REFINE Magazine Spring/Summer 2023: The Distortion Issue

i s t o r d t i o n ISSUE

The

Main

Photographed by Jade Alderman

Photographed by Angie Zela

Photographed by Alana Palmer

Photographed by Joelle DelPrete

Model Kaddy McAuliffe and Art Director Christina O’Brien

Photographed by Jade Alderman

BEHIND THE COVER BEHIND THE COVER BEHIND THE COVER BEHIND THE COVER BEHIND THE COVER BEHIND THE COVER BEHIND THE COVER BEHIND THE COVER BEHIND THE COVER BEHIND THE COVER BEHIND THE COVER BEHIND THE COVER BEHIND THE COVER BEHIND THE COVER BEHIND THE COVER

Feeling rebellious, Lead Photographer Jade Alderman and Art Director Christina O’Brien wanted to bring punk to life for the Distortion Issue cover shoot. Model Kaddy McAuliffe ventured around Graffiti Pier and visited Tattooed Mom bar while wearing outfits she would put on to go to a concert — or sing on stage herself.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Samantha Roehl

FOUNDER Sarah Madaus

MANAGING EDITOR Raven Lawson SENIOR EDITOR Jordan Manson

| EDITORIAL |

FEATURES EDITOR Nathaly Suquinagua

FASHION EDITOR Jonaira South

LOVE EDITOR Bryanna Santos

CULTURE EDITOR Cassandra Jenkins

FOB/BOB EDITOR Giovanna Cicalese

DIGITAL EDITOR Laila Samphilipo

COPY EDITOR Lydia Davidheiser

| VISUALS |

DESIGN EDITOR Julia King

LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Jade Alderman

ART DIRECTOR Christina O’Brien

| SOCIAL MEDIA |

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Clare Sykes

A special thanks to our staff writers and editorial, digital, and visuals contributors.

Photographed by Alana Palmer

WHO WE ARE

MISSION STATEMENT

Just as diamonds are refined by intense pressure and extracurricular challenges, REFINE magazine will challenge Temple students to think outside the box. REFINE offers a fresh perspective on campus life: the fashion statements, culture, music trends, health habits, and love lives that the Temple community possesses, all in one beautifully packaged issue. Our goal is to provide great service to our readers, so that they can navigate through the trenches of college with confidence and grace.

REFINE mimics the voice of the reader’s BFF:

We love you, but we have no qualms about giving it to you straight.

Photographed by Angie Zela

EDITOR’S NOTE

Hello again,

Welcome back to REFINE Magazine! I’m very excited to introduce you to the Distortion Issue.

Distortion, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, means “the act of twisting or altering something out of its true, natural, or original state.”

In this issue, we ask ourselves “is this the way the world is”? We rewind it, we replay it, we mirror it back. We take things that aren’t right and look at them from a different angle, through a new lens, change them and remold them until they are. We explore how we change ourselves, how we change those around us, and how we too are changed.

This issue is also, heartbreakingly, the final issue for a majority of our editorial board. Both Managing Editor Raven Lawson, whose contributions to REFINE cannot be overstated and Senior Editor Jordan Manson, who has been one of REFINE’s biggest cheerleaders, have graduated and are moving on to bigger and better things. We are also saying goodbye to amazingly talented Lead Photographer Jade Alderman, Art Director Christina O’Brien, Copyeditor Lydia Davidheiser, Design Director Julia King, and section editors Jonaira South, Bryanna Santos, and Cassandra Jenkins. I want to express my sincerest thanks to these people who made this issue possible. They have left behind some very big shoes to fill.

Until we meet again.

Love, Samantha

Photographed by Bella Wilson

samantha’s favorite retellings

There is something so beautiful to me about retellings. The idea that a story can resonate with us so strongly that we feel the need to tell it over and over, changing it to fit in with our life experiences and worldview. Some modern stories are the result of thousand-year-old games of telephone. How is that not the coolest thing ever?

EDITOR’S NOTE

“Hadestown” is a folk opera retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice set against the backdrop of a 1930s-esque factory town. It has eight (well deserved) Tony Awards.

“The Wild Swans” and East Asian folklore are beautifully intertwined in this book about a princess forced into silent exile to save her brothers. Also, there are dragons.

Anna-Marie McLemore is a master at writing young adult magical realism. They have written ten books but these two (inspired by “The Snow Queen” and “The Red Shoes,” respectively) are my favorites.

If you’ve ever read Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen” and thought that Gerta and the Robbergirl were meant to be, do I have the book for you.

One of my first loves when it comes to musical theater. Inspired by “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” it follows Elphaba, the (not so) Wicked Witch of the West.

OUR PHILADELPHIA MUSES

Curated by Nuri Piera Webb

While the Philadelphia music scene is not as grand as its counterparts in Nashville or NYC, that doesn’t mean Philly is lacking in up-and-coming artists. We’ve created a playlist meant to enrich the readers’ minds with music from the Philly… and maybe get them to add a few songs to their own playlist!

Heatloaf (@heatloaf)

Formed out of the desire to have a ‘no boys’ band, surrounded by those they care about. Heatloaf has been making waves in the local music scene and more specifically in Temple’s surrounding community.

Zinadelphia (@zinadelphia)

Another fellow Temple University student, Zinadelphia is a pop vocalist and guitarist based here in Philadelphia. Zinadelphia has been making an impactful entrance into the music scene, starting with her latest release “Love Language.” Her predecessor could be considered Japanese Breakfast, an indie pop band based here in Philadelphia lead by Korean-American musician Michelle Zauner.

Saleka (@saleka)

Saleka Shyamalan, an Indian-American R&B singer is thriving in the music industry. She has opened for acts like Boyz II Men and Summer Walker.

Sunnie (@iiamsunnie)

New Jersey born R&B artist Sunnie is multi-dimensional artist with a soulful voice that will captivate you. Sunnie has evolved from listening and taking note of what it sounded like to be a woman without boundaries.

(Much like Sunnie and Saleka, Jill Scott was an R&B powerhouse based in the city of love, which is why we are adding her to the playlist. You can never go wrong with some of Scott’s tunes!)

Chioke (@5dacat)

Chioke’s low-toned vocals pull you into a sweet embrace about lust and chemistry over electrica instrumentals. Her music will captivate you.

2Rare (@2raree)

Naseem Rafeeq Young, known professionally as 2Rare, is a rapper from Philadelphia. In October 2022, he appeared on American rapper NLE Choppa’s single “Do It Again” and in its accompanying music video, making him most certainly an up and coming artist in the area.

