LEFAIR Magazine Fall 2017

FALL 2017

An interview with celebrity photographer

BEN COPE

Victoria

JUSTICE

magazine

Hello, MIAMI The ultimate guide for your next trip to Miami

TRIPLE THREAT

Fall for these looks

An interview with sisters, Victoria & Maddy Grace

Lingerie

NOIR

Hot lingerie for cold nights

NICK BATEMAN

On his rise to success and transition to a vegan lifestyle

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CONTENT

FALL 2017

IN THIS ISSUE

88

18 CONTRIBUTORS 20 EDITOR’S LETTER 68 ZODIAC STYLE 77 LYRICS WE LOVE 86 GET THE LOOK 100 RAD APPS

FASHION + BEAUTY 22 TRIPLE THREAT Taking the desert by storm in fall’s most vibrant vêtements.

48 LINGERIE NOIR Black lingerie for you to lust after this fall!

80 SHINE ON Let your makeup match your jewelry in its beaming brilliance.

INTERVIEWS 60 BEN COPE - The World Through His Eyes Celebrity photographer Ben Cope shares his approach to photography.

88 COVER STORY - VICTORIA & MADDY Get to know Victoria Justice and her half sister, Maddy Grace and find out what’s next for these two sisters.

102 NICK BATEMAN Actor and model Nick Bateman tells us about his rise to success, transition to a vegan lifestyle and new projects in the works.

114 BLOGGERSNYC We chat with the founders of bloggersNYC, a members-only social club for bloggers and social media influencers.

ON THE COVER Photographer John Russo Wardrobe Stylist Madison Guest Makeup Artist Lusine Galadjian Hair Artist Gilbert Muniz Frasier Sterling Top, House of CB Coat, Joe’s Jeans, Made in Earth Earrings, Adorn Monde Chokers, Fallon Rings 1 6 | L E FA I R MAG AZI NE

TRAVEL 42 MIAMI HOT SPOTS Our five favorite hot spots in Miami.

70 GET THE TRIP - The Sunshine State Check out our favorite luxurious hotels for your next trip to Southern Florida.

78 SHORE TO LOVE Drive into the Shore Club Hotel, a boutique oceanside resort in Miami’s South Beach!

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THE TEAM

FALL 2017

TRACY KAHN Editor in Chief, Creative Director & Photographer @tracykahn

MADELINE ROSENE Senior Editor @madelinerosene

KATE FERGUSON Brand Liaison & Writer @kateferg

BEN SHANI Videographer @benshaniproductions

RILEY YAHR Art Director @rileyyahr

KATIE WINKENHOWER Studio & Stylist Assistant @beachkatphoto

TORIA WEBBER Editorial Assistant @toria.webber

HAYLEY KIRKSEY Assistant Editor @haykirksey

JOHN RUSSO Photographer @johnrussophoto

SHANA ANDERSON Assistant Stylist @shana__anderson

GARRETT GERVAIS Makeup Artist @gtgervais

BRIANNA FATTAL Editorial Assistant @_briannafattal

BRIGITTE DIEZ Photographer @bridiez_photo

SARA KODESH Assistant Stylist @sarakodesh

YULITZIN ALVAREZ Makeup Artist @yulitzin

ARI SIMONET Editorial Assistant @shel_bari

ETHAN M SIGMON Videographer @emsigmon

LAVONNE Grooming @lavonnebeauty

LUSINE GALADJIAN Makeup Artist @makeupbylusine

JAYE YOUNKIN Editorial Assistant @jayemary

JACK EUSTACE Stylist @jack1066

GLEN COCO OROPEZA Hair Artist @glencocoforhair

RUTH MEDRANO Makeup Artist Assistant @mua_ruth

BARBARA ROSENE Writer @barbara_rosene

MADISON GUEST Stylist @madisonguest

LUCY GEDJEYAN Hair Artist @lucy_gedjeyan

PHOTOGENICS Model Agency @photogenicsla

TIZIANO LUGLI Photographer & Videographer @tizianolugli

CASSY DITTMER Stylist @cdittmer

GILBERT MUNIZ Hair Artist @hairbygilbert

BEN COPE Photographer & Videographer @ben_cope

DESIREE MORALES Stylist @desireemorales

CARLY FISHER Makeup Artist @carlyy.fisher

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LA MODELS Model Agency @lamodels MCH GLOBAL @mchglobal

the S T A R S

*Number of followers taken at date of publication

VICTORIA JUSTICE Actress & Singer @victoriajustice 13.3m followers

MADDYGRACE @themadgrace 416k followers

NICK BATEMAN @nick__bateman 6.7m followers

TATIANA BELLO Model @tatianabello_ 943 followers

SUMMER Model @summerzoethompson 9,053 followers

MORGAN Model @bizarregrl 2,109 followers

BEN COPE Photographer @ben_cope 22.5k followers

RAYNE IVANUSHKA Model @rayne_i 22.3k followers

MARGAUX BROOKE Model @margauxbrooke 84k followers

ADAM NIKLAS Model @adam_nicklas 43.6k followers

KLAUDIA BULKA Model @klaudiabulka 14.9k followers

ALYSSA MELENDEZ @thehautebrunette 19.5k followers

AMY VOSEJPKA @amyveditor 690 followers

Connect with us!

Are you a writer, photographer, model or musician and want to contribute to LEFAIR Magazine? Tag us on Instagram and email us to receive our submission guidelines.

If you would like LEFAIR to produce a fashion or music video for your brand, we’d love to hear from you! hello@lefairmag.com | www.lefairmag.com

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EDITOR’S LETTER

I

t’s a fresh and sunny fall morning in The City of Angels. I love this time of year when the sun is low and the shadows are long. The sun is on my face and there’s a cool breeze at my back. Fall opens the door to more fashion fun! We get to put on more stylish layers and rock those sexy silver boots.

I’m excited to share our fashion editorial, Triple Threat! The images, video and music all created by the amazing multi talented Tiziano Luigi.

This is the time to start planning for holiday parties and travel! It’s also time for my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving.

I am profoundly grateful for the pristine view from my bedroom window. All of the palm trees are standing tall and every building is intact. Over the last few months we have all seen the devastation caused by natural disasters around the world and possibly in our own backyards.

Our hearts go out to anyone who has lost loved ones and homes in these disasters. LEFAIR attended Miami Swim Week, which was sexy and exciting. The city inspired us and we decided to base our Get The Trip story on hotels in Florida and hot spots in Miami. Then Irma hit. Some of the hotels we planned on featuring were damaged from the hurricane. We scrambled to try to figure out what other city we could feature and then we realized that we had an opportunity to help tourism in Florida. We’re supporting the rebuilding of Florida and we encourage you to do the same by visiting this fantastic city and experiencing everything it has to offer.

Speaking of trip and fall, I had my own mini disaster right before we started production on this issue. I broke my right foot, which physically made the production of this magazine a lot more challenging. Ironically, I feel like it’s our best issue ever.

Our cover shoot and interview is with the stunning Victoria Justice and her adorable sister Maddy Grace, shot by amazing celebrity photographer John Russo at The Mondrian Hotel. Thanks to Christine Solomon, we shot on the rooftop, which was an epic place to get our cover shot. John’s work has graced the pages of Vanity Fair, Esquire, GQ, and so many esteemed publications. We’re honored to have been able to work with him many times. You’ll love the interview with Victoria and Maddy—two sisters skyrocketing into stardom as they support each other on their journeys.

Fall is the season of gratitude and I can’t be more grateful for the people that have contributed to this issue! First and foremost I want to thank my right-hand woman, Senior Editor, Madeline Rosene!

“People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.” I was lucky enough to meet Madeline in the early stages of the magazine so she has been involved since our first issue in January 2016. She’s been a loyal and creative teammate with a work ethic that would make

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anyone’s head spin! One of the things I love about the creation of this magazine is brainstorming with Madeline about editorial ideas, features and people that we can interview and share their stories to inspire our readers. Our creative energy together is a magical connection and I’m thrilled to work with this amazing woman.

LEFAIR would not be the same without our Art Director Riley Yahr!

Her incredible design talent shows up on every single page. Riley and I see eye to eye and read each other’s minds. I love designing the magazine with her because she completely understands the aesthetic and the vision. Her creativity and ideas are brilliant! Riley and Madeline help to make my job the ultimate accomplishment, to blur the lines between work and play.

Celebrity fashion photographer Ben Cope has worked with us since our first issue. Ben creates incredible art, photography and videos, effortlessly. He is one of the most insanely talented, yet chill, people I have ever worked with. His work blows my mind! We are so excited and honored to feature an interview with Ben, along with two editorial fashion stories. If you want to heat up your cold fall nights, check out Lingerie Noir shot in Ben’s newly renovated downtown LA studio. Ben also shot celebrity influencer Nick Bateman. It’s safe to say that Nick is one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever met, inside and outside. He’s got a good soul and it shines through to his physical being. After our shoot, Nick sat down with Madeline Rosene and had a delightful interview.

It’s the morning of our fall launch. I always manage to do this damn letter last! I’m not a writer. I’m a visualist, but the letter from the editor helps me reflect on the experiences of the last few months.

Even though I had to be a creative director with a broken foot, it was challenging yet very gratifying. I definitely had to push myself the extra mile to get things done.

With challenges come lessons and a deeper sense of awareness for the things that you take for granted. Running a magazine is a huge endeavor and many times I’ve questioned my own sanity for taking on this responsibility. But recently I feel a deep sense of accomplishment and faith that it’s going to be a huge success. The broken foot has made me step back and look at the big picture. One thing I know is that if you want to do something big in life and follow your dream it takes patience, baby steps and most likely a leap of faith.

So if you have a dream, believe in yourself and do what you love.

