featuring
Lilimar Issue 14
CONTENTS
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11
13
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Music Reflection Playlist 7 Rayla 9 Keshawn 11
Culture Lilimar 31 Sean Ryan Fox 35 Olivia Sanabia 39 Kirrilee Berger 41 Maya Jai Pinson 43 Kai Ture 47 Words of Wisdom: Hanna Jaff Bosdet 49
Fashion Caroline Vazzana 13 Reflection: Beauty editorial 19 Minjin 23 Words of Wisdom: Laila Elise 27
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THE 3
TEAM
Editor in Chief Carol Wright is a Junior studying Journalism and Business Entertainment at American University. She realized at the age of eleven that photography was her passion and it was photography that ultimately led her to create Nyota Magazine. Carol is also passionate about public speaking and was given the chance to give a TEDx Talk at the age of seventeen where she talked about the lessons she learned from creating Nyota. Carol loves to create and hopes that wherever life takes her in the future, photography will be at the center.
Creative Director
Niara Wright is a motivational speaker, fashion stylist, fashion designer and all around creative. She has directed and styled two fashion shows at the Cherry Hill Mall and one in Philadelphia Fashion Week and has styled fashion editorials for the Courier Post and SJ Magazine. Niara also taught entrepreneurship and served as a counselor for Independent Means at Oxford University, England. Niara is the CEO and President of TWL(The Wright Look)Personal Image Firm, owns The House of Flair Lifestyle Boutique and helped her sister, Carol create Nyota magazine. Niara has a Fashion Industry Certificate from the Teen Vogue x Parsons program and is continuing her education at Rowan at Burlington County where she is getting her associates in fashion design.
Art Director
Nicole Cox is currently a Junior, majoring in Graphic Design at American University. Starting at a young age, Nicole has always enjoyed creating art, whether it was writing stories or painting with watercolors, she always found a way to create, but she never expected the computer to be used as another medium for her creativity. Thanks to the help from her college professor, Kate Resnick, she was able to explore her interest in Graphic design and hopes to one day pursue a career in the field and become a User Interface Designer.
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FEATURES Rayla Keshawn Caroline Vazzana Minjin Laila Elise Lilimar Sean Ryan Fox Olivia Sanabia Kirrilee Berger Maya Jai Pinson Hanna Jaff Bosdet Kai Ture
CONTRIBUTORS Shelly Spencer: Makeup Artist, @slayedbyshelly Diamond Whitaker: Stylist, @crownedingold Kapri Hall: Hair Stylist, @pri_did_it Kierra Maxwell: Photographer, @k_maxphoto
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EDITOR’S LETTER 2018 is coming to a close and it feels as though so much change has occurred this year in my own life and in the world in general. Our December issue is focused on reflection and growth and more often than not if you are doing any sort of reflecting then growth will naturally come out of that. This year specifically I have tried to be introspective versus retrospective because I believe another large part of growth is looking toward the future versus being stuck in the past. During the times that I’m self-reflecting, I usually have a particular book, song or movie that I use to guide my thought processes. During the months leading up to this issue, I was thrown into the heartbreaking world Hanya Yanagihara created in her novel “A Little Life”. The novel is focused on four friends and how their friendship evolves over the years. The book impacted me in a way I wasn’t expecting and throughout every chapter, it was apparent that personal growth was the overarching theme of the novel. To keep with this theme of growth in my life I ended up attending Michelle Obama’s “Becoming” book tour. Michelle Obama touched on her childhood, life as first lady and life afterward. It was an incredibly inspirational night and it solidified that the universe wants me to focus on nothing but growth as I close out 2018. I hope that each of you reading this issue are focusing on your own goals as you get ready to step into the new year and that each of our features inspires you to go after your dreams. With Love, Carol Wright @_carol_wright
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#NYOTAmusic
Reflections Playlist Heaven // Clairo Sincerity is Scary // The 1975 TOOGOODTOBETRUE // Gallant It Is What It Is // Diggy Sue Me // Sabrina Carpenter Thank U, Next // Ariana Grande Only 4 U // Rivergazer Over The Moon // The Marías Via Veneto // Phoenix I Couldn’t Be More In Love // The 1975
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#NYOTAmusic
Rayla Interview by Carol Wright Photo by Robbie Joseph @robbiejoseph Hair/Makeup by Marina Dubrovina @mdubrovinamakeup
When did you realize you had a passion for singing? I’ve actually always loved music. I was lucky enough to grow up in a house that was surrounded by music. No one in my family has any music talent (sorry guys) but my Dad was constantly playing good music- all genres from rock and roll to country to pop. I was surrounded by music all the time. My mom says I was born singing. I used to stand on the dishwasher door and use it as my stage to perform. I remembering seeing Taylor Swift on the Ellen Show like when I was 10 and that’s when it clicked that people did this music thing all the time and that I could too! What is your songwriting process? Every situation is different! But usually, I’ll come into the studio with an idea or a melody or just a mood and start by creating a beat with my producer. Then if I’m working with someone we’ll just start bouncing ideas off each other and slowly but surely you’ve got yourself a song!! Who are some of your favorite artists that have influenced you? Taylor Swift is an all-around favorite who is so natural and a genius at writing and performing. I always relate to Taylor Swift songs, so now when I write a song, I always try to write about personal things I feel will be relatable to my listeners. Halsey is a big influence right now, she’s extremely edgy and an all-around cool person. She gets her point across and isn’t afraid of what people might say or think. And Ed Sheeran, he is an amazing artist. I would love to sit with him and a guitar and see what happens!! Tell us about your single Late Night Thoughts? I wrote LNT when I was going through a total teenage girl major crush moment. The song is all about that special someone you can’t get out of your head. It’s a fun song that makes you wanna blast it really loud in your car, with the windows down and your friends singing along. It’s getting great feedback and is doing really well. I’m so stoked about everything that is going on around the song.
