Spring 2024 Print: Wonderland

MODA

SPRING PRINT 2024

UNLOCKING YOUR IMAGINATION HOW TO COMBAT WRITERS BLOCK

DO IT FOR YOU! FOLLOWING YOUR PASSIONS DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A CHILDHOOD DREAM

FASHION FUNHOUSE

HOW TO PLAY DRESS UP AGAIN

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Noa Chamberlin

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Elise Wilson

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Adina Kurzban

INTERNAL RELATIONS

DIRECTOR

Alejandra Espino

PUBLIC RELATIONS

DIRECTOR

Morgan Johnson

CULTURE EDITOR

Laine Bottemiller

ARTS EDITOR

Cate Tarr

LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Mi Chuinda Levy

FASHION EDITOR

Natasha Bernovich

ONLINE EDITOR

Reese Diethrich

ASSISTANT CULTURE

EDITOR

Chloe Kelm

ASSISTANT ARTS

EDITOR

Kate Dietz

ASSISTANT LIFESTYLE

EDITOR

Maddy Scharrer

T E A M

HEAD OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Preksha Satia

NEW MEMBERS MENTOR

Rachel Van Hefty

HEAD OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Emma Spaciel

HEAD OF VIDEOGRAPHY

Molly Ford

SHOOT PRODUCTION

COORDINATORS

Emily Han

Rayyan Bhatti

WRITERS

Morgan Johnson • Natasha Bernovich • Tessa Almond • Kayla Hendrikse • Kate Reuscher

• Alexa Vogel • Kaitlyn Ard • Eliza Mednick • Laine Bottemiller

• Maggie Cleary • Ally Jonas

• Maggie Boettinger • Sophie Corsaro • Maddy Scharrer • Elise Daczko • Mi Chuinda Levy • Eliot

Hughes • Alex Malatesta

ART

Isabelle Young • Elise Wilson • Izzy Kiekhofer • Elise Daczko • Ari Tweedy • Bella Muller

PHOTOGRAPHY

Emma Spaciel • Paige Valley • Lily Munoz • Molly Claus • Elise Wilson • Izzy Kiekhofer

• Teagan Strecker • Angelene

Grieves • Rayyan Bhatti • Archi Rawat

SHOOT DIRECTION AND STYLING

Elise Wilson • Gracy Singh •

Daniel Hwang • Emily Han • Neha Gupta • Lily Munoz • Isabelle Young • Kaitlyn Ard • Eliza Mednick

MODELS

Jenna Kohl • Nina Goyette • Morgan Johnson • Kaidence

Farmer • Brandon Rivera • Sophie Corsaro • Thomas Niepsuj • Malia Coli Dyson

• Vivian Dufek • Naomi Lewis • Izzy Kiekhofer • Xóchitl Quiñones • Stephanie

Mauricio • Beck Keller • Ci Havlik

The normalization and overconsumption of

for children

How to regain that childlike sense of wonder and curiosity

The

Following

Transforming

Making a statement by wearing bright colors

How to play dress up again

Fashion: The Creative Odyssey of Moschino

How Moschino built a brand on out-of-the-box creativity and originality

What “Little Miss Sunshine” teaches us about rediscovering our childhood aspirations

An often discredited medium with so much potential

How Olivia Rodrigo is the voice of a generation

“What Was I Made For?”

How Billie Eilish’s award-winning song encapsulates the complicated feelings of growing up

Destination: Imagination

Dear Readers,

This time of year and this time in our lives are both all about growth. As flowers bloom and temperatures rise, it’s normal to be inspired by new ideas and want to reinvent ourselves.

With this issue of the magazine, we wanted to get in touch with our youthful, playful sides. We channeled our childhood dreams, tapped into our imaginations and ignored society’s expectations. Wonderland is exactly as its namesake: an imaginative playground where anything is possible.

We all remember those precious mid 2000s days, full of wonder and curiosity. Bright days, where the saturation was turned up high and imaginations ran wild. Kate Reuscher details exactly this in her article, “The Lost Innocence of Childhood.” Reuscher explains how our generation’s childhood days were filled with wild fantasies about what the future might hold, and how this feeling is not present in generations succeeding us.

As we grow up, we begin to lose some of that magic from our childhood. The energy and zest for life we once had as children can be harder to find. We might question our purpose and feel lost as we try to transition from childhood to adulthood. Alexa Vogel explores this concept in her article, “What Was I Made For?” Vogel reflects on the disillusionment of growing up and the loss of childhood’s easy optimism.

However, adulthood doesn’t need to be completely bleak and void of wonder; this issue is proof that we can free ourselves from the constraints of perfectionism and tap back into the creative bravery we had as kids. In Elise Daczko’s article, “Unlocking Your Imagination,” she discusses several ways you can get back in touch with the explorative freedom of writing if you have found yourself suffering with a case of writer’s block.

We hope that after exploring these pages, you feel empowered to lean into old dreams, embrace those bright colors and color outside the lines.

So step into the imaginative playground that is Wonderland. Happy reading!

Learning From Children

INSIGHTS FROM A NANNY

Written by Maggie Boettinger, Staff Writer

Graphic by Elise Wilson, Creative Director

Two years ago, I decided it was time for me to try something new for a summer job. Having previously worked in food service and customer service, I was at a loss for where to begin my search, or what to even look for. While summer jobs aren’t necessarily the most stimulating or rewarding occupations a person will have in their lifetime, I just felt as though something was missing.

A few weeks into the search, a local nanny posting caught my attention, and I reached out to the family immediately. Having been a babysitter throughout high school, that was just about the only experience I had in the field of looking after kids. The more I thought about it, the more I worried I would in be way over my head. After receiving the position, I showed up on my first day, ready to embrace a new setting for summer.

Two years later, I can’t even articulate how much this job has changed my life, and it is entirely because of the two children, who have easily become two of my favorite human beings. The honesty, authenticity and joy that young children can possess was something I never expected. Adults have plenty to learn from children, and it is a mystery to me why this idea is so overlooked.

If anyone has ever worked with younger children, one thing you can count on is honesty. It is no secret that a kid will be the first to tell you—and perhaps not very delicately—if you have something in your teeth, hair sticking up or a spill anywhere on your clothing. My first experience with this makes me laugh when I think back on it. After a particularly hectic morning where I had accidentally overslept, I somehow managed to put on my t-shirt inside out, with the huge tag sticking out of the back of the collar. It took less than five minutes of being with the kids before I was gently informed of how “funny looking” my shirt was.

This became a very common occurrence for me as a nanny. After getting over the initial embarrassment of being called out, deep down, I was always

grateful for someone giving me the opportunity to fix the minor issue that was brought to my attention. These “call outs” do not come from malice or intent to embarrass, rather simply a quick observation that kids think you should hear.

This honesty also manifests itself in kids’ self-expression—if one of the kids is angry or sad, they will let me know. If a glass of water has spilled or someone misbehaves, they will voluntarily tell me what happened and why. Molly Lloyd and Blaire Brooks, hosts of the parenting podcast “Toddler Purgatory,” say that “the ‘filter’ that the rest of us try to apply to our everyday interactions just doesn’t exist in young ones. Their brains aren’t capable of fabricating lies like older kids and adults.”1 This trait fades away as children begin to grow past the age of seven or eight years. The practice of honesty can sometimes be a double-edged sword, but in many ways, these kids have taught me that expressing myself and fessing up to mistakes is a healthier way to maintain better relationships with loved ones.

The most impactful lesson that has been taught to me by children is embracing joy, even in small things. I have one memory in particular that encompasses this entire concept: during the summer, I took the kids to the lake on a very hot day. Everyone was sweating buckets, and it was obvious that the clear, cold lake water was irresist-

1 Molly Lloyd and Blaire Brooks, hosts, “When (and Why) Kids Are So Brutally Honest,” Toddler Purgatory, April 5, 2022.

ible. With my permission, they ran into the lake at full speed, fully dressed in their clothes.

From a practical standpoint, getting into lake water in dry clothes doesn’t make sense, as it is a hassle to change out of soaking clothes, especially when you can easily just dip your feet in the water instead. The stickler side of my brain was also not looking forward to the lake water stench that was sure to engulf my car once it was time to drive home. However, their happy shrieks, splashes and laughs were contagious and soon filled the summer air. I had no choice but to jump in too!

So why is it that easy for children to harness and create joy? According to psycho-educator and mindfulness practitioner Fiona Gauntlett, “All children are born with the gift of being able to live fully in the present.”2 She says, “They have a natural engagement with the vitality of the moment; they’re receptive and fully absorbed in their life experiences.”3

This means that children don’t worry about changing out of those wet clothes, rather, they are fully embracing the sun, giggles and splashes in the moment. That day at the lake has become one of my favorite summer memories. I try to live by their example and enjoy all the small things that make my days a little brighter, and it makes such a profound difference.

2 Carrol Baker, “How to regain a sense of childlike wonder,” Wellbeing.com, March 10, 2014.

3 Ibid.

Comfortable, Classic and So Coquette

THE REVIVAL OF BALLET FLATS

Written by Tessa Almond, Writing Team | Photography by Elise Wilson, Creative Director and Molly Claus, Creative Team | Creative Direction by Elise Wilson, Creative Director and Gracy Singh, Creative Team | Modeled by Sophie Corsaro

From the high-fashion runways of Miu Miu and Christian Dior to casual trips to coffee shops, ballet flats have proven themselves an essential piece in closets around the world. Known for their versatility, comfort and iconic simplicity, this worldwide trend is likely to stay. Ballet flats serve as a foundation for a variety of different styles, but they also symbolize a unique desire to express our inner child, reject traditional female stereotypes and celebrate modern hyper-femininity.

