FOCUS Magazine | Issue 1: The Visionary Issue

MMAG AG

THE

ISSUE

CAPTURING CULTURE

JASIAH

WITH

POWERS

OCTOBER 2022

THE

ISSUE

STARRING

JASIAH POWERS JAYDA’S COMICS HONEY’S APPAREL THEFUGAZIARTIST MAC BY MAC WEST MYLES BRANDO KIANNA HARRIS ANIA HOO KALLURE JENALI

DESIGNER + CREATIVE DIRECTOR FESTICIA BOVELL

WRITERS

FESTICIA BOVELL ARIANNA FLEURIOT NYVIA TAYLOR NATHANIEL ISIAH SWANSON

COVER SHOT JODY SANTIAGO

COVER STAR JASIAH POWERS

LLeetteter r from theEDITOR EDITOR

A part of me wants to make this super short and say I’m just a girl who loves designing, writing, and telling underrepresented stories, but there’s so much more you need to know about me and why FOCUS Magazine exists.

I’ve always had a deep love for writing, and as I grew older, the power of media and representation became more apparent. My passion lies in using this love to tell the stories of underrepresented communities, and I’ve always made that my priority. I created FOCUS Magazine to remind us that the inspiring stories we constantly search for are right in front of us. They come from our friends, neighbors, family, and ourselves. There is something special in everyone’s journey that fuels a passion you can’t get from following a celebrity, watching motivational YouTube videos, or whatever “cheat codes” to success we’re told to follow.

This is FOCUS Mag’s debut issue, The Visionary Issue, inspired by my love for the creative community in NYC, specifically Brooklyn. There isn’t a bigger flex than being from New York; we all know our experiences stretch far beyond the city lights. Growing up here has taught us exactly how we should move in the world and allowed us to continue the unstoppable culture you can’t find anywhere else.

The creatives highlighted in this issue are among some of the people I’ve admired because of their work ethic, talent, and dedication to creating something that will continue to build on a legacy. The only word I could think of to describe them is ‘visionary,’ a visionary isn’t just someone who dreams of what could be; they take control to create the world they want. During every single interview, I could feel how much they believed in themselves and their vision; to be honest, this is what kept me going throughout the process of putting this magazine together. I respect you and your craft too much to let your stories slip away. I can only hope I’ve done them justice. Thank you so much for allowing me to learn so much about you.

Make no mistake; Black people have been creating since the beginning of time; before we were even calling ourselves ‘creatives.’ It’s been incredibly inspiring to watch us continue to evolve and create joy in a world where we’re constantly told what we shouldn’t or can’t be. I truly hope The Visionary Issue inspires you to take control of your dreams and realize that you have everything in you to create the world you want. I don’t believe in limits when pursuing what you love. I cannot imagine a world where I wouldn’t be able to do the things I love. That is a privilege within itself. So my message to you is, never stop creating. Your work has real-world implications, and you are a part of history. So, continue to carry the tradition of using your art to stay connected to the things that keep you fulfilled, and most importantly, don’t forget to love on your community.

Festicia Bovell . fes tee . sha | founder + editor-in-chief

Jasiah Powers photographed by Jody Santiago Photographer: Jody Santiago Creative Director: Festicia Bovell Model: Jasiah Powers

an exclusive interview

jasiah with

Photographer, Videographer Artist leading the next generation of creatives in new york city WRITTEN BY: FESTICIA BOVELL

THE

OCTOBER 2022

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@wearefocusmag www.wearefocusmag.com