Karine is 20 years old and a student in digital communications. She is one of our subscribers and was selected to be one of our models for our photo shoots. A content creator on social networks, today Karine talks openly to us about her teenage years, her relationship with menstruation, and gives us her opinion on Elia menstrual panties.
Why did you decide to take part in an Elia shoot?
"It's a brand that conveys beautiful messages and with whom I share the same values. It was a real pleasure for me to take part in this shoot and interview."
You're very touched by subjects considered taboo (puberty, white discharge...) did they have an influence on you growing up?
"Regarding puberty, not especially because I was very well surrounded by my parents. They've always talked to me about everything since I was little. There was never any taboo, and I was never surprised when I grew up. As far as white dischargehair
What do you think is the best way to combat these taboos?
"I think social networks really do the job. There's a lot of information out there. There's also false information. But I think young people today learn a lot from social networks. After that, talking about it with parents, for example, would also be a good idea. You can learn a lot from friends too. Above all, you have to talk, talk a lot. A lot of communication. And social networks are a good idea."
You're very present on social networks, what do you talk about?
"On my social networks, I really talk about everything. Initially, I talked a lot more about everything to do with frizzy hair care. After that, it diversified a bit, and it's really natural in the sense that I'll see a post that catches my eye, I'll re-share it in a story, and then we'll talk about it. So it can really be about anything. It could be, I don't know, about a news item, or this person will have said something that may have shocked me... We really do talk about everything."
Getting back to the subject of menstruation, how do you live with your cycle?
"Concerning my cycle... I live it really well. I've never had any problems with it. I don't necessarily have
What do you think of Elia's menstrual panties?
"I had the opportunity to test, among the menstrual panties
Do you have any books, podcasts, people to follow that you recommend?
"On Instagram, I follow a page called Feminist. It's a page that re-post content from other creators. Often, the content is really interesting. For example, once I saw a post, which I had actually re-shared in story that really made me laugh. There was a picture of a girl having her period, and on the post, it said in English: "When I have my period, I go to the toilet a lot more." It really made me laugh, because it's something we never talk about. In other words, when we talk about symptoms when we're on our period, it's more like: "Yes, I have mood swings, I get pimples, my stomach hurts etc...". But I've never heard anyone say: "When I'm on my period, I go to the toilet a lot more". And since this is my case, I shared it in a story, and talked about it with other subscribers. Frankly, we had a good laugh, because I realized that the majority of girls go to the bathroom a lot more when they have their period. Then there's a film I'd recommend watching, called "Desert Flower". It's basically a book, which was later adapted into a film. It's about a Somali girl who has been circumcised. The main subject is excision, her experience with it and the repercussions it has had on her life and herself. It's a film that really shook me up, so I recommend you watch it.
Why is it important to break taboos?
"It's also important to talk a lot so that afterwards you don't feel abnormal. I think it's complicated when you've got something, but there's no one to confide in...You think "Gee, what's wrong with me?". So we start looking on the Internet. You find a lot of things on the Internet, and they're not necessarily the best things. It's really important to have people around you who you can talk to, and who can advise you as well. Especially for little girls, because I'd hate it if my daughter, if I have one later on, grew up with a lack of information. If something happens to her, I don't know, but if one day she gets her period, or has a problem in that area, that she doesn't know what's wrong and doesn't dare come and talk to me about it, whereas it's important to have people around you who are there for you and know how to talk to you about all these things."
