Grrrliness, Issue 5

grrrliness

issue no. 5

a zine about growing up to be awesome & growing up and being awesome

no one knows what they are way y n a t i o d e w but

h here is the trutdoi ng

here is some unsolicited advice from someone who is equally confused: set your eyes on the hills and then start climbing. be brave. it is worth it. i don’t know where we are going, but if you are brave, it will be better. ask for the things you need. take only what you need and give the rest back. give love freely. do what makes you happy and ask big questions. do not be deterred by what you are “supposed” to be doing. do not believe the image in a bathroom mirror lit by fluorescent lights - it is a lie. you know what you look like better than any mirror, deep in your body. there is a lot of hubbub about being “prepared” for things. there is no such thing. dive deep. come up for air when you need it. it is ok to be wrong. and above all, be kind.

what are you looking for? (a playlist for climbing mountain and molehills alike and feeling proud at the top of every summit) 1.

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nova scotia//magic man serotonin//mystery jets shot at the night//the killers like a stranger//kitten only wanna dance with you//ke$ha feat. julian casablancas heartbeats//the knife burn (magic man remix)//ellie goulding getting even//white lies primadonna (BURNS remix)//marina and the diamonds

listen here on spotify

laverne cox

Laverne Cox is an actress (she plays Sophia Burset on Orange is the New Black), writer, public speaker, and transgender advocate.

As a transwoman, Laverne knows firsthand how hard it is to be different, especially when it comes to gender and identity, but she is consistently kind, compassionate, and eloquent, even in the face of horrible discrimination. Laverne is a personal hero because she has done so much for the trans community and women in general. Despite still receiving threats, Laverne persists because she believes in the equality of all people, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or class. She is funny, intelligent, well-spoken, and oh yeah, also extremely beautiful. (Seriously, look at her.) Laverne is helping open people’s eyes to the plight that trans people face on a daily basis, all with her trademark humor and grace.

(And also, she’s an amazing actress.)

She’s got it all.

click here to watch Laverne talk about trans* issues in New York City!!

g ing h n ytyi r r e t evy t ll geea r ’tm n ’ do i i ut b

g ri

ht

a series of unfortunate events, lemony snicket. 1999-2006. 13 books. three orphans (violet, klaus, and sunny) are adopted by the nefarious count olaf and must discover the truth about their parents’ deaths and the world at large. meditations on life and death and secrets and being ready for the world, even though the world is coming and we can’t stop it. books about being bigger than you think you can be. strong ladies and a cool dude. (and some bad guys.) dry, witty, and emotional.

read these books the world is quiet here.

the best decisions i’ve ever made: (in no real order)

01 choosing to introduce myself by full name that one time (they said later it made a difference) 02 cutting off all my hair just before prom and deciding i didn’t care if anyone thought my face was “too round” for a pixie cut 03 getting a tattoo, in vegas, (with permission) to celebrate life and love and the person i think exemplifies that most, vincent van gogh 04 deciding that maybe the kid playing aaron carter on his laptop wasn’t so bad after all 05 loving myself enough to leave toxic situations (all of the ones i’ve left so far) 06 buying those ritz crackers and cheese and bottled water at morton williams on a cold winter day 07 wearing a rainbow scarf with a matching rainbow sweater (nailing it fashion-wise, 12 year old me) 08 deciding that i will run to the ends of the earth to keep you safe, all of you. you have made me a better person. you, reading this. you.

i don’t know what these all mean yet, but i promise you, opening yourself up to new and scary experiences makes you a better person. loving other people makes you a better person. forgiving and loving fiercely and proudly makes you a better person. we don’t have long here on this earth. not as long as you might think, anyway. life is too short not to live with reckless abandon.

“invictus” by william ernest henley

grrrline

ss

is a zine about gro to be awe wing up s o and being me & growing u awesome. simultaneously p empower y its goal is to stellar l oung girls to be images an adies through and media d words, music, .

ala alia vavdork) m a y b d a edite me being s ’ t a h t (

email: amaliavavala@gmail.com submissions/questions welcome!!!!