13/08/2026
I've always had a thing for the sun.
I was born at the end of July, during one of those scorching summers. Fifty years later, I stepped into a new decade in another exceptionally hot one. Not exactly something to celebrate in itself, let's face it, but somehow the symbolism wasn't lost on me.
Looking back, so many things suddenly seem connected. My love for yellow. My instinctive attraction to warmth, light and joyful places. Even my Moroccan nickname, Choumissa : "little sun." I've never been particularly interested in being "in" the spotlight, but I've always been drawn to what radiates good energy, whether it's a person, a place, an idea or simply a way of moving through life.
This summer has felt like a quiet turning point. I returned to Stromboli. I returned to Hydra exactly thirty years after discovering it for my twentieth birthday, this time celebrating my daughter's twentieth while quietly marking my own milestone. A few days earlier, I had gathered dear friends for a "Hotter Than July" celebration that felt like the most joyful way to welcome this new chapter.
Back in January, I made a vision board. Not because I believe the universe magically grants wishes, but because I believe clarity changes the way we move through life. Looking at it today, I'm struck by how much has gently unfolded over these past months. The photographs, the book, the retreats, the journeys, the conversations, the people... None of it feels accidental.
I've come to believe that joy has a quiet kind of power. It sharpens our vision, gives us the courage to say yes, attracts the right people and gently nudges us towards the life that already feels true. The clearer the vision, the easier it becomes to recognise the doors worth opening.
Turning fifty doesn't feel like reaching the finish line. It feels more like arriving at the top of a mountain, looking back with gratitude and suddenly realising that the horizon ahead is even more exciting than the climb behind.
So I'm writing this from the heart of summer with a warm heart and a deep sense of gratitude.
Thank you for being here, for following my work, my travels, my photographs, my books and all the ideas that keep taking shape☀️