Oh, to be a fly on the wall at a discussion featuring 10 of Hong Kong’s most fearless and unconventional women, speaking off-the-record at an intimate dinner at The Upper House hotel. To mark Tatler’s June issue, which featured actor, musician and lifelong rebel Josie Ho on the cover, the magazine threw a gathering unlike any other. The event was hosted co-hosted by Ho and Tamara Lamunière, founder of Generation T and Front & Female, Tatler’s newest women’s platform. “Front & Female is a safe space for influential women to come together to feel empowered and supported,” says Lamunière. “This is the first of a series of closed-door roundtables, experiences and eventually conferences we will be staging, and we couldn’t have started it better than with Josie, whose unconventional life is really the cornerstone of tonight’s conversation,” Lamunière adds.
On the evening of July 2, the table was set in a private dining room at Café Gray Deluxe, where the diverse group of women shared a four-course meal while exchanging intimate anecdotes on subjects including their journey to self-discovery and sacrifices they have made along the way, overcoming gender stereotypes, the notion of power and the evolution of feminism.
The first part of the evening started with Ho sharing her life story which later led into a wider discussion and conversation on the key themes that affect women in modern society. “It was a privilege to be among such an amazing and dynamic group of women for the evening,” says Lauren James, Tatler’s Deputy Editor and co-host, adding "everyone there brought different stories and viewpoints to the table, ensuring that conversation remained endlessly compelling.”
The guest list featured culture writer and rock singer Diana d’Arenberg; architect and founder of Collective, Betty Ng; fintech expert and co-founder of TGN Innovation Limited and HBCC Investment, Johanna Cheung; real estate professional, entrepreneur and electronic producer, Juliana Kim; sex educator and founder of intimate lifestyle retailer Sally Coco, Vera Lui; forest therapy expert, conservationist, youth coacha and founder of Kembali, Jasmine Nunns; Saloni Lodha, the designer, entrepreneur and founder of the brand Saloni; Harmony “Anne-Marie” Butundu Ilunga, the model and entrepreneur behind refugee-curated social enterprise Harmony HK; and co-founder of independent art consultancy art-partners, Levina Li-Cadman.
After a round of bracing espresso martinis ended the meal, the group was ushered to Tatler’s newly opened lifestyle venue, Tatler House. Here, the women let loose—loud and unapologetic, listening to a playlist of rock and punk music assembled by Ho, including tracks by Iggy Pop, Juliette and the Licks, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Clash. In the spirit of the evening, cocktails were prepared by another strong female, Natalie Lau, the mixologist formerly of award-winning bar The Old Man.
Revelry continued long past the stroke of twelve as the lights went low and conversation continued to simmer as the Hong Kong skyline twinkled outside. When it was time to go, the women signed off on a high, saluting newfound friendships and leaving the spirit of camaraderie buzzing in the air.
Front & Female is Tatler’s platform for female empowerment: a resource for women to become their best selves. Click here to sign up to our newsletter to join the community and stay informed.
