SOLEIL ISSUE 5 FEMALE FOUNDERS
An issue dedicated to women who built their own empire! These female founders are inspiration and I hope they inspire you as well!
An issue dedicated to women who built their own empire! These female founders are inspiration and I hope they inspire you as well!
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1
Anna
Contents
4
3
Katsanis
2
Adriana Levata
Found by Fetch
Ving Vodka
9
7
Kaleidoscope
10
Allison Parc
5
Michelle Noree
11
Kattelyn
Kopenhaver
6 The
Women’s Pelvic
Health Podcast
8
Gold Mac Ivor
Isabella Lalonde
Anna Katsanis
Stylist
About Anna....
I was born in greece and I grew
up in Brooklyn. I studied
business management from
St John’s University and Fashion
Mcerchandising management
and advertising at FIT. I
was interning for a few different
fashion editors and directors
throughout college to get my
foot in the door. I was
freelancing for Harper’s Bazaar
international for 3 years under
the most incredible editor in
chief as contributing fashion
editor and I styled over 40
covers which included fashion
and beauty. I have been working
in this industry for over 10 years.
I spent the first 5 years of my
career working in retail on the
side until I had enough clients to
go on my own. I also freelanced
at Elle us in their accessories
department in New York.
I currently work on editorial,
advertising and celebrity work in
NY and LA.
I’m the nicest person in the
world. I will literally give you the
shirt of my back if you need it.
My nickname I’m the industry is
the machine because
I am kind of a workaholic.
I love animals, music and
spending time with my partner
of 15 years.
Upcoming projects...
I’m currently working on a
behind the scenes book about styling so I’ve
been focusing a lot of my time on it. I’m currently
working with Vogue Greece (Greece is where
I was born) on some beauty and fashion covers
and I couldn’t be any prouder. I have a cover for
the October issue we just completed that I
cannot wait to share. Working with Fred Leighton
on their fall catalog. I’m doing a special with Louis
Vuitton for resort which should be pretty
spectacular. I just styled a couple of videos for
Gucci beauty and Chanel accessories.
What you love about being a female founder/
owning your own company....
Being able to produce the kind of content I want
on my terms and having the resources to do so.
It’s not about being power hungry but using what
you have to make the most of it.
Putting in what you get back into your business.
Collaborating with people at all levels emerging,
established up and coming, meeting new
people and the collaboration process. I feel like
women are having quite a moment now and are
being more recognized for their work in the
industry as they should have always been so I am
very happy about.
Advice to other stylists/ how to find work and
where to look...
Don’t be in a rush. Spend time honing your craft
and figuring out your aesthetic. Do things
ethically and morally. Work on building
important key relationships. It’s better to have a
few solid clients that rebook you for years then
a million one hit one offs that never book you
again. Don’t get too hung up on what everyone
else is doing. Everyone’s path is different.
Don’t assume success has come overnight.
I myself have spent over 10 years getting to where
I am now and it’s still a struggle everyday I hustle
from 5 am till 9pm. Always be honest. It will bite
you later on. Most of my jobscome through referrals
that’s why it’s so important to have a good
reputation.
I’m the nicest person
in the world. I will
literally give you the
shirt of my back if you
need it.
Share about the ups and downs of styling...
What inspires you?...
Daily life seeing people on the train, walking the
street day to day life, how they dress, etc Seeing
a woman as though she appears natural beauty.
Music, film, art, vintage magazines, old life
magazines, vogues from the 80s and 90s,
interior design, old films, vintage architectural
digests from the 80s.
There’s a lot of them. Downs constantly working
not always being able to plan trips ahead of time.
Basically being on call. You can get a call that
you need to be in another city the next day.
Constantly being on top of all the details keeping
everything organized at all times. My college professor
used to say the devil is in the details and
that’d always stuck with me. It’s so easy for things
to fall through the crack so attention to detail is
very important. Ups seeing the result of your hard
work whether it be a check a published cover in
print. The biggest Ups in my career have been styling
the Swarovski campaign with Karlie kloss and
my first Vogue cover with Nicki Minaj. Creating art
is a wonderful experience but at the end of the
day it is a business so you need to figure out how
y our going to make money and then how your
going to use that money and put it back into your
business and your life to benefit you long term.
Also there is a fine line between compromising
your aesthetic to appease a client or editor. This
is a constant str uggle for artists. You can have a
specific style that your known and hired for but
when your working for a client you are working
for them and have to follow their guidelines so
you have to be willing to be flexible.
What is a typical day...
A typical day I wake up at 5am and after I get
ready I spend the morning with different markets
mostly Asia and Europe answering emails for
requests for upcoming shoots or jobs. Working
on setting my goals for the day and the week.
Talk to my agent about what’s on the schedule.
Updating website, invoicing, organizing and uploading
files, editing, keeping the studio and
racks organized and clean. Getting rid of what I
don’t need anymore. Going on Amazon and
buying more supplies. Posting to social media.
Working on my mood boards for the season.
Editing my book.
Adriana Levata
Lead Brand Manager
What is your role at the
company?...
To evangelize the Levata brand,
ensuring that dispensaries
and consumers across the US
are educated on the advantages
of our products.
Info about the company...
Levata is “vaporized wellness”
a novel CBD company, that
utilizes DabTabs technology.
Dabtabs are an entirely new andrevolutionary
way to deliver
exact measured doses of CBD.
Levata was founded in
Portland,Oregon, with the
mission of creating a healthconscious
on-the-go solution
for consuming dosed CBD.
Benefits of the product...
Levata allows you to consume
an exact dose of CBD on the go
while experiencing true
vaporization.
vaporized wellness
FOUND BY FETCH
VING VODKA
Meet Brooke, founder of
[found by] fetch, a company
born from a desire to see
small businesses grow by
way of community. Brooke
and her company are here
to bring you, your home, and
your pets unique, chic, and
useful products. “We ‘get’
our customers,” Brooke says.
“They’re design-savvy and
fashion- obsessed.
Their closets are their pride
and joy, and they appreciate
the one-of-a-kind.
