Darkness and light....

Life throws us some curly ones at times and this week I have no doubt been challenged. Often as we grow and take on more responsibility I find that the universe gives us bigger and better challenges to overcome... :-((

How do we get through these times and how do we trust that all that is given to us is for the best! This is one I have faced many times over but what I can share is that EVERYTIME it works out fine and everytime it works out better than I had expected. How do we let go of the control and trust that the universe/God will take care of us and we wont end up in some big black hole?

As many times as I have been shown this truth that we are ALWAYS taken care off, even still I always have a tendency to imagine the worst..... but what I can say is that perhaps we need to go through the tension, the problem solving and the angst to then feel the true liberation and trust that we will come out the other end into the light.... I am still working on this one but realised that this is the time when leaning on others is always a good practice....that's what friends are for....

South Beach Style...soon at Private Access

I have always loved the Miami lifestyle...the glitz and the glam. Living in South Beach I fell in love with the life some would think is far from reality but what I discovered was that it was possible to live like you're on holidays every day and a wardrobe full of breezy summer dresses, flip flops, caftans and cute little shorts wasn't too bad either....
Here's a brand which I fell in love with and one which will soon be available exclusively online through Private Access..... I can't disclose the name but here is a sneak peak of their 2010 collection.....

WISDOM is power.....

They say that knowledge is power but what I have found is that knowing something does not guarantee success. I've met many people who seem to know a lot more than I do but they don't seem to get very far. We can know how to become successful investors but we won't unless we take action on the knowledge, then it is power. We must take what we know, understand why we have not achieved what we so desired and then from the wisdom we have gained begin to create a very different future. I have met many who continue to repeat the same mistakes, they know what they must do but they have not yet turned that knowledge into power through wisdom.

WISDOM is about taking all that we know, all we've experienced, good and bad ,looking at it from different angles, understand ourselves and others better, learning from the mistakes we've made and learning from the successes we've had.

One man who set out to discover the true meaning of Wisdom is Andrew Zuckerman. Inspired by the idea that one of the greatest gifts one generation can give to another is the wisdom it has gained from experience, the Wisdom project, produced in cooperation with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and multi award-winning photographer and film-maker Andrew Zuckerman, seeks to
capture the wisdom of a group of people who have all made their mark on the world.

Produced in cooperation with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 51 of the world’s most prominent elders share their wisdom. Three famous Australians - Malcolm Fraser, Jimmy Little and Bryce Courtenay – feature among the likes of Buzz Aldrin, Nelson Mandela, Vanessa Redgrave, Clint Eastwood, Frank Gehry, Willie Nelson, Michael Parkinson, Mary Quant, Tutu himself and many more.

Wisdom is a collection of photographs and interviews with the world’s most eminent elders. After travelling the globe to not only photograph and interview those involved, Andrew also filmed each of his subjects for an exclusive DVD which will be included in the book. The remarkable footage that he has captured will later be released as a feature length documentary. A full-colour hardback photographic book, Wisdom contains full-length interviews where these great luminaries impart their knowledge. The resulting book and film provides an extraordinary legacy for the generations that follow.

With the success of the WISDOM Project, Andrew has interviewed more wise and wonderful people and compiled their wisdom into four little books grouped around themes of LIFE, LOVE, IDEAS and PEACE.

WISDOM was published in Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA and South Africa and was a worldwise success, selling out in all markets. Wisdom is published by Hachette Australia.

The little WISDOM's are great gifts for anyone looking to discover the true meaning of wisdom and to learn from some of the greatest leaders, actors, sportswomen and inspirational men and women.

Get a FREE copy (valued at $22.95) with any purchase from the Milena Zu Collection.

Plus you will receive another free book (Confessions of a Shopaholic) and samples of Bulgari Perfume. HURRY BUY NOW....click here

Style...are we born with it??

Some women seem to have an incredible sense of style. They are elegant, beautiful, edgy and feminine all the same time! I've always wondered whether we are born with it or whether it is something that we can develop and learn.

If we can become successful by modeling those that already are then it stands to reason that we can also learn the art of style and elegance. Models are taught how to walk, actors learn how to act and be better at their craft and stylists can make anyone look like a million dollars.....

What I love doing is re-creating myself through the looks that I love and see in magazines. At different stages of my evolution I have found this to be the most liberating and transformational experience. I've recently started wearing my hair parted in the middle, just for a change....inspired by Olivia Palermo my style icon at the moment. I absolute love her look and her confidence. She's polished, classic and incorporates the latest trends in such an effortless way!

