LOCAL WOLVES // ISSUE 32 - JENN MCALLISTER

#HOLDON The last issue of the year 2015, it’s been such an incredibly year working with amazing talents and collaborations with rad creatives from all over the world. I would have never thought we would collaborate with photographers in Australia to Germany. It got me so excited for 2016 and just living life with endless amount of adventures. With everything going on in the world, it is important to never forget about your surroundings and your support system. Through positivity, life is too short to sit around with so many ideas.

Explore more, meet new people and work to expand your idea into a reality. It may take more hurdles in order to aim for success. Patience is such an important aspect in order to achieve your goals. By the way, I’m too excited for winter break to finally relax, explore more coffee shops, binge watch on television shows since I’m barely finishing up season two of Jane The Virgin (such a great show, omg) and can’t wait for Pretty Little Liars to be back. Besides the shows, I want to expand more on the concept to #HoldOn by creative, Jon Duncan. It was great to dive into more creative topics and themes this year. Huge thanks to my hard working team who worked on twelve monthly issues with innovative shoots and collaborations. On to next year, 2016. Take care, wolfies!

Cathrine Khom founding editor-in-chief many thanks:

cameron smith @cameronwtsmith new york / virginia

jonathan hanson @jhansonfoto los angeles, ca

outpost fest @outpostfest orange county, ca

delta spirit @deltaspirit brooklyn, ny

lindsey rempalski @lindseyrem orange county, ca

paige lorentzen @paigelorentzen long beach, ca

drew macdonald @drumaq los angeles, ca

lisa solberg @usasolberg los angeles, ca

tanner zagarino @tannerzagarino new york, ny

jenn mcallister @jennxpenn los angeles, ca

mackenzie peck @encounterswithm brooklyn, ny

taylor trudon @taylortrudon brooklyn, ny

jon duncan @life_of_jon seattle, wa

meghan camarena @strawburry17 los angeles, ca

victoria lamas @victoriaalamas los angeles, ca

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DECEMBER 2015

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contents

Classics 07

playlist

08

munchies

10

do it yourself

12

p.s. positivity

14

wolfie submissions

f e at u r e s 18

keep me on the line

24

jon duncan

26

lisa solberg

28

tanner zagarino

32

lindsey rempalski

36 40

meghan camarena california winter

48

jenn mcallister

54

victoria lamas

58

drew macdonald

62

taylor trudon

66

delta spirit

68

outpost fest

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a look back in 2015

founder / editor-in-chief cathrine khom

is s ue t hir t y t w o / / de c e m be r t w e n t y fif teen

jenn mca lli st er

copy editor sophia khom playlist editor sena cheung illustrator megan kate potter maker madison bass-taylor website coordinator kristy cheung videographer jessica eu stylist katie qian hair/makeup artist jessie yarborough front cover logo fiona yeung back cover logo isabel ramos cover photo madison bass-taylor contributing writers kamrin baker, ashley bulayo, orion carloto, sydney clarke, rachel coker, anna hall, chloe luthringshausen, hudson luthringshausen, kaela malozewski, lydia snapper contributing photographers lexie alley, mila austin, pamela ayala, viviana contreras, katy johnson, rachel kober, chris lampkins, meredith sherlock, meagan sullivan, madison bass-taylor, lhoycel marie teope, melissa tilley graphic designers christine ennis, isabel manimbo, isabel ramos, nicole tillotson connect localwolves.com twitter / instagram / snapchat: @localwolves facebook.com/localwolves #localwolves community physical copies magcloud.com/user/localwolvesmag general inquiries info@localwolves.com press inquiries press@localwolves.com get involved / projects community@localwolves.com

description local wolves magazine, an online + print publication based in southern california with a talented team from all over the world. we focus on embracing the local scene in art, music, entertainment and film. our goal is to capture and share the stories about people doing what they love to do.

coverage: sena cheung

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munchies +

COVERAGE: KATY JOHNSON LOCATION 3906 Judah Street San Francisco, CA 94122 415.665.8423

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J U D AHILI C I O US

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Located in the Sunset district of San Francisco, Judahlicious opened its doors in 2004 with a green business model and a vegan mentality. By reducing waste and remaining environmentally conscious, Judahlicious was one of the first businesses to participate in the San Francisco Green Business Program. Their carbon footprint may be small, but your appetite has to be pretty big to finish one of the savory vegan dishes famous to Judahlicious. With a full menu ranging from superfood vegan smoothies, fresh juices, raw food dishes, and even dairy smoothies for those who are interested— anyone can find a delicious treat. Last but not least, Judahlicious has an exquisite selection of vegan baked goods and desserts that will leave your mouth watering. So good, you’ll be asking: “Are you sure this is vegan?”

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do it yourself + H O T C H O C O LATE S P O O NS +

SU P P LIES + white and semi sweet bakers chocolate + mini marshmallows + crushed peppermint candy canes + wooden spoons

E X TRAS / TI P S + for faster cooling, put them in the freezer + swirl into your hot chocolate for a festive surprise COVERAGE: MADISON BASS-TAYLOR

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STE P S

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melt your chocolate as directed on the packaging and lay out wax paper

before the chocolate hardens, add toppings on top of spoon

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dip your wooden spoons in chocolate and lay on wax paper

let spoons sit and cool completely

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W

ell hello everyone! Did you miss P.S Positivity last month? Or were you just confused as to why my face was on the November cover? It’s okay, so was I. As overwhelming as it was, it was so much fun and so refreshing to me seeing all of the kind comments and everyone’s take of me being the featured artist! It was so important to me that I was able to be the face of a #GirlPower issue and was able to share why it’s so crucial and why I want to help make a change.

I’m incredibly grateful for every sweet word said!

What brings me here today is basically every single one of you reading this right now. The theme of this month’s issue is #HoldOn and it moved me to remember where I am today and how exactly I got here. What makes this topic so important is that it reminds every single one of us to hold on to the passion in doing what we love and hold on to the people that help us make that happen— whether it be continuous support or inspiration. Not only is that something I dedicate to my closest friends and family, but most importantly: You. It’s not the easiest thing in the world just to get up and achieve some sort of main goal in life, and it’s certainly not

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easy to stay inspired all of the time. I find myself struggling with that often, I mean, we all do. Days upon days filled with writers block and wondering what my next move is or what I could possibly take on. Flashback to before this whole internet pedestal happened… Did I know what I wanted to do with my life? No. Did I try to make plans of what I could do with my future? Absolutely not. I was lost (not to say I’m not anymore) and had not a single clue of what I wanted to do with my time that I have on Earth. I’ve always loved to entertain people, writing was a secret passion of mine, and helping others was something I found myself doing often because I loved the satisfaction of seeing someone else happy. I found myself finding a deep passion for these things later in high school and I knew I wanted to hold on to them because they were the only things that genuinely put a smile on my face. Somehow down the road, I was lucky enough to use it to my full advantage and now I get to do it everyday— it’s my job. Everyday we change, and pick up on new things. But to continue with what you love to do can open a whole lot of doors to many other opportunities. Who knows what I’ll want to do in a few years from now! I could be doing the same thing, or could be taking on an entirely new task.

Now, I’m not saying that *BAM* it’s just going to come easy to everyone in the snap of a finger that we will achieve our goals in no time. It’s not easy to just be 100% content with where you are in life and that’s totally normal. But what definitely helps is remembering where you came from, who stuck with you, and who’s always supported you.