Most importantly, they share
their lives+ their homes with
beloved animals.” [found by]
fetch teams up with brands
you already know--and some
smaller brands you’ll be
psyched to have discovered
to color outside the lines with
new designs and
products. She describes
[found by] fetch’s products as
being “designed to bring out
everyone’s quirky inner New
Yorker.” When it comes to the
future, Brooke is most
excited about “having the
resources and capital to
support rescues and
organizations that empower
girls and women.
FOUND BY FETCH
VING VODKA
I couldn’t find a spirit I loved that was in line with my healthy lifestyle. I
really drink for flavor and wanted an elegant, delicious clean cocktail with
no mystery ingredients. After searching endlessly, I realized what I wanted
didn’t exist, the drink or the brand. So, I made my own. I perfected VING
over four years: it had to be the smoothest, purest, highest quality vodka
on the market or, I wouldn’t put my name on it. VING isn’t just a brand for
me, it‘s who I am and enables me to be of service for messages and
causes that shed positivity and laughter, or spark creative thinking.
Kattelyn Kopenhaver
Cartagena, Colombia
I took a multimedia, creative writing course
where I focused on poetry. My professor
deeply encouraged my use of words with
improper syntax and grammar and would a
ways ask for more reveal, more truth.
I became more intune with myself through
writing. Visually, I was greatly inspired (and
still am) by the work of Barbara Kruger and
Jenny Holzer, the controversy they would
provoke through words, and truth that they
would speak - so powerful.
With all of this seeping into my subconscious,
I began to repurpose and play with text. I
bought a series of naked lady paintings done
by artist Tom Sturgess from the 80s. I placed
controversial text atop them - I liked this, the
commentary and juxtaposition of intention(s)
between Tom and I.
Photographer
stepford cookie
In the beginning of my college experience I
experimented with fashion photography as
well as still life. I fined tuned these skills of
lighting, styling, makeup, hair, props. Playing
the roll of five people as one and it taught
me ALOT. Over time though, I pushed myself
with the work. I started appropriating fashion
pictures, printing on top of pictures,
scanning, painting, ripping up, printing again
etc. The work got messy, more collage-like
and this was different from the shiny
magazines pictures I often saw. I found
myself critiquing fashion instead of adding
to it. Senior year I started exploring the concept
of the construction of our identity and
the obsession with unattainable happiness
and perfection. It resulted in a body of work
called “Identity By Design.” “Why are your
pictures so angry?” Students in my critique
class would say… “huh?” I did not see it then
but clearly there was something getting
vexed inside of me. What do you have to say?
Is something that would circle around in my
mind often. I came to this point in my
schooling where I did not just want to make
beautiful pictures - I had something to say,
and I was scrambling to find it. I did this by
making a lot shitty work, risk taking and being
open to courses in school I had access to
that were not necessarily in my “department.”
NOTFORSALE, Las Vegas
Portraits of, singer and songwriter “beccs”
Portraits of, singer and songwriter “beccs”
I. I also tried language with my
photography. I was in the
photo lab and the phrase
PRAYPREY dawned on me. I
was working with an image of
an intense woman that I photographed,
and it appeared like
she was hunting. The placement
did not work as well as I
thought. However, a couple
weeks prior, my dad gifted me
a brown mink coat that he purchased
at an auction for 10.00$.
I thought it was an impressive
piece of fashion but definitely
did not wear it.
The coats are all representations
of my experience. They deface
value, they are aggressive,
historical, animalistic and
controversial. Are we the hunt or
hunted? I always thrift the coats,
again, repurposing and playing
with their historical meaning
and arousing my own. The fur
coats trajectory on me was so
deep that it pushed me outside
the confines of photography
and was the catalyst of my
current exploration. I began
doing performance work, first
with others and the coats, later
Tuesday Girlfriend, for New York Magazine,
“Judgments” assignment
Everything Burns
My mom told me to sell it, she
feared animal activist would
throw paint on me. I reluctantly
took the thing because I felt bad
and left it in my old apartment
in a closet on the east side.
When I was in the lab, working
with these words, and the photograph,
I had a moment. I ran
to my old apartment, opened
the closet, grabbed the balled
up mink coat, and printed the
phrase PRAYPREY over and over
again down the back of the
coat. I didn’t even know why, I
just knew I had to do it.
myself. I was still hiding behind
others - behind the camera that
I did not possess, but with time,
I became the performer, and to
this day, have been pushing
myself within performance in
ways I never even fathomed.
I did a site specific project called
“Cyphers” where I placed big
bold type on my back and had
strangers document me with
a disposable camera. I wrote
NOTFORSALEFORNOTSALE on
my back, in Las Vegas, for
instance. It was my first fusion of
photography and performance.
portrait of gabrielle in studio
Currently, I am exploring more deeply, predatory
personalities and prey. The acts these types
give off, and how easily or not we can fall victim
to them. To be an artist, you have to take your
private life and place it in the public domain. I do
this..rather aggressively.
I just completed two videos both about
abduction and the paranoia of such. “AM PM EST”
is a 4 minute and 35 second performance video
where my partner, Kevin, abducts me in various
locations. ”Instructions for Commuters” is a 21
step “instructional video” of what goes on inside
my head if I were to be abducted via car. There
are also the mattresses. SHE WAS LAST SEEN
written on three mattresses in Hell’s Kitchen.
These pieces are completely spontaneous
and now only live as documentation I have of
them. They speak about sex trafficking, invasion
of the body, as well as the vast unsolved and
unreported missing persons cases.
In a society where we glorify the sociopath, can
be anyone we want online, and “news” we
cannot even trust (among a shit load of other
issues) - it is hard to tell who is who, what is
performance and what is not, what is real and
what is not. In 2019 the line is completely
blurring and almost faded away completely. It
is the duty of artists, writers, musicians alike to
shed light and authenticity. I am exhibiting photography,
video, installation and performance
in my first 2 person show this September, at
Pen + Brush Gallery if you would like to see
what truth I will be sharing :)
The struggles of being a photographer....
