Model Emma King
Styling Keegan Hannan
Makeup Jena Poorman
Photography Brieanna Andrews
Model Beata Oseibonsu
Styling Liv Vitale
Makeup Arianna Yacoubian
Photography Ian Ward Alvarez
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ERIN HU
CREATIVE DIRECTOR LIV VITALE
EXTERNAL DIRECTOR LAUREN CASOLE
ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
DANIELLA CONDE
EDITORIAL DIRECTORS
AJ BAFER
KATE CORCORAN
COPY EDITORS
BAILEY KORINEK
LUENA RODRIGUEZ-FEO VILEIRA
WEB/SOCIAL COORDINATOR
DENISA FLUTURAS
WRITERS
DANIELLA ALFONSO
NAINA CHAUHAN
OLIVIA EVANS
OLIVIA HANSEN
ZARIN ISMAIL
ABBY JONES
AVERY MORTON
JULIETTE PAYMAYESH
UMA RAJA
SOFIA RAMOS
ALEXANDRA SINKOVICH
ANDREA VALDES-SUEIRAS
ASSISTANT CREATIVE DIRECTOR
JACOB WALL
DESIGN DIRECTOR
DINA COLETTI
ART DIRECTOR
LARISSA AGUIAR
ART ASSISTANTS
ANABEL DENT
RACHEL FRENCHMAN
CHLOE GIROD
RHYTHM KUMAR
CASWELL SHAMBLIN
BEAUTY DIRECTOR
KATIE GEREMIA
BEAUTY ASSISTANTS
ETHAN GARREPY
MIA KOVAL
AVA LODGE
ALEXA MILLER
JENA POORMAN
AMANDA SPANGLER
ARIANNA YACOUBIAN
HAIR STYLISTS
MACKENZIE POTTS
LOLA SANCHEZ
BOOKINGS DIRECTORS
ALEXI STOUPAS
EMMA TULLIO
BOOKINGS ASSISTANT
CAROLINE UDELL
CASTINGS DIRECTORS
MADELYN CABLE
KATE PILGRIM
CASTINGS ASSISTANTS
ALEXA CRAIG
TARA GAINES
CONTENT TEAM ORANGE DIRECTORS
GABRIELA DONATI
NICOLE TORRES
CONTENT ASSISTANTS
BEN APPLE
KRISTA KILBURG
CHLOE MAZLOUM
KAITLYN MCLAUGHLIN
VALERIE SAMOSKY
CONTENT TEAM BLUE DIRECTORS
BEN ROBINSON
JORDAN WITT
CONTENT ASSISTANTS
COLBY BEECH
ELIZABETH CLAYMAN
SOPHIE COLLONGETTE
JASON HAO
JULIA WHITEHURST
STYLING TEAM DIRECTORS
KEEGAN HANNAN
NOAH SAMS
STYLING ASSISTANTS
RJ ELLIS
MYA GENUARDI
TABI HIGGINS
DEVON LIMCANGCO
JON LOFERSKI
MATTHEW SLOBODA
HUNTLEIGH ZHANG
PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTORS
KATALINA ENRIQUEZ
STEPHANIE GARCIA
PHOTOGRAPHERS
PATRICK AMINTOSO
BRIEANNA ANDREWS
XINYUE LI
KAITLYN MCLAUGHLIN
KAT RETTINO
ANNIKA THIIM
IAN ALVAREZ WARD
FILM DIRECTORS
CAMILA CELAYA
KYLE TOTZKE
FILM ASSISTANTS
JOSIE CRUZ
THEO DEVLIN
GABBY RANDERSON
ASSISTANT EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR
ALYSSA RIVES
FINANCE DIRECTORS
KATE BANSMER
SOPHIA GALINOS
FINANCE ASSISTANT
NIHAR SOMAN
MARKETING DIRECTORS
PRESLIE BROWN
KELLY HENNING
MARKETING ASSISTANTS
KENZIE CHASE
LEXI DENOWITZ
EDEN DEPEKARY
ELIZA LAHVIS
CHLOE LEIB
SAM LEVINE
CHRISTINA MACKEY
HUNTER MONSON
JESSE PICKEL
CAMERON RELICKE
JESSICA VELEZ
ZACHARY VENEZIA
MERCHANDISE DIRECTORS
LEXI HOROWITZ
CHLOE MAZLOUM
MERCHANDISE ASSISTANTS
ALEXIS CASTILLO
KATIE LIANG
MADDY PORRICOLO
ATHENA VEGHTE
PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTORS
CANDACE DOBOS-BUBNO
JOANNA SALVAT
PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSISTANTS
SAMMY DRATCH
JESSICA FREEMAN
MARISA GREENBERG
MELANIE HERRERA
SYDNEY KESSELMAN
CAROLINE RIVES
EMMA VALDEON
MEREDITH WORKMAN
SALES DIRECTORS
ISABELLA DE MIGUEL
LAYLA DUBREUCQ
SALES ASSISTANTS
BELLA BARRIOS
NEHEMIE CYRIAQUE
STELLA MAZZITELLI
REESE HARPER
BROOKE WEINSTEIN
SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTORS
EMMA DONATO
KASSANDRA RODRIGUEZ
SOCIAL MEDIA ASSISTANTS
AUDREY BAKER
BRITTANY GRICE
MACKENZIE KEAN
AAYUSHI PATEL
KATHERINE SIGNORI
EMMA STANKOS
MADISON SUTER
CARLY WEINBLATT
MUSIC COORDINATOR
ELLA DANG
BRAND AMBASSADOR DIRECTOR
SOPHIA JOHNS
ASSISTANT BRAND
AMBASSADOR DIRECTOR
KATIE PEREZ
BRAND AMBASSADORS
DYLAN ALFARO
RAQUEL ALVARADO
LINDSEY ANDREN
MATT BROWN
HALLE BURTON
MIA CHACON
ISABELLA CLARK
SARA GLEIM
AMINA KHAMITOVA
BRYNN KOEPKE
EDEN LAYMAN
KAITLYN MASONE
KALINA PANDELOVA
MARIANA PIMENTA
LAUREN SACHS
HADLEY SUSA
JAMES ROBERTSON
SAVANNAH RUDE
COLIN VAN DUYVENBODE
Strike Magazine Gainesville embodies the idea that we are all striking. Strike highlights the unique qualities of a student body of individuals who express themselves authentically. Through our diversity, varied life experiences and interests, we each bring refreshing perspectives and visions to the world and one another. We value the human experience, and we aim to create a magazine that embodies the defining attributes of all people and yields a deep appreciation for fashion, art and culture.
