Defy Expectations: From the stage to the Pilates studio to the House of Lords, she defies expectations and embraces the unexpected.
Embrace Reinvention: She's a former actress, a Pilates pioneer, an award-winning entrepreneur, and a captivating storyteller. She embodies the power of reinvention.
Seek Adventure: Whether it's performing on the West End or riding through the Sahara Desert (during a sandstorm!), she fearlessly embraces adventure.
: I’m a former actress, singer, dancer from Los Angeles. Work took me around the US as well as the world, performing in Japan, Australia, Paris, Monaco and London’s West End.
After living in Europe, I found it nearly impossible to go back to living in the US. Considering the recent election, it seems like I definitely made the right decision staying in London!
I then opened London’s first Classical Pilates studio when I was six months pregnant in 2000. Recently, I was awarded with being one of the top 100 female entrepreneurs by Small Business Britain and was invited to the House of Lords.
Luckily, I still have time to follow my passions for writing and performing. My one-woman show, The Bellydance Diaries, won a sold-out award at The Edinburgh and Brighton Fringe festivals.
Q: If you had to choose an SEO keyword for your life, what would it be?
Dancing, specifically Belly Dance. I started when I was 30 and still absolutely love it. Doing it, teaching it, writing shows about it…the music is sublime, and I can totally lose myself in it.
Q: What is the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?
Firstly, going horseback riding to the pyramids in Cairo…and then staying on a runaway horse in the Sahara Desert mid-sandstorm while being chased by a pack of wild dogs.
It’s a lot more personal than Medium and I feel that the growth (although slow) is more organic. Being from LA, obviously organic is my middle name.
I think about writing all day long. I note down great lines that I overhear while walking around London, make up headlines every time I hear something interesting, and love the art of storytelling.
Q: What are your values as a writer/creator/leader?
Take the time to make something good. A piece needs to be compelling and take you somewhere other than everyday life. Or sometimes, the minutiae of everyday life can also cause us to see the macrocosm differently.
In other words, it’s about taking people on a journey.
I’ve only been on Substack for about 8 weeks, so haven’t had the chance to write too many articles. I was working on a course to train teachers, so took a little break right after joining.
Notes has been a great way to build up a small amount of readers, but hasn’t yielded any major results…yet. However, the followers that have come in have been absolutely brilliant.
I’m working on bringing over some articles from Medium in order to peak more interest.
I aim to respond to everyone that comments on my articles. I love that Substack readers leave honest and engaging feedback.
Q: What do you look for in a community, and what is your secret ingredient in building your own community?
I’m repeating myself, but honest and engaging are the two words that spring to mind. The community I’ve found at Substack has been incredibly helpful, supportive, and best of all, hugely informative and entertaining. There are some stonkingly good writers here!
You out together a beautiful piece, Magdalena.
Thanks again. 🥰