DEPARTMENT
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42
FEATURES 36 WHEN BEAUTY BEGINS Let’s break beauty ideals.
42 TAKING MY SEXUALITY INTO MY OWN HANDS This is what happened.
SUMMER 2021
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18
28
DEPARTMENTS BITS & PIECES
FOOD + DRINK
FASHION + BEAUTY
8 TRACK IT
12 THE BUZZ
24 NATURALLY BOLD
10 BIT OF LIT: IDENTITY
14 SUMMER SIPS
25 FIFTY SHADES OF NUDE
11 DELICIOUSLY DELIVERED
16 FEELIN’ TOASTY
26 MORE THAN MAKEUP
11 STAFF PICKS
18 KEEPING IT BITE-SIZE
28 MORE THAN BOUDOIR
Pinterest-worthy layouts.
These books are proudly LGBTQ+.
Dinner time just got easier.
We’re media people too.
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SUMMER 2021
This sweet ingredient has many uses.
Lemonade just grew up.
There’s more than avocado.
Finger foods are here for the summer.
The perfect pair: dewy and waterproof.
Covering all the bases.
Red lips are powerful.
Corsets and bustiers are back.
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55 SUMMER 2021
WELLNESS + SEX
ENTERTAINMENT
48 EVEN SAFER SEX
54 LET’S GET REAL
50 BEYOND PORNHUB
55 HEAR ME RHYME
51 BDSM HOROSCOPES
56 FADE TO BLACK
52 MAKING IT MINDFUL
ON THE COVER
Wear (more) protection.
There’s porn for everyone.
We see some fantasy in the stars.
Self-care in the palm of your hand.
A quick reality check.
From open mic, to the presidential inauguration.
Movie theaters are so two years ago.
Image by Tina Intarapanont of Marisela Aguilar (left) & Wyatt Richards (right) from the story “More Than Boudoir.” See page 28.
SUMMER 2021
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DRAKE MAG STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Cheyann Neades
MEDIA EXEC. ONLINE EDITOR
Emily Bondura ASSISTANT ONLINE EDITOR
Sam Rothbardt ADVERTISING + PR DIRECTOR
Jasmine Inthabounh SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
Megan Bohall
ART ART DIRECTOR
Fatima Calderon Ceron PHOTO EDITOR
Tina Intarapanont ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
EDITOR'S LETTER Honestly, I kinda expected to spend the last 18 months of my undergrad education in a panic. There's the rush of classes. Graduation coming, of course. All those memories to be made. Except I couldn't leave my house because I didn't have "global pandemic” on my college Bingo card. I was only semi-prepared. But, there is some light at the end of the hell hole. As we’re working toward herd immunity, we here at Drake Mag are here to help you safely make your way into a more hopeful summer. Of course, just as restrictions are loosening, fashion is getting tighter. Corsets are making a stylistic comeback (pg. 28) and we complemented them with
masks. Outdoor dining is also a safe way to go, and we have the bite-size recipes for any picnic (pg. 18). As we’ve spent so much time indoors throughout this pandemic, we’re saying hello to fully embracing who you are (pg. 36 & pg. 42). And if you’re looking to get together with other vaccinated people, be sure to sip on spiked lemonades (pg. 14). Looking back on my time with Drake Mag , I’m grateful to have spent the last four years as a part of this publication. Every year, each team brings so much creativity and dedication— amounts I didn’t even know were possible. As we move into a new normal for Fall 2021, I am delighted to hand Drake Mag over to
Kaili Miller and her team. She has grown with the publication in the last three years, and I know she'll continue to inspire all areas of the magazine. Be sure to keep up with us at drakemagazine.com, and @Drakemag on Facebook and Twitter, and @drakemagazine on Instagram. Cheyann Neades EDITOR IN CHIEF
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Catherine Staub, Jeff Inman, Sarah McCoy, Kathleen Richardson, Denise Ganpat, Jennifer Dryden, Madi Koetting, Drake SJMC, Christian Edwards Printing, Water House Studio, all of our models, and those supporting behind the scenes. Copyright 2021 by Drake Mag and Drake Magazine. Drake Mag is published with the support of the Board of Student Communications. Opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of Drake University. Letters to the Editor are encouraged and may be published online at www.drakemagazine.com. Please direct any questions, comments, or concerns to drakemag@gmail.com
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SUMMER 2021
Autumn Palmer PHOTO
Cassidy Grubisic Charleigh Reinardy Michael Cummings DESIGN
Amy Flieder Brynn Yoshinaga Steven Peralta Cornejo
WORDS MANAGING EDITOR
Kaili Miller ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Emily Postlethwait ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Caitlin Clement ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Annie Peterson ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Ella Schulte WRITERS
Ella Field Kyle Keegan Sophia Lacy Julia Jennings Savanna Bous Natalie Mechem Emma Brustkern Elizabeth Weyers Charlie Anthony Adame
DEPARTMENT
DRAKEMAGAZINE.COM WWW.DRAKEMAGAZINE.COM
SKINCARE MYTHS BUSTED WORDS VADA ABRAHAMSON
WORDS HANNAH GROMEN
BOUDOIR BEAUTIES
HABITUAL SELF-CARE
With less outings, people have found ways to spice up their time and their looks. We sat down with Esthetician Rachel Johnson to give you the stop or pass on four skin care trends.
As society’s view of sex and sexuality has shifted, boudoir has become a symbol of personal empowerment. We show you how to put together your own photoshoot filled with self-love and lingerie.
Whether it’s reading a book or ordering dessert, self-care comes in all shapes and forms. We listed some quick and helpful tips to help you keep your mental well-being healthy and strong everyday.
WORDS BROOKE BUSCH
STORIES, IDEAS, OR INQUIRIES ABOUT WRITING FOR ONLINE? REACH OUT TO OUR EXECUTIVE ONLINE EDITOR, EMILY BONDURA AT EMILY.BONDURA@DRAKE.EDU
@DRAKEMAGAZINE
@DRAKEMAG
@DRAKEMAG
SUMMER 2021
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BITS + PIECES
TRACK IT
THESE LAYOUTS WILL HELP GET YOUR BULLET JOURNALING STARTED. Having a bullet journal can seem like a daunting task—but it can also be a place to unlock your creativity. With no right or wrong way to organize your bullet journal, you can simply enjoy the process and keep your life less stressful. We included our top three favorite page layouts to help you get started. THE HABIT TRACKER Habit trackers are great for any of those new habits you want to add to your daily life or old habits you are struggling to kick. Draw a monthlike grid pattern for each habit, and color in that corresponding day with your favorite color when completed. Small tasks like drinking eight glasses of water or reading a chapter in your favorite book are great to add. Crossing these off leave you feeling accomplished and motivated.
