..Because we like them different.

The fashion industry is not a polite one. The standards that are set for a potential model often translate to skinny,a waif-like physique, a "feed me" face and legs that seem to have been made in a Chinese factory. Every now and then, a model comes along, sets their own boundaries and challenges us to question their beauty. Meet Andrej Pejic.

He. She. I wonder sometimes. Andrej is indeed all testosterone, but borders on the "pretty-boy" side of life. Androgynous models have been around for eons, but this is the first time that a male model has been given cult status simply for being different.

The 20-year-old has walked the runway for Jean-Paul Gaultier and Marc Jacobs which certifies him as a major "happening" in the fashion industry. I honestly feel like throwing my own little happy party, complete with balloons and cupcakes that taste like sand. Society is changing; values are changing. Yes, we are indeed beginning to move along with the times.

Andrej proves that being caught in between can be empowering. Making a career out of your imperfections is what drives your soul; it can turn the world upside down, and question our thoughts on what gender identity really entails.

This man is gorgeous. Beautiful. Pretty-ugly. He smizes with his eyes. He is the polar opposite of what we are expected to like when we open a men's magazine (unless you are adventurous enough to bat for both teams, which in that case, kudos to you).

Andrej IS high fashion; his look defies expectations, complete with a sultry pout and Adam's apple."The photographers seemed to like my look,” he says. "They talked about the extreme androgyny and commented a lot on how thin I am.” Andrej proves that being comfortable in your own skin is really all it takes to shake things up. Who likes normal anyway?

Another slice of cake PLEASE!?

Christmas has come and gone leaving you with an extended waistline, and far too many pairs of Bridget Jones granny panties. SUCK IT IN. The fact is that this leaves you sounding like the long lost member of Alvin and the Chipmunks, while walking like you have something stuck up your (now larger) derriere.


Indulging in far too many mince pies and mojitos over the festive season is a MUST; it really is my motivation for listening to Boney M everyday during this "sunshine and rainbows" phase. Sadly, it also leaves you with a flair for wearing black all day, while chewing on a celery stick. Dropping the extra pounds during the post-festive season period should not mean that you have to starve yourself, while channelling your inner 1980's aerobics child (Think Madonna's Like a Virgin).

• Eat foods which naturally speed up your metabolism, while lowering your blood glucose level - cayenne pepper, green tea, apple cider vinegar, grapefruit, merthi seeds, black coffee, really hot water, cinnamon and tons of spicy food.

• Breakfast please. I really recommend eating a big breakfast, preferably high in protein. I often opt for eggs, as they are so high in protein that they keep you full for longer, and your body uses more energy in order to digest it. Wholegrain cereals such as All Bran flakes or oats are also amazing if you want to curb that appetite.

• No fruit juices or soft drinks. I prefer to stick to green tea and water throughout the day, as you really do not want the extra kilojoules that come with sugar-laden juices.

• I try to stick to fat free dairy products whenever I can. Think fat free cottage cheese on a toasted wholewheat pita when a pizza craving kicks in, and plain yoghurt with a sprinkling of cinnamon when you feel for a sugary snack.

• People often focus on fat free products, but forget about the hidden sugar content of these sneaky foods. So NO 2min noodles (approximately 6tspoons of sugar), or white flour foods.
• Try your best to stick to 5000kj a day, and 10 000 steps if you dare!

Have fun, indulge a little and do not deprive yourself. Tis the season to start over, a fresh start while learning to love your body. It really is about maximising your curves, so try not to turn into a boney little pooch who simply wants to look like the masses.

My Oprah Moment

Expiry Date. Deadline. Terms that are usually met with a bit of hesitance, a little trepidation and one too many "can we press the pause button" moments. I sat down at my desk, with the purest of intentions - the latest shoe trends of 2012. YES PLEASE! However, The Oprah Winfrey Show was on t.v, and so began my somewhat weird affair with love, family and loss. This specific episode of the show highlighted the story of the intelligent, wise and witty Erin Kramp. Huh? Okay, so most of you have probably never heard of her, and so I urge you to turn to my favourite friend Google. This might force you to turn to my other favourite friend Jose Cuervo, as this heart-wrenching tale of a mother dying of breast cancer is far too emotive to be put into words.

Erin constantly lived with the end in mind. She was well aware of her fate, which prompted her to record videotapes for her young daughter to watch one day. Pieces of hope, love and advice that were created with the knowledge that this would be the only way in which she would be remembered. Living with the intention of creating awe-inspiring memories that can be crammed within a time frame is mind boggling. Life does not usually have a deadline, and yet we encounter selfless individuals who have no other option other than to simply breathe, create, inspire - LIVE.

Time often runs out far before we expect it to. Trust me. Experience in this realm of the ticking time bomb can instigate feelings of reslessness, anger, procrastination, angst and far too many "let's-pretend-that-we-are-other-people" cocktail sessions. Personally, I have experienced death in the most ugly of ways. UGLY - not a word that I use often, but one that describes cancer in a freakishly accurate manner.

Sharing inner turmoil is not meant to depress, or force someone to grab the nearest bottle of vino so that they can gladly forget anything not worth remembering.. I really believe that this canvas of a blog is my attempt to inspire; to urge people to create and to live each day with purpose and with intention. Yes, I am having my very own Oprah/Dr.Phil moment.

I often think that we are bombarded with far too many "live each day as if it were your last moment" lectures, which is really not my intention. I simply believe that we are responsible for creating our own unforgettable moments in life, and these moments deserve to be lived. Every person deserves to have their very own story to tell at the old age home, while screaming "BINGO" at the top of their (collapsing) lungs.
 
Life is a crazy, weird and wonderful journey. Seize it. Own it. Live it.