Strike Magazine in Gainesville, Florida, was founded in March 2018 as the first extension of the Tallahassee publication. Since then, we have grown to a staff of over 150 students. Strike has also expanded to 12 additional campuses in the United States. It serves as a creative outlet and source of professional experience for our ambitious staff. We take pride in representing Gainesville as the first student-run publication of our kind and, now, as the nation’s largest student-run fashion and culture magazine.
We, the editors, would like to thank our team for their consistent passion, creativity and support. We are endlessly inspired by the distinct beauty of each member of Strike and the Gainesville community. Strike Magazine looks forward to continuing to empower our readers to think beyond the norm.
Styling
Makeup
Photography
Edit
This milestone is a testament to the community that has supported us from the moment our magazine was founded. We are boundlessly thankful to the city of Gainesville for inspiring us and providing us with the space to create authentically and boldly.
Our 10th issue is an ode to the culture of Gainesville and the profound impact it has had on our creative processes. This past year, we have delved deeper into our individual passions while exploring the innovative corners of the city that have shaped us. From its vibrant music scene to its eclectic art spaces, we have been captivated by the diversity of this place and the people who call it home.
Reflecting on our journey of self-expression over the past five years, we are reminded of the importance of community and the power of collaboration. As we continue to tap into Gainesville’s blossoming creative scene, our staff has grown in tandem with the city.
Issue 10 is not just a reflection of our community, but a celebration of it.
Design Larissa Aguiar
Model Patrick Roghaar
Styling Raphael Ellis
Makeup Jena Poorman, Arianna Yacoubian
Hair Lola Sanchez
Photography Kaitlyn McLaughlin
Model Taesha Jones
Makeup Jacob Wall, Arianna Yacoubian
Photography Brieanna Andrews
Design Rhythm Kumar
Model Kshama Shetty
Makeup Ethan Garrepy
Photography Kat Rettino
Model Alejandra Sanchez
Makeup Katie Geremia
Hair Lola Sanchez
Photography Brieanna Andrews
Model Anna Jacobson
Makeup Jena Poorman
Photography Brieanna Andrews
Design Rhythm Kumar
Model Elias Karasilk
Makeup Ethan Garrepy, Jena Poorman
Hair Mackenzie Potts
Photography Brieanna Andrews
Model Leviticus Grimes
Makeup Alexa Miller
Photography Brieanna Andrews
Makeup
Hair Mackenzie Potts
Model Liberty Mermerian
Ethan Garrepy, Jena Poorman
Photography Brieanna Andrews
PSA: It’s OK to conform.
For the majority of my existence, I have fought against being conceptualized as a “woman.”
As a middle schooler, I scoffed at the young girls drooling over Harry Styles and Zayn Malik in J-14 Magazines. The “Twilight” novel my mother gifted me collected dust on my bedside table. While other girls blocked off an hour to take pictures at parties or dances, my friends and I watched them from afar.
My eyes bore into their bodies as I judged them for their carefully crafted poses. I criticized their affinity for cherry-picking certain sides of their body to present to the camera.
My hatred was not rooted in my identity as a woman. My aversion stemmed from stereotypes assigned to my femininity. My obsession with being unique restricted me from certain hobbies and interests, distancing me from my more feminine qualities. While I found passions I enjoyed, I became the globally mocked “I’m not like other girls” girl.
I created a false narrative about the world: In order to be special, I couldn’t like anything mainstream. My resentment trickled into interests designated as “feminine” or “masculine.”
If a man listed off “The Wolf of Wall Street,” “Inception” or “Fight Club” as their favorite film, I automatically assumed they were a gender conformist and questioned their societal independence. For simply enjoying a movie or preferring athletics over the arts, I had an image of who they were as a person, and I decided their interests were unworthy of my respect.
As a young adult, I thought that independence and originality were only attainable through freeing yourself of gender norms and societal constraints.
