Zara Durrani visits Canadian visionary designer Sonja Picard at her gallery in Vancouver on Main Street.

Safety Harbor Kids mission is to enrich the lives of disadvantaged children through education in the areas of College, Career and the Arts. Their long term goal is to build a College, Career and the Arts Center in Malibu. SHK focuses on improving the lives of more than 2000 local orphans and homeless children.

Founded by John Williams, a parentless child himself, SHK is approved by more than fifteen county and private group homes and shelters throughout Los Angeles to invite children to their Special Events.  SHK has helped over two thousand orphans, foster and homeless children overcome their fears, express themselves through art and music and learn they can accomplish their goals and dreams. “I learned that the one thing that makes you happy is having a high self esteem” Vanessa age 15

Approximately 10,000 homeless youth are living on the streets of Los Angeles right now and 60% of them will end up in prison. The orphans and foster youths we support either have no family or their parents are institutionalized. They have no role models, little or no family contact and not much hope for the future. It’s a sad situation and Safety Harbor Kids is here to help break the vicious cycle of homelessness, poverty and prison that has ensnared these children.
As the Ambassador of Fashion Hope, Zara Durrani attended the event to support Safety Harbour Kids in Malibu.

For more information visit: http://www.safetyharborkids.org

Monika Blichar started the Art World Expo in 2009 to help bring the Vancouver artist community together. “I am the “Impresaria”; the one that recruits artists, handles the financing, hires staff and volunteers and also works with sponsors and affiliates. I do it all!” And what a wonderful job she does. This year Art World Expo took place at Science World attracting hundreds of viewers and local artists.

“I started doing it not only because I personally love the arts, but I also saw a need for someone to step into a role that would enable others to share their creativity with their community and online. We just finished the 3rd installment and are working on the 4th for May 2, 2014.” Blichar adds.

All photos by Patrick King PK Media

Wardrobe by Claudia Da Ponte

Hair/Makeup by Kelsey Enegren

Zara Durrani is featured in the February 2013 Style Section of Hello!Pakistan alongside Amanda Seyfried and Olivia Palermo.

Michelle Jubilee Gonzalez is a firework in the artistic arena. She is an accomplished actress, Kenpo Karate Black Belt, speaks 3 language (Arabic, German and Italian) singer, dancer and a violinist. What can this girl not do!

For more information on Michelle check out her website: www.michellejubileegonzalez.com FaceBook IMDB

Tell us about yourself.

In as few words as I can, I will tell you this about myself: I’m possible.  

For most people, they toss the word “impossible” like everything is too hard to even bother trying to do…but I see Impossible as Im-possible (i.e. I’m Possible). It makes the challenge of life more exciting for me, because every time I try to do the “Impossible”, I get closer to making it a Possible-got-it-in-my-pocket skill/credit. The possibilities are endlesss! We are capable of such incredible feats! The fact that we have little pieces of metal flying around space, sending a signal, and allowing us to see the face of a friend across the planet is AMAZING!!! Who can say that things are “impossible”??!!

I am a creative creature exploring as much dimension, range, color, expression, emotion, sensation, experience as possible. I am limitless…I am not merely physical, rather I am part of a gigantic flow of energy….and I have an insatiable appetite for Freedom

I AM POSSIBLE.

What makes you jump out of your bed in the morning?

My desire to create as much positive energy in this world as possible… I wake up thrilled to be able to do the things I do; I have a body that is strong, skillful, and responsive; I have a brain that loves to exercise and solve problems; I have a heart that greatly wants to share the abundant joy and compassion I have for life – all life: human, plant, animal, extraterrestrial (we are all connected); I wake up feeling so grateful to learn something new, sing a better song, train a little harder, and create awesome art in the entertainment industry. I get to play in a creative realm practically every day. I want to have so many more hours awake Experiencing this life, than asleep and dead to the world. There is a comedian (Louis C. K. ) who said this in one of his sketches, “Do you realize that you’re going to be dead longer than you’ll ever live??? That means you may live 100 years, but you’ll be dead for 1000s of years after that!” Wow…kinda made me think about how much life I want to live; How full I want every day to be; How greatly I want to make every single day, and every breath full of Love and intention…Make every Moment Count!

Do you have a mantra that you live your life by?

What do you do to motivate yourself when things aren’t going as planned?

-First of all, I very rarely ever lose my motivation. However, there are times where I simply get run down or overwhelmed by not having enough time to get it all done.