So much to do.....So little time....

I've recently found out what it is like when you are pulled in all different directions. When everyone seems to want a piece of you which isn't always a bad thing!! Working on a number of new projects I am finding out how important it is and how hard it can really be to find the work life balance.

Of course we want to fit as much into the day as possible, to get the most out of life but I have found the importance of keeping up the exercise no matter how difficult, taking time out for yoga and finding the time to relax without my Blackberry. I am truly thankful for my Saturday ritual of making it what I have termed the "Mia Day". A day where I detach from the world and from all the interruptions that I experience every other day! I don't use my phone, don't watch television, no exercise, no going into "town" for window shopping and not going anywhere that is busy with people!!

Being born Jewish has it's advantages as for us this is the day of rest....The Jewish faith believes that God created the world and on the 7th day he rested (first day is Sunday) and for us it is also the day of rest and the time to unplug from the world...how blessed are we!!!

I am glad to say that since I started keeping this traditional ritual that my weeks are better, that I can go longer, I am more creative and I am ready to start my week. on Sunday without the Mondayitis. My "Mia Day" allows me to read, reflect on my life instead of being in it, kind of like working on the business and not in it and re-connect with my spirit. So as I sit here today completely exhausted from an incredible productive and successful week, I am glad that Friday night is just a sleep away......

I hope that this beautiful ritual inspires you to take ONE day each week and make it completely yours...rest, read, refresh, and you will feel the difference and realise how much you can achieve in just 6 days!

From beautiful to plastic.....

I have to wonder what goes through the mind of a woman who drastically alters the way she looks through plastic surgery. We all at times go through periods of low self esteem, not feeling as beautiful as we want to and wondering how we can age gracefully....

Going through my favourite fashion magazine I was horrified by the images of Heidi Montag. In her own words "I am beyond obsessed". If nothing else, Heidi has at least been fully open about all the operations she's had to turn herself into a generic, bleach-blonde Hollywood bimbo.
What makes an incredibly beautiful woman like her go to such extremes of changing her appearance beyond recognition!!!
I am all for enhancement if what you've got needs some enhancing but I'm not sure that undergoing such a transformation when feeling insecure will make one feel more secure in the long run.... how much surgery will be enough, how much bigger can the boobies become and how many wrinkles can you staple back before you start looking like Michael Jackson.
What will it take for us to see that each and every one of us is beautiful the way we are...some are more so than others but when you look like Heidi, 23, fresh faced, glowing and successful...what on earth is she thinking???
For me and for many other women I know that the road to loving yourself is not an easy one...we compare our selves all the time....we want to be more beautiful, if we're blonde we go for brunette, if we're brunette we want to be blonde, if we have short legs we speak about how much we hate our legs, our bums, our thighs, our chins.... if only we could reconstruct ourselves we would be happy.....BUT we see that this is an illusion and not the truth! How many women and celebrities do we read about day after day, they had the surgery and still they are not happy....when will women wake up and smell the coffee and perhaps instead use that money on things that would make you feel more beautiful, more in touch with your soul, more connected to your partner, and in finding out what makes you truly happy!

I know this first hand because there have been times when all I wanted to do to feel better was change my hair, buy a new dress, do some retail therapy and then needed real therapy after that, so I learned my lesson and learned to love me in the process !! We all know it to be true but we torture ourselves time and time again...... I hope that this year all women will begin to take a look within and see what makes them feel good about themselves, work from the inside out and discover what they LOVE about who they are. If we continue to focus on what we dislike the law is that this will grow...so everytime you go to the gym and tell yourself how much you hate your thighs or how big your bum is, that is what you're putting out into the universe, that is what your dominant thought is and whatever you focus on will grow.... including your butt!!!
May the images of Heidi reinforce the message that plastic fantastic is really not the answer...and a lesson for us women to be proud of who we are and what we have and of course work towards self improvement but in a much kinder and more loving way!

Private Interview with Samantha Wills......

The more I look into the lives of some of the worlds most successful women the more I find that success is not about luck, not about a handout and certainly isn't something that happens to "special" people.....Tori Spelling was born into wealth and spent her childhood with the great Aaron Spelling but her achievements have been her own after she discovered her love for acting and was only successful when she was living her truth. Ivanka Trump followed in her fathers footsteps and found her calling from a young age when she put Barbie away and played with leggo building skyscrapers instead. DJ Havana Brown found her calling in her love of music and sharing her passion has given her the greatest success at a young age....

