LOCAL WOLVES // ISSUE 67 - YEIMY CIFUENTES

YeimyCifuentes

Let’s rewind to my younger self– when my cousins got ready for high school, their morning routine consisted of the iconic Victoria Secret body spray and adding the final touch of lip gloss before heading out the door. I’d make sure the coast was clear and incorporate this routine as if it was my own. I remembered counting the days until I became a ‘woman’ to be able to pamper myself with all the makeup galore and coolest outfits. To my future self, little did I know that the “glitz and glam” was far from what I expected high school would be. Another core memory that lives in my mind ~rent free~ is the song, “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman'' by Britney Spears. I heard the song first when I watched Crossroads at my local movie theater. I didn’t think anything of it besides the fact that I memorized the lyrics to that

song. Fast forward to now, listening to this song in my late twenties– wow, this song hits so close to home. Speaking of films, Lady Bird, Turning Red and Are You There God? It's Me Margare t are my girlhood film faves that resonated so much to me. The circle of women in my life have always kept me grounded and whenever we catch up, everything feels effortless and you know that’s when you’re with good company. In our 67th issue, content creator Yeimy Cifuentes shares her relationship with girlhood and everything in between. From her love for music, fashion and creativity, we’re excited to share more from our cover star! This issue showcases submissions from talented visuals to poems and stories submitted from all over the world. Thank you all for filling my cup with so much joy, gratitude and girlhood.

Cathrine Khom

ISSUE 67 — YEIMY CIFUENTES

SUMMER 2024

FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Cathrine Khom

COPY EDITOR

Sophia Khom

DESIGNERS

Lisa Lok, Yoolim Moon

ILLUSTRATOR

Lizi Grace

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATORS

Jessica Spiers, Tatiana Diaz de Leon

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Alexis Marion, Ang Cruz, Jessica Spiers, Mara Go

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Carolyn Wang, Emma Cumming, Gail Geriane, Justina Brandt, Lily Stevens, Lily Maguire, Sabrina Poei, Sandra Jamaleddine

WOLFIE SUBMISSIONS

Alexxus Browning, Amelia Jasmin Arscott, Ana Chen, Anna Jew, Avalon Combs, Bonnie Jarrett, Bridget Bell, Carter Wood, Charly Faye, Christina Tran, Elie Pichanick, Emilia Bonilla, Emma Fitzgerald, Felicity Zhang, Hailey Ip, Hannah Kunzle, Hyning Gan, Imani Brooks, Jadyn Romero, Jenna Lael, Katherine Hui, Kavi Kariyawasam, Kaylee Fullington, Larena Nellies-Ortiz, Lily Foley, Liz Glenn, Lucila Dragonné, Madison Massey, Maria Nairn, Molly Lou, Rachel Kwong, Regina Cannon, Smiles Meyer, Sravya Balasa, Tammy Hua

MANY THANKS

Mane Agency, Sony Music, The Oriel Co, Tiffany Phung

FEATURING

Yeimy Cifuentes

THEME

Girlhood

COVER PHOTO

Sandra Jamaleddine

COVER DESIGN

Lisa Lok

LOGO

Lisa Lok, Fiona Yeung

CONTACT

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Press: press@localwolves.com

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Get Involved: community@localwolves.com

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ON THE COVER YEIMY CIFUENTES

CONTINUED ON PG 70

FEATURING

CREATIVE DIRECTION

PHOTO ASSISTANT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Yeimy Cifuentes

STORY

Mara Go

Sandra Jamaleddine

Sandra Jamaleddine

Caroline Wang, Sabrina Poei

STYLING

Yeimy Cifuentes

PORTLAND, OREGON

3 days, 362 miles, and 1 camera. The mighty Oregon Coast lay before me like a ribbon of promise, winding through forests and along the edges of craggy cliffs. The scent of pine and the hum of tires on asphalt merged with the crashing sea into a rumbling harmony. Each bend of the road brought with it a new adventure.

At Natural Bridges I wandered across naturally carved arches of stone. Their steep drop-offs broke away to gentle coves with seals barking in the turquoise waters far below. Beneath the waters, a world of vibrant colors and delicate dances unfolded. Anemones swayed in the gentle currents, their tendrils flowing like silk, while crabs scuttled among the rocks carrying intricate shells.

I walked beneath the branches of ancient moss-cloaked forests, where quietude was only broken by the distant crash of waves. In the distance, a lighthouse stood tall, with its beam of light piercing through the gathering mist. Its little red roof was littered with mossy fragments and sea mist.

As I ventured further north, the coastline changed, revealing secret coves and hidden beaches covered in muscles. I found myself at Cape Perpetua, a place where the ocean met the sky in a breathtaking mist. The tide pools here held their own mysteries, and the Devil’s Churn– a narrow inlet where waves exploded in watery fury– shows the coast’s raw power.

At Yaquina head lighthouse, seabirds soared on the coastal winds, their cries harmonizing with the breeze. At its feet, the quiet embrace of seagrass whispered secrets of the past in their tufts.

The final leg of my journey brought me humming across towering bridges that stretched up into the mist above wayward cliff-sides. Below, surfers caught waves lined with seafoam and rode them into the soft sand. Besides them, lay the jaws of a rusting shipwreck- a haunting reminder of what once was. As the sun set behind the entrails of the shipwreck, campfires crackled on the seashore, and sparks flew up toward the stars.

My road trip to the Oregon Coast was not just a journey from Point A to Point B, but an exploration of untamed caves. It is not simply a coast, but a rugged place where nature and civilization exist in a delicate balance. I am honored to share my moments and experiences from this special place with the world.

WOLFIE SUBMISSIONS GIRLHOOD

Let’s dive into the memory box of all things that we love and adore about GIRLHOOD in our 67th issue.

After many renditions of our girl power themed issues, we are celebrating this iconic theme to discuss friendships, embracing your unfiltered self, and the feelings about the highs and lows of self-discovery and growth.

Share your own definition of what girlhood means to you through stories of your own experiences, life lessons or challenges you have faced from growing up to adulthood. Fill your cup with live, laugh, and girlhood.

ELIE PICHANICK / PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA

Model: Scarlett Choi

Sharing Secrets

CHRISTINA TRAN / VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

Just a Girl

Just a girl

giggling on the football bleachers stretchy bubblegum v-neck, hiding arm-pit stains heavy with textbooks and shyness, pressing down new curves with dad’s gray duct tape, hips hitting door frames on the way leaving clouds of kool aid colored body spray, tic tac toe knees ripped jeans, hair crowned in chipped butterfly clips

best friend rubbing caked acne cream off my forehead with her thumb and spit our morning routine before first period begins, my first period comes on a carefree summer, I try to hide the blood but my grandmother knows, washes everything by hand

Just a girl

first heart flutters for the blond boy with olive eyes, smelling of patchouli and puberty Mr. Loubet casts us as ancient lovers, Ariadne and Thiseus I learn my lines but can barely hold his gaze on the auditorium stage awkward in my everything, unraveling yarn taut between us, I daydream of love through the labyrinth, but even in the myth, he eventually abandons her on an island But this is 8th grade and he asks another girl to dance, holds my friends Elana’s hand

Just a girl

rinsing my first french kiss out in the gym locker dismayed at the sliminess, I roll Clinique's “happy” on the inside of my wrists catch the #7 bus from downtown, bump home along the windy boulevard play snake on my Nokia, 50 Cent on my lemon yellow Walkman

Just a girl

the night I lifted out of my body in San Francisco, floated somewhere near the ceiling jaw clenched, the sound of the clock, silence of a scream that never came even after the curandera beat the shame out of my sternum with romero on her cool tiled floor in Mexico, the ghost of girlhood has followed me

LARENA NELLIES-ORTIZ / RICHMOND, CA, USA

BONNIE JARRETT / MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

Styling: Indyana Kippin | Models: Indyana Kippin, Taylor Kippin | Assistant: Holly Mitchell | Creative Direction: Bonnie Jarrett

KAVI KARIYAWASAM / SAN DIEGO, CA, USA

Hair, Makeup & Styling: Anika Perera

Lighting Assistant: Iryl Tan | Model: Anika Perera | Creative Direction: Kavi Kariyawasam

Girlhood for me is all about the fun times I had with my sister growing up in Sri Lanka. We used to play dress-up with our grandmother’s sarees, doing pretend fashion shows. The smell of those sarees, the bright eyeshadows we used, and the sound of plastic and glass bangles are what take me back to those nostalgic days of innocence and joy.

