#GIRLPOWER Our #girlpower issue is back in season! I remember when we created a themed issue last year featuring our fabulous bestie, Alexa Losey and you all seemed to enjoy the issue so we thought it would be even more rad to bring it back with a group of amazing and inspirational female individuals who are doing what they love to do and never giving up on what they truly believe in. I feel that it takes courage, confidence and above all, believing in yourself. Never be afraid to voice your opinions, thanks to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” - let the haters hate, you do your thang! Let’s embrace the hashtag together. It’s all about sharing what we love with individuals who are open to inspire others, welcome #craftysouls to our newest issue featuring Halsey who written her first entry in our magazine. Pretty cool stuff, I tell ya. See y’all in December (can’t believe how soon winter break is but ugh, finals).
Cathrine Khom
founding editor-in-chief
many thanks:
arielle sitrick
ellphant
josie minamida
@relsitrick los angeles, ca
@elliphantmusic stockholm, sg
@josiemxo huntington beach, ca
beach goth III
femme
meg deangelis
@observatoryoc santa ana, ca
@femmehq london, uk
@megsdeangelis los angeles, ca
buffer festival
halsey
secret society of ex-mermaids
@bufferfestival toronto, can
@halseymusic new york, ny
@xmermaidsociety new york city, ny
caity krone
izzy malik
shirley mak
@caitykrone los angeles, ca
@theizzymalik merced, ca
@shirlovesu southern california
dgtl luxe
jill cimorelli
vagablondes
@dgtlluxe melbourne, aus
@jcimorelli los angeles, ca
@vagablondesblog orlando, fl
n ove m b e r 2014
contents
C l a s s ic s 07
playlist
08
munchies
09
aptitude
10
diy department
18
p.s. positivity
f e at u r e s 12
beach goth three
14
buffer festival
20
#girlpower submissions
24
vagablondes
28 30
shirley mak elliphant
32 femme 36
izzy malik
38 40 48
arielle sitrick halsey
secret society of ex-mermaids
50
jill cimorelli
52
meg deangleis
56
josie minamida
58 60
caity krone dgtl luxe
iss ue nine t e e n / / n o v e m be r t w e n t y fo u rteen
h a lsey
founder / editor-in-chief cathrine khom managing editor samai khom copy editor sophia khom publicist faith escalera web designer ariane therrien illustrator jaimus tailor diy coordinator madison bass-taylor playlist maker sena cheung front cover logo fiona yeung back cover logo isabel ramos cover photo lexie alley contributing writers kamrin baker, ashley bulayo, orion carloto, sydney clarke, amanda ferrarese, jessica goldman, mackenzie isom, jacob karre, hudson luthringshausen, jovanna madrigal, shawn mulcahy, lydia snapper, alexandra southerst contributing photographers lexie alley, philipp ammon, riley buttery, justin dingwall, rachel epstein, kylee gregg, amanda harle, emily hedrick, gleann ignacio, katy johnson, rachel kober, lhoycel marie, annie jacobs, ruby james, dunja opalko, dylan razo, elisa rodriguez, haydn rydings, priti shikotra, madison bass-taylor graphic designers christine ennis, elizabeth ellins, cathrine khom, gabrielle larsen, isabel ramos style department sophie bernard, emily hedrick, jessie yarborough description local wolves magazine, an online + print publication based in southern california with a talented team from all over the world. we focus on embracing the local scene in art, music, entertainment and film. our goal is to capture and share the stories about people doing what they love to do.
st a y c o nne ct e d w i t h h a l s e y // w e b sit e i am h al s e y.c o m f a c e b oo k h al s e y m u s i c .c o m t w it t e r @ h al s e y m u s i c ins t a g ram @ i am h al s e y
connect http://localwolvesmag.com http://facebook.com/localwolves http://twitter.com/localwolves http://instagram.com/localwolves http://pinterest.com/localwolves http://8tracks.com/localwolves general inquiries localwolvesmagazine@yahoo.com press + advertisting inquiries localwolvespress@gmail.com
COVERAGE: SENA CHEUNG
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munchies + Carmela Ice Cream + Sorbet + STORY & PHOTOS: EMILY HEDRICK
Having recently moved to Los Angeles, I’m always eager to explore new foods that the city has to offer. Carmela Ice Cream + Sorbet had its start in 2007, vending ice cream and sorbet at farmers markets. Carmela soon opened their popular first shop in Pasadena, and later opened the West Hollywood location. The beautiful shop has a refreshing and friendly atmosphere, with framed awards and newspaper features decorating the cream colored walls, such as a well-deserved “Best of LA” award from Los Angeles Magazine. Don’t know what flavor to choose? The employees are extremely friendly and knowledgable while helping you decide what to try. Carmela’s “signature flavors” are Salted Caramel, Brown Sugar Vanilla Bean, Dark Chocolate Cocao Nib, Lavender Honey, and Mint Cacao Nib. Since Carmela makes their organic ice cream with fresh produce, they have interchanging seasonal flavors, depending on what produce is in season! My personal favorite is the signature Lavender Honey flavor, with its amazing floral taste accompanied by a perfect hint of sweet honey. To add to Carmela’s repertoire, the shop has ice cream making classes, as well as a catering service!
+ where to find us
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7920 w. 3rd street los angeles, ca (323) 944-0232
aptitude +
i n s tag r a m c o n t e n t + PHOTOS: SAM KEELER
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latte
pumpkin spice
INGREDIENTS + 3 cups milk + 1 ½ cups white chocolate chips + 1 tsp vanilla + ¼ cup pumpkin puree + 1 tsp pumpkin spice + ½ tsp cinnamon + jet puffed pumpkin spice marshmallows [ optional ] + jet puffed mallow bits [ mini marshmallows just like the ones in the hot chocolate packets ]
TIP! try and make a yummy vanilla or cinnamon infused whipped cream to top your drink off! COVERAGE: MADISON BASS-TAYLOR
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STEP ONE
STEP TWO
+ set stove to medium-low heat and combine all ingredients [ you do not need to add the marshmallows in while melting the ingredients. I just did that because they were on the plate when putting the other ingredients in. ]
+ mix all ingredients together and wait for it to melt, stirring constantly
STEP THREE + pour into cup + top with pumpkin shaped pumpkin spice marshmallows + mallow bits, or anything to enjoy your drink!
