Sauce x Me. | Getting to know our dream girl, Mamie Rose
In proud partnership with Me.
To celebrate the launch of Me, a period care brand designed by, and for, the modern-day womxn – Sauce speaks with the Me Collective.
The Me Collective is a genus of diverse, socially conscious, real
womxn hailing from New Zealand.
Period care is intimate and integral, but so often it’s left unspoken and positioned on our shelves in a typically unsophisticated manner. Periods are personal, but they’re also universal. Blood is interconnection.
In partnering with Me, we aim to explore taboo conversations around period care, to touch on topics others have left unsaid. To connect on a level we haven’t with you before, we hope you find something you are looking for here, Saucettes.
We understand not only womxn bleed and not all womxn bleed. Me Collective members may use gendered terms in their storytelling that aligns with their personal experience or understanding.
Mamie Rose Macdonald is a new friend of mine. Although I’ve only spoken to her at length a few times, I feel like I can still consider her a friend. I think it’s because I rarely meet someone so alive, so aware, someone who has so much life inside of them it would make anyone envious.
Mamie was born with Williams Syndrome, a genetic condition that affects one in 10,000 people. Her iwi are Ngāti Kuia/Rangitāne o Wairau/ Ngāti Rārua/Ngāti Takihiku. Her condition has many different medical and personality characteristics attached, but, for me at least, none of these characteristics eclipses her open demeanour, relentless positivity and sterling kindness. After just a few minutes speaking with Mamie, all the assumed notions I had around her disability had vanished entirely. I can’t help but feel like her disability has empowered her.
With her, it’s not a glass half full situation; Mamie’s glass is always overflowing.
Mamie jumped at the opportunity to partner with Me. “When I found out that it was about periods and I would be given a platform to empower other women and also trans men who still have periods, I knew I wanted to partner with Me.”
Mamie’s struggled with menstruation issues, stating: “I’ve suffered from period cramps, heavy bleeding, mood swings and most other common PMS symptoms, but it has gotten easier over the years. I was originally on the pill, but I have given it up because it was causing me more problems.”
Mamie’s grown to cope with her PMS. “I take Panadol, Ibuprofen. I think it’s important to let my emotions out, [so] I hug my kittens and sometimes I just need my alone time – which is okay, too”.
Me.’s decision to partner with Mamie is a testament to the mentality the period care brand is taking from the get-go. And I am not the only one to think so.
Mamie’s passions are broad. “I am passionate about my family, a fair education, women’s rights, LGBTQIA rights, disability rights, politics. I also love animals, dancing, music, movies and food,” she says. When we spoke about what makes her feel most alive, Mamie mentions “falling in love, flying and meeting new people all gives me butterflies in my stomach”.
You can’t help but feel like Mamie has welcomed her disability with open arms. “My disability has given me a lot of positivity. It has also brought joy to so many people, and that makes me feel so happy. I love my disability, and I love having Williams Syndrome,” Mamie explains.
Grace Stratton, co-founder of All is for All, says: “I am beyond proud to see Mamie a part of this conversation. Disabled women, particularly those with intellectual or learning disabilities, are rarely considered in conversations about periods, menstrual care or wellness. The stigma which wrongfully plagues the general population when it comes to periods is ten-fold when it comes to the disability community; because our bodies are not ’the norm’ they are not part of the mainstream discussion. Resultantly, dealing with your period as a disabled womxn is often a lonely task, and I hope, in fact I know, Mamie’s inclusion in this line-up, will help change that.”
Grace goes on to say: “The stigma that attaches itself to disability and periods, and periods generally, is not ours to internalise or carry. Me. is part of releasing us from carrying that, and Mamie, as someone who boldly tackles the world and demands better from it, is the perfect person to help lead that conversation.”
Mamie’s authentic womanhood is comprehensive; she’s our dream fourth Me. Collective member in the series. Mamie is also our latest Saucette, and we’re honoured she let us tell just a touch of her story.
I’ll leave you with this: When questioned what being a woman meant to her, Mamie said: “Being a woman is not my body parts, but it is more so who I am as a person. There are so many different types of women: CIS woman, trans women, non-binary women. Being a woman is about showing female empowerment for all women.”
Photography – Lula Cucchiara
Words – Liam Sharma
In proud partnership with Me.
