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25周年紀念號登場！

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Caroline Tam

English Editor 

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Venise Chan: From Tennis Star to Hong Kong Pickleball Pioneer

Ruby Cheng: Triathlon Trailblazer

Invisible Wounds: Krystal So's Fight Against Sexual Violence in Cox's Bazar

Joyce Yip

 Summer Wong: Conquering Obstacles for Ninja Sports

Sarah Vee: The Heartbeat of Women of Hong Kong

《Evolution Nic Live謝霆鋒進化演唱會》首場隆重開演，舞台上除了謝霆鋒的熱力演出外，樂隊陣容也星光熠熠，包括王雙駿、恭碩良和Jason Kui等多位香港樂壇頂尖樂手。當晚引起歌迷熱議的，不僅只是霆鋒歌曲，還有一位站在台上的年輕女結他手——Dale。 更多文章： <a href="https://www.jessicahk.com/lifestyle/nicholas-tse-concert-2025-songlist">謝霆鋒啟德演唱會2025｜集體回憶！完整演唱會歌單</a> <a href="https://www.jessicahk.com/people/grammy-awards-winner-harriet-tam">女音頻工程師譚心妍赴美追尋音樂夢 成為史上首位香港音樂人榮獲「格林美獎」</a>

Polly So

Digital Content Director, Beauty

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謝霆鋒演唱會17歲女結他手Dale：前港隊女足變身明星結他手

