What happens when the world tries to define who you are, but you refuse to choose only one part of yourself?

In this episode of Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA, Nancy Neede — the first Black Miss Holland — explores Black and mixed identity, racism in the Netherlands, her Surinamese roots, modeling, motherhood, spirituality and the journey toward self-acceptance.

Growing up in the Netherlands with a white Dutch mother and a Black Surinamese father, Nancy learned early what it meant to have the outside world question where she belonged. She reflects on experiencing racism, navigating her Black, Dutch and Surinamese identity, and eventually learning to embrace every part of herself.

Nancy also speaks candidly about childhood trauma, becoming Miss Holland, modeling internationally and moving to New York City, where she worked with legendary designer Oleg Cassini. Beyond fashion, the conversation explores motherhood, losing control of the body that had been central to her career, healing, yoga, spirituality and the lessons she has gathered along the way.

From Miss Holland to New York City, from modeling to motherhood, and from perfectionism to self-acceptance, this is a conversation about identity, resilience, growth and LOVE. ❤️

🎙️ CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction
00:53 Nancy before Miss Holland
04:20 Being a Black model in the 1980s
07:42 Growing up Black & mixed in the Netherlands
08:32 The outside world asks you to choose
13:12 Showing different sides of your identity
19:33 Lessons from her mother & father
25:49 The difficult reality behind her childhood
30:10 How Miss Holland changed her life
30:39 Oleg Cassini & New York City
35:05 Fame, celebrities & staying grounded
40:18 Modeling before social media
41:05 Drugs, boundaries & saying no
50:02 Motherhood & authenticity
53:05 Taking accountability as a parent
56:27 Letting go of perfection
58:51 Letting people make their own mistakes
1:01:24 Losing control of her body
1:07:28 Intuition & spirituality
1:09:52 Studying yoga in India
1:12:58 Her connection to Suriname
1:13:40 Bringing her father home to Suriname
1:16:41 Nancy's message: LOVE ❤️

ABOUT SUPERSHARDA
SUPERSHARDA is a Surinamese international model, entrepreneur and founder working across fashion, media, culture and social impact. Through her work, she builds platforms, creates opportunities and connects Suriname with people, ideas and opportunities around the world.

ABOUT IDENTITY SPECTRUM

Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA is a global conversation rooted in Suriname, exploring identity, consciousness, culture, purpose and the human experiences that shape who we are.

🎙️ INTERESTED IN BEING A GUEST?

Email identity.spectrum26@gmail.com and tell us who you are, what you would like to discuss and how your story can inspire or educate our audience.

CONNECT WITH THE PODCAST

YouTube: Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA
TikTok: Identity Spectrum Podcast
Instagram: @identity_spectrum
Facebook: Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA

#BlackIdentity #Suriname #MixedIdentity #NancyNeede #IdentitySpectrum #DutchIdentity

What if the African history you know is only part of the story?

In this episode of Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA, Malawian entrepreneur and creative Mpilo Mizere explores African history before European colonization, African identity, Mansa Musa, the Moors and his mission to bring pre-colonial African history to new generations through comics and gaming.

Born in South Africa with Malawian and Zimbabwean roots, Mpilo grew up across Africa, Europe and the United States. Yet despite his international upbringing, he realized how little African history he had actually been taught, beginning a decades-long journey of self-study and discovery.

That journey eventually inspired 14th Century Africa, a graphic novel that uses entertainment and storytelling to introduce readers to medieval African history. Mpilo discusses Mansa Musa, Ibn Battuta, the Moors, African architecture, international trade and Africa's historical connections with the wider world.

He also shares why he is expanding 14th Century Africa into gaming, the realities of entrepreneurship and his vision for using modern storytelling to reconnect Africans and the African diaspora with their history.

This conversation asks a bigger question: Who gets to tell our stories, and how do those stories shape the way we see ourselves?

