This issue is all about us women getting together, supporting each other and pulling ourselves firmly to the frontline of 21st century thinking.

We have a controversial, but insightful interview with leading feminist thinker Dr Margot Badran. She takes us through her view of the Qur’an and shows us the basis for egalitarianism in modern Islam.

If that isn’t enough to make you plump for female solidarity, we’ve also got a great interview with Julie Sprakel, founder of Bahrain’s national breast cancer charity Think Pink. It’s breast cancer awareness month this October, so Julie is on a mission to make sure that we do everything we can to raise money and give support to those who need it.

And of course, we can’t be serious all the time! If it’s fashion you’re looking for, it’s fashion you are going to get. This is also our big Autumn/Winter issue. We take you through six of the key trends for the coming season and offer you a brilliant array of style and beauty tips. So there’s no excuse for shabby dressing throughout October!

Women, throughout the ages, have struggled to reconcile our love of aesthetics, passion for beauty products and lust for the latest threads with our need to be recognised as serious, hard-working and politicised individuals. This month, let’s make an extra effort to prove to people that we really are the best at multi-tasking. Who says you can’t be a feminist icon and look good at the same time?

Natasha Bird
Editor