In the war-torn streets of Kandahar, Afghanistan, Lucy Lau is navigating her role with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)—not just as a humanitarian worker, but as a shining example of resilience and empathy. A mechanical engineer turned aid professional, Lucy has spent over a decade traversing the globe building infrastructure, fostering communities, and challenging gender norms in some of the world’s most challenging environments. At the heart of her work lies a simple yet profound belief that every action, no matter how small, can spark meaningful change.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/1_1b36ff11b4.jpeg" alt="1.jpeg"><figcaption>Lucy works as a project coordinator in Kandahar, Afghanistan, starting from January 2025.</figcaption></figure>Radiance Amid Ruins: Stories from Kandahar&nbsp; Since arriving in Kandahar earlier this year, Lucy has encountered countless stories that linger with her, but one stands out—a young Afghan woman who supervises her medical team. “She’s really a very, very bright young woman,” Lucy says. This supervisor was on the cusp of completing her medical degree when the Taliban’s education ban in 2022 halted her dreams, leaving her just one year shy of becoming a doctor. Undeterred, she joined MSF, becoming the only female supervisor in Lucy’s project, overseeing both men and women while pursuing an online public health degree. “She still wants one day to become a doctor, and she’s still hoping that policy will change in the coming year,” Lucy shares.&nbsp;In a nation with a crumbling health system, soaring maternal mortality, and a shortage of female healthcare workers—worsened by the 2024 ban on women in medical institutes—her resolve echoes Lucy’s own tenacity. With 3,269 staff and €55.5 million spent in 2023, MSF currently runs seven projects across Afghanistan,&nbsp;providing specialized healthcare&nbsp;amid post-2021 instability.&nbsp;Lucy’s work ensures that the hospital’s infrastructure supports TB patients—often including a higher ratio of women, affected by crowded living conditions—&nbsp;a task made urgent by the region’s fragility.&nbsp;“You think that when you come to Afghanistan, we would see a lot of women that are different from us, but at the end of the day, they are very similar to us,” she reflects. “They are just trying to do their best—they are even doing better than us, I would say, given the circumstances.”&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/10_8e7ee02b0b.jpg" alt="10.jpg"><figcaption>MSF in Afghanistan remains committed to serving all those in need of medical care, by continuing to advocate for women to have continued access to medical education, and education more broadly.</figcaption></figure>From Pipes to Purpose Lucy’s journey into humanitarian work began unexpectedly.&nbsp;A wastewater engineer by training, she spent years in a technical role before joining MSF in 2011. Her first assignment in Liberia was a revelation. “The work is just so satisfying…because whatever you do, you see the result almost straightaway,” she recalls. Building toilets, trenches, and temporary clinics, she&nbsp;saw lives transform in real time.&nbsp;“Two weeks later, people are using it, and you see that people’s lives change,” she says. Safe water and medical access—these victories hooked her. “I was sucked into it by then, just because of the nature of the work.”Her drive stems from the sheer experience of her work. “It’s the experience,” she says simply. “To be able to work alongside the local communities… it’s just great.”&nbsp;From Liberia’s post-conflict recovery to Malaysia’s refugee enclaves and now Afghanistan’s volatile landscape, each assignment offers new challenges and perspectives. “Being in a new place, working with new people, you really see a lot of things that you don’t see in a normal job,” she adds.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/4_768fc3fe20.jfif" alt="4.jfif"><figcaption>In Liberia, 2011. Lucy admits she is a “fidget”, who likes travelling around to explore and experience different cultures. She also respects emergency relief work as the vital response to people in need. This belief has linked her with MSF, and thus she became part of the MSF team.