So whether you sing, dance, create, paint, design or DJ each of us is born with a gift and it is our path to find it and give it to the world. There is only one Picasso, one Gianni Versace and one Jimmy Choo..... there is no need to be someone else, no need to copy what somebody else does but to dedicate your life to finding out who you are and what gift you bring to this world and success will truly follow. And as I continue to find women who inspire me and those that I can learn from I feel relieved to know that success can come to all of us if only we dare to try....

Samantha Wills, our very own home grown aussie girl, model and award winning designer dared to try and just happened to create an empire along the way....

Her jewellery line SAMANTHA WILLS is worn by some of the world's most recognisable women, including Nicky Hilton, Eva Mendes, Nicole Ritchie, Jennifer Hawkins and Delta....

What started in Bondi markets just six years ago is now on the brink of becoming a huge international brand and here I'm given a rare insight and interview which I share with you into the private world of Samantha Wills and what it takes to build an empire.....let's take a look....

Where were you born?
I was born in Newcastle (NSW) but my family moved to Port Macquarie (NSW) when I was 2, so Port Macquarie is where I call ‘Home’

Current city?
I am currently in NYC, but I split my time between NYC & Sydney, spending time in London & LA in between!

Favourite fashion brand - why?
My favourite brand, for brand purposes is Stella McCartney. I do not know of another brand that is so emcompassing & true to their brand messages & beliefs. I really admire the way Stella has built her brand.

Favourite designer - why?
I am a little obsessed with Sass + Bide – I love that you can find something for every occasion in Sass + Bide.

How do these fashion brands/designers empower you as a woman?
Stella because of how true she is to what she believes in. She doesn’t say ‘oh I don’t like cruelty to animals’, she lives & breaths this message thru her brand & takes action on it, not using fur & even leather in her collection, a life time vegetarian & active supporter of cruelty free charities. I think in this day & age, it is very ‘fashionable’ to jump on the latest ‘campaign’ so it is really empowering to see women like Stella to not just speak , but act.

Favourite charity?
I work with REDKITE charity. It is an Australian charity that works with children + their families who are dealing with cancer. The organization is full of people who work tirelessly for such a great cause.
http://www.redkite.org.au/

Favourite model and -why?
I like Erin Wasson! I love her style & like how she has expanded out from Modelling to work with brands like Alexander Wang & RVCA

Favourite holiday spot – why?
In Australia I would have to say Noosa or Byron Bay – these places are great because they are not to far away, so you go for a mini weekend break & as soon as you get there, life just seems more paced & relaxed!
I have never been, but I am dying to go to Bora Bora…. Staying in a hut over the water! How luxurious!

Favourite resort/place to stay?
In Bali, I stay at Kanishka in Seminyak. They are private villas & they have no back wall, so literally the living room & kitchen join straight into the pool with your own private waterfall – so beautiful!

Things you love and cant live without?
As much as I am ashamed to admit it – My Blackberry! it seriously is connected to me, but is it so convenient & allows me to run my business from anywhere in the world!
Music! My ipod also comes everywhere with me, I could not live without music. I love that is has the power to literally transport you to another world, it can bring back memories or can inspire.
My notebook & pen. I NEVER go anywhere without them as I never know where inspiration will hit. My mind has the retention of a goldfish, si if I think of something I need to write it down pronto otherwise it could be lost forever!

How did you start out?
I started making jewellery just a hobby. I started selling to stores & it literally took off!i started the company when I was 21 & have not looked back since!

What do you love most about what you do?
I love that being creative & design is my hobby & I am lucky enough to earn a living from it. Even if it wasn’t my career, I would be doing it anyway so it is a blessing to be able to do what I love everyday!

What do you feel is your calling and how do you achieve it through your art and work as a designer?
As the company grows, I feel that my calling is to show other women that if you have a dream of doing something in your career, you should not let anything hold you back. I did not study design or business, what I did do is continue to push doors & not let the hard times get on top of me & I hope that what we achieve with the brand encourages other women to follow their dreams also.

