Composure Magazine #3 by Composure Magazine

ISSUE #3

SARAH

rafferty

“SUITS” UP FOR SEASON

5 GRAMMY

AWARD WINNING

PRINTZ BOARD

BETTER CALL JULIE ANN EMERY SEOUL SEARCHING

with

JUSTIN CHON

TANYA HEATH PARIS TAKES ON LOS ANGELES

CONTENTS

CELEBRITY

7 17 31 45 53 64 75

PRINTZ BOARD ALLIE GONINO JULIE ANN EMERY NAOMI GROSSMAN JUSTIN CHON CHRISSIE FIT SARAH RAFFERTY

FASHION

24 37 51 59 71 86

OUTFIT: FLOWER CHILD WORK HARD PLAY HARD 5 TRENDS TO TRY THIS SUMMER BY COURTNEY KERR FASHION DESIGNER PROFILE: KORA RAE TANYA HEATH PARIS, A FOOTWEAR REVOLUTION TREND ALERT: FULL BLOOM

BEAUTY

23 64 73

CELEBRITY HAIR STYLIST DANNY JELACA BEAUTY EDITOR’S PICKS SENSE THE SUMMER SPIRIT

EDITORIALS

13 25 39 61 83 87

MOSS LAKE WHERE THE WIND BLOWS COLOR SWEEP LEMON SQUEEZE SOCAL AFTERNOON MISFIT CITIZEN

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Editor in Chief Fashion Editor Fashion Associate Beauty Editor Public Relations

Jane Hong Ervina Topalli Robiat Balogun Chelsea Yusuf Christine Bae

Photographers

Corina Marie Dean Zulich Heidi Edwards Toby Nguyen Kira Bucca Paul Leonardo Liam Alexander Josefhaley John Hong

Fashion Stylists

Make Up Artists

Hair Stylists

Bruno Lima Dominique Aimee Adrien Rabago Jess Jacob Mandy Perez Tammy Yi Isabella Schimid Aleetha Clanton Alegra Titus Carlos Zelaya Gellisa Fevrier Matilde Campos Jinjutha Vasinsukon Gabby Moreno Ali Holmes

Writers

Eunice Oh Christine Chang

Models

Rachel Reed, Hollywood Model Mgmt Diana Bednarz, Wilhelmina Models Sam Evans, Next Models LA Daisy Clementine Smith, Next Models Farhiya, VDM Models

Special Thanks

Ben Ashbrook Jeffrey Lin Howard Tu Composure Magazine (ISSN 2378-8135) is published monthly by Composure Magazine, LLC 1800 Berkeley St. Suite B., Santa Monica, California. Copyright 2015. Write to us at hello@composuremagazine.com

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COMPOSUREMAGAZINE.COM COMPOSUREMAG WEARECOMPOSURE WEARECOMPOSURE

ON THE COVER Page 75 Sarah wears silk floral dress by The 2nd Skin Co., Charles Albert jewelry, Luxury Brand Group jewelry, and Jimmy Choo shoes. Photographed by John Hong and Josefhaley; styled by Bruno Lima; makeup by Chelsea Yusuf; hair styling by Carlos Zelaya. Interviewed by Ervina Topalli; Words by Eunice Oh.

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FROM THE EDITOR We’ve seen them in our favorite films that we often snuggle up on the couch for. We also watch them on our favorite TV shows and somehow there will always be a tweet worthy quote that awaits. Yes, we know them as the brilliant scene-stealers. These are the actors who can command a scene and captivate the audience’s attention in the most unapologetic ways. Take for example our cover girl, Sarah Rafferty (pg 75) who plays Donna Paulsen in “Suits”. With witty lines that cut through an average moment like butter, fans are treated to gut-grabbing laughter as well as gut-wrenching dialogue between Donna and her counterpart Harvey Specter. Then we have colorful characters like Pepper in “American Horror Story”. Played by Naomi Grossman (pg 45), she is the kind of actress who can create such a buzz surrounding the news of her return for a second season and level with the best of the freaks. And what would you say about “Better Call Saul” actress Julie Ann Emery (pg 31) who has made Betsy Kettleman a fan favorite, turning what was meant to be a guest star role into a recurring role garnering hashtags like #TeamKettleman and #Kettleheads. We love to love them, yet it’s all too easy to say that it is because they are simply talented. When looking deeper into the real-life person behind these influential characters, there is an undeniable commonality among them: the pursuit of great acting and fierce training doesn’t stop here. And we would never want it to.

xo Jane COM POS UR E M AG AZIN E. C O M

CELEBRITY

Printz Board PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSEFHALEY & JOHN HONG STYLING BY ERVINA TOPALLI ASSISTANT STYLIST ROBIAT BALOGUN MAKE UP BY CHELSEA YUSUF INTERVIEW & WORDS BY CHRISTINE CHANG

e sit down with Printz Board as he talks about growing up, The Black Eyed Peas, going solo, and his upcoming album debut this summer. There’s a certain laid-back appeal to Printz Board as he dons his sunglasses and smiles. You might mistake him for a next-door neighbor or a friend. Printz often evokes this comfort in his songs and it’s what his fans adore. “I always put something in every song that makes me laugh…something that tickles my funny bone and surprises people,” he says. It’s this easygoing approach that has rhythm soul-searchers jiving with his music around the world. From sold-out stadium shows to intimate sessions around the world, Printz is known for blurring the lines of genre by melding his guitar-driven pop style with soul and hip hop. Part of Printz’s charm is his adaptability when it comes to his music. He says that “inspiration comes from everything. See your vision and lyricize. There isn’t any tried and true way.”

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On the other hand, it was his hard work and dedication to the craft that got him to where he is today. He began his musical aspirations at ten with a singular goal in music class: to pick the easiest instrument, which he concluded to be the trumpet. “The trumpet released the diabolical Virgo in me. It made me dive into it right away. If I do my lips this way I get the perfect sound,” he says. With his $25 trumpet, he benefited from many mentors along the way, from a music store owner taking him under his wings after school and showing him the ropes, to his high school band instructor showing him how to play a complex riff. At the height of it all, his mother saved up what she had and surprised Printz with a new trumpet. “We didn’t have any money,” he recalls. “It must have been $15-$1600.” His mother’s words of inspiration? “Go downstairs and practice,” she said.

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In a similar way, Printz inspires kids today who want to be like him one day. His involvement with the John Lennon Bus and with antibullying campaigns traces back to his mother’s message of focus. “I would say to these kids – grab my hand. I’m a real person. I’ve done it [a successful music career]. It’s not because I’m better than you. It’s because I’m focused. You have something great right now.” His down-to-earth demeanor is surprising considering his fame. With multiple Grammys writing and producing as a member of The Black Eyed Peas, Printz is currently on the fast track with his solo career. Singing with his allfemale band, The Boardmemberz, Printz’s first album, Board Games garnered critical praise, along with singles such as “#1” and “Hey You” topping the charts. Doing a solo project was an easy decision for Printz. It simply brought him back to his roots. Before the Black Eyed Peas, he was in a ‘small’ band named Gravy where he was the front man.