</figcaption></figure>Breaking the Mold: Gender in the Field Lucy’s identity as a woman has shaped her experience in subtle yet significant ways. A decade ago, colleagues advised her to claim she was married to deflect unwanted attention. “Being married, if you reach a certain age, is a blessing, but it’s also the normal thing to do,” she explains, reflecting on societal expectations. In Kandahar, she fields curious questions about her single status and lack of children, but they’re friendly, not probing. “It’s just kind of the team getting to know each other,” she says.Though Lucy’s gender has rarely sparks direct doubt about her abilities—“quite rarely,” she admits—she’s not blind to the double standard local women face. “For their own Afghan women, there is a certain resistance to work with them,” she notes,&nbsp;citing her project’s lone female supervisor. Men often prefer reporting to male supervisors,&nbsp;a norm MSF challenges with female staff committees and scholarships. “There’s a lot of things ingrained… It takes time to change,” she says. Still, her presence matters. “I think it is a very, very good thing to have us here…it does open their mind.”&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/5_204a418854.webp" alt="5.webp"><figcaption>In Liberia, 2011. Lucy had received many kind reminders before going to the field. “Somebody suggested that I should pretend that I was already married when I was working in the field, because some local people may want to take advantage of single foreign women. But I didn’t resort to that,” Lucy said.</figcaption></figure>Bridging Borders: Lessons Across Continents Lucy’s work with MSF has spanned continents. In Malaysia, she worked closely with female Rohingya refugees&nbsp;confined by husbands’ grueling jobs and cultural isolation.&nbsp;“They are highly dependent, or even completely dependent, on their husbands or male relatives,” Lucy explains. With little exposure to the outside world and no familial support network, many having fled Bangladesh or Myanmar alone, their challenges were compounded by statelessness and cultural barriers. Lucy’s team responded with outreach programs in collaboration with local NGOs, offering group activities, health education, and prenatal care, empowering women to take small steps toward agency.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/3_79ecc6924b.jpg" alt="3.jpg"><figcaption>Rohingya refugee mother waiting for their turn to see the doctor at the mobile clinic in Kepala Batas, Penang.</figcaption></figure>In Liberia, Lucy’s work&nbsp;built tangible hope as she constructed&nbsp;toilets, trenches, and temporary clinics—foundational infrastructure rising from the ashes of conflict. The immediacy of the impact struck her deeply; within weeks, communities were using these facilities, their daily lives meaningfully improved.&nbsp;Afghanistan, her current post, demands a different balance—urgent aid amid security constraints that limit direct outreach. In Kandahar, where MSF runs a drug-resistant TB program, Lucy supports the treatment of patients, many of whom are women and children affected by malnutrition and disease outbreaks like measles, which surged in 2023. Beyond Kandahar, MSF’s work includes Herat’s 2023 earthquake response, as well as maternal and trauma care in Helmand, Khost, and Kunduz, though gaps in care—like the lack of neurosurgery—underscore the system’s strain, amplifying the urgency of Lucy’s efforts elsewhere.&nbsp;She adapts by inviting community representatives to the hospital, consulting local staff, and ensuring that MSF’s efforts align with the people’s needs.&nbsp;Her commitment to listening&nbsp;ties her experiences together. Early in her career, Lucy was a whirlwind of action—“do, do, do,” she recalls—but time and exposure have tempered that energy with patience. Now, when she arrives in a new assignment, her first weeks are spent in quiet conversation with local staff, letting their insights shape her plans. “What I’ve learned is to really listen,” she says, a lesson refined over years of navigating cultural nuances. This isn’t merely a professional strategy; it’s a personal philosophy, one that echoes in her interactions with family and friends back home in Hong Kong. “You never know when the information will come in handy,” she adds.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/6_33182c3c64.jpg" alt="6.jpg"><figcaption>MSF runs a range of projects in Afghanistan, responding to the immense medical needs in the country. The Boost Hospital which shown in the picture, has been supported by MSF for more than 15 years.</figcaption></figure>Unsung Heroines: Women Leading Change Lucy sees women as humanitarian work’s backbone.&nbsp;Her presence alone carries weight in a male-dominated society. “Being in our positions is already something,” she says, acknowledging the role she plays as a model of possibility. But her conviction goes beyond symbolism. In MSF’s Kandahar hospital, women drive care—female nurses and midwives outnumber their male counterparts, driven by cultural norms and patient needs. “We have a tuberculosis program here, and the proportion of female patients is higher than men,”&nbsp;Lucy explains.