Issue 37 // Cooper & Gatlin

COV ER FEATURE

COOPER & GATLIN

46

Sister and brother pop duo, Cooper and Gatlin graces the first GCM issue for 2019. Coming Fresh on the scene with their first hit ?Break?, they are surely ready. Break is an upbeat pop break up anthem that speaks on getting back up again despite the way things ended in a previous relationship. They sat down and talked to us about their start, working with family, Cooper being married to Megan Nicole and more.

CONTENTS FEATURES 90 | Parker Polhill 24 | Ricky He 76 | Cristina Rosato 84 | Jayna Sweet 94 | Royse 28 | Faithe Herman LIFESTYLE 80 | Pretty Panties Review 18 | Creative Tips 38 | B.A.S.H Popup Review FASHION 98 | Honestly Margo 104 | Start A Clothing Line 34 | Helena Legend ENTERTAINMENT 21 | Music Playlist 62 | Myiah Lynnae

Publisher Division 34 Studios Editor in Chief Ella Audrey Rae Contributing Photographers Nicole Poulos , Birdie Thompson, Kristine Cofsky ,Kyle Perrin, Seth Kupersmith, Aladdin Ishmael, Corey David Contributing Writers Katie Lundin Team PR - Division 34 Studios Distribution - Issuu Design - In house & Various Social Media Official Website - goldcrownmag.com Facebook - /goldcrwnmag Twitter - @goldcrwnmag Instagram - @goldcrwnmag How To Reach Us EMAIL hello@goldcrownmag.com PHONE NUMBER 757-346-5510 WEBSITE www.goldcrownmag.com © 2019 by Gold Crwn Magazine. All Rights Reserved Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Printed in the United States of America.

ed it o r s n ot es "If you have an idea that you genuinely think is good, don't let some idiot talk you out of it" Stan Lee

The new year is here and I couldn't be more excited! This issue is a tad bit late but it's okay because it is packed with a ton of amazing content like Creative Tips, Music Playlist, and some chats with your favorite people. Sister and Brother pop duo, Cooper and Gatlin, who grace the cover, talk about their start, working with family and the story behind their amazing debut single 'Break'.

El l a A

ud r ey R ae

Editor in Chief @ellaaudreyrae

NINETYFIVELA

CREATIVE TIPS Only express your feelings through art when you are ready to free yourself from the weight of carrying those emotions around. You deserve to be free of hurt. Express Yourself.

Welcome to the first creative tips article of 2019! To start off the year we are going to talk about freeing your pain in your art.

Clear Your Head / Before you start any project especially when it has to do with an event that has to happen that wasn't a joyful one, you need to clear your mind. I've talked a little bit about how I personally clear my head in past articles. I either do it by listening to empowering music, closing my eyes, either laying down or sitting up in a comfortable position. You can also use a meditating app. I highly recommend the 'Calm' app which is available in the iTunes store or Google Play store.

Whatever makes you feel at your most calm.

Disregard Opinions / When doing a project that mentions your hurt or a hard to explain an event, you may upset some people, especially the person that hurt you. You have to disregard that. Art is a form of

expression and there is no limit to how you are supposed to express it. Don't hold back your story because you are afraid of making people upset with your truth. You deserve a way to free yourself.

Execute / It's time to start creating. You already know the topic but how could you execute it into a beautiful masterpiece?

The real answer is, there is no real answer because any way you express your hurt in an art form, it will be beautiful. You can tell it in a visual, a written essay or article, a dance routine to a song that speaks your pain through the lyrics etc. There are so many different ways to express your hurt and free yourself but whatever way you

choose, it will be beautiful.

Got a topic or question you want me to cover in the next issue?

Let me know by sending me messages on any of my social media @ellaaudreyrae or ellaaudreyrae.com

@RICKYHE

RICKY HE Since childhood, Vancouver native Ricky He has dedicated himself to his passion in the performing arts. A self-proclaimed hip-hop junkie and R& B soul lover, Ricky often fuses his love of music and acting. In 2017, he first merged his performing and musical talents in the TV feature CHRISTMAS SOLO. He also has a recuuring role on 'Trial and Error' as well as a role in 'Freaky Friday'.

What drew you to acting as a career? I was never much of a reader but I always loved watching TV and movies. I think what drew me to acting was that I love stories and I love to tell stories. And beyond that, I love telling stories about the human experience. I love that anyone can watch anything and find something relatable to their own experience Ricky?s parents fostered his passion for the performing arts by moving so he could attend the esteemed drama program at Lord Byng Secondary Arts Mini-School.

After an attempt to focus on academics in UBC?s Psychology program, Ricky felt the strong call to return to acting, and so he committed himself fully to his craft instead. On July 19th, 2018, he got the role of Tyler Egret, assistant to the ruthless Carol Anne Keane (Jayma Mays) in the NBC crime documentary spoof "Trial & Error". "[I enjoyed] The writing! Getting to read each episode every week was so entertaining." He spoke on working with the heavy hitters Kristen Chenoweth and Sherri Shepherd who are also apart of the show. They were the sweetest.

Unbelievably and outrageously funny. Most days felt more like a live comedy show that works. What is your favorite type of role to play? I don?t really have a favorite type of role! But I?ve definitely noticed that I gravitate towards characters with unique human experiences.

Disney Channel cast Ricky in the remake of 'Freaky Friday' that debuted on the channel on August 10, 2018. "It was awesome! It was so much fun to be a part of a universal story about family. Everyone in the cast got along and we all became such great friends. I love those peeps." What was your favorite on-set moment that you can share? "Every Friday was Fried Chicken Friday. I love fried chicken so every Friday I got to experience my favorite moment over and over again."

With training in the Meisner technique, Ricky quickly amassed a multitude of credits in television series, including The CW?s "The Flash", Fox?s "Wayward Pines", Freeform?s "Beyond", CBC?s "The Romeo Section", NBC?s "Trial & Error" and SYFY?s "The Magicians". On the big screen, Ricky has been featured in CHRISTMAS SOLO, A GIFT TO REMEMBER, LOOKS LIKE CHRISTMAS, BLURT and THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN. Ricky is wildly creative and constantly honing his limitless musical talent in beat-box, freestyle rap, guitar, ukulele, and piano. During his acting time in Christmas Solo, they allowed him to record his own music. "My parents put me in piano classes at a young age and I actually really hated it as a kid. At some point in high school, I really got into Hip-Hop and started to write rap music. It was bad. But I didn?t stop writing and I started to get better. As I got older, I picked the piano back up and started to make melodies to go with my writing. I always loved R&B so it was kind of a weird, natural progression." Will we ever hear any tracks from you? "I want to put out a mixtape at some point!

We?ll see. Maybe I?ll never feel good enough about to put it out like Dr. Dre with Detox." Who are your top 4 favorite artists? It?s hard to for me to pick four all-time favorite artists. But one that always comes to mind is John Legend. I?ve always been a huge fan of his and seeing his concert was one of the reasons I finally decided to pursue acting and music. That said, as of right now, a couple of artists I?m really into are? Joey Bada$$, SZA, and Daniel Caesar. Frank Ocean, Miguel, and H.E.R. are honorable mentions because I love them all the time. Gah ? it?s too hard. I can?t. Do you have any advice for people wanting to become actors? Trust your instincts and have fun!

