The SHE Word

Miriana Conte is the fantastically flamboyant and often outrageous personality behind one of Malta’s most controversial Eurovision entries, which had gone viral all over the world even before she had won the national competition. ‘Serving Kant’ caused outcry in the UK particularly due to the play on words with Britain’s rudest swear word. English Eurovision host and BBC Radio presenter Scott Mills said on his radio show just before the song contest "We can't talk about Malta's one at all. We definitely can't play a clip of it... ever, on the BBC.” The song also caused a significant stir here at home, with Miriana receiving overwhelming hate comments attacking her on her style, her song, her figure and her family.But behind the public persona is a shy, wise, humble and incredibly likeable young women who is an outstanding vocalist and song writer. In this edition of SHE WARRIORS, Trudy sits down with Miriana for a deep dive into her image, ambitions, challenges, her battles, and the source of her self belief. The two women take the conversation through the journey of Serving Kant and how this epic anthem was born; the inspiration, the response, the encouragement and the outrage. The conversation takes a deep dive into the struggles she has faced with eating disorders, the pain and desperation she experienced as well as sharing the details of her long recovery to health. She touches on her battle with PCOS, also touches on the damaging relationship that could have ended her dream - and the people around her that cheered her to make it happen against all odds. Miriana also delves into the hate comments that attacked her personally, as well as her family, from the Maltese population, the haters and the trollers. She shares her thoughts behind her recent response to one body shaming comment from a well known fitness influencer ‘Keep my name out of your mouth because you don’t know what I have been through’; a powerful message that resonated with women across the country. This edition of SHE WARRIORS is a edgy, funny, honest, moving and inspiring look into the life of one of Malta’s most recognisable icons. HUGE thanks to those that support these conversations and make this all possible: Brown's, Hyatt Regency, Intimissimi, Tampax, Always, Aperol Spritz and Growth Gurus

In the first quarter of 2026 three headlines hit the news ad sparked outrage; CNN published an investigation into a website who’s content included an ‘academy’ that not only instructed men on how to dr*g and r*pe their wives and partners, but also published the footage of these crimes - the website received over 62 million views alone. The UK government introduced new legislation to site public sexual harassment is a standalone criminal offense following research that indicates that 86% of young women (aged 18–24) in the UK have experienced sexual harassment in public spaces.And lastly fifty-two cases of r*pe of women were reported to the police in Malta last year, statistically a case a day. But most data indicates that around 80-90% of incidents go unreported, with factors such as shame, fear of not being believed, and fear of retaliation preventing victims from reporting.All three headlines brought long overdue attention to the crisis of SA and SH, with both men and women speaking out and calling for change but what happens when the algorithm moves on, what happens to the outcry, and most importantly what happens to the women left to face the often long lasting effects of harassment or assault. In this hard hitting, openly honest and occasionally uncomfortable episode Trudy sits down with Beatboxer, songwriter and mindset coach Dana McKeon, empowerment coach Mei Berrit and Counselling Psychology Practitioner from Richmond Marie Noelle Lanzon to share personal experiences, delve into the impact of their experiences - physically emotionally, mentally and relationally - and talk through the topic with a focus on healing. The conversation also looks at why perpetrators do what they do, the sliding scale of inappropriate and harmful behaviour, the culture of shame, and what we can do to change the attitude towards harmful behaviour and make a safer environment. With 1 in 3 women experiencing SA and 85% of young women affected by SH, even if you haven’t personally been affected by the topic, someone close to you - someone you love has. Watch and be informed, be seen, be educated, be influenced. Be Empowered. This show may not be suitable for children. If you are affected by this topic please reach out for help: If you are in immediate danger please call the Police: 112 The Domestic Violence Unit Support Line: 179 Anonymous Online Support Line Kellimni: Kellimni.com Victim Support: +356 2122 8333, info@victimsupport.org.mt SOAR: +356 2180 9011 / +356 2180 8981 / +356 2767 2367THANK YOU to Browns, Perrier, Always, Tampax, Satariano, Holland and Barrett, Camilleri Paris Mode, Verdala, Mapfre, BOV, and Lindex for supporting these conversations.