I had a professor once say “stop telling me how
hard it is and just fucking do it.”
Whenever I get too in my head about my work,
less money coming in, I keep to it, and remind
myself of that. The hardest part for me, as of recent,
is being multiple people at once. I am my
own agent, my own PR, my own talent - you
have to stay dedicated and self disciplined, and
also keep yourself afloat, financially, so you
better figure it out!
Advice from an artist the good and bad...
Constantly push yourself in ways that are
uncomfortable and unconventional, risk take.
Keep asking questions.
Do not take anything at face value.
Make sure you eat well.
Do not make work to please anyone else.
To be an artist, you have to take your private life
and place it in the public domain.
Do not worry about developing a “style” it
comes in time, naturally.
Share your experience.
Watch your behaviors.
Stop saying everything has been done.
Not everything has to be a series.
The medium is the message.
Keep yourself organized.
Make your bed.
Just because you are good at something does
not mean you have to keep doing it.
Limit your time on your phone.
Gather a network of people around you that
PREY
she was last seen, 60 hours, NYC
and place it in the public domain.
Do not worry about developing a “style” it
comes in time, naturally.
Share your experience.
Watch your behaviors.
Stop saying everything has been done.
Not everything has to be a series.
The medium is the message.
Keep yourself organized.
Make your bed.
Just because you are good at something does
not mean you have to keep doing it.
Limit your time on your phone.
Gather a network of people around you that
you trust.
Art is painful.
Know when to take and leave advice, even this.
How did art found you?....
I started photographing based off a black and
white photograph I saw that my brother took of
our family dog. It was really good, and obviously,
super interesting to me! I used his jenky 35mm
camera, that eventually I discovered had a focus
problem, but for my first class with photography
in 9th grade, that was not too big of an issue. I
continued photography through highschool and
college, always having motivating teachers push
me to pursue. Art continued to find me wherever
I went after that and continues to do so
perpetually. I landed at the School of Visual Arts
and 3 years post college became involved with
photojournalism, performance art, video, and
fashion. I now work as a photographer and
portraits on boxer Michael Hughes
multimedia artist who wants to share stories and
expose truths to the world. I consider myself a
very nuanced, detailed artist who is exceptionally
interested in culture, people and locations. I wish
to capture the quintessence of people and places
as they are, in as raw a form as possible.
“ The girl in fur” editorial
katelynkopenhaver.com
The Women’s Pelvic Health Podcast
Hannah Matluck is a Holistic Health & Wellness
Coach, and is the founder, producer and host of
The Women’s Pelvic Health Podcast. This podcast
has become the #1 source for uncensored
information on women’s pelvic health, with interviews
from top doctors, healers and experts in
the field. The podcast is available to listen on all
major streaming platforms.
____
Lead Brand Manager
Although the sixth months that it took me, from
onset to diagnosis, felt like an eternity, believe
it or not, six months is actually a relatively short
time to go undiagnosed with pelvic pain. Many
people with pelvic pain go years, if not decades
before they are properly diagnosed.
This new, insightful doctor told me that the
chronic infections I experienced had put my
pelvic floor into a spasm. My pelvic floor was so
used to being in this hypertonic state of stress
that it actually was unable to relax its muscles,
mimicking the symptoms of an infection;
burning, itching, and bladder frequency.
more about this disorder. Nothing turned up.
I immediately had the idea that I was going to
create a podcast of my own.
I have always been incredibly open, honest, and
inquisitive, and I wanted to use these skills to talk
about this controversial, often ignored and
undiagnosed problem that affects one in three
women, globally. I wanted this podcast to be a
platform where women could share their
personal stories about pelvic pain, and I where
medical professionals and experts could discuss
their experiences and successes in treating
patients.
My symptoms all started a few years ago, at age
20, when I had several of these quite bothersome
infections simultaneously and was prescribed a
series of different medications by my OB/GYN to
treat them. The prescriptions included an
antibiotic for the UTI, difluchan (an anti-fungal)
to rid the yeast and prevent any additional yeast
from developing as a result of the antibiotic, and
seven nights of vaginal metrogel for the bacterial
vaginosis. After finishing the prescribed doses, my
symptoms persisted; vaginal burning, itching, and
bladder frequency, every second of every day. In
fact, the symptoms were getting worse.
I researched everything I could think of that could
be related to my symptoms, unable to find
anything related to the topic of pelvic pain or
pelvic floor dysfunction. As I returned to my
gynecologist in complete agony, she re-cultured
and re-tested me, finding no result of further infection.
The medications did their job, she said,
ridding my body of the infections, however, the
symptoms remained. This is when my mission to
find out what was really going on began.
I spent the next 6 months jumping from gynecologist
to gynecologist, trying to find a proper
diagnosis. After not even the best, top doctors
in New York City were able to help me, I finally
found one who could. Funny enough, this was
the doctor my grandmother had wanted me to
see all along –a gynecologist she had gone to
for the past 20 years, who had helped her
navigate interstitial cystitis (IC), rectal prolapse,
endometriosis, vulvodynia, persistent genital
arousal disorder, and more. This experienced
doctor, a pioneer on the conditions of IC and
vulvodynia, immediately diagnosed mewith
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Vulvodynia.
To be honest, before I developed chronic pelvic pain, I hardly knew what
my pelvic floor was. However, after months of weekly sessions with my PT
team talking endlessly about pelvic pain with them (my nature is to ask a
lot of questions), in addition to doing a tremendous amount of my own
research, I became intrigued and fascinated by the topic and was
determined to spread awareness and education on the condition.
I wanted people with this chronic disorder to feel that they were not
alone, to understand that they can and will get better, and to be able to
have a safe space to talk about this topic.
The doctor advised me to start pelvic floor
physical therapy(PT) twice a week for the next
few months. She also prescribed diazepam (Valium)
suppositories to help relax the pelvic floor
and a low-level tricyclic SSRI (selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitor) to help with the nerve pain
(burning and itching) that was a result of the
muscle spasm.
