This Saturday, May 2, at 7 pm, London’s Chamber Choir of St. Martin-in-the-Fields will perform Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem and Michael Higgin’s The Cloths of Heaven at St. Paul’s Anglican Church.
A skilled ensemble of around 30 singers, the Choir is known for its versatility and clarity of sound. Their recent performances have ranged from major choral works by Johannes Brahms and Sergei Rachmaninoff to contemporary premieres, reflecting a breadth of musical engagement grounded in careful preparation.
The one-hour performance will be directed by Olivia Tait, assistant director of music at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, whose work spans beyond concert direction to recordings and collaborations with leading ensembles. She is joined by organist Jonathan Dods, who contributes to the musical cohesion of the programme as accompanist and director.
Michael Higgin’s The Cloths of Heaven, inspired by W. B. Yeats, will add for the audience an intimate, poetic warmth to Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem’s soft, luminous calm.
“We are really privileged in having such wonderful musicians with us this weekend and to experience the beauty of Faure that the world so desperately needs,” says Father Hugh Bearn, who has been serving St. Paul’s Anglican Church Monte-Carlo since April 2023.
The free event at 22 avenue de Grande Bretagne is open to all, with no tickets required. A retiring collection will be taken in support of the ongoing work of St Paul’s Anglican Church.
The first official event of a year-long celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Wedding of Princess Grace and HSH Prince Rainier III was hosted at the Princess Grace Irish Library on April 2, 2026.
The talk was led by Wolfgang Frei, the nephew of Edward Quinn, the Irish photographer who photographed the very first meeting of the Prince and American actress in 1955.
Frei, curator of the Edward Quinn photographic archives, offered a vivid portrait of Quinn (1920–1997), whose lens defined the glamour of the Côte d’Azur during the “Golden Fifties.” Born in Ireland and later based in London before settling on the Riviera, Quinn became one of the most trusted photographers of an international elite that included artists, film stars, and royalty.
Central to Frei’s lecture was Quinn’s unique relationship with Princess Grace and Prince Rainier. Quinn’s discretion and professionalism earned him rare proximity to the royal couple, allowing him to document both official engagements and intimate, historic moments. Most notably, Frei highlighted Quinn’s photographs of the couple’s first meeting in 1955—an encounter arranged during the Cannes Film Festival while Kelly was promoting To Catch a Thief shortly after winning an Academy Award for The Country Girl.
These now-iconic images, taken at the Prince’s Palace in Monaco, captured the poised American actress and the reserved sovereign at the very beginning of a relationship that would captivate the world. As Frei emphasised, Quinn’s photographs were not merely documentary but instrumental in shaping the public narrative of what would become the “wedding of the century” on April 19, 1956.
The presentation also explored Quinn’s broader body of work, including his coverage of Monaco’s high society events such as the Bal de la Rose, founded by Princess Grace. Today, Frei and his wife Ursula continue to preserve and promote the Edward Quinn Archive, ensuring that these defining visual records of Riviera history remain accessible.
According to the Director of the Irish Library Paula Farquharson (above with Frei), this opening event “set the tone for a commemorative year celebrating not only a royal union, but also the photographer who immortalised its very first moment”.
Save the date: On Friday, April 17, MonacoUSA will host a special Networking Event on the eve of the princely couple’s civil wedding in 1956. The Association’s featured guests will be the Groupe Nice-Matin who will present their extraordinary “Hors Serie” magazine which brilliantly captures in 116 pages this historic event in both English and French version editions.
Article and photos courtesy of Annette Ross Anderson. Article first published April 3, 2026.
What a privilege to sit down with Rear Admiral Kenneth Blackmon, Vice Commander at US Fleet Forces Command, who was in the Principality for a friendly visit on March 9. At a private cocktail, the officer was welcomed by members and friends of the US Navy League of the French Riviera – Monaco Council, as well as members of the Yacht Club de Monaco, of which the Manhattan Yacht Club is a reciprocal club.
In July 2026, Sail4th.org and the US Navy have organised one of the largest tall ship and multi-national naval ship gatherings in the world, with US Fleet Forces Command and Rear Admiral Blackmon key to the detailed planning. Monaco’s maritime heritage Tuiga (1909) and Viola (1908) will sail to New York to celebrate 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence on July 4.
Beyond the semiquincentennial, he also talked about the roles that legacy, technology, and women play in the US Navy. And what it means to serve your country.
Nancy Heslin: Can you tell us about your distinguished 37-year career with the US Navy?
Rear Admiral Kenneth Blackmon: I am the Vice Commander at US Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. My boss is responsible for all ships, submarines, and aircraft on the East Coast of the United States. He is also the naval component commander to Northern Command that provides defense support for civil authorities and maritime homeland defense, as well as being the naval component commander for Strategic Command. He’s responsible for all our ballistic missile submarines in the world.
My job is to assist him, and the rest of the staff there, in executing those missions that we’re responsible for. It’s very busy right now and it’s been busy ever since I joined in 2021. We help to generate and train the forces that deploy. So forces that right now are in harm’s way were trained by our team.
You’ve been in the service with the Navy for almost 40 years. When you visit academies where young people want to have a career in the Navy, what is the question you get asked the most?
I get a lot of questions, from midshipmen and cadets about what is life is like at sea, aboard ship. And I share with them how interesting and different it is to be out to sea. It’s a unique experience sailing across the Pacific Ocean, when you’re out in virtually the middle of the ocean. You go out in the evening and look up and you see, you know, a hundred thousand stars or a billion stars or whatever, and it’s just a surreal experience. You’re very minuscule in that big world.
