Our May issue is themed to “Mirror, Mirror”—not as a study of appearances as one might immediately think, but as an exploration of self-reflection and self-realisation. What does it mean to see yourself clearly? And what shifts when you begin to act from that place? For this month’s cover star, Note Panayanggool—or Notep—the answer lies in moving away from wanting to do everything at once, and making conscious decisions to do less.

Since her return to music after a 10-year hiatus, Notep finds herself in a very good place, having shaped a life that feels cohesive rather than crowded. “Two years ago was a turning point. It was the first time I released music after nearly a decade, and it helped me understand the direction I actually wanted to go in,” she tells us in our cover story. “It feels more whole, and I pick and choose the elements that I like, and I blend them together.”

That sense of self-awareness and curation threads its way throughout this issue. Olivia Dean reflects on her stratospheric rise despite a refusal to be anyone but herself. Her soulful vocals paired with introspective songwriting has given rise to the sound of this generation. Likewise, with Iman Fandi, whose recent journey of knowing and choosing herself has led her to become an independent artiste forging her own path.

In fashion, individuality is celebrated in a way that feels intimate rather than statement-making, with the performative taking a back seat to the personal. In beauty, the conversation turns inward, with longevity and care reframing our approach to time, ageing, and self-investment. And in our Life & Culture section, we have a think piece on stepping far away from the algorithm, and what it means to log off permanently.

Life is too short to waste time on versions of ourselves that don’t feel quite right. If you take anything away from this issue, let it be to always choose yourself. And you’ll be proud of what you see in the mirror, today and always.