Ballet flats have a long history with origins stretching back to 1600s ballet culture. They were popularized in 1947 when Rose Repetto, the mother of famous French dancer Roland Petit, modified her son’s dancing shoes with a style resembling the typical ballet flats we know today.1 Repetto’s flat design caught the attention of designer Claire McCardell and insisted on showcasing them in one of her collections. Within a few years, ballet flats skyrocketed in popularity–gracing the cover of Vogue and being worn by icons like Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot.

Through the years, ballet flats have become a timeless symbol of femininity. Their versatility in both style and function symbolizes feminine agency when uncomfortable high heels have been at the forefront of fashion for centuries. In subverting this norm, we’ve seen an outburst of trends – all with which ballet flats are compatible. In the midst of the constant evolution of these trends and a pressure to follow them, ballet flats act as a grounding foundation for individual expression. Trends will come and go, but ballet flats will 1 “The History of Ballet Flats,” Giesswein, April 6, 2020.

remain timeless. Because of its simplicity, the ballet flat is able to adapt to all modern styles, but it also allows women all around the world to express their individuality without the restriction of trend influence.

In addition to an iconic expression of femininity, ballet flats have a child-like playfulness that bridges the gap between our child and adult lives. Ballet flats represent the wonder and freedom we felt as kids. This is because in the past, ballet flats have primarily been worn by children, especially young dancers. Almost every girl can remember at least one time they wore some variation of ballet flats when they were younger. As a result of this, ballet flats give way to a unique feeling of nostalgia and a connection to our younger selves. It symbolizes a time in our lives when the world seemed to have no dangers, no worries and no limits to what we, as women, could achieve. By bringing ballet flats back into mainstream fashion, we are inviting these inherent thoughts of our younger selves into our young adult lives –and encouraging others to do so.

The significance of ballet flats has evolved dramatically over the centuries – from simple dancing shoes to a modern symbol of feminine agency and nostalgia. They symbolize a break in conventional female shoe trends but also encourage us to look at the world with child-like wonder and excitement. Although simple, the explosion of these timeless shoes is a pivotal moment in the fashion industry. Whether paired with jorts, jeans, shorts or dresses, ballet flats have been and will continue to be an iconic symbol of individual expression and an homage to our childhoods.

Do It For You!

FOLLOWING YOUR PASSIONS DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A CHILDHOOD DREAM

Written by Maddy Scharrer, Lifestyle Assistant Editor

Graphic by Ari Tweedy, Creative Team

Almost every year in elementary school, I remember being asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. We were always encouraged to dream big, so when we wrote down things like princess, popstar or president, we had no doubt that one day, that’s who we would be. We firmly believed our ambitions could take us anywhere.

Taking inspiration from my parents’ careers, I would always write down “teacher” and draw myself writing on a chalkboard with an apple on my desk. During fifth grade, I traded the chalkboard for a notebook and the apple for a pencil when envisioning future me. After a silly short story I wrote in class, I recognized my passion for writing and storytelling and have dreamt of being a writer ever since.

As I got older and life became more serious, I started to wonder if my passions were realistic. When asked the same question in high school, it no longer filled me with wonder about the possibilities of the future; it felt more like a daunting clock ticking down. Thinking about the future can be terrifying, especially at 18 when we’re expected to have the outline for our lives jotted down. In high school, I’d lost my childhood confidence in my answer to the question and started second-guessing whether writing was really supposed to fit in my life as more than a hobby.

Even with the doubt creeping in, I couldn’t find any other career path that seemed quite right. Spoiler alert: that’s because I knew what was “right” for my future was pursuing a career in writing, and I just had to find the courage to believe it. A big part of following your passions starts with winning the battle within; sometimes you can be your own greatest enemy. Try turning off that little voice in your head that is telling you no, and you’ve already taken a step toward pursuing your dreams.

Choosing to let go of fears surrounding your dreams is exactly that: a choice. Often, it’s one that needs to be made consciously and continuously. But in doing this—in recognizing and then silencing your doubts—you can conquer them over time. According to Dr. Margie Warrell, a renowned courage coach, “Every time you take action in the presence of your doubts, you dilute their power and amplify your own.”1 It’s normal to have times when you question if you’re doing the right thing following your dreams—but you are, and if you keep going, you will see that soon enough. Remember that you’re doing it for you.

Sometimes all it takes to remember why you’re 1 Margie Warrell, “How to Beat Self-Doubt and Stop Selling Yourself Short,” Forbes, Dec. 11, 2017.

persevering through doubt and taking the leap to follow your passion is one moment when you feel inspired and motivated in your pursuit. When I fall into a skeptical mindset, I think back to my younger self and how badly she wanted to be a writer when she grew up. The thought of be coming someone she would be in awe of push es me to keep going through the fears and what-ifs.

It’s important to note that this con cept of following your passions doesn’t always have to tie to a liter al “childhood dream.” Our passions can come to realization when we’re older too, and deciding to follow them can be just as scary. We are an ever-evolving culmination of our experiences, and sometimes, our experiences inspire our dreams.

Eli Rallo, author of “I Didn’t Know I Needed This,” beauti fully said in her debut nov el, “To all the versions of you and all the versions of me—past, present, and meant to be. It’s time for us to meet the world.” When I discovered my love for storytell ing, I tied it strictly to the idea of writing books. While that’s still a major part of my aspirations, my dreams have ex panded beyond just one writing style or medium. Opening yourself up to exploration of your passions and al lowing them the room to grow might introduce you to further branches of interest.

Dreaming doesn’t have to be left behind in elementary school nap time. Be bold and take chances in pursuit of your pas sions so you don’t live in regret—you owe it to yourself.

2 Eli Rallo, “I Didn’t Know I Needed This: The New Rules for Flirting, Feeling, and Finding Yourself,” HarperCollins, 2023.

Older and Bolder

MAKING A STATEMENT BY WEARING BRIGHT COLORS

Written

by Morgan Johnson, Public Relations Director | Photography by Emma Spaciel, Head of Photography and Paige Valley, Creative Team | Modeled by Jenna Kohl, Nina Goyette, Morgan Johnson

If you were to look at a playground full of bustling children, you’d probably see lots of colors. You’d see neon pink headbands, blue and red sports jerseys and plaid shorts. Some of the color combinations might not even match according to color theory.1 Or according to a color analyst, some children might not be wearing colors that flatter their skin tone. But the thing is, none of these children know any of that. The girl wearing the bright pink headband picked that one because it matched her pink hair. And the boy sporting the checkered shorts liked those because they reminded him of his favorite game, soccer. The children aren’t concerned about attracting attention to themselves because of what they’re wearing. They don’t know which colors match and which aren’t socially acceptable together.

If you were to walk into a church, its congregation made up of mostly retirees, you’d see something entirely different. You’d probably see grays, blacks, whites and the occasional maroon. Nothing eye-catching. That’s because as we get older, we decide that we need to start dressing more “mature.” Whatever that means. Maybe these people found out about getting a professional color analysis. The process includes several appointments

1 Melanie Shaw, “4 Mistakes To Avoid When Wearing Bright Colors,” Fashion Mingle, 2022

where the client gets assigned a season and further, either categorized as high contrast or low contrast.2 As we’ve gotten older, we’ve strayed away from color. It could be because the person truly prefers muted, neutral colors or because bright colors make someone seem less mature and serious – but it’s time to start incorporating color back into your wardrobe.

One area of clothing that hasn’t become as adaptive to the muted-color trends that emerge as we get older is

2 Hanna Flanagan, “I Tried a Professional Color Analysis – Here’s What to Expect,” The Cut, 2024.

swimsuits. Popular swimwear brands like Aerie, Target and Kulani Kinis still boast neon patterns and mix-andmatch deals to appeal to a wide range of people. Australian swimwear brand Kulani Kinis even has color embedded in its mission statement: “The designers and creators of Kulani Kinis are Dani & Alex – two beach-loving, wanderlust spirits from the East Coast of Sydney, Australia. They share a love of colour, Hawaii and taking charge of their own destiny.”3 If other clothing brands followed suit, people would feel more en-

3 “Sun Chaser Ambassador FAQ – Kulani Kinis,” Kulani Kinis, 2024.

couraged to bring color into the rest of their wardrobe.

We can always look back at Queen Elizabeth II: a vivid fashion icon. The Queen has been seen wearing every color of the rainbow for her entire outfit – especially in very public appearances. The Queen’s daughter-in-law, Countess of Wessex Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones says she wore bright colors to stand out so people would know who she is.4

A brand that’s doing everything right in terms of color is Charlotte Stone. Its brand story is rooted in the word “fun,” and prioritizes fashion as a form of self-expression. The shoe company is most known for its bright fuschia wooden clogs. There’s even a collection called “The Mismatches” which includes loafers with a color block pattern of green, purple, orange and red.5

4 Caroline Hallemann, “The Reason Queen Elizabeth Wears So Many Bright Colors,” Town & Country Magazine, 2018.

5 Charlotte Stone, It’s a (Mis)match Collection, 2024.

So after looking at a few brands that are channeling their inner child, consider doing it yourself. Ask yourself: Why don’t I want to wear bright colors? The next time you’re at the store looking for another black or white top, go for something different. Something bold and bright. Why does it matter if you stand out from the crowd through what you are wearing? As fashion designer Vivienne Westwood once said, “If you love something, wear it all the time... Find things that suit you. That’s how you look extraordinary.” So let that small inner child of yours shine. After all the years you’ve spent silencing your urge to wear something spunky, let that part of yourself free! Because you’re never too old to dress in bright colors.

Salvaging Sunshine

WHAT “LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE” TEACHES US ABOUT REDISCOVERING OUR CHILDHOOD ASPIRATIONS

Written by Ally Jonas, Staff Writer

Graphic by Izzy Kiekhofer, Creative Team

Think back to when you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? Maybe it was an actress, a singer or even an astronaut. Personally, 5-yearold me was convinced my true calling involved ball gowns and royalty – I wanted to be a princess.