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/7_7e3bb9ce28.jpg" alt="7.jpg"><figcaption>Mothers sit with their ill children in the waiting area for Emergency Room consultation within the Paediatric ward of Mazar-i-Sharif Regional Hospital.</figcaption></figure>In the nutrition program, the reliance on women deepens. Mothers, grandmothers, and sisters tend malnourished children overnight, while men are rarely seen. “The health of the baby is really dependent on the women,” Lucy emphasizes, underscoring the critical role female staff play in educating caregivers about breastfeeding and nutrition. These interactions, often intimate and gender-specific, highlight an unsung truth: humanitarian aid hinges on women’s involvement, both as providers and recipients.However, recruiting local women remains an uphill battle. “They are less educated… they speak less English,” Lucy notes, tracing this disparity to&nbsp;systemic exclusion favoring men.&nbsp;MSF has made strides internationally, boasting more female managers than ever, but locally, the gap persists. Lucy’s solution is grassroots and personal: mentoring, coaching, and supporting women to seize opportunities. “I think this kind of thing is easy to do, and it is worth doing,” she asserts. Through small, deliberate acts, she plants seeds for change, trusting they’ll grow over time.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/8_34559be657.jpg" alt="8.jpg"><figcaption>The insufficient number of female healthcare workers in the country already impacts the availability of healthcare in Afghanistan, especially given the separation of male and female hospital wards.</figcaption></figure>Echoes of Impact: Finding Strength in Small Victories The rewards of Lucy’s work are subtle yet profound. As a non-medical worker, her impact is indirect, but positive feedback from her team affirms it. “When the team tells you that something has worked really well because you did this, that’s generally the most rewarding,” she says. It’s a quiet affirmation of her impact—whether it’s a well-designed system or a decision that eases a colleague’s burden. She’s quick to&nbsp;keep perspective: “Our role is really small in the bigger challenges that these people are facing day to day,” she admits. “But if something that we do has helped a little bit… that’s good.”&nbsp;Balancing this career with personal life is&nbsp;trickier. Married to a fellow humanitarian worker—though their assignments rarely align—and with aging parents in Hong Kong,&nbsp;Lucy takes long breaks to reconnect&nbsp;with loved ones. In Kandahar, where volatility is a constant companion, her team&nbsp;is her anchor.&nbsp;Volleyball games on weekends and late-night chats over tea offer not just camaraderie, but a release valve for stress. “I really enjoy spending time with them,” she&nbsp;says, a nod to bonds of purpose.Equality Envisioned: Paving Paths for Afghan Women For Afghan women, Lucy sees education as the most pressing need, blocked by policy and poverty.&nbsp;She believes international advocacy and grassroots support can shift this reality.&nbsp;“Even if people try and understand the situation of women here… that really helps,” she says. Awareness, she argues, is the first step; spreading knowledge and backing organizations tackling women’s education can amplify local efforts.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/9_045e33ce8e.jpg" alt="9.jpg"><figcaption>The medical needs in Afghanistan are huge, and more women Afghan medical staff need to have access to education and to be trained to address the needs.</figcaption></figure>To young women considering this path, her advice is straightforward: “Just go for it… See for yourself what it’s like,” an invitation rooted in her own leap of faith years ago.&nbsp;She hopes she will be remembered as “someone that made effort to understand the local community.” Her vision for gender equality is equally distilled, a world where “women that we work with in every country do not have to think about the fact that they are women before applying for a job,” where ambition isn’t shadowed by gender, and where opportunity is a given, not a negotiation.Lucy Lau’s story is one of quiet strength—an engineer who has built not just physical structures, but bridges of understanding across cultures. In her hands, humanitarian work is proof of the power of listening, the necessity of women, and the value of small, purposeful acts. Through her, MSF’s mission finds a human face, one that reflects not only the world’s fractures, but its capacity for healing.&nbsp;

