COVER MOM
Kedist Deltour
CREDITS
- Model: Kedis Deltour (@kedist_deltour)
- Photographer: Ron Paolo Gilman (@ronpaologilman)
- Art director GMM: Kéyoh Ohanian (@keyoh_official)
- Interior designer / creative director: Anna Ohanian (@annaohanian)
- Make-up by: Vergin Homan (@homanmakeupartist)
- Hair by: Sarah Homan (@homanhairstylist)
- Styling by: Devi-Shri
- Clothing by: Be-Angeled (@be_angeled)
- Location: Pet delight (@pet_delight_by_eve)
- Location: Hulstlei
- Horses: Havana & Kalinka
COVER MOM INTERVIEW
Kedist Deltour: Grateful to be expecting a second child. To me, a child is a gift from God!
01. For readers who may not know you yet, could you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your life journey so far?
I’m Kedist Deltour, Miss Belgium 2021. I’m 28 years old, and soon I’ll be welcoming my second baby. My life journey hasn’t always been easy, but every experience has shaped me into the woman I am today. I’m incredibly grateful for everything I’ve been through and for the family I’m blessed to have today.
02. First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy! How are you feeling during this special time?
Thank you! Personally, I’m feeling really good. I’m also incredibly happy that I get to share my pregnancy with everyone through Glam Mom Magazine. It truly is a very special moment, especially because this is my second child. I’m consciously enjoying this season of my life and feel extremely grateful.
03. You’re already the proud mom of an almost two-year-old son. How has motherhood changed the way you see life and yourself?
I’m an incredibly proud mom. Lasana has completely changed my life and the way I look at the world. He has made me mentally and emotionally stronger. When you have a child, you receive so much love that it feels like certain empty spaces from the past are being filled. That has given me so much self-confidence and has helped me become even stronger in life.
04. What was your first reaction when you found out you were expecting your second child?
To be honest, I was very surprised because I truly didn’t see it coming. At first, I was also scared because I had just found my rhythm with Lasana. But I believe everything happens for a reason. Today, I’m mostly incredibly grateful that I’m expecting a second child. To me, a child is a gift from God, and that is something you should always be thankful for.
05. In what ways has this second pregnancy been different from your first experience as a mother?
In many ways. During my first pregnancy, I was very sick. I was throwing up a lot until about five months into the pregnancy, and my skin really suffered as well. During my second pregnancy, it was even harder in the beginning. I ended up in the hospital several times because I was vomiting so much. Thankfully, later on I truly got that pregnancy glow. My skin has never looked this beautiful, and I feel mentally very strong. I feel good in my own skin and simply beautiful.
06. Your son is about to become a big brother. How are you preparing him for the baby's arrival, and how do you imagine their future bond?
I love seeing how involved he already is. He absolutely loves babies and gives my belly kisses and hugs every single day. I really feel incredibly blessed. I’m convinced he’s going to be an amazing big brother. He’s so caring and has so much love in his heart. I know he’ll be more than happy to share that love with his little brother.
07. As a model, you're often in the spotlight. How do you balance your professional ambitions with family life and motherhood?
Sometimes I find it quite challenging, especially now that I’m becoming a mom of two. On one hand, I have my professional ambitions, but on the other hand, I also want to truly be there for my children. I always tell myself that work can always wait, but your children are only little once. I don’t want to look back one day and regret the moments I missed. That’s why I think I’ll put my work a little more in the background so I can spend more time with my children. I truly want to be there for them one hundred percent.
08. You were born in Ethiopia and were adopted by Belgian parents at the age of seven. How has your unique story shaped the woman, mother, and role model you are today?
My adoption has shaped me tremendously. First of all, I would like to say that my parents here in Belgium are wonderful people. They raised us with so much love, respect, and warmth, and I’m incredibly grateful to them for that. But I will also never forget the love of my biological mother. As a child, I always promised myself that when I had children of my own one day, I would always fight for them and give them all the love that I myself received from my biological mother. That thought has stayed with me every single day.
