HER. MAGAZINE

Her. magazineHer.Inspirations. passions. Ideals. Beliefs. Voice.

Hello Friends.....My name is Erin Gardner and welcome to Her. Magazine. A little but about me: I LOVE coffee, cold pizza, and rainy days. My favorite movie is The Breakfast Club and myfavorite book is The Outsiders and On the Road.This is the product of my Senior Project, a feminine-basedmagazine created by women for women. I have always beenextremely interested in female empowerment and positiveinfluences, so I wanted to take this chance to learn more about the different perceptions of controversial feminine topics and how it carries within the individual.My overall hope for this magazine is to create anawareness and cultivate active change in the femaleculture. What you see in the magazine is an array ofopinion pieces by women regarding various feminine issues like feminism, the pay wage gap, social media influences, and the photoshop culture. Intermixed is also a variety of interviews about style, entertainment recommendations, and study tips.Throughout my high school career, I have been heavilyinvolved into female empowerment and body positivity, mostnotably with StrongHer. I loved being a part of StrongHerand what it stands for. This is my passion-to inspire womenof their own self-worth. This magazine represents that;it represent Her. inspirations, passions, ideals, beliefs. This is HER VOICE. erin/// ///Gardner //Inside cover photo courtesy of Kelsey Cappel //Back cover photot courtesy of Emilee Poehner2

Table of Contents Around the Table... 6- From Start to Finish... Release Your Inhibitions... Late Night Ramblings... Style Icon... Inner Thoughts... In Session... Last Words... 3



Photo courtesy of Emilee Poehner

Around The Table A collection of essays by women and for women on various feminine topics. The essays are raw and stripped bare of any sterotypes or premisconceptions. This is HER.6

I. Am. Me.Faith BreedenThe phrase “I Am Me” is just the beginning to many phrases and terms that de scribe me. I am not perfect nor am I even close to it. My flaws make me, me. I am not by any means quiet; I love to make others laugh, I am always doing something silly to make my day better along with everyone else’s day. I am probably the loudest on my dance team, in my family, and in my friend group. Some may see that as a flaw, but it my eyes it defines my identity.The term identity is defined as “the condition of being oneself or itself, and not another” (Dictionary.com), which is a wonderful reference to my ownidentity. I am myself and not anyone else, I love to be me. In the modern world we often get caught up in being perfect, when being the best version of ourselves is as close to perfect as we can get. I hold myself to a highstandard, but throughout my high school career, I realized I cannot beflawless. I can strive to be perfect but it is an unachievable want. We all want to reach this goal but sometimes it is not possible. There is a journey incoming to terms with not being able to be perfect, especially in my mind. My journey began when I was young, I always wanted to make sure I was the bestperson I could be. I made sure I did not get in trouble, I kept my grades up high, and always made my friends happy. I put everyone’s needs in front of my own and one day I became unhappy. I was not fulfilling my own standardsanymore; I was not being the best version of me. I started to hate myself, I did not like who I was. I would find flaws; I did not like how I looked and I felt like my friends did not actually like me. I began to not like myself at all. Eventually I realized that it was not healthy to feel this way, I should love how I am, I should love my personality and how I look.I still struggle with accepting my flaws every day. Being short is not classified as a flaw anymore and my large teeth form a beautiful smile now-a-days. As partof my Senior Project, I strive to help young girls see themselves in a way that I wanted to see myself in grade school. I wanted to be able to accept who I was and what I looked like. It is a common issue in the “girl world” where weobsess over something that’s wrong with us. Maybe we are not the Barbie girl that boys want, or we are too “needy”, if there is something that makes us stand out, we are stressing about it. I want to make that change, I want to be the reason that a little girl thinks she is beautiful, the reason sherealizes that she is perfect in her own way. Someone said “Imagine if weobsessed about the things we loved about ourselves”, this statement could change the world if everyone followed it. Our society is very pessimistic; we should focus on the positives of someone not the negatives. We should not point out the flaws, but embrace the perfections we already have. A word that describes my identity is the word sunshine. I strive to be the sunshine in everyone’s day, whether their day is already full of sunshine and butterflies or it has been thundering all day. I want to be the reason someone sees the sun another day, that is my definition of perfect. I may not be perfect according to society but in my eyes I am the sunshine and this is as perfect as I can get. 7