Engineering Empathy: Lucy Lau's Journey with Médecins Sans Frontières

Wendy Lam, founder of EzyGreenPak, isn’t your typical entrepreneur. Raised in her family’s garment factory in Hong Kong, she saw the environmental toll of packaging firsthand. “Growing up in the manufacturing environment… I have witnessed the pollution of the packaging since I was a child,” she recalls. This early exposure sparked her passion for sustainability, carving her path from a second-generation factory heir to a pioneer of eco-friendly innovation.Launched in mid-2023, EzyGreenPak represents Wendy’s mission to tackle industrial inefficiencies with sustainable solutions. The start-up specializes in water-soluble, non-woven fabric made from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a biodegradable material known for its durability and versatility. But Wendy’s vision goes beyond products—she’s committed to transparency, using a digital platform to reveal each item’s environmental footprint. “I really want to tell our corporate customers where the product comes from,” she explains. For Wendy, EzyGreenPak isn’t just a business—it’s part of a larger movement to rethink how we value what we consume.Before founding EzyGreenPak, Wendy built a diverse career in sustainability, ESG and technology, working with start-ups in green tech and property tech, alongside global corporations. Her studies in international business management in Scotland introduced her to Western perspectives on sustainability, contrasting sharply with her father’s traditional manufacturing mindset. During the COVID-19 pandemic, as garment orders slowed, Wendy seized the chance to innovate. Partnering with the South China University of Technology, she blended heritage and ambition to reformulate PVA into a market-ready fabric, launching EzyGreenPak to promote her own sustainable brand rather than continuing her family’s OEM legacy.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/9_J7_A4337_fafbd5d850.jpeg" alt="9J7A4337.jpeg"><figcaption>&nbsp;Photo courtesy of Wendy Lam</figcaption></figure>Wendy’s philosophy hinges on a link between transparency and sustainability, forged by her childhood observations in the garment factory. “I have witnessed workers working very hard on a single product,” she reveals. “As a manufacturer, we only earn a little bit, but when we sell to a brand or retailer, they can sell it for ten times more.” This disparity drove her to create a system where supply chain realities are laid bare, empowering consumers and businesses alike.EzyGreenPak reflects this philosophy. Beyond its water-soluble packaging, Wendy and her brother—a programmer—developed a platform to track each product’s carbon footprint. “We can calculate the energy usage and water usage…and compare with the traditional plastic bag based on product end of life,” she notes, highlighting how their material sidesteps the long-term waste of plastics and the water-heavy production of cotton. This data-driven transparency meets a growing demand for accountability, a shift Wendy deems critical: “The market chain is changing… the new generation cares about that.”Her focus on transparency stems from a desire to connect people to the stories behind their purchases. “When you buy an item, you don’t really know the story behind the product,” she reflects. EzyGreenPak’s tote bags aren’t just eco-friendly—they’re tools to spark conversations about sustainability and labor. By merging tangible innovation with digital insight, Wendy ensures her start-up doesn’t just reduce harm but educates and builds trust, redefining what sustainability means in practice.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/5640495d_6798_49db_b342_4e57018ebadd_9b713ec19b.jpg" alt="5640495d-6798-49db-b342-4e57018ebadd.jpg"><figcaption>&nbsp;Photo courtesy of Wendy Lam</figcaption></figure>Overcoming Challenges: Transforming PVA into a Sustainable Solution Turning PVA into a durable, water-soluble fabric was no small feat. Wendy first encountered PVA in her father’s factory, where it was used as a transparent plastic garment bag. But its flaws were evident: “When the weather is very moist or humid, the packaging sticks together. It’s very hard for our workers,” she recalls. Seeing its potential, she partnered with Professor Cui Yuefei from South China University of Technology to reimagine it.The process demanded collaboration and persistence. The professor’s team reformulated PVA, while Wendy focused on scaling it for mass production. “Our role is more like a supporting role,” she explains. Unlike typical non-woven fabric equipment, their machines needed custom tweaks to handle PVA’s unique properties. Through trial and error, they crafted a long-woven fabric that balanced texture, strength, and dissolvability—a breakthrough that became EzyGreenPak’s hero product.This innovation wasn’t just technical; it was personal. “When the team experiments in the lab, it’s different from mass production. We help them to do the mass production to experiment if it is possible,” Wendy says, bridging lab research with factory realities. The result unlocked applications like shopping bags and food packaging, proving sustainable materials could rival traditional plastics. Her resolve turned a flawed material into a game-changer, cementing EzyGreenPak’s place in eco-innovation.