Much like younger me, in the Oscar-winning 2006 film “Little Miss Sunshine,” 7-year-old Olive Hoover, portrayed by Abigail Breselin, wants nothing more than glamor and glory. She has big dreams of winning the highly-competitive Little Miss Sunshine pageant and being named a beauty queen.

Now put yourself into the present-day. Are you still following these aspirations? Is what you’re studying even somewhat related to what a younger you would’ve wanted? The answer for most of us is probably no. According to a survey conducted by the Elite Daily, only 6% of adults end up chasing their childhood dreams.1

So, why do we throw our adolescent aspirations to the wayside?

Throughout “Little Miss Sunshine,” Hoover faces many roadblocks on her journey to attending the highly competitive Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. Her father Richard Hoover, depicted by Greg Kinnear, repeatedly projects his own fear of failure onto Olive Hoover, believing the risk of losing should overshadow her ambitions.

For many, society feeds a similar narrative, that our dreams are unattainable, and we’ll never find success in our true passions; if we chase these far-fetched fantasies, we’ll become losers. From a young age, we internalize that we are unsuccessful if we can’t or don’t monetize our ambitions.

However, the societal ideal of success is simply one angle of an incredibly nuanced concept. Money is not the sole determinant of success, and in fact, everyone has a unique definition of the principle.

1 John Haltiwanger, “When I grow up. . . Why only 6 percent of us achieve our childhood dreams,” Elite Daily, Nov. 19, 2024.

Additionally, there’s a scene in “Little Miss Sunshine” where Richard Hoover tells Olive Hoover that if she eats ice cream for breakfast, she’ll become too fat to be a beauty queen, citing the Miss America contestants as examples of what a winner’s body should look like.

Much like Richard Hoover does in the film, society often tells us we are not capable of achieving our goals. Those wanting to pursue music aren’t talented enough, or those wanting to go to space aren’t smart enough.

But, how exactly is talent determined? Most of these people have no background or knowledge of the industries they’re discussing, only regurgitating concepts the world has pushed onto them. They cannot confidently determine someone’s worth in an area they have no experience in.

The film ends with Olive Hoover and her family raiding the beauty pageant stage, dancing and subsequently being kicked out. Although Olive Hoover didn’t take home the top prize at the competition, she was happy doing something she loves, surrounded by the people she cares about.

Much like Olive Hoover, many of us may not live up to society’s expectations of success while pursuing our dreams, but that isn’t a negative. Even if you’re not a Grammy-winning artist or a Nobel Prize-awarded astronaut, these fabricated accolades do not reflect your value or success in pursuing a dream. If whatever you’re doing makes you happy and fulfilled, congratulations, you’re successful!

So, once again, think back to your childhood dream and why you aren’t currently pursuing it. If this aspiration still remains, do yourself a favor and honor it.

WThe Lost Innocence of Childhood

THE NORMALIZATION AND OVERCONSUMPTION OF BEAUTY STANDARDS FOR CHILDREN

Written

by Kate Reuscher, Staff Writer | Photography by Izzy Kiekhofer, Creative Team and Paige Valley, Creative Team | Shoot Direction and Styling by Daniel Hwang, Creative Team | Modeled by Malia Coli Dyson

hen I was five years old, I was riding my tiny, plastic kids’ bike on the sidewalk of my street. Think it to be fate or simply a coincidence that many kids lived in my neighborhood, another girl was riding her nearly identical bike on the same crumbling sidewalk. We almost passed each other without a glance, but the sidewalk was thin and cracked, and our spirits were too hopeful not to say hello. An innocent greeting turned into an impromptu playdate and concerned parents searching for their kids that spontaneously forgot to come home for dinner (something that starts at age five and never ends).

Over the next five summers, our playdates became centralized around our current fixations and wildest imaginations. We were positively certain that fairies lived somewhere in our neighborhood; they were merely too shy to come out. We overturned logs and examined nooks around our yards, finding evidence and secret passageways that confirmed our theory. We became businesswomen at the age of 5, running a company and switching between the roles of boss and assistant, making sure to stick Post-It notes on everything because the colorful squares seemed so professional. To think we enjoyed a taste of corporate America is bittersweet now.

My days of swingsets and hide-and-seek are over, and losing these simple joys is just one of the harsh realities of my developing frontal lobe that I’ve faced. No more running to the ice cream truck, no more tiny Leprechaun footprints leading to my dollhouse on St. Patrick’s Day and tragically, no more calling my friends on their landlines.

But it’s become clear to me that today’s rising generation of children would gladly trade the memories I hold dearly for a Stanley Cup or a new iPhone. Kids likely find out the truth about Santa on TikTok, rather than their know-itall desk neighbor in their third-grade class. Sticky fingers

are a result of Drunk Elephant bronzing drops instead of a Spongebob popsicle enjoyed poolside.

This seemingly inevitable phenomenon has begun with Gen Alpha, the successors of our own generation, as they are the first generation that hasn’t experienced youth without a constant presence of technology. Rising terms like “iPad kids” and “Sephora kids” describe a certain audience of Gen Alpha that is glued to their screens and their parents’ wallets, resulting in kids knowing how to set a video to 2x speed before they can divide.1

TikTok has grown its user base by 435 million in just the past four years, thereby becoming the fastest growing social media app.2 And it’s not hard to see why, with its highly accurate algorithm being a recipe for an addictive pastime (something I understand all too well). Coupled with the fact that nearly 80% of children have access to some kind of tablet, it’s naive to believe the rising generation isn’t also exposed to endless media at their fingertips.3

It’s a never-ending slew of new information, products and trends that kids can’t keep up with, impairing their reading abilities and producing behavioral problems.4 10-year-olds are watching 23-year-old women get ready for their day with luxury products and matching Aritzia sweat sets and scrolling through an endless slew of sponsored hauls.5 If you combine a child with endless desires to alter their appearance and parents with endless ways to indulge such wishes, the result is shelves of high-end skincare products in the hands of girls who don’t need to use retinol.

1 Eloise Hendy, “iPad Kids are Getting Out of Hand,” Vice, Nov. 21, 2023.

2 Oberlo, “How Many People Use TikTok?” 2020-2025.

3 Ibid.

4 Muppalla, Sudheer Kumar “Effects of Excessive Screen Time on Child Development: An Updated Review and Strategies for Management,” June 18, 2023.

5 Katie Camero, “Young girls are flooding Sephora in what some call an “epidemic,’” Jan. 19, 2024.

The surge of tweens overhauling Sephora has sparked attention everywhere, including the company site itself, where adult customers have asked for certain age bans and signs informing children of store rules after detailing their experiences of watching them treat Sephora as their playground, destroying test products as they go.6

I often find myself overwhelmed with the urge to revamp my entire lifestyle when an all-too-well-curated influencer appears on my feed. These same worries fester in the minds of girls who haven’t yet experienced puberty, which is a terrifying precursor to the gloomy aspects of girlhood often endured later, like the constant comparison to unrealistic body expectations. These exposures to self comparison are at an all-time high, and as a result, so is the pressure to grow up at an exponential rate.

It’s a given that every girl I know looks back at pictures from middle school, with her strange haircut and turquoise braces and thinks, “Wow, that was certainly a look!” It’s a strange mix of embarrassment and satisfaction every girl should feel as she sheds old versions of herself, and now I notice middle schoolers wearing a version of what I might wear to my college classes today.

So what can we do? Well, overconsumption hasn’t gone completely unnoticed. The hashtag #Deinfluencing has over a billion views on TikTok, with users making videos of things you don’t actually need more than anything.7 They point out the incessant ads and sponsorships on social media and en-

6 leahbeaa, “comment on,” “Age Defiers,” Sephora (blog), Feb. 2 2024.

7 Boutayna Chokrane, “What is Deinfluencing? Unpacking TikTok’s Unlikeliest Shopping Trend,” Dec. 21, 2023.

courage people not to be influenced. These videos may be outnumbered by an overflow of hauls, but it’s a step toward finding contentment with the items you already own.

After all, Gen Z isn’t entirely exempt from this issue. While most of us aren’t mothers swiping our credit cards for our children, we are the ones who carry a lot of pressure to fit in and find our hyper-fixated aesthetic, therefore subject to trends that blow up and fade out within a two-month cycle. We may not have grown up with an iPad shoved in our hands, but we know what it’s like to scroll for hours before finally turning in an assignment at 11:59 p.m. When our frontal lobes fully develop, and we may choose to become mothers, will we be just as quick to distract our crying kids with a phone? What will we collectively decide is a “good age” for them to download TikTok or wear their first piece from Lululemon?

By healing our own inner child and reconnecting with the days of ice cream trucks and inflatable pools before we let our kids connect with shopping sprees, we can deinfluence them from wanting to escape the childhood we loved so dearly. If you don’t need that sweater or blush, neither does your 10-year-old daughter. Adulthood is always patiently waiting for girls, but the days of knocking on your neighbor’s door for a playdate won’t always be there. It’s likely I wouldn’t have met my childhood friend on that cracked sidewalk if I’d been looking down at a phone instead.

Cheers to Childhood

TRANSFORMING CLASSIC CHILDHOOD GAMES INTO DRINKING GAMES

Written by Eliot Hughes, Staff Writer

Graphic by Bella Muller, Creative Team

As we grow up, the board and card games that once dominated our free time can slowly lose their charm, ultimately getting shoved to the back of the cupboard, never to be touched again. But, fear not, former Candyland champion or Uno dominator! These once beloved childhood games can still find a place in your life as you get older—just with an adult spin; they can be transformed into drinking games. The whole family can still enjoy them, and they can even find a new home in your pregame routine with friends.