As a 20-something-year-old, I realize that this “freedom” is a facade. The advent of technology has allowed society to view content at an unprecedented rate, empowering more people to participate in popular culture. However, the natural order of pop culture produces an inherent counter-culture. Our generation’s counter culture promotes being
anything but the norm:
“Don’t be like other girls.”
“Don’t be like other guys.”
“Don’t be like anyone.”
The overabundance of media has created an obsession with being different in a world that is becoming more similar. But is this obsession with being eccentric making us more isolated? Is it putting individuals at odds with their identities and creating a culture of judgment?
Warped into this obsession with being a nonconformist is the normalization of androgyny.
Androgyny allows individuals to express themselves more freely, independent of gender, and create a culture that pushes us to defy the societal expectations attached to masculinity or femininity. However, the persistence of this culture can negatively affect people who naturally associate more with more masculine or feminine qualities.
A dichotomous culture is presented that we must keep in check to respect all peoples: the ability to fully explore interests and the societal pressure to be free from gender norms.
We must appreciate others for their willingness to share their passions and abandon our toxic belief that being “too masculine” or “too feminine” is a negative quality.
Since my revelation, I’ve only just scratched the surface of healing my relationship with femininity.
I’ve allowed myself to accept the fact that I do enjoy One Direction’s pop-saturated tracks and that I value taking pictures to capture moments with loved ones.
I’ve stopped making snarky comments about popular movies and begun asking why these mediums are so vastly acclaimed.
Masculinity, femininity and the absence of either are not our enemies — stereotypes are. When we abandon our societal obsession with generalizing individuals is when we will truly be free.
ALLIE SINKOVICH
Model Ellie Bender
Makeup Alexa Miller
Hair Mackenzie Potts
Photography Brieanna Andrews
Models Roma Khanna, Logan Mazor, Graham Oldershaw, Riley Rodriquez, Lauren Rozic, Sheyze X
Makeup Ethan Garrepy, Ava Lodge, Alexa Miller, Jena Poorman, Amanda Spangler Hair Lola Sanchez
Photography Patrick Amintoso
Believe it or not, it gets cold at night even in the solstice of summer off a country road not far from here.
Often, the darkness is loud in the fleeting hours of human quiet. And if you listen closely, the swamp comes to life and sings.
The air is always saturated blanketing boggy beings in dewdrops. It feels like rest, relief from the scorch of day.
Sometimes, the grand oaks can be mistaken for monsters skeletal limbs swaying in the soft light of the moon.
But really, they are just dancers in the wind, performing Mother Earth’s exhaling swing. In her twirling arms, countless creatures lie to rest.
In the grass, celadon toads frolic filling the midnight air with song, and a red bump itches on my skin from the mosquito’s evening kiss.
Even this, in a way, reminds me I am a child of the swamp, too.
The finest part of all lies above: the great mural on the ceiling. Painted with little bears and Pegasus and flying wishes free to catch.
As I rock on the edge of a quiet dock,
I feel small.
Then finally, never failing, the great star still rises.
The voices of the night rest as the chirps of morning take over.
The marsh is alive. Tiny paws search for breakfast among dew-dropped Earth. On exceptional days, I’ve heard, the playful otter even splashes. A beacon of play alongside the sulking gators drifting back to rest.
I haven’t seen that yet.
And with each breath, the indigo of night is painted orange yellow pink then blue.
I am drawn back again and again and again to the crystal waters that welcome me home each summer no matter how much I have grown.
In this place of nothing and everything I am found.
ABBY JONES
Model Lauren Rozic
Makeup Amanda Spangler
Hair Lola Sanchez
Photography Xinyue Li
Design Caswell Shamblin
Model Sheyze X
Makeup Jena Poorman
Photography Annika Thim
Design Rachel Frenchman
My bare feet ground me to the flourishing earth below.
The rays of sun dance on my skin. The summer breeze flutters through my hair. The land is alive, sustaining me. I’m safe here.
But the blue skies beckon me with their vastness and warmth. What would it be like to float among them again?
I see him walking toward me, as if to answer. Hope fills me until I feel like I could burst. Hope. It whispers in my ear: Why would he be here if he didn’t want to fly with me?
A pair of piercing blue eyes looking into mine. A hand extended. I take it.
Lift-off. Together.
I feel my feet leave the meadow of wildflowers and lush green pastures. We soar among the clouds. This has never happened with anyone else.
With every moment I spend above the ground, I shed heavy layers of reservations and hesitancies. I’m lighter now, allowing the wind to lead me wherever it wishes to venture. As long as it’s with him.
Does he feel the same way?
When I glimpse into his eyes, I see them darken with fear. Cerulean pools swim with the doubts I have already discarded. He isn’t ready to jump, and I already dove in.
The clouds begin to tremble. Bolts of lightning materialize beneath me. The white, fluffy pillows are painted dark gray, weighed down by rain.
The wind picks up. I know what this is.
I try to hold onto him, grasping fiercely, clawing at something I never truly got to call my own. It’s impossible. When the universe is against something, attempts to force it are futile.
This kind of falling isn’t the kind that feels like flying. It’s the kind of falling I know will end up in a bone crush.
Rough landing. Alone.
The skies weep for a love they never got to see. The blades of grass and blooming flora that once stood upright are crushed under the weight of my fall.
But storms are not eternal. The clouds will evaporate into the atmosphere. The sun will glisten again. One day, my bones will mend, too.
