LADYGUNN teamed up with the leading accessory and backpack brand, Sprayground, to unzip the truth of women in positions of power who are styling our modern society with their self-love and successes. Read below for their stories and download the zine for more!

WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG?: Madeline Nelson-Small

OCCUPATION: CEO  SUPERPOWER: Faster than the average Indie label head, Able to leap corporate politics in a single bound.

What does being empowered mean to you?  

To me, being empowered means having the confidence, the ability, and the control to carry out my work and my mission. My work is to build an all Woman staffed music brand. My mission is, through my work, to ensure every Woman I cross paths with, feels empowered and powerful. 

What is your definition of women’s rights? 

My definition of Women’s rights is very simply having ALL of the same fundamental human rights as Men, all over the World. 

What is something in your life that has happened to change your perspective on women’s rights in the world?

As a very young woman, I was molested repeatedly and eventually raped by my oppressor.  As an adult, in one particular job, I was told many times by my superior to stop being vocal about that part of my past. He said it was a waste of time and no one wants to be around a victim. It was then that I realized the expectation for Women to accept, hide and often continue to allow unchecked sexual aggression at home, at work, and in social settings. 

What do you love about yourself?

I love that I have grown to understand my own power to manifest. 

Why do you do what you do?

I do what I do because whenever there is unchartered territory, someone has to be first. I am the first woman to own a full-on music digital distribution company. I am the first to have an all Woman staffed boutique music company. I am the first because I want young women to know there is no ceiling, especially if you have to build the house, yourself. 

What is in your life toolkit that you want every woman to have?

The Power of Yes. By this, I mean, the power to say YES to knowing what they deserve, YES to being a powerful leading-edge creator, YES to breaking down barriers, YES to Loving themselves and expressing their true selves, unapologetically. 

Leave us with three words that describe what being a woman is like for you right now? 

Worthy, Powerful, Valuable

WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG?:

Nigella Miller

OCCUPATION: Celebrity Hairstylist | Barber | Creative Director of Hair | Natural Hair Expert | Artist  SUPERPOWER: Being able to see people’s real beauty, and pulling that out within beauty or creatively.

What does being empowered mean to you? 

It means to embody who you truly are. To believe in yourself first and letting that guide you in whatever drives your passion.

What is your definition of women’s rights?

My definition of women’s rights is when women have more opportunities. Especially black women. The opportunity to get equal pay in the workspace, opportunities to get the jobs we deserve. It’s important to be expected and given the credit we deserve. All women and especially as a black woman we deserve that!

What is something in your life that has happened to change your perspective on women’s rights in the world? 

What’s changed my perspective on women’s rights. I think once the numbers were released to the public about how fast black women thriving as entrepreneurs. How we are the fastest growing entrepreneurs in the  U.S. that’s when I realized that we deserve more. That alone showed me a lot. 

What do you love about yourself?

I love that I am a black woman first! I love that I take chances. I push myself every day to be my best self. I’m extremely hard working and I love every bit of it because I’m doing what I love unapologetically. 

Why do you do what you do?

I do what I do because I love seeing people happy in their own skin. To be able to show someone what I see is amazing! My job is to show my clients how beautiful they are every day. It can be challenging at times, but it makes me happy. 

What is in your life tool kit that you want every woman to have?

I want every woman to put your dreams first &  put everything else second. 

Leave us with three words that describe what being a woman is like for you right now?  

Fearless, Remarkable, Unstoppable!

WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG?: Yaine Ellen Dong

OCCUPATION: Actor-Writer/Director /   Storyteller-Activist SUPERPOWER: Touching & Moving Hearts

What does being empowered mean to you?

To be abundant with love – love for/from myself and others. When I am abundant with love, I am able to give to and receive from the world with courage and grace. 

What is your definition of women’s rights?

The right to create and experience one’s own definition of a fruitful life, with just as much liberation, dignity, and legal protection that any empowered man has!  

What is something in your life that has happened to change your perspective on women’s rights in the world?

