Strike Magazine Orlando Issue 07 by Strike Magazines

ISSUE 07

Rather than focusing on the lucky number seven, we’re embracing unluckiness with new interpretations of common superstitions. Bad luck comes in threes, that’s why there are three editors of Strike Orlando. A broken mirror is said to bring seven years of bad luck, but what’s broken isn’t unusable or of less value. Cross your fingers and hope to die, or something like that. If you see a black cat crossing your path, you’re supposed to look the other way, but why should we deny the feline’s attention? Instead of fearing the friendly feline, Strike Orlando thinks that a black cat is a woman’s best friend. So if you see a black cat crossing your path, take it home. Make sure to cross your fingers while telling lies. Then, you’re basically telling the truth. We hope that you see superstitions in a new light because sometimes it’s fun to push your luck. You’ll never look at them the same after flipping through this issue. Because who says seven has to be lucky?

Best of luck… 2

Editor-in-Chief

When leading a new issue of Strike Orlando, I put on my Strike-colored glasses and see my life through the lens of that issue. My wardrobe started shifting to blues and chromes, the touchstones of our magazine. I thought more about superstitions than I ever have and pushed my luck with broken mirrors. That being said, this issue is “Strike it Unlucky” but I couldn’t feel luckier. I feel so lucky to have a team full of so many talented individuals. I could not have asked for a better team to execute the vision so beautifully. This magazine shows that a group of students from different backgrounds, different passions, different creative styles and different experiences can come together to create something so special. I hold so much pride in my team and I am eternally grateful. This issue was my second issue as editor in chief, as well as my second to last. I can’t help but feel that as we wrap this issue, it is the beginning of the end. But as the graduation bells ring closer, I keep reminding myself that it’s just the beginning. I truly grew so much since our last issue and it shows in the pages. This issue is a product of growth and experience. I will continue to grow throughout my career in magazines and in my next issue with Strike Orlando. When going into this semester, I knew I wanted this magazine to be bigger and better than the last. Every page is a carefully curated tapestry of hard work and creativity. It’s grown up, it’s mature and it’s striking. As you flip through these pages, I hope that you get chills. I hope that it changes the way you see superstitions. I hope you laugh and cry and smile. I hope you read the entire thing front to back. Some superstitions are personal. I’ve always worn my key necklace on days when I need some extra luck. Some are widespread. I’ve always felt uneasy around broken mirrors. Some people just feel like they have to believe them and they don’t know why. Maybe this magazine will be your reason to. Enjoy our seventh issue… good luck! 3

Alexandra Sullivan

Creative Director When I presented this theme to the Strike Magazine Orlando staff, I described it as the hot older sister of our last issue (and my first as creative director). As the hot older sister in my own family, this issue meant a lot to me. The work put into creating Issue 07: “Strike it Unlucky” made me feel like the older sister in my Strike family. This semester, I got to establish relationships with my staff members that reminded me of the relationship that I have with my younger brother: filled with genuine fun and freedom to express exactly who I am. Both my creative and editorial teams perfectly executed the vision that I had in mind when I first came up with each concept for the issue and I can’t begin to explain my gratitude. Thank you to each member of Strike Magazine Orlando for trusting me with the job of curating this semester’s issue, and thank you to each and every member of the creative and editorial teams for creating a magazine that is both captivating and fun.

Grayson Keglovic External Director

It is a privilege and an honor to work alongside some of the brightest thinkers and hardest workers imaginable. Strike is a flame that attracts the most unique and talented people around. I am inspired every day, and it makes me want to give my all to the organization in the hopes that I can help our team achieve as far as they can dream. Being the external director gives me a beautiful vantage point of the effort and coordination that goes into our accomplishments. My mission is to listen intently to the goals and visions of every person, unifying their ideas and clearing a path toward a fantastic blend of their collective consciousness. Strike’s passion is progress, and that is exceedingly apparent. Thank you to all the people on staff who make my life way brighter. I wouldn’t want to face the challenges of making this magazine and building the brand around it with anyone else.

Josh Arden

STAFF LIST

Editor-In-Chief

Alexandra Sullivan

creative director

Grayson Keglovic

art team

STYLING

Director: Director: Josh Arden Marc Anthony Miller Jillian Proudfoot Assistants: Director’s Assistant: Eic assistant Sydni Torrero Hannah Tucker Delaney Gunnell Angelina Curatelli Assistants: CD assistant Deavion Deleon Anna McLean Gabby Macogay Rebecca Montas Editorial Kiera Mayott ED Assistant Director: Brenna Wold Joshua Jacobs Nina Rueda Cierra Mitchell Assistant: Photography Reanna Haase Photographers: Set design Writers: Macey Merino Director: Elizabeth Fernandez Emily Paul Ashlyn Buckman Raditya Narendrasuta Bella Love Assistants: Ashleigh Kutryb Kendal Asbury Marie Brooks Haleigh Grose Maggie Gamson Matthew Conte Sayana Ramírez Brianna Patane Jaydin ‘Tiano’ Valmyr Jaydin ‘Tiano’ Valmyr Richard Rentz Morgan Ryan Jenna Weiss Gillian Stewart VideoGraphy Copy Editors: Roberto Gonzalez Beauty Olivia Wagner Estephanie Ortiz Sarah Harwell Director: Omar Weise Katherine Polgar Director Assistant: Blog/WEb Coordinator Ariana Garcia-Fundora Jillian Brown External director

ISSUE 07

SOCIAL MEDIA

Director: Nick Flood Assistants: Calynne Thompson Mason Snowden Makayla Gray Jalenah Darby Janell Guillen Gaby Valencia

pUblic relations

Director: Ellie Cabeza Assistants: Amanda Janvier Laura Moreno Isabelle Gambrill Lilly Dame Devan Gipson Krizia Figueroa Anjelica Llanes Roberto Cotto Deanna Barreiro

Events

Director: Jada Penrow Assistants: Naiya Barsallo Amelia Patane Kylie Danielle

Social Media Graphic Design

Irene Triantafyllopoulou

Brand Ambassadors

Director: Roberto Cotto Assistants: Jamie Simmons Ranya Wakash Camille Evans Anthony Urena

zine team

Director: Amanda Turko Assistants: Margaret Wynn Scarlett Gomez Ariana Martinez Alexis Capuiso Justin Marcum

Merch Team

Director: Conor Caldwell Team: Lance Lozano

Finance

Director: Megan Danh Director Assistant: Kiara Alamo

Production:

Director: Trinity Pearson Team: Diego Sanchez Sophia Lamberty Jaeli Gilyard Emily Ching 6

BAD LUCK COMES IN

A History of

Threes By Emily Paul

he superstitions associated with the power of the number three have existed for decades. Although there is no scientific research that bad luck comes in threes, the superstition has been passed from many generations in many cultures. One theory traces the suspicion back to the Crimean War, where soldiers were warned against lighting three cigarettes with a single match to avoid being detected by the enemy.