Some ways in which I overcome these moments are with the following:

- RUN!!! and while I’m running I will say a prayer of Gratitude giving thanks for all the other things in my life that I’m lucky to have, all the thing that ARE working in my life, things that are still good, things that are a total blessing – this brings me back to a place of perspective. I also remind myself that this moment of frustration is temporary. THIS is my Active Meditation. After my prayer, I’ll just repeat as many positive affirmations as I can come up with. This activity can last anywhere from 20 minutes to about an hour and a half…depending on the emotional circumstance.

- I might also take a dance class – just to move and release it into a wordless expression …it’s quite liberating.

- I’ll re-write what I’m trying to achieve, and see if I have a step in my formula that isn’t working…or maybe it IS working & i just don’t have the patience.

- Create an innovative solution to get a better result….I encourage myself to think out of the box.

Edison quote: “I didn’t fail, I know 1000 things that don’t work” – maybe that applies in that moment…

- If possible, I try and do some outreach work (volunteer work, social marketing and if possible financial donation) to a cause I strongly believe in… THIS is what I’m working hard for .

I work hard so that one day I may bring more music and education to underprivileged areas, to increase the awareness of human trafficking and EMPOWER people so that they don’t  become Victims of criminal, sick, corrupted people, and can hopefully, carry forward the power of Love & kindness, and Respecting LIFE.

Favourite Book.

- Tao te Ching

- The Power of Intention

What is your proudest achievement to date?

- One particular turning point for me was when I got my 1st Degree black belt in Kenpo Karate…It was not merely a physical feat for me, but a spiritual one as well. It opened up my mind to see the untapped positive power I could still develop, and that if need be, I would be ready to use this knowledge to protect Goodness (be it good people or principles, or both). The discipline and discovery I learned through my training in martial arts has showed me how to work through both mental situations, physical challenges, & personal obstacles. When I empower myself, I can empower others to do the same for themselves. When I can stand up for what’s right, I can inspire others to have the courage to do the same. When I strive for more in myself with an attitude of love & patience, I hope my actions/behavior can inspire others to enthusiastically empower themselves to embrace their greater selves, and strive to be awesome human beings.

- I don’t think I have one self-contained achievement…My life is a continuum and I am proud to have a Heart (and Soul) that is deeply sensitive to Life in this world, and that everyday I try and be a better person, I try and give a little more, I try to  Love a little stronger…My proudest achievement is in being a rock for those that have needed my help in the past.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

- In 5 years I see myself exponentially more successful than today haha! And so it shall be! I see myself completely established in the entertainment industry as a powerful and super great & creative individual. People love working with me and for me, and I love working with kindred creative individuals.

I  create opportunities for young desiring students to have a platform to explore their art….so in other words, I’ll have a scholarship fund for several different fields (music/film score, choreographing, screen writing or writing, and maybe a few others). My success will influence numerous powerful individuals to create soul-provoking art – ART that encourages the viewer to explore Life, Love, Respect, and who they really are. “Know thyself.” I will be working on incredible films (as a combo of actress/producer/stunt woman), and be raising social awareness for my causes (better education & Peace through Music).

I see myself as founder of an organization that does more than out-reach – we will out -Teach! Education is a powerful thing. I would love to create a program (maybe monthly seminars) where we go out to schools and teach workshops that focus on creative solution-thinking and creative self-discover and empowerment.

What advice would you have for anyone trying to make it in your field?

1. Know Thyself – if you don’t know who you are, it is very easy to get lost in all the “hype” of this field, and all the fake snakes that may lure you to a lifestyle that is a total illusion, a total distraction. Living the fakeness does not equate to being successful.

2. Never give Up! This is a very competitive field, and it takes more than looks to make it. It takes being likable, grounded, skillful/talented, well-connected, hard-working, creative, and True to Yourself…this last one seems to be forgotten all too often.

3. Stay in Love with your Art. It will get hard. There will be bad days. There will be mean people. There will be plenty of unfair and unpleasant moments, but Love is the strongest element we have. Love what you do, and Do what you Love.

“Quirky, creative and a true jack of all trades, Zara exemplifies everything we love about easy, breezy, bohemian chic.”

2013 is definitely off to an amazing start and keeping me very busy. I feel highly blessed and fortunate to represent Fashion Hope at Nolcha Fashion Week in New York and Style Fashion Week in LA.

