Woo! I’m a finalist for the 2022 Bessie Awards under the category of…
TRAILBLAZER AWARD
For the go-getter who has thrived in the past year in building her own empire and carving out a path for future leaders in the travel space.
But I don’t just EXPECT you to vote for me… ahead you can find
1. What are Bessie Awards?
2. Why you should CONSIDER voting for me
3. How to vote
4. Info on the other finalists
What are Bessie Awards?
Bessie Award winners are chosen through a vote by all past WITS attendees. These votes are combined with the votes from the Bessies Society, a prestigious committee made up of all past Bessie Award winners.
That’s right, to be able to vote, you need to have ATTENDED a WITS (Women In Travel Summit).
Who’s Bessie? Bessie Coleman is the first female African American pilot in the 1920s (no not drones, obviously way more badass). Learn more about her by >clicking here
Why vote for me?
Because you love me! Nah. That answer doesn’t work. Below is my entry.
A trailblazer as a travel creator
Christine became a travel creator at one of the hardest times to talk travel. Despite the pandemic she created the MUST-WATCH helpful video for the destinations she traveled to giving honest and helpful travel advice. She grew her travel YouTube channel from 1k to 10k in 6 months and has helped over a million people to travel smarter. Known as the ādrone queenā she is a certified pilot passionate about helping everyday people easily get into flying drones.
A trailblazer as a drone pilot
Contrary to popular belief, drones are so fun and SO easy to fly and I believe every female traveler should own one.
Iāve challenged the male dominated space of flying drones by simplifying a complex topic and making it easy and accessible for everyone, and in particular women to start flying quickly.
7.2% of drone pilots are female. We are the minority and many are held back by a misperception that drones are difficult to fly. Even though the desire for aerial photography and videography is strong, we are often weakened by the intimidation of how many men fly drones. When we look to the media we are discouraged by how few women we see flying.
I believe itās time to change that.
Within 2 months of buying my drone, I mastered flying and flew from a kayak to take a photo that is featured on a tourism board magazine cover. 5 months later I passed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) drone test (Part 107) with a 95%.
Iāve had as many drone flights as days Iāve owned my 3 drones and Iāve started to master one of the most challenging drones on the market today (the first person view drone) with goggles. I will be amongst the first females to be a cinematic drone pilot not just doing it well, but killing it.
Amongst the noise of men pointing their finger at me telling me āI canātā or telling me āIām not qualifiedā, Iāve decided to start yelling from the mountain tops about how easy drones are and how every woman should fly a drone.
My goal is not just to accomplish my own drone goals, but itās to give it back. In the past year I have gone above and beyond to inspire and educate other women to fly drones. Namely:
- I gave away a drone to a woman who really wanted one, who had a deep desire to learn, but could not afford a $1,053 drone (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHdW4u3e_6E). I flew her to Florida on an all expenses paid weekend and for four days taught her hands on how to fly exactly like me. Now she has the ability to share her travels with the world and the beauty she captures with others (including the students she teaches virtually in Thailand)
- Iāve put on multiple free drone meetups, helping women who have drones to master flying theirs or to allow women who donāt have a drone to try (any of) mine
- I have helped thousands of people with free drone tutorials on YouTube
- I help people with tips and tricks and answer their questions in a free drone Facebook group
- Iāve put on free workshops for Wanderful and the Nomadic Network and taught courses with Jessie on a Journeyās Travel Prosperity course about how to easily get into flying drones
- I have virtually helped women to fly drones free on 1:1 zoom calls with coaching as they practice a technique or even have their FIRST drone flight
Drones are an amazing way to discover the world as we travel and enables us to share it with others with photo and video. To me, helping women to fly drones is my version of female empowerment. It reminds me of how Iāve encouraged so many women to make their first solo trips.
Itās a moment of enlightenment for her, a realization that she can, and a lasting belief that she can conquer and do anything. But this time, sheās going to do it from the sky.
Bottom line
If you skipped reading all those freakin’ words up there, props. I’d do the same. But there is JUST ONE LINE that I don’t want you to miss. It’s the reason why I help people fly drones.
It’s not about flying a drone.
It’s about empowerment. And it’s why I target a female audience. When I teach women to fly drone: Itās a moment of enlightenment for her, a realization that she can, and a lasting belief that she can conquer and do anything. But this time, sheās going to do it from the sky.
That is my WHY. And it’s badass.
How to vote
Don’t forget: you need to have ATTENDED a past Women in Travel Summit (WITS) to be able to vote.
There’s another catch…
You have to VOTE IN ALL THE SECTIONS. Wait! Yes you can “abstain” from voting within a section… but I’ve made that “easier” for you to make decisions .. scroll down for more.
Who to consider voting for
In some of these sections I’ve given you the key thing to know about each of the finalists to help you figure out who makes sense for YOU to vote for. In theory, don’t forget you love me. Okay lets gooooooo….
Collaboration of the Year
- Meera Dattani and Shivani Ashoka (Unpacking Media Bias newsletter):
- Bringing attention to unconscious bias across the media
- Rooted and partners World Tourism Day collaboration (Tourism for Inclusive Growth Instagram series):
- “Tourism for inclusive growth” – stories of colleagues sharing their perspective
- Marinel M. de Jesus and Bakhitgul Altay (Khusvegi English & Nomadic Culture Camp):
- A community-led tourism initiative that aims to foster an authentic human connection and transformational slow travel experience that mutually benefits tourists and the local community.
Creator of the Year
- Lola Akinmade Ć kerstrƶm – photographer and travel writer characterized by vibrancy and hope
- Ambreen Tariq– author of āFatimaās Great Outdoorsā and founder of @BrownPeopleCamping
- Eulanda Shead-Osagiede – a traveling couple that through their blog “others will be emboldened to enrich the tapestry of their lives”
Inclusion Award
JourneyWoman Award
- Anna Pollock – researcher, strategist and change catalyst serving the international tourism and hospitality sector
- Diane Edwards – Also known by those who sail in her Aegean realm as āThe Goddess Diana,ā or āMother Henā she is part of SeaScape Sailing
- Wally Funk – Pilot and adventurer
Most Impactful Piece of Writing
- What We Risk When We Rush Back To Travel – by JoAnna Haugen
- Dear Travel Industry: Here Are 3 Ways You Can Address Vaccine Equity Now – by Lebawit Lily Girma
- Now Iāve left Afghanistan, will I ever have a home to return to? – by Narges Ghafary
Social Impact Award
- Pippa Biddle, Ours to Explore
- RISE Travel Institute, Pilot Program
- Sonal Asgotraa, Astrostays Abstain
Trailblazer Award (FIND ME HERE)
- Chloe & Anna (The Mott Street Girls) – Celebrating the people, businesses, and stories of Chinatown & beyond
- Christine Lozada (Where in the World is cL) <– hello. remember me?
- Juliana Dever (Clever Dever Wherever) – Indy travel blogger talking unusual experiences and unexpected places
Travel Startup of the Year
- League of Kitchens
- Sojrn
- VAWAA Abstain
Wanderful Award
- Fight Through Flights
- She Shapes History
- Soul of Travel Podcast
Did you skip to the bottom?
High five! I hate reading, too. Now go vote (and fly a drone! or get a drone then fly it!)