I began this website because there are so many outstanding women in the city of Toronto who do not have a web address. Also, when I began pursuing my dreams as a journalist/ novelist it took a lot of research to find another local young woman who had succeeded in my field. I hope this website will be kind of a farm for hungry young minds desperate to pick an accomplished woman's brain. There is also a disappointingly valid stereotype that women are each other's own worst enemy. Our jealousy of one another is the main element that holds our gender back - here is my small effort to both refute and difuse the cattyness in all of us. Myself included.
Failing and still trying again with the same enthusiasm. My field is so up and down but my proudest accomplishment has to be completing an anthology then finding an amazing literary agent.
I have written articles and interviewed Beenie Man, Juvenile, Rhymefest, Jully Black, Connie Briscoe (one of my fav authors), Laura Sessions Stepp (Pulitzer Prize winning journalist) and Josey Vogels. I was a panel member on Much Music alongside Sue Johanson.
Always praise your accomplishments in this field - no matter how small. There are so many disappointments that you will quit or commit suicide before you're 25th birthday if you don't find some way to balance your setbacks.
Keep chasing your dreams. Although they may be hard to catch, nothing has more stamina than untainted determination.
Books. I am almost always reading a fiction novel, a non-fiction textbook and listening to an audiobook for my car rides. Favourite books for life lessons: Anne Tyler's A Patchwork Planet or Paul Coelho's The Alchemist. Fav book for emotional wisdom: Eric Jerome Dickey's The Other Woman. Fav action book: Dan Brown's Angels and Demons.
Lauren E. Boodram
Music publisher, marketing advisor and organizational wizard. She recently worked as the co-music director on the Global TV show Da Kink in My Hair and owns her own music publishing company, Imperial Music located at Yonge and Bloor. Lauren is a key catalyst in the Toronto-urban music movement an incredible role model. She is the most influential young woman in my life.
Josey Vogels
Journalist/ Radio Host/ TV personality/ Sexual educator/ Author/ Columnist/ Feminist. And despite the lengthy title list she is still her own boss. She has inspired me in many ways but during an interview I did with her she inspired a train of thought that spawned into this site. " I think any women who are in control of their image and their careers are worth looking up to.... More of what disadvantages women is, putting us in competition with each other and dividing and conquering you know. Men don't have to be sexist, we're happy to do it to ourselves." --Josey Vogels
Dina Pugliese
City TV host for Breakfast Television and Star Daily. I love her! Has to be my favourite Canadian TV personality. She dresses great, looks healthy, is witty, well-informed, polite and not to mention has an on-air voice that I try to emulate nightly. I know I sound like a groupie but this woman seriously rocks.
Alana Panday
Just 18 years old and in her first year of college at Humber for Interior Decorating Alana is probably the most self-assured teenager I have ever met. An amazing painter and fab dresser I admire her most for her strength of character. She is always herself and I've never seen her minimize her morals or lie to please others... one of the only girls I know who NEVER wears make-up. Though self-assurance gets annoying as she's very argumentative, it's still something I try to model myself after.
Andrea Lewis.
Singer/ songwriter/ actor/ Canadian refugee...:) After signing a record deal and finishing her fourth season on Degrassi: The Next Generation, she packed up and went to LA alone. I think she is the bravest woman in the world, it takes a lot of everything to challenge your dreams even though most would settle. She is incredibly talented and fully dedicated to her gifts - my girl has never bothered to hold a traditional job. It must be amazing to look into your future and see absolute success as the only acceptable option.
Bailey Corneal
Actor/ make-up artist/ Jump rope guru. Bailey has known what she wanted to do with her life from the time she could speak. When it comes to her two career paths, Bailey does not know the meaning of half ass. Whether she is doing something for a friend or for a billionaire client she always has equal output. Her passion is insanely pure and miraculously untainted. I draw inspiration from her when I am doing something I love even though it doesn't have the payoff I would like.