BUDGETING 101 Budgeting can be boring, but creating a budget layout doesn’t have to be. Visually comprehending where your money is going can help you prioritize your spending. A great way to organize this category is to create an expenses log by making three columns. Include one for the date the expense occurred, another for how much went in or out, and a third for a description of the expense. You can put a starting balance and ending balance to keep track of the amount in your bank at the beginning and end of the month as well. “THE LAST TIME I” With such a hectic schedule, trying to remember the last time you washed your sheets or serviced your car can be a struggle. Create an ongoing list of the last time you completed tasks, so you never forget another oil change. Separate all your tasks into three groups; weekly, monthly, and yearly, and leave an open space next to the task to write down the date you accomplished them. WORDS MEGAN BOHALL PHOTO TINA INTARAPANONT DESIGN BRYNN YOSHINAGA
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SUMMER 2021
BITS + PIECES
SUMMER 2021
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BITS + PIECES
Bit of Lit:
IDENTITY
FIND YOUR NEXT GREAT READ AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPECTRUMS OF GENDER AND SEXUALITY. SISSY: A COMING-OF-AGE GENDER STORY JACOB TOBIA (Memoir, 2019) In this transformative and hilarious memoir, genderqueer author Jacob Tobia invites readers to rethink what we know about gender. By recounting their experiences from childhood into early adulthood, Tobia shares how they went from being bullied for their identity, to wearing it as a badge of honor. Their vulnerability and authenticity shatter the idea that one’s identity should fit directly into a binary. DETRANSITION, BABY TORREY PETERS (Fiction, 2021) In this provocative debut novel, trans woman Reese finds her life turned upside down after her girlfriend, Amy, detransitions to become Ames. Author Torrey Peters navigates taboo conversations surrounding identity and relationships to craft a deeply compelling and original story that will stick with you long after finishing. REAL QUEER AMERICA: LGBTQ STORIES FROM RED STATES SAMANTHA ALLEN (Non-Fiction, 2019) If you think queer people only exist in liberal meccas like San Francisco, think again. Transgender journalist Samantha Allen hits the road to introduce readers to extraordinary LGBTQ people working for change across the United States. Allen captures the cultural and political shifts taking place in the U.S. every day, and reminds readers that they can find family and identity anywhere. THE COLOR PURPLE ALICE WALKER (Fiction, 1982) In this seminal classic, narrator Celie voices the realities of misogyny, racism, abuse, and sexuality in the 1930s. Readers will be drawn into the vibrant and vulnerable narrative that’s driven by compassion and resilience. Walker’s timeless novel is a beautiful portrayal of coming into one’s own identity in more ways than one.
WORDS EMMA BRUSTKERN PHOTO TINA INTARAPANONT DESIGN FATIMA CALDERON
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BITS DEPARTMENT + PIECES
STAFF Picks
PODCASTS AND BOOKS WE’RE LOVING RIGHT NOW. FOOD HAVEN This podcast features registered dietitian BFFs, Wendy Lopez and Jessica Jones. They dive deep into health and nutrition topics like diversity in health at every size, mental health, and body acceptance. They offer their expertise as well as their own personal attitudes on how they understand their health as two Black women. Emily Bondura Executive Online Editor ASIANBOSSGIRL ABG, or Asian baby girl, is a stereotype used to refer to Asian “sluts.” Melody Cheng, Helen Wu, and Janet Wang challenge “ABG” and give it a new meaning in this podcast. Risqué and provocative? More like powerful and confident. These Asian boss girls discuss maintaining a work-life balance, female wellness, and negotiating their Asian American identities. Tina Intarapanont Photo Editor IF THEY COME FOR US Fatimah Asghar turned her experiences as an orphaned Pakistani Muslim into an esteemed collection of poems. Her poetry touches on everything from violence in Pakistan, immigration, racism, feminism, and sexuality. Through traditional poetry and experimental forms, Asghar shares her story along with the history of Pakistan. These touching and thought-provoking poems leaves readers thoroughly moved. Annie Peterson Associate Editor THIS CLOSE TO OKAY This novel by Leesa Cross-Smith is an effortlessly written story about two people and the subtle magic of human connection. Alternating perspectives between Tallie, a divorced therapist, and Emmett, who tried to take his own life—the book brings to life the complicated nature of mental health and how a simple meeting between two people can bring them closer to their own truth. Caitlin Clement Associate Editor
PHOTO TINA INTARAPANONT DESIGN FATIMA CALDERON
DELICIOUSLY DELIVERED THESE MEAL KIT SERVICES ARE ONES YOU CAN COUNT ON. DAILY HARVEST Customization is key. Daily Harvest prides itself on delivering food made with clean and organic ingredients. Their bowls are made with moulded pulp and paper, making them 100% compostable and curbside recyclable. From fresh smoothies to savory flatbreads, this meal delivery service has a variety of options for everyone to enjoy. Prices start at $5.99 | daily-harvest.com DINNERLY Eating clean shouldn’t be expensive. Dinnerly allows you to pick your meals and delivery dates on their website. Each dish has 6 ingredients, making it more affordable and quicker for weeknight meals. Options range from falafel veggie bowls with creamy dill dressing to Louisiana-style shrimp with cheddar grits and spinach. $4.69/serving | dinnerly.com HUNGRYROOT Skip the long grocery-store lines. Hungryroot sends the groceries and recipes to you based on your quiz results. In the quiz, you tell them about your dietary needs, meal preferences, and how many you’re feeding, and they shop for you at discounted prices. You can personalize your grocery plan and make meals that take less than 10 minutes. $10.99/serving | hungryroot.com SUNBASKET Farm-fresh ingredients? Say no more. Sunbasket has many options for any kind of lifestyle. Their mix and match meal recipes range from 6-40-minute cook times. Meal plans include many dietary options such as Paelo, diabetes-friendly, or even soy-free. $8.99/serving | sunbasket.com
WORDS CHEYANN NEADES
SUMMER 2021
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FOOD + DRINK
THE BUZZ
FROM AIDING IN DIGESTION TO TREATING ACNE, THESE FIVE UN-BEE-LIEVABLE HONEYS ARE VERSATILITY STRAIGHT FROM THE HIVE.
WORDS ELIZABETH WEYERS PHOTO MICHAEL CUMMINGS DESIGN FATIMA CALDERON
ORANGE BLOSSOM After a long winter, bees always make their way back to collecting orange blossom pollen. The citrus honey has a high glucose content, causing it to crystallize quickly. Even better, its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties can help in treating acne. WHERE TO GET IT CAMPBELLS NUTRITION Des Moines, IA
CLOVER
It’s exactly what it sounds like. The honey is harvested from clover plants, contains antioxidant properties, and is great for lung and heart health. The taste varies based on where you get it, crystallization, and age. WHERE TO GET IT SWEDE POINT CREAMERY Madrid, IA
AVOCADO
Yup, avocados have taken over the honey industry too. Although it comes from the nectar of avocado trees, this honey is rich and creamy with a flavor profile unlike any other. Its high concentration of minerals helps with anemia, and its fibrous nature aids in digestion and is great for the skin. The flavor is perfect in smoothies and dips. WHERE TO GET IT IOWA FOOD COOPERATIVE Des Moines, IA
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FOOD + DRINK
CREAMED
Smooth like whipped butter. Creamed honey is made when a beekeeper uses extreme heat to force the honey to crystalize. The honey thickens when successfully creamed and pairs well with soft brie cheese.
EUCALYPTUS
WHERE TO GET IT PEVERILL’S APIARY Ankeny, Iowa
Eucalyptus honey is a bee favorite. With over 700 different species of the plant, its taste is extremely sweet, and color can vary from a dark brown to a light amber. Strong anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory elements can help heal minor cuts/wounds and ease digestion issues. WHERE TO GET IT BEESPONSIBLE.COM
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FOOD + DRINK
Summer SIPS THESE BOOZY LEMONADES ARE LOADED WITH FRESH SUMMER FLAVORS TO HELP YOU BEAT THE HEAT. WORDS SAVANNA BOUS PHOTO MICHAEL CUMMINGS DESIGN BRYNN YOSHINAGA
STRAWBERRY PINK LEMONADE MIMOSAS Serves 4-6 INGREDIENTS
4-6 strawberries 1 c. pink lemonade ¼ c. strawberry schnapps 2 c. chilled pink champagne
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Add pink lemonade, pink champagne, and strawberry schnapps to a pitcher and stir well. 2. Pour into champagne flutes. 3. Slice strawberry and place on the rim of the flute.
ELDERFLOWER PEAR LEMONADE SPRITZER Serves 4-6 INGREDIENTS
1 pear 1 ½ c. ice 6 sage leaves 3 c. lemonade ½ c. club soda 1 c. Absolut Juice Pear and Elderflower
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Add ice, lemonade, Absolut Juice, club soda, and sage leaves together to a pitcher and stir well. 2. Pour into a glass. 3. Thinly slice pear and garnish glass with two slices.