Threes show up in much religious lore, from the Holy Trinity in the Christian faith to the Trimurti in Hindu religion. Buddhists affirm their faith using three statements known as the “3 Jewels of Buddhism.” There are three paths to enlightenment discussed in Hindu text Bhagavad Gita, the Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Karma Yoga.

Others have suggested links between Russian funeral rituals, where three altar candles were lit by the same taper. But regardless of where the suspicion of bad luck coming in threes originated, the belief is spread far and wide. Folklore and famous tales also include many triads, stories like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Macbeth’s three witches, The Three Little Pigs and even story structures including three parts: a beginning, middle, and end. Many tales involve protagonist’s completing three challenges in their quests. Our own lives are wrapped up in threes: our past, present, and future.

According to Brittannica, the Pythagoreans believed that three was the first true number. Plato saw the number as the symbol of the triangle, the simplest spatial shape, and believed the world was made from triangles. Although there is negativity associated with the number, there is also positivity found in seeing three threes together. In an article from USA Today, cosmic numerologist Jenn King says that angel number 333 should be seen as a sign to grow and expand, placing your energy in big dreams. It is associated with creativity, intuition and optimism. So whether you believe that bad luck comes in threes or you welcome the triple numeral, this issue of Strike is sure to leave you feeling lucky.

Or Unlucky.

birth, marriage, death

goldilocks with grown out roots too old to play pretend but still I’ll make myself at home inside the memory of someone else’s life collecting secrets under the covers with long-gone bedfellows

grasping at what her life could’ve been incalculable vastness boiled down to a birth, a marriage, a death what matters most never makes it to the history books

Bella Love they won’t know about her laugh won’t know if it was a room-shaking, bellowing howl deep in her chest or a high-pitched giggle she never grew out of, a glimpse of girlhood that refused to vacate a birth, a marriage, a death no room for memory

I speak her name into the heavy cemetery air the cicadas sing it back to me for Mary, for Jane, for Dorothy

WHAT DO THE LEAVES HAVE TO SAY?

Take seven sips and test your luck. We’ll let you know what your next chapter has in store when we see the shape that’s left in the bottom of your cup.

* Strike Orlando does not actually provide these goods and services. This is not a real ad.

WHEN

SHATTERED GLASS

Is the blue of my blood only the light penetrating my skin— or is it my heart pumping sadness throughout every fiber of my being? Can I have one more hug, one more kiss and a final moment of laughter until our days take an unexpected turn? But I suppose they already have. I suppose I’ll never be able to stare back at myself in the midnight mirror with a gleeful sigh on how the night went or how your lips graced mine at the end of our adventure with timelessness— as if we had forever. Heartbreak is life’s not-so-funny way of dealing us an unlucky hand. It hurts, as if the cards of our fate scraped against our fingertips, destined to never touch again, and left us with the most annoying papercut. Do you feel the same way? Do you feel the gnawing feeling that eats at your chest and plagues your mind until even your dreams cannot escape it? Is it not emotionally draining having progressed throughout our relationship- within ourselves, yet besides one another- only to shrink away from the person we have developed into and leave the heartbroken carcass behind? I need a sculpture, a carefully crafted memory of who I was, who I still can be, to waste away in a museum until I can come back again and appreciate

more lucky chances for me. There’s the sunset dancing around the sky, beckoning me to move in a synchro nous harmony, and a crowd of laughter and music that drags my lips into a smile. I see the clouds above me puff into fun shapes and sizes, and if I look hard enough I can see a heart forming beyond the horizon. Instead of a heart from you to me, I see an organ beating proudly within my chest, spreading love and warmth for myself throughout my body so that happiness courses through my veins. Yet when I walk back into the comfort of my home and stare at myself once again, after a night of fortitude, I still see a shattered pile of glass. They are too small to be pieced back together and too sharp to dull into a path of healing.

its art— appreciate myself. I can even come back and remember you, healthily, and all that you’ve taught me. So maybe there is a light to reach for within the darkness. Maybe, just possibly, I can piece myself back together. I can remember all the exciting bits of our journey, the honeymoon phase and what it felt like and how it has shaped me.

But I failed to remember that I am standing from the ashes, not reversing time to keep myself from getting burned. So I change my perspective, and notice that when the light hits my shattered mirror, it glitters. And in those moments I can finally breathe, the shell of the person I once was, only more beautifully mature inside.

One glance at the heartbroken version of myself had shattered my mirror, distorting my own reflection and how I looked at myself entirely. My tears dripped down my cheek awkwardly as I kept staring, allowing myself to believe that my adolescent journey was permanently deformed. But that can’t be the case. I felt unlucky- especially unlucky that I lost you- but there are so many other lucky things in the world. So many 24

family book shelves now find themselves splayed across the Internet. Even candid pictures have become something to orchestrate and edit, and for me, it started to feel like too much. Living in a generation that grew up with social media, it has felt like the internal audience has grown a little bit more as I continue to get older. Posting photos to Instagram went from a fun last minute thing to organized photoshoots and editing sessions that require intense scrutiny. All for it to be viewed and forgotten within a tap and a swipe. Yet, how it feels to receive likes and reactions lingers and bleeds into the way I view myself beyond the screen. I don’t think I’m the alone in this feeling either. A article by the New York Times from early this year cites a Pew Reseach Center statistic where 36% of US teens say they spend too much time on their phone and points to digital cameras as their escape route. The story highlights the feeling of freedom that comes from denying instant gratification and bringing carefree fun back into photos.

As a creative and as a writer, most of what I aspire to create will ultimately be viewed by others. While there is intrinsic value in creation, in order to make a living and, if I’m honest, to feel fulfilled, I know what I make must be put on display. This is something I’ve gotten used to and can embrace. This isn’t something I want to feel, though, when I look in the mirror. Two Way Glass (n.): a two-way mirror is made of glass that is reflective on one side and clear on the other. On the clear side, you see others; on the reflective side, you only see yourself. For a period of time, I consistently said no to having my picture taken. I never felt like my outfit was put together enough, my hair and makeup were pretty enough or that I could contort my body into the right pose– I never felt photo worthy. If I did take photos, they often ended up being deleted. My looks were weighed internally on the scale of online acceptance, only thinking it was worth taking the picture if it could be consumed.

Now, when I look at photos of my family members that they have saved for years, I think I am beginning to understand where this longing for going back in time comes from. While I’m sure they still only wanted to take photos when they felt most confident, there was a sense of togetherness that can be felt. The priority was on capturing moments. Taking pictures of friends enjoying each other’s company, dancing at parties and stolen moments from “way before my time.” I think about what a void there would be without them. My mother and I will never get to be the same age– we will never be in our 20’s partying together, staying up till our eyes burn. But, when I look at those pictures, I get a glimpse of what it might’ve been like. I get a glimpse of what I could share with a family of my own 20 years from now. The sense that we are all just an accumulation of memories, the ones we choose to share and all the other ones in between. I’m chipping away at this everyday. Piecing together my splintered self image, fixing my broken perception. Getting group photos when I go out just because. Wearing the outfit I want to, not the outfit I want a picture of. Using my digital camera more. Waving at the two way glass with a smile.