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beach goth iii PHOTOS: EMILY HEDRICK EDITED: CATHRINE KHOM
andrew jackson hihad
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andrew jackson hihad
the growlers
alice glass
aquadolls
foxygen
joyce manor
crowd from the growler’s set
diiv
hindu pirates
swimmers
diiv
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14
buffer festival 2 0 1 4 BUFFER FESTIVAL was a truly inspiring event for anyone who enjoys watching or creating YouTube content. It was hosted in downtown Toronto, Ontario over various theatres from October 17-19, 2014. This year’s festival had over 40 screenings — during each screening, the creators premiered never before seen video content on the big screen while engaging with their audiences. Screenings like Jacksgap, Shaycarl, British Invasion, and many more. During the sold-out CTFxC screening Charles Trippy celebrated his 2000th consecutive vlog with cupcakes and balloons. There were also 2 hour meetups after some screenings where you could meet all your favorite YouTubers, and an amazing Gala Red Carpet and Premiere on that Saturday where fans could watch YouTubers walk down the red carpet, take selfies, and get autographs from their favorite creators. The event is definitely one that you should not miss, just proves that #TEAMINTERNET is spreading more positivity and creativity to others. We thank the Buffer festival team for allowing us to cover this incredible event. COVERAGE & IMAGES: CHRISTINE ENNIS & ELIZABETH ELLINS
local local wolves wolves magazine magazine // // 15 15
buffer festival
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BENJAMIN COOK & BERTIE GILBERT
BRYARLY BISHOP & NADINE SYKORA
CARLIE BUTLER
EMILY DIANA RUTH & CHARLIE MCDONNELL
JACK & DEAN
JACK & FINN HARRIES
MEGHAN TONJES
MICHAEL ARANDA
MICHAEL BUCKLEY
PJ LIGUORI
RHETT & LINK
SASKIA VANELL & CORRADO COIA
gala red carpet
CHARLES TRIPPY
COREY VIDAL
CHYNA PATE & CRAIG BENZINE
JACK DOUGLASS
JENN MCALLISTER
LAURDIY & BEAUTYCAKEZ
MIKE FALZONE & ADORIAN DECK
MITCHELL DAVIS
OLAN ROGERS
SAWYER HARTMAN
SHAY CARL
WILL DARBYSHIRE, BEN BROWN, LOUIS COLE, MATTHEW MISZCZAK, STEVE BOOKER
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n o i r O to: o l r a C
H
i Wolfies and Happy November! This month we’re talking GIRL POWER! Growing up, us ladies are taught what’s wrong and what’s right just like anyone else. We’re also told not to talk about certain things in fear that it will have us looked down upon which results into lots of young girls being unaware of many important things. I grew up in a household full of ladies and a very understanding mother, so luckily I always had someone to go to when I needed insight. But unfortunately not everyone has that when going through their teenage girl years, so in that case I’m going to be discussing many girl situations! HEARTTHROB HOTTIE: Let’s face it, us teenage girls go through a lot (and I mean a LOT) of crushing in high school. If you’re like me, you don’t have any type of lady balls to go up to the person you’re drooling over and instead you just kind of stare from afar and stalk their social media until your eyes get heavy. But here’s a tip: TRUST ME, DON’T DO THAT. DON’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES I DID BECAUSE THAT TAKES YOU NOWHERE. Go up to them and try some small talk. Yes, it’s going to take a lot to finally build up the courage to accomplish that goal, but you can do it! Ask them how’s their day going or even who their favorite artist is. If they mention someone’s music that you love, you both will be chatting for hours! If the conversation comes to an end and they don’t ask for your number or any other form of communication, DON’T WORRY. Tell them you’ll chat with
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them later and then when later finally comes around, ask them yourself! Don’t fear that it will be awkward or that they’ll say no. Ask with confidence and I’m sure you’ll totally get their digits in a blink of an eye! BUT LET’S NOT FORGET THIS LADIES: Don’t bring yourself down if you’ve never had a significant other or if you’re having trouble with getting your crush to like you back. There’s so much more to your life than teen love. Yes it can be such an amazing thing to experience, but don’t rely on someone else for the sake of your happiness. Find something that makes your soul glow and your heart jump with joy. Whether it’s painting or writing or even making others laugh! Focus on yourself and what genuinely makes you happy. Build yourself up as the strong independent women you are, and one day someone will admire you for that and join you along on your journey! THE FIRST TIME: Having sex for the first time sounds terrifying, but that’s only because we choose to believe what our teachers and our elders tell us. They teach us that when girls have sex for the first time it will “corrupt” our lives and make us lose a part of us. This concept is also known as virginity. We are taught that losing our virginities will all of the sudden make us impure when in reality you aren’t losing anything. In fact, you’re actually gaining experience. Women (and even men!) shouldn’t be defined by whether they’re a virgin or not. It’s such a wrong concept that shouldn’t even exist. It makes women believe that having sex makes them a “sl*t”
or a “wh*re,” but that’s completely wrong. It also makes men believe that if they are a virgin then they are weak or cowardly. It doesn’t make you any less or more of a person. There is so much beauty in having sex and it’s upsetting that we live in a world that people get shamed for discussing it. Don’t fear social constructed ideas of “virginity” to stop you from loving someone. If you’re comfortable and you’re absolutely sure that you’re ready to share your body with another human being, that’s perfectly okay. It’s natural and such a normal thing to do. This topic usually comes with a lot of girls asking how you can have ‘safe and enjoyable’ sex. For starters, you want to make sure that you and your partner are ready and have each other’s full consent. It can be very nerve-wracking whether it’s your first or even your 3rd, 4th, or 5th time. If you start to feel uncomfortable, don’t be afraid to tell your partner this! It’s very important that you assure them of anything you’re afraid of doing or if you become scared. Communication is key! But trust me, once you begin to get over anything that may scare you, sex is beautiful. It’s so much more than what movies make it out to be. Loving another person and trusting them with your body is such a wonderful experience and nothing to be shamed for. Also remember protection! Condoms for both men and women are sold at many convenient stores so do not forget to purchase before doing the deed! It’s important to use protection to prevent pregnancy and any sexually transmitted diseases. Even if you are 110% sure your partner is free from any disease, it’s still better to be safe than sorry! GIRL HATIN’: Many of us have been guilty for this, even myself… Girl-ongirl hate is such a big problem in this world! From jealousy to hatred, it’s sad to see females knocking other females down. Instead of trying to compete with one another, pick each other up! We’re all in the crazy, angsty, emotional ride together, so why make it harder by being bitter when we can all encourage each other instead? For example, when I was much younger, I had NO idea about any of this. I would call girls ‘fake’ left and right just because they wore extensions or because the amount of makeup they applied. I never realized how disgustingly bitter I sounded because
it was such a normal routine for me. So what if girls wear extensions, a lot of makeup, or that they have their nails done, if that’s what they like, LET IT BE. Little do you know, but it probably makes them feel beautiful or have more confidence. Instead of whispering dirty words when they pass by, compliment them. Let them know that they look extremely stunning or the way that they wore their hair looks beautiful! Every single girl goes through their own insecurities behind closed doors so the last thing everyone needs is a little commentary to bring others down. Hating on others due to pure jealousy is so stressful and the negativity is absolutely tiring. Alright babes, I hope that you all learned a little something from all of this! You are always welcome to come to me for any sort of problem you may be facing whether it’s anonymous or not! My tumblr ask box is always open sskeptical.tumblr.com/ask. Us women have the power to change the world, but we must stick together and bring each other up! Don’t forget ladies — ALWAYS (and I means ALWAYS) kick a**.
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ILLUSTRATION: JAIMUS TAILOR INTRO: ASHLEY BULAYO
THANKS
to Spice Girls, this was the very first time I heard the term “Girl Power.” I never knew what it really meant until I grew up. Over the years, I’ve seen strong, powerful women prevail more than ever and I’m proud to be witnessing it. It’s about time. The thing is, this should have been happening a long time ago. Even though we have overcome many obstacles, that doesn’t mean we are done fighting for the greater good. (That makes us sound like superheroes but aren’t superheroes awesome?) As girls, we need to stick together and fight for ourselves or our voices will be heard as whispers. As for the guys? You can do something too by joining in and help defend us from this constant battle girls go through every single day. It’s only fitting that we proudly present you this #girlpower issue which is very special to us. We’re delighted to showcase our amazing wolfies who contributed their own personal stories and words of encouragement for females to speak up and be the voice they want to be. Be proud, be strong and most importantly, be you.
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• MICAYLA CHAPMAN •
WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA This movement of girl power is something that I am happy to a part of and every day I think about what girl power has done for women of my generation. Being able to stand up for who I am and to not settle for anything less is powerful. I think that women from all backgrounds deserve to have that respect and love that stems from the girl power movement. Feminism is a word that I have learned to love and despite what anyone else can say, feminism has created this mentality that women do not deserve to be treated the way they have and I think that it is incredible to see more and more girls and women loving themselves despite what society has said and having respect for themselves to say that they are unafraid and unapologetic of what they feel and want for the world. Girl power has shown me that I should expect more from the world and what better way to do it than with millions of girls by my side? The power that comes from women who do not take what oppression has offered them and instead fight for their voice to be heard with no exceptions is beautiful and I strive to do better for myself and other women every day.
• PEYTON REESE •
Saint Cloud, Florida To me, there is so much that girl power encompasses, from political issues like equal wages, to not caring what the jerk that sits next to you in math class thinks and eating that packet of Oreos anyway! Since America was born, women have been fighting for equal treatment, which they still are not fully receiving. Now, girl power has expanded to things like body positivity and re-igniting the wonderful feminist movement that began decades ago. Girls everywhere are starting to realize they are lovely, powerful, and that they don’t need to rely on men or what others think of them to be happy with themselves. I couldn’t be happier with the way girls are viewing themselves now, and that is what girl power means to me.
