LB INSIDERS
TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS
FEATURES
EDITOR’S NOTE 3
BY DARYA JAFARINEJAD AND MELISA SKINDER
16
BY LAUREN BENSON DAISY VELASCO PAINTS IN HER OWN WORDS
4
Daisy Velasco’s imaginative oil paintings pay homage to her Mexican heritage and culture while simultaneously challenging gender inequality.
6
DIG IN SAWASDEE KA (HELLO!) LONG BEACH: TOP THAI EATS
BY MELIA FRANKS
DIG THE LOOK
DECKED OUT: THE BEST SKATE SHOPS IN LONG BEACH
19
STYLED WITH PRIDE: LOCAL QUEERFRIENDLY HAIR SALONS
BY MEGAN POQUETTE
Looking for a change of style? These three queer-friendly hair salons offer creative hairstyles in a safe and welcoming environment for all.
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BY NIKOLETTA ANAGNOSTOU, AMY MUKAI, AND CHRISTINE NADER THE PIONEERS OF TOMORROW
An aspiring actor, director, and healthcare worker draw inspiration from their unique backgrounds to positively change the world around them.
PARASTOO’S SONG
BY DARYA JAFARINEJAD
ABOUT US ABOUT US
DIG is a student-produced arts and culture magazine published by CSULB’s Department of Journalism and Public Relations. We inspire readers to immerse themselves in the Long Beach lifestyle through photography, videography, design, illustration, and the written word.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
DARYA JAFARINEJAD
FEATURES EDITOR
KIMBERLY WONG
ART DIRECTOR
MELISA SKINDER
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
KAITLIN DOU
GENEVIE NGUYEN
PHOTO EDITOR
GOPI VADSAK
DIGITAL DIRECTOR
CHRISTINE NADER
ONLINE EDITORS
AMY MUKAI
NIKOLETTA ANAGNOSTOU
JADYN GILES
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
MEGAN POQUETTE
VIDEO EDITOR
NAVEAH SABILLO
PODCAST EDITOR
MELINA SAAD
SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
CAITLIN GANSERT
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS
KAITLIN NEANG
KAYLA MIRANDA
BUSINESS MANAGER
KRISTINA AGRESTA
PR & PROMOTIONS MANAGER
NICOLLETTE COMBRE
WEB & TECHNOLOGY MASTER
LEILA NUNEZ
ADVERTISING MANAGER
ANDREA CONTRERAS
FACULTY ADVISORS
ROBIN JONES
JENNIFER NEWTON
@digmaglb www.digmaglb.com digmagazinelb@gmail.com
and BeachMedia DIG is a publication of BeachMedia.
DEAR READER, DEAR READER,
Do I dare disturb the universe?"
T.S. Eliot first wrote this when exploring the anxiety and self-doubt that arises when one wishes to disrupt the social order, but is fearful of their insignificance. Like woodland trails, it’s safer to tread the outlined path—to never stray from the ordinary, the comfortable.
Yet, our lives are so brief. The universe blinks, and we are gone. We can’t afford to waste our precious time on “ordinary.” Since our earliest ancestors marked the cave walls with a handprint, the desire to change, to impact, to write a chapter in the history of the universe, has been rooted within us. We are the descendents of ancient civilizations, of formidable empires, of visionaries and revolutionaries. Of people who challenged the universe and defied all conformity.
To be a disruptor is not merely to seize the day, but to seize the magnificent infinity before and beyond us. To live as though there are infinite tomorrows. To know there is no dream too big. To change your community or impact the people around you. To pave your own path, find hope in the darkest of places, and take inspiration from the strong women around you. The chances of you being alive are so small—it is rare to exist, and yet, here you are. You defied all odds to exist. So keep defying all odds as you exist.
Dare to disturb the universe.
Sincerely,
Life is full of abstract companions: questions, feelings, doubts—things that walk alongside us from the moment we first breathe until we reach eternity.
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve heard the phrase “Who dares, wins,” and for some reason, those words never resonated with me that much, since I wasn’t living up to them. Was I too weak to risk whatever was at stake? What about the aftermath? Sadly, those doubts and questions were my loyal companions for many years. Maybe I am an overthinker who wants to make things right, but what even is that?
We humans don’t realize how quickly our lives slip through our fingers and how, alongside that, we gain new companions: regret, frustration, sadness… the list is long. Interestingly, these appear when we realize we had the chance to change the world and leave our mark, yet we didn’t. But paradoxically, it’s never too late to make that switch and become a disruptor in your own life.
Disruptors are the ones who dared, who wanted to make something different. They are the ones who knew their value and worth before the world told them to do something else; people who nurtured their passions and wishes despite the external noise, because that was the right thing to do.
My wish for you is that you feel that fire and need to dare, because the aftermath is clear: You’ll win. And with you, those who know you will win as well.
