Jeweller, writer and model Zemira Whitehead is proof that creative careers don’t have to drain you. In this interview, she shares how listening to her body, honouring her cycle and letting go of linear ambition changed everything.

 

Name: Zemira Whitehead

Pronouns: She/Her

Day job: Jeweller/barista/student

Location: Brunswick East

 

Describe your work in one sentence.

Multifaceted!

 

How did you get here?

Going to a Steiner school was a huge factor in the direction my life has taken. I’ve always been very creative, and that environment let me explore lots of different avenues. My first job was as a face painter. I started modelling at 14, worked in hospitality, dabbled in pottery, travelled, and eventually moved to Melbourne.

I lost my creative spark for a while, even though I was still making things on a small scale. During COVID, I realised I felt directionless, which pushed me to study. I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to learn. I chose a writing degree because it felt like a balance of creativity and practical skills.

As a kid, I always thought I’d be an author, and doing work experience and later an internship at Fashion Journal felt like a full circle moment. But after graduating, I knew I needed a break from writing and didn’t want to work at a computer full-time.

That’s when I moved back into physical creation and started making jewellery. I taught myself through YouTube, with some early silversmithing experience to build on. I loved it immediately, and when I realised it was giving me energy rather than draining it, I knew it was something worth investing in.

 

How do writing, modelling, and jewellery inform each other?

Where I once thought writing would be my career focus, after completing a degree in Creative Writing with a minor in Literary Studies, my priorities and energy have shifted. Writing is now part of my foundation and a key part of my self-care and wellness practices. Journaling regularly helps me clear my mind, which is important when juggling a variety of jobs and roles. It helps me see more clearly and work through self-doubt.

Modelling has always been less about the work itself and more about being part of a creative scene. I love working alongside others who are trying to bring a dream or vision to life. Being around that energy stimulates my creativity and pushes me to showcase my jewellery. You could call it networking, but I prefer to think of it as building a creative community. Melbourne is beautiful like that. Everyone is building something, and we’re willing to lean on one another and show up in support. It’s incredibly nourishing.

How has seeing fashion from multiple angles shaped your aesthetic?

I’m sure it’s influenced me subconsciously, but the development of my aesthetic has had more to do with my self-development. Listening to and learning about myself has been a major priority over the past few years. I’ve delved deeper into music, finding sounds that resonate with me, stayed curious and always learning, curated my home’s aesthetic and ambience, and sought out spaces that inspire me through food, nature or art. All of this has helped me trust myself more, and with that has come a more grounded sense of self and personal style.

 

What do you want an Arven Studio piece to feel like?

My love for jewellery was cemented while I was studying and travelling in Europe a few years ago. Silver pieces kept finding me in beautiful ways and became deeply cherished because of the stories behind them. I found one ring at a tiny market stall in Croatia while my friend and I were terribly hungover, standing in the blaring sun after 24 hours of travel and sleeping on airport floors. Another ring was gifted to me as a parting gift, taken straight off the finger of someone who came into my life and made a huge impact. In return, I gave them a ring off my own finger so we would have something to remember each other by.

Those stories made me fall in love with the idea of making jewellery. Although I’m the starting point of each piece, my experience of creating it with my own hands is only the beginning of its story. Silver is resilient, and I hope my pieces are passed through many loving hands.

I also wanted to make jewellery that felt like me, pieces that carry a style and statement true to the version of myself I want to put into the world. I hope people come across Arven and feel that connection. I don’t see much jewellery around in Melbourne right now that looks like Arven, and I hope there’s an audience who feels they’ve found their dream jewellery.

 

Chaos or calm workspace?

Haha, I’d say more chaos, mostly because I let it get messy. I do try to bring calm energy into the studio, though. My best creations are made with a clear vision and no time restraints.

 

What piece of jewellery do you wear daily, and why?

I used to have a collection of pieces I never took off, gathered through travel and from friends, all holding deep meaning for me. But, classic me, I lost almost all of them. Now I always wear one of Arven’s first rings, which I love dearly, the Ayva ring, named after my niece. It features a shell imprint from my hometown and a stone I sourced in Portugal. I also wear a ring I bought while travelling in Mexico, which will always hold memories of that special trip.

How would you describe your relationship with fashion now?

Fun and affirming. Fashion is another creative avenue for expressing who you are to the world. I don’t take it too seriously, but it’s integral to my self-representation, and I cherish it for that. There’s no better feeling than facing the day dressed in a way that affirms how you’re feeling, whether that’s hot and horny, fun and flirty, or cramping but comfortable.
How do you balance being online with creative disconnection?

With how the world is set up, and how important the internet and social media are to our day-to-day lives, especially for work and business, finding a balance between online and offline is an ongoing struggle for many of us. I don’t think I’ve nailed it yet, but I know there are practices that help me break the cycle of being online. For me, that looks like regular exercise, replacing scrolling with reading, and having a physical creative practice, which in my case is jewellery making.

 

How do you reset after a big shoot or project?