While I wouldn’t consider the next group to be any of these artists’ direct predecessors, I am certain that they have inspired many and will inspire many more to come. The Roots, formed in 1987, were revolutionary as they combined hip-hop with jazz, funk, and soul. There was a uniqueness that many of these artists featured in the playlist showcase today.

Despite not being “the” city for music, Philadelphia has no lack of talented acts. Philadelphia will continue to leave its mark on the music industry for years to come.

Are you the main character?

Take this quiz to answer, once and for all, whether or not you’re the main character.

BY: Evelyn Foster

1.What’s your favorite season?

a. Spring

b. Winter

c. Fall

d. Summer

2. It’s the first day of classes. What are you wearing?

a. Something comfy—Leggings or sweats with a hoodie

b. Something cute and simple—A crop top with jeans

c. Something trendy—Cargos and an over sized t-shirt

d. Something fun—A skirt, your fav baby tee, with accessories

3. When your friend comes to you with a problem about a mutual friend you...

a. Say whatever is on your mind

b. Give good advice

c. Say what your friend wants to hear

d. Stay out of it because you don’t want to get involved

4. Do you text back right away?

a. Yes

b. No

c. Sometimes

d. Depends on who it is

5. QUICK! Truth or Dare?

a. Truth

b. Dare

If you got...

Mostly As

You’re the main character. You’re a little unrealistic at times but fun to be around, nonetheless. Remember to ask your friends how they’re doing every once in a while. (Tori Vega, Emily Cooper, Aang, Bella Swan, Jackie Burkhart)

Mostly Bs

You’re the main character’s best friend. You’re charming, well-dressed, and empathetic. You’re not the main character but everyone wants to be you anyway. You’re just that cool. (Mindy Chen, Lily Truscott, Darwin, Lexi Howard, Stiles Stilinski)

6. Your dream date is going where?

a. Arcade

b. Movies

c. Museum

d. Beach

7. Your best trait is your...

a. Confidence

b. Sense of Humor

c. Charm

d. Intelligence

8. Other people’s opinions

a. Effect your decisions

b. Aren’t important

c. Can occasionally bother you

d. Secretly bother you a lot

9. You follow fashion trends from

a. Your siblings

b. TikTok

c. Fashion magazines and designers

d. Your favorite musician

10. Pick your fave artist from 2014

a. One Direction

b. Taylor Swift

c. Panic! at the Disco

d. Drake

Mostly Cs

You’re the comedic relief. What would we do without you? It can be hard living in the main character’s shadow but know you’re loved just the way you are. (Ron Stoppable, Cat Valentine, Cassie Ainsworth, Bubblegum Princess)

Mostly Ds

You’re the anti-hero. You surprise people (in a good way). You’re smarter than you think you are, but you will recognize it one day. (Zuko, Marceline, Deadpool, Harley Quinn, Blair Waldorff)

Lukewarm Takes

What are Temple students’ most lukewarm takes?

BY: Nathaly Suquinagua

We all have some minor mundane issues when it comes to our everyday lives, especially college kids who seem to be running around campus every day of the week. Unlike “hot takes,” these lukewarm takes are more personal pet peeves.

Sophomore Natalia Hewit has one minor issue that seems to bother her.

“I simply get annoyed when people assume what others do,” said Hewit. “Why do people assume I’m aggressive? I hate being called aggressive. It’s just insulting.”

Jumping into the conversation, freshman Alex Zera mentioned how much he dislikes people nowadays having no common decency.

Zera remembered a time where he was walking down the stairs and a woman greeted him and said good morning.

“It was a little uncomfortable since it’s like what are you doing, do you have a secret motive that you have for saying hello? She seemed like she was a worker and she was familiar with that kind of work and I was so surprised she greeted me,” said Zera.

It surprised Zera, as he was not accustomed to seeing people greet others in such a polite way. It was something he won’t forget. Zera thinks this should be more normalized and that people have to show good manners even when others don’t.

Hewit chimed in and mentioned how in food service, it is nice to say hello and how are you to the workers. People are used to not saying that and it ultimately makes workers not want to say these types of things to people anymore.

Part of the reason why Zera and Hewit think people don’t show manners is that there is a misconception that if other people don’t show manners, then why should you continue to do so?

Adding to the list of what makes people upset or feel a certain way was sending food back at a restaurant or a food place.

Zera mentions how much he would rather stay with the food he disliked rather than send it back to the kitchen. Constantly complaining about the food for Zera is something that makes him upset and would not want to cause any issues at a restaurant.

These are some of the small concerns that many Temple students have and mentioned here are just some of the many.

Photographed by Christina O’Brien

banned

With the rise of book bans across America, here are some contested books that you should read.

BY: Amna Faheem

The notion of banned books has been sweeping the nation for the past few years, with more and more communities inciting outrage on various literary works. According to PEN America, an organization that keeps track of the increasing number of banned books across the nation, 41 percent of banned books are LGBTQ+ related, 40 percent have prominent characters of color, and 20 percent are about race and racism.

“When that happens—feelings of uncertainty, unknowns, fear, etc—it’s a natural reaction for people to start banning what they’re scared of, to push it away. But they’re pushing away the very education that can be used to understand these topics,” said Brian Shields, a Ph. D. candidate and teaching assistant for the Banned Books course.

Here are some books that have been coming under fire recently:

The Color Purple, a novel by Alice Walker, depicts the life and trauma of Celie, an African-American woman living in rural Georgia, and her growth and evolution – personally, sexually, and intellectually – as she ages. The novel, which was banned from school libraries across America from 1984 to 2013, was argued against for its homosexuality, great violence, African history, features of rape and incest, drug use, explicit language, and sexual scenes. Despite its eventual release from the banned book list, it was banned from all Texas state prisons in 2017, due to the graphic portrayal of violence.

Inspired by the growing Black Lives Matter movement, the book The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas was banned in the town of Katy, Texas for inappropriate language, and was pulled from the school library shelves by Superintendent Lance Hindt due to racially-insensitive language. The book follows Starr Williams, an African-American teenager who goes to a predominately white private school, and her witnessing the shooting of a childhood best friend. The book touches on the all too common police brutality against young Black men, and the violence they face at the hands of the police force.

