Let’s talk about girlfriends

I was never the popular or social kid. I never had a big group of friends as I’d rather keep only a few people around me. I know a lot of people but only a few know me, if that makes sense.

My late teens/early-twenties were hard. I had an amazing childhood but then I was a bit lost for a couple of years due to some weird circumstances. I felt lonely and I didn’t really know what I wanted to do in life but I knew I could count on my girls to help me through it.

We would drive around the city with loud music just singing along. We would go out, dance our feet off and then just sit outside the disco eating hot dogs. When I moved to Lisbon, I could count on my best friend at the time to keep me company at all times. We attended uni together and afterwards we’d go shopping, have dinner, hit the bars or even attend Tomorrowland just the two of us.

Women in my life shaped me into who I am today. I have the best group of friends who support me in anything I do but who also keep it real when needed. They’re my loudest cheerleaders but they’re also my conscience. We don’t sugarcoat things, we tell our opinions judgement-free and we all want the best for each other.

When my best friend published her first book, I was in the front row applauding her. When another friend got heart-broken, I was there to pick up the pieces and show her how amazing she is. When I got heart-broken I had an entire village of women there for me keeping me company.

I also grew up with an older sister so she’s my OG best friend and I also have a cousin who’s just three weeks younger than me so we’ve been living life at the same pace. My mother raised me to be a strong, independent woman while being loving and caring. I can’t thank her enough for that.

I’m a feminist because of all these women. They make me want to fight for them, make sure their rights are safeguarded and that they live their lives to the fullest. Some are mothers. Others want to have babies soon and others don’t want children at all. Some are hetero, others aren’t. Some want to get married and settle down, others want to travel the world. Yet, all of them are building incredible lives.

This International Women’s Day (and every day) I think about Fernanda, Ângela, Francisca, Cátia, Filipa, Helena, Bárbara, Mariana, Marta, Vanessa, Rita, Diana, Olívia, and so many others — and that’s why I’ll continue fighting for us all to have the same opportunities as our male friends.