Nå er det endelig påskeferie og finaleuttaket er timer unna, likevel så er terping på hva jeg har lært så langt det som er mest på hjernen. Dagen før jeg reiste til Kenya (4.Mars) så hadde vi catwalk kurs med coachen vår for konkurransen Klara Szalai. Jeg er så enormt glad for at jeg prioriterte å delta i kurset siden det var en stor nød for det i retrospekt. Det ble mye one-on-one kursing med Klara og Kaja Kojan med mye konstruktiv tilbakemelding på hva som må jobbes med, hva å være oppmerksom på på scenen, og tips og triks for hvordan å håndtere ulike situasjoner skulle det oppstå under catwalken. Det er veldig mye å fokusere på og derfor så må en god del (om ikke alt) av ferien prioriteres til å få til catwalken så bra som mulig. Nå er det fullt kjør med trening, terping og catwalk. Dette blir spennende for nå er det bare full fart fremover. God Påske!

The city that never sleeps – also my other home. I feel most of the people in my hometown known me for being the New York girl, at it has become my home. I feel like I know this city better than anywhere else, yet there is so much more for me to see. And as cliché as it may seem, a part of my heart will always belong in New York.

When I boarded the plan 4,5 years ago, to spend half a year in New York I wasn’t expecting that I would stay. This sounds very dramatic but it is the truth. I stayed. With a backpack full of dreams and no  barely no idea of what to expect, 20 year old me fell in love with the city, the people, the culture. It is nothing like New York. I guess my parents biggest fear was me getting a boyfriend and not ever wanted to come home, and that happened too for a while.  I guess you could never ever predict the future.

New York for me has given me so much and changed me a lot as a person, and it is important for me to reflect on this and to share this, because there are so many things during this period that made me end up where I am today with what I do.  And I do not think a person who haven’t lived here will quite understand it either. You must experience it, but I will try to explain it as well.

I was 20 years old when I came to New York, coming from Norway quite naive and young you are forced to adapt into an independent lifestyle quite quick. There are no parents to go home to in the weekend, no one to pick up furniture’s at IKEA or drive you to the hospital if you are sick, nobody to fix the apt if it is leaking – you fix it yourself or with your friends, in New York, friends are becoming your family. Mostly because everybody often come from different places. I think this is something of the most beautiful thing about New York, the connection of different people, and how everybody is living next to each other so peaceful and are becoming so close. I know that some of my friends I have met In New York would be my friends forever.

New York might be a hard city to live in, the rent is insanely high, the weather is bi polar and the people you might thought were friends are not. However, the memories and experiences and the opportunities you get weight so much more than that. I do not think New York is a place everybody should live, because after 4 years I realized you need to be quite thick skinned and you learn about sides of you which you never though you had, for better and for worse.  But in New York everybody finds there voice or place.  One of the reasons why I also loved it is because of the opportunities it gets with work and studying is amazing and the networking you can do.

I have met the most beautiful people in New York, and we have share the most amazing experiences together.  And I feel my life in New York has been just like the moments you see in the movies. I had so many fairytale moments and thinking back at it now makes me so happy. We have been Ice Skating at Rockefeller center in front of the Christmas tree, watched sunset on top of roof tops, went to have dinner at 5 am in the morning, dancing salsa all night in the apartments, went on vacations to see the whole US, studying the whole night to make the due for a test, kissing in the rain and attending New York Fashion week. I have so many stories and memories that mean more to me in than everything I owe. I think when I talk about New York to my friends and family I get stars in my eyes.  I will show you some memories for me the past years! This is only a small part of it all.

Thank you for all the memories, and for many more to come!

Xoxo

R

The city that never sleeps – also my other home. I feel most of the people in my hometown known me for being the New York girl, at it has become my home. I feel like I know this city better than anywhere else, yet there is so much more for me to see. And as cliché as it may seem, a part of my heart will always belong in New York.