09. What values and life lessons do you hope to pass on to your children as they grow up?
Above all, I want to teach my children to have faith in God, to respect others, to respect themselves, to have self-confidence, and to practice self-love. I believe these are the most important foundations for living a happy and strong life.
10. Looking ahead, what dreams and goals would you still like to accomplish, both personally and professionally?
I definitely want to continue modeling because I’m still very passionate about it. In addition, I dream of one day launching my own hair extension brand. It’s a project I’m already thinking about and actively working on.
11. Finally, how did you experience the photoshoot for Glam Mom Magazine, and what was it like working with our team for this special announcement?
I truly enjoyed the entire experience. Every single one of you was incredibly kind, professional, and warm. You really are an amazing team. Please keep doing what you’re doing, because you help mothers feel beautiful, special, and confident again. That’s something incredibly valuable, and you should be proud of it.
Teacher and Mom: Finding Balance with a Golden Touch
By a proud teacher and mother of two wonderful children - Joke.
Anyone who knows me knows that children have always held a special place in my life. I spent countless hours volunteering in youth organizations, babysitting, and being fascinated by watching children grow, learn, and discover who they are. It came as no surprise that I eventually chose a career in education. Today, I combine my role as a teacher with being the mom of two children. It’s a beautiful combination, but certainly not always the easiest one.
Working with Children Is More Than a Profession
For many people, teaching is a job. For me, it is so much more than that. It’s a passion. Every single day, I have the opportunity to help write a small part of a child’s story. I see students grow, overcome obstacles, develop new skills, and gradually build confidence in themselves. That’s what makes education so special. You don’t just pass on knowledge. You teach children how to work together, show respect, persevere when something is difficult, and believe in themselves.
Sometimes, it’s the small moments that make all the difference: a student who finally understands something they’ve struggled with for weeks, a shy child who suddenly raises their hand, or a spontaneous hug at the end of the school day. Those are the moments that stay with you and remind you why you do it all.
Mom and Teacher: Two Roles That Often Overlap
People sometimes think that teachers close the classroom door at the end of the day and leave work behind. The reality often looks very different. When the last student goes home, there is usually still a long list of tasks waiting: lesson planning, grading assignments, parent communication, preparing classroom activities, creating worksheets, organizing field trips and projects, attending meetings, handling administrative work, and more. On top of that, I’m also a mom.
That means helping with homework, preparing lunches, listening to stories about the school day, offering comfort when needed, and enjoying all the little family moments. It’s a constant balancing act between my responsibility toward the children in my classroom and the love and attention I want to give my own children. Sometimes it feels as though both worlds blend together. As a mother, I often understand parents better. As a teacher, I sometimes look differently at the challenges my own children face. That dual role enriches me, but it can also make things more complex.
An Educational Landscape That Is Constantly Changing
Education today is not the same as it was ten or twenty years ago. Society is changing rapidly, and we feel those changes every day in the classroom. Children are growing up in a world filled with stimulation, technology, and information. They are more outspoken than ever before. They ask questions, form their own opinions, and are not afraid to express them. That is, in many ways, a positive development. After all, we want to raise critical thinkers who are confident enough to find their place in the world.
At the same time, it also brings challenges. Classrooms are becoming increasingly diverse. The differences between students can be significant. Some children need additional support, while others need greater challenges. Every child deserves an education that meets their individual needs. As teachers, we genuinely want to provide that. We want to offer personalized learning. We want to see every child, hear every child, and guide them in the way they need. But sometimes, we run into reality.