Remembering Girlhood

It wasn’t until her that I could remember my own girlhood. I wouldn’t allow myself the indulgent exploration back into the magical pockets of whimsy. Not as an adult who was playing dress-up as someone who had it all together. Not if it meant recalling the feelings of loneliness I experienced. I would not let myself fully go back to swinging across deep ditches from willow branches, the abundant bunches of lilacs hanging heavy on branches, my craving for freedom so much bigger than my little frame could bear.

It seemed my whole life blossomed from this girlhood seed: my insatiable urge for more and no acceptable words to ask for it. The stirring inside of me to return to girlhood remained, like a second heartbeat. That second heartbeat turned out to be hers. My girlhood fully realized, my body now a portal for new life, I experienced a sense of empowerment I always sought outside of myself, never realizing it was within me all along.

Slowly the magic returned. I saw it first in her eyes, her smile. Next her laugh, her desire to move. She never wanted to be swaddled, always wanted control, her arms free to move. I saw it in the way she navigated the world around her, discovering new things, a thirst for knowledge, an upward and outward spiral. I saw the freedom I always wanted in her, and I decided immediately I’d do anything to make sure she had it like I never did.

Like a fledgling, I nurtured her in slow motion: girls are much slower to leave the nest than birds. She prepares to take flight just the same. Even now, she’s perched on the edge of the nest, assessing her own strength to fly in tweenhood. She won’t need to hope to be saved like I did. I see in her what I hope to see in myself: a resilience and determination that flashes across her face like a promise.

LIZ GLENN / BAY CITY, MI, USA

Finding Forgiveness in the Orange Blossom Trees

“You were always such a happy kid, always smiling. Then you changed,” my mother once said.

Some will blame genetics while others, tersely, will suggest with a shrug, “It’s all hormones.” But it wasn’t strictly all hormones.

There are moments engrained like videos on replay stuck in my head, obstructing my vision, keeping me from seeing the good.

“Unless you learn how to lighten up,” mother said one Tuesday morning over breakfast before school, “No one will ever stay with these moods.”

Looking up from my eggs, I inhaled tight.

“You’ll never find love or be in a happy relationship,” she concluded, brushing the crumbs from her lap.

It’s been a long long time since I’ve spoken to her like I used to, with levity and bewilderment. I recall summer evenings when I was a little girl with sweaty hair knotted at the base of my neck from running around the neighborhood cul-de-sac. I would skip to her in the kitchen, tell her about the orange blossoms blooming outside and how sweet they smelled. Talk of the birds I heard, the sandhill cranes walking down the street. I’d ask if we could eat chips together on the patio and watch the sunset paint the sky. She was filled with infinite knowledge of things and places I had never heard of and I listened intently as she shared her worldly knowledge of New York and Long Island.

But now I am sour. I correct her, tell her of new places I’ve been. Talk with a tense jaw, anticipating disappointment from her. I’m afraid that by her standards, I don’t love her enough; that actually, maybe I am a bad daughter. That maybe the mistakes she made all those years back are the ones I am making now and in an attempt to escape the generational trauma, I am reiterating it. It's the same mess, disguised as caution, tied with a pretty bow.

I see her in my side profile, the way I walk. My loyalty, my anger and hot head. The dark humor, fear of disappointing.

Our anxieties are jumbled and tossed between our mouths whenever we meet up like a choreographed wreck, folie a deux. I wish I could explain to her, I’m trying here too.

I see her anxieties deep within me, accidentally buried a long time ago. As I feel them resurface, I blame her for their fruits. But then I remember, this was my garden.

I see her in the way I tilt my head back and laugh, my assertiveness and compassion.

I am reminded that she lives within me, cradling my soul, whispering to me the guidance of a generation of women before. I smell her in these orange blossom trees and smile.

REGINA CANNON / ATLANTA, GA, USA

Models: Lizzy, Hanna Weiland, and Esther Lovelace Creative Direction: Regina Cannon

under the willow tree girlhood.

the child within me aches for nostalgia kicks and stirs tosses and turns she is restless running out the door making my chest collapse and sore

i am guarding her from peril and pain stepping in front taking the blame

the child within me blows bubbles in an open field lays on dew-tipped grass gets dirt under her nails

like a balloon string accidentally slipping out from fingertips

i let her go gently yet desperately waiting for her return

the child within me kicks pebbles on the riverbank yearns for the past gazes back at me

womanhood.

BC, CANADA

ANA CHEN / LOS ANGELES, CA, USA

Model: Minky Qian | Creative Direction: Ana Chen

RACHEL KWONG VANCOUVER,

Girlhood In Pairs

ANNA JEW / SANTA ROSA, CA, USA

Hair & Makeup: Miriam Valencia, Millie Dotta

Styling: Millie Dotta, Anna Jew | Models: Miriam Valencia, Millie Dotta

Girlhood With Gratitude

Girlhood is a 3:00am conversation with your best friend about the meaning of life at a sleepover.

Girlhood is getting all dressed up just to have a dance party in your bedroom.

Girlhood is braiding each other’s hair on the bus.

Girlhood is telling everyone around you exactly how much you love them.

Girlhood is calling each other on long car rides just to catch up.

Girlhood is lifting each other up at any opportunity, especially in public bathrooms.

We should find strength in our softness,

Courage in our ability to feel so deeply,

And perseverance in the way we overcome so many obstacles laid out for us along the way.

Girlhood is hard, and it is uncomfortable. But,

Girlhood is beautiful.

Girlhood is bold vulnerability.

Girlhood is a shared, everlasting bond

And for it I am so grateful.

Give it Up for the Weird Girls

Few pieces of media mean as much to me as Pen15 does. Running from 2019-2021 and starring creators Maya Erksine and Anna Konkle, the show reimagines the two women’s 2001 middle school experience. While the show takes place before I was even born, I have never seen a more fitting reflection of my girlhood. The show is often described as “cringe-inducing,” but I can’t think of a better term to describe looking back at the girl you once were. At the same time, the show holds such empathy for Maya and Anna, treating them with the care and seriousness they deserve. In this way, it reminds me not to solely look back and cringe, but also to treat my young self with that same love and dignity. After all, she is still me. Pen15 , as its name suggests, doesn’t shy away from the weird, gross, embarrassing parts of girlhood, and that is precisely why it is so important. The girls tackle body image, the pressure to grow up, masturbation, and sexual shame all in the first three episodes. This unflinching yet tender look at their growing pains makes me and my young self feel more seen than ever before.

The heart of the show is the friendship between Maya and Anna. When I reminisce, that is the most salient memory of girlhood: the lives I shared with other girls. When Anna tells Maya that she “is

her actual rainbow gel pen, in a sea of blue and black writing utensils,” I think of my girls, how lucky I was to have them then, and how lucky I am to still have them now. Bonding over Pen15 with my friends may very well be the best part of watching the show. We can reflect, remember, laugh, and cry, in the comfort of one another. The friendship between Maya and Anna is achingly real, and I can’t help but think of my childhood best friends whenever I come across something that reminds me of the show. Just last week, I saw a fan edit of the show on Instagram and sent the video to one of my childhood best friends, writing “literally us!” Two days ago, when one of my friends asked us to walk in with her when she was late to an event, I thought of Maya and Anna standing at the cusp of seventh grade, repeating “I’ll do it if you do it.” When Maya tells Sam “Shut the fuck up, slut,” I thought of my friend telling an annoying boy in our fifth-grade class to leave us alone or she would “gouge his eyes out.” These are the moments of girlhood that live closest to my heart - the funny, weird, sweet moments that are integral to who we are. Watching Pen15 , I feel like I’m looking into a time capsule, and it reminds me that those girls never fully left us, so I pick up my phone, and call them.

BRIDGET BELL / VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

AVALON COMBS / LOS ANGELES, CA, USA

MOLLY LOU / EASTHAMPTON, MA, USA

Watch And Learn

She taught me how to love properly, how to adore someone thoroughly and care for them with patience and trust.