And then there’s the power of the sea. My first ship was a destroyer. When we were cruising on deployment, we hit an area with 40-foot waves. You realize how vulnerable you are even on such a powerful ship, that those seas can be really formidable.
I would imagine that if you are in sea conditions like that but you’re still trying to be that strong Navy sailor, you would not want show your emotions to anyone else on the ship?
I learned very early on that when I was told there were going be rough seas, I always took a pill to keep me from getting seasick. You really need to be on your game when you’re out at sea.
What are some of the other aspects about being in the US Navy that maybe midshipmen don’t think about?
I think right now there is such a focus for the Navy on the professional development of their military, their navy officers, and their sailors, that there’s great opportunities for additional education, for exchange programs, even with corporations. We’ve put Navy sailors into Google and Amazon to see how those operations work and then bring that experience back to the Navy to help us to continue to improve and create efficiencies.
The other aspect is that – certainly as a naval officer, a midshipman coming out of the Academy or an ROTC program – you’re going to have responsibility for up to 50 or 60 people right away. Immediately you walk on the ship, you’re responsible for this.
What do you mean when you say ROTC?
The Reserve Officer Training Corps are universities where our students also do Navy classes. They get commissioned like they would coming out of the Academy. So, you get a public or a private education and are then commissioned into the Navy out of that program.
Being responsible for 50 people is a lot to put on someone right away. How do you train them?
It is. I think they do a fantastic job at the Naval Academy and through the ROTC programs to get people prepared, but it really is a test that happens in real time. You learn whether you’ve got it or not.
In my case, I did an International Affairs Program at George Washington University and was commissioned. My class started with 229 students and we commissioned 33 of those original students, so there was quite an attrition rate of those students who came in.
I think part of the attrition is that you realize you’re part of an important mission that’s not always safe.
What do you remember as being the toughest part of your training? I’m sure it still sticks in your mind.
The part of the training that was most challenging was being pulled out for six weeks or so of the summer to go out with the fleet and serve with other sailors. That was pretty challenging. I did that in our base out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. We would be up at 5 am and come back into port at 10 or 11 pm. Then do it all over again the next day.
If you look at today’s climate, there’s a lot of instability in the world and a people have different feelings about different countries. So how does the US Navy teach someone to serve their country?
It takes a special kind of background or special kind of patriotism. We do see quite a number of Navy personnel that come as part of a legacy, from families that have served. My father was a naval officer and had done the ROTC program at Penn State. He was stationed on the Sixth Fleet flagship and so my parents spent their first year of marriage in Villefranche in 1962. Part of my coming back here has been to be able to celebrate his legacy.
And what role do women now play in the Navy?
I have an opportunity in my role to go to our recruit training center in Great Lakes and interact with the new sailors coming in. And it’s really interesting to hear their stories and hear their questions. A couple things that were really unique was how diverse it is, how many women are coming into the Navy, and all military services, but also minorities, people from foreign countries that come into the Navy. And part of their opportunity is to become citizens of the United States once they’ve served.
If you look back to when you began your studies, does technology now play a different role in education and how we learn?
In the US Navy, we’ve looked at technology as an enabler so that the sailors and the midshipmen are able to utilize technology. We’re really trying to capitalize on that, but it does come back to fundamentals. When the Navy was founded 250 years ago it was a sailing ship navy and we navigated by the stars.
We are teaching these midshipmen how to navigate by the stars because we can’t guarantee that we’re going to have the technology to enable everything that we can do, so we have something called mission command. That’s when we tell our commanders. They have a responsibility to actually execute the mission in the absence of communication. If we can’t communicate from the fleet, then they still know what their mission is and they can execute it.
We are trying, first of all, to build redundancies so that we can continue to maintain communication, but also to be able to look at those what-ifs, you know, those contingencies of losing communications or having challenges at sea.
When you look back over the years, what’s one of the moments that was either the most challenging or just took your breath away in service?
I was in Kuwait three days before Saddam Hussein invaded. Now, when I speak to sailors at various events, I ask, “Who has participated in Desert Storm or Desert Shield?” And there’s usually only one or two hands that go up – or no hands.
That Kuwait experience was really very early in my career and it was the real thing, as in “I am in harm’s way right now.” It was challenging, but coming out of it, I felt that the training that was provided, even in the short time I had been in service, had helped prepare me for that.
And the Navy has provided great opportunities for me. I’ve been to 41 countries. I’ve worked for NATO, I’ve sailed all the oceans. I’ve been really fortunate and I wouldn’t do it any differently, really.
Claudia Batthyany, project manager of Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting YCM Luigi Sinapi, Rear Admiral of the Italian Navy, Director of the International Hydrographic Organization Rear Admiral Kenneth Blackmon, Vice Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Susan Feaster, Acting President US Navy League French Riviera – Monaco Council Arnaud Maoulierac, French Naval Officer
The US Navy League French Riviera and Monaco Council has just been revived. What is the purpose of these associations over time for the US Navy?
It’s really important for our sailors. To understand, a lot of them deploy for 6, 7, 8 or 9 months. That’s a lot of time away from family and friends. And so that support system that the Navy League provides for our sailors’ families back home is critical to the execution of our mission. We don’t want our sailors that are out doing their mission to have concerns with the family back home, and the Navy League is critical to being able to provide that support and that link from communities all over the world. The Navy has had a long history here in the Port of Monaco, that’s for sure.
It’s a big year for the United States celebrating its 250th anniversary and you are a part of organizing the July 4th tall ship event?
