Trend F/W 18 - The Unrefined Issue

TREND F/W 18

Embracing the Skin You’re In

The Unrefined Issue

Featuring Camille Latzke

Reclaiming Your Culture Identity Through Fashion

04 Meet the Staff

06 Are You Who You Want to Be? arcade games and night lights

18 Jayden Smith: Living His Best Life “the epitome of indviduality”

20 Embracing the Skin You’re In a photo series

32 Meet the Cover Girl businesswoman, DJ, fashion-lover, traveler, leader, and overall boss

40 Life’s Too Short, Buy the Ugly Sweater “the joy of dressing is an art”

05 Letter From the Editor

12 The Unapologetic Way identity through fashion

19 Paper Planes guest feature poem

26 Reclaiming Your Culture a photo series

38 How to Channel Your Inner Badass strategies to becoming the most productive, daring, and healthy version of yourself

42 TRENDing at UCSD

Staff List EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MARKETING

FINANCE

STYLISTS

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

PHOTOGRAPHERS

VIDEOGRAPHERS

COPY EDITOR WRITERS

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Akanksha Kevalramani Kimiko Okumura Joae Kwhak Emily Martinez Lucía Nishizawa Rodríguez Faisal Alnajjar Marlon Gamez Rachel Lee Erica Nguyen Bailee Hunter Scott Liu Lucy Xu Lee Liang Kimiko Okumura Kimberly Tran Faisal Alnajjar Jessica Li Julia Li Tatiana Diaz de Leon Ola Abuelhassan Chelsea Santos

Letter from the Editor Throughout the making of this issue, all we kept asking ourselves was: “what do we want our readers to take away from this magazine?” and “are the students of UCSD going to find this relatable?” We decided that we wanted to encourage everyone to be fearless, loud, independent, and true to themselves - and hence, unrefined. More often than not, we live our lives worrying about what other people think of us. But you know what? Life is short, so you need to wear that dress that seems way out of your comfort zone. You need to celebrate your culture and reclaim it from those who use your culture only when it’s convenient for them. You need to be louder than the people who try to silence you. You need to be true to yourself and your values, and if someone has a problem with it, well, they gotta deal with it.

I wouldn’t have been a part of Trend Magazine today if I hadn’t been taught to follow my heart and believe in myself. I began my journey at Trend in my sophomore year as its graphic designer, and now - as a senior and as Trend completes its 10 years I feel incredibly honored and grateful to have the opportunity to be Editor-in-Chief.

There are no words that could express how grateful I am for everyone who keeps this magazine running. I feel so blessed that I get to work with such phenomenally creative people who constantly inspire me. The dedication and hard work they put into this magazine does not go unnoticed, and I hope they realize that. Last but not the least, this magazine would be nothing if it weren’t for our readers, so thank you for supporting us and taking the time to read through our magazine.

With love,

Akanksha Kevalramani EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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ARE YOU WHO YOU WANT TO BE?

photographed by Kimberly Tran

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model Elizabeth Filipian top, pants, sunglasses Mimi & Red

coat Hunt & Gather top Brandy Melville jeans Topshop booties Madden Girl

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model Bright Lertkomolsuk shirt Hunt & Gather jeans Forever 21

faux fur jacket Mimi & Red t-shirt Mimi & Red

sweater Hunt & Gather jeans Forever 21 shoes Timberland

sweater Hunt & Gather jeans Forever 21 shoes Timberland

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The Unapologetic Way photographed by Lee Liang

For the first time this year, we released a model call on our social media platforms to seek out aspiring models at UC San Diego to feature in our magazine. From a large pool of applications, we were drawn to two people that really stood out to us for their personal style. Their style is unique and powerful in a way that we feel speaks a great deal about them as people, not only from their application answers but also through their expressive mediums.

We were curious to learn more about the stories behind the personal style of Benjamin Lomeli Jr - a third year Sociology/Ethnic Studies student - and Samar Saif - a second year Clinical Psychology and Critical Gender Studies student.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your family, where you are from and where you grew up?

B: I am from Long Beach, CA - born and raised. Long Beach is one of the top ten LGBTQ friendly cities in the United States. I love Long Beach so much. It has shaped a lot of what I hold close to my heart such as social justice, diversity, and equity. It has also made me really confident about my Queerness.