And the hope? Not even the rushing rainwaters could wash that away.
DANIELLA CONDE
Model Michael Parsons
Styling Matthew Sloboda
Makeup Jena Poorman
Photography Katalina Enriquez
Model Angelina Hujber
Styling Mya Genuardi
Makeup Katie Geremia
Hair Lola Sanchez
Photography Kaitlyn McLaughlin
The passionate spectator. A transcendence out of the everyday. A poet of mundanity.
Baudelaire’s flâneur is a glorious, aimless idler.
What a beautiful word for me to romanticize the way in which I process my little world of University Ave: taking in the ecosystem of individuals around me and assigning them within my personal taxonomy.
In the 100 feet from my door to the crosswalk, I position the swarming strollers idling past me into their respective categories, parameterizing the people I encounter into digestible aesthetic species.
There’s the brunette. Her hair is tousled in the way only another woman could tell was delicately styled to be slightly undone. Effortlessly, she dons relaxed blue jeans, a singularly buttoned button-down and distressed sneakers.
She steps out onto the road pausing, waiting for a small break in the traffic. She sees a clearing and saunters across the road toward the median. Standing nonchalantly, watching the cars pass her, she hesitates before continuing onto campus.
Ahead of me, the skater waits with his board tucked under his arm. He doesn’t look too different from the brunette — only his hair is genuinely messy, and his pants are slouched. He looks up from his phone and glances at the road before deciding to jog across. Why does he go all the way to the crosswalk just to cross on red? Is it the comfort of only being a quasi-jaywalker? Impatience, boredom, recklessness.
And where am I? Well, that’s the beauty of the flâneur. I’m everywhere and nowhere. Simply casting my gaze out upon the masses. I don’t have to exist within any sphere of cliche — I exist merely to observe them. Not the cool girl brunette. Or our restless skater. I’m above and beyond it all.
I always cross at the light, patiently waiting for green. Terribly boring, I know. Perhaps my surrounding pedestrians have decided I’m the rulefollowing conformist.
At the intersection, I’m confronted with the distinct feeling of belonging. To what, I’m not sure. Students, skaters, Salinger’s despairing musings in “Franny and Zoey”:
“It’s everybody, I mean. Everything everybody does is so — I don’t know — not wrong, or even mean or even stupid necessarily. But just so tiny and meaningless and sad-making. And the worst part is, if you go bohemian or something crazy like that, you’re conforming just as much, only in a different way.”
Some words resonate acutely, circling around circumstances. But, I’ve come to realize that reducing yourself to a mere spectator can be so oppressive. The dichotomies we establish are our ways of making sense of our world. They aren’t meaningless. They are intensely important to us because we too exist within them.
No, to be a passionate spectator you must revel in conformity, for it is intrinsic to community. Everything everybody does is predicated on our rich shared network of significance.
The light turns green at University Ave. I cross with the other rulefollowing conformists. My casual musings on the psyches of the people around me trickle out of my thoughts as I revert to my usual pace of thought: problem set, seat in class, lunch. I take on a brisk walk — the world around me fades away. But, even so, the hum of energy of the people around me rings in my ears, the quiet chorus for the flâneur.
NAINA CHAUHAN
Model Ellie Majhess
Makeup Katie Geremia
Photography Annika Thiim
Talent Mace
Makeup Katie Geremia, Mia Koval
Photography Stephanie Garcia
Design Chloe Girod
GAINESVILLE SONGWRITER OPENS
UP ABOUT HER CREATIVE PROCESS.
When Mace first began playing guitar in high school, times were simpler. Frankie Cosmos was on the come-up. Bedroom pop only just began popping off. Mace was just beginning to explore the math rock’s intricacies and the intoxication of guitar.
The songwriter preferred using SoundCloud to find jams — a trait she’s carried on since becoming a Spotify artist. The tracks were both time capsules and a way to connect with people, one she didn’t have to think about too hard.
Six years and 67 tracks later, the 22-year-old songwriter is inspired by artists like Jessica Pratt, Katie Day, Orca and The Slip.
The guitar-heavy well of inspiration melds with her own eccentricity to create her own take on alternative folk. But not quite. Unconventional time signatures, aggressiveness and ambient voice memos layer to build her distinct walls of sound.
“I just like experimenting,” she says.
Mace’s melodic synthesis is, in part, homegrown. Her dad was a drummer, her mom a visual artist. Creative environments were her stomping grounds. Her brother’s a drummer — he picked up the sticks so he could play her songs. It brought them closer. Not everyone was so supportive, though.
“I played with a lot of dudes who thought that they were a lot better than I could be,” she says. “And then I was like, ‘I can count. I can do
times.’ So I got really good.”
With experience came self-scrutiny. These days, she finishes more songs but records less.
To separate from the stresses of a solo artist, she scratches her posthardcore itch through her band, rugh. The group formed when she met guitarist Liza Goldstein at a gig with her old band. They’ve played since the pandemic began. Ever since he moved to Gainesville a year ago, her brother has been by her side at his drum kit, keeping time.
When she’s not songwriting, Mace enjoys constructing cakes. She got into baking when she became vegan in high school. Adorning them with funny designs is half the pleasure.
“It’s art, and it’s food, and it’s awesome.”
