Hey Glow Gang!

It's been a big week. From the BAFTAs making headlines for all the wrong reasons (sigh) to some exciting appointments for women of colour in leadership positions. A real case of you win some, you lose some!

This is also our last newsletter for February, aka Black History Month. Per some of your requests, we're back at it with Part 2 of Black women to listen to, learn from and support in this week's trailblazing woman section. Enjoy, and...

... let's get glowing

-Shilpa

P.S. Please help me spread the word about Glowreel! Use your unique referral code at the end of this email to share Glowreel with your friends and family. You'll receive cool rewards in return!

News Of The Week

All white on the night 👀

Entertainment

#BAFTASoWhite 🏆 Where did all the POC go?! The BAFTAs have come under fire (again) for a lack of diversity. Despite POC making up 40% of the award nominations across multiple categories (including our faves - Michelle Yeoh and Viola Davis), the 49 winners across all categories were white.

That’s not to say the winners didn’t deserve their awards. But many of the nominees who missed out on awards have won at all the other awards shows. The outcomes from the awards have critics and the public asking if the BAFTAs will ever fully embrace the incredible and diverse filmmaking talent in Britain and around the world.

Meanwhile: Ariana DeBose is breaking her silence following that viral rap performance at the 2023 BAFTAs. Tbh, we kinda liked her performance 🤷🏽‍♀️

In other entertainment news: Mya Mehmi is the first ever trans woman to be featured on the BBC Asian Network music playlist!

Leadership

Some exciting appointments 🙆🏽‍♀️ Jennifer McClellan has made history as the first Black woman elected to represent Virginia in Congress. Professor Meghana Pandit is the first woman of colour to be appointed CEO of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Rayyanah Barnawi is the first Saudi Arabian woman to be heading to space.

More News Nuggets

Extra Nuggets 👀

• Bloody good 🩸 Spain is officially first European country to offer menstrual leave, joining Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Zambia who have similar policies in place.

• That’s what friends are for 👭 The University of Queensland has found that women with quality friendships in their 40s and 50s tend to develop fewer chronic conditions as they age.

• Game, set, match 🎾 Indian tennis superstar Sania Mirza played her final match, rounding out a trailblazing 20-year career.

Shoutout

Glowreel Recos

What we’re loving this week:

Read - The Faraway World by Patricia Engel. 📚 A beautiful collection of 10 short stories that are all linked by themes of migration, sacrifice, and moral compromise.

Watch - Bend it like Beckham! ⚽ An oldie but such a goodie! One of those films that almost everyone can relate too (especially Brown girls).

Make - Buñuelos by Charbel at My Latina Table. 🥞 Because who can resist fried dough and cinnamon?!

Support BIPOC Women Owned Businesses

Lumière Bracelet by Sit & Wonder

$50 (AUD, ships worldwide)

Black History Month

Black History Month: 6 Black Women To Listen To, Learn From And Support (Part 2)

February is Black History Month in the US and Canada. To mark the occasion, we shared a round up of some of our favourite Black women to listen to, learn from and support at the start of February. ICYMI, that list is available here, and as a carousel here.

Some of you asked for more recommendations of Black women to support - this month, and always! (Cue our best "so a lot of you have been asking about my skincare routine" voice 😜).

Of course, when you ask, we deliver! So, we present Part 2 of Black women to listen to, learn from and support, today and always. Let's go!

• Shanice J. Douglas-Samuels - founder of Witted Roots: a mental health and emotional wellness platform for millennial women of colour. Shanice hopes to make it easier for women of colour to have a better relationship with their mental health by providing them with the necessary resources and tools. Read more about Shanice here.

• Layla F. Saad - a globally respected writer, speaker, and podcast host on the topics of race, identity, leadership, personal transformation, and social change. Layla’s aim is to create Inspiration, Education & Activation for personal and collective change in the world.

• LaTisha Styles - a marketing expert, mentor to high-achievers and founder of You've Got Clients. LaTisha helps entrepreneurs shift subconscious blocks so they can thrive financially. Read more about LaTisha here.

• Ijeoma Oluo - writer, speaker and internet yeller. Ijeoma is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller So You Want to Talk About Race and most recently, Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America. Her work focusses on issues of race and identity, feminism, social and mental health and social justice.

• Lillian Jackson and Melissa Mason - founders of Brown Skin Brunchin’: an app and social group that meets over the best meal of the day - brunch. Brown Skin Brunchin’ provides women of colour with an opportunity to meet, have fun and chill with people that have similar experiences to them. Read more about Lilian and Melissa here.

• Monique Melton - educator, published author, international speaker and host of the Shine Brighter Together podcast. Monique is also the founder of Shine Bright School and Shine Brighter Together Community, which is dedicated to healthy relationships & Black liberation.

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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