S: I’m going to quote princess nokia on this, but I am divine feminine energy. My name means fruit, which is the heart of a flower, and I think of myself in the same light. I am a queer muslim woman of color, an artist, and a community organizer. I come from

a family that escaped the partition between Pakistan and India and grew up surrounding strongly in my culture and Muslim faith. I have two parents, a little sister and brother. Me and my sister are very close, and I try my best to be a guiding force in her life so she doesn’t make the same mistakes and face the same trauma that I did. I am infinitely proud of her for navigating the world in a much stronger way than I did when I was her age. Her name is Zara, which means blooming flower, and both of us have names that are associated with flowers, which is beautiful because I believe it shows our deep bond and connection. I grew up in the South Bay of Los Angeles and spent a lot of time in the city, from a young age until now. I have a deep connection and love for the selfish, dirty, hungry city hugged by a valley filled with hope and despair that Los Angeles is.

What are some of your hobbies/ interests?

B: I love to read literature, write poetry, and go to art museums/ galleries. I actually worked at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art as an Art Educator for four years prior to moving to San Diego. I’m interested in anything Queer or art related, really.

S: I love creating in any form that takes. I fluctuate from painting and drawing to writing poetry and spoken word and even acting. I have

“...[Long Beach] has also made me really confident about my Queerness.” always loved art in any form that takes. Right now, I spend a lot of time going to art shows and displaying my work as well as spending time in predominantly [people of color (POC) and queer, trans people of color (QTPOC)] spaces. In high school, I was super involved in the DIY art scene, but I never really felt comfortable with myself or my work when I would display it in those spaces because most of the people were white and didn’t understand my identity or alienated me. I love seeing art and live music and [am] still staying involved in the DIY scene but finding my own spaces, too. I have been displaying art at art shows in both LA and SD and going to those shows and meeting people and seeing other artwork has been some of my favorite experiences recently.

Are you involved in any student orgs on campus or are part of any extracurriculars? Tell us a little bit about your role and why you do it.

B: This quarter I actually coorganized/founded a Queer collective known as “QTPOC Talk.” It’s a collective centered

around Queer, Trans People of

model Benjamin Lomeli Jr. shirt Buffalo Exchange pants Thrifted

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model Samar Saif top, skirt, stockings Goodwill allah/butterfly necklace Chinatown crystal necklace Lilamethyst coat Mom’s closet shoes Doc Martens

“...I love the QTPOC work I do at SPACES...”

Color. Our goal is to ensure that

there is a space available for folks that identify with this community. To be honest, UC San Diego is a very problematic institution more so than other UC’s and a lot of marginalized students don’t feel very welcomed here especially after certain events that put UC San Diego on the radar as being a racist campus. So it’s very necessary to have spaces and organizations that support these students as they navigate a whitesupremacist, capitalist, patriarchal, heteronormative, institution and that’s what we hope to do throughout the year.

S: I am involved in things both on and off campus. On campus I work as the Queer and Transgender People of Color Access Coordinator on campus. I recently presented a workshop to Karen American Refugee community on how they can share their narratives creatively in order to create connections between each other. Currently, I am organizing and curating another art show, showcasing only queer and trans people of color artists. I am in the process of bringing a queer South Asian activist to campus as well as a Queer Muslim Cambodian artist. I love the QTPOC work I do at SPACES because working in a space run by and for POC/QPOC is affirming and supportive. I also started a collective for [women of color (WOC)] called “Nobodys Betis” that works with WOC on and off campus, and [I] organized an art show called “Cosmic Not Exotic” in Los Angeles.

The art show showcased two projects I organized, including a visual project on combating racial fetishism and a short film on women

shirt Thrifted overalls Forever 21 socks American Apparel shoes H&M

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vest Shop Tunnelvision hat @neginejas top Small Business Saturday pants Goodwill chain Hot Topic

of color empowerment called “STRENGTH.” This film centered on self love and decolonization through footage and spoken word.