Have faith and take that leap! Just try to make a soft landing and don’t break anything! And for inspiration along the way, keep your eye on LEFAIR including our blog and Instagram. Our mission is to create, connect and inspire and we want to stay connected with you!

Tracy Kahn Editor in Chief

Photo by Katie Winkenhower

ONE THING I KNOW IS THAT IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING BIG IN LIFE AND FOLLOW YOUR DREAM IT TAKES PATIENCE, BABY STEPS AND MOST LIKELY A LEAP OF FAITH.

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triple THREAT Photographer Tiziano Lugli @tizianolugli Wardrobe Stylist Jack Eustace @jack1066 Models Morgan @bizarregrl, Tatiana Bello @tatianabello and Summer @summerzoethompson Model Agency Photogenics @photogenicsla Hair Artist Glen Coco Oropeza @glencocoforhair Makeup Artist Carly Fisher @carlyy.fisher Assistants Carin Numa @carinnuma and Luke Brossette @lukebrossette

On Morgan: Alberta Ferretti Top & Pants albertaferretti.com Christian Louboutin Shoes christianlouboutin.com On Tatiana: Aleesandro Dell’Acqua Sweater alessandrodellacqua.com Helmut Lang Gown helmutlang.com Alexis Bittar Bracelets alexisbittar.com Tom Ford Shoes tomford.com On Summer: YSL Top ysl.com Lexi Gown lexiclothing.com Hèrmes Scarf hermes.com Stella McCartney Shoes stellamccartney.com

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On Tatiana: Donna Karan Gown donnakaran.com Lexi Corset lexiclothing.com Alexis Bittar Bracelet alexisbittar.com On Summer: Chloe Dress neimanmarcus.com Alexis Bittar Necklace alexisbittar.com

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On Summer: Burberry Coat nordstrom.com On Tatiana: Francesco Paolo Salerno Top francescopaolosalerno.com YSL Pants ysl.com On Morgan: Gorgeous Couture Gown gorgeouscouture.com Stylists Own Scarf

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Alberta Ferretti Suit & Shirt albertaferretti.com L E FA I R MA G A Z I NE | 2 9

On Summer: YSL Top ysl.com Lexi Gown lexiclothing.com Hèrmes Scarf hermes.com On Tatiana: Aleesandro Dell’Acqua Sweater alessandrodellacqua.com On Morgan: Alberta Ferretti Top albertaferretti.com

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This page: Burberry Coat nordstrom.com Dolce & Gabbana Dress modaoperandi.com Stella McCartney Shoes stellamccartney.com Right page, on Tatiana: Francesco Paolo Salerno Top francescopaolosalerno.com YSL Pants ysl.com Cesare Paciotti Shoes cesare-paciotti.com On Morgan: Gorgeous Couture Gown gorgeouscouture.com Stylist Own Scarf Dolce & Gabbana Boots saksfifthavenue.com 3 2 | L E FA I R MAG AZI NE

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YSL Top ysl.com Lexi Gown lexiclothing.com Hèrmes Scarf hermes.com Stella McCartney Shoes stellamccartney.com

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Left page: YSL Suit ysl.com Francesco Paolo Salerno Top francescopaolosalerno.com This page: Gorgeous Couture Gown gorgeouscouture.com Dolce & Gabbana Boots saksfifthavenue.com

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On Summer: House of Skye Coat houseofskye.com On Tatiana: Christian Dior Coat dior.com Juan Carlos Obando Scarf net-a-porter.com Harpers PR Earrings On Morgan: Moschino Coat moschino.com Haider Ackermann Top haiderackermann.com Belstaff Skirt belstaff.com

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TRIPLE THREAT

IN MOTION

Videographer Tiziano Lugli @tizianolugli 4 0 | L E FA I R MAG AZI NE

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Los Fuegos Photographer Juan Fernando Ayora

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Hot Spots

Writer Kate Ferguson @kateferg

Miami’s appeal is unparalleled. The city is rich in culture, pulsing with heart, and one of the more influential cities in the country.

Miami Beach is synonymous with vacation style warm weather.

It also happens to be in hurricane territory. The recent damage of Hurricane Irma could have been twice as catastrophic had the storm not veered course, but that’s not to say that it didn’t cause a lot of issues. In the heat of September, a lack of climate control is not simply a discomfort but actually life-threatening, and was ultimately the reason some lives were lost. Older buildings suffered structurally, trees were uprooted, and flooding and debris threatened to overtake residential streets.

One of the key considerations for Miami’s recovery was getting the hospitality sector up and running as quickly as possible. Because tourism is the leading industry in Florida, Miami is simply not functioning at full throttle without its hotels and restaurants open for business..The more businesses with open doors, the more help can be offered to locals. For instance, many hotels opened their doors at reduced rates for neighbors who were misplaced by the hurricane.

The quicker the economy can turnaround, the quicker the city as a whole can recover.

The following restaurants are some of our favorites in Miami. They, like every one else, have been affected by the hurricanes but have remained committed to getting back to normal as quickly as possible.

In supporting them, we support the city.

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Area 31 Terrace The views from the terrace where Area31 is located cannot be beat – but neither can the restaurant’s commitment to good food! The name of the restaurant pays homage to Fishing Area 31, which is a zone that has been designated as a sustainable fishery by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Area31 supports sustainable cooking, like using herbs from their on-site herb garden. Talk about fresh.

The restaurant is located on the 16th floor of The Kimpton EPIC Hotel, located in downtown Miami. That means beautiful views of downtown, Biscayne Bay and Brickell Key. The open-air restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as seafood and such to the sunbathers on the hotel’s pool deck. The ceviche and yucca fries are must haves on the appetizer menu. Mushroom risotto, pork belly, and crab cakes are favorite main courses. And of course, the molten lava cake is an obvious dessert choice.

Area31 tends to fill up for happy hour…in a good way. The restaurant draws an elegant crowd in appreciation of quality cocktails with a view.

270 Biscayne Boulevard Way Miami, FL 33131 area31restaurant.com

Baoli Baoli has a strong commitment to sophistication and secured its name in the haute cuisine world with its first location in the French Riviera.

Baoli Miami offers a similar ambiance, merged with the feeling of a trendy bar scene.

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1906 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139 baolimiami.com

The extensive menu is made up of Mediterranean and sushi fare. It would be impossible to try everything of interest in one visit, but luckily sharing small plates is encouraged within the social atmosphere. Executive Chef Gustavo Vertone uses fresh ingredients that are local to South Florida, while calling upon traditional recipes from countries like France, Italy, and Spain. Key menu items include golden lobster tempura, Saikyo miso sea bass, and the Thai wok fried wagyu beef.

Zuma Restaurant Zuma was renowned in London, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Dubai, and Bangkok before opening in Miami, where it received a welcome reception at the Epic hotel in the downtown area. The restaurant serves up chef Rainer Becker’s unique style of Japanese cuisine.

While authentic, the menu is not intended to be traditional. The design style of the restaurant on the other hand, was inspired by the traditional yet informal Japanese dining style of Izakaya.

The lobby level restaurant has views looking out over the Miami river, where boats can be seen coming and going out into the bay.

The atmosphere is refined and mellow (even when the DJ is playing), which encourages multiple courses and sharing plates as the menu intends.

Guests can expect bold flavors and quality ingredients at Zuma in addition to impeccable presentation. The cold menu includes items like seared salmon, while the grill portion offers beef skewers and grilled scallops. Starters like spicy edamame and unique cocktails weave it all together.

270 Biscayne Boulevard Way Miami, FL 33131 zumarestaurant.com L E FA I R MA G A Z I NE | 4 5

Cecconi’s Cecconi’s expertly mixes old school with hip elegance, which is reflected in all seven of their locations in hot spot cities all over the world. The restaurant is synonymous with style and the Miami location does the name plenty of justice. Cecconi’s is located in the courtyard of SoHo Beach House with a romantic dining ambiance created by way of trees decked out with soft white string lights.

The classic Italian spot serves up homemade pasta from brunch through dinner. Pizza, pasta, and salad round out a large part of the menu and the wine pairing options are endless. Popular entrée items include the lamb chops, chicken paillard caponata, and halibut with broccolini and wild mushrooms.

Cecconi’s is a great restaurant for a lingering over a meal on any occasion, but their Sunday brunch is a great reason to extend a stay and soak in the ambiance. Executive chef Sergio Sigala delivers a memorable buffet that offers everything from cheese and charcuterie to a seafood station and every expected breakfast item in between. Plus, of course, mimosas.

Soho Beach House 4385 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33140 cecconismiamibeach.com 4 6 | L E FA I R MAG AZI NE

Los Fuegos Los Fuegos is located within the Faena hotel of Miami Beach.

Chef Francis Mallmann brings to the table (literally) the ancient art of South American live-fire cooking, using his specialized grill that he designed and built in Texas. It runs on both charcoal and oak and provides a variety of cooking styles for the meats, vegetables, fish and pasta he prepares.

The fare at Los Fuegos may seem simple, in the sense we might be talking about a roast chicken and bread, as opposed to a deconstructed creation. However, the flavor profile is anything but. The use of local ingredients adds a freshness to the traditional Argentinian dishes. Grilled lemon, garlic, olives and paprika abound. We won’t even get started on the deliciousness of the sweetbread doused in chimichurri.

On the main menu you’ll find dishes such as King Salmon Confit and Beef Tenderloin Milanesa. A la carte items can be paired with baked potatoes and ravioli, although those side items could also stand alone.

