Hypebae Celebrates International Women's Day With Inaugural Yearbook
Happy International Women's Day, baes!
Now, we know what you are thinking. There are so many challenges we as women still face today. Or you might be thinking that it's about time we did more to tackle the tyranny of the patriarchy. Or you might be among those who think IWD is little more than the corporate Valentine's Day equivalent of feminism. We get it. It's deeply depressing.
Which is why we decided to mark the now-annual event on March 8 in a different, more uplifting way. We invited some of the badass baes in our community to join us for Yearbook-style picture day. The aim is simple: to celebrate the amazing women who we regularly look to for inspiration and to share their genius with you.
The fight to end violence against women, to end inequality and inequity continues -- by no means do we mean to pretend otherwise. Nor are we seeking to forget the radical roots of IWD. But wouldn't it be nice to take a moment to celebrate amazing women? We think so. Without further ado, meet the IWD class of 2024.
Marbles Valdez, Nail Artist
Most likely to: Be famous and to be the last person to have kids.
Being a woman in 2024 means: Being free. I feel like I can do whatever I want, from the way that I feel to the way that I dress.
Advice to your younger self: I would want to grab her by the shoulders and say "Nobody cares!" I always got caught up in other people's perception of me which hindered me in being my complete self. So, I would just say "Be cool and be you."
5 of my favorite things: Nails, clothes, bows, pink, shopping, fashion, sewing and drawing. Sorry, that was more than five.
1 thing I would change: I would love to change my work mentality because I don't give myself rest days. I want to change the rent prices in New York and move out of my parents crib because I want my living situation to match how successful I feel like my career is.
Julia Lebosse, Founder of Sneakers By Women
Most likely to: Be in the WNBA or at least that's what I was told in high school but I think it's just because I'm tall not because I played much.
Being a woman in 2024 means: Being unapologetic, living your truth and being who you are.
2024 in one word: "Icon."
Advice to your younger self: Don't worry so much and overthink. Just know what you want and do it and don't think too much about it. Trust the process.
5 of my favorite things: This jacket, my Bose headphones which I named Julia LeBOSEs, my umbrella because the weather is really bad here, my shoe collection and my family.
1 thing I would change: It should be illegal to not have pockets in dresses or skirts. You should be able to sue people for that.
Kalysse Anthony, Creative and Co-Founder of To Many More
Most likely to: Fall in love in a few weeks.
Being a woman in 2024 means: I'm turning 30 this year so, 2024 is all about stepping into my power and giving myself grace.
2024 in one word: "Resilience and gratitude."
Advice to your younger self: You got this, trust your intuition and don't be afraid to express yourself through your words and your actions.
5 of my favorite things: A good lip gloss, my dog, caesar salad with salmon and a side of fries, the color green and the ocean.
1 thing I would change: The state of the world, specifically global warming, resale prices in the luxury market, overthinking and my screen time.
Devine Blacksher, Writer and Co-Founder of To Many More
Most likely to: Be the best dressed and the most dramatic.
Being a woman in 2024 means: Hardwork. Now that I'm in my 30s, I feel like I have more pressure and am facing more "real world" things. In 2024, I want to embrace all of those challenges and continue through my life in a graceful way.
2024 in one word: "Flexibility." I want to make sure I'm able to move amidst everything that life brings to me.
Advice to your younger self: I would remind the younger me that we will be faced with a lot of challenges but that we were built to take them all on. I would also just give myself a hug. My dad always told me "Start strong, stay strong" so, I would push that narrative and let her know that everything is going to be ok.
5 of my favorite things: World peace, my family, being an aunt, the intensities of being in love, travelling and community when it is authentic.
1 thing I would change: I would love to see people have less ego because it blocks them from being productive and less people on social media flexing what they don't have. I want to see more women come together and be more united and work intentionally to make sure that we as a collective are succeeding and not letting other people tell us "No."
Sophia Wilson, Photographer
Most likely to: Drop out of school and become a superstar.
Being a woman in 2024 means: Having to be extremely strong and resilient because women are still, unfortunately, treated as lesser than. I definitely face that everyday in this industry, which sucks. It also means being powerful, strong, beautiful, hot, sexy and f-cking awesome.
2024 in one word: "Better."
Advice to your younger self: I would say "You are gorgeous." I didn't always feel that way because there weren't that many people that looked like me that were doing the things that I wanted to do.
5 of my favorite things: I love my bae, fashion, vegan food, working out and myself.