Inner Thoughts My Brain is a blob of scribbles. I do not know what to say, what to do, or how to express what is going on inside Brain. I go numb; I can’t move. If I eat- I feel sick. If get up- I feel tired. I do not have energy to do anything else but THINK. My energy is wasted on thinking about Him and Them, but never spent on me. I really have no idea why. Conscience tells me to “stop it,”, but Mind continues to think about Him and Them. Thinking is a constant merry-go-round; better yet “Ring around the Rosie”. In the end “we all fall down.” Life was so easy before age 13. Never thinking, just do. Where did that sudden action go? 7-year-old me thought 17 felt so far away; I couldn’t wait to be big and pretty. Where is that girl I aspired to be 10 years ago? I wonder if 7-year old me would have thought “wow I am going to be pretty.” I wonder if 20 years from now I’ll look at old pictures and say, “wow I was pretty. I wish I knew that then.” It’s not that I think I’m ugly. I know I’m pretty but there’s always a voice in the back of my head saying I have a hungry stomach, thunder thighs, ginormous arms, and wide hips with no ass. I constantly focus on my flaws in life. I do not have a boyfriend, I do not have straight A’s, shit I don’t even have at least a 20 on the ACT yet. Will I ever be enough? But who am I trying to be enough for? I have friends, I get decent grades, I have a supportive family- to them I am enough, but not to Mind and Thoughts: they are my inner-personal demons. Life is a constant game of “ring around the Rosie.” Your Brain wakes up, brushes your teeth, throws clothes on, goes to school, comes home, does homework, eats dinner, showers, and we all fall down until we play again. Not so bad, huh? Well I forgot to mention my friend Emotions. The moment emotions come into play everything becomes 100x more difficult. When you don’t have a boyfriend and you feel like you don’t have friends the game of “Ring around the Rosie” ends before it is time for bed.8

Mattel’s New 2016 Barbie Fashionistas Are Meant To Display More Proportionally Accepting Standards OnBeauty And Are Encouraging Young Women To Like, Actually Love TheirselvesBy Erin GardnerBARBIE WORLD, USA—In the midst of the pink corvettes and Ken look-alikes, Barbie dolls are tearing outtheir synthetic, totally dyed-blonde hair over the new release of the ‘normal’ dolls. \"We are excited toliterally be changing the face of the brand — these new dolls represent a line that is more reflective ofthe world girls see around them,\" Evelyn Mazzocco, Barbie's senior vice president and global generalmanager reports in a press release. \"The variety in body type, skin tones, and style allows girls to find adoll that speaks to them.\" However, women aren’t too impressed. Stacie Hudson, a lifelong user ofBarbie dolls since she was a little girl, wipes a tear and collects herself, “I just don’t like it, youknow? Barbies were made a certain way, but they’re more than just plastic. When I found out the 411, Ilike literally gasped. The ‘normal’ dolls are made to represent being more proportionally ‘right’, butI don’t want them to represent being American. I don’t want them to be fat and sentimental; I grew upwith them and the mansion and the pool party. I had the limited edition Joyeux Barbie Doll, she’s Frenchby the way, and I like totally loved her; she was my best friend. She inspired me. I had a Barbie thathad a dog and a venti, skinny, soy non-fat chai with three pumps of sugar-free French vanilla syrup inher hand at all times. Now, I have a Pomeranian that needs me and a venti, skinny, soy non-fat chai withthree pumps of sugar-free French vanilla syrup with me, like always.” Linda Blair, a middle-class,well-off mother of a three year-old is supportive of the program. “I believe that Leila should live thebest life possible. I only buy organic, raw, vegan meals for Leila so she can put her best selfforward; so she is pure. That’s why I only shop at Lululemon and Whole Foods. I think that the Barbiedolls represent a sense of normal. You know, I really have to get to my spin class, Pilates, and mynail/brow session.”When Mattel introduced Barbie in 1959, little girls everywhere were taught to touch their fingers when theywrapped their hands around their waists; if they couldn’t, try harder. Girls were taught that silky,blonde hair and tan skin was only socially acceptable. It’s estimated that 8 million people in the UnitedStates has an eating disorder, only 10-15% male and 85-90% female. 80% of those females are under the ageof 20. Through the decades, Mattel has received criticism for developing an unhealthy reputation on theimage of beauty. In response to this, Mattel released the 2016 line ofhttp://kids.barbie.com/en-gb BarbieFashionistas, which come in four body types: original, tall, petite, and curvy. The \"curvy\" doll is meantto reflect a more realistic idea body image for young people. In addition to the three new body types, the2016 Barbie Fashionista line includes seven skin tones, 22 eye colors, 24 hairstyles and numerousaccessories and fashion styles. Hairstyles include Mohawks, afros, braids, curly and straight cuts, anddyed hair, like blue and purple. \"With added diversity and more variety in styles, fashions, shoes, andaccessories, girls everywhere will have infinitely more ways to spark their imagination and play out theirstories,\" the brand added.Despite the proven statistics about the advancing standards of beauty beneficially affecting the futuregenerations, millennials, through their vinyl, portable milk frothers, and freshly squeezed greensmoothies, are arguing and debating about the preconceived notions of beauty that dominated thegreater part of the twentieth century. Twentysomething, Brad Jenkins says, “You know I like Barbies, andthis completely personal and ‘off the record’, but I like the older Barbies because I like blondes. Myfrat buddies and I totally dig blondes. My girlfriend Kate, she’s a babe, grew up on Barbies and thatpink house. She told me on some date that when she was a little girl, she wanted to be Barbie so she grewup to be like Barbie. She would totally kill me if I said this, but I think it’s cool that society hasbecome more accepting towards us and our generation. I dunno though, hey, do you want a beer?” Hipster,Blaire McCormick, articulates the cultural new-age movement through the modern Barbies as, “I think thatthe Barbies are representing the same fixed standard of beauty, only through different outfits andwaistbands. You know, I was listening to this great band, Violent Femmes, have you heard of them? Anyway,I was listening to their vinyl in this really great coffee shop and it reminded me that society claims tofix all these injustices towards us, as a generation, but in reality, they just create new problems toworry about. I find that drinking coffee black really helps with the cleansing of the societal notionstowards us, you should really try it. Simone Broderick, a die-hard feminist passionately argues, “Matteland Barbie are still imposters dipped in plastic and coated with overproduced, non-cruelty-free brands.Their movement that is trying to make younger females more accepting toward themselves by introducingdolls that are supposed to create an illusion of play dolls that look the girls. Before you know it, thenext stop is making Valley of the Dolls socially acceptable. Personally, I refuse to partake in anysituation in which my position as a capable, independent female is jeopardized, which is exactly theopposite of what Mattel is encouraging. I have found that by boycotting makeup, especially mascara andlipstick, I have come to terms of my femininity. Excuse me, but I have to make ‘I hate men’ signs for mypeaceful feminist movement.” 9