Looking back on this, I feel it could be best explained as though there was an invisible audience, eyes staring back at me in the mirror that I couldn’t see, but I could always feel.

I’m finding ways to remind myself that this life is short and it’s ugly and it’s beautiful and that it is full of moments to be remembered. That it is a privilege to document it all, but it is a choice to share it with the world.

Being remembered was no longer the priority– being admired was. Photos that would have lined photo albums on

I’m starting to smile at the camera, not worried about who’s on the other side. Not worried about who’s going to see it.

SEEING YOU SEEING ME

eM gnieeS uoY gnieeS

SARAH HaRWELL

DELANEY GUNNELL 31

bring ourselves to get rid of the unblemished glass, so eventually we decided to make our own frame out of plain 1x4 wood. It looked very different than the machine-made plastic and ceramic frame from the store, but I couldn’t help but feel that the earth-toned wood made the image inside friendlier. Now, instead of having an object of intimidation in our living room, we had a sturdy one that represented our own hard work and dedication to persevering the things we love. Painting Every college student knows the Walmart mirror: it’s paper-thin and costs $7, with “glass” so flimsy you can’t help but wonder if it’s just plastic. The summer before I went to college, I bought one but was unsatisfied by the blandness of it, and couldn’t imagine it as a welcoming addition to my new home. One day, facing the sweltering Florida summer humidity, I brought some paint outdoors and painted the framemirror a gentle shade of green. It was a messy paint job, with streaks hidden in the edges, but I was proud of myself nonetheless. Over the semester, I added to my mirror, pressing stickers to the corners depicting things that bring me joy. I didn’t need to overspend on a luxury mirror in order to make my dorm room more personal; I simply needed to put myself into the objects I already owned. Re-Purposing

With today’s culture so heavily focused on image-based validation, it’s hard to avoid mirrors. You check your reflection before you leave, smoothing your hair into place. Walking to work, you pass buildings with windows just reflective enough to catch your image. You pull out your phone and, immediately, there is a front-facing camera, ready to tell you exactly what you look like at any moment. In centuries previous, however, mirrors were a luxury. Owning a mirror was a sign of status and they were treated like pieces of art rather than a daily chore. While there were plenty of things about those times that we collectively do not want to return to, maybe turning your mirror into a piece of art would benefit everyone. Here are three DIY mirror projects I’ve done as a way to turn these conventional objects into works of art. Re-framing In my childhood home, we had a heavy mirror that hung in the living room. It had a traditional frame and thick paneled glass. One seemingly unextraordinary day, the mirror came crashing down unprovoked. We all held our breath, waiting to see just how much bad luck we’d receive from a shattered mirror in the center of our home, but inexplicably, the mirror itself was fine and the only casualty of the incident was the frame. We couldn’t hang it any longer, but we also could not

A tone of sadness always strikes my chest when it is obvious that someone has had to vacate their home suddenly, placing valuable items at the curb as if to say “I don’t have the energy to care for this, perhaps someone else can.” I found one of my mirrors this way, sitting untouched at the curb like a once-loved childhood comfort item. I pulled to the side of the road and lugged it into my car, ignoring how my arms ached at its surprising weight. When I got home, I was at a loss for what to do with the mirror. It was dirty and chipping and clearly too heavy to hang. But I was already attached to the mirror after our short journey together; it had been abandoned once before and I was not going to let that happen again. So I set about a multiple-month project, cleaning, sanding, and repainting the frame before finally deciding to attach the mirror to a desk I had, turning the whole thing into a diy-vanity. It wasn’t the original purpose for either object, but somehow together, they had found a completeness that neither had on their own. There are many more ways to alter a mirror that I haven’t yet tried, and I’m excited to create more one day. Mirrors are too often used as a way to scrutinize yourself, a part of every home that is not enjoyed, but instead tolerated. I hope you, dear reader, will take a second glance at your mirror today. Not to double-check yourself, but to double-check the mirror: is it bringing you more joy than it’s stealing? If not, perhaps it’s time to change it into something more friendly, more colorful, or just altogether different. After all, you have the power to bring change, a mirror does not. 32

REPAIRS

Strike Orlando does not actually provide these goods and services. This is not a real ad.

If you’re looking to say goodbye to your broken mirror, call 777-MIRRORS for a repair so good, you’ll think it’s magic. 36

Jenna Weiss

On an airforce base packed with reliability engineers, a comment was loosely created towards a technician by Captain Edward A. Murphy about a 50/50 chance mistake. His asinine and immediate comment blamed the technician for the mistake, stating that “anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” The co-creator of Murphy’s Law, George Nichols, recognized that the original connotation of the law was jaded and harsh, so he decided to alter the wording: “If it can happen, it will”. Nichols followed this by saying “So you’ve got to go through and ask yourself, if this part fails, does the system still work, does it still do the function it is supposed to do? What are the single points of failure? Murphy’s law established the drive to put redundancy in…” Like the law, the transition from late adolescence to early adulthood is spontaneous and redundant. With time comes maturing, and our initial perceptions of life mirror that of a fairytale. As we get into our adult years, we recognize that things (whether bad, good or neutral) happen whilst still maintaining our youthful “fingers crossed” hopeful attitude. 39

At its development, the meaning of the law was rooted in fatalism. There’s some twisted attraction to the belief that leaves people powerless as a sort of unavoidable mocking joke. When Murphy initially spewed out the comment, it implied the notion that no matter what someone can or could do, there’s no avoiding failure and catastrophe. These years are a largely transitory phase of our lives as big decisions arise, people come and go and the time comes to start building a foundation for a new chapter. It’s easy to fall into the concept of fatalism and hopelessness, but with one belief comes its opposite– free will. The redundancy mentioned in the beginning lies in the concurrence of fatalism and free will. Murphy’s law isn’t stand-alone. Outcomes are made up of probability, hope, logic and intention. We get thrown curveballs and while it’s naive to deny that unfavorable outcomes can happen, you’re able to work against the unfavorable.

Like Nichols said, just because a part of the big picture failed, doesn’t mean the whole structure comes crumbling down. While these unfavorable outcomes can occur, it just allows us to recognize their existence, where these points of failure occur and gives us a chance to avoid “catastrophe” and make good for ourselves. Murphy’s law isn’t an explanation or the singular driving force in our lives. At its core, it’s simply a maxim; a concise expression about a principle or rule. A silver lining of maxims is that the objectivity and subjectivity of their truths vary based on one’s philosophy. If anything can happen, it will happen with the driving forces of fate and free will. The blatancy of the law pairs well with a “fingers crossed” childlike yet well-intentioned mindset and demeanor. Despite there being a million things that can go wrong, doesn’t mean it will go wrong. That small yet significant detail is what separates pessimism and optimism; it’s what separates doom and success. Maturing is realizing that despite the chaos, hopelessness, and uncertainty, all it takes is a shift from recognizing this law as the end-all-be-all coping mechanism to harnessing it as a tool. The predetermined fates may be written, but the outcome you receive is in your control based on the choices you make. Rather than feeling hopeless from all that could happen, a look from a different angle turns that knowledge into power.

