THE HOLLYWOOD ISSUE
FUTURE OF FASHION . CULTURE . TECH
VOL 39
POWER AND GRACE
Monique Coleman I N S P I R E
E M P O W E R
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E D U C A T E
HOUSE OF NOVA Future of Couture RAINE MAGAZINE VOL 39
CONTENTS 7 FASHION : 23 CULTURE :
F&W Style, Gaia Amore, Daniela de Sá Nadja Fashion, The House of Nova
Worlds of Wonderment Sam Wilde, A Medley of Mediums Jay Bonadio Jr., Stardust Child, J. Monroe, Symphony No. 3 Rum, LA's Castle For Sale, Sarah McDermott Jain, John Strelecky, Storytime, Café Grumpy, Rubens at the Palace, Taylor Grey, Tiffany Daniels, Gina Thompson, Martha Millan
78 COVER STORY :
POWER AND GRACE Monique Coleman
87 TECHNOLOGY :
DAOs, Designers, and Digital Humans, Top 100 Women of the Future, Tracy Greenen, Web3 Women to Watch, The Rise of AI Art
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FOUNDER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR & EDITOR IN CHIEF
NOVA LORRAINE EDITORIAL TEAM MURRAY BLEHART Managing Editor & Features Writer
JANET IGAH Associate Editor
CREATIVE DESIGNER SRISHTI VERMA
EMMALINE STODDARD Asst. Managing Editor & Features Writer
WRITERS
SOCIAL MEDIA
TIMOTHY NEILL Features Writer
SAGE LITTLEJOHN
BRYSON LITTLEJOHN Features Writer
FEATURES PHOTOGRAPHER & EDITORIAL CONTENT DIRECTOR Vital Agibalow
COVER CREDITS SAGE LITTLEJOHN JANET IGAH Production Assistant Styling
YULIYA HAKIMI Hair
MIRNA JOSE Braid Hairstylist
THYNNA WAGENBLAST Makeup
RAINE MAGAZINE NEW YORK * LA * MIAMI Raine Magazine is a trademark of Raine Creative Holdings LLC and is published biannually. All logos, and articles are copyrighted materials and all rights are reserved. Any reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of Raine Creative Holdings is prohibited. The publisher also reserves the right to refuse any advertising material for any reason deemed inappropriate by the publisher. To distribute Raine Magazine at your business, please email editors@rainemagazine.com
RAINE MAGAZINE INQUIRIES submissions@rainemagazine.com
editor’S NOTE WELCOME TO RAINE MAGAZINE
VOLUME 39
Hello my Raine Family! I can hardly believe that it was over 15 years ago that we introduced the first issue of Raine to the world. What started off as a question, grew into an idea, and is now the coveted platform for inspiring creative entrepreneurs. Why Raine? Raine is here to challenge the status quo. Raine seeks to inspire you to make a living from your passions; encourage you to take that next step; and empower you to believe that your dreams can become a reality! We are a family of creatives. Although each of our paths are unique - we understand each other's journey and aspirations. We are here to support each other while innovating our industries. As the Editor-in-Chief, I am excited to share with you the inspiring stories of creative entrepreneurs who have made a significant impact in their respective communities. At our core, our mission has always been to inspire, educate, and empower our readers through the content we create. Our goal is to not only provide you with information but to also encourage you to pursue your passions and follow your heart. We believe that everyone has the potential to achieve greatness and we want to help you get there. Over the years, we have covered a diverse range of topics, from the future of fashion to cultural finds, and technological advancements. Our magazine has always been a platform for up-and-coming artists, designers, and innovators to showcase their work and share their stories with the world. We take pride in being the first to discover new talent and share their stories with our readers. As we move forward, we will continue to push the boundaries and bring you the latest and most exciting content from the worlds of fashion, culture, and technology. We will also strive to bring more great changemakers to our pages, as we believe that everyone's story deserves to be heard. So, whether you are a creative entrepreneur looking for inspiration, or someone who simply enjoys learning about the latest innovations, we hope that you find our magazine informative, entertaining, and empowering. Thank you for being a part of our journey and I hope you enjoy the Raine "experience" as much as we love bringing it to you. Until next time! XO
NOVA LORRAINE Founder I Editor In Chief
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LEGACY TO
SUSTAINABILITY
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Photo Courtesy of Najha Fashions
Daniela Sa RAINE: Why did you pursue a career in the fashion industry? DANIELA DE SÁ: It’s been a long way, and as in any career with very good moments, good moments and not so good moments, it’s been a challenge. Since I came from a Portuguese family related to fashion through my grandfather, I can say that I was born in the heart of fashion. My grandfather had a company that produced shoes. Since then we have been shoemakers, and since my childhood I am used to hearing about fashion- trends, materials, production, etc. My first fashion job was in my father’s company, where I was a board member and I managed all the departments of the company. We were producing to high-end brands e.g. Gucci. While working in my father’s company, I learned about the high standards of the fashion industry and also realized how fashion is a polluting industry. As a fashion lover and a planet lover, I started to