Tabia Charles,............................... Professional athlete, University of Miami alumni, model. I spent a greater portion of my life on the run. From age 10 to 20 I was a dedicated track and field athlete but unfortunately I was unable to take it to the next level. This is the only Canadian woman in my age bracket that I know that has. NCAA champion, 2 time Canadian champ, world ranked and phenomenally humble. I admire Tabia for taking her God given talents to amazing lengths. She is one of the great Canadian female athletes of our time.
Melissa Crawford .................... Teacher/ Ryerson graduate. Melissa has been a teacher to others since she was tall enough to ride a roller coaster. Frankly she is radiant. Honest, patient, kind, warm and absolutely adored. Truly I think she is too gorgeous to have such a fabulous personality. She is the kind of nurturing woman I hope to grow into.
Hannah Simone ,................................ Much Music VJ. Born in England raised in Saudi Arabia, Cyprus, Calgary and India to name a few. She is beautiful, smart and completely silly (on TV at least). She attended an American Embassy school and spearheaded a charity concert to raise awareness and money for a shelter to house women and children with AIDS. She is a strong young woman and I admire her worldliness.
Ashley Emond
York student/ Air cadet officer/ workaholic. Although Ashley's ambitions are enough to make her role modelesque I look up to her because of the amazing relationships she forms. An excellent friend and a true real person, she has surrounded herself with great people who really see the greatness in her. When people attract strictly amazing people you already know what kind of person they are too.
Natalie Caine
Takes some of the most amazing pictures and I'm not talking about anybody's photography. She is a beautiful model but most importantly she has strong integrity. One of the few women on the Toronto urban modelling scene that always looks classy in her pictures and on film. I've seen her in Pound Magazine, two music videos and in countless photo showcases but I've never seen her lingerie:). I use a lot of her modelling techniques when coaching others in my photography.
Premika Leo
Choreographer/ dancer (jazz, hip-hop, ballet, belly)/ Professional East Indian Dancer/ high school student. Watching this girl dance is positively divine. The creativity, facial expressions and energy she brings to her routines reminds me why dance is one of the most powerful human expressions. She is my dance teacher even though I could be her reading buddy.
Andrea V
Andrea is the founder of Lover Magazine. A Toronto-based publication strictly dedicated to women's sexuality. She is also a young mother and she worked for the non-profit women's group Literature for Life. The Lover movement is geniusly crafted and I am in love with the fact that she had the courage to begin it.
Priya
Ramanujam
Editor-in Chief of Urbanology Magazine/ Journalist/ Freelance reporter. If you have never heard of Urbanology go to Chapters, Indigo, a convenience store, your friends house. Priya took a market niche and turned it into a successful Toronto cultural staple. An accomplished writer who could have gone to a number of established publications she decided that she would rather spawn her own.
Candice Prentice
Actor. Candice is one of the most spectacular examples of The Secret success stories. An accomplished Toronto actress she knew that her star was bigger than the city's industry would lend way to. She up and moved to LA this year and has been living the life she self-manifested ever since.
Stacey Timmers
Interior decorator/ artist/ event organizer. If you met Stacey once you would consider her apart of your extended family. She is the epitome of consideration and luckily she has the skills to make it worthwhile. A keener for detail naturally she excels in visual arts so it's no wonder she specializes in making living spaces a better place to live in.
Shannae Ingleton
Entrepreneur / Writer / Fashion Veteran/ Event Organizer. Shannae puts on an event called What Women Want. A fabulous afternoon that celebrates and spoils the women of Toronto who attend. I wish I thought of it myself but there really isn't a better person than her to head that kind of initiative. Well-connected, business-savvy and people oriented - I think she's a fab picture of the sophisticated and stylish modern woman.
Diana Reyes
Painter/ Dancer (house & hip-hop) / Choreographer/ Performer. Diana is one of the most well-rounded right-brained women I have met. She is also a bonified personal promoter and a self-contained business. I admire her for recognizing her intricate gifts and introducing them to the world with total confidence. Her paintings are novels and Lord knows I loves to read:)
Tania Nordby
Actor/ Restaurant Manager/ Horse Trainer. Tania is a go-getter. Last time I checked she lived in Bahamas, Toronto, Florida and New York. She is an opportunity seeker who actually pounces when she finds something. How many of us find the ideal positions but pass them up because it is not in the ideal conditions? I find her openess to change incredible.