Financial independence and security is a topic that I would suggest we ALL find hard to discuss. Talking about money is often an uncomfortable conversation, let alone discussing scams, investments and our financial security. However, finances and financial health is a topic that affects every single one of us in one way or another. For women particularly, financial security is crucial; over 70% of women are in employment but over 64% of women are also mothers, presenting the ‘career break challenge’ and the financial challenges that are associated with balancing both aspects of life. In this special edition of The SHE Word, Trudy sits down with three women from the MFSA to discuss two main areas of financial health that are particularly topical right now. Firstly Adelina Andreea Nechita from the MFSA Enforcement team tackles the topic of scams with Trudy. Scammers and scamming has become big business and is now a multi-billion Euro global illegal industry. Scamming is a high-tech, high turnover enterprise with one goal; to convince us to part with our money - using a variety of well practiced and effective tactics. None of us are immune to scammers, and with the rise of AI, these criminal networks have become even more convincing. Adelina and the guests share guidelines and tips to be able to spot a scammer in action, how to avoid loosing out and what to do if we are trapped by a scammer. Following up from Adelina, Lorraine Vella from the MFSA addresses financial security before guiding the conversation through the topic of investments and financial futures. Breaking down the terms Capital Markets, Bonds, Stocks and Shares, Lorraine walks through the different investment options, the risks and rewards, and they ‘what you need to know’ before launching into an investment plan. Lorraine also guides SHE-Worders through the do’s and absolute donts of investing and cutting through the jargon and help viewers gain the confidence to navigate today’s financial markets.Bring the conversation full circle, Sarah Pulis from the MFSA leads the topic of general good financial health with tangible tips and helpful hacks that we can all take away and start applying immediately to help us on a journey to better financial freedom and independence. Wherever you are on your financial journey, however ‘healthy’, whatever your age - this show is the episode you didn’t know you needed. Full of practical application and insight, this conversation has something for everyone. The opinions and views expressed are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or views of the MFSA.

Here at The SHE Word we have discussed SO MANY topics which impact mums - especially in the early years of motherhood and this topic is another issue which so many mums face - the change in relationship with your partner after becoming parents.In this episode the four mums at the table sit down to discuss the changes that take place after bringing a baby home (and baby 2 and baby 3!) and the challenges that they were not (or least) expecting.Sitting down to discuss this topic with host Nerissa Mass are influencers Raisa Brincat Newell (known as ‘mytrio123’), Olivia Saliba Cauchi (known as ‘Mummy in a Hurry’) and therapist relationship and Couples & Families systematic therapist Marija Attard. These ladies share real life experiences that they have been through, challenges they have faced and how they overcame them, or are working through them.The guests also discuss the little ways to keep that spark alive especially in the very early years where time is limited and energy is low. Together the mums explore intimacy, the importance of communication, compromise and prioritising the relationship even after you become a parent.An honest and open conversation with some laughs along the way; this show will help to normalise this phase in a couples life, but also provide hope that this will not last forever and also some very helpful tips on how to get through and survive those tough early years of parenthood when you are see in the trenches. With special thanks to Browns, Hyatt Regency, Pemix Distributors (special mention to their mum and baby club), Prohealth (La Roche Posay), Slinky and Co, Monsoon, iCentre, Ayur Veda

Marina Mazepa is an actress, a dancer, a contortionists, a choreographer, a model and an artist. Ukrainian Marina knew as a child that she wanted to be famous, she wanted to perform and be the very best that she could be. As a young women Marina won scholarships, competitions, dance events, and then famously made it through to the semi finals of America’s Got Talent, but just as Marina reached the heights of her early career, Marina packed her bags and headed to Hollywood as a young woman who couldn’t speak English, in a highly competitive industry, taking every break she could get. In this edition of SHE Warriors Marina shares her story of determination and overcoming every challenge and her own imposter syndrome to chase her dreams and take to the stage and screen to share her talent, passion and drive to perform. Marina shares how she turned down a residency with the prestigious Cirque Du Soleil to follow her true passion of acting, starting from scratch and knocking on people’s doors to be given an opportunity to act. Thankfully the gamble paid off with big screen and small screen credits including The Unholy, Malignant, The Continental, and Darkness of Man.Marina also shares how her journey has driven her to soul search and examine her own life in order to play the parts that she has portrayed, to evaluate her own decisions to be able to become the best version of herself. A beautiful story of a young woman defying expectations and beating the odds to become the artist she wants to be.