I have a team at Fleet Forces Command. They’re responsible for the International Naval Review in New York City for a semi-quincentennial celebration so we’re really just super excited to be able to have so many allies and partners participate with us – with tall ships, with warships – it’s going to be a really fantastic event.
And Monaco’s Tuiga yacht will be in New York for July 4th.
So, July 1st through the 8th will be the full celebration, with the main event on July 4th. It’s going to be phenomenal. And the other thing I’ll mention, just because we’re so close to France here, is that the Statue of Liberty will have a prominent position in the videos and photos of the event.
Article first published March 23, 2026. Image copyright Nancy Heslin.
International Women’s Day, Monaco was celebrated at full throttle this year with the inaugural Speed Queen Kart Trophy.
The feel-good, all-female amateur race brought girls and women together on March 8 for a day of speed, sisterhood and a little friendly competition at Box 98 Monaco in Fontvieille.
Go-karters battled it out on the track between 10 am and 2 pm to secure a spot in the Grand Finale, when the fastest stars from every category went wheel-to-wheel hoping to win the coveted 2026 Speed Queen KartTrophy.
Tiffaney Perlino, President of the Women in Motorsport Commission at the Automobile Club de Monaco, and Speed Queen organiser, says, “I was delighted to see the energy and enthusiasm on the karting circuit,” Tiffaney says. ”There were drivers of all ages and many of them brought friends and family to cheer them on, making it a really friendly-family atmosphere. We saw a lot of happy faces.”
She adds, “A big thank you to the young talented female VIP drivers who were available to talk to the girls and share their passion and experience. I hope this will encourage more girls and women to seek out what this exciting sport has to offer.”
Madeline Lasalle walked away with the 2026 Speed Queen Kart Trophy, as presented by Tiffaney.
Trophies for best lap time in category went to: Camille Spallarossa (Kids), presented by Lina Salamanca, an emerging talent and winner of the prestigious Volant Jules Bianchi.
Carla Ackermann (Junior), presented by Vicky Farfus, a Monaco resident who finished P4 in the FIA World Karting Cup 2025. She became the first girl in history to finish in the top five of a FIA karting race, among nearly 90 drivers from around the world.
Madeline Lasalle (Senior), presented by Ella Häkkinen, Monaco resident and the youngest driver of the McLaren Driver Development Programme, the result of major European karting victories.
Enriqueta Casanas Ficini (Masters) presented by Celine Cottalarda, Comite droits des Femmes.
And the Team Trophy went to Martine and Carla Ackermann, presented by Charles Flaujac President of the Karting Commission ACM.
Registration for the Speed Queen Kart Trophy (€27 adult; €25 under-18) at Box 98 included 8 minutes of track time plus a light lunch spread and refreshments at the Paddock Bar courtesy of the Automobile Club de Monaco, who also supplied the magnificent trophies.
“This event is about showing that motorsport is more than just Formula 1 and Netflix,” says Tiffaney. “It’s about participation, inclusion and representation. There are countless ways to be part of the sport – whether you’re in the driver’s seat or working behind the scenes, whether you’re a boy or a girl. Motorsport belongs to everyone … and its fun!”
According to Formula One, 42% of F1 fans worldwide are women – with the fastest-growing demographic aged 18 to 24. The message is clear: women aren’t just watching from the stands, they’re ready to take the wheel.
Watch this space for the 2027 Speed Queen Kart Trophy date.
For more information, contact comfemsport@acm.mc.Article first published March 9, 2026. Photos: Copyright Nancy Heslin.
At first glance, the story of Sabrina Gazza’s may seem familiar enough. The Monegasque dreamed of becoming a teacher and picked up a mathematics degree from the University of Nice. But then, like for many of us, her career path took an unexpected twist. “For the past twelve years, I’ve been working at a temporary employment agency as part of a wonderful team,” says the married mom to 15-year-old twin boys.
But any similarities end on April 19, 2023. The then 42-year-old and her family were in St. Barts visiting her niece who had an internship at the time. Sabrina, born and raised in Monaco, had grown up next to the Mediterranean but had a lifelong fear of the sea and lacked navigation skills. That particular day, the group had decided to go out on a boat but stayed close to the coast so that Sabrina could swim.
“There was a bit of a swell, and we began to dangerously drift towards the rocks,” Sabrina describes. “To avoid causing damage to the boat, I jumped into the water with my sister, Albane, to push it back. Once the boat was in the clear, the captain opened the throttle. I was still leaning against the side of the boat and was sucked into the propellers.”
Sabrina took a deep breath, convinced she was about to drown.
“When I resurfaced, everything went silent. I paddled to keep myself afloat, aware that something was wrong, but not knowing what. Albane immediately saw the gravity of the situation. Without panicking, she pulled me out of the water and applied makeshift tourniquets with whatever she could find.”
Suddenly the silence was broken – “screams, commotion, panic”. “That’s when the pain overwhelmed me”
As it happened, doctors who were vacationing nearby heard the commotion and rushed over, carrying her to the harbour where emergency services took over.
Just before being airlifted Pointe to Pitre University Hospital, Sabrina was able to say to her mom: “It’s just an accident, no one is to blame.” Her mom understood immediately that her daughter was going to fight for her life. “And that’s exactly what happened. I had no other option but to pull through, for myself and the sake of my loved ones.”
Sabrina had a double amputation below her knees. After 10 days in intensive care at Pointe-à-Pitre, she was transferred to the Princesse Grace Hospital Centre in Monaco for a fortnight before being sent to Pasteur Hospital in Nice for another two weeks. She then spent four months at the Hélio-Marin Centre, a rehabilitation facility in Vallauris specialising in musculoskeletal, neurological, and amputation care. “That’s where the real work began.”
