Women We Watch: Rhyannon Styles

Think back to artist Eddie Peake's otherworldly installation, 'The Forever Loop', at Barbican's Curve Gallery, 2015/16. If an auburn

blur on rollerskates whizzed past, deftly navigating the 90m long space, you'd have unwittingly already met performer and author Rhyannon Styles. In collaborating with Poppy's Papercuts on our GIRLS GOT IDEAS collection, we created two pieces inspired by Rhyannon's hopes and dreams, past and present. Join us as we talk 'copper locks', cooking for someone else and creativity.

Credit - Eivind Hansen

CAN YOU SUM UP WHAT YOU DO IN FIVE WORDS?

Writing, Performing & Public Speaking. Modelling & Composing.

FROM PODCASTS TO PLAYLISTS, WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

Music and words unlock my creative channels.

Yoga enables my body to move and breathe.

Meditation offers time and connection with the universe and my higher power.

Swimming in open water reminds me that I am alive.

Cooking for somebody else makes me smile.

All of the above inspire my work and nourish my creativity.

YOU’VE PREVIOUSLY WORKED WITH BODY SHOP, EDDIE PEAKE AND NOW TATTY DEVINE, WHO WOULD BE YOUR DREAM COLLAB?

I'm slightly fanatical about hair, particularly maintaining and dying my own copper locks. So with that in mind, I'd love to collaborate with a leading figure in the hair industry to create hair-dyes which are not tested on animals and better for the environment, whilst also providing excellent coverage and colours. I'm hopeful that something already exists, otherwise I need to make it happen!

Credit - Jennifer Endom

WHAT DO YOU PERSONALLY REGARD AS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT?

My biggest achievement is transitioning into being Rhyannon

. Once I'd initiated this process everything else fell into place. Now I am able to respect myself and the others around me. I've had many career highlights which include; writing for ELLE magazine, publishing my memoir 'The New Girl', performing at the Guggenheim Museum in NYC and being able to support myself as an arts practitioner for the last 10 years, but nothing external matters if the internal is broken.

WHAT’S THE BEST DECISION YOU EVER MADE?

Deciding to live my life the way I wanted.

WORST DECISION?

My worst decision is not believing in myself, when I knew what I had to do. For allowing the voices of others to restrict my own existence on this planet.

WHICH WOMEN ARE YOU WATCHING RIGHT NOW?

Rachel Aggs because the future of music is brighter if she's playing it

Florence Peake because she creates artworks that inspire me

Munroe Bergdorf for speaking out and challenging the system

Victoria Beckham because I love her fashion collections

Naomi Wadler for her incredible speech at Washington's March for our Lives protest

Thanks, Rhyannon ! Discover 'The New Girl' here and shop Rhyannon's

Love To Give Earrings and Be Who You Want Ballet Necklace here!