WRITTEN BY ELLA AUDREY RAE PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISTINA COFSKY

FA ITHE

HAIR BY Matilde Campos MAKEUP BY Anton Khachaturian

E HERM A N

WRITTEN BY ELLA AUDREY RAE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BIRDIE THOMPSON

Actress, Faithe Herman can currently be seen as fan-favorite Annie Pearson, the youngest daughter of Randall and Beth, on the critically-acclaimed series, This Is Us. She stars alongside an all-star ensemble which includes Emmy award winner Sterling K. Brown, Justin Hartley, Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, and Susan Kelechi Watson to name a few. Faithe?s role as Annie has earned her numerous accolades including a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Other series and ensemble awards include a Critics Choice Award, People's Choice Award, TCA, AFI and a GLAAD Award in addition to Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. With over 53k followers people see what we see in this amazing little girl. We got to chat with the young star about her life.

At the age of five with the help of her mom, Faithe began working in the entertainment industry doing background work. She said"I fell into acting when I actually started doing theatrical auditions & work. My mom thought it would be fun to get into the business of modeling or doing commercials. I was shy in the beginning, however, I ended up becoming more confident and really enjoying myself". In August 2014, Faithe signed with BMG Models & Talent, and started going on numerous auditions. Faithe had her big break when she auditioned for her first pilot, then titled, The Untitled Dan Fogelman Project. After two auditions, Faithe landed the series regular role of Annie Pearson in December 2015. Soon after shooting the pilot in January 2016, The Untitled Dan Fogelman Project, became This Is Us. When asked about her favorite moment from the show, Faithe said"I think my favorite on-screen moment was when I got to hold the real lizard in the Super Bowl episode. I was totally afraid of lizards and quite shocked I actually had to hold one. The wrangler,

my mom & studio teacher helped me. So it was fun to overcome my fear." Faithe has earned many awards and nominations for being a part of This Is Us. When asked what it felt like to accomplish something so amazing at such a young age she said "I am in awe every time I think about it. It?s an amazing experience & I am forever grateful for everyone who has helped me in this process. We just got nominated for a second SAG Award for Best Ensemble in a Drama Series 2018 and it?s an honor that our peers support and love what we do."

She will next be seen in the highly-anticipated film Shazam! alongside Zachary Levi. It is the next installment in the Warner Brother/DC Extended Universe and is set to release on April 5th, 2019. Faithe plays Darla Dudley, one of Billy?s group home pals. "I was extremely excited [when I found out I got the part]. I still can?t believe how I am bringing Darla Dudley to life on the big screen. I can?t wait for the movie to come out. We all had so much fun filming it."

Faithe loves that her character is ?chatty and caring? just like her and she says "Even though Darla is the youngest, she is very protective of them." Faithe says she is a fan of the DC universe projects and Wonder Woman is her favorite of them all. She says it was surreal being on set of Shazam! "I could not believe that I was getting to shoot this awesome movie with a cool bunch of kids. It was cold during filming in Toronto, however, it didn?t matter because I loved going on set every day."

Be sure to watch her in 'This is Us' on NBC now.

You can also catch her in the Eminem produced movie 'Bodied' on YouTube Premium as well as 'Shazam' on April 5th. You can find Faithe on social media via Instagram and Twitter. @faitheherman

HELEN A LEGEN D

Helena Legend is an international DJ/Producer, and the founder and designer of her very own high-end streetwear label: HELENA LEGEND. Handcrafted in Los Angeles, Legend blends the sporty attitude of street with serious glam for a fresh take on luxury streetwear for women and men This UK born, Australian raised designer has been obsessed with street wear since she started her career as a successful DJ. Helena felt inspired to create a line of clothes she could wear while working internationally as a DJ and in her daily life. Although she first established herself as an force in the music industry, her drive to express herself through design allowed her to take her love for music and create garments that's both rock and roll and comfortable yet stylish street wear.

On November 8, 2018, she revealed her long-awaited luxe streetwear collection, during her "Legends In LA" Label Launch Party at the SENE boutique in LA. Actors Jake T. Austin, Ruby Rose and UK musician Aluna Franics form the duo AlunaGeorge are all huge fans of the brand. The launch party was great! A real mix of people from press, stylists, and influencers to my own friends and team that have worked on the label. It was really nice to get everyone together and to showcase the label and to see how far it's come in a short time.

It was a proud moment seeing all the collections displayed around the store. SO much blood, sweat, and tears have gone into my launching my own label so to be able to have a party to show what I have been up to was really special for me.

Where did the idea for this collection come from? I have always loved bold colors and neons I found some fabrics I loved and thought they would be perfect for a design I have had in my mind for a long time. I wanted to create some high waisted pants that looked like you have a jacket around your waist (as I am always doing this with my outfits but it seems crazy to buy a jacket just to tie it around your waist) this is where the idea for the long belt came from. I also wanted the pants to be very flattering, baggy and the kind that you can hide your tummy if you go for pizza before you go out.

The pockets are also the perfect size for an i phone 7 Plus, these are the things I was thinking about during the design. Pants that are super comfy and flattering yet practical for boss ladies on a night out.

The neon swim pieces have been made to wear more like pieces to match back to the pants, especially suited for festivals and the likes, but you can also swim in them of course. Why did you go with the color scheme of this collection? The tie Pants come in red, black and orange, these are some of my favorite colors and the neon swim pieces I was just drawn to the vibrancy of the neons I choose, they are also very flattering with a tan, which is perfect for swim and bodysuits. The collection is all manufactured in LA. "People have said to me many times, why not China it's so much cheaper to produce in China (which is true) but I like to be very involved in everything to do with the production process and fit is very important to me as a designer. Making my clothes in LA, my

turnaround time is so much faster, I can keep an eye on quality control and I can change things very quickly on samples and fit, posting things back and forth to China is too slow for me, I work closely with my pattern maker in LA and my production house to try to get the process as seamless as possible. Don't get me wrong i have still encountered my share of problems which is typical for a new label, but I feel more equipped to deal with them here as opposed to trying to send back a shipment to China."

Why choose streetwear for your collection? My collections are an extension of my brand and my style, my style has always been streetwear, but as a female music artist also, I have struggled to find streetwear brands that are also dressy enough to wear out at night or to my DJ performances, this was the inspiration to me creating my label. Street meets chic is what I am trying to aim for. Streetwear that makes a statement and makes you feel confident, cool and unique. That you also look like you have made an effort rather than looking too casual. How do the streets of LA inspire your style? "I am constantly traveling the world so my style has been inspired by many different cultures and countries, LA though with the weather being so amazing every day, it gives good vibes and there are a lot of trendsetters living here, which is visually inspiring.

The streetwear scene here is strong and I love taking a walk down Fairfax and LA brea and checking out some of the LA street style."