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/signal_2025_03_17_180628_002_d6028c77b9.jpeg" alt="signal-2025-03-17-180628_002.jpeg"><figcaption>&nbsp;Photo courtesy of Wendy Lam</figcaption></figure>Championing Sustainability in a Fast Fashion World Wendy’s dislike for fast fashion stems from its inequities, shaped by her factory upbringing. “I don’t like fast fashion because they sell it very cheap… how much from the $100 will go to the worker?” she asks. She critiques how profits favor branding over fair labor: “It’s the same quality, the same material, but with a different logo, different branding, different marketing…and they will mark the price up.” This exploitation, alongside fast fashion’s environmental damage, fuels her mission.EzyGreenPak challenges this cycle by offering sustainable alternatives that last. Wendy’s advice to consumers is practical: “Buy what you need.” She recognizes fast fashion’s ubiquity but urges mindfulness—her goal isn’t to eliminate it, but to shift habits toward value-driven consumption, using transparency to expose the true cost of cheap clothing and promote options that respect both people and the planet.A Runner’s Resilience: Lessons from the Marathon Trail Wendy’s identity as a runner mirrors her entrepreneurial grit. A regular marathoner, she sees parallels between racing and building EzyGreenPak. “It’s the same concept… there’s always a long way to go, and you feel so tired—you always want to give up,” she reflects. This resilience sustains her through start-up challenges, from rejections to self-doubt.Running offers more than endurance—it’s a source of joy and clarity. “The happiest moment is not when you achieve the target, it’s when you almost achieve it,” she says. This mindset fuels her incremental approach to EzyGreenPak, celebrating small wins like client support or avoiding 500 tons of CO₂. She’s pragmatic too, setting a three-year target to assess success: “If I can’t meet the target… I would probably consider another alternative option… If I fail, I still have a story to tell.”Her love for running began with a challenge. “I’m the kind of person who likes challenges,” she laughs. “Once I have a target, I really want to achieve it.” Crossing the finish line brings pride—“I can’t believe I can do it”—a feeling she channels into her business. Whether on the pavement or pitching to clients, Wendy’s runner’s spirit drives her forward, proving that persistence can turn vision into reality.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/signal_2025_03_17_181112_002_df4281aad6.jpeg" alt="signal-2025-03-17-181112_002.jpeg"><figcaption>&nbsp;Photo courtesy of Wendy Lam</figcaption></figure>Bridging Generations: Family Dynamics in Entrepreneurship Working with family has tested and strengthened Wendy’s resolve. Her father, a traditional manufacturer, initially dismissed sustainability. “He doesn’t really think that sustainability or transparency is very important… making enough money to give the salary to the worker, that is their first priority,” she says. Convincing him took effort: “I had to brainwash my dad to tell him why this is important.”Their collaboration blends his expertise with her innovation. “My family has a background in production and experience in manufacturing,” she notes. Yet, tensions arise: “It’s not 100% happy all the time… we’re from different generations and there’s always a communication gap.” Wendy has since learned to treat him like a coworker—“more polite”—to keep peace.The joy lies in mutual growth. “They understand now that there’s value,” she says of her father’s gradual acceptance. This partnership, though rocky, is a testament to how family can evolve from tradition to transformation, bolstering Wendy’s vision with their factory’s legacy.A Legacy of Connection: Redefining Value Through Tangible Products Wendy envisions a future where everyday products become bridges between people, fostering appreciation for the labor and lives behind them. “My ultimate goal is to use a tangible product to connect people,” she says. This took root during a transformative chapter of her life: two months spent working in a Cambodian garment and accessory factory five years ago, shortly after graduating from university. Sent by a supportive boss, she stepped into a world that reframed her view on manufacturing and consumption.In Cambodia, Wendy experienced a stark contrast to Hong Kong. “When you go to Cambodia… even when you give them lunch, they were so happy,” she recalls. This gratitude struck her deeply. Coming from a bustling city, she hadn’t anticipated how modest gestures could carry such weight. “I did something very small… but they will see it as a very big thing for their life,” she reflects. These interactions revealed the stakes of factory work: “This job can help a lot of families… you see the real smile on their face.” For Wendy, it was a revelation—each garment stitched wasn’t just a product, but a lifeline supporting Cambodian families, their joy a testament to the ripple effects of her industry.Living among the workers, Wendy saw beyond the factory. “Some of the workers… they just want to earn money for their family. They also have a very touching story,” she says. As a consumer, she realized these stories remained invisible: “I’m wearing a jacket now. I have no way to understand who made my jacket for me… where the material comes from, the manufacturer, the worker.” This disconnect drives her resolve to bridge the gap. “Once you have experienced life in a Cambodian factory, you will see that one item can help a lot of families,” she explains, a lesson that underscores the core purpose of EzyGreenPak.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/IMG_8469_29779883a2.JPG" alt="IMG_8469.JPG"><figcaption>&nbsp;Photo courtesy of Wendy Lam</figcaption></figure>Beyond Bags: Pioneering Change Through Purpose This vision propels EzyGreenPak beyond bags. Wendy is exploring new sustainable materials, like transparent, plastic-free FSC paper for food packaging. “We want to expand our product category,” she says, aiming to reduce environmental footprints while amplifying human stories. Her digital platform, set to scale globally, will further this goal by offering transparency into production impacts. Reflecting on Cambodia, Wendy believes small actions can spark big shifts: “A very small step can change people’s mindset.” Her legacy isn’t merely in eco-innovation but in redefining value—turning purchases into partnerships between makers and users, inspired by the smiles she saw in a factory 900 miles away from home.Wendy’s journey with EzyGreenPak is a testament to purpose-driven innovation. From her garment factory roots to sustainability leadership, she has turned personal insight into action. “At least I’m doing something good,” she says of her impact. Challenging fast fashion and opaque supply chains, Wendy models resilience and transparency. As EzyGreenPak grows, her vision of products that connect and sustain lights the way for a greener, more equitable future.

