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E X P R E S S M AGA Z I N E
EDITOR’S
note
Expressing myself has always
I am glad I decided to
Everyone interviewed in this
been something I have
change my mind when leaving
issue of Express are inspiring
struggled with, especially in
school and the minute I
and empowering and being
school, I was scared to dress
started being my true self, it
able to speak to them was
the way I really wanted to
was a lot easier to get along
a pleasure. This magazine
because it was just easier
with myself and avoid being
embodies girl power and
to dress the way everyone
miserable. I sometimes think
empowerment, enjoy reading
else did to avoid any form of
the worlds a better and easier
as much as I did curating.
confrontation.
place to live in when everyone around you is positive, confident, and happy.
“I s o m e t i m e s t h i n k
the wo rl d s a b et t er a nd e as i er pl ace t o l ive i n w he n eve r yo ne a ro u nd yo u i s p o s i t ive, co n f i d e nt , a nd h ap py
“
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AB OUT EXPRE S S Express is a magazine
Express is a word of many
that allows people to be
interpretations, it’s a word of
comfortable expressing
communicating, conveying and
themselves when in the
the way you view it is purely
comfort of their hobbies.
down to the way you view
Allowing yourself to open to
yourself and other people.
the world and showing yourself
Do you see the beauty from
is harder than you may think,
the inside or out, or both?
but this magazine will show
Within this magazine you will
examples of people expressing
hopefully be opened up to view
themselves in their own
yourself as worthy and to show
ways, being comfortable and
yourself purely, everyone has
confident. Expressing yourself
their own beautiful ways, and
isn’t about fashion, makeup
everyone deserves to see them.
NOTE TO SELF
YOU ARE enough
and all the exteriors, it’s the interiors that matter too, and I’m glad I got to show to people how important this is. Embrace your self-acceptance, open up, show the world the real you because it’s beautiful.
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EDITO RS P RO FI LE Name: Erin Kilford
How do you express yourself?
What advice would you give
A g e : Tw e n t y - o n e
I like to wear things that
to someone who struggles to
Star sign: Pisces
I’m comfortable wearing,
express themselves?
Hobbies: Dancing, going to
whether it be a tracksuit or a
It’s very simple, do what makes
the gym and serious self-care.
nice outfit, I always prioritise
you happy, wear what makes
Favourite colour: Purple
comfort. In terms of vibrations
you happy and act the way
Pronouns: She/her
(or vibes) I like to be positive
that makes you happy. It’s
and uplifting, it’s important
important that the only opinion
Te l l m e a b o u t y o u r s e l f .
to be supportive to everyone
that matters is your own and
I’m Erin and I would like
around you, it can really help
although it’s easier said than
to say I’m a very creative
people.
done, your biggest supporter
person, I grew up as a dancer,
is yourself, but your biggest
loved art throughout school
Why are you comfortable
criticiser is also yourself,
and then went on to loving
expressing yourself?
learn to be the supporter, for
fashion and photography. I am
I genuinely don’t care what
yourself and others.
currently studying a Fashion
anyone thinks about me. I
Communication degree at
would never look at someone
Northumbria University, and it
based off their personality or
sparked a love for photography
looks and judge, so if I don’t
and content creation within
do that, then I’m fine, anyone
me, which is something I want
who does, that’s their problem
to take within my future. I
and I wish them the best.
thrive in creative spaces with creative people, bouncing ideas off one another is an amazing environment to be in.
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L I LY B I G G S A g e : Tw e n t y - o n e
How long have you been
Star sign: Aquarius
gaming?
Hobby: Gaming
I have been gaming ever since
Favourite colour: Blue
I was a child, it all started
Pronouns: She/her
with my first game boy when I was very young. I was always wanting the newest devices
Te l l m e a b o u t y o u r s e l f .
and would often steal consoles
Somethings about me are that
from my brothers.
I love to dance, and I have been a dancer since the age
Would you say people expect
of two and have always loved
you to be a gamer?
dancing. I am also really into
I don’t think people would
fashion and love being creative
expect it since it’s something
with my clothes and trying new
I tend to do alone and rarely
trends. I have also recently got
speak a lot about.
into acting; this is something I’ve wanted to try for a long while and finally pushed myself out of my comfort zone and started lessons.