What other professions have you tried and when and how did you know that this was your calling?
When I first moved to Sydney from Port Macquarie, I was just working as a retail assistant when I was selling my jewellery of a weekend. Even when I was suppose to be selling clothes, I was re-merchandising the store or thinking how if I worked at one of the brands of the clothes I was selling, what I would do differently if the brand was mine! So I think I was always destined to have my own brand!

What inspired you to become a designer? Did you always know what you wanted to do?
I am inspired by not having limitations on my work. I think that you have that luxury when it is your own brand, rather then working to briefs. Along with a love for product (jewellery) design, I also really enjoy the branding side of the company & creating an emotional connection between our clients that goes beyond product. I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I was at school, I knew I wanted to do something creative, but I didn’t go to university, so I didn’t have a lot of direction leaving school! Even when I started out just selling my jewellery on the weekend, it wa sonly ever a hobby, I never set out to create an empire!

How did you go about achieving such a level of success at such a young age? We want the secrets….
I don’t know if it’s a secret or just persistence! Alot of people who are starting up their own brands ask send me emails like ‘how did you get to where you are? I am going on holidays next week, can I come & see you when I get back as I don’t feel I am getting anywhere with my label?’ & I think to myself – that’s why! You cannot take holidays when you are starting up! You miss nights out with friends to meet deadlines, you work 27 hours straight if you have to. When I realized jewellery design could be more then just a hobby for me, I lived, breathed & lived it some more. If you want to achieve a certain level of success, it unfortunately does not come with out sacrifice. An example I use often was when I was 22, my best friend & I had a trip planned to travel through Europe for a year. 4 months to us leaving, the brand just took off & I, as a 22 year old, had to make the choice to stay in Australia & work with the momentum of the brand or go on the trip of a life time with my best friend! It was a really hard choice at the time, but I chose to stay & work really hard on the brand in the view that if I worked hard enough, the brand would allow me to travel the world – and I am now doing this interview from my apartment in New York, after just spending a week with my best-friend in LA! So I may have missed out on the trip with her at 22, but I know catch up with her at different places around the world!

What do you believe is the reason you are where you are today?
I don’t think there is one sole reason, along with hard work & persistence, I think one of the factors is I believe I am very opportunistic in the sense that if there is a window of opportunity, come hell or high water – I will ensure I am there to take advantage of it. The success of samantha wills pty ltd of where it is today is strongly due to an amazing team that is involved in the day to day & long term building of the brand. My business partner Geoff Bainbridge is a driving force behind the business side of the brand & our General Manager Sarah Moore who makes our visions into realities.

What is success to you?
I have been asked this question throughout my career & what success is to me now is very different to what it would have been to me at 22 & will be very different if you ask me again in another 5 years! Right now, success to me is to being able to travel the world & set up the brand in the US market while the company still continues to run & grow without me there. To me this signifies that we have recruited the right people, have a great placing in the market to be financially available to do so & that our brand & designs are appealing to our consumers.

What has your success enabled you to do? What other goals and dreams has it allowed you to pursue?
Travel I guess is the biggest one that it has allowed me to. The second would be to meet some pretty amazing people!

Was success a choice or something that just happened? What conscious decision did you make to get to where you are today?
I think in life fate gives you opportunities, however fate will only take you so far. The level of success is up to you & I definitely think it has to be a conscious decision.


What do you believe contributed mostly to you achieving success and becoming a leading designer in Australia and having a celebrity following?
I think we we first launched onto the market, statement jewellery was just about to take off, so we were one of the only brands doing it in Australia. We were fortunate enough that this generated a lot of media in the early days, to keep the momentum going, we have continued to bring out new things, expand, change, grow. It is the brands that stay stagnate that get push out of the market, the most important thing to be a market leader is innovation. We are very conscious that we continue to be innovative in every area of the business.

Have you had a mentor along the way and who inspires you most and why?
I am going to say my business partner, but more importantly my very good friend Geoff Bainbridge, he hates the term ‘mentor’! While he continues to inspire me in business & I learn so much from him, but it is the way he takes time to get to know people personally & really spends invested time in people that I really admire.

Who would you most like to meet and why?
I would really really like to meet John Mayer, but that has nothing to do with business! J I would love to have dinner with Tamara Mellon on her work on building Jimmy Choo into what it is today or Tory Burch on her success of herself titled brand.

What are the most important lessons you’ve learned along the way?
Never burn a bridge, it is a small world & you just never know when you will cross paths with that person again!