While experiencing some of the worst of my
pelvic pain, I searched the iTunes app for a
podcast on pelvic pain, eager to understand
I feel privileged to have been able to turn
darkness into light, making a career out of my
toughest moments. By creating a platform
where patients, healers, and physicians can share
valuable information with women on the various
ways to assess and treat pelvic floor dysfunction,
I feel that I am helping women just like me to
make simple, affordable, and sustainable lifestyle
changes to help resolve their chronic pain.
Michelle
Noree
Food Photographer
About you....
Originally from Sweden, I have
been based in London for
12 years. I grew up in a very large
family of creatives in Stockholm.
My mum is a musician and
composer and so is my uncle.
My grandmother was a singer
and dancer and my grandfather
was a painter and actor. My
great grandfather was a famous
Swedish opera singer and my
great grandparents on my other
side were bothactors.
My great uncle was a singer
and actor and my great aunt
was a poet and singer.
My cousin trained as an opera
singer and is now a ceramic
artist wiih her own studio in
Stockholm. One of my other
cousins is a cellist. My great
uncle was a singer and actor.
The list goes on. I started training
as a dancer at 7 and went on
to performing professionally for
years before having a change of
heart and leaving dance.
Photography happened almost
by accident. I fell in love with
plant-based food and started
taking pictures of my recipe creations
to share them on social
media. It very quickly became
obvious that my passion was
much more with the styling and
photography than with the
actual recipes I was sharing.
Before I knew it I was getting
requests from people asking
if I could shoot for them. I am
completely self-taught, however
I think that my background in
modelling helped me get started
as I had seen so many photographers
at work. I knew how
shoots were set up and I understood
light. I also studied art as
a child with my grandfather who
was a painter. He taught me
about light, how to paint with
oils and made me study the old
masters.
I make all my surfaces and
backdrops myself. I work with
metal & wood that I rust and
paint for my surfaces and I make
my backdrops usually from canvas
that I paint with chalk paints.
I just finished making 6 bespoke
surfaces for a client shoot and
it’s great to bring that personal
touch to a shoot.
About your company....
My company is very new as I
only started shooting just over
a year ago! I honestly feel so
blessed to already have regular
work and to be able to make
a living. It’s only myself for the
moment but I’m looking to hire
an assistant in the very near
future as more and more work
is coming in. I do have an
accountant, as I don’t love
that side of the business!
Upcoming projects.....
I am currently shooting for
some local start-ups and
restaurants here in London.
I have been asked to take over
the art direction and photography
for a well-known restaurant
here in London this autumn
where I get completely free
hands, which is exiting. I’m also
in talks to going to Moscow for
an exhibition together with local
chefs from London this autumn.
On top of that I’m working to
expand my portfolio, build up
my website and I’m planning to
start working on a coffee table
book with my own plant based
recipes.
What you love about being a
female founder/ owning your
own company...
I just love being my own boss!
I don’t care if I work 16 hours in
one day because I love what I
do.
Advice to other photographers/
how to find work and where to
look....
I think it’s a good idea to
specialize in something. I’ve met
some photographers that
market themselves in so many
different areas of photography
and that complain about not
having enough work.
Pick something that you really
love and specialize in it.I get
most of my work through
recommendation. I also get
work through networking in
person and of course through
social media. Also if you shoot
food it’s important to be
comfortable with using artificial
light. Many restaurants do not
have good natural light.
It very quickly became obvious that my
passion was much more with the styling
and photography than with the actual
recipes I was sharing.
What inspires you...
I am very inspired by the old
masters, in particular Dutch 17th
century paintings. I think its
because their work was so
extremely detailed that it almost
looks like photographs. It’s like
travelling back in time and
actually being there when you
look at them. When I set up
light in my studio I aim to get a
similar quality of light. In
general I’m easily inspired. It can
be a trip to the farmers market,
the texture of a wall, some props
that I found etc. My mum
influenced me a lot. I grew up
in a home full of Swedish rustic
antique farmhouse furniture
mixed with Scandinavian
minimalism and that still inspires
me today. I love rustic items
with character but I’m also a
minimalist.
I always play music when I
shoot. It puts me in the mood
and inspires me. Olafur Arnals
is played a lot in my studio. His
music really sets the mood for
me.
What is a typical day...
At the moment my days are
very long. I’m either shooting or
editing. If I’m styling as wel l as
shooting I can be out prop
hunting and sourcing
ingredientsor making backdrops.
Yesterday I was up
shooting at 9 am and finished
editing at 2 am.
Today I have to finish post-production
of 7 images for a client
deadline tomorrow.
Gold Mac Ivor
Let’s start with where it all began. Tell me a little
about where you are from and how you grew
up?....
My parents were total hippies. Hence my name.
I grew up in Oregon, and eventually landed in
Colorado after my parents divorced. For many
years, my two brothers and I lived with our
father and because I was the female of the house,
I helped raise my bothers. I learned
responsibility at a very young age. I remember
growing up thinking that my parents wanted to
have children just so they had a free work force.
I was doing laundry, ironing, mowing lawns, and
cleaning our house from the time I was in elementary
school.
What was high school like for you? Did you
enjoy it?
High School was difficult for me. I went to five
different schools in a three-year time span.
Making friends was never an issue, but staying
out of trouble was, and that’s when I became a
parents’ worst nightmare. My dad said once I
discovered boys it was all over. I really hated high
school in Boulder, and ended switching to a
private school so that I could graduate a year
early. After that I joined the Marine Corps.
Wow, that’s quite a leap. Why the armed
forces?
I was so sick of school and wasn’t ready for
college right away. I was never one to be idle, so I
began searching for what I would do next. At the
time I was dating, well, maybe I should say I was
sleeping with a Marine, he told me a little about
the service and said that it was the toughest of
the U.S. Armed Forces. So, given my personality, I
obviously needed to do the toughest branch. I’ve
never been one to take the easy route.
Your honesty is refreshing. How was basic
training?
It was how you’d imagine it to be -- it sucked!