A STRIKING CONFESSIONAL DELANEY GUNNELL

When you’re young, you cross your fingers before a lie, promising yourself that it doesn’t count. Here at Strike Orlando, we’re tired of keeping it all in; we’re ready to share our Striking Secrets.

“I really like this boy but he keeps talking about other guys he’s seeing and calling me bestie. He also dated a friend of a friend briefly which makes this a little bit messy. My friends are already sick of hearing me talk about boys, so I’m not gonna start again, especially with a friend’s ex who doesn’t like me. I cannot serve in these conditions.”

“I went to a concert with some friends, and one of them didn’t have enough for the ticket in her budget so I secretly picked up the difference and let her think we scored cheap tickets. I’m glad I did because it was an amazing concert we both got to enjoy.”

“I pretend I’m filming a video when I do my makeup and talk to myself in front of the mirror.”

“I told a guy I’m a crazy poker player and I go to the casino every weekend to play. I’ve never played poker in my life. I did it because I felt like it, and he believed me and asked me to go with him to the casino to play. (No, I did not go.)”

“[A white lie I tell is] that I’m 100% dedicated to my m a j o r / c a r e e r. Sometimes I doubt myself but I don’t regret saying anything ‘cause I feel like it pushes me to really become committed.” “I told someone at the door in New York that I was a stylist and agent from this big company, just to get into this afterparty for NYFW and I did end up going in! Had the best time and got to network with amazing people from the industry! Fake it ‘til you make it!”

“Sometimes I feel that I’m too judgmental towards people who have different paths than me. I have friends getting married, and graduating, and I have the rest of my life ahead of me and I keep wondering if I’m doing it wrong. So instead of believing that my path is just different, I judge (not in a mean girl way, just a defensive way) and it’s a serious problem.”

An Unlucky Girl’s Guide to Manifesting

Lucky Girl Syndrome

Kendal Asbury

Lucky Girl Syndrome is one of the most recent manifestation techniques trending on social media. It’s essentially a mindset through which someone can attract good luck. It’s a way to bring desired outcomes and new opportunities into your life. It can help shift both your thinking and your view of the world around you, consequently helping you transform your life. The method utilizes several different notions of psychology and principles of philosophy to help you take matters into your own hands. Similar to the concept of being “That Girl” or “The It Girl,” this manifestation movement might also be referred to as the Lucky Girl Effect or the Lucky Girl Phenomenon. Critics of Lucky Girl Syndrome argue that the technique fails to take some important things into account. They often claim that it doesn’t take into consideration the reality of life and that it is instead a disguise for toxic positivity. Luckily, this is not the case. There is substantial evidence from studies conducted in cognitive therapy that supports the validity of Lucky Girl Syndrome, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This research has shown that this trending manifestation method is effective and can actually help improve both your self-esteem and confidence. It also has the ability to lower your stress level, while simultaneously increasing your motivation. So, if you struggle with being particularly unlucky, this just might be the thing for you (fingers crossed). Here’s how you can implement it in your life: Steps to become a ‘Lucky Girl.’ Manifest the Mindset The first step in becoming a Lucky Girl is to change your thinking. A great way to do this is through affirmations, either by writing them down in a journal or saying them out loud. These could range from anything like “everything is going to work out for me” to “I am always in the right place at the right time,” or other statements like that. Manifestation expert Roxie Nafousi stated doing this is the first step in convincing yourself of things you want to believe. She specified that the 47

best delivery method is by saying them out loud in the morning to set the tone for the day. She explained that “If you say a mantra or an affirmation, even if you don’t consciously feel it’s true, it doesn’t matter. Your subconscious will take it as truth.” This essentially means that over time you can actually convince yourself of certain things, similar to the common saying “fake it til you make it.” Assume and Attract After you say these affirmations, you next have to expect they will come true. Not only to shift your mindset, but so that they actually do. The Law of Assumption states that “whatever we assume to be true will eventually become true, for better or worse,” according to the EveryGirl. So, if you expect good things to happen, they will. But if you have the presumption that only bad things will happen to you, that’s exactly how it will turn out. Either you will actually start to attract bad luck or the closed-off nature of your mindset will only permit you to see the negative things that occur. But if you believe you’re lucky, you’ll start to attract good energy. This is intertwined with the Law of Attraction, the philosophical view that positive thoughts lead to positive results. This is how you can use intention to bring opportunities and good things into your life. Find the Proof Noticing the influence of luck is an important step in adopting Lucky Girl Syndrome. When these good things start happening and the affirmations prove to be true (which they will), you have to intentionally take notice of them. This is not only so you start to see the proof that this form of manifestation works, but also to continue the process of transforming your life through this method. If you start taking note of the good things that occur in your life, you’ll start seeing and experiencing more. It’s always good to document them, too, either by writing them down or taking a picture if it’s a visual thing. Remind and Reset It’s always good to remind yourself throughout the day of your inherently lucky nature and that things will always work out for you (because they will!). So, whether that’s using the Reminders app on your phone or writing on sticky notes and putting them up around your space, try to make yourself see these affirmations often. Listen to podcasts and playlists that make you feel like you are that girl (be-

cause you are!). It’s okay to embrace your inner main character once in a while. Remember that “the world is not happening to you, but you are also happening to the world” (yes, I did quote that from The Summer I Turned Pretty.) Also, keep in mind that this is a re curring process. Sometimes you’ll have to start back at the first step and reset your mind. That’s okay, growth isn’t linear. Making mistakes doesn’t mean you’re unlucky. It means that you’re learning. Some other things to remember. Good luck looks different for everyone. Lucky Girl Syndrome is simply a way to improve your life and mentality by shifting your mindset. It’s not necessarily a universal solution that works for everyone. It’s more of a supplement to other mental health resources that can be used to help you start seeing the good in life. Because, if you think about it, there’s a lot that goes unnoticed as we simply just try to get through our day. But we won’t be young forever. We have to stop waiting for our lives to be perfect to start living. We need to start visualizing what we want our lives to look like and make it our reality. Because we’re experiencing life right now. In this moment. That in itself makes us so lucky.

