The Darling Collective

Owner & Editor-in-Chief

Gomolemo Makolomako - Shirley

Gomolemo Makolomako is the Owner and Editor-in-Chief of Darling Magazine. Originally from South Africa, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Science from the University of South Africa and has spent much of her career working in communications, entrepreneurship and brand development.

Alongside leading Darling, Gomolemo is also the co-founder of Sens8ate Skincare, a premium natural skincare brand. Passionate about empowering women and championing meaningful stories, she is committed to continuing Darling’s legacy as a platform that celebrates achievement, supports independent businesses and gives women a voice.

Under her leadership, Darling continues to evolve as a modern lifestyle and culture publication that inspires, informs and connects readers across the UK and beyond.

Beauty & Lifestyle Director | Celebrity Hairstylist

Dionne Smith

Dionne Smith is an internationally recognised Celebrity Hairstylist, Beauty & Lifestyle Director entrepreneur and beauty industry expert with more than 30 years of experience across beauty, fashion, television, editorial and entertainment.

As Beauty & Lifestyle Director at Darling Magazine, Dionne writes across beauty, lifestyle, wellness, travel and culture, combining editorial insight with decades of industry experience. She is passionate about championing inspiring people, innovative brands and the stories shaping today's creative industries.

Alongside her editorial work, Dionne continues to work with an international roster of talent including Golda Rosheuvel, Teyonah Parris, Wunmi Mosaku, Natasha Rothwell, Sarah Niles, Bethany Antonia, Jill Scott and Masali Baduza. Her work has appeared at London and Paris Fashion Weeks, the BAFTAs, the Emmys and in leading publications including Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, ELLE, Glamour, Tatler and Cosmopolitan.

Beyond styling, Dionne is a respected industry judge, speaker and creative consultant who collaborates with global brands on education, product innovation and campaigns. She is also the founder of the Creative Industry Honours, celebrating excellence across the creative industries while championing education, representation and the next generation of talent.

Journalist & Editorial Assistant

Francesca Rapisarda

Francesca is a journalist and Editorial Assistant at Darling Magazine, specialising in hard news, migration, conflict, and humanitarian reporting.

Reporting for Darling Magazine UK, covering breaking news, public policy, and politically sensitive stories

With field experience across Europe, the Middle East, the United States, Latin America, and Asia, her work focuses on migration routes, border crossings, displacement, and humanitarian response.

NCTJ-trained, she has a background in investigative research, source development, and conflict-sensitive storytelling, with a particular interest in the intersection of narrative, policy, and power in international contexts.

Style Editor

Helen Canning

Helen Canning's career in fashion has been shaped by creativity, adaptability and a genuine passion for helping women feel confident in what they wear. A stylist, writer and presenter who believes that style should feel inspiring, not intimidating. She has spent more than two decades building a career that blends editorial insight with practical, real-life styling.

With a knack for spotting the trends worth knowing and the pieces worth investing in, she helps women build wardrobes that work for real life. Whether she’s hosting fashion events, sharing styling advice or writing about the season’s key looks, Helen’s approach is always modern, wearable and confidence-boosting.

Contributing Editor

Lola Maja

Lola Maja is Darling Magazine's Contributing Editor, writing across beauty, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, with a particular focus on wellness, inclusive beauty and the people shaping the future of the creative industries.

An award-winning makeup artist, beauty educator and entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience, Lola has built an international reputation spanning editorial, television, film and fashion. Her work is underpinned by a passion for education, representation and empowering beauty professionals through knowledge and creativity.

Alongside her editorial contributions to Darling, Lola is Head of Education at Tones of Beauty and continues to mentor emerging talent while working with brands on education, strategy and creative development. Through her writing, she shares expert insight, thoughtful conversations and inspiring stories that celebrate innovation, wellbeing and the evolving beauty industry.

Fashion Correspondent

An Vo Ha

An Vo Ha is a London-based fashion strategist, writer and contributor with a background in luxury brand communication. Passionate about sustainable innovation, emerging designers and the psychology of fashion, An explores the intersection of high-concept design and modern subcultures. Her work examines how fashion reflects identity, culture and the changing values of contemporary society, bringing together thoughtful analysis with a sharp editorial eye for what's next.
Beauty Editor | Celebrity Makeup Artist

Joy Adenuga

Joy Adenuga is an award-winning celebrity makeup artist, beauty expert, entrepreneur and founder of ByJoyAdenuga, with more than 16 years of experience across beauty, film, television, editorial and entertainment.

As Beauty Editor at Darling Magazine, Joy shares her expertise across makeup, beauty trends and product discovery, bringing an informed, practical and inclusive approach to every feature. Passionate about education and helping people make confident beauty choices, she is known for offering honest product recommendations, expert insight and advice that is both accessible and rooted in professional experience.

Alongside her editorial work, Joy continues to work with a wide-ranging roster of talent across film, television and music. Renowned for her complexion-focused makeup and inclusive artistry, her work has featured on red carpets, editorial campaigns and global productions, helping establish her as one of the UK's trusted voices in beauty.

Beyond artistry, Joy is the founder of ByJoyAdenuga and is passionate about sharing the knowledge she has built throughout her career. Through her work as an artist, founder and beauty expert, she continues to champion inclusive beauty, emerging trends and the products genuinely worth investing in.

Join the Darling Collective

Darling Magazine is also building a growing network of contributors, editors, writers, photographers, field marshals and creative collaborators who share our passion for meaningful storytelling and positive impact.

As an independent publication, Darling is currently a contributor-led platform. While editorial and contributor roles are not salaried positions at this stage, they offer an opportunity to build your portfolio, develop industry relationships, contribute to a growing publication and become part of a supportive creative community.

We welcome expressions of interest from:

• Contributing Writers

• Field Marshals

• Fashion, Beauty, Wellness and Culture Specialists

• Photographers and Content Creators

• Advertising & Partnerships Professionals

• Future Editorial Contributors

Whether you’re looking to contribute occasionally or become more involved in the future of the magazine, we’d love to hear from you.