The day was unusually hot – but this is Printz’s style – he’s currently splitting his time between home, touring and New Zealand, where the warm weather and the Maori culture inspire him to create, produce and collaborate. He needs New Zealand “for my sanctity, for the energy, and for the greenery.” As peace overcomes Printz in his recollection, excitement overtakes him just as fast as he describes his upcoming album, On the Boardwalk, to be released this summer. While his previous album possessed a reflective tone and shared stories about his life, his forthcoming album is an invitation for all to walk with him. “ I took you on my personal journey in the last album, and now I’m telling you you’re with me ‘On The Boardwalk’,” he says. @printzboard @theofficialboardmemberz www.printzboard.com

“[Going solo] is a similar feeling – being in a smaller band, seeing little kids dancing, reaching out from the stage and touching my fans. It’s cool. As the Peas got bigger, it became more impersonal, with a line of dancers in front of all of us. It’s good to get back in the nucleus at the front,” he says. That’s not to say that there weren’t challenges. “Looking back, music careers will forever have bumps. Take the Black Eyed Peas. After our second album, we weren’t sure where the future was and if we were sticking it out together. The world was at this certain place. Then we wrote a batch of songs, including ‘Where is the Love’, which Will [will.i.am] and I sat down and wrote the base of in 15 mins. This song established the entire foundation [for our third album]. That got us to the next level.”

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CELEBRITY

Allie Gonino PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN HONG & JOSEFHALEY STYLING BY ROBIAT BALOGUN MAKE UP BY TAMMY YI HAIR STYLING BY GELLISA FEVRIER INTERVIEW & WORDS BY JANE HONG

t just four years old, Allie Gonino could tell you what it’s like to fall in love with the fiddle. Inspired at a Dixie Chicks concert, there was no stopping the young musician from pursuing her love of performance and the stage. Today, you can see Allie thriving on the music stage with her violin nearby and taking her flair for performance to the TV screen. With a second season of The Red Road underway, we get an honest answer from Allie on what it’s like to be Rachel Jensen.

AG: When I met them it was before they were “The Dixie Chicks.” It was before even Natalie was in the group. We were at a doctor’s convention or something for my dad. They were playing the event and I was just out there dancing, and I fell in love with the fiddle player. I was like, “that’s cool. I want to do that someday!” That’s what inspired me to start playing but my mom had me playing the piano. I was like, “I don’t want to do this. I want to play violin. Give me a violin.” She agreed and now I’m here!

CM: You were born and raised in Texas. What brought you out here to Los Angeles?

CM: Can you tell us a little more about how you’ve incorporated the violin playing in a band?

AG: I moved, originally for music, but I knew that I wanted to pursue acting once I arrived here. I was 16 and I moved out with my mom. My dad stayed at home to support us. The first two years were kind of rough. My mom and I shared a bedroom and a bed right when I was trying to rebel. It was kind of hard, but it ended up working out well. I’m glad that she came out with me, because I probably would have gotten on a really bad path or something had she not been around. My parents definitely rock.

AG: When I moved out here I started playing in an alternative string group and got to learn a bunch of different playing styles like jazz, and hip-hop, and rock. I took what I learned from that. Now I’m in a band called The Good Mad. We play a lot in LA and we’re going to Tunisia later this summer, which is really cool. We had an EP that came out in January called “Face Your Fears”. I just released a solo EP as well that I wrote and co-produced. It’s called “Hollywood High”. Violin has been the foundation for my whole musical career. Anything else that I’ve been able to do, I think it’s because I had the foundation of learning classical violin first.

CM: You pretty much got your first real jolt of inspiration from music when you met the Dixie Chicks as a four-year-old. What was that like?

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CM: Would you say your solo EP and the musical style

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is similar or different than The Good Mad? AG: It’s slightly different. You just have to listen for yourself? It’s different collaborating and then doing something that’s your [own] vision. CM: You obviously started your career with music. You have this band and came out with an EP. But acting what inspired you to go into acting? AG: I’ve always loved performing. I think it was just another way of expressing myself and wanting to experiment with a different medium. As I film more things I realize that I actually want to do more theater and more live [acting]. CM: It seems like for a lot of actors, they actually started in theater and then into TV and film, but you want to do the opposite. What is it about the theater that draws you?

AG: There are so many new artists that are coming out all the time. I really love listening to new artists. Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of Father John Misty, Dan Auerbach. I love his production style. I really like Lana Del Rey. Tame Impala is really cool. But originally I have to say The Beatles, The Eagles, The Dixie Chicks, Fleetwood Mac, and The Beach Boys. Those were my first main influences. CM: What inspires your acting? AG: Honestly, I think with the acting side, I’m inspired first and foremost by the writing. If I get a good script, that inspires me to do a good job, which is why I feel lucky to be on The Red Road, because I really respect Aaron Guzikowski’s writing. I think he’s very talented and writes stories that I want to be a part of telling. CM: Can you tell us more about The Red Road?

AG: I used to do a lot of dance as well when I was younger. I just like the feeling of being backstage and preparing, and having a long time to prepare what you’re going to perform and experiment, and see what works and what doesn’t work. I love the immediate gratification of performing on a stage. You’re there and the audience is experiencing it with you. I love live performance and I think that’s why I became a musician because of that connection with the audience. CM: How do you feel about how now some of these TV shows like Glee and Empire on how they are incorporating more music into the show? Do you think we’ll see more of these type of TV shows? Is that something that you’re interested in? AG: It’s actually funny. I turned down a role on Glee when it first came out, because of something else that I was doing at the time. I think it’s a successful platform and music and acting go hand-in-hand. I think I wouldn’t be surprised if it continued in that trend. I played music on The Lying Game which was a series on ABC Family. That was the coolest way to do it I think. The creator was like, “Do you want to play your own music on the show?” and I was like, “Yeah, absolutely! That would be awesome.” I don’t know if I could ever beat that situation, but I wouldn’t be opposed if the right opportunity presented itself. CM: Who would you say inspires you the most in regards to music?

AG: Yes - we’re in our second season now. We film in Atlanta which is really fun. Jason Momoa’s the star of the show with Martin Henderson and Julianne Nicholson. Tom Sizemore is in the cast - he’s very mischievous! It’s a great project to work on. I love that there are historical aspects about the show with the paint sludge stuff as well as just straight entertainment with Kopus’ character and the love story between Rachel and Junior. There’s lots of drama in this season. CM: How is it playing the role of Rachel Jensen? AG: It’s stressful, I’m not going to lie. The show is very, very dark. Rachel, in this season at least, is kind of paranoid about becoming like her mother, kind of paranoid about becoming a schizophrenic. It affects the way that she acts in her relationship with Junior. She’s like, “I love you and I don’t want to put you in a position where you have to deal with someone who’s crazy.” Having to play so many emotional scenes this season was taxing on my real life too. Sometimes, I have a hard time separating the two, especially if I’m on location. It’s emotionally draining sometimes, but ultimately, I think we made something good. CM: What do you do to prepare for those really emotional scenes? AG: I try to stay in her head-space throughout. I try to keep Rachel’s mentality present with me. Also,