Beauty Unedited Alice Magato Alright ladies, I think we can all agree…being a girl is HARD! We go through a lot of things that guys don’t: birth, mother nature, make-up, high-heels, etc. Inarguably, one of the worst things about being a woman is the excessive and constant pressure we are under due to the media. We are taught from such a young age to put all of our value in our looks. Today, the average teenager consumes up to 10 hours and 45 minutes of media daily. From TV to YouTube, advertisements, magazines, and social media, we are exposed to more digital images than ever before and this influences how we view the world. Media also shapes out opinions about society, our peers, and ourselves. During my sophomore year, I became consumed with social media, beauty magazines, and fashion blogs and started comparing every aspect of my appearance to the images I saw in the media. I thought to be considered beautiful, popular, and successful, I had to emulate exactly what I was seeing on my phone and computer feeds. I didn’t know that nearly every photo or video I admired was manipulated to such an extreme that it could not be replicated in real life. No matter what I tried, I could not achieve flawless blemish-free and pore-less skin, the tall, ultra-skinny figures, or the perfect life of the models and popular media icons I was following. Various beauty and fashion brands have contributed significantly to creating a singular definition of the “ideal woman” by fabricating the images they use in advertisements, fashion magazines and on social media. However, only 5% of the population can naturally achieve this ideal look. This skewed reality of ideal beauty is a national health issue because many women that try to meet this standard go to extremes, some even harming themselves with disordered eating, excessive plastic surgery or abusing drugs. The media has defined beauty as singular and that portrayal of women has affected all aspects of our culture. Girls are harming and even killing themselves because that can’t achieve this impossible standard. NOW is the time to take a stand, we can all take minor steps to help redefine beauty! First off, you need to become the most confident version of yourself. When I started the journey to regain my self-confidence these are the steps I took: 1) You need to realize the reality is that people are constantly showcasing the best aspects of their lives on social media and are editing their photos. With apps like Facetune and Airbrush, you can easily rid yourself of any imperfection. We lose reality on social media. So it is completely unfair to compare yourself to what you see on Instagram, Facebook, etc. Some things you can do to stop making these comparisons is to reduce your time on social media and redirect your focus on things that really matter. Give yourself a few minutes before school, after school, and the evening to check your social media accounts then be done with it. The focus on meaningful activities like your hobbies, schoolwork, or spending time with loved ones. Focusing on activities will leave you feeling better, rather than Facebook stalking which will most likely make you feel worse. 2) Take control of how you present yourself and your overall health. To be your most confident you, you want to be living a physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy lifestyle. 3) A great way to stay motivated is to set goals for yourself—healthy and realistic ones. By setting short-term and long-term goals, you will boost your confidence as you achieve them and get closer to your main goals. A great way to do this is to jot down your priorities and then write a few long-term and short-term goals based on those priorities. 4) Lastly, and what I believe to be the most important is to encourage, empower, and support yourself and others. You want to celebrate your unique qualities and talents and also those of peers. Us girls have to stick together and not tear each other down so we can all be successful and confident. Now that you have found a healthy confidence it is now the time to truly understand the culture of the media. This was the hardest part for me. Advertisers want you to feel insecure so you buy their product. So they Photoshop their photos to perfection so you think that if you buy the product, you will also look that perfect. But you cannot achieve that perfection without Photoshop—it is not natural. And that is how our society has developed this super unrealistic standard. Photoshop is used in all forms of media—movies, music videos, magazines, and now with all the edition apps, it is being used on social media more and more. If you are comparing yourself to any of these, you are comparing yourself to a lie. Comparing yourself to these photos is so harmful. Here are examples of Photoshop in advertising and the media- So obviously what we see in the media and what we are internalizing as normal is anything but normal. We need to become aware of the extent photos we are seeing are edited and until we learn to reject these harmful messages, we all lose. Photoshop is always going to exist, but it is important that as young women we understand and are aware of its large presence in our society today. You need to recognize that you are not just a body, you were not created to be an object that is judged—we were create to live and do and be. What you see in the mirror does not define your worth or your success. You are much more than your outward appearance, you ae someone with passions, talents, personality, love, motivation, intelligence—and it is these traits that make you beautiful. “Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself”. Being your authentic self is the most beautiful and don’t let anyone or anything tell you otherwise. They are wrong. Authenticity is truly beautiful. So with all that being said, I NEED YOUR HELP!! Here is something small that you can do to celebrate authenticity—log onto beautyunedited.com and upload a completely unedited photo of yourself r of you and your friends. When you do that, a stamp will be put on the bottom right hand corner that says “100% Unedited”. From there you can share it to your social media—and show your followers that you love yourself as you are, without airbrush or filters. Encourage others to go to beautyunedited.com and also upload and post their photos. By doing this, we are raising awareness and also helping others to understand the presence of photo manipulation. It is a small, but powerful step to make beauty unedited and redefine beauty.