Photographer Juan Fernando Ayora

It needs to be said that the deeply chic dining environment of Los Fuegos is just as savory as the dishes. The main dining room is rich in red and gold, balanced by the poolside patio. Come in the evening and you’ll likely find a live jazz band creating sounds to dine by. ■

Photographer Nik Koenig

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On Rayne: Seven Til Midnight Lingerie seventilmidnight.com Selma Cilek Skirt selmacilek.com Motif Bangle motif.me Motif Choker motif.me SOON Ring soon.space On Margaux: Seven Til Midnight Lingerie seventilmidnight.com

LingerieNOIR Photographer Ben Cope @ben_cope Models Rayne Ivanushka @rayne_i with Photogenics @photogenicsla, Margaux Brooke @margauxbrooke with Photogenics @photogenicsla Adam Niklas @adam_nicklas with LA Models @lamodels Creative Director Tracy Kahn @tracykahn Wardrobe Stylist Madeline Rosene @madelinerosene Hair Artist Lucy Gedjeyan @lucy_gedjeyan with MCH Global @mchglobal Makeup Artist Garrett Gervais @gtgervais with MCH Global @mchglobal Assistants Katie Winkenhower @beachkatphoto and Luke Brossette @lukebrosette Videographer Ben Shani @benshaniproductions

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Seven Til Midnight Lingerie seventilmidnight.com

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LINGERIE NOIR

IN MOTION

Videographer Ben Shani @benshaniproductions 5 8 | L E FA I R MAG AZI NE

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BEN COPE T H E WO R L D T HROU G H HIS EYES

Writer Madeline Rosene @madelinerosene

“…the artist has eyes and hands, which are perhaps more artistic than his intentions and refuse to aim at photography alone.”

This Wassily Kandinsky quote sums up photographer Ben Cope’s approach to art and photography. In fact, he has a slightly reworked version of it tattooed on his right arm. Ben sees a bigger picture than most and it’s full of people to dance and meet eyes with through the lens. It might sound cliché, but the world is Ben Cope’s canvas. Inside Ben Cope’s home and photography studio in Downtown Los Angeles you’ll find guitars and amplifiers, photo equipment, art books, sculptures, and just about anything else that requires a creative mind. “That’s a photo of Kris Kidd and that’s Sara Cummings.” Ben pointed at the photos of his friends on the wall. “I am interested in people’s emotions…I just want to grab the moments that you can’t ask for. That’s my inspiration. I want to try to get a part of the person while I’m shooting.”

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RUBY ROSE

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MR: How did you get started as a photographer?

BC: I got into the fine arts department at Columbus State University in Georgia. My freshman year, I was just like, “Fuck it.

I’m just going to take photography!” even though everyone told me not to. I wound up taking a photography class every single semester of college. A lot of people say you should take all of your primary classes like drawing and painting but I just didn’t really care. Once I exhausted all of their things, I just started doing independent studies every semester. Photography has taken me a lot of cool places. I went to Edinborough to study alternative processes of printmaking and photography combined at the Edinborough printmaking workshop. I went to Normandy one summer. I went to Mexico one summer. I got to go out and travel and do fun stuff. I just continued to take whatever classes I could in photography and ceramics. That’s how I got started. All I really wanted to do was move to New York and do something. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was ready to get out. I had done a lot of traveling. Photography can take you a lot of places. I somehow wound up on the west coast kind of by accident. I was just trying to get to New York. I applied to get my masters in New York. I wanted to go to Hunter College for their ceramics program but I didn’t get in. Randomly a friend of mine called me and said, “Hey, I heard you’re trying to move out. I’m looking for a new roommate. $465.” He was one of my classmates who I had done a lot of traveling with. He was living in Oakland. I said, “Cool.

I’ll see you in two weeks.” I got in the car and drove across the country.

manly. I find that funny because Kevin would say, “It is more than just the face.” Personally, I find myself always wanting to get in tight. When I’m shooting, all I do is watch people’s eyes through my viewfinder. That’s all I pay attention to and I just dance with them and watch their eyes. When their eyes move, that’s when I choose to move. For me it is all about the face. I am interested in people’s emotions and the way they move and I just want to grab the moments that you can’t ask for. That’s my inspiration. I want to try to get a part of the person while I’m shooting.

. . .I JUST WANT TO GRAB THE MOMENTS THAT YOU CAN’ T ASK FOR. THAT ’S MY INSPIRATION.

MR: Tell me about your tattoos…

I’ve made my way down to LA. I went to Brooks Institute for Photography, which has since closed, for a second. I got a job down here as a lighting technician.

BC: (Points to his arm)These guys are longitudes and latitudes of all of the places I lived or spent time in that I feel like have been somewhat influential to me.

MR: So you didn’t set out to be a fashion and celebrity photographer in LA? Photographing celebrities wasn’t your aspiration?

Georgia, my hometown, Normandy, Edinborough, Mexico, and this is a poem I wrote back in New York in 2008 and this one is from a book that I found in a market in New York when I was walking in Union Square. There were tables of books and I saw this one cover. Sometimes that shit just speaks to you. It kind of finds you. This quote is the first thing I read from the book that I found. It says, “Determined to fall weather exposed skeleton I cannot help the sore wind blowing through my heart.” It was written by this 17th century Haiku artist I believe named Matsuo Basho. He was kind of a wanderer. It just kind of stuck with me. It’s about going until you’re dead. You go until you can’t go anymore and that’s kind of the way I live I guess. I’m just going to do whatever the fuck I want to do until I’m dead. This one is kind of a bastardized quote from Kandinsky’s Concerning The Spiritual and Art. It says, “The photographer has eyes, ears, and hands to create but refuses to aim at photography alone.” This is kind of how I like to approach most things. Yes, I’m a photographer by trade and that’s what pays my bills but again, I’m going to do whatever I want. I’m going to create something. It doesn’t matter what medium. I don’t like to limit myself to one specific thing.

BC: I didn’t set out to do what I’m doing. I just ended up here.

I like forethought and planning but you have to go with what the world throws at you. I got a job as a lighting technician and dropped out of Brooks and moved to LA. That got me working with Mark Seliger, Steven Klein, and Mark Abrahams. I was assisting and flying all over the place for these big jobs. I thought, “This is what I want to do.” So I started shooting more and taking every opportunity to do something more.

MR: Is there a certain aesthetic or a certain kind of person you really enjoy shooting or that inspires you?

BC: I don’t know. Greg Gormon — The guy I assisted for, for eight years, Kevin Lynch, he was Greg’s first assistant for years.

He would always joke around about Greg and how Greg would say, “It’s all about the face! It’s all about the face!” He talks kind of

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MR: You have a very particular style. I can look at a bunch of photographers’ work and not be able to tell whose work is whose, but with your work, I somehow can figure out it’s yours. Is it something you consciously developed?

BC: I wouldn’t say it’s anything I’ve consciously developed.

I think it’s just my aesthetic and the way I see things. I’m always over critiquing everything I do and I pretty much hate everything I shoot. I’m my worst critic and I’m super meticulous about the details. I don’t know if it’s a specific thing I’m after or anything but the more you do something, the more it kind of morphs into what it is. For me, it’s a dance.

You dance with your subject and you end up with an image.

FOR ME, IT ’S A DANCE. YOU DANCE WITH YOUR SUBJECT AND YOU END UP WITH AN IMAGE. MR: How do you balance being a single father and a photographer? Ace, your son, is exposed to your work all of the time. What does he make of it all?

BC: He used to really want to be involved but now he just wants to flirt with the models and convince people to hang out with him. He’s seven. He enjoys having the space. He always wants to help me when I’m building stuff. He’s like, “Look, I can help you. I can hold the steel up!” while I was welding something the other day. I don’t think he realizes it’s a weird world to be in. He’s always been in it. His mom is a model and her boyfriend of a long time is also a photographer. He has a photo studio too so he’s always been in it. We used to call him the dirty loft baby. He’s grown up in a concrete warehouse. As far as managing it while working and sometimes having to be out of the country, it comes from the support of really good friends. My family is all back in Georgia and his mom’s family

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is all back in Chicago. We don’t have family support here. My best friend Rowan, he helps out a lot. Kris Kidd, the guy in the video, his public persona is that he is a flaming dumpster fire whore, complete mess… but he’s actually one of the sweetest people alive. He’s really good with Ace. I had to go to Kosovo for four weeks. He made sure he did his homework, took him to castings... He was the perfect best friend. He was able to step in and take care of my son. I wouldn’t be able to do it if I didn’t have support from really good people.

MR: You’re so busy producing content and writing music, how did you start writing music and directing videos?

BC: I always avoided video because I knew it would consume me. I don’t know. It just kind of happened. I started fucking around with different things. My buddy Daniel Gomez, he’s a brilliant director. I’ve always been his like, “fixer.” I guess. He’s like, “As long as Ben Cope’s on set with me, everything will be fine.” I don’t know what he thinks. When he was doing this short film for his thesis, I came in and I was like I will make all the artwork for the gallery scene. I’ll wire up this lighting thing. ‘cause I’m kind of a jerk of all trades.

MR: You’re a renaissance man!

BC: Being around him and working on those projects with him — I guess it kind of organically happened once I picked up a camera and I realized how much I liked it. I was with Daniel and I said I’m going to buy a Red today. And he was like, “Don’t do it.”

MR: That is a splurge!

BC: I just threw it on some credit cards. It’s an older version.

It wasn’t too expensive. I thought, if I buy it, then we can always make content not matter what and we don’t need a rental budget. And he was like, “True!” As soon as I did that, we both just started doing projects non-stop and working on things together. Let’s pull some clothes from Holly and do this Billy video. Let’s just fuckin’ make something. That’s what’s driving my creativity and then my agent being able to put me on commercials really helps too. Since I moved into that and since I’ve had to have tracks written for different projects, “I was like you know, why don’t I go back to what I was doing in high school and start playing music again?” I was in a punk band called Strength in Numbers. Yeah, we were just a bunch of idiots making noise.

SELENA GOMEZ

HILARY DUFF

BECKY G

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SNOOP DOGG

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MR: Were you paying for music before that?

BC: Yeah, but my buddy has written some tracks for me too for fun. It’s another exercise in creativity.

