All eyes on Shab

Some women don't bow to life. Shab is one such woman. As a child, Shabnam fled with her parents from Afghanistan to India, where she first came into contact with spirituality. They then had to move to the Netherlands, where she ended up in a shelter as a young mother at the age of 22 and later became a victim of the childcare allowance scandal. How can you rise above yourself after so many setbacks? Shabnam's recipe: a combination of manifesting, affirmations, being able to say no and above all: continuing to see the beauty in everything. With this, Shab shows what our mission means: Where some see trash, we see opportunities. The pay-off of Trashious is: Where some see trash, we see opportunities. How does this apply to you? Because I always see opportunities, especially in setbacks. When do you feel at your strongest? (Apart from opening a jar of pickles without help.) When I exercise regularly and eat healthy, I feel more energetic and stronger. Also when I am mentally and emotionally balanced, for example after meditation. When I can help and support others, and when I achieve my personal and professional goals. And not to forget: when I travel the world alone! Who or what gives you that kick in the butt when you need it? I usually do that myself, because I want to be a little better every day than yesterday. And of course my 15-year-old daughter, Sophia. Haha! Which choices in your life make you proud? My relationship choices and maintaining them, and my personal and professional development. How do you motivate yourself on days when you would rather stay under a blanket? On such days, I remain gentle and kind to myself and I stay under that blanket. I investigate where that feeling comes from and work on it. Then I still take action, although I set smaller goals for myself. How do you minimize your footprint on the world? I eat leftovers and try to be more conscious and healthy about what we eat in our family. What is the biggest blunder that you can laugh out loud about now? That I was standing next to another car and kept pulling on the door, even though it wasn’t my car. The owner tapped me on the shoulder and said, “It’s locked and I have the key.” I got mad, too, until I realized my own car was parked one floor up — the exact same model. What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given or given? If your days are colorless, add color to your days! If your bag could talk, what would it say about you? Stylish, classy, quietly powerful, a world-changer.

What was your first job? Washing clothes for the chefs in the asylum seekers' center.

What is the best compliment you have ever received? That I am a silent force. That I achieve a lot without talking about it, and experience a lot in silence. Which woman inspires you? Who would you like to share an evening of wine and wisdom with? My mother, my daughters Sophia and Julia, and my mentor Marijke Paaijmans. I would also like to share an evening of wisdom and wine with Priyanka Chopra. The best lessons are sometimes found in the biggest blunders; can you share an experience in which you stumbled, but ultimately came out stronger? After 16 years of good and bad times, I finally chose myself. That was my biggest fall and my strongest comeback. In which 3 hashtags would you describe yourself? #powerwoman #mother #chasingdreams In which 3 hashtags would you describe Trashious? #classy #sustainable #highfashion Is there anything else you would like to share with us? We women should empower each other in everything. Let us not be blinded by each other's light, but be proud of each other and put each other even more in the spotlight.

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