As she recalls, “The hardest thing in rehabilitation was seeing how lonely some patients were – no family, no friends, only other patients to support them. I realised how lucky I was. I really didn’t face any difficulties, and for the first time in a long while, I was solely focused on taking care of myself.”
From Monday to Friday, Sabrina underwent two physiotherapy sessions and a workout every days, plus there were visits from family and friends. She spent the weekends at home. “This routine helped me stay focused and keep going without my mind getting the better of me.”
She says it was the unconditional support of family, friends and health care professionals – from start to finish – that kept her going. “Since the accident, I need more reassurance and to be acknowledged. I may appear to be strong but the truth is I often need to be comforted. The fact that they are there for me every day has helped me cope and continue moving on.”
To be able to walk with prostheses, Sabrina had to strengthen her abdominal muscles. She tried different sports, but they were too limiting. Then in May 2025 the assistant secretary of the Sociéte Nautique de Monaco (SNM, Monaco’s rowing club) introduced her to Ludovic Savoye, who would become her rowing partner. “Rowing ticked all the boxes … except for being a water sport. But they convinced me to give it a try. So I started with the ergometer, which gave me access to the sport without going out on the water straight away.”
By September, Sabrina decided to try rowing with the club at Lake Saint-Cassien. “It was the logical next step. Like everything since the accident, the day I decided to return to the water, I did so without questioning myself at all.”
In January 2026, Sabrina started rowing in an adapted single skull in Port Hercules. “I feel some apprehension, but I’m confident it will eventually pass.”
Sabrina combines four weekly sessions on the ergometer with one or two outings on the water, with the goal of skulling more and more frequently. “On the days when my progress feels slow, Ludovic and my family are there to remind me of everything I’ve achieved and this helps put things into perspective. And, two or three sessions later, I get back into warrior mode and continue to push ahead.”
Warrior indeed. In January 2026, eight months after first trying the ergo, Sabrina competed in her first French National Indoor Rowing Championship in Paris. She placed first in the PR3 Mixed Inclusive 4×500m Relay, in which each team has one para-athlete; third in the women’s 500-metre PR2 category – a class comprising functional use of arms and trunk with a fixed seat; and fourth in the 2000 metres. (Photos: Sabrina on the ergo, above, and with first place team SNM below. Facebook Fédération Française d’Aviron.)
“Obviously, I was nervous beforehand but as soon as the starter went off, that tension turned into energy. The atmosphere – intense and welcoming – allowed me to stay focused and push myself.
“What made the moment more special was the presence of most of my family and friends, who had come to Stade Pierre de Coubertin to cheer me on. Seeing them in the stands and feeling their support was invaluable. And I think my children were really proud of their mom. For me, that was one of the greatest rewards of this first competition.”
The medallist now has her eye on the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles for the mixed doubles event. With Ludovic, the teammates are going to compete in as many competitions as possible to show that they deserve a spot at the highest level. The only slight complication is that Ludovic is not Monegasque. “Despite this, we are moving forward together, with the same goal in mind.”
As Sabrina puts it, “Participating in the Games would be a dream come true, a chance to take my life back. Not an end in itself, but a symbol – a symbol of everything I have rebuilt, of everything I refused to give up on. And when I look back … I could never have imagined this, even in my wildest dreams.”
“What I would like people to take away from all of this is that we all have a strength within us that we don’t realise. We don’t choose the challenges we face, but we can choose how we deal with them. In my case, I decided to move forward, to fight, and to continue living life to the fullest – even if it’s different.”
Sabrina doesn’t see herself as a source of inspiration. “I just move on with what life has given me, trying to stay positive and do my best. But if my story can help someone, then I’m happy.”
Société Nautique de Monaco gave her “a warm welcome and kindness” from day one. “There is a real sense of solidarity, a simplicity in communication, and, above all, a shared desire in a passion for rowing.
“My rowing partner, the coaches, the club members … everyone, in their own way, has helped me find my place. I feel supported, encouraged, and never judged. It’s an environment where I can progress, surpass myself, and feel fully legitimate. After everything I’ve been through, that means a lot.”
Article first published on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2026.
Start your engines – this International Women’s Day, Monaco is celebrating girl power at full throttle.
On March 8, Box 98 Monaco at Les Terrasses de Fontvieille will host the very first Speed Queen Kart Trophy, a feel-good, all-female amateur race designed to bring women and girls – from age seven upwards – together for a day of speed, sisterhood and a little friendly competition.
In a country synonymous with the glamour of the Monaco Grand Prix, motorsport is part of the DNA. But while the drivers’ grid has historically skewed male, the fanbase is shifting fast. According to Formula One, 42% of F1 fans worldwide are women – with the fastest-growing demographic aged 18 to 24. The message is clear: women aren’t just watching from the stands, they’re ready to take the wheel.
The Speed Queen Kart Trophy taps into that momentum with a day that blends competition, and celebration. Racers will battle it out for the fastest lap between 10 am and 2 pm followed by the Grand Final at 3 pm, when the fastest stars from every category go wheel-to-wheel hoping to win the coveted Speed Queen Trophy.
Drivers Ella Häkkinen, Vicky Farfus and Lina Salamanca will be on hand to share their passion and expertise, offering tips on kart driving technique and talking about their future projects and ambitions.
Monaco resident Ella (below) is the youngest female member of the McLaren Driver Development Programme, the result of major European karting victories.
