Strike Magazine UGA Issue 01 by Strike Magazines

ISSUE OI

ATHENS

Co-Editors-in-Chief Nahdia Johnson & Serenity Moore

External director

Creative director

Creative Creative director assistant Tara Anastasoff Graphic director Cade Anderson Art director Cassie Davis Assistants Hannah Abdulhaqq Emily Engeland Sarah Jacobson Olivia Perata Nastasia Rozenberg Elizabeth Swank Meredith Kennedy Beauty director Gabby Abreu Assistants Ashlyn Daughenbaugh Elizabeth Kish Carly Judenberg Rachael Powers Bookings director Courtney Devilla Assistants Natalie Bacome Chelsea Francis

Head Stylists Camille Campbell Sunny Hakemy Assistants Harper Brand Kendal Cano Danielle Carolan Willow Foster Abigail Mapel Rachel Rashbaum Morgan Quinn

Casting Director Taylor Bond Assistants Chanel Gaynor Sydney Lumapas Rachel Rashbaum

Photography & Videography Director Stephanie Lopez Photographers Taylor Bond Nykia Cook Marianna Hiles Ashley Moore Kaitlyn Rutledge VIDEOGRAPHERS Grace Barnett Alice James Jocelyn Pena Sammy Street

Content team directors Randi Cass Sunny Hakemy Assistants Cade Anderson Lindsay Bolinger Hailey Brown Blake Campbell Kara Phillips Maddy Nagley Elizabeth Nitz Chiamaka Uwagerikpe Carlee Stephens

ST R I K E STAFF Finance director Charley Sun Assistants Holland Stewart Sophia Vallecillo Marketing director Jackie Nemanich Assistants Jenny Cho Drew Huntley Merchandise director Susan Ellis Assistants Jenna Cahill Jenny Cho Willow Foster Lucy Lee Issy Regas Mary Renfroe Maddie Choi Public Relations director Meredith Kiernan Assistants Alden Loftis Jenna Shields Tara Torossian Sammy Wagner

Social Media director Ava Heltebran Social media team Antonia Mason Mackenzie O’Brien Peyton Puckett Blog director Sarah Harden Assistants Martina Essert Sara Micale Writing director Margaret Russell Copy Editors Lily Baldwin Caitlin Downing Rachel Lakso Writers Nimra Ahmad Kendal Cano Sara Micale Isabella Patel Gianna Rodriguez Olivia Wakim Christina Zaprianova

Advertising director Ashley Russell Assistants Carley Cronic Peyton Pose Tallie Pietragallo

External

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

When we first decided to bring Strike Magazine to UGA, we never imagined that we would grow so attached to this brand. Now as we sit here writing this letter, 8 months later, we can’t control the sense of passion that rushes us. Growing up in a community that was based around the importance of unity and camaraderie, prompted us to constantly desire and long for that same feeling on campus. After we both joined several organizations and met so many people, we still felt that UGA was missing a sense of community and we knew we had to do something about it… which led us to create what is now known as Strike Magazine UGA. We began our onboarding process with Hannah Kealy and Emma Oleck during the Fall semester of 2020 and looking back, we had no idea becoming Founders would take us on such a crazy journey. We constantly ask ourselves, “Who would’ve thought that one call could alter the entire path of our college experience?” but we are so glad that it did. After countless interviews, meetings, and despite many challenges brought upon by the pandemic, we are blessed to now have one of the largest student organizations on the University of Georgia’s campus. The progression following the launch of our staff was rapid and exhausting, yet an experience that could never be replaced or erased. When we began Strike Magazine UGA our goal was to create a shift in the one-dimensional dynamic present at our campus and open up a space for the unseen and unheard, and now we sit here having accomplished that and more. Sitting down writing our founding letter from the editors is nothing short of a moment for us. Strike Magazine UGA is not just a fashion, beauty, & lifestyle magazine but also serves as a home away from home for many. As a family, we were able

create a one-of-a-kind issue that serves as a force that will forever connect us. To our founding staff(amily), We want to say thank you for riding this wild ride that Issue 01 took us on. We are forever thankful and will cherish each role you all played in the making of this issue. We love you all! Strike Out,

