Freya Bennett

Interview of Lucia Osborne-Crowley by Freya Bennett

Ramona’s Creative Writing Month

Writing by Andy Reyes // illustration by Freya Bennett

CW: violence, rape and drug use

Review of Radio Girl by Freya Bennett

Writing by Ruby Jones // Artwork by Freya Bennett // Ruby is here with her monthly playlist – featuring incredible tunes all about the environment, climate change, and the power we have to combat it.

Writing by Freya Bennett // In the last few days, the image of above Cobargo woman, Zoey Salucci-McDermott refusing and then being forced to shake the prime ministers hand has gone viral.

Letter with love from Freya // I am taking a few weeks break from Ramona but I can’t wait to share some amazing, empowering content with you next year!

Interview by Freya Bennett // Building You Up, the novel & soundtrack, are about the same story. That story is about a young girl who is dealing with the first onset of a depleting mental state and the different ways humans cope with such things. It’s a story about learning that love and loss are like songs from the same record. 

Review by Molly Mckew & Freya Bennett // The Ramona team were lucky enough to go and see the incredible Montaigne at the Croxton in Thornbury – and fell in love with her theatrical, powerful and incredible performance.

Interview of Kara DeSouza by Freya Bennett // It was so important to share these photos because I feel like they truly tell the story of us. To be quite honest I’m not even out to most of my family and this was my little act of defiance, a “fuck it all” and just post it moment

Writing by Maria Emrides // Illustration by Freya Bennett // Intimacy isn’t just skin to skin contact, it’s sharing part of yourself and your energy and all of those things deserve to be mirrored by someone who values connection in the same way you do. So take the time to define what it means to you first, and let it be worth waiting for.

Interview of Olivia Hart by Freya Bennett // Sometimes being the most passionate and committed person is more important than being the most qualified. You’ll be surprised by how many doors opens when you simply ask.

Writing by Ruby Jones // Illustration by Freya Bennett // Ruby is back with a playlist that celebrates friendship and community – one to chuck on when you’re feeling the warmth of the people around you.

Writing and illustration by Freya Bennett // While this issue may seem small to some readers, I urge you to see it as an undercurrent, constantly pulling women back from true equality, respect and status. If we don’t deem a woman’s name, the very basis of her identity, as worthy, what kind of foundation are we laying for an equal future?

Writing by Ruby Jones // Illustration by Freya Bennett // Ruby Jones returns with a playlist perfect for your inner space cowgirl— a selection of songs to celebrate the 50th anniversary of humans landing on the moon. Listen to these under the stars. 

Interview of Aissa Sica by Freya Bennett // I think the most important to feel good about yourself is by taking care of your mental health.

Writing by Ruby Jones // Illustration by Freya Bennett // Its the end of Gemini season, and Ruby Jones is back with a playlist featuring the brightest, most extra musicians on the planet – a playlist full of geminis!

Review by Zadie McCracken // Photographs by Hannah Forsdike // Art by Freya Bennett // Walking away from Period Witches, I felt a sense of joy and renewal. The day had passed quickly, but without rush. I had a bag full of sweet treats, a head full of new knowledge, and a sweet feeling settled in my chest. 

Interview of Interns by Freya Bennett // meet our 2019 interns.

Writing by Ruby Jones // Artwork by Freya Bennett // This month Ruby has come up with the ultimate playlist to feel those teenage feelings – whatever your age. It’s a playlist of unbridled angst – to be alone to, to tear up to, to get mad with. Don’t hold back, and play it loud.

Writing by Hannah Forsdike // illustration by Freya Bennett // Asides from shutting down sexist norms left and right, female strength and fear is demonstrated through Carol and the other women in this film.

Writing by Ruby Jones // Art by Freya Bennett //  Ruby Jones is back with her playlist to trump all playlists – those songs to listen to when you’re strolling down the street and you’re suddenly feeling all intriguing and carefree … and BAM! You’re starring in your own personal movie montage.

Writing by Zadie McCracken // Illustration by Freya Bennett // There are still days I wake up and feel so bad I want to rip out every hair on my body from its follicle. But that’s okay, because most of the time I feel just fine—and so, thankfully, does my hair.