1 thing I would change: I want to change the world, the industry, the beauty standards, the pay gap for women and my attitude because sometimes I'm really sad and that's not cool.
Romy St Clair, Co-Founder of SAGE Flowers
Most likely to: Be in everyone's business. I think it's a really good thing because I'm looking out for everyone else, but maybe I'm slightly too involved.
Being a woman in 2024 means: Supporting each other, lifting each other up, creating platforms, singing about each other's successes and finding ways to collaborate and not compete. I'm quite a recent mom and I just have this whole, newfound appreciation for how women work.
2024 in one word:"Reinvigorating." My brand is five years old now so, I'm looking at what we do well, what I want to change and how we're going to grow. But also celebrating the journey we've been on and going back to the core of why we started.
Advice to your younger self: I would say to recognize your skills much sooner and follow your gut. It took me a really long time to be brave enough to say "Oh, actually, I'm good at this and this and this and that." I had to take baby steps and have a lot of loud voices behind me pushing me forward.
5 of my favorite things: Dancing with my girlfriends, eating out in restaurants, the beginning of a process, my kid and my dog and going outside together. Healthcare and skincare, too.
1 thing I would change: The way our childcare and nursery fees are structured so more women can go back to work.
Coco Mell, Stylist and Founder of Caribbean Magna Creatives
Most likely to: Hurt myself.
Being a woman in 2024 means: Not giving a damn about what anyone thinks, anyone feels towards you or the way you look. Owning yourself and being accountable.
2024 in one word: "Unpredictable."
Advice to your younger self: Just do it. Just do the thing that scares you the most. Do the thing that you've always wanted to do without any limitations or restrictions that anyone puts on you or that you put on yourself.
5 of my favorite things: The smell of grass, smell of Sharpie pens, the taste of Chinese food, the smell of freshly baked apple crumble and a good cocktail.
1 thing I would change: The exploitative nature of the creative industry; towards Black and Brown women in particular.
Jasmine Douglas, Founder of Babes on Waves
Most likely to: Change my name, sell all my belongings, move away and never be heard of ever again.
Being a woman in 2024 means: Being connected to yourself and the planet around you.
2024 in one word: "Growth." I feel like myself and all my friends are going through a period of massive, transformational change in relationships, workplace, career, life, family and everything. So, if you're out there and you're going through that period of change, you're not alone.
Advice to your younger self: That it's okay to be different and that you should lean into that uniqueness. That's what makes you really special in this world.
5 of my favorite things: The ocean, my braids, dogs, my friends and a really big bowl of ramen.
1 thing I would change: I wish that we could all be paid to exist and that we could just do our hobbies all day long.
Anita Chhiba, Founder of Diet Paratha
Most likely to: Invite everyone to mine so I don't have to leave my house.
Being a woman in 2024 means: Having the freedom and power to live out my dreams and help others achieve theirs.
2024 in one word: "Growth," in all areas of my life -- especially my bank account.
Advice to your younger self: To not give up because all of your dreams are going to come true.
5 of my favorite things: Cooking for my friends, staying at home, discovering new talent, getting sent free clothes and flower arranging.
1 thing I would change: The British government.
Imxn Abdul, Founder of Bebes Boricuas
Most likely to: Overthrow the government and change the world.
Being a woman in 2024 means: Standing on business, period.
Advice to your younger self: To not care about what other people think about you because they don't know who you are or your experiences. You are you, you own your experiences and you are here to share them -- no one else is allowed to dictate that for you.
2024 in one word: "Resistance." There has been so much happening in the world that has led us to this moment where a lot of young people are being awakened and feeling empowered to take action.
5 of my favorite things: My identity, music (especially reggeton and afrobeats), eating, community and people.
1 thing I would change: The public education system in New York City and the colonial status of my home island Puerto Rico. I'd also like to create more spaces for women of color to come together, feel empowered and build together. It takes not just one of us but all of us as a collective.
Ah-Niyah Gold, Founder of A Gold Consulting
Most likely to: Be famous.
Being a woman in 2024 means: Being resilient, powerful and thoughtful.
Advice to your younger self: That she will figure it out someday.
2024 in one word: "Chaotic."
5 of my favorite things: Theater, fashion, Craig David, cowboy hats and Twitter.
1 thing I would change: The fact that Beyoncé never gave us the visual, the landscape for opportunity for women in my profession, that I can't turn back time, two-day weekends and the fact that we can't get the SnackWrap at McDonalds.
Special thanks to the adidas London team for loaning us their studio for the day.