Did you come up with the idea for the music video for LNT? What was it like seeing the final product? Yes! This was actually my exact vision and it was so awesome to find someone who understood my vision and brought it to life! Thank you, Robbie Joseph!!! He understood the concept the first time we met and he and his crew pulled it together. It was so exciting to see it all come together and be the vision Robbie and I had originally talked about. How did it feel to perform an original song for a crowd the first time around? The first time I performed “Boys Like You” was at Gramercy Theatre in New York. It was so crazy to hear the crowd sing-along, the fact that they knew all the lyrics took me back for a second - I had to stop to take it all in. That was an incredible feeling! Then when I performed “LNT” the crowd didn’t even know the song since it had not been released yet and they just started singing along. I realized my music was connecting with people - that is an amazing feeling! Can we expect a full album from you in the near future? Releasing a full album is definitely a goal of mine but right now I am wrapping up my first EP, which will be coming out very, very soon!! And I will be on tour in the new year with 4th Ave so I’ll be performing all new music, which is really exciting. What advice do you have for aspiring singers? If a singing career is your dream and passion you have to work hard and surround yourself with supportive people. Take any opportunity you have to share your music and your voice. Staying focused on your dreams and goals and having the determination, you can achieve anything! Follow me on Instagram for all the latest news, tour dates and new music. @rayla 10
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#NYOTAmusic
Keshawn Interview by Carol Wright
When did you realize that you liked to write music and perform? When I realized how easy and natural it was for me to make a structured song. I was always a creative child, and I enjoyed building things. What’s your music making process? Keeping myself around progressive influences puts me in a good space to create music, and I usually smoke too during a session. Who are some of your rap influences? Playboi Carti all the way, along with Big L and Mac Miller too. My rap influences are scattered, but those are just the first that come to mind. Do you hope to continue to produce songs for other artists or focus on making your own music at the moment? I hope to keep making music with my team. When it comes down to it, I make music for the pure joy of creating something. The music industry has continued to change over the years, and with the introduction of social media, it seems as though rappers pop up overnight. Do you think social media has been helpful for your career? Social media gave me an opportunity to grow my fanbase on a personal level and from all types of places. It is well known that bands such as Alice in Chains and Nirvana have come out of Seattle, but not many people are aware of the burgeoning rap scene in Seattle. Besides yourself, what other Seattle based artists should our readers be listening to? Huey P, Ghoulavelii, Max Marz, LShawn, Ci$co and so many more! I have so much music family out here in the Seattle area. Can fans expect an EP or full album from you in the near future? I recently dropped an EP by the name of BlackHeartGang earlier this year, and for now, we are giving our fans visuals and singles. What advice do you have for aspiring rappers? Financial dependency is important in the music industry. Self-marketing takes a lot of money and time, but don’t stop there. Do the absolute most you can without being too much…the hardest workers will prosper. 12
#NYOTAfashion
Caroline Vazzana Interview by Carol Wright Photos courtesy of “Making it in Manhattan team” and Becca Glasser-Baker
What about working in fashion initially interested you? When I was 10 I actually thought I wanted to be an artist so I really loved drawing and painting and I really loved the freedom of creativity I guess you could say. Both of my sisters are actually Doctors so they were both very very bright and loved science and things like that whereas I would be up in my room drawing and painting. Eventually, for one Christmas my mom got me a sewing machine, either my mom or my grandma got me a sewing machine, and from there I kind of started sewing and just putting my creativity into different outlets and I finally, funny enough, discovered Betsey Johnson who’s a Designer who I love. When I was younger I used to watch her videos on Youtube from her fashion shows and I used to watch all of her interviews and I used to think wow everyone in the industry must be as nice and as cool as she is because she’s obviously such a bright light. So I just used to think I have to work in this industry because everyone is so nice and this is such a magical place. So it was really like, having her and then having my love for art and creativity that inspired me to pursue a career in fashion. I joke, when Project Runway came out I thought that I wanted to be a fashion designer so then I focused on the design route a little bit but eventually found my way into the more hands-on, creative side of things and editorial and writing and stuff.
You had numerous internships to get yourself oriented with the fashion industry. Was there one particular internship that helped lead you into your current career? After my freshman year of college, I took one sewing design course and I realized oh my gosh I’m not good at sewing. I don’t like sewing. Then I was like ‘I don’t know what I’m gonna do’. I knew I obviously wanted to work for sure in fashion but I had to kind of restructure and figure out, ok what do I want to do in the fashion industry? To me, the best way to figure that out was through internships. My first internship ever was for a womenswear Designer, Anna Sui, and I interned for her and her company is right in the Garment District near the big button and everything. That was just an amazing first experience to get my foot in the door, get my way around New York City, and learn how a fashion company works. Then after that, I did an internship with Marie Claire Magazine and that’s what solidified my love for editorial and writing. Also, the fact that I realized, oh it’d be fun to work with many designers through a magazine rather than just working with one Designer for the rest of my career. So I interned with one of the Fashion Editor’s all summer. I was her personal intern, and I just learned so so much. I got to assist on set and I got to help her with all of her pages so it taught me so so much and when I first graduated college I actually got a job within the fashion magazine world. 14
When you first decided to leave your 9-5 and become your own boss what were the biggest challenges? Did it feel freeing? My first job out of college I worked at Teen Vogue in the fashion side of things and then after that I actually went to a second full-time job, even before going on my own, and then I worked at InStyle and I was on the digital fashion team. I will definitely say having had both of these jobs really helped set me up in a really great spot for when I did go out on own because I already had connections and contacts and I understood a little bit more how the industry worked. Rather than if I had just tried to do that right out of college, I don’t think it would’ve been as successful. I always had this thought in the back of my mind oh my gosh I want to become my own boss one day. I loved the idea of having my own company or my own something or other. I didn’t know what it was but I did have a lot of friends who were in the influencer realm, so that interested me a little bit but I actually never even [in the back of my mind] set out to be an influencer. I actually just started writing my book first. I started writing my book back in 2015 when I was still at InStyle and through working on that I was led to creating my website and everything and then after having [kind of] been working on all of that for a while I was finally just like, you know what I want to do this full time. I need to do this full time and if I don’t I’ll always have a voice in the back of my mind being like: what if? what if you tried? You’ll never know until you try, even if you fail and you have to go back. There were definitely risks. Such as, Am I gonna just fall flat on my face? Am I gonna have to go back to a full-time job? Am I gonna make any money? Am I gonna actually get this book published? Things like that definitely, and in the beginning, it definitely wasn’t easy but it definitely was so so worth it and I always say if I had to go back and do it all again I would do it exactly the same way. What is your opinion on the changing landscape of magazines cause there are so many magazines that are now moving like Teen Vogue that has moved online. Do you miss the old days when things were in print and you could touch things and read through it or are you enjoying this push towards digital? I mean I guess there are two sides to every coin. I love 15
a good magazine. I love sitting down with a physical copy of a magazine, flipping through the pages, folding them down, ripping out pages. I was that girl when I was young who used to get the big ones every month, the Vogue, The Elle, the Teen Vogue and I would make mood boards. I would just dream, like oh my gosh one day I’m gonna work in fashion. For young girls everywhere, those magazines still serve a really important purpose and I guess just inspiring through the style they’re showing and editorials they’re showing. So the fact that I was able to get to work within Teen Vogue and within Condé Nast it was really a great opportunity to see how it all works behind the scenes. It all comes to fruition at the end of every single month. It was really, really cool and I think it is an amazing thing. I do at the same time understand more and more young people are on social media, not as many people are buying magazines and things like that, even though I still love to buy magazines I understand that not as many people are buying them, and at the same time it has opened up this amazing new world for people like me whose jobs really are focused around social media. So it’s kind of like a bittersweet thing, especially for me personally. Maybe for some other influencers they’re like ‘oh no it’s great cause I know I have this job’ but for me, yes it’s amazing cause I do have this job but it’s also so bittersweet because I was there and I saw it all and I was able to see it and appreciate it and be part of it. I guess I have a love for both of them in a way and I can’t really choose one or the other. I loved my time working at magazines and it was an absolutely amazing experience but at the same time, I kind of saw that things were changing and I saw the shift to digital so I kind of wanted to jump on it while it was still fresh and new. It gave me an opportunity to get to be my own boss which if this was 10 years ago I don’t know if that would’ve been possible. What has it been like going from styling clients to styling yourself? It’s so cool. It’s really fun because I can remember being 20 years old, still in college and styling my first celebrities ever for the MTV Video Music Awards and being so excited. It was just like, what is this world? This is so exciting. I dressed these people and now they’re on best-dressed lists. It was an amazing experience and getting to collaborate with people who are gonna be in the spotlight and have absolutely no idea
what to wear. I think styling also taught me a lot just about even dressing others, it’s not always about what you like. You need to always take into consideration the client, and I did that. Even while I was still working at Teen Vogue and InStyle I was styling people for different red carpets. Now I really only style myself and it’s so cool. I’m styling myself for galas, for red carpets, or for fashion week or big events or whatever it might be. It’s so funny cause I’ve gotten asked so many times, “who styled you tonight?” and I’m always like I styled myself.