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FOOD + DRINK
CUCUMBER MELON LEMONADE COCKTAIL Serves 4-6 INGREDIENTS 1 small honeydew melon 1 seedless cucumber 3 cups lemonade 1 cup vodka ¼ cup Midori
INSTRUCTIONS
Melon Ice Cubes 1. Cut honeydew melon in half, remove seeds, and use a melon baller to scoop bite-sized balls. 2. Place melon in the freezer for two hours. Cucumber Melon Lemonade 3. In a pitcher, add lemonade, vodka, and Midori and stir well. 4. Slice seedless cucumber and add to the pitcher. Leave out one cucumber slice for each glass. 5. In a glass, add 3-4 frozen melon balls. 6. Pour lemonade mixture into glass. 7. Place remaining cucumber slices on the rim of each glass for decoration.
LAVENDER HONEY VODKA LEMONADE Serves 4-6 INGREDIENTS
Honey 1 ½ c. ice 1 c. vodka 6 c. lemonade 4-6 sprigs lavender 1/3 c. lavender syrup 2 drops purple food coloring
INSTRUCTIONS
PEACH BOURBON LEMONADE Serves 4-6 INGREDIENTS
2 c. ice ½ c. bourbon 4 c. lemonade 2 ripe peaches ½ c. mint leaves ¼ c. peach schnapps
1. Add lemonade, vodka, lavender syrup, and food coloring to a large pitcher and stir well. 2. Drizzle honey on the inside of a glass. 3. Pour mixture into glass and add 2-3 ice cubes. 4. Top with a sprig of lavender.
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Add ice, lemonade, bourbon, and peach schnapps to a pitcher and stir well. 2. Slice peaches and chop mint leaves and add to the mixture. 3. Stir and pour into glasses.
SUMMER 2021 15
FOOD + DRINK
Feelin’ TOASTY
SAVORY TOASTS
AVOCADO TOAST HAD ITS REIGN. IT’S TIME TO LET SOME NEW TOASTS SHINE. WORDS ELLA FIELD DESIGN + ILLUSTRATION BRYNN YOSHINAGA
SPICY CHEESE + EGG INGREDIENTS 1 green chili 2 large eggs Chili powder 2 green onions Ground pepper 2 slices sourdough 1 tbsp. vegetable oil 1 c. mature cheddar cheese INSTRUCTIONS
CORN + BALSAMIC INGREDIENTS ½ lime 1 c. corn 1 avocado 1 tbsp. olive oil Balsamic vinegar 2 slices sourdough 2 tbsp. feta cheese ¼ c. plain greek yogurt INSTRUCTIONS 1. Toast sourdough until golden. 2. Preheat a skillet and olive oil over medium heat. Add corn to the pan. Fry until lightly charred and remove. 3. Mix avocado, greek yogurt, and lime juice in a bowl. Spread mixture on toast. 4. Add the corn, feta, and pickled onion on top. 5. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar to taste.
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1. Preheat oven to 450°F. 2. Toast sourdough until golden. 3. Grate cheddar cheese and finely chop green chili and green onion. 4. Set aside 1/3 of the cheese, green chili, and green onions. 5. In a small bowl, combine the rest of the cheese, green chili, and onion. Mix until it forms a paste. 6. Spread paste on sourdough toast and place on baking sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown. 7. Fry eggs over medium to medium-high heat until whites are almost cooked completely and yolks are runny. 8. Turn heat to low and add remaining cheese, green chili, and onions on top of the egg. Cook until cheese melts. 9. Remove toast from oven and add egg. 10. Top with chili powder and ground pepper to taste.
FOOD + DRINK
SWEET TOASTS
PEACH SALSA + CREAM CHEESE INGREDIENTS
CARAMELIZED APPLES + CHEESE INGREDIENTS
Honey 1 peach ½ lemon ½ mango Pistachios 2 oz. cream cheese 2 slices brioche bread 1 tsp. chilli powder or Taijín
Honey Walnuts 1 large apple 2 tbsp. butter 3 tbsp. brown sugar 2 slices French bread ¼ c. ricotta, gouda, or other soft cheese
INSTRUCTIONS
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Combine diced peaches, mangoes, and lemon juice to small bowl to create salsa. 2. Over medium-high heat, fry salsa until a sticky syrup forms and fruits start to char. 3. While salsa fries, toast brioche bread until golden. 4. Spread cream cheese over toast and top with the warm salsa. 5. Top with chilli powder or Taijín, honey, and chopped pistachios to taste.
1. Peel apple and thinly slice. 2. In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add brown sugar and apple slices. 3. Coat apples in butter and brown sugar and let sit, stirring occasionally, until apple slices are caramelized. 4. Toast French bread until golden. 5. Spread cheese over toast and drizzle honey on top. 6. Top with caramelized apples and walnuts.
SUMMER 2021
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FOOD + DRINK
BITE-SIZED PICNIC
BREAK OUT THE GINGHAM AND PACK THE COOLER–THESE RECIPES WILL HAVE YOU TASTING WORLD-WIDE FLAVORS.
WORDS JULIA JENNINGS PHOTO MICHAEL CUMMINGS DESIGN FATIMA CALDERON
18 SUMMER 2021
FOOD + DRINK
STIR-FRY SPRING ROLLS 3-4 WRAPS
INGREDIENTS ¼ bell pepper ½ c. white rice 3-4 rice papers ½ tsp. sesame seeds 6 oz. of canned chicken Small bag of snap peas 1 ½ tsp. sesame dressing (per serving) PREP 1. Rinse rice in a strainer with cold water until water rinses out clear. Pour rice and 1 cup water into a medium saucepan and bring to boil. 2. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover for 5 minutes. 3. While rice is cooking, thinly slice bell peppers lengthwise. Drain chicken and place into a medium-sized bowl. Add sesame dressing and mix. 4. Return to rice, turn off heat and let sit for 3 minutes. Fluff with fork and let cool. 5. Add sesame seeds, pour rice into a bowl, and set aside. ASSEMBLY 1. Fill a large, shallow dish with warm water. Dip rice paper, until fully coated. Note: Don’t fully submerge all at once, dip one side into the water, turning it to coat evenly. 2. Place a spoonful of the rice mixture slightly off-center on one side of rice paper. Spread evenly lengthwise, making sure to leave room on the sides. 3. Place chicken mixture on top of rice. Fold rice paper over and roll once. Add sliced bell peppers and snap peas and roll again. Fold in edges, and roll until complete. Repeat for each roll.
SUMMER 2021 19
FOOD + DRINK
SRIRACHA TUNA RICE BALLS 7-8 RICE BALLS INGREDIENTS 3 tbsp. mayo 5 oz. canned tuna 1 tsp. lemon juice 1 sheet sushi nori seaweed 1 tsp. sriracha sauce (or to taste) 1 package of restaurant-style sticky white rice INSTRUCTIONS 1. Place the tuna in a medium-sized bowl and add the mayo, sriracha sauce, lemon juice, and mix. Keep in the fridge until ready to use. 2. Heat up rice according to instructions on the package. 3. Wet your hands and shape 1 tablespoon of rice into a small circle. Press down slightly to make a dent in the center and insert a small spoonful of tuna. 4. Add another tablespoon of rice on top. Roll into a circle until all sides are closed. 5. Cut seaweed into vertical strips and wrap around the rice ball.
