CONTRIBUTORS
// GAYNOR ALDER :: EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Gaynor Alder is a Melbourne based writer with a penchant for vintage glamour and all things Parisian. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Teenage Girl’s Survival Guide, gallivants around the world as a Travel Writer {testing the thread count of sheets and the fluffiness of hotel pillows} and freelances in public relations. She started writing The Modern Woman’s Survival Guide, after the umpteenth person told her, you know you should really write a book. Her fingers struggled daily to keep up with the thoughts that desperately wanted to become words on pages, to take centre stage in a book that she knew was going to become the new voice of womankind. Her calling, her destiny, her whatever you want to call it, Gaynor writes because she can’t not write.
// PETA STEPHENSON :: SUB EDITOR & COLUMNIST
Peta is a self-confessed word nerd. Her penchant for punctuation began in childhood and she’s nurtured it ever since with the completion of Honours, MA and PhD theses and the writing of two books. Her other great love is clothes – oh, and shoes. And jewellery, accessories, scarves and hats (you get the picture). When she’s not feeding her fetish for words working as MWSG sub-editor, she’s running her own business (called ‘Dresscode’) as a sustainable stylist. Her aim is to help her clients to look and feel great while reducing their fashion footprint. Peta also writes ‘Lady Dresswell’, a monthly sustainable fashion column for MWSG. You can visit her website here: www.dresscode.com.au
// MOLLY HILL :: BEAUTY EDITOR
Molly grew up in a small country town but is a city girl through and through. She could easily spend her days enjoying the simple pleasures of Melbourne, such as wandering the lane ways with a latte in hand, or indulging at a day spa. She is drawn to all things beautiful and as a result has an impressive magazine and makeup collection that takes up more room in her closet than clothes. Her belief that one’s beauty regime should be more of a ritual means that it takes her nearly as long to get ready for bed as it does for work. And when she is at work, she daydreams of luxurious lotions and pretty perfumes. As much as Molly enjoys spending the day in her pyjamas with the box set of Sex and the City, there is a burning desire to see the bright lights of Paris and New York, then dip her toes in the blue waters of Mauritius and explore. Visit her blog ‘Molly’s Maquillage’. Click here to follow Molly on Twitter, and here to see her Linkedin profile.
// AMY CASSELL :: FEATURES EDITOR
Despite her mammoth collection of beauty products, Amy is not particularly glamorous. However, she really, really wishes that she were. And it’s the thought that counts, isn’t it? She’s a communications student with an alarming curiosity for random anecdotes of strangers’ lives and an unusual passion for bridal shopping shows {where all the best anecdotes from strangers are revealed}. She’ll be putting this to use to source the best feature-worthy stories and pen a little about her own efforts at a sophisticated life. By the way, Amy is exceedingly chatty and would love to hear your random anecdotes. Should you feel like sharing, get in touch with her on Twitter @AmyLCassell
// ANEEKA SIMONIS :: FASHION COLUMNIST
Hopping from state to state in her adolescence, Aneeka and her unique personality refuse to be put in the corner. As if everyday is her wedding day, Aneeka vows to incorporate something old, something new, something borrowed and sometimes something blue into her daily fashion before she catches lunch with a girlfriend or trundles through city streets. Aneeka can often be found curled up in Starbucks with a tall caramel java chip frappuccino, messy hair and furiously typing fingers that barely keep with billowing ideas for her latest article or memoir. Currently studying journalism at Swinburne, Aneeka is interested in all things media and enjoy her role as a broadcast journalist at an inner city Melbourne radio station. You can follow her on Twitter or on her blog aneekasimonis92.wordpress.com
// LAUREN BURGUENO :: WEBSITE ASSISTANT
// STUART SMITH :: PHOTOGRAPHER
Stuart’s photography experience includes Melbourne Spring Fashion Week, product shots for lifestyle brands such as Art Hide, events and travel. He also has over 15 years experience in the graphic design and printing industry, including having worked on album covers for Mushroom Records for some of Australia’s top artists. Click here to view his portfolio.