I was stationed at Camp Pendleton in North San
Diego and I remember sitting at my desk thinking
….What the hell did I just do!? Why didn’t I join
the Air Force? I sustained a pubic stress fracture
in basic training, which essentially was my free
ticket out, so 2 ½ years into my service I took an
honorable discharge from the Marine Corps.
What did you do next?
I married my boyfriend I was dating in high
school right after boot camp and we bought a
house in Temecula, CA. I started interviewing for
jobs and accepted a role as a financial
advisor. Looking back, it is really funny. I was
barely 20-years-old, and even though I couldn’t
legally drink, I would meet with clients twice my
age and ask them to write checks for hundreds
of thousands of dollars. And they did it! I worked
on 100% commission for 12 years and learned to
hustle at an early stage of my life.
How did you end up in Los Angeles?
After I divorced at 23, I was looking for a new
opportunity in a new city. I was given a large
signing bonus to join a different financial firm, and
I took the position. LA was a stark new reality. I
moved to the entertainment mecca, Hollywood,
where everyone was an actor or part of the
industry, but I had no concept of that world. At
that point, I was having a really hard time
staying motivated in an industry I wasn’t
passionate about. I no longer had the drive to
work hard. After the market crashed in 2008, I
started thinking of new and different sales
opportunities that were more aligned with me.
A friend suggested I should become a celebrity
Personal Assistant. She pointed out that I already
established myself as a natural connector and
someone who organized everybody’s lives
anyway. That jump started a new career in
private service. From there I got a position with
a best-selling author and motivational speaker
through a top LA placement agency. It wasn’t a
great fit, but through that experience I learned a
lot about the world of placement agencies and
personal assisting. It’s incredibly demanding, and
sometimes demeaning.
Tell us how you started your first company and
what were some of the biggest challenges early
on?
About a year after being a PA, a friend of mine
who was a Nanny started venting to me about her
frustrations with how subpar placement agencies
are, and how poorly they treated candidates. She
wanted to start her own domestic staffing agency
but didn’t have the business know-how. That is
where I came in, and we joined forces to form the
Belle Maison Agency. I handled all business
development and operations, attracting about
90% of clients by word of mouth.
When did you start the sister company Riveter
Consulting Group?
In 2014, I was out at an event for professional athletes
with my best friends who worked in
hospitality, sports and entertainment. I was the
only entrepreneur in the group, and my friends
long term goals were to eventually work for themselves.
We came up with the idea of joining
forces to start Riveter Consulting Group.
Our initial business plan included events, travel
and lifestyle which quickly morphed into what I
focus on now which is estate management and
relocation for celebrity and high-net-worth
clients.
I won’t ask you to name drop but what can you
tell us about your celebrity clients?
What have you learned? That you can’t tell them
“No.” Celebrities are enabled by their agents,
assistants, business managers who execute their
requests, so they don’t limit themselves when
asking for everything and anything. They also
forget how to do things for themselves, like
cooking, paying bills and walking their dog.
Did you name Riveter after Rosie the Riveter (the
WWII ad campaign star and feminist icon)?
Yes, we did. Personally, I’m very comfortable
being around men and working with men, but now
I had the opportunity as a female entrepreneur to
create an impact for positive change. I started to
notice women in unfulfilling careers and I really
wanted to help realize that it’s possible to make a
shift. I’ve never felt limited because of my gender,
and I want to help women reach their full
potential.
Well, speaking of strength, clearly you have it
on the inside and outside. What are your fitness
habits?
We want all the details! I can’t imagine a better
way to quiet my mind than working out. I call it
“Church.” It’s my active meditation. I train like an
athlete, very hard core, anything less than that
doesn’t do it for me -- I do it all! I believe in
moving your body however it pleases you.
Sometimes it’s dance and other times it’s MMA
(mixed martial arts), or perhaps just lifting weights.
I get pleasure from it all.
Do you have any favorite trainers, classes or
gyms?
Of course, the NWMethod created by Nicole Winhoffer.
I always train with her when I’m in New
York. A typical week in LA for me includes
burlesque, yoga, strength training, MMA and hikes.
Any additional spiritual practices?
I believe in journaling. My Mom always taught me
to write three pages at a time, because by page
three you’re streaming from another source of
consciousness. I’m type A, go-go-go woman
living in LA, so pausing whether it’s to sit still, write
or breathe, helps me reflect and slow down. Trust
me, it is all still very much a work in progress!
I also do some crazy detoxes that are both
physical and spiritual in nature. One is called
Kambo which was utilized by indigenous tribes in
the Amazon. The venom has been found
throughout centuries to have a plethora of
healing powers from shifts in your energetic body,
to reversing damage from pharmaceuticals and
other toxins. I do the treatment about six times
per year.
So you do consider yourself spiritual?
I am spiritual, yes. I would not call myself religious
but do believe we are all connected in this
Universe. They say when you are vibrating at the
right frequency things fall into place. I find
evidence of that all around me.
What are some of your secrets for motivation
and staying inspired?
I’m so deep into learning how to grow as a human.
I’m becoming more thoughtful, kind and
generous about how my work can better serve
this world. Figuring out how this comes to life in
the world of ultra- high-net-worth, pro athletes,
etc., is a challenge, and a real lesson. Learning
how to say no to people and things regardless of
the monetary value, is work in progress for me.
I’m constantly thinking about ways I can add
value to people’s lives in a more impactful way.
It is feels wonderful placing a candidate in their
dream job and/or helping a family find their
perfect nanny so they can feel at ease!
What are you trying to improve on?
I’m not great at asking for help.
How do you balance giving to others with
having enough for yourself?
I have strong professional and personal
relationships based on loyalty, authenticity, and
staying committed to my word. I’ve learned that if
I don’t take care of myself, I’ll have nothing to give
others.
What kind of advice would you give to someone
starting a business?
Talk to as many entrepreneurs as you can and
learn more about potential pitfalls because
discovering early on what not to do is invaluable.
Also, it’s important to conserve money, even if
you have an abundance. I watch people pay a
fortune for website builds etc., and most of these
things you can do on your own. Learning how to
be self-sufficient and knowing the ins-and-outs of
your industry is key. Most businesses evolve over
time, so being flexible, proactively working out
kinks and having a sound exit strategy is key.