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Divine

Feline 53

Okay so, you know when you walk into Pet Smart and see the cute adoptable kittens in their crates that have signs with silly little names like Jellybean and say, “Please do not touch.” People like the owner of C.A.T.S.-C.A.N. Inc., Phyllis Ayoob, are the reason they are there and not in a kill shelter. Ayoob has always had a passion for cats, dating back as early as her 3-year-old self hosting tea parties with her childhood kitty. Now, she has been working in cat rescue for over 30 years and keeps a cat house of about 35 unadoptable cats in her backyard, so they have someplace to call home. Ayoob started her journey at the shelter once known as the Humane Society of Sanford in 1989, which, around this time, had been a high kill shelter. “I volunteered there two days a week and I didn’t like their policies,” Ayoob said. “If an animal was there for more than seven days, it would automatically be euthanized.” This made her switch her path to go down the route of private cat rescues, which she stuck with for years, until she decided to found CAT-CAN Inc. in 2003. Since, she has created a network that helps find homes for thousands of cats every year. Ayoob said at the start of her cat rescue non-profit, it got to the point where she was struggling to find veterinarians that could keep up with the services they needed for the rescues—so she found a mobile clinic that would come to her house once a month to spay and neuter cats in her driveway. Ayoob said with all the work they were doing, she thought that she had helped save cats lives, but it wasn’t enough. She said there was one week in May of 2006 that her local animal shelter made her realize that there was more work that needed to be done. “They euthanized 585 cats in one month,” Ayoob said. “And that was kind of like ‘okay, we are doing adoptions, but that’s not really solving the overall problem.’” Because of this, Ayoob opened her own spay and neuter clinic in 2012 called Spay and Save Animal Clinic in Longwood at 988 N Ronald Reagan Blvd. Ayoob said they are always looking for volunteers, veterinarians, and donations to keep these non-profits alive. Ayoob said that she has always loved cats, but she is happy that she is able to help them in the way she does now.

“I don’t know exactly what the criteria is to be a crazy cat lady, but yeah I am,” Ayoob said. “I mean if you came to my house, you would probably say yeah, I fit the bill, because every square wall space of my house has something cat on it.”

C R A Z Y A B O U T C

Reanna Haase

STRIKE

CATS

A Woman's Best Friend Olivia

Wagner

We see kittens beyond their adorable appearance by recognizing their undeniable loyalty and companionship. Yet when the kitten becomes the black cat, the innocent perception we’ve previously had of them begins to change, but why? For over eight centuries, black cats have carried this weight of alleged “bad luck” with them, making it impossible for them to exist peacefully. Their once tranquil and playful personality was suddenly characterized as mischievous and sly. The negative omen attached to the black cat has not only created a sense of uneasiness but it has also been linked to the expression of womanhood. Like our animal counterparts, women have faced judgment for simply existing, making us the metaphorical black cat of society. It is seemingly a part of human nature to avoid the unknown, at least initially. We’re afraid of what can’t be understood, so we disguise our fears by stuffing them into vessels that experience our horrors for us. We process our deepest insecurities and traumas vicariously through these beings designated as monsters because it’s easy to disassociate from our pains rather than directly confront them. The black cat, a vessel created to harbor feelings of skepticism and mischievousness, walks bearing a vulnerability society is unwilling to face. A “bad omen” turns into a symbol of avoidance, tarnishing the reputation of the black cat and transforming its once delicate nature to be one filled with uncertainty and disdain. Despite its notorious fame, the black cat, or rather the imagery reflective of the feline, has been depicted to present itself as a feminine energy. From Selina Kyle to Felicia Hardy, the black cat persona became synonymous with womanhood, particularly as perceived by men. Both female heroes present themselves as a black cat, emphasizing unluckiness to

be an asset of their persona. However, this trait seemingly bleeds into their experience as women as appearing sexy and desirable is what’s expected from their male counterparts. Abiding by the male gaze naturally became standard procedure growing up for young girls; being told to “smile more” or “calm down” was expected. By conforming to societal standards, women are no longer threatening but accepted. Lessening the feline persona to a sex symbol allowed men to seize control over women and limit the genuine expression of femininity. Forwardness is equated to a woman having her “claws out” and confrontations become a “catfight”. Women have been reduced to wild felines and femininity is a mere cat pun; however, a pun never has to be intended. Sharing this outcasted stigma with a black cat isn’t as unlucky as we thought. Both black cats and women have this shared understanding of what it’s like to be secure with ourselves and to not tolerate anyone who would try to encroach on our personal boundaries. We both feel security in our identities and experiences, yet what we see as independence men see as reclusive. Their ignorance towards our womanhood doesn’t define the community that we share; the black cat was never an outcast but the friend of a woman who too was misunderstood. We both understand being cast aside and labeled with shallow characteristics that only reflect a one-sided perspective. It’s time that we as women claim a mascot that not only symbolizes our stereotypes but is resilient towards them. Women, if not already, should embody the energy of this notorious creature and not care about being perceived by others. In the past, black cats may have been feared, but never once did they adapt or conform to acceptable standards. The female experience is known to be shared with that of a black cat by overcoming preconceived notions given by the majority. While we have always viewed dogs to be a man’s best friend, the loyal companion of a woman has gone without being mentioned, so why not make it the infamous black feline?

I promise there is a reason I’m telling you thisI picked up the book because of the unique and colorful front cover. I went to start flipping through the pages and before I could get past the first few, I was shocked. I had been looking for inspiration, looking for anything that would pull me in. There it was—looking right at me. A magical 12-inch drawing of a black cat with a white star on its chest, covered in violet flowers and fairies in its eyes, centered right on the spine of the book. Originally while planning this piece, I wanted to write about the Ancient Egyptian worship of cats, but this book made me realize that there is so much more to talk about when it comes to the power beings. Tales from different cultures and with vastly different interpretations of these divine felines stared back at me. Feelings towards these creatures, good or bad, have earned them a place in folklore and superstitions since the beginning of humanity.

Friend or

I was browsing in my local Five Below and a book hidden amongst all the astrology and herb identification books caught my eye. It was titled “Lore of the Wild: Folklore & Wisdom from Nature.”

I’m sure you have heard that it is bad luck to cross paths with a black cat. This superstition originated in Germany when in the 13th century, Pope Gregory IX issued an official court document in which he said that black cats were declared an incarnation of Satan. Along with this idea, cats were believed to be linked with witches- their sidekicks if you want to think of it that way. It was a belief in Medieval Europe that the devil and witches were even capable of hiding amongst society in the form of a black cat.

Foe?

This idea was the in rooted relationship that the Roman goddess of the underworld (also known as the goddess of witchcraft), Hecate, had with cats. It was believed that she not only had cats but had familiars, creatures who assisted witches.

