#womancrushwednesday

Hello hello! Welcome back to the blog! Make sure you subscribe before you leave :) If you are new to the blog, welcome to this week’s Woman Crush Wednesday where we showcase different women with different and learn a little bit about their hair and beauty secrets! So far we have heard from Lydia Forson,Hayet Rida(thathayetrida.com),Anita Erskine,Ama K. Abebreseh,Kokui Selormey,Dede Buckman (accracraves) and so many more fabulous women! Click hereto read their stories This week’s woman crush is entrepreneur extraordinaire, Regina Honu. 

Regina is currently the Vlisco Ambassador, scroll down to read more about hair, makeup and business tips and tricks

 Tell us about yourself

My name is Regina Honu, a daughter in a family of six and a wife to an amazing man. A social entrepreneur and a software developer. I was born in Kumasi and went to Christ the King, Holy Child and Ashesi University. I am currently the CEO of a Technology Social Enterprise. When I am not using technology to drive social change, I love eating, watching movies and having fun with my husband. 

What gave you the confidence to pursue your dream of working in technology and becoming a social entrepreneur?

Growing up I heard a lot of what the role of a woman was and what my place would be. I loved maths, science and technology. What I didn’t like was that technology was so male dominated and we were missing out on the female perspective in the technology that was being created. I experienced first-hand the discrimination and sexism women faced in male dominated fields. I wanted to change that and make things better for the next generation of women. I also love creating great technology products that change the world. 

What do you love most about your job?

I love the fact that I get to impact lives on a daily basis. I love writing code and I love leading an amazing team. 

If you could go on vacation anywhere tomorrow, where would you choose and why?

Zanzibar, I hear it is really beautiful and I love discovering Africa.

 If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?

I would expand on the work we are doing at Soronko Solutions into more countries, build the biggest all girl coding and human centered design school, start a campaign to change policy, buy my family anything they wanted and take a year off traveling the world with my husband. 

How would you describe your sense of style?

I think I am edgy and not afraid to take fashion risks. I don’t like to follow trends but set my own. 

Are you a jeans or dresses kind of girl? 

It depends! A good pair of jeans is everything. But I love how feminine I feel in a dress. 

What’s your favourite fashion trend at the moment?

Using African fabric to design edgy and modern outfits 

What does your role as the Vlisco ambassador entail? 

The ambassador role for me is about embodying the brand. I get the opportunity to motivate young people especially women and girls to chase their dreams using my life story as an example. I also get to step out in style in Vlisco’s new collection every quarter. For me personally, it has provided the opportunity to merge technology and fashion with my #Stylewithcode campaign which aims to get more women and girls to study and pursue careers in Tech. 

What activities have you done to date as the Vlisco ambassador? 

I was able to start this campaign called #StylewithCode where we went across the country educating women studying STEM in the university on the opportunities in the tech space and recruiting them to join our Tech Need Girls Mentor program. I have to say being the Vlisco Ambassador really got the attention of our target audience. We were able to recruit and educate more women and girls to consider all the amazing opportunities in coding and creating technology. We even had a Vlisco fashion show in our recent networking event where we connected accomplished Women in Tech to aspiring women and girls in tech. 

What’s your earliest memory of Vlisco?

Passing by the billboard for the first time, I was like wow I loved what the model was wearing, the design and the colors. The tag line stood out to me. The true original. I was like that is what I want in a fabric and a brand to be, the true original. 

How do you feel when you wear an outfit from Vlisco?

I feel like a million bucks. I love the feel of the fabric, the colour, the designs and how I automatically start to walk taller and prouder. Vlisco makes you stand out. I love that! 

What’s your favourite Pret-A-Couturestyle and why & what’s been your experience of Prêt-a- Couture to date?

This question is hard. There is so much to choose from. But I have to say I love the versatility of the wrap dress. You can switch it up for day or night depending on how you accessorize. 

I Loved my Prêt-a- Couture experience. I normally struggle with other tailors who never get exactly what I am looking for. I settled for readymade. The Prêt-a- Couture experience made me see what proper tailoring is all about. I loved the attention to detail, the great customer service and the final result. And most of all, it’s very affordable. 