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AG: The Thirst Project is a youth-based organization. It’s non-profit, and we essentially raise funds to build wells in developing countries where they have very little or no access to clean water. This helps because a lot of kids can’t go to school if they’re spending all their time collecting water and walking miles a day to collect water. Women can’t get jobs. I think we’ve provided over 300,000 people over the course of 8 years with clean water, which is huge. There are a lot of organizations that do the same kind of thing. The reason I’m drawn to The Thirst Project specifically is because we have a huge army of young students. They do a lot of our fundraising and a lot of spreading awareness about it. I think it’s just cool, getting young kids focused on something other than being bored in the USA. CM: Not just first-world issues, right? AG: Yeah. Exactly. CM: In addition to the idea that you’re getting this younger generation involved, what else? You could have associated yourself with any other charity. What is it about this particular charity that drew you to them?

when it comes time to shooting the scene, I like to listen to certain kinds of music that bring back a memory that’s emotional for me. CM: You now have green hair. Can you share what that’s all about? AG: I’m doing a movie called The Preacher’s Confession. My character’s mom just killed herself and she’s kind of a rebel. She likes to get into trouble. She has to move in with her aunt and uncle’s family who are very conservative Christians. She just doesn’t really fit in. She gets arrested. She’s also an artist and does beautiful illustrations, so I decided to make her a little creative with her style and her look. CM: What’s your natural color? AG: It’s an ashy blonde. CM: Outside of your acting projects and your music projects, you are active with The Thirst Project. Can you share more about that?

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AG: I have tried to reach out to a couple of different water organizations, and they weren’t really set to have celebrity speakers jump on board and push their movement. Thirst Project basically wants everyone to help, especially the youth in America. Charisma Carpenter, who was a Lying Game co-star of mine introduced me to Seth Maxwell who’s the founder of Thirst Project. We hit it off and he’s a wonderful person and a wonderful friend of mine and just an inspiring human all around. I think anybody who knows The Thirst Project knows Seth. He’s a good leader and knows how to get people excited about water. CM: If there’s one message that you can portray to your fans, what would that be? AG: I think it would be, “Life doesn’t have to be as serious as we think it is or make it out to be, so just have fun and be kind.” The Red Road airs on Thursdays 10/9C on Sundance TV.

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FASHION

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BEAUTY

What are five (5) different tips to maintain hair for summer?

For a beautiful updated look, use a spray like Leonor Greyl volume forme on freshly blowdryed hair and use a curling wand in the midlengths, only leaving new growth and ends straight. Use the huile de Leonor Greyl on hair before going in the sun, chlorine, or sea water. Wear your hair in braids or a low ponytail and wrap your hair in a scarf or bandana to provide protection. Summer updo’s are so in right now. My personal favorites are a low chignon bun or wrap bun in laced hair to provide a cute look and protect your hair from the sun. Summertime warrants weekly deep condition spa treatments. Micro Mist steamer with LG Masquintessence will revive the hair from sun damage, leaving it soft and shining.

Celebrity Hairstylist

DANNY JELACA revealing his secret for the upcoming summer trend!

What is the hottest hairstyle for this summer?

This summer we are seeing the messy, natural look everywhere. Natural beach waves and texture is what it’s all about. To achieve this look, spray in Balmain Texturizing Salt Spray and twirl locks into separated pieces. Then scrunch the hair and let dry naturally.

What are the three (3) must-have hair products for this summer?

L’huile de Leonor Greyl is a summer must-have oil. It protects UV rays, chlorine and salt from damaging the hair and is also a pre-shampoo treatment! This will help to maintain shiny, healthy summer hair. Condition Naturelle is a leave-in conditioner that will help protect your locks from UV rays. Leonor Greyl Secret de Beaute is a spray oil that can be used to rejuvenate the hair and skin that may dry out from the hot Miami sun and dips in the pool. dannyjelaca.com instagram @dannyjelacasalon twitter @dannyjelaca

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CELEBRITY

Julie Ann Emery PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN HONG & JOSEFHALEY STYLING BY ERVINA TOPALLI MAKE UP BY CHELSEA YUSUF HAIR STYLING BY CARLOS ZELAYA INTERVIEW BY JANE HONG WORDS BY CHRISTINE CHANG

ailing from a small town in Tennessee, actor Julie Ann Emery talks about her character, Betsy Kettleman, in “Better Call Saul”, as well as an acting journey that began with her roots in theatre. From unique fan mails to hiking, and her popularity on Twitter and Instagram, Julie Ann talks to Composure about how life has shaped her for the roles she has played and gives the latest about her upcoming project as Johnny Knoxville’s mother in ABC’s untitled Johnny Knoxville pilot. CM: You started your career on the theatrical stage. Did you always have film and TV on your mind? JE: I’m shocked to be where I am today! Growing up, the only theatre for just about 100 miles was in my hometown on top of a small mountain in Tennessee. It was a community theatre when I was growing up. My drama teacher found me singing in the choir and it absolutely changed my life. When I started doing theatre, that was such a leap – I didn’t even think of going further than that. But my instincts on stage when I was in school were always small and internal and so my instincts were probably geared for the camera. I’m always interested in what the character is

thinking so having a film and TV career was eventually going to happen - but that’s not where it started at all. CM: At what point do you think that switch started happening? JE: I took an on-camera class hoping to do some commercial work, and something in me just sang in that environment. And suddenly, all of my instincts were an asset, and my obsession with what a character was thinking became an asset. CM: Those instincts brought you an amazing 2014. Coming into 2015 with “Better Call Saul”, how is that going for you? JE: I spent the last year working with the best directors, writers and actors in television. Everybody was happy and everyone showed up to work every day trying their best to elevate the material and that’s a great circumstance -everyone was just trying to make it better all day long. It’s a creative dream come true. People trust you, and they trust your instincts. I think the best directors are people who are not trying to control the situation but trying to explore where it can go. That’s Vince Gilligan, that’s Adam Bernstein, and Colin Bucksey - he

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JE: That would be a spoiler! I think it’s safe to say that if you’re a “Breaking Bad” fan you would know that if a person wasn’t dead they could come back. And no one cut off my head and put it on a tortoise – which happened on “Breaking Bad”, so the possibilities are endless and I will hold out hope that Betsy lives on! CM: On your Twitter account, Betsy fans want you to have an Xbox and play Halo. Can you make the connection for us?

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won an Emmy last year for “Fargo”. It has been a good and lucky year. I’ve worked incredibly hard and my career, like most careers, is a roller coaster in a lot of aspects, but when your work comes into contact with people who are like-minded and with people who see your work in a similar way, that’s lucky. And both shows challenge me in different ways. With Fargo, Ida Thurman is so grounded and real and there’s no pretense to her whatsoever. So, to be able to sit in a real Midwestern place all day long is not always something you get to do on camera. And Betsy Kettleman on “Better Call Saul” has kind of blown-up and very specific and unlike anyone I’ve ever played. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to get into her headspace. CM: Right now “Better Call Saul” is in its first season and they’re slated for a second season. Can we expect Betsy to come back?