One event definitely triggered me to cultivate my mind and soul’s eyes and I awoke to gain clarity on what it’s like to be a woman in the world. I was sexually assaulted when I was 16, and through my experience of surviving, dissecting, understanding and healing from my trauma, I came to understand how toxic masculinity and patriarchy is an insidious disease that’s been plaguing the spirits and livelihoods of women (and even other men as well as non-binary and trans individuals) for far too long in the history of mankind. In the heat of battle, I also awoke to witness my own strength and came to understand just how resilient, powerful and special women are. Women are a source and force of life and we are MORE THAN WORTHY of equal rights!

What do you love about yourself?

I love that I embody gentle strength. I identify a lot with water and this quote I came across resonates for me. “She is water, powerful enough to drown you, soft enough to cleanse you, deep enough to save you.” – Adrian Michael 

Why do you do what you do?

I am committed to walking my path as an actor because I find tremendous value in exploring how the craft of acting is an active practice of empathy. It requires a deep sense of self-awareness as well as the awareness of others and ultimately the human condition. Through acting, I’m able to exercise my muscles and share my intimate journey of finding myself in the stories of others who are seemingly different. With that journey comes astounding growth, connection, and fulfillment. What a joy and a blessing!

What is in your life toolkit that you want every woman to have?

UNCONDITIONAL love for myself. When I love myself, I always want to grow and nurture my existence, even in the face of fear, my own shortcomings, the beatings of this world. We are here to live, learn and BLOSSOM! 

Leave us with three words that describe what being a woman is like for you right now?:

Blossoming, Compelling, Present. 

WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG?: Jasmine Noir 

OCCUPATION: Dancer/Choreographer/Dance Educator/Publicist for Power 105.1 Iheartradio and Google/Spotify podcast personalities/ Owner of Petals of Noir SUPERPOWER: Healing Spirit the ability to help others feel empowered and great about themselves. Especially my dance students because they are children who aspire to live their dreams and I help them push. 

What does being empowered mean to you? 

Being empowered means that I can be great at all things I do along with evolving and learning to be better with amazing people around me. 

What is your definition of women’s rights?

My definition of women’s rights is women having the freedom to live however it makes them feel BEST and always fall into what women are “supposed” to do. It is ok for a woman to be and feel liberated- not controlled by others, her control shall come from herself. 

What is something in your life that has happened to change your perspective on women’s rights in the world? 

My mom is a single parent who runs her own business so just watching her I was influenced by the power and strength of a woman. 

What do you love about yourself?

I love how passionate I am and how spiritual I am becoming and how I am growing to be more understanding. 

Why do you do what you do?

I love to dance because it makes me happy, it’s releasing, relaxing and it helps me grow. I take dance lessons into my life’s lessons. 

What is in your life toolkit that you want every woman to have? 

Self-awareness and respect. We tend to compete with each other more than anything else. I wish we can understand the world is big enough for everyone to eat so it’s no need for EVERYTHING to be a competition. 

Leave us with three words that describe what being a woman is like for you right now :
Healing, Powerful, Beautiful 

WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG?: Jessica Young

 

OCCUPATION: CEO and Founder of BUBBLE

SUPERPOWER: Having good taste… but literally 😉

What does being empowered mean to you?

Having the confidence to know that you deserve what you deserve if you work hard to get it and truly believe in your right to do so. All this while empowering those around you to have the same belief and ability to make those power moves! 

What is your definition of women’s rights?

Equal opportunity and a seat at the board table !!

What is something in your life that has happened to change your perspective on women’s rights in the world?

Most recently fundraising for my company, was pretty eye-opening for it being 2020. Walking into board rooms of all men at the table and seeing the gender gap in the investment community made me want to be more vocal about not only becoming an investor someday but seeking out more women investors for my own company.

What do you love about yourself?

Everything! 

Why do you do what you do?

I really do it for my family and want to see better quality food become the norm. 

What is in your life toolkit that you want every woman to have?

A strong solid network 

Leave us with three words that describe what being a woman is like for you right now? 

Present, responsible, and satisfied!

CONNECT WITH SPRAYGROUND

INSTAGRAM // WEBSITE

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DIRECTOR / SANDFLOWER

STORY / PAULETTE ELY + KOKO NTUEN

PHOTOS / JENNIFER MEDINAA

STYLING / BIANCA ARIELLE BAILEY

MAKEUP / DENEY ADAM

HAIR / NIGELLA

ILLUSTRATIONS / MADDY BROOKES

GRAPHIC DESIGN / AYOBADE ADEBAYO