Nobel Literature prize-winner Toni Morrison’s novel, The Bluest Eye, was one of the top 16 books taken off shelves in school libraries. In the school district of Wentzville, Missouri, the board voted 4-3 in favor of removing the literary works due to the inclusion of rape, incest, and pedophilia. The novel, which takes place in Lorain, Ohio, follows the story of a young African-American girl, Pecola, as she grows up following the Great Depression.

books

Written by Richard Wright, Native Son is about Bigger Thomas, a black man in Chicago, and his downward spiral following the accidental killing of a white woman. Thomas’s work touches on the reality of what being a Black man in America is like, and the reality of living in poverty and systematic racism. The book was banned for its “objectionable language, violence, sex, and profanity.” The book was then challenged in New Hampshire and New Jersey school districts in 1978, and in Massachusetts school districts in 1984, among a great deal of others.

Recently, Florida has been making headlines with their anti-LGBTQIA+ ideologies, banning certain books and pushing legislation that hinders education on the matter, as well as the safety and well-being of those who identify as part of the LGBTQIA community.

“It’s a very dangerous game to play,” said Shields. “...Stripping kids of these resources leads to indoctrination. These controversial topics, the things people don’t want to talk about, they’re the most important things to have conversations about.”

Lawn Boy by Johnathan Evison, shares the story of Mike Muñoz, a young, bi-racial, Mexican American, and takes us through his time of self-discovery as he struggles with issues such as racism, microaggressions, and social issues like poverty. Due to its profanity and sexual content, the book has received backlash and has been challenged or banned in the Texas Leander school district, Fairfax, Virginia school districts, and Wake County, North Carolina school district.

Maia Kobabe’s debut work, Gender Queer, is a graphic novel about the journey of a young teenager grappling with identity, sexuality, and coming out as non-binary to their community. Members of school districts like that of Sebastian, Florida have filed many complaints and continuously challenged the novel, citing the sexual content and language depicted to be inappropriate for children.

Based on his own experiences, George M. Johnson wrote All Boys Aren’t Blue, as a memoir to share their experiences growing up in New Jersey and Virginia as a queer Black man. The book shares the honest truth of those identities. However, due to the detailed scenes portraying sex, sexual assault, and the language used, it’s been one of the most challenged and banned across many libraries in American public schools, like that of the Wentzville school district in Missouri.

A good piece of advice: “If it’s important enough to ban, it’s important enough to read,” said Shields.

Culture & Fashion & Health & Love

THEMINE

Photographed by Jade Alderman

Smart Women Read Smut

The romance genre has a bad rap. But is it just another way to hate on something women love?

BY: Giovanna Cicalese

With the growth of BookTok, a lot of readers have begun delving into saucy romance novels or back into smutty fanfiction. However, many readers, especially women, have historically been shamed for reading these types of novels because they are not considered to be “real” works of literature.

However, defining “real literature” is completely subjective.

“I feel like a lot of people assume that any book that was written like a 100 years ago is intellectual, which I disagree with,” said Alli Nikles, founder of the Temple University Book Club. “I don’t really like older literature or classic literature depending on who the author is. I’m not really a fan of that.”

For many readers, reading acts as a hobby or escape from daily life.

“I think that reading is, especially for me, more of a past time, and I’m not really doing it to learn,” said Nikles. “I’m just doing it to enjoy the characters and the plot and just get lost in a different reality. I don’t think it matters what you’re reading. I’m always changing what genre I want to read, depending on my mood.”

feelings. It’s not just all about sexual pleasure.”

However, finding a novel unrealistic has seemingly led to a complete dismissal of the romance genre.

“I think that lots of people want to condemn romance as a lesser form of literature, like it doesn’t have as much weight as classic literature,” Judice said. “And I feel like that’s very unfortunate, because there’re so many amazing deep stories that are told in romance genre books that a lot of the world are missing out on because they believe that romance as a genre doesn’t have any weight for society, any nuance to be discussed.”

While some people do think that romance novels may not hold any societal weight, they have proven to be widely successful. In recent years, around 29 million readers have delved into the romance genre, garnering about $1.44 billion dollars annually.

Alongside literary success, the smut and romance genre has prevailed with popular adaptations lately, such as Fifty Shades of Grey, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, and The Love Hypothesis (the former two being major movie and television franchises, the latter soon to become a movie).

Judging the genres or types of books someone wants to read is shallow—an example of quite literally judging a book by its cover.

Jessen Judice, co-host of the podcast “Smart Women Read Romance,” has made a career out of discussing romance novels with her aunt, a romance writer. She finds that one of the main criticisms leveled at the romance genre is accusations that it is too unrealistic, that the characters or relationships are too perfect.

“A lot of criticism that I’ve heard is that romance is unrealistic— that the heroes in particular might be unrealistic—and I think that that’s a little bit sad,” said Judice. “Because mainly the things that we’re drawn to in romance are partners that really care about our main character and really want to understand them and care about

Despite these commercial successes, romance and smut readers are often no stranger to the occasional off-handed comment about their reading choices.

“I remember one of my family members saying, ‘Oh, you’re such a smart girl. I can’t believe that’s what you read,’” said Judice. “And I was just like, why would reading this type of story make me less intelligent than if I read something that was more outwardly acceptable?”

At the end of the day, many people, like Judice, who enjoy romance and smut have full careers and are intelligent people. The notion that reading romance or smut makes someone less intelligent is small-minded and completely discredits all the success of the romance genre and those who enjoy it.

“There’re so many amazing deep stories that are told in romance genre books that a lot of the world are missing out on because they believe that romance as a genre doesn’t have any weight for society, any nuance to be discussed.”

Photographed by Alana Palmer

Friendship and Habit Formation

How our friends influence our behavior.

BY: Ryan Tian

Our social circles inevitably shape who we are—it’s been well-established that we can pick up habits, attitudes, and even phrases from our friends. But why does this phenomenon occur? It turns out, the answers lie in the realms of behavioral psychology and sociology.

Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory offers a plausible explanation. According to Bandura, we learn behaviors from our environment by observing others and modeling our actions after theirs. When we see a friend engaging in a behavior that seems rewarding, we may adopt the behavior ourselves, hoping for similar outcomes.

Similarly, Mirror Neuron Theory, postulated by Giacomo Rizzolatti and his team, proposes that our brains have ‘mirror neurons,’ which fire both when we perform an action and when we observe someone else performing that action. This mechanism drives imitation and empathy, pushing us to unconsciously adopt the behaviors of our friends.