What difficulties and challenges have you faced to get to where you are and how did you turn them around?
I think being so young when I started the business, a lot of people didn’t really take you seriously. It was a matterof growing up (or acting a lot more grown up) when you are dealing with business – presenting to major department stores, they want to deal with a business woman, not a kid.

If you could say one thing to women out there to inspire them on their journey to success what would it be?
There is never an ‘ideal’ time to do something. You will always find an excuse NOT to do something, so my advice would be if you are looking to make a change either in your career or personal life to get on or continue the journey to success, you have to take risks & while that is mostly scary, remember the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward!

Beauty, Brains and Business.....who said we can't have it all....

No internet for a week....OMG

The frustration of not having internet connection for a week has been a blessing in disguise. The world didn't come to an end but instead it gave me a fresh outlook and new perspective on my life....
This week has given me an opportunity to reflect on the many aspects of my life and determine exactly what I want this year to be about!

All to often we hurry through our days, we forget to pause, to stop, take a swim in the ocean and take a deep big breathe. I have realised that it is in these moments that we have true insight into the right path, the right course of action and at times not taking any action brings us exactly what we need and ultimately what we want! This week has been like that for me....I stopped trying to make things happen and instead let myself be in the flow....and what a magical place that is!

I'm not sure why we grow up to believe we must fight to get what we want?? I once read that you cant have a successful outcome to a miserable journey....You can't hate what you do every day and be happy in the end, you cant struggle and think one day it will get better....
Struggle and hate the world and you get more of the same....
The better is now, not one day....what can you do right now to make things better and as you begin to feel positive, of course the universe gives you more and more of the same.

We have all felt those magical moments where everything seems to be perfectly aligned, the right people come our way and everything we touch turns to gold.... this week was like that for me!

As the week comes to an end I hope to encourage you to take the time out, turn off the laptop, disconnect from that Blackberry and make a list of what 2010 will look like, feel like and be like for you and then work backwards to achieve it. Fire up that imagination and create the life you want firstly in your mind and then watch it unfold before your eyes.....

Here are some of the big questions to get you started.....

1. What do I want this year to have been like?
   
2. What income did I earn?
3. What did I spend my time doing?
4. What kinds of people did I meet?
5. Where did I travel to and with whom?
6. What is my financial position at (date)?
7. What did I achieve this year?
8. What did I do for work?
9. What was the year about (looking back)?
10. What were the significant moments?
11. What kind of place did I live in?
12. How did I feel?
13. What was my health like?

Private Interview with DJ Havana Brown....

I have often wondered what it takes to achieve success and become known for the very thing you love to do…We all read about the worlds most famous celebrities, models, actresses, DJ’s and wonder how they got to where they are…Is there really a little secret or is it much simpler than what we think…At times it seems like the road to the pot of gold is full of challenges and thank you DJ Havana Brown who let me into her private world to be interviewed and to share what it takes to overcome them. As I continue to read one biography after another I see that it takes belief in who you are and what you do as well as making sacrifices to make your dreams come true.

I’ll now let Miss Havana Brown take the stage…a place where she truly shines…

Where were you born/grow up?
Melbourne, Australia

Date of birth? Valentines Day!!!

Current city?
I am currently in Los Angeles but am always traveling to different cities throughout world each week. Next is Toronto, Canada, then Dubai and back to Melbourne Australia.

Favourite fashion brand?Why?
I’m loving Balmain at the moment because of their sharp, structured look. Australian labels GRIPP and Bettina Liano have some great styles with that look also.

Favourite designer? Why?
Karl Lagerfeld! As well as simultaneously designing for Chanel, Fendi and his signature line, he has designed a H&M line and photographed all of the Chanel advertising campaigns for the last nineteen years!

How do these fashion brands/designers empower you as a woman?
I find that feeling good about my appearance helps me to be confident DJing in front of a crowd.

Favourite charity?
Greening Australia

Favourite song?
As a DJ it’s hard to put it down to just one favourite song as it changes often. Currently the track I love is “Feel It” (by Three 6 Mafia feat Tiesto, Sean Kingston& Flo Rida), no matter when or where I play this songs it always sets the dance floor on fire.

Favourite holiday spot – why?
New York. Everybody in the city seems to be poised and ready, waiting on the edge for something amazing to happen – it gives a wonderful feeling of anticipation and a great atmosphere that inspires me to give my best.

