Hey Glow Gang!

We're back to business after spending all of last week sick. And it feels good to be back! This is our second to last newsletter for this year - we'll be taking a few weeks off over the Xmas/new year period to rest, relax and plan for Glowreel in 2023.

If I were to use one word to summarise this week's newsletter it would be: amplify. From the news round up to our trailblazing women interview - we're all about amplifying BIPOC women this week (and always).

Let's get glowing

-Shilpa

News Of The Week

Amplify Women’s Voices ✊🏽

Women’s Rights

Iran is out 🌍 Iran has been removed from the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Twenty-nine out of 54 members voted to expel Iran over it’s bloody crackdown on gender equality protests. The motion was introduced after female Iranian activists appealed to the US to present a resolution to expel Iran from the body. Good call, given the lack of support for women’s rights (and all protestor’s rights) by the regime in Iran right now!

Media

Here to be seen 👩🏽‍💼 ICYMI, recent reports into newsrooms have found that women of colour are effectively invisible in the US, UK and Australian news industries. It’s sadly not surprising. But there’s hope for us yet! The reports provide an evidence base that newsrooms can use to improve their diversity. In the meantime, your favourite women of colour centred newsletter has got you covered 😉

More News Nuggets

Extra Nuggets 👀

• In my auntie era 🤌🏽 South Asian Gen Z’ers are tapping into their cultural roots for self-care.

• Buy Black 🖤 63 Black owned brands to shop all year round.

• Passion for fashun 👗 Aurora James has been named Vice-Chair of the Council of Fashion Designers of America board.

• Strike a pose 💃🏽 Check out Iman’s first ever British Vogue cover! “… I’m done with the seat at the table. Let’s just dismantle the whole table.” 👏🏽

• All the single ladies 🙌🏽 Meet the Indian women pushing back on a marriage obsessed culture.

Glowreel Recos

What we’re loving this week:

Watch - Abbott Elementary. A hilarious mockumentary series created by the brilliant Quinta Brunson!

Make - Five spice pomegranate mulled wine. ‘tis the season afterall!

Listen - Rubi Du. Aka, the queen of New Zealand’s roots and dancehall scene.

Support BIPOC Women Owned Businesses

Mabu Mabu: An Australian Kitchen Cookbook (by First Nations Australian chef Nornie Bero)

$35 (ships worldwide)

Trailblazing Woman Interview

Marina & Xuan: Amplifying BIPOC Books!

Marina Sano and Jin Xuan Teo are on a mission to diversify bookshelves around the world.

Two years ago they founded Amplify Bookstore - an online bookstore dedicated to BIPOC authors! Fun fact: in honour of their second birthday, Amplify released this limited edition ‘Read Widely’ tote bag. Because nothing’s hotter than a tote bag girlie who reads diverse books!

We caught up with Marina and Xuan to hear more about why they started Amplify (spoiler alert: representation matters), plus their book recos for the holiday season. Let’s go!

Why did you start Amplify?

We started Amplify in 2020 with the mission to platform books by BIPOC authors and to make them more accessible.

With these books only making up 10-15% of publishing output, readers of colour have been historically left out of the narratives that we consume. Amplify exists to fill this gap. It is a a space dedicated to making it easier for you to find BIPOC authors and books you can see yourself reflected in.

The biggest highlight and challenge of starting Amplify?

Highlight: The biggest highlight is seeing our mission resonate with so many people. We get messages on Instagram or on order notes saying “thank you for doing this”. It means a lot.

Selling 100 copies of Against Disappearance was also a cool highlight! It’s the best non-fiction I (Marina) have read this year.

Challenge: The challenge for us is balancing between being friends and co-workers. We spent a lot of time together and in the beginning it was very much like we spent so much time together that we forgot to be friends. We’ve worked out a system now though.We’ll have work messages on iMessage and then use Messenger for friends messages. It works really well for us.

Your top tip(s) for BIPOC women on how they can blaze their own trail?

It helps to have a clear mission - something you really solidly stand behind. For us, our mission motivates every aspect of the business. It’s important to understand why you're doing something. Whether it be for yourself, or something bigger than yourself. Knowing why you want to do something will really push you forward.

Being firm in your beliefs is necessary too. Standing strong, and being able to hold strong against people you might be going to for advice who might still shut you down. We faced a lot of pushback from, or naysaying, from industry professionals who we tried to consult at the start.

Your book recos for the holiday season?

1. Love & Other Natural Disasters by Misa Sugiura. We don’t have this one in stock yet! It’s a queer, young adult rom-com with fake dating, and enemies to lovers. I had so much fun reading it.

2. Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie. This is a contemporary coming-of -age story where the main character realises her sexuality. It’s a cosy, fun story!

3. The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova. Honestly this story is like Encanto - a magical realism story!

Lioness Thoughts

Nominate A Shoutout

Tell us about someone doing cool shit.

It can be you, your friends or family or someone else you know. Whether you’ve just started a book club, are creating artistic makeup looks for fun, or are doing some research and want to hear from women of colour. We want to share thing cool things you’re doing with a community shoutout!

Please send your nominations to [email protected] or DM us on our socials :)

This week's email was brought to you by Shilpa Bhim, founder of Glowreel. You can see more of her work at www.shilpabhim.com or follow her on Instagram @shilpa.bhim

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