Meanwhile, within sociology, the concept of Group Conformity, first proposed by sociologist Solomon Asch, highlights how group pressure can significantly influence individual behavior. Asch’s research suggests that we often conform to group norms, meaning if our friend group has certain habits or slang, we’re likely to adopt these to fit in.

Evidence supporting these theories is abundant. For example, a study by Christakis and Fowler found that habits, particularly health-related ones such as smoking and obesity, can spread through social networks. This study indicated that our friends’ behaviors can profoundly influence our own, especially if we spend a considerable amount of time with them.

Our susceptibility to friends’ influences isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a fundamental aspect of our social nature. Understanding this can help us leverage the positive aspects of this social synchronization, fostering habits that contribute to personal growth and wellbeing. However, as Bandura suggested, self-efficacy and personal agency also play crucial roles in determining which behaviors we choose to adopt. As such, while we may be influenced by our friends, our choices ultimately shape our behavior.

So, the next time you find yourself ordering the same meal as your friend or using their catchphrase, don’t be surprised. It’s all part of being human, the intrinsically social and adaptive creatures that we are.

Photographed by Joelle DelPrete

Photographed by Joelle DelPrete

Double Standards Have Always Been The Gold Standard

BY: Chelsie DeSouza

The beauty and fashion industry have always been spaces that leaned into racism, ableism, transphobia, and fatphobia, with ironclad gates heavily guarded against inclusivity and otherness. If you weren’t tall, skinny, and white, you rarely saw yourself on the runways, pages of magazines, or in advertisements; if you did they were few and far between, and so often laced with sentiments of tokenism.

body neutrality, in which bodies are neither loved nor hated but seen as the useful tools they are. We shouldn’t be commenting on other peoples’ bodies at all. Why are women nitpicked for their weight gain but dad bods are hot and celebrated? The issues are so convoluted that if I were to draw a venn diagram it would be unfathomable and upsetting.

If I tried to list all the examples of the double standards we’ve seen in the beauty and fashion industry, I’d be writing a dissertation, because the shit runs deep. From gender to race, different bodies, pretty privilege, class, nepotism, and disability discrimination; all aspects of what it means to be deemed beautiful or accepted seem predicated on things that ostracize and deem otherness not up to editorial standards.

Why was Serena Williams described as “rule-breaking” for the way she wore her nails? We see time and time again the difference in language used in the media to describe Black women in relation to beauty and trends. White heteronormativity is the beauty standard to which we have been indoctrinated to compare everything to. The Eurocentricity of the beauty industry as a whole has made it commonplace to leave Black women out of a conversation that they deserve to be in—often, a conversation about trends they created, from acrylic nails to cornrows and locs.

What I do know is that the Kardashian/Jenners are front page news for spearheading long acrylics as if they have pushed the boundaries of nail art, when in reality, Black women have been rocking fake nails decades before they were “cool,” back when the world described them as “ghetto,” and asked “how can you do anything wearing them?” The recurring theme is that it’s the color of a person’s skin that makes something trendy and acceptable. Repackage something from Black culture in whiteness and boom, it’s mainstream.

Why was Tess Holliday deemed “the worst dressed” in 2020 for wearing the infamous strawberry dress that subsequently went viral on TikTok when skinny people wore it? It’s fatphobia, the double standard created for bodies. The same thing can be seen in the way slimmer celebrities are called brave for showing their slightly bigger bodies but Lizzo is told she needs to get healthy. Body positivity should be de-emphasized in favor of

Why did Candace Owens have a problem with model Haleigh Rosa, who uses a wheelchair, starring in a SKIMS campaign? On her Feb 28 episode of “Daily Wire” she said, “I don’t know why this needs to be done. I’m just getting tired of this all-inclusivity thing. It seems ridiculous.” She seems to think that people with disabilities should not be shown in advertisements. The cis-heteronormative divisive ableism in her message overlaps with the outrage when Halle Bailey was cast in “The Little Mermaid,” when Dylan Mulvaney and Bud Light did an ad collaboration, or when Colin Kaepernick received a deal with Nike—it all stems from white supremacy because why else are people, and by people I mean bigots, enraged if not because they want those that are other than white, straight, or slim to be the quietest and most invisible parts of America?

Double standards across beauty and fashion impact everyone who doesn’t fit the mold. Any attempt to include people has either received pushback and/or there’s a bouncer at the door to only let in those who fit the parameters of pretty enough and poster child enough. It’s an egregious misjustice and all the instances of prejudice across the industry I didn’t include break my heart, because we all deserve to be seen, heard and acknowledged, but the bias and exclusion is too much to fit into this 820 word article.

I didn’t even mention the outrage that hijabis in ads brought or the transphobia whenever the trans community is featured in TV shows, but the list goes on and on. The extent at which hate rears its ugly head in an industry that should just make people feel beautiful is something that most of us can’t wrap our heads around, but some of us (hopefully all of us) will continue to fight to correct. These double standards were ingrained in us long before we even knew what beauty and being different truly meant, because in our society, beauty is strictly subjective and those who created the ‘subjective’ definition look through a lens of bias. But if you didn’t already know, that’s not what beauty is.

Staff writer Chelsie DeSouza talks about double standards in the beauty and fashion industry.

“The extent at which hate rears its ugly head in an industry that should just make people feel beautiful is something that most of us can’t wrap our heads around.”

Mental Breakdown MAKEOVER

Why do we give ourselves makeovers when going through life changes?

BY: Samantha Roehl

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a girl going through a hard time, must be in want of a haircut. Or a dye job. Or a new piercing. But why is it that we feel the need to change our appearance when we’re going through a period of change?

“Changing our appearance is a form of control,” said Sophie Koch, who is getting her Master’s in Professional Clinical Counseling at La Salle University. “We cannot control what happens to us, the decisions, words, or actions of others, or how we feel. As much as people tell you to control your emotions, you can’t. We can control how we look.”

Linh Nguyen, a sophomore data science major, was devastated when she got broken up with in high school. But once she was out of the self-described “crazy” relationship, she decided it was finally time to make a change and cut her hair short.

“I kind of want[ed] to do more self-investment because I fe[lt] like ‘Oh I’ve been ignoring myself for too long’ and the ending of the relationship was the boost, the thing to empower me to do that,” said Nguyen.

She headed to the salon where she got her hair cut short and dyed.

“I’m not sure it’s the same thing for everyone, but I feel like when you end some relationships, you would have some reflection,” said Nguyen. “So when you have that self-reflection you kind of look back at who you were and heading into the future you want to invest in yourself more, you want to feel prettier sometimes.”