I am so thankful for the wonderful WOC whom I have met through the collective because creating art and sharing words together has helped me find my own voice and learn to help others find theirs.

and expression. It’s an opportunity to present yourself to the world in the manner that you want. For me, fashion is about feeling good about myself. I see it as a guard for all the other insecurities I posses. If I’m well dressed and content with the outfit I put together then I know I will feel good about myself when I step outside. It’s almost revolutionary.

Do you like following “trends” of the season or not really?

I also host the Chai Talks events on campus that create discussion[s] around issues that affect the South Asian diaspora and more. I feel lucky to do the work and organizing I do and try my best to continue expanding and growing.

S: I see fashion as a central form of expression. For me, feeling comfortable in an outfit and beautiful is so central to how I feel. I think that finding clothing that makes me feel good about myself and that I can express myself through so important to how I feel daily. For a long time, I was not allowed to wear certain things or by certain things because they were haram to my family, but now that I have full autonomy over what I wear, I feel like it has helped me grow into myself. I think fashion is essential for me to feel like I can express myself outwardly and feel like myself in public spaces.

Is there anyone in your life that has played a role in how you view fashion? Who/What influences your style?

Out of all the things that make you who you are, what’s the biggest part of your identity?

B: Being unapologetically Queer.

Queerness is essential to my core. It disrupts everything that is meant to be “normal.” To me being unapologetically Queer means being free. It means being liberated from these repressive norms set upon by heteronormativity.

S: This question is hard to answer because I think I exist in between many different identities. Right now I focus on what it means to be a muslim WOC and queer and where that puts me. I think that my south Asian femme and muslim identity have been at the forefront of who I am, but I am continually exploring how all the other parts play a role in what makes me who I am.

What do you think of fashion? Is it important to you? Why? B: I definitely see fashion as art

If you had to describe your style in 3 words, how would you describe it?

B: Flower Boi Scholar.

S: Cosmic, khoobsoorat, ethereal Where do you usually like to shop?

B: I do most of my shopping at thrift stores, but when I can (and I hardly do so) I’ll shop at H&M. S: I usually shop at Goodwill or just take old shalwars from my mom.

I don’t believe in spending a lot of money on clothing. I also get clothes at local swap meets and even on eBay.

B: Nah. S: I kind of just wear what I want, I don’t really follow trends. I think my style is sometimes is reflective of certain fashion styles but I don’t actively seek out anything. I just wear what I want and feel beautiful in.

B: I am largely influenced by counterculture fashion from the 60s. My fashion is always evolving. I try to incorporate fashion I see out on the street or on Instagram in to my own, but it rarely ever happens. Lately, I don’t really know what direction my fashion is headed in, but I have no doubt that it’ll still be unique.

S: I was really involved in the DIY scene, and that kind of played a role in the progression of my style.

I started off dressing really “indie”, then punk, then goth and kind of found a way to incorporate my cultural styles into my fashion as well. Now I dress a mixture of many things and I have been drawn to brighter colors and flowers as I continue to grow and change. Some influences on my style are LA street style, other south Asian femmes, and Princess Nokia. If I could describe my style it would be the 30 second sample of a desi song in that one Princess Nokia song. I think my style encompasses many different elements of my south Asian identity, of my queerness, and of the scenes I was involved in.

JADEN LIVING HIS BEST LIFE SMITH written by Chelsea Santos

Jaden Smith is the epitome of individuality. He’s not afraid to stand out. Jaden Smith only cares about one person’s opinion: his own.

He’s incredibly smart and to some, eccentric. Take for example his outfit of choice at the wedding of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West: an all-white Batman suit. People questioned this iconoclastic fashion statement, but he had no reservations about it. He owned that look and had the guts to wear white to someone else’s wedding.

At the 2017 Met Gala, Smith brought an unusual date along with him. The date in question? His dreadlocks, which he had chopped off just days before the star-studded event. Hair is a big part of identity for many people, but his new buzz cut only reflects his multifaceted personality.

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It’s evident that he’s unlike any other teen in Hollywood these days. Just check his Twitter, for starters. Some people accuse him of being high (and there’s no problem if he is, honestly), but in reality he’s saying things that we’d be embarrassed to say out loud.