Writing by Maria Emrides // Illustration by Freya Bennett // It’s never too late to do things differently and to go in search of what will truly make you feel good. I know it’s going to be uncomfortable at first and will take some adjusting, but being kind to your body is a relationship worth working on and worth having.

Writing by Ruby Jones // Artwork by Freya Bennett // Ruby Jones is back with the first playlist of 2019, perfect for long drives, truck stops, and all kinds of scenery – Road tripping!

Writing by Zadie McCracken // Illustration by Freya Bennett // In the last few decades, incredible achievements have been made to improve and revolutionize the way society views the human body, its appearances, and its complexities.

Writing by Freya Bennett // Illustration by April Phillips // The butterfly effect this tradition has on society’s view of women is huge and the continual loss of the matriarchal line contributes to the devaluing of women and girls in society.

Interview of Ramona Sharples by Freya Bennett // One of the things I treasure about my experience transitioning is that I had to learn how to make an enormous life change in the face of extraordinary pressure not to.

Interview of Noora Dastournezhad by Freya Bennett // What I love about being a girl and a woman is that no matter how long they’ve wanted to shut us down and tell us we don’t matter we keep fighting and anything we do becomes an act of rebellion.

Writing by Freya Bennett // Photograph by Clemence Leclerc // I am all for you wearing what you need to feel comfortable, confident and supported and if that means underwire, then go you good thing but I feel like we need to embrace the soft, the natural and create bras that support a comfier existence.

Interview of Sol Bela by Freya Bennett // I just started in this crazy world and the only advice I can give you is to do what you like, no matter what others say and you will see that with hard work and consistency, you will get what you are fighting for.

Letter by Freya Bennett // Illustration by Ayelen Lujan // We’re back, baby!

Letter by Freya Bennett // Illustration by Helena Ravenne // Our publication schedule will be changing, and Volume 3 is available now!

Interview of Silvi Joseph by Freya Bennett // Feminism is important to me because it is about standing up for what I want and not what society/people want me to be.

Interview of Nadia Akingbule by Freya Bennett // Identity is a huge theme that runs through all of my work, I think being of mixed heritage explains why it’s constantly on my mind!

Interview of Lucy Roleff by Freya Bennett // Social media and the human tendency to ‘compare and despair’ can make you feel like you need to take enormous strides to be any good and that can be very overwhelming. Do it because you enjoy it and find a style and definition of success that is true to you!

Interview of Thea Pettifer by Freya Bennett // I have always loved being part of movements and Ramona to me is a movement of culture and youth. Ramona presents itself as this platform where young girls and women can go to express themselves freely, without judgment and seek empowerment in their struggles and triumphs.

Interview of Sid Marcos by Freya Bennett // I got this idea as a kid that being disabled meant that you should hate your body and yourself. But I didn’t feel that way—I didn’t hate my body, I didn’t hate myself, and, in fact, I really liked being disabled.

Interview of Jyotika Pruthi by Freya Bennett // Every individual has a creative side that needs to be explored as that helps to achieve improved levels of cognition. Our perspective gets broadened and self-confidence is added.

Advice by Freya Bennett // Illustration by Ayelen Lujan 

And how can you ever really know if someone is right to spend the rest of your life with?

Interview of Libby Phillips by Freya Bennett // A while ago, after failing to convey a point to somebody in words, I sketched a little drawing to demonstrate my point – almost immediately, I was understood. Illustrations are a more engaging way to express yourself, I suppose.

Meet Our Interns // May-July 2017

Interview of Gomez Kolber by Freya Bennett // Life is short, so do whatever you want to do, work hard and just go for it. Always be open to learn from others.

Love Sophie & Freya // Illustration by Jordyn McGeachin // Get up to date on the changes in the Ramona team.

Interview of Hannah Driscoll by Freya Bennett // I find it really important to educate myself on the inequalities that exist and to then actively cultivate peace and do what I can on my part.

This Friday the 10th of March, join SASS in London to celebrate all things women!

Interview of Amanda Attanayake by Freya Bennett // I love the fun that I have being a girl, which mainly comes from me having a “solid girl gang” (spoken about in Fight Like a Girl by Clementine Ford). It’s pretty hard to describe the counselling, support, advice, love, friendship and laughs I get from them.