20 SUMMER 2021
FOOD + DRINK
THAI CHICKEN SLIDERS 2-3 SLIDERS
INGREDIENTS 2 tbsp. mayo 2-3 slider buns 1 small tomato 1 head of lettuce ¼ tsp. lemon juice 1 tsp. sriracha sauce 5 oz. canned chicken 2 tsp. sweet chili sauce ¼ tsp. garlic cloves, minced 1 stock of spring onions, chopped ¼ tsp. onion powder, coriander, paprika, cayenne, chili pepper flakes, garlic powder INSTRUCTIONS 1. Combine chicken, spices, onions, lemon juice, mayo, and sauces into a medium-sized bowl until chicken is fully coated. 2. Cut lettuce leaves in half. 3. Place a spoonful or two of the chicken mixture onto a slider bun and top with lettuce and tomato slice.
SUMMER 2021
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FOOD + DRINK
SUMMER SWEET DRINK 1 DRINK
INGREDIENTS 1/8 c. sugar 2 lime slices ¼ c. of water ½ c. peach juice 5-6 strawberries, cut in fourths INSTRUCTIONS 1. Microwave water until hot, add sugar, and mix until dissolved. 2. Blend strawberries with sugar water to a puree. 3. Pour peach juice into a cup with a large opening, and place a strainer over the cup. 4. Pour the strawberry puree slowly into strainer. 5. Let drink chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. 6. Squeeze one lime slice into drink and stir. Add ice and garnish cup with the other lime.
CHILI LIME FRUIT KABOBS 6 TOOTHPICK SKEWERS INGREDIENTS 1 mango 8 strawberries Tajín seasoning to taste ½ of a small watermelon INSTRUCTIONS 1. Slice strawberries in half. Cut the watermelon and mango into small cubes. 2. Place all fruit into a small bowl, sprinkle with Tajín seasoning to taste and mix until fruit is evenly coated. 3. Stack strawberry, mango, and watermelon cubes onto a toothpick and until thetoothpick is full. Repeat for each kabob.
22 SUMMER 2021
FOOD + DRINK
CREAMY CUSTARD TARTS 2-3 SLIDERS
INGREDIENTS ¼ c. milk ½ c. sugar 3 egg yolks 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 ½ oz. heavy cream 1-2 sheets puff pastry 2 tsp. orange zest (optional) INSTRUCTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 500ºF. 2. Whisk together egg yolks, sugar, cream, milk, vanilla extract, and orange zest (if using). 3. Take a muffin pan and spray with cooking spray. Use a bowl or circular cookie cutter that is larger in diameter than the muffin tin and cut out six circles from the puff pastry sheet. Press into muffin tin. 4. Pour 1 1/2 tablespoons of the mixture into each muffin tin. 5. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the puff pastry is golden brown, custard is set and darkened in some spots. 6. Let cool and refrigerate.
SUMMER 2021 23
FASHION + BEAUTY
NATURALLY THESE WATERPROOF MAKEUP RECOMMENDATIONS WILL LAST ALL SUMMER LONG. SUPERGOOP! GLOW STICK Let’s add a little bit of spice. Perfect for a beach day, the SPF 50 glow stick not only leaves your skin with a dewy, clean finish but it hydrates and protects as well. NUDESTIX NUDE EYE METALLICS Just a little bit of detail can go a long way. Long-lasting and waterproof, this product is super creamy and radiates a glow with metallic detail and intense bronze colors. URBAN DECAY 24/7 GLIDE-ON EYE PENCIL Waterproof eyeliner seems a little too good to be true. However, with its intense and creamy colors, the 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil will make your eyes pop. Go for looks that are simple or dramatic. THRIVE CAUSEMETICS INFINITY EYEBROW LINER Many eyebrow pencils smudge and move around throughout the day. But this product defines the brows and keeps them in place. Plus, it has shea butter for healthier, fuller brows. PACIFICA BEAUTY AQUARIAN GAZE LONG LASH MASCARA Everyone needs a waterproof mascara, especially during the summer. Coming in dark black and deep blue shades, this mascara attaches to the lashes, keeping your eyes looking bold and curled when out in the sun. WORDS SOPHIA LACY PHOTO CHARLEIGH REINARDY DESIGN AMY FLIEDER
24 SUMMER 2021
FASHION + BEAUTY
MEET FOUR BRANDS THAT ARE PROVIDING BEAUTY OPTIONS FOR ALL RANGES OF SKIN TONES. FENTY BEAUTY Rihanna's Fenty Beauty is known for its broad inclusivity in makeup shades. Their first launch of the Pro Filt'R Soft Matte Longwear Foundation had 40 different nudes, expanded to 50. Fenty Beauty makes it easy with their Shade Finder; a quick six-question quiz that leads you to find your shade in all their complexion products.
Match Super Blendable Makeup, which launched over 15 years ago, was made to match everyone’s skin tone by considering warm, neutral, and cool undertones. On their website, you can find their Face Makeup consultation. In a couple minutes, you’re paired with your drugstore foundation match made in heaven.
MENTED COSMETICS Mented Cosmetics is a Black-owned makeup brand that strives to provide women of color with a variety of beauty options. Their stick foundation, Skin by Mented, is comprised of 16 shades that cater to varying skin tones. Mented Cosmetics offers a 60-second quiz to find your perfect foundation shade. They also show images of their lipsticks on multiple skin tones.
MORPHE Morphe creates quality products that don't break your bank. Their Soft-Focus Foundation comes in 40 shades, and the website makes it easy to find your shade by showing the products on models. And it doesn’t stop there. Morphe has partnered with Make It Black to sell a limited-edition of their Continuous Setting Mist. This product, which benefits a non-profit called Pull Up for Change, fights for economic equity for Black communities everywhere.
L’ORÉAL PARIS Many drugstore makeup brands have been critiqued over the years for their lack of diversity in shade ranges. L’Oréal Paris’ True
WORDS JASMINE INTHABOUNH PHOTO CHARLEIGH REINARDY DESIGN AMY FLIEDER
SUMMER 2021 25
FASHION + BEAUTY
26 SUMMER 2021
FASHION + BEAUTY
MORE THAN Makeup
HOW A STICK OF RED LIPSTICK CAN HOLD INFINITE NARRATIVES. For many women, red lipstick is just red lipstick. Worn occasionally on a special night out or everyday as a bold statement lip. But when did it first find its way into their makeup bags? Red lipstick has been around since the days of Cleopatra. During the years of ancient Greece, however, it was seen as something only to be worn by prostitutes. It didn’t become popular or acceptable to wear again until the women’s suffrage movement in the early 20th century. Red lipstick was part of their show of defiance. White Hollywood stars of the ‘40s and ‘50s made red lipstick classy, but for women of color, red lips continued to hold a promiscuous connotation and were to be avoided, according to The Makeup Museum. Dr. Jasmine Mitchell, associate professor of American Studies and Media Studies at the State University of New York-Old Westbury, says that part of the reason for this contradiction was that throughout history Black women were portrayed as the opposite of white women. "As red lipstick became Vogue or fashionable for white women to wear, at the same time, this dominant viewpoint, of viewing Black women as already immoral, furthered that correlation between makeup and lipstick and Black women as sexually promiscuous and already sexually available,” Dr. Mitchell says. Black women weren't a part of society's idealized version of beauty. And it didn’t help that makeup companies refrained from designing for women of color until the ‘70s. But that narrative is starting to change. In the past, women of color, such as Selena Quintanilla and Celia Cruz, embraced red lipstick as a means of resistance against who has the right to wear it. More recently, role models such as Congresswoman
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and singers Rihanna and Janelle Monae have made the red lip a part of their defining looks. “I wouldn't necessarily say it’s a new move, it’s just that these women are more visible in mainstream media and have also achieved positions of power and high visibility,” Dr. Mitchell says. But Dr. Mitchell also says that the positions of power have changed. In the past, women who wanted to be in places such as AOC’s needed to assimilate into a culture dictated predominately by white men. Careful not to break “the rules” put in place. Feminism has always been about expressing yourself the way you want despite the expectations society creates. Dr. Beth Younger, an associate professor of Women and Gender Studies at Drake University, says that what a lot of feminist culture does is say, “Look, you might think this means this, but we’re going to take it back and make it mean what we want it to mean.” Whether it’s the high heels and skirts debate from second wave feminism or the wearing of red lipstick today, fashion and beauty does not belong to one group of people. It’s okay for things to mean something different to different people. For Dr. Mitchell, wearing red lipstick makes her feel bold, adventurous, and even glamourous. She says that with red lipstick she is “ready to take on anything.” In the end, what really matters is that women support each other, no matter what shade of lip color we choose.