Nobody wants their business to fail, but don’t let
that stop you from trying your best because it
usually opens doors to bigger possibilities.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
y goal is to focus on new business growth, and
eventually have a mid-size staff of directors for
each division of my company executing the
day-to-day activities in order to properly scale my
business.
always shine through eventually. With dating, my
philosophy to set the bar low -- for instance, no
makeup from the beginning – showing up
authentically as yourself from the start attracts
like-minded people. Also, always honor your
word….there’s an unspoken value to that and
I can’t say enough about how important it is to
keep your commitments. Being vulnerable is
hard, but I do it by sharing personal things about
my life. I like to engage people in ways that makes
them happy.
Have you ever been burned?
When you’re deeply involved, there’s no way to
avoid it sometimes.
What’s your best practice for bouncing back?
I visually cut the cord. I have an abundance of
relationships, and believe everything is energy,
so I foster healthy relationships by sticking with
friends through both the good and bad times.
You seem like a student of life and someone
defining success on her own terms.
I never really had a formal education. I graduated
high school early, took courses on base while I
was in the Marine Corps, and I received my
Associates degree before joining the workforce at
age 18. My cousin, on the other hand, was top of
his class at San Diego State, and when he tried to
get a job with me at Prudential, he wasn’t able to
because he didn’t have any work experience. I’m
not saying to forgo an education, but I’ve
experienced life through a different lens, I’ve
learned on my own how to conduct business,
hold conversations with Ivy League grads, heads
of state and celebrities because of my ongoing
and persistent quest to learn more and work hard.
You are a real relationship cultivator, what is
your secret?
My rule of thumb when it comes to friendships is
that if I can’t see them being in my life ten years
from now, then what is the point of putting in the
energy now. I do the same for my business
relationships. I like to focus on the long term.
I believe in being authentic, and not putting on a
front because let’s be honest: your true self will
kaleidoscope
Tell me about your start and the
company.....
About a year ago I thought what if, despite all the
noise in the CBD world, the right product, the
product I truly wanted, simply hadn’t been
developed yet? I was a big advocate of CBD and
saw this mad rush of people entering the space
yet couldn’t seem to find the product that was
right for me. So that’s what I set out to create: the
CBD for me. And, really, the CBD I believe is for
all of you.
I’ve built Kaleidoscope because I want to
deliver a functional product that has truly helped
me be a more productive version of myself. I set
out to bring clarity and science to an
overcrowded universe where most of the current
products fall short; a universe in which even the
products that are revolutionary and effective
don’t work best for me on an everyday basis. I
wanted my CBD to be functional, not recreational.
To be taken every single day, combined with
the benefits of a host of other ingredients, and
ingested through a delivery mechanism designed
to gets as much of the good stuff into your system
as humanly p ossible.
So that’s what I’ve done with Kaleidoscope. It’s
simple and to the point. It’s developed with an eye
toward real science. And I hope, with all sincerity,
that our product won’t merely be the CBD for me
but will be the CBD
for everyone.
Why kaleidoscope?
About a year ago I thought what if, despite all
the noise in the CBD world, the right product,
the product I truly wanted, simply hadn’t been
developed yet? I was a big advocate of CBD
and saw this mad rush of people entering the
space yet couldn’t seem to find the product
that was right for me. So that’s what I set out to
create: the CBD for me. And, really, the CBD I
believe is for all of you.
I’ve built Kaleidoscope because I want to
deliver a functional product that has truly helped
me be a more productive version of myself. I
set out to bring clarity and science to an
overcrowded universe where most of the
current products fall short; a universe in which
even the products that are revolutionary and
effective don’t work best for me on an
everyday basis. I wanted my CBD to be
functional, not recreational. To be taken every
single day, combined with the benefits of a host
of other ingredients, and ingested through a
delivery mechanism designed to gets as much
of the good stuff into your system as humanly
possible.So that’s what I’ve done with
Kaleidoscope. It’s simple and to the point. It’s
developed with an eye toward real science. And
I hope, with all sincerity, that our product won’t
merely be the CBD for me but will be the CBD
for everyone.
What is the difference of your product to
other CBD products?...
Our capsules are microencapsulated, which
means that the ingredients bypass the first pass
of digestion for greater absorption and higher
bioavailability. Our formulations have a
consistent amount of CBD inside the microcap
and within the CBD MCT oil surrounding the
innercap. In Wake, Sleep, Soothe, and Glow
you will always find 15mg of CBD per capsule
(30mg per dose)-7.5mg are found in the MCT
oil and the other 7.5mg are contained within
the inner cap. The Boost formula contain
s 30mg of CBD (15 in oil and 15 in the inner
cap). We designed our CBD program to be
consistent and “stackable” so that you can use
multiple formulations or increase your CBD
intake in a systematic and incremental manner.
For example, you can take your two Wake
capsules in the morning, 2 Sleep capsules at
night, and layer an additional pure CBD Boost
capsule in the middle of the day if you decide
your body responds better to a little more CBD
in your system.
Since there is CBD in the MCT oil (that outer oil
you see surrounding the white inner cap) that
means you get instant release from the MCT oil
and extended release from the CBD and other
ingredients inside the inner cap.
It’s important to understand that CBD has a
compounding effect, which is why Kaleido
scope is a subscription based product. We
believe you really begin to see the efficacy of
the product when you’re taking it every
single day for several weeks.
Biochemistry is different for every human. Start
and see how it works for your pattern.
Microencapsulation allows us to include the
exact measured dosage in each capsule, which
means each capsule has the same amount and
you know how much you are taking each time.
The micro-encapsulation process ensures that
the compound ingredients don’t break down
prematurely, so it stays consistent and intact.
This allows for better planning into your routine
and needs. Microencapsulation increases the
bio-availability of the ingredients to your body.
The receptors in the body can absorb the
ingredients thoroughly and at a faster pace.
