long week. And I only started work on Wednesday. The funny thing is, my "leetle" brother who's fresh out of varsity (see photo - dodgeville!) starts working 9-5 for the first time next week. Let me just take a minute to savour the moment. Aaaaaah. You see, my darling bro, who is without a doubt the most brilliant human being on the planet (he has a huge heart, and the most infectious laugh I've ever heard), has also been leading a very charmed life. Long varsity holidays, big end of term jols, a never-ending holiday in St. Francis where he'd come trailing home in time for breakfast... You get the picture. In sharp contrast, I've been busting my behind for the past few years working, working, working. And while I have to confess that I love every minute of it, and can't live without the adrenalin kick that deadlines give me (is that sad? I dunno..), knowing that finally, FINALLY The Platinum Child (as he's
affectionately known) is going to have to set his alarm clock, don a
work shirt and go off into the big bad world of salaries and rent
cheques fills me with that warm, glowy feeling. Tee hee hee hee hee...
Anyhoo down to business. You guys have kept me seriously busy reading all your comments and blogs (and this is during work hours - ha ha!!). It's been incredible and reminds me everyday how complex and strangely beautiful life as a teenager can be. Warning: it doesn't get any less weird as you get older, so get used to it! Some of the issues that you're dealing with are exactly the topics that we're trying to broach in seventeen, so it's amazing to listen to what you have to say - you're contributing to the magazine without even knowing it! Every one of you has an amazing story to tell - that's why blogging is so cool - it's a glimpse of life as you know it. Keep talking to me - I can't get enough!
xx
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For the record
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2:44PM, Wednesday, 10 Jan, 2007
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There's a comment on my last post asking why I don't write unhappy blogs, and asking if this is all superficical. Well, that's for you all to make up your own minds about, but to put the record straight, I definitely do have down days - when I walk around with a thunder cloud hanging over my head - but I'm also a private person who tries to deal with my bad moods on my own instead of making them everybody else's problem. I've had people in my life who use their down days to bring everybody else down with them... It's exhausting. So I try not to do that.
At the end of last year, I was pap. So tired, stressed and over it.
2006 was the longest year of my life. Nothing went terribly wrong but
nothing felt quite right either. I was very happy to
kiss it goodbye, and to wake up to a brand new year thinking
that hopefully the world would be a slightly less chaotic, more
peaceful place. Tsunamis, wars, suicide bombers,
idiotic politicians and global warming - every time I open the
newspaper, there's another horror story of suffering, poverty or pain.
It really gets to me, and makes me think we're heading for a disaster
of such massive proportions, the world as we know it will never be the
same again.
The thing is, you can't live in fear, and you can't live your life in limbo because of a big "what if". A lot of my friends are thinking of emigrating, and moving to far flung places like Australia. That's scary, and makes me suddenly question the politics of this country I love and call home, and the reason why people can't tolerate it any longer. Should I also pack my bags and go?
So many questions, so few answers. I've learnt, however, that my worst enemy is fear, and living in limbo. That's when you start to doubt yourself, and you hesitate - too scared to do anything, so you do nothing instead. I'd rather keep going, be happy, put out a positive vibe and hope that in the end, it comes back to me.. Good karma and all.
I hope that answers your question as to why I haven't used this space to rant - in the end, moaning about life gets sooo boring. I'd rather just not do it. Anyway, this blog is meant to be a centre for ideas. A place where you guys can connect with me and tell me your thoughts. I don't need to know if you like or loathe the magazine - I just want to know more about you and everything that makes up your lives. No matter how boring/dull you think it sounds. I know it's not easy writing about yourself all the time - I battle with that - but your stories, opinions and thoughts really help to steer me and seventeen in the right direction.
Tell me what you're worrying/thinking about... I want to know.
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Top Teens rock!
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11:51AM, Tuesday, 12 Dec, 2006
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Where did time go? It's been three weeks since my last blog, and now I notice that half of my last blog has disappeared! It starts mid-sentence. Weird. Sorry about that - have no idea why that happened and don't know how to get it back. Damn technology. So since the last time we spoke, life has screamed into fast foward.
We hosted the Top Teen Achiever Awards in Jo'burg. What an amazingly awesome night. Met the five winners in person: Sumayah, Jean-Marie, Precious, Linda and Melissa, you chicks rock. It's weird because we've been working on this competition and event since May - and all the admin made it a bit like planning a wedding or a matric dance! But wow, was it worth it. The girls looked stunning in their Hip Hop dresses, the band (The Parlotones) rocked the dancefloor until the early hours, and shlebs like Louise Carver, Nicky Greenwall and Elana Afrika (who looked incredible!) partied with us. Very, very cool.
It once again brought home the fact that there are so many potential young stars in this incredible country of ours, but I bet that there are still heaps of talented teens who aren't being recognised for their achievements outside of their school or family. I want to know all your stories and what you've done. Also, what did you think of the Top Teens competition 'cause we want to do it again next year. Is it a good idea?
Christmas, here we come :-)
xx
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Birthdays & bodies
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9:16AM, Wednesday, 15 Nov, 2006
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biiiig appetite. My whole family, and husband, know that you don't want to mess with a hungry me. I love food, and I adore the celebration of eating. It's my fuel that keeps me buzzing through each and every day, and I know I wouldn't be able to run, surf and work nearly as well if I didn't have enough sustenance.
