An Interview with... Ashleigh Jadee, March 2012.

Her motto is 'Love the Life You Live, Live the Life You Love,’ which is enough to inspire anybody. When I first discovered the young Ashleigh Jadee, I was intrigued. She was 19 at the time and had already pretty much established her own little empire. The self-professed Visual Artist is a photographer, and videographer, as well as being a make-up artist. Her determination to make it within the Visual Arts industry has made me, along with many other young people living in London, want to pursue my dreams. Follow her on Twitter: @MsAshleighJadee, you can find her on Tumblr and Youtube, and visit her website: http://www ashleighjadee.com

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background

“I’m 20 years old, born in Essex then moved to London when I was 15. My mother is White British & my dad is Black Caribbean.”

When did you realise you wanted to be (or had the potential to be) a photographer/videographer?

“I realised I could make a career out of photography when I used a camera in college back in 08. I started taking photos and never put it down since. “

How did you get into the industry?

“I assisted a photographer called Jay Stewart, he then brought me to shoots where I met new people and started to network.”

How long did it take for you to get noticed/signed?

“Ermmm, after about 2 months of shooting I got asked to join Staple House by Scorcher and his team. It happened quite quick actually but I was constantly taking photos, learning how to edit and so on..”

Would you say anyone helped you get where you are today or was it all you?

“Of course! My photography teacher Brian Legget, Jay Stewart who I then assisted, Staple House, Marvin Harrison, Napper, John Wright… They are the main ones, then I also have Complex Elite who helped me with getting into filming.”

When did you first realise that you had become “famous”?

“(laughs) ‘I’m not a star’ * Rick Ross voice * People try call me famous but I’m really not..”

What tips or advice do you have for anyone trying to get into the same or similar industries?

“Work hard, work harder, make sacrifices e.g. social life, spend less time out partying. Network and be willing to listen and learn all the time."

Who is your biggest role model or idol?

“I have a couple role model’s who I would like to aspire to be like, Melina Matsoukas is one as I want to be a video director in the long run. Also people like John Wright, Hype Williams, Jay Z, Beyonce, Richard Brandson, Oprah, Kimora Lee Simones, Birdman…. I look up to a lot of people.”

What drives you towards success?

“A better lifestyle for myself, family and friends. To inspire other people, I like to help people a lot, so I want my story to inspire someone so they know that if you work hard you can actually be whatever you desire to be.”

What are your aims/goals/plans for the future?

“Get my own office, go international, build a strong team, make a lot of money, own a successful business and just have my dream career.”

When is your next project out/what is your next big project?

“I’m going to shoot my 1st short film soon, I actually wrote it myself randomly after I watched a documentary on Oprah and Kanye West’s Runaway film.”

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

“On my own yacht somewhere in the Caribbean Islands (laughs). Nah, in 10 years, I’ll be at a point in my life where I can retire if I want to. I’ll be shooting high budget music videos and adverts. I’ll also have a couple other businesses outside of photography & filming….”

What sort of experience would you say you had of the education system?

“School was fun, I look back now and wish I had done business or listened better in maths and stuff. But knowledge is key, you should never stop learning. There’s so much stuff to learn about in the world, I don’t understand why people wouldn’t want to learn about the world..”

How has peoples’ attitudes/behaviour changed towards you since becoming “famous”?

!(laughs) people think I know celebrities when I really don’t (laughs). Ermm same really some people hate but I love that.”

Who is your favourite Photographer/videographer?

“For photographers, I don’t really have a favourite one, I kinda just love images. Videographer wise Melina Matsoukas, Hype Williams….”

Who do you admire/look up to the most within your industry

“John Wright, Rankin, Hype Williams, Melinda Matsoukas, Jonathan Mannion…”

What are your pet peeves?

“Negative people & Dream Killers!! Argh shut uppppp!”

What would you say the worst thing about being famous is?

“(laughs) do I have to answer this one?”