And she is not alone. According to a survey conducted by All Things Hair, 70% of women change their hair after a breakup. But it’s not a reaction reserved for only the end of romantic relationships — the end of friendships can also trigger a change in self-expression.

For junior English major Reagan Watkin’s 21st birthday, she and her best friend got matching tattoos — the word “always” in red on their ribs.

Fast forward a year, and Watkins found herself ghosted.

After multiple attempts to ask what had happened and months of no contact, Watkins finally tracked her down to the lash salon she worked at through some Instagram sleuthing. After the confrontation ended with the two on bad terms, Watkins thought it was time to get her tattoo covered up.

“I made an appointment, I saved up, I knew exactly what I wanted,” Watkins said. She got a dragon, with shades of red and orange, to cover up the old tattoo. “It’s really pretty and one of my favorite tattoos now. And it definitely brought me a lot of closure and peace and I feel a lot better about the situation.”

Whether it’s a temporary change such as a hair cut or dye job or a permanent one such as a new (or revamped) tattoo, changing our appearances allows us a measure of control in an uncontrollable world. It’s a way to reassert ourselves, to start over, to try something new.

But is it a healthy coping mechanism?

… It depends.

“We need to look at how that change is affecting someone’s life,” said Koch. “If the change is aimed to help someone be the person they want to be, of course. We call that workability. Is it workable for them? If going blonde increases someone’s confidence, sure. It is not harming them.”

There’s another side to that, though. If you change your appearance to match what someone else wants, or are doing so in a self-destructive way, it can become a problem.

“It truly depends on what the change is, why someone has made a change, and how that change is serving someone,” said Koch.

While some changes are permanent, changing your hair or your wardrobe is an easy way to gain a new perspective or get a fresh start. Between writing and editing this story, I got my hair cut shorter than it has been since elementary school — the confidence boost was enormous. As long as changes are not destructive, there’s no reason not to go for it. And remember: hair will grow back.

BS(D) it

REFINE’s Senior Editor Jordan Manson talks about journalism, college, and what comes after graduation.

BY: Jordan Manson

Picture this—the snaps of hungry cameras, “I love you’s,” and “oh my goshes,” exploding from the mouths of adoring fans like confetti poppers—and me… positioned proudly by the infamous MET steps. A list of questions on deck, recorder tuned in and by this point, I’d have so much experience, my hand wouldn’t even shake when I pass the microphone to Rihanna. Just perfect, right? Except for the fact that I need to secure a job, and before that I need to secure my degree, and before that I need to take two summer classes, and… you get the point. I know where I want to be, but sometimes, I sit back and think: how the heck am I supposed to get there?

early. There’s only so many “no’s” you can get before thinking that maybe it’s something you’re doing wrong. A majority of the internships and starter positions within the magazine industry are asking for two to three years of experience. So… you’re telling me I would’ve had to be motivated enough to find a position as a sophomore in the midst of a pandemic? It just seems as if you hit dead end after dead end throughout the process. But, there’s no point in giving up now. After surviving four years of 11:59 p.m. deadlines and coffee rushes in the library, this is the easy part. Now just BS(D) the rest:

When I first started college, I was a naive freshman. I didn’t know anything about cover letters or scholarly sources. My main concern was having a GPA that was just good enough to remain active on the cheerleading team. I flipped through three years, only focused on the now.

Reality rolled up my resume and slapped me across the face with it the first day of my senior year. I was seeing career fair flyers and hearing about my friends’ summer internships and upcoming job opportunities. I finally internalized all the noise… I had no experience and in nine months, I was about to lose my window of opportunity. I scoured through Handshake and Klein Connect and found my first ever internship: Editorial Intern for Boston Common Magazine and Philadelphia Style Magazine under the Modern Luxury Brand. It was one of my biggest blessings. There, I sent out image requests and fact-checks to major PR brands and upgraded my portfolio with pieces I wrote that are now sold in a major magazine. Having published clips is something entry level journalists work years to get to — and I did it all within three months. It would be a great disservice to myself to not recognize my value as a journalist and a potential employee at any company I set my sights on.

Right now, I’m in the job application stage of almost-college-graduate life. I send in about 3 applications every day, each with the same resume and just a slightly more personalized version of the same cover letter. What I can tell you: this is real. Post-grad depression is a real emotion and I started to feel it

Balance: Open the laptop just one hour earlier on the days that you are mass applying to jobs, so that you can open a tab later at happy hour with your friends. Everything in life is about balance. If you work too hard, you may suffocate the creativity and drive in your brain. If you play too hard, you’ll be stuck thinking about the impending, “what if’s.” Find your balance.

Support: The only thing that makes the job hunt somewhat enjoyable is having a right-hand man by your side. Bounce ideas off colleagues or talk to your friends. It takes a village.

Delusion: Play “Who Says” by Selena Gomez before you keep reading. Who says that your TikTok can’t turn into an overnight sensation or that your custom sneaker business can’t be booked until the end of the month! If you spend too much time worrying about the logistics of the transportation, you’ll never start the journey.

I’m letting life take me where it wants to, but I’m also making sure it’s headed in the right direction. That’s all you really can do.

“I know where I want to be, but sometimes, I sit back and think: how the heck am I supposed to get there?”

Photographed by Kyle Olani Adams

Oh, For the Love of Self Care!

Has self-care has become a status symbol instead of a meaningful experience?

BY: Hadiza Mshelia

From a monthly mani-pedi to trips to the hair salon to the sheet face masks that we spend a couple bucks on at Rite Aid or CVS, self-care is a relaxation technique for many young women, including myself. But there is a question that we all want to know the answer to: is it becoming a waste of time and money?

It seems like it might be, the more expensive each of these products get, the more they become a sign of status rather than a simple hobby. Some even see doing their makeup as self-care, which can become costly, especially when influencers such as Alix Earle (@alixearle on Tiktok) and Monet McMichael (@ monetmcmichael on Tiktok) show off the brands they have, most of which are high end such as NARS, Charlotte Tilbury, Giorgio Armani, and Fenty Beauty.

Another example, the coveted Rare Beauty Blush by singer Selena Gomez which costs $25, and always sells out quickly. That’s not saying splurging is never worth it—I bought the Rare Beauty Blush in the bright red shade, Grateful, and I love it so much! But it’s also possible to find a similar one with the same features for $10. People can find dupes, or replicas of the exact same product, for half the price — but that means giving up the status symbol of the more expensive product, especially if it’s created by a famous celebrity or a luxury brand.