Her Sicilian orange cake is one of her favorites. But she’s not picky. “You can make a cake with anything,” she says. “Give me five ingredients that may seem deadly.”
Mace moved from her hometown of Fort Myers to Gainesville in 2019. The art and technology student hopes to create music videos for a living. Still, she has a soft spot for the artist’s side of the lens.
She doesn’t think of her first Spotify collection, “Right Place/ Right Time,” as an album. But her definitive creative statement is in the oven.
AJ BAFER & KATE CORCORAN
Talent Ayooo Papo
Models Chris Bartholomew, Katrina Couch, Andre Garboza, Reyhan Kepic, Erika Meya
Makeup Ethan Garrepy, Mia Koval, Ava Lodge, Alexa Miller, Arianna Yacoubian
Hair Lola Sanchez
Photography Patrick Amintoso
They varnish their lips with a third coat of translucent lip gloss — the same one they’ll probably lend to their friend in the bar for a drunk touch up by the end of the night. Immediately fitting the sticky applicator into the tube, they rummage their pocket for change and an ID, deal the bouncer the card and a gutsy look. They’re in. Proof of their acceptance lies wrapped around their wrist in a brittle, neon band, a souvenir from another night of navigating through an ocean of party goers, all seeking the same kind of connection.
They join a sea of desperate eyes, saturated by the blue light, each pair a magnet longing for a pull. They shoot their friend a look of mutual understanding that translates to, “Let’s go get a drink.” On the way to the bar, like clockwork, they glare at the DJ, ogle at the guy to their left and wink at their friend. There’s an entire language in bouts of extended eye contact at night. They’ve mastered it.
“Cheers,” they mouth to each other. Off to the dance floor. They are in an artificial state of joy. Moving rhythmically — or so they think. It doesn’t matter. In a big, dark space like this, no one is judging. They are either too intoxicated or too caught up in themselves to focus on another. And so they continue to move, half hoping he might see and half hoping he doesn’t.
It’s easy to hide at large parties. The club is an introverted extrovert’s paradise. There are no strings attached. You can talk to someone for two minutes or two hours. Make up a fictitious background story to make yourself more interesting.
You don’t have to be honest with anyone. Not even yourself.
Or you can be. The intimacy of giving yourself entirely to the person in front of you when there are so many other prospects baiting around is a beautiful thing. There’s nothing like leaning in just to hear each other better. No one around will know the slightest about the substance of your conversation in such a public place. The dichotomy is addictive.
It’s dark at large parties, too. People are blacked out, and the lights are off. You can wear what you want and dance like you want. Hell, paint your face with strokes of blue eyeshadow and blots of deep pink blush. It’s loud. The music sounds like it’s rocking the liquor bottles off the shelves and the doors off their hinges. It leaves your ears ringing the minute you step out of this dim den into the open. Your ears are waking you back up to normalcy.
The music cuts. Lights flash on. Every inch of the room is exposed — even the ugly parts. The DJ packs away his mixer. People flock to the fast food joint around the corner in droves. They stumble to the door, the bouncer, their gatekeeper to the light. For them, tonight was just another night at the most intimately detached place ever.
But would they have it any other way?
ANDREA VALDES-SUEIRAS
From brightly colored mohawks and liberty spikes, to Bad Religion band tees, leather accents and safety pins — the punk subculture has always remained recognizable on account of its distinctive tributes to individuality and rebellion of mainstream culture.
The first wave of punks emerged in the 1970s. The youth movement was spearheaded by those who evaded conformity through eccentric fashion and loud, fast-paced and sociopolitically charged music. But this unruly attitude, which once challenged the norms of social etiquette and prompted discrimination from most, is now widely revered and even a form of inspiration.
This became especially prevalent as the culture branched off into various different subgenres, like hardcore punk, pop-punk and indie punk, many of which have been embraced by younger musicians of today. Orlando’s self-described indie-punk band, 0 Miles Per Hour, is a testament to just this.
As a group that is constantly evolving and changing its sound according to what they listen to, 0 MPH is an example of punk culture’s continued legacy. Its members find inspiration in not only the music of widely known artists but in those around them throughout the Orlandobased music community.
Formed by Chrissy McKeever (bass/vocals), Jack Dee (guitar/vocals), Jackson Bates (guitar) and Dakotah Walker (drums), 0 MPH first surfaced in 2019. While still a relatively young band, it remains one of the oldest in Orlando’s newer wave of indie-punks. The four have described a huge difference in the scene from when they first began performing to now. Aside from the personal growth mustered throughout their years of playing together, McKeever touches on how the scene itself has evolved: becoming less cliquey and instead garnering more support since the start of their career.
“Over the past year or so, it’s been cool to see bands even younger than us starting to play shows,” Dee says.
The band witnessed firsthand how music groups, which were rejected in the past for how they chose to express themselves, have managed to develop successful recognition in the mainstream. The gathering of people to celebrate these scenes at events, like Indie Nights and Emo Nights, among others, attests to the creation of communities forming as a result of these common interests. 0 MPH pays tribute to its friends in the scene — from art to fashion, all of its collaborators are confidants that it found through the community.