Danae Mercer Ricci is an instagram influencer with millions followers, who uses her platform to share a message of body positivity and educate about online image manipulation and the impact of social media on women. Her reels, photos and stories have reached all over the world, empowering women and girls to be more aware and informed of the multi-billion dollar industries that base their marketing strategies on telling us that we are not enough. Danae is also a journalist, a speaker, a wife and a mum, who works with women and young girls through her passion projects across the globe. But behind this success story is a journey of loss, grief, abuse, pain, and a crippling illness that nearly became the end of Danae’s life. Trudy Kerr sits down with Danae to dive into the woman behind the instagram page and uncovers not just the trauma and tragedy, but a tale of resilience and rising above her turbulent beginnings to aim high and keep climbing. This honest, open and raw interview leaves no story untold. Danae speaks with passion and love as she tells how her late mother pushed her to be more than her roots. She shares how her mum ran from bad relationships to worse relationships, taking her four children with her. Danae talks about the tragic sadness of her mother’s death, the subsequent unrootedness for her and her siblings and the impact on her as she poured herself into her studies and the ever increasing need to find comfort in the controlling disease Anorexia. In this episode of SHE WARRIORS, Danae delves into how she fought her way to recover from debilitating eating disorders, found her freedom in friendships, travelled the world whilst navigating a toxic relationship, blew up her socials and went viral in COVID with her body-honest message as she gathered 100,000 new followers a day by empowering women, but also gathering unwanted abusive attention. Danae tells the brilliantly entertaining and beautiful account of how she met the love of her life whilst locked together in an apartment for six weeks. Danae also shares her passion to use her voice to empower women, especially young girls, to navigate the world we live in today, and the very real challenges that face us. This episode of SHE WARRIORS is deeply moving, emotional and powerful. Danae brings an openness rarely experienced in interviews, a relatable rawness that will make all women (and men) feel seen in their own challenges and situations. Huge thanks to the partners that make these conversations possible, Brown’s Pharmacy, Hyatt Regency Malta and Intimissimi

OnlyFans, is it empowerment, exploitation, or something in between?In this episode of The SHE Word: Young Women’s Edition, Sasha sits down for an honest, unfiltered conversation about one of the most talked-about, and misunderstood, platforms in the world. Behind the controversy are real women, with real boundaries, navigating empowerment, vulnerability, and the business of being visible online.Joining the discussion are Emily Jones, a British-Maltese content creator who uses her platform to promote body positivity and self-expression; Miss Rager (Baked Sloths), a creative working in social media and the cannabis industry; and Undine LaVerve, Malta’s pioneering burlesque performer and founder of The Burlesque Academy Malta.Together, they explore what it means to step into your power while protecting your peace: from setting boundaries and dealing with judgment, to navigating family reactions, content leaks, and the blurred lines between confidence and exploitation. They also share what an average workday really looks like behind the scenes, and how authenticity and self-respect shape every decision they make.This episode digs into the questions many people are afraid to ask: Can OnlyFans truly be empowering? What does agency look like in an industry built on visibility? And how do women define and defend their boundaries in a world that constantly tests them?With special thanks to our sponsors: Browns, Ayurveda, Tampax, Always, Islands 8 Gin, YUE, Hyatt Regency, UBER, iCentre, and Growth Gurus.

The SHE Word Mums S1/EP6 - Mums and Parenting in the Public EyeThe She Word Mums is back with a bang after some time off in September. But we are back bigger than ever as we discuss Mums in the public eye. How do they do it? Do they feel more pressure? Or is it really just a walk in the park where they get a bunch of freebies and special treatment?In this episode, Nerissa Massa is joined by 3 fantastic guests- Hon. Minister Miriam Dalli, Hon. Rebekah Borg and actress and TV presenter Lara Azzopardi.All three women were in the public eye before they had kids and Hon Dalli and Lara have graced our TV screens since their youth so they know a thing or two about being in the spotlight.In this show we have an honest, open discussion about the rollercoaster ride that is motherhood- but doing this in public. We discuss the common misconceptions people have of mums in the public eye and what these mums actually go through.We discuss the juggle of work, and public commitments and motherhood, having no maternity leave in the Maltese and European Parliament and how important - no matter your role- to accept help when it is available.These women open up about judgement and pressures they feel and about funny experiences they have gone through as they navigate motherhood in the public eye. An eye opener episode which every mum - whether in the public eye or not, can relate to.Many thanks to our sponsors Hyatt Regency, Browns, La Roche Posay, Pemix Distributors (BabyLino), Ayur Veda, Slinky and Co, iCentre, Monsoon