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L I LY B I G G S What’s your favourite game,
Does it inspire you in any
tell me why?
way?
My current favourite game
It inspires me to be more
is animal crossing, it’s very
creative. I’m always looking for
therapeutic, I love to play this
new things to do in the games
game to relax and take my
and looking for how I can
mind off things.
advance. This follows through into my everyday life.
Did you grow up with anyone who introduced you
How do you express yourself?
to gaming, how did your
I feel as though I mainly
interest blossom?
express myself through my
I grew up with my brothers
clothes, I love wearing things
being big gamers, I always
that make me feel comfortable
wanted to play with them and
and cool. I love to try new
looked up to them a lot. I was
styles and experiment with
always trying to get involved
the things I wear. I love to
and play the older scarier
accessorise and wear lots
games that they played.
of jewellery, I feel as though that’s where I can be the most creative and eccentric.
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L I LY B I G G S How would you describe your
What advice do you have for
style and how you portray
someone who struggles to
yourself?
express themselves?
I would describe my style as
For someone who struggles to
quite colourful and fun. I love
express themselves, I would
to experiment with new styles
say to not worry about what
and trends. I love wearing
other people think of you, once
colours and being expressive
you get past that point you
through my clothes.
are able to express yourself in the best and most comfortable
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Do you think being a gamer
way. Being able to wear and
allows you to express
dress how you like is such an
yourself?
important and empowering
Being a gamer allows me to
thing. I feel like everyone
have fun and express myself
should be able to feel their
through the games I enjoy and
most confident, and I feel like
be creative while designing
clothes and fashion is such a
things.
fun way to do so.
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A-LIST expresser The A-list expresser shines light on the celebrities that aren’t too afraid to express themselves, that radiate confidence and inspire many to do the same. With many celebrities having a big platform its important they use it to the full advantage and some celebrities inspire many to dress and act the way they want.
SAM SMITH Sam Smith is the perfect
Unapologetically themself and
example of an A-List Expresser,
unafraid to express themself
recently they have taken a step
in every way. Gloria, Smith’s
in their self-expression and
new album explores their
begun their journey as a non-
journey in self-love, which is
binary person, they took this
a main occurring theme within
step as this is how they feel
Express. Smith aligns perfectly
most comfortable expressing
with the values of Express,
themselves. Sam Smith has
they are authentic and they
been a voice for many, helping
illuminate the self-acceptance
them hopefully take the step
and expression that Express
they did. Their fashion is
demonstrates.
eccentric, and their personality is bright and bold, they’re not afraid to speak about things
“Ut hneamp so el ol fg e t i c a l l y
TA K E N F R O M T H E F R O N T C O V E R O F T H E I R A L B U M ‘ G L O R I A ’
a nd u na fr a i d t o ex pres s them s e l f i n e v e r y w ay
“
that are not usually spoken about and its refreshing.
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MILEY CYRUS From a Disney star to a rock
Although Cyrus has went
chick that releases many songs
through many looks and even
that hit the top of the charts,
controversial ones, she still
Miley Cyrus is the queen of
always expresses herself and
self-expression. Over the years
stays true to herself at that
Cyrus’ style and personality
time, authenticity is a part of
has developed and she has
her personality and that is why
slowly morphed into the
she is so admired. Expressing
woman she ought to be. In the
yourself is all about accepting
early years of her career she
who you are at that stage in
played Hannah Montana on
your life and that is something
Disney channel where she was
Cyrus strives in, whether she
embodied a young rock chic,
is swinging on a wrecking
little did she know shed grow
ball or singing about being
up to hold similar values within
independent enough to buy
her look.
herself flowers.
“Aa upt ah re tn toi fc iht ye ri s p ers o na l i t y a nd t h a t i s w hy s h e i s s o ad m i re d
“
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PA I G E H A R W O O D Name: Paige Harwood
When did you start ice
Is there a certain person
A g e : Tw e n t y - o n e
skating and how long have
who inspired you when ice
Star sign: Pisces
you been doing it now?
skating?