What can I figure out? It’s like a math problem. I got a bass and my neighbor is a guitar tech. He gave me that electric guitar over there to play with. I started buying pedals and someone gave me this Music Man amp to play with. I have all of this shit. Why don’t I do something with it? Plinkin’ around. It’s like layers in Photoshop. You add one thing and put something on top of it. Start a drum track and throw some effects on there. Lay down the guitar and loop it.

Layer it until you have something. One thing led to another. It was a natural progression.

MR: When did you sign with 7 Artist Management?

BC: I met Bob Dixon through a close friend of mine who worked at Elite Models. We were all hanging out at the International Modeling & Talent Association IMTA conventions and we were all drinking, having fun. I think Bob was at The Osbrink Agency then as a model agent. We just stayed in contact and then he was at Red Rock Entertainment as a talent booker.

He took me on as his side project. We flirted with that for a bit. It fizzled out. He got a different job.

When are we going to do this for real? I was like, “Dude, quit your job, start an agency and rep me.”

One day he was like, “Okay.”

MR: Wow, so you really inspired him to create 7Artist Management…

BC: He loves photographers and he loves managing people.It wasn’t a far cry for him to want to do that, but probably a big step for him to step away from a salaried position. He started it and it just grew and grew. I’m really proud with what he’s done. It just started out with us being super good friends. I’ve been with him since day one. He called me his “first born” the other day.

MR: What’s a project you’ve worked on that really changed your career or perspective?

BC: My agent, Cory, being the beast that he is, got me booked to shoot the still campaign and commercial for a brand at Sephora called Formula X. It was a big job with a good budget. I rented a great camera set up for the motion side of it. It was a long ass day. We shot at five different locations at the Standard Downtown. It was a crazy long day but I have this camera and I want to do a personal project too if I can. My buddy Kris Kidd had been talking to me about doing a video to this Girl Pusher song.

I was like “Okay, well why don’t we just piggy back one thing after the other.” After a 17 hour day on set, I came back here, my buddy Daniel came over, I unloaded the camera van rebuilt the package, lit the studio. Kris came over and we had a few beers. We made that video and shot until 2 or 3am. Either it was lack of sleep and pure exhaustion but whatever we came up with worked really well. It’s one of my favorite videos I think I’ve ever done. It’s where I cut my teeth on doing fun editing shit. It’s experimental and you have to teach yourself if you want to learn anything. It’s probably one of my favorite things that Daniel and I have made.

MR: Does equipment photographer?

make

or

break

a

BC: No. If you give me something to take a picture with and I’m going to take a fucking picture. It doesn’t matter what it is. I’m going to create regardless of what’s in my hands. That said, if you walk on to set for an advertisement, shooting a movie poster with a 5D Mark 3 and the Art Director says, “Oh, I just bought that for my son.” You can’t show up to the big leagues like that. Yeah, it’s expensive but sometimes you have to buy the big boy shit if you want to play with the big boys. That’s what led me to buying the Hasselblad. That’s the best shit on the market and it’s still three years old. I had to make the investment because I got started playing with the big kids. The creative directors want to see those bigger files. They want to see that medium format. It doesn’t matter to some degree but you can usually tell if a photographer has a distinct eye. ■

For more about Ben and his work check out his website bencope.net.

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zodiac style

Star Sign Style: Find your autumnal fashion astrologically!

Writer Barbara Rosene, Astrologer astrologybybarbararosene.com

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Astrology is tricky. All the people born under one Sun sign should and do NOT feel the same — everyone has an entire Astrology chart affecting them that is different from all the others. Nonetheless, people born under one Sun sign can often have great connections with others of the same sign, because their true character is similar fundamentally. Your Sun sign is the essence of who you are, but your ascendant, also known as your rising sign, is how you portray yourself to the world. It is the mask you wear. Your rising sign is the sign of the zodiac that was coming up over the Eastern horizon when you were born, and it plays a major role in your natal horoscope. It is your personal blueprint. Since your rising sign is not your core self, but the filter through which you experience that core self, it has an enormous impact on your personal style. The rising sign is the “face” of the personality; it’s like a window through which you view the world, and the world views you. The planet that governs your rising sign is considered the chart ruler. It is determined by the time you were born. It’s best to read both your sun sign and your rising sign when looking for natal characteristics. Here is a little glimpse into the fashion sense of the Autumnal signs of the Zodiac.

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LIBRA

SEPT 23-OCT 22

You are an artistic, gracious, socially conscious sign, and the social media rock star of the zodiac. You love engaging with the world. You need peace to maintain equilibrium and to recharge. Beauty, balance, diplomacy and intimate relationships are your friends.

Ruled by Venus, Librans have a deep need for beauty, so to feel comfortable you must feel coordinated. Whether you are casual in jeans and a t-shirt or in glamorous evening attire, you dress for yourself, but definitely care what others think, and want to please them. You strive to be appropriate with your fashion choices. You are the one in the zodiac who most easily mixes styles, patterns, designs and designers. Gucci, with it’s beautiful prints and timeless creations is a great fashion house for you- as is Emilio Pucci- the prince of prints. Just make sure you don’t leave that Gucci bag somewhere while you’re texting like mad, and definitely get a bag which has a pocket for your ever present phone, or wear some lovely flowy trousers with pockets. Libra fashion designers include: Ralph Lauren, Taylor Zaria, Anya Ayoung-Chee, Donna Karan, Sara Berman, Virgil Abloh, Angel Brinks, and Althea Harper.

SCORPIO

OCT 23-NOV 21

Your energy is intense, emotional and perceptive. You have great depth. Ruled by Pluto, you periodically regenerate completely- as does your wardrobe. Scorpio must feel powerful, and a little sexy to be their fabulous selves. An understated charisma subliminally draws attention from everyone. Deeply sensuous, Scorpio’s fashion closet consists of plunging necklines, clingy fabrics and intense colors. As fiery Mars and powerful Pluto are Scorpio's co-rulers, you naturally innovate, re-create and investigatein life, as well as in your fashion sense. Consider clothing with easy access for those intense romantic trysts. Zippers recommended. Strangely enough a majority of fashion designers have Scorpio as their sun sign. Calvin Klein, Anna Wintour, Jimmy Choo, Roberto Cavalli, Christian Siriano, Rick Owens, Zac Posen, Lauren Elaine, Chris Benz, Scott Henshall, Emilio Pucci, Kelly Cutrone, and Alexa Chung are all Scorpios.

Photographer Ben Cope @ben_cope

S A G I T TA R I U S

NOV 22-DEC 21

Enthusiastic, positive, faith-filled and philosophical, you love the world. You love the many cultures and diverse backgrounds of your varied and many friends. Scorpio asks “why?” but you ask “why not?” This approach channels into your fashion sense as well. Spontaneity, spiritual study, adventure and animals are your comrades. This is the sign that might go crazy for Dolce and Gabbana animal prints. They will make you feel like you are on safari. And as a fire sign, you have no problem being noticed. “Valentino Red” is a bold choice you might make. Your fun and flirtatious personality is conveyed in your zodiac fashion look. You would also be one of the signs likely to sport a more Bohemian look. Jupiter is the ruler of Sagittarius, ever expanding your horizons emotionally and in your fashion sense. It may be best to carry a rather large bag with you at all times, complete with change of clothes, for your spontaneous trips to Paris. Jil Sander, Manolo Blahnik, John Galliano, Malene Birger, Gianni Versace, Tara Subkoff, and Jasper Conran are all Sagitarian designers.

Next issue will feature the whimsical fashion sensibilities of the winter signs; Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.

Happy Autumn, Barbara Nagel Rosene - Leo Sun, Libra Rising. xoxo L E FA I R MA G A Z I NE | 6 9

GETthe TRIP

W MIAMI Miami, Florida

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the

SUNSHINE STATE Five luxurious hotels for your next trip to southern Florida

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CRANE’S BEACH HOUSE BOUTIQUE HOTEL & LUXURY VILLAS

A 3-peat winner of the coveted All-America City award, Delray Beach has also been named “Most Fun Small Town in the USA” by Rand McNally, USA Today and the Travel Channel – and Crane’s Beach House Boutique Hotel & Luxury Villas is widely recognized as “the best place to stay in Delray.” Perfect for romantic couples, best friends, fun families and sophisticated business travelers, the popular boutique hotel is located just steps away from both the hip shops and restaurants along Atlantic Avenue and a pristine Atlantic Ocean beach. Every room, suite and luxury villa at Crane’s Beach House is unique, with extraordinary amenities and eye-catching artwork. In addition, all ground floor rooms now have access to semi-private back patios, while second floor living areas have balconies overlooking one of the hotel’s two swimming pools or Tiki Bars. cranesbeachhouse.com

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Photographer Aaron Lurie, VMA Studios

Delray Beach, Florida

Leauge Travels

Sunset Key Cottages is poised on the 27-acre island of Sunset Key, 500 yards off Key West, offering guests a truly secluded hideaway just minutes from the renowned action, activities and attractions of Key West. Each of the 40 custom-designed two-, three- and four-bedroom cottages is fully equipped with the comforts of home, plus a variety of luxurious amenities. Guests enjoy The Spa at Sunset Key; Latitudes waterfront restaurant; fitness center; attended beach services with tiki hut cabanas; a tropical free-form, zero-degree entry pool; and quaint foot paths that lead guests through the resort's lush tropical landscape. Complimentary guest services include weekly yoga on the beach, weekly garden tour, daily ice cream treats delivered by the Conch Cruiser ice cream cycle, and a daily rum ration served at Latitudes outdoor bar.

