Express magazine

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Express

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2023.

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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.

anywhere - my grandma’s bedroom, the old lady at the end of my street, and runways from the 90’s along with influence from people like Courtney Love, Stevie, and Debbie Harry.

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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