The Inspiration behind Proud Mary

As a designer I am influenced by cultures and societies. I reflect on them to develop jewellery collections that will inspire people, asking them to think about what they are wearing and why. My jewellery has a story behind it, even before you add your journey and so the sentiment behind something as small as a ring, is so grand and will grow from generation to generation.

My Proud Mary Collection began with me looking into strong female characters and from afar, you would probably think I really couldn’t have chosen two woman further a part in history.

Whether you are Christian or not, Mary is recognised world wide and is probably the most recognised female globally, in all her imagery. The Mexicans take to celebrating Mary especially on the 12th December each year and she has become a symbol for the country since the 16th Century and due to her appearance before St. Juan Diego in a vision in 1531. Our Lady of Guadalupe holds a special place in the religious life of Mexico and is one of the most popular religious devotions. Her image has played an important role as a national symbol of Mexico.

Mexico celebrating the apparition of Mary of Guadalupe, the vibrancy and passion for their culture and belief is so energetic and celebratory.

Mary’s appearance to Juan Diego as one of his people is a powerful reminder that Mary accepts all peoples. In the context of the sometimes rude and cruel treatment of the Indians by the Spaniards, the apparition was a rebuke to the Spaniards and an event of vast significance for the indigenous population. While a number of them had converted before this incident, they now came in droves. According to a contemporary chronicler, nine million Indians became Catholic in a very short time.

This image of Mary of Guadeloupe especially inspired my design. I love the celebratory colours the artist has used as it really becomes a festival in Mexico when celebrating this day each year. Whether you believe or not, Mary gave such hope to the indigenous people of Mexico in a time of need of direction and love and this image really reflects her warmth and welcoming of all the people.

This collection of Jewellery is about celebrating yourself. You can see the reflection of the halo surrounding Mary in my Proud Mary Ring. This is how all women should be celebrated.

When I started to develop this ring, Tina Turner’s version of Proud Mary was constantly in my head. I have always admired her and as a teenager I watched her biographical movie and felt such admiration for her.

Tina Turner’s career spanned over 50 years, during which she took the world by storm as a powerhouse singer and performer and overcame seemingly insurmountable challenges.

When she was a teenager, she moved to St Louis with her mother. It was there that she met Ike Turner and her singing career began. While their relationship started as a working one, Ike and Tina got married in 1962.

The hit cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary,” has become one of Tina Turner’s most recognizable signature songs. On the experience of working with Tina, her producer Phil Spector said, “She could just do anything – she was like working with a perfect instrument.”

Despite their commercial success as a creative pair, Tina suffered years of physical, mental, and emotional violence at the hands of Ike. After years of abuse, Tina eventually escaped her relationship with Ike in 1976 with 36 cents and something more powerful than money: “It’s common knowledge that Ike took everything, but he didn’t. I learned how to survive with Ike. I learned how to perform. I learned how to cover songs, and work without a record…” She also kept the name she had worked so hard to build: Tina Turner.

I wanted Tina’s strength to really come through in this jewellery collection, which is emulated in the chunkiness of the ring bands and settings. This woman was so determined to not let anyone hold her back from her dream, I wanted my jewellery collection to be as determined as Tina Turner, through its strength and vibrancy.

In an interview she once stated: “I had a very hard life, but I didn’t put blame on anything or anyone. I got through it, I lived through it with no blame, and I’m a happy person.”

After all the abuse Tina had surmounted to her strength, to overcome and present herself to the world again is remarkable, inspirational and gives people the drive to accomplish their dream.

These two woman may come from different worlds but they present an image of strength and resilience, enduring hardships throughout their lives and coming through them. They are both celebrated to the greatest lengths within their cultures.

Whether these ladies inspire you or not, I used these as my female inspiration and wish my jewellery gives you strength and ambition to follow your dreams, express yourself, and be you, which ever tribe you belong to!

Be Proud!