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• Hailey Davis •
Cincinnati, Ohio Girl power is very important to me and is a topic that should be have more recognition. Girl power to me, means, having that confidence in yourself. In today’s society, it’s so easy to lose yourself and get lost in the competition between females whether it be with boys, hobbies, fashion, makeup, etc. Believe it or not, you can be your own biggest supporter. If you are constantly supporting yourself, cheering yourself on, and staying true to you, your confidence with shine and there’s nothing that can stop you from going and getting exactly what you want.
• Myah Vogt •
Atlanta, GA Malala Yousafzai once said, “When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” For a long time, girls have been objects, taught to hide their bodies and submit to male authority. But in recent years, women have realized their power. We are not simply pretty things that clean your house or cook you dinner. We as women have the ability to do everything a man can do, and girl power is not simply recognizing that, but taking advantage of it. To me, girl power is refusing to let up until women have the same opportunities that men have on an equal playing field. Until we are politically, economically, and socially equal, we will not stop. I may not see it in my lifetime, but I speak out so that my future daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters will never have to hear the words, “Girls can’t do that.”
• Jada Davis •
Rock Hill, South Carolina Girl power has changed my whole perspective on life based on the reality that so many girls out there get judge for human flaws that everyone has. The one thing that will always stick in my head that made me realize how important girl power is, is a quote from Tony Porter in his TED talk, “A Call to Men.” Porter says, “If it would destroy a 12-year-old boy to be called a girl, what are we teaching him about girls?” Every girl out there in the world should be so unbelievably proud of who they are!! Diversity is key on this Earth and we can’t keep letting society try to brainwash everyone by saying there are certain credentials to meet to be considered “popular” or “pretty.” Girl power, in my opinion, means that you can be confident and strong enough to let your voice be heard, your actions be noticed, and to take a stand for what you believe in, regardless of everyone else’s opinion on you and your appearance or interests. It’s so important to teach girls that the first person you have to make happy in the world is yourself, and as long as you’re happy, nothing should stop you! You are allowed to make the choices that make you happy.
• Gloria Wong • British Columbia, Canada When I was younger, I used to always hear the phrase “like a girl.” “You run like a girl,” “You fight like a girl” etc. Of course to a 6 year old me, it didn’t register that this was an insult, a derogatory phrase used to put me down and criticize me because I was considered unequal or less of a person than boys. As I got older, I began to notice that not everyone around me believed that I could accomplish the same things as boys. In gym class, the standard for the boys was always higher, it was automatically assumed that they could run faster, jump farther and hit harder than the girls. It was as if they were telling us that we could never be as good as the guys. We could never run faster, jump farther and hit harder than them. I began to identify as a feminist, however, I noticed that not everyone believed that men and women were equal. People would claim that gender equality had already been achieved and that feminists just wanted to be above men. But how can you claim that we have gender equality when women are getting paid far less than men for the same jobs and are not considered for job promotions or employment just because of their gender? We are treated like frail, dainty, breakable objects instead of the strong, confident and intelligent people we are. We are treated as if our only purpose in life is to look pretty instead of contributing to society.We are treated as if our opinions do not matter because of our gender. Girl power does not mean that we need to put down men or promote women above them but instead, it means recognizing that women are equal to men and that we too are able to do amazing things when we’re unrestricted by gender stereotypes. If women around the world are empowered and encouraged by society and given the same opportunities as men, then we have the ability to accomplish just as many extraordinary feats.
on for hundreds of years but times are changing and we are proving we can be leaders of countries, crusaders for change, business woman, and so much more. There are endless possibilities for what our x chromosome bunch can achieve, and how we can change life on earth for the better. With a strong pride in our sex, we are throwing a storm over the world. So watch out everybody because we are more than just pretty faces, and shoe addicts, we are skilled, original individuals who through #girlpower, can do anything!
• Claire Klodell •
New Albany, Ohio When I think of girl power, the idea of confidence immediately comes to my head. Girl power is teaching young girls that tools are not only for their brothers. Girl power is letting girls know that they are worth so much more than just a number. A GPA, age, weight, or jean size should not define who a person is. Girl power is sticking up for the anonymous victim when the ignorant boy in English class claims “she was asking for it.” Girl power means shattering the glass ceiling, and the stereotypes in the work force. The Pulitzer Prize winning author Alice Walker stated, “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” As girls, it’s our responsibility to support one another so we can all reach our fullest potential.
• Arielle Linnette •
Sacramento, California Girl power to me is striving toward your dreams with full force. I myself aspire in many things and I want to help in showing girls that no matter what society says, nothing should stop them or get in their way! Nothing saddens me more than seeing a girl give up. We should encourage one another and come together in this movement. Girls are capable of so many amazing things!
• Gabriela Serpa •
Ponce, Puerto Rico Girl power is about letting women know that they are not inferior and that they deserve the best, just like men do. Girl power means giving women the rights they deserve and having them stand side-by-side with men. It’s about putting an end to discrimination against us. It’s about letting women know that it’s okay to express what they’re feeling, and that they won’t be a “b*tch” or “probably on their period.” It’s about a female CEO of a successful company not being a weird thing. #Girlpower is about letting the world know that it’s time for our voices to be heard and for a difference to be made. It’s time for women to be respected and cherished.
• Anna Herrera •
Garden Grove, California Girl power is an amazing concept that allows all females to celebrate their strengths. It’s the feeling of being completely independent from other genders but still united with other people all over the world through the simple fact that you are a strong, powerful woman. Girl power is a way to remind females that they can do anything they dream of no matter what misogynistic actions and comments are thrown their way. Through this, and feminism girls can be taught to feel beautiful in their own skin, and reminded of what a smart mind can do. Woman have been looked down
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vagablondes
shannon bray // olivia rae QUESTIONS: LYDIA SNAPPER PHOTOS: GRAHAM OAKLEY
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START YOUR BLOG? We were sitting in Shannon’s room one day and we were talking about how we just want to make something of ourselves. We had so many amazing opportunities being thrown at us in the fashion and music industry and we had so many supportive and successful friends always pushing us to do more. We started off just entertaining the idea of starting a blog to fill up our time. Olivia was in Costa Rica, when Shannon called her and said, “Hey I made our website! We’re gonna be the Vagablondes!” And all was up hill from there. We didn’t expect to get such an amazing response from our readers and viewers within such a short time, but we are so thankful. Just that support alone has really inspired us to give Vagablondes our all. TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELVES INDIVIDUALLY. OLIVIA: I have been pursuing a career in modeling for five years now. On the side, I have toured with bands like I The Mighty and Architects doing merch because of my love for the music industry and sense of wanderlust. I was a retail manager at Journeys before we started the blog and I had to quit to start working for my dreams, instead of working for someone else’s dreams. SHANNON: I’m is a freelance photographer and also very close knit within the music and fashion industries. I am animal lover and a mom to a chihuahua named Zoey. The only downside about going on all our trips around the globe is leaving my dog for so long.
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YOU’RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO TRAVEL QUITE FREQUENTLY. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT TRAVELING? Everyone loves that sense of feeling like a stranger in a new city. We also love meeting new people and surrounding ourselves with other passionate, creative friends. Our favorite part about traveling just has to be that satisfaction of knowing that we are living our dream. We were really inspired by a video of older women and gentlemen talking about how they regretted the things they didn’t do, not the things they did. We are firm believers in the idea that you should travel while you’re young. HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH NERVES THAT COME WITH EXPERIENCING NEW PLACES? When Olivia visited Costa Rica, she was definitely in a culture shock. There’s no other way of dealing with it other than just submerging yourself in the new culture and putting in all your effort. Even taking simple language classes in high school has helped us in language barrier situations. We are both very social girls though, so meeting new people always comes easy for us. IN YOUR POSTS AND VIDEOS, YOU DEAL WITH PRETTY CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS. FOR EXAMPLE, YOUR MOST RECENT VIDEO ABOUT NOT GOING TO COLLEGE. WHAT IS BEHIND YOUR DECISION TO POST ON TOPICS MORE SERIOUS THAN GO THE EASY ROUTE OF TAGS OR “RANDOM STUFF” THAT OTHERS GO FOR? Our video discussing why we didn’t go to college was just something we always talk about together. We see other people all the time who are scared of not taking the normal route of going to college. We are both personally very happy with our choice not to go, and we wanted to let others know that you can not to go college and still be successful. We actually had someone the other day say, “Wait, what do you mean you don’t go to college?”