With love,
Darya Jafarinejad Melisa Skinder
From traditional flavors to innovative fusion dishes, these Thai-owned restaurants present a taste of Thailand with authenticity, creativity, and unforgettable flavors. Whether you’re looking for a classic taste of Northern Thailand or something completely unexpected—like Thai curry pizza—these are the must-visit spots for Thai cuisine in Long Beach.
Long Beach’s Thai food scene is a vibrant mix of tradition and innovation. Whether you’re craving something traditional or looking for a fun fusion twist, these local spots have some incredible, fun, and immersive Thai food experiences. From the stylish ambiance of Thai District to the quirky Thai Curry Pizza and the authenticity of Chiang Rai, there’s a Thai spot for everyone!
THAI CURRY PIZZA & THAI CUISINE
929 Redondo Ave., Long Beach
For those who love a creative twist on traditional Thai food, Thai Curry Pizza & Thai Cuisine is a hidden gem that should definitely be on your radar. It inventively combines bold Thai flavors with classic pizza to create an original and delicious fusion experience. Their signature Thai Curry Pizza is made with a creamy curry sauce, Thai basil, onions, bell peppers, and tender chicken. But they also offer classic Thai dishes like spicy green curry and drunken noodles, along with one of the best pepperoni pizzas—even better than Domino’s. What you might not see on the outside, Thai Curry Pizza & Thai Cuisine makes up for in charm and flavor.
What to Order:
• Thai Curry Pizza: $23.99
Curry sauce, basil, onions, bell peppers and chicken.
• Pepperoni Pizza: $21.99
Eastern style N.Y. tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni.
The restaurant has a fast-casual vibe, making it a great choice for a quick, budget-friendly meal while supporting a local, Thai-owned business.
STORY BY
PHOTOS BY MELIA FRANKS
MELIA FRANKS AND NATHANIEL MARSHALL
Tom Yum Chicken Pizza
Thai Curry Pizza
Thai District
149 Linden Ave., Long Beach
Named one of the 10 Best Restaurants in Long Beach by LA Weekly, Thai District is a stunning modern Thai kitchen in Downtown Long Beach. Filled with loads of traditional Thai decor, warm tones, and soft lighting, it’s immersive, cozy, and a great choice for a date night. The service is kind and attentive, and the menu includes a section specifically dedicated to northern Thai dishes.
What to Order:
• Som Tum (Green Papaya Salad): $11
Peanuts, crispy anchovies, lime dressing.
Lanna Street Basil: $17
Ground chicken, green bean, Thai basil, fried egg.
Cabbage & Crispy Pork: $17
Aged 17-year premium fish sauce, roasted garlic cloves.
The crispy pork is flavorful and crunchy, the lanna street basil is perfect to share, and the som tum provides a refreshing bite that balances out the heavier flavors. Everything about Thai District— from the service to the ambiance—is exceptional.
Chiang Rai 3832 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach
If you’re looking for the best khao soi in town, Chiang Rai Thai Street Food takes the win. Chiang Rai has a genuinely Northern Thai feel, with traditional Thai umbrellas and a colorful, comfortable interior. Northern Thai cuisine is distinct from central Thai food with less sweet dishes and earthy herbs and aromatics. Chiang Rai Thai Street Food’s authentic menu carries signature recipes like nam prik noom and sai uao (Northern Thai sausage) to offer a deep dive into Northern Thai cuisine. Named after Thailand’s northernmost province, Chiang Rai truly does an amazing job at transporting you with their food and decor.
What to Order:
• Khao Soi (price depends on the protein): $17.95-$22.95
Egg noodles and crispy egg noodles in a rich, creamy, slightly spicy curry combined with your choice of meat, plus red onion, green onion, lime, pickle mustard, and fried shallot.
Som Tum Kai Tod: $26.95
Thai papaya salad, fried chicken wing (3 pieces), sticky rice with sweet and sour sauce.
Sai Uao: $15.95
Northern Thai spicy pork sausage.
Nam Prik Noom - $15.95
Green chilis, vegetables, and boiled egg.
The absolute must-tries are the khao soi and som tum kai tod. The khao soi is fantastic, as it balances the five pillars of Thai cuisine: sweet, sour, spicy, salty, and aromatic. And the som tum kai tod is the perfect finger food. The food tastes like being in Thailand, transporting customers to the fragrant night markets and rural mom-andpop joints. It’s the perfect place to order family-style and share. Pro Tip: Make a reservation! Chiang Rai is consistently packed, and for good reason.
Sawasdee Ka, and happy eating!
Khao soi noodle soup
InLong Beach, the pavement isn't just for walking—it's a canvas for skaters. Spots like Cherry Park, Belmont Ledges, and the rails at Poly High make the city a skateboarder’s playground.