Vicky (above), also a Monaco resident, is competing with Iron Dames and finished P4 in the FIA World Karting Cup 2025. She became the first girl in history to finish in the top five of a FIA karting race, among nearly 90 drivers from around the world.
Lina (below) is the winner of the prestigious Volant Jules Bianchi, an emerging talent driven by strong ambition.
The trio will also be alongside event organiser Tiffaney Perlino, president of the Women in Motorsport Commission at the Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM), at the prize giving to present trophies, which are offered by the ACM.
“I have always loved motorsport and loved driving but like many women I never really had the opportunity to race,” says Tiffaney. “It wasn’t just about opportunity to be honest. It was also that I didn’t dare. It all looked so out of my comfort zone.”
That all changed for Tiffaney when years ago a girlfriend had a joint birthday party with her husband at a karting track. She decided to get behind the wheel and give it a go – and had the time of her life. “It gave me the confidence to try other motorsport activities and I haven’t looked back. I wanted the chance to give the same opportunity to other girls and women, who are hesitant, to try racing in a relaxed and friendly environment.”
Registration for the Speed Queen Kart Trophy (€27 adult; €25 under-18) at Box 98 includes 8 minutes of track time plus a light lunch and refreshments at the Paddock Bar courtesy of the ACM. Whether you sign up solo or with your daughter and her friends – or make it a family affair cheering from the sidelines at no cost – it’s a high-energy and highly memorable way to mark International Women’s Day together, swapping the usual panel discussions and ladies lunch for helmets and horsepower, and the next-generation.
“This event is about showing that motorsport is more than just Formula 1 and Netflix. It’s about participation, inclusion and representation. There are countless ways to be part of the sport – whether you’re in the driver’s seat or working behind the scenes, whether you’re a boy or a girl. Motorsport belongs to everyone … and its fun!”
If you ask Barbara Buljat Raymond, PhD, about her favourite childhood toy, she’ll fondly recall how her grandfather once gave her a blackboard from the school where he worked as a handyman in Croatia. “I dreamt of becoming a teacher and my younger cousin, poor thing, often played my student.” That all changed when she was given her first computer at age six. “From that moment on, I became the family’s ‘IT Guy’.”
The Monaco resident describes Croatia as a young country that embraces its historic cultural influence. “In my hometown of Rijeka, people live in beautiful villas from the Austro-Hungarian era, my Grandma speaks to me in Italian, we produce our own Mediterranean olive oil, and every morning we drink Turkish coffee. That’s quite the mix, right?”
Having grown up in a large family home with her cousins, and with a budding professional volleyball career, the thought of leaving Rijeka never entered Barbara’s mind. She obtained a double degree in Business Informatics and International Management from the Faculty of Economics and Business Rijeka, where she later became a lecturer and researcher teaching IT-in-Business and Digital Marketing courses. This opportunity led her to France.
Her doctoral studies required research abroad and Barbara is “endlessly thankful” the faculty supported her suggestion of the University Cote d’Azur (formerly the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis). Living in France was a dream come true but there were a few hurdles.
“I had to combine my teaching activities in Croatia with my research work in France, which meant a lot of logistics and back-and-forth trips. I had done a couple of student exchanges before so studying in English was easy but, honestly, French is still a challenge!”
Her research was in the field of Management Sciences, a discipline in social sciences dealing with problem-solving and decision-making in human organisations, closely linked to management, economics and business. “I know it all sounds abstract and scary, but we, mysterious academic people, need to be precise about the terms and methodologies we use.
“For example, in my PhD project, I investigated the use of technology and information systems to address the challenges of environmental sustainability communication. More precisely, I focused on motivating individuals to adopt green behaviour – like reducing the consumption of single-use plastics.”
She elaborates, “Behaviour-changing information systems are digital tools built with the intention to change somebody’s behaviour. For instance, we developed a mobile app that used augmented reality to simulate direct experiences of plastic pollution in 3D environments. We wanted to investigate whether ‘living’ an environmental issue first-hand had a different effect on people rather than reading an article or watching news about the same issue.”
In 2023, Barbara earned her doctorate in Management Sciences. “The hardest part of my PhD path? Definitely self-discipline! It requires a lot of alone time, a great deal of intellectual effort, reading complicated literature and attempting to explain complex things in a simple manner. Above all, it demands effective time management. It is very easy to get lost along the way.”
Her long-term career goal is to remain connected with academia to share her knowledge about digital tools for communication, but also to apply it in practice with digital marketing and communication services.
With nearly a decade of doing digital marketing as a “side hustle” including 15 successful projects under her belt – and the four years she spent researching digital tools for communication – Barbara decided to “make things real”. She launched a specialised digital marketing and communication agency, The Pink Cat.
“Well, on the one hand, it is not so different from my studies but on the other hand, it is indeed another world. I am finally able to produce concrete, tangible work and immediately apply it in real life, something I was really missing in the research world.”
The Pink Cat offers a range of digital services – logo design, website creation, visual identity, video creation, social media management, digital marketing strategies and promotional visuals (flyers, posters, brochures). “Additionally, we provide teaching to empower others to acquire those skills,” Barbara emphasises.
But what really sets The Pink Cat apart from other agencies is the scientific background. “While other experts with a doctoral degree either stay in the academia or provide consulting services, I like to manage projects from the beginning to the end – from the strategy through the creation and implementation.
“There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach in communication and every brand campaign requires prior research and strategy,” she stresses. “After four years of applying rigorous research methods to study how different communication impacts human attitudes and behaviour, I am pleased to apply this knowledge in every step of our marketing projects.
