International Women’s Day: HQhair’s Inspirations

Sunday 8th March marks International Women's Day 2015, a day to celebrate women in all walks of life. The day can be traced back to 1909, a time when women were fighting against inequality and oppression.

Today, we celebrate International Women's Day to recognise, respect and appreciate women’s achievements in their working and personal lives whilst calling for enforced equal rights all the while. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #MakeItHappen, encouraging action to advance and recognise women all around the world.

Here at HQhair.com we've caught up with some influential women of the beauty world who have built success for themselves and continue to #MakeItHappen. We asked these lovely ladies some questions about their achievements and their goals… get ready to be inspired!

Zoe Newlove

First, we caught up with Zoe Newlove, author of the hugely influential beauty blog www.zoenewlove.com, whose skills and achievements go way beyond the blog post. A Social Media Manager by day, she also offers her skills as a make up artist, a graphic designer and an illustrator on top when she can. How she juggles these jobs we’ll never know, but one thing we do know is that she is truly talented and dedicated to doing what she loves! Here’s what she had to say…

1. What did you want to become as a child, and is that different to where you are now? I actually wanted to be an Animator. I was obsessed with Disney and Pixar films. I applied for the Academy of Art in San Francisco when I was just 15, to be told I was too young to go. I still love drawing and would love to finish my Animation degree someday.

2. What is your greatest achievement? It has to be my blog, I never thought I would stick to something like blogging. I am so passionate about it now, it is like my little baby. I am really proud of it.

3. Who inspires you as a woman? My mum. She really is awesome, and I hope I grow up to be just like her. My mum is the Victims Commissioner for the UK and is such an incredible role model. She is the strongest, wisest person I know.

4. What are your #MakeItHappen goals for 2015? I really want to get into travel blogging. I would love to visit different countries to discover what their beauty rituals are like. I have such an urge to go travelling, I have already got places in mind that I want to visit this year.

5. What message do you have for other women trying to achieve their dreams? Just go for it, no matter how silly you feel or how many people tell you not to. I remember talking to my Dad once, and he said that I had to get in the “Real world” and that I couldn't follow my dreams in a sense. I ran off crying and he came straight back after me and apologised, saying that his only regret was to not truly follow his dreams. Have no regrets and do everything you can to make them come true.

Chloe Lloyd

We also caught up with gorgeous model Chloe Lloyd, who manages a huge social media presence and stays grounded all the while. She began modelling at 15, turned full time at 18 and now at only 22 she is signed to global agencies Storm, Elite, Two, Iconic and Unique. She successfully balances being a role model to girls all over the world with hard work and focus, and here’s what she had to say to us…

1. What did you want to become as a child, and is that different to where you are now? As a child I wanted to do anything that was artistic.. An artist or a writer were my first ideas then I finally set on acting which I studied at college before then getting scouted and starting my modelling career.

2. What is your greatest achievement? I'm too young to have a greatest achievement just yet.. That is definitely yet to come! But I'm grateful to be in a career I love, be financially stable, and happy every day! That's a rare achievement I think.

3. Who inspires you as a woman? Career wise I am I inspired by Rosie Huntington Whitely - she remains demure and classy whilst being a real business woman and beautiful inside and out. Also my mum who although I annoy her to death will also do anything for me.

4. What are your #MakeItHappen goals for 2015? I plan on really stepping up my career in 2015! So fingers crossed for that.. I also want to travel more this year outside of work and make amazing memories all over the world. So far last month my boyfriend and I did Barbados, LA, San Fran and Dubai, I was in LA and San Fran for work but had fun along the way.

5. What message do you have for other women trying to achieve their dreams? Don't let a boy ruin opportunities within your career... cos chances are if they'd let you do that they're not the one anyway!