think of a way of getting both things together in a fashion brand. That was the moment that I quit my job in my father’s company and started to pursue my dream of creating a luxury sustainable brand. I flew to Italy and spent some time in Milan to learn more about fashion, patterns and design. It was an amazing time of discovery! When I came back to Portugal, I started Najha Fashion with luxury, vegan and sustainable concepts and started to create the marketing plan! RAINE: How do you feel about being the first woman in the family business? SÁ: It is a huge responsibility! Although I quit my job in my father’s company to start my own business, at this moment I am the only one in the family moving forward with the shoe business, alongside that I am the only woman. It’s very challenging to have this huge heritage from my family and let my work be known in the world, adding the concept of sustainability and veganism. RAINE: Why did you choose to use sustainable materials in your designs? Was it difficult to find sustainable materials to use? SÁ: I have been vegetarian for 19 years, and I can tell you while I was working in my father’s company, it started to be very difficult to work with leather materials. Since then, I started to look for sustainable materials. For the first collection I started to use cork which is a material traditionally Portuguese and not only sustainable but also vegan. It was a huge discovery! I was always looking for new materials, which at the beginning were very hard to find, and suppliers were not focused on sustainability. At this moment, as sustainability is an issue that matters, materials are easier to find, and currently I am using fabric upcycled from marine litter, organic cotton, recycled polyester, recycled soles and others. One thing that is important to me is to make sure that these materials have high standards of quality, and before any product is in the market I test them in shoes, bags and apparel. RAINE: Was the transition difficult going from working in your family business to starting your own? SÁ: It was really, really challenging. First of all, I had a huge resistance in my family because I was supposed to move forward with my father´s company. I could tell that I didn’t have any family support and sometimes I had some push back from family members. It was really difficult at that time. But I was focused on bringing the brand to reality. I had the knowledge about company departments: I studied design, marketing and management, I had a huge experience in production and I had a range of trustful suppliers, so I had everything to start. It was difficult, but with focus and dedication I started to materialize my goals step by step. And today it keeps being challenging. We always have decisions to make, goals to achieve and strategies to create. It is a challenging work in progress, but is worth it!
Najha Fashions RAINE: Have you faced any challenges being a woman entrepreneur in your industry and if so, how did you overcome them? SÁ: Definitely yes, I had many challenges as a woman entrepreneur! I challenged my suppliers and producers for new products, new materials and new ways of production, and I felt a lot of resistance not only because of new things but also because there was that feeling, “If I was a man no one would question!” Men’s opinions are much more listened to than women’s opinions. Even in my father’s company I felt a lot of resistance! I faced a lot of why´s and no´s, starting a vegan and sustainable concept in a highly traditional industry... it was chaos, I can tell! I realized that people were doubting about the concept and thinking that I was crazy and I was wanting to change the whole company... OMG, it was hard! Actually, I am wanting to change the whole industry, definitely at the beginning it was chaos! When in the media we started to listen more about sustainability, I felt partners become more relaxed in what I was asking. Bringing a new concept to the fashion industry and being a woman, I had to work three or four more times to be listened to. Even today, sometimes I feel that resistance, but at this moment I created my own strategy to overcome them. The main thing is to be persistent and clear in what we ask. I always know what I am asking for because sometimes a “no” turns to a “yes”. Studying all the subjects to be an expert in them is very important! RAINE: What is your proudest moment in your career? SÁ: I have some proudest moments, which gave me inspiration to move forward and to keep faith in what I was doing: The first one: I was nominated for “Best Designer of the Year - Accessories Category” by Drapers Magazine. The second one: I was selected for the IVLProgram for the entrepreneurship and innovation of the product by the US Embassy in Portugal, and at this moment my company is based in the USA. The third one: I was selected to present the collection in New York Fashion Week with Flying Solo as an independent designer. The fourth one: Najha Fashion was selected to be part of Laurel Excellence Brand Association which put the brand side by side with high-end brands all around the world. At this moment the board calls it the “Tesla” of fashion, which is a huge achievement. RAINE: What words of wisdom can you share with others on a similar journey? SÁ: Three words are important - focus, confidence and persistence - and it’s