What can we expect in 2019? I have plans to focus on wholesale and getting the brand into actual retail stores, so far everything has been online through my own website, which is fine, but so many people still like to actually feel and try clothes on (including myself!) especially when it's a higher price point, you need to be able to feel the quality especially with new labels, so I will be working on this and trying to find the right retail partners for my brand. Also, I will be working obviously on more collections, I am very keen to expand my men's selections and sizing. There is so much growth still to come and I am learning myself along the way, so it keeps things creatively interesting always!

B.A.S.H POPUP EVENT

The BEAUTY, ART, STYLE AND HOME POPUP experience kicked off in Washington, D.C. on Dec 2, 2018 at Studio 52 for the holidays. The event was free to attend for the public. I was lucky enough to be invited and able to make it to this one. B.A.S.H does popup events four times a year. The popups provide the ultimate small business shopping experience that allows customers to come out to see and buy amazing pieces from the closets of boutique owners, racks of accessories and shoes, tables of home decor plus accents, shelves of beauty products and displays of signature art. It also allows vendors of all sorts to come out and get their products shown to hundreds of people. As I walked in, I automatically felt a sense of empowerment throughout the room.

There were tables everywhere with all types of fashion including international fashion, Vendors paid a higher price for the holiday pop-up more than any of the other three. It was worth it in my opinion.

Aside from the fact that there were over 50 vendors in the room, there was a DJ, style talk and session done by stylist, Stania, who owns Miss Sassy LLC. The beverages and a few snacks were covered by Blue Henry, an all natural ingredient drink crafting company.

Amongst the crow of vendors, I snagged my favorite tables business cards; The Prettiest Pour (Accessories & Gifts) , Apphia Leone (Clothing), Mesh, Modretro Couture, Cloved in Ivy Boutique, Pouder Pose, Adiaha eyo, OM at the Moon, and Stella Moda (Leather Bags & Accessories) among the others.

To learn more about the event for this year, visit www.themonicabyrd.com or follow the creator behind the event, Monica Byrd @themonicabyrd.

WRITTEN BY ELLA AUDREY RAE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ElLLA AUDREY RAE

Nashville natives, Cooper, and Gatlin Green were pretty much destined to create the masterpiece single ' Break' .

Touring with their mom and hanging around their dad?s studio only helped them to develop their talents better.

Flash forward a few years later and the sibling duo has decided to fuse their talents to create an addictive blend of electro-pop and relatable stories. " We grew up in a super-musical family, so that definitely had a big impact on us, but another big thing was growing up in Nashville. We were surrounded by people who were ridiculously talented.

When we started getting into music ourselves, we had all of these friends that we could learn and grow with, which was super awesome." Their mother is none other than Wendi Foy Green, a member of the Christian pop trio ' Sierra?. The group ' Sierra' was active from 1992 until 2002. After the release of five albums, which produced a string of CCM radio hits including seven to

reach No. 1, the group disbanded in 2002. "Getting to travel like that, at such an early age, was so much fun. " Their dad, on the other hand, is a well-known producer and sound engineer named, Brian Green who currently is a 4 time Dove Award nominee and was nominated for a Grammy in 2003. ?As far as dad, we spent a lot of time with him watching him work, and even sang on quite of a few of his projects growing up. Cooper especially learned to love and appreciate the process and details of production from spending time with dad in the studio.? Their first single ' Break' isn' t just an introduction to the group but a full-on inspirational radio-ready pop hit that I just can' t stop playing. They sat down with me to discuss their debut single, being married and how they get over breakups..

WRITTEN BY ELLA A. RAE PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICOLE POULOS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICOLE POULOS

How is it for you guys to work together as brother and sister? ?It?s great! Since we?re siblings we grew up on the same music, and tend to have a lot of similar ideas when we?re writing. Sometimes we?ll even sing the same melody or lyric at the same time in a session. Little ?sibling telepathy? moments like that are always fun.?

After the ages of 6 and 8, they split their time between LA and Nashville for acting until they made the permanent move to LA in 2014. " While we definitely don?t have any country influence in our music, Nashville being such a diverse, talented city definitely influenced a lot of our sound. We had so many friends that were passionate about music growing up, so having them share that with us was super big. LA also connected us to new super talented friends along the way, so it?s probably fair to say that both places have hugely inspired our music. ?

Cooper and Gatlin released their first single ' Break' in September of last year. The music video was released the same day. According to their Genius page the song is an audible embodiment of that gut-wrenching moment when you find out that even though you thought everything was going great, your ex simply decided that they just don?t love you anymore. The song was inspired by an actual relationship that Gatlin was in. ?Break? was inspired by a relationship that I was in that turned out to be pretty crappy. I?m a romantic, hope to fall in love on the first date type of gal, and this relationship seemed to be making that dream come true. Ultimately, this guy started to get pretty shady, and the fairytale took a turn for the worse. I had recently gotten out of a really serious relationship, and at that point knew what I wanted and what I didn?t want out of a relationship. I realized that this guy, even though he was a few years older than me, just did not know what he wanted, and I was not about to be put on his back burner to wait for him to figure it out. I didn?t need or want him to make me feel like I wasn?t good enough or like I was doing something wrong. So I called him out and called it off. I was pretty torn up about it and left pretty confused at how we went from movie magic too, ?meh, it?s not you, it?s me? without a warning. But, as the song says, I wasn?t about to let him see me ?Break?. I wanted to write a song that people could relate to,

because that feeling SUCKS, and I thought maybe we could all get through it together.? The music video, currently sitting at 600k views on YouTube, embodies the song in such a way that it makes the song 10x better. ?It was pretty surreal. We spent so much time writing and prepping, that actually being on set, shooting the video was crazy.

Everything came together perfectly, and we had a blast. We grew up acting, as well as doing music, so we?re pretty comfortable on sets. Once we got on set, we knew we just had to be ourselves and have fun. So other than the usual hair and makeup, and making sure we remembered our song (lol) we didn?t really do anything extra to prepare. " How do you guys deal with heartbreak? ?I?m a wallower. I wrap myself in a fuzzy blanket like a burrito, cuddle with my pets, listen to sad songs, and watch sad movies. Somehow, feeling sad along with other artists or characters in a movie kind of helps me get all of my sad out. Also, spending time with family and friends and also Taco Bell.? says Gatlin. According to Cooper, he stays productive ?I try to keep moving as much as I can. Not necessarily to distract myself, cause I think it?s important to let yourself be sad when something bad happens. But once I?ve had my moment to be sad, it?s time to get up and move on. Even if I don?t feel like doing things, I try to make myself do anything that will take my mind off of whatever happened. Cause after a certain point, thinking about it and being sad doesn?t help anymore. In other words, video games. I play a lot of video games.? Gatlin gives her best advice on dealing with a break up ?This too shall pass.? Even though it feels like you?ll never get out of the funk, you will. If you?re a wallower like me, wallow. Then try to get out and meet new people, or spend time with loved ones. But whatever you do, just know one day, you?ll look back and laugh and talk about how you can?t believe you dated such a douche-magoo. ?

