Quiksilver Women – Quiksilver Women

Beth Jones, 29, is originally from South Carolina but currently lives in Orange County, CA. In 2007 she created the online fashion site, “The Vintage Society,” which showcased her individual style using vintage and modern to create signature looks. Features such as “Instant Outfit” and “The Society Girl of the Week” brought thousands of readers back each day. With this platform Beth was a perfect match for the Quiksilver Women’s team and joined their Ambassador Program as a \"Style Specialist.\" With her unique perspective and flare, Beth’s styling advice attracted a local following and led her to develop \"B. Jones Style.” Through B. Jones Style, Beth consults with women on a personal level to find their inner style icon. Get more style tips from Beth online at Bjonesstyle.com and through her weekly posts to Quiksilver’s blog at womens.quiksilver.com.

Tennille, USA/Do-Gooder & Musician

Tennille Amor, born in Scotland, and having lived all over the world, finally came to realize during her time in Egypt that poverty was a serious problem. Tennille remembers looking over her backyard wall and seeing children her age scavenging through the trash piles for food. At a young age she made a promise to herself that she would one day make an effort to help alleviate the unnecessary anguish. She pursued a career in music and recognized the ability to use her love of music and her career field as a platform to highlight some of the problems being faced by people all around the world every day. In 2005 she and Alexi Panos formed E.P.I.C, Everyday People Initiating Change, a non-profit organization whereby they build sustainable water systems in Africa. Every summer they venture to Africa to do just that, with the hope that every little bit counts and that in each trip they have improved the living conditions of many African women. Through their partnership with Quiksilver Women, E.P.I.C. raised enough money through royalties from Quiksilver’s eco-friendly products in 2009 to complete two new water wells in Africa. E.P.I.C. and Quiksilver hope to drill three more wells in 2010 through the continuation of royalties from Quiksilver’s graphic tees and tanks. Tennille has also recently completed her debut EP entitled ‘EVOLVE through LOVE,’ which is a collection of songs based on the theme of ‘Love’ in all forms. For more information on Tennille, please visit: www.myspace.com/TennilleAmor or www.twitter.com/TennilleAmor And to follow the outstanding work being done through E.P.I.C. visit: www.epicthemovement.org

Alexi, USA/Do-Gooder

Alexi Panos, 26, born in Erie, Pennsylvania, always dreamed of being able to explore past the boundaries of her hometown. A relentless fan of the arts and entertainment, Panos, at the age of 18, moved to New York City to follow her dream of being an entertainer. While on tour as a singer in Africa, Panos was exposed to the true problems facing the developing world. With this new found perspective, she began re-evaluating what her ultimate purpose was in life. Her experiences in Africa became the catalyst to a new view of the world. Panos knew, now more than ever, that she was ultimately meant for something epic in life; and that her purpose far exceeded the boundaries of the walls that she had previously lived within. In 2005 she and Tennile Amor formed E.P.I.C, Everyday People Initiating Change, a non-profit organization whereby they build sustainable water systems in Africa. Every summer they venture to Africa to do just that, with the hope that every little bit counts and that in each trip they have improved the living conditions of many African women, children and families. Through their partnership with Quiksilver Women, E.P.I.C. raised enough money through royalties from Quiksilver’s eco-friendly products in 2009 to complete two new water wells in Africa. E.P.I.C. and Quiksilver hope to drill three more wells in 2010 through the continuation of royalties from Quiksilver’s graphic tees and tanks. Follow the outstanding work of these two visionaries on: www.epicthemovement.org

Leddra, UK/Songstress

While most kids are concerning themselves with games consoles at the age of 12, Leddra Chapman picked up one of her dads acoustic guitars for the first time, sat down and began to write her first song. Since that day the young singer songwriter has never looked back… With a quintessentially English voice, which is both pure and unique, it wasn’t long before she was being asked to play venues all over the country, including Britain’s premier new music showcase – Manchester’s ‘In The City’ Music Conference. Leddra played a storming 30 minute set to a packed out crowd at the Warchild Acoustic Showcase and was subsequently chosen as a ‘Best of ITC’ in Music Week magazine who described her as ‘filling a similar space to early Alanis Morissette and Joni Mitchell’. With soulful and honest lyrics that come straight from the heart, Leddra Chapman is truly one of the most gifted young songwriters and vocalists in Britain today and has recently released her debut album, «Telling Tales», now available on Itunes.