Favourite resort/place to stay?
I would have to sayRodriguez which is a little Island off Mauritius. Not too many people know about it yet and it’s absolutely beautiful. This is also where my parents are originally from.

Things you love and can’t live without?
I love my MacBook Pro and Blackberry, love Inglot makeup and super high heels, and can’t live without my family, friends, and music.

How did you start out?
I grew up with a steady love and involvement in music and eventually moved to London to pursue my singing career, joining the group Fishbowl. Unfortunately the band fell apart before the release of our first album but I was still pretty determined I wanted a career in the industry. While at a club one night in London I was inspired by the DJ’s ability to create an atmosphere and a performance with the music and eventually I decided that was it. I got a respected DJ friend to teach me the basics and I took it from there, working hard to get a set at some of the top clubs.

What do you love most about what you do?
I love being on stage; I’m a born performer! I also love being in the studio, writing and recording, and discovering new tracks to play. Of course, getting to travel to some amazing places is an incredible bonus!

What do you feel is your calling and how do you achieve it through your art and work as a DJ?
I think my broader calling in life is to be a good daughter, a good partner, a good sister and a good friend. Music makes me happy and fulfilled and so I’m sure it translates.

Professionally, working in the entertainment industry feels right to me and my work as a DJ is part of that. I plan to broaden my horizon in music and have no boundaries about the possibilities of what that could hold in the future.

What other professions have you tried and when and how did you know that this was your calling?
I knew from a young age that I had a love for music and performing, through experiences I had on TV shows and on stage. I always loved music.
I have worked in other areas along the way; as a singer in the band Fishbowl, a part time job at a clothing store whilst studying - I didn’t ever think of it as my profession though, but rather a way to support myself financially during school.

What inspired you to become a DJ?
Did you always know what you wanted to do? I had been working in the music industry in London when our band fell apart prior to the release of our album. After a lot of hard work, everything stalled and I started to look for something that gave me the opportunity to work with music and to perform, but where I didn’t have to rely on others so much. There are some amazing DJ’s in London and I just loved the way they could rock the dance floor!

How did you go about achieving such a level of success at such a young age?
Hard work and a lot of support from family, who always encourage and believe in me.

What do you believe is the reason you are where you are today?
Having drive, focusing on the bigger picture and the complete support of my family also allowed me to get to where I am in my career today.
I have worked really hard at my profession, but music and performance is also something that comes fairly naturally to me. I have been practicing music for years and years without any accolades, but I never gave up believing I could make a career of it.

I’ve also made sacrifices to get where I am, like moving away from my family for a period of time to live in London and work on my music, and passing up weekends away with the girls when I have a gig.

What is success to you?
Success is very subjective. To me success is being happy, fulfilled and content with who you are, where you are and what you’re doing. That could be being a great Mother or being a great President.

What has your success enabled you to do? What other goals and dreams has it allowed you to pursue?
Being a DJ has opened many doors for me, including producing my own music which has always been a dream of mine. I’m currently working on my own tracks and am very excited to be going to the US to work with some great producers soon.

After a lot of hard work I signed to a major record label (the only female DJ to do so in Australia) which has given me the opportunities to release 3 Crave compilation albums that have gone to the top of the ARIA charts. I’ve also been able to work in radio with a weekly Friday segment on the Austereo Network and the Party People FOXFM Saturday night mix.

Of course, it’s also allowed me to travel to some amazing places and take my friends to some amazing events, all in the name of work!

Was success a choice or something that just happened? What conscious decision did you make to get to where you are today?
I think success follows if you are very passionate and work hard at what you are doing, regardless of what that is. However, I also believe you have to make a conscious goal to work towards. If you are passionate and work hard at that goal it will ultimately lead to decisions that put your future goal ahead of the little things that give instant gratification.

What do you believe contributed mostly to you achieving success and becoming the No.1 DJ as well as being invited to perform with some of the world’s greatest artists?
I do believe that I am unique, have my own style and have something a little different to offer. I enjoy myself so much that I think everyone in the room can feel it. I have a strong belief in myself and always do me. I do what I believe is right and I am fortunate that people seem to like it.

As a DJ I am not afraid to take risks and mix different music genres together. I’ll play some Lenny Kravitz and mix it with harder R’n’B or house tracks. I don’t like to pigeon-hole tracks to a particular genre.

Once again without the hard work I can guarantee that this would not have been possible.