er know where it could push you to. You might see something and go oh I didn’t think to wear those two colors but what about these two colors. It’s this evolution where it pushes you to be super creative that I love. I love style. I love getting to put outfits together every day and now that it’s my job it’s so so cool. It’s so fun and I just think there are no rules which is so fun about fashion. I look back on some of my looks and I’m like that was a little out there I know I was trying to find my eclectic sense of style back in the day but that was maybe a little much. It’s all a learning process.
I know how to call in pieces and I obviously know what I like so that helps, but it’s such a cool thing that I can now apply the skills I learned when I was so young and I was hustling to work and collaborate with these amazing women and to now be able to take those skills and apply them to myself.
Tell us about your book Making It in Manhattan: The Beginner’s Guide to Surviving & Thriving in the World of Fashion. What inspired you to write it?
Do you have any style inspirations? What inspires your looks for the day? I definitely joke that my style has been an evolution because I’ve always loved color and pattern and textures but it was definitely an experimentation from when I was 20 to now of trying out different things and trying out different styles and seeing what stuck and what fit well. In terms of just getting inspired every day I feel like I have a very specific style of what I like and what works for me. I’m a big mood dresser which some people laugh about because I dress depending on my mood. I have to feel a certain way to gravitate toward a piece of clothing. If I’m really happy or excited maybe I’ll gravitate towards sparkles but if I need to be more serious maybe I’ll go towards a pencil skirt. It just depends on the day, but I feel like the people around me in New York City inspire me so much. There are definitely people in the industry whose style I look toward. I love Iris Apfel I think she’s not afraid to fearlessly be herself and show her amazing, eclectic sense of style. I love even scrolling through Instagram, and finding new people who I might’ve not even known or they don’t even live in the United States but they have this amazing sense of style. Just taking bits and pieces of what they’re wearing and being like, that’s a really cool way how this woman layered that. I never thought to do that or I never thought to try this with that or I never thought to pair polka dots with stripes or whatever it might be. So I think always looking to others for inspiration is really good because you nev17
It was right after I had left Teen Vogue and started working at InStyle. A couple months into working there I was reflecting back on my experience at Teen Vogue and my experiences before that. I just started thinking, wow why don’t I start writing some of these down cause they’re really unique and they’re really fun and they’re really funny and a lot of them are super positive for young girls who might want to one day work in the industry. So I started just writing them down for fun and when I had about three chapters I had a friend of mine look at it and she was like this is really good. She’s my friend obviously she wants to pump me up but she was like, this is really good you should keep doing it. Then I was thinking, what’s the goal with this? What’s the message? Why do I really want to write this? I could just think back to when I was first starting out in the industry and how I literally knew no one. I didn’t have any connections. I didn’t have, my mom’s aunt’s friend works at this company. I didn’t have any of that so I really just had to start from the ground up and get in with internships and work my way up. So I can remember what that was like and how difficult it was to really not know where to start or where to go or even how to write a proper email for an internship. Just little things like that, that we now as professionals in the industry don’t think back on. I was like, why don’t I write this guide book for everyone and anyone who wants to work in fashion, who wants to work in any sort of creative field. So they can get their foot in the door. So they can make it. So they can follow their dreams. That’s what became the inspiration behind the whole thing, to just help others who wanted to also work in this industry and wanted to be successful.
#NYOTAfashion
Just putting all the info in a simple, fun, easy to read book. The book is very colorful and fun. It’s all in color, which for me was a big push because I love color and I didn’t want it to be just black and white pages. The funny and interesting part of it all is I started writing the book first and my website actually came second which not many people know. I started writing the book and then I started reaching out to literary agents because that was the track that I was suggested to go towards. So I ended up signing with this amazing woman who is now currently my literary agent and she was the one who when we were about halfway done suggested to me, well why don’t you start a website with the same name as your book. Where you can start now writing about career advice, and sharing your funny stories and sharing your style and things like that, because the books not gonna come for a couple of years. Why don’t you start building and growing a following in this realm so that when the book does come out it’ll just be such a perfect fit into everything you’re doing. Which was such an amazing idea and such amazing advice. So then after I already started writing the book I started the website and that was the trajectory of it all. Once I started the website it was so fun to kind of see it grow and to see that people were really so interested in career advice, and in fun career advice and in relateable career advice. To be able to sit back and get DM’s from people where’d they be like oh my God I love your website. I love the advice you give. I’d be like oh my gosh wait until I announce about the book, it’s gonna be so exciting. Cause I didn’t tell anyone for a long time I made the announcement last April and the book came out in August. I was advised to make the announcement somewhat close to the release so that the buzz didn’t die down. It was so cool holding onto this secret for so long but it was just such a fun process writing it all and now getting to see everyone’s reactions. The people I wrote it for are now reading it and it makes me so happy to read their messages and see it all come to life finally.
passionate about it and so excited to be there. I think having a good attitude, being kind, being really humble and being grateful, that goes such a long way and I think that will help you rise the ranks and be really successful. I think taking advantage of your resources right now is really so important. When I first started out I didn’t have Instagram. I didn’t have LinkedIn. I didn’t have any of these amazing social media resources that we all have. In the book, I write a section on how you can network on Instagram and how you can use Instagram to connect with people who you admire or who you want to speak with. I think using your resources and being smart about it and planning a trajectory of where you want to go. I think that is so important, and just staying true to yourself. It’s so easy in this industry to try to have the latest designer thing all the time or to be “cool” or whatever it might me, but I think just being who you are and staying true to yourself, that itself will make you the most successful. I always joke that I built a whole brand just by being myself and showing my personal, quirky, fun and creative style. I built a whole brand on it so if I can do that, you can do it.