The carefree way that 0 MPH’s members act with each other exemplifies the bond they have formed and nurtured over the years. But when you play with a group of people for as long as they have, this connection is to be expected. This is shown in their fluid songwriting process: They often create music by bouncing ideas off of each other and building from fragmented riffs or lyrics. They’ve described the entire experience as “life-changing.”
But this community expands far past the realm of Orlando and even Florida. 0 MPH just embarked on its first string of out-of-state shows this past March as it headed out to Austin, Texas, for Smartpunk Records’ SXSW showcase. But this milestone is just one of many plans it has to come. With its next single being released at the end of this April, the band shows it is going far faster than its name suggests.
SOFIA RAMOS
Design Larissa Aguiar
Talent 0 Miles Per Hour
Makeup Arianna Yacoubian
Hair Lola Sanchez
Photography Ian Ward Alvarez
Our identities are woven into every choice we make, no matter the degree of premeditation. A cycle as repetitive and standard as a morning routine has one’s character burrowed in every crevice. The finale of this seemingly mundane daily ritual is a selection of impression. The duration of this convention likely differs between those who wield their presentation as an unequivocal declaration of character and those who prefer keeping their cards close to their chest.
Whether accomplished in two seconds or in two hours with your floor covered in failed attempts, every day we must choose something to wear. Our wardrobe is inevitably seen and considered by whomever we encounter. These stakes dictate the complexity of this practice.
As trends of minimalism engulf the streets, simplicity can be a safespace. The day’s start can be streamlined by the capsule wardrobe we know and love. Minimalist styles serve as an ode to the proverb “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Still, the countering maxim for maximalist style can be appreciated with context: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” A rule of caution for some, but this notion serves as a guiding principle for those who seek guaranteed approval.
Expression is an art. Diversity is necessary. Whoever said “less is more” evidently needs a dictionary. The human experience should be about crafting your identity, not searching for safe serenity. Instead of spitefully opting for minimalism, consider a complete visual selfexpression. With a maximalist appeal, I convey my interests, tendencies, values and personality — all through wardrobe choice.
On the innermost layer, a gray semi-lace corset. This first communicates my demand for structure. Without it, consider me a committal nomad spurring through life. The binding of the corset depicts my daily requirement of a checklist to navigate through each and every task. If one task is left undone, successive assignments cannot be completed. The lace detail of the top hints coyly at my revealing nature, its sheerness implying that I am nothing short of an open book. Anyone met in a bar bathroom is subject to learning more of my personal life than they’d prefer. My local barista will not be spared after asking how my day was. I wear my heart on my sleeve and could never, no matter how alluring, be labeled mysterious.
Layered above is a dusted purple sweater, open-knit and distressed to the point where three fingers could fit between its threads, asymmetrically cropped just across the bottom of my rib cage. A Florida resident since infancy, my Northern uncles would ask if this sweater came this way or if “a bunch of yarn got tangled in the dryer.” This selection is indicative of my insuppressible urge to have something to fidget with at all times. Beneath the surface interpretation, however, it also translates my apprehension toward the intimacy of physical touch.
Long, billowing purple trousers account for my bottom half, as I yearn ceaselessly for respect. Wearing emasculating pieces allows me to broadcast my need to be treated with this esteem. From my father,
to male peers, to instructors and even my aforementioned ridiculing uncles, I have always felt a need to wrestle for reverence. When paired with contouring feminine pieces, this burden feels not just controlled but liberated. A simple pair of jeans could convey a similar message of venerated confidence, but the burst of amethyst invokes a deeper decree. The trouser’s hind pockets, composed of suede, emulate my attention to detail exclusively with people. My affinity for remembering miniscule details about the lives of those around me parallels the memory in a piece of suede: Every point of contact with the fabric is forever embedded in its topography, as it wears well with time.
To exhibit sophistication, a silk gray and white scarf, loosely draped around the neck. Though I demand structure, I cannot remain in one place. I identify with pieces that communicate movement. The unpredictability of the scarf’s intended function is a deliberate choice. Delicate gold chain jewelry echoes one of my most sacred values: loyalty. The links in these pieces emphasize the trust I place in all relationships. Their unwavering nature asserts I would do anything for one I call a friend. The authentic gold worn directly translates to my onestrike rule. If deceived, I do not make the mistake of trusting someone twice, which is why I despise silver. If one of these precious pieces breaks, it is unfixable, but a lesson learned.
Accentuating my round face is a pair of oversized green sunglasses with soft gold detailing on its temples. Chosen in part to account for my acute awareness of my face shape, these glasses signify a conquered insecurity of the past. However, the likelihood of your mother complimenting these glasses serves sufficient purpose in itself. My need for parental approval goes beyond the jurisdiction of my own familial circle; I strive to impress the parents of others.
Finally, white sneakers with purple laces conclude the ensemble. This footwear can support a step in any direction, advancing my unpredictable nature. Sneakers act as a crowd pleaser, and I consider myself a people pleaser. These shoes specifically express my appetite to serve my friends, whom I feel fulfilled in making happy. I resonate with sneakers — neither of us have met a stranger.
An extension of our personalities can be narratively expressed by way of clothing. Though easy on the eyes, widespread minimalism will eventually eradicate the color from our lives. A gray corset, purple sweater, purple trousers, and an assortment of accessories which speak to my psyche give more to life than the same white tank top and jeans. Maximalism rejects complacency, introducing extraordinary flavor. The world’s countless variety of personalities should be illustrated by an explosion of artistic differences, not circumscribed to neutral limitations. How do your accessories accentuate your attributes? What makes your outfit you?