It can go two ways. Either I feel energised and excited, craving social interaction, so I’ll message friends to grab a glass of wine or dinner, or I feel completely exhausted and need rest. In that case, I get comfy, make a nourishing meal, put on a good movie or show, and really indulge in my alone time.

 

How do you stay connected to your body in a looks-driven industry?

Love and value your body. I know that’s easier said than done, but if you do things that are genuinely good for you, that relationship comes more naturally. Find movement you actually enjoy, eat good food and treat yourself, because that makes us happier and is therefore good for us. Give your body physical love: moisturise, masturbate, get a massage.

And be mindful of what information, content or narratives don’t serve you. I often see things online and think, ‘not for me,’ and simply move on. My body was born perfect and is perfect. We’re taught to hate and dissect ourselves, especially as women, so we constantly have to remind ourselves not to engage with that bullshit. Speak kindly about yourself, your body and other people’s bodies, both out loud and internally.

 

How has your period shaped your body relationship over time?

There are definitely times when my period causes frustration, largely because I was born a woman with a period in a world that wasn’t built to support it. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve formed a much closer connection with my body through my cycle, and for that I’m incredibly grateful. It’s taught me to listen to my body, and when I honour what it needs at different stages, I feel more aligned and supported. I allow myself to enjoy the ups and downs and the changing nature of my monthly cycle.

 

Do you notice creative or confidence shifts across your cycle?

Absolutely. Our cycles offer so much insight into how we can structure our work and lives. I feel most energised and inspired right after my bleed, and during ovulation, while toward the end of my luteal phase, I experience more self-doubt, stress and anxiety.

 

Do you plan work around your cycle, or go with it?

I’d love to say my life is organised enough for that, but I mostly ride the wave. When I feel inspired and driven, usually toward the end of my follicular phase and during ovulation, I get the bulk of my work done. Unfortunately, the world isn’t designed around women’s cycles, which means I often have to push through on days I’d ideally spend resting in bed.

 

What do you wish you’d learned earlier about periods or hormones?

Honestly, everything. I had so little information about periods, even though I grew up in a fairly hippy area that valued menstruation and what it represents for women. There was still so much I wasn’t taught, and probably so much I still don’t know. Even understanding the different stages of the cycle feels like something we’ve only really started talking about in the last few years, which is wild given how much it impacts our daily lives.

 

What belief about women’s bodies would you rewrite?

That women have an obligation. There’s a growing conservative narrative suggesting women are supposed to give birth and be mothers, and that we lack value if we choose not to have children. It’s terrifying and dangerous, impacting women’s autonomy, mental and physical health, and access to essential support and care.

 

Are we truly more open about women’s health, or still performing cool?

There’s been a big shift since I was a teenager. We still have a long way to go, but I think we’re moving in the right direction. There’s more understanding around periods and women’s health, though we’re playing catch-up after decades of neglect. Much medical research has historically focused on men, and many women's issues were ignored for years. There’s a lot of ground to make up.

 

Why are periods still taboo?

Ultimately, the taboo around menstruation is rooted in patriarchy. Because men do not experience periods, they have historically misunderstood them and framed them as something shameful or impure. This lack of understanding, combined with discomfort around blood and reproductive autonomy, led to avoidance, fear and silence, attitudes that still shape how periods are treated today. I don’t see it as much in my daily life, but I know that’s because of my echo chamber. The women in my life are very open and informed, and while the men could probably learn more, they’re generally willing to listen.

 

My Cycle

• My period in three words: Intense, introspective, humbling
• Period self-care toolkit: Iron-rich meals in the days leading up to my bleed, especially veggie soup with beetroot and dark leafy greens. One or two days off work and exercise on days one to three. Avoiding alcohol and coffee. Slowing down and rescheduling errands and social plans. Reading, journaling, hot showers and baths, and lots of rest.
• Favourite herb for hormone balance: Ashwagandha
• Most underrated period self-care ritual: Cancelling plans. We shouldn’t expect ourselves to show up when our bodies are begging for rest and alone time. There will always be more plans.
• Ultimate period outfit: My Scarlet period undies and trackies all the way. Nothing tight or inserted if I can avoid it. Comfort can still be fashionable, and putting a little effort into how I look during my bleed feels like a gentle act of self-care.
• Contraception of choice: Condoms or abstinence. Neither is perfect, but in my opinion, they’re currently the best options for protection against pregnancy and STIs. Protection always comes first.
• On day one, you’ll find me: In a space that isn’t quite physical.
• Favourite comfort food: Soup, either a hearty homemade veggie soup or pho. Also, pasta when I’m craving carbs.
• Best movement during your cycle: Walking during the first few days, sometimes a warm yin yoga class. Around days five to seven, I return to Pilates, moving a little slower but with more energy.
• Scarlet pick: So hard to choose. I genuinely love all my Scarlets, but I’d have to say the G-string. It’s streamlined and comfortable for everyday wear, yet incredibly absorbent. I have a very heavy flow in the first two days, and it keeps me feeling secure, with no worries about leakage. I love it.