I’ll give you a headstart on revitalizing childhood games with my new and improved UNO! Don’t worry, this game will still put family and friend relationships to the test. I created these rules for UNO by identifying elements of the game that might not occur every round, but are still frequent enough that people would regularly be reaching for their poison of choice. I also refrained from creating too many rules that would be hard to remember as the game (and drinking) progressed. While I chose UNO, other great board or card games can also be transformed as well, such as Candyland and War (among many others).

In addition to the standard UNO rules, here are the rules I came up with for my new and improved UNO:

Rules1

1. First person to run out of cards completely hands out three sips.

2. Every time there is a color change, the whole group must take a sip. (and shout color change, a rule we added because it is fun to yell!)

3. When a player lays a card with the same color and number,

1 Fun variations that can be added to this game are changing some of the penalties to include answering questions from truth or dare to make it even more interesting and personal

laid in a stack, the person who cannot add onto the stack must take a sip correspond ing with the number of plus cards laid.

5. If you cannot play, you must take a sip. (if you are feel ing adventurous you can change this to a sip for every card pulled)

I put this game to the test while on vacation with my family and a smat tering of family friends. Those who were brave enough to take part were my old friend, her father and myself. It was a smaller group than I initially en visioned, but we had a great time, and the spectators around us got involved in the laughs and loved watching us play as well. These rules definitely streamlined the drinking process and made the game super fun. While play ing, we added the color change rule and edited the drinking for every plus card stacked rule to incorporate the plus four card as well. This could ab solutely be even more fun with a larger group of people as well. I will say this game was also just really fun to create and try out with my loved ones, family and friends that I don’t always get to see. Creating games like this one can also make your average pregame or nights in a little more interesting.

Transforming childhood games into drinking games is a great way to con tinue making memories with your fam ily and friends. Plus, it lets you tap into being a kid again. I will certainly do this again, and I think you should give it a try too!

Cravin’ Sugar

Photography by Emma Spaciel, Head of Photography |

Shoot Direction by Emily Han,

Shoot Production Coordinator | Videography by Elise Wilson,

Creative Director | Modeled by

Special thank you to IT’SUGAR

Beck Keller and Ci Havlik

Rediscovering Curiosity

HOW TO REGAIN THAT CHILDLIKE SENSE OF WONDER AND CURIOSITY

Written by Kayla Hendrikse, Staff Writer

Photography by Lily Munoz, Creative Team

Shoot Direction and Styling by Neha Gupta, Creative Team

Modeled by Thomas Niepsuj

In our eagerness to maintain order and efficiency, we sometimes inadvertently discourage exploration and learning instead of fostering a culture of curiosity. By fault, we impose limits on curiosity, instructing children to put their heads down and refrain from asking too many questions. Consequently, this shapes the trajectory of a child’s intellectual growth and can hinder creativity as an adult.

Many of us may find ourselves in a rut, having lost inspiration for what we love, yet there are many ways to embrace curiosity as an adult and revive the creative light within us.

Find enrichment in variety

Near the end of my freshman year, I struggled to keep an open mind. I found myself becoming irritated when people didn’t take things as seriously as I did or when the people around me didn’t view things in the same way as myself. I was venting about these frustrations to my dear friend Elise Wilson, who is now the creative director for Moda Magazine, and she spontaneously told me a simple quote that I now carry with me every day.

“The zest of life comes from variety.” Immediately following this revelation, I said, “I need to have that in writing.” She further explained that if everyone thought the same way as me and only found joy in the same things that I liked, the world would be dull, and that she cherished the fact that my perspectives and I were unique.

Up until this conversation, I had yet to appreciate the beauty of variety, and I began to realize that what I love the most about my friends is how they are different from me. I had always heard that you are a mosaic of all the people that surround you, but I have now begun to appreciate the beauty of my own mosaic.

“The zest of life comes from variety.”

For example, I listen to country music because my older brother would always play it when he drove me to school in the mornings, and I thought everything he did was so cool. I found out that I love broccoli simply because my roommate once decided to get a bowl of broccoli from the dining hall and told me to “just try it because maybe you’ll like it.” These moments are proof that I am who I am today because of the people around me.

I am so grateful that I am surrounded by individuals who both support me, challenge me and push me to new limits.

To this day, I still have Elise’s sticky note, and I am reminded that not everyone perceives the world through the same lens, and therein lies the richness of the human experience.

Be a lifelong learner

Just recently, my mom decided to advance her career by taking a Security Industry Essentials exam. Obviously, I was so excited for her to step out of her comfort zone, but I recognized that the exam would be a big task for her to handle, as she hadn’t needed to study academically for several decades since she had graduated from college.

After studying for over two months, she took the first exam out of three total and passed with flying colors. Shortly after, in the euphoria of passing her exam, she sent me a text that read “You’re never too old to learn new things.”

Inspired by my mother’s resilience, I, too, resolved to step outside my comfort zone and embrace new challenges. After being a proud “Woman in STEM” for my entire life, I experimented with writing for Moda and taking digital media design classes, allowing me to discover the untapped reservoirs of creativity that lay dormant within me.

Remember that life is not linear

Embracing curiosity and expanding our knowledge and skill set is critical for personal and professional growth. Take advantage of new opportunities to learn, whether through formal education, online courses or self-directed learning. Furthermore, when something piques your interest, feel empowered to follow it, regardless of your age.

Burnout can become a real threat when we strictly conform to a single path and neglect to diversify our interests and passions. Recognizing the signs of burnout is crucial, and by identifying such triggers, we can prioritize self-care and other avenues to revive us from burnout.

For starters, it’s important to establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. We can find work life balance by designating specific times for work and relaxation and honoring those time frames as much as possible.

Personally, I have found that incorporating self-care activities into my daily routine can be a helpful way to establish a work life balance. First, I make a point to go to the gym right after waking up because the immediate movement sets me up for a productive day. Second, I prioritize spending time with those I love, whether calling my parents or simply chatting with my roommates. Third, I know when to prioritize myself. In the past, I have spread myself pretty thin and sometimes, committed to more than I can handle. By preserving time and energy for myself and my own interests, I can maintain a space to try out new hobbies and develop new passions.

Lastly, I remind myself that life is not linear. Others’ achievements don’t diminish my progress or mean that I am falling behind. We all have a purpose in life, and we each will get there on our own schedules. No two people will have exactly the same path through life, share the same interests or even hold the same opinions. By embracing our differences as a chance to learn and grow from each other, we can cultivate an environment that emphasizes the value of diversity and celebrates curiosity at every stage of life.

Unlocking Your Imagination

10 WAYS TO COMBAT WRITER’S BLOCK

Written by Elise Daczko, Staff Writer

Graphic by Ari Tweedy, Creative Team

Every writer inevitably experiences a lull in creativity, reaching a point where their inspiration has simply run out. Writer’s block describes the phenomenon in which a writer is uninspired and unable to write.1 This inability to write often stems from a desire for perfection, fear of judgment or burn-out. At its core, writer’s block is an obstacle to creativity that must be countered with imagination to ignite a new spark. Combating writer’s block is an individualized process personal to each writer, but here are some tips for beginning the process of re-unlocking your imagination:

Brain-dump your ideas

Start the writing process by jotting down any current thoughts or ideas. Brain-dumping can help reduce the overwhelming nature of writing a fleshed-out piece. It can also bring underlying ideas to the forefront of the mind, allowing writers to discover them.

Take time to read

When struggling to write, it is advisable to read the work of others. Reading poetry or fiction might be especially helpful in expanding your creativity by temporarily stepping into the world of another author.

Change your environment

Dwelling in the same space and waiting for inspiration to magically arrive wastes time and energy. Orienting yourself within a new space and changing the scenery can help you refresh your mind and gather new ideas.

Take a walk in nature

In any kind of crisis, we often turn to nature to take in the fresh air. Listening to the songs of birds and seeing intricate ecosystems nestled within the natural landscape is a calming ex-

1 Sabine LeBel, “Writer’s Block,” University of Toronto College Writing Centre.

perience that allows you to take a deep breath, center yourself within your environment and clear your mind to make room for new ideas.

Visit an art gallery

When you are stuck in a space of unproductivity, it is beneficial to draw inspiration from anything and everything around you. If you have access to an art museum or gallery, this can be an excellent place to start. Ask yourself how the paintings and sculptures around you make you feel. What stories are they trying to convey?

Listen to music

Music also serves as a notable source of inspiration. Writers often draw inspiration from song lyrics, and you can also use music to place yourself in the setting or context of the subject you are writing about. Music unlocks all kinds of doors to imagination.

Accept imperfection

As a perfectionist myself, I can admit firsthand that it is challenging to accept that not everything can be perfect. However, the sooner you accept this fact, the sooner you can free yourself from the confinements of perfectionism, turn off your inner editor and write.

Invest time in other creative hobbies

Since writing is an inherently creative process, investing your time in other creative hobbies such as painting, pottery or dance can lead to significant breakthroughs for writer’s block. Expressing your thoughts through other mediums can stimulate creativity and inspire you to apply it to writing.

Practice quick writing exercises

The best advice for overcoming writer’s block is to write. While this may seem frustrating, starting with short writing exercises, such as free-writing for 15 minutes about a word, quote or image can help ideas begin to flow.

Look with a new perspective

After being away from a place for an extended period, you often return with a new set of eyes, as if you’re seeing it for the first time again. If we extend this idea to writing, the same is true; step away from your writing when you are stuck and give yourself the time and space to clean the slate. When you are ready, return to your piece with a new perspective that just might take you to new places you never could have imagined.

Writer’s block is a pervasive challenge for many writers, but there are always creative methods for re-unlocking one’s imagination. After employing the suggestions above and eventually breaking through writer’s block, the feeling that a writer experiences can be quite powerful. Personally, overcoming a lack of inspiration and rediscovering my authentic voice always fills me with a sense of confidence and gives me a powerful feeling of autonomy over my own story. Ultimately, a strong sense of imagination is fundamental to the writing process. Through the application of the tips above, I hope all writers can find a way to tap into their unique imaginations and continue to tell their stories.