Nahdia Johnson

& Serenity Moore

ABOUT THE ISSUE CTRL ALT DEL

After a year filled with uncertainty, it’s safe to say that it is time to press the reset button. When we first started to brainstorm ideas for our founding issue’s theme, we instantly knew we wanted it to be relatable, impactful, while also serving as a sign of the times. - and thus “CTRL-ALT-DEL” was born. This theme was created with not only our experiences in mind, but also the experiences of our peers, family members, and the experiences of the community that surrounds us. This theme allowed us to express our creativity and also unlock many things about ourselves that we never knew we related to, and we hope that the same happens for you. We challenge you to truly control your outlook on life, alternate the way you view and treat people, and lastly delete all your regrets and negative thoughts. We hope you press CTRL-ALT-DEL on the way you view the world and treat those who live in it. Enjoy!

CTRL ALT DELETE

Fashion Through The Decades 10

Tunnel Vision

The True Cost of Fashion 58

A Blast From the Past 11

Fashion For All 14

The Freedom to Morph and Morph Again 25

Pixelated Pandemic

Dear Trend Follower 60

I ___ The Skin 72 I’m In

Table of

10 Questions for the Founder of 20 Lukas Liu

Don’t Touch My Hair 22

Don’t Touch My Hair Poem 23

I’d Love to See You, From Your POV 44

As Colors Through the Looking Glass 45

See Me

The Beauty of Body Embrace74 ment

Ten Things to Do While You’re Twenty 87

contents

Don’t Forget About Us 88

Hold Brands Accountable Social media makes it far too easy to fake support for a cause. It takes a few minutes to post a black square with a hashtag on Instagram, but if the brand refuses to take steps that actually matter, such as including a variety of models and celebrities in their magazines or hiring employees regardless of ethnicity, sexuality and gender, then the displays of support are pointless. Instead of liking the picture and scrolling past, take the time to research the company’s values. Look at the people who are in positions of power and search for news articles that might expose any controversial practices. Read the language the company uses and decide if the words are empty or earnest. If it becomes clear that the company is not willing to make lasting changes, consider avoiding them in the future and, instead, support the brands that genuinely care. Inclusion is not something that can be checked off like a to-do list; in order to create lasting change, there must be a conscious and consistent effort every single day. Seek to Understand The actual statistics surrounding inclusion in the fashion industry are astounding. For example, Aurora James, founder of sustainable luxury accessory brand Brother Vellies, created the “15 Percent Pledge.” According to its website, “Black people in the U.S. make up nearly 15% of the population. So, we are calling on major retailers to commit a minimum of 15% of their shelf to Black-owned businesses.” In an interview with Forbes, James said that less than 1% of products by most retailers are actually from black-owned businesses. Not only does understanding the extent of the issue help encourage change, but knowing why it’s important is vital as well. The 2018 report “Delivering Through Diversity” by McKinsey and Company provides extensive evidence that diverse workplaces, including both gender and ethnic diversity, are much more profitable. The study found that, in 2017, the companies in the top quartile for diversity were 21% more likely to experience above-average profits. Even the numbers support the cause for inclusion, and probably even higher today since the first study. Show your Support There are brands in the world that genuinely strive to improve the fashion environment. Chromat, a swimwear brand, is one momentous force of inclusivity. According to founder Becca McCharen-Tran, “We are committed to empowering #ChromatBABES of all shapes and sizes through perfectly-fitting garments for everybody. We hope that every time you wear Chromat, it reinforces the message that there are many different versions of beautiful.” Chromat’s Spring 2020 Ready-to-Wear runway show proved that this was not an empty message. As seen in Vogue Runway, the models were a collection of different body types and backgrounds, and they provided a realistic and collective representation of the audience that Chromat aims to serve. Tran’s runway show is a lesson in how to make customers feel seen and included by highlighting the innate beauty every person possesses and reiterating the message that the brand’s clothes are for everyone. This brand exemplifies that success and inclusion go hand-in-hand, with swimwear that encompasses all aspects of being innovative, futuristic and sexy. Amplify your Voice Inclusion in the industry is not entirely in the hands of fashion professionals. The upcoming generations of designers, models, buyers and influencers live and work among us as they aspire to change the world of fashion. Creativity and innovation produce the best results when a cacophony of unique voices and backgrounds contribute to the conversation. The beauty of fashion is in its potential for expression and its artistic representation of the world around us, so when the loudest voices and impacts come from only a small portion of the population, the rest of the world suffers. If we shrink our worldview down into a small and inaccurate representation of the human race, then we suffocate millions of unique perspectives that could have revolutionized the fashion industry. As we make our way into the new and improved apparel industry, we must force the doors open and demand a platform for the creative voices that go unheard, especially if that creative voice is yours.