After the release of their single ' Break' , they released a remix and a beautiful acoustic version of the single. The latest single was a Christmas song named " Wonderful Christmas' . " We?ve definitely got a couple more songs in the pipe.

We?re really excited to get those out, and at some point after that, we?d definitely love to put an EP

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICOLE POULOS

out there."

In July of 2018 Cooper married singer and songwriter Megan Nicole. While Megan was in New York City performing a character part in the first feature film for Cooper Green?s production company, she was asked to take part in one final scene. She sat on a bench in Central Park and acted out the scene. On the second take, Cooper appeared and got down on one knee They immediately started planning their wedding. The event was covered by Inside Weddings Magazine.

Megan talked about marrying her favorite person in issue 35 last year. Gatlin tells us his side of the love story. "Megan is amazing. We?ve been married for a year-and-a-half or so. We?ve got two little dogs and our own house, so we?re loving life!

Obviously, music is a big connector for the two of us, so you?ll catch me in a few of her videos. I really love any time Megan and I get to make music together. Once we started dating, I knew pretty quickly that I wanted to marry Megan.

Everything just lined up and made sense. It seemed like every day I was learning something new that I loved about her. At that point, I was just trying to figure out when I could pop the question without sounding completely insane. It ended up working out. :D" When asked what his favorite moment was, it was hard for him to decide but he definitely picked the best one in my opinion. " There are a million to choose from, but I would have to say when I watched Megan walk down the aisle. Everything that we did, all the planning and craziness, led up to that moment. Everything just kind of froze. Also, I was a teary mess."

Gatlin got married a couple months after her brother. "Megan and I got married in July, and then Gatlin and Austin got married in September. I got to be the best man for that wedding, so that was a ton of fun. I tried to pack all of the knowledge I had acquired after being married for a whole month. Basically, it boiled down to @be nice to each other?. Ha" What is your advice to other young people wanting to get married? "Obviously, every situation is different, but one big thing is, as long as you?re both at a place where you can support yourselves, and you could support yourselves as a married

couple...go for it! Being young, in and of itself, doesn?t mean it?s a bad idea to get married. At the same time, it?s always a good idea to talk to and get advice from people around you that you think are in a good marriage. Definitely try to get as much wisdom as you can from those people. At the end of the day, your going to be living life, gaining experience and growing up no matter what, so if you find someone that you can share that with...why not? Life is hard, and having a partner through thick and thin can make a world of difference."

What is your advice for new artists? Just start making stuff and putting it out there! So often, it can seem like you need to wait for the perfect situation, but the ?perfect? situation might not exist. It?s pretty easy to lose grip of the passion or the ?why? behind what you?re doing when you?re chasing after the ?what?, so make time to readjust every once in a while, tune out all the expectations and make sure you still love what you?re creating.

At the end of the day, and as cliche, as it may sound, you?ve got to be true to yourself. If you don?t love what you?re doing, why do it? Make stuff you love.

M IM I

SA BLLA

WRITTEN BY ELLA AUDREY RAE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BIRDIE THOMPSON

Eighteen year old, country island girl turned pop/ trap princess, MiMi has grown up and lived her entire life on the Island of Oahu?s far West Side, Makaha, Hawaii "Growing up in Hawaii is so fun and always warm." She was the newest pop artist from Hawaii to headline the 10th annual critically lauded high school nation tour along with American rapper, Silento (?Watch me?) in Houston, TX last year. Mimi?s new song, ?Miss Me? is currently sat at no. 13 on the Billboard Dance Club song charting list. The sensational pop artist is quickly rising among music lovers with over 600k views to her music video of ?Miss Me?. She ended the year of 2018 headlining at the largest music festival exclusively for teens in 13 different cities at select high schools. She is currently in the studio day and night finishing up her forthcoming album expected spring this year from Empire Records.

How did you fall in love with music? "Growing up listening to my family members sing. Mimi' s latest single ' Lightweight' is a dope hip hop record. Her favorite hip hop artist at the moment is Drake. "I like hip hop music and I want to produce many types of music" Mimi released her first EP' The Life of Mimi' last year. The four-track intro project has features from Nomad and Krayzie Bone. In early April 2018, Mimi flew to LA to record features for her

album and to shoot the music video for her first single off the EP titled, ?Miss Me?, The video came out June 2018. What inspired ' Miss Me' ? " While creating the song I knew my life was gonna change, growing into a different person some people might miss the old me hence ?Miss me? " Your style in that video was amazing, where do you get your style from and what is your favorite place to shop? "I like pieces that pop, I get pieces from many different places and put them together." Mimi had the opportunity to join other stars at the American Music Awards last year. "It?s was a fun experience, meeting other artists and watching them perform."

Mimi' s high school tour ended towards the end of last year. She showcased her talents at over 13 different high schools. "It?s been really fun performing and meeting new people." What is your advice for a new artist? "Keep pushing yourself " Mimi is set to make her Hawaii debut

M Y IA H LY N N A

AE

You ever hear a voice and instantly know that they are going to be something amazing? Meet Singer, Songwriter, and Producer, Myiah Lynnae. A soulful R&B powerhouse who makes audiences stop with her amazing performances and killer runs.

"It's genuinely my passion. I can't go 30 minutes without singing or humming to myself, I'm sure the people closest to me get annoyed with my random singing and constant harmonizing to trap songs lol but I can't help myself, Music is who i am." She came onto the scene in January 2016 with her first single 'Love Like' produced by Desire and XL Eagle. After the release of five more singles, Myiah finally released a six-track EP on August 25th 2016, entitled "Ethereal' that was exclusively released on Soundcloud. According to Myiah, not many people know about it because it was only released on Soundcloud. A year later (June 11th, 2017) she released her debut album 'Back in the Daze' that was released on all platforms. "The overall emotional inspiration behind the project was Love, i was in a very sweet relationship at the time so obviously Romantic love was a theme, but i also included songs about falling out of Love, Love from family & Friends and MOST importantly Self Love. As far as the overall sound of the project that was really inspired by the 80s-90s.. a feel good sound, maybe even a little 70s funk. It was all about me exploring my sound, which is something I'm still doing today and will continue to do for as long as i am a creator. I love to try new things and challenge myself to

o venture in and out of different genres."

The debut album received rave reviews from fans and helped her acquire hundreds of new fans. The album posses the sound of old school rnb with the vocals of jill scout or Erykah badu.

Listening to it, you could also feel the emotion she was trying to protrey in the lyrics of each track.

"The process of writing this album was fairly simple... at the time i was recording every one of my songs out of my bedroom closet (I still do this lol) When I'm in a creative headspace I value nothing more than solitude. I need space for my thoughts to develop into something song worthy so i lock myself away with my recording equipment, a pen & a notebook and i just go at it."