The first friend I made of choice not circumstance, destiny brought us together at a drama club in a suburban community hall.

We were two eager eight-year-olds with vastly disparate acting abilities, she was destined for stardom, and I was there to distract her at any given opportunity.

We would spend afternoons giggling over smutty romance novels left behind by the senior ladies book club occupying the space before us. I wonder if it was foreboding, if we’ll remain giggling girls well into our eighties.

We have grown together and apart, there for the big stuff and the little moments as well. I wish I could take more credit for our unshakeable friendship, but our success lies in her zealous devotion to the ones she loves.

In my dark days I insist on isolation, I retract into my shell and yet she never tires or waivers. She simply waits open-armed until I relent and crawl out of my cave, straight into the safety of her embrace.

Her nurturing stretches to size, knowing exactly what flowers will fill one with flutter and what ballad will balance another’s broken heart. She noticed your quirks and qualities, memory maps them and caters to your particularities.

To have a friend like her is to be cherished, to be celebrated for who you are with steadfast encouragement.

She’s sending a bouquet of natives after a calamitous doctor’s appointment, voice memoing feedback on your proposed concert outfit and dming your horoscope every week without fail (both sun and rising, of course).

She’s FaceTiming you for eight hours to investigate every possible motivation he could have for doing what he did, she’s watching The Princess Bride for the hundredth time that year and reminding you that you really shouldn’t be settling for anyone less than Westley.

Where I am brash and cold and pointy on the outside, she is warm and sweet, welcoming and kind, open to the idea of love around every corner and in every person she meets.

She never pruned back my points, she would never want to, instead squeezing between them and melting into my skin through to my heart, without ever modifying my makeup.

On top of it all she’s effortlessly cool, a timeless beauty and makes it look all too easy.

The world doesn’t deserve a friend like her, I don’t deserve a friend like her.

Yet here she is, my perfect girl.

EMMA FITZGERALD / MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

Girlhood.

Girlhood is who you surround yourself with, learning through hardships and gaining experience in life and most importantly…growth within one. Growing up, I encountered challenges, challenges that shaped me to the person I am today. Looking back, many people thought the more friendships, the better! In reality, a number is just a number, it doesn’t mean anything. It’s the quality of friends, the bond that you have with each person that makes it special. It took me some time to find good and honest friendships. After, a reflective and growth trip to El Salvador. I showed growth within, to find honest and pure people to not give trust easily. To be independent, to not rely on anyone, to do things by oneself. I learned that trust is earned and not given. When hardships happen, life happens and one grows from it. It isn’t the end. I know it’s easier said than done. Cause I thought too, that it was the end that I wasn’t going to find any friendships. It wasn’t easy to get to where I am now. In life, there are many hardships and challenges that one has to overcome. When one does, that is called growth. That’s when you start to live…

EMILIA BONILLA / TORONTO, CANADA

TAMMY HUA / WESTMINSTER, CA, USA

Assistant:

Andrew Maddela

Creative Direction: Tammy Hua

broad bones blunt with healing, though i’m told that healing’s wrong. it seems that sharpness is a friend while easy lost is so hard won. how often i’ve stayed in at night for fear of softness found; making vows, forsaking sight of glass that stares me down. and when will all this end? i ask, with stinging in my eyes the pressure on my ribs and scales exposing ugly lies. cupboards, racks, and baggy clothesall things i cannot square; to go through this is dirty work i can’t afford to share.

HANNAH KUNZLE / ALBUQUERQUE, NM, USA

I Wonder

I’ve been thinking about the women in my life and what they were like as girls. Their youth, cut short by men who intervened. I wonder who they would’ve become had they been a girl for a little while longer.

My maternal grandmother pregnant with a girl of her own at 16, faced with so much responsibility; under constant scrutiny all while trying to be a parent before becoming a legal adult. From that moment on, every choice made would have to be decided while keeping another individual’s needs in mind. Her partner eventually decided to leave his responsibilities behind – starting a new life, a life of his choosing. Indulging in the boyhood he missed out on.

My paternal grandmother met her future husband at 15, was married by 19, and became a mother at 20. The rest of her life would be devoted to the well being of others. Unfortunately, her husband didn’t do the same for her. Instead he chose to experiment with boyhood while being in a marriage and trying to raise a family.

While their age and matriarchy suggests they have grown old, I know they’re still just a girl at heart. If only they were given the chance to be one. Instead, they had to conform to the restraints of womanhood before being able to fully enjoy the beauty of girlhood. I wonder what their lives would have been like if they were given the chance to make decisions as an individual alone, free to explore what life had to offer before having to consider anyone other than themselves.

These thoughts are the very reason I’ve been leaning into the new found freedom I have, making decisions rooted in the fact that I have no one else to consider. As a young girl, I never understood why women would tell me not to worry about boys until I was older. Now everytime I see my grandmothers’ yearning gaze filled with admiration as I share my latest adventure, I know that not only am I living out my own desires and dreams – I’m living theirs too.

JADYN ROMERO / SAN DIEGO, CA, USA

CARTER WOOD / HAVERFORD, PA, USA

Hair & Makeup: Carter Wood and Ana Sofia

Styling: Carter Wood

Models: Kate Soland, Ana Sofia, Eloise Shrewsberry

Creative Direction: Carter Wood

Return to Girlhood

I first became aware of “girlhood” as a kid when I started to be told how a girl should be.

“Girls don’t do that”

“That’s not ladylike”

“Girls don’t sit like that”

All of a sudden, there was a right way to be a girl.

All I wanted to do was to go outside and find critters until the sunset. Sunset then meant the neighborhood kids came out and it was time to play sardines in our connected backyards.

But now, girls don't do that.

Being a girl took on a new meaning overnight.

There was now an expected way to talk, act, and look.

Being a girl meant meeting expectations rather than just existing, as a girl.

It confused me because, even as a kid, I thought everything I did was “lady-like” because I’m a lady... doing the thing.

Luckily, I had great parents that didn’t push me in a direction that I didn’t want to go down. When other parent’s were suddenly curating their social lives, I still got to be a part of any sport, event, or hobby that interested me.

This isn’t to say that femininity is bad, just as a girl I didn’t feel drawn to it as much as my friends did. And when there seems to be no other option, it can make you feel like something’s wrong with you. (Which time would prove that isn’t the case)

But girlhood to me was the realization that there’s no mold to fit into, because as a girl, you are the mold.

A Letter to my Mother: First Born Love

Dear Mother,

You’ve always cared the most for me, even before I met this earth. You sacrificed plenty to make sure I was well taken care of and never deprived of your love.

You used to be so selfless and continued to care for me when I thought I could not go on.

I can still feel your hands running through my hair in the shower when I couldn’t find the strength to bathe.

You always remained strong for me

And through my teens adapted to being patient with my emotions.

There was never a time I felt like I had to hide from who I was because you always lent me a listening ear.

But as time flew by and our family began to grow, the love you once smothered me in was now split.

My younger siblings now needed your care just like I did.

But where has all my love and affection gone?

My time ran out, and once I turned eighteen I was an “adult”.

All of the parenting was completed and I needed no further care.

I should be able to care for myself without any help from now on…right?

Wrong, I’m still a kid mom

And I'll continue to be until the void of a mothers love is filled within me.

Love, your eldest daughter

MADISON MASSEY / FORT MYERS, FL, USA

KAYLEE FULLINGTON / WEST COVINA, CA, USA

Girl Turned Woman IMANI BROOKS / SOUTH BOSTON, VA, USA

MARIA NAIRN / NORMAN, OK, USA

Hair, Makeup, Styling & Models: Maisy Hinkle, Z’Khia Seamster

Creative Direction: Maria Nairn

Michelle

“Michelle” is a personal tribute to the unique qualities and inner strength of my dear long-time friend Michelle, highlighting her femininity and freedom of expression. I see her as a sisterly figure in my life because the period of transition from girlhood to womanhood describes the nature of our relationship. The photographs offer an intimate look at her through my lens, emphasizing her wisebeyond-her-years maturity and resilience. The series includes ephemeral gestures and close-up shots, capturing her authenticity, emotional depth and confidence that emanates from within. Through these moments, I

hope to lend insight into Michelle's deep connection with her surroundings and her ability to find beauty in everyday life as she discovers fashion and styling as a personal creative outlet (outside of her busy schedule applying to medical school). I hope you can appreciate the multifaceted dimensions of her unwavering spirit and humanity the same way I do.