challenging. For sure you will have many people wanting to give their personal opinion and wanting to change your route. Always listen to them, warmly welcome all the options and choose wisely which ones are useful for you. I had some of those situations even with employers and I had to always keep my focus on what was and is my vision, because what we see mostly the others don’t see, and we have to lead them to reach the goal and put together all their skills for the vision. It’s very important that you believe in yourself and keep the focus on what you believe, because it is what gives you strength to move forward. RAINE: Do you have any exciting plans coming up? SÁ: A new collection is always an exciting plan. At this moment I am creating a new collection to present in New York Fashion Week next February! I am also looking for a first round of investment and it is very, very exciting pitching in some events all around the world! Presenting the brand and being focused on showing how we can change the whole fashion industry to investors is very exciting. What I propose is a complete new paradigm of this industry, and this is also so exciting!
A PEEK INTO THE HOUSE OF NOVA
A Medley of Mediums ARTIST
JAY BONADIO JR.
O
rlando native Jbon, also known as “The Unsigned Artist”, has shaken up the art scene for over a decade while continuously evolving and perfecting his craft. Beginning as a silk screen artist at the age of 15, Jay has since harnessed his talents to perfect an original “Neo-Mosaic” shattered glass concept of collections that he continues to create today. The use of shattered glass is unparalleled. It not only brings further depth to his style but it has enabled him to spearhead his way into creating large structural installations, specialized interiors, and more recently to combine his passion for art and his love for bonsai. He has caught the attention of those in and out of the art world. His work can be seen in galleries up for auction/ commissioned or elevating the style of various businesses, hotels, and even the streets of Central Florida. Photos Courtesy of Jay Bonadio, Jr.
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Skull Fan Geisha RAINE MAGAZINE VOL 39
BEYOND PHOTOGRAPHY J. Monroe RAINEby MAGAZINE VOL 39 Photo John Paul Dia
Photos by J. Monroe
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ROOTED IN HAIR
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT
WOLVES AT NIGHT Sara McDermott Jain
S
ara McDermott Jain is an award-winning, produced screenwriter and internationally bestselling author. Her passion is moving readers through fear and into empowerment via the thriller and horror genres. She's also the creator of the Book to Script Course, which shows authors how to adapt their books into screenplays, and she teaches both screenwriting and novel writing at the college level.
RAINE: Why did you pursue a career in writing? SARA MCDERMOTT JAIN: I always knew I wanted to be a writer, but if I have to dial into a central reason why, I think it’s because I believe very strongly in the transformational power of story. Our stories help us to frame our lives, have breakthroughs, and stay strong, no matter what happens. Whether someone is a reader or writer, this is a tremendous gift. Reading stories can help people better understand and find meaning in their lives. Writing does this as well, in a very personal way. Intentionally or subconsciously, we tend to write about things we’re dealing with, so while writing can be a way to build a career and entertain others, it’s also an ongoing road to self-discovery. RAINE: What drew you to the horror genre? JAIN: I’m fascinated by the horror genre! It’s because horror stories are metaphors for things we’re afraid of in life, things we need to overcome in order to achieve what we really want. In horror, we see people either rise up and defeat the “scary thing”—or be destroyed by it. That’s an amazing analogy for how things work in real life. If you think about the stories that have most endured over time (even going back 1000s of years), they tend to be stories with an element of horror. It’s because horror taps into a very primal place that resonates with people on a different level than any other type of story, and therefore, I think it actually offers more opportunity for growth than most other genres. RAINE MAGAZINE VOL 39
RAINE: What is one scary thing that you’ve overcome when building your business or career? How did you overcome it? JAIN: It might be cliche, but the first thing to come to mind is having to share my work. I think most creative people can relate! Putting something out into the world makes you so vulnerable. I think this one fear actually breaks down into several smaller fears: fear the work won’t be well received, fear that the people we’re close to might judge or mock us, and fear that our stories won’t be as good as we’d hoped. (Additionally, once the work’s out there, we can’t even daydream anymore about how awesome it’ll be—the verdict will be in!) I’ve definitely experienced all of these things, not just in my private fears, but also in reality, and a few specific ways of thinking helped me to overcome them….one is that, at a certain point, finding the people who your work WILL resonate with becomes more important than trying to avoid judgment or ridicule from the people that it simply doesn’t speak to.