Even getting our nails done feels like a luxury! On average, gel manicures cost $45 to $50 and charge as much as $10 per design on one fingernail! Crazy right? To me personally, that is a fair price to spend once a month or every other month—though there

is a current controversy surrounding UV gels and their health risks. An alternative is press on nails, which you can find on Amazon for around $8. Some people find that press on nails are less time consuming and save them a considerable amount of money.

Even facial masks can run you from a couple of dollars all the way up to hundreds, depending on where you got them from. There are options from CVS or Sephora or even high-end brands such as La Mer or Charlotte Tilbury. I have collected dozens of sheet masks from CVS over this past school year, and I have to say I enjoyed them not only because of the low prices but how they hydrate and take excellent care of my skin, despite being incredibly low maintenance. One of my favorite brands of face masks to pick up at CVS is LAPSCOS because they have so many options specifically created for whatever skin issues you’re having. These masks have made my skin retain more moisture and brightened my complexion, I highly recommend trying them out!

It seems that owning self-care products and cosmetics has been becoming less of a pastime and more of a privilege and a status of wealth. That needs to change. At the same time, that doesn’t mean that all self care is bad. Ways to participate in self care without needing to spend a large amount of money include simply going for a walk outside, especially in this beautiful weather, cleaning and organizing your room, or writing in your journal! It’s important to remember that self care is the best care, with or without money!

From TikTok Filters To Facelifts

How filters have perpetuated an unrealistic beauty standard and warped an entire generation’s perception of themselves.

BY: Cassandra Jenkins

Despite launching years after well-known social media apps such as Snapchat and Twitter, short-form video hosting service TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. With over one billion monthly active users worldwide, TikTok has set itself apart from other social media platforms in a number of ways. One of the app’s most popular, and controversial, features is its filters. Though it is impressive how hyper-realistic many of these filters are, many TikTok users have described them as “scary” and “harmful” for their ability to change a person’s entire appearance.

One of TikTok’s taglines reads “trends start here.” Unfortunately, this statement has proven to be true with TikTok’s ability to popularize a particular beauty standard. Though filters can be a source of fun and self-expression, they often do more harm than good. Filters like “Bold Glamour,” are criticized for perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards, specifically by promoting Eurocentric features. These filters are capable of making your skin lighter, nose smaller, eyes bigger, and much more.

doesn’t actually exist. Since filters are so widely used across TikTok, it becomes easy to believe that people look a certain way naturally.

“It’s important that we constantly remind ourselves, Gen Z, and everyone who uses social media that it is a one-sided reality,” said 21-year-old CarNya Sutton.

Unfortunately, filters are capable of destroying a person’s self-esteem to the point that they feel the need to get cosmetic surgery. Many young people get nose jobs, lip fillers, facelifts, and more because they want to look like the filters they use on social media. In an article by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, it’s stated that “a growing number of teenagers are undergoing plastic surgery to alter their appearance.” Though this may not be the intent, TikTok filters teach young people that there is an ideal way to look. Resorting to plastic surgery to gain confidence may sound drastic to some, but for many it may feel like the only solution.

Even more alarming is how seamless the technology behind these filters is. Filters on Snapchat, one of the original social media platforms to introduce augmented reality, often glitch or turn off completely when you wave your hand in front of your face, which many people found annoying in the past. However, TikTok users are now alarmed by the fact that the app’s filters don’t even glitch if you cover half of your face with an object.

The majority of TikTok users are teens and young adults, two of the most impressionable age groups. As an estimated 62 percent of TikTok users are between the ages of 10-29, the influence that TikTok has on beauty trends is monumental. Although things like makeup tutorials and using filters aren’t necessarily harmful on their own, they can ultimately lead to warped perceptions of what beauty is.

Oftentimes, young people don’t even realize when someone is using a filter and begin comparing themselves to a person who

As technology continues to evolve, filters are only becoming more advanced.

“Filters can have a negative impact on people, especially young people, because they warp people’s perceptions of themselves,” said 22-year-old Maya Brown.

This is why it’s important to continuously remind ourselves what’s real and what isn’t. It’s true that some filters can be fun, harmless, and even helpful, such as filters that show how you would look with a nose piercing or bleached eyebrows. However, the problem comes when we allow filters to shape how we view ourselves and what we define as beautiful.

“One of TikTok’s taglines reads ‘trends start here.’ Unfortunately, this statement has proven to be true with TikTok’s ability to popularize a particular beauty standard.”

COVE R SHOOT COVER SHOOT COVER SHOOT

Modelled by Kaddy McAuliffe

Photographed by Christina O’Brien

Photographed by Jade Alderman

Photographed by Jade Alderman

Photographed by Christina O’Brien

Photographed by Christina O’Brien

Photographed by Jade Alderman

Photographed by Christina O’Brien

Does Sex Look Pretty?

Does porn perpetuate unrealistic expectations about sex?

BY: Giovanna Cicalese

According to the CDC, a comprehensive sex education looks like a course that is taught by a well-qualified teacher, engages all students, and addresses all health needs including those of LGBTQ+ students. However, in a country where some states prohibit sex educators from discussing the LGBTQ+ community in sex education, 37 states have laws that require teaching abstinence, and only 18 states require educators to teach about birth control, sex education isn’t as comprehensive as it needs to be.

An incomplete sex education program can leave young people ashamed or scared to talk about sex. It also leaves them with lots of questions—which can lead teens to look for answers in porn or other forms of media.

“Because we don’t necessarily have a ton of spaces where we feel comfy and cozy to talk about sexuality, certainly with folks that are experts in the field, or that make us feel safe…porn kind of becomes that substitute for more foundational educational information that you could get from like a formal sex, that curriculum or program,” said Dr. Jennifer Pollitt, assistant director and assistant professor in Temple University’s Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies department.

When porn or other sources of media become peoples’ primary sex education it raises the question: does real sex look like it does in porn? Porn can show a wide range of body types, but diverse porn is something that has to be looked for and the front page is not cutting it in the diversity department. Seeing all of the same body types in the media can make people question what their body looks like, if they should be shaving more, or if their body parts match up to what they are seeing.

“And so you know what is porn teaching us about body image? Is it opening up spaces for folks to be like ‘Oh, hey, that person’s body actually looks like mine,’ you know, or is it making folks feel insecure like that person’s body doesn’t look like mine, and that’s making me feel like my body looks weird,” said Pollitt. “And again, this is also where I don’t think that there’s going to ever be an either or for porn, it’s not going to be all good or all bad. It’s the grapple, those tensions, and sit somewhere in between.”

