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A s a former Olympic triple jumper, Michelle Griffith- Robinson is used to feeling sand beneath her feet, but today it’s for a different reason. Strolling along Saunton Sands beach in North Devon for hello!’s exclusive photoshoot, glamorous Michelle is shining brightly as she models a very special piece of jewellery. As part of our #HelloToKindness movement and to celebrate World Kindness Day on 13 November, hello! has teamed up with award- winning British jeweller Kit Heath to create an exquisite silver pendant embodying kindness and compassion – and Michelle, an ambassador for the brand, is the perfect person to showcase it. From competing at the highest level on the international sporting stage, to becoming a mum of three, kindness has always been of the utmost importance in Michelle’s life. “My mum always encouraged me to be nice to people because you never know what’s going on behind closed doors, so kindness runs through my veins,” says Michelle, 49, whose husband is former Welsh International rugby union player Matthew Robinson. “Having my children later on in life allowed me to know who I am so I could pass on the really important values to them. Mine and Matt’s main goal is to raise individuals who have a part to play in making the world a kinder place,” she says of her daughters Reese, 17, and Eden, 13, and seven-year-old son Elijah. SPORTING GESTURE Reflecting on her own experiences of kindness during hello! ’s shoot, which takes place at the luxurious Saunton Sands Hotel, takes Michelle back to when she represented Team GB at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and England in three Commonwealth Games between 1998 and 2006. “Kindness plays a huge part in the big sporting events. For example, when you’d get into a [transport] buggy with another teammate who can’t speak a word of English, you’d find a way to communicate because you’re both there for the same reason: to represent your country, whether it’s a Third World or First World country. I’d ‘Kindness runs through my veins. We need to be extra kind to people sometimes and give them a helping hand’ MODELLING OUR EXCLUSIVE #HELLOTOKINDNESS SILVER PENDANT THE OLYMPIAN TELLS WHY BEING KIND TO OTHERS OUTSHINES WINNING A MEDAL MICHELLE GRIFFITH-ROBINSON Photographed in North Devon, British triple jump Olympian Michelle is a fabulous fit for our #HellotoKindness campaign. “Sport is more than just medals, it’s about showing kindness amid competition,” she says, remembering her days at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games Michelle, who is an ambassador for British jewellery brand Kit Heath, which originates in North Devon, models our Kindness necklace, and gets a helping hand from the designer himself (below) s EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW AND PHOTOS (LEFT) DRESS: SELF PORTRAIT AT BERNARD BOUTIQUE. (INSET LEFT) DRESS: LOUISE KENNEDY. (RIGHT) DRESS: CLUB L LONDON. SHOES: GINA <#A#> <#B#> Besides raising her three children to champion kindness, since retiring from professional sport Michelle has mentored disadvantaged young people. “It’s so important to surround yourself with positive people,” she says gesture: ‘You wanna come in?’ and they’d have a big smile on their face and you both understood,” recalls Michelle. “Those experiences almost outshine the prospect of getting a medal. Sport is more than just medals, it’s about showing kindness amid competition.” Michelle, whose mother is Jamaican and whose father is from Barbados, advocates the importance of remaining compassionate in the face of negativity. She remembers an unpleasant experience 26 years ago, when a colleague made a racist remark towards her. “My manager said he’d dismiss her on the spot if I wanted him to, but I said no. She was pregnant and I didn’t want her baby to have a difficult start in life. That was my act of kindness towards her even though she was nasty to me. You can’t fight hatred with hatred.” That way of thinking has got Michelle a long way in life. After her career as an elite athlete, she retired in 2006 and has gone on to put her skills to use with the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust as a mentor for disadvantaged young people who are not in employment, education or training. “Working with underprivileged children who aren’t recognised for their abilities has shown me we need to be extra kind to people sometimes and give them a helping hand – from offering a smile or listening ear, to making them believe they have a right to be on this Earth,” she says. HANG IN THERE Our Kindness pendant, on sale this week from Kit