What advice do you have for those who want to work in fashion industry? My advice would be to be ready to work hard but love it. You have to love it with your whole heart, you just have to be so passionate about it. It is going to be long nights, it is going to be running around the city, it is going to be sometimes getting your boss coffee, but at the end of the day, you have to just be 18
Reflection:
Beauty Makeup: Shelly Spencer @slayedbyshelly Wardrobe: Diamond Whitaker @crownedingold Hair: Kapri Hall @pri_did_it Photography: Kierra Maxwell @k_maxphoto
Jessica
Cyerra
Jayla
Huntyr
#NYOTAfashion
Minjin Altansukh Interview by Carol Wright Photos by Munkhjin @Muuunjuu
Has fashion always been an important part of your life? Definitely! Fashion gives me an opportunity to express myself and feel confident. I can express my personality through fashion and it represents who I am. Whenever I go shopping, it takes all the stress away! You get to create fun looks with different outfits and that always made me happy. What motivated you to start your blog? I’ve always been a little shy since elementary school. There would be so many times where I would be afraid to speak my mind. Blogging has totally changed it! In High School, I started following some influencers and bloggers and I loved how they are able to express themselves and just be free! I think that inspired me the most. I wanted to be like one of those influencers who are not afraid to speak their minds, create fun looks and express themselves. I started to test out blogging and when I started to post more content, I totally fell in love! Blogs are starting to turn up left and right, but only a handful have been able to reach true popularity. Why do you think your blog has captured a large audience? The blogging and influencer industry has become really competitive over the past few years. I think there are so many people who just become a blogger, influencer, Youtuber, etc just for the fame of it. There is a countless number of blogs out there with the same layout and topics so one needs to be unique to gain a larger audience. To be able to stand out from the crowd sometimes just requires creativity and being you! I truly believe that putting the time, effort, creativeness and being yourself really gets people to notice you. I create because simply I just love posting blogs and creating fun contents that express who I am. I believe it is so 24
important to let the audience get to know you little by little, get a taste of your fashion, type of content you create and establish a relationship between the audience and the blogger. I love posting original content and I think my followers love it too! Who are some of your fashion inspirations? I get in inspired by so many things and people! I am subscribed to various different fashion magazines and love exploring different trends that are set around the world. I follow a lot of bloggers on Instagram because I like seeing their fashion style and sometimes I would get outfit ideas from there! Even out on the streets, I would see someone wearing cool sneakers or outfit and I’m like “I love that! I want to buy something similar”. Out of the people, I love Gigi and Bella Hadid’s fashion! I follow their fan account that posts their outfits. What has been your favorite aspect of the blog to work on? Fashion and travel have always been my favorite category to work on! I love fashion and I enjoy traveling! Putting those two together creates a such a dynamic force and makes me really happy. I get to collaborate with some of my favorite fashion brands to create cool content. There are times where brands invite to fun events and trips just to create content! It is definitely really fun and I love it!! Since starting your blog you have taken on numerous jobs, stylist, model, brand, ambassador and product influencer. What skills have you gained from these experiences? I’ve so blessed to have opportunities such a being a brand ambassador, product influencer and model. I learned so much and gained a lot of experiences from these jobs. One important skill I learned is how to manage my time effectively and keeping things in a schedule. As an influencer, a crucial part to the job is figuring out when to post, scheduling photo opportunities and effectively communicating with the brand. What other facets of the fashion industry do you hope to get into? I’ve been lucky enough to be part of numerous parts of the fashion industry. Currently, I just want to focus on one aspect of the fashion industry which is being 25
an influencer and brand ambassador. I love what I do and I want to be better at it so, at the moment, I am focusing on building a relationship with brands and creating awesome content for them! However, in the future, I definitely want to get into more of a professional modeling What advice do you have for other young people who want to start a blog? Be you! It may sound very cliche but it’s the truth and everyone needs to understand it. Find inspirations, get your creativity on and create! Don’t mind what other people say because it is your life and your choice! Don’t be afraid to take risks and get yourself out there. Also, I highly recommend people who are starting out their blogs to network with other bloggers and influencers. In this industry, networking is crucial.
#NYOTAfashion
Words of Wisdom
Laila Elise Interview by Carol Wright Photos by Coleman Downing Studio
What initially got you interested in modeling? Like most people, I was very intrigued by the industry. It seemed to have a lot of mass appeal: great pay, travel opportunities, a way to meet new people, even the possibility of fame. It seemed very glamorous and is something that I think many young people dream about. Before you started modeling were you aware that models are often abused? I didn’t really think about it. I was quite young, and like many others, I was more caught up in the excitement and dreaming about possibilities than to stop and think seriously about it or the fact that it could happen to me. This was one of the many things that first drew me to the Agent platform. If something like Agent had been around when I first started in the industry, it would have been tremendously helpful. There is a lack of transparency and information made available to models, especially when they are first starting out. Why do you think abuse is so prevalent in the industry? I think there is a very complicated power dynamic at play, and it’s not attributed to just one cause. Models are vulnerable because the industry is extremely competitive, and there is a lack of transparency. There are no set standards for what to expect. They approach
modeling as a dream. It’s something that they are often extremely passionate about, and they are willing to do almost anything to achieve that dream because they think that they have to. There’s no place for them to confidently go to with questions and get real answers, or to get advice they can trust. This is something I want to help build at Agent. What motivated you to take action against abuse in the modeling industry? Having been in the industry for 15 years, I’ve both experienced and witnessed so many situations that I wish I could have done more to prevent. I wished there was a resource out there to help me or a place I could go to find support. Slowly, I began to take control of my career on my own, and stand up for myself. As the years went by, I started to be that person of support for models in my personal network. Having a background in education and a passion for helping others made this come very naturally to me, and I started to realize I wanted to do more for the industry on a larger scale. Agent is exactly the type of platform and role model this industry needs. What measures does Agent, Inc take to ensure models will not be abused? Agent is creating new and higher standards of safety, transparency, and ensured payments for all models on the platform. Some examples of this include the 28
fact that we perform background checks on all users, always make sure all of the details and information for jobs are provided up front and facilitate same day payouts once jobs are completed. Beyond this, we want to further change the industry for the better by establishing ourselves as a reliable place that models can turn to for education on big issues in the industry, and for support throughout their careers. With the stories that have been unearthed since the #Metoo movement has gone viral; do you feel Agent, Inc has become even more necessary? I feel that there has always been the need for a platform like Agent. The #metoo movement, from Harvey Weinstein and beyond, has brought to light issues that have always been occurring in this industry, they just weren’t publicized. Models and actors have been mistreated and taken advantage of since long before the movement (and current media frenzy), and the problems will continue unless we create an effective solution to solve these problems. And Agent is that solution. Are there any other areas within the fashion industry that you believe have room to improve? Certainly. We, as a society, need to improve industry standards across the board, not just for the models. We need to educate on a multitude of levels including but not limited to: fair trade, creating overseas manufacturing standards, using more ecological methods and refurbished fabrics, labor laws for factory workers, unpaid interns, and many others. What advice do you have for aspiring models? Use Agent as a foundation for your career, and as a place of reference for defining new standards of safety, transparency and model empowerment. It takes a thick skin to become a successful model and that’s something we all have to cultivate. Set realistic goals, work hard, learn to accept constructive criticism but never compare yourself to others or let yourself be affected by negativity. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t sacrifice your morals, integrity or beliefs. The modeling business is extremely competitive and many people can try to take advantage of that. Stay true to yourself and trust your instincts. You will always be glad that you did. Models can apply to be listed on Agent by download29
ing the free iOS app or by visiting JoinAgent.com. Clients can support a more efficient, less expensive and safer way to book models by doing the same. Agent currently supports the booking of models in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, San Diego, and Seattle. The rest of the U.S. and world to follow shortly!
