We ask Steph Vassilopoulos, “What matters?”

Inspired by the theme of Mardi Gras 2020.

Inspired by the theme of Mardi Gras 2020, we asked Sydneysiders how they mark the occasion and importantly, ‘What matters to you?’

I am… Stephen (pronounced “Ste-Fen” not “Steven”) – I prefer to be called Steph. I just turned 21 and work fulltime in Marketing while completing my degree in Communications. I love baking and splurging on outfits and skincare – I’m a stickler for reading ingredients lists and calling out skincare products for adding literal detergent (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) in ‘cleansers’. I can literally recite the entire script of the chick-flick “John Tucker Must Die” – I had a lot of free time as a teen. Come to me about relationship advice, although I haven’t had one – 99.9% of my friends are strong beautiful females whose only flaw is constantly wasting their time on F boys who use detergent as a body wash.

My first... Mardi Gras was just last year and I had the best time, met so many beautiful souls and cannot wait for this year! I’ll be hitting up the parade to cheer on the floats I wish I were on. In doing that, I’ll be accessorising heavily in gold – think trust-fund Egyptian Pharaoh walking out of a Gucci pyramid. I’ll obvi be going with my girlfriends I love, who I would literally wear polyester for in a life or death situation.

I think... its a great time to recognise the hardships and discrimination that were so widespread in the past and to raise a glass to the 78ers who fought so hard to be recognised as nothing more than equal. To people who question why there isn’t a ‘straight parade’ – be grateful that there wasn’t ever a need to have one. Be grateful that your existence was never questioned or looked down upon. Mardi Gras is a time for everyone to come together and just have unconditional fun, be with people who make you laugh and smile and acknowledge that we are all equal.

What matters most… I’m helping my parents raise my two little sisters to be strong independent women who understand that they can and will achieve anything, not despite being a woman – but BECAUSE they are women. They’re aged six and nine. I guess I’d want to show them that love and happiness is all you can really strive for in this world – we don’t get long in it so its best spent on your terms.