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Photos courtesy of Ellie Gardner

From Start to Finish A rapid fire dose of Q&A. Freshmen andseniors were polled and were asked to givehonest and raw answers. The repsonses aremeant to fully and completely reflect the individual. This is HER.

//// Question 1 //// “ ”Never give up, it will always get better Faith Breeden What would you want to tell yourself at beginning of the year? “To not stress over the “ Be yourself little things. There are going to be because you’ll find homework assignments people who are just that you forget to like you. Schr”amm do and you will most likely fail a test at Molly some point. It isn’t the end of the world. “ Don’t Realize that you made wory about maing a mistake and learn friends, you’llmake HafnrnomahiSt.m. it”h lots easily. V”ale Lindsey “ To not stress out about little things, Annie Haley ” That “everything “is going to be okay. You that eventually everything will work out. At the beginning of the year I told myself that will find some this is going to be my best friends that year with grades and friends. I'm not going to give up on my will accept you. You will school work just because it's senior year. I also told my- ”earn more self I'm going to have a drama free year and forget about all sisters. the petty drama. Ayana Lee Melanie McGrego”r

“ I regret not getting involved with the school earlier. Hannah S”mith//// Question 2 //// “Not giving my “To not stress over the What do you most regret not doing? little things. There are going to be opinion and doing homework assignments what IFawiatnhtBedreeden” that you forget to do and you will most likely fail a test at some point. It isn’t “ Joining more the end of the world. Realize that you made clubs and going to a mistake and learn sporting events. HafnrnomahiSt.m. it”h Molly Schram”m “ I regret not auditioning for‘Writing a Will Can be Murder’. Ayana Lee ” I kind of “wish I got “involved more, When I started at Seton I yes I am started conditioning for the involved with soccer team and then I just quit. If I could go some things, back to freshman year, I but I am not would’ve stuck with soccer because it is my favorite in any clubs, I sport. I regret not playing wish I got more soccer for Seton. involved with Annie H”aley Melanie McGrego”rthat.

“ I see myself having a family, graduated from college, and I would like to be an Athletic “ Annie”HaleyIn ten years I “hope to have finished//// Question 3 //// Trainer. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I see myself being a surgeon or in the college and hope to process with my have earned a degree sisters still from in nursing (or Seton.Ayana Lee ” something in the medical field). I would hope to be “ In 10 years I would either married or hope to have a job that I love to do and ”engaged. Hannah Smith Lindsey Vale”to have graduated college “ Hopefully a doctor working in Children’s Hospital with a family ” Faith Breeden “ “ Hopefully After I graduate, I am going into cosmetology and living in New that will take about a year. I York or London will then start a job in a salon. In about 10 years I writing about will be 27. I see myself owning my own business for music and in- cosmetology or having my own terviewing the booth. I also see myself being married and having a kid or 2. artists/bands I I will be living in Cincinnati love Schr”amm with aMbeelaauntiiefuMl chGomreego”r Molly

“ That there is a place for everyone somewhereAyana”Leeand to try new things, you might like it.//// Question 4 //// “ Seton has taught me “ Seton has taught What has Seton taiught you? how to be prepared for me many things, one the future. Whether of the things I take that be learning how to adapt to a pride in is being different learning myself, and that community, or simply people will like teaching me how to manage my time and teach me for who I am. me different learning Seton has helped me ”strategies. see that by being Hannah Smith someone else is not okay, and that I will still be loved, if not more if I am my ” true self. Annie Haley “ To never give up on my dreams, that Faith Breeden ”anything I want is within my grasp “ “ That classiness is Seton has taught me how spirited and welcoming our important. The school is. They also taught me way you act a lot in academics, Seton has represents so much more than Melanie McGregor”a wonderful education. just yourself, and the way you “present yourself Seton has taught me to be today, matters now and even in confident with myself and that Molly Schra”mm Lindsey”Valethe future. I have lots of people that care about me.