KATHERINE HUI / LONG ISLAND, NY, USA

Hair, Makeup, Styling & Model: Michelle Thomas

Creative Direction: Katherine Hui

LILY FOLEY / HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA, USA

Styling: Lily Foley in collaboration with models Hair, Makeup, & Models: Mariana Vargas, Kandrex Millones, Giselle, Izabella, Rushaunti

Creative Direction: Lily Foley

expressions of girlhood

BY ANG CRUZ ILLUSTRATION BY LIZI GRACE

The habit of adorning my things with cute decorations was something that transitioned into adulthood for me. Covering my notebooks with stickers as a kid, became me owning custom makeup bags and eyeglasses cases as an adult. Owning cutesy things is ingrained into my DNA.

The day I inherited my car, the first thing I thought about was how I would decorate it. That Christmas, my partner gifted me a Sanrio license plate that he caught me eyeballing at the mall. I didn’t hesitate to put it on, excited about the transformation my car took from plain to adorable.

That excitement wore off quickly. In the span of a few months, I’d been approached by several men while I was driving. I would catch them taking photos of my car, following me in parking lots, or even gesturing if they could get inside my car. The biggest wake-up call was when a man approached my car after I’d picked up a friend from the train station and furiously tapped on my window for me to open it.

After conversations with multiple people, we concluded this trend of men harassing me was connected to my new license plate. I had put a target on my back, and as much as it sucked, it was best to remove it in favor of a more neutral one.

This isn’t an uncommon phenomenon. Women, girls, and femme-presenting people have been expected for ages to make themselves as small as possible to avoid “getting into trouble.” We see this in trends such as “the subway shirt,” the hack of bringing a baggy shirt to wear while riding public transportation to hide your actual outfit and avoid creeps from staring at you. Or in tutorials on how to perfect your “RBF,” to avoid garnering unwarranted attention.

But as many precautions as we take, there’s no guarantee any of these things will provide full-proof protection. And society sees the responsibility of one’s safety remaining solely on the individual. Things like pepper spray or defense cat keychains intended to be used for self defense have become staples like a favorite lip gloss or perfume. And while there’s strength in feeling like you have power in deciding the outcome of a situation, ultimately it hurts harder when you end up in an unsafe position that occurred beyond reasons within your control.

Expression is a key part of girlhood. Being able to wear the clothes you want to, go out with your friends without being afraid of getting home safe, and decorating your things as you please shouldn’t come with an added layer of overthinking or fear. But as much as I advocate for people to do as they please, I still live my life with hypervigilance.

What’s there to do in a world when safety isn’t guaranteed and your existence seemingly makes you an automatic target? For me, it’s leaning into the power of community. The people in my life who have to deal with this specific fear are my biggest superpower, and the light at the end of a tunnel. Friends who text me to make sure I get home safe, who sign up for self defense classes with me, and hype me up when I feel uncertain about an outfit are the reasons why I’m less afraid to live as authentically as possible.

This is an issue that won’t go away overnight. But what has and will always remain consistent is the strength, community, and support women, girls, and femme-presenting people have with one another. It’s another thing ingrained in our DNA.

NANA

BY JESSICA SPIERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUSTINA BRANDT

NANA knows how to bring joy to the internet. The 24-year-old UK native creates pop culture and BookTok content in her free time under @sillylilbooks. Her specialty is carefully creating niche graphics and videos where she gives her viewers book recommendations based on their favorite obsessions. If you want a book recommendation for your favorite F1 driver or your favorite movie, Nana has you covered. Along with her creative graphics, she intentionally selects book recommendations that are diverse and unique, trying to boost authors of color and indie authors. Nana sat down with Local Wolves to discuss the way reading and being a fangirl have impacted her life and why she loves the complexities of girlhood.

WHAT GOT YOU INTO READING A LOT OF BOOKS? HAVE YOU BEEN READING YOUR WHOLE LIFE OR IS IT SOMETHING MORE RECENT?

I remember when I was younger, I used to go to the library with my mom a lot. I got the Rainbow Magic books and they were pretty short so I’d read them in a day; I was a big reader for about four years. Then I think school kind of sucked the life out of me. We’d have books for English and I wouldn’t finish them, I’d just write a paper on the gist of the book. Those were books that you were made to read so it kind of lost the spark. I would still buy books and collect them but I wasn’t reading as much. I think it was definitely just before and during lockdown where I thought, ‘Okay, you have all these books here and nowhere else to go.’ And it has spiraled out of control since. The spark kind of rebirthed itself.

HOW DO YOU FEEL LIKE READING HAS CHANGED YOUR IDEAS AND SHAPED WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON? WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU’VE LEARNED FROM READING SO MANY BOOKS?

Over the years I’ve made more of a conscious effort to read more LGBTQ romance books. I was reading a lot of romance books that I could only see myself in. Being more immersed in understanding how all people love is something that I have really enjoyed. Being aware of people outside yourself is always a good thing. I’ve read different books about places like Palestine and other places and it really broadens my view. Reading fiction has made me understand people in a way that other things haven’t. When you hear it in someone’s voice, it brings it to life in a way. It builds empathy and it expresses words and feelings in a way that you can’t otherwise.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO START POSTING ABOUT BOOKS AND POP CULTURE TO THE INTERNET?

I was consuming a lot of content because I love the book community and getting these recommendations for books I had never heard of. I liked finding like-minded people and that steered me in this direction. I found books that I really loved but I had no one to talk to about them other than just two friends so I wanted to find a way to do something creative and pull different references from television and film and connect them with the book world. I wanted to be that route into new books that other people were for me. I loved the pictures and

lists that people were making so I wanted to give that back instead of just taking it.

WHAT ARE THE HARD PARTS ABOUT CREATING CONTENT?

For the most part, I enjoy it a lot because it’s talking about films, books and television shows that I would be talking about anyway. What I sometimes struggle with is feeling the need to find books that are more and more niche, which is something I can’t always do. I want to do justice to as many people as I can and I want to include smaller and indie authors but it isn’t always easy. The research part of it sometimes becomes a bit of an echo chamber but it’s not the worst thing in the world.

WE ARE VERY SIMILAR IN THE WAY THAT WE BOTH ARE FANGIRLS AND WORK IN THE CREATIVE AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRIES. HOW DO YOU FEEL LIKE BEING A FAN -

GIRL STRENGTHENS YOUR WORK?

I work in the music industry in audience understanding, strategy and insights. Understanding people and coming from a fangirl background makes it so much easier. When we speak about fans and pop music, I’ve lived this life and it makes it so much easier to connect. I know what these fan communities mean and what they are looking for. In terms of creating content, it’s just the sense of community that comes with being a fangirl. There’s so much overlap between fan communities and book communities. There’s that friendship that it creates and you can connect with people across the world. Whether

it’s a shared One Direction upbringing or a shared book that you both loved, it’s that idea of coming together over a shared understanding.

THIS IS THE GIRLHOOD ISSUE OF THE MAGAZINE WHERE WE WANT PEOPLE TO SHARE THEIR OWN DEFINITIONS AND EXPERIENCES. WHAT DOES GIRLHOOD MEAN TO YOU?

Girlhood has come to mean community, acceptance and joy. The idea of what makes you happy and sharing that with other people. Especially as women, we have to go through so much, I think just having something where there’s no other reason than just to share joy with each other. If there’s a way to bring yourself joy especially in a time that isn’t joyful and you can indulge in community with other people then that’s fantastic. That kind of is to me what girlhood is. Another part of it and reclaiming it for me is celebrating being like other girls. It’s rejoicing in things that were belittled as girly - pink, bows, pop music, romance books, oat milk lattes and that are ‘basic’ and ‘everybody likes.’ I have truly never been happier to be basic and this is something I’ve come to accept more as I’ve gotten older. There’s nothing wrong with being like other people or having things in common with other people, that's how communities are built.