My mother from day one has always supported everything I’ve ever wanted to do. My dearest friends are the exact same. As I continued to grow, I’ve noticed more and more along the road, my support group grew in sizes. More of you guys enjoyed what I was putting out and saw great potential in what I do and who I could be. Not only is that extremely humbling, but the gratitude that fills my heart could nearly make me explode! Every day I see myself growing in knowledge, education, practice, and discovering new hobbies I didn’t know I could even take up. With the help of the astounding support I got from just a few people in my life to thousands of people online, it inspired me to do better, to be better. Not ‘better’ in a narcissistic way, but better in a way to work much harder. Of course I have my days where I don’t know where to turn to or my days where I fear I won’t be able to achieve my goal of whatever it is I want to do, but it’s normal— everyone faces these fears.

because no else sees your potential like you do. The most important person to have is yourself. I say this almost every single month because it’s true. If you don’t have your own support, you can’t expect others either. Be your biggest fan, keep working hard at your goals, support your own sh*t, and give yourself the biggest pat on the back for being so bada*s and doing what so many are afraid to do.

One day the people that ever doubted you will look back and recognize how poor their judgement was and they’ll realize that they should’ve believed in your potential since day one. Don’t let your inner judgement stop you from what you love to do. This also goes for supporting your friends and family with their future goals and passions as well. Nothing is more satisfying than showing love to others that deserve it. Hold on to the people that make life worth living— show them your love.

Happy Holidays friends, see you next year. xo

Some people have it easy, others hard. Not everyone can be thankful for a support group because they often feel isolated or misjudged by the people in their life. In situations like that, the option to give up is never the right thing to do.

Don’t let yourself think that it’s never going to work out just

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#holdon + W O LFIE SU B MISSI O NS + QUESTION: To hold on to the passion of what we do, hold onto the people around us. The people who constantly support, and inspire us to strive. This month we discuss holding on. // Illustration: Megan Kate Potter

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You were born with a fire burning in you. That was always lit but burned quite a bit brighter when you were in love.

Lately, you’ve been calling yourself cold, bitter coffee.

That’s how you feel. You watched him walk out and you watched yourself, from a third person perspective, lose the color from your cheeks, the light in your eyes, your wardrobe looked more black and grey than usual. You looked more grey and blue than usual. But listen here, you were born with a fire in you. A fire that is going to crackle every time you fall in love, and no, it doesn’t have to be with a person. Take a camera to the edge of the town, watch the water caress the shore and then violently slam. Take a photo of that moment, and remember that you were not to made to be held with bounds. Fall in love with a book, and bend every page that took the pain away, highlight every word that put you whole, and give these books to other heartbroken strangers. Pick up the pen and stop thinking that your words aren’t good enough because they are, to me and to you. Hold on. Do not let a person take away your fire, do not a person take away your love for other things. Sometimes love leaves because it’s catching the next runaway train that it forgot to tell you it had a ticket for to someone with firmer hands, longer legs, eyes with a different amount of melanin. When that happens, don’t go breaking the dishes and leaving the key under the mat.

Change the locks, but leave the windows open. Do not let the bad taste keep you from tasting a new fine wine. Hold on my dear, because you were never meant to be put out, you were meant to wreck havoc and burn down forests with your passion, so take your heartbreak and put it into something you love, and not someone, and if you are going to fall in love, I hope you put your own name at the top of the list for viable contenders of your affections. – SIMRAN B. / VANCOUVER, BC Our very view of our existence can be crushed in milliseconds, and just like that we no long see ourselves as the stars we are but rather as a collection of dust in a far off corner in the galaxy. And we hide not daring to show a single inch of our tattered skin. Our lives become a repeating series of letting go. We let go of loved ones and of our dreams and passions, but you cannot let your tears stain the picture you’ve spent years to paint. So even when every atom in your body joins into one and in unison screams at you to let go, don’t. Listen to your conscious as it climbs out of your skull and whispers ever so quietly for you to hold on. Hold on even when your knuckles are white and your wrists are threatening to break. Hold on even when your eyes are heavy and your soul is tired. Because darling you must understand that even the bravest of warriors cannot fight without holding a blade in their hand.

– AISHAH A. / WASHINGTON, DC

Whatever it is that inspires your fire, whether it be art, music, literature— unearth it and cultivate yourself into a vessel of hope and radical love. This craft is yours to develop; these convictions, yours to express. Pay attention to the detail that tugs at you, the moments that make you feel like you’re truly living, and cling tightly to them. But do life with other people— open your heart to the beauty of communal creation. We’ve all been instilled with this gorgeous individuality, these original thoughts and ideas to offer to the table. Celebrate that. Rejoice in that. The ability we have to love each other and shine light on the specialness of exactly who we are should drive us to seek out and pursue deep, real relationships. These are the people that will remain integral to the expansion of our souls. So let them. Let people love you in your mess, sit with you in your pain, climb your mountains alongside you, and stand victoriously at the top. Hold on to each other; we can’t do this life alone. – LEAH L. / LA MIRADA, CA It’s hard to grasp the significance of what “hold on” means until you’re forced to walk amongst that endeavor. It’s easy to tell someone to hold on to community, but not as easy to abide by when you’re faced with the need to do so yourself. The hopeful thing about holding on means that you wouldn’t be able to even think to do so unless there was something to constantly hold on to. I believe that about people. I believe that although relationships change, the concept of community stands with upmost importance. In community there is comfort, but I’ve experienced that it doesn’t stop there. People offer comfort, but there comes a point where they become more than solidarity. There comes a point where needing people become the opportunity to know people, and I believe that’s when trying to hold on stops becoming an effort. Beginning to know and be known by others is a concept that feeds off of itself. The two-fold in knowing and being known cultivates personal growth. Seeking community opens up parts of you that you wouldn’t be able to explore and experience if it weren’t for the people that provided you with the opportunity you never knew you needed. I’m still independent, and I’m still my own human, but I’m more of myself than I would have been if it weren’t for the people I held on to. In people, I was able to find my passion. In people, I was able to grow.

What’s neat about this is that people— albeit in different forms— are always here. Being alive unyieldingly offers an opportunity for community. Trial and tribulation is worth the outcome of holding on to those around you if it means you get to become more of yourself. – SYDNEY M. / ST. PETERSBURG, FLA

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Holding on can be either good or bad, it can make you life easier or a lot harder depends how you go with it. It can do both when trying to hold on to people. Just remember, every person that comes and go from your life always have a lesson that you’ve learned. Otherwise, holding onto a passion is something that can improve your state of being, makes you a better person. So basically, anything that you love doing whether it being writing, art, reading, cosmetology or something else— the main thing is, those things that you love to do are what makes you happy, that helps you keep you going, keeping you away from negative things. Little by little in life with each thing you do, you’ll learn more about yourself than anybody else, and what you’re capable of doing. The more you grow into your passion the more you mature from it. If you actually hold on to that passion of yours, it can actually take to places you never thought you would go, have experiences that you have may never experienced before, meet new people and learn from what they have experienced. Not to mention, there are new opportunities that are given to you. With what you’ve learned, can gain knowledge and be better at communicating with people around the world. With everything that you’ve learned, you will become a better person and will push yourself until you can’t handle it any more. Every time there’s a complicated problem and you can get through it, just remember, hold on to your passion and also remember what you began with and how you’re now at the top and nothing can stop you. – BRIANA R. / HOUSTON, TX To effectively hold on to some things is to let go of others.

Think about if you were holding on to an overabundance of items, and they kept piling and piling up until your arms were full, even overflowing. You will have to let go of some things, and that is where your inevitable choice comes in.

