The late, great Jackie Kennedy once said, "I am a woman above everything else," and even after all these years, such words hold a great practicality and tenacity. With all that we do in life, who we become, we're women (well, some of us) -- first and foremost. We strive to live up to our potential and we're curious and hold onto the notion that all can be good in the world while hoping to make a difference. We cherish the gift of womanhood and from that, look within ourselves to see how far we can push the boundaries of what we know and strengthen our hearts and minds with life and the world and the people around us.
The two women from The Girls with Glasses Show are proving this with their smart talk show that aims to bring together not just intelligent insight but hilarity, discussions on fashion and entertainment, art and music and do it all in a trendy and chic way all while wearing glasses.
The two masterminds behind this fresh and fun project are Summer Bellessa and Brooke White; two young ladies who befriended one another on MySpace and became fans and supporters of each other’s work.
“We would send each other new blogs that we fancied, or new music that we couldn't get enough of,” says Bellessa, the founder and editor of women’s fashion and lifestyle magazine, ELIZA.
Summer Bellessa had the opportunity to travel the globe as a young model and by the age of seventeen had already visited the chic fashion capitals of the world like Paris, Hamburg, New York, Tokyo and London, just to name a few. Her experiences of a being a model enlightened her to the world outside her hometown of Chicago Heights, Illinois and transformed her from model to entrepreneur. Bellessa readily brought together creative and talented people to help make a mark on subjects that matter by nurturing the minds from all kinds of different backgrounds and capturing the fashion world, showcased with a fresh spin with ELIZA magazine.
“We are both traditional on some things and innovative on others,” adds White, the former nanny who shot to fame and became a household name on the seventh season of American Idol.
Brooke White made quite an impression on fans and the judges with her sweet simplicity and sunny nature as she captivated audiences week after week, finishing in the Top 5. She credits her upbringing as the main reason why she is an artist today and deems music as therapy not just for her, but her parents who passed their love of music to their four children. White’s album, High Hopes & Heartbreak (now available) is a testament to her passion for music with gorgeous lyrics that accompany beats and melodies that just makes you feel comfortable and refreshed.
The Girls with Glasses Show is meant to be quirky; think of Mike Myers and Dana Carvey of Wayne’s World but remove the acid-washed torn jeans and baseball hats and add a feminine flair of modernity with a hip and fresh approach to a program that aims to please.
I had the opportunity to ask both girls a few questions and it was a sheer delight; they're extremely talented, smart and very personable and it made this experience all the more fun.
What made you two want to start The Girls With Glasses Show together?
SUMMER BELLESSA: There are not a lot of shows on television that my age group and demographic can get excited about. I wanted a one-stop shop to be entertained and informed on the latest and greatest in entertainment.
BROOKE WHITE: Quite literally, we got together to have breakfast and reconnect. We both happened to be wearing our glasses instead of contacts and while we were sitting there at IHOP eating waffles we had a flash of inspiration. Before we knew it, the idea for The Girls with Glasses Show was born. The glasses prompted an interesting idea -- a fresh, smart and quirky point of view. It just seemed like a concept we both completely understood and could get excited about right away and we did. Truly Organic.
How is your style different than other female themed projects, like Girls By Design that are meant to enlighten, empower and entertain the minds of young women? What makes your show what it is?
SB: Girls By Design seems like a great organization for young girls. Our focus is an older demographic, and it is a little less serious. We want to inspire and empower, but mainly by entertaining.
BW: Another way that The Girls with Glasses Show is different than other shows is that it incorporates the thriving world of blog culture and involving the internet as not just another media type, but an integral part of our show. Our generation lives on the internet, and the ways of finding entertainment has evolved. We want to bring the best of the best to the surface and showcase brilliant talent using our platform.
What is the most important message from The Girls With Glasses Show that you two hope to convey to your audience?
SB: We want to shed a light on the creatives that are undiscovered. We like to say we're creating a "smart girl talk show" because we're all about featuring these faciniating people who are also positive role models, not train wrecks. We want to celebrate the stars who are doing positive things.
BW: Exactly! We also just want to relate to our audience, give them a little something that makes their day a little better, motivate them to look for the good and believe in their own potential to capture the world just like we're trying to do. We understand it's not easy, but do-able. It's about joy.
What inspires you both and gets your creative juices flowing?
SB: We devour blogs and love being surrounded by creative people.
BW: Ditto. I thrive on the creativity of others -- inspiration can't be forced, but it can be shared. I have found a community of people that constantly give me ideas. Really, creativity is about being awake and aware; read, watch, listen. It's all around us.
How do you two balance each other out when it comes to the creative aspect?
SB: We are more alike than different, I would say. We feed off each other's energy. We get excited about stuff and together it carries us through all aspects of this venture.
BW: Summer has really been a conduit for connecting creative people, which is one of the reasons I have always wanted to work with her. She does not have an ego and has a humble confidence. She has the business savvy and behind the scenes know how, while I have had a little more experience on the front lines; we're learning from each other. Between Summer's experience with running a magazine and me having the opportunity to establish and maintain an indie music career, we both have the "do it yourself" mentality which means we're always taking a proactive role.
