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.

Review by Freya Bennett //

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 of Moni the Label by Freya Bennett // Moni creates bikinis for all boobies! Her bathers range from A-G cups meaning you can match all your buddies no matter your size!

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 by Freya Bennett // With only one week left we are so excited to share with you how to harness the power of your menstrual cycle for a more creative, productive, and self-care-filled existence.

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!

Poem by Maria Ermides // Illustration by Freya Bennett

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.

Review by Freya Bennett // There has been a huge gap in the market for clothes that fit busty yet small babes like myself.

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.

Review of Lilly and Lime by Freya Bennett // Lilly and Lime specialise in D cup and up swimwear and they have a HUGE range.

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.

Review of My Cup Runneth Over by Freya Bennett // If you have more than a handful of boobs then you’ll know the struggle of lounging around without a bra on.

Review of BoPo Women by Freya Bennett // I won’t go into the difference in appearance because that is not what this is about (although my skin was way less dry and felt pretty damn soft) but the difference in how I felt and acted towards myself was pretty beautiful. 

Review by Freya Bennett // The lush fabric and stretchy waist means I can chuck on some trackies and feel ultra comfy and low key but the cute lace and velvet front means they are also super beautiful so I feel like a bit of a goddess.

Review and Interview by Freya Bennett // I’m excited to continue revolutionizing the sex tech industry along with other leaders in the space!

Interview of Kylie by Freya Bennett // The landscape has changed a lot in twenty years since Obus began (!) but my advice for anyone pursuing their own idea for a business is to do so with authenticity and conviction.

Review by Freya Bennett // I want to introduce you to Pyne and Smith. If you want to join the slow, ethical fashion movement and want a few versatile pieces then look no further.

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.

Advice by Freya Bennett // Photograph by Karen Davis

How do you get comfortable with your body, even in your own home?

Interview of Meredith by Freya Bennett // In five years I hope that I am working for a magazine who’s main mission is to empower teenage girls.  I hope to work for a magazine that does this through fashion, art, and activism.

Writing by Freya Bennett // Growing up and seeing ads in Dolly or Girlfriend for the cute bra and knickers sets I was meant to get just made me feel depressed and like my body was wrong. It’s taken this long, but at 31, I feel part of a club. Or even more accurately, part of a movement where no one is excluded. Go check out Lonely Lingerie. You won’t be disappointed.

Review of Meloncup Swimwear by Freya Bennett // Meloncup have the cutest labels for each cup size and when I received my size ‘gorgeous’ bikini it actually made me smile and feel confident even before I put it on.

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.

Writing by Freya Bennett // Illustration by Helena Ravenne // I mean we can talk about boobs until the cows come home and we’d still have endless themes to cover right? If you’re a boob owner or just a card-carrying member of the boob appreciation society, welcome, pull up a giant novelty boob chair, and read on.

Interview of Ash McGee by Freya Bennett // About 4 years ago I embarked on a journey of self discovery and reflection, that cultivated this strong desire to learn and appreciate myself more as a African American women. During this time, my eyes were opened to a lot of social injustice that’s consistently effecting our communities.

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.

Interview of Sophia Argyropoulos by Freya Bennett // Raq is for stylish, active busty women who want to feel confident and supported in a bikini, particularly if they have a small frame.

Writing by Freya Bennett // Photograph by Makeda Sandford // From the first class, I was hooked. I ended up doing boxing twice a week and a Yin yoga class to balance everything out and wind down. My anxiety all but disappeared and I think I discovered that for me, I need to get myself to exhaustion in order to help my brain relax.

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 Ambivalently Yours by Freya Bennett // The more I learned about feminism, the more I understood that sensitivity is related to weakness because it is associated to femininity, and in a patriarchal society anything feminine is seen as inferior. Once I understood that, I realized that feeling emotions could be a radical act of feminist defiance.