There are many activities or people in our life that we wish to hold on to. At a certain point, however, we must realize that we cannot hold on to everything, and that is when we have to make a choice about who or what is unnecessary, even harmful or toxic, and let go of them. If you refuse to let go of certain things, then your focus is stretched thin among all that you are grasping. You must find your limits based on time and capacity. If you refuse to pick and choose in life and instead try to hold on to everything, walking around with your arms full all the time, you are bound to drop some things— but the difference is it will be on accident, and not by will. You will end up accidentally dropping things that would benefit you in the long run, resulting in being stuck with the unnecessary and the dangerous. Though often difficult, we, especially as young people, must make the choice to edit our lives constantly and ruthlessly to ensure we let go of people or things that hurt us or hold us back, in turn making certain that we have a strong hold on those that will help us. – HANNAH F. / SIMI VALLEY, CA

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Holding on is a three AM phone call when you can’t pick yourself up off of the bathroom floor. It’s waking up in the same spot with tear stains on your cheeks and a pounding headache because you can’t tell if the world would be better off without you. Holding on is clinging to your dog for dear life because, if you let go, you might very well drown in the hole you feel in your gut. It’s forcing yourself out of bed and into class the next day because it’s how you prove to yourself that you’re okay, that you’re normal. Holding on is letting your family take care of you the way they did when you were little because you can’t remember the last time you brushed your teeth. It’s your mother sneaking into your room during what little sleep you manage to get because she’s scared that if she doesn’t watch over you, your demons might take her baby away for good. Holding on is not giving up only because you’ll miss the taste of an enchilada and the sound of vinyl playback. It’s thinking about your best friend and hoping that, one day, you’ll mean as much to her as she means to you. Holding on is waking up on a Sunday morning exactly six months later and slowly realizing that you’ve won. It’s laughing at a joke that that cute boy in your math class told and realizing that you finally mean it. – CATHERINE F. / PHOENIX, AZ In a world of ever-changing circumstances and outcomes of daily life, we are constantly bombarded with the subliminal message of “let it go.” Be it from our parents, colleagues, friends, or coworkers, everyone has been there. It’s always the answer to a simple plea for advice. “Just let it go,” they say. If you have a bad day— let it go. If you split up with your boyfriend/girlfriend— let it go. If you’re nervous or anxious for something in the future— let it go. Amongst the encouragements to leave the past in the past and keep moving forward, there you are, stuck in a seemingly perpetual cycle of stress. And although there is some truth in the simple cliché, “letting it go” is not always the most productive method of coping for us creative minded individuals. Instead, channel your inner frustration into your passions; use it as a fuel for creativity and inspiration. I’m not telling you to sit around dwell on the past, but I’m also not telling you to forget about it either. Use the past as your guide. Use your friends and family who sometimes give you horrible advice, to your advantage. Let them inspire you.

Pull inspiration from all the people around you and from the events of your past. From this will come your most honest work. As the year comes to an end, gather everything you’ve learned, and be inspired. Pull out all the stops and prepare for the new twists and turns to come. The roller coaster that is life won’t stop for anyone, so hold on tight and let it inspire your future. – JACKSON H. / PINE LEVEL, NC

PHOTOS (LEFT + RIGHT): BRETT COLE YOUNG / ROSEVILLE, CA

ILLUSTRATION: VIVIAN S. LOS ANGELES, CA

PHOTO: KRISTY C. / TORONTO, ON

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keep me on the line MODELS: TRIPP ELLIOT & EMILIA SULLIVAN PHOTOGRAPHY: CAMERON SMITH

TRIPP’S BOOTS: DR MARTENS EMILIA’S PANTS: AMERICAN APPAREL EVERYTHING ELSE: THRIFTED/OFF BRAND

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EMILIA’S BOOTS: DR MARTENS EMILIA’S JEANS: H&M EVERYTHING ELSE: THRIFTED/OFF BRAND

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JEANS: PAIGE CROP TOP: AMERICAN APPAREL EVERYTHING ELSE: THRIFTED

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jon duncan Story: Lydia Snapper Photography: Amanda Harle

It’s 2001 and a young Jon Duncan has just discovered his mom’s old point and shoot film camera. Filling it with an entire roll of Kodak 400, Jon spent his childhood investigating the East Bay of California, shooting everything and anything that sparks his interest. Fast forward a decade, and Jon is living in Seattle working as a photographer.

“The biggest challenge that I’ve had would be this last year, working in the film world; it is so overpopulated with many people who are so much better than me. I didn’t really have the best camera equipment so I had to use the older equipment I already had,” he admits. “I’m really happy that happened though because it taught me to use whatever I had to the fullest of its abilities. I was happy about what I was producing and the people around me were so encouraging.

All I had to do was hold on.”

To Jon, holding on means never giving up on what you love and being unafraid to lean on your friends and family for support and encouragement— no matter how hard the situation is. Although he can’t yet fully support himself from his photography alone, that doesn’t mean Jon is ready to give up on his passion. In fact, it’s the opposite as his art has started to gain momentum.“I’ve always loved taking photos,” he says. “I think film is great! It’s so exciting; you never know how the pictures will turn out until you develop them.”

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“Shooting digital is great as well because you have the advantage of the instant view of how they’re turning out. But, if you go out thinking you only have on roll of film, it makes it a little more interesting because you are forced to think more about the photo.” Crediting the work of Grace Hurtienne, Matt Day, James Lcaroix, and Virgil Abloh as some of his personal inspirations, Jon was eager to find a platform where he could share his own work.

With nearly 7,000 followers Jon utilizes Instagram to showcase both old and new projects, as well as his experimentation with various mediums and styles. “I try to capture mood. I think photos are wonderful, but if you can capture the emotion in the photo, that just makes it so much better. I want people to look at the photo and feel some type of way, almost nostalgic of a memory or a time when they felt the emotion the photo is displaying.”

Because of his attraction to the audience, interpreting his images how they feel most connected, he chooses not to caption his photos on Instagram. “Captions are nice, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes people overthink them. I don’t think that every photo needs to be explained; I’d rather want the person to be thinking more about the photo than what the caption says.”

“I was happy about what I was producing and the people around me were so encouraging.

All I had to do was hold on.�

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lisa solberg STORY: HUDSON LUTHRINGSHAUSEN PHOTOGRAPHY: MADISON BASS-TAYLOR

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For LISA SOLBERG, art has always been the thing. Classically trained in art with education from both The Art Institute of Chicago and the University of Colorado, Boulder, the 32 year old has worked as an Abstract Expressionist painter beginning with her first exhibit in 2006 at the Aspen Art Museum. While her style has been described by Elle Magazine as “visceral, aggressive, and emotionally moving,” these words mean little until one has viewed her expertise through their own eyes.

Only then may these words begin to make sense— from the colors and strokes to the sheer size of her pieces, Solberg’s work is remarkable.

Characterized by etchings and abstract splashes of paint, her pieces echo the sentiments of greats like Cy Twombly, Cecily Brown, and Rudolf Stingel— all of whom she notes when I asked of artists she enjoys. Currently, Solberg works out of her studio in Los Angeles, but her roots lie firmly in the Midwest.

“My Chicago upbringing contributes most to my general disposition and values. Chicago is great for that balance.”

While she is tied to the Midwest, travel is yet another passion she attributes to her character and work. The vastness of her mind is evidently expansive, and that transfers to the canvas.