Sunset Key Cottages provides a one-of-a-kind setting for spectacular vacations, family reunions, incentive retreats and memorable weddings. sunsetkeycottages.com

SUNSET KEY Key West, Florida

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B OCEAN RESORT Fort Lauderdale, Florida

■

B first to experience the newly renovated B Ocean Resort situated directly on the famous Fort Lauderdale Beach. Our Iconic South Florida Resort, formerly known as the Yankee Clipper, boasts stylish new designs, amenities, and features including a contemporary new ballroom and fully re-fitted breakout rooms with state-of-the-art technology. B Ocean is the true definition of what it’s like to B In Vogue.

Whether you stay for business or pleasure, pre or post cruise, or even just a weekend getaway, B Ocean Resort’s offerings are second to none. The resort, located directly on the white sands of our private beach, is one of only 4 hotels in the entire destination where guests can sip, savor, and enjoy

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food & beverage offering while in the comfort of their beach loungers with a service staff available to ensure your day will B memorable, relaxing, and carefree. Private cabanas are also available for a rental fee for that extra feeling of exclusivity.

There’s nothing more fun than treating yourself to that little extra something.

B Ocean Resort features FreeB™ Wi-Fi throughout the entire hotel including all four towers, public areas, at both of our relaxing pools, or while sitting on the beach basking in the beauty of the Atlantic Ocean. bhotelsandresorts.com

W MIAMI Miami, Florida Boasting an unbeatable downtown location in the city's Brickell neighborhood - moments from world-class shopping and dining, and just over a mile away from American Airlines Arena – the newly unveiled W Miami has 146 luxury rooms, featuring private balconies with views of downtown Miami or the river, plus sleek bathrooms with floor-to-ceiling marble and W signature lemon + sage Bliss amenities. Steps from the newly opened shopping-mecca Brickell City Centre, the W Miami redefines expectations and maximizes potential, with stylish venues and cutting-edge technology. Offering the perfect rooftop spot to enjoy the Miami sun, the 50th Floor WET Deck and Whisper Cocktail Lounge have breathtaking views, rolling up into the ultimate electric experience. wmiamihotel.com

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ME MIAMI Miami, Florida Debuting as the first ever U.S. destination from ME by Meliá, ME Miami opened its doors in July 2016 in the heart of bustling Downtown Miami. Drawing inspiration from both the city’s culture and the ME brand’s contemporary aesthetic, ME Miami’s design represents a unique blend of modern European style accented by Meliá Hotels International’s Spanish roots.

ME Miami features 129 luxury-appointment rooms, including brand signature ME and Personality Suites. Overlooking Biscayne Bay, the Aura Lounge provides a modern spot to mix and mingle with DJ-customized ME mixes and drinks from the signature cocktail list. ME Miami also features an outdoor deck on the 14th floor featuring a main swimming pool, infinityedge lap pool with views of the bay. ■ melia.com

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Lyrics we Love khalid

LOCATION

AT TIMES I WONDER WHY I FOOL WITH YOU BUT THIS IS NEW TO ME, THIS IS NEW TO YOU INITIALLY, I DIDN’T WANNA FALL FOR YOU GATHER MY ATTENTION IT WAS ALL FOR YOU

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SHORE TO LOVE

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hecking into The Shore Club Hotel, a boutique oceanside resort in Miami’s South Beach, the LEFAIR Magazine team was greeted with delicious chocolate covered strawberries and bottles of champagne. After researching hotels in South Beach for weeks, we knew we wanted to experience the chill, beachy vibe of The Shore Club.

There is a fun contrasting décor theme at The Shore Club with a minimal and modern, fresh, sleek white interior and an eclectic and exotic exterior with Chinese lanterns, a Koi pond, and lounging beds with colorful pillows and gold trimmed frames that looked like they may be reserved for a Sultan.

Simply, The Shore Club is a party on the outside, with a DJ mixing until 2AM on weekends, and a peaceful place to rest on the inside. Designed by British modernist, David Chipperfield, the landmarked Art Deco hotel lobby flows seamlessly from indoor to outdoor spaces, featuring a luxurious playground of labyrinthine gardens and decor inspired by Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech.

The hotel features sweeping beach views, a rooftop spa, two pools, a restaurant offering breakfast and lunch both indoors and on the terrace, and beach access. One of the best parts of our stay at The Shore Club was the proximity to the Miami Swim Week tents, located just a few blocks away from the hotel on Collins Avenue.

We highly recommend staying at The Shore Club, whether you’re visiting for Miami Swim Week or looking to experience all that South Beach has to offer. Shore Club is located just steps from the shopping of the Art Deco District, Ocean Drive, Lincoln Road, South Beach nightlife and Espanola Way. South Beach is a major destination for shopping and there is no shopping street as iconic as Lincoln Road. This outdoor pedestrian mall runs east to west through the center of South Beach. Look for high-end boutiques like Alchemist and Intermix and recognizable brands like Forever 21. Running perpendicular to Lincoln and close to the ocean are Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue.

Collins is home to Urban Outfitters and Sephora. Washington has Diesel and surf shops.

Check out LEFAIR Magazine’s favorite spots, all within walking distance from The Shore Club— Kith, multifunctional retailer and progressive brand with the freshest streetwear and Bâoli Miami, an Asian fusion restaurant in a clubby, dynamic setting with a garden patio. We recommend cooling off with their Chandon over ice and fresh strawberries. If you want to stay in, there’s plenty of nightlife at The Shore Club. Guests have multiple options to explore within the hotel: Skybar, set amidst tropical gardens and pulses with the electricity of Miami nightlife and Terrazza, a casual, Italian restaurant offering the ultimate indoor/ outdoor dining in a distinct South Florida setting. ■

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shine Photographer Brigitte Diez @bridiez_photo Stylist Madeline Rosene @madelinerosene Model Klaudia Bulka @klaudiabulka Model Agency Photogenics @photogenicsla Creative Director Tracy Kahn @tracykahn Retoucher Jenny Stypka @retoucher_es Makeup Artist Yulitzin Alvarez @yulitzin Assistant Makeup Artist Ruth Medrano @mua_ruth Assistant Katie Winkenhower @beachkatphoto

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ON

Charles Albert Necklace charlesalbert.com Jeulia Rings jeulia.com Jessica Elliot Ring (Top stacked index finger and middle finger) jessicaelliot.com

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Gismondi Earrings, Bracelets and Ring (Middle finger) gismondi.com Jeulia Rings jeulia.com

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Jessica Elliot Earrings jessicaelliot.com Charles Albert Necklace charlesalbert.com Jessica Elliot Bracelet (Left hand) jessicaelliot.com Jeulia Rings & Bracelet (Right hand) jeulia.com

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Charles Albert Necklace charlesalbert.com Charles Albert Cuff charlesalbert.com Gismondi Bracelet & Earrings gismondi.com Jeulia Rings jeulia.com L E FA I R MA G A Z I NE | 8 5

GETthe LOOK Photographer Katie Winkenhower @beachkatphoto and Tracy Kahn @tracykahn Stylist Madeline Rosene @madelinerosene

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16 Burke Williams Exfoliaiant burkewilliamspa.com

15 Hair By Moses Elixir Oil hairbymoses.com L E FA I R MA G A Z I NE | 8 7

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VICTORIA MADDY Victoria Justice @victoriajustice Maddy Grace @themadgrace

Writer Madeline Rosene @madelinerosene Photographer John Russo @johnrussophoto Wardrobe Stylist Madison Guest @madisonguest Assistant Stylist Sara Kodesh @sarakodesh Hair Artist Gilbert Muniz @hairbygilbert Makeup Artist Lusine Galadjian @makeupbylusine Assistants Jackie Brutchey @jbrutchey, Justin Miller @miztermiller and Katie Winkenhower @beachkatphoto Videographer Ethan M Sigmon @emsigmon Location Mondrian/Skybar Los Angeles @skybarla

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On Victoria: Frasier Sterling Top fraisersterling.com House of CB Coat houseofcb.com Joe’s Jeans joesjeans.com Adorn Monde Stace Choker adornmonde.com Adorn Monde Valentine Choker adornmonde.com Fallon Ring fallonjewelry.com Steve Madden Shoes stevemadden.com On Maddy: Meshki Boutique Top meshki.com Death by Dolls Jacket & Shorts deathbydolls.com Vince Camuto Shoes vincecamuto.com

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On Maddy: alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet Jacket aliceandolivia.com alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet Dress aliceandolivia.com Ray Ban Sunglasses ray-ban.com B-Low The Belt Belt b-lowthebelt.com On Victoria: Meshki Boutique Jacket meshki.com Berta Skirt berta.com Argento Vivo Earrings argentovivo.us Adorn Monde Valentine Choker adornmonde.com

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V

ictoria Justice was visiting her parents and half sister, Maddy Grace in a house covered in solar panels in the San Fernando Valley. Two white fluffy dogs and Mark greet me at the door warmly. Three-foot caricatured statues of all four of the Rolling Stones are also in the doorway, grinning. “Mark is my dad,” Maddy explained. “But he has raised me and Maddy since I was a baby,” Victoria chimed in. “Both of my dads are awesome,” Victoria continued. “I’m lucky to have two dads. Every Father’s Day, I wish them both a happy Father’s Day. All of my social media followers think I have gay dads.” Known for starring on Dan Schneider’s original Nickelodeon sitcom, Victorious, Victoria is grown up now and living life in Los Angeles as a successful adult actress, recently starring in The Rocky Horror Picture Show as Janet Weiss. Just like her name implies, our cover star fights for peace, morality, and the respect for human beings. She devotes a great deal of her time to charitable causes. Over the years, Justice has taken part in several charity events and has supported causes and organizations such as amfAR, (Foundation for Aids Research), Soar with Reading, a program from JetBlue that helps get books in the hands of children who need them, “Do Something,” and “Girl Up,” which are partnered with the United Nations Foundation that benefits numerous causes such as AIDS, Children, Environment, Health, Human Rights and Peace. “We’ve only got one planet. We should take care of it the best we can,“ Vicitoria said. Serene, Victoria and Maddy’s mother, catches me up on their recent girls’ trip to New York Fashion Week as Victoria and Maddy open and close the refrigerator door and discuss their plan to practice yoga later on. “We’re going to make it a chill day today. I’m excited about that,” Victoria said. I sat on the balcony with the two best friends overlooking the pool.

