Book Divas

Book Divas interviewed Nikki Goldstein, author of GirlForce.

How did you come up with the concept of GirlForce? What inspired you to start it?

I wrote a book for adults called Lifeforce and whilst I did the author tour mothers and daughters came up to me and asked me to do a book along similar lines for teenage girls. GirlForce was really something that was brought to life on demand. Also, in my 20’s I worked as a stylist and manager and traveled the world with an all-girl pop group called Girlfriend. Working with teen girls got me hooked on their issues and their dreams and passions.
 

Can you explain a bit about the different body types?

Ayurveda, the 5000 year old “life science” of India, developed out of thousands of years of observation and tried and tested remedies. The sages saw that certain Body Types displayed certain characteristics and shared certain traits. Air Types are often on the thinner side with slight frames. They tend towards nervousness, but they’re also creative, adventurous and innovative. Fire Types have medium builds, are often athletic and have hot tempers – especially if they haven’t eaten. Fire girls are passionate, loyal and focused. Earth Types tend to have more voluptuous shapes and can put on weight easily. They need a lot of exercise and stimulation to keep them in balance. Earth girls are generally laid-back, kind and devoted.
 

What are you? An Air, Earth, or Fire?

I am an Earth Type. I have a curvy body, pale skin (for my race – an Earth trait) and a devoted and compassionate nature. I was never thin and I struggled with that when I was a teenager. What Ayurveda has taught me is how to love myself – just the way I am.
 

How did you come up with the questions for the quiz?

The questions for the Quiz are a Westernised, modernised adaptation of the standard age-old Ayurvedic Body Type Tests. There are thousands of them on-line for girls to try out. I had them checked by two Ayurvedic doctors.

How does the GirlForce website compliment the books?

We live in a digital age and I felt it was important to reinforce everything I wrote in the books with what we do with the website. Girls will soon be able to chat with each other, and me, on-line. The website is a daily reference for GirlForce girls who want to find out more information about themselves.

What did you do before GirlForce? How did it prepare you for what you do now?

I’ve done many things in my life, (including working with a pop group) but my life-long love has been journalism. I’ve been a beauty and health editor for magazines such as Vogue, Marie Claire, Elle, Cosmopolitan and W. Being a journalist taught me discipline, researching skills, patience and how to work to a deadline. These skills were vital in being able to write the GirlForce series (there are now seven books published in Australia and the second book Shine will soon be available in the USA).

Have you studied ayurveda, meditation, and other eastern practices?

One of the things that led to writing Lifeforce was that I had a life-threatening virus when I was 20. My own path to healing was to study yoga, ayurveda and meditation. I have no formal training but I’ve now spent the past 23 years doing daily practice and reading. I’ve interviewed some of the world’s leading health gurus who have also taught me a great deal.

GirlForce is particularly about boosting the self-esteem of young girls. Why is this a particular passion of yours and how does GirlForce suggest that they do so?

I am passionate about boosting girls self-esteem because I can remember what it was like to be a voluptuous teenager and feel out of step with prevailing ideal of beauty. For me the best way to pass on my message – to learn to love yourself just the way you are – was to write my own books. Girls need to practice a daily affirmation like, “I love and accept myself just the way I am”, to remind themselves they are perfect and beautiful simply because they are unique.

You are from Australia. Do you see a difference in the concerns of girls in the US and Australia? If so, how is it different?

Yes, I live in Australia, but I have run an on-line forum for two years which attracted girls from all over the world, including the USA. I am certain that girls all over the world are concerned about whether they have big boobs or small boobs, are overweight or underweight, have loads of friends or no friends, feel good when they look in the mirror or hate what they see when they look in the mirror. All girls worry about the same things – teenage years are a right of passage that everyone passes through and the issues are universal.

What is the essence of a GirlForce girl?

What I am trying to get girls to understand is that underneath the skin we are all the same. We may come in different shapes and sizes, different skin colours, different racial or political beliefs but we are all the same inside. All girls struggle with how they look, how they fit in, whether they’re loveable and desirable. No one, no matter how beautiful they may look on the outside, is immune from these issues. GirlForce is about finding the spirit, love, magic within – your GirlForce. I believe that when you’re in touch with your GirlForce you feel great about yourself and can withstand the highs and lows of teen life.