Hobby: Figure Skating
I began ice skating when I
When I first started figure
Favourite colour: Light blue
was 12 years old, and I skated
skating, I became obsessed
Pronouns: She/her
competitively until I was 16
with the movie Ice princess,
years old. I then took some
even though it was a totally
time off competing to focus
fictional story I knew that I
on my studies for 6 months.
wanted to be able to skate the
After the 6 months I decided
way that those girls did in the
I was ready to get back into
movie. As I got older, I started
my training, just as I got back
to look at Olympians for my
into my training, I then found
inspirations, one in particular
out I was going in for scoliosis
being Evgenia Medvedeva.
Te l l m e a b o u t y o u r s e l f . I am 21 years old and currently studying in my final year of Fashion Communication at Northumbria University, I live in Whitley Bay with my family and my little shihtzu Bonnie.
surgery so sadly had to make the decision to never compete again. Since my surgery I still enjoy ice skating and watching it, but I am not able to skate the way that I once could.
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PA I G E H A R W O O D Have many challenges come
Do you find ice skating as a
with this hobby?
way of expressing yourself?
My figure skating became
I think at the start Ice skating
more than just a hobby at one
was just a hobby to me, but
point which I think is when the
it quickly became an escape.
c h a l l e n g e s b e g a n . Tr y i n g t o
After I was diagnosed with
balance schoolwork, friends,
scoliosis I heavily got into my
part time work and training all
training as it was a way to not
at once was a struggle. I was
think about surgery, my looks
up at 6am to go to the rink and
or how I was different from
straight to school by 9am at
everyone else.
least 4 times a week, so it was all about time management to
Would you say your
try tackle the challenges.
personality matches well with this hobby?
What type of music do you
I think that my personality is
like ice skating to?
very introverted which fits well
When I skated competitively,
being a solo figure skater. I
I usually skated to one song
was part of a team but skated
each season, my favourite
alone, sometimes it was hard
songs that I skated to were
competing against my own
Beauty and the Beast, the
teammates, but we were all
Titanic and Matilda. All the
happy for each other no matter
songs that I skated to had to
the result.
be instrumental versions, that is why I liked to skate to songs from films or musicals.
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PA I G E H A R W O O D How do you express yourself, in or out of ice skating? Ice skating was a way of expressing myself, especially in competitions, where I was able to put on my dress and skates and just skate to my music. My choreography was always put together by myself and my coach, so I was also able to choose how I wanted to skate.
Describe your skating experience in 3 words. Elegant, Empowering and Competitive.
What advice do you have for someone who struggles to express themselves? One piece of advice that I could give to anyone who struggles to express themselves is that you should stick at everything you try and don’t give up. Expressing yourself is about forgetting about what everyone else thinks and just focusing on your own path and
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JA D E W I L K I N S O N
Name: Jade Wilkinson
Is there a certain artist or
A g e : Tw e n t y - o n e
genre within music that
Star sign: Sagittarius
inspires you?
Hobby: Musical theatre
I sing a lot of musical theatre,
Favourite colour: Red
so I’m always inspired from
Pronouns: Sher/her
shows. One of the first shows which inspired me was
Te l l m e a b o u t y o u r s e l f .
Calamity Jane. I also have a
I’m Jade, I’m 21 and I live in
passion for K-pop music, the
South Shields. I study Music
sounds and beats they create
and Linguistics at University,
always inspire me.
and I sing and dance as well as teaching a range of dance and
Are there many challenges
fitness classes to children and
within the world of music for
adults.
you? There’s a lot of challenge’s
How long have you been
in the music industry, a big
interested in music?
challenge we face is finding a
I’ve been interested from a
unique sound that makes you
very young age as I’ve always
stand out as it takes time to
loved to sing. When I was
experiment and discover this.
younger, I was always excited for music performances and choir clubs and my interest grew from there.
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JA D E W I L K I N S O N What type of music do you
What’s your biggest
specialise in?
achievement in your journey
I specialise in musical theatre,
of music?
so all things singing, dancing,
One of my biggest music
and performing.
achievements would be getting my final singing grade 8 and
Do you think music allows
receiving the highest grade of
you to express yourself?
a distinction.