While diverse porn does exist, it has to be searched for, and for someone who hasn’t had a comprehensive sex education or even an inclusive conversation about what’s out there, porn can be just as confusing.

“I think we can hate on porn a lot, but we have to remember that porn exists in a society full of unrealistic body standards (and various forms of oppression) just like everything else and is therefore subject to portraying those biases,” said Jack Kleiner,

a junior gender, sexuality, and women’s studies major. “These biases include preferences for white, young, thin, non-disabled bodies with desirable characteristics (e.g., large penises, big breasts, flat stomachs, muscles, etc.) When people appear in porn who don’t conform to this, oftentimes they are fetishized (sometimes with consent, oftentimes without consent) or othered in some way.”

In a world of idealized body standards, porn often embodies what a majority of viewers want to see. And the sex isn’t necessarily realistic, either.

“It really depends on the porn. But generally speaking, it absolutely does not depict reality,” said Kleiner. “You might see lube in porn, but you probably won’t (at least not obviously), and it makes it seem like this product is a ‘last resort’ despite how much it helps with comfort, safety and pleasure.”

Porn can also leave out crucial parts of sex such as onscreen consent, communication, foreplay, and aftercare.

“So in the absence of those things being represented in digital porn, you know, what are the false learnings about consent and communication?” said Pollitt.

Leaving out key communication from porn means that people may have no idea how to have conversations about what they want or need from their partners when they’re having sex. Verbal communication is always important. If you can’t talk about sex with your partner, should you be having sex with them?

However, paying attention to the physical communication of your partner and watching their body language is also important for being attuned to their body. When the media being watched as an introduction to sex doesn’t show verbal communication, people may not have the words for what they’re comfortable with—so watching out for physical signs of consent or the lack thereof is just as important as talking about it.

“Checking in and being attuned to the body of your partner’s, and being attuned to your own body, is just as important as being able to have a language and facilitate a conversation about likes, wants, all the stuff between,” said Pollitt.

Porn isn’t an either/or situation but a both/and; it’s not going to be all good or all bad. Sex isn’t going to look exactly like it does in porn and body types aren’t always going to match up. What porn can do is open up a dialogue about sexuality. Porn can be helpful in showing someone what’s out there but due to its lack of realism it is still necessary to do research on healthy communication and safe sex. And let’s face it: sex doesn’t always look pretty.

Bah Boom / They’re perfect. Or at least they’d like you to think so.

BY: Laila Samphilipo

They’re perfect. I mean perfect. They shower you with extravagant gifts, compliment you like never before. They make you feel like the center of their universe. Their future, their soulmate.

It’s flattering, really. The attention is strong—almost too strong. But, is it sincere?

If you’ve experienced this before, you’ve likely experienced love bombing. The term, first coined in the 1970s to describe the indoctrination practices of religious organizations and cults, has recently gained notoriety in the dating space.

friends or family,” said Lang. “They want you all to yourself— and we know that in healthy relationships, healthy separation is necessary for us to be well and have balance. If your partner is showing signs of irritation or anger or requesting you end friendships or relationships, that could be a red flag, too.”

Senior psychology major Evan Watts (name changed for anonymity) knows these red flags all too well.

Quickly after matching with a woman on a dating app, she began to message him constantly. On their first date, she showered him with compliments. And, on the second date, she said she was “obsessed” with him and would “do anything” for him.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, love bombing is “a form of psychological and emotional abuse that involves a person going above and beyond for you in an effort to manipulate you into a relationship with them.”

And, while love bombing can manifest differently, it often includes excessive flattery and praise, over-communication of their feelings for you, showering you with unneeded or unwanted gifts, and early and intense conversations about your future together.

These signs can be tricky. At first glance, praise and communication don’t sound all too bad. These behaviors can seem pretty normal in relationships, especially early-on.

According to Maddie Lang, Mental Well-Being Program Coordinator at Temple University’s Wellness Resource Center, love bombing can sometimes create an unequal dynamic in a relationship under the guise of the “honeymoon phase.”

“The basis of any type of abusive relationship is power and control,” explains Lang. “Love bombing is just one tactic that might be used in order to achieve that for a person. It could be used to try to ‘win’ the other person over early on the relationship.”

Knowing this, it’s clear our perception plays a massive role in understanding love bombing. The attention that one person might find overwhelming, might actually be ideal for another. There are some signs, Lang says, that are often indicative of abusive and unhealthy relationships, including excessive possessiveness and jealousy, and minimizing, denying, or blaming for abusive behavior.

“An early sign of abuse is isolation from support networks, like

“It felt really overbearing,” says Watts. “I just remember feeling super overwhelmed and uncomfortable. She kept saying she’d do anything for me and it felt like she was tailoring what she was saying to my interests so we would seem like a perfect match.”

As their relationship went on, Watts says his social life began to deteriorate, as he felt guilted into spending all his time with her.

“It got to a point where I felt like she just sort of tricked me into liking her and then got really distant. But then I was always the one who was expected to just give things up because she gave me so much attention and so I like owed it to her,” said Watts.

In situations like this, Lang advises people to check-in with themselves and express their concerns to their partner.

“If you feel like something’s happening that you’re not okay with, and when you try to voice it, it just keeps happening over and over again, that’s a pretty good sign that things aren’t healthy,” said Lang.

Lang says she refers those in unhealthy or abusive relationships to community resources like Women Against Abuse in Philly and Lutheran Settlement House, which are able to help walk people through safety planning.

“If someone doesn’t feel okay in their relationship, that is enough of a reason to have concern, and to either want to address it or end a relationship,” said Lang. “It all goes back to personal choice, autonomy, and empowerment. I hope that people feel empowered to ask for what they want, and know they deserve to be treated with respect and dignity in their relationships.”

“I hope that people feel empowered to ask for what they want, and know they deserve to be treated with respect and dignity in their relationships.”

main

campus

Photographed by Angie Zela

A Constant Battle

MY STRUGGLE WITH IMPOSTER SYNDROME / BY RYAN TIAN

As the prospect of graduation looms before me, I find myself unable to shake this constant feeling of inadequacy; a nagging belief that I haven’t done enough to graduate. Everyone around me seems confident and accomplished, chatting about their internships, published articles, and experiences. Meanwhile, I sit quietly, wondering how I’ve managed to make it this far without being exposed as a fraud.