The Challenge of Personalized Education
Personalized education sounds wonderful and it truly is. Every child learns differently. One student needs more time, while another learns more quickly. Some children thrive in group work, while others need structure and quiet environments. As teachers, we try every day to take those differences into account. We adapt lessons, explore alternative teaching methods, provide extra practice when needed, or create additional challenges for students who are ready for more. But personalized education takes time. A lot of time. And that is often where the challenge lies. Expectations within education continue to grow. More tasks, responsibilities, and administrative requirements are constantly being added. At the same time, the available time and resources often remain limited. That can be frustrating, but not because teachers don’t want to do more. Quite the opposite. Most teachers give their very best every single day. They look for solutions, think creatively, and often go the extra mile. But teachers have limits too.The Power of Working Together
One thing I have learned over the years is that education is not the story of one person. It is a partnership between children, parents, teachers, and society as a whole. When parents and schools work together, something beautiful happens. A child feels supported and receives the same message from different directions. As both a mom and a teacher, I see both perspectives. I understand the concerns of parents. I also understand the challenges teachers face every day. Perhaps today, more than ever, we need mutual understanding. We need conversations instead of judgment. Trust instead of suspicion. Because, ultimately, we all want the same thing: what is best for our children.
A Profession I Would Never Trade
Despite the challenges, despite the busy schedules, and despite the sometimes-overwhelming expectations, I would never trade this profession for another. Because education remains one of the most beautiful professions there is. I get to watch children grow. I get to discover their talents before they even recognize them themselves. I get to celebrate their successes and support them through their struggles. I have the privilege of contributing to their development, their self-confidence, and their future.
That is a responsibility I will never take for granted. And while combining teaching and family life can sometimes be challenging, it also gives me so much in return. My children make me a better teacher. My students make me a better mom. Maybe that is the most beautiful balance of all. Because behind everything lies the same goal: helping children grow into happy, strong, and confident individuals.
The Girl Who Learned to Disappear towards the Woman Who Came Back
Zoë Peeters
When I got this invitation, I thought wow. And then immediately a little voice in my head told me: how do I fit this into one article? Sometimes it feels like I’ve already lived three lives.
My name is Zoë Peeters van Byzoepeeters. I am almost 46. I grew up in a tiny hamlet called Buitenland, in Bornem. Mom to Elle and Camille, almost 17 and 19. My partner Jan lives in Luxembourg. One day we dream of a live together in Spain. Spread out, unconventional, and whole.
I’ve always valued my independence. My life was structured around my own rhythm. I had time for myself, I loved going to the gym, and I found a lot of joy in fashion, beauty, and simply having my But let me start at the beginning. I was ten years old when my parents’ marriage ended in a bitter divorce. My mom fell apart completely. My dad disappeared, mostly. And I, the oldest, quietly took over. Nobody asked me to. It just happened. I became the caretaker. For my mom. For my brother. For my sister.
I learned to make myself small. I lost the connection with who I was. And before I knew it, I had turned into a scared, insecure girl who had no idea how to just be herself. Because she never really got the chance to find out. You carry that with you. Long after you think you’ve moved on. Years later I was standing on stages. Educator in the beauty industry. Head of training. International programs. Podium work in front of a room full of people. From the outside it looked impressive. On the inside I was dying a little every single time. Because it wasn’t my story I was telling. It was a role. And I had been playing roles my whole life. The good girl. The one who holds it together. The one who makes sure everyone else is okay.
Then came my divorce. My girls were one and three years old. I worked two jobs to be able to buy out my own home. Successful on paper. Empty on the inside. I swallowed. I stayed silent. I didn’t live my truth. Year after year after year. And then my body spoke: Thyroid cancer.
My first thought wasn’t about myself. It was about my kids. What if I am not the strong one anymore. What about them. The joke, as it turned out, was on me. Because the strength that was born in that pain, in that vulnerability, was immense. For the first time in my life, I felt what it meant to set boundaries. To take up space. To actually listen to my body instead of pushing through it. My intuition guided me through every single step. And I knew, somewhere deep in my bones, that I never wanted to lose that again.
