How can women be empowered through fitness? The simple answer is fitness helps you build strength not only physically but also mentally. It takes strength to stick to your goals, and few things are as fulfilling as achieving what you set out to do. It can be lifting 1kg heavier or running an extra mile, these things translate from the gym into real life as you eventually start to realize that there are no limits, you define your journey.
Some people( me included hehehehe) have real struggles with our weight and willpower- what will you say to us? I’ ll say take it step by step, believe it or not I also struggle with willpower and that’ s why I avoid extremes. I like to think of myself as an 80- 20 person. Giving myself permission to be“ bad” 20 % of the time makes want to be my absolute best 80 % of the time.
Congratulations on your endorsements with Sun & Sand Sports as well as the cosmopolitan award- how did these happen and would you say you are currently living your dream? Thank you! It’ s a blur really. While I am extremely aware and grateful for my achievements, I’ d like to highlight that it’ s been a very hilly process to get to this stage and I still have a long way to go before I can say, I’ m“ living my dreams”. Yes, I’ m young and self-sufficient but I don’ t necessarily look at myself and feel like I’ ve“ arrived”, my personality is extremely hungry and always pushes for more.
I absolutely love the campaign # Hereforher, what inspired you to go in that direction? I want to use my platform for more than just pictures of me looking good in my gym clothes. I want to reach other girls like me and awaken them to the potential within them. My daily posts are me saying to women across the world, I’ m here. I’ m here for you like many women have been for me. We all need give more of ourselves and support each other in a world that has deemes us the“ lesser” being, for me that’ s the only way to balance the status quo.
How important is it for women to empower each other? This is super important. It is hard to recreate the connection a woman can have with another woman. Women are sentient beings and the mother, daughter, sister, friend bond is an irreplaceable steel support system every woman needs. I would be nowhere without my system and many women will say the same.
Tell us about yourself, your background and living in Dubai? Well, my name is Gbemi Giwa, I’ m 23 years old and I’ ve lived in Dubai for 7 years. I moved here in 2010 for university and have since completed my degree in Design Management and held several roles in the media & digital industry here. I’ m a girl with many interests so I often find myself out of time, but I’ ve come to accept that that’ s who I am always going to be and I love that about myself. So, while I’ d like to tell you that I’ m a Content Creator, I’ m also a Dancer, Designer, Editor, Cook, Illustrator and the list goes on.
What is the most important message you will pass to your younger self? Don’ t be afraid to take risks, life is too short. Just do you!
What’ s your take on social media and how would you say it has helped your brand? Social media is a sensitive one, I doubt that I would have been able to grow my brand to this stage without social media. However, I am increasingly cautious of the negative effects of living through social media. Again, it’ s back to balance and self-love. No one’ s life is picture perfect, social media is a curated platform for the best moments so don’ t put yourself down because of what you think other people might have. Also, a lot of false information circulates the media, I’ d urge people to also double check information they receive especially when it’ s health related.
Who are your icons and what influences have they had in your life- would you mind sharing some of your personal inspirations? As a creative, I take inspiration from everywhere and everything. I am as inspired by people as I am by nature. I feel like everyone has a lesson to teach and I open myself to learning from all. I’ m inspired by female CrossFit athletes because they teach me that I am as strong as any man. I’ m inspired by water because it teaches me not to be afraid to let go, what will come will come and what will go will go.
23 I Blanck Lite I April 01 2017 I www. blanckdigital. com