When I boarded the plan 4,5 years ago, to spend half a year in New York I wasn’t expecting that I would stay. This sounds very dramatic but it is the truth. I stayed. With a backpack full of dreams and no  barely no idea of what to expect, 20 year old me fell in love with the city, the people, the culture. It is nothing like New York. I guess my parents biggest fear was me getting a boyfriend and not ever wanted to come home, and that happened too for a while.  I guess you could never ever predict the future.

New York for me has given me so much and changed me a lot as a person, and it is important for me to reflect on this and to share this, because there are so many things during this period that made me end up where I am today with what I do.  And I do not think a person who haven’t lived here will quite understand it either. You must experience it, but I will try to explain it as well.

I was 20 years old when I came to New York, coming from Norway quite naive and young you are forced to adapt into an independent lifestyle quite quick. There are no parents to go home to in the weekend, no one to pick up furniture’s at IKEA or drive you to the hospital if you are sick, nobody to fix the apt if it is leaking – you fix it yourself or with your friends, in New York, friends are becoming your family. Mostly because everybody often come from different places. I think this is something of the most beautiful thing about New York, the connection of different people, and how everybody is living next to each other so peaceful and are becoming so close. I know that some of my friends I have met In New York would be my friends forever.

New York might be a hard city to live in, the rent is insanely high, the weather is bi polar and the people you might thought were friends are not. However, the memories and experiences and the opportunities you get weight so much more than that. I do not think New York is a place everybody should live, because after 4 years I realized you need to be quite thick skinned and you learn about sides of you which you never though you had, for better and for worse.  But in New York everybody finds there voice or place.  One of the reasons why I also loved it is because of the opportunities it gets with work and studying is amazing and the networking you can do.

I have met the most beautiful people in New York, and we have share the most amazing experiences together.  And I feel my life in New York has been just like the moments you see in the movies. I had so many fairytale moments and thinking back at it now makes me so happy. We have been Ice Skating at Rockefeller center in front of the Christmas tree, watched sunset on top of roof tops, went to have dinner at 5 am in the morning, dancing salsa all night in the apartments, went on vacations to see the whole US, studying the whole night to make the due for a test, kissing in the rain and attending New York Fashion week. I have so many stories and memories that mean more to me in than everything I owe. I think when I talk about New York to my friends and family I get stars in my eyes.  I will show you some memories for me the past years:

I know I have people following me who doesn't understand Norwegian - so I thought I would do a post on here in English as well. It's something so important as well, and I think you should read it no matter what language you speak. I want to talk about self-love. About loving yourself. Loving yourself when you're all alone. Loving yourself without makeup. Loving yourself because you're unique and you're you.

We all have insecurities, and when having the type of anxiety I used to have - it was more centered around other people. It is so frustrating being inside your head - and having confidence and self-love, but the second you get out in situations where you feel unsafe, all of that disappears. It used to take a second and I felt like I was robbed of everything I had when I was by myself. 

So what happened? How did I push myself enough to have the same feelings about myself no matter who I'm surrounded by? How did I go from being the quiet one who only wanted to be invisible, to someone who loves herself and respect herself? 

By being surrounded by my mom growing up I learned to love myself from an early age. I knew my worth and I knew I always had the right to my own opinions. I learned that my voice and dreams was just as important as anyone elses. This could unfortunately never have "saved" me from my anxiety disorder. I had to go through it, but I always had what my mom taught me in the back of my mind.

When I managed to fight the anxiety I was struggling with, and realised what I actually could do - everything changed. I took my confidence outside of home, I started speaking up and I wanted people to hear me. I'm always thinking - you only have this one life, why would you ever waste it by worrying about what other people would say or mean or think about you?! Every single one of us is going to be gone one day, and how will they opinions about you matter then, or ever? Why should it stop you from doing or saying what you want? You need to live your life to the fullest, and it always starts with loving yourself - before anything.

I know there's so many struggling with this every day - so I wanted to write down some things you might find helpful <3

* Write down the things you like about yourself. You can even ask your closest what they appreciate and love about you. 

* Always remember you only have this one life to share your opinions, stand up for yourself and make a change.

* If someone doesn't like you? Know that they have their own problems and there's always a reason for something - they are probably struggling with themselves and it really is sad how that's the only way they can make themselves feel better. Know it's not worth any of your attention. Focus on you and your life. They are the ones wasting time. 