WORDS + PHOTO CASSIDY GRUBISIC DESIGN FATIMA CALDERON
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More than
RE-IMAGINED CORSETS WORN AS EVERYDAY STATEMENT PIECES.
BOUDOIR WORDS KAILI MILLER PHOTO TINA INTARAPANONT DESIGN FATIMA CALDERON
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MAIN EVENT Let the piece run the show. Experiment with corsets and bustiers of non-traditional materials to build a look that tells a story. We styled a corset belt and a corset covered in tulle. ON MILES Top Custom made Pants Dickies Corset belt Hanerdun
ON KAILI Corset Moalluom Pants Express
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BUTTON DOWN Turn heads at your next gathering. Dress to impress and finalize with a complementary corset. ON MARISELA Dress Shein Corset Zhitunemi
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ON WYATT Shirt Bar III Pants Drake Jogger Corset Kranchungel
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STREET CHIC Add another piece to street fashion. Style a corset or bustier as the outermost layer to your favorite sporty sweatshirt or oversized graphic piece for an effortless look.
ON PARFAIT Hoodie Champion Shorts H&M Corset Zhitunemi
ON LIV Dress ASOS Corset Kranchungel Necklace Urban Outfitters
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BLAZER BUSINESS Break the uniformity of your next business fit. Wearing an underbust corset underneath a blazer or suit jacket adds an unexpected surprise. ON NICK Pantsuit JCPenney Corset Kranchungel
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LETS BREAK BEAUTY IDEALS.
t a pool party she attended in third grade, Raeann Langas was told she looked like the Michelin Man. Langas was shattered. “Surely, my nine-year-old body didn't resemble the Michelin Man whose body was made of, well, tires, that created large rolls from head to toe,” Langas says on her personal blog. “From that day forward, I began to believe the hurtful words that were said to me. I would stare at my reflection and ask myself why I was so fat and why I didn't look like the other girls in my class.” This feeling continued and worsened throughout her teenage years. In high school, she recalled purposely “forgetting” her swimsuit if she knew she was going to be around a pool or hot tub out of the fear of someone seeing her in it. “Being skinny won't solve all of your problems. I used to think if I was thin, I would automatically be happier, more successful, fall in love, and my life would be rainbows and unicorns,” Langas says. “I wish my younger self could have realized that I didn't need to lose weight to live a happy and fulfilling life.” Langas is not alone. Every day, millions of Americans struggle to love their bodies. “Nearly two in five Americans experience feeling dissatisfied with how their bodies look whenever they look in the mirror,” according to Ipsos, a global market research firm.
Feelings of dissatisfaction are just the start. These thoughts often lead to negative interactions with social media, body image, and “diet culture.” Dynamic Eating Psychology Coach and Therapeutic Nutrition Counselor Chloe Murdoch knows the consequences of suffering from Orthorexia, Anorexia, Amenorrhea, and exercise addiction for over 11 years. “It took me years and years to slowly realize that what I was doing with food and exercise was not only not normal but not healthy,” Murdoch says. “I would become paralyzed if someone invited me out to pizza or if the gym was closed that day. Paralyzed with fear and anxiety.” THE DEBATABLE DUO The recent rise of ad-based influencers and photoshop have come with risks. We’re reminded of “diet culture” and workout regimens on social media all the time, but what about the millions suffering from their lasting effects? “There has always been pressure to look a certain way in society and it changes over time,” says Lauren Smolar, Senior Director of Programs at the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). “Certainly, social media plays a very large role in sending those messages—in particular since it's often portraying someone's ‘best’ self, and/or an altered self, but there are additional places that also participate in this
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messaging such as magazines, TV shows, fashion, etc.” These unrealistic fads and lifestyle choices take shape in a series of restrictions as young teens diet and drive for thinness. According to NEDA, “Of American, elementary school girls who read magazines, 69% say that the pictures influence their concept of the ideal body shape. 47% say the pictures make them want to lose weight.” Society’s definition of beauty seems to be having a flat stomach, a symmetrical face, and more than 2,000 followers on Instagram. But according to an essay published by National Geographic’s Robin Givhan and Hannah Reyes Morales in 2020, beauty is cultural, personal, and universal. Although various social media platforms, such as Instagram promote idealized versions of appearance, they also create spaces where individuals can discuss and create new ideals, according to Viren Swami, an international expert on attraction and body image. As an author, editor, and professor of social psychology at Anglia Ruskin University in the UK and Perdana University in Malaysia, he has conducted studies with both samples and populations in the United States, Western Europe, the UK, and Southeast Asia. “A lot of people kind of go ‘Oh, well social media is the cause of everything’ and if you ask body image scholars, they will tell you
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that social media plays an important role in promoting unhealthy appearance ideals, but it’s not the only root,” Swami says. A TOXIC CULTURE At 14 years old, Brandis McFarland developed Anorexia. Now, McFarland is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist. “‘Diet culture’ puts an unnecessary amount of pressure on people to look a certain way and eat a certain way,” McFarland says. “It does not take into effect that every individual is different and that roughly 80% of one's physical structure is genetic.” Toxic ideals concerning people’s bodies and lives are prevalent. In response, we’ve experienced a recent rise in body positivity movements. Though well-intentioned, these movements can also be harmful as brands overemphasize the importance of appearances. “When this culture is introduced, we see an increase in eating disorders,” McFarland says. “I believe that this pressure is far more harmful than not and younger people are affected as there is an increase in people in middle age re-developing or even developing eating disorders.” Although the pressure may be considered harmful, it’s often not treated as such. “I can’t think of another psychological issue where we almost just accept it as normal that so many people experience a
negative outcome,” Swami says. “If 90% of the population experienced some kind of depressive symptomatology, we would do something about it.” 52 MINUTES According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), 10,200 deaths each year are the direct result of an eating disorder—that’s one death every 52 minutes. To Smolar, “diet culture” often encourages individuals to refrain from trusting their bodies. “This can often be unhealthy and cause one to not properly nourish their body,” Smolar says. “Beauty ideals will constantly encourage you to improve your image and are likely unattainable. Often unhealthy and unsafe behaviors are encouraged to achieve these ideals.” Unlike other mental illnesses, body image plays a much larger role on a global scale. “‘Diet culture’ becomes so linked with this idea that a woman’s worth is based on her thinness, that a woman is only popular, is only successful, is only happy if she is thin,” Sawmi says. The implications of “diet culture” therefore not only affect how individuals view themselves, but also their worth. “I think ‘diet culture’ in particular has such an insidious effect,” Swami says. “It socializes women, and increasingly men as well, to think that their worth, their value
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‘Diet culture’ puts an unnecessary amount of pressure on people to look a certain way and eat a certain way," - BRANDIS MCFARLAND SUMMER 2021 39
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as a human being, is inherently tied to their appearance and that if they’re unwilling to take steps to improve their appearance that there’s something inherently almost inhumane about them.” As a culture, we often normalize this inhumane practice, and for what? While other culture-bound syndromes are frequently addressed, entire enterprises fuel “diet culture’s” many implications. Swami explains how the advertising industry as a whole is based on the idea that you are simply not good enough. “At a kind of very broad level, I would say not just ‘diet culture,’ but consumer culture, in general, socializes us to think of the body in terms of it being a commodity,” Swami says. “Your body is a commodity that you need to emphasize and improve in every way possible.” This idea of constantly restructuring yourself and your life is ingrained in you from a young age. “There is a lot of pressure to love every part of your body and feel confident all the time, which is just not obtainable,” Langas says. “Confidence ebbs and flows and will constantly evolve because our bodies are continually changing and evolving.” MOVING FORWARD McFarland, now 44 years old, considers
herself to be fully recovered. In addition to being a mother of two, she opened her own practice, McFarland Mental Health Counseling PLLC, in 2018. “My recovery is well. I have a balanced relationship with food and my body,” McFarland says. “A huge motivator for my recovery was wanting to have children and raise them to be healthy and not impacted by the unhealthy culture of diet and appearance.” Murdoch is also now fully recovered. Her motive is similar to McFarland’s. “I think as a society and as communities, we are much better at challenging ridiculous norms of appearance now,” Swami says. “I think there’s lots of encouraging signs that people are having discussions about how we find a better world in terms of our appearance.” As for Langas, after graduating from Drake University in 2015, she went on to pursue a career as a lifestyle blogger, curve model, and body activist. Now, she lives in LA, working with major brands like Nike, Elle Spain, Old Navy, H&M, and Aerie. “I hope that we continue to dismantle the idea that your value has anything to do with your size,” Langas says. “I hope to get to a place where we can disseminate fatphobia and create a more welcoming environment that doesn't glorify being thin.”
