5x15 x Selfridges - On Motherhood

Candice Brathwaite is an author, journalist, TV presenter, and founder of Make Motherhood Diverse – an online initiative that aims to ensure many more people see themselves reflected online. Candice started blogging in 2016 to tell her own motherhood story keen to show that young black families weren’t just surviving but thriving and her straight-talking, original content really struck a chord with fans and brands alike. A self-confessed beauty and fashion obsessive Candice now has a regular style segment on Lorraine on ITV where she has become known for gently encouraging people to be bolder about embracing colour in their wardrobes. Candice is a Contributing Editor to Grazia and regularly appears on national radio and television news channels to talk about maternal mortality rates for black women in Britain. Her debut book I Am Not Your Baby Mother - about being a black British mum – published in May 2020 by Quercus made the Sunday Times Bestseller list.

Jess Phillips is a Labour Party politician who became the MP for the constituency of Birmingham Yardley at the 2015 general election. Jess has committed her life to improving the lives of others, especially the most vulnerable. Before becoming an MP, Jess worked for Women’s Aid in the West Midlands developing services for victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, human trafficking and exploitation. She became a councillor in 2012, in this role she worked tirelessly to support residents, with her work being recognised when she became Birmingham’s first ever Victims Champion. Since becoming an MP, Jess has continued her fight to support those who need it the most and has earned a reputation for plain speaking since being elected, unfazed by threats and calling out sexist attitudes as she promotes women’s rights. Jess has written two bestselling books ‘Everywoman One Woman’s Truth About Speaking The Truth’ and ‘Truth to Power: 7 Ways to Call Time on BS’. Both books reflect her commitment to speaking up and having the courage to have your voice heard and make a difference. Her new book is ‘Mother’.

Nell Frizzell is a journalist, writer and Vogue columnist. She has written for The Guardian, VICE, The Telegraph, Elle, The Observer, Grazia, I-D among many others. Her first book The Panic Years is an exploration of bodies, babies and the big questions facing modern life. She lives in Oxford, swims in the river as often as she can and will do almost anything to avoid cleaning her cooker.

Gemma Rolls-Bentley is a curator, writer, lecturer and business leader working across a variety of contexts, from technology and the art market to the charitable sector and public institutions. Gemma is the Curatorial Director and regular editorial contributor at the leading online art platform Artsy. She is also a visiting lecturer at the Royal College of Art and an advisor to early stage startups and cultural projects.

Gemma is co-chair of the board of trustees for the new charity Queercircle which aims to support art, culture, health and well-being in the LGBTQ+ community, and she was a trustee of SE London art festival Deptford X from 2014 - 2017. Over the past 15 years Gemma has delivered projects exploring cultural representation of queer identity and gender equality for organisations including Gay Times, the National Portrait Gallery, WOW Festival, Somerset House, Daata Editions, Soho House Group and the Fawcett Society. She is also an advocate for queer families and often speaks publicly about her experience since becoming a parent in 2019.

Photo: Gabi Cooper

Glyn Fussell is co founder of Sink The Pink, Mighty Hoopla and East Creative. Working over the last decade to build a platform and safe space for seas of LGBTQ+ people to express who they are. He is also a writer and broadcaster and is the host of podcast “Drag Queens Den” for Radio 1 on BBC Sounds, where he is able to discuss his drag expertise alongside drag queens from across the country and celebrity fans.

Amy Zing is a Margate-based festival director, currently curating Margate Pride and POW! Thanet. With a background as a BBC radio producer, in 2008 Amy co-founded Sink The Pink. In 2016 Amy co-founded Margate Arts Club and Margate Pride (which has grown from 500 attendees to a much-loved community event attracting crowds of 10,000+) In 2016 she co-founded OUT Margate, an LGBTQ-friendly youth club, recognised by Amnesty International as an essential community support service. In 2019 she was appointed Artistic Director of POW! Thanet, an arts and culture festival and charity celebrating feminism, women and girls.