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And that is just an example of how you can be looked at differently for just taking that route. We got a lot of great responses from posting that video and we would love to post on some more serious topics that hit home for us. YOU ARE STARTING TO GAIN A FOLLOWING AND THEREFORE HAVE YOUNG GIRLS THAT LOOK UP TO YOU. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR NUMBER ONE MESSAGE TO THEM? Olivia has a younger sister so inspiring young girls is really personal to us. We were both really bullied by mean girls in school. Our number one message would be confident in who you are and what you want out of life. A lot of bullying comes from self esteem and if you are happy with who you are you will find happiness in spreading kindness among other girls. WHAT DOES GIRL POWER MEAN TO YOU? Girls can truly be so mean to each other and we believe girl power means coming together to support one another in whatever we want to do with our lives. We live in a time where girls are truly taking over the world. With icons such as Sophia Amoruso and Iggy Azalea, we can never devalue ourselves and our potential. WHAT IS A BEAUTY MUST HAVE FOR YOU GALS? We are very big accessorizers. With Shannon’s fashion being more casual and male-inspired she always has a hat on whether it be a snapback or a sun hat or even a beanie. Olivia is the girlier of the Vagablondes. She is a huge shoe addict, after working at Journeys for so long. Another must have for the Vagablondes to keep their beauty up is face wipes and a good face wash! You can’t skip out on washing off your makeup every night no matter how long you are away from home.
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shirley mak
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How do you juggle being in school, keeping up with a blog AND a YouTube channel all at once? Plus, college is creeping up on you soon. SM: Ahh, I honestly don’t even know! It’s really difficult, but like I said in one of my college essays (wink wink). I’m too passionate and in love with YouTube and blogging to give it up now. If you love something or someone, you make it work no matter how little time you have! One thing that has been a huge help, is my planner. It’s my life. I plan my videos, blog ideas, and write down all of my school related events and homework in that thing. It allows me to take a step back and assess everything from a better perspective (aka helps me stop crying from stress everyday). What was it that made you decide, ‘Ok, I want to do YouTube videos’? SM: Although I started with blogging first, I was always an avid YouTube viewer. I started with juicystar07 and Michelle Phan! I don’t even wear any makeup so I can’t even tell you what I found intriguing about their videos. I wanted a more creative voice for my blog, and the concept of it was always interesting to me so I finally decided to branch off from blogging and go into YouTube! If you had the chance to collaborate with one YouTube personality, who would it be? SM: Oh my goodness! I’d have to say Lauren Elizabeth, because she’s freaking hilarious, so so down to earth, we’d be best friends, and I love her so much. Why should our readers check your blog and/ or videos? SM: I feel like I bring another aspect of fashion into my blog and videos! My style isn’t as extreme or fashion forward as other fashion bloggers because I’m still a high school student, and I tend to go for comfort more than beauty. I usually capture outfits that I would or have worn to school so that other girls can actually try to recreate it and wear it out! I love fashion bloggers, and though their outfits are usually amazing, they aren’t always dress code appropriate. I feel like the current YouTube viewer audience includes more of teenagers my age so I’m more relatable in that factor. I love editing, and I put in so much time and effort into my videos to make them the best that I think, they can be. I love reading books to escape from reality, and to “live” someone else’s life for a bit to forget about my worries. I try to write my blog in that way too! My only goal with my blog is for it to provide a quick escape for someone’s day. I’d love to take you guys on my journey through life and hopefully make you laugh, smile, or inspire you along the way.
Were you shy or nervous at first being in front of the camera or were you just like I got this!’? SM: The only thing that was stopping me from creating a channel was my fear of what others would think of me! Eventually I had some sort of “discovery” in 10th grade and was just like ‘Yo! Who cares? Talking in front of a camera wasn’t too hard either! I talk to myself a lot (I’m not crazy, I swear), so I just pretended like I was talking to myself. If we were to take a peek into your closet, what would we see? SM: Lots of black, band shirts, and girly pieces here and there. Honestly, if I were to describe my style it’d be casual, dark, and indecisive. Comfort’s number one for me, and no matter how cute an item is; if it isn’t comfortable, it ain’t happening. You will usually see me running to class wearing my everyday gray shirt, black jeans, and black shoes. When you’re not busy making videos or blogging, where is a place you just love to go? SM: I love reading. Whenever I’m not studying, watching YouTube videos, or catching up on Modern Family, my nose is usually in the latest contemporary or dystopian book. It’s weird, but whenever I’m feeling stressed, I dive into a book so that I can “live” another life and take a step away from my reality for a bit. My local Barnes & Noble (that has a Starbucks) is the perfect place for me! I love the smell of coffee, even though I don’t drink it, and the smell of books. So the Sbux x B&N collaboration that’s going on always makes me happy. Lastly, you still have a huge future in front of you. What is it that you want to do career wise? SM: I’d love to become a fashion stylist or even become a full time blogger. Though those are my dream goals, realistically, fashion isn’t stable and I’m not ready to take that huge leap of faith. I’m planning to double major in sociology and communication; hopefully working with companies and helping people find who they are. But I don’t know manlike you said, I still have a huge future in front of me. I have time to figure it out. That’s the point of life anyways, right? What will happen is going to happen anyways, so I’m just going to go with the flow and hopefully find myself along the way. QUESTIONS: ASHLEY BULAYO PHOTOS: LHOYCEL MARIE
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elliphant STORY: Shawn Mulcahy PHOTOS: Samantha Eisenberg
Swedish pop artist Ellinor Olovsdotter, or better known by her stage name Elliphant has proved to be groundbreaking in the music industry with her unique style and electric personality. Our interview with her spanned a broad range of topics, from Swedish history to songwriting. The name Elliphant might seem a bit random, and she admits that at first it was. “A friend said as a joke ‘oh you should be Elliphant,’” and thus the name was born. However, despite rather arbitrary to begin with, she says the name has now come define part of who she is. “It represents nature, power, softness, grace, and knowledge,” she says. Despite being one of the largest animals in Africa, she says she’s just trying to figure everything out and prove a point. As for her creative process when it comes to making songs, she says that there are many different ways she goes about it. One of these being that she goes into the studio with an idea or message, and crafts a project from scratch. She admits that this process is actually quite scary. “You are giving birth to something that didn’t exist before,” she starts, “and it can either be something terrible, or it can be something fantastic.” One other way she goes about creating her music is by creating the beats first, then writing lyrics to them. In this way she states, “I never really have a plan, it just happens.” This way challenges her, and allows her to get into her creative zone. On October 14th, Elliphant launched her third EP, titled One More. She acknowledges that the songs may differ somewhat from her usual style. Whereas songs like “Revolusion” are more for a moment like working out at the gym or going out, the songs on her newest EP are a little more refined, or as she puts it “more down to earth.” She’s gained recognition for her, as she puts it, “hysteric” style, but this EP is a revelation of sorts for her and an attempt to “show her voice.
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Elliphant, having been to America, was asked how it compared to Sweden. In her eyes, Sweden and America are very similar. From social issues to popular culture, the two countries share some common threads. She states that “if there were 100 million people in Sweden, it would look exactly like America.” On the other hand, Elliphant mentions the universality of the Swedish culture. From Ikea to Swedish pop to H&M, “it’s something for everybody and its very neutral.” To close, she leaves us with the common saying “think outside the box.” She challenges everyone to turn off the TV, and listen to our hearts. In her words: “you’ve got all your answers before you even figure them out.”
