Hey there, I’m Jess ✨. On The Signature, I share reflections on beauty, routines, travel, wellness, culture, and everyday life. For those drawn to a calmer, more intentional way of living, I send a free newsletter each month on the 7th. You're welcome to join.
One of the greatest joys of blogging for over two decades is having little time capsules of the person I used to be through the years. Ten years ago, I wrote a first article called "7 Women I'd (gladly) share a meal with", selecting a handful of women I admired at the time and detailing the restaurant we would go to and what I would ask them if I had the opportunity.
The 7 women I picked in 2016
- Monica Lewinsky (at Saint-Ex in Washington, DC) - I still would! I mean, one of my first newsletters here was celebrating her 50th birthday and I love her podcast.
- Serena Williams (at Parque Lage in Rio de Janeiro) - I still would, even if I haven't kept up with her life in the past decade as I did when I was an avid tennis watcher.
- Victoria Beckham (at Kong in Paris) - I still would! And if we meet, do you think she'd have a Beauty goodie bag for me? I would be a major taker!
- Ivanka Trump (at Kruisherenhotel in Maastricht) - I know, it's controversial today, but this choice does remind me of the corporate girl on the rise I was 10 years ago. I chose her as she was one of my biggest corporate references I had at the time - also as a The Apprentice watcher those years - before her father first became a president.
- Mabel van Oranje (at Galerie des Gobelins, Plaza Athénée Paris) - I still would love to meet this great Dutch humanitarian, even if I have not followed her work lately as I used to.
- Meryl Streep (at Alma in Lisbon) - She was my favourite actress at the time and is still a great choice ten years later.
- Sheryl Sandberg (at Polana Serena Hotel in Maputo) - same as Ivanka, I guess? I was in my Lean In phase in 2016, that is for sure.
A few years later, I wrote a second episode and, as it's been a decade, I think it's time to write an updated version, as some of my picks have evolved.
The 7 women I picked in 2018
- Kamala Harris (at Mon Chic in the Algarve) - I picked her even before she was in the election ticket and the Vice President of the USA! I still would pick her, I would have much more to ask her about.
- Helen Zille (at Bon Bon in Carvoeiro) - a former South African politician and anti-apartheid activist, I truly admired Helen Zille leadership as the premier of Western Cape and Mayor of Cape Town. I would still pick a date with her!
- Jenna Lyons (at Neighbourhood in Copenhagen) - the quirky American fashion designer was high on my list in 2017 as I had stumbled upon her in New York. I have since seen her in a season of the reboothed Real Housewives of New York and still think she is a fabulous woman to have a date with.
- Meghan Markle (at Mama Shelter in Paris) - Meghan has been a great inspiration in my life since her blog The Tig, which inspired this series. I would absolutely fly wherever she is in the world to meet her.
- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (at Carette in Paris) - one of my favourite authors in the world. Whatever she puts out, even if she takes a decade in between each book, I would purchase. Furthermore, she is one of the most intelligent women in the world, and there is nothing I crave more than an intricate conversation.
- Lauren Bush Lauren (at Allende in Palmas de Gran Canaria) - for so many years I proudly wore by FEED bag proudly purchased at the FEED Store in Brooklyn, as I wanted to support this amazing project. I admire Lauren's humanitarian work even if I have not kept up with her in the past years.
- Turia Pitt (at Bare Vestland in Bergen) - Turia is an Australian Super Athlete and engineer who was caught up in a bush fire during an ultramarathon in her home country. Doctors did not believe she could survive her injuries as over 65% of her body was burnt. Not only she survived but she became a public speaker and shares her story about overcoming hurdles and being resilient.
There is nothing I look most forward to than dates with girlfriends and I am the most happy when I have deep and intelligent conversations whether we are talking about career paths, fertility, finances or the latest Real Housewives franchise (again, very deep, very highbrow).
More than just focusing on a single question, here are the women I'd love to meet and spend time with nowadays...
7 - Gillian Anderson
I have a long list of actors I would love to meet one day but if I could only choose one, the person I am today would just love to meet Gillian Anderson. She is the epitome of beauty, grace and talent on screen for me, with a great diversity in the roles she portrays. From being a journalist in Scoop to a homeless hitchhiker on The Salt Path, to Margaret Thatcher on The Crown to a detective on The Fall, Gillian's career just mesmerises me. Other than her work, I love her interviews, her love of books, her activism (for the LGBTQIA+ community, women, children, indigenous people) and her clever humour.
If I could have a moment of her time, I would go with Gillian to a fun low-key place such as the Amorcito stand at Track 119 in Paris, where we could have the best tacos and cocktails.
