Entrepreneur Kristina Roth encountered her fair share of sexism after founding her own IT company. She was often the only woman surrounded by men, who were quick to question her presence. But after she sold her company in 2016, she began a new endeavor, this one was all about women. She launched SuperShe, a female-only networking group, but it expanded into a lifestyle blog, events, and retreats to exotic locations. It eventually included an entire vacation island in Finland where men were banned.
A Female-Only Utopia
Roth bought the 8.4 acre island in 2017 and began to transform it into a women-only beach haven. First, it was full of male construction workers to renovate and lay water and power lines. After that, there were no men allowed, aside from Roth’s close family members and friends. It was officially opened to the SuperShe community in June 2018, which involved over eight thousand women from all over the world.
SuperShe Island in Finland Where Men are Banned
The island includes four cabins that can host up to 10 people. The island’s itinerary was focused on female empowerment, inspiration, and wellness. It featured activities like yoga, kayaking, hiking, meditation, massages, cooking classes, fitness classes, saunas, motivational talks and groups, and more. “It’s beautiful…it has blueberry fields in the middle [of the island],” Roth told CNBC Make It in 2018. “So in the summer when you walk, it’s just like blueberry fields forever…it’s really a little utopia.”
“Hey blondie, what are you doing here?”
However, there were challenges along this journey. “I’m a computer scientist, and I worked only with men. Ergo, how many times did I have to listen to ‘Hey blondie, what are you doing here?’ At least that was during my studies,” said Roth. She related a story when she was CEO of her tech company and meeting a new client, who assumed one of the older male staff members was in charge. “Immediately they went to him. He worked for me,” she said. “They immediately went to him and shook his hand… And I never forgot it.”
A New Form of Networking
After selling her company, she began to travel and collaborate more with women, which led to the creation of SuperShe society. Instead of stale networking conventions, SuperShe “was ’Hey, let’s go have a fun time, we’re going to go surfing and hiking and kite boarding. We’re going to get to know each other. I like you, you like me, guess what? We will help each other,” Roth explained.
An Elite Guest List
The SuperShe island garnered a lot of media attention because of the price: One week-long stay was 4,600 euros. Roth was very selective about her guests, which some critics called “elitist”. The process even involved a video interview. But the team received thousands of applications. At the end of 2019, the island became only available to active members of the SuperShe App. “The number one, number one thing that’s important for me is that you have an amazing personality, like upbeat, cool personality, because you’re on [an] island,” Roth said to CNN. “That’s what’s going to make it fun and exciting for everyone.”
You Can Rent an Island in Finland (“Men Banned” is Optional)
However, after over five years of operation, SuperShe shut down in 2022. Roth continues to run her second IT company, and founded SMASHD, a brand selling non-alcoholic cocktails, according to her LinkedIn. In late 2023, shipping executive Deyan Mihov purchased the island for a million euros. At the time, he said he didn’t have specific plans for the islam but he has since turned it into an AirBnB. People can rent an entire private island for almost $900 a night (USD). So if you would love a weekend in Finland on an island where men are banned, you can still make it happen.
Women-Only Vacation Spots
Fortunately, SuperShe island was not the only place for female-only vacations and retreats. Bliss Sanctuary for Women is exactly as it sounds. Located in Bali, Indonesia, the accommodations come with unlimited massages, yoga classes, sightseeing tours, and other activities depending on the goal of the vacation. Meanwhile, Josephine’s Guesthouse in Zürich, Switzerland, offers female-only accommodations. You can book a cozy room for one or a large living space for a group of friends. They also offer long-term booking for up to six months. Wome Deluxe is a hotel in İncekum, Turkey, with women-exclusive areas that include a beach on the Mediterranean, pools, pier, sun terrace, snack bar, spa, and a variety of activities.
Women-Only Adventure Retreats
Then there are the women-only wellness retreats, and they are not all limited to yoga and spa treatments (although those are often included). SwellWomen retreats are designed to empower women by teaching them surfing, and they are available in Bali, Maui, Portugal, and Costa Rica. Unbridled Retreats are all about equine connection and offer horseback riding and related workshops in Hawaii, Wyoming, and California. Outdoorsy gals can head to the Scottish countryside for woodsy adventures, including hiking, kayaking, mountain-climbing, swimming in lochs, and more with Wilderness Scotland.
Retreats for Book Lovers and Moms-To-Be
Meanwhile, indoorsy gals can go to Retreat in the Pines in Texas, USA, which offers a Book Lovers Retreat involving book talks around a fire and cozy cabins to curl up for distraction-free reading. And if you desperately want a vacation but you’re too pregnant for surfing and hiking, Mom’z offers all-women and all-pregnant retreats in Portugal and Spain that involve birth preparation classes, massages, creative workshops, and personalized meals to cater to any craving. These spaces may not be an entire island but they can still offer restoration and female empowerment.
Read More: ‘I Felt Myself Leaving My Body’: Woman Shares Harrowing Account of Abuse