Her pieces range in size, but they are—for the most part— massive. “I paint big because I see big... I’ve said that forever, and it still remains true. How then, I had to wonder, do these large, abstract forms find expression? “My drawings are typically pretty technical,” she tells me of her sketches that later translate to the canvas. ”Or the complete opposite— abstract ink and pencil drawings. I also write a good amount... mostly one-liners. I’m obsessed with manifestos and declaratory text.

I use everything in my sketchbooks in my larger works and installations; they are all pieces to the puzzle.”

Solberg is of the lucky few who know what they want, and the even fewer who—with hard work and dedication—realize those very dreams. And her formula, though untraditional, is equally inspiring. “I never really imagined my future when I was younger,” she tells me of her path to the present. “I just made sure I didn’t miss any opportunities. I’m quite permanently and perpetually in the moment.” With thoughts like that, I can only imagine what sort of one-liners fill the pages of her sketchbooks.

My last questions for Solberg dealt directly with her style. I am fascinated not only by the fruition of an abstract painter, but the progress and development that occurs once that style is achieved. “This is the style that was always in me, even before I started putting it out there,” Solberg explained. “I knew that I had to establish myself in more of a technical genre before I earned” the right and capacity to paint in this way.” She notes this as possibly a “silly” approach, but I can very well understand her logic. Her technical hand, though, is not lost through the abstract expression.

Over the course of her career, Solberg has stuck to that style.

Without predicting the future, I asked if she ever felt the desire to work on a collection that did stray from her current style, to which she responded: “It’s precisely the reason why I’ve started 24HR PSYCHIC and COCO BUNNY, these are both avenues in which I can present a different style body of work. My mind and interests are always moving in a million directions, I needed to start developing alter egos in order to contain and present these interests cohesively.”

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tanner zagarino STORY: EMMA MATTHEWS PHOTOGRAPHY: RACHEL KOBER

Peer at your phone for a second. Two. Four. Six. You’re probably racking up quite a few likes on your latest Instagram post. Maybe it was a #selfie. Perhaps a casual shot of what you had for lunch. Either way, it’s probably not scored as many likes as TANNER ZAGARINO’s snaps. Take the 39.9k double-taps he received of a photo of him in Diagon Alley for instance.

Packed with high-quality snaps and bright aesthetic, Zagarino’s blog goes hand-in-hand with his Instagram account and has allowed him to develop his brand even further. “A few years back, bloggers organically grew their pages through SEO tools and battled to get their links to the top of Google search.

Now they rely on larger platforms like Instagram or Twitter to increase traffic to their blogs.”

Labeled as one of the most popular “online influencers” of 2015, Zagarino’s just one of the few lucky teens who have used social media to build a career for himself. Butterbeer equipped, of course. “I’ve always been your average guy. I enjoy spots and have wrestled my entire life,” he starts. Yet, not every ‘average guy’ has a job, sharing his passions and interests to hundreds of thousands of people across the globe. Raised in a small town, Mattituck on Long Island in New York, in 2013 Zagarino started using sites like Instagram and Twitter to share moments from his everyday life.

Having just signed to prestigious modeling agency, Wilhelmina, Zagarino has been using his online presence to strive towards his other dreams. “Nowadays, it’s the most helpful way to break into the traditional space,” he insists. “I’ve always wanted to be an actor, ever since I was little and it’s so interesting to see, aside from skill, how the casting process has dramatically changed since ‘numbers’ have become a thing. The same goes for modeling, brands are always looking for a familiar face to attach to their products.”

Initially they acted as an outlet for freedom and creativity. It’s been that way ever since. “I love Instagram! I really like Twitter, too but Instagram gives you a deeper connection through a photo of what’s actually happening, instead of just text.”

This later expanded to a YouTube channel and a fashion blog, where Zagarino posts everything from what phone cases he’s digging to essential fall investments: “It’s such a great way to connect with fans.”

As for advice he gives to other young people who want to make the most out of social media, he asserts that being true to yourself is key. “I personally think it’s better to be your ‘raw self.’ At the end of the day, one of the most important factors in brand/image building is consistency,” he states. “Don’t try what someone else is doing, unless that’s where your passion truly is. It sounds so cliché, but it’s so important to be who you truly are.”

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“don’t try what someone else is doing, unless that’s where your passion truly is. it sounds so cliché, but it’s so important to be who you truly are.”

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lindsey rempalski Story: Lydia Snapper Photography: Lhoycel Marie Teope

“Growing up, I was always creating. Whether that was in the form of intricate Lego creations, painted birdhouses, or amateur photography,” Lindsey Rempalski explains taking me back to her childhood. “I think it was my constant love for art that sparked my interest in fashion and beauty. Once I started playing with makeup and realized it was like painting, but on your face; I was hooked.”

As she got older and further experimented with makeup, beauty, and fashion, Rempalski took to the internet and started her own YouTube channel so that she could express herself and find like-minded people from all over the world.

“I wanted to be involved in the community and not just watching it from the outside,” she says of what sparked the decision to start uploading in 2012. “I didn’t start my channel with gaining subscribers in mind, but I had always thought it would be quite an accomplishment to get a play-button plaque from YouTube for hitting 100,000 subscribers even though I thought it was unrealistic at the time.”

Fast forward three years to July 2015 and Rempalski has hit that goal and has her very own silver play-button on display. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to picture that many people in real life, let alone supporting me! As far as goals go, I want to do more with my influence on the Internet. I want to make more

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videos on topics I haven’t covered yet that I’m passionate about such as music, art, and mental health— instead of just primarily focusing on fashion and beauty. I plan to expand my channel to cover more subjects and be able to help out even more people.”

As is the case with any creative person, Rempalski has her own peers within the community that she looks up to, crediting Grace Helbig as motivation to starting her own channel. “Without discovering [Grace’s] channel I don’t think I would have made mine. She never fails to make me laugh, and I will support her through anything. I actually had the pleasure of finally meeting Grace this year at VidCon, and she is just as lovely in person!”

This year’s Vidcon was Rempalski’s third year, and she insists that it is always an incredible experience— as both a viewer and a content creator. “For someone who is passionate about the YouTube community, being surrounded by online video enthusiasts for an entire weekend is the coolest! You can learn about the YouTube industry, listen to interesting panels, meet creators, and make new friends. All year I look forward to VidCon because it’s one of the few places where walking around with a vlogging camera pointed at your face is considered the norm. It’s just something special.”

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Unlike many content creators her age who work at their channels full-time, Rempalsk balances going to college, living in a dorm, and being in a sorority alongside her channel. Although she does admit to struggling with time management from time to time, overall she is happy with her decision to not take a gap year. “In the long run, I want to have a college degree,” she explains. “I am super interested in my major, which is graphic design, and I didn’t want to be a year behind all of my friends from high school.”

“Now that I’m in college and balancing it with being a full-time creator, I can understand why many YouTubers choose an alternative route to university; but for me, I think I made the right decision.” Of course, all of that may seem like it’s enough to take up all of her time, but when she does find a spare

moment she spends it by listening to music, especially Spotify’s Discover Weekly playlist, scrolling through Tumblr, catching up on her YouTube subscriptions, and hanging out with her friends at her favorite local coffee shop, Alta Coffee Warehouse and Restaurant. “My friend’s often refer to it as ‘Lindsey’s favorite coffee shop’ instead of Alta because they know how much love I have for it. It’s a quaint coffee shop, renovated out of a bookstore, nestled in between properties on the peninsula of Lido Isle. It also wouldn’t be complete without the book exchange shelf and a nook for frequent customers to store their mugs. Alta is the perfect neighborhood coffee house; the amount of time I have spent there would probably quality it as my second home.