Photo courtesy of Erin Gardner

Release Your I n i h i b i ti o n s An intimate poll of freshmen and seniors about what they like and why that makesthem who they are. The repsonses are meant to fully and completely reflect the individual. This is HER.

“ I listen more “ I like country music and Christmas country music. I don’t really have a `music ” Lindsey Vale favorite artist, but//// Question 1 //// I really like Cole “My favorite music Swindel and Luke What is some music you like and what artist? to listen to is county. ABrnynaine.H”aley My favorite artist is Brett Eldredge & Luke Bryan Indie, Indie-Rock, “ ”Alternative, Rock Melanie McGregor(anything but country). Artists like: Bastille, “ All, mostly Twenty The Wrecks, Nothing One Pilots and Melanie ”But Thieves, Martinez. ”Alyana Lee Jack Garratt Molly Schramm “Twenty I’m usually up for any genre of music, except country and sometimes rap “Bastille, The Killers, an exception. I’ve loved One Pilots, is Fallout Boy, Panic! Pink’s music for years. I’ve been into kpop (korean music) At the Disco, The for a very long time and a kpop group I like is ‘EXO’. PeHntaaytloerniDx ress”ler, Kpop isn’t common for people in America to listen to. Hopefully one day, music from many other countries will be “ encouraged, accepted, and Tim McGraw, Luke listened to here. Many times I feel afraid to tell people Bryan, Brad, Paisley, I like kpop because they Kieth Urban, Blink might give me a strange look, 182, Phillip Phillips, but won’t know until you B”ri Brumfield Vicky Nguyen”,The Fray actually listen to them!

“ Just Friends by Billy Taylor, and the New Girl sFeariithesBr”eeden//// Question 2 //// “ I like the series “ The New York What are current favorite reads? Bad Blood. L”ee Trilogy by Paul Ayana Auster, 1984 by “ My favorite book GeorgMe oOlrlwyelSl.chr”amm is either Of Mice and Men or The Boy in the “ I enjoy reading HmaagnaznianhesSm”ith StriLpeidndPsaejyamVaasle” “ “Hopefully I for sure still love the Percy Jackson series. If youre living in New York or London writing about into greek mythology then this music and series is for you. Plus it interviewing the really pulls your artists/bands I imagination in. As I’ve become Molly”Schrammlove older I slowly stopped reading books because I’m either too busy or just lazy, but these series really made “ ”The Outsiders me enjoy the gift of Amanda Kramer reading/Vboicokkys.Ngu”yen

“ India ” I want to go//// Question 3 //// Bri Brumfield “ Hannah S”mithanywhere in Europe. What are a few place you want to visit before you’re 25? “ I want to travel “ Chicago M& ScGparieng”or the world and see a Melanie ton of different places, but the place “ London, New York, at the top of my ‘bucket list is defi- Paris, Los Angeles nitely Hawaii, it just Annie Haley ” Molly Schramm”seems so pretty. “ Hawaii, Carbine Island, Paris and Canada and Disney Land. “ ”I would love to Ayana Leevisit Montana and PerLuin”dsey Vale “ Europe,Hungary, “ I want to visit Russia, Australia, and IHndaiyaley”Dressler Korea, but one can only dream. And I also want to visit a few of “ ” Anywhere new my close friends Faith Breeden I met online who lives on the west side (AVriiczkoynaN)gu”yen

//// Question 4 //// “ Price hill chili, McDonald’s fries, LaRosa’s bread sticks, Dave and Busters and What are some of your hole-in-the wall places in Cincinnati? ”Tri-County Mall. Ayana Lee “ Honestly, I am “ Insomnia cookies not sure, I will try is an all-night place anyFtahiithngB!re”eden that sells delicious “ Over the Rhine, Lindsey Val”ecookies over by UC. Smale Park “ Izzy’s or Melanie McGrego”r Zip’s cafe. Hannah Sm”ith “ Shake It Records, Madison “Theater (technically Boba Cha, Price Newport), Any coffee HayleyHill ChiliDr”essler shop that’s not some ”chain company Molly Schramm “ ” I don’t know many “ Bri BrumfieldThe only one I can All of OTR, Price Hill Chili “think of is Tea n Bowl in Clifton. They Aroma’s, Bloc Coffee, make asian food, but Incline House ” I just go there for the bubble Ntegau.y”en Alexis Lambers Vicky

Photo courtesy of Rachel Schultz



Photo courtesy of Kelsey Cappel

Late Night Ramblings A personal peek into the editor’s (my)thoughts on feminine issues and why they should matter. This is HER.