🎙️ CHAPTERS

00:00 Meet Mpilo Mizere
00:51 The Story Behind His Name
02:43 African Identity & Colonial Borders
05:54 Growing Up Around the World
09:14 Building an African History Community
11:48 Why Africans Are Searching for Their History
18:50 African Renaissance, Identity & Our Roots
20:24 Did Humanity Begin in Africa?
24:32 From African History to Comics
27:33 Ibn Battuta & Creating the Story
29:01 From Netflix Pitch to Graphic Novel
30:47 Why Mpilo Is Moving Into Gaming
33:18 Selling 14th Century Africa
36:46 Comics in the Short-Attention-Span Era
40:07 Why the 14th Century?
41:28 The Moors & Medieval Africa
43:56 Africa's Golden Age
45:58 The Power of Marketing History
50:09 What Mpilo Wants Readers to Learn
51:40 Africa's Connections With China & India
54:38 Lessons From Entrepreneurship
59:49 Africa & the African Diaspora
1:08:25 Where to Find 14th Century Africa
1:09:28 The Game & What's Next
1:11:17 Final Thoughts

ABOUT SUPERSHARDA

SUPERSHARDA is a Surinamese international model, entrepreneur and founder working across fashion, media, culture and social impact. Through her work, she builds platforms, creates opportunities and connects Suriname with people, ideas and opportunities around the world.

ABOUT IDENTITY SPECTRUM

Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA is a global conversation rooted in Suriname, exploring identity, consciousness, culture, purpose and the human experiences that shape who we are.

🎙️ INTERESTED IN BEING A GUEST?

Email identity.spectrum26@gmail.com and tell us who you are, what you would like to discuss and how your story can inspire or educate our audience.

CONNECT WITH THE PODCAST

YouTube: Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA
TikTok: Identity Spectrum Podcast
Instagram: @identity_spectrum
Facebook: Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA

#AfricanHistory #PreColonialAfrica #MansaMusa #AfricanIdentity #IdentitySpectrum #MpiloMizere

Who is SUPERSHARDA, really?

In Episode 6 of Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA, the tables are turned. After inviting her online community to submit their questions, SUPERSHARDA sits down with guest host Priscilla Sordam for an open conversation about the woman behind the name.

From growing up in Suriname and modeling in China to breaking into the international fashion industry, SUPERSHARDA reflects on the ambition, rejection, self-doubt and determination that shaped her journey.

But this conversation goes far beyond modeling. She opens up about identity, perfectionism, anger, motherhood, national pride, sexual harassment, trauma, therapy and healing. She also shares why she created Identity Spectrum and her mission to bring Suriname and its people closer to the world.

This is more than a Q&A. It’s a conversation about the experiences, choices and lessons that shaped SUPERSHARDA — and the person behind the name.

00:00 — Meet Guest Host Priscilla Sordam
02:12 — SUPERSHARDA vs. Sharda Johnn
05:03 — Where Did SUPERSHARDA Come From?
07:59 — The Reality of International Modeling
12:28 — What Makes Me Different?
14:44 — What I Wish People Knew About Me
15:45 — Did I Always Know What I Wanted?
21:59 — How I Broke Into International Modeling
26:44 — My Most Unforgettable Runways
29:27 — Suriname’s Modeling Industry
32:44 — Rejection, Criticism & Surviving the “No’s”
38:27 — Fear, Self-Doubt & Trusting Myself
39:42 — Who Taught Me How to Model?
42:29 — The Life Lesson That Changed Me
43:37 — Ego Death, Expectations & Perfectionism
45:26 — How I Process Anger
47:16 — Why I Cut Off My Hair
52:29 — Do I Want Children?
53:34 — Wode Maya, Suriname & What Came Next
55:13 — Why I Am So Proudly Surinamese
1:00:34 — Why I Took a Break From Modeling
1:01:08 — The Experience in Germany That Changed Me
1:05:09 — When I Realized I Needed Therapy
1:07:53 — Why I Created Identity Spectrum
1:09:41 — Africa, Sierra Leone & What’s Next
1:11:23 — Final Thoughts With Priscilla

SUPERSHARDA is a Surinamese international model, entrepreneur and founder working across fashion, media, culture and social impact. Through her work, she builds platforms, creates opportunities and connects Suriname with people, ideas and opportunities around the world.

Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA is a global conversation rooted in Suriname, exploring identity, consciousness, culture, purpose and the human experiences that shape who we are.

Email identity.spectrum26@gmail.com and tell us who you are, what you would like to discuss and how your story can inspire or educate our audience.

YouTube: Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA
TikTok: Identity Spectrum Podcast
Instagram: @identity_spectrum
Facebook: Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA

How do you rebuild your life when grief, trauma and loss have shaped so much of who you are?

In Episode 5 (Part 2) of Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA, Grace Karijodiwirijo continues her deeply personal story, sharing the years that followed the loss of her mother and the challenges that shaped the woman she is today.

Grace speaks openly about living with grief, watching her father struggle after her mother’s death, financial hardship, mental health and having to take on responsibilities at a young age. She reflects on losing both parents, reaching some of the darkest moments of her own life, learning to ask for help and finding the strength to move forward.

The conversation also explores the people who supported her, professional help, forgiveness, independence and reconnecting with her Indonesian heritage through family, language, music and culture.

From grief to healing, from survival to rebuilding, and from loss to reconnecting with identity, this is a conversation about resilience, community, acceptance and hope. ❤️

00:00 — Introduction & Welcome Back
01:28 — Life After Losing Her Mother
05:02 — Anger, Faith & Questioning God
07:27 — Watching Her Father Struggle
09:51 — Becoming the Responsible One as a Child
10:40 — Getting Dengue & Realizing She Was on Her Own
16:45 — Working Young & Financial Survival
18:20 — The Reality of Depression
20:26 — Escaping Home & Coping With Pain
24:03 — Friends, Support & Survival Mode
25:58 — How Trauma Affected Love & Relationships
27:48 — Finding a Reason to Keep Going
29:26 — School, Work & Proving She Could Do It
32:01 — When Her Plans for the Future Fell Apart
36:16 — Losing Her Father & Seeking Professional Help
39:19 — Guilt, PTSD & Finally Processing Grief
42:11 — Reconnecting With Her Family in Indonesia
47:04 — Rediscovering Her Indonesian Heritage
47:21 — Music, Culture & Healing
50:31 — Becoming a Bridge Between Generations
55:17 — Grace’s Message About Grief, Help & Hope
59:47 — Final Thoughts

SUPERSHARDA is a Surinamese international model, entrepreneur and founder working across fashion, media, culture and social impact. Through her work, she builds platforms, creates opportunities and connects Suriname with people, ideas and opportunities around the world.

Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA is a global conversation rooted in Suriname, exploring identity, consciousness, culture, purpose and the human experiences that shape who we are.

Email identity.spectrum26@gmail.com and tell us who you are, what you would like to discuss and how your story can inspire or educate our audience.

YouTube: Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA
TikTok: Identity Spectrum Podcast
Instagram: @identity_spectrum
Facebook: Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA

What happens to your identity when you leave one home behind and grow up in another?

In Episode 4 (Part 1) of Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA, Grace Karijodiwirijo shares a deeply personal story about migration, identity, culture, family, faith and loss.

Born in Jakarta, Indonesia, to an Indonesian mother and Surinamese father, Grace moved to Suriname as a young child and grew up navigating two cultures. She reflects on learning Dutch, adapting to Surinamese society, preserving her Indonesian roots and growing up within a strict Christian household.

The conversation explores belonging, culture shock, bullying, language, religion and the differences Grace experienced between Indonesian and Surinamese society. She also opens up about her mother’s battle with breast cancer, what it meant to witness her illness as a child and the final moments she spent with her mother before her passing.