If you could go back in time to wherever you first started what you are doing now, would you still do it ?

Of course!

Real WCW #5

Recover from your Christmas Day binge and kick start your new year’s resolution - written by Carmencita

Week 1 & 2

Slimming tea once a day before bed (I recommend slimatee )

2 litres of water a day (add lemon for extra detoxing)

Eat healthy balanced diet. For example:

Eat a big breakfast that will boost your metabolism and control your appetite throughout the day

Eg. Two slices of wholemeal bread, scrambled egg whites and an orange

Lunch should be high protein, low fat, some carbohydrates. Keep salt/sugar intake low

Eg. Chicken or turkey breast salad low calorie dressing and a low fat yogurt

Dinner should be low fat and substantial enough to sustain your needs though the evening

Eg. Grilled salmon/ white fish and as many vegetables as you like with a little brown rice

Take around 3-4 snacks per day to boost your metabolism

Eg. French set yoghurt, plain popcorn, rice cake, baked crisps, fun size chocolate treat.

Week 3 & 4

Baby food diet with one healthy meal in the evening or fish only / fake meat diet

2 litres of water a day

100 sit ups twice a day (40. rest. 30. rest. 20 . rest . 10)

Exercise 4- 5 times a week for at least 30 mins.

Week 5 -16

Jog for 25 minutes  a day increase the weeks go by (first thing in the morning would be best.

Eat healthy balanced diet like above but snack only on nuts, fruit and veg

One bitesize chocolate, sweet etc. a day  (if you must, but its best if you can resist)

Drink 2 litres of water a day

Zumba or insanity are great or exercise 30 minutes twice a day

 

My Story - This personally worked for me and I became a lot more toned and slim. It takes 21 days for it to become a habit so don’t think of it as a diet but more like a life style change. You’ll have more energy, motivation and confidence. It has now been 2 years since I dropped from a size 14/16 and I’m now a size 8/10 and have kept the weight off.  Also, don’t be afraid to weight lift. It does not make you bulky but tones and helps aid weight loss even when you’re not training.

Wish you the best of luck with your journey and if you have any questions please direct message me on @realwcw on Instagram.

Real WCW #4

8 tips to help you gain weight

1) eat a balanced diet of carbohydrates, proteins and fats

2)  try to eat at least three times a day, or if possible have six, small and healthy meals every three hours.

3) if you make protein shakes, make them with milk as this increases the calorie intake and also helps take in more protein

4) don't drink anything until your plate is clear as drinking before or with your meal will make you fuller quicker so you will eat less

5) if you go to the gym or exercise at home, do toning and conditioning exercises, such as weight lifting.

6) make sure you eat more calories than you burn

7) eat faster to trick your mind into thinking you're still hungry

8) eat on bigger plates to trick your mind into thinking you're eating less than you actually are and you will still feel hungry.

Real WCW #3

10 helpful tips for sticking to your diet over the Christmas period

1)if you can, offer to host or cook. This way you control the majority of the food being served at events and you can tailor things to your needs.

2) Steer clear of white cards (bread, rice, pasta and potatoes) and stick to healthier versions such as sweet potatoes, brown rice, brown bread, wholemeal pasta or even gluten free options if that's what you prefer.

3) fill your plate with protein rich foods, such as lean meat and poultry,  eat some fish and make sure you have vegetables.

4) still try to drink 2 litres or 8 glasses of water everyday, and stay away from fizzy drinks which will cause bloating.

5) grill your meat, chicken and fish whenever possible.

6) steam your vegetables rather than boiling them as this will retain all the necessary nutrients in them.

7) after eating, take a breather, drink some water and wait about twenty minutes. If you still feel hungry, go back for more.

8) be aware of the calories in alcoholic drinks if you are counting your calories.

9) if you're at a party, dance! Dancing can burn calories without you really having to try.

10) follow the alternate day rule. For example, eat light meals on Christmas Eve, eat freely on Christmas day then return to light meals on boxing day.

