Courtney Starks is making impactful changes with words! We mean literally. Starks is a millennial motivational speaker who shares his testimony of overcoming and inspires his audience through topics that affect millennials today. He is the real-life Iron Man, rising as a kidney failure survivor and using his own strength to help his community. His power is a cause of celebration from recently giving his 100th lunch during his "Lunch on Me" initiative for Women's History Month to hosting a holiday giveaway for kids in need. Check out our exclusive interview with Starks on his incredible journey in giving back to his community and changing lives through words.

There's Healing in Art - Laura Sharpe's Non-Profit Helps Trauma Survivors Thrive

A CEO behind a non-profit is often the driving force behind the business. As the CEO of Artists for Trauma, Laura Sharpe is more than the driving force —she is the living mission statement. Laura started the foundation after a personal tragedy and came to see a need for attuned rehabilitation efforts for survivors. She started AFT with the aim to expedite recovery through artistic expression and human connection by pairing civilian and military trauma survivors with established artists. Her non-profit specifically targeted loneliness during the pandemic, and now with vaccines rolling out and restrictions lessening, AFT’s calendar is back in full swing. We are so excited to share our interview with Laura Sharpe. Her story is inspirational and her cause is steeped in passionate purpose. For more on Laura Sharpe, AFT and how to get involved, please continue reading our exclusive interview below!

Raina Sokolov-Gonzalez: Reckoning With Male Gaze

We’re all familiar with social patriarchy —a social world organized under compulsory heterosexuality. Only the heterosexual male desire is accepted as “natural” and “normal,” whereas all other sexual practices and desires are considered as “abnormal” or “an exception.” It’s a structure prioritizes men's pleasure. Raina Sokolov-Gonzalez who is a Brooklyn-based singer/composer created her latest single “Better For You” highlighting how women contort themselves physically and emotionally to be more desirable. It shows clearly the impact of the heterosexual male gaze on women but at the same time, it shows us how women can prioritize their pleasure. She invites us into her unique sonic world with harmonic nuance and lyrical poetry. We talked to Raina Sokolov-Gonzalez about her music and personal life. Check our exclusive interview with Raina Sokolov-Gonzalez to learn more about her.

Sipping 'The Tea' With Olivia Charmaine

Our screens are a place where people tell stories to each other or the world beyond our borders. But, our history proves that these screens usually don't tell the stories of all of us. Racial and gender-based discrimination is still there and what we are looking for is some diversity, equality, and inclusion. However, there are some people want to change this unjust structure by telling our stories! Olivia Charmaine is a film and television producer and she embracing her melanin, queerness, and womxn power after making her mark in the TV & film industry as one of Hollywood’s best-kept secrets, with her weekly live stream show, The Tea currently on IGTV. The Tea is a weekly IGTV series that invites celebrity guests to relax, unwind, and participate in one-on-one conversations mindfully and reflectively. It brings people of color and colorful people together every Tuesday at 8 PM EST. Celebrities who have attended the event so far are Everett Osbourne, Darius Coleman, Luke Lawal, and more. Olivia also has a production company, Black Monarch Entertainment, which is very inline with The Tea. Its main aim is to support people of color and anyone from a marginalized community with a story to tell. Check out our exclusive interview with Olivia Charmaine to learn more about her.

Jessii Vee on Breaking The Cycle of Toxicity

Move over Jake Paul, here comes Jessii Vee! A Youtube sensation and TikTok influencer who has garnered over a whopping 2.5 million subscribers and 3.5 million followers respectively by bringing awareness to social issues. The content creator’s mission is to create safe spaces for youth online through her social platforms and most recently, YANA (You Are Not Alone) to encourage isolated and struggling individuals to connect with others. Her impressive experience doesn’t end there as she is also an actress and an advocate for Lyme Disease. Check our exclusive interview with Jessii Vee on her path to break the cycle of toxicity.