JULIETTE PAYMAYESH
Model Sela Iverson
Styling Jon Loferski
Makeup Mia Koval
Photography Patrick Amintoso
Models Charleigh Baab, Alex Cicero, Elizabeth Courey, Payton Devide, Kyshean Durri, Dante Jordan, Starr
Martin, Mya Nicholas, Zachary Rubin, Sean Tzoucalis
Makeup Ethan Garrepy, Katie Geremia, Mia Koval, Ava
Lodge, Alexa Miller, Jena Poorman, Amanda Spangler, Arianna Yacoubian
Hair Mackenzie Potts, Lola Sanchez
Photography Ian Ward Alvarez
Edit Erin Hu
Design Chloe Girod
I am telling you, it pays to be so dreadful and hard! They come to me with bits and bobs They’d rather be rid of. Their guilt, debt, loneliness, grief.
These weigh 300 tons and then some. I dice them and roast them with olive oil. They are my breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I am telling you, you are what you eat!
I ate grief through my belly button and Had no choice. Now they all know what to feed me.
Instinctive absorption and stomach acid Make foreign DNA familiar, And I become.
I am telling you, there is beauty in this becoming!
A thousand arms and legs and limbs Will strangle you with gratitude For their salvation.
And you’ll find you’ll never want For a handshake or cordial nod Within a sea of flimsy faces.
But I am telling you, they just want to speak! Don’t expect them to listen.
AVERY MORTON
Models Eliza Thorn, Shydeenha Bruno, Lindsay Ice, Sydney Kollas
Makeup Ethan Garrepy, Alexa Miller, Jena Poorman, Arianna Yacoubian
Hair Katie Geremia, Mackenzie Potts
Photography Stephanie Garcia
Edit Erin Hu
Model Alvin Wu
Styling Tabi Higgins
Makeup Ethan Garrepy
Photography Katalina Enriquez
Model Javana Jayawardena Styling Huntleigh Zahng
Makeup Arianna Yacoubian
Hair Mackenzie Potts
Photography Ian Ward Alvarez
To our Strike community, I joined Strike as a photographer on Issue 03 four years ago, and I could never have imagined the immense joy, valuable experiences, exciting opportunities and sheer importance that this journey would bring into my life. As a team, we have created content that has inspired, informed and captivated our readers, and for that, I am incredibly proud.
Throughout my time at Strike, I experienced incredible growth, both personally and professionally. As I reflect, I realize that joining Strike was exactly what I needed at that time in my life. I met my best friends and people who have become my family. The establishment of Strike Magazine GNV, by Hanna Gibson, Ashley West and Annie Ortega, has had a profound impact on me and countless others. I cannot
emphasize enough how much the community they created means to us, and we are eternally grateful for their initiative in founding it.
As I transitioned into my role as Creative Director during Issue 05, I experienced a newfound sense of confidence and purpose. Annie Ortega and Maddy Whalen inspired me with their leadership styles, integrity and strong core values which continue to guide Strike. As Editor-in-Chief since Issue 07, I have had the pleasure of working with an incredible team of individuals.
I am grateful to Matt Hamburg, Brynn Fantuzzi and Kate McNamara for their hard work, support and dedication to Strike.
Witnessing members of our Strike family evolve into such genuine and kind leaders has brought me immense joy. It fills me with pride to see how Liv Vitale and Lauren Casole, who started out
as Brand Ambassadors, now lead as Creative and External editors, respectively. I cannot express my gratitude enough for their tireless commitment, unwavering support and creative vision, which have made Issue 10 an unforgettable experience.
Strike Magazine’s evolution into the nation’s largest student-run fashion and culture magazine was no easy feat. Emma Oleck, Hannah Kealy and Isa Heuer, along with every Strike Editor-in-Chief, have been essential to this growth, providing unhesitating support throughout the years. To Karina Popowycz, thank you for being my best friend and supporting me through my creative journey. Your loyalty, kindness and generosity have never wavered; I realize that I could not have made it this far without you.
Strike has been the biggest
blessing of my college experience, from the creation of the issues to runway shows to launch parties. I am constantly aware of the incredible, and rare, opportunity Strike has provided me and others to fully embrace our creative passions. I am forever grateful for the dedication, hard work and passion of every past and present member of the Strike Magazine family, as it has been the driving force behind our achievements.
As I move on to new endeavors, I want you all to know that I am fulfilled for all that we have accomplished together, and I am excited to see what Strike will do in the future. I have no doubt that you will continue to do amazing things, and that you will carry on the legacy of this publication with pride and honor. I will be rooting for you with profound gratitude.
STRIKE OUT, ERIN HU EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
To my Strike Family,
One of my earliest memories of UF is touring with my family and seeing Strike Magazine tabling in Turlington. I’ll never forget the energy and passion radiating from the table and knowing in that moment that I needed to be a part of it. Now, almost 4 years later, I have not only achieved my goal of being in Strike, but I have also accomplished something I only dreamt of: getting to serve as the External Affair Director. Freshman me, who started as a Brand Ambassador, had no idea the immense impact that this organization and its staff would have on me. Strike has been the one constant throughout my entire time in Gainesville, and I am forever grateful for that. I gained confidence in myself, developed my abilities as a leader and, most importantly, formed friendships that I know will last a lifetime.