RAINE: Why did you choose to write for both the page and the screen? JAIN: I consider both books and films to be really powerful in different ways. With books, you tell your readers, “you’re going to have an experience,” because the way they interpret and visualize what they read will depend on their own unique filters. With films, you tell your audience, “I’m going to give you an experience,” because the writer/filmmaker designs everything and then presents it as a total package. Both are super effective, but are going to engage people differently. Books were really my first love, and then I discovered screenwriting a little bit later. As a creative, when I get ideas, they often present themselves to me as initially being a great fit for either a book or a movie. I like being able to jump into either medium so that I can deliver the story in the way I think best fits the idea, although I’m a strong believer that any story can be adapted for any medium down the line. RAINE: Why did you develop programs to help writers? JAIN: Writing has been such a major part of my life, and I love getting to share that with others. The first program I ever created (outside of courses taught at universities) was the Book to Script Course, showing writers how to adapt their books into screenplays. I became passionate about this once I realized that there really wasn’t a whole lot of information available on how to do adaptations. There were tons of courses on straight-forward screenwriting, but doing an adaptation is very different from writing a script from scratch, and I wanted to create the most thorough resources I could to show people how to do this. It was very rewarding when people who came through the program began to make film and tv deals of their own, so now it’s become a part of my life that I hope to offer for a long time to come.
Two, that if you know you’re meant to do something…if it’s a dream that has never gone away…you need to do it now, not later. Time goes by, and just by putting your work out there, you can at least continue to move forward. When we’re in the throes of a project, it seems like the end-allbe-all, but once it’s done, you don’t know what it’s going to lead to in terms of your next idea. A project that means even more to you, and which will be even more of a magnum opus, might be in your future, but you can’t get to it without getting through the others first. So don’t get hung up on everything needing to be perfect. Focus on doing the work you’re called to do, releasing it in the best way you can, and then moving forward so you can become the artist you’re meant to be. RAINE: If someone asked you how they could stimulate their creativity, what advice would you give? JAIN: Set a timer for just ten minutes and do something creative. If ten minutes is too hard, do five. Even five minutes will get your juices flowing. Creativity is like a muscle that you have to flex. If you never make time for it, it atrophies— but it’s always there. It just needs to get woken back up. Committing such a small amount of time removes any pressure to do anything “great,” and just allows you to have fun as you get into the swing of things. Just do whatever you can do, without expecting a masterpiece. It’ll feel good. RAINE: What words of wisdom can you share with others on a similar journey? JAIN: Don’t put off your creative projects. Move forward, now, in whatever small way you can. Don’t get hung up on perfection, just always focus on moving forward. Being a horror writer, my main tagline on my website is “You can’t get out of the house without facing the monster.” The house refers to whatever situation you find yourself in that’s holding you back. The monster is whatever you need to confront in order to change your situation. Don’t be afraid to do it. There’s a world of possibilities on the other side.
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COVER STORY
POWER AND GRACE Monique Coleman PHOTOGRAPHEDBY VITALAGIBALOWfor HENSEL MAKEUPBYTHYNNAW AGENBLAST HAIRBY YULIYAHAKIMI BRAIDHAIRSTYLINGBYMIRNAJOSE STYLINGBYJANETIGAH
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Dress - Casablanca Necklace & ring - Meri Lou Jewelry Stacked rings - Cindy Kleist
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Top by Pleats Please by Issey Miyake Bralette top & Skirt - Simone Ellis
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M
onique Coleman is an actress, producer, and Daytime Emmy Nominated host best known for playing Taylor McKessie in Disney’s High School Musical franchise (and will reprise her iconic role in the upcoming season of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series for Disney+).