Everywhere you look, skateboarding thrives. But skating isn’t just about the spots—it’s also about the shops that provide the gear, connect the community, and support local talent. The skate shops here aren’t only retail spaces—they’re also the heart of the culture, fueling the lifestyle.
Behind every skater is a shop that keeps them rolling. Each store carries its own personality and history. These Long Beach stores act as landmarks for skaters who call this city home. Inside these stores, skateboarding is also a way for people to gather, share tips, chat about the latest tricks they've pulled, and express their artistic creativity.
East 4th Skateboards
2228 E. 4th St., Long Beach
Hidden away on Fourth Street, East 4th Skateboards sits at the heart of Long Beach’s skate scene, surrounded by vintage shops and coffee spots. Not only does the shop offer a wide selection of skate gear, but it also serves as a place where skaters find community and support. Its walls are lined with decks from independent brands, offering multiple options that reflect skate culture.
Daniel Zumer, a longtime employee at East 4th Skateboards, said that the shop’s proximity to local skateparks makes it unique and easier to stay connected with the skate community.
“Well, we’re close to Bixby Skate Park, which is a hub for the
skateboarding community,” Zumer said. “We’re on Retro Row, which is a popular place, but we offer a lot too. All of our decks come with free grip [for skateboards] tape, which other shops don’t offer.”
The commitment to accessibility shows in its pricing. Decks range from $41 to $80, making it easy for those on a budget. While clothing options online are similarly priced between $40 and $74, this provides skaters with multiple choices. However, aside from the shop’s prices, the interior continuously reflects the same welcoming spirit—a laid-back atmosphere that has kept customers coming back.
Long Beach Skate Co.
3142 E. 7th St., Long Beach
Just a few minutes away from East 4th Skateboards is Long Beach Skate Co., located on East 7th Street. The shop is decorated with clothing brands and skateboards scattered across the walls, all in a minimalist layout. Brands like Santa Cruz, Powell Peralta, and Independent make it a popular destination. However, it’s the shop's longevity that has helped it maintain loyal customers.
In fact, Eli Glickman, an employee at Long Beach Skate Co., grew up skating around the shop. His passion for both the sport and the culture eventually led him to join the company, where he enjoys watching customers with a shared love for skate culture continuously return to the store.
“It’s been on this block for 15 years, it’s been a staple in this community, and the parks around it,” Glickman said. “I grew up going to this shop. It's been a solid rock in a lot of skaters' lives. But also some of the art on decks–it’s the best, some of it is just straight decorations.”
DANIEL ZUMER, A LONGTIME EMPLOYEE, SHOWS OFF ONE OF THE SHOP’S SIGNATURE BOARDS
Glickman went as far as highlighting the online shopping experience as one of the best in the country, offering some skateboards for $66, while boards featuring collaborations with brands such as Hello Kitty are priced at $70. The store also offers apparel from Adidas for $99, along with assembly gear like wheels, which can go as high as $45.
A STAPLE IN THE LOCAL SKATE SCENE, LONG BEACH SKATE CO. HAS OFFERED A RANGE OF SKATEBOARDS, TRUCKS, WHEELS, AND APPAREL FOR 15 YEARS.
The mix of iconic brands and gear has kept Long Beach Skate Co. on the map, making it a staple for enthusiasts.
PHARMACY BOARDSHOP, LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH SINCE 2005, HAS BEEN ATTRACTING SKATERS WITH ITS BOLD, EDGY EXTERIOR, CONTINUING TO ELEVATE SKATE CULTURE THROUGH DAILY EVENTS AND A STRONG COMMUNITY PRESENCE.
Pharmacy Boardshop
333 Pine Ave., Long Beach
One of the larger locations in Long Beach, Pharmacy Boardshop stands out with its unique layout and dark aesthetic—an edgy look that perfectly complements the bustling downtown street it's located on. Inside, as hip-hop music plays lightly, the black walls are adorned with skate decks stacked on top of each other. As guests enter the store, the minimalist design highlights the colors of the decks.
Kaylie Mauhar, an employee at Pharmacy Boardshop, said the shop distinguishes itself by its active support of the community, which includes hosting events that bring people together.
“The coolest thing about this skate shop is that we try to be a part of a lot of events,” Mauhar said. “We’re trying to bring a lot of skaters in— everyone is welcome. We’re one of the most popular spots in downtown Long Beach because I feel like we have a lot of community that makes us, us.”
As Mauhar mentioned, one of the staples of the shop is its events, such as product releases and the celebration of “Skate Shop Day”—an event that saw skate decks ranging from $50 to $72 sold, while complete boards started at $100. Nevertheless, the shop’s connection to the community truly sets it apart.