MR: Did you two grow up in Los Angeles?

MG: I have been offered a contract with a top modeling agency.

VJ: We have lived in the valley ever since I moved to LA when I was 11. We’ve moved all over Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, and Studio City. I went to Millikan Middle School for musical theatre.

VJ: I’m in a movie called “Bigger”, which will be filming in Atlanta very soon. I’m also working on developing my own show right now. It’s been really fun creating it from the ground up. I’m really enjoying the process. Right now I’m in the process of meeting with writers and honing in on exactly what I want it to be. I’ll be getting ready to pitch it soon. I can’t say very much about it.

MR: What is one of your favorite projects that you have worked on recently?

VJ: Working on the Rocky Horror Picture Show was amazing.

There were so many inspiring people involved in the production.

Christina Milian, as you know, is badass. I look at her Instagram and I’m like, Wow! Take me with you!” Laverne Cox is such a strong fierce woman and very hardworking. It was great working with her— super professional and really fun. She’s such a character.

She made everyone laugh. She loves opera and we would be on set and out of nowhere, Laverne would just go out on operatic run. It was so much fun. It was a dream come true for me honestly. When I heard they were remaking Rocky Horror, I told my agent I had to be a part of it. Of course, I had to audition and I really earned it on my own merit and I worked really hard. It was an incredible experience. Working with Kenny Ortego— he is so passionate and has so much energy. The whole cast got along so well. It was like one big family trying to make it the movie as best we could to honor the original. We were always keeping that in mind. Also getting to work with Tim Curry from the original was such an honor. I had no idea he was going to be there. At rehearsal I had a mini freak out inside and fan girled.

MR: Is it a show geared towards families?

VJ: No, I want to create something that I would want to watch. It’s exciting that I get to create something I would want to be a part of and also watch on TV. It’s still in development, which doesn’t mean it will necessarily go into production. Either way, I’m learning a lot.

We’ll see what happens. Fingers crossed. You never know.

MR: What kind of music are you listening to now?

VJ & MG: Amy Winehouse, ALWAYS. MG: Melanie Martinez— her last album was amazing. Let me grab my phone. I’m going to look at my Spotify. I love all music except for country. I feel like everyone says that. I love T. Swift.

She’s so big, she can basically just do anything at this point. She could say, “I want to do rap now,” and all of her fans would still be there. She could literally release a heavy metal album! I also love Julia Michaels and Frank Ocean. Frank Ocean has a single that just came out that’s really good. I also like Sam Smith’s new song.

MR: So you were a fan of the original?

VJ: I was a HUGE fan of the original. I saw it for the first time in fifth grade. I loved it. I had never seen anything like it before.

When I was 15 I went to my first midnight showing. Turns to Maddy* We have to do it.

MR: What’s in the works right now?

VJ: My mom has always been a big musical influence on both of us. When I was in elementary school, I was listening to Barry Manilow, Cher, and Bette Midler. We listened to everything. Before we moved to LA, when we lived in Hollywood, Florida, one of our favorite things to do with my mom was just drive around, listen to music and sing. That was our thing, It’s crazy what happened to Florida recently. Luckily, the hurricane didn’t hit our family’s area as terribly as what happened in The Keys. It’s so sad.

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IF IT’S SOMETHING YOU REALLY WANT TO PURSUE, DO IT. STUDY THE INDUSTRY AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AND WORK AS HARD AS YOU CAN.

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MR: Two songs have premiered on the Victoria Justice YouTube channel, “Caught Up in You” and “Girl Up”.

VJ: Oh my gosh, that’s so funny. “Caught Up in You” is a song I wrote a while ago and it was leaked. It wasn’t supposed to go public. It was rough. I really don’t know how it happened. I have written so many songs that haven’t been released. “Girl Up” was written by Toby Gad and me for the Girl Up movement, which helps girls in developing countries. I was very involved with the Girl Up charity. I am all about female empowerment. Toby Gad is an amazing producer. We have written a few songs together. We were in a session and I had the idea to write a song for Girl Up to try to encourage people to get involved and make a difference.

We wrote a beautiful song together and I performed it on tour.

On that tour, we had Girl Up booths where people could learn about the cause and donate.

I am definitely planning on getting back into the studio soon I have a good amount of music that I want to finish and put out there. Music is a part of my soul. I’ll never stop doing it and I’ll never stop loving it.

MR: You two seem very close. It must be nice to have a sister you get along with so well.

incredible. She had never performed in her life. I was performing in front of thousands of people and Maddy hadn’t had any training or anything but she had the confidence of someone who had been performing forever!

MG: I get it from you!

MR: Now that you’re older and you live in Los Angeles, do you go out together a lot?

VS: I’m not really an introvert but I don’t like to party that much.

The club scene is not my thing. I’d rather stay home or go see a movie, a live show— music, improv, anything other than being at a club.

MR: Do you travel together? Where do you like to go?

VJ: We have traveled together a lot and we love it. Maddy is the queen of traveling. Recently, we have been to Tulum and New York City together. Sometimes we stay at The London Hotel in New York City. We love it there, but this time we stayed at the Roxy Hotel in Tribeca. The Roxy has a very vintage feel. They have a jazz club a vinyl record player and a movie theatre.

MG: Oh my God, that view you had!

MG: We’ve been close since the day I was born.

VJ: Fun fact: when Maddy was born, I was so upset that I couldn’t be in the hospital room that I had a meltdown. I started crying hysterically. My great grandma had to take me home. She got so discombobulated that she lost her way home and I threw up. But it’s okay because we’re together now!

MG: I was her baby doll she was two and a half when I was born.

When I look at pictures, I’m just this fresh, bald baby.

VJ: Maddy was the cutest baby. She had the biggest dimples.

MG: Everyone thought I was a boy…One time we were at Target and this lady walked by me, my mom, and my sister and she said, “What a cute little boy!” and Victoria said, “That’s my sister!”

Victoria’s always been a good sister.

VJ: Maddy’s crib was in my room and every morning I would wake up and get in and spoon her. We’ve had separate rooms but we always ended up sharing a room. It’s great having a sister. You always feel like you have a best friend and partner in crime. We are the best of friends.

MR: Do you ever collaborate on projects together?

VJ: Actually, Maddy has a really nice singing voice. We went on tour once and we performed a song together. Cheer me up was the song. It was something I sang on Victorious. Maddy is really

VJ: Tulum is nice and low key. Not too many tourists know about it yet. We like that. We stayed at Suenos. The water in Tulum is so gorgeous.

MG: I’ve traveled all over Europe this summer— Barcelona, France… I love Saint Tropez. Victoria and I are going to go somewhere soon, maybe Greece. Mikonos maybe! Until then, I think we should take a little stay-cation. I love a good stay-cation.

Maybe we’ll go to Laguna or something! – I want to go to Azulik in Tulum. Everyone goes there and I’ve heard it’s really great.

There’s no electricity and you stay in a big tree house.

MR: Do you have advice for young women who want to work in entertainment?

MG: Believe in yourself and don’t listen to the hate. People will always hate. Don’t worry about being judged. Put comments aside and surround yourself with people who support you.

VJ: If it’s something you really want to pursue, do it. Study the industry as much as you can and work as hard as you can. It’s a very competitive field and a lot of people want to be a part of it.

You have to stay focused if you want to be successful. Believe in yourself. Don’t let yourself get in your way and don’t let people’s comments get in your way. With social media and YouTube, you can really create your own content. That’s an amazing way to build a following. There are so many things you can put yourself out there on your own. That’s a great way to start. ■

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VICTORIA and MADDY IN MOTION

Videographer Ethan M Sigmon @emsigmon 9 8 | L E FA I R MAG AZI NE

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Rad APPS Our favorite apps right now!

Headspace Each day, the Headspace app delivers a new guided meditation based on teachings that former Buddhist monk, Andy Puddicombe, learned during the 10 years he spent studying meditation and mindfulness in monasteries across Asia. Along with daily meditations, Headspace also offers meditation Singles for users short on time and SOS sessions to support subscribers in those meltdown moments.

"Meditation made simple."

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Yoga Wake Up Wake up peacefully with Yoga Wake Up, the first ever yoga alarm clock, guaranteed to help you start your day off right!

Instead of a blaring alarm, Yoga Wake Up allows you to awaken peacefully to the calm sound of music and a certified yogi easing you through stretching and breath work, and perhaps setting an intention for the day, all from bed! The app for iOS features more than one hundred different wakeup options from teachers all over the country and even has wakeups for pre and post-natal mamas and kids.

"Break your alarm clock. Awake with yoga."

Galileo Offline Maps Are you roaming? Don’t go off the map and don’t get charged for data while on the go. Detailed and easy-to-use offline vector maps based on OpenStreetMap data are available to download within the app. No more tricky preparation of offline maps in advance — download the vector map of a whole country in one click. Cache your maps before you head out, then go offline anywhere you want! Check out Galileo, the most reliable offline map app for vector maps, offering an overall better travel experience.

"Offline maps for the entire world."

Dog Date Afternoon Dog Date Afternoon is a dating app for dog owners. We took away all the bells and whistles that come with dating apps and focused on your interests and who you want to meet. Being a dog owner, you have to think about your dog in all aspects of your life, whether it is going on vacation or how long you can stay out. Why should your dating life be any different? Meet fellow single dog owners and get out of the first date rut. Forget getting drinks at the same bar, go on a hike, go to the dog park! Be yourself and let your dog evaluate your date.

It’s just as good as bringing your mom without the embarrassing stories!

"Dating for dog lovers."