The theme song, "I Am A Girl" is fantastic! It gives out this positive and empowering message for women to be who they are. What did you both bring into this to create such a wonderful song? How did you both come up with it?
SB: We wanted a song that captured the essence of the show and who we are. It was a true collaboration. We both came together with ideas and banged it out in one sit down.
BW: We sat down at the piano and drums in my parent's living room. Summer came to the table with some brilliant lyric ideas, taking bits and pieces from history's most memorable women, again it was so organic. We didn't have to talk about it too much. The music and melodies couldn't have been easier to discover. It's amazing, when we finished the song, it was exactly what we'd hoped it would be. Real inspiration is trustworthy.
The making of the theme song was a truly organic experience as Brooke has said. Both ladies chronicled their process over at their Vimeo channel in a short making of video which, you can't help but smile at as the two mesh and just connect so well. It's rather charming and entertaining to watch as they create a song of substance and much value.
I too wear glasses -- I have since I was a kid and I feel like, wearing them, not necessarily defines me but rather is an accessory of me and my identity. Without them, I'd feel like I'm missing a piece of myself; it wouldn't fully be me. How important do you think it is for women to accept their image for what it is with the way the media portrays the ideal image and still feel comfortable in their own skin?
SB: I think it's important for women to know their worth is not in how they look. Instead it is who they are and what they can contribute to the world. Part of life is accepting how you look on the outside and making the best of what you have.
BW: Agreed. While we don't want to further emphasize an over-importance in looks, like most woman we find enjoyment in fashion and like to feel pretty but that just encompasses so much more that what is outward. It's about being more whole. No one's perfect, but it's all how you package your goods!
In this day and age, with the way the media illustrates the ideal woman who often on the front cover of a magazine, doesn't wear glasses, is there a way you think you both can break that norm with a show like this and change the perception of how a woman is seen? Over at The Girls With Glasses website, it says that glasses bring out the smart and savvy side of a woman however, that is still not shown on the front covers of magazines. I'll give you an example: Tina Fey; she's a brilliant writer, comedian and actress, someone I look up to and wears glasses all the time. However, when she does photo shoots for Vanity Fair, Parade, etc she has to take off the glasses. Why do you think that is? Is there a way your show can break that mould?
SB: Yes, we hope to show that wearing glasses can be cool. Like Tina Fey has shown, being a smart girl is cool. I love what you said about glasses not defining you but rather they are an accessory of you and your identity. With Tina Fey, as the perfect example, she is beautiful with or without them but why not have them on the cover of Vogue? I think glasses can get a big play for 2010.
BW: As well, we don't want people to feel that this show is only for the girl that wears glasses. As you both stated, the glasses don't define the girl, it is what they represent. I think when it comes to the covers of magazines, I think it's quite simply that the glare of glasses distract from the intimacy or connection that is found in eyes. My solution to this: just pop out the lenses!
One can't help but smile and appreciate that with the way the world and media is progressing, there is something of substance and value that these two young women hope to bring forth with their show. It's bound to be a surefire hit as there is much heart, passion and a creative driving force apparent from their beauty and spontaneity. Both girls and The Girls with Glasses Show is definitely something to keep your eyes on.
Get in focus with The Girls with Glasses Show and tune in! While there is no definite date set for their show's premiere, they are getting closer every day. The girls plan to introduce new videos on the website in hopes of giving fans a taste of what's to come. Once the show premieres, it'll open up with the two hosts singing the theme song live, which is co-written by both girls and finds Brooke on vocals and piano while Summer plays the drums and does back-up. The daily show will showcase a revelant "Topic of the Day" such as topics like best friends, fashion icons, business, role models, cinema and much more. Following the themed topic of the day, the girls coincide with a particular weekday such as "Bookworm Monday", "New Music Tuesday", "Bloggy Wednesday", "Gotta Have It Thursday" and "Date Night Friday".
It's definite that the fun and entertainment doesn't stop just there. The girls have stated at their website that their show would include digital shorts, a special "on the street" segment with members from their Girls with Glasses team, highlights of up and coming musicians, bloggers, designers, non-profit organizations, entrepreneurs, authors or artists and finally, ending off the show with its main attraction, the celebrity interview.
Be sure to watch The Girls with Glasses Show and get in on all the fun and entertainment! Visit them at their official website, their blog as well as their YouTube and Vimeo channels. Follow them on Twitter @TheGWGShow and be a fan over at their Facebook page.
Check out Summer Bellessa's ELIZA magazine and follow her on Twitter @SummerBellessa and check out the YouTube channel for all things stylish, sexy and engaging in the world while keeping high standards in dress, entertainment and lifestyle.
Check out Brooke White's official website and be sure to pick up her album High Hopes & Heartbreak, available now in-stores and online at Amazon and iTunes. Be a fan of hers at Facebook, MySpace and follow her on Twitter @RealBrookeWhite.
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