He isn’t afraid to go after what he wants. He’s followed many pursuits: he has his own fashion company, MSFTS, has acted in movies like The Karate Kid, (with Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig) produced and starred in Netflix anime Neo Yokio, played a graffiti artist in Netflix drama The GetDown, and just recently dropped SYRE, a rap album that he took three years to perfect.

Idolizing celebrities is common in this day and age, so look up to someone worthwhile. Like Jaden.

PAPER PLANES

written by Dalia

shut your eyes, make a wish “no, that’s only a passing plane” well, it’s all we’ve got so let’s pretend let’s pretend that a winged creature leaves coins under our tired heads let’s pretend that a red-suited man lays presents under merry trees let’s pretend that a rabbit hides chocolate-filled eggs to be discovered let’s pretend that gulping down spinach makes us as strong as trusty sailor men let’s pretend that traveling to a far away land can keep us forever young my dear, let’s pretend that shooting star wishes do come true let’s make paper stars and toss them into the air, watch them descend as if it’s our first and last winter together hundreds, thousands, we’ll have endless wishes so, let’s pretend shut your eyes, make a wish “no, that’s only a passing plane” well, it’s all we’ve got so let’s wish on that

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E M b R a c i ng

T he s k i n ’ i o R y U e n photographed by Kimiko Okumura To quote Steve Maraboli, “There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection.“. The key to happiness is to strive to be a better version of yourself tomorrow than you are today while still being comfortable with who you are today. There is no such thing as perfect skin, perfect hair or perfect body so stop trying to reach unrealistic standards that the world has set for you and start celebrating your uniqueness and everything that makes you who you are.

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models Samantha Davis & Lawrence Jae Hsiung

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models Dalia Elmanzalawy & Marcus Turner

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RECLAMING YOUR CULTURE written by Akanksha Kevalramani & photographed

by Kimiko Okumura It’s 2018, and sadly we’re still policing the way that hair naturally grows out of black women’s heads.

Recently, a 17-year-old black girl from Florida was asked to leave her high school if she didn’t change her hair. She had been wearing an Afro for seven months, but one day her teacher told her that her hair “needs to be fixed, it was not neat and needs to be put in a style” and sent her to the principal’s office. Black women are constantly told to straighten their hair and keep it “in control” and this is just one of the many incidents where black women are made to feel as if they are not good enough for the society we live in. Many hairstyles have been developed that make it easier for black people to manage their hair, which is often thick with tighter and smaller curls than people of other races, while other black hairstyles have historical connections to African cultures. We believe it is important that we all realize the beauty in our differences. Therefore we pictured our model, Irene Imani Kwangaba, wearing her hair in a fro with a headwrap, a common black hairstyle in hopes that it inspires you to embrace your natural beauty and not give in to those who are controlling you and your bodies.

model Irene Imani Kwangaba headwrap The Wrap Life top Zara suede skirt Zara boots Lost and Found

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model Crystal Wang sweater Zara trousers Zara

Weylie Hoang, a popular lifestyle and beauty Youtuber, recently shared her story of growing up Chinese American and she recounted an incident of discrimination from her childhood. On her second day of school in second grade, she brought for lunch her favorite Chinese dish, pork belly with pickled mustard greens, and she was looking forward to lunchtime all day, as we all do.

However, as soon as she opened her lunch box, her classmates started asking her questions about what she was eating and on hearing that it was pork belly, all the kids seemed disgusted and started calling her food “gross.” This broke the heart of the little girl who was so excited to be eating her favorite food that her mom cooked for her and not only did she end up not eating her lunch that day but she also pretended to be disgusted by it herself so she could fit in with the rest of her classmates.

Unfortunately, this is an experience many people of different cultural backgrounds growing up in America might resonate with. Hence, we pictured our model, Crystal Wang, enjoying chicken feet, a common Chinese food, in a public space. We hope that we can help you realize that you have the right to eat foods from your culture without feeling embarrassed. For all of you who may have been the kind to make fun of others for liking something, here’s a simple lesson for you, “don’t yuck my yum.”

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The Chola, the female counterpart of the cholo, emerged in the 60s and 70s and was a “working-class, young Mexican American female from the barrios of the southwest with a very distinct aesthetic, style and attitude,” according to Hellabreezy, an Oakland-based model, and modern-day Chola.