The amount of memories I have tied to this restaurant, ex. I was asked to prom there, and my undying love for their chai lattes makes it easily my favorite place in town!”

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meghan camarena STORY: RACHEL COKER PHOTOGRAPHY: JONATHAN HANSON ILLUSTRATIONS: MACKENZIE PECK

For many, playing dress up ends by age twelve. Kids grow up, store costumes in attics, and give up on trick or treating.

That is, unless you’re MEGHAN CAMARENA and you make a living donning costumes based on all your favorite anime and comic book characters. Cosplay is the act of dressing up and pretending to be a fictional character is hardly a new fad. But cosplayers like Camarena are bringing a whole new level of ‘cool’ to the cult, keeping fans updated through Twitter and funny YouTube videos. She is the 21st Century cosplay star we all want to hang out with... preferably in matching Sailor Moon costumes.

Camarena first cosplayed in 2011 as Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke, complete with face paint and a white furry hood.

“I hand sewed my cape,” she laughs, “And let me tell you— it was a labor of love! It took me a month, but the end result was so worth it.” To Camarena, cosplay is about so much more than imitating a character from a book. Her enthusiasm for this world of imagination is contagious. “I can only speak for myself but when I cosplay I get to embody the hero I love so much,” she shares, pausing to think about the why behind the game. “As crazy as it sounds the more I do cosplay, the more I start to see the hero in myself. It helps me walk a little taller and feel a little braver. It’s a bit of acting when I’m in character but at the end of the day, those good traits stick with you! Also, it’s incredibly fun and the community is so kind and supportive!”

I asked Camarena about her favorite anime series and she freaks out in excitement over the question before releasing a flood of names both expected and obscure: Claymore, Fruits Basket, Madoka Magica and of course, the iconic Sailor Moon. It’s an industry saturated with male writers and male characters, but Camarena insists that women still have a huge role to play in the growth of the cosplay movement.

“I thought about this for the longest time and I’d have to say

some of the coolest comic book writers are insanely talented women,” she responds when I ask her if comic books are really ‘just for boys.’ “G. Wilson Willow, Kelly Sue Deconnick, and Margaret Stohl are my personal faves and game changers. Do yourself a favor and pick up Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and Black Widow Forever Red and let me know if you [still] think comics are just for boys.” She pauses, then says emphatically, “Women with an imagination [are] every kind of women. Keep killin’ it ladies!” In addition to attending cosplay conventions and red carpet events like the Mocking Jay Part 1 premiere, Camarena spends a lot of time working on her YouTube channel called Strawburry17, where she shares weird recipes and kooky stories.

What started out as a way to make friends and channel her own creativity turned into a full-fledged channel with over one million subscribers. Camarena’s videos hold deep meaning to viewers out there who worry that they too are alone in the world. She shares that she’s received numerous emails saying that her videos got them through some of their hardest times.

“Being a light in anyone’s life is a blessing,” she says, with genuine gratitude. “When I decided to upload a video for the first time, I never would’ve imagined how it has reached so many people.”

The life of a cosplayer isn’t always glamorous, of course (Camarena shares one embarrassing story of a time her maneuver gear fell apart while she was being Sasha from Attack on Titan at a convention), but leading a life of dress up is certainly full of fun and adventure. The future is in Camarena’s lap, and she openly admits to wanting to do all the things. “I hope to create a really solid format/show on my channel, act more in other narrative projects, write a book, become a cartoon, save the planet, you know just the usual stuff!” Whatever the future holds, it’s sure to be out of this world.

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california winter MODEL: PAIGE LORENTZEN PHOTOGRAPHY: MADISON BASS-TAYLOR

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JENN MCALLISTER STORY: HUDSON LUTHRINGSHAUSEN PHOTOGRAPHY: MADISON BASS-TAYLOR H/MUA: JESSIE YARBOROUGH

The night is July 21, 2015. Nineteen year-old JENN MCALLISTER enters the movie theatre, taking her seat alongside her roommate. That familiar current of cool air in the dark theatre sends chills down the spines of both girls as they await the opening credits, each as eager as the other to see the film. The experience sounds typical... like any regular night. Only at this moment, the stakes are a bit different— the chills aren’t just for the air in the theatre. Scattered among the audience are friends, family, peers, executives and in front, a massive section of anxious fans. But arguably no one is as nervous as Jenn and her roommate and good friend, Lauren Luthringshausen. Why? Because these two girls are just seconds from premiering their first ever feature-film roles in front of an audience of over 200 people.

McAllister was born and raised in Buck County, Pennsylvania before moving to Los Angeles, California in 2014 to continue working with YouTube. Her path to the internet began much earlier than many of the YouTube giants she shares the platform with today: “Around the age of eight, I found my parents’ old video camera and became obsessed with recording anything and everything. From there I taught myself how to edit and started making short sketches that I would force my parents to watch, so of course when I stumbled across YouTube I was immediately drawn to it,” McAllister explains about her first encounters with videomaking, adding that seeing other people doing the same thing inspired herself and a friend to start sharing their own videos to YouTube. This all occurred back in 2009— if you can believe it, and many of Jenn’s first videos are still up for viewers to find. That, for McAllister, has been a very helpful and difficult part of growing up while growing a YouTube channel— on display for so long. Nevertheless, she has been at it for 6 years, posting 217 videos to date and racking up an impressive 139,131,666 million views. And it is safe to say that Jenn has outlasted her fifteen minutes, proving she is here to stay.

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“I NEVER IMAGINED THAT POSTING VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE WOULD COMPLETELY CHANGE MY LIFE. I FEEL SO BLESSED TO HAVE MET THE MOST AMAZING PEOPLE, GET OPPORTUNITIES I’VE ONLY EVER DREAMED OF GETTING, AND TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I LOVE TO DO THE MOST EVERY SINGLE DAY.” While most kids her age were packing up bags and leaving for college, McAllister was well on her way to LA in pursuit of her dreams. Opportunities came quick for the young star, and her hard work and dedication only multiplied the benefits— soon came growth and more heavyweight opportunities... like that movie Jenn was anxiously awaiting.

It’s called Bad Night and it premiered, to no surprise, with wonderful reception. The action-comedy fronted by both Jenn and Lauren features a star-studded cast with names like Julianna Guill, Matt Walsh and Molly Ringwald. But let’s back up a step— how does a young girl from Pennsylvania end up producing and starring in a feature-film before she turns twenty? “Lauren and I were approached by GRB Entertainment back in 2014 and were literally asked ‘do you want to make a movie?’” says McAllister.

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But of course, there was much more than just a simple question that brought the two to the table with GRB. The power of the internet is strong, and Jenn’s success before the movie that allowed her to transfer to the big screen is a testament to the faith of both executives and followers alike in YouTube’s content creators. That confidence though, doesn’t change the fact that creating YouTube content is much different than the various other forms of digital media. And the difference between the YouTube screen and the movie screen is, well, literally quite a few inches.

“Aside from producing the movie, working on camera as an actor was a lot different than what we were used to for many reasons, but we both immediately fell in love with it,” McAllister said about the experience with acting.

The movie premiered in theaters, followed by a release to multiple outlets like Apple TV and Netflix. “I will never forget sitting in the movie theater at the premiere next to Lauren surrounded by our families, best friends, coworkers, and execs waiting for the movie to start. It was probably one of the most nerve wracking experiences of my life, but watching the finished product along with the great reaction we got was the most rewarding feeling.”