Who are your role models and what inspires you about them?
My mum and dad are my role models. They have taught me so much about life. They came to Australia with practically nothing and have worked extremely hard to be where they are now with their success business. They are so loving and caring and have given my brother and myself an amazing life.

A DJ that really inspired me was DJAM. He really crossed genres and styles in his mixes and blurred the boundaries of what it meant to be classified by a genre as a DJ, and he did it so well. It’s such a shame his life was cut tragically short.

What do you attribute to your success and having reached being No.1 R&B DJ?
Hard work, passion and not giving up.

Have you had a mentor along the way and who inspires you most and why?
My manager Vince Deltito has been an amazing support and mentor throughout my journey in the music business.

Who would you most like to meet and why?
I’d love to meet Barak Obama. He really gives me hope that our generation may be heading towards a brighter future!

What are the most important lessons you’ve learnt along the way?
Know who you are, take constructive criticism on board and don’t take yourself too seriously. A lot of things in life are fickle but family and friends love you unconditionally.

What difficulties and challenges have you faced to get to where you are and how did you turn them around?
I don’t look like your typical DJ – for a start I’m female and the DJ profession is predominantly male – and so that’s a challenge because you have to work harder to earn respect. Once people really take note of my music it’s an easy challenge to overcome.

If you could say one thing to women out there to inspire them on their journey to success what would it be?
You don’t need to rely on anyone but yourself, keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to fail. It’s all part of the learning process.

Do you have a favourite quote you would like to share with us?
Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
- Winston Churchill

Rock on glamour girl...

Milena Zu....now available in Australia..exclusive to Private Access

Launching her new collection in Australia, Italian born Milena Zuliani is a designer with the stars shining brightly over her. With 2 stores in the beautiful centre of Ubud her Galaxyan Collection is loved and worn by women across the globe. They come to Bali and take home with them beautiful jewels that will change their life forever. Now buying her jewels is only a mouse click away...

Each of the pieces belong to a different star and it is Milena's calling to materialise those energies for women on earth. The collection by Milena Zuliani empowers women and seems to catalyze their souls on a very deep level no matter who they are or what they do. For Milena this is a merging of her talents and visions into one single direction giving her complete love for the work she does and the difference she is making by empowering women globally.

Milena has travelled extensively throughout Europe and Asia for many years studying Esoteric and Healing Arts and for the last 10 years Milena has lived on the island of Bali where she creates jewellery and now has two successful flagship stores in Ubud. Her true purpose in this lifetime is to transfer and channel Universal Love into various creative forms in order to assist others in the process of learning their Soul Journey, and unlocking their potential creative talents.

By purchasing from the Milena Zu Collection you join us in our goal to end poverty and empower women globally.

Click here and buy your very own statement piece with it's special message of wisdom and life lesson channeled by the designer.

As a free gift with purchase you will be sent two books, 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' (valued at $24.95) and 'Wisdom' (valued at $23.00). You will also receive samples of Bvlgari Jasmine Noir & Rose Essentielle....because every woman can be beautiful, spiritual and wise.

Private Access offers exclusive access to the leading brands in fashion, beauty, lifestyle & travel and empowers women in business, wealth and personal growth.

www.meshjewellery.com

Daddy's Money......Daddy's Girl

In the past for many of us women a life of privilege was one that our fathers gave us when we were daddy's little girls or the ones our future partners may help us to achieve. But today I am glad to see that there are women everywhere empowering themselves to greatness, to become leaders and masters of their own destinies.
Women in countries like Indonesia and India are given an opportunity not through a hand out but a hand up to claim their power and create a future for themselves and the next generation of women. I've often come to my own turning point in life where I felt the conflict between choosing the world of business which I absolutely love or the family which I so much desired. My profound moment came a year ago when I realised that I CAN have it all and that although daddy's money could help that my greatest joy would come from realising of my dreams and working to achieve them!!

This brings me to a question....Is a privileged life one that is given to us or is it one that we create for ourselves? The question you think the ones bon to riches would never ask. On the contrary, what I found is that the kids born into it are asking the questions just as the ones born without.

I have recently taken up the study of what it takes to truly succeed in life and not with Daddy's money, not with a silver spoon but with the sheer determination to reach the final destination if there is ever such a place!