Fashion Funhouse

HOW TO PLAY DRESS UP AGAIN

Written by Natasha Bernovich, Fashion Editor

Photography by Lily Munoz, Creative Team

Shoot Direction by Lily Munoz, Creative Team, Gracy Singh, Creative Team and Isabelle Young, Creative Team

Modeled by Kaidence Farmer and Brandon Rivera

Special thank you to Good Style Shop

As a kid, I spent hours elbow-deep in my family’s bin of dress-up clothes, trying on various dresses, shirts, accessories and skirts. Each new look transformed me into a different character. Playing dress-up is not only fun, it’s also beneficial for development. It’s a way to exercise creativity and imagination, which boosts problem-solving and self-regulation skills.1

As we age, we typically have stricter social situations. Societal norms bear more weight on our fashion choices, so our creativity can get stifled. We may find ourselves wearing the same few outfits or essentially having a daily

1 “Playing Dress-Up: Benefits, How to Start, And Tips,” Healthline, 2020.

uniform. Using your imagination and exercising creativity is so important, but we have fewer opportunities to do this as we get older. Fashion is a fun and easy way to be creative on a daily basis. Occasionally, we should take a lesson from our younger selves and explore fashion without its rules and expectations.

To get back in touch with your inner child’s fashion sense, you’ll first need inspiration. Of course, perusing magazines or social media are great options. But referring to movies and television can also be fun. Try rewatching old favorites to see what the characters you loved were wearing. Channeling certain characters and stepping into new

roles is a huge part of the appeal of playing dress-up.

The easiest way to get out of a fashion-rut is to keep your closet fresh. But this doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, it doesn’t have to cost anything. Try involving your friends by hosting a clothing swap. Everyone can bring a few items they don’t wear much anymore and trade with each other. This gives you something new and exciting without taking up any additional closet pace. Best of all, it’s free.

If you have some money to spend and want to go out shopping, try going to a cool vintage store. It’s better for the environment, less expensive than buying new and you can find one-ofa-kind pieces. Being in the store and able to physically try on the items also encourages you to be bolder. It’s fun to play around with unique outfits, adding something to your closet that no one else has.

If you’re looking to save both money and closet space, or you just want to be more creative with the pieces you have, make going through your closet an event. Invite over some friends or throw on some music to set the atmosphere. Have your friends style outfits for you. Seeing how others wear and style your clothes can make you more adventurous and inspire you to try new combinations.

Despite the pressure we feel to dress a certain way and the style stagnation we might fall into, it’s important to remember that fashion is meant to be fun and experimental. No matter your age, you’re never too old to play dress-up.

One of my sister’s and my favorite activities to do together is watch movies in our basement at home. More often than not, when we’ve spent a long time apart, our go-to movies are those that remind us of our childhood, which is usually a Studio Ghibli movie.

The whimsical nature and animation style of these films brings me a comfort that calms the stress of my everyday life and reminds me of a time with my sister before we even entered elementary school.

While many of my favorite Studio Ghibli films, like “My Neighbor Totoro” or “Spirited Away,” are targeted at a younger audience, this doesn’t discredit the impact they have on viewers or the stories that they are able to tell.

Although animation has been a form of storytelling and art since the early 1900s, it is frequently discredited as a lesser form of cinema and as kids-only entertainment.1 Many people believe that animated content doesn’t have the depth that adult audiences can enjoy. However, in reality, the medium is being used to tackle complex themes and to explore more mature subjects.

One of the main reasons that animation has been able to open up the doors of storytelling is that the medium is not constrained by the limitations of live storytelling. Animation, for a long part of its history, was the only way to tell fantastical and out of this world stories. Early Disney movies aimed to tell fairytale stories with characters such as talking animals, something that never would have been possible without this medium.2

Animation also provides a wide realm of stylistic choices that artists can make. Different illustration or modes of animation, while still part of the same medium, can produce widely different

1 Eric Johnson, “Animation is Art: The Universal Appeal of a Powerful Medium,” The Film Fund Blog, April 6, 2023.

2 lbid.

The Art of Animation

AN OFTEN DISCREDITED MEDIUM WITH SO MUCH POTENTIAL

Written by Sophie Corsaro, Staff Writer

Graphic by Elise Daczko, Staff Writer

types of media. Stop-motion movies such as “Coraline” or “Fantastic Mr. Fox” hold their own visual aesthetic compared to 2-D films like “The Iron Giant” and 3-D animated films such as “Frozen” or “Megamind.” Animated films provide flexibility of visual design and allow the creativity of animators to stand out.

The flexibility of animated films also aids the idea that animation is a medium to be enjoyed by viewers of all ages. While animation is predominantly a film medium used to make kids movies, it is inaccurate to label and limit the audiences of these films.

In recent years, movies aimed for children have tackled incredibly complex themes that older audiences can take away from. For example, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” is a film about the titular feline character on his ninth and final life. Throughout the film, he has to come to terms with his own mortality.3 Puss doesn’t end up beating his foe, a wolf that represents death, but he instead comes to terms with the fact that although death is inevitable, it should not prevent him from living his life.4

A film’s enjoyableness or greatness doesn’t only depend on the deeper message it is trying to convey – the comfort and joy films evoke can be just as important. Many animated films have not only deep messages that audience members may not grasp on the first watch, but also have simply entertaining elements for all ages.

Animated movies and TV shows made for adults are also extremely popular, and for good reason. While many discredit these shows due to their absurdity and sometimes raunchy nature – think Netflix’s “Big Mouth” –these forms of entertainment are also very important.

3 Chris Lambert, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish | The Definitive Explanation,” Film Colossus, 2022. 4 lbid.

Animated comedies such as “South Park,” “Rick and Morty” and “Bojack Horseman” are clearly for adults in terms of content, and their animated styles allow for creativity in the visuals of characters and the comedy they can exhibit.

Shows like “Bojack Horseman” even showcase adult topics such as addiction and depression in a dream-like world where anthropomorphic animals and humans live together.5 The use of a generally lighthearted medium to show intense topics can be surprising but is also one of the reasons these shows are unique and effective at depicting these topics.

The versatility of animation also should get movie-viewers excited for what’s to come. The films “Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse” and “Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse” are two brilliant examples of the use of combining different animation styles to create a unique visual paradise. This movie contains Spider Men from different universes, and different animation styles are used to showcase the unique portrayals of the same character around the world. This use of the medium shows how different styles of animation can aid in the characterization and recognizability of these characters, while also providing viewers with visual interest throughout.

In all, animation cannot be boiled down to a single genre, demographic or style. The medium is highly versatile and can be used to share almost any type of story or message. Disregarding animation as just-for-kids can, and will, prevent viewers from so many stories and beautifully made pieces of entertainment. Next time you decide to have a movie night or pick out a show to binge, try something animated and see for yourself how incredible the medium can be.

5 Kyle Gehler, “BoJack Horseman: Why The Show’s World Really Has Talking Animals,” Screen Rant, Aug. 3, 2020.

Love, Mel

LESSONS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT LOVE AND LIFE FROM MY MOTHER

Written by Laine Bottemiller, Culture Editor

“You actually tell your mom that?”

Regardless of what “that” is, the answer is prob ably yes. Going a little too hard at the bar? Yep, my mom knows. Broke up with my boyfriend? She was the first person I called. Walking home from class with literally no life updates other than seeing my class crush? She tells me for the mil lionth time that I just need to go up to him and make a move. I have subsequently reminded her that it’s not the 80s, and it doesn’t work like that anymore—we just send selfies and slide into DMs!

Regardless of the subject, I’m eternally grate ful to have a close relationship with my parents, Mela nie and Neil—despite my dad objecting to my oversharing every so often, reminding me “Boundaries, Laine!” Grow ing up, I’ve learned to navi gate my misadventures through the many lessons I’ve gathered from my parents’ relationship and advice my mother has imparted. Here are some of the lessons I’ve picked up about life, love and every thing in between.

When someone shows you their true colors, believe them.

From third grade to my senior year of college, this phrase continues to ring true.

Acknowledging someone’s true colors isn’t about holding grudges or vendettas, rather it means remembering your worth and refusing to let yourself consistently be treated as less than.

Dance like nobody’s tching.

My dad recounts his first interaction with my mom vividly. He recalls sitting in his dorm room at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls and hearing someone shouting, “We’re going to PR’s for my birthday! Everyone, come to PR’s for my birthday.”

After looking out his window at my mom’s “huge head of hair”—very trendy at the time, I might add —he asked his roommate “Who is that?” And while that was the first time my dad heard the name Melanie Horn, it was certainly not the last.

To this day, I think my mom is the most fun mom out there. She is the first to chat with strangers in the grocery line or burst onto the dance floor. I’m 21, and I think I already only have a fraction of her charisma and vividness. I can only hope I’ll possess her same energy at age 52.

Take care of you.

One of my mom’s key phrases is, “There aren’t many things that a workout, an hour in the sunshine and a glass of Diet Dr. Thunder can’t fix.” In case you’re wondering, Diet Dr. Thunder is Walmart’s generic brand of Diet Dr. Pepper, sold for approximately 89¢ a liter.

While most health experts don’t approve of drinking copious amounts of mystery diet soda like my mom, the other two aspects of her mantra certainly ring true. While I used to scoff at her suggestion to go to the gym when I was feeling down, my mom’s advice has proved to be effective. Thanks to her, distance running has become one of my many emotional outlets.

“I knew he would never hurt me.”