Jess
6 - Ruth Buscombe
Ruth Buscombe might be the less known person on this list yet she graces my TV every Formula 1 weekend. She is a British motorsport engineer and has focused her career in racing strategy. She has worked for Ferrari, Haas and more recently, for Sauber. In the past couple of years she joined the F1TV team as a presenter and commenter and her segments are my favourite. I love how she has an intricate understanding of the racing tactics and a capacity to explain it without overcomplicating her audience. I wanted to have even more insights and she has the only Formula 1 newsletter I have subscribed to, called The Race Strategy Society, where she shares deeper insights into the racing weekends and teams, as well as the more controversial themes from a strategic standpoint. I would love to spend a moment with Ruth and just absorb more of all of her knowledge and share our common love for Formula 1. Furthermore, I just adore how she expresses herself through her fashion, she always has the cutest outfits.
I would take Ruth to Ferragudu's Terrace in the Algarve, one of my favourite places for seafood and a glass of bubbles.
Jess
5 - Nancy Twine
I was sure I had already written about Nancy Twine in the past and I just could not find my previous article anywhere. So now it's time to publicly voice my love for Nancy Twine, an American entrepreneur known for Briogeo, the beauty brand she founded in 2013, after a career in the financial sector. Briogeo hit many marks after its launch, for being a clean beauty brand who focused on the needs of dry or curly hair and then it ventured onto other hair types. It was also the first Black American-founded company to launch in Sephora a decade ago. Can you imagine it took that long? In the meantime, she sold Briogeo to Wella a few years ago. More recently, she relaunched her blog and just announced she is pregnant with her first child. I was so happy for her!
I would take Nancy to a little restaurant in Paris for lunch, Chez Germaine, where we could have an amazing meal with a very calm and genuine setting.
Jess
4 - Fernanda Neute
I was hesitant on putting Fernanda Neute - more famously known just as Fê Neute - on this list as it could be hard to translate the admiration I have for a lusophone content creator. But Substack now provides instant translation so her work will be available for more people. After a career in marketing agencies, Fê now runs a lifestyle brand called Fêliz Com A Vida (could be translated to Happy with life) where she provides tips and courses for a more intentionally lived life. Fê has a big social media presence and she shares her learnings and findings around health, longevity and an overall great life. She has been a great influence in my life for the past decade, such as with my Oura Ring purchase and reading the longevity book Outlive.
Although she doesn't drink alcohol, I would take Fê to Quinta do Bonfim in the Douro Valley. The food is the freshest and it would be a great setting to have an amazing meal overlooking the quiet river and its ebbs and flows.
Jess
3 - Christiane Amanpour
I think Christiane Amanpour is the journalist I have admired the longest in my life. I remember watching her while my father, a CNN-aficionado would watch her reports on the greatest conflicts of the early 1990s, such as the Gulf War and the Bosnian War. I always loved her accent and thought that she was fearless as she would report directly from war-torn places around the world. I don't watch as much CNN as my father did almost religiously - all day long, all day every day - but when I do, I hope to stumble upon her show. I also visited the CNN headquarters in Atlanta many years ago and thought so much about her, but of course I did not see her there as she works from their London Headquarters.
If I could take Christiane anywhere around the world, it would be to one of my favourite restaurants, The Kitchin by chef Thomas Kitchin in Edinburgh. If I have to be starstruck with a chef, let me also be by the guest. I know it would be a great experience and I would have so much to ask her.
Jess
2 - Emma Grede
Emma Grede is the woman of the hour (or the year?!) and I know this article will also serve as a time capsule when I read it in a decade or so. I just finished her book Start With Yourself and I listen to her podcast Aspire every week. I have written more in depth about her here.
I would go with Emma to a vibrant place such as Célavi in Dubai, with a great view of the Burj Al Khalifa, amazing cocktails and great food. I know we would have a great night, filled with clever insights and laughter.
Jess
1 - Michelle Obama
After reading my previous choices, I was surprised I had not put Michelle Obama in the list sooner. I was sure I had and I also made the mistake of not putting her on this list again. Talk about a woman I admire! She is the greatest example of dignity, leadership, intelligence, wittiness that I have ever stumbled upon. I feel so privileged that I have lived in the same years as her and I am sure there is still so much more to come. I read her (first) book, I listen to all the podcasts she has ever put out, I love watching her speeches - even moreso when she left the White House - and I admire her greatly. More recently she opened the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago with her husband Barack and if I ever go back to the US, I would love to discover that city and visit the Museum.
If I had the opportunity, I would take Michelle to La Petite Colombe in South Africa, where I have celebrated my birthday and my husband's in the past years. I love the setting, the food, the poise and it would suit her gorgeous personality, with the discretion she deserves.
Jess
There are many other women I'd like to add to the list and I hope I don't take another 8 years for a fourth follow-up article. In the meantime, I have started an Influenced by... series with women I felt compelled to write a bit more about, for their work, their impact in the world and the level of admiration I have for them.
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