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JE: Okay, so in real life I’m a bit of a gamer. Not hardcore, but my husband and I love nothing more on date night than to make nachos and popcorn and play a campaign on Halo for 6 hours. We love it. When we saw a commercial for Halo 5, I tweeted something about it and I wouldn’t have connected the “Better Call Saul” fans to the gaming world but they jumped on it really fast and now they’re making up scenarios of Betsy playing Halo with Jimmy and what their screen names would be. Someone even sent me some fan art of Betsy playing with Jimmy. She’s wearing a hat with two cans of mountain dew [on the hat] and a straw. It’s hilarious. That’s sort of like Julie Ann meeting Betsy - a mash-up. CM: Would you say you like to geek out on things? JE: I love geeking out on things! I’m definitely a sci-fi geek and a giant football fan. I’m a produce junkie and a bit of a gamer. It runs the gamut. I’m a total musical theatre nerd. My husband [Kevin Earley] is a brilliant musical theatre performer. I think I nerded out earlier this week on musical theatre and that surprised the “Better call Saul” fans too. CM: When you and your husband are not shooting your enemies together in a game, you’ve done collaborations with him such as the web series, “Then We Got HELP!” Can you tell me more about your collaborations? JE: We actually just co-directed for first time, a solo piece in New York for the United Solo Theatre Festival Off-Broadway and we won the

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festival. We collaborate well – not all married couples do but we tend to go into some kind of a hive mind together. With “Then We Got HELP!” my husband produced the series and it was such a pleasure. He knows me so well - he would always know where he needed to step in and fill in the blanks and where my head was. We would break for lunch and talk about the shots for the afternoon and where we needed to adjust things. He instinctually knows my priorities and that’s a lovely thing to have. I’m a lucky girl. We’ve been together since college and he’s my best friend. CM: We’re in the midst of pilot season now. Can you tell us some of the projects you’re working on? JE: I’m working on an untitled Johnny Knoxville pilot for ABC. It’s about Johnny Knoxville’s life as a kid growing up in the late 70’s early 80’s in Tennessee. It’s set a little less than 90 miles from where I grew up in Tennessee and it’s about his father being a big prankster in real life, always playing jokes on his family, and his mother, who, much like my mother, wanted to get her kids out and wanted big things for them. I play his mother, Genevieve, a woman with such a good heart. Johnny’s 10 years old in this series - it’s sort of a “Wonder Years” meets “My name is Earl”. It’s a really sweet and fun project. CM: What can we expect of this character, Genevieve? They’re calling her a really sweet narcissist, which is true and I think it’s her parenting technique- she’s trying to teach her children through her own experience. And she’s a bit of an over-sharer when it comes to her kids. So there’s some inappropriate conversations going on but at the heart of it all she’s really good so there’s some opposites to play here. I’m really excited about her. And I have a Loretta Lynn look going on for her so it’s great to be able to transform physically for her as well.

of transformation as an actor. That’s a really sweet spot for me. CM: In some of your profiles you mentioned climber of mountains, purple belt, and produce junkie. What do those things mean to you? JE: Because my husband’s a Broadway singer, we spend a lot of time in New York and my favorite thing about coming back to LA is invading the farmer’s market every week. Climber of mountains – we’re big hikers we’ve hiked the Grand Canyon twice. We did a 20mile hike in the Tetons. We visited some friends in Aspen and instead of hanging out in Aspen we hiked over to the next town. The wildflowers had just come into bloom and it was like the sound of music. It was unbelievable. I like exploring places and when you’re a hardcore hiker you go where not many people go. I like how everything boils down to the basics and usually, your cellphone doesn’t work. I love being in places where I can unplug, focus and reconnect. Purple Belt in Tae Kwon Do - I can still be on that journey but I’m small and I get hit in the face sometimes when sparring so I have to be careful that doesn’t happen when I’m shooting but I love it in my off-time. I love the focus. I love that you go in and that’s what you’re doing for an hour - again, unplugging and focusing on one thing. There’s something about the physical exhaustion, much like hiking. Physical exhaustion quiets something in me. CM: Are you one of the quiet kids? JE: Oh no, when you get tired you kiai louder. When you think you can’t do anymore you yell louder!

It’s great to go back to my [Tennessean] roots. It’s nice to really understand the character to that degree and I have always loved the idea COM POS UR E M AG AZIN E. C O M

FASHION

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CELEBRITY

Naomi Grossman PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSEFHALEY STYLING BY DOMINIQUE AIMEE MAKE UP AND HAIR BY CHELSEA YUSUF INTERVIEW BY JANE HONG

aomi Grossman walked into our Composure Magazine studio with comfort and familiarity of meeting an old friend on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Naomi enjoys being photographed, but more importantly, her ability to project dozens of emotions within one photoshoot is truly amazing to witness. Known for her recent role as Pepper in the American Horror Story, Naomi speaks of her audition for the role of Pepper, her passion for yoga, and her beginning years in the comedy world. CM: How did you feel about the shoot and the styles of outfits? NG: Oh, I loved it. There’s really nothing I

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love more than having my picture taken. So, I’m in the right profession. For styling, when I was a little girl, I remember going through a phase where I wanted to wear everything in my closet, at once. Yeah. I grew out of that. But I was having a flashback. I wanted to wear it all, all at once. CM: I heard that you are a big yogi. Can you tell me a little more about that? NG: I was going to say, are you sure you want to talk about this? I’ll start to proselytize, and you’ll get put in it. Yeah, I practice yoga. I have for about 15 years, about an hour and a half a day. At this point, it’s beyond exercise, it’s therapy, it’s a million things. Just having an

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hour and a half to just stop and turn off the phone, and just center.

Mysteries. Oh, my God, I was little. Yeah, I got my SAG card on my 15th birthday.

CM: Do you have a favorite position or a particular practice of yoga?

CM: We love watching you in the American Horror Story. Pepper for President! When you went in for a meeting with casting, did you know it was for that character?

NG: Well, I love anything that’s fancy. I know yoga’s supposed to be all non-competitive. I can’t help it. If I can show off, I’ll do Scorpion, or anything that will make people ache. That’s what I like to do. As for a particular practice of yoga, ultimately, they are all trees of the same forest. I love them all. I love Ashtanga, and Vinyasa flow. I like the pace, I like to move, I like to sweat. I don’t love hot yoga. Again, it’s just a different tree in the same forest. I have nothing against it, I just - not to flatter myself, but I’m kind of at a level where I don’t need the heat. I would rather give myself a workout, make myself sweat from the positions. Not from a crutch or gimmick like the heat. CM: Now, going into your acting career. You started in theater, would you say that’s your first love? NG: Yes, yes, absolutely. Yeah, it still is. I’ve got a boyfriend, but he knows that I’d leave him for theater any time of day. No. I got started as a little girl living in Denver, Colorado. I actually vomited at my very first acting class. It was a creative dramatics class. I couldn’t help it. The teacher had us paint with one hand, then paint with the other hand, then paint with your left foot, right foot, and finally the whole body! All of a sudden, I just fell to the floor and lost my cookies. I knew in that moment that’s what I was meant to do. Yeah. I feel alive acting. Yes, so from that point I did children’s theater as a little girl. I was singing and dancing and doing comedy in downtown Denver at the Comedy Works, from the age of 8 or 9. Pretty soon, I was doing anything and everything that came out of Colorado, which wasn’t a whole lot. Regional commercials, and Father Dowling

