Portfolio
Thaïs Jacquet
Print/online
Feature writing is definitely one of the basics of Journalism, and I have had the opportunity to explore many topics through this medium. The interesting aspect of it is the mobility and the flexibility when interviewing and covering the story.
Topics like arts, culture, lifestyle and social change & justice are one of my main interests when writing, and the possibility of adding photos makes it quite appealing.
Arts & Lifestyle : Drag Show review
Pinky latex high boots, pink kimono, shinny dress, blond wig and amazing make up skills is all Crystal Lubrikunt needs to give a fiery show and catch the audience’s attention; as after a couple of minutes she had already picked her 'victim' to tease for the night.
Crystal Lubrikunt performed at the Regency Tavern, an old pub with a cabaret decor and a very homelike ambience. ‘ 20 gayteen’ seems to have been a great year for her with her performance at the DragWorld UK and 2019 keeps getting better so far, as she will be on tour throughout the entire month of March.
The performer started explaining the process of her number, how she used to be more of a Britney Spears but now a Lady Gaga, and how much it takes her to ‘come and sing here’.
We also have on stage one of Cher’s biggest fan, who actually excelled at singing one of her songs with a shockingly similar deep voice. Cher is obviously an inspiration to Crystal Lubrikunt who loved her make up in ‘Mamma Mia 2’ so much she had to watch the movie more than a few times.
This performance was not only visually entertaining but full of humor too, not allowing the audience a moment to catch their breath. The only people who dared to ignore her in the pub received a magnificent finger decorated with a long pink nail.
You will not feel bored for one second, as Crystal Lubrikunt will make you be a part of her performance throughout the entire night. This bond between the performer and the audience was built impressively quickly, even more with some very chatty people in the pub. A young man from the audience had the chance to share sexual thoughts with the star of the night : single, on grinder and a devotee to sexting.
The night continued with Dolly Parton’s ‘Here you come again’, setting a sparkling and nostalgic atmosphere; people singing along whilst enjoying a good pint. There is definitely no better way to spend a Saturday night in Brighton.
This performance was quite personal too, as we all learned that in order to get on Crystal Lubrikunt’s soft side you have to be a dog person. If you’re more of a cat person, she will have no shame in calling you a ‘fucking weirdo’.
The performer managed to keep an enthusiastic spirit in the pub, no matter how it might have turned raw and sensitive; '"When you are a drag you come out twice. I'm gay and then I'm a drag." showing how being herself is an adversity no matter how much we believe society has evolved.
Nevertheless, Crystal Lubrikunt will let you dive into the decent of her sexual thrives by giving the audience little anecdotes of her grinder escapades, obviously followed by a ‘sexy song’.
A fancy little throne on the stage, colored lights, accompanied by a priceless banter and a confident performance : do not expect less than a refreshing yet hilarious performance.
Being based in Brighton, the LGBTQ+ city of the UK, gives not only many places for Crystal Lubrikunt to perform, but also gives the opportunity for members of the LGBTQ+ community to be represented, praised and most importantly acknowledged.
For the LGBTQ+ History month, Brighton is the nest of great events : from talks to shows, from screening to Universities prides. Best place in the UK to enjoy a drag show whilst having a beer? Brighton without a doubt!
If you’re ever interested in reviewing one of her shows, be ready to face Crystal Lubrikunt’s questions on your doings in front of everyone as she will be very intrigued by that out of place note book and pen.
And if you are ever around the city, looking for a cheap night at the pub with your friends, the Regency Tavern is where you want to go to : karaoke nights, live events, free entry, a wide range of beer and some quality food if you find yourself with an appetite.
The show clearly ended too soon, leaving the crowd avid to hear some more of the performer’s adventures and songs, but don’t you worry Brightonians, Crystal Lubrikunt will be back at the Regency Tavern soon enough!
The battle against period poverty : UK charities and organizations unite to tackle the issue
Over 800 million girls, women, lgbtqi+ people menstruate everyday, yet the access to sanitary products, education and hygiene is neglected.
Many girls have to miss days of school and cut out leisure activities because of the expense of sanitary products and the weight of this taboo in today’s society.
An alarming lack of education and funding affects people in their daily lives. Yet, the UK has seen a rise in organizations aiming to raise awareness and fighting to end period poverty, such as Freedom4Girls, Free Periods, HeyGirls, and more.
October 19th was the first official National Period Day, with the aim to tackle the issues of period poverty and asking for menstrual equity as well as demanding the end of tax on period products. The succession of actions for period poverty in the UK brings a new form of education and awareness on menstruation.
The numerous charities and organizations have successfully pressured the UK government to address the issue of period poverty with the latest scheme set up to provide free periods products in secondary schools and colleges from early 2020. This is the first government to make a pledge to end period poverty, which hopefully will drive more governments to replicate this significant step forward.
The organization Free Periods started the hashtag #FreePeriodStories on twitter to allow people to share their menstrual stories and engage in the normalization of the discussion. This hashtag deployed a wave of stories from humorous experiences to the awkwardness felt in many situations.
« The primary purpose of the # and concept is to normalize what is normal : menstruation. » , explained Amika George, Founder of Free Periods.
« We want to encourage people to talk about their experiences whether they are funny, sad, touching or happy, we want to get society talking. It is important to destigmatize periods in order to allow freer conversation and thus make more progress. »
The young activist shared the reason behind the # and how the outcomes had a bigger impact than she would have expected : a genuine snowball effect has not only encouraged people to talk about the stigma but has helped many notice bigger problems that are still overlooked. « Through this campaign, I have realized that by discussing menstruation, it triggers wider discussion around gynecology. For example, some women sharing didn’t realize that their periods weren’t normal -they were suffering hugely painful periods and not seeking help simply because they believed it was normal. This is why sharing stories is so important : for solidarity and education. ».
Hannah Daniells Conroy, member of the Free Periods organization also explained how people could both individually and collectively take part in the fight against period poverty, « They can participate in raising awareness on social media, for example with ‘#freeperiodstories’ although a more direct participation would be drives for menstrual products at schools, colleges or wherever. It will raise awareness with everyone involved, highlighting the important and reality of such an issue, whilst directly helping the recipients of the products ».
The promise of legislative change in the UK is a huge victory for the campaign against period poverty. With this wave of progress in the UK, Free Periods is now aiming to address the issue on a larger scale; « speaking globally, we would want to see a ripple effect of other governments following our example. This will ensure all girls will receive an education unscathed by period poverty. ». Social media might be one of the best ways to enable discussions and bring dignity and empowerment to anyone in need of it, yet the access to it can be limited in different parts of the world where those issues need to be tackled more than ever.
This could be a start for an internationalized movement, starting with the UK government announcing an investment of £2m to help funding international organizations and charities tackling period poverty.
With protests and demonstrations happening around the globe, we can already see a change in mentalities, yet society and governments will have to address this issue to see a genuine difference.
The message is clear : access to education and hygiene are basic human rights, and menstruating should not stop anyone from having access to the latter.