My mom and I were probably on mile 9 of a 10-mile long run, and I asked her when she knew she should marry my dad. My mom gave two answers. First, she admitted her type at the time was smoldering bad boys, which maybe wasn’t exactly Neil Bottemiller from South St. Paul, Minnesota. Yet, she was certain my dad would never hurt her.

Second, on her wedding day, one of her bridesmaids asked her if she had any doubts about marrying my dad—which is an incredibly loaded question to ask someone before they walk down the aisle, but that aside—and my mom couldn’t think of a single thing.

Give your mother grace, it is her first time going through life too.

I’ve recently been seeing these extremely cheesy TikToks that tell me, “Send this to your mother and remind her you love her.” They seem to multiply and just keep showing up on my feed. Okay . . . so maybe they keep showing up because I keep sending them to my mom. These videos always make me tear up because they remind me I will at some point be on this Earth without my mother, and I can’t stand that thought.

My mother’s guidance and never-ending love has undoubtedly shaped me into the woman I am. These five pieces of advice are a mere fraction of the guidance I’ve received through teary-eyed, midnight phone calls and miles of long runs. I remember that every action exchanged and word said to my mother is lasting, and while our time on this Earth is finite, our relationship is certainly not.

I write this to thank my mom for being who she is, for teaching me everything I know and to remind my mom that I love her.

We have all felt the fear of blowing out the candles on our next birthday, like in Olivia Rodrigo’s song “Teenage Dream,” or the pain of facing the consequences of our own actions, like in her single “Making the Bed.”

Girls that are the same age as Rodrigo get the ultimate fan experience, singing, “I’m so sick of 17” at 17 and “You’re only 19” at 19. Olivia Rodrigo is popular through her vulnerable and relatable music, allowing girls of all ages to sing along and resonate with her lyrics.

Rodrigo began as a child actress in California, starring in TV series like “Bizaardvark” and “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.” Rodrigo struck gold when she released her debut single “Drivers License” in 2021 followed by her album “Sour” later that year. While most young Disney stars like Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez first signed with Disney’s Hollywood Records, Rodrigo admitted that she wanted to follow a different path and steer away from the specific archetype of a Disney star turned pop star.1

1 Tyler Piccott, “Olivia Rodrigo: Biography, Musician, Singer, Actor,” Biography.com, 2016. MODA |

Growing Up Takes Guts

HOW OLIVIA RODRIGO IS THE VOICE OF A GENERATION

Written and Shoot Direction by Kaitlyn Ard, Staff Writer | Photography by Elise Wilson, Creative Director | Modeled by Naomi Lewis

Special thank you to B-Side Records

Rodrigo has often discussed the importance of writing from a place of authenticity.2 She has proven this in the heartbreak of “Sour” following her breakup, and currently through her transparency in “GUTS,” as she enters her twenties and sings about the scariness of growing up.

According to Rodrigo, while “Sour” was a breakup album true to her feelings at the time, “GUTS” has been a more playful project. Rodrigo told Rolling Stone, “This album encapsulates growing up, and figuring yourself out in the world, and the awkwardness of that.”3

While it’s true that “Sour” was mostly about the pain of ending a relationship, there were also songs about the teenage experience. Personally, one of my favorite songs from Sour was the song “Brutal.” Being a 17-year-old girl myself at the time, it felt cathartic to scream, “I’m so sick of 17” alongside Rodrigo. Encapsulating teenage angst and straight-up feminine rage that women of all ages could sing along and relate to, I identified with Rodrigo’s lyrics in “Brutal.”

Rodrigo is famous for her relatable lyrics in “Jealousy, Jealousy,” singing “Co-comparison is killing me slowly / I think, I think too much,” describing the pains of insecurity and self-doubt when comparing oneself to others. She also sings about this same topic on her newest album in songs like “Pretty isn’t Pretty,” which include lyrics detailing the struggles of insecurity and trying to keep up with impossible beauty standards: “There’s always something in the mirror that I think looks wrong.” In “lacy,” another song from “GUTS,” Rodrigo sings about the resent-

2 Ibid.

3 Ibid.

ment she starts to feel toward a girl that she is constantly comparing herself to: “Lacy, oh, Lacy, I just loathe you lately…Yeah, I despise my rotten mind and how much it worships you.”

In the closing track of Rodrigo’s sophomore album “GUTS,” however, she sings a more reserved and somber version of her music, rather than her typical loud and angry style.4 Rodrigo wrote “Teenage Dream” before her 19th birthday, and the feelings of the nerves of growing up are clear through her lyrics, “Got your whole life ahead of you, you’re only 19 / But I fear that they already got all the best parts of me.”

In “Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl,” Rodrigo explores her feelings of isolation as a result of leaving public school at an early age. While the song may be about a more niche experience, there are still aspects of it that remain universal.

The lyrics, “Each time I step outside / It’s social suicide,” ring true with many listeners who have experienced the uncomfortable feeling of social awkwardness and the thought that perhaps we would’ve been better off never even leaving the house.

The extended version of the “GUTS” album was released recently, which includes Rodrigo’s very first love song, “so american,” which she has admitted is one of her favorite songs on the album. It is made clear that the song is about Rodrigo’s current non-American boyfriend, Louis Partridge, in her lyrics “And he laughs at all my jokes / And he says I’m so American.” For me, this song has been on repeat and holds a special place in my heart because I can relate it to my current relationship with my boyfriend.

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the “GUTS” tour in Milwaukee with my high school best friend. Listening to Rodrigo sing about her coming-of-age, I was transported back to mine, singing Rodrigo’s lyrics while getting ready for junior prom. Screaming the lyrics, “I can’t even parallel park,” at the concert next to my friend, Paige, reminded us of the time we had spent in driver’s ed class together. Rodrigo has been the soundtrack to my coming of age, contributing relatable, comforting and memory-making music to my adolescent life, and I look forward to her words guiding and reaffirming my experiences as I begin navigating my 20s alongside listeners all around the world.

4 Alex Hopper, “It’s Brutal out Here! Top Songs from Olivia Rodrigo That Capture Teenage Angst,” American Songwriter, 2023.

The Wonder Years

EMBRACING LIFE WITH YOUTHFUL ENTHUSIASM

You’ve probably heard it countless times, “Your 20s will be the best years of your life,” but what if I said that was wrong? As a college student in her 20s, I can say my introduction to the 20s Club has left me wanting nothing more than to return to the feeling of being a kid again – where my only responsibilities were to be curious, have fun and soak up the world as much as I could. Sure, you could say that’s what your 20s are as well, but as you get older, the world expects so much more of you, and you can begin to lose the wonder that sparkled in your young eyes. What if I said there are a few ways we can leave our serious, mundane adult lives behind and begin to revive the whimsical, wonder years we experienced as children?

Play!

With endless hours of work, I bet we’re all missing the 30-minute recesses from elementary and middle school. It was a time to socialize and distract ourselves from whatever we were doing in the classroom. Guess what, we can still do this! Step away from your desk, close your books, power down your monitors and run around! You heard me, get your body moving – there is nothing more invigorating than adrenaline rushing through your body. Even though you are an adult now, you do not need to be all work and no play –like everything else in life, you just have to find a balance that works for you.

Recharge!

We didn’t cherish naptime enough when we had it carved into our schedules as kindergarteners. Sometimes during an exhausting day, we need a little recharge before we continue to check things off our to-do lists! Get cozy, quiet your mind and take a long blink for 20 minutes in the afternoon! A nap can do wonders in motivating you to push through the second half of your day.

Mingle!

Be that kid (well now that adult) that runs around to everyone they don’t know just to say hi and introduce themselves. You never know who you might meet. Networking doesn’t have to be as stuffy as the professional world makes it sound. Spark up a conversation with someone on the bus, at a restaurant or any other place you can think of. You just might meet your next best friend or favorite co-worker.

Explore!

Explore your surroundings. Kids are always eager to uncover the wonders of the world with wide-eyed curiosity, and you can be too. Try to see the world with new, young eyes and find the beauty in the mundane again. Put your phone down and just wander around the city – take in the gorgeous spring flowers, the sun shining on your face and the breeze kissing your cheeks. Try the dessert place you’ve been eying for

months but have been too busy to swing by. Then before your night ends, stop for a second to appreciate the sunset. Admire the vibrant, yet calming colors of nature around you.

Tumble!

Fall then get up again and fall again. No one in this world is more resilient than a child. As an adult, it can feel as though you’re not allowed to make mistakes anymore, but that’s a flat-out lie. When you stop making mistakes, you stop living life to the fullest. So switch your major if you’re not happy with your current one, reassess your vision board or take the risk you’ve been debating. What’s the worst that can happen? You fail? Well, the beauty of being young in this world is you get the opportunity to try, try, try again until you find the path that works for you. No one that matters will judge you if you don’t get everything right on the first try.

Something I am still learning is to not take life so seriously all the time. It’s okay to not have everything figured out. It’s okay to need a little break to let loose, take a nap and make new friends. If you don’t do that, you’ll find adult life can be quite stressful and boring, and you’ll miss all the wonder left to discover in the world. Just because we’re growing up does not mean we can’t still feel the freedom and excitement we did as kids, so try your best to keep your wonder years alive.

“What Was I Made For?”

HOW BILLIE EILISH’S AWARD-WINNING SONG ENCAPSULATES THE COMPLICATED FEELINGS OF GROWING UP

Written by Alexa Vogel, Staff

Writer | Photography by Angelene Grieves, Creative Team and Teagan Strecker, Creative Team | Photography Shadowed by Archi Rawat, Creative Team | Shoot Direction and Styling by Gracy Singh, Creative Team | Modeled by Vivian Dufek

In the whirlwind of adulthood, there often comes a moment of reflection where we ask ourselves, “What was I made for?” and for me and many others, Billie Eilish’s soul-stirring song from the Barbie movie soundtrack was exactly that moment.