“Nowadays, customers demand and expect a lot of entertaining, visually appealing and interesting content from brands, often involving the management of multiple communication platforms simultaneously. The advantage of having one agency who manages all this at once lies in consistency – we ensure that a brand’s visual identity and style remain continuous across all channels.”
For Barbara, a logo is a brand’s face. “Yes, the logo is often the first thing people notice about a company and creates a lasting impression on consumers but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. A strong visual identity, encompassing consistent designs across web, social media and printed materials, plays an equally important role in establishing a memorable brand presence and positive impression.”
Following her heart, Barbara eventually moved to Monaco and found it tough in the beginning due to the language barrier. “If you ask what Croatia is special for, hospitality is definitely something we are proud of , but luckily for me, people in Monaco were as well so nice and welcoming that I soon felt at home.”
Married now for nearly two years, Barbara has settled in to life and is focused on expanding her professional network with The Pink Cat. “There are many inspiring brands who, I believe, have interesting stories to share. And I am happy to help them do so.”
The Pink Cat’s Tips for logo creation
Does your logo accurately reflect your brand?Ask friends and colleagues to guess what the logo represents. If it’s supposed to be for a clothing store but they think it’s a restaurant, it’s time to reconsider.
Is the logo versatile? In other words, does the logo look good on various background colours, in different sizes and on different communication channels – like social media and printed materials?.
Will the logo still hold up in 5 years? While it is tempting to be trendy, it’s always better to go for something classy and timeless. – Barbara Buljat Raymond, PhD
Article first published April 12, 2024. Photos and video copyright Good News Monaco.
Did you know that according to the World Atlas, Croatia and its 1,244 islands earn the #22 spot on the list of 50 countries in the world with the most islands (Sweden leads the way with 267,570)? One of the most popular television shows of all time, Game of Thrones, was filmed in Croatia, both in Split, and Dubrovnik, which was the location for Kings Landing.
Growing up in the outskirts of northwest London, Roisin Wittstock played piano and tennis at county level from a young age. “My whole family are musical and sporty but my passion love and obsession was always dance. This has never left me,” says Roisin, whose Irish name is pronounced ROW-sheen.
Some of Roisin’s earliest memories are when her mom used to take her to West End shows, where she would spend the entire time visualizing herself on the stage. “I was determined to make it happen. I danced every day after school from the age of five, and when I was 11, I begged my parents to let me audition for stage school.”
She was thrilled to be accepted to the arts educational school on the dance course with an emphasis very much on classical ballet. “I had a fantastic and tough training learning the importance of technique along with a very dedicated work ethic.”
In 2003, at age 16, Roisin decided to audition for Millennium Performing Arts college in London and was awarded a scholarship. Although she continued her daily ballet and dance training, she was also introduced to the more musical theatre aspects of arts including drama and singing.
“My career began from there. I had wonderful contracts that took me to countries around the world where I learned so much about the industry and myself!”
One of those bookings included a show in Monaco in 2010. “I fell in love with the Principality – and my husband,” grins the mother of two.
For Roisin, choreography has always had a special calling and she created MC Performers in 2015, the same year she got married. “I wanted to be creative again and loved producing and choreographing events for Monaco.”
Her dream was always to open her own dance studio. “MC Dance felt like a natural progression in my dance life and career, and I am so happy I decided to go for it. We opened in September 2023.
“To have a studio to call my own is incredible and to dance and work in that studio every day feels like coming home. I spent years of my life in a dance studio with happy memories and I’m so glad I can now be a part of that again for other people in Monaco.”
Roisin adds that she is “so proud” of the two children’s dance courses –Petites Primas and Petites Performers – which run Monday to Saturday and are instructed by the “wonderful teacher and friend” Jodie Penasa.
Located in La Condamine behind AS Monaco Boutique (down from Starbucks), MC Dance has a selection of dance and fitness classes that will appeal to all music and dance enthusiasts. It is a pay-as-you-go policy and the Monday to Friday timetable “is growing organically on demand”. To-date you can take part in adult ballet, dance fit, yoga, full body burn and, for those who love wearing heels, dance femininity.
“I wanted to create a safe space for women to enjoy movement and music with dance and fitness in a non-judgmental happy place,” says the entrepreneur. “Everyone leaves MC Dance happier, more energised – and sweatier!”
Securing its reputation as a serious training facility, MC Dance also offers one-on-one Gyrotonic sessions using the Ultima Pulley Tower Machine. This stimulates the body’s movement to flow in circular and spiralling patterns to help increase range of motion, improve strength as well as movement efficiency. “Gyrotonic is the perfect workout created specifically for dancers and led by the amazing Emma Wilkinson.”
All MC Dance teachers and instructors are former professional dancers with “incredible experience and qualifications”. The first-floor studio space is modern with natural light.
“Personally, I absolutely love teaching dance fit and giving non-dancers a glimpse into our world. The sense of achievement and confidence I see in these amazing women when they master a choreography is very inspiring to me and it brings infectious energy,” beams Roisin.
Her advice to the unrhythmical or those who feel inhibited about dancing in front of others? “Dance is for everyone. No matter your level, I promise you will be warmly welcomed and encouraged. MC Dance is a happy and positive environment.”
Celine Glasser has been a tea drinker since she was 7 years old. She is not the only fan of the world’s most consumed beverage after water: “Six out of 10 people in France drink tea, which makes it the second most popular drink in the country. As well, 50% of the French drink herbal teas, a healthy drink that is very coveted and in tune with the times,” explains Celine, a native of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.
Celine has always kept an eye out for tea infusions with unique and delicious flavours. Then, one day during Covid lockdown, as she was about to place an order with a large tea house it hit her: “Why not create infusions myself?”
WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: Celine Glasser explains what you’ll find at her delightful CaminaTea shop (in French).
Together with her husband, Christophe (deputy mayor of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin who in June was announced to replace Herve Aeschbach as the new director of Fight AIDS Monaco), the pair created CaminaTea, an elegant brand representing the French Riviera with values and flavours that highlight the local heritage.
The couple kept their days jobs and in the middle of launching the brand, Celine became pregnant with child number three and took maternity leave. “I left my job as a real estate loan broker in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin in October 2023 to open CaminaTea at 33 rue du Moulin. I have devoted myself full time to the business ever since.”
The quaint maison de thé, which has a few seats inside and out, offers all the tea you can imagine – green, white, oolong, black teas, rooibos, maté, matcha, infusions and fruit infusions. Celine explains they only work with high-quality leaves from, mainly, China, Japan, Thailand, India and South Africa, and that their teas and infusions have no artificial or synthetic flavours, only natural flavours extracted from fruits and flowers. “We do not grind the tea, we add pieces of fruit, flowers and petals.”
Celine, who is as charming as she is knowledgeable, adds that each of their pots or tea bags provides you with all the instructions to make the perfect cup of tea. “The quality of water and temperature are very important, and each tea has its own infusion time. For example, green tea is two minutes while black tea is three. But the dosage is also important.”
CaminaTea’s first recipes were local flavours, like the Fougasse Mentonnaise (anise, almond, orange blossom) and A Stroll at Cap Martin (papaya, goji berry, peach, fig and marigold). “We tested the teas on our family and friends who immediately fell in love with them, so we created a website and posted on Instagram and Facebook. Our customers regularly send us photos of their cup of tea from all over France, telling us things like, ‘Celine, I’m drinking my delicious Balade au Cap Martin tea and I remember my vacation in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.’
“We were contacted for partnerships which very quickly gave us great visibility throughout France and Belgium and at the same time, we developed our local presence with resellers, restaurants and hotels.”
In Monaco, CaminaTea can be found at the new Joël Robuchon Deli, at Novotel Monte Carlo, as well as at the Monaco Yacht Club. There are three infusions dedicated especially to the Principality – the newly added Rocher du Monaco with ingredients all from organic farming (coconut, natural coconut flavour, vanilla extract), Monaco by Night (a nod to the Monaco fair with apple, almond, cinnamon, safflower) and Merry Christmas in Monte Carlo (apple, orange peel, cinnamon pieces, almonds, rose petals, cloves, vanilla bourbon).
Camina is Celine’s nickname. “My grandmother often looked after me and my cousins when we were kids and when we were in her way she would say, ‘Caminaaaa!’ It’s an Italian expression from the word camminare, which means Advance! Go! My stepfather, who had moved to the region at that time, found this expression as funny as it was endearing, and he called me that from when I was very young.
“It seemed obvious to call my brand Camina as a tribute to all the people I love. This name can only bring us luck.”
CaminaTea at 33 rue du Moulin in Carnolès is open: Tuesday & Thursday 9:30 am – 12:30 pm and 2:30 – 6:30 pm Friday 1 pm – 6:30 pm Saturday 9 am – 12:30 pm
Where to buy CaminaTea TEA HOUSE: 33 rue du Moulin, the street behind the Carnolès Marché in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin ONLINE: order from the informative website which lists ingredients and preparation time ROQUEBRUNE: La Grotte et l’olivier restaurant in Roquebrune Village and Madame Bleue restaurant. MENTON: Edwige Café and Eunoia restaurant, Maison Herbin and Escale sud. MONACO:Joël Robuchon Deli, Novotel Monte Carlo, Monaco Yacht Club.
On Friday, a French court handed down a 25-year jail term to 36 year-old Jonathann Daval, who was found guilty of killing his wife, Alexia, and then burning her body in 2017. The verdict has brought to a close a saga that rocked the country, especially as Jonathann had moved in with the victim’s family after he reported her missing.
The 6-day trials ends just before International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2020 on Wednesday, November 25.
This year of Covid has particularly highlighted the issue. During spring confinement, a police headquarters in Paris witnessed a 36% increase in domestic violence reports in just one week. So urgent was the need for intervention that the then French minister of interior, Christophe Castaner, created an alert system that would allow victims to get help by going to a pharmacy and use the code “mask 19.”
According to a 2019 IMSEE report, there were 33 cases of violence against women recorded by the police services, including 31 acts committed in Monaco. 58% of the 33 victims resided in Monaco. (For more Monaco statistics, see Box at end of article.)
Monaco resident Vibeke Thomsen, founder of SheCanHeCan, has been involved with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women since 2013, and helps to make sure the Palace, Tour Odeon and Conseil National are glowing orange is solidarity on the night of the 25th.
In previous years, SheCanHeCan would co-organise events but with the health pandemic, the non-profit association has instead launched an online campaign working jointly with Fight Aids Monaco and the Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights.
“We sent out a call to find 100 men to send us their picture and to choose a message to publicly say NO to violence against women,” explains Vibeke. “We reached 100 in less than two days! It’s been heartwarming to see this silent majority of men – who we seldom hear from but are against violence – stand up and publicly show their face.”
The #violencesfemmesjagis campaign of 100 portraits and messages, including from Princess Stephanie’s son Louis Ducruet, freediver Pierre Frolla and F1’s David Coulthard – ambassadors of SheCanHeCan – has gone live today.
“Next year, we are already planning a larger in-person campaign and we would love to see the community involved, so stay tuned,” Vibeke adds.