Photographer: Ashley Moore Photo Editor: Stephanie Lopez Layout Designer: Serenity Moore & Cassie Davis 22

After a stint in the waiting room, I finally met the woman who Held my fate at her fingertips. My hair delicately grasped in her grip, Curls quickly passed through her hands Three tough and kinky strands. Her work was precise, tried and true Just as my mother used to do. “Beauty is pain,” she’d always say, A phrase that echoed through my yesterdays. Way back when, coily hair was a curse -It was foreign and ugly, nothing was worse. And while braids and twists were cute at home, they were alienating at school, alone I would roam. Because my hair did not flow, float or cascade, It zigged and zagged and refused to lay. Flat was the goal, long was the dream Achieved through heat and relaxing cream. Sadly that was never enough. It was middle school, this story is rough; My after looked like somebody’s before And not sweating out edges was a daily chore. But all is well because “Beauty is Pain” And nothing else matters once beauty is attained. It was an endless search that I was on, Consuming my thoughts from dusk till dawn. After a stint in the waiting room, I finally met the woman who Held my fate at her fingertips. My hair delicately grasped in her grip, Curls quickly passed through her hands Three tough and kinky strands. Her work was precise, tried and true Just as my mother used to do. “Beauty is pain,” she’d always say, A phrase that echoed through my yesterdays. Way back when, coily hair was a curse -It was foreign and ugly, nothing was worse. And while braids and twists were cute at home, they were alienating at school, alone I would roam. Because my hair did not flow, float or cascade, It zigged and zagged and refused to lay. Flat was the goal, long was the dream Achieved through heat and relaxing cream. Sadly that was never enough. It was middle school, this story is rough; My after looked like somebody’s before And not sweating out edges was a daily chore. But all is well because “Beauty is Pain” And nothing else matters once beauty is attained. It was an endless search that I was on, Consuming my thoughts from dusk till dawn.

ROOTS Chiamaka Uwagerikpe

JUSTICE

FOR ALL

Photographer: Kaitlyn Rutledge & Marianna Hiles Photo Editor: Stephanie Lopez Layout Designer: Cassie Davis & Serenity Moore

Manichean - “To see things black and white”

There was once a time when the world plotted against me — or at least, I swore it did. My aunt always said I was a vibrant child, exuding confidence like tangerine rays and radiating yellow sunshine; but my parents’ divorce turned me blue, and so did one heartbreak or two; painting me grey and eventually stripping me of all hues. There was once a time when the expectations of society haunted me — or at least I allowed it to. Every single person stroked their brush on my canvas, forcing me to appear the way they saw exquisite. When I was born, the universe had chosen blue for me. No one prepares you for the expectations that come with such a “masculine” color scheme, supposedly painting a portrait of apathy, violence, immaturity, and strength. There was once a time when I let others decide for me — or at least, that was the truth. You see, to everyone else, I was created golden. A polished, glossy statue meant to be placed on a pedestal and stared at. I was like a bust with perfection on the outside, yet if you carved away the layers, it would be solid, smooth marble — easily impressionable and monotonous.