That was the beginning of my third life. I trained as an equine coach, systemic coach, and studied trauma, manifestation and human design. Not because I was looking for a new career. But because I was looking for myself. And the horses were already showing me the way. They don’t lie. They feel what you feel before you even know it yourself. With them I couldn’t pretend. I couldn’t perform. And in that radical honesty I started finding my way back. Back to my heart. Back to my intuition. It wasn’t a big dramatic moment. It was quiet. Like something in me finally exhaled.
Today I take the stage. I accept every invitation that gives me a full body yes. Like this one. Because this time I have something to say that is truly mine. I know my message. I know my why. And what I’ve learned is that when you find that, it doesn’t stay contained to your work. It spills into everything. Into how you love. Into how you parent. Into how you show up on the days when it’s hard. Because here’s the thing nobody tells you. You cannot truly see your children if you haven’t learned to see yourself first. Kids carry what we haven’t healed. I know that because I lived it as a child, and I have felt it as a mom.
So with Elle and Camille I do things differently. I don’t talk to them about who I need them to be. I watch who they already are. I ask questions. I listen. I point out what happens in their eyes when they do something that truly fits them. That light. That quiet confidence. That pride that rises from somewhere deep inside. I want them to know that feeling. I want them to trust it. That is what I call being rich as a mother. Not that they make it far by the world’s standards. But that they know themselves well enough to choose their own path.
Is it easy? Not always. There are days when that ten-year-old girl inside me is still louder than I would like. Days where I doubt myself, where it feels like too much, where I wonder how I am going to manage it all. And still, I get back up. Because I know why I am doing this. Not just for me. For them. And for every version of myself that never had someone to show her the way.
Being a mom is not a destination. It is a journey of discovery, for them and for me.
Today I am not just a business growth mentor. I want to create a new standard. For female entrepreneurs. For the generations that come after them. A standard where success is not built on sacrifice, silence or shrinking yourself. But on knowing who you are, trusting what you feel, and leading from that place.
What you heal, they don’t have to carry. What you find in yourself, you give to them without even trying. That is the ripple effect I believe in. That is the vision I live by. And honestly, it is the gift I wish someone had given me, a long time ago in a little hamlet called Buitenland.
Zoë Peeters
There Is No Manual. Only Your Heart.
Michelle Hennemann
How motherhood taught me to trust my instincts, embrace imperfection, and follow my heart.
My name is Michelle Hennemann-Michiels. I am 27 years old and live in the Netherlands with my husband Dominique, our daughter Loue, and our dog. I work part-time at a general practitioner’s office, where I care for others every day. But nothing brings me more happiness than being with my daughter.
Becoming a mother was something I always dreamed of. Even as a little girl, I was fascinated by pregnancy and motherhood. While other children played different games, I spent hours with my dolls, playing house and imagining what it would be like to have a family of my own one day.
When I met my husband Dominique in 2017, that dream slowly started to take shape. Almost nine years later, we have built a life together filled with love, laughter, and all the little things that matter most. If you had asked younger Michelle what her dream life looked like, it would have looked a lot like this. In many ways, I can be a perfectionist. I overthink things, doubt myself, and often want everything to be just right. But motherhood surprised me. It brought out a version of myself that felt calmer and more certain. Not because I suddenly had all the answers, but because loving my daughter made me trust myself more. Motherhood did not change who I am; it helped me discover parts of myself I did not know were there. It taught me patience, resilience, and a confidence that I had often struggled to find before. Somewhere between the sleepless nights and the quiet cuddles, I learned that I was stronger than I had ever imagined.
Loue is everything I ever hoped for and so much more. Watching her grow, hearing her laugh, feeling her little hand reach for mine—those are the moments that make everything else fade into the background. But motherhood has not always been easy. The first weeks were emotional and overwhelming. The broken nights, the responsibility, and the constant feeling that I should be doing things “the right way.” Everyone seemed to have advice. Everyone seemed to have an opinion. It did not take long before I realized that there is no perfect way to be a mother. There is only your instinct. And my instinct told me to keep Loue close. Very close.