NG: No. They are very secretive. The actual breakdown they put out was “4 to 5 feet tall, possibly mal-formed, and child-like.” You can imagine, there’s only so much I can do. There’s only so much I can prepare for that role. I obviously am 5 feet tall. I had that going for me. Child-like, I knew not to wear high heels, nor booty-licious shorts or a plunging neckline. Mal-formed? If they want someone mal-formed, they’ll find someone mal-formed. I’m not going to come in with my arms in my sleeves. Anyway, I remember getting the audition, and it being just a sea of little people and thinking, “what? I can’t compete.” I was such a jerk. I remember actually trying to take pictures with my cell phone, just to send a friend. It’d be like, “do you see what I’m up against? This is my life. Welcome to my crazy life.” I’m glad those photos never got out, because that was so wrong. I remember actually going in and feeling like I nailed it. Thinking, “great, this is the audition that I nailed! The one I can’t possibly book.” I had no idea what I was going in for, to answer your question. They had me prepare a monologue of Jessica Lange’s from Season 1, which, obviously, was not the role, because let’s face it, it had already been shot by Jessica Lange. The other part of the audition was when they handed me a ball, and they asked me to try to get them to play with me. In retrospect, I understand what they were doing. They wanted to see if I could play the early, silly Pepper, and then evolve to a more subtle Pepper. They got all that. Ultimately, for the callback, it was actually a meeting with makeup. They took a bunch of photos of me, which they then later COM POS UR E M AG AZIN E. C O M

a “pinhead”, yet for all I knew, I was one of an army of pinheads. It really wasn’t until I was on set for the very first time that I realized, “Oh, no. I am the pinhead. I am the craziest, or at least craziest-looking one in this asylum. I didn’t even know what that meant. CM: You come from a comedy background. Can you tell us more about that?

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on manipulated to see what I would look like as that character. From what I understand, they did this with several actresses. They asked me a bunch of vague questions. Would you shave your head? Have you worn prosthetics before? Are you claustrophobic? I don’t know, I don’t think so. Why does that matter? Now I know why that matters. At the time, I remember driving home like, “Did I answer right?” It’s so crazy, I literally think they liked the bridge of my nose best. CM: When you finally understood that it was for Pepper, what were you thinking? NG: Even then, I didn’t know who Pepper was. Pepper was whoever I made her to be. She was

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NG: Yeah, prior to American Horror Story, I spent a lot of time at the Groundlings, which is a comedy theater in Los Angeles. A lot of big comedians came out of there. Phil Hartman, Will Farrell, Lisa Kudrow. Sort of an SNL factory. I kind of always thought that’s where I would go, these big comedy characters. It’s interesting, I went quite a different direction. Ultimately, it’s the same kind of work. Which I think, again, is a good lesson. You put out there what you’re good at. In my case, it’s big characters. I thought it would be towards comedy, but now its towards horror or drama. CM: You’ve moved on from American Horror Story and just wrapped The Chair. You want to share a little bit more about that? NG: Sure. It’s a horror film. I’ve had friends say, “You need to stop doing horror?” It’s like, “Why? It’s still the hand that feeds me. I’m not going to bite that arm.” Ultimately, horror fans are a whole other league. It’s like Star Trek, if you get that, you just go there. That’s the golden goose. I play the mother, seen in flashbacks. Mother of the inmate on death row, hence The Chair, waiting for the electric chair. I’m also wildly unattractive in this role, although it is my own face, so there is that. I think it’s going to be scary. The trailer was on the Fangoria website for a while, doing really well, apparently. It looked great.

NEXT PAGE DRESS NOOKIE EARRINGS ZAYN BRACELET CHARLES ALBERT

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FASHION

Fringe: This past fashion week, fringe was everywhere on the runway for the fall collections! So if you see a clutch, bag, or high heels with fringe that you love now, buy them! The trend isn't going anywhere for a while!

TRENDS TO TRY THIS SUMMER from fashion

blogger Courtney Kerr What Courtney Wore thecourtneykerr.com @thecourtneykerr

Braids: I love experimenting with different hairstyles in the summertime because I am always looking for new ways to wear my hair up because it gets so hot in Texas! I recently wore a halo braid to an event and got so many compliments...its a trend that I will continue to play with for the rest of the season.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF COURTNEY KERR

Swing Dresses: Cynthia Rowley showed a whole mod 60's-70's style collection for this spring/summer that I am absolutely obsessed with. The dresses are not only great for any body type and fun to wear, but they are also so comfy from day into the night!

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CELEBRITY

Justin Chon PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSEFHALEY & JOHN HONG STYLING BY ERVINA TOPALLI GROOMING BY CHELSEA YUSUF INTERVIEW BY BEN ASHBROOK WORDS BY CHRISTINE CHANG

ewly married, Justin Chon opens up about his role in Revenge of the Green Dragons and Seoul Searching, as well as his experience as an actor of ethnicity. Justin also speaks frankly with Composure about the entertainment industry and how independent filmmaking and the Internet are shaping the way audiences consume content. CM: So good to have you here. How long have you been married? JC: I very recently got married, in October [of last year]. This is the first time I’m photographed with my wife. She used to be a model, so she’s way more professional than I am. We met in Hong Kong through a friend and it has just been a whirlwind. I’m a lucky man. CM: Hong Kong’s the city of romance. JC: Or the city of beef noodle soup. CM: Now you’re speaking my language. So, I want to jump right in. You have an entertainment history in your family. Your mom was a pianist. JC: Yeah, and my dad was a child actor. He acted from the ages of 10-26 and he went into the marines, and after that he met my mom and my mom’s parents didn’t approve of it [acting]. So he quit and moved to the US. CM: You are the generation that actually followed through. JC: Hopefully, but in the US it’s pretty difficult

being an ethnic actor. But that’s okay. It’s a very standard thing. The opportunities aren’t as plentiful as it would be. But on the flip side, these days everyone wants some diversity in projects and China is opening up. It goes both ways these days, but the standard thing is that roles are limited. There are stock characters that I always go out for that are pretty drab. There’s the tech assistant or the funny best friend and if there’s a reason for it I think it’s really great but if it’s just to make him a character than it’s really boring. CM: How are you going to break that mold and transcend typical roles? It seems like you have been doing that. Revenge of the Green Dragons for example - you play a really gritty character. JC: Yeah, and again, I was an Asian gangster and that can also be a stereotype. I’m doing a lot of experimental independent films these days and I need to do some commercial stuff too so I can also make a living. But the things that really excite me are the really cool and edgy independent films. These days, with digital, it’s wide open. CM: You make your own content on YouTube. JC: YouTube’s not a business for me as it is for some other people – it’s for me to put stuff out there. I like doing short films on YouTube and also some comedic stuff. I also directed a movie called Man Up that is going to be released digitally – it was just bought by Lakeshore Entertainment. It will be released this summer. CM: There’s this change in media with the Internet becoming a new platform where people COM POS UR E M AG AZIN E. C O M

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can release short films, documentaries, and feature films. Things are getting made for less money and you have much more access to great audiences. Is that going to change how the entire industry works? JC: Studios are very tent-pole concentrated. It’s how they make their money. A lot of times these days with huge tent-pole movies like Spider-Man or Fast and Furious, it doesn’t make sense for them to make these kind of quirky independent stories because there’s not as big of a market for them. This is great because with digital medium, these independent filmmakers are given the opportunity to put stuff out there and you can build an audience and it can catch fire. Even in the music industry, creators blew up because they put music videos and music online. CM: It goes viral.