To Erin Hu, thank you for pushing me to be the best version of myself and showing me what it truly means to be a graceful and selfless leader. I have always looked up to you and getting to lead alongside you is something I will cherish forever. To Liv Vitale, thank you for showing me that there is so much more to everything and everyone than what we see on the surface. You have broadened my perspectives and made me a better person in the process. I am eternally grateful for your wisdom and strength. To Alyssa Rives, thank you for being the best assistant I could have asked for and reading my mind on more than one
occasion. I would not have been able to be successful in my role if it wasn’t for you.
Although these next individuals are leaving their marks in the world outside of Gainesville, I need to thank them because I would not be where I am today without them. Brynn Fantuzzi, thank you for believing in me, trusting me and allowing me the incredible opportunity to follow in your footsteps. To Sarah Sheerer, thank you for always making me laugh and for your continued transparency and support. To Andrea Guillen, I honestly don’t even know where to start. You will always be my role model, my co-director and, most importantly, my first true friend in Strike. Throughout my entire Strike career, you have been there for me and still are to this day. I can’t thank you enough for all of your advice, guidance and trust.
Finally, thank you to all of Strike GNV’s staff for trusting me and supporting me throughout my journey. You all have shown me what the true value of being a leader is. My success is not based on my individual accomplishments, but on seeing all of you grow and succeed in your own unique and beautiful ways. Creative, thank you for welcoming me into your world with such open arms. External, my heart, thank you for surpassing all of my expectations and reaching new heights every semester.
Strike has been the greatest gift, and I will never take it for granted.
LAUREN CASOLE EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR
Dear Strike,
I started my time with you three years ago as a Brand Ambassador for Issue 05. It was in this position that I was first exposed to the creative and collaborative culture that this magazine has to offer. By Issue 06, I moved to the Styling team and realized how fulfilling the atmosphere was for me. I was fortunate enough to become the team’s director for Issues 07 and 08 and, with the support and encouragement of my team, I was able to push the boundaries of what styles could be presented in the magazine. From putting together looks for the photoshoots to creating a line of original apparel for our spring runway shows, I can honestly say my time with the Styling team was my “bread and butter.”
Stepping into the Creative Director role for Issue 09 was a huge leap which allowed me to work with all the teams in the Creative department. Monday nights were filled with film discussions and layout meetings, Thursdays were packed with fittings and beauty conversations, and Sundays were all-day photoshoot affairs…all 10 of them. After every one of these events, I would go home exhausted — but content — with what we had orchestrated together that day. It has been such a privilege to highlight the beauty of Gainesville’s culture, with its bustling art scene and diverse music community. Reflecting on the beauty I saw here was my
biggest inspiration for the last two issues, and I’m proud that we’ve shifted our focus to celebrate it.
I want to take the time to say thank you to my entire Creative family; without all of you, the pride we feel for this magazine would cease to exist. Thank you to all of the Creative teams: Art and Design, Bookings, Beauty, Castings, Content, Styling, Photo, and Film. It has been such a wild time, and I feel so lucky to have all of these memories with you. Thank you for seeing my vision through — even when it was nude models on a tandem bike and camps of campy-camp campers. I appreciate you all for sticking with me. Thank you to Erin Hu, our fearless Editor-in-Chief, for trusting my vision and guiding me through every obstacle. You have been the greatest friend and collaborator through this all. Thank you to Lauren Casole, our External Director and one of the most well-spoken and gracious women I have ever met. You lead with such a compassionate strength that I admire so greatly. Thank you to Jacob Wall, our Assistant Creative Director, my right-hand man and most trusted confidante. Through all of the chaos, you have been an extraordinary partner in this journey, and I am so grateful for your dedication to this magazine. It is a rare and beautiful thing to be a part of something larger than oneself and I have been lucky enough to experience such a community with you all.
Charleigh Baab
Chris Bartholomew
Jackson Bates
Nia Brown
Ellie Bender
Shydeenha Bruno
Alex Cicero
Katrina Couch
Elizabeth Courey
Jack Dee
Payton Devide
Kyshean Durri
Andre Garboza
Leviticus Grimes
Angelina Hujber
Lindsay Ice
Sela Iverson
Anna Jacobson
Javana Jayawardena
Taesha Jones
Dante Jordan
Elias Karasilk
Reyhan Kepic
Roma Khanna
Emma King
Sydney Kollas
Mace
Ellie Majhess
Starr
Martin
Logan Mazor
Chrissy McKeever
Liberty Mermerian
Erika Meya
Mya Nicholas
Graham Oldershaw
Beata Oseibonsu
Michael Parsons
Riley Rodriquez
Patrick Roghaar
Lauren Rozic
Zachary Rubin
Alejandra Sanchez
Kshama Shetty
Sheyze X Eliza Thorn
Sean Tzoucalis
Dakotah Walker
Dimitri Williams
Alvin Wu
Design Dina Colleti
Model Dimitri Williams
Styling Noah Sams
Makeup Mia Koval
Photography Patrick Amintoso
Model Nia Brown Styling Devon Limcangco
Makeup Ethan Garrepy
Photography Katalina Enriquez