When asked what her favorite song on the project was she couldn't just name one but had to mention two that meant the most." I have 2 songs on there that really did something to me emotionally because I was living in ATL at the time and whenever I would listen to them by myself I would cry, those songs were "Live it Up" and "Follow" I just couldn't stop the tears lol. Even as i was writing both the songs i remember just feeling overwhelmed with emotions. Those are my favorites because they are the most transparent records i have on the project, they express exactly how i was feeling or tell a story of what i wished to feel. "Follow" was a

song that I wrote to my personal happiness, i think a lot of people assume it was a romantic Love song (Some people have even asked me if it was a gospel song lol) But i wrote it to remind myself to always follow Love and happiness no matter where they take me and no matter if things don't go as planned to never stop chasing the ultimate success which, to me, is measured by love and happiness."

In June 2018, she released one of my favorite singles 'Poppin Off '.

The song spoke on woman empowerment but at a higher level. "Poppin' Off AKA my theme song too! Okurrrr! lol, Honestly I just woke up one day and was like "Lemme see something real quick" and i hopped in my closet and recorded it! I was in a place emotionally where I was feeling overlooked and i was sleeping on myself, not putting my best foot forward and I just needed a wake-up call for my damn self!

Sometimes we are our OWN haters, Now... of course i was talkin' a Lil' mess externally but for the most part, it was all about bossin' up my Myself! "Boss'd up on my Fears, Boss Lady of the Year " Instantly became my new mantra lol" The inspiring song was written for " I just wanted Poppin' Off to be a Theme song, especially for my Queens! I want all the listeners to feel proud of where they are in their now season and Flex a little regardless of what's

" Th e t w o t h in g h ave h elped m

t r em en dou sly a people I su r r ou m yself w it h , an lear n in g t h at I set m y ow n t er

an d con dit ion s

gs t h at e m ost

ar e t h e und nd M UST rms

s."

's going Whatever sleep on you get in

on, you still Poppin! you do in life, if people you, let 'em rest while yo' bag!"

The music video for the song was released in July 2018. "The video process was crazy lol the final product came out much better than i could've imagined. I'm extra and want to incorporate a message in everything i do so the ideas i had for the video just weren't coming together the way i intended and i was so nervous to begin the first day of shooting because i basically scrapped every idea i had and i showed up to the shoot with absolutely no clue what to do!!! But in the end, everything came together.. You know how God do lol."

Myiah Lynnae has been in the music game for three plus years and it hasn't been easy but according to her, it's worth it. "My career journey so far has been... interesting.

I've experienced extreme highs & lows, and I've sat through periods where i felt nothing at all. With each new experience and new face I've learned a new lesson and the lessons were not always easy and fun, In fact, most times the lessons were hard to get through and emotionally & mentally draining.. but those parts of the journey are just a testament to how passionate i am, and how deep my love is for what i do. Being a woman in this industry, or any

other for that matter is a job in itself. The two things that have helped me most tremendously are the people I surround myself with and learning that I MUST set my own terms and conditions. Some days i struggle with keeping my spirit full and my mind positive, but my family and friends are my teams, and they build me up with their Love and support. Not a day goes by where they don't let me know that I AM Qualified and Able to accomplish my life's purpose in the way I desire. As a young woman in an industry driven by "masculine" energy it is easy to say that you are expected to follow the unspoken guidelines set in place for women in order to be successful, this guideline suggests the idea that a woman should overly sexualize herself, and do as she is told... I do not work well under those conditions that is why i set my own.

She now resides in VA. I asked her about her thoughts on the Virginia music scene. "Name a time when VA hasn't been SATURATED with talent! The music scene is poppin' out here when you look in the right places! honestly, anything dealing with the arts 757 got it on lock. I think a lot of us -Myself included at a point- just get lost in the everyday life and tempo of VA and think that it isn't possible, but if you want it bad enough you can easily find the pockets of people and places that are serious about supporting local artist that will

ll push and support you till you ain't just "Local" anymore lol" According to Myiah the Virginia music scene just needs a little bit more belief that it is possible to sore. "Just cause we're from here, doesn't mean we gotta stay here forever but there is nothing wrong with growing here! It all starts in your city with your people! I've heard a lot of people say "VA isn't supportive enough" But if I'm being completely honest with all Love intended IF you are DOPE the people WILL support. Grind and work until you perfect your craft, put out quality content and the support is waiting for you! We're all just reflections of one another if you believe people won't support you then the people you encounter are just gonna reflect your beliefs and show you no real support."

Her latest single "Like You Do' was released in 2018 on all streaming platforms. We will be getting another album soon she said. "I'm looking to put it out in the fall I'm thinking September but don't quote me lol! I'll be having an album release party as well, i wanna include some local performers and some dope Vendors and creators i know from High School and Social media and just come together to bring the city out, So when it's time to party all my people at Gold Crwn be expecting an invite!"

Myiah Lynnae was able to be apart of 10+ live shows last year where she presented show-stopping

performances "I would absolutely love to go on tour! That would be a major dream come true, once this new album drops I'll definitely be putting that in motion! I know I've got some Love in DC, NJ, and Washington State that i need to go pick up as soon as possible lol" Going to a live show will definitely remind you of a time you attended a Jill Scott or Erykah Badu show.

"Being told that i have a Neo-soul kind of voice is one of the most beautiful compliments anyone could ever say to me lol, I love Neo-soul! It is the glue to all the music i make! I have a hard time picking just one favorite, But definitely the Queens Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, and Miss Lauryn Hill, they are my top favorite women in music, then Beyonce, even tho she isn't Neo-soul she always has to be mentioned lol" To end the interview, I asked her if she could give advice to the up and coming artist here in VA and all over.

"My only advice to other artists is the same advice i give myself.

Believe in yourself enough to put yourself out there, wherever "there" is, even if it's just an open mic or a parking garage lol create space for opportunities to flow into your life.

Speak Life into yourself and your art and it will grow right along with you!"

You can find her projects on soundcloud.com/myiahlynnae as well as other streaming platforms.

You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter @myiahlynnae.

Cr ist in a Ro sat o

WRITTEN BY ELLA AUDREY RAE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALADDIN ISHMAEL

What made you want to become an actress?

When I was little I wanted to be so many things, from an astronaut to a race car driver, Tina Turner/Madonna to an archaeologist.

Then one day I was watching Indiana Jones, and it dawned on me that Harrison Ford had a job wherein he could be many different things! I was sold. Getting to explore so many fields was what originally drew me to it. You went to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in LA. Why was getting an education in the arts important to you as an actress?

Before the Academy, I was studying acting with my late teacher and mentor Jaqueline McClintock in Montreal. She was the one who really ignited the fire in me to delve deeper. It was after a lengthy conversation with my cousin Bruno that I realized I wanted to "put all my eggs in one basket" as they say...

You speak four languages. How has that helped you in your acting career? Languages are a true passion of mine. I have been fortunate to work in all four languages. What I find most interesting is how every language brings up different feelings. It can be a challenge sometimes to go back and forth, but I love it! How is filming a French film vs an American Film? Are there any aspects that you love or are dramatically different? They really are so different. There as aspects that I love about both. French films have a different atmosphere on set. I think the smaller budgets of French films (compared to big American shows) creates a stronger sense of everyone collaborating and working together.

On American sets, I get the opportunity to work with incredible filmmakers who I've long admired. The bigger budgets of American films, of course, come with their own perks.