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 Emah Fox by Freya Bennett // I’m a musician, songwriter, video artist, producer, singer, writer, editor, and studio supervisor at the incredible Melbourne Electronic Sound Studios. 

Review of ALAS sleepwear by Freya Bennett // Photographs by Saskia Wilson

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.

Interview of Tess Rouvray by Freya Bennett // It’s all about flowers! I design and make flower crowns which can either be purchased ready-made or made to order.

Interview of Claire and Tennessee by Freya Bennett // We pit women against each other every second of every day, and it’s very important to me to support other people who are fighting the good fight. It’s unhealthy, destructive and simply misogynistic to compete against other similar communities.

Interview of Christine and Manon by Freya Bennett // I think for Christine and myself, as women of colour, it is important to ensure equal representation across all aspects. Australia especially, is a truly diverse country and I think it’s important to honestly represent the many faces that make up Australia.

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

Writing by Amanda Attanayake // Illustration by Freya Bennett // There are many things I love about Frida Kahlo. She was a woman, liberated sexually and politically, in the 30’s 40’s and 50’s. Kahlo wasn’t held back by convention or expectation; she simply did what she wanted.

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 Miss Marley by Freya Bennett // On the surface a lot of my work can appear to be cute and almost child-like in ways. On closer look there are deeper meanings and connections, more complex ideas and emotions.

Interview of Lachrista Greco by Freya Bennett // Introverts can do a lot as activists. I often think digital activism is perfect for introverts as you can do it from the comfort of your own space and at your own pace!

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.

Interview of Grace Jarvis by Freya Bennett // We, as a society, have made great strides in the fight for gender equality but a lot of the time it seems to me, there is an internal monologue that mocks women just for being women and it makes me super mad.

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.

Review of Modibodi by Freya Bennett // If you had told me a couple of years ago that there was some new technology for dealing with periods, I couldn’t have even imagined what you were talking about! 

Interview of Magic Steven by Freya Bennett // Generally it’s an intuitive, improvised process. I don’t know where the ideas come from. It’s an interesting question to think and theorise about, but I’ve never found the answer.

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.

Interview with Larissa Ocampo by Freya Bennett // One Girl is a non profit committed to changing the world by educating girls. We believe that every girl on the planet has the right to an education.

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 Harry Young by Freya Bennett // Music is such a powerful force; the way a song can change how you feel almost instantaneously is remarkable or how a song can transport you immediately with such power back to a certain time and place.

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

Interview of Michelle D’Avella by Freya Bennett // There is almost no one I know who has not suffered self-esteem issues from the way our culture dictates what is considered beautiful.

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

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

Advice by Freya Bennett & Sophie Pellegrini // Photograph by Tiziana Gualano 

What do you do when you feel your boobs look weird and ugly, and worry if they’ll ever look “normal”?

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.

Interview of Lasharne Anderson, Georgia James, Candassie “Dass” Liburd, & Lizzie Roberts by Freya Bennett // Bloom is a new coming of age short film about four teenage girls. Their world is a mélange of school subjects, dance routines, music, and the looming issue of sex.

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

Interview of Sophie Don by Freya Bennett // I’m a 25-year-old actress from Sydney, my overnight suitcase is my best friend, and this question is seriously hard to answer.

Interview of Maria Raposo by Freya Bennett // Feminism taught me that I can do whatever I want without fear of being judged.

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

Advice by Freya Bennett // Photograph by Lucía Pereyra

You don’t get along with your parents and want to move out, but your parents don’t support your wish to move to boarding school. Now what?

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 Memphis by Freya Bennett // I’d honestly be so happy to continue writing, producing, and performing for the rest of my life

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 Jo Nixon by Freya Bennett // I also work in the fine art printing field which is a great inspiration. I am able to see an array of local and international talent come through, and indulge my love of print and lovely paper surfaces.

Advice by Freya Bennett // Photograph by Joana Meneses 

How do you get over the nerves you feel around boys?