PHOTO BY
KIMBERLY WONG
SABRINA PADUA ON ADVENTURE AND EMPOWERMENT
STORY BY LEI MADRIGAL
Quintessential
California girl Sabrina Padua—or “Sabs,” as her friends call her—is an experienced rock climber, surfer, snowboarder, camper, hiker, offroader, yogi, fashion aficionado, businesswoman, outdoors enthusiast, and everything in between.
Born and raised in San Jose, Padua spent a few years in San Francisco and Los Angeles before settling in Long Beach in 2021. So far, life in Southern California has deepened Padua’s pride in being from the Bay Area and showed her just how much her hometown has influenced her life. “My friends always tell me, ‘Your Bay Area is showing,’” she said, “And I find that both hilarious and unique at the same time.”
For Padua, the Bay Area isn’t just a place; it’s a way of life. Growing up in an area with endless outdoor opportunities and unique Californian scenery, as well as a local entrepreneurial culture, she naturally developed a love for the outdoors and a drive to achieve her goals. “Living in Southern California has shown me how proud I am to be from The Bay and how much my experiences there have
COURTESY
influenced how I show up in the world—from my mentality [and] personal style, to the music I listen to.”
As a first-born daughter to Filipino immigrants, Padua’s upbringing was rooted in ambition and determination. “Wanting to be the first person in my family to accomplish higher education and career goals was a huge driving force as I explored the early stages of my womanhood,” Padua said. These days, she’s reconnecting with her heritage more than ever, diving into books and doing research online to learn about her family’s Filipino history and culture.
Sabrina’s love for the outdoors began with sports. She played basketball and volleyball, ran track and field, and discovered snowboarding after high school. Her earliest passion was fashion— an interest sparked by her mother, who used to hand-sew dresses and blouses for her. Determined to pursue fashion, Padua earned a bachelor’s degree in fashion marketing at The Art Institute of California in San Francisco.
After earning her degree, she landed a corporate role with an
PHOTOS
OF SABRINA PADUA
Sabrina enjoys snowboarding, a sport she was introduced to after high school.
GREETINGS FROM
LADY CRUSH CREW
athleisure brand, where she supported the company’s creative team in the management, design, and production of women’s sports bras and tops. Eventually, she was transferred to work with The North Face, one of the outdoor industry’s leading companies, where she assisted in creating men’s and women’s outerwear, sportswear, and rock climbing apparel, which perfectly aligned with her personal interests. “This transition came at the perfect time in my life because my fitness goals were evolving from exercising in a traditional gym to exploring rock climbing outdoors,” she says.
In 2018, Sabrina founded Lady Crush Crew (@ ladycrushcrew on Instagram), a climbing community for women. “I connected with a lot of women at the local climbing gyms and would often climb with them one-on-one. I had this idea of inviting all the women I met to climb together, so I started a group chat pitching the idea for a group session. From there, the chat evolved into starting an Instagram page where we could share our progress with climbing. One thing led to another—I created the social media page, and Lady Crush Crew was born.”
Lady Crush Crew’s first official meetup was at Dogpatch Boulders in San Francisco. Now, about seven years later, with the help of a strong team of Lady Crush Crew ambassadors, Padua has created a supportive women’s climbing community through meetups at local gyms and crags in several states nationwide. Lady Crush Crew has inspired hundreds of women to climb and supported them in building confidence and community.
Lady Crush Crew hosts monthly meetups at Long Beach Rising, a climbing gym in Long Beach, every second Wednesday of the month from 7 to 9 p.m. There are also monthly meetups at the Movement climbing gym in Fountain Valley every third Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. All skill levels are invited to join these meetups, which are meant to encourage ladies—cisgender and transgender, non-binary individuals, and allies—to climb together.
Padua didn’t stop there. During the pandemic, she launched Wildside Retreats (@wildsideretreats), a women’s-only retreat company that took her idea for women’s meetups to the next level. She employed some
of the Lady Crush Crew ambassadors as leaders and worked with women-owned climbing guide companies to facilitate three-day long climbing, yoga, and camping retreats designed specifically for women.
Padua’s business partner, Sue, the owner of Uprising Adventure Guides based in Joshua Tree, is one of her biggest inspirations and mentors. With years of experience as a climbing guide and business owner, Sue has supported Sabrina with valuable advice and heartfelt conversations about both climbing and life in general. Padua also mentions the Lady Crush Crew ambassadors as some of her role models. “They are always so psyched to get the ball rolling on any event or meetup we want to host. These women have become some of my closest friends.”
Throughout it all, Padua has faced some difficult, unpleasant times navigating the outdoors industry. “Being a Filipina woman of color in the outdoors has come with some challenges, particularly being in spaces dominated by people who do not look like me.”
Sabrina recalled one particularly upsetting experience when an older, cisgender, white man told her to “go back to where [she] came from” while climbing outdoors and that “this area was [his] first.”