Vibeke is a huge supporter of the Monaco community. Born in Copenhagen to Danish parents, the family moved to Geneva when she was a baby. “Surprisingly to the people who meet me today, I was a very reserved and shy child,” she admits. “I was an avid reader and loved to write, too. Somehow I skipped a grade so I was a year younger than my classmates, which contributed to my shyness.”
Her family relocated to Monaco when Vibeke was eight and she attended local schools before heading off to boarding school for a couple of years. “Monaco was different then, less international, less dynamic, less cultural offers and less activities for children. Going to the local school felt very normal. There were no parties on yachts, it’s much more low key than what people expect when they hear I grew up here. I was lucky to find incredible friends, many of who I’m still close to 30 years later,” she shares.
She left Monaco at 16 and for the next 13 years reinvented herself, living in many places around the world. “Travelling definitely helped me come out of my shell as I had to open up and meet new people.”
During her time abroad, she worked in a bank in Frankfurt, with the Danish Delegation to the OSCE in Vienna and spent three years in the US – one in Washington D.C. working for a non-profit to end the death penalty and then two in Ann Arbor, MI, where she picked up a double Master’s degree in Public Policy and Arts in Russia and East European Studies.
“When I came back, Monaco had completely changed,” she describes. “It became a much more dynamic city with many cultural offerings – you can go out every night, which is surprising for a city this size. There are now more families with young children, more activities, restaurants and bars to enjoy, too. Every week, you can meet new people from every path of life and that’s what I enjoy about living here.”
Vibeke’s favourite haunts were the Bombay Frigo in Emilie Palace on blvd Princesse Grace – “incredible for drinks, dinners and dancing on that bar, it’s a shame it closed.” – and the Sea Lounge at the beach club: “It was a fun place for parties, especially the White Night party in August.”
Vibeke created her non-profit association GenderHopes in 2012, which in 2017 became SheCanHeCan, a name change “to better reflect our work locally and with the community, which is our main focus.” She has a team of three volunteers and five ambassadors.
“I had a 3-year experience in Brussels working in security, including for women in post-conflict countries and reconstruction. That’s when I got bitten by the bug and when I moved back to Monaco in 2011, I tried to find ways to continue in the same field.”
Pre-Covid, SheCanHeCan did various events, including movie screenings, fundraisers, the “A Confident Girl” exhibit at the Columbus Hotel featuring over 20 artists, and the launch of the Equality Pledge in 2019.
Every International Day of the Girl on October 11, SheCanHeCan invites students to the Conseil National to meet with the president and the (mainly) female MPs, to better understand the role and importance of women in politics.
Last year, the association launched the Red Box Project Monaco to address period inequality by bringing period products to local schools, raising awareness about organic menstrual products and breaking the taboo when speaking about periods in schools and in the workplace. The International School of Monaco was the first school to adopt the Red Box and provide free period products to its students in middle and high school.
In terms of companies and/or institutions providing free organic period products, it has been a learning process. “Most of us have learned that periods are private, almost secret and shameful and something not to be discussed in public spaces or at your workplace. It has been a fascinating experience to see how quickly the mindset and approach can change once we become aware of period inequality,” Vebeke relates.
“The environmental impact of period products is also important and often overlooked so, along with our partners Freda and FabLittleBag, this is something we work to address and raise awareness about. Overall, I would say the welcome has been positive but it’s been slow and that’s partly due to Covid.”
And for the past three years, SheCanHeCan has hosted a parent child Book Club in which we read inclusive stories,” relates the mom of three whose children go to local schools.
“I think life with kids is relatively easy in Monaco. There are many moms with young children and a wonderful informal support networks and supportive mums. There is a great play group, twice a week, at the St Paul’s church on avenue de Grande Bretagne, and the Princess Grace hospital provides some support in terms of breastfeeding.”
Vibeke, who speaks Danish, English, French and German, considers herself fortunate. “In confinement, I was able to spend time with my three children in a way we might never experience again, outside of daily stress and routine and with more time to listen and focus on each other. Despite homeschooling and work, we found time to just be together, go for long walks, talk, play, do activities. I’ll cherish this time, also because I know confinement has been a difficult experience for many.”
Vibeke Thomsen pauses for a moment. “In terms of what’s come out of it, I’ve realised the importance of focusing on the people who really matter in your life.”
Article first published November 23, 2020.
Need help?
0800 91 90 10 Free hotline in Monaco for victims of all violence (rape and sexual violence, violence perpetrated within the family, sexual harassment …) and on their rights available to them.
WHO reports that 1 in 3 (35%) of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. For more information about getting help during Covid, click here.
Monaco in numbers
According to an IMSEE report, there were 33 cases of violence against women recorded by the police services in 2019, including 31 acts committed in Monaco. 58% of the 33 victims resided in Monaco.
The average age of the women aggressed was 37; for the perpetrator, he was around 42. One in two cases were committed at the victim’s or perpetrator’s home, with 58% committed by the spouse or ex-spouse of the victim.
Nearly 60% of cases concerned physical violence while 25% were sexual violence.
113 women were admitted to hospital, including 83% suffering from physical violence and while these cases was recorded at CHPG, not all these acts of violence took place in Monaco.
In 2019, 74% of cases of violence committed in Monaco in 2019 resulted in a complaint being lodged and 33 proceedings were opened.
At the time of IMSEE’s publication, 15 cases were subject to legal proceedings, or under investigation. Of these cases, perpetrators were on average 39 while the victim was 35. There were 4 convictions and 2 protection orders for acts committed in 2019, all against men. There were no condemnations for rape in 2019 in Monaco.