Crys Matthews Makes Us Believe America Again

Due to recent political events, we cannot stop asking ourselves these questions these days: What kind of country do we want to live in, work in? What kind of America do we believe in? There are many social justice issues in the country, but social-justice singer-songwriter Crys Matthews feels like all of these issues are human issues. Even with all that happened in the country, she is hopeful for this country, which is why she made ‘Changemakers’ which is her latest, hope-fueled, love-filled, social justice album. "Call Them In" the second single off of the album and a very powerful song, is meant to honor John Lewis. Crys Matthews reminds us America is going to get a chance to be America again no matter what happened in the past and she makes us believe in a brighter future. We talked to Crys Matthews about her music, politics, and personal life. Check our exclusive interview with Crys Matthews to learn more about her.

Art, Editor's Pick, zIssue 34Başak YirmibeşogluJuly 19, 2021#music, #folkmusic, #politics, #blm, #lgbti, #crysmatthews, #johnlewis, #homage, music, blm, LGBTQ, LGBTQ rights, LGBTQ+, lgbtqComment

EDITORIAL: Alexandra Park - The Girl Beneath The Tiara

You may know Alexandra Park as the posh princess on The Royals, but get ready to meet the girl beneath the tiara. In her new memoir, Sugar High, Alexandra dives deep into her life, specifically her journey with Type One Diabetes and her acting career. In a personal story of life’s highs and lows, Alexandra’s book is a sweet and honest depiction of re-learning how to take care of yourself in the face of diagnosis. In our interview with Alexandra, we touch on life post-Royals, and her debut as an author, and where she’s going next.

Editorials, Editor's Pick, zIssue 34, Most PopularForrest JohnsonJuly 16, 2021actress, health, healthy, health care, diabetes, sick kids, kids, royals, author, The RoyalsComment

Gabriella Stella: The Power of Healing Through Music

Being born with talent in singing and growing up in a Rock ‘n’ Roll music scene gives you Gabriella Stella. The Dallas-based popstar finds inspiration in her identity, her life experiences, and most recently, her relationships. Her latest single, “Dirty Laundry,” is inspired by the heartbreak she’d gone through which brings out vulnerability yet encourages healing. Despite heartbreaks, she comes back stronger and shares her talent further through her advocacy work for Treasured Vessels and Melody of Hope. Come with Jejune on a ride to explore her journey in finding love for herself through music and advocacy work. Check out our exclusive interview below!

MINIMALIST: New Approach to Sustainability

When you think about ethical fashion brands, the first thing that comes to mind is ethical practices and the use of sustainable materials. Minimalist takes it up a notch! The NYC-based designer and a proud mom of two children, Tamara Daydova, was motivated to build a purpose-driven sustainable fashion brand that rebels against the norm design and production processes. She founded the ethical luxury that adopted a circular business model, which aims to eliminate fashion’s landfill problem, as opposed to the take-make-waste linear production model practiced by most apparel companies these days. Definitely a wow factor! Besides designing for circularity, Minimalist really carries its name in that they keep the number of components in each garment as low as possible and only keep what is absolutely necessary to reduce environmental impact. Explore with Jejune how Minimalist contribute to the world of sustainability with their circular business model in our exclusive interview below.

Lexie Stevenson Fights Fearlessly for Passion

Lexie Stevenson is inspirational and fearless. After her near-death experience suffering from endometriosis at the age of 17, she comes back stronger fighting fearlessly and positively for her passion. Stevenson made her big break as Mattie Ashby on the CBS Daytime Award-Winning drama The Young and the Restless. On top of being a wonderful actress, she also holds multiple titles (model, philanthropist, theatrical performer, competitive athlete) with a hidden talent in singing. Jejune is excited to share our exclusive interview with her on her incredible journey as an actress and advisory board for the Endometriosis Foundation of America.