Satori - “Sudden Enlightenment”

They say it’s hormonal or trauma. “Go see a therapist,” like they are adding a splash of life to my monochrome “phase.” “Take these pills,” have them paint you back to “normal.” I accepted the bleakness, occasionally feeling glimmers of light. ‘Til I looked in the mirror. Then one day, I asked myself, what if I experimented with pink? So I did. I made purple, so majestic and royal, and transformed myself into a queen. Even as a man in drag, you found a way to drag me down. Since when did blue and pink become the new black and white? The duality struck through me, not into two halves, but a million pieces, and I wasn’t whole. ‘Til I looked in the mirror. That’s why I was always surprised when they were so green with envy. Little did they know how fake jewelry turns green as well. As the backhanded compliments and critiques took hold, I envied those who had something I couldn’t shop for: authenticity. Believe me, they thought my shimmer never dulled. ‘Til I looked in the mirror.

Ataraxis - “The absence of stress or anxiety”

I now know that in life, the blue and the brights mix and mesh, making me elated at one moment and miserable the next. The painting of life captures so many highs and lows, and though I’ve left darkness and light in the background — and even though I know there is gloom and bliss in the foreground — I embrace both opposites wholeheartedly, as I embrace myself. I now know the ignorant will always try to decide which hue to use in their coloring book. I’ve been told that blue is “too brutish” and pink is “too dainty.” I don’t even want to compromise and take on purple as my label, because somehow that doesn’t match either. So, I close my eyes, stick my hand in the crayon box and pick a color. That's my color for that picture — you should check back later. Like a chameleon, I’ll be a different color tomorrow, I’m ever-evolving. So the anger consumed me and I became a red hot ball of lava. What if I showed my emotions, the real ones, the ones that piss me off and make me break down? And that’s how you become real gold, through the heated pressure and letting others see your imperfections You form and mold, taking shape.

AS COLORS TH ROUGH TH E LOOKI NG GLASS By Caitlin Downing 45

Ke n dal Cano

Discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community is an undeniable fact in this day and age, but what is misunderstood is the effect this discrimination has on mental health. The 21st century has ushered in an unprecedented era for mental health awareness and LGBTQ+ rights, yet mental illness continues to disproportionately plague this community. The Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health reports that queer people are six times more likely to commit suicide,1.5 times more likely to experience depressive symptoms, and experience comparativley higher rates of anxiety. This is unacceptable, but to address the issue, we must first understand it. The LGBTQ+ community is not inherently mentally ill, which has long been the argument against queer people. This argument doesn’t take into account all the discrimination the community faces. Persecution is devastating, and it can nurture depression and anxiety in anyone — so of course, a community that experiences it at such high rates will also be more likely to suffer from mental illness. Chapin Hill discovered that LGBTQ+ youths experience a 120% higher rate of homelessness, and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center reports that 47% of trans people experience sexual assault in their lifetimes. This doesn’t even touch on the systematic oppression of LGBTQ+ people; 16-18% of the community report employment discrimination according to the Canadian Journal of Administrative Scientists. Understanding this discrimination is what many queer people seek in their community, and this level of empathy is the most effective treatment for mental illness. Psychologist Thomas E. Joiner explains this relationship as the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide. It says that suicide is a direct effect of people not experiencing reciprocal relationships, feeling like a burden or liability, and an overall lack of interpersonal connection. LGBTQ+ individuals that are involved in the community are able to better process their trauma with people who have been through it themselves.

