ELYSIAN Women Inspiring Women
DISPLAY UNTIL MAY. 25, 2025
CYBER GIRL 2 BY ARTIST AND JEWELRY DESIGNER CLAIRE FLORENCE
WWW.CLAIREFLORENCE.COM
danahareldesign.com
danahareldesign.com
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la noyée MODEL, ACTRESS & RECORDING ARTIST JANE BIRKIN. BY SUZANNE JOHNSON
an
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Unfurgettable Occassion FASHION MEETS ANIMAL WELLFARE AT ELYSIAN’S CATWALK FURBABY 2025.
BY SAMANTHA PAIGE
PHOTOGRAPH BY DANNY IVAN / UNSPLASH.COM
ELYSIAN VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 1 THE PET & PHILANTHROPY ISSUE / L’ÉDITION SUR LES ANIMAUX DE COMPAGNIE ET LA PHILANTHROPIE PRINTEMPS 2025
144 Eccentricities of a
Cat Artist
OTHE REMARABLE LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN. BY MARCY DUBROFF
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Inspiring Women Kelly Nichols page 160 Kimberly Word page 170 INTERVIEWS BY KAREN FLOYD
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hollywood&icons
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Fur-tastic Fame: The Secret Lives of Celebrity Pets - BY ELIZABETH BRADFORD
art&history The Horse In Art - BY DOROTHEA PHILIPS
architecture&interiors
62pet&philanthropy Birds & Animals on the Walls - BY CHRISTY NIELSON
182 philanthropy Adopt! Don’t Shop - BY JUNE MITCHELL
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Tippi Hedren’s Shambala Preserve: A Fearless Connection with Wildness - BY TOBY MAXWELL
health&wellness
Elevating Pet Wellness: The Bill and Coo Journey - BY SONIA HENRY
204back story
In a world fraught with division and suffering, ELYSIAN stands steadfast in its mission to inspire hope, ignite progress, and bring the light of peace to all.
on the cover Actress & philanthropist Loretta Switt. PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL PANICCIA
78 essentials
Some Things To Bark About - BY SINDIE FITZGERALD-RANKIN
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY PAGERIE / PAGERIE.COM
publisher
Karen Floyd
c r e at o r - i n - c h i e f
Ryan Stalvey
digital marketing & newsletter
comptroller
Amber Edwards
Anna Christian philanthropy
film
& i m pa c t
production
d i g i ta l i n n o vat i o r
Nicola Doring
Joey Iannetta
Kimberli Scott Still
legal
p u b l i c a f fa i r s
Eric Nodine
Boone Peeler
& video
Garrick Lane web design
& development
special events director
Elliot Derhay
Sarah Smith
d i g i ta l s t r at e g y
events
c o m m u n i t y a f fa i r s
Don Bailey
Carolyn Schoepf
Ann Bible
lead photographer
e d i t o r i a l a s s i s ta n t
photographer
d i g i ta l s t r at e g y
social media
Michael Paniccia
Marcy Dubroff
Joy Smallwood
Christiana Purves
Michelle Young
writer
writer
office manager
liaison
p r o d u c t i o n a s s i s ta n t
Jason Spencer
Brenna Kehew Sculley
Becky Kerr
Rita Allison
Aidan Stanton
contributing writers
Elizabeth Bradford, Marcy Dubroff, Sonia Henry, Suzanne Johnson, Toby Maxwell, June Mitchell, Christy Nielson, Samantha Paige, Dorothea Philips, Sindie Fitzgerald-Rankin copy editors
Nancy Brady, Monya Havekost, Diane High, Hadley Inabinet p u b l i c r e l at i o n s
printer
c i r c u l at i o n s p e c i a l i s t
c o n s u lta n t
Norah Lawlor
Joe Giuffrida/Mega Mailers
Greg Wolfe
Carmel Fauci
w w w . r e a d e ly s i a n . c o m ELYSIAN Magazine is published four times per year by Palladian Publications LLC., 113 W. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29306. For subscription information, call 864-342-6500. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
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breton
I
I ALONE CANNOT CHANGE THE WORLD, BUT I CAN CAST A STONE ACROSS THE WATER TO CREATE MANY RIPPLES.” —MOTHER TERESA
learned a long time ago that a small number of passionate people who coalesce around a greater purpose can make large impacts. I also believe that much like . . . ripples create waves, and waves create change . . . caring for our most vulnerable is humanity’s collective and shared responsibility. While the story behind CatWalk FurBaby is too lengthy for this Publisher’s letter, there are two words that come to mind as to why it has endured the test of time: pivot and gratitude.