// MELISSA KOUTOUKIDIS :: PR MANAGER
Although Melissa may occasionally believe her life is a sitcom, a contemporary Lucille Ball without the Arnaz but certainly with the attitude, her feet are planted solidly on the ground. Perhaps her slight aversion for reality stems from her passion for the performing arts. A passion Melissa no longer fulfills by treading the boards, but rather as an audience member and Theatre Writer. These days her starring roles range from Arts student at the University of Melbourne, to aspiring journalist and, of course, intern at MWSG. Melissa has a fetish for fine stationery, road-side antique stores, reality television so bad it’s good, and ‘doing lunch’ as if it was a verb. You can follow her on Twitter @_Youve_Got_Mel
// HAYLEY CARR :: LIFE COACH
Hayley Carr is a 3 x karate world champion, and a confidence & lifestyle expert. Through her business, “Elite Life”, she delivers live workshops and private coaching in elite performance systems (TM) – a holistic method of performing at your own individual maximum standards, designed by you, for you. You can catch her travelling at ay spare moment experiencing rare and wonderful parts of the world, taking photographs or relaxing on a beach- book in hand. The best compliment she ever received was at her black belt grading from a male instructor who said to her ,” you look so strong and scary, yet you always maintain looking feminine at the same time”. (Kicking ass isn’t just for boys.) To Hayley, you’re doing the world a favour by being your biggest, brightest, shining example of yourself. So, let it all bust out. You can find her on twitter, Facebook, or check out her free weekly tv show at hayleycarr.tv
// ELIZABETH KALAS :: INTERN
Born and raised in the burbs of Melbourne Elizabeth grew up in a household with three men which in turn, allowed her to develop some sort of understanding of the male species. She adores dressing up and throwing on her finest heels for a night out on the town however is just as happy to slug at home in comfy pjs, parading a messy bun and bake fluffy cupcakes. Although not a girly girl, Elizabeth owns 81 pairs of shoes, 42 handbags, 17 different wallets and over 109 rings. With the help of a sweet hot chocolate every morning she studies Professional Communications at RMIT. She simply lives for the moments you can’t put into words and loves meeting new people so go ahead and follow her on twitter @ElizabethKalas or surprise he with a friend request on Facebook!
// KYLIE TRIGGELL :: FEATURES INTERN
Kylie is a Brisbane-based writer and journalist who could very possibly one day build a house out of the books she owns. A lover of travel, while studying at university she dreamed of finding a career which would lead her around the world. In the years since then she has lived in Paris and let her curiosity lead her across most of Europe and into South-East Asia. But Kylie still hasn’t shaken the travel bug and regularly finds herself mentally re-editing her ‘must see’ travel list.
Since re-settling back in beautiful Brisbane you will most likely see Kylie enjoying a cup of tea, nose deep in a good book after a long run, or else enjoying a hearty laugh with her friends, wine glass in hand. She loves to ramble too, and you can read more of these at www.redrobinblue.blogspot.com.
// STEPHANIE SWAIN :: LIFESTYLE INTERN
Currently saving for her first house, Steph is an aspiring domestic goddess who worships at the altar of Martha Stewart. Her favourite things are freshly baked cupcakes, list-writing and hunting for beautiful homewares.
When she is not baking, organizing or shopping on Etsy, Steph works in educational publishing. With a Creative Arts degree under her belt, Steph is now completing a Graduate Diploma in Editing and Publishing.
You can find Steph on twitter here (@my_girlfriday) or on her current obsession, instagram (@my_girlfriday).
// LYSHAI BROMBARA :: EVENTS MANAGER 
Lyshai is currently living it up in the world of events completing an Event Management degree. Also a Makeup Artist by trade, she is fixated with trying new products and recommending them to her family and friends. She classes herself as highly organised {even called obsessed by friends} and you can always catch her scribbling away in her journal taking notes on absolutely anything and everything. She enjoys action packed weekends away visiting all the beautiful parts of Victoria, but also enjoys relaxing in the Melbourne countryside she calls home.