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JC: That’s the opportunities that are available now. It takes away some power from the studios and it kind of levels the playing field because everybody can self-produce and self-distribute. It’s reminiscent of the 70’s with independent filmmaking. People were able to just shoot stuff and be really experimental and put it out into the world. I think we’re seeing another resurgence. CM: I hope so. You play a big role in that. If everyone goes for [independent filmmaking] then that’s where the money is. Hopefully the market will follow. JC: Even if it doesn’t, it’s cool. It’s kind of a separate way. What we do is independent from them. There are certain studios that are following too, like Lakeshore. They are really privy to what’s happening on the Internet.

There are services now where you can just put your movie online and it goes straight to the consumers without an intermediary service, which is unheard of because for [what seems like] forever, you have to have somebody mediating that. It really levels the playing field. CM: For the studios they may be shaking in their boots. They’re nervous about this. For filmmakers and people who love film this is access into much more compelling stuff. JC: Yeah. CM: Cheers to you for pioneering that. That’s why you’re here. So, I wanted to get a sense of your trajectory. You started at Disney and Nickelodeon. JC: I started with a lot of children’s television and that bubblegum kind of thing. It was my entrance into the industry and it allowed me to get an agent and be visible to casting directors and all that. CM: And this past year, you did Revenge of the Green Dragons, about the Chinese underground gang world of New York City. That’s a huge difference. From comedy to drama for you as an actor - do you prefer one or the other? JC: I’m open to anything always. I don’t want to be limited to one genre or one type of acting style. I think my realization in the last year and a half has been that there’s some things I have to do to sustain my life, to be able to make money, but in the last year and a half I reevaluated why I do this and why I fell in love with acting. I really have to make projects that I personally believe in, or be a part of other people’s projects that I believe in, and also give voice to underrepresented demographics of people. There’s something I’m looking into right now that I really would like to be a part of that is super underrepresented, like a subculture of a subculture. That’s what gets me off. CM: It’s the stuff that isn’t on the front page of the newspaper. JC: There’s value for tent-pole movies like Twilight and there’s a place for them in the industry and I don’t discount that at all. But really, my passion is in independent filmmaking. I want to be a part of that whole movement. I really want to be very experimental. I’m thinking less about how I’m going to be perceived by the public.

I don’t want to be perceived as a brand. I just want to put out a lot of work. We have a limited time on Earth. I have this time in my life to play this age range and that will change as I get older. But this is my time right now to tell these stories at this stage in my life so I want to put out as much stuff as I can. Hopefully some of it connects with people but I think right now it’s putting out as many pieces as possible. That’s the thing. There are different types of painters. There are painters that spend a year on one painting. I don’t want to be that. I want to be a painter that just keeps constantly painting. I don’t even look at what I just painted, I just put it to the side and I just start a new one and put it to the side because that’s sort of like my body of work. Some of it will be good. Some of it will be bad. I don’t care. CM: Do it by the numbers. JC: It doesn’t mean that I put less attention to it or less artistry or less thought into it. I don’t want to be so precious with my art. I just want to put it out there. CM: Can you tell us a little bit about your movie, Seoul Searching? JC: Yeah, that’s kind of in line with exactly what we’re talking about. CM: Independent films. JC: It’s totally on the page. People just don’t get it because it’s about a summer camp in 1986. The government put on this program to gather kids who grew up outside of Korea. CM: It’s a true story. JC: Yeah, true story. The government wants to learn about their heritage but obviously you get a bunch of teenagers together, with hormones, and they’re just going to party and try to have sex, right? CM: Of course. JC: It’s very much reminiscent of John Hughes. It’s in the 80’s. A lot of the music is really nostalgic and there was an innocence about the 80’s that isn’t present now because now kids have access to the Internet and to any kind of information they want. So they’re much more

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JC: That means I did it for the right reasons. Yeah, it definitely wasn’t for the money. CM: Give us a sense of where you’re headed. JC: You can’t plan. Especially in art, you can’t plan where you’re going to be in 10 years and what you’re going to be doing. There’s a list of people I would love to work with and I think just doing what I do, I’ll gravitate towards those kinds of people. But to say in a year I’m going to be working with this person or in a year I’m going to be in this type of movie - it’s just that I don’t know. I think the best thing I can do is to just be in the moment and do what’s right for me and be a part of projects I believe in. Hopefully that’ll get me there.

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mature in a way than they weren’t in the 80s. There is a huge innocence to it, and a lot of posturing. We’re all trying to figure it out together but the interesting part about it is that it’s with a fully Korean cast, but with a Korean from Germany, a Korean from Spain, a Korean from Japan. With the advent of digital filmmaking and being able to make these movies for cheaper, this kind of story can be made. Ten years ago if you had to shoot this on film no one would invest. It’s exciting to be accepted to Sundance. That they acknowledge this type of film is just mind-blowing because who wants to see a bunch of Korean teenagers party? It wouldn’t seem like something people would be interested in.

CM: Or when an NFL player is done at 32. JC: Exactly. It’s a lifelong endeavor and I think there’s no time limit per se. We’re going to die but I think it’s more about putting the right type of work out there. CM: I tip my hat to you, man. The answer you just gave me as the unknown in the next 10 years is actually more interesting than had you had some set goal. JC: I do think there’s a value in having mentors and people who guide you. Recently, an older actor told me you just have to be comfortable with the uncertain. The sooner you can be comfortable with that, the higher you’ll fly. It’s a very scary thing but you just have to be comfortable with it.

CM: Is there a sense of pride to be doing a film on Seoul?

CM: You’re thriving and we will continue to watch you as you go.

JC: I’m definitely proud and I’m honored that I can represent as an American in the film. I would love to show this movie to my future kid.

JC: Thanks.

CM: That says a lot right there.

As an artist you want to make good art but I think time constraints aren’t healthy in a way. Then you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. You’re doing it because you have these milestones you have to hit in your life. That’s what is great about acting. It’s ‘til we die. It’s not like business where we have to be a millionaire by 30 or I have to sell my Fortune 500 and make it public by 40.