From Indonesia to Suriname, from cultural adjustment to belonging, and from childhood to profound loss, this is a conversation about identity, family, faith, resilience and the experiences that shape who we become. ❤️

Part 2 continues Grace’s story as she shares what happened after losing her mother, the struggles that followed and her journey through grief, survival, healing and reconnecting with her Indonesian heritage.

SUPERSHARDA is a Surinamese international model, entrepreneur and founder working across fashion, media, culture and social impact. Through her work, she builds platforms, creates opportunities and connects Suriname with people, ideas and opportunities around the world.

Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA is a global conversation rooted in Suriname, exploring identity, consciousness, culture, purpose and the human experiences that shape who we are.

Email identity.spectrum26@gmail.com and tell us who you are, what you would like to discuss and how your story can inspire or educate our audience.

YouTube: Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA
TikTok: Identity Spectrum Podcast
Instagram: @identity_spectrum
Facebook: Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA

What really happens behind the glamour when your face and body become part of the business?

In Episode 3 of Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA, Aby-Jo Elshot shares more than 25 years of experience across modeling, fashion, beauty and entrepreneurship — revealing both the opportunities and realities behind the image.

Aby-Jo reflects on entering modeling as a teenager, being guided by her mother, becoming part of Suriname’s early fashion scene and eventually working internationally. She opens up about unsafe situations, racism, sabotage between models, pressure to change her body and an industry that was often unprepared to work with Black models, their skin and their hair.

The conversation also explores losing her mother, rebuilding her path, entrepreneurship, intuition, public perception and why knowing who you are matters in an industry constantly telling you how you should look.

From glamour to reality and external standards to self-acceptance, this is a conversation about identity, resilience, boundaries, beauty and staying true to yourself.

00:00 — Meet Aby-Jo Elshot
01:40 — From Aspiring Designer to Model
06:22 — The Accidental Audition That Started Her Career
10:08 — Promo Life & Suriname’s First “Influencers”
12:52 — The Reality Behind Modeling’s Glamour
13:46 — How Her Mother Protected Her
15:40 — A Dangerous Encounter With a Fake Modeling Agent
20:52 — Drugs, Violence & Sabotage in Modeling
24:40 — Highlights of Aby-Jo’s Career
26:00 — Representing Suriname at Miss Caribbean Queen
30:19 — Modeling vs. Beauty Pageants
32:19 — Taking Her Career International
33:07 — Losing Her Mother & Watching the Dream Stop
35:42 — Modeling in the Netherlands & Europe
36:30 — “We Already Have a Black Model”
38:30 — Why She Chose Suriname
42:31 — Race, Hair, Makeup & Beauty Standards
47:12 — Body Pressure & Being Told to Become Size Zero
50:14 — Myths About What a Model Should Look Like
54:25 — Modeling, Social Media & Identity
57:25 — Becoming an Entrepreneur & Educator
01:03:11 — Why Fashion Still Makes Her Happy
01:06:25 — Public Perception, Rumors & Knowing Who You Are
01:10:51 — Quick Fire
01:13:00 — How Life Shaped Her Identity
01:16:44 — There Is No Blueprint for Becoming a Model
01:18:46 — There Is Room for Everybody
01:19:16 — Final Thoughts

SUPERSHARDA is a Surinamese international model, entrepreneur and founder working across fashion, media, culture and social impact. Through her work, she builds platforms, creates opportunities and connects Suriname with people, ideas and opportunities around the world.

Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA is a global conversation rooted in Suriname, exploring identity, consciousness, culture, purpose and the human experiences that shape who we are.

Email identity.spectrum26@gmail.com and tell us who you are, what you would like to discuss and how your story can inspire or educate our audience.

