The women who inspire Margaret Zhang
Acuity magazine June/July 2017 cover star Margaret Zhang on the young women who inspire her.
In brief
- 24-year-old Australian Margaret Zhang wears many hats and is a member of Forbes’ 2016 30 Under 30 Asia list for young leaders.
- Zhang is inspired by women who are engaging, authentic and connected to their work.
- Zhang takes inspiration from Hari Nef, Stanislava Pinchuk, Isamaya Ffrench and Natalie Archer.
24-year-old Australian Margaret Zhang wears many hats: fashion icon, stylist, writer, creative director, consultant, classically-trained musician, ballet dancer, member of Forbes’ 2016 30 Under 30 Asia list for young leaders, to name a few.
The Sydney-born-and-raised Zhang epitomises the younger generation that is taking the modern workforce by storm. As a trailblazer for a new breed of multi-skilled, multi-tasking professionals, Zhang is an inspiration to her contemporaries.
But she is also inspired by her contemporaries. In late 2016 Zhang photographed the women who have inspired her: young women who are emotionally connected to their work and are shining lights for the next generation of young professionals to follow.
Zhang is the cover star for the June/July 2017 issue of Acuity magazine. While interviewing Zhang, Acuity asked her to name four young women who inspire her, and tell us why. Below are Zhang’s responses in her own words.
Hari Nef (US actress, model and writer)
Hari Nef is unapologetically herself, whip smart, sarcastic, and does not brand herself as an overzealous activist for trans rights. She normalises gender equality and support for the trans community simply by incorporating references into her everyday vernacular rather than tokenising the movement.
Stanislava Pinchuk (multi-disciplined artist from Ukraine)
I am floored by the degree to which Stanislava Pinchuk is so deeply emotionally connected to her work, without losing sight of her end goal, or wavering on precision. There’s a meticulous approach in her process that I find aspirational.
Isamaya Ffrench (make-up artist and fashion industry commentator)
Isamaya Ffrench is an exceptionally talented, multifaceted chameleon who tells stories with her beauty and expertise. The characters she builds are like nothing I’ve ever seen.
Natalie Archer (endometriosis sufferer and women's health campaigner)
Natalie Archer is the strongest person I know. Despite suffering from severe endometriosis she has built an incredible community – Living With Endometriosis – for women affected by the condition that medical practitioners so often dismiss. She is constantly expanding her personal knowledge of endometriosis and women’s health more generally with scientific papers and medical research to better inform her engaged audience. Which is more than anybody can say for the large majority of media outlets or corporate bodies out there.
Margaret Zhang is featured in the June/July 2017 issue of Acuity magazine.