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As if her year doesn’t sound crazy enough, her workload didn’t stop at balancing YouTube and a feature-film. Shortly after Bad Night hit the screens, fans were hit with yet another awesome surprise. In August 2015, McAllister announced the imminent release of Really Professional Internet Person— a tell-all, autobiographical book that lays out her entire story from start to present. Once again, I was forced to demand we back up a step... quite simply, when and how: “I love writing and I’ve always wanted to write a book— it’s something that was on my bucket list. Scholastic helped me cross that one off by approaching me in early 2014 asking if I was interested in writing a book, and of course I said yes. Writing a book was definitely a very intimidating task, I mean it’s a BOOK, but I was surrounded by the best team of people from Scholastic who helped me every step of the way.”

For a brief moment, I felt the need to ask McAllister if she was hiding something serious... because most people aren’t checking off monumental goals like writing a book and starring in a movie from their bucket list at just 19 years old. But I quickly remembered just how different McAllister is from many people her age. This is a girl who’s tirelessly found a way to combine her passions with work, maintained relevance and pushed the bar for a community time and time again. Movies and books are the rewards for McAllister’s hard work.

I wanted to know how that felt: to walk into a store and see your very own book sitting on the shelf. The moment of finally holding a physical copy of a work you’ve spent so much time on and knowing that all of your followers will get to read the contents. Getting to that point, as McAllister explains, was no simple task... it was a long time coming:

“Not only was I constantly re-writing chapters of the book until I felt they were perfect, the design process was also something I was super critical about. I had a hard time putting into words exactly what I envisioned the book to look like, so when I finally got everything right and got to flip through the first copy of the book, it was an overwhelming sense of relief. Towards the end, I was kind of driving myself insane with all the little changes I kept making, so it was such a good feeling to finally have what I was working so hard on for so long in my hands.”

The book’s release received countless appraise from her followers and peers alike, but the celebration of the accomplishment didn’t stop there. McAllister not only got the chance to speak at Carnegie Hall for the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, but she also toured 12 cities for Really Professional Internet Person. “Both experiences were incredible. Speaking at Carnegie Hall was different than anything I’ve done before— I was speaking in front of a group of very talented students and their families, and being able to spread a message that I felt like they could all relate to was a great feeling. Touring is my favorite thing in the world— I love traveling and getting the chance to meet and hug everyone who supports me, so of course I had so much fun and I can’t wait to go on tour again soon!”

Jenn’s accomplishments on YouTube alone are inspiring, but combined with her massive year starring in and producing a feature-film, writing a book and touring— it’s a whole different picture. As for the future, Jenn has no plans to let up. “Five to ten years from now, I’d love to be acting full-time and producing more content! I’m in love with the entertainment industry and want to get more involved.”

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victoria lamas STORY: ANNA HALL PHOTOGRAPHY: VIVIANA CONTRERAS

After just a few scrolls and clicks through VICTORIA LAMAS’ sleek, retro cool Instagram page, it’s hard not to be jealous. To not want to crawl down the rabbit hole and transport yourself into her sleek, SoCal soaked world of art, fashion, and fun. So the question is— what is Victoria’s secret? Sure, everything looks better through an Instagram filter, but the secret to Lamas’s success is more than just an eye-candy Instagram page. For Lamas, social media is an outlet for a genuine passion for art and creativity. Now, after garnering almost 40,000 followers, Lamas is taking her talent and audience to YouTube with her first channel.

“I never took Instagram seriously up until last year,” she says. “I realized I could use the app as a way to express my love for art and fashion. As soon as I started posting quality content like fashion photo shoots, my art etc., it caught the attention of other Instagramers.” She reminisces back to when she had just 200 followers, remarking that “if you would have told me that one day I would have 30,000 people looking at my Instagram page i wouldn’t have believed you.”

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Undeniably social media can get a bad rep. Instagram especially has been slated in recent months for its artifice, and Instagram star, Essena O’neill recently caused an uproar claiming that social media ‘is not real life.’ And yet, even at a young age, this is something Lamas is well aware of. “I know that my Instagram doesn’t define me and that what’s important is how you carry yourself and how you treat people,” she says.

“IT’S SO COMMON NOWADAYS TO SEE PEOPLE DOING THINGS AND ACTING A CERTAIN WAY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE PERCEIVED AS SOMEONE THEY’RE NOT. ESPECIALLY WITH SOCIAL MEDIA BEING SO PROMINENT IN TODAY’S SOCIETY, WE OFTEN FORGET THAT WE ARE ALL HUMAN AND NO ONE IS PERFECT. I THINK MOST PEOPLE NEED TO REALIZE THAT BEING COMPLETELY GENUINE WITH OTHERS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOURSELF, IS OKAY.” What is completely genuine about Lamas is her love of art. “I make art that isn’t your average ‘pretty picture.’” she explains.

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“I tend to paint and sketch people because I think they are the most fascinating and you can really tell a story through a person’s facial expression and body language. When I’m painting I strive for texture and depth. In my opinion, I think the most interesting art is when it has meaning and tells a story.”

Clothing like art, is another means of self-expression. In her new YouTube channel, we can except to see plenty of wardrobe videos and styling tips to capture her boho cool look. However, Lamas admits to having her fair share of fashion blunders, “When I was in 6th grade I went through this rebellious faze where I only wore black... no colors at all! At the time, my favorite place to shop was Hot Topic,” she admits. From her bright, frothy photos and light, structured pieces, you’d never guess she had a Hot Topic phase.

With the launch of her new YouTube channel, and as her social media presence continues to grow, what’s next for Lamas? “When I graduate high school, I plan on attending art school in New York. I can see myself having a job that I love, definitely some type of creative career that allows me to support myself. I’ve always been the type of girl who likes to take care of herself, I’m very independent.”

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drew macdonald STORY: ASHLEY BULAYO PHOTOGRAPHY: MADISON BASS-TAYLOR

What was life like without YouTube? No, really. This is a serious question. Without it, have you ever wondered how we’d ever find out about the genius that is Jenna Marbles, Remi Cruz or Grimbleism? Our lives wouldn’t be the same nor would theirs. (Not to mention the fact, we’d all be stuck forever streaming our lives on Netflix or Hulu instead!)

Loyal wolfies, without doubt, you know better than anyone that YouTube has opened the doors for endless possibilities for numerous people throughout the internet. For instance, let’s look at DREW MACDONALD AKA Drumaq. Two years ago, MacDonald started his YouTube channel after countless nights watching other content creators do their thing. “YouTube is a platform which accepts all forms of creativity. It’s a space for people like me to show the world something which they are passionate about.” It’s clear while interviewing MacDonald that he’s a true advocate for being 100% original and true to yourself.

“PEOPLE WILL SEE YOUR HARD WORK AND PASSION FOR WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND THEY WILL WANT TO BE PART OF IT.” If you take a quick glance at MacDonald’s video history, each video is random. One week you can find a lookbook, the next week could be a vlog and then maybe a sketch thrown here or there. It’s basically a surprise every upload but what we don’t realize is that we’re following his journey of him growing and evolving as a person and as a content creator. Look at how far he’s come since day one (which was a vlog of him at the Justin Timberlake/Jay-Z concert)!

He has never failed to entertain us and give his viewers a peek into his life.

For newcomers and creators alike, the thought of pushing yourself into the limelight of YouTube can be nerve-racking especially if you have the mindset of needing to be on par with so many veteran YouTubers. Don’t think so negatively and don’t try to be someone else!