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TANK MATIERE

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FASHION

Rachel Turzer of

Kora Rae fashion designer profile

THE TIGRESS OF FASHION

ower. Beauty. Strength. A tinge of mystery. Fierce. Unafraid. Respected. Words that describe the mighty tigress, king of the jungle. Her imposing presence only outmatched by her undeniable beauty. Comfortable in her radiant stripes as she prowls her terrain. Take the spirit of this majestic animal, combine it with a deep love and curiosity for the world, a fierce pride in femininity, and there you have it: Kora Rae. Fashion designer Rachel Turzer has burst on to the scene with a line that wildly impresses, while staying true to the principles her company was founded on. We were able to hop on a coast-to-coast phone call with Rachel from her studio in New York City. Many creative people in this industry take inspiration from the places they travel, the people they meet. But Rachel’s outlook here goes a step further, and it shows so clearly in her

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work. “My design process is pretty much the same for each collection,” she told us. “When I visit a specific destination I carry a camera around snapping pictures of things that both inspire me and capture the vibe of the location. When I get home I put those photos up on a mood board and begin sourcing fabric that emulate the color scheme and the theme that comes through.” In this way, she truly captures the vitality and feel of these destinations in her pieces. And she is very deliberate. You can find the locale around the globe associated with each line on the Kora Rae website. To capture the “natural beauty, sensuality, and freedom” of Bora Bora, her fall/spring line used “pure silks, chiffons, and crepes together with supple lambskin and silk jersey.” Given this process, her pieces seem to carry a more significant weight- they tell a story. “Travels have always been a great influence on me as a creator,” she continued. After seeing the work she’s done, we’d almost take an item from her line over an actual trip to Bora Bora! Almost. But her work is that good. And her commitment to her customers makes it all the more appealing.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIAM ALEXANDER WORDS BY ERVINA TOPALLI

“I want to give these women a different experience, a more intimate one. I want them to feel personally connected to the brand.” So much so that with each order shipped out, she includes a personal handwritten letter, thanking them and talking a bit about the piece. While this may become more difficult as Kora Rae expands, the core message will still remain. “It is more than simply selling clothes. It’s a connection.” In hearing Rachel speak passionately to her perspective, it was very clear how much she cares about these women. And not just cares, but believes in them. There is a deep sense of pride in her own femininity- and in giving other women a way of expressing that through fashion. She is honored to have the ability to make a woman feel bold and beautiful, comfortable and confident with herself. Just

like the tigress. “A tiger is a symbol of strength and empowerment. I want women to feel that. To embrace it. It’s why Kora Rae’s symbol since the beginning has been this majestic animal.” Rachel recently collaborated with designer Jessie James to bring together a line entitled ‘Kittenish’, coming out this August. We look forward to it and all of her future endeavors in the fashion world. Whether we’re with her on her travels or just lucky enough to wear a piece that comes from it, we know we’ll feel part of her journey. Cheers to the Tigress of Fashion, and to Kora Rae!

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CELEBRITY

Chrissie Fit PHOTOGRAPHY BY CORINA MARIE STYLING BY ROBIAT BALOGUN MAKE UP BY CHELSEA YUSUF HAIR STYLING BY MATILDE CAMPOS INTERVIEW BY JANE HONG

omposure Magazine sat with Chrissie Fit, a multi-talented actress whose recent project, Perfect Pitch 2 can be seen in theaters Nationwide on May 15th. Chrissie spoke with us on her Miami upbringing, family, her Perfect Pitch 2 character Flo, and her passion for writing. CM: Chrissie you grew up in Miami, what was that life like for you there? CF: Growing up in Miami was incredible. The culture is so alive, and like the energy, the food is amazing. I come from a big Cuban family so growing up in that kind of environment really enriched my life and I’m so, so grateful for that and I love that about Miami. The humidity not so much but everything else, yes! CM: With such a big background in music and dancing, it makes sense that you have these roles in movies like “Teen Beach Movie” and also “Pitch Perfect” where it’s very music and dance heavy. Can you tell us more about Teen Beach Movie 2 and your role as Chee Chee? CF: Teen Beach Movie 2 is so fun and to be able to reprise my role as Chee Chee was such

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a blast to do because I basically had free range on her and I was able to create a voice. Every time we were testing hair, I was always like, “Bigger, bigger, bigger”, because I thought this character was just so tough and wanted to be loyal and feisty. I needed to have a high pitched voice and really exaggerated hair, so it was fun to do that. Music and dancing has been playing a big part in my life and glad to be using both aspects in the roles I’m doing with Pitch Perfect, Teen Beach and other TV shoots. Even the Sundance Films that I did a couple of years back, Filly Brown, had a lot of music. I was involved in that and I sang a lot of the hooks for songs that were in the movie. I feel like there is a sign where people is saying, “girl get back to music or do some stuff with music” but I’m really happy to be able to do both. CM: What about your role in Pitch Perfect 2 as Flo, can you give us some more insight on that character? CF: Sure! In Pitch Perfect 2 I play Florencia Fuentes but all the girls call me Flo and I am a foreign exchange student who comes to Barden University to continue her studies. I’m also one of the newest singers in the a capella group so it’s really fun. I sing the baseline most of the

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time which was really interesting because the smallest girl is performing the lowest notes. It was such a fun project to be able to work with these talented women who are not just hilarious, but also very smart. My character has a different perspective than the other girls from the group and I think that it works really well as a complement to the other characters. CM: Can you go more in depth with what Flo’s perspective is like? CF: Well, Flo is definitely very sarcastic and very witty. Problems that some of the girls may consider a life or death situations, she kind of reminds them that there are bigger problems in her funny sarcastic way. But I don’t want to give too much away! I want you to see the film and be surprised by her total honesty and deadpan humor, which was so fun to play.

Reese Witherspoon, and Lena Dunham. They’re all creating things for themselves and they’re not waiting for people to say, “Hey, let’s do this.” I’m a writer and one day I want to produce and direct my writing. That’s really important to me and I look up to these women because they’re doing what I hope to accomplish. We still have a long way to go but I’m excited. In Miami, I was cast in a role because I was able to perform the character well. Here in Hollywood, there are so many reasons why you wouldn’t be cast in something, and I didn’t ever have to experience that before so that was kind of a shock to my system. But instead of thinking negatively about it, I just decided, “hey let me start writing and let me start creating my own content”. CM: You have developed your own web series what is that like?

CM: Do you identify with your characters? CF: Yeah definitely. I identify so much with my characters. With Teen Beach and Teen Beach 2, Chee Chee is a little more aggressive than I am. I’m not aggressive but she’s very loyal and very feisty and I could be a little feisty. With Flo, what I love mostly about her is the fact that she’s probably what my mom would have been like in college, had she been in the a capella group. I feel like if we can go back in time, that would be my mom, and so essentially I’m just playing my mom. I [even] asked her and she was okay with it so that’s good! CM: Being a woman and being a minority in Hollywood, how has your experience been? CF: Definitely it is a challenge. Being in Hollywood and being a minority woman, you don’t have as many opportunities, although it’s been changing and I applaud the women who are taking an initiative and creating new content, like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Eva Longoria,

CF: I think we are so, so fortunate to be growing up or being in an age where we have these outlets. We’re able to create and show it online immediately. I’m really, really grateful. My parents tell me all the time, that back then, they had to use film. It was much harder to have your voice and share your own creative visions so I’m really, really grateful for that. CM: You mentioned that you enjoy writing. Can you tell us a little bit more about that? CF: I love writing. It came from a place where my writing partner, Cyrina Fiallo and I were tired of having other people dictate what we can and cannot do. Having a background doing improv, I can play a 70-year-old man in theater! I also really appreciate being able to write and create for ourselves. We created this web series called The Subpranos. We filmed it ourselves and also hair and makeup, costume, production, and the cheering! If we could have filmed ourselves in it, we would have done that!

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Fit? I don’t know. I’m real. I’m wearing this glittery dress with sneakers! I’ve [also] worked really hard to be in this position now and I am so lucky to have had such a great support system. My message is to work hard and keep who you are intact because there’s a lot of things that can get you down. If you look at the positive, always try to stay focused and know that it’s all going to work out. I think that’s kind of important because if I didn’t have my support system and my positive way of thinking about things, it would be hard in this industry. Just keep it real, keep it positive, and stay focused. Those are three things.