So why is that over 50% of the girls we surveyed have had an eating disorder, or know someone who has? It makes me so, so sad. I wish, as women, we'd just give ourselves a break. I know I'm never going to be a size 32, or be any taller than 5'6. I have non-existent calves and a butt that's never going to look flat. So what? I like the fact that I have curves, that my clothes fit, and that I'm strong, healthy and happy. What's the point of always obsessing about stuff you can't change
It's something I'd love to hear your thoughts on... Do you stress about your body, and how thin you are? Do guys treat you differently depending on your dress size?
Why is the modern woman starving herself to look like a lollipop - and do you think being superthin is attractive? Tell me - I want to hear.
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Happy days
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12:29PM, Friday, 03 Nov, 2006
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Arrrgh, just wiped out my first attempt at posting this, so here goes again... (not firing on all cylinders today!)
Last night seventeen kicked butt! We won three awards at the MPASA Sappie Pica Awards - Best Youth Title (officially, we rule!), a Highly Commended Award for the seventeen diary (nice one!), and best of all, the Rossi Trophy for Best Consumer Magazine - this is a huuuuuge deal, especially for a teen title, and especially for a teen title that's only been around for three years!
So so proud of my team - who I'd like to confirm are the most brilliant beings on the planet - and just plain bowled over that seventeen is getting this kind of recognition. It just goes to show the power of teen spirit, and the fact that the rest of the (adult) world are veeery interested in what's happening in the teen space. Because it's such a cool space to play in, obviously. But the coolest part about it, I think, is the connection between us and you. You guys make this magazine happen. It's your stories, opinions, thoughts, feelings and dedicated time (spent filling out surveys, writing emails, chatting to me via the blog...) that fill each and every page of seventeen with the passion and focus that make it so relevant to today. So thanks girlz, these awards are very much due to your contribution!
And now (happy sigh) I plan to collapse on the plane back to Slaapstad - bring on the weekend!
PS. will put up some photos from last night next week - see ya
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Controversial coverage
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4:37PM, Monday, 23 Oct, 2006
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Oh wow, I just read last week's blog and I think I was feeling a tad sorry for myself... Boo hoo. Nou ja, after a FANTASTISH weekend, I'm back on top form.
And I'd like to ask a question: what do you think of this month's covergirl, Paris Hilton?
The controversial Miss Hilton has featured on our cover before (last year April, with her sister, Nicky) and that issue sold out. Sales-wise, I expect this issue will also do well - readers constantly write in requesting more info on her, saying they're intrigued by her fame, fortune and rapid rise to success.
The thing is, people (mostly industry critics who, I'd just like to mention, can hardly be classified as part of the seventeen target market) are MORTIFIED that we're featuring her. "She's not a role-model", blah blah, they moan. Well, I don't agree. Sure, she's no angel - and I certainly don't condone half the things she gets up to in
her private life - but I like her guts.
Paris is constantly taken apart in the media for being a talentless brat
who's only famous because of her surname, but my god, she's done well.
I don't know if she's just very well managed, or if she actually does
have a sharp business brain, but she's loaded... And she's earned that fortune by constantly working: launching fragrances, CD's, clubs, books and TV
shows. Today - whether you like it or not - Paris Hilton is one of the biggest brands on the planet. I think that's pretty impressive, and in my book, her success makes her a natural choice for a seventeen cover. Besides, as a magazine that features Young Hollywood starlets and pop divas as covergirls, we wouldn't have many options left if we disqualified any potential candidate because she was less than chaste... But over to you: what's your call?
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a private affair
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11:27AM, Wednesday, 18 Oct, 2006
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Do you ever wonder if the girls closest to you really know you at all? I'm a pretty private person - that is, I tend to listen more to my friends talking about their lives and problems than I talk about my own. I've always been that way - I guess it stems from being brought up in a home filled with very strong personalities - my fiesty self included :-) - and moaning didn't go down well. You lived life, and solved your own issues.
As a teen, I definitely had moments of uber angst - I filled notebooks with poems, stories and rambling wonderings about the meaning of life. These days, life moves in fast forward - sometimes I sit at the end of a week and wonder where the hell the days went? And often I think I must have done something seriously right in a previous life because I love my life. I have an amazing man, fantastic friends, a wonderful family and a great team at work. I've been blessed with incredible opportunities, and have had some hair-raising, but v. memorable, adventures.
So why do I sometimes feel so misunderstood? The only person who truly knows my every thought - sometimes to the point of being downright spooky - is Paul. As amazing as that is, I'd sometimes love more female input.
Don't get me wrong - it's not like I don't talk at all. I can be very vocal and emotional, but a lot of my friends' problems seem bigger, or more important, than mine - and as I said, I'm better at listening, and trying to solve problems logically, than I am at telling people about them - so I guess I've just figured: why bother them with the small stuff?
I also hate admitting when something is wrong - it's a pride thing, I s'ppose...
Then last week I went through a mini dilemma that I didn't feel like dealing with on my own. So I turned to my mom, my sister and my three best friends - and just let it all out... It's been great to reconnect with them on my level, and the funny thing is, once I started talking, I realised how I'd shut them out by thinking they wouldn't be interested in listening to what was going on in my life. Now it's my mission to try and share a little more of myself, a little more often - and not just wait for those those freak-out moments to ask people for help. It's something I'm working on... :-)
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Monday, Monday...
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1:33PM, Monday, 02 Oct, 2006
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