Heath, features a beautiful inner core and a smooth outer shell, which can be worn separately or together. It is “understated, tactile and distinctive, rather than being a showpiece”, says creative director Katie Nickell, whose brother Kit is the brand’s founder. “We wanted it to be about the sentiment, so that when you wear it, your thoughts connect to whoever gave it to you and why.” “We wanted the inner piece to represent something you love and want to hold onto and the shell wrapping round it symbolises comfort and security, like the feeling of a cuddle. When you’re wearing it, you feel kind,” smiles Kit, whose love for jewellery-making began with a school project. He even melted down his mother’s silver candlesticks to make his designs. “I’ve been in the trade ever since. My passion is still as strong now as it was then.” Another passion that’s just as long-lasting is Michelle’s 15-year marriage to Matthew, whom she met at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002. “A lot of the things I do in my life I wouldn’t be able to do without Matt being beside me, being my number one fan and championing me. It’s so important to surround yourself with good, positive people. I try to spread that message as a mentor, ambassador, and as a mum.” MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH OUR KINDNESS NECKLACE ‘Having children later allowed me to know who I am so I could pass on the important values’ HELLO! has long been advocating acts of compassion with its social media campaign #HelloToKindness and is excited to launch this unique, limited-edition collaboration with Kit Heath, the award- winning family-run British jewellery brand. This limited edition Kindness necklace (left) is a beautifully elegant sterling silver keepsake that can be worn at two different lengths, and has a tag engraved with a signature kindness message (inset). Every necklace sold includes a £5 voucher for a charity from HELLO! and Kit Heath’s shortlist of five: Heads Together, Age UK, Make 2nds Count, Refuge and The Black Curriculum. As well as paying the gift of kindness forward with the voucher, this necklace makes a heartfelt Christmas present for a loved one or simply a timely reminder to always be kind to ourselves. The limited edition Kit Heath x HELLO! Kindness necklace is £99.99 including a £5 donation to charity. For more information, visit kitheath.com/hello. In Devon’s luxury Saunton Sands Hotel, Michelle and Kit look over his mood boards and designs (left) for HELLO!’S limited edition Kindness necklace. Kit discovered his passion for jewellery design in school and, with his sister Katie, has turned it into a successful business INTERVIEW: EMILY HORAN PHOTOS JAMES ROBINSON HAIR & MAKE-UP: ALICE THEOBALD AT TERRI MANDUCA USING VITAMIN INJECTIONS LONDON SKINCARE, DOLLBABY LASHES & COSMETICS A LA CARTE LOCATION: SAUNTON SANDS HOTEL H (ABOVE LEFT) DRESS: REISS. (RIGHT) DRESS: MONSOON. SHOES: DUNE <#A#> <#B#> We live in a world where it is easy to take kindness for granted and overlook its value. However, we believe that we should hold onto the lessons we have learned during the pandemic and continue to come together, to value our liberty, to appreciate our unsung heroes and be kinder to one another. HELLO!’s Kindness movement has provided the perfect platform for us to capture the mood of the moment by creating a symbol to wear, cherish and reflect upon the unbreakable bond we share with those we care for and who care for us. The chain has been inscribed with ‘Kindness’ as a gentle reminder and each piece comes with a £5 charity voucher to allow your kindness to be paid forward. The smallest things, the smallest acts of Kindness take up the most room in our hearts…. Kit Heath, Founder X My concept was to design a unique, understated piece that was not elaborate and showy, but one that quietly embraced a sentiment of kindness that would have an impact by becoming something that the wearer would hold close to their heart and feel comforted by. Transferring the thoughts and gratitude of the giver by cocooning them in a tactile piece that would make the wearer feel valued and embrace an emotional connection. Katie Nickell, Kit Heath Founder & Creative Director Kindness can make someone’s day; it can also change their life. It can bring us together emotionally, if not physically, especially at a time like this. I am delighted that this collaboration has a message of Kindness at its core, in support of our #HelloToKindness movement. Rosie Nixon, HELLO! Editor in Chief Katie Nickell, Kit Heath Founder & Creative Director Michelle Griffith Robinson OLY, Kit Heath Brand Ambassador Kit Heath, Founder