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NICK B AT E M A N

Nick Bateman @nick_bateman Writer Madeline Rosene @madelinerosene Photographer & Videographer Ben Cope @ben_cope Wardrobe Stylists Cassy Dittmer @cdittmer and Desiree Morales @desireemorales Assistant Stylist Shana Anderson @shana__anderson Grooming Lavonne @lavonnebeauty using Kiehls @kiehls and Oribe @oribe Assistant Joshua Maresca @joshsdoitbetter

A

ctor, model, social media influencer, and now, avid vegan supporter, Nick Bateman makes friends wherever he goes. His modeling career began when he was seventeen and Calvin Klein discovered him at a Model Universe event in Miami. Not long after, Bruce Weber photographed him for a feature on Abercrombie & Fitch’s shopping bags. Don’t be fooled by his terrifying persona as Ivan in his first film, Hobo with a Shotgun or intimidated by his training in Gōjū-ryū karate and bō staff and better-than-a-Ken-doll good looks. Nick Bateman is all charm while being down-to-earth and real.

After Ben Cope shot Nick on a scorching fall day in Calabasas, California, we sat down on the steps right before sunset and had a nice chat.

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MR: So, I met you at a vegan festival in North Hollywood.

MR: You said “oout.” You’re from Canada.

NB: Yes.

NB: I am Canadian. Yeah oout and abooat, you know.

MR: You just made a transition into veganism?

MR: And you moved to LA how many years ago?

NB: Yeah, I watched What the Health on Netflix, not a plug.

Actually, did watch it. I kind of just made the choice to go vegan recently. I guess I could be considered a pescatarian because I decided to eat fish once a week. But I’m vegan six days out the week.

NB: About three years ago.

MR: Wow, that’s really impressive. That’s commitment. So, for anyone who hasn’t seen What The Health, can you give an overview?

MR: Are you close with your parents?

NB: Long story short — it teaches you about cruelty to animals, the whole brainwashing of thinking that eggs, dairy, and meat is healthy for you when in fact, they’re not. People might get mad at me for saying that. But from my point of view, I don’t feel that it is healthy. It takes you through the wide spectrum of all the health defects that occur from eating meat and eggs and dairy with carcinogens in them.

I’ve always tried to be really healthy and I thought eating organic, free-range, all-natural chicken and steak was healthy but I realized it was just the healthiest version of a shitty diet. A lot people may disagree with me.

It has been a challenge finding a complete vegan diet. Because there are vitamins that are deficient in a vegan diet, I’ve been taking b-12 and a few others.

MR: Good for you. That’s amazing. Are your friends vegan? Are you sort of in a community to help support each other?

NB: After I watched What The Health, I called all of my friends and family and said, “You need to watch this.” Once you see it, you’re rattled. For anyone who really likes meat, and you want to continue enjoying meat, don’t watch it. It will make it really hard to enjoy. I used to love meat, I use to go to like STK and all of those places.

MR: You crave it still?

NB: No, I don’t really crave it. The only thing I crave is fish and that’s what I’ve continued to eat in moderation.

MR: Sushi?

NB: Yeah I love that sushi. I think anything in moderation your body can handle. But for me, I was eating like gratuitous amounts of meat, like chicken and steak, every single day because I thought that was a great source of protein for me and I just had to cut it out.

MR: And your parents still live in Canada?

NB: Yeah, my mom lives in Grimsby which is close to Toronto.

NB: I’m very close with my mom, not so much with my dad but I’m thankful for the relationship I have with my mom.

MR: So she’s pushed you in your career, how does she feel about you being this successful Instagram sensation/ model? She must be so proud of you.

NB: Yeah, my mom is pretty much the reason I am where I am today. My mom was a single mom. She raised me by herself and she kind of pushed me to do whatever I wanted. So if I wanted to be a ninja turtle, she put me in karate. Anything I wanted to do, it was never too big or too small. If I wanted to do it, my mom made sure I was in the right place to do it. She’s very proud of me and it’s all a product of the hard work she put into me. Sometimes I didn’t want to go to karate but my mom would say, “Get the hell in the car!”

MR: You’re a ninja turtle!

NB: Yeah. I was like “I don’t want to.” But I’m thankful she pushed me when I needed to be pushed.

ANYTHING I WANTED TO DO, IT WAS NEVER TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL. IF I WANTED TO DO IT, MY MOM MADE SURE I WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO DO IT.

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MR: That’s awesome. And does she come to visit you in LA? NB: It was a fun character.

NB: Yeah, she’s actually coming in to visit me at the end of October. And I’m going to take her to the Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios. My mom said she only had me for two reasons: to go see scary movies with her and go on roller coasters.

MR: I bet.

NB: In martial arts, it kind of teaches you that you have to be very big, you have to be loud and your aggressiveness has to show.

So for the movie, I got to be very loud and aggressive.

MR: Perfect!

MR: You sure did.

NB: I remember I was at Canada’s Wonderland. It’s a theme park.

I think I was like seven and she took me to a roller coaster, a huge one, and I just started crying after the one hour line up and she took me to the car and she said, “If you’re not going on that roller coaster we’re never coming back here again”. And I was like, “Okay.” We went back and road it and I’ve loved them ever since.

NB: I worked with the director Jason Eisener and it was my very first film I’d ever done. Literally every take I did, his note was “Louder” and “Angrier.” I’m like “Really?” He’s like, “Louder.”

After the first week of filming, I had no voice. But it was so fun.

We filmed in Halifax, Canada. People in Halifax, Canada are the nicest people in the world.

MR: I love it. Sometimes you just need the push you know.

MR: So, what’s your next film?

NB: Yeah, she knew what she was doing. Can’t argue with mommy.

MR: Okay, so also you’re a gamer. I overheard you talking about Call of Duty earlier.

NB: Yeah, a lot of people don’t know that about me. One of the games that I’ve become a little bit addicted to when I have a day off is Call of Duty. I’m what you would call a “camper.” And I actually enjoy camping, and I enjoy pissing people off. So when I get like hateful messages people would be like, “F you man! You’re a camping scrub.” I giggle to myself like, “Yeah that’s right.”

Because I’m just that guy who sits in the corner and when the guy comes in, I’ll be like pop, pop, pop! And then I’ll go to the different corner so when he comes in to kill me in that corner I’m already in the other corner.

NB: I have a lot of things in the works. One of my main focuses right now is the X-Men character from Marvel called Gambit.

Gambit is a Cajun character from Louisiana. He’s a thief and his weapon of choice is a bow-staff so I took a liking to him right away. I realized that there’s obviously a market for Marvel films and shows. I already shot my first short film. I’m going to be working on two more to try to get into the character. I’m working with a dialect coach, got a scriptwriter now so I’m really excited to make it come to life. I’m going to put it out there and see if I can procure this role and get it to be mine. So, Ryan Reynolds took eight years to get Deadpool made. That’s RYAN REYNOLDS and he’s amazing. So, for me, if it takes eight years, I’m willing to grind it out for eight years.

MR: You’re willing to put in the work. That’s what it takes.

MR: So you play competitively?

NB: Hopefully.

NB: No, I’ll play online. I get competitive with it. Like me and my friends would try to have the best KD ratio, which is the Kill/ Death ratio. I hadn’t played in six months. My friend came to visit me and we had an argument over who was better and I’m like, “Alright, let’s go.” He visited me for two weeks and all we did for two weeks was play Call of Duty.

MR: So, Joey and your other dog, who didn’t make it today are rescue dogs?

NB: Joey is kind of a rescue. Maria and I work with rescue dogs especially.

MR: And Maria is your girlfriend?

MR: Wow, so you have these outlets for your aggressiveness like martial arts, Call of Duty, and then, I’ve got to bring up, Hobo with a Shotgun.

NB: Yeah.

MR: Sorry, yeah. I’ve never been so scared of a person. I mean, that’s a scary character.

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NB: Yes. So we went into this pet store in Canada. It was kind like before pet stores were banned in Canada. She and I are kind of addicted to animals. So, we walk in and Joey had been there for two months and we found out he was returned by someone. And that the woman just literally brought him back and said, “He’s not like my old dog. My old dog just passed away.” And I’m like, “You don’t buy a dog to replace a dog.”

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MR: Right, and it doesn’t have the same personality as your last dog.

NB: But, I am so thankful she did because he’s one of the best dogs I’ve ever had. I’ve never been a small dog type of guy but he’s my first small dog. I kind of roughed him up to make him be like a big dog. He’s so well-behaved, walks off his leash. So, we went in there and he had been there for two months. So, we took him and yeah, the rest is history. We actually did save a dog last year for a show I’m working on called Rescue. We were shooting the pilot sizzle reel, we drove up to Bakersfield and we rescued a dog that was hit by a car and he had a fractured pelvis. So, I fostered him for a month and I used the power of social media to find him a home and now he’s living in a brand new home with a family, three cats and another dog. But he’s like the star of the house so it’s a great feeling.

MR: Wow, sometimes the power of social media can really be used for such a great cause.

NB: Yeah, that’s what I try to do with mine. I think it’s important to, if you have any sort of influence, to do the right thing.

guy just post shirtless pictures and there’s no substance in this human being. He’s just a narcissist,” And if it really was just selfies of me shirtless all the time, I wouldn’t blame them. But I started posting more organic stuff. This is what people want now-a-days. It was popular I guess two years ago to post stuff that was very setup, cute and orchestrated.

But now people just want to see you being you and real stuff. When they can tell you’re doing stuff just for the likes, they’re like, “Ok, I’m over this.”

MR: That’s so true. So how do you deal with haters?

Even on Call of Duty, you’re not snapping back at them. But your Instagram feed in your comments, you probably read some of your comments, right?

NB: Sometimes. I’m very lucky that I’ve got nothing but love on my page. There are only a few people that have been haters.

I don’t respond to anyone on social media when it comes to comments. Unfortunately, if I respond to one, it’s not fair for me to not respond to the others.