From Factory Floors to Greener Pastures: Wendy Lam's Journey with EzyGreenPak

Millie Bobby Brown recently addressed ongoing criticism about her appearance in a candid conversation on the Call Her Daddy podcast, hosted by Alex Cooper. The 21-year-old Stranger Things star responded to tabloid headlines and online comments claiming she looks older than her age, with some even suggesting that she appears 40. Brown dismissed the comments with a pragmatic take: having entered the spotlight at just 10 years old, it’s only natural that she’s grown and matured over the past decade.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/strangerthingstv_1605126101_2440297066264872389_2093563594_794420581e.jpg" alt="strangerthingstv_1605126101_2440297066264872389_2093563594.jpg"><figcaption>Photo from Instagram @strangerthingstv</figcaption></figure>Reflecting on the scrutiny, Brown admitted the criticism no longer fazed her as much as it once did. She revealed that earlier in her career, the pressure to meet public expectations led her to try altering herself to please others, but she has since embraced her evolving identity. Whether it be changes in her accent, her choice to wear makeup, or simply growing up, Brown now views these as integral parts of who she is. Millie went on to call out the unfair judgment women endure about their appearances, arguing it’s a standard that should no longer be accepted.Earlier this month, Brown took to Instagram to confront media outlets like the Daily Mail, accusing them of overstepping boundaries by dissecting her face, body, and personal choices. In a pointed video, she expressed frustration, especially at female journalists participating in what she called "bullying," making it clear she won’t apologize for maturing into adulthood on her own terms and rejecting societal pressures to remain frozen in time. "Disillusioned people can't handle seeing a girl become a woman on her terms, not theirs. I refuse to apologize for growing up. I refuse to make myself smaller to fit the unrealistic expectations of people who can't handle seeing a girl become a woman," she said.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/milliebobbybrown_1740735929_3577874753248639995_3439002676_c3898bd9d6.jpg" alt="milliebobbybrown_1740735929_3577874753248639995_3439002676.jpg"><figcaption>Photo from Instagram @milliebobbybrown</figcaption></figure>During the podcast, Brown voiced her disdain for this persistent critique, describing it as something that warps how people perceive the world and erodes their ability to focus on the positive. “If I had a genie wish, I really would wish that no one ever had to go through that kind of scrutiny because it changes the kind of person you are," she admitted. She also took a swipe at the press, suggesting they could use a refresher in basic decency and empathy, given that everyone is a work in progress.Brown’s comments come amid her promotional tour for The Electric State, a new Netflix film co-starring Chris Pratt. She also touched on her journey to this moment of defiance in a recent "Tonight Show" appearance, acknowledging she had hesitated due to fear of backlash but ultimately realized she couldn’t wait any longer to stand up for herself.&nbsp;The fifth and final season of Stranger Things is set to premiere on Netflix later this year.

Millie Bobby Brown on Aging: 'I Grew Up—What Do You Expect?'