What has been your favorite on-set moment from the projects you've done? Hmm. I think the day I spent hugging Javier Bardem on the set of Mother! is definitely up there. You were a voice over in a couple of extremely popular games. How did you get into voice acting? I auditioned for a part that needed a native Italian speaker, and I booked it! It is a tough industry to break into, but once you are in it's like a family. How was it to see the final product from the voice acting? I think this one blows my mind the most. The technology and CGI have come so far! It is insane to think that what I'm recording in a weird scuba suit full of little tracking balls and a helmet? in what is basically a warehouse? can translate into these incredibly realistic scenes in

amazingly detailed exotic locations! Do you ever play the games you voice acted in? I can't play anything past Super Nintendo... but I am very very good at Super Mario 3. What is your advice for people trying to break into voice acting? I would tell them to have fun and play with voices and characters. That is something I've always done since I was little.

The more range you have in your voice, the more you can really dive into different characters.

You were in Bad Santa 2 with Billy Bob Thornton. How was it meeting him and what did you take away from working with him?

Would you believe I didn't get to meet him!?

Our days on set did not overlap! I did hear from many people that he was so much fun to work with. Your latest movie 'Little Italy' is amazing. How did that project come about?

Oh, thank you! This one happened over many months of back and forth. It started with a self-taped audition, and there was interest. I eventually went in for a callback with one of the producers and the director, Donald Petrie.

As I was driving back from the audition I got the call that I booked it! What was your favorite part of the movie? Probably all the actual pizza eating we got to do on set. Do you have anything in common with your character? Gina and I are both Italian, and we both tell our friends advice that they may not always want to hear. ;) What is your favorite type of role to play? I mean, I would love to do an Italian movie like the old Sophia Loren ones. Her role in La Ciociorra is so incredible! But I would also love to play a role like Amy Landecker's in Transparent. Something that is sort of comedy but also dealing with real-life issues and feelings. Who is your dream co-star?

Tom Hanks. What is your advice for new actresses? Study, read plays, get into classes. Fall in love with the work because that is what keeps you sane. Any upcoming projects we should look out for? Yes! I just finished some exciting projects, just shot the pilot for the Party Of Five reboot, so fingers crossed we get a pick-up! I also just finished a French film called Mafia Inc. (it's actually a tri-lingual film!) as well as an episode of the upcoming action-packed drama Blood & Treasure for CBS. Lots of fun things coming in 2019!

PRETTY PANTIES EVENT REVIEW I've never been to a lot of Woman Empowerment events here in Norfolk, VA but scrolling down my Instagram, this one caught my eye. ?Pretty Panties?, a women empowerment event that placed a panel of empowering successful women at the front of the room and allowed people to asked questions and start needed discussions. The event was created by Simone Walker who is the CEO of VYBZ by Simone.

She spoke on her own troubles and how she is continuing to come out on top despite the hardships. The other women on the panel included; Khiara "Khilo" Johnson: Owner of Khilogram Productions, Perla Woods: Owner of AlliArt, Arlandra Towe: Model, Actress, Marketer and Blaque Watson Owner of GlamStop, and Wigtician. They also had two

special guest speakers; Kween Robinson: Business Owner, Designer, and Curator and Mahogany Jeffers. Aside from the panel and discussions they also had women vendors who were allowed to showcase their products to the attendees towards the end of the event.

My favorite vendor was artist @artbyjasmyne who had an array of amazing vibrant paintings at her station.

The event started with an open floor discussion to touch basis on and discuss the panelist personal testimonies and experiences while working to secure and master their self-identity and businesses as learning self-made entrepreneurs.

During the event, different topics flashed across the screen behind the panelist that really allowed the

audience to go in depth about their own stories as well helping the men in the audience to really understand their point of view. They panelist also spoke on the importance of becoming one with yourself during womanhood and being bonded by healthy relationships. The goal of the event was to connect as a whole and for the panelist and vendors to be a guide to other aspiring entrepreneurs by sharing tools that one may need to move on into the next phase of their own entrepreneurship journey. The event definitely ended with me feeling more empowered and educated. I hope to see another one this year. You can follow Simone on social media @Vybzbysimone

WRITTEN BY ELLA AUDREY RAE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELLA RAE

JAYN A

A SW EET

WRITTEN BY ELLA AUDREY RAE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Kyle Perrin

Growing up in Phoenix, Arizona at a very early age she would play theatre games with her father to learn how to speak. After impressing him with her natural talent, he mentioned she had a knack to be an actress. "I knew quite early that acting was my favorite thing. I made that known, and lucked out with supportive parents who urged me to ?go for it.? I grew up performing in community theatre and discovered film/TV acting when I was a teenager. I just never stopped. Acting is just in my bones. It?s always spoken to something deep inside me and I love pursuing the art of it." On Aug 2018, Rachel Stern debuted the Facebook teen soap drama 'Turnt'. Jayna plays the role of Natalie. "I did a self-tape (filmed my audition at home), was called back the next day, went to a chemistry read (where I auditioned with Chase Edmondson, who ended up being cast as my character?s best friend Rocco), and got the call the next day, a Thursday, that I booked it. That Friday we had a table read and then Saturday morning I was on set ? and filmed for the next four months. It was certainly a wild ride!"

Her character on Turnt, ?Natalie?, is an awkward loner sophomore high schooler who doesn?t quite know who she is yet. She?s observant and has a big heart, even if it?s a bit misguided. She doesn?t give herself enough credit for the amazing person she is and could be. "Playing Natalie is very cathartic. Her struggle is somewhat parallel to things I?ve dealt with in my life, so going through it all as Natalie helps me work through some of my own ?stuff? in a weird way. It?s also just crazy and fun! She goes on such a crazy rollercoaster of a journey throughout the season that I got to live out a lot of different lives and possibilities." What is your advice to high school students that may be awkward loners like your character? The biggest struggle when you view yourself as a ?loner? is that you think you?re the only one. You feel alone. So, I urge anyone who feels like that to look around and recognize that they?re not alone. High school is tough, and it?s hard to feel like you have to fit in.

It?s much easier said than done, but my biggest piece of advice is to let go of the myth that you?re not good enough or need to change in order to be ?perfect.? Everyone is in the same boat ? and there?s no such thing as perfect. Own who you are and you?ll (eventually) find the people who love you for that.

What has been your favorite on-set moment? "We have an amazingly fun cast and crew, so it?s hard to pick just one moment! Chase Edmondson (who play Rocco), Reece Ryan (who plays my brother Ben), and I often played board games and did yoga together in our downtime, which was always fun. We built a lifelong friendship on that set! I also always had fun exploring our locations. The places we filmed always had cool backyards, and I found a ?secret garden? on the property of the high school where we spent a lot of time. One day I just hula-hooped in that garden for a while like a weirdo ? and loved it. "What was your favorite part of season 1 and why? "Everything after

Natalie dyed her hair to look more like Kat and dove a little deeper into her obsession was really fun. She was at her most unhealthy, but as an actor, it was so fun to play an unhinged girl who?s somewhat of a danger. Collaborating with our director, Will Slocombe, to really highlight her more manic moments was such a blast." What kind of characters do you hope to play in the future? "I love roles like Natalie and would love to explore more characters like her. The seemingly ?good girl? who?s got a dark side is really fascinating and fun. I?d also love to be in something musical, and I hope to God I get to play a spy one day! " Jayna is also into music. Her current project 'First Love' is out everywhere music is streamed. "I?m hoping to do more with my music in the future. I?m always writing and creating, so there will be no shortage of material." Who is your favorite to listen to at the moment? I?ve been super, super into Lennon Stella lately. She?s got my favorite voice on the planet and her new music is so cool. What kind of music can fans expect? I tend to describe my music as folk-pop, but I?ve also been dabbling in writing electronic music lately, so we?ll see where that takes us!