“It was really disheartening to hear. It took a lot of mental energy to maintain my composure, continue taking up space and keep climbing, both literally and figuratively,” Padua recalled.
Looking forward, Padua hopes to see climbing corporations, like gyms and brands, directly contribute to making the outdoors more accessible and inclusive for minority groups. Leaders of these groups often commit their own personal funds and resources to support their organizations, but climbing corporations could ease community leaders’ hardships by providing more opportunities for sponsorships or other forms of financial support.
Padua has big dreams for herself, too. This past summer, she learned to surf and deep-sea fish, and now, she hopes to try diving. On her bucket list is to swim with whale sharks, as well as catch tuna or yellowtail to make fresh sushi.
Currently, Padua is projecting Solarium, a V4 boulder at Happy Boulders in Bishop, California. In climbing, a “project” refers to the process of trying a route that is difficult for you over and over with the goal of one day climbing it to completion; a climber could be working on their “project,” or “projecting,” for hours, days, months or even years. Padua has been working on Solarium for several climbing seasons.
“The day that I top out that boulder [will] be an epic feeling," she said. "It is so close that I can taste it!”
HANGING OUT AT JOSHUA TREE STONEY POINT PARK GREETINGS FROM A
DEAR FRIENDS,
HAD A CLIMBINGBLASTWITH SO MANY WOMENSTRONG TODAY! HOPEJOINYOU'LL
PHOTO BY APRIL HERRERA
CHATSWORTH, Calif. Lady Crush Crew hosts outdoor meetups at local crags like Stoney Point Park
PHOTO BY GOPI VADSAK
STORY BY LAUREN BENSON
BY GOPI VADSAK
First-generation Mexican American artist Daisy Velasco uses memories and tradition to guide her paintbrush. Her oil paintings depict scenes of domesticity and the traditional values that surround it. She draws inspiration from her own memories, personal experiences, and observations from her culture.
As the daughter of immigrant parents, Velasco pays close attention to the traditions that her family brought with them from Mexico. One tradition that occupies more space in her mind and creative process is hang-drying clothing. Velasco still prefers to use this method of laundering; as the clothing dries in the sun, her imagination runs wild. She envisions the clothing coming to life and then paints the vivid scenes, revealing that this domestic act has an impact on her work. Velasco’s paintings showcase an array of traditional clothing intensely painted in bright colors.
Notably missing from Velasco’s paintings are the bodies that would normally fill the vibrant sundresses and cowboy boots on her canvases. She intentionally omits the familiar parts of the subject’s face and figure all together.
“If I paint the faces, it gives away the story quicker,” Velasco said. “I feel if I don't paint the faces, I get the person to read the work a little bit more and focus on the other details rather than expression.”
The work is also about how recalling memories can distort images. By erasing parts of a person’s identity, the paintings mimic the way memories slowly fade away. The emphasis on clothing draws attention to ambiguous social interactions, which then allows the viewer to engage in the narrative by envisioning an alternative dialogue between the subjects.
The themes in Velasco’s work also revolve around gender roles and the inequalities of male dominance. A lot of her work depicts the harsh realities of domestic violence, which has sparked vulnerable conversations with her audience.
She recalls how people will come up to her at shows to share their personal experiences in relation to her work. Velasco knows that some of these topics are uncomfortable, but part of her intention is to create a safe space to have these conversations.
“Being first-generation, sharing your feelings is a little more difficult,” Velasco said. “You have to have this family portrait, kind of make it seem like everything is well at home, but in reality, things are not like that. And I feel like that’s what I’m trying to do in my paintings.”
Painting wasn’t her first medium of choice. She did, however, show an interest in art from a very young age.
Velasco grew up in the city of Azusa, in the San Gabriel Valley, and she reminisced how she would run home from school to watch the popular children’s television cartoon “Arthur.” At the end of the program,
PHOTOS
Paintings, from top (Courtesy of Daisy Velasco): En Mi Casa, 40"×30" Oil on canvas. Surrender, 36"x36", Oil on canvas.
Shadow, 40"
canvas.
the artist, Marc Brown, would give instructions on how to draw the characters.
Velasco had her paper and pencil ready to closely follow the lessons. She continued to draw different cartoon characters into high school and started to realize her potential. This led her to enrolling in art courses at Citrus Community College, where she first experimented with painting.
She eventually transferred to CSULB during COVID. Velasco recalls the frustrations of taking art courses over Zoom, but in her last year, she was finally able to have studio access where she painted around the clock.
Velasco graduated from CSULB in 2022 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in drawing and painting. She was initially nervous about pursuing a major in art because of the pressure her parents put on her to study something more practical, like nursing, that would guarantee some financial security.