Every woman has a story, but some are more ambitious and adventurous than others. Helga Ellul’s story is one that leaves listeners speechless, in awe of this trailblazer, and inspiring in every way imaginable which makes her the very best guest of The SHE WARRIORS, because we all need to be challenged and inspired by other women, to aim higher, to motivated to be the very best we can be. Helga’s journey is not only an outstanding career story, a breath taking personal tale - the story of a woman travelling thousands of kilometres to help build one of the toy industry’s biggest success stories, in a country she had never been to before - but this is also the story of a daughter, a mum, a wife, an ambitious employee, a CEO, a company president, an entrepreneur, a mentor, an adventurer, a philanthropist and a feisty young lady who didn’t compromise, didn’t take no for an answer and who has pushed boundaries at every stage of her life. In this edition of SHE WARRIORS Helga Ellul sits down with Trudy Kerr for a very different interview sharing parts of her journey never heard before. In this conversation Helga shares the story of her childhood growing up in post war Germany, her move to Malta in her the 70s - driving across Europe in a brightly painted VW Beetle, the rebellious hippy turned into multi million Euro company CEO. The ladies talk about family values, the challenge of balancing a career with family, the importance of the her children and the secret to a great marriage. Helga Ellul is a pioneer - a woman before her time - and in this conversation she shares her experiences of criticism from other women, her challenge to connect and create friendships, women’s reluctance to support other women, women who are creating change, the importance mentoring others women, and the most important lessons from a life well lived. In an interview like no other, be inspired, be empowered and learn from a woman who didn’t let any obstacle stop her. Many thanks to Browns, Hyatt Regency and Intimissimi for supporting these conversations!

In this episode of the She Word Mums, we are diving into all things surrounding labour and birth and what really goes on in those delivery suites.Host Nerissa Massa is joined by Maxine Attard for this week’s episode and they sit down with Catriona Grech, a midwife and mum of 2 and Jenny Orlando Spalling- mum of three.They reminisce about their own birth experience and talk about how no one child is birthed the same, but how every child brings a sense of “newness” both a brand new human but also as a rebirth of the mother. They also agree how empowering going though labour is and how you discover inner strength.Tears are shed, and laughter is shared amongst these four women who bond over an experience only a female can ever encounter.Watch this episode if you’re preparing to give birth, supporting someone who is, been through it yourself or are just curious to know more about yourself the run up and build up of bringing a baby into the world. It is an episode, which shares some raw truths but also joyful moments which are heartwarming to listen to.Many thanks to our sponsors Hyatt Regency, Browns, La Roche Posay, Pemix Distributors (BabyLino), Ayur Veda, Slinky and Co, iCentre, Monsoon.

Betrayal cuts deep — not just because of what happens, but because of who it happens with. In this raw and unfiltered episode of The SHE Word: Young Women’s Edition, host Sasha Vella sits down with three bold young women to talk about one of the most personal and powerful experiences we face: betrayal.Whether it’s a best friend, a partner, or even ourselves, betrayal can shake our sense of trust and identity. So why don’t we talk about it more?Sasha is joined by Sarah Alfalah, a 25-year-old influencer and marketing strategist returning to The SHE Word; Mya Azzopardi, a 22-year-old national swimmer competing professionally in California while studying psychology; and Sarah Magri, a 26-year-old accountant, ballerina, and performer based in Malta. In what feels like an intimate chat between friends the four ladies explore what betrayal looks like through a young woman’s eyes — from heartbreak and grief to boundaries, red flags, healing, and the strength it takes to choose yourself.This is a vulnerable, honest, and deeply relatable conversation about what it means to navigate trust and identity as a young woman today. Whether you’ve experienced betrayal or want to better understand your own emotional boundaries, this episode offers insight, solidarity, and powerful reflections, on what it really means to choose yourself throughout it all. With special thanks to our sponsors: Browns, Ayurveda, Tampax, Always, Islands 8 Gin, YUE, Hyatt Regency, UBER, iCentre, and Growth Gurus.

Let’s face it, life isn’t easy. None of us are immune from the challenges, curve balls, trauma or tragedies that life can throw at us, but so often we are told ‘look on the bright side’ or ‘something good will come out of it’. Sometimes the pressure to stay positive can seem more toxic than encouraging.In this show Host Sasha Vella dives into the true power of positivity, the strength in vulnerability, hope in the face of fear and turning up with grace in the most challenging circumstances, and joining Sasha are three women who speak from incredible personal experience.Breast cancer survivor Monica Schembri found herself as a single mum of three soon after the birth of her third child, but as a true warrior spreads positivity through her adversity.Rachel Spiteri has dealt with loss, grief, abuse, divorce, mental health struggles and rebuilding her life post divorce, but has harnessed the strength within her to rise back up.Karla Harper, content creator calls herself a ‘Negative Nancy turned Positive Polly’ with a relatable story of self transformation.Find encouragement and empowerment in these women’s courageous stories. Relate to the challenges they have faces in their journeys and see the hope that lies in the honest, raw, rough, unglamorous, unpolished power of positivity.Huge thanks to Browns, Ayurveda, Tampax, Always, Islands 8 Gin, Yum, Hyatt Regency, UBER, iCenter and Growth Gurus for supporting these conversations for Young WomenFind us on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@theshewordFind us on Instagram: instagram.com/the_she_word