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femme We are embracing Girl Power, what does girl power mean to you? To me, it is strength in numbers and supporting each other and sisterhood. Sometimes there is this feeling of being pitched against each other in pop music, [like being] the latest, the brand new shiny new pop thing. I think there is space for a lot of different female pop stars in music. It has been really great seeing lots of different people coming up from the UK as well as the US pop scene. Lorde was one of my favorite pop stars from last year who came out of nowhere and just was absolutely so composed and strong. My recent obsession is FKA Twigs who I just think is fantastic. She is the whole aesthetic and her vision is just bulletproof. Girl power to me is having fun and being sassy and doing what the f*ck you want and not really making many compromises. Can you describe your music style and what’s best about living in London? My music style is kind of left of center pop but it is still pop. I take inspiration from 1960s girl group melodies: The Riots, The Crystals the Chandeliers. [I take] that charm of 60s era girl groups but then it’s pretty masculine beats and hip hop production. My music sounds like a bit of of Debbie Harry, MIA and The Crystals going on a really drunk night out together somewhere (laughs) a really killer night! What’s best about living in London? It’s the only place I’ve lived as an adult! I haven’t really lived anywhere else yet,I love it because it didn’t occur to me that I should live anywhere else. Once I finished school I was like, I need to go to London because I’m making music. If I was in the US I probably would be living in New York. I love it [in London] I
have a bunch of close friends, different musicians, photographers, and fashion designers who have really helped me out a lot. Home for me, to be honest, is where my friends are so I could easily live here if I brought all of those guys with me. What’s your favorite clothing/accessory item on your current outfit now? I just bought this pink faux fur coat; it’s like something out of Clueless! I love it and haven’t taken it off since I got it, but I’m living in a tour bus so that’s pretty easy to do! What else do I love this [oversized crucifix] made by a friend of mine, she makes clothing for Youngblood Warriors and is really up and coming, really cool. I love it and I haven’t taken it off since I got it. How does it feel to be on the road? Fantastic! Absolutely invincible, to be honest. Our fans are so hyped! They want you to be amazing, so its really fantastic to walk out [on stage] even as the opening act. I’m the first on and haven’t got anything in comparison to anyone else but you walk out and as soon as you get there you hear [clapping noise] and they’re so pleased to be there! Especially in some of the smaller cities [you see this] because maybe they rarely they get a pop star like that coming to their cities or something, I don’t know there seems to be this feeling of proper buzz for the whole night from as soon as I step out to as soon as Charli finishes. No, no they’re great! They’re just as good, but [in] the smaller cities we get to play smaller venues and it’s this feeling of all the people packed into there and just kids that are so pleased of you to be there and playing for them. In the bigger cities you get more press stuff like that, but we haven’t played a bigger city yet. New York’s going to
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be our biggest and LA will be another big show! So, yeah it’s been amazing, mean I’m living in an RV that has a dog painted on one side and the fucking desert painted on the side so it’s like the most unglamorous way to travel but I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of middle America because I’ve only been to LA and New York.
The 1980s Madonna especially, not so much these days but back in 1980s, definitely a visually icon of mine not necessarily sonic icon. Also FKA Twigs who I already mentioned. Last but not least, where do you seek inspiration from and how does it influence your songwriting?
So this isn’t your first time in New York? This isn’t my first time, I’ve only visited those two big cities so I haven’t seen any of the middle, so Texas is gonna be great, I’m looking forward to it, St. Louis I have no idea what’s there,
“there seems to be this feeling of proper buzz for the whole night from as soon as I step out to as soon as Charli finishes.” On the road with amazing people, Yeah, we’ve had up until a few days ago not that much time to hang out cause the schedule is really busy and in between we’re all doing different promo stuff. A couple of nights ago we all went to a college party one of Charli’s friends that she made music with I think at some point in her career, and we were in this massive house in Boston: massive student house, and hung out. Who are your leading female individuals and groups that you admire and why do you admire them? So many, massive question. Starting right at the beginning: Dusty Springfield, I love her voice I think she’s fantastic, strong 60s icon. ShirlyBassey, I can watch Shirley Bassie videos til 6AM every night of the week! I mean she’s stunning a massive massive personality and [had [a eally strong fantastic career! Edie Sedgwick, [I know] not a pop star, not a singer but a 60s icon of mine, that whole Andy Warhol factory and imagery and visions is fantastic! And then Debbie Harry very obviously. [Also] Bjork, I love Bjork think she’s fantastic, and Madonna.
I seek a lot of inspiration from different places like film, other music, and especially my photography and whole fashion editorials. I find the imagery great, [and] it’s just really inspiring. Some of my favorite photographers [are] Tim Walker, he’s a big fashion photographer but does very surreal shoots, very very high end shoots; a 60s photographer called Burt Stern who’s most famous work is Marilyn Monroe on the bed, but he actually did a lot more advertising work he’s got some fantastic sort of retro futuristic images of the 60s, everywhere really. To be honest a lot of inspiration for my songs comes from other people’s stories, other people’s drama. My day to day life when I’m not on the road is actually really safe, I mean I get up, I go into my studio and I make tunes. The music I’m making, it pulls on a lot of different characteristics and my visual processes and writing processes are very intertwined with the production process so usually when I finish a song I already have the idea for the music in my head. That’s when I start to [create] the artwork, I mean to be honest I didn’t really start out with the agenda that I’m going to make all my own music videos but it just kind of happened. For example, the video for my last single Heartbeat, I was making the tune and for some reason I just had this really stupid idea to have this massive oversize heart. So I literally finished the tune, walked down to my local butcher’s and bought this massive cow’s heart from the shop to photograph and it ended up in the video! So its just stuff like that. I think about [things] and I go ‘oh f*ck it I’ll see what happens’ and if it’s not good I’ll get someone else to do it professionally. It’s just the process of experimentation and happy accidents and stumbling on other people’s stories that I can. It’s really hard for me to explain my creative process, I usually just hole myself away and I’ll work on something until 4AM until its really where I want it to be. But it is just me, only one person one brain. QUESTIONS: SYDNEY CLARKE PHOTOS: SAMANTHA EISENBERG
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izzy malik STORY: LYDIA SNAPPER PHOTOS: MADISON BASS-TAYLOR
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At sixteen, Izzy Malik faced a problem that many of us know well; she was ride-less to a concert. Her father, who is a doctor, couldn’t get time off to drive her to Kansas and so, with a heavy heart, she had to let go of her dream of seeing Drake Bell preform live. Fast-forward three years and Izzy has not only seen Drake Bell preform but has joined him on the road for a nationwide tour. Reminiscing she recalls the first day of the tour where she was “literally shaking” when she first said introduced herself to him. “I couldn’t believe that he was really in front of me. It was awesome because on the tour because I got to see him preform everyday. He is a huge inspiration and a great guy. Touring with him was an honor.” Having recently released her self-titled debut EP, it’s clear that at just nineteen, Izzy Malik has fashioned a unique sound in regards to her original music. With musical influences varying from The Beatles to Taylor Swift, she describes her style as “pop, with all sorts of influences, ranging from rock to hip hop to country.” Although the process of narrowing fifty songs down to six for release can be tedious, it was well worth it as she has put out a collection of music that is bursting with realism and substance; a rarity for the music industry today. As you may have guessed, Malik isn’t your standard singersongwriter. Although her music is catchy and showcases her talent, she makes sure to use her creative outlet to take a stand on important issues. Her first single, “Malala” which was inspired by a real life event carries a pretty political and powerful message. She explains, “I came home from school and heard about this young girl being shot by the Taliban for wanting an education and couldn’t even fathom how that was possible. How could someone want to take away a right as basic as getting an education? I was inspired by Malala’s bravery and wanted to honor her and did that in the way I best could by writing a song for her. I wanted her to know that even though things looked bleak, there are people who stand by her and believe in the same ideals she does.” Along with her belief in the right to be educated, Malik also stands for positive body image. As a young girl growing up in a world that is filled with extreme scrutiny and unrealistic comparisons, Malik feels that it’s important to use her growing platform to promote a healthy lifestyle. She clarifies, “Being raised by a physician, I realize the importance of eating healthy and staying active, however, my dad also taught me to differentiate between a healthy body image and body dysmorphia. A lot of kids aren’t that lucky and I hope to change that.” She reflects that her desire to raise awareness on behalf of unhealthy body image and low selfesteem can be traced back to high school where she experienced bullying.