Instead of giving up on her dreams, Velasco trusted her gut. She admitted that she had to tune out their advice and recognized that through educating her parents on the importance of art, she could eventually gain their trust for her decision.
She explained that art wasn’t something her parents were exposed to in Mexico and that they weren’t able to finish their education. Velasco had to find a way to show them the value of pursuing a nontraditional career.
“I feel like educating them makes me feel better, because we're on the same page now. We’re having a dialogue. They can understand and we can all grow together.” Velasco said.
Velasco insisted on paying for her own education in order to feel more confident and independent about her career choice. She continued to paint and network with fellow artists. She relied on messaging artists on social media and visiting galleries as often as she could.
Soon after she graduated, trusting her gut paid off. The summer after graduation, Velasco was offered a spot in a group show at the Charlie James gallery in Los Angeles. In disbelief, she messaged her professor at CSULB to confirm the offer’s legitimacy.
It was a legitimate offer, and the experience led her to her first sale. The exposure from the show earned her more offers to exhibit her work. Since then, she has shown her work at the Frieze Art Fair in Los Angeles and internationally in Berlin, Germany.
Currently, she paints out of a studio in South Los Angeles with 14 other working artists. Velasco is also a teaching artist with Stay Gallery, a non-profit organization in Downey, where she works with an after-school program educating middle school and elementary students.
As for the future of Velasco’s work, she is content on continuing to explore the intersection of gender roles with the themes of memory and traditions in her culture. She has multiple works hanging on the walls of her studio and is focusing on visually transforming new memories in a way that relates to her community.
“I feel like that is the most important topic, just focusing on the lifestyle I grew up in,” she says. “I want people to find me, so I can be able to share those experiences.”
Follow Daisy’s art journey on instagram at @tinyriot_
STORY BY MEGAN POQUETTE
PHOTOS BY SANDEEP KOTHURI AND MEGAN POQUETTE
Foryears, traditional barber shops have catered to men looking for clean-cuts and close shaves, while high-end salons have catered to women seeking blowouts and a balayage. But what if your gender expression does not fit neatly into the boxes of the gender binary?
2204 E. Broadway, Long Beach
The sounds of hairdryers hum softly over playful pop tunes while a stylist with an impressive mohawk happily chats with their client. Queer art adorns the sundrenched walls and gender-neutral products line the shelves. Troy, a Chinese Crested dog with the most fabulous hair, greets guests as they enter the safe space of Flaunt Salon, one of many queer-friendly salons in Long Beach offering gender-affirming cuts, color, and more.
Located in the lively gayborhood of Long Beach, Flaunt Salon welcomes community members with a cozy vibe, bright smiles, and creative stylists offering services from blowouts to rainbow buzzcuts.
“One of the biggest shifts in the industry in the last 10 years has been not referring to haircuts as ‘men’s haircuts,’ ‘women’s haircuts,’ or ‘gender-neutral haircuts,’” hair stylist Skylar Dose said. “It's just a haircut.”
Well, fear not! These local, queer-friendly hair salons open their doors to all members of the community looking for anything from a trim to a total transformation.
She breaks up her appointments with new clients and returning clients, allotting additional time for new clients to consult with them on their pronouns and the vision that she is ready to bring to life.
This extra care taken by Dose and other stylists sets salons like Flaunt apart, ensuring that their business is inclusive and that their client’s comfort and gender expression always comes first.
851 Pine Ave., Long Beach
Queer folks often fear a trip to the salon, either hiding behind their hair or hating the way it makes them feel and be perceived. But at Freebirds, clients can enter this stress-free space and receive the hairdo of their dreams from queer stylists who understand their struggle.
“We are really fortunate that we do get people in here regularly who are queer, regardless of what part of the spectrum they’re on,”
Flaunt Salon
Flaunt Salon
freebirds Salon
freebirds Salon
blacksheepSalon
said stylist Blue Waters, whose work features a broad range of vibrant color jobs, gorgeous extensions, and spunky mullets.
A curated corner of the art-filled shop features pieces depicting the Muppets characters made of multi-hued hair trimmings, a representation of the efforts this salon puts into their work and the unique beauty that emerges from it.
Evolving from hiding-behind-their-bangs with scene-kid hair in middle school to living as a trans woman for nearly four years and using lace front wigs as a shield to not get ridiculed, Waters understands the power a haircut can have for queer individuals, and is ready with trimmers in hand to give back to this community.
When asked how they ensure that their chair is a safe space, Waters replied: “I always have open dialogue. Anybody is free to come as they are, what they are, whatever that is for the day.”
537 W. Willow St., Long Beach
Tucked away on Willow Street is Long Beach’s first intersectional and inclusive curly hair salon, welcoming all members of the community with a bright and friendly vibe no matter their hair type, body type, gender, or ability.
