Hello Gazetta Readers,
I caught myself staring in the mirror the other day. Not the rushed, Is my eyeliner even? glance before running out the door. Not the casual Do I look as exhausted as I feel? check-in. No—this was different. One of those long, unfiltered stares where you’re forced to actually see yourself.
And honestly? I wasn’t sure what to make of the woman looking back at me.
The past few years have been a ride—the kind where you don’t know whether to scream, laugh, or just hold on and hope for the best. Change has been relentless. Some of it beautiful, some of it brutal, all of it unavoidable. There were moments when I didn’t recognize myself, when the reflection didn’t match the version of me I thought I knew. But somewhere in the mess of it all, I realized: Maybe that’s the point.
We talk about self-love like it’s a face mask and a Pinterest quote, but real self-love? It’s uncomfortable. It’s looking at every version of yourself—the ones you celebrate, the ones you cringe at, the ones you’re still trying to understand—and saying, Yeah, I’m still worthy of love through all of it.
That’s what this issue is about. “Through the Looking Glass: Self-Image and the Power of Love” isn’t just a theme—it’s a challenge. A mirror held up to the way we see ourselves, the way we define beauty, the way we decide who gets to be worthy.
And this month, we’re looking at self-image from every possible angle.
In my cover feature, we explore what it really means to see and love yourself, flaws and all. Robert McFadden takes a completely different lens, examining the DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) and asking why Americans are so mad at government audits (because apparently, self-reflection isn’t just for people—it’s for bureaucracies too). Manuela Pirola uncovers how Alina Balilja redefines elegance, proving that style is more than just what you wear—it’s a power move. Sonia Haboub takes us on a journey to Al Ula, where the landscapes shift as much as our perceptions, and Chantal Ho-A-Hing jumps into the silent, unseen forces of motherhood.
And that’s just the beginning. We’re talking fashion, reinvention, AI-powered travel, and the cars that are rewriting the rules of luxury and sustainability. (Looking at you, BMW iX.) Plus, the new Marushika Sirikit Collectionreminds us why tradition and modernity belong in the same conversation.
Let’s also take a moment for this cover—created with Midjourney AI, but brought to life by the theme itself. Because looking through the glass isn’t just about seeing the reflection—it’s about seeing beyond it.
And because these conversations don’t stop here, Jad & Mimi are breaking it all down on The Gazetta-Cast. Stay tuned as we unravel, debate, and deep dive into these stories, because if there’s one thing we know—it’s that self-image, love, and identity are never as simple as they seem.
So here’s my challenge to you: Look. Really look. Strip away the expectations, the projections, the narratives you didn’t write. See yourself for who you are, not for who you’ve been told to be. And maybe, just maybe, start loving that reflection a little harder.
Here’s to seeing clearly,