* You are UNIQUE and no one is like you! 

* Find a hobby. Maybe you're wondering how this will help with self-love? If you spend day by day looking at people and what they are doing with their lives - you won't feel good about yourself. Pursue something! Do something for yourself, and get good at it - or even just improve. You are capable of so many great things. Do it for yourself and no one else. 

* STOP COMPARING YOURSELF! I know people do this every single day. Why do you want to look like someone else?! You are so special. There's so many inspiring people out there and I get inspired every day, but I would never wanna be them. The world already has one of him or her - I wanna be me because no one else has that. You should own it - it's so amazing. 

Be good, do good - and love yourself. 

Har du vært i sentrum i dag? Har du sett statuer som har forskjellige sokker på seg? Eller kanskje du har sett bilder på sosiale medier av andre som også har på seg forskjellige sokker? På bildet ovenfor ser du at jeg har det, men hvorfor?

I dag er den internasjonale Verdensdagen for Downs syndrom. Et av tiltakene som er satt i gang er å ha på seg to forskjellige type sokker. Det er for å rette fokus og hylle menneskers ulikheter. Men hvorfor sokker? ”Det å ha på seg to forskjellige sokker er annerledes, men det er ikke så farlig. Jeg tenker også at det er litt fint at folk kan kjenne på det å være litt annerledes og bli sett rart på. Da tenker de kanskje over hvordan de selv møter andre i det daglige.” Har styremedlem i Ups & Downs, Randi Ødegaard sagt i dag som selv ble sett i en rosa sokk med bananer og en hvit tiger sokk.

Downs syndrom er en diagnose som forårsaker intellektuell funksjonsnedsettelse. Det forårsakes av en endring i arvestoffet i cellene slik at barn blir født med et helt eller deler av et kromosom 21. Og det er nettopp dette kromosomet datoen i dag henspiller seg til.

Den første internasjonale Downs syndromdagen ble holdt i 2006, og i 2011 erklærte FNs generalforsamling i en resolusjon at 21. mars skal være den internasjonale Verdensdagen for Downs syndrom.
(Info kommer fra nettavisen.no)

Jeg og mamma har i dag hatt på oss fargerike og forskjellige sokker for å feire alle de som er annerledes.

What´s make you different makes you beautiful.

Har du lyst til å bli min sponsor /samarbeidspartner. Eller er du en fotograf som er interessert i å ta bilder? Kanskje kjenner du noen som er interessert? Ta gjerne kontakt med meg på mail: Denne e-postadressen er beskyttet mot programmer som samler e-postadresser. Du må aktivere javaskript for å kunne se den.

Du kan også kontakte meg på mine sider på sosiale medier:
Instagram: Nadiahelena95
Facebook: Official Nadia Helena

Kisses, Nadia Helena!

I dag trosset jeg en frykt jeg har hatt siden jeg var liten.

På jobb skulle vi på skitur. For å komme oss til vår destinasjon måtte vi gå over ett vann. Når jeg var liten nektet jeg å gå på isen på vannet, om det så var til beins, på ski eller skøyter; jeg nektet.
Men i dag var jeg ikke alene, det var andre der, som ser opp til meg, andre som har meg som rollemodell. Og hvis jeg sier jeg er redd og nekter å gå over, så kan det være flere som slår seg vrange og også nekter. For alt jeg vet var det andre som var like redde eller reddere enn meg, og da trenger de gode voksne som viser at det går fint.

I høst trosset jeg også en annen frykt. Høsten 2016 kom det opp på Facebook at man kunne melde seg på Miss Norway 2017, jeg gikk inn på siden her, lagde meg en profil og la inn litt bilder. Under en samtale på snapchat får jeg en kommentar av en av de jeg snappet ”har du meldt deg på Miss Norway? Det er bare tull og teit..” Og hva gjorde jeg? Jeg lot det gå inn på meg og gjorde ikke noe mer med det.
Så kom høsten 2017 og samme innlegg dukket opp på Facebook, jeg kunne igjen melde meg på, og til meg selv sa jeg ”hvorfor skal jeg bry meg om hva noen andre sier? Hvis jeg har lyst så burde jeg bare hoppe i det?” OG NÅ ER JEG I SEMIFINALEN!! (og hvis jeg er heldig så er jeg i finalen om én uke!)