Disconnect from the community can cause someone to be launched into a world of heteronormativity. This phenomena of daily heterosexual assumptions alienates LGBTQ+ people from their non-LGBTQ+ friends. Heteronormativity is pervasive, and heteronormative expectations set by society can make queer people feel abnormal in fundamental personal and interpersonal ways. LGBTQ+ people cannot define their success in a workplace where they are being discriminated against. Possibly more damaging is the lag in romantic benchmarks the community often experiences; they miss out on things like prom, but also experience delayed firsts like kisses, dates, and sex. These events are seen as achievements every adolescent must have, and these expectations continue throughout life; for example, marriage and child rearing. Heterosexual, cisgender people may also experience these things, but not because of their inherent self. Normalization of heterosexuality erases LGBTQ+ people from movies, advertisements, vernacular, anthropological studies, and most tragically, in scientific and medical research. Representation has been improving, yet it tends to be stereotypical and one-dimensional. The majority of queer representation ends up being trauma porn, which only reinforces the idea that people within these communities are solely victims of society and not people with complex, multi-faceted lives. This is dangerous to mental health because it eliminates hope for a life free from stigma, while also presenting being queer as a solely negative experience. We have all seen clips of people lamenting the ridiculousness of the “snowflake” generation, but the ridiculousness worth lamenting is the chosen ignorance of those who do not want their point of view challenged. People are uncomfortable with the fact that something they see as integral to the fabric of the world — gender and sexuality — are constructs made true only by our choice to make it so. People hate being told they are wrong; this explains the blatant hatred towards nonbinary and sexually diverse individuals.

Nonbinary and gender fluid people experience unique discrimination. In many cases, it is easier for a family to deny a gender nonconforming identity and to altogether ignore it because it still retains some aspect of the birth-assigned identity. People choose this path thinking it is a neutral option, but what it actually does though is delegitimize an identity. Using someone’s correct pronouns is a choice to respect someone that many people feel are undeserving of respect. This is such a divisive topic because it demands actual change and is an example of a marginalized group gaining control. In such an unprecedented period of liberation, why does this community continue to suffer disproportionately compared to the cisgender and heterosexual communities? It is because despite the legal efforts made to end discrimination, society has failed to implement these changes at a personal level. There may be avenues to seek legal aid for wrongful termination at a person’s place to work, but there are none to protect someone from a mother’s disdainful glare, a partner’s judgmental words, or a peer’s alienation. The discrimination facing the LGBTQ+ community is an all-encompassing fact of life stemming from a world where cisgender and heterosexual characteristics are ingrained into our subcnocious as the pinnacle of success. What everyone can do is educate themselves and become an ally. It is not a queer person’s job to explain themselves, so it is up to you to learn more about their experiences and to make changes in how you interact with the world. Treat everyone with kindness and respect, even if they live a truth you do not understand. If you are in a room where you think you can say something not politically correct, think again because you never know what people are grappling with internally. If a friend comes out to you and you aren’t sure how to respond, you might feel negativity bubbling to the surface. Stop, swallow it, go home, open Google, and learn. Many LGBTQ+ people are open to a conversation grounded

in humility; but what they won’t be open to are invasive questions about their genitals, dysphoria, or sex lives. They don’t have to offer any explanation of their existence — it needs none — and the attitude that it does puts lives on the line. The generation inheriting the world has the capability to create an accepting environment where differences are celebrated. We need to strive for equality, and by starting at home and in your own community, change will spread and become the new normal. Fight for your coworkers, parishioners, partners, mothers, fathers, best friends, dog sitters, lawyers, and any other role people can take on — because that is who is struggling. If you are LGBTQ+ and feel hopeless, know that this too shall pass. It will be hard, and you might lose people along the way, but know that they are making room for the right people to come in. So many before us have fought for the beautiful opportunity the world is granting us at this very moment, so listen to the conversation happening worldwide. There is greatness in this community’s past, present, and future — so stay. Please stay, and celebrate as the world catches up.

