Elle Beauty Breakthrough Competition: The Future Starts Here

Elle Jan 2012 Issue Goes Gaga and yes the future does start here, in more ways then one!

As most of you already know, back in October I applied for the Elle Beauty Breakthrough competition to potentially win a year long paid internship at Elle HQ and PZ Cussons Pr as well.

Out of 475 applicants, I am very proud and honoured to say that I made the final twenty. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that voted for me as well as the panel of judges who also believed in my talent.

Meeting the panel was definitely the highlight of my journey in the competition. Walking in to a room filled with accomplished, successful and such humble women left me with strong feeling of female empowerment (Beyonce was not lying when she said that we run the world). I left that room feeling like I could be anything I wanted to be (although, I was a bag of nerves for the most part). Meeting Jennifer Dickison and the Pr Cussons and Head Pr team, made my dreams of wanting to work for a publication like Elle, all the more real. My dreams at that moment in time no longer felt like a distant bubble, they felt real, possible and more importantly achievable.

This competition has definitely taught me some life lessons that I will never forget and cherish throughout the rest of my career in the industry:

1. Always believe in yourself, if you don't no one else will!
2. Take risks and don't be scared of failure, you have nothing to lose!
3. That its really not all about winning, it is the taking part the counts! I know that I have what it takes but I also know that I need to grow, so when its my time is here, I will be the best I can possibly be!

Although, I didn't win the prize, I won in other ways.I overcame my nerves. I met some amazing people who have inspired me with their presence. The most exciting thing is that Jennifer Dickision, Elle's Acting Editor, knows who I am (I still can't get my head around this fact), and tweeted this about me:

This has to be my favourite Tweet of all time!

I also got this Fab Goody Bag that I was given filled with Charles Worthington,St Tropez and Sanctuary products!

The Moral of this blog post is believe in your dreams, reach for stars (as cliche as it sounds)and never limit yourself because you never know what you are capable of achieving. I am just starting my journey in to the Fashion & Beauty industry and I know it is going to take alot of hard work and dedication to get to where I want to be in life. But I will get there. If this competition has done anything for me, it has most definitely left me more hungry, determined and focused towards reaching my goals.

2012 will be my year. My Future starts here and so does yours!

Lets Make One New Years Resolution this year to become the best version of ourselves that we can possibly be!

Once again thank you for your support

Lots of Love

Sue Chanel xoxo ...Elle Girl in the making

Christian Louboutin : A Man With A Serious Shoe Fetish

No matter where you live in the world, no matter what language you speak, if you speak fashion, Christian Louboutinn's is a household name amognst you and your friends. In a society, where fashion is one of the biggest symbols of wealth and status, as females we are divided in to two catergories : the Red Soled Vixens and the Plain Jaines.

Whether it is ethically right to make judgement's on one other soley on the way that they dress is a whole other debate (which i should blogging about very soon). Because we all know that fashion isn't always ethical. Nonetheless, shoe lovers around the globe continue to buy Louboutin shoes, just as much for the quality of the shoe as the status it offers them.

What I want to know is where our obbession with shoes come from? Why did we all of a sudden wake up and think it is neccesary for us to wear extremely uncomfortable shoes all in the name of fashion.If anyone has the anwser to these questions it's Mr Louboutin himself ....

" A little act of discomfort pays off in lots of other ways"

Well there you have it ladies and gentlemen, clearly us women are willing to do whatever it is (even it causes are toes to bleed) stand out and more importantly feel beautiful. Now I'm not saying that I am the type of person that follows the crowd but this really has got me thinking. Who knows maybe one day I will treat myself to a pair, but rest assured I will keep my receipt handy, because if they don't make me feel like a superstar, then I will feel like I have bought into a false dream.

Untill then, Ladies, make the most of what you have, feel confident within yourself, so that any added confidence booster is an added bonus!

Sue Chanel xoxo