So I can’t just pick people and be like “Oh, I’ll respond to you.”

Then thousands of other people that commented will go, “Oh, why didn’t you respond to me?”

But on Call of Duty, I respond.

So, if someone is swearing at me, my friends and I have a classic response: “Okay, dear friend.” And it’s so funny because people will be like, “What?” I had one kid write back, “Hey, I just want to apologize for my outburst. I was really angry. Keep playing how you’re playing and have a good day.” That was amazing, because it actually worked. The “Kill em’ with kindness” thing worked. This kid, this little kid, actually I don’t know how old he was, but just by his grammar he seemed young, he couldn’t have been that old. But it was so nice. My friends and I were dying laughing because “Okay dear friend” works every time.

I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO, IF YOU HAVE ANY SORT OF INFLUENCE, TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

MR: You get a lot of attention on your social media for your dogs and your—I think I read an article about you somewhere and you said you had this “algorithm” and how you figured out what your algorithm is for success in gaining followers. So, is the algorithm like one shirtless picture, one cute dog picture, etc…?

NB: It’s definitely changed. The world is evolving these days. It used to be like that and it use to work but Instagram changes, people change and you have to change too. There are only so many times you can post a shirtless picture with a dog before people start rolling their eyes and say, “Let’s get this guy outta here. He’s so annoying.”

Recently I’ve realized that I’ve grown and done this algorithm enough to where people know who I am. If people decide to un-follow me because they’re like, “This

MR: Well, okay dear friend this was a really good interview!

NB: Awesome! Thank you. ■

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the INTERVIEW

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Writer Madeline Rosene @madelinerosene

W

hat happens when two dynamic and entrepreneurial New Yorkers bring their skills in influencer marketing, fashion and lifestyle blogging, and event coordinating together? You get bloggers NYC, a members-only social club for NYC-based and tri-state area bloggers and social media influencers offering exclusive social experiences promised to be “lit AF.” “In a way, it’s like the Soho House of bloggers. We review everyone,” says Amy Vosejpka, owner of creative marketing firm, HR Agency, Fashion Director at DEUX HOMMES Magazine and co-founder of bloggersNYC. “You don’t need 200,000 followers to join. It’s quality of content over quantity,” co-founder Alyssa Melendez chimed in. A blogger herself, you might know Alyssa as The Haute Brunette or perhaps as the owner of THB Marketing House. Together they are creating a community and network for bloggers to step outside cyberspace and mix and mingle IRL, these ladies are onto something big!

Alyssa Melendez @thehautebrunette

Amy Vosejpka @amyveditor

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MR: Where did you get this idea and why did you start bloggersNYC? AV: The reason we started it is because no one has done it yet. We just want to make sure that our members are real bloggers and real influencers—there are so many people who call themselves influencers and bloggers but they really aren’t. We want to make this special and exclusive. Our goal is to give the bloggers and influencers a platform where they feel comfortable to network and have experiences they wouldn’t get to have on their own. We want to connect them to brands and connect brands to them.

Everything that we do—collabs, events, etc— they are all complimentary to the influencers and bloggers. Alyssa is actually an influencer.

OUR GOAL IS TO GIVE THE BLOGGERS AND INFLUENCERS A PLATFORM WHERE THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE TO NETWORK AND HAVE EXPERIENCES THEY WOULDN’T GET TO HAVE ON THEIR OWN. AM: There were missing opportunities in the city. It was hard for me to meet people. I was an influencer but I lived in a virtual world. I was nervous to go to events. I didn’t want to go. There wasn’t a strong community. I didn’t really know anyone. Once I started going out more, I realized the best business opportunities were in person. I bought the domain name bloggersNYC knowing that I wanted to build a community of bloggers but I sat on it for awhile.

AV: We always hear influencers say, “We don’t know how to meet new people.” They always see the same people because they run in the same circles and it gets redundant. But now we have a mailing list of 3,000 influencers in the tri-state area. All of these influencers are part of different industrieshealth, fitness, lifestyle, and beauty and we’ve created a space for them to intermingle.

MR: How did you two meet?

AM: When I first started my blog, four years ago, my first collaboration was with Articles of Society (AOS) through a PR company called XPose PR. I had no followers then but I had a professional photographer from day one so they must have appreciated my aesthetic. A little less than a year ago, I was leaving for a trip and needed more denim. I reached out to AOS and this time Amy wrote back. She had taken over their PR with her marketing firm, HR Agency that specializes in both digital marketing and PR. That’s how we met. We just started talking and I said we should hang out.

This was around a year ago.

AV: Now I talk to her more than anyone else in my life— more than my mom, my dog, and my husband of eight and a half years.

AM: I have a marketing agency too, THB Marketing House. As time went on, we started working on projects together. Not under bloggersNYC yet, but since both of our marketing agencies specialize in influencer marketing but with different kinds of people in different fields, there are a lot of ways in which we can collaborate. THB Marketing House focuses on lifestyle and honestly any brand that needs influencer marketing. The platform exists to get influencers to work with brands. I represent around 1900 influencers.

MR: What sets your agencies apart from other influencer agencies?

AV: There are some modeling and influencer agencies who are taking huge chunks of money from influencers. We always bill the brand. We never bill the influencer.

AM: We have a policy in place that if an influencer refers a brand to us and we start representing that brand, we give the influencer 20% of that deal and then 10% for every collaboration we have with that brand.

MR: What do you look for in the bloggers and influencers you invite?

AV: We work with influencers who have 2,000 followers.

There are so many amazing micro-influencers. It doesn’t have much to do with their following. We’re looking for quality of content and what they have going on in their lives. Maybe it’s someone who is striving to be a fashion designer, that’s cool! Get on board. It’s for bloggers in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. We want it to be an easy commute.

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MR: What do you think the future of blogging and social media influencers looks like? Is the market oversaturated?

on the Lower East Side. Then we are doing another event with Farmer and The Fish in Gramercy with BFROW

AM: I don’t think the world of blogging is getting too big but it’s not enough to be a blogger any more. You have to do something more. Whether it’s writing a book or being a contributing editor. It’s easier to make beautiful content more than ever now. The competition is really high. There are platforms like Instagram and where you can buy engagement.

Engagement isn’t even worth talking about anymore. People would rather have you write a blog post because they would rather have SEO traction than have fake followers comment on something one time. The industry is going to go through a shift but I don’t know where it’s going to go but I know you have to have more than a following on Instagram.

MR: What’s BFROW?

AV: There is too much content out there that is being shoved in people’s faces and down their throats. So I think we are starting to see trends in which people are going back to basics. People are putting their phones away and having conversations. Peer to peer, face to face, and word of mouth is increasing in importance and this has become a major part of people’s marketing strategies because it is actually working.

AM: I think there is also a lot of mistrust on the Internet.

Everyone knows influencers are getting paid to post for brands. But the fact is, a lot of these influencers are really good references and sources of knowledge because they have tried so many products. I think if bloggers and influencers continue to be selective with the brands they work with, their followers will continue to take their opinions and advice seriously.

MR: Have you been crazy busy over New York Fashion Week? What’s been going on?

AV: So crazy busy here. It’s been insane. We have had four events in eight days. It’s aggressive.

AM: For New York Fashion Week, we paired of with Hudson Boulevard Group (HBG), which is owned by Robin Moraetes who is also the co-founder of DreamDry. HBG’s Creative Director is Rachel Zoe. HBG owns DreamDry, Pucker, Valley Nails, and Spruce and Bond. We also partnered with TOME so we could dress influencers all in TOME and give them services through DreamDryer and Pucker in preparation for the shows. All of the influencers we work with were at the shows— Lindsi lane, Christie Ferrari, Jessica Wang, Gigi Ivanova of @fashionismyforte. Gigi is so dope. We love her. She is my favorite person!

AV: We are also doing an Articles of Society fall launch party at Balvanera. It’s a super edgy and Instagram-worthy restaurant

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AM: It’s another networking community for models, photographers, designers, and people in the fashion industry.

Their end goal is to be a massive social network. It’s based on a global outreach. I started as a board member with BFROW. I used the website and while the BFROW community is based in NYC, I got a few collaborations in other countries, which was exciting. I never thought I would be writing an article about silks for a company in Ukraine.

AV: We have another event in October with Yoga Shanti.

Yoga Shanti supports Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Foundation to change the healthcare paradigm to include complementary healthcare practices. We are pairing up with Yoga Shanti to give the influencers an experience with yoga and reiki. We’re also partnering with Pure Green Juice and Smoothies, a granola company, a health supplement brand, and Glance.

MR: What is Glance?

AV: It hasn’t launched yet, but if you think what we’re doing is cool, this will blow your mind. Glance is an app that allows users to take raw video from their iPhone, tag their outfit and make it completely shoppable.

MR: What do you hope to accomplish with bloggersNYC? AV: Everyone is worried about the digital zone. In a way, we want to bring things back to basics. This isn’t just a business.

Alyssa and I are business partners but we are also best friends.

We are really damn close and there are so many influencers who are our good friends too. We just want to support them, essentially.

AM: It’s hard to blog full time. The reason I started this was because I was looking for something else to substitute my blogging. All of these women are hustlers. Their main goal is to blog full time.

MR: What is bloggersNYC’s Instagram handle?

AV: We have made it so exclusive that we don’t even have an Instagram handle. We don’t want to exploit our members by posting photos of them on Instagram and we don’t want our members to think we are using them to make bloggersNYC an amazing thing. We also never want to make people feel left out.

We want to make sure everyone has a chance. And even if you don’t fit the requirements now, you can try again another time. ■

Gabriella Zacche @gabriellazacche

Di Carolina @dicarolina

Libby Vilner @lifewithlibby Shalini Acharya-Holman @styledevotee

Crystal Berry @obsessions_now

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