She illuminates, “if you weren’t a size 0 and still fitting into clothes you wore in the fourth grade, you’d be harassed relentlessly. This was happening to so many people, it was so disturbing and sad. I knew this had to change and promised myself that when I was in a position where I could make a difference, I’d do my part diligently.” Amazingly, she is already starting to have an impact on her growing fan base. When asked about her time on the road this past September she tells us “ two fans in particular come to my mind, even though there were so many amazing people I have had the privilege to meet. These girls came to my merch table and were crying and asked for an autograph. I’ve been on the other end countless times, so I immensely value and appreciate how they felt. It brought tears to me eyes.” Admittedly busy most of the time, Malik tells us that during her down time her favorite local places are either home where she can watch Netflix or spending time at her father’s cancer clinic where her best friend works. Similarly, Malik finds that these same people that she surrounds herself with form an encouraging support system that work tirelessly to help her in any way that they can. Sweetly, she admits, “I’d never have gotten to where I am today without them.” As lovely as that is, I can’t help but admit that I am more excited to see what is in store for her future. When asked about her goals, she says, “five years from now, I see myself still pursuing my music. A musician’s job is never done, there’s always room for improvement and more work. New songs, new gigs, more amazing people to meet. I honestly can’t wait.” Neither can I, Izzy.
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ari
c k i r t i s e l el
STORY: LYDIA SNAPPER PHOTOS: RACHEL EPSTEIN
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At just eighteen years old, it is clear that ARIELLE SITRICK is not your ordinary USC student. After launching her Kickstarter in effort to raise money for her debut EP, its evident that Arielle, otherwise known as r.e.l. is ready to take on the world and that she already has the support to do it.
Although just at the start of her career, r.e.l. has had the opportunity to play gigs in some of LA’s most famous venues, including “House of Blues, Whisky a Go Go, The Mint, and Infusion Lounge,” to name a few. She says that she has found playing shows to be a really important part of finding her identity as an artists as preforming live is a “really efficient way to figure out which songs people get really excited by and the easiest way to “connect to the people listening to your music.”
With a sound described as “alternative and gusty,” r.e.l. uses a meld synth and tribal rhythms to create a style completely her own. Reflecting back on the start of her musical career, she tells me that in the beginning walking her dog always led to inspiration. She says that “I would always come up with songs. I probably have five hundred plus voice memos on my phone with pieces of songs. I would always get weird looks from strangers as I sang into my phone.” Although, as she has grown in her music she notes that her “songwriting is a bit more deliberate now.” She explains that with practice and experimentation she can now sit down with the intent to write because songwriting has become form of journaling for her. She appreciates the fact that she “gets to capture little moments of time” and express herself through her music.
One of her favorite songs she’s written, which also happens to be her debut single is titled “All That Bite.” In accordance with its release, r.e.l. collaborated with her roommate, Jillian Dudley to create her debut music video. She tells how they “filmed it over a couple weeks in several different locations around LA, one being a rather-sketchy but super rad alley way in downtown LA. I wanted the video to emit the nostalgia of “All That Bite,” the idea of running from your past memories and fantasies we choose over realities. I was really set on having a young girl in the video as a further means of maintaining the nostalgic, longing motif of the song. “All That Bite,” as a song, is tribal and raw and pure and daydreaming and infectious all at once, and it was super important to me that the video had these same qualities.”
As with most artists, r.e.l. explains to me how others musicians from earlier era’s have played a role in her own sound. Having older parents, and a father who is a musican, she was exposed to a different sound growing up, which has influenced her own creations. With the likes of “The Beach Boys, Queen, Simon & Garfunkel, and James Taylor” in her musical encyclopedia, r.e.l. has a variety to pull from. In regards to more current artists, she really admires “Capital Cities, Arcade Fire, Ben Kahn, Ellie Goulding, Yuna, and Bastille.” She also shares that she is currently obsessed with MS MR who she “died seeing at Coachella this year.”
With her EP slated for an early fall release, r.e.l is on the way to a promising career. A couple years down the road, she hopes to have a few albums under her belt and to be touring all over the world. She reflects, “that’s the amazing thing about music. It jumps across barriers of just about every kind – language, culture, socio-economic status”. She wants to share her music with strangers everywhere and hopes that who ever stumbles across her finds her as inspiring as she has found other musicians. With talent and drive practically teeming out of her pores, r.e.l. is sure to achieve her all she can dream up.
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ENTRY BY: HALSEY PHOTOS: LEXIE ALLEY
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HALSEY HALSEY talks sex, androgyny, and gender roles in her powerful guest essay for this month’s cover story. The 20-year-old, selfmade feminist firebrand also calls bullsh*t on the male-dominated music industry and its quest to capitalize on the #girlpower trend.
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A GREY FACED MAN in a grayer suit told me this summer that my passion was “cute.” My opinions were “spunky.” My general lack of tolerance for disrespect was “sassy.” All the things that make me a strong independent human, someone stamped with a big fat sticker that made them, sweet. I’m too loud. I’m too outspoken. Too politically incorrect. Too vulgar. “Girl power is so on trend right now, the media eats it up. That’s your thing, though. That’s your shtick. Right?” Wrong. My determination spawned from being a young woman in a male dominated industry, single handedly building an entire collective from the ground up. And they want to make it a “shtick”; a “gimmick.” He’s right though. It’s no secret that girl power sells. But not because it’s a trend. Because it’s what people crave to hear. I don’t have to delve into the details of what makes this society a patriarchal one. Ask a kindergartener to name all the presidents and they’ll (adorably) rest my case. Young women AND men in this day and age love a good female icon. As a new generation embraces powerful female role models, society moves another step in the direction of dismantling gender barriers that plague BOTH sexes. The time for change isn’t coming; it’s here.
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I like to talk about sex. It’s beautiful, it’s fun, it’s a masterpiece of human connection. But that’s a “masculine” thing to do in music. Women don’t talk about sex. It’s not “lady like.” So I’m gonna keep talking about sex. I’m going to keep talking about sex so that the young women listening realize that it’s okay to be a sexual being, and it’s okay to love yourself. I’m going to keep talking about sex because the more I do, the less “masculine” the subject will become. And the less pressure to do or say ANYTHING “masculine” will exist for young men. The looser the definitions of “masculine” and “feminine” actions become the lesser the expectations for either sex to BE a certain way. I like androgyny. I love my strong jaw. My messy hair. The swagger in my step. These were the things I saw in male rock stars growing up; that I clung to, I imitated. I spent my time in my room watching videos of Leonard Cohen, and Beck, and James Dean. I didn’t care that they were men. They spoke beautifully; they moved romantically. They oozed confidence and sexuality. I intended to be that kind of artist for young women, in hopes of eliminating the aspect of alienation because I am a WOMAN. My motivations are honest. My passion is real. The fire in my eyes has been burning for some time now. So it stings, when someone takes the demons that drive you, and sees dollar signs.
My heart sinks when I see a woman in the public eye give a limp answer when asked if she’s a feminist. Trends come and go, but wanting equality for every human on this earth is something that has motivated countercultures for years. That’s what feminism has been interpreted as; a counterculture. A group of likeminded people with radical beliefs. And if there’s one thing at which the music industry excels it’s to popularize and monetize the counterculture. They’ll beat the ideals into the ground until they are skewed and warped and misinterpreted. Just as they are doing with the feminist movement today. I don’t believe that feminism is a trend. I am ecstatic to see it so often explored in current popular media. But I stand to maintain that it is NOT a trend. Feminism isn’t going anywhere and (while some seek to superficially represent it to stay relevant) I am confident that the amount of woman and men working vigorously to dispel the gender barriers WILL reign successful. I am honored to have a hand in this movement, and I will continue to eat, sleep, and breathe girl power so that we see the necessary change. Keep your dollar signs. Halsey’s debut EP “Room 93” is out now on Astralwerks.