From social media to “diet culture” and body image, over the last 10 years, things have changed. “Historically, I think a lot of body image research was focused on working out the negative components like body satisfaction or body dysmorphia, body image concerns,” Swami says. “There’s been a huge shift in how we understand body image and there’s lots more research now on what we call positive body image things like appreciation of the body and functionality appreciation.” Flaunt yourself this summer by embracing your genetics and body for what they are—beautiful. “If you are sick of toxic ‘diet culture’ telling you that you have to weigh a certain amount to be happy and healthy, prove them wrong by living a healthy, happy life in your strong nourished body,” Murdoch says. When life begins, beauty begins.
WORDS ELLA SCHULTE PHOTO CHARLEIGH REINARDY DESIGN AMY FLIEDER + FATIMA CALDERON
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I DECIDED TO FINALLY BEGIN DATING WOMEN FOR ONE MONTH. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.
SEXUALITY MY OWN
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You’re wearing an oversized sweater and have a nose ring. You do not give off straight vibes,” - THE WOMAN ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS WAS DATING. I WISH MY SEXUALITY WAS AS OBVIOUS TO ME AS IT WAS TO OTHERS.
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ccording to a survey done by Gallup, 1 in 6 Gen-Z adults identifies as LGBTQ. The survey was taken in 2020 and captured the older side of Gen-Z, mainly focusing on adults 18 to 25 years old. I can’t lie and say this didn’t make me feel better about my journey. It seems like others are exploring too. I’d been curious about women since I was 13 years old. I was never bold enough to explore women, though. I had boyfriends and a lot of them. But I began to wonder what it was about men that wasn’t enough. Maybe it was because the men I was dating didn’t have vaginas? Eventually, I ended things with my most recent boyfriend. I was honest. He wasn’t a woman and I really wanted to be with one. He admitted he couldn’t be mad at me for that and we went our separate ways. Honestly, I was beginning to question if I was a lesbian or if I was bisexual. I’d had emotionally and physically meaningful relationships with men, but never with a woman. I had nothing to compare them to. How to label myself and my sexuality stressed me out. I was already bi-racial and a woman. Might as well add another way to be oppressed. I picked up my phone and downloaded Tinder, Bumble and threw in Her—the lesbian version of Grindr. I deleted my former accounts and set up new ones. I didn’t want to see former matches or have the algorithm getting in the way. Clean slate. Quickly, I realized I had no idea what I was doing. I felt like a virgin again. So many questions flooded my mind. What photos made me look most attractive to women? How do I talk to women? What was “femme”? Am I femme? Pew Research Center recently conducted a survey, published in April 2020, that showed LGBTQ adults were using dating apps and having more success than straight adults. The survey found that 55% of LGBTQ adults said they have used an online dating site or app at some point. Only 28% of straight adults reported using an online dating app. Then among those LGBTQ adults who are married, living with a partner, or in a committed relationship, 28% say they met their current partner online, but only 11% of partnered straight adults said they’d met through a dating app. There’s hope for me, yet. As I set up my profiles and began swiping, my friends asked me what my type was. I quickly described that I wanted a girl who was slender and possibly taller than me. I’m pretty short so that seemed plausible. I also wanted a traditionally feminine girl with a good sense of style. Then something clicked in my mind. I was describing a frenemy I had in high school. Her name was Maya and
she was perfect in every way. She was half-Asian and wanted to be a journalist like me. I always thought of her as a rival. Now as an adult, I’ve come to realize that the childish feelings of jealousy may have actually been an attraction to someone who society told me was wrong. You’re going to hell and all that. To be honest, I think I was in love with her. This forced me to re-evaluate the other intimate relationships I have had with other female friends. I had a best friend, Lizzy, from middle school through high school. What first looked like a normal female friendship to me quickly revealed itself to be something more. I remember one Valentine’s Day our friend group went to a park with a great sledding hill. While the others were sledding, Lizzy and I went over to the swings. She sat first and welcomed me onto her lap. The idea was to share body heat because midnight in February is cold in Iowa. I climbed on her lap and sat opposite of her, straddling her. We sat face to face for a while before burying our faces in each other’s necks. From then on we cuddled at sleepovers but nothing romantic ever developed from that friendship. At least, not in an obvious way. These moments were from my younger years. Now, three-fourths of the way through my college experience, I found myself experiencing a second adolescence. I knew that all my dating expectations and rules of the past had to go out the window. I had to relearn what I liked and didn’t like. I was convinced I needed a lesbian shaman. You know, someone to give me advice. Share their own journey and be a hype woman. I needed all the confidence I could get. I did find a guide in a woman from my classes. She was open and proud so I sought out advice from her. She reminded me to be patient and remain open-minded. Most importantly, she told me to have fun. So I tried. Within a week of setting up the apps, I matched with two women. I set up two dates in one weekend, one for Friday night and one for Saturday night. The first one was with a woman named Monica. She was 23 with jet black hair and a nose piercing. She was friendly and had more experience with women than me. She’d been dating women for some years now. She asked me to dinner and I said yes. She agreed to pick me up the following Friday at 7 p.m. My immediate giddiness was put off two days before the date. Before even meeting me she texted me saying she “really wanted to kiss me.” This forwardness scared me but I pushed it aside. I’ll ignore a personal red flag for the sake of a new experience. The weekend rolled around and Friday night I danced around my bathroom like I was in a coming of age movie expecting to be picked up by Monica at 7 pm. But at 6 pm I noticed she hadn’t
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opened my snaps from the two previous hours. I texted her half an hour before the date to confirm plans. She didn’t open those either. I had this gut feeling I was about to be stood up. Nevertheless, I put on my make-up and did my hair. Sheepishly walked into the living room and asked my roommate her opinion on my date outfit. I was assured that I looked good so I sat down to wait. She never showed up. Yes, I cried. After googling how long you’re supposed to wait after being stood up, I grabbed my purse and went to my lesbian shaman’s house. We drank wine and I met her dogs. She and her girlfriend told me how they met and their experiences leading up to meeting one another. They shared with me that communication between women was more open and blunt. They also warned me that sometimes female relationships can develop very fast. I guess that explains why Monica told me she wanted to kiss me before even meeting me in person. It also explains the joke my guy friend told me: “What do they say about lesbians?” He asked. “What?” I sighed, expecting something offensive. “They’ll bring a U-haul to the first date,” he said. Haha very funny… The wine, the dogs, and the advice put me at ease. I went to bed excited for the next date I had planned. It was with a woman named Jaimie. Her appearance was striking, with silver hair and a captivating smile. I was the one to reach out to her first but she was the one who asked me out on a date. She lived about forty minutes away and I decided to drive to her for dinner. Saturday evening rolled around. With my confidence still shaken from being stood up the night before, I got in my car and drove to a small Brazilian hole-in-the-wall restaurant. She messaged me and gave me directions to a small lot around the corner. I climbed out of my car and spotted her. It’s difficult not to spot silver hair. She paid for my parking. Together we walked into the restaurant. We sat across from each other and talked for an hour. We really couldn’t shut up. Her laughter filled my ears as we shared a plate of rice, beans, and chorizo. She paid for dinner; I got the tip. The next thing I know, we are two glasses of wine deep and I’m naked in her bed. Yeah, the date went from zero to 100 in a matter of an hour. I was mentally high-fiving myself because this was the first time I had ever had sex with a woman. I was definitely not straight but I also didn’t feel any different. I felt the same as I had after I’ve had sex with men. Satisfied and like I had just had sex.