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Lilimar Interview by Carol Wright Photographer- Rowan Daly Stylist- Monty Jackson Hair-Brandon Liberati Make-up- Nina Lopez
Did you always have a feeling you’d end up acting?
Those scenes always come out looking so awesome on TV once everything is put together.
Definitely. I just always knew I liked performing for others, but mainly acting as other characters. Ever since I was 4 years old, I would watch my favorite show like The Powerpuff Girls, and pretend to be one of the girls & say their lines with them!
What do you like most about your character Sage?
What did you learn during your time shooting “Bella & The Bulldogs”? BATB was my first big project and I was really new to LA. Everything was so different from what I knew back in Miami since there was definitely a cultural difference I had to get used to as well. I’m so grateful I got the chance to work on the BATB set where the crew was so, so incredible and were more than willing to teach me anything I felt curious about or felt I needed to know for my career. I think there was really where I learned how to know where my cameras are at all times, camera blocking, how to really fit into a working environment, etc. What has it been like shooting your new show “Knight Squad”? Oh, it’s a such a blast! I think since everyone just gets along so well, there’s always a positive vibe around. Even when everybody’s tired or stressed out, we all still find a way to hype ourselves up and find the energy to continue. Not to mention, how excited we all get when we have scenes with cool stunts to do!
I just love how wicked she is. She definitely has all these fun moments where she sabotages other squad’s quests, shows off her vicious combat skills, and makes me laugh with her dry humor. I love characters with personalities such as hers, so it’s most definitely a fun time playing Sage. What has been your favorite moment on the “Knight Squad” set? All the mess-ups mainly. I’m sure if we had a blooper real, it’d be hours long. You have no idea how many moments we’ve had where we’ve just unconsciously changed our lines into something ridiculous, accidentally dropped our weapons, slipped, fallen, and just randomly busted out into cackles. What other areas of the television and film industry do you hope to explore as your career progresses? I do hope I’ll be able to act in my first feature film soon. When I was about 12 years old, I was in my first short film, shot in single cam style, and I was just amazed by the process of it all. It’s been my dream since a little girl to be in feature film & learn the process behind it. 32
You started the hashtag #FreshFacedFriday on your Instagram. What motivated you to start this hashtag? Has it been rewarding to see fans post their own photos using the hashtag? When I first started this hashtag with my followers, it was because I saw that the majority of them were going through some really tough times. Not feeling good enough, never feeling like your good-looking, wishing you were somebody else, etc. When I saw how most of them were feeling, it just made me so sad and hurt that they couldn’t see how precious they were. Even at that fragile age, my family had always made sure I felt loved, that I felt worthy that I saw myself as beautiful. I immediately wanted them to feel the happiness I felt, so I challenged them to take a picture without makeup nor face-editing and post it up fearlessly every Friday with the hope that this will, little by little, change their negative perspective on their “flaws” and start to accept their little unique things. Each Friday, there were more and more stargazers (what I call my supporters) trying to shut down their insecurities and post their selfies along with mine. It amazes me just how strong they are. It means a lot that they faced their inner fears just to participate in something with me, but I do hope with all my heart that it’s helped them in some way. You also pose questions to your followers with the hashtag #StargazerSaturday. It was interesting to see you pose a question about social media and how young people often focus on being social media famous rather than firefighters or dancers etc. As an actress working in this social media age, do you feel pressure to use social media to interact with your fans? How do you find a healthy balance between promoting your work but also living in the moment? I definitely feel the pressure. When I first started being more active on social media and obtaining more followers due to BATB, everything seemed so incredibly fun. I genuinely loved posting and sharing fun moments with people who were supporting me and the show I was on. Now everything almost feels forced. It almost feels like you have to do all the immature things most popular influencers do or else you don’t really get any attention. It’s sad to see that followers matter so much now and overshadow the talent, knowledge, and creativity. Even with all of that though, I love being able to connect with those that are kind enough to support me, post about some of 33
my favorite things, & speak freely about the things/ people that I love and topics that I believe should be discussed. You like to read and often share what you’re reading with your followers. What is your favorite book? Would you ever like to see it adapted for television or film? I think I have a serious addiction to books. It’s so hard to choose just one, but for now, I might say that my current favorite is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. I love reading self-care and personal development type of books as well as informational ones on topics that I love, such as astrology, and poem books for days! There are quite a couple mystery/horror books that I’d LOVE to see as big features or TV series. Mainly, I think we need more mystery and thriller in film/TV. What other creative outlets do you have? Definitely, dance! It’s another activity that I absolutely love to do, especially when it’s me and my closest friends. Depending on my mood and how I want to express myself, I’ll dance to hip-hop, jazz, k-pop, even ballet! It’s just such a freeing feeling whenever music is on and you can just have fun with it! Can you tell us about any upcoming projects? There’s some VO work coming up soon that I’m really excited about it! Unfortunately, I can’t say much about the project quite yet, but I think kids, teens and even adults will love it! The cast is all so incredibly talented. I’ve been able to see a bit of the animation, which looks crazy cool. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? Never stop learning, never stop finding new inspirations and never give up on your goals. This career is not as sparkly or glamorous as most seem to think it is because it will require a lot of emotional strength, sacrifice, & perseverance. If you’re really passionate about it, and acting is where you feel at home, then go for it fearlessly! Everyone who deserves the chance will get it one day, you just have to be patient, believe in your skills and keep working hard. Trust me, your talent will be recognized!
