BPM Babes: Meet Annabel
Meet Annabel - fashion journalist, stylist and mother of two (three if you include her Sausage Dog Chilli!). As the newly appointed National Fashion Editor for NewsCorp and as the Fashion Ambassador for Brisbane City, Annabel works with National and International Brands to style across platforms including social media, events, celebrity, catwalk and personal styling.
Read on to learn more about this BPM Babe…
Why did you become a fashion journalist & stylist?
I’ve ALWAYS loved fashion! My first word was “shoe”. I would obsessively read Vogue magazine as a young girl and sketch “designs” in a notepad. I would also dress my sisters/ cousins up in bed sheets; do hair and make; take photos; print them and make my own magazine. I’ve always known I was going to be a Fashion Editor, Journalist and Stylist one day. Outside of my kids, it’s my “purpose”.
What do you love about movement?
How it makes me feel mentally. Exercise has nothing to do with my exterior – although looking lean and strong is a nice side effect! I need movement and exercise to feel mentally strong. To challenge my brain. To challenge my attitude. When I first met my husband (Josh), I couldn’t run for 60 seconds. He challenged me to run Bridge to Brisbane (10kms) which, at the time, seemed impossible. He showed me that exercise is more about mental strength and, slowly but surely, I went from 1 minute to 5 minutes to 10 minutes to 1 full hour of non-stop running. That’s what exercise does for you – it physically proves how strong and capable you are. You just need to work at it little by little over time. Such a valuable life lesson.
What makes you smile?
My children. A cheesy song. My sausage dog. Coffee. Croissants. My husband. The beach.
What advice do you have for other women to love the skin they are in?
I think this is something that comes with age… you eventually just stop caring about what others think and start appreciating you for all that you are. As someone who works in the fashion industry and is surrounded by beauty and luxury, let me tell you – it’s the clients with the “perfect” body, bank account or wardrobe who are the most insecure! Stop worrying about what other’s think and just run your own race at your own pace.