Name: Lisa Cybaniak Gustafsson

Age: 47

Where you are from: Canada

Where you live: England

This is who I am in the world: After surviving a decade of child abuse, from psychological and physical to sexual, my teen years found me safe from my abuser but in danger from myself. Because of the words and actions of another person, I truly believed I was stupid, ugly, worthless and useless, nobody would ever love me, and I would never be anything to this world. I honestly believed that someone else needed to come along and show me my value. Of course, that was never going to happen – not because I was not valuable, but because I did not believe I had any value. Therefore, any time someone was kind to me, I assumed it must be because they wanted something from me or were laughing at me behind my back. I simply could not accept love or kindness from another person. In fact, most times I could not even see that it was there. I spent a long time looking for someone else to save me from my tor...

Name: Allegra Franziska Lipanje

Age: 37

Where I am from: Trieste, Italy

Where I live: Bali, Indonesia

1. This is who I am in the world…

On paper I am a jewellery designer and a business owner. Who am I the way I see it? Simply a maker of tiny objects. You could say I am an animist in that way, because I believe in the energy of inanimate things. I play with symbolism a lot. 

I think jewellery in particular relies heavily on symbols, and this becomes powerful because its a type of object that is worn close to your body, that people assign personal meaning to. 

I narrate a story with gaps through the objects I make. I say 'with gaps', because we all have a different set of symbols and signs in our heads, which is tied to our personal history. 

Therefore the moment you wear one of my objects, your story becomes part of it too and the meaning may change. 

2. This is the story I want rewritten for women…

I don't believe that any woman's story can be rewritten, as...

Liv Power Ryan

Age: 30

Where you are from: Dublin, Éire (Ireland)

Where you live: Dublin, Éire (Ireland)

1. This is who I am in the world….

I find it difficult to define myself as I’m definitely someone who is constantly changing and evolving - this in itself is something I’ve realised is actually a gift and not something to be ashamed of. I’ve always struggled with the way things are set up within our systems as I see them as inherently anti-Nature and anti-People. I’ve realised the antidote for this uncomfortable understanding is to offer solutions.

And so, writer, change-believer, mentor may be words that can give an idea of who I am. My work focuses on reconnecting us to our innate and Natural connections through the lens of Climate, sustainable living and their relationship with Wellbeing and what it means to be Human..

2. This is the story that I want rewritten for women…..

I want to see women realise their inherent power and potential to share and change the wor...

Annie Wheeler

Gippsland, Australia

Who am I in the world? Well, my first thought is ‘I am me’, unapologetically me. I’m a woman, a mother, a wife, a sister, a granddaughter, a friend. I am a woman who was raised by her grandparents and who took a long time to find my own identity within this world. I love adventure also, whether it’s playing imaginary games with my boys, planning holidays, doing adrenaline pumping activities. 

I’m also someone who is extremely passionate about children’s rights and safety, someone who feels big emotions and has a strong sense of fighting injustice. I am a fighter and I am strong. 

This question really made me think and reflect. Having gone through a pregnancy in a pandemic and then a birth, being on maternity leave in lockdowns, there were times when I thought I was losing myself and the uncontrollable controlled me. But, these times have also allowed me to grow, it’s allowed me to refocus and to ‘stop’ in time and enjoy (as I was a very f...

Sally Anne

This is who I am in the world – a woman, a conscious thought leader and advocate for compassion,

creativity and self-expression. As an artist I explore my creation life force with wonder, openness

and gratitude. As I writer I challenge my perspective of the world through my words. As a wife I

always come back to gratitude for my partnership. Being independent and in flow with another is a

journey of humility, self-respect and unconditional love - a dance of movement and stillness. As a

mother I feel abundant in the overflowing love received from my children. Receiving is sometimes

difficult to acknowledge, I prefer to be a giver, but when they are equal and balanced my world is

simply beautiful and inspiring. As a conscious leader, not above any other woman, but conscious in

the sense of thinking and then take action, I lead from the heart. I continue to work on myself for my

most authentic alignment and re-alignment of my values in giving back to the world. I love...

Gypsy Ray Bast 

Ageless wonder 

International citizen, born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee dancing, singing, and acting. 