The Netherlands also had a similar tale of encountering black cats meant bad luck, but they have another interesting element in their folklore. It is believed in the Netherlands that cats are awful gossips and that you shouldn’t talk about any secrets when they are in the room. I personally love that one because I just feel like it shows how smart people think cats are. And in Celtic folklore, it was believed that cats could be the Cat-Síth- the drawing in the book that I mentioned above is this cat. The Cat-Síth was a large black cat with a white star on its chest and was thought to be able to steal the souls of the recently deceased; it was seen as a magical creature from the fairy realm. Families believed that these cats had so much power that they would stage feil fhadalach or a “late wake” while their lifeless loved one's bodies were vulnerable. This would entail loud music and games to misguide any Cat-Síths that could be coming for their loved ones. Although they were weary of these creatures, the Cat-Síth was also thought to be able to predict the future and bring good fortune. It was thought that if you looked into its eyes it could stare into your soul and see your greatest desires. It was also believed that in their eyes you could see the fairy world. While not all cultures saw cats as magical, other cultures also saw the power of cats in a more positive light. Cats are everywhere in the history of Ancient Egypt. Egyptians were not directly worshiping cats as one might think, but cats in their society were representations of the divine aspects held by the gods they worshiped. Goddesses like Bastet, Sakhmet, Tefnut, Pakhet and more all appeared in Ancient Egyptian culture as a lioness with sun disks on their heads. Cats were linked with the sun mainly because they share the same dualistic nature that the sun does—it can warm life or scorch it—and these goddesses shared this same nature. Egyptian pharaohs would keep giant cats covered in gold, and they would even let the cats eat off their plates. Although lower-class people couldn’t afford to cover their prized felines in precious metals, they would make jewelry with feline designs. Egyptians respected their fierce nature and would let them into their homes not only as companions but to also help with things like pest control. Cats were also believed to help their owners with fertility. And even after a full life, it was not uncommon for Egyptians to take their cat into the afterlife with them—some cats were even mummified and put in their owners' tombs.

Reanna Haase

In today’s reality, people will think what they want about cats, but they have always held so much power in our society and should be viewed as such. 64

Bring home a lovingly loyal black cat that will stay in your path. Black cats have the lowest adoption rate and the highest euthanasia rate. (National Institutes of Health) Visit Orange County Animal Services for local adoption resources.

Adopt DON’T SHOP

A Closer Look at Luck, from Every Rung of Life In today’s contemporary society, we quickly utilize the abstract concept of luck. Oh, your car battery died? Damn, you’ve got bad luck. It’s raining when you wanted to have a pool day? Well, my friend, you are just fresh out of luck. You won a raffle ticket and you’ve never won those? Wow, what good luck you have! Your friend of a friend’s coworker happened to have an extra ticket to your favorite girl band? This kind of luck doesn’t happen every day! We throw around the word and its meaning like it’s a possession, something we might run out of, or fall into an even greater quantity of. We use terms like “lucky girl syndrome” to attribute our chance of success. We are quick to assume we are being “blessed” and the thinking stops there. But what happens when we choose to look at luck from perspectives that are not entirely central to ourselves and our worldviews? How does our luck seem then? Look, I’m not advocating for the philosophy of “Hey, someone’s got it worse, so don’t sweat it, kid.” But I think shifting perspectives on the ways we use the concept of luck can help us find more peace and gratitude in our lives. Especially when in today’s day and age, we are often convinced we have fallen under a bad luck spell, never to feel good luck’s warmth again. Think about the phrase “unlucky in love.” The phrase itself is decorated with hidden meanings: unlucky in non-platonic relationships, we rarely think of it as a declaration of a lack of luck within our friendships, families or ourselves. The worldview we apply to “unlucky in love” stands to further the notion that a failure to find romantic love is something equivocal to being “unlucky.” This stems from America’s capitalist emphasis on promoting the nuclear family, but bad luck doesn’t begin to cover the breadth of that topic. So how can we utilize luck in a way that allows us to access new ways of thinking about our world? I think it’s about gratitude and how letting gratitude in lets us broaden our perspectives to carry more “get out of bad 69

luck free cards” when we run into situations we deem “unlucky.” I think it is equally important to examine luck on the ladder from the perspective of privilege. We see luck as a neutral concept, something that happens to us or that we possess or lose possession of. But what happens when the “lucky ones” have access to luck some of us would never even define as luck in the first place and rather some sort of miracle? Some of us don’t step under many ladders because we have the privilege to already be on the first rung. Meanwhile, others may only find themselves crossing bad luck’s territory after falling from the top rung, with the best seat in the proverbial house. Avoiding stepping under ladders and on cracks is much easier when 1.) your neighborhood doesn’t have many, 2.) the ladders are easy to spot and 3.) they’re easy to miss walking under or on. Looking at good luck and its counterpart through the lens of opportunity can help us identify true luck and its unfortunate sister and discern genuine luck from “luck” that stems from access to privileges and opportunities that start at rungs not everyone can reach. So, is it a matter of perspective then? Are we “lucky” to be alive if our lives aren’t going in the direction we would like them to be? Are we then “unlucky” compared to those who have more of that good luck (which we sometimes think of as a secret to success we might never garner or a pill not accessible for us to purchase)? Or is luck like a drug or a glass of wine? Something we desperately crave but shouldn’t have too much of, otherwise we lose total coherency of what it means to live a life and how to operate like everyone else who hasn’t had their nightcap. In the pursuit of enjoying the present, we might ask ourselves if our tolerance for luck has become a little too high. Just like all vices and good things, we must ask ourselves what our limit is and how crossing that threshold might turn a good thing into a bad one. Whether we rely on little pieces of luck or larger chunks of good fortune, it’s easy to always be waiting for a miracle.

Luck isn’t miraculous. It’s found in small things when you make a conscious effort to look a little more closely than you usually would. We all want everything we’ve ever wanted to drop into our lap, but how fulfilling would that be? Moreover, how fulfilling would that feel? Living is about feeling, and to wait for good fortune instead of actively pursuing it is doing yourself a disservice. Everything can be lucky if you have gratitude. If you asked the five closest people around you if they wanted more luck in life, chances are at least four out of five would tell you “Yeah, duh!” No one wants to be told their life will improve by stepping under the nearest ladder or being forced onto a path of bad luck; but maybe the directions we are pushed in allow us to see luck in a different light. As we gain new perspectives, follow new paths and learn and grow as people, enduring and embracing life as we know it. Maybe the secret recipe for happiness comes from a little bit of good luck and a little bit of bad luck, with just the right amount of gratitude to see us through.

Brianna Patane 70

Climbing “the social ladder” is sought out, until you’re at the top of the ladder and start seeing things differently. The ladder may be shaken. Kicked out from under you. You may fall back down or feel lonely at the top. Celebrity culture is idolized and dreamed about, but is the view from the top really as good as it seems? Media over the years has begun to take a look at fame through an “unlucky” lens. “Lucky” by Britney Spears tells the story of a Hollywood star and how people wonder why she cries every night if she has it all. It shows the way that famous women are picked apart for their appearance and expected to be perfect all of the time. The star was broken down over time and dehumanized.

She was not seen as human anymore. The irony of the song lies in the title: “Lucky.” It was clear that the song “about a girl named Lucky” was really about Spears the whole time. Released in 2000, it was the cry for help that everybody ignored. Her struggles with fame came to life in several different instances after the pop singer was thrown into the spotlight at the age of 16. She was immediately picked apart. In 2007, the singer infamously shaved her head in front of paparazzi. Days later, she bashed a pap’s car with a green umbrella. Shortly after, she entered into a conservatorship with her father.