Laura Marano's New Deluxe EP Has Strong Bestie Energy

Strong Bestie Energy is the best way to describe the actress-turned-singer-songwriter, Laura Marano. Known for the role of Ally on Disney Channel’s Austin and Ally, Laura Marano has always been known as the best friend, the girl next door, and overall, a down to earth star. All of these qualities are manifested in Laura’s EP You. This past month, Laura released the Deluxe EP of You, featuring duets “Honest With You” with Alextbh Duet and “Can’t Help Myself” with Poe Leos and Jean Deaux. Jejune got the opportunity to sit down with Laura in a live listening session of the album from Laura’s cozy home (via Zoom of course) and learn all about the album’s new sound.

Delicious Sounds With Jérémie & The Delicious Hounds

Bonjour! Are you a new age funk lover? Well, keep reading because this is the band for you (with a bilingual twist). Canada-based group Jérémie & The Delicious Hounds is the French-English fusion band you didn’t know you needed. With their latest single “Stuck in Quarantine,” they explore romance and isolation all in one track. The song channels feelings of seclusion with funky soul-pop beats and melodies. No doubt “Stuck in Quarantine” is the ultimate theme song for all of the restless souls sick of FaceTime and ready for the real thing.

Let’s introduce the band members: Jérémie Brémault, the lead vocalist and guitarist, Ryan Toupin, lead guitarist, Nelson Sprout, bassist, and Diego Guzman, drummer. What makes this band different from all the others? They value and take into account all voices, ideas, and concepts from each band member. This inclusive mentality shines through on their debut LP, “Cruel,” and latest single alike. This interview covers the message behind “Stuck in Quarantine,” the creatives that came together to produce it, and the band’s experience sponsoring a child from World Vision. For our exclusive interview with Jérémie & The Delicious Hounds, please continue reading below!

Niki Tonik on Finding Balance With Double Life

What is the first thing that comes to mind about Yin and Yang? Duality. Niki Tonik is the real-life version of Hannah Montana, except for the part of concealing her second identity. The American-Israeli finds balance in life and sharing positivity through her dual identities as a recording artist and a Taoist Tonic Herbalism master. Both identities fulfill and satisfy different areas of Niki’s life and her needs for different reasons. Follow Jejune and dive in together in our exclusive interview with Niki on her perspective from the “Yin” (Israeli–Palestinian conflict) to the “Yang” (her exciting double life).

Miranda Joan: Home Is Where Your Heart Is

Hard to miss! Miranda Joan, traveler of the world, is spreading her music with positivity everywhere in the western hemisphere. Despite her new recently-released single “Rushed”, the French-English neo-soul singer is unstoppable in spreading her musical talent, and we will even be seeing a new single in French later this year. She further shares her talent through Femme Jam, NYC's first all-female-led jam session which she co-founded. In our interview with Miranda, we talk about her sensational journey in spreading positivity through music. Keep reading!

Li Dong: Be Kind

Li Dong, the Canadian-born Asian filmmaker, pushes boundaries to spread inclusivity through films. The multifaceted risk-taker, from undertaking med & law school to becoming a strip club DJ before settling on directing and screenwriting, released his first feature film - Stealing School - which was debuted in the USA by Vertical Entertainment recently. “Stealing School” reflects on systematic racism happening in higher institutions. Dong gets candid with Jejune on film directing and racism faced as an Asian creative. Keep on reading to find out how we can follow his example to create more inclusive spaces!

COVER - Pride House LA Is Here To Stay!

Happy Pride Month! June is, without a doubt, the most colorful and unapologetic time of the year. Pride amplifies the LGBTQIA + community’s voice and uplifts the message of “loud and proud” queerness. Why cant it be pride every month?

Speaking of amplifying voices, TikTok has become an important vehicle for the LGBTQIA + community to express themselves. Many gay, non-binary, and gender varying influencers have built meaningful platforms on TikTok; proving it remains a safe place for LGBTQIA + youth and allies.