Research has shown that most droppers, oils or
tinctures waste some of the natural and beneficial
properties of CBD. Ingesting it directly in
combination with food or drink would mean
processing CBD through the liver, through
which 70% of the active cannabinoids will be
lost and put additional strain on the liver to filter
these ingredients out.
Program?...
We designed Kaleidoscope products to be
consistent and “stackable” so that you can use
multiple formulations or increase your dosage
in a systematic and incremental manner.
On our website we talk about Kaleidoscope as
a pattern for daily balance. That’s because we
think about each human body as having a distinct
pattern, a unique operating system. Our
product line is designed to work with the body’s
own system. I personally take Sleep every night
and Wake most mornings. I say most, because
let’s be honest, who remembers to take their
vitamins every morning without fail? During the
ski season I add
in Soothe or swap it out for either my Sleep or
my Wake capsules depending on how my body
is feeling that day. But I do my best to maintain
my internal drumbeat, my pattern.
Allison Parc
Founder and President of Brenne
French Single Malt Whisky
Once upon a time, Allison Parc
had a professional dance career,
performing in national ballet
companies. Today, Allison is the
founder and president of Brenne
French Single Malt Whisky,
recognized as one of the
leading American entrepreneurs
in the world-whisky segment.
Shecreated the world’s first
single malt to be aged
exclusively in both new French
Limousin oak and cognac casks
and her journey from the “barre”
to the “bar” is as unique as her
whisky.
After retiring her pointe shoes at
the age of 23, Allison indulged in
food and drink previously
restricted by her ballet lifestyle.
“I was enamored by the conversation
surrounding terroir
in wine and the experience of
drinking whisky,” says Allison. “It
made me wonder, how are peopleapplying
terroir to the whisky
category?” She soon made
it her mission to create a new
whisky that reflected the region
in which it was crafted, identifying
France as the right place to
build her brand.
While in France, Allison was
introduced to a third-generation
cognac producer who was
distilling a single malt at his family-owned
farm distillery in Cognac,
France. Upon tasting the
whisky, Allison knew that the
spirit was special, handing over
her own savings to form a
partnership. After two years of
collaboration, Allison suggested
incorporating previously used
cognac casks into the aging
process, leading to a major
breakthrough in the single malt’s
flavor profile.
Allison and the distiller worked
to refine the spirit for two more
years, laying down
more barrels during harvest. By
respecting tradition and adding
a little innovation into the
distilling method, Brenne was
born.
Allison distributed the first
bottles of Brenne in 2012 via Citi
Bike, cycling around Manhattan
to place the product on the
shelves of the city’s top establishments
and retailers. The
first shipment of Brenne Estate
Cask, the flagship expression
known for its creamy, floral,
and fruityprofile, sold out within
two months. Over the next few
years, Allison expanded
distribution to 35 states and
throughout France. In 2015, Allison
introduced her second
expression, Brenne Ten, a
limited-edition annual release
I was enamored by the
conversation surrounding
terroir inwine and the
experience of drinking whisky
that takes on a drier and spicier
taste due to its age, higher
proof, and barrel management.
Only about 300 cases of this
ten-year-old whisky are available
each year.
In 2017 and 2018, Allison was
named World Whisky Brand
Ambassador, USA of the Year by
Whisky Magazine’s Icons of
Whisky, becoming the only
woman to receive the award.
A New taste in single malt:
Brenne French Single Malt Wisky
Background
Brenne French Single Malt Whisky
is the first single malt in the
world to be aged exclusively
in both newFrench Limousin
Oak barrels and cognac casks.
Founded in 2012 by former professional
ballerina-turnedwhisky
entrepreneur Allison Parc,
Brenne is crafted from
seed-to-spirit in the heart of
Cognac, France. The award-winning
whisky embodies the elegant
nature of the French terroir
in which it is produced and
brings a completely new style of
French single malt whisky to the
rapidly emerging world whisky
segment.
distributor groups across the
country. Today, Brenne is sold in
all major markets and in top bars
in the United States, France,
United Kingdom, Taiwan, India,
and Holland.
organic, and nonGMO
(certified Organic by EU and
USDA standards). The mash is
created from two types of
heirloom organic barley grown
on the distillery’s farmland and
Additionally, Brenne received
two World Whiskies awards in
2016 and 2017, furthering the
global recognition of this new
taste experience within the
single malt category.
Another breakthrough occurred
on March 8, 2017, International
Women’s Day, when Allison
signed an agreement to align
the brand with select distributor
groups across the country.
Today, Brenne is sold in all major
markets and notable bars
throughout the United States,
France, United Kingdom, Taiwan,
India, and Holland.
Allison resides in New York City
and spends most of her time in
airports and hotels, traveling
the brand with select distributor
groups across the country.
Today, Brenne is sold in all
major markets and notable bars
throughout the United States,
France, United Kingdom,
Taiwan, India, and Holland.
Allison resides in New York City
and spends most of her time in
airports and hotels, traveling
the world and sharing her love
of terroir-driven whisky with
enthusiasts far and wide.
For more information about
Brenne French Single Malt
Whisky,
visit www.brennewhisky.com
and follow @BrenneWhisky
@AllisonParc #AvecBrenne.
Allison self-distributed the first
bottles of Brenne via Citi Bike in
Manhattan, placing the
product on the shelves of the
city’s top establishments and
retailers. The flagship Brenne
Estate Cask sold out within two
months and Allison expanded
distribution to 35 states and in
France over the next few years.
Her second expression, Brenne
Ten, was introduced in October
2015; only about 300 cases of
the limited-edition 10-year-old
single malt whisky are available
each year.
On March 8, 2017,
International Women’s Day,
Allison signed a partnership deal
to align the brand with
The distillery
Brenne is crafted at a thirdgeneration
farm distillery
located in Cognac, France,
which has been producing cognac
since the 1920s. The distillery
itself still produces eau de
vie and fine cognacs to this day,
repurposing the used barrels to
age Brenne.