Over a decade later, Spears was making headlines again in the “#FreeBritney movement” because fans believed the singer was performing and having medical decisions made against her own will. 12 years later, Taylor Swift released a song called “The Lucky One” that has a similar theme. A young star dreams of fame and she gets it. Fame isn’t what she expected, yet people tell her she’s “the lucky one.” Fame comes at a price, as shown by Swift’s experience in the industry. Any famous woman has to deal with scrutiny and sexism… Swift had to deal with Scooter. In “The Lucky One” a line reads — 73

“and they tell you that you’re lucky, but you’re so confused ‘cause you don’t feel pretty, you just feel used” and that turned out to be the case for Swift when she had to fight for the rights to her own music in 2019. This led to her re-recording her first 6 albums so she could own her music again. She was essentially being used as a money machine– she decided she wanted to gain her respect and earnings back. The lyrics to “The Lucky One” have also been compared a lot to the book “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” and the protagonist’s rise to fame. Without spoiling the book, the lines “your lover in the foyer doesn’t even know you, and your secrets end up splashed on the news front page” ring very true for Evelyn. Fake relationships for public relations are a huge part of being famous and so is losing your privacy. The story follows a young actress who makes her way to the “Angel City chasing fortune and fame” in the 1950s. She quickly starts to feel the consequences of being famous when she has to hide huge parts of herself and everything the world knows about her is a lie. She sacrifices love for fame, experiences the pain of being used for her body and for money, and deals with getting older and being replaced by the pretty “young things lining up to take her place.” Today’s digital and fame-crazed age praises bringing up our favorite new celebrities until they either get canceled or we become disinterested and obsessed with the next new person. We break down anyone who isn’t picture-perfect, especially on social media. We feed into Hollywood ruining young girls and then make fun of them for falling apart. When #FreeBritney was trending, everyone was asking “How did we let this happen?,” saying they’d never let it happen again, only for the same conversations to happen over and over again surrounding up-and-coming artists. People on the internet will continuously pit young girls against each other and criticize their bodies online.

So, let me ask you again. Are the famous really the lucky ones? Alexandra Sullivan 74

The Former/The Latter

Maggie Gamson

“I haven’t a doubt the former and the latter”

... the only way out is under! Now with new game pieces

**Disclaimer: Strike Orlando does not actually provide these goods and services. This is not a real ad.** 82

under my

UMBRELLA

I’ve always been incredibly superstitious, and I accredit that in part to being raised in the theatre. Years upon years of being told tales of spirits haunting our green rooms and seeing shadows on the catwalks and never repeating the name of the Scottish Play (I still won’t even write it down, sorry), I developed a strict routine of not doing things I believe will bring on any amount of accidental misfortune. I’m terrified of breaking mirrors, I blow a kiss to the roof of my car when I pass through yellow lights, I clap when I drive over railroad tracks and I’ve always, always been nervous about opening umbrellas indoors. But in getting assigned to write for this section of the magazine, I wanted to do some research to help develop my pitch. In Google-searching “opening an umbrella indoors,” I quickly discovered something absolutely ridiculous: National Open an Umbrella Inside Day falls on March 13. My birthday. Which is actually one of the most ironic things I’ve ever seen. But at the same time, it’s so funny. Why am I so afraid of something that’s also celebrated on the greatest day of the year, my birthday? A day that commonly falls on Friday the 13th, a day that is typically associated with misfortune, a day that people freak out over time and time again yet is still one associated with some of my happiest and fondest memories (although trust I’m a true Pisces woman and still do cry every year on my birthday, but that’s more of a discussion for Issue 06.) And this is when I realized: there’s literally a day for everything. It’s not even that serious. Superstitions are exactly what we make them to be, and to be born on a day that has so many strange connotations also attached to it is actually somewhat thrilling and exciting. So without further ado, here is a complementary list of some other interesting nationallyrecognized holidays that give the same energy as the now ever-so-special National Open an Umbrella Inside Day. January 22nd - Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day

Yes, you read that right. Are you really a pet owner if you haven’t developed an incredibly telekinetic-like bond with your other half in a way that nobody else can truly understand or comprehend? There is nothing as strong as the bond between a pet owner and their beloved best friends. (Did you have a chance to check out Strike Orlando’s very own divine felines featured in this issue?) Even if we haven’t found a precise way to speak the same language, we can still celebrate the friendship and love that brings us together. If your cat could speak to you now, what would they say? Chat it up with them, you might be surprised by their response.

April 23 - Take a Chance Day It’s time to roll the dice and add a little extra spice into your life. If you’ve ever seen one of the greatest movie-musicals and onscreen celebrations of life in our modern-age, Mamma Mia!, you know exactly how magical the process of taking a chance on something, or someone can be, hence the hit ABBA classic, Take a Chance on Me. Luck is always on your side if you believe it is, so why not have a little fun next April and try something you’ve always been afraid to do? July 3 - Compliment Your Mirror Day Even if your mirror has a crack in it, that doesn’t mean your beauty won’t still shine through. While it’s a good habit to practice complimenting yourself each and every day (that’s how lucky girls are created after all, through their mindset!), take this day to be especially kind to yourself. Did you know that shirt looks incredible on you? And that color suits you so well! November 21 - False Confession Day Ok, sometimes white lies are fun. I’ll admit it. We’ve all told a handful of them, or found ourselves wrapped up in a story embellishing details to make things sound a wee bit more dramatic than how they actually played out. Do no harm, but have some fun concocting a story or two today. While not exactly a confession, I also think the false narrative mindset can transform into a form of manifestation, because the more you tell yourself something, the more you come to terms with it becoming your reality. It can’t be false if you believe it to be true, right? Delusional girls have the most fun, it’s a fact! Embrace it. December 31 - (Strike it) Unlucky Day It only makes sense that the last day of the year is designated for us, Issue 07! December 31 is considered to be the unluckiest day of the year, probably because of how much luck and preparation goes into the superstitious nature of the following day - January 1. As much as we consider some superstitions to be unlucky, there’s just as many that are believed to bring good fortune and prosperity if completed on the first day of the new year. But is December 31 really all that unlucky? It’s all up to interpretation. Hopefully one of these distinct holidays falls on your special day too, making it all the more unique. If so, strike the matches, blow out your candles and make a wish. But if you do, make sure not to tell anyone what you wish for – that would be quite unlucky.