Accommodation was founder Marie Rolla’s number one priority when opening Black Sheep.
“It’s so important to me, especially during Black History Month, that we discuss the lack of quality services trans people of color have access to,” Rolla said.
From taking great care to curate a talented and diverse staff, to offering services that to many are both a necessity and a local scarcity, Black Sheep Salon boasts a safe and stress-free space for clients to feel accepted and affirmed.
Hair holds more than just a curl; it holds meaning and representation. From lessening instances of misgendering, validating gender identity, or simply feeling understood and cared for, queer-friendly salons are more than safe spaces — they are exemplifications of a community embracing change.
“The least someone can have is their individuality,” said Waters of Freebirds Salon. “Especially when there’s so many other things that are taken away or out of your control — you could at least look like the avatar you have in your mind.”
These local salons are here to provide the community of Long Beach with an array of styles as unique their clients, because a haircut is more than self-care. It is self-expression.
Flaunt Salon
black sheep Salon
black sheep Salon
PHOTOS BY
Sometimes, dreams can feel like only dreams, and nothing more.
That we will never be the pioneers of the future because we lack the talent, time, and resources. However, these trailblazers in the Long Beach community demonstrate how creativity, passion, and leadership are powerful tools in reshaping the future.
CJ Martucci
CJ Martucci is a third-year communications major with a passion for writing music and stage acting. Martucci first viewed high school choir classes as a requirement rather than something fun, but he soon realized his love for rapping.
“My friend and I…would write freestyle [raps in class],” Martucci said. “We would get a pencil and give each other a beat and rap our freestyle…every single day.”
Martucci’s first single, “To The Top,” began as an inside joke between him and his best friend, Jacob Cervantes, whose voice clip is featured in the intro of the song.
“Any time we’d be together and the conversation of our future would come up, the first three words we would tell each other were ‘to the top,’” Martucci recalled with a laugh. The single dropped in 2024 and remains his most popular song on Spotify. Martucci’s “To the Top” mentality about his future prevents him from confining himself in one creative field.
This being said, Martucci followed a path his heart hadn’t ventured down since his senior year of high school: acting. With music on the side, Martucci pursued acting through the campus social justice theater troupe InterACT, where he usually played the lead role. InterACT educates people about homophobia, sexism, racism, and how to make the world a better place.
Performing in InterACT inspired him to audition for, and eventually land, the lead role in “Maywood,” a student-written play about an aspiring author navigating a society that dismisses his dreams.
Martucci, on the other hand, was raised opposite to his character. He was constantly encouraged to pursue his creative potential and dreams. He always knew he could achieve whatever he pushed himself to accomplish.
When it comes to success, Martucci is pragmatic. He has a freeflowing approach to life and focuses on small steps to expand his growth.
“I don’t want to measure my success on the outcome…like how many people listen to my music, or how often people attend my plays,” Martucci explained. “I just want to measure my success on my effort for what I have done already.” Christine Nader
Huy Tran
Huy Tran’s life exists in the in-between. In between countries, in between cultures, and now, as a film student at CSULB, he strives to understand and dissect his lived experience as a VietnameseAmerican for himself and his community.
Tran’s fascination with visual media led him toward a career in cinema. Born in south-central Vietnam, Tran found himself entranced by the colors, motion, and symbolism of TV, title sequences, and state propaganda. While also interested in illustration and graphic design, Tran ultimately chose to pursue film because of the medium’s powerful ability to convey complex messages and spur cultural discussion.
At 7, he moved across the globe from Nha Trang to Westminster, California — a new life, a new culture. And he’s spent the years since straddling that divide.
“I feel like I don’t fully belong in two different cultures,” Tran said. “I live in this divide of that in-between, in that limbo. And so my heritage here, my history, really reflects so much on how I make my film and my commentary in where I live.”
Tran is currently working on a multimedia anthropology series, Project SEED, or Super Enigma Experimental Department. Different stories in the film will explore Tran’s fear of the future and question his identity and existence. Project SEED serves as a starting point for Huy; he plans to come back to the themes and ideas presented in Project SEED and turn them into full-length projects.
The purpose of Tran’s work has always been to navigate his identity and become confident in his heritage, for himself, and the VietnameseAmerican community. Whether it be through Project SEED or future work, he is determined to not just produce an interesting visual piece of art but to make a lasting impact.
“I feel like to me, my role here, it will feel like an inner battle…but I would say that the end result will hopefully be worth it,” Tran said. “Hopefully, someone out there will point or will talk to me and be like, ‘Your work has saved me…your work has really changed my life.’”