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Sean Ryan Fox Interview by Carol Wright Photos by Rowan Daly
What initially got you interested in acting? Originally, my older sister Camryn was the one into acting first. We were going to the same school and got out at the same time, which meant that there was no time to drop me off at home when she would have auditions. Then when she and my mom were meeting with an agent to represent her, I was with them. Since I was there, the agent went ahead and picked me up as a client too. I was so young then, I just went with the flow. I really didn’t think about it when I went in for auditions but after I booked my first job and I had such a great time on set, I knew I wanted to continue acting. What was the audition process like for Henry Danger? Were you nervous to be auditioning for a Nickelodeon show? Well, my audition for Henry danger was long and intense. It took over 9-weeks from the time I first auditioned to test for the role. I had to wait each week for 6 weeks while they looked at hundreds of other kids for the role before I even went into my first Producer session. I initially was picked by Nickelodeon to be put in their sketch comedy showcase at The Groundlings. It was a lot of fun. Little did I know that Dan Schneider would be picking kids from this showcase to audition for his new show at the time which was “The Mayor of Mars.” Fun fact is that Jace Norman and I were both in the Nickelodeon’s Groundlings Showcase together. We had a physical comedy scene where we played competing butlers, which is now up on YouTube. After that, they pulled 6 of us to go in front of Dan Schneider and audition for him. My manager told me that Dan wanted me, but I still had to come in and do more auditions with some of the other kids they had in a mind. I was extremely nervous at first but once I got in there with Dan, he made me laugh and told me I was doing a great job, so it made me feel better.
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What drew you to the role of Jasper?
new season?
In all honesty, I didn’t pick Jasper to be my role. That’s the character that Dan and my team thought I would be best at. They really liked how I played the character, Jasper, and brought him to life, with goofiness and his crazy antics. My character has been so fun to play over the last 5 years and I’ve enjoyed developing him as we have gone on. He has really evolved since the first 2 seasons, now he is a part of the crime-fighting team with Captain Man and Kid Danger in the Mancave while he works upstairs in Junk-N-Stuff undercover.
I don’t know how much I can say but I think you can expect some big episodes coming up, new villains, and some funny new gadgets for Jasper to have fun messing with. Also, you should pay close attention to every episode in season 5 you are watching now, it may come in handy in the future (Hint: look at the symbol on the Evil Science Corp in “Danger Things” to start).
What has being on Henry Danger taught you about the entertainment industry?
I’m currently writing some new music and getting ready to start production on a new music video once filming ends. So look for that sometime next summer!
I had been on a multi-Cam show before but it was a small part, so I never really knew the technicality behind it. I knew it was a lot of work, but a lot of people don’t realize how many different people work on the show that are not camera crew and actors. There are also editors, sound guys, set guys, grips, assistant directors, PA, and the list goes on. There are a lot of people that work to keep the show going. What has been your favorite episode to shoot so far? We have shot so many episodes that I can hardly remember half of them. All of our episodes have been fun to shoot but I guess I could say “Rubber Duck”. It’s one of our most recent episodes that has aired. There is a part in the episode where I had to dance on the couch, and one of the writers actually made a deal that they would give me $50 dollars if I could make Jace crack up laughing in the scene. Needless to say, I won that bet. Sadly though, they did end up cutting the majority of my dance but it’s still a fun memory. The show is now going to be in its fifth season. What about the show, do you think, hasgotten audiences hooked? First, I think that the show is genuinely funny. The characters and storylines have all evolved and grown too. I also think that the bond and chemistry the cast members have is seen on the screen. You can see the kind of family we have become working together for the last 5 years. Plus, who doesn’t like superheroes? Can you tell us what fans can expect from this 37
Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects?
Outside of acting, what are some of your creative outlets? Besides music I also like to write and create stories with characters. It may be a movie or a show or even a comic book. I’m always thinking of new ideas and characters for stuff. Hopefully, someday, I can see what I’ve made hit the big screen. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? As an actor, I follow one rule. Never give up. If you are going to survive in the acting world you got to follow that rule. There are so many jobs I didn’t get called back for or was the second choice. You just have to find the right part that you fit into. You aren’t going to get every job and you can’t let it affect you. If you want it bad enough, you got to keep going, keep chasing your dreams.
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Olivia Sanabia Interview by Carol Wright Photo by Ryan West
Is there a particular play or movie that sparked your interest in acting? Yes! I remember watching the movie, Ramona and Beezus and knowing that I wanted to be an actress. How did the opportunity to be in “Coop & Cami Ask the World” come about? My agent sent over the information and I was still working on another show I’m on, Just Add Magic. I snuck away from work to go audition. I didn’t hear anything for a long time, so I figured nothing would happen. Then I got a call to come in and read for producers. A couple of days later I was testing and then booked the role of Charlotte Wrather. What drew you to your character Charlotte? I was drawn to her because she reminded me of the characters that I used to watch on Disney Channel. She was almost nostalgic for me, and that’s what I loved. Did you take what you learned from “Just Add Magic”and apply it to your new role on “Coop & Cami Ask the World”? Absolutely! I learned hard work and how to work with adults on Just Add Magic. Those were two valuable lessons that I carried from Just Add Magic to Coop & Cami Ask the World! Not only are you a talented actress, but you also sing and play three instruments. Do you hope to
incorporate your musical talent into your role? Thank you! I have been lucky enough to incorporate music into “Charlotte” this first season. I was so excited when the writers decided that path for her. You have a passion for helping others. Can you share a bit about Cookies for Kids’ Cancer and how our readers may be able to get involved? Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is the most awesome organization that raises money for pediatric cancer research. They raise money by doing fundraisers like bake sales! Anyone can get involved and make a difference by holding their own bake sale or volunteering at someone else’s. You can also go online and buy cookies (which are so yummy)! 100% of the profits go directly to pediatric cancer research. This organization is special to me and I encourage everyone to get involved. Who are some of your acting inspirations? Some of my acting inspirations are Joey King, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Jennifer Lawrence. Each of these ladies brings something unique to their acting. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? My advice is to keep working at it even if you think you can’t go any farther. If it is what you truly love to do, it’s worth the fight and the pain from rejection. All the hard stuff is well worth the moment when you get a “yes.” So, keep working hard and also never forget to be kind. 40
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Kirrilee Berger Interview by Carol Wright Photo by Brett Erickson Styling by Lo VonRumpf Hair/MU by Tonya Brewer
Coming from a family that worked in the entertainment industry did you always think you’d end up acting? It was just always within me. From age three I knew this is what I wanted to do. Even when I was 9-yearsold and booked my first Broadway national tour, I can recall my father telling me “touring is really hard. You’re going to be away from your family and your friends and toys. Are you sure you really want to do this?” and I said, “Dad, what if someone gave you your dream, wouldn’t you take it no matter what?” Even before I hit double digits, I knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. You started out on Broadway National Tours. What motivated you to make the switch to television? My switch into television actually stemmed from me getting too tall. All of the shows on Broadway with kids in it at the time had a height limit of 4’11” however, I stopped growing at age 12 at 5’3”, so I shifted my focus to film and TV. It’s amazing how one door closes and another opens! What about the show “One Dollar” interested you? I was so intrigued by the social and political sub-commentary of the show. I’m a firm believer in creating art with a message and that really pulled me into the project. Can you relate to your character Danielle in any way?