“Being a chola is more than perfect eyeliner, gold accessories, or Dickies. It’s an identity forged out of the struggle to assert [their] culture and history, a struggle that continues,” said Hellabreezy. The gang-inspired Chola look was preceded by the predominant Pachuca style, who also had their own nonconformist style of dress and both these styles were a rebel subculture that rejected assimilation into a jingoistic white America that treated brown minorities like secondclass citizens. The Chola look has such complex culture and history behind it, yet there are numerous instances of chola appropriation in which all you need to enter into the culture is some big gold hoop earrings, thin eyebrows, and thick eyeliner. “Back in the day, we were mocked for looking different. Now, so many young girls want to emulate the look and have no idea of the cultural background or street politics associated with it” says Hellabreezy.

It’s hypocritical to call it a fashion trend when celebrities wear big gold hoop earrings but call it “ghetto” if a Mexican woman wears it. Hence, we wanted our model, Diana Alcocer, to rock her big gold hoop earrings, thick eyeliner and red lipstick because she deserves to be able to embrace her cultural background without being labeled a certain way. model Diana Alcocer bandeau top Thrifted

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pants Zara sandals Nine West

CAMILLE

LAT

top Forever 21 jeans Pacsun jacket Ninth Hall

TZKE written by Akanksha Kevalramani photographed by Kimberly Tran

It was an average and chaotic Tuesday during Week 10 that we’re all too familiar with – long hours at Geisel, hunched over your laptop, scrambling to finish that final paper and struggling to learn an entire quarter’s worth of material in a few days. Everyone on campus is in a trance-like state of singleminded determination, working, and willing their last final to be over. So understandably, it was a breath of fresh air to have the opportunity to talk to 4th year Camille Latzke about her passions and accomplishments.

Amidst all the meetings, classes, and preparations for finals, we were able to get a bit of Camille’s time and revel in the empowering and ambitious atmosphere she brings with her.

Coming to UC San Diego was Latzke’s first venture outside her hometown, Moreno Valley, a small city next to Riverside, California.

Little did she know that this would mark the beginning of her global endeavors. Latzke perceives herself as a city girl and had the chance to live her big city dreams while interning in New York City and San Francisco.

She sees traveling as a perfect way to grow as a person. That’s why she also visited Japan with her friends last summer and will be studying abroad in Rome this quarter. When she’s not visiting a new city or a new country, she likes exploring locally - studying at coffee shops, finding hidden gems and checking out the art scene in San

top Forever 21 pants Zara boots Aldo

Diego.

Not only does she enjoy discovering hidden spots around the city, but she also likes uncovering hidden talent in music. “Music has always been a crucial part of my life,” says Latzke.

As a DJ for KSDT Radio and as an editor for the music blog Waffle & Vibes, she likes to use her platform to surface underground artists and share their talents with the world.

It explains why she also chose to minor in Music aside from majoring in International Business. For her, the best part about being a DJ for KSDT that “there is no right or wrong way

beret Thrifted bralette Target mesh top Forever 21 jacket Forever 21 trousers Thrifted boots Aldo

to host a radio show. It’s all about people listening in for your unique personality.” When she’s on air with another DJ, they usually discuss the different music they’ve been listening to, talk about their day, or have Q&A sessions with people calling in. While she finds it therapeutic to talk and write about music, she also enjoys playing drums - something she’s been doing since she was a young girl because it “really pulls you out of the reality of everything else going [on] around you.”

Besides travelling and music, fashion has always been something that she holds close to her heart.

She never completely appreciated it until recently when she made an Instagram account, @_remixt, with one of her good friends, Aileen Liang. They use @_remixt as an expressive medium to showcase their personalities and unique styles, and it allows them to partner up with photographers in the area as well as travel around San Diego.

Liang’s strengths include design so she handles the design aspects of the account, while Latzke, being a business major, feels her responsibility lies with the strategic aspects of the account: networking and optimizing their posts. If she were to define her style, she would say it ranges somewhere from “grunge to New York chic” because sometimes she prefers her look to be structured and sophisticated and other times it’s the complete opposite. It makes sense that with such a dynamic fashion sense, Latzke enjoys thrifting and the diversity and meaning it holds. Her outlook is that “there’s so much [more] value in finding something at a thrift shop than at Forever 21 or something because it’s so unique… and it’s cheap!”