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Maybe that’s a good sign. Maybe I don’t have a bias towards men or women when it comes to my heart or my sexual pleasure. Coming into the present day, Jaimie and I see one another often. I love kissing her face and her perfect button nose. Looking back, I don’t entirely know why I was so afraid. The unknown can be scary but I’m delighted with the outcome. I have an incredible woman who might become my first girlfriend. I’m less stressed about my sexuality now. Lesbian, straight, bisexual. It doesn’t matter anymore. To me, being loved and touched by a woman feels like being painted in gold. To be loved and touched by a man feels like electricity. Both positive feelings. This entire experience has taught me that my sexuality is a spectrum and I now feel free to love whoever I want to love.
WORDS KIM BATES PHOTO TINA INTARAPANONT DESIGN STEVEN PERALTA CORNEJO
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WE CAN TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IN THE BEDROOM, TOO. This past year has been a reminder of how easily bacteria can spread. You may wash your hands, but albeit there is always lingering bacteria in the places you would least expect. Here are some extra precautions you can take in the bedroom. FINGER CONDOMS The use is simple—much like the common male condom. Place it on the tip of your finger, roll to the base, and smooth it out to release any trapped air bubbles. Options range from disposable or reusable, and latex or silicon, to plain or textured. Grafco Latex Finger Cots ($5, Walmart.com) DENTAL DAMS Protection from oral STIs can now be customizable with the dental dam options coming in different sizes, opacity, scents, and tastes. Trustex Strawberry Dental Dams ($20, Amazon.com)
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HYGIENE WIPES With a vast amount of products on the market, it can be hard to find those that are safe and affordable to assist you in all areas of your sexual endeavors. Use ones that contain aloe vera and are pH balanced, so it's safe to apply to the genitalia. Promescent Before and After Wipes, ($15, Promescent.com) SEX TOY CLEANER Sex toy cleaner provides an experience similar to the wipes, but has a chic, discreet design. The spray should be applied before and after using a sex toy. All you need is a couple of spritzes and a quick wipe down. It can be used right after cleaning if it has alcohol-free and pH balanced components. Lelo Toy Cleaning Spray ($10, Amazon.com)
WORDS CHARLIE ANTHONY ADAME (THEY/THEM) PHOTO AUTUMN PALMER DESIGN FATIMA CALDERON
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pornhub THESE ETHICAL PORN SITES ARE BREAKING THE NORMS IN ALL THE RIGHT WAYS.
Let’s admit it. Porn is a major part of our sex lives, but traditional video porn simply doesn’t do it for everyone. Thankfully, porn is taking on plenty of new mediums, from audio to virtual reality. These four sites are making it their mission to create nontraditional porn that’s catered to a variety of interests. Even better—they’re doing it ethically. BELLESA.CO (“Pay What You Want” $1-$35/Month) The self-proclaimed “Netflix of porn,” Bellesa is a one-stop-shopp for all forms of erotic content. Erotic videos, stories, sex toys, and even articles about sexual health—they have it all. Many of the clips and stories can be viewed for free. Premium porn channels and interactive sex ed content can be accessed with a subscription to Bellesa Plus. SSSH.COM ($99.95/Annually) Founded by female director Angie Rowntree, Sssh.com offers a large library of female-focused, award-winning films. They explore storylines as simple as small-town American romances or as dramatic as vampire thrillers. What’s even better is their VR-compatible content. Enter Sssh.com’s Sims-like virtual world to immerse yourself in all your favorite fantasies. EROTIC REVIEW (Free) The fiction section of this online publication is full of steamy stories perfect for any lover of erotic literature. Their stories allow your imagination to run wild, featuring complex characters and captivating storylines meant to stimulate the body’s most powerful sexual organ: the brain. DIPSEA ($8.99/Month) For those who prefer listening to porn instead of watching it, this female-founded app has over 400 short audio stories available. Stories range from five to 20 minutes in length and feature a wide array of subjects and storylines. Whether you’re into “Chill Stories,” “Queer Stories,” or “Group Stories,” Dipsea’s audios will get you in the mood.
WORDS NATALIE MECHEM PHOTO TINA INTARAPANONT DESIGN FATIMA CALDERON
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BDSM Horoscopes FIND OUT YOUR INNER KINKS THROUGH YOUR SIGN.
WORDS CHARLIE ANTHONY ADAME (THEY/THEM) DESIGN + ILLUSTRATION FATIMA CALDERON
ARIES - PRIMAL HUNTER Passionate, Assertive, and Impressive Aries takes control as if their partner were an empire—always keeping resources coming.
TAURUS - SWITCH Transcendent, Prepared, and Self-Aware Sex is like a puzzle for Taurus, you have to keep flipping the pieces until it's just right.
GEMINI - VOYEUR Observant, Cautious, and Alert Like a chameleon, Gemini will blend in with their surroundings, slowly letting their safeguard down.
CANCER - VANILLA Secure, Grounded, and Traditional Their middle-of-the-road kink interestes make it so they primarily rely on foreplay for excitement.
LEO - BONDAGE/RIGGERS Confident, Proud, and Independent Leo is a preying lioness, and their bondage match takes you for an unexpected ride.
VIRGO - SUBMISSIVE Adaptable, Fluid, and Intellectually Virgos go with the flow. They often prioritize their partner, making them a universally good match.
CAPRICORN - DADDY/MOMMY Practical, Dependable, and Disciplined These personas allow Capricorns to control their sex life through psychological means.
AQUARIUS - EXPERIMENTALIST Mysterious, Misunderstood, and Open-Minded Their ability to act on their feet is proof of how experimental an Aquarius can be.
SCORPIO - EXHIBITIONIST Focused, Ambitious, and Magnetic It’s all about understanding. They often crave reciprocation once they reveal themselves.
PISCES - PRIMAL PREY Problem-Solver, Empathetic, and Generous Pisces present themselves as prey to let their hunter know that they are still in touch with their raw emotions.
SAGITTARIUS - DOMINANT Determined, Optimist, and Honest Their dominance comes from controlling what happens in bed, rather than them taking the lead.
LIBRA - NON-MONOGAMIST Fair, Mediator, and Balanced Libras care about conflict resolution and aren’t selfish in bed. Adding another body isn’t out of the ordinary for them.