Pivot
To grow and build, we chose to pivot. So . . . what do philanthropy, animals, competition, designers, models, and fashion have in common? WOMEN. Our first year resulted in an award-winning documentary, coffee table book, dedicated magazine, and runway show event exposure of 1B broadcast views. Women are multi-dimensional and have complexity in their philanthropic breadth of interest. For that reason, ELYSIAN Impact saw no boundaries or obstacles in creating a dynamic experience for philanthropic causes in five verticals as opposed to just one. The sheer range of the charities represented on this year’s runway was breathtaking and included animals, children, environment, service, and women. From Washinton State to California, Florida, Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, New York, and beyond, these charities touch so many aspects of our daily lives, whether that involves pairing an abandoned pet with a forever home, funding cancer research, or advocating for alternatives to detention for at-risk youth. The first year’s focus was largely centered around fundraising, with the winning animal rescue benefiting financially from the competition. In year two, we again pivoted. We expanded our perspective on fundraising goals from dependency to selfreliance. The concept was simple, “to teach a man how to fish . . . and you feed him for a lifetime . . .” From the success of the award-winning documentary in the first year, the goal of the second year is to allow the second documentary to be used by all participating charities, allowing them to fundraise from “Everything CatWalk FurBaby” . . . from the second annual coffee table book sales to documentary private showings ticket sales…event sponsorships and more. Finally, in one year, numbers doubled in both print and broadcast viewership, with just the event exposure growing from 1B to 2B broadcast views. Was this from increasing participants from 10 to 20 teams or the momentum from a second-year trajectory? No one really knows. What we do know is that these incredible results are largely because of you.
Gratitude
With much love
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Karen Floyd Publisher
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PHOTOGRAPH BY DREAM TEAM CREATIVES
What a privilege it is to . . . work with the ELYSIAN Impact team which is impassioned about protecting and improving the lives of animals, children, the environment, service, and women. Executive Director of ELYSIAN Impact, Kimberli Scott Still’s steady hand and relentless perseverance doubled the participating charity numbers. Ryan Stalvey, our Creator-In-Chief, assembled content and oversaw writers Jason Spencer and Merci Dubroff for our quarterly publication and an award-winning coffee table book. Amber Edwards, our Chief of Marketing, built the brand literally, from inception to distribution of multiple millions, and Joey Iannetta, our IT partner and project manager, not to mention the actual producer of the show. Nicola Doring, Garrick Lane, Bobby Nicols, and Dutty Vanier filmed and edited for months. The result is shown in a private viewing held in New York City’s National Arts Club. I am grateful to every ELYSIAN teammate whose names are found on the masthead, making ripples . . . The team was not complete without our Signature partners, DRC Ventures, Merci Dupre Clothiers, Bill & Coo, and The Root Brands. They worked tirelessly and contributed their time, treasure, and talent to benefit philanthropies throughout the world. Led by Dr. Christina Rahm, whose innovation and creativity of Merci Dupre Clothiers graced the runway, the audience was spellbound by her design elegance and environmentally sustainable creations. And finally, the enigmatic Fern Mallis, our emcee and founder of New York Fashion Week, who stole the show with her quick wit and charm. The team included sponsors Dr. Kimberly Word, BioLight, our 20 charity participants, and esteemed judges Consula Vanderbilt (socialite and humanitarian), MarieBelle (businesswoman and chocolatier), and Carol Alt (world’s first supermodel). May the generosity of these ripples (teammates) serve as examples to others. With that in mind, I want to end this Publisher’s letter with another quote from St Mother Teresa of Calcutta, “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” Join ELYSIAN, ELYSIAN Impact, and the ELYSIAN Circle, as in our small ways, we collectively can change the world together.
kimkassascouture.com
American actress Mia Farrow, photographed in1964 with her beloved cat, Malcolm. The cat was deaf and the two were inseparable throughout the young actress’s career, even appearing together in the Christmas episodes of the ABC tv series Peyton Place, episode #33 and #34.