can’t relate on that front, however, Danielle is a very real 18-year-old girl navigating the “big bad world” for the first time. I recall reading first drafts of an episode and often feeling like wow, I’ve totally experienced that anxiety, or I’ve had that same fight with my friends. What has been your favorite episode to shoot? Episode 10 was very bittersweet to film but at the same time so refreshing and cathartic. You’ll have to tune in on November 1st to see why! Did you bring anything you learned from the stage to your show One Dollar? A lot of TV actors fall into the safety net of having another take. I come from theater where there is no take 2. You’ve got one shot, so I’m always on my toes ready for anything that could be thrown my way! Can you tell us about any upcoming projects? November 12th my animated show “Butterbean’s Café” premieres on Nickelodeon and I have a movie called “I’ll Be Next Door for Christmas” that comes out this holiday season. What advice do you have for aspiring actors? The only thing you can yearn for is to walk away from every single audition saying “if I could do it again, I wouldn’t change a thing” because that way, even if you don’t get the part, you know there was nothing more you could do. You did your very best and that’s all that matters.
Danielle and I had very different upbringings, so I 42
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Maya Jai Pinson Interview by Carol Wright Photography: @ShootingFutureStars Hair: @the_hair_dynasty
When did you know that you wanted to be an actress? I started modeling in magazine ads at the age of 1. I played basketball, volleyball, Lacrosse and softball but around 11 years old, I decided to explore acting and film opportunities like my older sister and my mom. Once I started and the more opportunities I had to showcase my talents I love it. What has been your favorite project you’ve worked on so far? Well it’s hard to pick one but I’d say it has to be either the movie Believe or the TV series Dads Do It Too they both have allowed me to grow in my acting. The cast and crew on both projects have been professional and fun to work with. While I love acting and filming, the most favorite project that I’ve worked on so far has been motivational speaking and co-hosting the radio show Voices of Our Teens. I love inspiring and speaking to my peers and younger kids. I’ve always loved helping people, so I started speaking at schools, expos and recreational centers about Dreaming Big. I find great joy in motivating and helping others. What inspired you to write your book “Back Pack Lilly”? I’ve always loved writing and it started when I was younger. It began with poems and haiku’s. I’ve almost always had a lot of extracurricular activities and at the time I had a 4.15 GPA that I was trying to maintain. I knew that balancing a heavy schedule wasn’t always easy so, I came up with a solution that I call “Stop, Drop, Work, then Play”. The method is a pretty easy one to remember;” Stop what you’re doing”, “Drop what you are doing” “Work on your assignment” “Then you can Play or have leisure time”. I saw that some of my peers could use that method and I figured if you started developing that habit at a younger age it would become your first thought so, I incorporated my motto into my book Back Pack Lilly. The summary of the book is Back Pack Lilly teaches kids how to prioritize their studying and school work over extracurricular activities and playing. 44
Do you hope to publish more books in the future? Yes, I do plan on writing and publishing more books in the future. Although my filming schedule has picked up with this being my freshman year in high school, I made the choice to scale back on some activities to make sure that I make the adjustment from Middle to High school. What has been the most rewarding part of co-hosting “Voices of Our Teens”? The most rewarding part of being a co-host on the Archie Beslow radio show “Voices of our Teens” segment, is that I got to meet and work along the side of an awesome host. I love being able to give teens a platform to speak from their hearts on the issues that are impacting them negatively and positively. The host and I also give them advice on various ways to approach certain situations. In listening to other teens I get inspired to want to help them in a positive way, whether it’s giving them advice or encouraging them to continue to do the positive things that they’re doing. Has “Voices of Our Teens” served as inspiration for you to continue to work towards your goals? Yes, Voices of our Teens (VOOT as we like to call it) has definitely inspired me to keep working harder towards my goals. It allows me to be expressive, creative and inspirational all of which helps me in the classroom, my motivational speaking and acting. The host Archie, is a great mentor and pushes me to better myself and to never give up. You’ve already accomplished so much at fourteen. Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years? I want to continue to grow in other areas and experiences. I see myself graduating from college, starring in major films, continuing to be an inspiration through my work while giving back to the community in many ways. What advice do you have for young people who may be nervous to start pursuing their passions? Dream as big as you want because you can pursue whatever dreams your heart desires. Dreams can’t be achieved without discipline and consistency if you haven’t “start now” to develop plan. Incorporate 45
Stop, Drop, Work then Play in your daily routine. And remember “a dream without goals remains a dream”. You should pace yourself and make benchmarks and no matter how hard it gets, you can do it - just keep pushing and never give up! I appreciate my parents and family for supporting and standing behind me on all of my endeavors. More about Maya Jai Pinson can be found on www. mjaip.com and you can follow her on Instagram @ mayajai04.
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Kai Ture Interview by Carol Wright Photo by Tracy Page and Roy Cox
When did you first know you wanted to act?
character but she was very fun to play.
I first knew that I wanted to become an actress at the age of 6 years old. I was (and continue to be) obsessed with the Disney Channel. I had to beg my parents for an entire year to get me started in acting. My very first audition was as an extra for a Tyler Perry show. I booked the job! For the second season, he bumped me up to a recurring role. Thankfully, I have been working since that time.
How did you react when you found out the movie would be showing at Sundance? Is this your first time going to the film festival?