Recent projects include Lifetime movies Greed: A Seven Deadly Sins Story, and A Christmas Dance Reunion. She can also be seen starring in the BET movie Love, Marry, Kill.
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Balanced with her passion for acting, Monique has an unshakable belief in the power and potential of today's youth. As the first-ever United Nations Youth Champion, she has traveled to over 24 countries and spent the last decade advocating for women and youth across the globe through movements such as the UN Foundation's Girl Up campaign and her executive-produced Discovery Life series, Gimme Mo' - for which she garnered a Daytime Emmy nomination.
RAINE: What was the initial spark of creative inspiration that led you to pursue a career in the arts? MONIQUE COLEMAN: I came out of the womb singing and dancing. I can’t remember a time when performing, storytelling, dancing, and being creative weren’t the most important things in my life. I read the phone book like it was a novel and was constantly putting on performances for my family members. In third grade, I had an amazing teacher who recognized that my inability to focus in class (and extremely talkative nature) were likely linked to the fact that I was actually an artist! I began training in multiple disciplines. Thirty-five years later, I love it just as much as I ever did. RAINE: How did your initial career as an actress expand over time and broaden out to include several other creative pursuits and projects? COLEMAN: Acting was initially an outlet for my emotional expression. It allowed me to explore parts of myself that I didn’t feel safe enough to express in my “real” life. Over time, I came to recognize the limitations around only portraying the roles that were available to me. I also wanted more control over the stories I was telling. That led me to expand into other avenues that would allow me to have a greater impact, including writing, producing, hosting, and directing.
I do my best to prioritize self-care, which includes hydrating, meditating, exercising, and doing things that bring me joy. RAINE: What’s the one piece of advice you would give to any aspiring creative looking to make it within their chosen field?
COLEMAN: Instead of focusing on “making it”, focus on the work and your passion for why you do what you do. Pursuing a creative field will have many challenges, and when you place more significance on your destination instead of the journey, you’ll never be satisfied. Cultivate a strong work ethic, build a supportive community, and never stop learning or growing in your respective field. RAINE: You have built a large portfolio across acting, activism, and philanthropy. What are the key factors you are looking for when choosing which projects to endorse or devote time and effort towards? COLEMAN: Purpose. I like to choose projects that are either personally meaningful, or empowering to young people, women/girls, or the planet. RAINE: Do you have something you are working on right now that you have a particular passion for? COLEMAN: At the moment, I’m really passionate about self-development and integrating the lessons I’ve learned over the years to discover how I can use my experiences to make a difference in any and all things I pursue moving forward.
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TOP 100
It was such an honor to meet many incredible people representing a growing network of global leaders, pioneers, changemakers, and innovative problem solvers from around the world. We hope our inaugural book project inspires many future initiatives that increase opportunities for women and underrepresented groups in the emerging technologies space.
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- Tarja Stephens CEO Mission Impact & Publishing Partner, Women of the Future
Women of the Future addresses the need for women to be in leadership positions for positive change. Research shows that diverse teams are more innovative and perform better. By featuring the stories of these leading women, the book aims to break down barriers and create opportunities for the next generation of female leaders in the Web3 and Metaverse space. It is a call to action for more women to take the reins and lead in this space and for the industry to recognize the value that women bring to the table. The book is a powerful tool to inspire and empower women to take their rightful seat at the table in the Web3 and Metaverse space.
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W
omen of the Future, published by Global Village Publishing in partnership with Mission Impact, aims to shine a spotlight on the leading women in the Web3 and Metaverse space across the globe. The project, which includes a premium hardcover book, video interviews, NFTs and 3D interactive books, culminated in a launch event in Miami in December 2023 at the Immerse Global Summit. The featured women are making significant contributions to the development of decentralized technologies, virtual worlds, and digital economies, yet their work often goes unnoticed. The book features their stories, experiences, and insights on the impact of Web3 and the Metaverse on various industries, including finance, gaming, and fashion. The book is intended to give these women the recognition they deserve and to promote gender diversity in the technology sector.
It was a privilege to work with these incredible women who all contributed to bringing the first Women of the Future book to life. These women are not only making a significant impact in the industry, but they also serve as inspiring role models for girls in STEAM programs and any women wanting to get into this new frontier. The initiative has gained tremendous traction and we’re excited to see the positive change it will bring.
- Sue Rooney COO Global Village Publishing & Publisher, Women of the Future