I KNOW YOU HAVE POSTED ABOUT HOW WOMEN SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE DEPRAVED AND UNSAVORY. WHAT IS GIRLHOOD TO YOU IN THE WAY OF BEING COMPLEX?

Girlhood also is being able to express a full range of emotion. Everyone should be allowed to feel. I think that with girlhood and female rage, everyone should be allowed to express them -

selves. That feeling of not having to change, hide or suppress your feelings. I hadn’t thought or connected that with girlhood until now but that’s one of the reasons I love it so much. Why does someone else get to be angry about a football game but you can’t be angry? We all learn and grow together but whatever you feel in that moment, feel it. Being able to be on that journey together is also a part of girlhood. Girlhood is a period of learning, mistake making, unlearning and growing with the support of others.

GOING OFF OF THAT, DO YOU FEEL AS IF YOUR EXPERIENCES AS A BLACK WOMAN ARE DIFFERENT?

There is the idea that Black and brown girls are expected to act older than other girls their age. That is part of the reason why I love reading/seeing unlikeable women of color in the media. They had their girlhood, that period of figuring it out and making mistakes, stripped away early because of societal perceptions and cultural factors so to see them experience this girlhood brings me a lot of joy.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE GIRLS/WOMEN TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR CONTENT?

I want a space where people can enjoy their silly romance books or the books where women sleep for a year. Women should just enjoy what they enjoy and broaden their worldview. I like to include a mix of books in my content and some of them are not joyful but they let you learn about others and be close to other people and I think there is joy in that. I want to create a place where you can connect over a character or show and it makes you feel less alone.

Melodrama

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GAIL GERIANE

CREATIVE DIRECTION BY MARA GO

HAIR BY PATTY CRISTOBAL

MAKEUP BY NADYNNE MARIE ESGUERRA

STYLING BY CARYLL CABUHAT & MIKA REYES OF EADEM STYLING

SET – CAFE SIRIUSDAN

MODEL – CHLOE SANGUYO

Poised

PHOTOGRAPHY & CREATIVE DIRECTION BY HAILEY IP HAIR & MAKEUP BY ELLA BURGESS

STYLING BY ELLA BURGESS

LIGHTING ASSISTANT – BLYTHE GRAZIANO, CASSANDRA LEE, DEANNA WANG, ELLA BURGESS, LINDSAY WONG

MODELS – ASHLEY SAYARATH, BERYL CHEN, CAITLIN WONG, CATHERINE THOMAS, EMMA OSHIRO, GRETA YANG, JOCELYN TSUI, PAULINE CHAN, LINDSAY WONG, SANDY WANG

FLO R ALS

GA

L ORE

PHOTOGRAPHY AND CREATIVE DIRECTION BY FELICITY ZHANG

PHOTO ASSISTANT BY JOYCE CHANG

STYLING — MORGAN HABERFORD

HAIR & MAKEUP — NATALIE DOMINGA

DESIGNER — MITSOU LY

MODELS — HANA BOOKMAN, ASAKIA THOMAS, LARISSA BYRD, DENISE NGUYEN

CANDY CRUSH

WORDS, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND CREATIVE DIRECTION BY SMILES MEYER MODEL — MARIS, LIGHTING ASSISTANT — ARRIETTA HENRY

“I think we are just a petri dish that went too far.” I looked at the girl sitting on the swings licking a ruby red ring pop on her middle finger. I couldn’t help but giggle at this statement. It seemed somewhat out of left field but simultaneously entirely relevant to whatever we were doing at that moment. If I'm being honest, I don’t recall what I asked which prompted this response. If I am being even more honest, I don't think there's a question that can’t be answered with that response. How did we get here? What are we doing here… you know, the basic questions artists ask each other while making art.

Maris and I officially met for a photo shoot at a children’s playground in East Los Angeles. We later discovered this to be a difficult place for a photoshoot, but we persisted. Our unofficial first meeting was at a party six months earlier. While we never had a formal introduction at the party, I remember seeing a girl run and cannonball into a pool. No one else was swimming. The egos of LA wouldn’t allow it. Maris paid no mind. She giggled, splashed, and would climb out of the side of the pool just to run and jump back in. I remember being jealous of her. No one mentioned bringing a bathing suit. No one even told me there would be a pool. No one wanted to indulge. But Maris did. And while I didn't know that to be her name at the time. I knew that I already wanted to be her friend. Although a playground was proving challenging to shoot at because all the children were running around and demanding their photo to be taken, it also seemed well fitting for the only girl cannonballing into a pool at a party.

“What are we shooting today?” Maris asked as she scanned the playground.

“Candy Crush/ Crash is the title of the photoshoot. It’s an artistic representation of the buzz and eventual plummet that comes with falling in love. I want to play with the imagery of candy; I want the playground to symbolize the

"GIRLHOOD IS NOT KNOWING WHAT WE WANT BUT KNOWING THAT WE DON’T WANT TO BE TOLD WHAT WE WANT."

naivety I often find myself lost in when I first develop a crush on someone. Having a crush on someone seems like an understatement to me. I don’t have crushes on people. I find God in someone. I fall to my knees in praise of their existence. The buzz, the rush, the crash, that's what inspires this shoot...” I find myself rambling to Maris as I attempt to describe the creative reasoning behind us standing in the middle of a playground with a bag full of candy. I can only imagine what the parents of the children think. I reel it back in; I attempt to make small talk as I unwrap a giant lollipop.

“So, where are you from?”

“Montana,” she says.

“What was it like being raised in Montana?”

Maris spoke about being brought up in Montana; her dad was a fisherman and the host of a local hunting and fishing radio show. Maris was raised playing with worms and sitting in mud. She mentioned the challenges of being raised as a girl in a mixed family of five siblings. She unabashedly admitted her jealousy of the boyhood experience.

“I wanted to be loud and obnoxious without the repercussions, but I was raised to be polite and sweet.”

“I was convinced that in order to be loved, I had to be good, and the goodest good is to be perfect. So I must be perfect to be loved.”

I watched her through the viewfinder. She paused to lick the lollipop. I snapped the photo. There was a twinge of pain in what she said; I could tell part of her still believed that she had to be perfect to be loved. Before I could offer some semblance of condolences or relate to her, she said

“But all the people who made those rules are dead now, so fuck 'em. It’s okay not to be pleasant; it's okay to be pissed. I’m a woman with a New York street demeanor.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. What Maris was speaking to is the everyday experience of so many women worldwide. As girls, we are conditioned to be quiet, hug people hello, cross our legs and say sorry to everyone, wear dresses, be hairless, and put on makeup to be pretty for all the boys. At least, that’s how I was conditioned. I did not want to be pretty in pink, I did not cross my legs when I sat, I hated dresses, and I most certainly did not want to put on makeup for boys. These expectations that so many young girls are burdened with became one of the roots of my journey down the gender identity rabbit hole. I asked Maris if she ever questioned her gender identity because of those expectations.

“I mean…” she paused and pulled out a joint from her leather jacket. “I definitely questioned my gender because of those expectations…. I think my Virgo-ness wishes things were black and white, but that does not exist. The more I think about it, the more I believe that defining gender flattens human existence…”

A young girl runs up to us, drawn in by the massive lollipop in Mari’s hand. “Take my photo!” she struck a pose in front of Maris and looked me directly in the eyes. I couldn’t help but smile as I awkwardly looked around for her parents. Her dad runs up, grabs her by the hand, and drags her away. She wriggles out of his arms and sprints back over for her moment to star in the photoshoot. I was impressed by her determination. I missed being so

unapologetically determined. Her dad scooped her up and carried her away as she cried. I felt nostalgic for her.