What is your advice for newcomers to the acting world?

The biggest lesson I?ve learned is this: Acting can (and probably should) be your favorite thing, but it can?t be your only thing. You?ll go insane if it?s your only thing ? until it becomes sustainable and consistent enough for that to make sense. When you?re still trying to find your way in it, making every audition too precious or every day soaked in longing is not healthy and ends up working against you. I struggled with that for so long and only recently really owned that it is, in fact, my favorite thing, but it?s not the only thing in life I love. You have to have a life outside of acting. I am writing, hanging out with dogs, swimming, spending time with family, reading, learning, going to Six Flags, doing yoga, having picnics? Doing all these other things I love, helps me enjoy the acting opportunities I get even more than I did before. When it?s the only thing you?re putting your worth or identity in, every audition or job has all this extra pressure that really hinders the creative process. Loving life outside of acting allows for much more freedom ? and therefore better performances and more enjoyment doing the thing you love so much!

You support the Human Rights Campaign, ASPCA, and World Wildlife Fund. Why do these three mean so much to you and how can people help? From an early age, my parents instilled in me the importance of giving back and using whatever privilege I have to help others. I am passionate about equality for all, as well as animal rights, so I chose to support these charities that work hard toward those goals. I?m also starting to volunteer at a local animal shelter soon and want to get involved in rescue missions in human trafficking. We can always do better, but even just giving a little financially to causes you care about, is a great way to work toward building a better future.

PA

Born in Atlanta, GA, Parker's uncle saw a superstar in him a very young age. After attending college in Greenville, SC as a football athlete, he decided to put music in the front. "My uncle Ash introduced me to creating/writing music when I was 8 or 9. I always had fun with it! I decided to pursue music as a career when I turned 19. It all started when I was a little kid with my uncle." Parker would record cover songs in his uncle's home recording studio and release them on Soundcloud. "My music has an urban element to it that came from Atlanta music scene. A few songs with heavy 808s & sounds like that." What has been your favorite song to cover so far? "That?s a tough one I?d probably say ?Ride? though. I love what I did with my falsetto in that one."

Parker then moved to Music City (Nashville, TN) and studied audio engineering for nearly a year at the popular studio utilized by major-label and independent artists such as Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, and Reliant K known as Dark Horse Recording Studios." It taught me a lot. It?s where I first learned how to produce & mix and everything. I'm getting a lot better at it!" Shortly soon after, he organically received an overwhelming international response, which leads to over 10 million YouTube views and a headlining tour in 2018. "My first tour was amazing. Everything I thought it would be but I?m looking forward to future tours when the crowds start getting a little bigger."

A RK ER POHILL

What was your favorite moment on tour? "My favorite moment was when I was singing a cover of Mario?s ?Let Me Love You? in Sacramento & the crowd sang it with me. It?s obviously a cover but it made me excited for the day a crowd will be singing something I created back to me!"

What is your advice for a new artist? "Fall in love with the process. The journey to success is what you?re going to talk about the rest of your life once you make it.

Don?t try to rush through the come up." The rising R&B singer now splits his time between Phoenix and Los Angeles, after moving from Atlanta earlier this year. He's currently working on a project that will be out this year. As far as a full album project, it should be out this year or 2020 he said. Parker's latest RnB hit single 'No Talk Tonight' is out now. With a voice and look like his, there is no stopping him from reaching the top. You can also follow him on social media @parkerpohili WRITTEN BY ELLA AUDREY RAE PHOTOGRAPHY BY SETH KRUPERSMITH

ROYSE WRITTEN BY ELLA AUDREY RAE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROYSE

Growing up in both Texas and Georgia, ROYSE's upbringing launched her into the entertainment career at a young age, taking acting classes at the age of 10. Having always loved singing in church and writing songs as a child, ROYSE was introduced to her first singing coach at the age of 15 and immediately fell in love with all aspects of the music industry. She began yearning to dive deeper into the music process including producing her own songs and traveling around the world to work with other like-minded songwriters and music producers. "I?ve had a love for the arts since I was little. Something about being creative and transforming into someone else in a way has always been intriguing. Honestly, I think music chose me. It?s something I could just never say no too. It?s the way I express myself and truly feel the most like me." Do you remember the first song you wrote? "I had so many songs when I was little where they weren't at a status to have a title yet, but the first one I can remember was called, This Life's Yours or It?s Your Life, and it was about making life your own. It was cute and cheesy." You also produce some music. How important is it to know how to produce and songwriter as an artist? "I think it's extremely important to know skills behind just the mic. I personally love all aspects of music, and I think it helps me to be adaptable and know the ends and outs."

ROYSE is now ready to reveal her personal story that has led to her one-of-a-kind music.

Her exploration through the darkness results in beautiful melodies meant to empower those who need a hopeful message. Her openness in being vulnerable and honest in refreshing in this current landscape and anyone in need of a friend is an instant fan upon listening to this soulful beauty. On July 13th, 2018, she released her first single 'Intention'. On Aug 20th she released the Intention music video and it was absolutely amazing. The video currently has 30k+ views on YouTube. ?Intention? came from the fact that I have a hard time letting people in and letting people love me. It's something I have gotten better at, but it's scary to let people in and to be vulnerable with people.

Your bio talks about overcoming sexual assault and attempted suicide. Could you tell our readers a little bit about what got you to the place? "I've struggled with depression and

anxiety for the majority of my life as well as severe body image issues. Self-hatred is a really scary thing. There was a point when I felt like giving up and thought that ending my life was the only way out of my head. I was raped when I was 17 and to this day, it is something I wake up and remember. It put me in a dark place and by no means, am I perfect, but I have learned and am still learning how to deal with it. If anything, I just want to be as open as I can in hopes of helping at least one person walking through the same situation. I want to say that even when the pain feels crippling, you can survive and you will survive." What helped you get over that hurdle? "Definitely my relationship with God. Without my church and the people in my life, I don't think I would have gotten through. Jesus has totally been my rock and my healer. His love is like nothing of this world." What is your advice to fans who are dealing with those same things? "Reach out and ask, don't be scared to ask for help. You are not alone, and you will get through. Also, I really believe in the power of prayer. Reach out to God, and he will hear you and answer."