Now we’ve written a couple of feature films and we’re finishing one which will hopefully be able to sell. But also, I feel like I’m getting it together with my acting career and I’m at a place where more opportunities may present themselves. CM: With your writing and the direction that you want to take it, what’s your career trajectory? CF: I wish I can see into the future. I don’t really know. I think I’m a person who takes it day by day. Of course I do have goals that I want to achieve; in 5 years I want to direct something, in 10 years I want to be producing. If it comes earlier, great! But with Pitch Perfect 2 and Teen Beach 2, I feel like I’m getting where I want to be as an actress and then we’ll tackle the next feat when it comes. CM: What’s the one message that you would want people to know when they think about Chrissie Fit? CF: Well, that’s a deep question. What is the one message I want people to know about Chrissie

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CM: You talked about staying positive and those are the things that have helped you overcome difficulties - what is the source of your positive thinking? CF: What keeps me focused and positive is definitely my family, and don’t get mad mom, but specifically my dad. He is the coolest guy ever and any time I’m feeling a little down or he instinctively knows and sends me a text message, which reads, “keep your chin up.” He has this sort of dad-super-power and he’s always very positive and has always told me to give everything I do a 100%. Because then when you’re actually fulfilling the things that you want to do, you’re always going to work hard. I was a waitress for so many years before I was on Disney Channel and there were times when it was really challenging but I still gave it a 100% and it translates to everything in your life. I didn’t have a plan B so it had to work out and that’s why I just stuck with it. Now I see that what I do affects young girls and Latinas who are watching Teen Beach Movies. They’re seeing themselves on screen and the girls who will go see Pitch Perfect 2 will see themselves on screen. That motivates me to continue.

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FASHION

Tanya Heath Paris

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WORDS BY ERVINA TOPALLI

A Footwear Revolution Creative revolution and evolution in the fashion industry is a relatively frequent occurrence. It’s what keeps our minds fascinated with the newest inspired lines, the next hot trends. But rarely do we see groundbreaking changes that touch on the creative and the practical. This is exactly what’s happening with Tanya Heath’s new line of women’s footwear, which opened its first U.S. store right here in Los Angeles just last week. The idea is this. We all know what it’s like to spend a full workday in heels or get stuck on the dance floor in Jimmy Choos for hours on end without a break from the constant balancing act. We love the style and always will, but the discomfort can sometimes have us questioning why we put ourselves through it. Fear no more, ladies- Tanya Heath Paris has heard our call. The supremely stylish heels come complete with a full range of interchangeable heels sizes. Easily clicked into place, these heel options range from 1.6 – 3.3 inches with a variety of styles to choose from. What a godsend! And so practical! So who is the woman behind this very welcomed brilliance? Canadian-born Tanya Heath came up with the concept while living in Paris where she worked as a director of marketing for various technology firms and taught a class on disruptive innovations. And innovate she did! She saw that hardly any professional women changed their shoes throughout the day. They made a style decision and stuck with it, no matter how much discomfort it may have caused. On top of that came three pregnancies of her own and

her realization was clear as day. Women needed practical versatility and comfort, while keeping the style. Her interchangeable heels were born. Heath has always held great respect for strong, independent women. This revolutionary footwear was made with them in mind and hopes to empower many more! The Los Angeles location was opened by Pame Schmider, a woman with the same zeal for inspired fashion and revolutionary vision as Heath. When she first stepped into the Paris store, Pame knew this was the next big thing in women’s footwear. She was determined to bring it to the U.S. And here we are! Tanya Heath LA is located at 108 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN HONG STYLING BY ROBIAT BALOGUN MAKE UP BY CHELSEA YUSUF HAIR STYLING BY JADA WEST MODEL LAUREN TAYLOR INDUSTRY MODEL GROUP

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CELEBRITY

Sarah Rafferty PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN HONG & JOSEFHALEY STYLING BY BRUNO LIMA, GRID AGENCY MAKE UP BY CHELSEA YUSUF HAIR STYLING BY CARLOS ZELAYA INTERVIEW BY ERVINA TOPALLI WORDS BY EUNICE OH

et’s be real: USA Network’s “Suits” would be nothing without Donna. When we sat down with Sarah Rafferty—the actress who expertly brings this fan favorite character to life—we saw glimmers of her on-screen alter ego. Poised, funny, confident and nurturing, Rafferty is even more endearing than the sharpwitted executive assistant viewers love and hail as the preeminent star of the hit legal drama.

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“Our [show’s] creator has said a few times that Donna’s function really is to be the emotional glue at the firm,” the actress says about the series, which revolves around the power players at a top Manhattan law office. “She’s invested in people’s emotional lives, so when relationships are challenged, Donna is one to get all up in [their business], and that’s particularly fun to play.” With lines like, “If you want somebody to just sit at her desk, answer your phones and pick

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“Dig deep and figure out what your super power is.”

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up your dry cleaning, then put out a want ad, because that’s not me,” it’s clear Donna isn’t your stereotypical secretary, and Rafferty masterfully takes on the role of this strong female lead. A self-proclaimed “theater geek,” Rafferty first fell in love with the arts as a young wide-eyed girl growing up in Connecticut. Her parents would drive her and her three sisters to New York City once a year to catch a Broadway show. “I remember feeling [awestruck],” she recalls. From that point, Rafferty had her eyes set on acting. She started perfecting her craft at Hamilton College, where she double majored in English and Theater and studied theater abroad at the University of Oxford in England. She then continued her training at the Yale School of Drama and received a Master of Fine Arts. It’s an impressive resume that Rafferty credits for giving her the confidence to navigate the cutthroat world of auditioning.

they trust each other completely and can bring out the best performances in each other—but Rafferty points out one minor drawback. “[On set] at 4 in the morning, when we’re looking at each other and we’re playing this boss/secretary dynamic, it’s hilarious,” she says about her longtime friend. “It’s hard because we crack up!” Something that Rafferty doesn’t find too difficult: juggling two daughters (ages 7 and 3, with husband Santtu Seppala) and a hectic filming schedule while living a bicoastal life. It can be challenging at times but it’s also “such a blessing [to do what I do] and such an amazing opportunity,” Rafferty says humbly. “I’m grateful every day.”

I’m grateful every day.

“I didn’t really know what the path was to becoming an actor,” says Rafferty, who comes from an academic family (her mom headed the English department at an all-girls school, while her father worked in finance). “So for me, being in school and studying was a comfortable way to do it. It was a comfortable progression.” Along the way, Rafferty met Gabriel Macht, who now happens to also star in “Suits” as Harvey Specter, the best closer in NYC and, until season 4, Donna’s boss. Working with her friend of 20-plus years has its advantages—

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Asked what advice she could give others looking to build a strong, respected career in any field, Rafferty jokes she would “advise them to seek advice elsewhere!” before providing a more profound response: “Dig deep and figure out what your super power is.” “Find what you can uniquely contribute and value it,” she adds, “Hone it and really understand your own worth.” Judging by Rafferty’s accomplishments, it’s clear this approach worked. Catch Sarah Rafferty when season 5 of “Suits” premieres June 24, 9 p.m., on USA Network.

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