This magazine means a lot to me. This magazine, to me, means that young women care enough about the injustices within society to see an email, stop, think, and reply from the heart. Piecing and knitting this magazine together over the past few months has shown me that people CARE, people want to care, and do care. I think in order for a change tohappen, there needs to be purpose, there needs to be a care because if not the movement, the idea, the passion has no fuel, no backing. What Isee here is people, women, giving a shit.When I sent the initial emails asking for responses, I was blown awaywith the amount of enthusiasm. I think of myself as an introvert, butwhen I am passionate, my voice will be heard. All of the sudden, I had these responses from women I 1) didn’t know cared, 2) never met before,or 3) never thought to ask. Now, these women wanted to send in theirop-eds, their style preferences, their tips of Cincy hotspots, or theirgeneral advice on high school. And I think that is rad.I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to share my opinions on severalissues discussed in the magazine. I wanted to include this so you, as the reader, understand where I’m coming from and can kind-of (some-what)trust me as a fellow woman trying to survive.Right, okay, me. The basics to me are that I LOVE coffee, cold pizza,and sitting on roofs (although I’ve never tried it). My favorite books are The Outsiders and On the Road, my favorite poem is “The Raven”, and myfavorite movies are The Breakfast Club, St. Elmo’s Fire, and TheOutsiders. I would consider my style as hipster. If anyone asks, I am non-identifying hipster. I do like quite large sweaters and slip-onsneakers. In the winter, I love me a scarf and a trench coat. I like my makeup to be simple, but noticeable. I like to fill in my eyebrows, and add a copper or gold eyeshadow. As far as accessories go, I stick withrings, maybe a watch, and my Kairos cross. They make me feel happyand whole. For the longest time, I thought I needed to rely on materialitems like makeup, to feel what I thought as naturally beautiful. 8 or soyears later and I’ve had my fair share of curveballs thrown at me. Iknow now that me is enough. Simply.From the beginning of my high school career, I have been heavily involved in StrongHer. StrongHer, for me, was a positive influence in a verynegative place. This is where I first came in contact with femalepositivity. Ever since then, it caught on like wildfire. I now ampromoting self-confidence and self-love. StrongHer was the place where I started to discover my position on hotly debated discussions.

I consider myself a feminist and it makes me feel educated that Iunderstand the core issue of feminism-the equality of the sexes. I find it funny that this issue has become so controversial for so many years. In the 70s, women began burning their bras in protest of men being ableto expose their chests in the public eye. Today, women have expressed their opinions by going braless and #freethenipple has been trendingfor months. It makes me not sad, but fell funky when women misconstrue feminism as ‘man hating’ and thus refuse to shave or wear makeup. That’s not what feminism is about. It’s about women being on equal playingground to men. That isn’t to say that women can do everything men can do, because that’s not always necessarily the case. However, women should be treated respectfully the same as men. I do consider myself a feminist because I believe that women are on equal playing ground to men.Although, the ‘gifts’ are quite different, there is a balance. Although I consider myself a feminist, I am a little nervous to admit that I LOVE chivalry. I understand that women can fully open a door without anyassistance, but to me, the action is quite romantic.Similarly, with feminism, comes the issue to the Photoshop culture. I never understood digital editing creating a biased need forperfectionism. In my opinion, nothing worthwhile sprouts from those roots. From what I’ve seen, there have been eating disorders, self-harm, self-loathing, severe anxiety, ADD, ADHD, clinical depression, etc. I have tried to surround myself with positive influences that do not heavily practice digital and photo manipulation. Although this is extremelyhard, there are some outlets that stand against the crowd.I would like to talk about mental illnesses within females and the media. I do hope it’s not too dark and depressing, bear with me. I have seenand heard of the media completely obliterating any sense of self-respect and self-worth. To me, that is disheartening. I find it disappointingthat a search engine and drive someone to suicide. The evidence is all there to point to a clear problem that has taken lives, but society will not admit it. For years, and to this day, it is taboo to admit that you are depressed or have panic attacks. I find this unreasonable andoutlandish. In my experience, almost every high schooler has or has had anxiety, if not social anxiety or testing anxiety. Spurts are depression are extremely common (although I am not qualified to diagnose) and yet you get shushed if you come clean or seek help.

Something I’ve come to terms with in the past few years is the no-makeup movement. In grade school, I would avoid looking at myself in the mirror during showers. When I did have to look at myself in the mirror, I covered myself in makeup to at least try to hide some of the filth and disgust. One of the worst feelings to me was at the end of the night when I would wash the makeup up and my face was blotchy and red and when I had to change, my body was white and wide. I would squeeze my eyes shut to get changed and in bed. In grade school, I covered myself in makeup because it was news and exciting; it gave me a way out to not see my face every day. I do like makeup today; it makes me feel confident on days where I am not having it. However, I am coming to terms to liking my face bare. I’m not sure if it’s the reality of high school or that coffee sounds so much better than foundation for a productive morning. I think as I am nearing college, the prospect that no one really cares if I have a pimple is becoming comforting. I can honestly see myself waking up for class, putting on my glasses, wearing a decent outfit, and making coffee as a realistic daytime routine. I am secretly starting to like me as me. Plus, I don’t need no man, I am an independent woman. I do not understand kids being bullies for the pure aspect of acne. I don’t get it. And that fact that these kids are bullied to the point of destruction. I mean, what’s the point? Je ne sais pas. What I do know is that somewhere, sometime there will come a glimmer of hope where everything slides into focus and there will be this self-realization. This magazine is meant to point towards that. This magazine is everything that represents what she should believe as beautiful, what she should realize herself becoming, and how much people love her and how she should reciprocate that love. This is Her.