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MAKING IT WORDS CAITLIN CLEMENT PHOTO CASSIDY GRUBISIC DESIGN STEVEN PERALTA CORNEJO
MINDFUL
NO NEED TO SIFT THROUGH THE HUNDREDS OF MEDITATION APPS TO FIND THE BEST ONES—WE DID IT FOR YOU. Meditation apps are everywhere, but which ones are worth your time and money? A group of Austrian researchers has come up with a rating system, the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS), to help you figure that out. They grade the apps based on four categories: engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information quality. These winners will help you stay calm in an increasingly wild world. SMILING MIND An Australian-based not-for-profit app for all ages with a focus on introspection and increase inattention. Free on Google Play and Apple App Store. Headspace This app offers a wider variety of curated and individualized content covering guided and subject meditations. Through mindfulness-focused exercises, Headspace aims to reduce its customers’ anxiety and stress. $12.99/month on Google Play and Apple App Store. CALM Calm provides listeners with guided meditations and sleep stories narrated by your choice of celebrity. Harry Styles’s voice can even lull you to sleep. Their YouTube channel gives viewers a free sneak peak at all they can access with a subscription. $69.99/ annually on Google Play and Apple App Store. RELAX MEDITATION Choose from a variety of five-day meditation programs that specialize in self-esteem, relationships, success, and creativity. Each meditation only takes 10 minutes —about the time it takes to make a cup of coffee. $9.99/month on Google Play and Apple App Store.
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DEPARTMENT
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ENTERTAINMENT
LET'S GET
REAL
DISCOVER YOUR NEWEST GUILTY PLEASURE WITH THESE BINGE-WORTHY REALITY SHOWS. WORDS KYLE KEEGAN DESIGN + ILLUSTRATION AMY FLIEDER
START ARE YOU BOOK SMART OR STREET SMART?
BOOK SMART
STREET SMART
ARE YOU A LOVER OR FIGHTER?
FIGHTER
LOVER FEEL GOOD
OR
OR
PERSON?
INSECURE
PUPPY LOVE THE REAL THING?
CHANGE THE ENVIRONMENT
YOU WANT TO FEEL GOOD OR INSECURE AFTER WATCHING?
PUPPY LOVE
REAL THING
LAUGHING WITH THEM OR AT THEM?
ENVIRONMENT
PERSON
WITH THEM
AT THEM
“Alaskan Bush People”
“The Big Day”
“The Carbonaro Effect”
"Alone"
Could you survive in the Alaskan wilderness with just your family? If not, just live vicariously through the Brown family. This show has everything from wild animals, sub zero weather, to a strong family dynamic. Their quirky charm and unconventional lifestyle will get you hooked.
“My Super Sweet 16” goes Bollywood sheek in this deep dive into the Indian wedding lifestyle. Everything about this show screams luxury: fancy clothes, expensive jewelry, and extravagant venues. Follow multiple couples as they navigate their relationship and everything it takes to make it to their wedding day.
Everyone loves a good prank, especially magician Michael Carbonaro. While in a disguise he plays sneaky illusions on innocent bystanders. Carbonaro pops up where you least expect it from grocery stores to barber shops just to mess with onlookers. And you will be confused and intrigued right along with them.
This isn’t like any other survival show. With no camera crew the contestants are completely alone. $500,000 is on the line for the last person standing, but they will have to battle the elements, animals, and their mind to get there. Nature generates all the drama here instead of petty contestants.
54 SUMMER 2021
ENTERTAINMENT
SPOKEN WORD IS MUCH MORE THAN WHAT YOU THINK. Poetry is oftentimes viewed as only words and rhymes on a page. In school, students learn about century old poems that they fail to relate to. Students are then left bored, disinterested, and with a limited view of the art form. This was the case for Nilah Foster until she was introduced to spoken word her first year of high school. Now, four years later, she is the current Chicago Youth Poet Laureate and is publishing her first book. “I didn’t like poetry and there’s a reason I didn’t like it,” she says. “I thought it was always about old white guys talking about the weather. I want to introduce that it’s not like that. You can perform it and get all these emotions out.” Spoken word is designed to be performed. Whether it be at a poetry slam, on the street, at the presidential inauguration, or in the mirror, spoken word is meant to be an experience. According to The Poetry Foundation, spoken word can include rhyme, repetition, and word play. By using these tools artists comment on important issues like social and racial injustice as well as politics. Amanda Gorman, the first National Youth Poet Laureate, took to the stage at the presidential inauguration in January 2021 to share the message of unity and peace. Her speech got people talking. People were not just discussing her or the message, but the power of spoken word. “People are asking for poetry and people
have asked for poetry and will continue to do so,” Foster says. “I just think maybe it being on the Superbowl commercial and the inauguration maybe people will ask more for it and there will be a higher demand.” Spoken word is not a new art from—far from it actually. It took off in the U.S. during the 1960s to aid in the fight for racial injustice, just like today. “Here in Chicago, it’s probably like this everywhere, but the poetry community is very closely knitted with the activist community,” Foster says. “Most of these activists that I’ve seen, I’ve been to their poetry battles and they’ve been to mine.” Foster was an active member of Young Chicago Authors (YCA) and won their poetry slam Louder Than A Bomb, which is the largest youth poetry festival in the world. “If I didn’t start performing or got into YCA I wouldn’t have the community I have, I wouldn’t have the knowledge I have. I would be living a totally different life,” Foster says. Poetry is another outlet for individuals, particularly the youth, to speak out. “It’s a wild feeling when you’re just writing for yourself and people relate to it, people like it,” Foster says.
WORDS ANNIE PETERSON PHOTO TINA INTARAPANONT DESIGN AMY FLIEDER
SUMMER 2021 55
FADE TO BLACK MOVIE THEATERS MAY HAVE HIT A ROUGH SPOT, BUT THEY MAY NOT BE AS DOOMED AS THEY SEEM.
56 SUMMER 2021
ENTERTAINMENT
During the COVID-19 pandemic, streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max have become some of our best friends. However, as they reap the benefits, movie theaters are struggling to stay afloat. This conversation is not a new one. In fact, even before the pandemic began, movie theaters were taking steps to ensure their status in the entertainment industry remained secure. Many corporate theaters began adding more niche amenities, such as food and drink menus, to entice moviegoers. Despite anxiety that movie theaters were on the decline, box office totals stayed relatively stable over the past ten years, according to the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO). Yet, even the most passionate moviegoers abandoned theaters during 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Latest Comscore numbers show a domestic box office total of around $2.25 billion for 2020, down from $11.4 billion in 2019. These numbers are devastating to movie chains such as AMC, which until recently was under threat of bankruptcy. To rub salt in
the wound, Warner Bros. plans to release all their 2021 films in theaters and on HBO Max simultaneously. This controversial move has only elevated concerns about the future of movie theaters. However, independent theaters face their own set of challenges in terms of funding. Without financial support, NATO estimated that 70% of mid-size and small theaters would go bankrupt. Luckily, new legislation included in the stimulus relief bill, known as the Save our Stages Act, allows for small to mid-sized theaters to apply for grants to cover six months of payroll, rent, and more. In regards to competing with streaming, Ben Godar, president of the Des Moines Film Society (DMFS), believes independent theaters have the upper hand. Arthouse and independent films tend to get lost in the streaming algorithms, leaving film buffs to seek them out in local small theaters. “They're going up against new TV programming and old TV programming and reality shows and game shows. And it's just all thrown in people's faces,” Godar says. DMFS is currently fundraising in order to
remodel and reopen the historic Varsity Cinema on University Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa. The new and improved Varsity Cinema would maintain much of its historic charm, while adding a second floor micro cinema which will double their programming and allow space for special events. Independent and non-profit theaters, like Varsity, provide a sense of community not found in larger theaters. “Our model is built around people wanting to come to see these films because they're well curated,” Godar says. “They're films that they know are going to be interesting, that they want to talk about. And they're also going to be experiencing that with people who also value the art of film. It’s really about building that connection.”
WORDS EMMA BRUSTKERN PHOTO CASSIDY GRUBISIC DESIGN BRYNN YOSHINAGA
SUMMER 2021 57
DEPARTMENT
58 SUMMER 2021
DEPARTMENT
SUMMER 2021 59
DEPARTMENT
60 SUMMER 2021