What’s your favourite Vlisco outfit currently in your wardrobe and why?

I have this jumpsuit that was designed by Melanie Crane which is really edgy. It is a combination of two fabrics. When I wear it elongates my frame, shows my figure and turns heads when I walk into a room. 

How do you accessorize your Vlisco fabrics? 

Normally my accessories are minimal. The rich colour of the fabric and unique patterns makes you stand out. Too many accessories will look tacky. It is either a nice pair of earring, a bangle or a nice clutch. Oh and a nice pair of heels. You can never go wrong with heels.

How long have you had natural hair and what made you decide to go natural?

I have had my natural hair for 3 years. I hated my relaxed hair. It was light, limp and looked dead. I wanted hair that was thicker and full of life. 

What do you LOVE most about your hair?

I love that it is thicker, stronger and all the really cool natural hairstyles I can do with it. 

What is your daily hair care routine? 

Now that it has grown to mid length, I have to twist it every night before bed. I loosen the twist in the morning and normally style it in an afro. Sometimes I will thread it to get a really big afro. 

What is your favourite protective style?

Braids 

What bothers you about your hair? 

Sometimes it doesn’t want to work with me. If I don’t twist it before sleeping or wash it, I can’t comb it. 

Do you have any hair/style tips you would like to share with us?

Let me see, where can I start? For my natural sistas deep conditioning helps to keep the moisture and grow your hair. I think threading really stretches out your natural hair and gives it a really cool texture. Also avoid too much heat.

For more information about Vlisco Pret-A-Couture, like Vlisco on FacebookorInstagram

Subscribe to my Blog -http://bit.ly/subscribesharmsonline

Twitter|Instagram|Facebook

#beauty #beautyblog #beautyblogger #beautyinfluencer #style #fashion #vliscopretacouture #ghana #ghanablogs #vliscofashion #vliscotailoring #wcw #womancrushwednesday #ghanablogger 

Welcome back to my blog! This week’s Woman Crush features Marie Humbert, who is more recently known for her role as Makeena on An African City. If you are new to the blog, we have a weekly #wcw segment where we feature different types of women from all across the world and get them to share some of their beauty and style secrets with us! So far we have heard from Lydia Forson,Hayet Rida(thathayetrida.com),Anita Erskine,Ama K. Abebreseh,Kokui Selormey,Dede Buckman (accracraves) and so many more fabulous women! Click hereto read their stories 

Without any extra yip yapping, scroll down to find out about Marie’s beauty & style tips and tricks 

Tell us about yourself 

My name is Marie Humbert and I am an actress. My father is from Switzerland and my mother is from Ghana. I am fluent in both French and English and I have had the wonderful opportunity of living all around the world. 

What gave you the confidence to pursue your dream of becoming an actress? 

I was always a very loud and energetic child. I loved being the center of attention by entertaining people and making them laugh. I realized I was quite good at it so I decided to take acting classes around the age of twelve. It wasn’t until I was about sixteen that it was evident acting had become more of a calling than just an extracurricular activity. I then studied Theatre Arts in university in Australia and received a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Drama. I continued on and received a ‘Best Actress’ award of the year at the famous acting school, Le Cours Florent’ in Paris, France. I decided then that I had reached the point of no return! 

What do you love most about your job?

I love being able to delve into the world, life and psyche of a character, not only is it captivating but also highly inspirational as I have learnt and keep learning so much from the characters I have the opportunity to play. 

[An African City Season 2 - Marie as Makeena]

If you could go on vacation anywhere tomorrow, where would you choose? Bali is on top of my list but I would also really like to visit Cuba, Argentina and Greece. 

If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?

First I would buy a present for my mother, father and brother. Then I would buy/build my dream home in Provence or south of France, or in Florence, basically a dream home in a dreamy location! How would you describe your sense of style? Chic, elegant, effortless. There are a few different sides to me therefore my style can vary from being quite lady-like and structured to rather androgynous and 'laid back’ cool. But I must say I am obsessed with the details of a garment, I always believe it’s all about the detail! 