Impostor Syndrome – a psychological phenomenon in which individuals doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent fear of being exposed as a “fraud” – has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Despite my academic and professional achievements, I’m consistently plagued by an overwhelming sense of inadequacy. The constant self-doubt has transformed from a nagging whisper into a deafening roar, drowning out the encouragement of friends, family, and mentors.

I have doubted myself for as long as I can remember. At first, I doubted if I would be accepted to a University, but when I was accepted into Temple University’s journalism program, I thought (and hoped) my problems would just disappear. But soon after, the familiar cloud of doubt began to loom overhead. I found myself constantly comparing my work to that of my peers, scrutinizing every sentence, and agonizing over every pitch. As I watched my classmates flourish, I couldn’t help but feel like I was somehow lagging, despite evidence to the contrary. My internships only served to intensify this feeling. I was fortunate enough to land positions at reputable news organizations, but each time, the same insecurities resurfaced. I would obsess over every detail, afraid that a single misstep would reveal me as

the impostor I believed myself to be. The pressure to perform to impossible standards I set for myself was suffocating, and I began to dread going to work, paralyzed by the fear of failure.

The irony of impostor syndrome is that it can be both a curse and a blessing. On one hand, it has pushed me to work harder, to strive for perfection, and to constantly seek self-improvement. On the other, it has taken an immense toll on my mental health, leaving me perpetually on edge and riddled with anxiety.

It wasn’t until I confided in a close friend that I realized I wasn’t alone in my struggles. She shared that she too had experienced the same fears and doubts, despite having an exceptional career. I wish I could say that recognizing that I wasn’t the only one grappling with these feelings quelled my self doubt, but it only served to remind me that no matter how hard I worked, there might always be a little voice inside my head that whispers,

You’re not good enough.

You’re getting left behind.

You don’t deserve this.

As I stand on the precipice of a new chapter in my life, the weight of my self doubt feels heavier than ever. Graduation should be a time for celebration, but instead, I find myself drowning in anxiety. The countless hours spent studying, researching, and writing feel overshadowed by the pervasive belief that I don’t truly deserve the success I’ve achieved.

A Peek Behind the Curtain:

BY: Jennielee Hilario

Influencer marketing has become a popular tactic for brands looking to reach new customers through social media. Influencers are often sent products or services to review or promote. However, this practice raises the question of how we can trust that influencers are providing honest opinions and not just promoting things for financial gain.

Expectations for Influencers

When a brand sends a product or service to an influencer for review, there are expectations on both sides. The brand hopes that the influencer will have a positive experience with the product and share that experience with their audience. The influencer expects to receive compensation in some form, be that monetary or free merch.

“The contracts usually say that you have to talk about the product in a positive light or they list out specific things you have to mention,” said 22-year-old beauty, lifestyle, and fashion content creator, Jenn Evans (@jennxevans). The senior advertising major started receiving PR packages in June 2020.

On her Instagram and TikTok pages, Evans promotes companies such as Skims, Urban Outfitters, and YSL Beauty, among others by posing on camera, doing transitions, or recording unboxings. Evans says she focuses on promoting clothing pieces that are either trendy or basics that can be styled in trendy ways. She also lists all the products she uses in her caption as well as linking them.

“When I got to Temple I met so many girls who watched my YouTube videos and that is when I understood that I can have a positive influence on people’s lives,” said Evans. (Evans started posting on YouTube six years ago under the username Jenna Evans, though she has since prioritized her TikTok and Instagram presence.)

As an influencer, Evans is aware that not everything can be PR, as influencers would risk losing trust from their audience.

“If done right, when you build a community that trusts you, they will be happy and excited for your collaborations,” said Evans. Brands do not necessarily focus only on influencers’ content. They also take into account how many followers an influencer has when it comes to PR packages.

“Follower count is nice,” said Evans, who currently has just under 10k followers on Instagram and 62.8k on TikTok. “But if you make genuine good content, that will take you far.”

Influencers often get sent PR and do reviews. What are the expectations for them? How does that impact their objectivity

Photo via @jennxevans on Instagram

Curtain: Influencers Edition

objectivity and opinions? How can we determine if we are getting their honest views on a product or service?

Hilario Rivera

The Impact on Objectivity and Opinions

Expectations can impact an influencer’s objectivity and opinions on a given product or service. It’s important to remember that influencers are human beings with their own biases and preferences. If an influencer receives a product that they’re really excited about, they’re more likely to share a positive opinion of it.

Certainly, this is true about influencer Lexis Trechak (@lexistrechak); a senior at Temple University who started posting relatable content for the first time on TikTok in 2019. This content is mostly about things that dancers like herself go through on a daily basis; the posts are usually presented as POVs and comedic skits. Even though Trechak started posting her content for fun, she then realized that she was creating a community of young aspiring dancers.

“I wanted to be a role model for young dancers as I created my content,” said Trechak, who currently has 1.2 million followers on TikTok and 59k on Instagram.

Trechak has done PR deals for athletic brands such as Discount Dance, Halara, Better Me, among others. She has also promoted products from brands such as Coca Cola, Doordash, Totinos, Trident, Dawn dish soap, and more.

While dealing with these brands, Trechak feels that she “can trust them.” Therefore, she is more inclined to speak positively about brands she has worked with instead of their competitors due to her good experience. So, to build trust with her audience while doing PR, Trechak says that she films her brand deals similarly to her regular content so it is as enjoyable as her regular content.

The reality is that brands are very strategic, considering that brands that have reached out to Trechak have sent her PR boxes with sweet notes.

“I’ve had some lovely long term PR relationships,” said Trechak. “Such as Wendy’s who always writes me personal notes, which is so sweet.”

Ultimately, there’s no way to be 100% sure that an influencer is providing an honest review. While some influencers, such as Evans and Trechak, are willing to share what content of theirs is the result of PR, that is not always the case. Despite the Federal Trade Commission requiring influencers to disclose any relationship with brands, not every influencer does so. That makes it important for audiences to use their own discretion when watching influencer content.

Photo via @lexistrechak on Instagram

FISHEYE

Modelled by Faith Zehnder

Photographed by Joelle DelPrete

Modelled by Aurora Strecker and Kaylin Green

Photographed by Alana Palmer

WATER

Modelled by Izze Engblom

Photographed by Angie Zela

MIRRORS

Modelled by Liv Schroeder

Photographed by Jade Alderman