I’d like to recommend some sources/inspiration/songs that have helped me out: 1. Darling Magazine. This magazine was introduced to me about a year ago. The magazine strives to focus on real women that are naturally confident and raw. Their tagline is ‘The art of being a woman’. One of the things I really like about their magazine is that every issue, on one spread, is said ‘NONE OF THE WOMEN IN THIS MAGAZINE HAVE BEEN RETOUCHED #RealNotRetouched’. That speaks volumes for me. http://darlingmagazine.org/ 2. Rookie Yearbook. This yearbook/magazine was brought to my attention around a year ago also. The website/annual print release features real essays from men and women and also celebrity interviews. The essays are completely vunerable and independent, which is really rad. http://www.rookiemag.com/ 3. Feminist Frequency. The website was recommended to me by my mentor. The website solely features feminism and what it represents at its heart. The non-for-profit seeks to educate about the very real and prominent issues in society. https://feministfrequency.com/ 4. NOW’s Love Your Body Campaign. The movement was again brought to me by my mentor. The website, National Organization for Women Foundation, features a specific self-love measure to encourage body positivity. http://now.org/now-foundation/love-your-body/ 5. Miss. Representation. The documentary was actually introduced to me from StrongHer. As far as I know, it is on Netflix and is quite good. It is about the stereotypes as women, painted by the media, and how to overcome it. http://therepresentationproject.org/film/miss-representation/ 6. “Float On” by Modest Mouse. The song is a bit bizarre, but I promise its meaning is really rad. I’m not sure when I first heard it, but I do know it was the theme song for The Michael J. Fox Show and that sold it. The meaning is realy quite impressive and carries depth. It has helped me trudge through some dark times.

Photo courtesy of Erin Gardner



Photo courtesy of Kelsey Cappel

Style icon An exclusive look into a few seniors’ fashion sense and inspirations. Therepsonses are meant to fully and completely reflect the individual. This is HER.

Photo courtesy of Megan Wils

Emily Erin Lipps Beiter1. How would you 1. 1. My style is very trendy and My style would bedescribe your style? tomboyish. I really enjoy clothes simple and comfortable - my Who is your so I am always on the lookout inspiration is I don’t knowinspiration? for what is new. I try to be really I just pick clothes different from the majority of I like and I know that I girls who often wear the same would want to wear.   types of clothes and add a little edge to whatever I am wearing to make it a little different.2. How do you 2. I like to wear makeup that 2. I don’t really wear like to do your accents my eyes and lips. I’m not makeup a lot but if I do it makeup? is foundation a little blush into all the contouring and and mascara and some lip gloss  excessiveness that comes with makeup becauase natural beauty trumps fake beaty anyday. I like to keep it simple by not wearing too much, but also by wearing just enough to make myself feel more confident.3. What is your 3. 3. It would be a cute My favoritypick me-up accessory would have to be shoes. pair of shoes, or a piece accessory? I adore shoes and will never have of jewelry or a hat to enough. I have at least 10 pairs of complement the outfit  gym shoes that I rotate between. ` I love booties and any type of fall shoe in general. But my all time favorite shoes would have to be converse-can never go wrong with all black high tops. 

Natalie R achel HaYwwleyLambers Lind Dressler1. 1. 1. It is hard for me My style used to be pretty My style doesn’tto describe my style because laid back, and I think it still is really follow any specific I love to mix it up all the sometimes. Sometimes I am in trend, I like winter/fall time. Sometimes I’m sporty sweatpants and a tee shirt. Other fashion styles. I really and causal and sometimes I’m times I am in jeans,booties, and like Mariska Hargitay’sdressed up or preppy. a bell sleeved top. I would like style, and Jaclyn Hill’s Sometimes I like boho and to think my style is kind of old style. I like sweaters,other times I switch it up country. I love lace, and clothes leggings and boots. Another with some dark clothes and that look like flower petals when I inspiration is my mom. She’s accessories but not full on spin. I am not really sure who I a very stylish woman, andgoth. It usually just get my style inspiration from. when we shop together we depends on my mood.  Probably just seeing what other usually pick out similar people are wearing, and what I see outfits.  when I go out. 2. 2. 2. I do my makeup the Week days I never do my I love doing mysame almost every time I go makeup unless I have auditions, makeup. It’s my favorite out. I like to keep it or a meeting. If I do it is pretty thing to do. I like to try subtle with light colors.  light. On the weekends I usually many different makeup looks have a good amount of makeup on and trends. As of recently, (foundation, contour, blush, I’ve been doing looks eyebrows, eye shadow, eye liner, with a purple/mauve eye 2-3 mascara’s, highlighter, and shadows, a nice highlighted usually a lip gloss or lipstick). cheek bone, and a dark lip. If I have a show or formal things It’s been my go to. (I love like prom, I will sometimes wear makeup I could go on fake eyelashes.  forever)3. My pick me-up 3.My pick me up 3. Definitely my smile.accessory is my Kairos accessory is probably my Particularly my smile with a cross. I love to wear it when I need some extra eyes, a necklace, or ring. I nice matte lipstick on it. support. It always makes me feel safe. Also, it’s always have my Kairos cross on, Or rings. I love wearingplain so it goes with rings.  and usually a necklace a friend gave me. My eyes are a really pretty blue, and sometimes I everything like I give them a little oomph with blue or a dark eye shadow. Sometimes I will add a bold ring or necklace, if it fits my outfit. 