See Me

Help Lines The National Center for Transgender Equality offer resources for legal issues, sexual assault, domestic abuse, support hotlines, hate crimes, health care, immigration, incarceration, housing, and employment for the whole LGBTQ+ community. SAMHSA’s National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 National Sexual Assault Hotline Confidential 24/7 Support

Thief of Joy Thief of Joy

I glance at her across the room. I can almost see my reflection in the gleam of her blonde hair. She’s an enigma, a perfect puzzle I have forever been trying to complete. Often, I find myself with that one last piece, struggling to fit it in a place where the edges and shapes don’t align. That piece is the unruly desire I have to want my life like hers. I know I do this with everyone But I truly can not see that If everyone is supposedly unique and perfect Why am I dying to be anyone other than me? My thumb begins to tense up as I continue the monotonous scrolling through my phone. Vacations, models, and relationships, oh my! Social media is like the never-ending yellow brick road that leads to the unattainable Emerald City. I am no better than the next person. My life on paper is a fairytale compared to what I experience on a dayto-day basis. My bikini pictures are a broken reflection of the thirty minutes I spend in the mirror each morning imagining how much happier I would be if my thighs had a space between them. I know I am not the only one with an elaborate facade,however I consistently convince myself that others, especially her, didn’t have to work as hard to become so perfect. Her life, at this moment, exists three rows in front of me, but she seems worlds away. Her world, which I am a measly viewer through the glass screen of my phone, is simply a dream. A dream I would chase if only I had the means. She is right in front of me, yet merely a figment of my imagination. If what I present is, in fact, false advertisement Then who is to say that the one I idolize is simply a fellow participant in this cruel game of comparison. Before I know it, my feet glide swiftly out of my chair and across the room I touch her shoulder expecting my hand to float right through, yet it doesn’t She is real And so, I say hello.

I accidentally catch her gaze from afar. It’s almost as if I am staring back at myself into her shiny green eyes. She seems to have it like there is nothing missing to fulfill. I reflect upon what else there could be, searching to find any flaws or mishaps in her perfectly-seeming life. That something missing is the lack of love that I have for myself. I look at others with envy sometimes, When there are so many living their lives differently from mine. I know uniqueness is human, but Why am I dying to be anyone other than me? The glowing glass screen that never leaves my sight Makes it too easy to compare me to her and others, When I can view almost every detail of her life through A simple tap and scroll. I find myself wasting too many precious moments of the day focused on viewing those of others In the endless abyss that is social media. I dig deeper into this black hole until I cannot Find my way out. I claw away the thoughts haunting me that my life could never be as vibrant as theirs. It’s utterly draining, although I remind myself that it is only the carefully edited highlights that are shared. It’s funny how we seek approval of ourselves Through pictures that would otherwise sit on empty shelves. My eyes wander downwards to the way her clothes Fit her perfectly, like a glove. She sways with confidence that radiates like warm sunshine and makes me aware of my lack thereof. Her pictures are on my screen, yet her presence is my reality. It is that presence I begin to feel gain on me As my brain wanders into racing thoughts about The mystery behind her façade and who she really is. My breath quickens from adrenaline as she effortlessly Glides towards me. I expect her to walk right through, But she materializes in front of me. She is real And so, She says hello.

STRIKE

OUT.

THANK YOU Hannah Kealy Founder of Strike Magazine

We could never express how grateful we are that you trusted us to bring your vision to life in Athens, Ga. Strike has improved our lives professionally and personally in so many ways and we owe it all to you. We thank you for always being a source of inspiration, building our confidence, and truly encouraging us in more ways than you will ever know. Xo, Your Founders Nahdia Johnson & Serenity Moore

Models Fashion Over the Decades Delaney Free Elizabeth Oliver Daryn Minster Victoria Schnieder Don’t Touch My Hair Cheryl Kwaps Jayla Smith Madison Taylor

POV Jomarie Cortese Kaitlyn McCann Jackson Riddle True Cost of Fashion Lauren Jennings Charley Sun Madison Taylor I ___ The Skin I’m In Shaolynn Betts Blake Campbel Arantxa Villa

Tunnel Vision Cherry Gong Madelaine Kinnebrew Kelvin Nguyen

Businesses Agora Vintage American Threads Clarke’s Standard el Barrio Tacos & Tequila

Indigo Child Kempt Athens Pauley’s Crepe Bar pūrvelo

Staff We want to say thank you to our staff(amily) for riding this wild ride that Issue 01 took us on. We are forever thankful and will cherish each role you all played in the making of our founding issue. We love you all!