Are you a jeans or dresses kind of girl? 

It depends on my mood and where I am going. I love wearing both styles equally. 

What’s your favourite fashion trend at the moment?

Off the shoulder dresses and tops. I’m also still loving everything about crop tops! 

What’s your earliest memory of Vlisco?

My mother has been a loyal Vlisco fabric customer since she was a young lady. I still love some of her 70’s Vlisco fabric, long, flared pants she designed or the 'Patapata’ traditional dresses she would wear for special occasions. I remember looking at her in awe, the fabric always brought out her confidence and femininity. She always looked so beautiful.

How do you feel when you wear an outfit from Vlisco?

Confident, strong, proudly African and feminine. 

What’s your favourite Pret-A-Couture style and why?

I love this gorgeous suit they currently have at the Vlisco store in the Accra mall. It’s elegant, structured and bold. I love Pret - A- Couture because of how easy it is to get outfits tailored for you! It’s so simple and all done in just 5 steps. Choose a style from the look book or rack of sample outfits, then choose your fabric and get measured by the tailors – this is all done in one go and at the Vlisco shop in Accra Mall. Then you return for the fitting. Most of the time you get your outfit then as it’s usually a perfect fit. If not and it needs minor adjustments, it’s taken away and you get it back in no time at all. Overall it takes about two weeks and you have peace of mind, knowing that your Vlisco fabric won’t be ruined and you’ll get a perfectly finished outfit. And to top it all off, it’s very affordable. 

What’s your favourite Vlisco outfit currently in your wardrobe and why?

My favorite is the last one I wore and had made especially for me! It is an embezzled cropped top with an equally embezzled, beautiful 'short in front and long at the back’ type of skirt. I keep updating my favourite Vlisco outfits every time I either buy or have one made! 

How do you accessorize your Vliscofabrics?

The fabrics I like are vibrant so I always keep everything else simple. 

Now, onto the hair questions - what do you LOVE most about your hair? The fact that it’s versatile. I’m mixed race so it’s fun to see how my hair can go from curly to sleek and straight. 

What is your daily hair care routine?

I moisturize it with natural oils like coconut or baobab oil, then braid it before going to bed and just brush it out in the morning. 

What is your favorite protective style? 

A high bun or pony tail. 

What bothers you about your hair? 

How sensitive and fragile it is. 

Do you have any hair/style tips you would like to share with us? 

Always moisturize! Try to use products that are 100% natural especially oils, coconut, baobab and avocado are my favourite. Braiding or wrapping it before bed is a really good trick in keeping it soft and silky.

For more information about Vlisco Pret-A-Couture, visit their website here

Or follow them on Facebook&Instagram

–

Subscribe to my beauty blog and YouTube Channel 

Follow me on Instagram&Twitter 

Ask me anything - sharmsonline.com/ask

#beauty #beautyblog #beautyblogger #beautyinfluencer #style #ghana #ghanablogs #vliscofashion #vliscotailoring #wcw 

Hi, everybody! @nrdc Science Reporter Perrin Ireland here. I love upping rad women who kick butt on behalf of the environment, so in honor of International Women’s Day—the best day of the year—here’s a look back at some of our favorite sheroes.

Put Rachel Carson on the $20 bill! 

Shannon Bennett, virus hunter.

Step aside, gentlemen. Women from around the world are leading the way on solving climate change. Never was that more apparent than in Paris—below are some of the fierce women we encountered who are making moves to stop global warming.

We got to see Sylvia Earle and Jane Goodall, two science pioneers, tell it like it is in Paris.

And, of course, the legend that is Patti Smith shared her hope with us at a concert.

I got to go to the California Academy of Sciences for the Women in Science Summit, scribing talks from Goodall and Earle, as well as many other amazing women in the field.

Turns out Sylvia Earle likes scribing, too!

And here at NRDC, there are many inspiring women leaders who light the way toward climate solutions. We’ve featured them this past year in our #womancrushwednesdayposts. 

Thank you to all the women fighting for our forests, rivers, clean air, homes, and families. We are so proud and grateful for you! 

Padma Lakshmi

Shannon McMullen