Brenne begins in the fields of
Cognac; every ingredient is
sourced locally, 100 percent
organic, and nonGMO
the yeasts are proprietary strains
that have been in the distiller’s
family since they began
producing cognac; water is
sourced from the nearby
Charente. Malting is handled
off-site and brought back to the
distillery for fermentation, which
occurs for 3-6 days, depending
on the temperature. This
process, when used with our
heirloom barley, creates a light,
floral mash.
After the barley is fermented,
the mash is double-distilled in a copper alembic
still (the traditional still used for distilling cognac)
before going into Brenne’s signature barrels.
Brenne is aged in both virgin French Limousin
oak barrels and cognac casks, giving the spirit a
bouquet of fruit, floral, and creamy notes that set
it apart from other whiskies. The aging process
takes place for a minimum of five years in a
combination of our two signature casks. The
single malt is then lightly filtered and proofed
down to 40% ABV for bottling and distribution.
The Wiskies
The Brenne French Single Malt Whisky range includes:
BRENNE ESTATE CASK
(40%ABV, 750mL, 80 Proof, $59.99 SRP)
Brenne Estate Casks is the first single malt in the word aged exclusively in French Limousin Oak
and Cognac casks. Brenne Estate Cask is twice distilled in a copper alembic still and aged for a
minimum of five years. The whisky has perfumed fruit aromas and notes of French patisserie
with creamy and complex sugar notes of rich creme brûlée and burnt caramel. On the palate:
notes of banana, tropical fruits, and warm spices like cinnamon and clove.
BRENNE TEN
(48%ABV, 750mL, $99.99 SRP)
Brenne Ten is an annual age statement release produced seed-to-spirit in Cognac, France. Brenne
Ten is a marriage of about four different hand-selected barrels; the spirit is fermented and
distilled in alembic Charente stills and aged for a decade in a combination of new French
Limousin oak and cognac casks. Brenne Ten shares the Estate Cask’s DNA but features a deeper,
striking richness. On the palate, this whisky often features a creamy fruit-forward taste with
notes of dried fruits, chili spice, and dark chocolate.
Isabella
Lalonde
Raised between Switzerland, Paris and NYC, I am
a multicultural designer specializing in jewelry,
graphic design and fine art. Graduating from
Parsons in 2018 with a BFA in Fine Art, I work full
time as a graphic designer and create jewelry as
my passion project. I have also worked at Vogue
Magazine as a Market Assistant and Dior as a Media
Assistant.
I’m obsessed with plants and sci-fi movies. Some
of my favorite films are Forbidden Planet and Fantastic
Planet. My favorite music album is Plantasia.
My favorite color is green and my favorite plant is
the Belladonna.
I’ve always been mesmerized by fairies and symbolism
of the magical world, such as mushrooms
and whimsical trees. When I was younger, I would
persuade my friends to be fairies with me.
We believed it so wholeheartedly that
we would avoid social situations
in case our fairy wings appeared
and we would be discovered.
I have always been fascinated
with the idea of dress up and
costumes. Part of why I
started Beepy Bella was to
explore this sensation of
creative freedom.
The Awards
Brenne has been recognized as:
• Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whiskey 2017 (Brenne Estate Cask)
• World Whiskies Awards 2016 & 2017 (Brenne Estate Cask)
• Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky 2016 (Brenne Ten)
• 93 points – Wine Enthusiast (Brenne Estate Cask & Brenne Ten)
• Gold Medal, World’s Best Single Malt – Wizards of Whisky Awards 2015 (Brenne Ten)
Additionally, Allison was named World Whisky Brand Ambassador, USA, at Whisky Magazine’s Icons
of Whisky in both 2017 and 2018, remaining the only woman to have ever received this recognition.
Editor Letter
Editor Letter
My partner and I started an inside joke that when
we were sleepy, we would call it “beepy”. When
I re-joined Instagram (I had deleted my previous
one), I created the handle beepybella. It stuck
with me. Sometimes, I even feel like signing my
e-mails with Beepy instead of my actual name. It
feels fun and fresh.
Beepy Bella has numerous, exciting projects in
the near future! I’m working on bracelets right
now. We have a very special scrunchie collaboration,
with the talented designers Isabelle Abbott
and Grace Ok. I’m sewing vintage shell buttons
into the scrunchie fabric, along with vintage
lace appliqués featuring lots of cute animals and
flower illustrations. As a brand initiative, I hope to
host many collaborations with fine artists working
within all mediums.
I love being a founder of my own business. Being
able to work with other talented creatives on
photoshoots, following through with my vision
and creating pieces that bring joy into people’s
lives gives me a satisfaction that I have never experienced
previously. It feels innately personal.
When people like my jewelry and my branding, it
means they appreciate a genuine part of my being.
I am incredibly grateful for all the amazing
support I have been given so far.
With only two and a half months left for this year to end I’ve
decided to reflect on what has been accomplished and lost. This
won’t be one of those full of fluff letters where I’m going to tell
you that you’re amazing. I’m someone who is a realist but there
is a few compliments sprinkled in when the mood arises. Just
know I’m sorry.
This year has been filled with a multitude of growth and loss. So
much was learned and taken away. Love grew stronger and my
friends pool became thinner. As we grow together I see more
of myself in you the artists. Bursts of life and then nothing. I
constantly remind myself why this magazine exists, to be apart
of a world that I’m not. Artists are filled with so much pain that
is their art.
A dear family friend abruptly passed where there was no real way
to say goodbye. I’m sure a lot of you have experienced this. As my
eyes fill with tears and my heart breaks all over again I remember
why we do what we love. It simply brings us a reminder of what
we lose and can’t have. Finding a voice is all I ever needed and
wanted. My way of speaking and manners don’t explain who I am.
Who am I? A woman living in a world full of hate where I’m still
not sure people respect me. Sometimes I’m sitting at home
rolling my eyes reviewing work and this bitterness grows in my
heart. I’m one person of a billion and the female founders I used
for this issue are the voice. The voice that mine is too small to tell
a story of gain. Tell it how it is and be honest with yourself. My
best advice to you readers is be real with yourself especially in the
colder winter days to come.
Svetlana Blasucci
Editor in Chief
Instagram: @Svietasphoto
www.svetlana.photography