—Nikoletta Anagnostou
Before she was a college graduate, Garooneh Khachatori was a first-generation Armenian student who immigrated from Iran when she was 13 years old. In high school, she picked up English and Spanish, while speaking Armenian at home. Khachatori recalled helping her family with English as they adjusted to life in the U.S. “I was always translating for my family. Even when I didn’t speak English fluently yet and we had just moved here, I was already helping them as much as I could,” Khachatori said.
During her second semester of her freshman year at CSULB, Khachatori was introduced to the translation minor. “Since I [was] already fluent in two languages other than English, I thought it would be an exciting opportunity to kind of further that,”she said. “Because when you learn new languages, you tend to forget ones that you’re not using as much.”
It was during this time that Khachatori decided to start Translation at the Beach, a club that centers on translation studies. “I want to go into healthcare, and one of my main reasons for starting this club was because I’ve seen a lot of health disparities when it comes to language,” she said. “[Immigrants] are not really able to get quality healthcare without an interpreter, and that’s not always accessible… We really need organizations that advocate for translation.” With the help of her friends and classmates, Translation at the Beach became an official organization in 2022.
Since Translation at the Beach was established during COVID, Khachatori and her fellow club officers worked hard to recruit members by reaching out to classmates and professors and took advantage of events to gain more exposure.
“[Recruitment] was really hard because again, it was during COVID,” Khachatori said. “Clubs that were already established on campus were losing members, so starting a new club was an added challenge. At first, it was mainly reaching out to classmates…and then once we were on campus, Week of Welcome and tabling.”
Moving forward, Khachatori plans to become a physician while using her experiences as a first-generation immigrant to advocate for language services in healthcare. She believes that proper access to interpreters and the translation of important documents will break the language barrier and increase the quality of healthcare.
Through her persistent efforts and advocacy, she aims to reshape the future of medicine for non-English speaking immigrants.
—Amy Mukai
Garooneh Khachatori
STORY BY DARYA JAFARINEJAD
ILLUSTRATION
BY TINA HUNG
Alittlebird, Parastoo, was caged because she sang and flew.
It was in her nature to do so — no different from breathing to her. She yearned for them like a dancing flame reaching for the stars. Her voice had the power of a lion’s and her small heart could conquer mountains. Her feathers reflected the green of the forest she called home, her underside was as white as the clouds, and a deep, furious red burned on her chest.
The snakes despised birds. They ruled the forest, and banned the birds from singing and flying for decades. The birds were inferior beings, born to serve the snakes — or so the snakes said. Any defiant birds would be devoured. For innumerable years, the birds bowed before the snakes, obeyed their every command, and never sang a single note or lifted one feather, as ordered.
Parastoo was born into their reign, but no longer would she swallow her voice or bind her wings. One day, she decided to fly over her forest, singing sweetly. She could not be content until she had soared through the velvet blue of every sky, and sang over the seven continents and five oceans. But the snakes waited by the trees bordering the forest to swallow any bird who dared leave. Parastoo could only circle her home, wary of nearby snakes.
Parastoo repeated this performance every day. The other birds gazed in astonishment as she flew by, captivated by her song. At first, they were terrified. Eventually, one by one, more birds joined Parastoo on her flight. Together, they were a mountain in the sky. Their voices resounded like an orchestra throughout the heavens.
The snakes became infuriated. The birds were escaping their scaly grasps, laughing victoriously as they did so. The snakes tried to dominate the storm of birds, but no matter how many they
caught, many more joined Parastoo.
Fearful of Parastoo, the snakes hunted her down. They pounced and twisted their bodies around her. They dragged her down to their burrows and locked her away in a space so small, she couldn’t move her wings.
Little Parastoo protested with all her might, but the snakes disregarded her cries and left to celebrate, believing their reign safe.
Throughout the night, Parastoo sang, though her voice weakened with fatigue and thirst. The snakes, in their celebration, couldn’t hear her.
But a passing bird did. It listened intently to Parastoo’s dying voice and stared down the abyss of the burrow. Then, the bird fled. Parastoo fainted not long after, tired, afraid, and alone.
The next morning, the snakes returned to forever silence Parastoo. They slithered toward her, sleeping in her cell, and cackled.
Their greatest fear was a helpless, tiny creature.
As they bared their fangs, the haunting tune of Parastoo’s song slowly engulfed them, scratching their skin like claws. Yet Parastoo remained asleep.
The snakes darted outside, horrified as a hurricane of birds coalesced. A kaleidoscope of colors so vast, the sky vanished behind them. Courageous by their unity, the birds descended upon them. Together, they bit, teared, and clawed at the snakes, unleashing a torrent of rage so great, the snakes had no choice but to flee. The birds freed Parastoo and banished the snakes from the forest. The birds celebrated their victory, finally free.
Parastoo bid the birds and the forest goodbye, knowing she would return, but not anytime soon. She raised her wings and ascended, singing her song as she traveled the world, happily lost in the ocean of the heavens.