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MacDonald states, “Don’t conform to what’s popular or what you think people will want to see from you. Create content that makes your heart flutter and viewers will fall in love with you for that.” Also, don’t forget to stay persistent and deliver the best content you can. If you need more motivation on creating your own channel, just remember that MacDonald started off just like everyone else. He watched YouTube religiously. “I was a very insecure high school kid trapped in a small town surrounded by small minded people. YouTube gave me confidence and really allowed me to grow into the person I always wanted to be. So it really has changed my life. I have never been so happy. Seriously!”

Now that MacDonald has built somewhat of a platform for himself and he’s garnered quite a following, it’s only right he dives into his next project which is music. Just recently he premiered his track, “Peach Arizona” on SoundCloud.

A little backstory on the track: “I actually wrote ‘Peach Arizona’ on a flight home from Boston a couple weeks ago to the piano chords which the boy who it’s about actually taught me. Right when I got off the plane, I recorded a voice memo and sent it to my friend, Dapurr who produced the track. The next day we were in his bedroom studio experimenting with different sounds. Eventually, [the song] evolved from four chords into a powerful vibey anthem.”

More, we say. We want more. However, we might not be waiting that long since he writes melodies everyday and has a handful of songs waiting to be released in the “very” near future. YouTube. Music. Fashion? We’d say that’s a lot but it doesn’t stop there. “I want to create a clothing line. I want to star in a reality show. I want to write a book.

But most importantly, I want to stand on stage in front of a sea of people and hear them scream my lyrics. That would be so dreamy.” What did we learn from Drew MacDonald?

Stay true to yourself. Stay hungry. Don’t be discouraged.

Anything is possible. (Note: Drew did give a shout out to his family and says hi to his mother if she’s reading this!)

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taylor trudon Story: Chloe Luthringshausen Photography: Rachel Kober

Social media has become so much more than just a fun, instant way to connect with family and friends. It is also a digital portfolio, where you can scroll endlessly through creative, inspiring pictures on your Instagram or Tumblr feeds, or even post your own. It is an online encyclopedia, where you can find endless information and the latest trending topics on your Twitter feed. Most importantly, social media is a platform for people around the world to express their unique voice, to share individual ideas, and to spread inspiring stories. It is for this reason that MTV News Editor and creative, Taylor Trudon has pursued a career in journalism and social media: it allows her to share her own stories, but also to spread other people’s inspiring stories and make them feel like their voice matters.

Trudon admits that her love for writing and creating started as soon as she learned how to read. Constantly writing short stories or poetry, Trudon credits her love for journalism to her personal hero, Harriet the Spy, even carrying around her own notebook to write down top secret observations.

However, Trudon’s decision to pursue journalism as a career came in fifth grade, when she watched the movie Almost Famous at a friend’s house. Narrating the events of real-life Rolling Stone journalist Cameron Crowe, Almost Famous inspired Trudon to follow her dreams and become a storyteller herself. “I loved how it told the story of a 15-yearold journalist, showing that there are no age limits when it comes to storytelling,” says Trudon.

Becoming co-editor of her high school newspaper and majoring in journalism at the University of Connecticut, Trudon did not waste any time taking the steps needed to achieve her career goals. During college, Trudon won a scholarship with the New York Women in Communications, Inc. (NYWICI), which empowers young women pursuing careers in the industry. She was honored on stage at the Matrix Awards for her scholarship, where she met one of her idols— editor and chief of Seventeen Magazine at the time, Ann Shoket. “I basically told her that I wanted her job,” jokes Trudon. A year later, Trudon won her second scholarship through NYWICI, which helped her earn an internship at Seventeen Magazine.

Trudon describes her time as a Seventeen Magazine Features Intern as a surreal experience. During her time there, Trudon did everything from finding “hot guys” for the annual Hot Guys Panel to tracking down a teen drug smuggler for an intense feature story. However, Trudon says her most exciting job at Seventeen was interviewing Ann Shoket herself for the Dream Bigger issue. “Not only did she let me take over her editor's letter, but we did a photo shoot in her office where I sat with my feet up at her desk wearing her Louboutins,” says Trudon. “It was a very ‘what is my life right now?’ moment.”

Trudon not only worked at Seventeen, but also a variety of other publications, from HerCampus to HuffPost Divorce, where she voiced her true story about her own parents’ divorce. “It was really cool because at the time, the voices being represented on HuffPost Divorce were mainly those of divorce attorneys, alimony experts, therapists and of course, divorcees,” claims Trudon. “So I had this opportunity to be a young voice in an adult-dominated space on the internet.” Working at different places, whether online blogs or editorial magazines, allowed Trudon to gain experience within various kinds of publications and communities. However, Trudon admits that wherever you work, “authenticity and tone is key.”

“When you're first starting out in your career, especially as an intern, do every task with enthusiasm,” claims Trudon. “It seems basic, but your attitude—be it positive or negative— doesn't go unnoticed and speaks volumes about the kind of worker you are.” Trudon did not just get her dream job handed to her. She worked hard, put herself out there, took risks, and pushed herself to keep striver higher and higher...and it paid off. Recently, Trudon landed her dream job, working as an editor at MTV News, where she spreads her voice to millions of teens everyday. When asked what the most important tips are for being a part of a creative industry, Trudon answers, “Take risks. Think big. Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you and listen.”

As an editor at MTV News, Trudon admits her main goals are “changing the way media talks about teens and giving them

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CONT’D a platform and community where they feel like their voices are heard and valued.” Everyday, Trudon spreads teens’ stories around the world, helping build a community of young voices who deserve to be heard. Trudon’s success at MTV News comes from staying true to herself and keeping an authentic voice on the internet.

“When I tweet from the MTV Life account, I would never tweet something I wouldn't tweet from my personal account,” explains Trudon. “Our followers know that there's a real person behind the computer screen who loves Taylor Swift, red lipstick, and the Kardashians just as much as they do.” Trudon’s passion for spreading inspiration and sharing other’s stories has not only helped her build genuine relationships on and offline, but also has provided her with amazing career opportunities. Trudon has given a TEDxTeen talk, moderated a panel at VidCon, and interviewed huge social media stars. However, her favorite part about working at MTV is not only telling teens’ stories, but also helping to provide a platform where they can share their stories themselves.

“When I first started out in journalism, I knew I wanted to be a storyteller and reach people, but I never anticipated that a big part of my job would be helping others reach one another,” says Trudon. “There's no greater feeling than when a teen tells me they met their best friend through the HuffPost Teen "family" or had a life-changing opportunity open up to them because their story was published on MTV. It's the best feeling in the world.” Journalism would not be what it is today without the help of social media. Tweets, pictures, and stories spread within seconds throughout the world, allowing people to share stories and obtain information with a press of a button. When asked why social media is so important for millennials today, Trudon admits, “Social media allows teens to access so much more information and as a result, they are driving meaningful conversations,” says Trudon. “They're talking about mental health, sexuality and body image in ways people their age weren't talking about when I was in high school— which wasn't that long ago.” Trudon asserts that social media is so much more than what people first see on the surface level. “It's more than just viral videos and cat memes. National movements have originated from social media like Black Lives Matter, and the voices of minorities are being amplified as a result,” explains Trudon.

She believes that in today’s world, social media can be misconstrued as a source of destruction for our youth.

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Instead of dwelling on the negative effects of social media, Trudon wants people to see the good that it can produce.

“As a culture, we continue to look at ‘online life’ and ‘life’ as two separate entities when in fact they are now synonymous,” says Trudon. “There are a million examples of social media producing good, whether it’s Instagram helping a teen girl during her eating disorder recovery or shining a light on the transgender community as Miley Cyrus has done. Social media is a source of positivity, community, and empowerment.” Trudon has set the bar high for aspiring creatives, achieving so much success at such a young age.