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“THE TIME FOR CHANGE ISN'T COMING; IT'S HERE.”
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secret society of ex mermaids PHOTOS: KATY JOHNSON
We know being an ex mermaid is not always easy. Being misunderstood, awkward and total outsiders can be rough for a lot of our previously finned friends. Lucky for all you remarkable creatures, Francki Harrell, an ex mermaid herself, has created a fashion line to unite all ex mermaids in a “community where their dark, otherworldly grace could be celebrated.” In September of 2013, The SECRET SOCIETY OF EX MERMAIDS was formed. Inspired by visual media and the Pop Surrealist movement, the apparel and accessories of this line are like something you’ve never seen before. Bright colors, sprinkles and sea monsters are all characteristics that just scream “cool” about their collection - and that’s just what they’re aiming for. The collection was made to “look cool right away, in one shot” Francki explains. Most of the pieces are designed to make a statement, while still being extremely comfortable - giving off an effortless chill vibe. The Society wasn’t founded by just anyone, Francki Harrell has a lot more cred than you’d think. Having worked with big names like Michael Kors, Isaac Mizrahi, Rebecca Taylor, Lela Rose and more, she’s climbing her way to the top. Growing up in New York and living in London for five years, Francki mentions, has affected the way she looks at everything. “There is nothing quite like street fashion in Europe and English girls are the coolest around!” Francki has a fashion design degree from Parsons The New School in NYC and claims to have been an ex mermaid for as long as she can remember. If that doesn’t make you want to join the Society, I don’t know what will. Be on the lookout for Ex Mermaid in the next ten years, Francki is working towards making it into a complete clothing line “worthy of a spot in NY fashion week”. Her dream is to have people trying to sneak into her fashion show during NY fashion week, joking that she’s “a criminally good fashion show crasher…It’s the highest compliment to have crashers!” Three words to describe the Secret Society of Ex Mermaids? Tribal. Enigmatic. Fearless. What are you waiting for? Come join the society fellow Ex Mermaids. You know who you are.
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jill cimorelli QUESTIONS: ASHLEY BULAYO PHOTOS: RACHEL EPSTEIN
First off, your videos are so fun and quirky. Can you tell our readers who don’t know you what it is that you feature on your channel and just a little bit about yourself? JC: I have a lifestyle channel so I talk about lots of different things, but my favorite videos are DIY videos, fashion videos, and cooking videos! I also throw it some beauty and advice too though! I’m 20 years old and I’m currently living in Hollywood, though I’m originally from New Jersey. I go to school out here and I’m studying to become an actress! This is my last year of school, which is pretty scary since soon I’m going to have to be a real life adult (gulp)! You have DIY, vlogs, makeup tutorials, etc. what’s your strategy on coming up with new ideas? JC: This is such a tough thing to do when you have a channel, especially since I put up two videos a week, so I need quite a few ideas all the time. Basically, I spend some time every few weeks sitting down and brainstorming ideas. I think about the time of year, the season, holidays that might be coming up, and use that, along with things happening in my life, as inspiration. And then I make a huge list of ideas, weed out the bad ones, and make a nice little upload schedule for myself!
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You’ve had your channel for a while. I love your first video, Luna Lovegood! What’s your favorite video you’ve made so far? JC: Ahh! My Luna video! I actually wore that costume to the midnight premiere of the last Harry Potter movie. Seriously obsessed. But anyway, this is a tough question, I think it’s got to be my DIY notebook videos. There are two and I refuse to pick which one I like best. One of them has this amazing DIY TFiOS notebook and the other teaches you how to make an exact replica of the Burn Book from Mean Girls. You can’t possibly expect me to pick between those two! Since we talked about the past, what videos do you have planned in the future for your audience? JC: I think the future of my channel is something along the same lines as what I’m doing now, but a bit more mature. I’m growing up now and I’m the same person I was when I was 16 and started my channel and I want my channel to be able to reflect the stage of my life that I’m in. I definitely won’t stray from my roots because that’s why people subscribed to me to begin with, but I want to take it to the next level. I’m not totally sure what that means yet, but there will be lots and lots of DIYs (because I’m a little obsessed with DIYing).
When did you realize, “Oh my gosh. People like me!” That type of moment where you noticed you were growing a bigger viewership? JC: Holy moly, this still gets me every time I think about. My friends and I always joke that they don’t want to spend time with me and they have to, yet 100k people choose to watch my videos (laughs)! This was definitely summer of 2013 when I gained around 30K subscribers in two months. It was totally surreal. Also the first time I got recognized in person, I was in iHop and this group of girls stared at me while I was walking by and then one ran after me and asked if I had a youtube channel. Then we took a ton of pictures, I’m pretty sure I fangirled harder over them then they did over me! Of course, there will always be internet HATE and negative comments out of nowhere. How do you deal with those and the “internet bullies”? JC: When you choose to put yourself out there on the internet, you have to accept that not everyone is going to agree with you and not everyone is going to be nice. I’ve been lucky enough to not have too many awful things said to me, but when it does come up it’s all about ignoring it.
What advice would you give someone who wants to do what you’re doing but is too afraid? JC: GO FOR IT! I promise it’s not nearly as scary as you think it’s going to be. At first it might feel a little weird because you’re sitting alone in your room talking to a camera, but you get totally used to it and it is sooo much fun! And don’t be discouraged if your channel doesn’t take off over night. Very few people have that happened. I definitely didn’t. So pace yourself, work hard, and have fun! Lastly, where’s your favorite place to go to in your hometown to sit back and relax or just have fun at? JC: Well food is my favorite thing in the world, so I’m going to tell you about my two favorite food spots in LA. First off, New York Pasta & Pizza which I know sounds funny since it’s in LA, but it’s this little hole-in-the-wall italian place at La Brea and Sunset which is so delicious. The staff is incredibly friendly. They know my order by heart now! And the other is this breakfast place called Shaky Alibi. You have to have a bit of a sweet tooth to eat there, but they have these amazing waffles, tons of toppings, and these fantastic waffle sandwiches.
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meg deangelis Pushing each other’s buttons is a hobby we’ve all become keen to in this internet-fuelled, hard-driven world. We like statuses and subscribe to channels, hoping we’ll become fluent in the language of someone else’s talents and life stories. YouTube is clearly the chief outlet for these desires, and there’s a massive selection of avenues to journey along, and Meg Deangelis (or MayBaby) gave us a magnifying glass into her online perspective.
back and forth through her adolescence, which meant a lot of adjusting and adventuring. “I was fifteen at this point. [moving away again] I’d just been accepted into an arts school that I worked really hard to get into, and I’d finally made a best friend. Having to move again was the last thing I wanted to do and it was really hard to get through those last years of high school, but I’m really glad I stayed focused and graduated.”
“What first motivated me to make videos were my hobbies: gymnastics and singing. I would post random and short videos of me tumbling or singing,” DeAngelis reflects. “As I kept making them, I realized I could make videos about other things and just talk about my life with my subscribers, and it just grew from there. I moved around a lot when I was younger and never made a very stable group of friends, so having a little family on the internet was something I was really grateful for.”
Being from Canada, though, she can always weasel her way back home inside of a Tim Horton’s. In fact, it’s the little things like a local hotspot or a Picasso like sunrise that get her rolling. “My motivation always comes from little things that are happening in the near future like my morning coffee or maybe a video topic idea,” DeAngelis professes. “If I think too much about the bigger picture, especially in the morning, I get overwhelmed and it makes me want to stay in bed forever.”
Besides relating with her backstory, DeAngelis’s viewers are able to peek inside of her current lifestyle to confide in a feeling of friendship, empowerment, and humor. The best example of this bond is the fact that if she could “collab” with anyone on a video blog, it would be Beyonce, “and I don’t even need to explain that one.”