Gabby MacoGay

It’s Your (Birth)

day

It is only human nature to curse out whatever small unfortunate event happens to stumble into our daily lives. Or rather, whatever sticky situations we stumble into. It comes with the perks of being normal: dressed up all nice for a night out with friends, aren’t ya? Nah, here’s a slap of the weekly forecast high of rainstorms and a dose of “screw that, there’s a pothole to bust your tire. You didn’t need to hang out with your one friend anyways.” Even the most miniscule event such as pulling a thread on your newly-knitted sweater with the sparkly keychain you just dropped into a puddle will have you tugging out your hair and stomping the floor like an overgrown toddler. And occasionally, with how many times we do trip and fall on thin air like a toddler, we believe we’re still due for a few more kiddy walking lessons. Life’s that unlucky and that ironic. But why is it that everything unfortunate has to be an absolute, smile-dropping, groan of frustration-worthy pain in the sunburnt ass? It doesn’t. We just make it out to be that way. Consider this your awakening. The moment of realization that not everything unlucky has to be… well, shit. Unlucky. So what if you open up your umbrella in the pouring rain and go flying? Realistically, that only happens in Mary Poppins, but for the sake of overdramatizing life’s unlucky moments, let’s just say you go FLYING. Okay cool, maybe you’ll get to your destination faster. Perhaps you’ll realize that it’s a rainy enough day you might just wanna jump in the puddles like you used to when you were a child. OH! Maybe you’ll bump into the love of your life. There we go. 89

Pretty lucky! As for that sweater you pulled earlier and a thread is just dangling there: that just leads to another shopping trip. Who can complain? Sure, you ruined a sweater. But… did you? Fix it up! Have a knit and crochet day with your grandma or improvise a new look. It’s that simple. The unlucky things in our lives are there for a reason—everything is. Sometimes they’re there to protect you. The rumors that doing something somewhere gives you a year of bad luck is superstitious and absolute crap. Because the truth is, there is unluckiness scattered everywhere. Even when you “have a nice trip, see you next fall” your way out of getting your toes stepped on, it’s the world’s way of letting you know that they’re there for you. Even if your cloudy luck has a weird way of showing it.

N I R NU A E D A

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CONCEPT: Grayson Keglovic EIC: Alexandra Sullivan CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Grayson Keglovic EIC ASSISTANT: Delaney Gunnell CD ASSISTANT: Gabby Macogay PHOTOGRAPHERS: Jaydin Valmyr Sayana Alexa Omar Weiss VIDEOGRAPHER: Omar Weiss MODELS: Alexandra Sullivan Grayson Keglovic Josh Arden FASHION DIRECTOR: Marc Anthony Miller FASHION STYLISTS: Deavion Deleon Sydni Torrero Angelina Curatelli Ranya Wakash BEAUTY DIRECTOR: Katherine Polgar BEAUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Jillian Brown SET DESIGN DIRECTOR: Ashlyn Buckman SET DESIGNERS: Morgan Ryan Marie Brooks Matthew Conte ART ASSISTANT: Rebecca Montas

CONCEPT: Grayson Keglovic EIC: Alexandra Sullivan CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Grayson Keglovic CD ASSISTANT: Gabby Macogay PHOTOGRAPHERS: Elizabeth Fernandez Raditya Narendrasuta Haleigh Grose VIDEOGRAPHER: Estephanie Ortiz MODELS: Dermin Ramos Chelsea Della Caringal Ausley Gooding FASHION DIRECTOR: Marc Anthony Miller FASHION STYLISTS: Deavion Deleon Sydni Torrero Angelina Curatelli BEAUTY DIRECTOR: Katherine Polgar BEAUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Jillian Brown SET DESIGN DIRECTOR: Ashlyn Buckman SET DESIGNERS: Morgan Ryan Marie Brooks Matthew Conte Jaydin Valmyr ART ASSITANT: Kiera Mayott

CONCEPT: Grayson Keglovic EIC: Alexandra Sullivan CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Grayson Keglovic CD ASSISTANT: Gabby Macogay PHOTOGRAPHERS: Jaydin Valmyr Ashleigh Kutryb Haleigh Grose VIDEOGRAPHER: Omar Weiss MODELS: Camila Gutierrez PAO Ayala Noemi Gonzalez Gabby Macogay FASHION DIRECTOR: Marc Anthony Miller FASHION STYLISTS: Deavion Deleon Sydni Torrero Angelina Curatell Ranya Wakash BEAUTY DIRECTOR: Katherine Polgar BEAUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Jillian Brown ART ASSISTANT: Anna McLean

CONCEPT: Grayson Keglovic EIC: Alexandra Sullivan CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Grayson Keglovic EIC ASSISTANT: Delaney Gunnell CD ASSISTANT: Gabby Macogay PHOTOGRAPHERS: Macey Merino Elizabeth Fernandez Roberto Gonzalez VIDEOGRAPHER: Roberto Gonzalez MODELS: Camille Evans 8ball Keglovic FASHION DIRECTOR: Marc Anthony Miller FASHION STYLISTS: Deavion Deleon Sydni Torrero Angelina Curatelli BEAUTY DIRECTOR: Katherine Polgar BEAUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Jillian Brown SET DESIGN DIRECTOR: Ashlyn Buckman SET DESIGNERS: Morgan Ryan Marie Brooks Matthew Conte Jaydin Valmyr ART ASSISTANT: Brenna Wold

CONCEPT: Grayson Keglovic EIC: Alexandra Sullivan CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Grayson Keglovic EIC ASSISTANT: Delaney Gunnell CD ASSISTANT: Gabby Macogay PHOTOGRAPHERS: Sayana Alexa Ashleigh Kutryb Macey Merino VIDEOGRAPHER: Estephanie Ortiz MODELS: Lyanna Rose Ethan Cyrille FASHION DIRECTOR: Marc Anthony Miller FASHION STYLISTS: Deavion Deleon Sydni Torrero Angelina Curatelli BEAUTY DIRECTOR: Katherine Polgar BEAUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Jillian Brown SET DESIGN DIRECTOR: Ashlyn Buckman SET DESIGNERS: Morgan Ryan Marie Brooks Matthew Conte Gill Stewart ART ASSISTANT: Cierra Mitchell

CONCEPT: Grayson Keglovic and Alexandra Sullivan EIC: Alexandra Sullivan CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Grayson Keglovic EIC ASSISTANT: Delaney Gunnell CD ASSISTANT: Gabby Macogay PHOTOGRAPHERS: Sayana Alexa Ashleigh Kutryb Roberto Gonzalez Raditya Narendrasuta VIDEOGRAPHER: Roberto Gonzalez MODELS: Elijah Rojas Dernika David Joe Lionetti FASHION DIRECTOR: Marc Anthony Miller FASHION STYLISTS: Deavion Deleon Sydni Torrero Angelina Curatelli BEAUTY DIRECTOR: Katherine Polgar BEAUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Jillian Brown SET DESIGN DIRECTOR: Ashlyn Buckman SET DESIGNERS: Morgan Ryan Marie Brooks Matthew Conte Gill Stewart ART ASSISTANT: Hannah Tucker

THEME: Grayson Keglovic COVER: Elizabeth Fernandez BACK COVER: Ashleigh Kutryb

Thank you to Strike HQ and the Strike community for supporting us and giving us this platform to create something special. Thank you to our community in Orlando for your continued support and love. We couldn’t do it without you! 96