However, her success story can inspire teens across the world, making them realize it is possible to achieve their own career dreams.

When asked how to stand out from a crowd of people competing for the same goal, Trudon’s answer is always the same: “Just be yourself. It sounds so cliché, but you are the only one who can do you.” Trudon also believes being proactive is key to jump starting your dream. “Don’t wait to land your dream internship in order to get started on your career. Make a Tumblr. Start a YouTube channel even if the only person who watches it is your mom. Experiment with different platforms,” says Trudon. “I always say that teens run the Internet and are far more powerful than adults would like to give them credit for, so use it to your advantage.”

Outside of editing and writing, Trudon’s other passion is music, admitting she is a huge Taylor Swift and Ryan Adams fan.

In addition to music, she loves “brunch, Instagram accounts starring French bulldogs, and filling my shopping cart on Etsy with things I'll never actually buy.” Checking off “land dream job” on her list of life goals, Trudon still plans to keep on challenging herself creatively and building a robust, diverse, and empowering community of young voices at MTV News. “Personally, my biggest goal for 2016 is to make more time for the things that matter. If something is important to you, you'll find a way to make time for it— and that goes for work, relationships, projects— anything,” admits Trudon.

“I also want to write (and finish) a book, maybe sign up for a half-marathon if I don’t chicken out, host a dinner party, and meet Taylor Swift. But not necessarily in that order.” With so much passion, hard work, and determination, there is no doubt Trudon will finish that book, cross that finish line, and who knows… maybe even be the newest member of T-Swift’s BFF clique.

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delta spirit STORY: LEXIE ALLEY PHOTOGRAPHY: LHOYCEL MARIE TEOPE

Delta Spirit, the American indie band originally from California, is busy. So busy, in fact, that even when they are on hiatus (aside from Matthew Vasquez, the lead singer and guitar player, who is doing a small solo tour in January 2016), they fill their time with the planning of highly successful festivals, conceiving everything from the point of inception to the very day of the show. The band gets their name from Duke Spirit, twisted to sound more American, and it couldn’t be more appropriate.

The band has always had an eclectic mix of sounds, with previous recordings edging closer to the side of folkrock Americana, and their latest record, Into The Wide showcasing their moodier, more intense side in music. The album became the group’s highest charting album in the United States to date, and sent a clear message: Delta Spirit will not be pigeonholed, especially not by genre. Despite being from Southern California, Delta Spirit often looked

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outward for inspiration and influences, well beyond their backyards. “[In California] there is no one identity or culture that has a whole lot of depth or historical reach attached.

The prevalent culture would be surf, I guess, but that’s not something that was ever a big part of our lives, so we had to look beyond our immediate culture and even families to find our artistic and musical identities. That lack of direct connection to our immediate culture could be part of why our sound and even personas are hard to genre-fy. We are always on the hunt for new and old sounds and ideas, while hopefully making it our own a bit on the way.”

This wide and expansive identity can be seen even further with how they live their lives: constantly traveling, performing as buskers for a time when they first started, and traveling to countless cities while also calling many of them home. With songs like, “Into The Wide,” “California” and “French Quarter,” it is clear that the world is their muse.

“Since I have been a touring musician for half of my life, I feel comfortable in a lot of places.” The band is now divided between Los Angeles, Austin, and New York. Following their years of grueling tour schedules and the announcement of hiatus, Delta Spirit quickly found themselves enveloped in a new project: the planning of Outpost Fest. In a moment of serendipity in casual conversation, the idea to create a festival to add something to the culture that had more thought, character and quality, came into shape. The idea was to create a music festival that we would actually want to go to, and not filled with the many flaws they had witnessed the past 11 years of being a part of the festival circuit themselves.

They often saw the entire scene as “miserable and corners of sound/food/beer/aesthetic. They were also driven by the desire to create an authentic, free environment, with a focus on a genuine respect and love of music, in a comfortable and engaging setting that reflects who the band is and what they believe in. All members of the band were involved from the beginning, from deciding the name, choosing the lineup and vendors, to the vibe of the festival in general. “It was a very interesting and challenging experience putting the fest together,” says Jon Jameson, the band’s bass player.

With only a short time to work through the summer toward the event date of November 14, 2015, the band had to thank friends who helped the event come to life. “Cold War Kids have been our buds since before we started Delta Spirit, so that was so cool to get them to headline the first Outpost. We have close friendships with Tijuana Panthers and Guards and were just fans of the rest of the bands. The vendors were largely our friends as well. So many great brands helped us pull this thing together; Dr Martens, Stance, Taylor Stitch, Lagunitas, Stumptown, the list of amazing partners, who are really just great buds that support what we were doing, goes on.”

Jameson goes on to say that: “There were a lot of people who worked really hard to make Outpost come to life.

I’m so happy that it went as well as it did. We are all very stoked!” The band says they are not in a hurry to get an album out, not because it isn’t a priority, but because they want to make sure another round of intense touring is accompanied by a truly great record worth leaving their families for. As of now, they aren’t even sure of what the direction the album will take, “until we spend some time in a room with our guitars arguing with each other.” The guys touring essential: a good coffee setup. A band after my own heart.

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DOWNTOWN SANTA ANA

INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY

KROCHET KIDS

NICK WATERHOUSE

INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY

RAGIN CAJUN

THE GIVING KEYS

MAST BROTHERS

FOOD GALORE

outpost fest +

BACK TO THE FUTURE

D T W N

SANTA

ANA

+

Outpost Fest was held on November 14, 2015. It was a prestigious lineup featuring Delta Spirit, Beach Fossils, Guards, Tijuana Panthers, Blonde Redhead and Mynabirds. It was held at its prime location in Downtown Santa Ana, CA. Such a laid back atmosphere with locals heading to see their favorite bands perform. The festival gave a local vibe with vendors like Individual Medley, The Giving Keys, Krochet Kids and many others. Outpost Fest did not forget about the munchies aspect so they included food trucks such as Ragin Cajun. It was great to see a combination of the art and music scene, we definitely enjoyed our time at the festival and excited to see what’s to come for Outpost Fest in the near feature.

PHOTOGRAPHY: CATHRINE KHOM & LHOYCEL MARIE TEOPE

LOUNGING TIME

VENICE COLD BREW

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guards PHOTOGRAPHY: LHOYCEL MARIE TEOPE

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tijuana panthers PHOTOGRAPHY: CATHRINE KHOM

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beach fossils PHOTOGRAPHY: CATHRINE KHOM

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cold war kids PHOTOGRAPHY: LHOYCEL MARIE TEOPE

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a look bac + C O V ER ILLUSTRATI O

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ella grace denton

remi cruz

PHOTO: DUNJA OPALKO

PHOTO: LHOYCEL MARIE TEOPE

ck at 2015 NS B Y KRISTY H O NG +

bertie gilbert

the maine

PHOTO: HARRY HITCHENS

PHOTO: DYLAN RAZO

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rhodes bros

tori kelly

PHOTO: RAUL ROMO

PHOTO: MADISON BASS-TAYLOR

sierra furtado

laurdiy

PHOTO: STEPHANIE HUANG

PHOTO: SHANNON BRAY

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lany

tyde levi

PHOTO: SKIP HOPKINS

PHOTO: VIVIANA CONTRERES

orion carloto

jenn mcallister

PHOTO: MICHAEL MORALES

PHOTO: DYLAN RAZO

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