Julie, France/Actress & Musician

The face of an angel, a cheeky elegance, and a unique voice… Julie Boulanger is a woman of beauty, gentleness and creativity. She has the soul of a born entertainer and is a multi-talented artist. Born in Paris, she was spotted by the director Alain Nahum when she was 15 years old and was invited to star in “Des gens si bien élevés” with Michèle Morgan and Mélanie Thierry. Since then, she’s devoted her life to acting. An artist from head to toe, Julie is also passionate of street art and loves spending her free time surfing in the south west of France. Although she has always done music, it is only now that she goes on stage with her brand new band, Freckles. Their sound is a mixture of acoustic and rhythmic folk melodies, with her husky voice transporting us to an inspired, bohemian new world. Enjoy the sounds of this multifaceted artist on: http://myspace.com/yeahfreckles

Charlotte, UK/Songstress

At only 18, Charlotte O’Connor has already laid the foundations of what will no doubt be a long and successful career in the music industry. Since joining the Mel Bush Organization (Led Zeppelin, Queen, Sir Elton John, David Bowie, David Essex, Vanessa Mae to name a few) in 2007, the singer songwriter from Blackburn has built a cult Internet fan base of well over 400,000 and has been dubbed by numerous industry insiders as the next “generation Y internet phenomenon.” After signing a world wide record deal with Columbia Records in December 2008, Charlotte is currently in the studio working on her debut album, writing with the likes of Sasha Skarbek (who co-wrote the smash hit “You are Beautiful” for James Blunt) and Dan Gatreau (who has commercial credits with artists such as Alicia Keys, George Michael, Kylie Minogue and Shaznay Lewis). Soulful and charming, Charlotte has the strength of the big stars when she’s on stage, capable of blowing crowds away with her voice, her personality and her music. Watch out on this raising star and, for now, listen to her music on: www.myspace.com/charlottesoul

Ela, Switzerland/Creative Word Addict

Coming from Switzerland, Ela grew up between cowbells and cheese fondue in the tiny village of Klosters right in the heart of the Swiss Alps. Beautiful and smart, she loves playing with words and builds her life around them. She is all at the same time: a student, a journalist, a part-time model, a fashion addict, an art lover, a book reader, a music listener, a movie viewer, a theatre spectator, a sun worshipper, a rain enthusiast, a snow devotee, a city person, a mountain dweller, an ocean admirer, a globe trotter…and with joining us, she is also now a blog writer. Follow her stories on our Quiksilver women’s blog: http://blog.quiksilver-women.com/

Ellie, UK/Songstress

Ellie Lawson is an artist whose compelling voice and rich sonic landscape reflect a life journey of personal determination and self-discovery. Born in South London, she has invented a unique musical world that is both beat-driven and organic, lyrical and edgy, thoughtful and entrancing. For her debut album \"THE PHILOSOPHY TREE”, Ellie went to LA to collaborate with producer DJ Lethal as well as William Orbit. This album was championed by Ellen DeGeneres on her hit talk show saying \"I listen to the album over and over again in my house...the entire CD is fantastic.\" Ellie had a highly downloaded “single of the week” on iTunes; inclusion on the soundtrack of the hit comedy film Monster-In-Law; and Barnes & Noble’s exclusive distribution. Now back in the UK, Ellie has just released her much-anticipated second album “LOST SONGS” independently, on her own label “Create your own reality”. This new album includes songs written in collaboration with the renowned British producers/writers Jony « Rockstar » (Sugababes, Alicia Keys) and Tim Wills (Ian Brown) and reap the rewards for her determination and passion to push forward her own career and get her music heard. Both Ellie’s albums are available worldwide on Itunes.

Bara, Czech Republic/Fashion & Art Photographer

Coming from Prague, in the Czech Republic, Bara Prasilova is an accomplished artist and an awarded photographer. Either being a model, a hairdresser or a make up artist for her own photoshoots, her world is all about images, lights and shadows. One day, she decided to dedicate her life to photography, and since then she never stopped mixing fashion and art into her pictures. She gets her inspiration from everything around her: her childhood, the weather, the seasons, landscapes, streets, people, clothes, faces, words, sentences... She loves creating a story, figuring out all the little details in her head and working on it until she captures it with her camera. Her images are composed of elements in our life, yet they bring us to a world of fairies, dreams and nature. “During my childhood, everything around me was so intense. My imagination was so strong and alive; the forest was so much deeper and the night so much darker… the best souvenirs of my childhood are things that actually never happened…”. Discover the world of this incredibly creative Quiksilver woman on: www.baraprasilova.com/

Mahara, New Zealand/Switzerland/DJ

Born and raised in New Zealand, Mahara moved with her family to Switzerland in 1991. Part Maori, part Swiss, part Scottish and part English, this multicultural woman expresses her creativity through her devotion: Music. As a professional and recognized international DJ, she aims at giving positive energy to people while playing. Whether it is mixing Chill out, Rock or Dance music, Mahara rocks the house every time she goes on stage. She has published several compilations and some of her own music has even featured in the legendary Café Del Mar (Vol.12 & Vol.14). Free spirited, beautiful and con?dent, Mahara is a true Quiksilver woman at heart. To discover more about Mahara check her websites: www.maharamckay.ch www.djrocksy.ch