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PHOTOGRAPH BY HARRY BENSON/DAILY EXPRESS/HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES
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hollywood&icons
Furtastic fame: the secret lives of
celebrity pets BY ELIZABETH BRADFORD
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the world of fame and glamour, it’s not just the soaring vocals, stunning roles, or impeccable red carpet appearances that capture our attention—many of music and Hollywood’s most famous actresses, models and songstresses also have an undeniable love for animals. From loyal dogs to exotic pets, the bond between these icons and their furry, sometimes feathered companions reveals a softer, more relatable side to the women we admire on the big screen, advertising campaigns, and concert arenas. Pets, after all, offer unconditional love, companionship, and comfort, something even the most famous stars need in their often hectic and public lives. The following is a snapshot of the special relationships between famous women celebrities and their pets. ■
Zsa Zsa Gabor poses for a portrait while feeding her pet sheep, “Laurelhighland Zsazsa,” at her home in Beverly Hills, California. The Valais Blacknose sheep was named after the Hungarian-born actress and socialite. The name “Zsazsa” is a Hungarian nickname for “Zhuzsanna,” which means “Susan.” The sheep’s sire, Balambér, was also Hungarian-bred, which was another reason for the name. PHOTOGRAPH BY EARL LEAF/MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIVES/GETTY IMAGES
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Rita Hayworth, poolside with her cocker spaniel, Pookles, 1946. PHOTOGRAPH VIA JOHN KOBAL FOUNDATION/GETTY IMAGES
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Opposite: Billie Holiday, the legendary jazz singer, had a beloved pet bulldog named Mister. Known for her deep emotional connection to her dog, Holiday often spoke of Mister as a source of comfort during her tumultuous life. The dog was a constant companion, providing her with affection and companionship. Holiday, whose real name was Eleanora Fagan, was a dog lover who had many dogs throughout her life, including a beagle, a mutt, a poodle, a terrier, a Great Dane, and two Chihuahuas. However, many say that Mister was her canine soulmate. PHOTOGRAPH BY PHOTO-FOX / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
American actress and singer Doris Day, sitting beside her son, Terry Melcher, and pet black poodle, circa 1950. A tremendous advocate for pet wellfare, she founded the Doris Day Pet Foundation, which focused on finding homes for the too many animals that were being destroyed simply because there weren’t enough good homes and advocating for spay/neuter. Her grassroots efforts resulted in Doris’ personally rescuing hundreds of animals over the years. PHOTOGRAPH BY GRAPHIC HOUSE/ARCHIVE PHOTOS/GETTY IMAGES
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25 • printemps 2025 • l’édition sur les animaux de compagnie et la philanthropie • readelysian.com Eggsposing a Coiffure Secret. Hollywood, California: They are calling Kathleen Hughes, Universal International actress, the “ducky blonde” since she revealed the secret of her luxuriant, shiny tresses. A daily duck egg shampoo, says Katie does the trick. The egg is provided by her pet duck, who lays one egg every day as a labor of love for Katie. The duck is looking on at the egg shampoo ritual here in her first personal appearance for the camera. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY BETTMANN / CONTRIBUTOR / GETTY IMAGES
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Seventeen-year old Elizabeth Taylor washing her Cocker Spaniel, Amy. PHOTOGRAPH BY EDWARD ROTH / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
Audrey Hepburn, one of Hollywood’s most beloved and iconic actresses, is remembered not only for her timeless beauty, grace, and remarkable acting talent but also for her deep sense of compassion and kindness. While she may be most famously associated with roles in films like Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Roman Holiday, Hepburn’s love for animals, particularly a pet deer named Pippin, also called Ip, is a lesser-known but equally heartwarming chapter of her life. She acquired the fawn while filming the 1959 movie Green Mansions, a film directed by her then-husband Mel Ferrer. Her character in the film had a special bond with a baby fawn, so she took the fawn home with her to Los Angeles. Pippin, a delicate and graceful creature, became a constant companion for Hepburn even during her time in Italy. The pet deer was treated as a cherished family member and would often be seen wandering freely on her estate. Hepburn’s affection for Pippin went beyond merely owning an exotic pet—she developed a genuine, deep bond with him. In interviews, she often described Pippin as a calming presence, one that brought her immense peace and comfort, particularly when the demands of her public life felt overwhelming. PHOTOGRAPH CORTESY BETTMANN / CONTRIBUTOR / GETTY IMAGES
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Jayne Mansfield was a dog lover., and usually would have them along with her at various promotional and press events. When Jayne died in the terrible car crash on June 29, 1967, two of her beloved chihuahuas, Precious Jewel and Emerald, died with her. PHOTOGRAPH BY PICTORIAL PRESS LTD / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
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French entertainer and civil rights campaigner, Josephine Baker, had a pet cheetah named Chiquita. Adorned with a diamond collar, Chiquita was also a co-star in Baker’s performances. PHOTOGRAPH BY PICTORIAL PRESS LTD / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
Marilyn Monroe with her Basset Hound Hugo in 1957 at her home in Amagansett, New York. She acquired him while married to her third husband, playwright Arthur Miller. Monroe was a big animal lover and owned many dogs throughout her life, some of her other dogs included Tippy, Ruffles, Muggsie, Josepha, and Maf. Each dog was a completely different breed and she loved them dearly, the actress is quoted,“sometimes even more than people!” PHOTOGRAPH BY SAM SHAW/© SHAW FAMILY ARCHIVES/GETTY IMAGES