Tricia Alcendor
Growing up I remember Tricia as my cool cousin - beautiful and smart - the kind that all of the kids wanted her to pay attention to. Now I've come to respect her on a new level. She is currently finishing her last year of law school in England. She works tirelessly, studies fanatically and in the end of it all she is not looking for the fat salary. Instead she wants to use all of her hardwork to travel to developing nations to help the economy. Part of me is screaming TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN GIRL! but I am proud that she has bigger plans.
Maya Washington
I've always said that there are two kinds of men that I think would be my soul mate. One of those would be the male version of Maya Washington. word. The first time my parents met her they spent the whole evening talking about her and it's been the same story with every other person I've introuduced her to. She is such a whole person. Funny, compassionate, worldly, contemplative, intelligent, driven and courageous. Many people know that she is an amazing photographer and actress but not a lot of people know that she is my mentor. I should put a star beside her name because she is definitely a woman who has made the most impact on me in the shortest space of time
Karina Patterson
I don't want this to be superficial but Karina has one of the hottest bodies in the city. Totally vogue model. She is also incredibly natural on the outside and in. She is the prefect example of how how much the world is crying for honesty. Everyone is drawn to her and I can see why, she is one of the last people left who is not concerned with being what everyone else wants her to be.
Holly Vatcher
Special needs teacher/ mentor/ student. Holly and I met under less typical circumstances but she still has had an impactful relationship with me. I can see why should would have positions in the teaching field she is a very nurturing woman. Even though we are near strangers, she has supported and helped me on the most important project of my life for the past three years. Holly has taught me the impact you can have on someone if you simply just believe with them
Jennifer Francis
Director/ photo editor/ Centennial College graduate/ visionary. I have watched Jennifer transform a high school dream into a modern day career choice. She has wanted to be a director and through hard work and application she has become what she sought out to be. It is not an easy field and I admire her for her talents and perserverance. I shot once with Jennifer and since then I have taken a lot of her techniques and transferred them over into my own craft.
Natasha Grey
Is a wild woman with a settled heart. Social worker/ mentor/ guidance counsellor. Natasha works for The Boys and Girls Club full-time but probably invests much more than her hours into that. I love the fact that she is working in her hometown neighborhood and trying to inspire the kids to pursue and tackle their goals as she did.
Genelle Williams
Actor/ mommy/ workaholic. That huge smile alone should tell you that she's an on-camera woman. Genelle is one of the most successful actresses that I know. The first time I saw her work was on Radio Free Roscoe but the first time I truly respected her craft is when I saw her in Doomstown. Phenomenal. She has had her fair share of setbacks but no obstacle is too large to baracade destiny.
Courtney Paoletti
I
had a few problems with the institutional side of things. Although she is a terrific feature writer I really think she has a calling in activism. She does not take any crap and is always up for a fight when she sees something she does not like. Courtney directly inspired me to challenge a faulty mark that I was given in school - saving me a semester of grief and a lot of money. Thanks for not settling:)
Renee Forde
Model/ Radio and TV broadcast student. Renee is a groundbreaking woman who is as interested in paving the way for others as she is in making the way for herself. She has expressed her disappointment with the modelling industry's under-representation of black women and has tried to do something about it by publicly praising them any way she can. I know that her notes and groups are an answer to many frustrated cries. I really admire her activism
Jeannine Charles
Actor. "So you want to be an actress huh?," asked an overbearing short man in a macho BMW. "No," replied Jeannine calmly, "I AM an actress." I love her attitude! Jeannine gave up a job in a secure field to pursue her acting career full-time. Overworked and underpaid she is happy because she knows she is enroute and I am so happy for her.
Maya Maliakkal
Sometimes you wonder if people in high paying positions are really in it for all of the right reasons. I really believe Maya is. A biologist, activist and a researcher - she is still looking to move onto to Medical School so she can be a better qualified social servant.
Kailey Waldman
A woman I have known for a very long time. I was so happy to see that she is in a field that I think really suits her and has taken a leadership role at her post-secondary.