After reading Ivanka Trumps new book "The Trump Card" I was inspired to see that a woman who has everything one could ask for still has something to prove to the world and herself. I have recently watch the documentary "Born Rich" which was created by the heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune.... Here he interviews many of the kids born into the privileged families of America. It was incredible to see that despite the inheritance that will come their way they had to work their way to the top of their game too, nothing was given to them except of course the comfortable surroundings in which they lived. All to often we see many of the richest kids in the world rebel against the life which has been handed to them, they still want to carve out a place of their own. We believe it would be easy to simply be born a Trump but what I can see is that no matter what our name is we still have a desire to fulfill a purpose.
So the question is whether a privileged life is one that we are born into or must we all find our special place in the world? I would say the latter.

Bearing the Trump name has its advantages, the education it affords you the experiences and travels to exotic destinations, private jets and shiny jewels, but I have found that these privileged kids of the super rich are looking to claim their own piece of the pie. They still, like us have something to prove. They still have a mission to make something of themselves and the pressure may be even more greater because of what's at stake.

So before we look upon others as having the upper hand in life or having it easy because of the name they have, let this be a lesson to us women that no matter where we come from whether Australia, America or India we have the opportunity for greatness within us, to create whatever we want in life if we want it bad enough. We can be all that we want to be and more in the boardroom, in the bedroom and in the nursery!

As women, lets not forget our greatness and reclaim our power and shine our light into the world. There is enough in the world for all of us, let us dream our little dream and travel the distance to make it happen.

I'll leave you with these words from Born Rich by Jamie Johnson which shows us that rich or poor, our money or daddy's money we all have the same desire to leave our footprints in the sand...."The great american dream is to build a bigger and better life than your parents have, but that dream was accomplished by my grand father. I live outside the american dream and its my job to build a meaningful life apart from all the privilege i've inherited. I've learned that part coming of age is finding something thats your own and not your families legacy. I've had the benefit of being rich all my life and i'll never want material things but after working on the movie i've discovered that what you inherit may not be as valuable as what you earn"

Private Interviews with successful women....

Have you ever wanted to know what it takes to get to the top of your game.... Is it passion, is it luck or is there a little secret that no one wants to tell you about...
I have often been inspired by the greatest leaders and wondered what it takes to get to the top and the challenges they have faced on their journey.
After seeing DJ Havana Brown perform at the Palazzo Versace Unmasked event on New Years Eve, I was truly inspired by the pocket size glamour girl and wanted to know her secret to success....and as I've learnt that the greatest opportunities are the ones you create, I set out to find out for myself....stay tuned for the very private interview with DJ Havana Brown and the chance to read about the woman who has performed for Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.

A taste of a privileged life....Private Access Competition Winners..

Thank you to everyone who entered our exclusive competition and with over 500 entrants it was not easy choosing the final winners.... We asked women what luxury was to them and it's amazing to see how individual it really is. There are no two alike answers for what it meant to each and every woman.

May we all find our own definition of luxury and privilege and continue to strive to make it part of our day, everyday!

A huge thank you to all of our great brand partners who offer Private Access Women the opportunity to experience true luxury and a taste of the privileged life.....

FIRST PRIZE: LIBBY TEALE - Sydney

7 nights at Anantara Seminyak in an Ocean Suite Room, including daily breakfast for two guests and massage in the resort spa valued at $6337

12hr Concierge Package for two people with Lux2Asia Bali valued at $520

Human Design Life Purpose Foundation Reading valued at $220

Women in Wealth Building Wealth Seminar for two people valued at $795

SECOND PRIZE: KIM GASTON - Melbourne

Wardrobe by leading designer Carl Kapp to the value of $1000 to be redeemed online at www.carlkapp.com

One night for two guests at Blue Hotel (SYDNEY) in a deluxe pier loft suite valued at $845

Human Design Life Purpose Foundation Reading valued at $157

Women in Wealth Building Wealth Seminar for two people valued at $795

THIRD PRIZE: ANITA VUKOVIC - Sydney

Personalised style consultation with Amanda Garrett (SYDNEY) valued at $250 and wardrobe to the value of $400

Human Design Life Purpose Deluxe Overview Reading valued at $157

Women in Wealth Building Wealth Seminar for two people valued at $795

The classy Hilton......

Now unlike her lovely sister with a very interesting style of her own Nicky Hilton is class all the way! I love her polished and refined look.... she is sexy and elegant at the same time... That is truly inspirational!!! She has an understated kind of cool about her....
Love the preppy blazer, black and white Chanel ballerina flats and the LBD below....