The face of Jo Malone London&rsquo;s English Pear and Freesia speaks to L&rsquo;Officiel about the power of being heard.

Model and mental health advocate Adwoa Aboah sits down with L&rsquo;Officiel Philippines to talk about her advocacy Gurls Talk, and how the partnership she&rsquo;s built with Jo Malone London to work towards women&rsquo;s mental health awareness and wellness is such a breath of fresh air.

We&rsquo;ve read a lot about how Jo Malone London fully welcomed you and your advocacy as a great fit for their brand. What are the steps Jo Malone London has been taking for mental health wellness and awareness that you&rsquo;ve really resonated with?
What's really incredible about Jo Malone London is that the brand has been supporting mental health charities for over ten years, way before it was trendy to talk about it. In the age of virtue signaling, it's refreshing to see a brand so committed to real impact. They don't shy away from the difficult conversations or hide behind 'wellness' advocacy &ndash; they tackle mental health head on in partnership with some of the most impactful mental health advocates and charities.
How are you bringing or connecting your work with Gurls Talk to your partnership with Jo Malone London?
It's a really natural connection given the obvious alignment of our respective values. Jo Malone London is generously looking to support our work at Gurls Talk and they couldn't be a better fit for what we're trying to achieve.
It&rsquo;s so easy for brands these days to say they are supporting a cause. How do you think Jo Malone London not just supports the mental health cause for women, but practices it?
Well,I think you just need to look at Jo Malone London&rsquo;s track record and their unwavering commitment to the organizations they have invested in over time. It's not been a one-time and then "good- bye" type of thing, and we are working closely together to support my own charity Gurls Talk to develop the same strategic goals over years, and not just campaign cycles. It was one of the main reasons I decided to partner and work with Jo Malone London.

With Gurls Talk, you jumpstart and deepen discussions around mental health, sobriety, self-esteem, and more of young women. In your work, what kind of programs do you have for them after creating that conversation?
At Gurls Talk, we've launched a number of programs to equip girls with the skills and resources to better their mental health. Most importantly, our programming nurtures a community of peers who connect through shared experience and lean on each other throughout their mental health journeys. We partner with academics and clinical experts to provide free online resources so everyone has access to care. We host events and dialogues (including through our Gurls Talk podcast) that tackle a host of diverse issues related to mental health and identity in a nuanced way. We also run an ambassador program, which brings together young female-identifying mental health advocates, for a yearlong program of advocacy projects, mentorship and workshops.
Do share with us a couple of concrete things &mdash; small or big &mdash; that you do every day to help improve mental health.
I make sure I always have downtime to slow down and sit with what I'm experiencing. But most important, I am intentional about who I surround myself with and nurture that community on a daily basis.

In a video you&rsquo;ve done (for a sportswear brand), I hear you mention how certain objects become a reminder of people or experiences you hold dear. Are you the same with fragrances, knowing they&rsquo;re deeply connected to memory?
I think scent in general definitely is just so nostalgic, it&rsquo;s so interesting how it brings you back to a particular memory. My first memory of Jo Malone London in particular was Red Roses, which is the perfume that my mum wears. Also, at my mum and dad&rsquo;s house, we had a luxury candle in the front hall - when that was lit it meant people were coming round for dinner. My home was always scented and smelled of fires or home-cooked meals, so it always felt cosy.
 You&rsquo;re the face of English Pear &amp; Freesia &mdash; any memories, old or new, it evokes for you? Any memories you want to create with it?
It doesn&rsquo;t trigger a particular memory but for me a particular feeling of fresh, clean linen and a heavy blanket on a winter night. It is home to me.

Adwoa Aboah Wants Women To Talk

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