It’s pretty clear that Meg knows how to get up and at ‘em, telling by her one million (plus!) subscribers on YouTube. Despite being overwhelmed by the future, she’s prepared to tackle it. “My career goals coincide a lot with my personal goals,” DeAngelis clarifies. “In the future, I want to produce better content and explore different styles of video making, and, to do that, I need to become more confident in myself and my abilities to perform and create. As well as upping my video game, a huge goal of mine is to have a clothing line.”
Akin to starting a new relationship or creating a presence within a new work or lifestyle opportunity, DeAngelis feels as though producing her videos pushes her to a creative edge where she feels completely in her element and simultaneously extended out of her comfort zone. “Talking about your life to your viewers means being raw and okay with revealing a lot about yourself,” she reports. “Singing is the same way because I love doing it so much, but it’s scary putting yourself out there.” The “putting yourself out there” element isn’t breaking news to DeAngelis, as she has been employing it most of her life. “The biggest challenge I’ve had to overcome was moving overseas, away from my hometown, for the second time.” She was born in Canada and moved to Germany
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With her chart-topping support from subscribers and “energetic, friendly, and innovative” personal strength, the bar is being set higher and higher for MayBaby’s personal ladder of success. She knows what she wants, and she’s ready to thrive. To follow in her footsteps, she reminds everyone to “blur the line between work and play. If you live take the time to live life, it’ll inspire your work.” STORY: KAMRIN BAKER PHOTOS: RACHEL EPSTEIN
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WARDROBE ripped knee jeans // carmar animal shoes // matisse burgundy sweater coat // millau chambray underneith // millau mesh tee // emma and sam bralette // emma and sam small leather skort // paper hearts burgundy boots bring basic knee high // socks studded denim jacket // furst of a kind ripped flannel // furst of a kind floppy hat // unif basic ripped tees // emma and sam STYLING: SOPHIE BERNARD WARDROBE: LF ABBOT KINNEY
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josie minamida In the wild and winding world of YouTube, one comes across countless niches and communities in which creators post videos. Perhaps one of the most popular of these niches is the beauty, fashion and lifestyle segment where creators post “lookbook,” “haul,” and lifestyle videos for fashion and beauty interested subscribers. We’ve seen the likes of Zoella, Bethany Mota, Michelle Phan and AndreasChoice skyrocket to success over the past couple of years to name a few but make room for Josie Minamida, a nineteen year old, Fashion Merchandising major from Huntington Beach, California who’s fashion/lifestyle channel is quickly growing. Josie, a self-titled “fashion vlogger” always knew that she belonged in the fashion industry but never quite knew where exactly she fit in until she came across several girls on YouTube creating videos about fashion and beauty. Soon after she created her YouTube channel, “josielovesbeauty” which has been growing for the past three years. After spending hours watching other girls create videos about their shared passions, Josie figured, “Why not?” Minamida’s positive attitude extends well beyond the computer screen as she describes her journey with her channel, “My channel is like my child. I’ve changed as a person and you can see that throughout my channel. I do not have the biggest subscriber amount but in a way, I’m happy with that so it’s easier to always have communication with my subscribers.” Looking to the future, Minamida’s ultimate dream career is to be the fashion stylist for her favorite band The 1975, “It is a very specific dream and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to one day, make it come true. My YouTube is helping to achieve it in a way because it helped me realize what I want to do in life and that is to be a stylist. I was able to find my personal style and made me realize all I want to do is to be in the fashion industry.” In a year she sees herself, “still balancing school, YouTube andworking my hardest to make my career goals come true.”
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Josie’s channel is growing steadily and her subscriber base is becoming stronger but that doesn’t mean that she wouldn’t change a thing or two about her channel if she had the chance to start again. “I’m bad at makeup and only have a pouch full of makeup.” In addition, she would create more fashion videos that better fit her personality and personal interests. On the subject of YouTube, Minamida cites her favorite Youtuber as Claire Marshall (HeyClaire). “She’s the ultimate bad a** and creates the most amazing videos and can we give a moment of silence for her cute cat Bruce?” Being a fashion vlogger, she has a favorite beauty product which we agree is an essential! “My favorite beauty product is really boring but it is Nvea water gel sunscreen. Feels like water doesn’t have the greasy feel and has no scent.” This bubbly and always smiling YouTuber describes her personal style as simple, “I only wear black and white. I would say I have a chic and grunge style. Sid Vicious and Kylie Jenner are my fashion icons.” When asked if she had a favorite experience in relation to her YouTube career, Josie described her first subscriber encounter, “My favorite experience is when my very first subscriber came up to me at Target. Her name was Bella and she comes up to me and says “Are you Josie? Do you make videos?” and at that point I became so nervous and almost started crying because I was so happy. It’s crazy to think some people in my hometown watch me and it’s a moment I’ll never forget.” Youtubers need their “me” time to relax and chill. Josie likes to spend hers at OC Mix in Costa Mesa, a shopping center which boasts a tea bar and free wifi (a must!) making it the perfect place to edit videos and hang out. STORY: ALEXANDRA SOUTHERST PHOTOS: LHOYCEL MARIE
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caity krone With a voice and musical style that can only be described as the love child of Adele and Birdy, CAITY KRONE is someone you need to get on board with right now. Like, right this second. Raised in the entertainment capital of the world, this LA native is no stranger to the realities of the music industry. At just seventeen, this charming Whole Foods enthusiast has talent practically seeping out of her pores and I feel its time the world knew about her. The first thing I noticed about Caity when speaking with her was how charismatic, modest, and light hearted she seemed, but I learned that wasn’t always the case. While opening up to me she revealed that for a while her insecurities really limited her; explaining that being selfconscious about her weight prevented her from taking risks because “she didn’t love herself.” However, after attending a retreat in Utah and learning to live a healthier lifestyle, she began to feel comfortable in her own skin and started to put herself out there. She says that “with more confidence, I was motivated to get together with musicians at my school and start playing my music around LA.” Aside from local gigs, she has taken to YouTube in recent months and has begun posting beautiful covers that consistently have an original twist to them. She explains that she just sings the best she knows how given the tonality and range of her voice. Also noting that “if you are emotionally connected to the lyrics, the song comes out differently.” Since building momentum behind her musical career, Caity has had a lot of incredible and enviable experiences, including the opportunity to sing with Passenger at a show of his. She recounts how her friend Doris sang with him and Stu Larsen the summer before. Doris had taught Caity Stu’s harmony for “Heart On Fire” and that the two of them showed up to the concert early so that they were right in the front. Given the opportunity, they told Passanger that they were prepared and when it was time for him to play the song he invited them up.
“It was really cool because he seemed really impressed with us!” Krone says. She also tells us, nonchalantly, that she has been very fortunate in getting recognition from musicians she admires, including Harry Styles and Ed Sheeran. As if its not a huge deal, she explains that Styles listened to a couple of her covers and over DMs gave her advice about the music industry, explaining that “he’s a big reason why I had the courage to record my music and plan to release it.” Similarly, when Ed Sheeran heard a song of hers, he told her that he “saw a lot of potential” and that she has a “lovely voice.” Unsurprisingly, as an original songwriter she has a lot of artists that inspire her. She tells us that she “loves the Beatles, The 1975, James Morrison, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Emeli Sande, and probably a lot of other artists I can’t think of right now!” Impressively though, instead of trying to recreate their sounds and styles she explains that she writes “music how I feel it and arrange the songs to compliment the feelings behind the lyrics, so I would say I’m pretty true to myself. My songs are just my feelings sung to a melody.” Just at the start of her career, Caity has big, but humble, dreams. She tells me that in the short-term she hopes to release her music this upcoming fall. Sweetly, she explains that the idea of being “famous” isn’t a motivating factor for her. Rather she says that “if my music can reach people and help them with what they are going through, even just relate to them in some way, I’m happy. I just want to do what I love and hope people enjoy it too.” Caity’s EP is due out soon and having had the privilege of an exclusive listen to some of her unreleased original music, I can assure you that with the combination of her unique voice, relatable lyrics, and genuine emotion, this singer/songwriter has a bright future ahead of her. STORY: LYDIA SNAPPER PHOTOS: RACHEL EPSTEIN
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dgtl luxe PHOTOS: KATY JOHNSON
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