Interview of Georgia Fields by Freya Bennett // Writing songs is how I make sense of the world inside and outside of me. It started as a compulsion, something I just felt like I had to do.

Interview of Richa Gupta by Freya Bennett // I believe that teaching students about the human mind from an early age will help raise awareness about one of the most important facets of our life: positive mental health.

Interview of Becca Brown by Freya Bennett // Women make each other stronger. It kills me to see cattiness in female friendships. I think we need to be better to each other as humans in general. I love educating young people about feminism, too.

Interview of Grace Dekay by Freya Bennett // I don’t see myself anywhere in particular in five years. I could be cycling around Australia, I could be trekking in Spain, I could be living in a self-sustainable boat or tiny house in the mountains.

Interview of Raisa McLean by Freya Bennett // Feminism is important to me because it’s just common sense! I feel like there are a lot of people who have completely misinterpreted the meaning of it!

Interview of Kyla Bartholomeusz by Freya Bennett // Illustration by Joy Gomez Kolber // Kyla Bartholomeusz is a dancer, singer and actress who has been touring Australia in shows such as Dirty Dancing and We Will Rock You.

Interview of Khushi Gupta by Freya Bennett // Intersectional Feminism is important to me because feminism should be inclusive to everyone. Feminism cannot achieve its goals without intersectionality.

Interview of Arielle Jennings by Freya Bennett // As an introvert, I wouldn’t know the first thing about speaking about these issues in a public crowd. Art allows me to be as blunt and as loud about issues I care about.

Ramona Volume Two Launch

Interview of Melissa T by Freya Bennett // This will make me sound like a huge geek, but I’m not going to deny it. I love learning. I love discovering new things, learning how something works then connecting the dots to view the big picture.

Writing by Sophie Van Bastelear // Illustration by Freya Bennett // He wants to reject bodies, change bodies, deport bodies, convert bodies, degrade bodies, ignore bodies, use bodies.

Advice by Freya Bennett // Photograph by Joana Meneses

How do you know if your parents are being too mean or if you’re being too sensitive?

With love from Freya & Sophie // Volume 2 is on the way!

Interview of Lucy Haley by Freya Bennett // I am passionate about helping people, especially young girls struggling with body image.

Advice by Freya Bennett // Photograph by Lisa-Marie Kaspar 

How do you handle the awkwardness of stomach issues when important exams are coming up?

Writing by Freya Bennett // Photograph by Mara Saiz // I want to talk about the other side of loss. The side that is okay. The side that isn’t often talked about because we are meant to remain sad, devastated victims.

Mixtape by Freya Bennett & Heidi Beltran // Illustration by Margaryta Golovchenko // Songs for a calm afternoon.

With love and gratitude from Freya & Sophie // Read about our name change!

Interview of Tarang Chawla by Freya Bennett // I think that as a society we’re becoming more aware of the prevalence of men’s violence against women, and that’s a useful first step.

Interview of Craig Stott by Freya Bennett // I would like people seeing Holding the Man to come out with the realization that love between the same or different gender/s is completely the same concept.

Interview of Katarina Radulovic by Freya Bennett // Each collage has a clear message and that for me is very important.

Freya Bennett is the Co-Founder and Director of Ramona Magazine. She is a writer and illustrator from Melbourne, Australia who loves dreary grey days, libraries and coffee. With a passion for grassroots activism and creative community, Freya began Ramona Magazine as an alternative to boring, image-obsessed media. Ramona Magazine is founded upon Freya’s core values …

Writing by Freya Bennett // Photograph by Nunzia Lollo // I’ve always felt a little bit on the outside. I’m not sure where this comes from exactly, but perhaps it’s from being an only child from a single parent family.

Interview of Gretta Ray by Freya Bennett // Performing is a different thing entirely, that’s when it all falls into a place of overwhelming joy.

With love from Freya & Sophie // Tigress is one year old!

Interview with Will Cuming (AKA LANKS) by Freya Bennett

With love from Freya & Sophie // We’re coming up on the one-year anniversary of Tigress!

Advice by Sophie Pellegrini & Freya Bennett // Illustration by Jenny Pereira

When you want to freely express your beliefs in feminism but your peers have nothing nice to say, how do you handle it?

With love from Freya & Sophie