// NICI PARR :: PR INTERN
Ever thought your life would make a great novel or screenplay? Nici certainly thinks so. The phrase been there, done that applies to most of her 30 years and she has no plans to stop now. In fact she only wants to continue following her dreams into more crazy adventures. After a tumultuous few years which saw her married twice and bring a beautiful daughter into the world Nici finally has her priorities straight; spend more time doing what she loves and show her daughter that dreams really can come true. Nici sees a future full of blue skies with lots of writing, cooking, gardening and generally spreading love wherever she goes. Nici is currently a university liaison who is very excited to dip her toes into the world of PR and hopefully begin to carve out a new future for herself. She is taking 2013 by the horns, looking it directly in the eyes and telling it very firmly – “this is my year.” Check out her blog nici.parr.com and follow her on Twitter @NiciParr
// LAUREN WALLACE :: BEAUTY INTERN
Lauren is a Sydney-based aspiring writer who just graduated university with a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Journalism. She is passionate about the world of magazines and has completed a number of internships at various publications. Lauren loves all things pretty and tends to spend most of her pay check on beauty products, resulting in a very impressive collection of nail polish. She has big dreams of seeing the world and is about to head off on her first European adventure with her best friends. Follow her on twitter @_laurenwallace or instagram (@laurennwallace)
// CARLIE WELSH :: TRAVEL WRITER
Carlie is one of us who inherently struggles to keep to feet in one place for longer than three months. Growing up, following her parents from country to country, the travel gene was naturally passed down to her. A self-confessed ‘adrenaline enthusiast’ and lover of the outdoors, Carlie generally spends her weekends partaking in some sort of excitement. Whether it will be diving with sharks, bungee jumping or cupcake making, Carlie is never one to turn down a new experience. Currently studying Professional Communication at RMIT, Carlie admits that while New York, Prague and Istanbul may be nice, Melbourne will always be home.
// ABBIE REA :: INTERN & TRAVEL WRITER
Born and raised in England, Abbie’s love of travel began at an early age with family holidays to Europe and America, followed by her first taste of semi-independent travel with various school trips abroad (somehow Disneyland Paris was incorporated into high school Geography studies!), and later ventures to further-flung places like China – all before immigrating to Australia in 2008, where she is now proud to call home. Moving to the other side of the world opened up a whole new array of countries to explore of which Fiji has been her main focus so far, with six charity trips spent volunteering in rural areas, and she can’t wait to cross off more on her endless list of must-visits. As well as her passion for travel, Abbie loves writing and reading and would happily spend her days doing all three if she could!
// ESTHER LEVY-FENNER :: MENTAL HEALTH WRITER
Esther has a fetish for frangipanis, reading and all things artsy. Amidst the jaywalkers and bike-peddlers of Melbourne, Esther studies Professional Communication at RMIT. Esther’s other passions lie in the field of mental health and helping to extinguish the stigma associated with mental health conditions that features so predominantly in today’s world. Apart from smelling book pages and trawling over blogs, Esther also is pursuing her acting career as an extra on Neighbours. You can follow her on Twitter @estherlf or via her blog at www.countingletters.wordpress.com.
// NINA MILLS :: FEATURES INTERN
Nina is a Melbourne girl, born and bred, who suppressed her love for art, music and drama with the misguided idea that she needed to pursue a ‘sensible’ career. After years of neglecting her creative side, she has been itching to get out and has started freelance writing and blogging, and hopes to combine nutrition and writing to make a living out of doing something she loves. When she’s not working the nine to five, you can find her catching some live music, in the kitchen creating healthy dishes or trying to make a dent in her ever growing pile of books. She writes at What’s for eats? and tweets at @whatsforeats.
// JESSICA DICKERS :: FEATURES INTERN
Jessica is a Melbourne-based writer studying a bachelor of Journalism at Monash University. Born and raised in Geelong, she moved to Melbourne to soak up all the arty culture, browse through quirky boutiques and dine in funky laneway cafes. She has a penchant for picnics, cupcakes, cardigans and rooftop bars and can usually be found procrastinating by shopping online for cute vintage dresses or looking up cat videos on YouTube. Jessica’s desire for travel was ignited when she visited 12 European countries and her next dream destination are the streets of New York. She spends way too much money on books and magazines and loves chatting to people and finding out their interesting stories.Start up a conversation with her on Twitter @JessicaDickers or check out her blog jessicadickers@wordpress.com.
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