Real WCW #2 - No Need for Expensive Detox Teas

Green Tea

From my own personal experience,  I have found that green tea is a very good appetite suppressant. For people who struggle with portion control and/or frequency of eating, this is a good solution.

I would have a cup of green tea in the morning with my breakfast, between 9am and 10am, my breakfast was maybe scrambled eggs and toast, and then I would go to my lessons at college , and wouldn't eat or feel hungry again until about 3/3.30pm.

For me personally, this is a decent time period to not eat or feel hungry in as sometimes I can eat and feel hungry again within two hours or so.

You can probably also drink more tea throughout the day as Carmencita does. She drinks three cups throughout the day, and has found that it has helped her to not bloat over the course of the day.

I recommend making each cup of green tea with one teaspoon of sugar if you really can't stand the taste, or you can replace sugar with honey.

Lemon Water

I have only tried Lemon Water once myself and it didn't achieve the desired results but Carmencita has used this method several times and has had a lot of success with it. She has found that the mixture of hot water and fresh lemon juice effectively detoxes her system and flushes out toxins, as well as preventing spot breakouts which she occasionally suffered from before.

She consumes Lemon with two litres of water throughout the day.

Herbal Teas and Supplements

Another  method for short term weight loss and detoxification is herbal tea.

There are many different types and brands of herbal tea, but I personally have only tried Slimatee. I was recommended this tea by a friend at uni who told me her aunt uses it as a short term fix so I decided to give it a try.

It does make you poo out all of the toxins in your body so I'd only recommend this if you have a day to stay home all day or can be close to a toilet that you're comfortable using. I usually make a cup of this using two teabags and a little spoon of sugar just before bed or late at night then by the time I wake up it will have kicked in. I also recommend that you ensure you drink a lot of water throughout the day as you will get dehydrated. The end result is a bit of a flatter stomach and some weight loss but it does not last so I don't recommend this as a frequent method or something for long term use.

Another herbal supplement with a similar effect is Green Tea extract which another friend recommended to me but I haven't tried yet.

Both are available from Holland & Barratt's and any other good health stores.

FOOD - Pros & Cons of Almond Milk

For the last couple of years, the amount of people consuming almond milk has been steadily increasing. Because of this, I've decided to inform you guys of the pros and cons of consuming almond milk. 

PROS: 

It contains a good amount of some antioxidants, which can help prevent cancer and slow down the process of aging. 

It contains pretty much no cholestrol and no saturated fats.

It is not a milk taken from an animal, and contains no other animal by products so it is perfect for those on a vegan diet. 

CONS: 

People who suffer from headaches and migraines should probably avoid almond milk because it contains Tyrosine, an amino acid, and can cause headaches and migraines to become worse. 

People who suffer from conditions that affect the thyroid gland should also avoid almond milk because of the levels of Tyrosine, which is known to have an effect on the levels of hormones released from the thyroid gland.

Drinking almond milk is not as beneficial as eating whole almonds, because it does not contain as much nutrients as cows' milk, and is also lower in protein and calcium

Real WCW #1

Motivation.

Its something we all struggle with, but for our own various reasons.

Some of us say we don't have the time and we're too "busy"

Then there's those of us who start the journey on a high but then eventually our determination fizzles out.

For both of these kinds of people, it can be very difficult to start something, let alone actually stick to it but right now, I've never successfully managed to do either.

I'm the self proclaimed Queen of "next week I'll start", and "im gonna stick to it this time."

This is why my friends and I decided to create the Real WCW page, to motivate ourselves, each other and the  general public.

We want you all to know and understand that there are different body types in the world and that's perfectly normal. We want each and everyone of you to learn to love yourselves, and if you feel that you can't, become a version of yourself that you can love and cherish.

We hope you all find one of us to motivate you in some way, or at least seeing our page can give you food for thought.

Thank you for taking time out to read this, and apologies for the delay in posting our first blog, we were at the gym until late.