Interview of Kate Heppell by Freya Bennett // We really believe that colour and texture can affect mood. In fact, last year we looked into colour therapy and how important it can be in mental health.

Interview of Ngaiire by Freya Bennett // I wanted to be a pilot but realised I was too short so I moved my sights to aeronautical engineering. Music eventually consumed me.

Review and illustration by Freya Bennett // Based on the true to life cult-classic memoir of Tim Conigrave and John Caleo, Holding the Man tells the tale of two Melbourne school boys falling in love in the unforgiving 1970s.

Writing and illustration by Freya Bennett // To have someone so successful stand proudly and say, “I am trans and trans is beautiful” is such an important thing not just for trans kids, but for everyone else as well. 

Interview of Erin Cookson by Freya Bennett // There is something gratifying when you hold up an object or image that you have worked hard on. A feeling of accomplishment.

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.

Writing by Molly McKew // Illustration by Freya Bennett // We can easily shrug this off (or shake it off) as playful irony; however, cultural referencing can easily veer into cultural appropriation.

Interview of Coco Star Sims by Freya Bennett // When I am stressed I usually grab one of my smaller sketchbooks and a fine liner, stick my headphones in and just walk for a while and find somewhere nice to sit down and draw.

Advice by Freya Bennett & Sophie Pellegrini // Photograph by Catarina Inacio 

What are some methods you can use to build your self-esteem?

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.

Interview of Sophie Jackson by Freya Bennett // My best advice would be to write anything and everything. Don’t worry if it makes you feel uncomfortable, or if it’s out of your comfort zone, that’s good!

Advice by Freya Bennett & Sophie Pellegrini // Photograph by Catarina Inacio

How do you get through the last few weeks of year 12 when you are utterly exhausted?

Interview of Ashley by Freya Bennett // As the world is becoming more and more aware of transgender issues and people are becoming more educated or are open to being educated, things will become easier for us, slowly, but steadily.

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

Interview with Will Cuming (AKA LANKS) by Freya Bennett // In unusual style, LANKS’ songs evoke folk storytelling within the framework of electronic music.

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

Written by Freya Bennett 

Advice by Sophie Pellegrini & Freya Bennett // Photograph by Camila Tomaz

Does having fantasies about a girl make you lesbian?

Writing and photographs by Freya Bennett // Here are my tips for sensitive people traveling!

Writing and photographs by Freya Bennett // When it comes to working with creative people I’ve never met, people who live far away? I LOVE that idea.

Writing and photographs by Freya Bennett // I wanted to write a few articles whilst travelling instead of after, because my memories of experiences are rose-coloured as compared to how I felt when I actually was travelling. I want to address anxiety, depression, and expectations while travelling.

Advice by Freya Bennett & Sophie Pellegrini // Illustrations by Jane Herkenhoff

Is there a right way to talk to boys about your period?

Writing and art by Freya Bennett // Anne Frank was a diarist and a writer. She was born on the 12th of June in 1929 and she died of typhus in early March 1945. She was 15 years old when she died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

Writing by Freya Bennett // Illustration by Rosie Hendry // Malala has been campaigning for girls’ educational rights since she was 11, in her hometown of Swat Valley in Pakistan where the Taliban banned girls from attending school.

Writing by Freya Bennett // Photographs by Leanne Surfleet // In our modern society, where the female body has become more and more of an object to sell products, we need to stop and look at our relationship with the naked female body.

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?

Writing by Freya Bennett // Photograph by Leanne Surfleet // Cramps can vary from mild to excruciating, and I think it’s fair to say most people don’t find them enjoyable.

Writing by Freya Bennett // Photograph by Alia Thomas // I am constantly surprised and disappointed with how much period negativity we have in our society (and societies around the world). You just have to open a magazine or watch an ad on “feminine hygiene” to know that the world isn’t loving your period. 

With love from Freya & Sophie