Så hvordan trosser du frykten din?
1: Har du lyst, har du lov! Ikke la noen stoppe deg med sine ord eller handlinger.
2: Hvis du ikke tørr kommer du ikke på andre siden (bokstavelig talt for meg i dag; komme meg over vannet).
3: Du vil ikke få til det du vil hvis du ikke satser og hopper i det.
4: Det er greit å ha noen rundt seg som støtter deg og holder deg oppe.
5: Frykt er kun en følelse.

Fair kills more dreams than failure ever will.

Har du lyst til å bli min sponsor /samarbeidspartner. Eller er du en fotograf som er interessert i å ta bilder? Kanskje kjenner du noen som er interessert? Ta gjerne kontakt med meg på mail: Denne e-postadressen er beskyttet mot programmer som samler e-postadresser. Du må aktivere javaskript for å kunne se den.

Du kan også kontakte meg på mine sider på sosiale medier:
Instagram: Nadiahelena95
Facebook: Official Nadia Helena

Kisses, Nadia Helena!

Den siste dagen i Kenya ville jeg bruke så produktivt som mulig. Jeg pratet med mange organisasjoner, sammenlignet, intervjuet og forhørte meg om hvordan vansker med økonomi, fattigdom, utdanning og mangel på likestillingen opererte i landet og hva som gjøres for å endre på dette.
Blant en av de sakene jeg har vært aktiv med og har nevnt i tidligere innlegg er rettigheter for LHBT-samfunnet. Mange land i Afrika, Asia og Latin-Amerika lever fortsatt under harde tider for de med en ulike legning fra flertallet. Det er fortsatt ulovlig å være homofil i over 70 stater og blant de landene det er verst å være homofil i finner du:

• Nigeria
• Uganda
• Russland
• India
• Mauritania
• Iran
• Tanzania
• Pakistan
• Saudi Arabia
• Sudan
• Kenya

(www.aftenposten.no/verden)

Jeg har alltid vært klar over de brutale levereglene LHBT-samfunnet lever under i disse landene, men det er noe annet å snakke med de som lever i disse landene og få høre en mer personlig side og at disse lovene påvirker de minste aspektene av livene deres og benekter dem friheten til å føle seg trygg, fri og normal.
De siste timene vi var i Nairobi så møtte jeg med Brian, en av representantene for GALCK (The Gay And Lesbian Coalition Of Kenya).
Der ble jeg tatt godt imot og hadde en lang samtale og intervju med han om hvordan organisasjonen fungerte og hva de gjør for å føre Kenyas lovverk inn i en mer moderne og tolerant tid.Organisasjonen ble stiftet i 2006 med kun 4 medlemmer og har økt siden.
Dette er en fantastisk aktivist gruppe som ble gjort om til en organisasjon for å kjempe for at stemmene til alle LHBTQ-medlemmer i Kenya skal bli hørt.
Vi snakket om aktuelle saker i media og hvordan dem som en organisasjon håndterer de ulike vanskene de møter på og hvordan de kan ta tak i det selv om det er ingen lover som beskytter rettighetene deres.
Mange av historiene var vanskelig å høre på, særlig hvordan det er de finner mennesker i Kenya skyldig for å ha deltatt i uovlige sexhandlinger (likkjønnet sex).
En av tingene jeg ble veldig glad for å høre var at Fri Norge støtter organisasjoner som GALCK i Kenya for at de skal fortsette å kjempe imot straffelse av homofile i Kenya.
Intervjuet mitt med Brian vil senere komme ut i en artikkel på Faktuell.no, noe som jeg gleder meg veldig mye til å dele med dere.
For å lese mer om GALCK og vise støtte så kan du lese mer på: https://www.galck.org/
https://foreningenfri.no/ er også en flott side hvor du kan se hva det er du kan bidra med i din egen hjemby.