Renowned actress and activist Jane Fonda received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards on February 23, 2025, held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The event, airing live on Netflix for the second year, recognized the 87-year-old actress for her six-decade career in film, television, and theater. In her acceptance speech, Fonda addressed the role of empathy in acting, the importance of unions, and the need for unity amid current challenges.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/janefonda_1715807440_3368759437120230234_4586539868_6b9e905a1d.jpg" alt="janefonda_1715807440_3368759437120230234_4586539868.jpg"><figcaption>Photo from Instagram @janefonda</figcaption></figure>Fonda began her speech with gratitude, stating, “This means the world to me. Your enthusiasm makes it seem less like a late twilight of my life and more like a ‘Go girl, kick ass’—which is good, because I’m not done.” Reflecting on her career, Fonda noted that she considers herself a “late bloomer.” Following her retirement from acting at age 50 following her Oscar-winning role in Coming Home (1978), she returned with Monster-in-Law (2005) at age 65. She mentioned her recent success with 80 for Brady (2023), saying, “I made one of my most successful movies in my 80s.” Looking ahead, she added, “Probably in my 90s, I’ll be doing my own stunts in an action movie.”A prominent activist, Fonda emphasized the value of unions, particularly SAG-AFTRA, in her remarks. “I’m a big believer in unions,” she said. “They have our backs. They bring us into community, and they give us power—community means power, and that’s crucial right now when workers’ power is being attacked and community is being weakened.” She tied this to the actors’ strike of 2023, which SAG-AFTRA led alongside the Writers Guild of America, securing better wages and protections against the use of artificial intelligence in the industry, noting that such collective efforts remain vital as labor rights continue to face ongoing threats.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/janefonda_1735836451_3536774954512956233_4586539868_04c61a70e8.jpg" alt="janefonda_1735836451_3536774954512956233_4586539868.jpg"><figcaption>Photo from Instagram @janefonda</figcaption></figure>Fonda then spoke to the craft of acting, highlighting its unique contribution. “We don’t manufacture anything tangible,” she said. “What we create is empathy. Our job is to understand another human being so profoundly that we can touch their souls. We know why they do what they do; we feel their joy and their pain.” Pointing to Sebastian Stan’s performance as a young Donald Trump in The Apprentice (2024), released last October, as an example, she noted: “While you may hate the behavior, you have to empathize with the traumatized person you’re playing.” She stressed the importance of this skill, stating, “Make no mistake, empathy is not weak or woke. And by the way, ‘woke’ just means you give a damn about other people,” a comment that prompted applause.Turning to broader societal issues, Fonda addressed the political and environmental challenges of 2025. “A whole lot of people are going to be really hurt by what is happening, what is coming our way,” she said. While she did not explicitly name the Trump administration, sworn in a month earlier, her remarks followed reports of policy changes affecting healthcare, immigration, and climate initiatives. She also alluded to the wildfires that had disrupted Los Angeles in recent weeks, forcing some SAG Awards attendees to adjust travel plans. “Even if they’re of a different political persuasion, we need to call upon our empathy—not judge, but listen from our hearts and welcome them into our tent,” she urged. “We’re going to need a big tent to resist successfully what’s coming at us.”<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/sagaftra_1740370380_3574808277370019471_527347331_2427192c4f.jpg" alt="sagaftra_1740370380_3574808277370019471_527347331.jpg"><figcaption>Photo from X @sagaftra</figcaption></figure>Placing the moment in historical context, Fonda drew parallels to historical movements. “Have you ever watched a documentary about the civil rights movement, apartheid, or Stonewall and wondered if you’d have been brave enough to walk that bridge?” she asked. “We don’t have to wonder anymore. We are in our documentary moment. This is it, and it’s not a rehearsal.” She acknowledged a brief audio glitch during this part of her speech, quipping, “And I can conjure up voices!” before continuing.In her closing remarks, Fonda called for collective action. “We must not isolate. We must stay in community. We must help the vulnerable. We must find ways to project an inspiring vision of the future—one that’s beckoning, welcoming, that shows there will still be love, still be beauty, and an ocean of truth for us to swim in,” she said. “Let’s make it so.” Fonda received a standing ovation for her speech.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prd-cdn.jessicahk.com/Gkh_N1tm_XEA_Ako8i_0852341ddc.jpeg" alt="GkhN1tmXEAAko8i.jpeg"><figcaption>Photo from X @sagaftra</figcaption></figure>Julia Louis-Dreyfus presented the award to Fonda, introducing her as a “ferocious” figure in both acting and activism. “She’s won two Oscars, an Emmy, seven Golden Globes, and she’s still going,” Louis-Dreyfus said. She also noted Fonda’s decades of advocacy, from Vietnam War protests to her recent “Fire Drill Fridays” climate demonstrations in Washington, D.C. Fonda became the 60th recipient of SAG-AFTRA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, joining previous honorees such as Barbra Streisand (2024), Helen Mirren (2022), and Sally Field (2019).The ceremony marked another milestone for SAG-AFTRA, with over 4,000 members attending despite logistical challenges from the wildfires. Fonda’s speech stood out among the night’s winners, which included awards for Shōgun and Only Murders in the Building, reinforcing her enduring relevance at 87.

Jane Fonda Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award at 2025 SAG Awards

WomenEmpowerment

JESSICA 會員

WomenEmpowerment