Amidst a summer of uncertainty, major life changes and the start of my voyage into adulthood, this song couldn’t have reached me at a more perfect time. It struck a nerve in not just me, but millions of others around the world, igniting trends of nostalgic girlhood and a longing for childlike innocence.

The song is a sonic masterpiece that encapsulates the crushing shift of womanhood. Its melancholy yet hopeful composition represents the feeling that every woman goes through as societal expectations and stereotypes put a halt to childhood ideals and aspirations.

The song’s perfection was affirmed when it was awarded “Song of the Year” at the 2024 Grammy Awards, which was the first song from a movie to win since Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.” As if the Grammy wasn’t enough, the song also won the award for “Best Original Song” at the Oscars, making Billie Eilish the youngest person in history to win two Oscars.1

1 Yi-Jin Yu, “Billie Eilish becomes youngest person to win 2 Oscars,” ABC News, March 11, 2024.

More than only encapsulating feelings, this song also acted as my saving grace, as it reconstructed the way I saw my life. I had just completed my first year of college when this song first reached my ears and was experiencing deep feelings of uncertainty.

I had never felt so confused, purposeless or disconnected from myself, a feeling that I am sure is not foreign to most people at this stage of life. Having moved six times throughout my childhood, I was certain that the transition to college would be my easiest. Hit with a rude awakening, my transition to college was in fact the hardest.

Transitioning to college not only meant mourning the friends I left behind and surroundings that I knew, but also the sweet innocence of my childhood. I was abandoning the youth that I spent so many years in high school trying to rid myself of as I attempted to dress older, act older and earn respect from my older peers. I could not wait to grow up, and yet the transition to growing up all of a sudden felt incredibly jarring. I felt like I was failing.

I found refuge in this period of confusion in the first ten seconds of Billie Eillish’s song. Tears welled in my eyes upon the first lyric, “I used to float, now I just fall down / I used to know, but I’m not sure now.” It was a feeling of deep resonation and emotional validation that I have never experienced so rapidly in my life. Every emotion I was feeling could be perfectly explained by this very sentence.

The feeling of floating that she refers to is what it feels like to be a child, especially a young girl. When I was young, I felt on top of the world, like anything was possible and that absolutely nothing could weigh me down. I had longed for this feeling of mental freedom for years.

Each step I took towards adulthood came with new standards of perfection and expectations of womanhood that weighed me to the ground, so far from the little girl inside me. The nostalgic feeling of disconnection from your more optimistic and younger self portrayed in Eilish’s song is what resonated with me.

The song continues with bone-chilling lines of, “When did it end? All the enjoyment” and “Think I forgot how to be happy.” Eilish’s poetic simplicity further affirmed my connections to her song.

“What Was I Made For?” embodies the basic idea of losing sight of the little things that bring joy to life and the idea of waking up one day as a grown woman, realizing I was too busy to be happy. Eilish’s lyrics brought me soul-searching and reigniting passions from my youth.

I began my second year of college with a newfound appreciation for life. I joined an intramural soccer team and revisited the sport I played my whole life. I started baking cakes, playing card games and prioritizing time outside.

Minute shifts in the day-to-day are what can change an entire mindset. I have found that what feeds my energy are activities that make my inner child happy.

It is with this subtle shift that I embrace the term, “baby adult.” I just turned 20 and am entering a new territory of adulthood that is comparable to being an infant. I am starting a new journey, slow and steady, learning the ins, outs, highs and lows of what it means to be a woman. I embrace this journey while trying to remember how to be happy, hoping that this time I do not lose sight of the innocence that I once took for granted.

The song wraps up in a positive notion. Eilish answers her question of what she was made for with a glimmer of hope, “Something I’m not but something I can be / Something I wait for / Something I’m made for.” Assuring that, there is light at the end of the tunnel and, while we may not know what that is, it is waiting for everyone.

I’m a Child of Divorce

AND IT CHANGED MY LIFE FOR THE BETTER

Written by Alexandra Malatesta, Staff Writer

Graphic by Elise Wilson, Creative Director

The notion of divorce can be daunting for those who haven’t encountered it firsthand or witnessed its repercussions. However, as an only child who encountered divorce between my parents, I found it to be a less distressing experience than one might initially assume. Who knew one decision my parents made would truly change the trajectory of my entire life?

Born and raised in San Jose, California, I grew up in a multi-generational house. It was just me, my mom and my grandparents; I loved it. I didn’t notice my life was “unique” or out of the ordinary. I just assumed everyone lived with their grandparents. It wasn’t until Girl Scout father-daughter dances, dance recitals, soccer games and parent-teacher conferences came around that I realized my normal might be a little different than everyone else’s.

My parents, Andrea and Tim, got divorced in 2006; a year I can’t even remember, which speaks volumes. I believe the timing of their separation greatly contributed to my ability to adapt to our family’s new dynamic.

Shortly after their divorce, my father moved to Washington D.C. and traveled the world as a Secret Service officer for former President Bush and former President Obama. I would get a new postcard and snow globe in the mail every week when I was a child, a constant reminder that I was on his mind, even half a world away. Every visit was so special, and his love and care for me never went unnoticed.

Having my father be so far away led to consistent phone calls between the two of us, and these calls taught me how to articulate my thoughts and words from a young age. I believe this is one of the reasons why I am such a great communicator, and why I am so passionate about storytelling to this day.

The bond between my mother and I is something truly special. My mother is one of the strongest people I know. After surviving a traumatic brain injury when I was around the age of 2, I watched my mother rebuild her life and make it exactly the way she wanted it to be, defying all odds. It’s as though we grew up alongside each other. She not only played the role of a parent but also the role of my builtin best friend.

I would spend the school year with my mom, however start ing in 2013, I would spend summers in Lake Geneva, Wiscon sin with my dad. Those summers contain cherished memo ries that I will carry with me forever. I met lifelong friends and spent my summers jumping off piers, riding bikes and running around my neighborhood. They were summers ev ery child dreams of, and I have my stepmom, Katie, to thank for that. Shortly after their marriage, they built a lake house, so we could carry on her Lake Geneva summer tradition.

Katie has been my biggest fan since day one. I moved in with my father and stepmom freshman year of high school, and she guided me through a time of life discovery. From being a shoulder to cry on after my first breakup to hours of college application help, she was the figure I needed, and I value her deeply. Katie has not only blessed me with her guidance, but she blessed me with gifts that changed my life – my two younger brothers Liam (10) and Logan (8).

To say my brothers have changed my life is an understatement. Every birthday when I was a child, I wished to have siblings, and although I feel I wished a little too hard, these boys have fully changed the way I see life. I have never laughed as hard as they make me laugh, and they have given me a newfound sense of motivation to set a good example. I’ve never had so much love for two individuals like I do these two, and I will protect their little souls at all costs.

As a child, I was fortunate to grow up in a multi-generational household, and when COVID-19 struck, this dynamic became a reality once more. Katie’s father, Steve, moved in with us, and his presence was invaluable in my life. He sat beside me at the dinner table each night, helping me study chapters of AP European History or reviewing an essay I needed a second opinion on. From the outset, Grandpa Steve made me feel like the glue of our family. Never

once did he make me feel out of place, which was monumental for a young child navigating the complexities of a blended family dynamic.

Each facet of our blended family has enriched my life in countless ways, shaping various aspects of my identity. If my parents had never divorced, I wouldn’t have my brothers, Liam and Logan, cherished memories of Lake Geneva summers or the guidance of Grandpa Steve. I wouldn’t share the close bond I have with my mother, nor would I fully appreciate the sacrifices my father made and the depth of his care for me over the years.

Children of divorce possess a unique resilience. While not everyone shares my journey, it’s our individual experiences that make us exceptional. Each of us walks a different path, yet we’re all united by the common thread of loss, regardless of its scale. However, for me, my loss also birthed a significant gain. It brought forth new life experiences, perspectives and outlooks that I wouldn’t trade for the world. Although I might not have the traditional example of what a “normal” family looks like, I do know how it feels to be loved by family.

Revolutionizing Fashion: The Creative Odyssey of Moschino

HOW MOSCHINO BUILT A BRAND ON OUT-OF-THE-BOX CREATIVITY AND ORIGINALITY

Written by Maggie Cleary, Staff Writer

Graphic by Isabelle Young, Creative Team

In the vibrant landscape of ever-changing fashion trends, one brand has stood out for its unapologetic creative expression and quirky designs. From its humble beginnings in Italy to its status as a global fashion house, Moschino has captivated worldwide audiences with its boundary-pushing aesthetic. With each season’s collection, Moschino’s designs challenge conventional notions of style while also embracing satire, humor and political expression.

Visionary beginnings

Franco Moschino, the founder and namesake of the fashion house, was fully enthralled in the world of Italian fashion before debuting the brand. Moschino had an impressive resume –after studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Milan, he worked for brands such as Harper’s Bazaar, Versace and Cadette as an illustrator and designer.

Riding the wave of chromatic lavishness and exaggerated silhouettes of the period, Moschino debuted in 1983. To Moschino, fashion transcended physical materials and production and was instead a tool for social commentary and rebellion. He denounced typical fashion norms by subverting from conventional beauty and embracing satirically extravagant designs. Famously, Moschino said, “If you can’t be elegant, at least be extravagant.”1

Moschino remained the creative director of the brand until his sudden death in 1994. In his short time as creative director, Moschino left a lasting impact

1 Daniel Rodgers, “5 times Jeremy Scott made cheap, chic at Moschino,” Dazed Magazine, 2023.

on the fashion world. French fashion magazine L’Officiel celebrated Moschino’s life by stating, “Franco Moschino remains a fashion radical whose wit, humor, honesty, free spirit and critical lens became his legacy.”2

Moschino’s radical rebirth

After 19 years of stagnation, American designer Jeremy Scott became the creative director of Moschino in 2013. Scott brought a repertoire of expertise and fresh ideas to the brand, springing Moschino back into pop culture relevance. His collections under Moschino, though aggressively out-of-the-box, sparked creative conversation and pushed the boundaries of normality.