YouTube: Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA
TikTok: Identity Spectrum Podcast
Instagram: @identity_spectrum
Facebook: Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA

Ep.2: Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA | How curiosity made me famous | Paul Barbato

Welcome :)
This was my very first podcast episode filmed in December 2024 and published in June 2026. It was a proud moment and i'm very grateful to Paul for being such a great and easy guest to have a conversation with. I hope you enjoy it as much as i did. :)

• SUPERSHARDA
  

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Curiosity can open doors you never imagined, just ask Paul Barbato, creator of the wildly popular Geography Now! YouTube channel. In this episode of Identity Spectrum, we explore how Paul turned a simple idea into a global brand, the mindset behind his success, and how identity plays a role in connecting with audiences worldwide.
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Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA is a deep, inspiring, and consciousness-expanding podcast about who we are, who we have been taught to be, and who we dare to become. From Suriname, the diaspora, and the wider world, SUPERSHARDA explores identity in all its layers: personal, cultural, spiritual, and societal. This educational podcast invites listeners to reflect on the deeper question: how does this topic shape who we are, and how can we more consciously choose who we become?
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SUPERSHARDA is an international model born and raised in Suriname, working as a strategic bridge between international creators and Suriname through her network, expertise, and cultural insight.
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Follow, like, comment, share, and subscribe to be the first to know about new episodes and join the conversation.
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Interested in being a guest on the show?
Email info@supersharda.sr and clearly explain what you would like to talk about, why the topic matters, and how it would add value to the podcast and its listeners.
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📌 Connect with SUPERSHARDA
📩 info@supersharda.sr
🌐 supersharda.sr
🎵 TikTok: @supersharda_official
📸 Instagram: @supersharda_official
📘 Facebook: SUPERSHARDA

How much of the way we think, communicate and behave is shaped by the society we grow up in?

In Episode 1 of Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA, Dr. Gwendoline Smith joins SUPERSHARDA to explore the tribal characteristics of Surinamese society and how culture influences the way people relate to one another, communicate, handle conflict, view success and make decisions.

Born in the Netherlands to a Surinamese mother and Dutch father, Dr. Smith has spent decades studying tribal characteristics across different cultures, including Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil. In this conversation, she brings that perspective to Suriname, examining social structures, hierarchy, criticism, leadership, gender roles, national identity and the cultural habits that influence everyday life.

Together, they explore questions around Suriname’s relationship with status and success, conflict avoidance, colonial influence, communication styles, social groups, public opinion and long-term thinking.

From individual behavior to collective identity, and from communication to leadership and social structures, this conversation asks us to look more consciously at the society we are part of — and how understanding our cultural patterns can help us better understand ourselves. 🇸🇷

00:00 — Introduction
03:42 — Dr. Gwendoline Smith & The Tribal Characteristics of Surinamese Society
14:23 — How Surinamese Society Is Organized
18:07 — Low Hierarchy, Status & Success in Suriname
26:50 — Suriname’s Negative Identity & Colonial Influence
31:32 — Leadership, Social Groups & Decision-Making
43:35 — Why Surinamese People Avoid Conflict
52:19 — The Culture of Being
59:17 — Feminine vs. Masculine Communication
01:07:59 — The Cost of Unresolved Conflict
01:16:53 — Social Media, Public Opinion & the Suriname Map Debate
01:29:37 — Why Suriname Struggles With Long-Term Thinking
01:35:29 — Self-Awareness, Growth & Navigating Surinamese Society
01:44:47 — Final Thoughts

SUPERSHARDA is a Surinamese international model, entrepreneur and founder working across fashion, media, culture and social impact. Through her work, she builds platforms, creates opportunities and connects Suriname with people, ideas and opportunities around the world.

Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA is a global conversation rooted in Suriname, exploring identity, consciousness, culture, purpose and the human experiences that shape who we are.

Email identity.spectrum26@gmail.com and tell us who you are, what you would like to discuss and how your story can inspire or educate our audience.

YouTube: Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA
TikTok: Identity Spectrum Podcast
Instagram: @identity_spectrum
Facebook: Identity Spectrum with SUPERSHARDA