Maris and I talked and shot for two more hours. And while I was delighted with the photos, the questions I had planned out in my head felt unanswered. I wanted to know who inspired Maris as a little girl. I wanted to talk about the struggles of growing up as a girl. I wanted to know what she would say to the little girl on the playground. I wanted to know who the first gender non-conforming person was. I wanted to ask so much. But more often than not, I found Maris and I winding through side streets of conversations. And while so many questions were unanswered, I also felt deeply connected to Maris over our shared moments. And isn’t that what girlhood is? A conglomerate of confusion and existential dread sprinkled with senseless giggles. My time with Maris felt reminiscent of the first slumber party I ever went to in middle school. We were supposed to watch Mean Girls ; we were told to bring a pillow and two blankets. We never watched the movie. We prank-called other friends and fell asleep crying over my parents' divorce. We slept on the trampoline under pool towels with our pillows and blankets left inside. I am a non-binary photographer and have used they/them pronouns for the past four years, but when I left my time with Maris, I felt this little girl inside me. She was glowing and goofy; she was happy over

the friend she made at the park. At a certain point during our conversation, Maris said, “I think you cannot be a girl and still experience girlhood.” I felt so seen at that moment. It felt warm to be reminded that girlhood is not black and white; it's not constricted by an age limit or whether or not you still have stuffed animals on your bed. Girlhood doesn't have to be dressed up in pink and coated in purple eyeshadow. No.

Girlhood is questioning societal expectations and barking at the man who whistles at us while we sit on the swings.

Girlhood is shaving our heads in high school.

Girlhood is a tongue-stained red from licking lollipops while we talk shit on the people too cool to have any fun.

Girlhood is not knowing what we want but knowing that we don’t want to be told what we want.

Girlhood is pulling joints out of leather jackets.

Girlhood is running late to your meeting because you were busy flinging worms into the dirt so they don't dry out on the sidewalk.

Girlhood is unpacking; it's saying fuck this vessel that I exist in while rubbing cream on your kneecaps because we have to care for the only vessel we are given.

Girlhood is eating candy and talking about heartbreak.

Girlhood is two creatives meeting on a playground, only to realize they’ve met before in passing, secretly connecting without ever saying a word.

Jaz Karis

BY ANG CRUZ

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY

JUSTINA BRANDT

STYLING — LAUREN CROFT

In her song “Nice Girls,” JAZ KARIS sings “nice girls they can lose.” With a track record like hers – two sold-out headline shows, multiple releases under her belt, and support from the likes of NME, Line of Best Fit, Clash, and Wonderland – it’s clear there’s no losses in Jaz’s career. In fact, she’s only going to keep going up from here.

Jaz’s trajectory to becoming a musician began from childhood. Willing to perform for anyone, Jaz grew up in church choirs where she saw singing as an expression of pure emotion and developed a love for creating harmonies.

But it was also Jaz’s upbringing that developed her passion for music. Known now for her fusion of R&B, Soul, and Afropop, Jaz attributes her family and cultural background to her knowledge to blend all these genres into her own sound.

“I am half Caribbean so I grew up on a lot of soca & reggae music. Both of these genres are genuinely good for the soul and make you feel at peace. I think this has definitely inspired my love of using live instrumentation in my own music as well as replicating the same feeling I grew up listening to.”

Her parents, also music fans, grew Jaz up to the likes of Barry White, Craig David, and Chaka Khan. Along with those artists, Jaz’s own influ -

ences come from a range of artists including: Frank Ocean, Erykah Badu, Sade, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and Alicia Keys – all of whom express a free and vulnerable songwriting style that Jaz hopes to “emulate a mixture of” in her own craft.

Since then, Jaz has not only emulated the sounds of her idols but also their careers. After an incredible performance of her song “petty lover,” she immediately became a must-watch emerging artist in the UK music scene. Since then, “petty lover’s” video accumulated over 16 million views, and Jaz’s tracks have received over 100 million global streams. This success gained the attention of artists such as RAYE, Tom Misch, and Stonebwoy – all of whom she toured with.

“I have learnt that touring is not as easy as it looks haha! On stage is definitely where the magic happens but so much work goes into preparing for the tour as well as the very unglamorous side of things behind stage.” Jaz said, reflecting on her experience touring, “I think it takes a lot of trust and love amongst the team to make sure everyone has the best experience. “

Despite all her success, at the core of Jaz’s music is a passion for collaboration and a need for vulnerability and rawness in her lyricism. Her list of collaborators is long and impressive, and her roles have ranged from songwriter to singer.

“Multiple heads can definitely be better than one.” She said, discussing her experience being a songwriter for other artists. “Collaborating with others has definitely made me more open to trying new approaches to making music and the beauty of trial and error.”

A great example of this collaboration would be Jaz’s latest release “Nice Girls.” Sung with fellow British singer-songwriter, Mahalia – the track infuses both artists’ vocals to discuss the topic of falling in love with the wrong person. But rather than be sad, both singers express their feelings with a sense of anger and vengefulness not typically expected of women.

“It was a very freeing process to say the least. Obviously known from my song “petty lover” I can definitely be quite petty sometimes and here with “Nice Girls” was another example of this. I treated this song as a venting session where I could just let the track do the talking.”

While Jaz’s loyalty to expressing her genuine feelings have been consistent in her career – it has only matured with each new release. “I would like to think that my music has grown alongside me as a human; each release I feel is more mature and more honest about who I really am and what I’m really trying to say.” She explained, “I would also say my music is a lot more forgiving of my human nature and actually turns my mistakes into reflection along the way.

With an incredible career already in her back pocket, what’s next for Jaz? More shows en route and what she describes “her proudest of work,” her upcoming album Safe Flight expected on June 6. With the release of her first single off the new record, “Tequila” featuring Reekado Banks, it is certain that this will be another hit on an already extensive lineup.

WORDS, PHOTOGRAPHY & CREATIVE DIRECTION BY HYNING GAN

HAIR, MAKEUP & STYLING BY KENDALL SCOTT AND SCARLETT EARLS

MODELS – KENDALL SCOTT & SCARLETT EARLS

SISTERHOOD

In a world awash with hues of innocence and laughter, I sought out to encapsulate the vibrant essence of girlhood through the lens of female friendship. It is in female friendships that I discover the true meaning of sisterhood – a bond forged in the fires of shared experiences as girls, resilient and unwavering in its beauty. A tapestry woven with threads of shared secrets and whispered hopes. Together, we navigate the labyrinth of girlhood, fearless and unapologetic in our pursuit of finding our place in the world. As if we were running through the meadows, dancing without a care in the world. I endeavor to capture not just moments, but the profound testament to the transformative power of female connection in shaping the unique definition of girlhood. However complicated, messy, confusing the journey may be, I am able to find solace, inspiration, and an enduring sense of belonging through the many girls I am lucky enough to call my friends.

GIRL, ONLINE

BY MARA GO

PHOTOGRAPHY & CREATIVE DIRECTION BY SANDRA JAMALEDDINE

PHOTO ASSISTANTS — CAROLYN WANG & SABRINA POEI STYLIST — YEIMY CIFUENTES

The timing was

perfect — scratch that, it was poetic. Manila, of course, provided the perfect backdrop for the interview: the day dawns crisp and clear, bathing buildings in its warm light. The Bay Area, on the other end, tells a contrasting story: the afternoon sun nestles, preparing to bid adieu. It is the same scene that is accompanying YEIMY CIFUENTES , a wellloved content creator and cover girl of this month’s girlhood issue.

“Have you seen the show iCarly?” she enthusiastically asked, referring to the hit teen series in the early tens. “The show inspired a lot of kids to create videos!”

“I still watch it at this age. It never gets old!” I said. “iCarly premiered at the right time: social media videos is somewhat new, there is no pressure of views, followers, or overall aesthetics, and everyone is just happy to be a part of the online space — it is such a different time back then and how lucky are we to be a part of it.”

Cifuentes, who is known for her fashion and lifestyle videos, credits the show for introducing her to the world of content creation. “I remember that the web show had these comedic skits and stuff. That really made me want to create videos, but I wanted to focus on documenting moments with my friends,” she reminisced. “My first-ever vlog features our short trip to San Francisco. It’s just clips of us exploring the beach, and getting breakfast. And then after that, I just started vlogging every time I would hang out with friends — it's nice because I still have those videos.”

Now, the content creator has established a following across all social media platforms. But it’s not about the numbers. Cifuentes values the community that truly resonates with her videos. “I really hope that I inspire them in a way or two,” she expressed. “And I feel like that's just my overall goal in my content is to make someone feel comfortable and safe enough to like, feel what they want to feel or say what they want to say.”

“My content is pretty lighthearted,” she answered when asked about her videos. “There are times wherein it can get energetic, goofy, or silly. Despite that, there are also moments where I feel like I might be oversharing too much — but that is just life, real life. I wish that my audience, especially those who belong in a younger age range, won’t feel alone in certain situations or circumstances.”