Music is an excellent way to express yourself, through the
What is your future within
words that you sing and the
music?
emotions you perform with,
I hope to teach music in
it’s so easy to lose yourself in
schools as I have a passion to
music.
teach and to pass on my music knowledge as well as inspiring
How would you describe your
young people to partake in
personality and how do you
music.
think this links to music? I am an emotional, loud, and
What advice do you have for
expressive person so this
someone who struggles to
comes across in performances
express themselves?
and helps me portray
Live in the moment. Don’t think
characters when singing,
about those around you and
especially for musical theatre.
what they think, if you have a passion for something show t h e w o r l d . Ta k e t i m e a l o n e a n d find what makes you happy and once you have that confidence you can express it to the world.
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THE
READER q&a Name:
What are your hobbies/
How would you describe
Age:
interests?
yourself in three words and
Star sign:
why?
Hobbies: Favourite colour: Pronouns: Te l l m e a b o u t y o u r s e l f .
How do you express yourself
What advice would you give
within those certain hobbies?
to someone struggling to express themself?
insert your lovely photo here.
How do you express yourself?
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M A I S I E D AV I E S Name: Maisie Davies
Would you say this certain
A g e : Tw e n t y - o n e
hobby inspires you?
Star sign: Leo
It inspires me! A huge part of
Hobby: Record collecting
my interest in fashion comes
Favourite colour: Sage green
from some of my favourite
Pronouns: She/her
musicians like Elton John and Stevie Nicks.
Te l l m e a b o u t y o u r s e l f . So, I’m Maisie, I’m twenty-
What’s your favourite record?
one and I’m currently studying
That’s such a hard question,
Fashion Communication with a
I have so many favourites. It
deep interest in heritage and
really depends on my mood but
curating.
the first one that comes to my mind is ‘The Kinks - Everybody’s
When did your interest for collecting records start? My record collection probably seriously started around when I
in Show-Biz’, the album meant a lot to me when I first listened to it and I related a lot to the song ‘Sitting In My Hotel Room’.
was 15, It wasn’t too long after I received my record player. I loved delving into the history of a band and collecting limited edition pieces.
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M A I S I E D AV I E S What’s your most memorable
Do you think collecting
What advice do you have for
record?
records allows you to
someone who struggles to
Definitely ‘The Queen Is
express yourself and do you
express themselves?
Dead’ by The Smiths, I bought
relate to any of the albums
No matter how much
it Camden Market, on the
you’ve collected?
someone looks comfortable
weekend of my 16th birthday,
I relate to so many of the
in themselves- they probably
it was my first time ever at the
albums, some I pick up just
a r e n ’ t . Yo u h a v e y o u r e n t i r e
markets.
because I relate to the cover
life to discover who you are
itself. I think music is my
and what way you want to
How do you express yourself?
biggest comfort so I go to
express it, and if it isn’t what
I express myself through so
it as my default method of
everyone else is doing at that
many ways, my choice in
expressing myself, especially
time! That’s okay too. Just do
interior styling to the books I
when I cannot explain it in
whatever feels comfortable
read but my music. Some days
simple words.
and right for you!
I’ll listen to Dusty Springfield and then another day it’ll be
Is there a certain artist that
The Beastie Boys! It alternates
inspires you?
so much.
So many artists inspire me but probably Amy Winehouse, she
How would you describe your
was so unapologetically herself
style and how you portray
all throughout her career and
yourself?
I loved watching her as a child
I take style inspiration from
and still do now.
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A
THANKYOU from us
Express is a safe space for readers and everyone involved. Firstly, I would like to give a thank you to everyone who volunteered to be photographed and interviewed for the first issue of Express, heading into summer many find it hard to express themselves, its pressure to dress and act perfect, and you have all been perfect examples of self-expression and love. Creating this magazine was in hopes to help people, self-love is talked about a lot but self-expression isn’t as touched on, which is a main factor for selflove, so being able to talk about expression and also having people relay their experiences with advice is something I think everyone reading will love! -A thankyou from the Editor-in-chief, Erin Kilford.
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E M B R A C E Y O U R S E L F A C C E P T A N C E