Her latest single 'Madness' was released on November 9th, 2018. ?Produced by legendary guitar player and artist, Adrian Gurvitz, her upcoming single tells the story and spreads the message of sticking by someone through thick and thin. "Well the song ?Madness? is a lot of things, the madness sometimes between people, from the madness that?s in this world, but the one I?m talking about is getting through the madness with somebody, and being there for each other. I?m just trying to make a difference in this world and help everyone who wants get out of the ?Madness.? You released a clip of you singing it for the first time. How was that experience? "That was unreal. I love performing live, there just isn't a feeling quite like it. Getting to share your heart with people is so amazing and I love it." When can we expect in 2019? "This year, I am so excited, for I will be releasing a music video for ?Madness? as well as new music! I can't wait for 2019, it?s gonna be a great year!"

ROYSE's feel-good music is meant to be an escape for anyone who needs it for any reason. Music has always been a form of therapy for ROYSE, and she intends for her music to do the same.

HON ESTLY

Y M A RGO WRITTEN BY ELLA AUDREY RAE PHOTOGRAPHY BY COREY DAVID

Created with a purpose to inspire young girls and women, and make them feel beautiful at the same time, Margo Gianos and her mom, Irene, have been an unstoppable force, working side-by-side for the last five years, growing their beauty brand. They wanted to also make products with good-for-you ingredients that are paraben-free. Many of the products are comprised of four ingredients or less, which emphasizes the "good for you" aspect of the beauty line. " We chose the name Honestly Margo because our products represent good, wholesome goodness that began with me, Margo, creating our first product. Our products are from us to you and are honestly pure with a pure story.

At the age of 12 years old, Margo created her first product in their home's kitchen. Irene saw an opportunity to encourage, support and guide the drive she saw in young Margo. It was something that Margo created after many attempts and tweaks to come up with the right formula.

She loved beauty products, this was something she was interested in using herself, and she knew her friends would love them equally as much. What made you fall in love with creating beauty products Margo? I created Honestly Margo because I love bath and beauty products, and I wanted to create fun, fresh and unique beauty products for Millennials. With each season, and with each new line we've launched, it's been exciting to see others fall in love with our products. Knowing people love what we come out with feels so rewarding!

As a mom what age and moment did you realize your daughter's passion? I saw Margo always coming up with ideas to make money, and she had a knack for business from a young age. After many attempts at creating something, and me telling her to "just be a kid," she began making her lip balms. When she began selling them to her friends, and couldn't make them fast enough to keep up with the demand, I knew this was something I could help her turn into a real business. Why is Honestly Margo different from other brands? Honestly Margo?s story sets it apart from other bath and beauty brands because we make it a mission to create and sell products that are fresh, fun and unique while inspiring and spreading empowerment to other women.

What is your advice to new young entrepreneurs? My advice is to believe in your product and what you want to do because if you don?t believe in what you?re doing, no one else will either. Always work hard, and always look for new people to make connections with along the way.

What can we expect in 2019? We?re constantly coming out with fresh, new products, and we are SO excited to be launching more next year while we expand. Stay tuned to see what?s new! :) You can pick up their amazing products at any Riley Rose store and online. There newest product Roller Girls Roll On lip gloss is to die for! It leaves a beautiful crystal clear finish, and shows off the natural tint of the lips with a bit of pop!

HOW T O ST A RT A C LOT HIN G LIN E.

Develop Clothing Identity

Your Brand

Before you sketch your first rendering, you must first develop your brand identity Ask yourself these important questions: What identity do I want my clothing brand to project?

Who will want to wear my clothes? What can customers get Ka t ie Lu n d in from my clothing She helps brand that they can?t entrepreneurs, small get anywhere else? businesses and What makes my clothing unique? Is it agencies with high-end? What is the most important branding, design, and part of my customer?s experience? Your naming, and regularly future branding decisions should writes about expand on these ideas. Your business entrepreneurship, name , your logo design , your website small business and design should all grow from the design on concepts you laid out here. For more on crowdspring, building a strong brand identity, take a award-winning small look at 2019 logo design trends . business blog .

Fill in the Business Blanks First, you will need to choose the legal structure for your new business. Next, you?ll need to file the necessary paperwork. The U.S. Small Business Administration website has the info you need to find out what sort of license or permit you?ll need to start a business in your state. Next, consider creating a

business plan . Your plan should include (at minimum) a statement about your clothing brand, a general description of your products and a strategy for how you plan to sell them.

The Small Business Administration has a complete guide to writing a business plan .

Crunch the Numbers Start with your start-up costs. For a clothing line, these costs will include: your brand design (logo, business cards, and website), any license or permit fees, deposits and rent for a physical work location if you plan to lease your own workspace, basic infrastructural costs like phone and internet service, invoicing software, etc , marketing and advertising costs, sewing or design tools (sewing machines, scissors, rulers. fabric printing accessories, etc) ,materials for your first collection (fabrics, notions, and embellishment decor), hourly wages to cover your design and construction time. If you plan to hire employees, you?ll want to budget their wages into your start-up calculations as well. Traditionally, new startups had large legal expenses, but fortunately, this area has experienced a lot of innovation. If you need help with employment or contractor agreements or agreements with your vendors, take a look at Quickly Legal, which offers entrepreneurs, small businesses and startups an easy and inexpensive way

or ?CPU.? The CPU is only a starting point. It?s important to bake the cost of running your business, (and some profit!) into your clothing prices as well.

Otherwise, it will be difficult to sustain your business over time. Also consider competitor pricing and perceived value. If you?re completely unaware of what your competitors charge, you may miss the mark entirely ? either costing you profit if you charge too little or sales if you charge too much.Perceived value is the amount that a customer thinks a product is worth. And, your competitor?s prices are a part of that perception .

Plan Your First Collection Is your clothing line a sportswear brand? Or will you be offering retro-inspired lingerie? Will you design for men? Women? Both? It?s essential that you identify your clothing line?s niche before designing your first collection. Design Your First Collection You can branch out and explore new directions later, but your very first collection needs to preview what your audience can expect to see from you consistently as a designer. We can?t tell you what your designs should be ? that?s the magic that you?ll need to supply on your own. But, we can tell you to be true to yourself as a designer. And, don?t be afraid to be unique. Uniqueness and authenticity are the elements that will help to set your clothing line apart in the crowded fashion marketplace.

Plan for Manufacturing Consider how your collection will be manufactured.Plan to interview a number of different factory locations to find the one that is a right fit for your business. Remember that you must ensure that you maintain healthy profits margins for your business, and manufacturing will be a large percentage of your budget. There?s a terrific book about this from the founder of Nike, Phil Knight ?

Shoe Dog . In the book, Knight writes about how he found the perfect partners for manufacturing Nike shoes ? and the struggles with partners who were less than perfect. Before you commit to a full-scale run, order a few samples from several manufacturers to evaluate the quality and speed of their work. For example, if you?re screen printing on your clothing, examine the quality of the print. Examine the labels to make sure they contain the information you require. Once you?ve evaluated all of your options and review samples, choose the manufacturer that will serve your business best.

TOBI

BLACKHEARTSCLUBRADI O

GOLD CRW N M A GA Z IN E