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People say I'm the more "serious twin," and maybe they're right. I guess that's what happens when they compare you to your sister. My twin, Tali, is a karaoke queen! She's not afraid to get up and belt out a power ballad, to try a new fashion trend, or to tell someone exactly what she thinks. Me, I'll do that stuff, but with a lot more hesitation.
But once they meet my hyperactive dog, Seymour, they see another side of me. Seymour is a miniature dachshund with a super-sized attitude. Like a true Aries, he loves attention and always wants to play. I bring him to our AstroStyle offices in NYC every day. I know with Seymour around, I'll always "see more" of life, because he's so alert -- and adorable! This March, I got Lulu, a little speckled dachshund puppy (and a Sagittarius like me). Once you go dach, you never go back!
HOW DID THIS ASTROLOGY OBSESSION BEGIN?
I got into astrology years ago, while working at a computer lab. My co-worker
gave me a free piece of software that cast people's birth charts. I started
charting all my friends and was amazed at the accuracy! The positions of the
planets at birth time truly foretell everyone's challenges and strengths. It's
unbelievable what you can see!
Tali quickly jumped on the bandwagon, and we soon developed a strange talent
for memorizing every celebrity's astro-sign (check out our Celebs section)
-- as well as everyone we meet. I can run into someone on the street whom
I haven't seen in 10 years, not remember their name or how I know
them, but say, "You're a Libra!"
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BODY-LOVIN' WORLD: MY OTHER PASSION
Before starting AstroStyle, Tali and I founded HUES,
the first multicultural women's magazine to hit the national newsstands. We wanted
to show the world that beauty was more than skin-deep, and came in many sizes
and colors. We published HUES from 1992-1997.
During that time , I saw how much body image affected every girl and woman, myself included. The pressure to fit a pre-set image is so strong, even if beauty standard varies between cultures. I put together a book called Body Outlaws. To this day, I travel to schools nationwide, helping people to "love themselves through thick and thin."
I love astrology for the same reasons: it's a great way to understand yourself and accept others. We're all different and special, even if we're united by 12 signs or simply being human.
I have my own website at Ophira.com if you want to know me better. I'd love if you stopped by!
