Mother’s Day: Eight Inspirational Mothers
From an image-making power couple to our favourite First Lady – we’re celebrating eight incredible mothers and their achievements this Mother’s Day.
1. Cass and Ali Bird and their son, Leo and daughter, Mae
Power couple Cass and Ali Bird are not only prominent figures in the fashion industry but are also a huge source of inspiration for LGBTQ+ parents across the world, shaping the perception of the modern 21st century family. Heralded for her considered and natural approach to fashion photography, Cass Bird has worked for publications like Vogue and The New York Times, as well as shooting for big brands like Nike and Levi’s. Through her personal Instagram account Cass presents an intimate portrait of family life, sharing fun lip-syncing videos, holiday pictures and snapshots of candid and affectionate family moments. A must-follow account for parents everywhere.
2. Eva Chen and her daughter, Ren and son, Tao
Social media heavyweight and longtime Whistles fan, Eva Chen knows what makes a good picture. Previously dubbed as the digital age version of Anna Wintour, Eva Chen has been recently appointed Director of Fashion Partnerships at Instagram. With over 1 million followers she is best known for her backseat taxi snaps of her shoes and accessories, but now the photographs of her and her daughter Ren in matching outfits are fast becoming our favourite. Eva Chen recently welcomed a new baby boy called Tao in her family and we’re sure it won’t be long until he is rocking some great looks too.
3. Michelle Obama and daughters, Malia and Sasha
Our favourite First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama needs no introduction. A role model for women everywhere and an advocate for poverty awareness, nutrition, and physical activity, Michelle Obama always demonstrated her compassion not just for her two daughters, but for the people of the USA. From her poignant final speech as First Lady, Michelle said, “being your First Lady has been the greatest honor of my life, and I hope I’ve made you proud.” We can’t wait to see what she goes on to do next.
4. Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher
A principal star at MGM, Debbie Reynolds was awarded the SAG Lifetime Achievement award in 2015. She also spanned a five year decade serving as president of The Thalians, an organization devoted to those with mental illness and education around the subject. Whilst Reynolds fought to eliminate the stigma attached to mental illness, her daughter Carrie Fisher fought for hope in Star Wars but also in the real world too. Known for her role as Princess (later General) Leia Organa, Fisher’s openness about her struggle with bipolar disorder meant that she became a source of hope for those struggling too. As mother and daughter their love and care for each other was always evident, and both their legacies will continue to influence the culture around mental health for generations to come.
5. Natalia Vodianova and her children; Maxim, Neva, Viktor, Lucas and Roman
Nicknamed the “supernova” of the fashion world, Natalia Vodianova had a difficult upbringing growing up in Soviet Union Russia. From international supermodel to respected philanthropist, Natalia set up the Naked Heart Foundation – an organization that strives to provide safe playgrounds across Russia and offers support for families raising children with disabilities. Vodianova has also launched a micro-philanthropy app called Elbi, meaning “little actions that make a big difference”. The app allows users to donate, create content and send messages through their own phones. This is a supermodel with a mission to create safer environments for future children.
6. Courtney Adamo and her children; Easton, Quin, Ivy, Marlow and Willem
Courtney Adamo challenged the preconceptions of the ‘gap year’ by demonstrating how rewarding it can be to travel with your children. Documented on her personal blog ‘Somewhere Slower’, Courtney shared her year of traveling with her family with the goal of creating a richer experience with her kids before they grew up. During their travels, Courtney self-taught her children through workbooks and journal-writing, and using real-world examples to enrich their education. Courtney is currently now residing in Byron Bay, where she just gave birth to her fifth child, Willem.