And that, somehow, explains the reason behind her success: she is driven by a purpose to create a soulful connection with her community — one thing that can explain what girlhood means.

Cifuentes describes the girlhood culture as a little club. “It’s like having a safe space to fully express your personality through different outlets like fashion, beauty, art, or music,” she said, explaining how vibrant the girlhood culture is in fandom. “I’m really into K-pop artists like NCT! I like their upbeat music, I like how it makes me feel good in a way that I can just dance and express my feelings — in a sense, this allows me to connect with other fans, too!”

On a deeper level, the content creator emphasized the connection established in fandoms and how it resonates with girlhood. “Apart from the bows, girlhood makes you feel connected with each other. It’s the warmth and security in knowing that you can rely on and understand each other in a way others can’t. It’s magic, actually.”

"...stop investing your energy in what other people think."

Cifuentes hopes that it is the same empowering energy that is manifested in her content. “Creating fashion videos, for one, is a creative outlet that really helped me improve my self-esteem and confidence,” she said. “I tend to experiment with a lot of the things that I wear but I know that I feel good or that I look good. And that's something that I'm trying to push with my viewers: stop investing your energy in what other people think.”

The content creator added, “Fashion is a huge part of a girl's life. It is an extension of your personality or an expression of what you are feeling — and I hope that I can make them feel confident and empowered enough to express themselves through any clothing that they decide to wear.”

Of course, it is only the right time to ask “Yeimy, what is the importance of the girlhood culture for you?”

“It’s the sense of community,” she smiled. “It’s the very essence of being seen and understood. It’s the certainty of knowing that you are not alone in certain situations or circumstances. It’s the safety of expressing yourself and expanding your interests without the fear of being ridiculed. Girlhood is fully embracing yet exploring what femininity means, feels, and looks to us. It’s re-aligning with the calm and the innocence, at the same time, celebrating the grit and fearlessness of a woman.”

Taking a short pause, she concluded, “The girlhood culture feels home to many girls — and that, itself, explains why it is important in our lives.”

ON REFUELING HER CREATIVITY

“I get really inspired by other creators and friends that I follow,” she revealed. “I always see their posts, too! That helps me stay on track with what is trending right now and how I can interpret it in a way that resonates with my personality. Pinterest, absolutely! I can spend hours looking for new things to wear, new movies to watch, or new music to listen to.”

Cifuentes continued, “Of course, I give credit to my friends too whom I have met through fandoms — they help me refuel my creativity.”

ON HER FAVORITE GIRLHOOD MOMENT

“There are times where in I feel alone in facing certain situations or circumstances,” she opened up. “And this is where the girlhood culture comes in: my girl best friend and my sister are always there to give me the support and comfort that I need. It only proves that if not all, most times, we can always rely on each other and that is what makes this community so beautiful — we are driven by love, compassion, and sincerity.”

ON EMBRACING GIRLHOOD

As we end the conversation, Yeimy Cifuentes invites everyone to embrace girlhood. “Don’t be ashamed of how you feel and how you want to express yourself. In this day and age, there will always be critics around you — but align yourself with what truly matters the most: stay grounded, know your values, commit to your truth, and know how you want to live your life. And never forget to celebrate your unique self.”

womanhood

PHOTOGRAPHY

CREATIVE

&

DIRECTION BY AMELIA JASMIN ARSCOTT

sharedspaces

Living with a roommate is a rite of passage for many as a young woman. What starts as sharing utensils, shelf space, and bathroom schedules can become swapping going-out clothes, stories about a tough day, joys of a new romantic prospect, wine nights, and terrible reality television. It's safe to say that a roommate may turn out to be a best friend, all in the blink of an eye. One day, when we're old and grey, it's the memories of these people who slipped so easily into our lives that linger forever. Here's to mine.

MY BEDROOM NOSTALGIA

PHOTOGRAPHY, CREATIVE DIRECTION, & STYLING BY LUCILA DRAGONNÉ ONSITE ASSISTANT – REGINA EGUILUZ

A Reflection

WORDS, CREATIVE DIRECTION & STYLING BY CHARLY FAYE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AJ PRIOR MODELS — CHARLY FAYE & ROBYN FAYE

My “Girlhood” was an era of my life where I was trying to carve out my identity; however, what made my Girlhood ironically unique is that I had Robyn. Myself and Robyn are mirror twins: a rare type of identical twins, matched as if we are flipped images of each other, paired face to face rather than side by side. It is fitting, and maybe even a little poetic, that throughout my adolescence Robyn provided me with a mirror to hold myself up against. But having each other has also made it harder for us both to individualize ourselves in a world where women are already often compared and shoved into boxes.

Throughout our teenage years, we felt so intertwined with each other, so tied together, that our relationship with ‘Girlhood’ became incredibly complex. If one of us chose to embrace anything considered feminine or girly, the other would push back. We cycled through phases of hyper femininity and tomboy, running away from any comparisons. It was shocking how many people felt the need to tell us which twin they felt “was prettier”, who had the “better personality” or who was “excelling more” in any of our shared passions: And yet for a long time we never challenged this. It was normal for us.

It is only really in adulthood that we have been able to love our similarities, and realize that they don’t take away from us being individuals in our own right. It is perhaps one of the reasons why we are both embracing the current trend of the “Girlhood” aesthetic, expressing ourselves through the fashion choices we felt we couldn't fully enjoy growing up. But of course Girlhood is far more than pleated skirts and ribbons. It's the ultimate shared experience; connecting all of us who identify as women, and the foundation of female friendship.

Looking back, although the comparisons may have superficially pushed us away from “Girlhood”, in reality it helped us embrace it. I was born alongside my best friend, and no amount of bickering or fallouts could really tear us apart. Within my life, both socially and professionally, Robyn is my secret weapon: An amazing collaborator that is forever in sync with all of my crazy ideas, who will always support me and guide me. Through Robyn, I very quickly learnt the importance of friendship, and the ingredients needed to make it last. From day one, she gifted me with patience, compassion, to know when to share and when to listen, and how to balance it all out to form a genuine two sided connection. These skills are obviously not exclusively formed through a twin relationship but it provided me with the cheat code to learn the importance of this quickly.

With the blueprint Robyn gave me, I have been able to build amazing bonds with a number of beautiful, talented and unique women, each of whom I can connect to a different stage of my “Girlhood.”

At birth, I got Robyn.

As a child, I got Megan. As a teenager, I got Helena. At university, I got Emma and Grace. As an adult, I got Lara.

I could talk passionately about these women for days. They are all so wonderfully different, and yet equally important to me. I have Robyn to thank for that.

The unique experience of growing up and experiencing “Girlhood” alongside a twin is a weird one but I wouldn't change it. Despite others sometimes seeing us as one, we have learnt to look past it. We are now able to see what a gift it is, bows and all.

BY ALEXIS MARION

PHOTOGRAPHY & CREATIVE DIRECTION BY YUNA JO

PHOTO ASSISTANT – SABRINA ZUKOWSKI

SABRINA STERLING

Singer and songwriter, SABRINA STERLING , was born and raised in San Diego, where her songwriting and love for music began. At 18-years-old, Sterling signed to Columbia Records after finding fans on TikTok through posting clips of her original songs, which feature gentle, nostalgic-sounding melodies by her guitar. She reflects on the path to a music career she never imagined would come true, and her growth to writing vulnerable, heartfelt lyrics.

WHAT INFLUENCED YOU TO GET INTO MUSIC AND SINGING, AND THE TYPES OF MUSIC YOU LIKE?

SABRINA STERLING: My parents didn't really allow me to have a phone at a young age, so I really only listened to what was on the radio. The second I got my phone, when I was in eighth grade, I got Spotify and found my own sound and what I liked.

WAS THERE ANY SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE THAT MADE YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MUSIC AND MADE YOU SERIOUSLY CONSIDER PURSUING IT?

SS: I started a week after I turned 16 and this was during the pandemic when I was trying to find a hobby. I saw this girl on TikTok write a song and I was like, ‘oh, I should try that.’ My dad had a guitar that he never played and I kind of stole it, and started practicing and learning how to play. I taught myself and I spent hours every day just figuring it out. Then, I started posting on a separate TikTok account…I did not expect or intend to do this. I really just accidentally started.