On a more professional note, Latzke co-founded the pre-professional student organization at UC San Diego called Women in Business (WIB) in 2016. She considers this to be not only one of her proudest professional accomplishments but also a personal one. Although she came into UCSD as a Structural Engineering major, Latzke joined the business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi in her freshman year and has been involved in the business community at UC San Diego ever since. She “met some of the most inspiring and ambitious people through that organization, both professionally and personally,” and it sparked her understanding of the significance of maintaining a balance in life. Even so, her friends couldn’t help noticing “an untapped potential amongst specifically the women in business at UCSD, and that’s where everything started.”

Latzke is incredibly passionate about empowerment, and believes that “the only way we’ll rise is if we do it together” - and that was one of the core principles that WIB was founded on. WIB is focused on building a community for women in business at UC San Diego, so that they truly feel valuable and notable in the business world.

The organization has mentorship programs, leadership development programs as well as workshops where women executives visit and speak about their experiences in the real world and how they overcame obstacles. Growing up, Latzke had many women that supported her and that she looked up to. Building this community that provides the same support for other women allows her to give back and express her gratitude.

Another community that Latzke is involved with on campus is the

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Pilipin@-American community at UC San Diego. Through the student organization Kaibigang Pilipin@ (KP), Latzke was able to better connect with her Filipino roots as she is half Filipino and half German. “I was able to surround myself with people who were a lot more familiar with the culture, and they exposed me to different foods that we eat and even different ways of living,” says Latzke.

Through KP, Latzke learned about opportunities such as taking a class in Tagalog, which united her even further with her culture. Being a part of a cultural community feels like you have a support system where “no one is competitive whatsoever and everyone genuinely cares for each other.”

When we asked her to tell us whom she considers her biggest inspiration in life, Latzke struggled to boil it down to one person because she pulls inspiration from different places and different people, both professionally and personally. Yet if she had to choose just one person who had the biggest impact on her, she’d choose her father. Her father grew up with six siblings, lived in “the ghetto,” and didn’t have much of an education. Despite this, he still did his best to secure a comfortable life for Latzke and her family. He always encouraged her to pursue her dreams and ingrained in her that no obstacle is too difficult. He would put her in male-dominated sports and encouraged her to play baseball, play basketball with her brother and cousins, or “go dirt biking with him and his all-guy gang,” leaving her with the wholesome mindset that there was really no difference between her and them, as they are both capable of the same feats. He taught her to see the beauty in every single person she meets and every little thing she does.

Growing up, Latzke would play with her siblings on the field, and they would have the time of their lives rolling abandoned tires down hills of dirt. Now she finds herself practically an adult in college, still having a blast but on a completely different kind of

coat Zara

field - and probably wondering why those hills of dirt seemed so big and cool as a kid. Her dad is the one who helped her understand that no matter what you’re doing, “as long as you’re surrounded by the right people, [you’ll] see that there’s so much to life and anything can be beautiful.”

Latzke considers empowerment a

defining element of who she is. She believes that the greatest thing any person can do is be “so passionate about something that they are eager to spread or share that passion with others in an empowering manner.”

She works to do the very same by sharing her passion for women empowerment through Women in Business and her passion for

THE BASICS Makeup MustHaves: Fenty Beauty Lip Gloss, Anastasia Eyebrow Gel, Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer and a good chapstick Staples: Leather Booties, Checkered Vans, Big Earrings, Denim Jacket, Mom Jeans and a Comfortable Sweater Top Artists: Jhene Aiko, Princess Nokia and BROCKHAMPTON

Dream Destination: London, Because of the Underground Hip Hop Go To TV Shows: Scandal, Black Mirror and Westworld Most Used Apps: Spotify, Messages, Google Calendar, Yelp, Google Maps and Instagram

underground music through KSDT and Waffle & Vibes. “I just hate it when I see people that have this untapped potential, and anyone can see it - like, it’s shining in them - but it takes some kind of driving force to help them realize [it], and I think it’s that empowerment aspect that they need,” says Latzke.