Tell us about your new movie “Troupe Zero”. How did you first get involved with the movie? Troupe Zero is a story about a misfit girl who dreams of life in outer space. When a national competition offers a chance at her dream of recording a record for NASA, she recruits a troop of Birdie Scouts. I auditioned for this film multiple times for many different roles. When I got the call that I landed the role of Ginger, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I loved the script and I was so happy that I would have an opportunity to be a part of such an amazing cast. Did Viola Davis or Allison Janey give you any advice on set? To watch them on set was a master acting class in itself. They were simply amazing. The greatest thing that they both taught me was to remain humble and kind. They are both acting giants but still so very nice to everyone on set. Could you relate to your character Ginger? When you see the film, you will realize that everyone knows a Ginger. I can’t reveal too much about my
My mom was so happy that she told me right away when she picked me up from school. I couldn’t react because I was still in the building. As soon as I got in the car, I started screaming! This is my first time at the festival and I couldn’t be more excited! I am also really looking forward to seeing the rest of the cast again. Can you tell us about any other upcoming projects? I have recently submitted a few big auditions so I have my fingers crossed! The Hate U Give, where I play Young Starr, is still doing well and now I get to finally see the premiere of Troupe Zero. I am looking forward to my next project but also taking time to enjoy this moment. What are some of your other creative outlets? I play the piano, violin, and ukulele. I love to sing. I would say that my favorite activity is tumbling class. I also like to knit and make rubber band bracelets. What advice do you have for other young actors? Don’t give up, enjoy the process, and continue to work on becoming better. After you submit an audition, try your best to forget about it. There is a role out there being created just for you. You just have to believe! 48
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Words of Wisdom
Hanna Jaff Bosdet Interview by Carol Wright Photos courtesy of Hanna Jaff Bosdet
You grew up in a household with a Mexican mother and a Kurdish father. How did that shape you into who you are today? It made me a person that got to see so many different cultures, languages, religions, countries in the world and customs. It made me very open-minded as a person, not so critical and judgmental. It also made me very sensitive towards other peoples feelings and what I’m talking about is respect because my father always had to be in traditions or customs and cultures where he wasn’t used to and my mother as well. So they always taught me and said, the key to getting along with others is respect and tolerance. So that’s sort why I decided to become a humanitarian, my father and mother both are very big activists. My mother was an immigrant and my father was a refugee, so that’s why I decided to devote all my NGO work and humanitarian work on them. My mother and my father both remind me of those causes and listening to each side of what an immigrant goes through and what a refugee goes through its always sort of at the end of the day, they just are looking for peace, for a better life, and for a better opportunity and they were running away from poverty or violence or wars. So, coming from a father that is Kurdish and a mother that is Mexican and Catholic, they have to do with everything who I am today because without them I wouldn’t be so involved with these causes that I do. I probably wouldn’t be in this profession either and I wouldn’t be so sensitive towards other people’s feelings or current situations. The type of work you do, working with immigrants and refugees, is even more important now than it used to be. Has your work changed at all with this new administration or do you feel as if there’s
more importance for what you do now more than ever? Yes, the last two years discrimination and hate have escalated in the U.S and Europe and I think that it is because of the new administration’s comments towards other people’s ethnicities, religion, race, and gender. So that’s why I started the We Are One campaign because I’ve always been involved in these causes not so much as how I’ve worked on it the last year. My NGO focuses on teaching English, we have English books that we donated to immigrants and refugees and actually the last year I started a new cause which is the We Are One campaign. Despite your religious beliefs, culture, gender, disability or sexual orientation, it doesn’t matter where you’re from we’re all human, we’re all one. So that’s the reason why I started the campaign because I saw so much bullying, hate, and disrespect towards other people that I said we have to get this out there and create awareness so people can be aware of what’s going on and be more accepting. What has been one of the most rewarding aspects of the work you do or one of the more rewarding experiences you’ve had while working with people from all different backgrounds? Well for me success means, how many people have a better life? If you’ve managed to change at least one person’s life then you have a successful life. I’m very flattered when people reward me with a recognition or an award and that’s great, but what’s really satisfying to me is hearing the feedback afterward towards immigrant or refugees who are less fortunate. For instance, my English book that I wrote. I wrote an English book and I donated 60,000 copies to immi50
grants and refugees and I’ve heard stories of immigrants and refugees. What they have in common is they have a lot of waiting around, they are either traveling or moving place to place so for them having a book handy is something that can entertain them and teach them English. Therefore the country they’re moving to is usually a first spoken or second spoken English language country. So it has helped them a lot and I’ve heard afterward people saying, thanks to your book I can communicate and speak basic English. That’s one of the most satisfying things that later on immigrants have told me about the English book. I’ve also gotten feedback on the We Are One campaign. I did a conference about non-discrimination and about gender and people said they weren’t aware these issues were going on. I’ve benefitted the most from people’s feedback and knowing that the campaign is working and I continue with it based on the comments that I get afterward. How can people get involved with either the Jaff Foundation or the We Are One campaign? Mostly anyone in the world can volunteer and be a part of my NGO they just have to go to jafffoundation.com and send us an email. There are no entrance fees, everyone is welcome and most of our volunteers say, ‘I’m an English teacher I can help volunteer in such and such place’ and we help them by sending out books. We work as a team, and figure out what they can offer and what we can offer them. So anyone who wants to join can go on our website, We Are One campaign as well. Many of our staff leaders have given conferences that I’ve given in their local schools so it’s spreading the world. If anyone wants to be involved in the cause they just have to reach out. You’re on the new Netflix show “Made In Mexico”. Do you think the show has also helped promote your different initiatives and also given you a bigger platform then you might’ve already had? Yes, it definitely did. A lot of people have now followed Jaff Foundation or We Are One campaign or me on some sort of social platform thanks to Netflix. They didn’t really know about me before the show. For me since the very beginning when Netflix approached me and they said we’re gonna do a show I was very happy to be a part of a team like this because usually, Netflix has had shows about Mexico that is the oppo51
site of what we did on [Made in Mexico]. All the negative stereotypes that Mexico may have. When they told me it was about nine Entrepreneurs, nine lives and normal people I said you know what if this can improve Mexico’s image worldwide and people will want to come to Mexico then I’m all for it. So definitely a lot of people that have watched the show actually reach out to me because they didn’t know me before and a lot of them have said ‘I had no idea how beautiful Mexico was now I wanna go’ or ‘I had no idea this existed in Mexico City’. So it was an entertaining show obviously but it was also an educational one for a lot of people that didn’t know another side of Mexico or me. Were you surprised about anything, in terms of how the show was made or how they filmed it or your role in it? Was it very natural or unscripted? The thing is that no one is ever going to be portrayed 100% how they really are because there were so many of us and time was so limited. There were only eight episodes and it was nine cast members and we filmed for 600 hours and the show in total was only seven or eight hours. So a lot of what I filmed, my side of the story or my side of the drama wasn’t portrayed and in the end, I did sort of get upset about it. I was like, well that scene is missing this or my side wasn’t fully said. I did obviously get a bit upset towards some things but in the end, we all knew what we were getting ourselves into. I knew that something like this could happen so it wasn’t a total shock for me I just had to see it as a show. What advice do you have for those who want to start their own non-profit? You will always have obstacles. I can’t count how many times people told me something wasn’t possible, or no, or shut the door on me before they even opened it. Coming from a background where I didn’t have an advantage over anyone else. My family wasn’t in Mexico City. I didn’t have a famous Mexican last name or company that I owned or anything that helped me. I really did it on my own and I started this. one person, one volunteer, one cause and it grew to thousands of volunteers helping 120,000 people. No one had even given us donations it was all teamwork. My advice will always be to have perseverance and don’t give up because there’s a no to everything and it’s up to us to continue thinking that it is possible.
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