DO YOU COME FROM A MUSICAL FAMILY? HOW DID THEY INSPIRE YOU TO PURSUE MUSIC?

SS: My mom made my older sister and I take piano lessons for like nine years, but I hated it. My family [members] are not musicians, but my mom wanted us to be well rounded with the piano, and then my sister did choir and I copied her and did choir for a year or two.

HOW HAVE PLATFORMS LIKE TIKTOK HELPED YOU GET YOUR START IN MUSIC?

SS: It really started everything…I wouldn't be where I am now without it. I feel like Instagram is pushing me way more [now], but social media in general has been a great way to reach more people and I'm very grateful for that.

WAS THERE ANY MOMENT IN THE MIDST OF MAKING MUSIC-RELATED TIKTOK VIDEOS OR IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE WHERE YOU KNEW YOU COULD REALLY PURSUE MUSIC, POTENTIALLY AS A CAREER?

SS: I didn’t really know for the longest time, [but] I’d have moments on TikTok where my songs would go viral, but I didn’t think it was going to last. I was supposed to go to UCSD and a week or two

before, I was just like, ‘You know what, this doesn't feel right.’ With so many people on the internet saying really nice things, I was like, ‘Okay, I don't believe in myself but these people think I have something, so I'm going to believe.’

HOW HAS YOUR MUSIC EVOLVED OVER TIME?

SS: I think I've just changed a lot and grown up. Obviously as you grow, you're going to mature and your writing is going to mature, but I think music back then was just for fun. Now, I think I’m taking it seriously. I'm just more open and honest with my music now, and I think it's for the best.

WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES FOR YOU, GOING FROM MAKING MUSIC PURELY FOR FUN, TO NOW TAKING IT MORE SERIOUSLY?

SS: I feel like now when I watch movies or I go anywhere, I'm immediately thinking about how I could incorporate it into music. When I go on Pinterest…I love Pinterest…I'll go there and look at photos and find ideas that could be cool for a photo shoot. I'm always in work mode now.

ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC ARTISTS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR MUSIC AND SONGWRITING?

SS: Songwriting wise, Julia Michaels and Lizzy McAlpine have been really big inspirations. I didn't really love pop music for the longest time. Now I'm just open to everything and I'm less of a hater. Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan have been people where I’m blasting their music constantly and just taking little notes here and there.

WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING SIGNED TO COLUMBIA RECORDS LIKE FOR YOU?

SS: I got signed back in August and that experience is really insane. It didn't feel real and it still doesn't feel real. I moved to LA and I signed within the same week, and that didn’t hit me until a lot later. It just genuinely feels so unreal, but it's so cool and I love my team so much.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR SONGWRITING PROCESS FOR YOUR SONG, “BITTERSWEET,” AND THE INSPIRATION FOR IT.

SS: Writing “bittersweet” was also an accident. At the time, my family cat was dying and I was really bummed out. I realized I hadn't posted in like a week or two [on TikTok], so I felt like I had to put something up and I went to my bedroom where I wrote “bittersweet” in like 10 minutes. I just posted it, thinking nothing of it, and then the next morning, I started to go viral. “Bittersweet” wasn't really meant to be a song that I was going to finish, but a lot of people really wanted it. I wrote “bittersweet” about my older sister, and obviously with me moving out and her going to college, we're never going to share a bedroom again. We're never going to play video games for hours like we were doing at ages 12 and 13. It was basically about how I’m going to miss being a kid.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE FINDING OUT YOU’RE GOING ON TOUR WITH SADIE JEAN?

SS: Sadie texted me and was like, ‘Would you want to go on tour? Are you interested?’. I was like, ‘Yeah, I'm interested.’ I was super excited and was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is actually happening.’ I'm so nervous…I've never performed in front of even 100 people, so this is a huge step up. I'm excited for traveling and meeting my fans for the first time…that is gonna be really, really cool.

ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING SPECIFIC TO PREPARE FOR YOUR FIRST TOUR?

SS: I've been practicing my set in my room by myself [and] just getting myself super prepared mentally. It’s all new and a little scary.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS FOR YOUR MUSIC CAREER?

SS: I think the next big thing for me would be that I really want to make a music video. I have so many ideas written in a journal somewhere. I'm really excited to make a music video after seeing Ariana Grande's “we can't be friends (wait for your love)” music video. I was taken aback by that and I want to make stuff like that.

Wistful Youth

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEXXUS BROWNING

CREATIVE DIRECTION BY ALEXXUS BROWNING & KRISTIN MUDER

MAKEUP BY MONICA MURILLO

MODELS – KRISTIN MUDER & MIKAELA ORTIZ

WORDS, PHOTOGRAPHY & CREATIVE DIRECTION BY JENNA LAEL

– LIVIA

Hometown IN

MY

MODELS

DOOLING, EMMA MILLER, LAURISSA VARNELL, ESME

Pink and red roses, honey kissed petals smeared all over my lips

Looming clouds, wheat fields drowned in golden light

I’ll veer left at the green where the road dips

The doll I lost when I was nine, my dreams, fragile as porcelain, still linger

My hometown, my girlhood

Slipping through my fingers

Your hands intertwined in my hair, Weaving over and under His hands, possessive, claiming me softly; everywhere

Oklahoma, your cold red dirt, my sweet embrace

The question I never asked,

Did they blame it on your skirt, your hair, your waist?

Do you miss this town, the one you left at last Baby pink, do you miss your girlhood?

It’s fading so fast

bedhead

WORDS & CREATIVE DIRECTION BY LILY MAGUIRE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASMINE ENGEL-MALONE

PHOTO ASSISTANT – SOPHIE PHILLIPS

MAKEUP BY CATHERINE HAURET

SET – ZAN MORLEY

MODEL – UZUONU

STYLING BY GEORGIA DIAKOGIANNIS

STYLIST ASSISTANT – FREYA BEARD

DESIGNERS – KAIRO ATELIER, LOOPING FACES, DARC JAYD, MIU MIU, ALVALLIO, POLINA, PE99Y YAN9, REST OF WARDROBE ARE STYLISTS' OWN

'Bedhead' is an editorial exploring dysfunction and disassociation experienced by individuals with ADHD, visually depicting the model disappearing into another world and losing a grip on her surroundings in the face of mounting responsibilities.

STICK AROUND

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY BY LILY STEVENS

PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS — BLAKE HARMAN & SOPHIA MAZZA

MODELS — MERCEDES ECHEVARRIA, SOPHIA RUGGIO, GIOVANNA RUGGIO

Throughout my years of exploring photography. I always find myself aiming to capture these certain feelings. Feelings of bliss, warmth, euphoria, exploration, and affection. I am blessed to be able to find these feelings often, and having the ability to capture and share them with the world is so special. Growing up, I was lucky enough to have many amazing people surrounding me; however, there are three girls in particular that I could write for days about. In this body of work, Stick Around, I chose to highlight these friendships through my portrait photography. My time growing with these three has been precious, formative years spent learning to love ourselves just as much as we love each other. The experience of growing alongside these girls is to this day one of the most fulfilling things in my life. Girlhood is truly magic. Through these friendships they have taught me to value myself, my body, my presence, and my voice. Out of all my friends I have ever had, it has always been them at the end of the day.

Slowly starting Shogun! Or reruns of SexandtheCity

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. So far, so good!

My music taste is all over the place - Jungle, Maggie Rogers, & Daniel Caesar are in the current rotation!

Make monthly playlists, journal to reflect on the current events in my life.

@sabrinapoei

sabrinapoei.com

Panang curry from Ben Thai heals me to the core

Iced oat cappuccino

Morning walk down Great Highway and Ocean Beach with an iced oat cappuccino from The Mill in hand, cook a classic diner breakfast

Lay out at the park (ideally a sunny SF day) with a book, grab an orange wine at Fool’s Errand

Put on a record while cooking dinner, get my apartment real cozy aka no overhead lighting, go to a concert + edit photos

BEHIND THE COVER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAROLYN WANG & SABRINA POEI

Girlhood is fully embracing yet exploring what femininity means, feels, and looks to us