Tevau, Denmark/Chef

Born in Tahiti, Tevau moved to Denmark during her teenage years where she currently lives with her family. Tevau’s big passion is cooking. She loves to create great and amazing food, which for her is an ART itself. She describes food as a tasty mix of colours, always with a hiding twist. She discovered her passion and talent as a Chef years ago, when she finished High School. She started working as a waiter, and soon she was managing the entire kitchen. She wasn’t aware of her talent then, but after finishing her first dinner party for 200 people, which was a great success, she realized it wasn’t only luck! She continued to cook, and made dinner for up to 500 during her time there. Almost 4 years ago she integrated the Quiksilver family, by becoming the official chef at the Quiksilver Pro France and delighting everyone with her gift at the VIP parties and dinners. She loves to give people an experience they don’t expect, or have ever tried before. That is HER JOB in life, she says: to share her ART of cooking with people, and see their happy smiling faces. « I can’t explain the feeling that I get by it. It’s wonderful and it completes me as a Chef and also as a person. Taste life – I say as a Chef. Life is a big buffet of food. Try one thing at a time and it tastes amazing. Eat too much at a time you get full too fast. But if you don’t touch it, you will miss out! Me, I’m taking one step at a time. I taste life in small pieces, to fulfil my dream. And as long as I stay focused and feel this passion, I will never give up on my dream. » Today, Tevau spends her time between her part time job and her studies, which she has undertaken to pursue her dream: to open her own restaurant one day.

Ruth, UK/Writer, Photographer & Environmentalist

Ruth Carruthers, 24, is originally from the highlands of Scotland but currently lives in Glasgow, where she is doing a pretty good job of combining her love of nature, art, fashion and telling stories with words and pictures. As a kid, she spent most of her days outside, and she was always a bit of a water baby, but it wasn’t until she took a trip to the Caribbean in 2005 and saw first hand the destructive presence that humans are having on coral reefs that she knew what her mission was – that was the point of no return for her. Since then, she’s developed a passion for explaining green issues in a creative way and published her own environmental magazine last year. She has also been writing environmentally based articles for a variety of publications and websites, illustrating her work with her own pictures when possible, and has recently been appointed Environmental Correspondent for Huck magazine’s website. Ruth is passionate about marine conservation in particular, and works closely with NGOs and conservation charities to promote their work within the media. Ruth loves the eco friendly women’s range of Quiksilver and would love to see more people wearing it!

Gin, New Zealand/Australia/Singer Songwriter

Once you’ve heard Gin sing, you won’t forget the name. Gin Wigmore is 23, a Kiwi, a gifted songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and she sings like you’ve never heard anyone sing before. Gin was born in Auckland, lives in Sydney and has just recorded her brilliant debut album, Holy Smoke, in Hollywood’s famed Capitol Studios. Gin created Holy Smoke with Mike Elizondo as her producer [Fiona Apple, Regina Spektor, Eminem, Nelly Furtado, Maroon 5] and with The Cardinals as her backing band [as in the very same Cardinals from Ryan Adams & The Cardinals]. Cardinals’ guitarist Neal Casal has described Gin as “unquestionably one of the most exciting new artists to emerge in many years. Her song writing is at once diverse, intelligent, melodic, and soulful. Her voice is raw and emotional, with phrasing far beyond her years. Her debut record is a fully realised statement of intent, promising a great career ahead.” Exactly how did a blonde-and-blue-eyed young Kiwi find herself in Hollywood’s most famous recording studio, sitting on Frank Sinatra’s old leopard skin chair and putting down tracks for her debut album with one of the world’s best rock bands? Personally, Gin has always felt she’s had a sort of guardian angel – or rather a team of guardian angels – guiding her through the formative years of her music career. At 16, Gin won the US-based International Song writing Contest with an aching acoustic ballad called “Hallelujah”, a song she’d penned in honour of her father who’d recently lost his fight with cancer. “Hallelujah” was actually one of the first songs she’d ever written, but it made Gin the competition’s youngest ever winner, and also the first unsigned artist to win the major prize, beating 11,000 songwriters from 77 countries. In late-2007, Gin signed to Island Records in Australia, the local label’s first ever signing. In 2008, she released her critically-acclaimed debut EP, Extended Play, which featured “Hallelujah”, as well as another epic ballad, “These Roses”, alongside celebratory tracks such as “SOS” and “Under My Skin” – songs that left a lasting impression on anyone who heard them. On the back of the EP, Gin started touring extensively through Australia and New Zealand. Aside from her own shows, Gin was invited to play support act on Australian tours by Pete Murray and Sparkadia. In New Zealand, she performed on an arena tour alongside John Mellencamp and Sheryl Crow. In August 2008, Gin was signed to Universal Motown Records USA by label President, Sylvia Rhone and undertook her first US promo trip in October, performing shows in San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles to rapturous media and music industry audiences. Extended Play went top 10 at home in New Zealand, and together with her next release, as guest vocalist on a track called “Brother” by Kiwi hip-hop outfit Smashproof, made Gin a certified new star in NZ. “Brother”, released in January 2009, would go on to top the local singles charts for a record-breaking 11 straight weeks. Since then, the young artist hasn’t stopped and with the release of her new album, it looks like she’s on the good path to stardom… Listen to her music and discover more about Gin on: www.myspace.com/ginwigmore