Scott embodied Franco Moschino’s lively spirit with costume-like designs that balanced chic haute couture with gimmicky and humorous concepts. Collaborations with American brands like McDonald’s, Barbie and Spongebob Squarepants steered the Italian-born brand in new directions while staying true to its tradition of social commentary. “Scott’s embrace of consumer culture in the name of Moschino was bright, brash, and ingenious,” wrote Vogue writer Tim Blanks in a review of Scott’s debut collection in 2014.3

Scott’s plethora of creatively inimitable runway looks have solidified his standing as one of the most influential designers of the 21st century.

2 Gabriel Chavez, “Franco Moschino, a Fashion Radical,” L’Officiel, 2018.

3 Laia Garcia-Furtado, “Jeremy Scott Steps Down as Creative Director at Moschino After a Decade,” Vogue, 2023.

“Jeremy Scott was the life and spirit of Moschino,” said Hypebeast writer Eric Brain. “His looks are strong and encourage you to have fun. Wearing Moschino isn’t a costume, it’s a concept, harnessing the ability to have fun with fashion and not take life too seriously.”4

What’s next?

Scott announced his departure from the brand in 2023, leaving unanswered questions about the future of Moschino. Many fashion commentators question whether any future creative director will ever live up to Scott’s substantial impact on the brand and his genius fashion perspective. The appointment of the new director Adrian Appiolaza is a source of hope for Moschino, but a bittersweet ending to an era of limitless creativity and boundary-breaking designs.

“I am ready to transport the Maison into a new chapter,” Appiolaza said about his future with the brand. “With a theatrical touch, in the pure style of Moschino.”5

4 Eric Brain, “Jeremy Scott Was the Life and Spirit Behind Moschino,” Hypebeast, 2023.

5 Ibid.

Embracing Age

THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE ANTI-AGING NARRATIVE

Written by and Shoot

Direction by Eliza Mednick, Staff Writer | Photography by Rayyan Bhatti, Shoot Production Coordinator |

Modeled by Izzy Kiekhofer, Xóchitl Quiñones, Stephanie Mauricio

If you watched Greta Gerwig’s sensational film “Barbie,” you may recall a memorable scene depicting the titular character, played by Margot Robbie, encountering an elderly woman at a bus stop. After leaving dreamy, idyllic Barbie Land and entering the real world, Barbie is left to absorb the reality of womanhood and humankind. In a touching moment, she is captivated by the woman’s gray hair and wrinkles, and a single tear rolls down her face.

Struck by the magnificence of growing old, Barbie tells the woman: “You’re so beautiful.”

The woman replies,

“I know it.”1

After journeying from a dreamland free from social pressures, Barbie easily appreciates the beauty of aging. Our world, however, is not so generous. While men are often celebrated through the aging process, societal aversion to aging disproportionately pressures women to remain youthful.

Patrick Dempsey, People’s 2023 Sexiest Man Alive, is 57.2 Photos of celebrities like Ben Affleck and Pedro Pascal proudly showcase their salt-and-pepper hair and “rugged” wrinkles. When men age, they’re a “DILF,” but when women age, they’re instantly unattractive. Why are women not afforded praise for the same natural process?

1 Madison Wiser, “Barbie Movie Cutting The Old Woman Bench Scene Would’ve Killed The Movie - Why It’s So Important,” Screen Rant, July 28, 2023.

2 Julie Jordan, “Patrick Dempsey Is (Finally!) PEOPLE’s 2023 Sexiest Man Alive: ‘I’ve Always Been the Bridesmaid!’ He Jokes,” People Magazine, Nov. 8, 2023.

Media platforms subconsciously push anti-aging rhetoric through representation. “Older” actresses are often refused roles based on their age. A quick Google search will reveal some of your favorites – Jennifer Lawrence, Reese Witherspoon, Anne Hathaway – have been rejected from roles due to Hollywood’s eternal obsession with youth.3

Big-screen icon Jane Fonda says she felt pressured to have plastic surgery to get roles.4 “Men are very visual, they want young women,” Fonda says. “So, for us, it’s all about trying to stay young.”5

These sentiments infiltrate beauty and wellness trends and run rampant on platforms like TikTok. By creating and promoting content about preserving a youthful appearance, influencers and internet trends have created a sense of fear surrounding aging. In late 2023, a TikTok filter surfaced that changed users’ faces to elderly versions of themselves. Dermatologists spoke on the platform, affirming that the “old age” filter accurately predicts one’s future appearance, sending TikTokers into an anti-aging panic. The platform was overwhelmed with users terrified at the filter’s representation of their “ugly” older selves, reinforcing the narrative that aging is a negative and frightening process.6

In response to this deep-seated fear, the internet has become saturated with tips to avoid the tell-tale signs of aging, which stresses the impossible ideals

3 Keshav Srinivasan, “15 Actors Who Were Rejected for Roles Because They Were ‘Too Old,’” Screen Rant, May 14, 2018.

4 Ibid.

5 Ibid.

6 Isabelle Butera, “A New TikTok Filter Predicts Gen Z’s Future Wrinkles, and Insecurities, in a Viral Trend,” USA Today, Jan. 17, 2023.

of femininity. Avoid wrinkles, so don’t sip through a straw. Use retinol, try preventative Botox. Smile, but not often or intensely enough to get smilelines. Absolutely no sunspots, so don’t spend time in the sun and diligently apply sunscreen. Saggy skin? No way. A bit of filler here, an injection there.

The anti-aging craze also heavily pushes overconsumption. Influencer videos often feature various products that “changed their life” and gave them young, glowing and supple skin. Skincare such as sunscreen is certainly important, but the product has been reframed as an essential anti-aging tool and necessary splurge.

This movement against aging and towards overconsumption has trickled down to younger, impressionable generations. Kids are using skincare such as retinol, a highly potent skin-resurfacing chemical, at dangerously young ages.7 Dermatologist Dr. Jodi Ganz reports that “children as young as 9” are looking for consultations. “Teens who’ve barely exited puberty are obsessing over the alleged ‘preventative’ anti-aging properties of Botox,” she says. “The internet is teeming with youngsters pleading for solutions to their ‘wrinkles.’”8

Botox injections have become increasingly popular to mitigate wrinkles and tighten skin. Botox works by “block[ing] certain chemicals that cause muscles to contract.”9 This par-

7 UCLAHealth, “Kids Exploring Skincare May Be at Risk from Influencers Hyping Incorrect Products,” UCLAHealth.org, Jan. 25, 2024.

8 Holly Thomas, “Opinion: Teen Obsession with Skin Care Products Isn’t a Trend, It’s a Warning Sign,” CNN, Jan. 21, 2024.

9 “Botox Injections,” Mayo Clinic, March 10, 2023.

alyzes the facial muscles and minimizes the ability to outwardly express emotions. These injections can yield side effects on physical health and additionally render consequences in interpersonal relationships. New research shows that interacting with those who have Botox has a monumental impact on how we understand and interpret emotions.

Humans learn emotions through the facial feedback hypothesis.10 This theory suggests that “when we see an angry or happy face, we [use] the relevant muscles to recreate the expression [and] assist in identifying and experiencing the emotion.”11 When Botox prevents the formation of these expressions, this complicates the natural pathways in your brain that mirror them.

This inhibition of facial feedback not only has an impact on communication with others, but also with yourself. Simply looking in the mirror reinforces the facial feedback hypothesis. If you are unable to see yourself happy, you can lose your understanding of the feeling and inevitably experience the emotion less.

These “preventative” procedures bring the inescapable risk of a physically homogeneous society. Perhaps you’ve heard the term “iPhone face?”12 Or maybe you’re a reality TV fan – “Love Island” anyone? – and you’ve noticed that the female contestants look strikingly similar, with familiar signs of cosmetic enhancement. By promoting one uniform desirable appearance, these standards denounce diverse forms of beauty and enable Eurocentric standards.

Cosmetic procedures can be right for some people. Women are without question authorized to make decisions about their bodies. Even so, when we begin to inflate the “need” for cosmetic enhancement, there is no acknowledgment of the underlying reasons that women choose plastic surgery. That is, we fail to acknowledge the patriarchal subconscious which stresses the need to be young and beautiful.

One of the most remarkable things about life is the ability to change, per-

10 Sven Söderkvist, Kajsa Ohlén, and Ulf Dimberg, “How the Experience of Emotion Is Modulated by Facial Feedback,” Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, National Library of Medicine, 2018. 11 Ibid.

12 Kleigh Balugo, “‘Smartphone Face’: Why Do Some People Look More Modern than Others?” Dazed Digital, April 12, 2023.

ceive and experience. Have you ever thought your grandmother was less beautiful because of her wrinkles? I’ll bet not. It’s amazing to think about everything she has experienced, all proudly shown in her physical features. Are her sun spots from time spent on the beach? Are her smile lines from laughing with a favorite friend? So many breathtaking features make each person unique, and there is beauty in the ability to bear your experiences on your face.

Seriously, let women live. Sipping a smoothie straight out of a straw is yummy! Wear sunscreen to protect your skin, but don’t let wrinkles scare you away from soaking up the gorgeous sun!

If getting Botox seems right for you, totally go for it. If Botox isn’t your thing, feel empowered to embrace the natural and beautiful process of aging. Before you jump into anti-aging procedures, perhaps take a second to consider the implications. Center your de-

cision around your wants and values, rather than societal pressures.

We need an exhaustive reframing of beauty standards. We need to no longer look at aging with fear but with excitement. We need to celebrate the beauty of people as distinctive individuals, who make the world more beautiful every day.