Even when she slept, I found it difficult to put her down. During my six months of maternity leave, she spent most of her days against my chest, close to my heartbeat. It felt natural. It felt right. Sometimes I wondered whether it was normal to feel so connected to another human being. The love I felt for her was bigger than anything I had ever experienced before.
One of the most impactful moments of my motherhood journey came when my maternity leave ended. Standing at the door on my first day back at work, I felt torn between two worlds. Even though I knew Loue was safe and loved, leaving her for those first few hours felt incredibly difficult. In that moment, I realized that motherhood is not about doing what everyone else expects of you. It is about listening to your own heart, even when that voice is quiet. People told me it would get easier, and eventually it did. But what helped me most was learning to trust my own feelings instead of measuring myself against other people’s expectations. I wanted to keep my daughter close, so that is what I did. On the days I worked, Loue stayed with her grandparents, surrounded by love. The photos and little updates throughout the day always reassured me. Seeing her happy made it easier.
Today, Loue is a cheerful, loving toddler who feels safe with the people around her. And yes, she still prefers her mama most of the time and if I am honest, I secretly love that. I will never regret those first six months when we were almost inseparable. They were some of the most beautiful months of my life, and I am grateful that I listened to my heart. Motherhood did not teach me how to be perfect. It taught me how to trust. To trust my instincts. To trust my heart. And to trust the bond between a mother and her child.
My note to you is simple: There is no manual, only your heart your compass.
With love,
Michelle
The Way Back
Kiro Matcha
A year ago, I didn’t even know what matcha was. Life changed after the birth of my daughter, an emergency C-section left me with a body that no longer felt like my own. I’d always been slim, but suddenly bloating and fatigue became daily struggles. In search of balance, I tried a green powder I found online. Only later did I discover its key ingredient: matcha. That small detail sparked a journey of discovery. I immersed myself in research, learned about the health benefits of ceremonial-grade matcha, and soon realized that not all matcha is created equal.
Driven by perfectionism – and perhaps a touch of obsession – I tested countless brands. Many were blended, diluted, or sweetened. None lived up to what matcha could truly be. That’s when the idea was born: if the perfect matcha didn’t exist, I would create it. This is how Kiro Matcha came to life. Pure, organic, with no additives and no sugar. Our EU BIO certification guarantees traceability and authenticity, so every sip reflects the highest standards. Kiro (帰路) means “the way back” in Japanese – a return to purity, to origins, to what is essential. More than a drink, it’s a ritual, an invitation to slow down and reconnect with yourself.
No loud campaigns, no gimmicks—just quiet luxury in a cup, trusted by those who know the difference. Perfection takes time. And now, it’s finally ready. Join our VIP list and be the first to experience matcha the way it was meant to be.
Let’s start with this: my experience does not mean that everyone has this or will develop it.
Shirley Koolen
I know plenty of women who are extremely happy with their implants and have never experienced any problems at all, and I think that’s wonderful. But… I’m sharing my story for those who might recognize some of what I went through. For me, it started a few months after getting my breast implants. Slowly, more and more things began to change. Itching. Strange pain. One breast changing shape. Capsular contracture. And then came even more symptoms: fatigue, hair loss, twitching eyes, jaw clenching, and a breast that felt like it had glass inside of it. Every time, I was given the same answer: “Stress”, “You’re tired”, “It’s probably burnout”, “You’re a mother, that’s normal”, but my body was trying to tell me something.
After multiple examinations and check-ups, it turned out that my implants were being rejected. My body simply wasn’t accepting them. My husband wanted them removed after seeing all my symptoms and watching me change. Together, we decided to have them removed and choose lipofilling instead. My own fat, my own body, my own recovery. Our interview with my surgeon is now live on YouTube. In it, we talk about how the surgery went and answer many of the questions you’ve been asking me over the past months.
If you’d like to follow this process, hear my story, and see more of our journey, follow my page and stay tuned. This is vulnerable and open. And hopefully helpful for anyone who may need it.
This is my story.
With love
Shirley