I moved to Hollywood's entertainment industry for Art school and to work in film and TV, stage shows, and teach children's theater. 

I follow my passion, talent, and purpose. I have lived, studied, performed, guided and taught to thousands of people. Globally I have worked extensively to inspire and uplift my audiences. I've had unique opportunities to train Cirque de Soleil shows, and perform for E entertainment while hanging upside down from a chandelier... which healed my neck compression! 

I am a survivor of multiple car accidents, a coma, head concussion syndromes, and trauma from rape and mind control. I've learned tools to heal myself in body, mind, and spirit with the highest level of integrity and skill. It not easy and many days require deep self-love and care! 

I teach Pilates & Dance, Yoga & Meditation. I've developed Yoga programs for...

Anne Carr 

47 years old 

From: Western Australia

Lives Melbourne, Australia

This is who I am in the World.

I am Spiritual Goddess, a mother and a mentor to my six-year-old son Harry, a wife, a friend, a sister, a healer, a lover of crystals, words of wisdom and quotes, I’m a seeker of knowledge, a big kid at heart and I’m passionate about people and life.  I’m a lover of plants and nature, a lover of exquisite cars, and a sponsor of children and animals. 

I’m kind, honest, faithful, sensitive, funny, intelligent and I wear my heart on my sleeve. I have a sense of humour, I love my own company, I take pride in my strength of independence, having left my old self back in Western Australia to start life anew in Melbourne. I have always followed my own path and am not easily influenced by others.

 This is the story that I want rewritten for women

My life, like many, has been influenced by childhood sexual abuse. I was hit by a short stick by no fault of my own and fell under the...

Joanie Roy

35

From Tasmania

Currently lives in Melbourne

1. This is who I am in the world….

I’m a seeker, constantly evolving; introverted by nature, with a vibrant inner world. In the outside world, I’m a dispute resolution lawyer and yogi surrounded by my family, friends and other nourishing circles. Appreciator of art, movement, music, documentaries, books and deep conversations; amongst other things, currently exploring the Tagalog language and gardening.

2. This is the story that I want rewritten for women…..

I would love narratives where the focus isn't on appearance (“what did she wear?” “fat” “thin” “too emotional” “too loud/bossy” “too quiet”) and there is space for diversity, stories, ideas and contributions.

I would love a world where we see more women’s voices in leadership, more women CEOs and board members, more women politicians, more women prime ministers.

That we don’t have to feel limited and can go by our imaginations and aspirations; that it is us that ...

Megan Lambert

From: California, USA

Lives: Bali

This is who I am in the world… I am a global citizen, a woman on a continual journey towards truth and spirit, an intimacy coach for women and couples, an author, a dog mother, a wife, and a soon-to-be human mother. 

This is the story I want rewritten for women… 

I want women to trust themselves and to trust the quiet little voice inside that whispers to them. Call it “intuition” or “truth” or “soul whispers”…. I believe women know when something doesn’t feel right. 

For hundreds of years, women have been told they are “crazy” or “irrational” when they sense something isn’t right…. Their voices have been silenced. That’s the story I want rewritten. Will our daughters have the courage to listen and follow their intuition? To bravely trust her desires for a more beautiful world? That’s my prayer. 

This is the story I next want to write for myself… I am writing my next chapter as I move into motherhood, birthing a baby girl i...

Gabrielle Victoria Meyerowitz

 AGE 33 

 FROM

I was born on American soil, however in a different context to the standard American culture. I only felt at “home” when I moved to France in my late teens.

 CURRENT

“Portable-studio” ie. [ VALISE ] . VALISE is an old suitcase I picked up from the streets while living in Paris in 2012. Since then, I have dubbed it my “portable-studio” and “home” and kept only the essential “tools” inside that act as this – allowing me to travel across many “foreign” lands, while still remaining grounded inside a space that is my own.

My method of translation of my human experience, or my “voice-box” includes; painting, poetry, and interactive elements, often using found objects. 

My current station: Bali

THIS IS THE STORY I WANT REWRITTEN FOR WOMEN 

SU means “under” 

RE means “back”

DE means “down”

OB means “against”

PRESS means “to strike” or “push”

When combined, these roots form the words suppression, repression, depress...