Isabella Mimi McKenzieOlthaus marcheschi Zimmer1. 1. 1. My style is very laid I would describe my style My style is go toback. I do not dress up much as trendy (sometimes), however leggings and a sweater. If I unless I am going somewhere tasteful. I try to find things that fancy or a special occasion. are flattering, but also go out with friends orI normally wear leggings and clothing pieces that give off the sweatshirt or sweater idea that I respect my body. As shopping, I usually wear some everywhere. I don’t have an far as my inpiration, I cannot inspiration, I like to be think of a particular person, but cute fuzzy socks, blackmyself. if I’m being completely honest, probably my mom; She’s got it leggings, and a comfortable 2. going on! I can always turn to her When I do makeup for fashion advice. shirt. I also like my knee high I do a smokey eyeshadow with eyeliner and mascara. 2. boots with that outfit. It Sometimes if I’m not in the I like to do my make upmood I will just wear eye so that it is noticeable that I gives me a ton of confidence. shadow and mascara. do have it on, but I don’t like to look like I have too much on One of my biggest inspirations or that I over did it. I try to use natural tones and accentuate is Lauren Conrad. I love her my facial features. jewelry line and all my jewelry is from her. Another one of my inspirations is Demi Lovato. She always has an edge to her outfits and this allows me to experiment with different outfits. My face is very 2. prone to acne, so I wear makeup minimally. I wear makeup for school dances and professional pictures, but if I’m just hanging out with my friends or my family, I just go with a clear face because I am confident in my own skin. Occasionally I will swipe on some mascara on my eyes and a clear gloss.3. My pick-me up 3. I don’t know that I 3. My pick me upaccessory is a necklace. have a go to pick me up accessory is my eyes. I have accessory, but I do know that very pretty blue eyes, and when no outfit is complete without I wear eyeliner and mascara, my lip gloss, I never leave the eyes pop. Another pick me up house on the weekends without accessory is my hair. My hair it!! is a very unique blonde color and many people really like it. I can straighten, curl, or leave it hanging and I can walk around with pride and confidence in my appearance.

Bri Janie Annareiter Lanzillotta brumfield1. 1. 1. I would describe my I would describe my style as My personal style is style as being simple and chic. confused and fluctuating. My closet sporty casual on most days. I I wear a lot of neutral colors ranges from formal, decent attire love wearing big sweatshirts or and I typically like to wear handed down from my mom to heavy shirts with my leggings, it’s gold with my outfits including rock from my sister. I have just really comfy that way. When bracelets, watches, and combined the two styles with my own I go somewhere nice or just feel earrings. I also like to rustic flare in order to create a like dressing up I love wearing layer with jackets and scarves. style of my own. I have made a super high heels or wedges with I feel like my style promise with myself that no style a cute dress or skirt and a continuously changes and I just would dominate me, it will become leather jacket or sweater. I kind of wear clothes that whatever I become.  like layering in the winter, a correspond with my mood or where sweatshirt with either a vest or I am going or doing. My jacket on top, then a scarf on inspiration would probably be is what I like to wear the most.Lauren Conrad or even Kendall The weather along with what I’m Jenner. going that day is most likely the determining factor for me. 2. It depends on where 2. I like to wear my makeup I am going. Normally if I very lightly, used more of an 2. I like to keep my am just running to like enhancer than a mask. I believe makeup relatively simple. Just some basic concealer Target or TJ Maxx I won’t that the way I am is beautiful so and foundation, eyeliner on the bottom lid, somewear any makeup or just I apply eyeliner, mascara, and mascara, usually a brown eye shadow, and most likely a eyeliner and mascara. But, lipstick to add emphasis. pinkish toned lip gloss.other times I like to use a neutral and natural tones like golds and browns.3. I have multiple. I 3. 3. I wear a cross and a My pick-me-upalmost always have a purse with accessory would have to be the pair of earrings 24/7, I feel so necklace my boyfriend gave meme to that is probably my main before he left for army basic weird without them on. training. It reminds me that I am go to. I also wear numerous strong and though two people can point their lives in differentrings and I have a necklace directions, it doesn’t have to make them separated.with “Jane” on it that was my Grandma’s so I love to wear that when I can. Rain or shine, I also almost always havesunglasses on the top of my head. Photo courtesy of Kelsey Cappel