The mission of Fashion Hope is to build awareness and raise funds to support front line organizations that help, rescue, shelter and rehabilitate survivors of human trafficking. Fashion Hope participates in fashion industry events utilizing fashion press, celebrities, designers, stylists, makeup artists, models and trend blogging to tell the stories and expose the truth about human trafficking.

Fund raising fashionably through ethical designers and eco friendly, slave free products.

This March, Style Fashion Week LA was back for their highly anticipated, 5th season of fashion events and designer showcases. Since inception, Style Fashion Week LA has become widely respected and influential in the Los Angeles fashion scene. SFW was held at the landmark Cathedral, Vibiana, in downtown Los Angeles. This exquisite cathedral provided an elegant backdrop for the year’s most stunning runway shows. This season featured the coveted collections of both international and national designers as well as showcased the freshest looks from talented emerging artists. The 5-day event, March 11th-15th, included musical entertainment, live performances, and lifestyle exhibits. Guests also enjoyed signature cocktails and designer showcases throughout the week in the spacious VIP courtyard lounge.

Here are some highlights from Style Fashion Week 2013 with special thanks to Val Ritter of VRVision Photography.

Special thanks to my sponsors for Style Fashion Week:

Claudia Da Ponte Fashion Styling

Malary’s Fashion Network

From Start2Finish Makeup

The Hair Shop

Nadia Albano Style Inc.

Representing Fashion Hope at Style Fashion Week

Fashion Hope partner Marko Taylor Bags for Freedom

Bags for Freedom

Quynh Paris photo by Esther Chen

Backstage at Style Fashion Week

Model wearing Ash Haute Couture

Ash Couture designer with models

Quynh Paris

behind the scenes of the Go Red Show

Backstage at the Go Red Show

Rocking the red carpet with my stylist Claudia Da Ponte

Representing Fashion Hope at Style Fashion Week

Los Angeles, California  – February 8, 2013  The long-awaited selection of the international Spokes Model Ambassador for Fashion Hope has resulted with the choice of Pakistani born and Canada native Zara Durrani.

In addition to her notoriety for her work with designers in fashion events and campaigns, and her breath-taking editorials and covers published by Vancouver Sun, Eastern Eye (UK), Asian City Newspaper (UK)  Hello!Pakistan, Hello!India, among many others.

Zara Durrani is well known in Canada for her spiritual and entertainment talk show Life & Style with Zara. “Our goal is to enrich the lives of our viewers and promote diversity and understanding.”

The show wrapped its first season with 13 episodes, airing on 4 networks across Canada. 2012 was a very exciting and busy year for Zara as she returned to her first love; acting. She finished 3 feature films in 3 different countries, Canada, US and Mexico. As an activist Zara has voiced her opinions on women’s and children’s rights and eating disorders. She also worked as the official reporter for We Canada, the Canadian Initiative for Earth Summit 2012.

Zara Durrani representing Fashion Hope at Nolch Fashion Week NYC

“There are an estimated 27 million to 40 million people enslaved and trafficked today – more than any other time in recorded history,” quotes Fashion Hope founder Marc Palmer.

“Fashion Hope was created to bridge human trafficking advocacy and restoration with the world of fashion and creative artists in an effort to raise awareness and funds in global communities.”

“We have to wake our fashion community up, make them aware of the greatest human rights atrocity of our time…and we have to call them to action now.” Fashion Hope’s vision, in conjunction with industry partners and frontline organizations, is to bring awareness through the fashion media events and raise funds to rescue and house 100,000 or more in the next 10 years.

Signing Zara Durrani as an Ambassador to speak out about Human Trafficking is an important step and a natural fit for Fashion Hope, given her dedication to humanitarian work.

“As an entertainer and artist, I have aspired to make a positive impact on the world around me.I am truly excited and honored to work with Fashion Hope and help raise awareness on such an important matter.”

“So we are indeed excited to have her as a spokesperson for our organization on a worldwide level,” agree Marc Palmer CEO and Kathleen Grace Donnelly VP of Marketing and Sponsorship, Fashion HOPE.

“To us, Zara will be a triple threat with her grace, beauty and humanitarian compassion – along with the tenacity to speak her passion. She will speak for Fashion Hope touching places only her voice could reach. We are truly grateful for this period in the early growth of our organization, and look forward to working with Zara on awareness campaigns starting this February with the Nolcha Fashion Week and Oscars Gifting Suites events.”