Favorite Food: Burritos

Currently Reading: The Alchemist

HOW TO CHANNEL YOUR INNER

BADASS

written by Tatiana Diaz de Leon

inspired by Jen Sincero’s “You Are A Badass: How To Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living An Awesome Life” In case you weren’t aware, you are a badass human being capable of getting everything you want from your life. No excuses, it’s true, and I recommend saying that out loud to yourself right this moment. It’s a good way to start reading this.

It’s a mainstream concept to encourage others to embrace their natural selves and their unique culture, style, and talents. It’s even second nature to encourage friends and family to take risks or make difficult decisions for their potential growth and success, and yet we are incapable of doing so ourselves.

What exactly can you tell yourself except to get up and take the leap?

It’s always easier said than done because to become as great as the person we admire or envy, we have to win the mental game happening in our brains.

To unleash your inner badass and reach your greatest potential, open your mind to these strategies: 1. Establish “new truths.” There are notions your inner subconscious holds to be true because the world ingrained its beliefs in you, without even considering whether they are relevant to you or if they are really true. Beliefs like: college is of utmost importance, the world is a dangerous place, size matters, being gay is a curse, only STEM degrees lead to good careers, you’re fat. If these “truths” in your subconscious mind are limiting you, throw them out!

Your “new truth” is that anything is possible, even the things that seem impossible - because to be

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the badass you want to be, your life depends on that new belief.

This “new truth” may sound just as ridiculous as the ones I just listed, but why can’t you let it be as influential?

2. Get rid of self-sabotaging behaviors. No, you do not have horrible social skills. You are amazing at keeping a conversation going. No, you’re not going to be hopelessly single forever. Even if you’ve convinced yourself you’re okay with this status, do not settle. You are not incapable of being successful just because you don’t participate in as many extracurriculars as your friend.

Late to a function and stressing about how there’s probably no parking? Stop. Imagine the parking spot you need waiting for you. Say out loud that there is a spot waiting for you, and it will be so. This has actually worked for me! Believe that you deserve to have it. Continue to tell yourself what you deserve, and it will most likely to happen for you.

Stop thinking that the universe is working against you - that is false!

The universe is working toward what’s best for you - it’s all yours if you’ll have it.

3. Throw away other bad habits.

It’s the only way. Imagine the kind of person you want to be and develop the habits of that person. A fit person works out multiple times a week.

An organized person makes lists and keeps their workspace neat.

A person with good relationships communicates their feelings. A successful person takes risks (and sometimes fails) to get where they are. A confident and self-loving

person does not constantly compare themselves to others. A continually growing person is open-minded. A person with good dental hygiene brushes their teeth and flosses at least once a day. They say it takes 21 days to form a habit…and 21 days to break one. The sooner you start, the sooner your inner badass can flourish!

4. Have faith. Faith doesn’t have to be about religion, though religion does allow someone to have faith.

Faith is about believing in what has not happened yet or what you cannot see. It may seem hard to believe in something you’re not sure about until you think about the alternative: gripping fear forever holding you hostage. Why can’t you believe in the future you want for yourself, especially if you get rid of that selfsabotaging voice that told you you’re unworthy and incapable (step 2)?

Your faith in your uncertain future has to be stronger than your fear of it. Your faith has to be in the energy of the universe and all that is has to offer you. Your faith has to be in your “super-self” that lives in the future, who’s already living the life you want, who’s using what the universe provides, who knows they deserve it.

On top of all that, your future superself is only rooting for you!

5. Don’t waste time fearing failure.

Just know that it will happen anyway and you might as well get it over with. Think about the 12 publishers that rejected J.K. Rowling’s first Harry Potter book, how Jerry Seinfeld got booed off the stage at his first stand up comedy show, and how Michael Jordan got cut from his high school basketball team. By prolonging your inevitable failure, you’re also prolonging you’re inevitable success.

6. Stop worrying about your life’s purpose. There are people all around us who seem to have it all figured out. They know who they are, they’re confident about it, and everything seems to be going right for them. This is just another one of those misleading “truths” in your subconscious that’s creating disillusion. No one has it all figured out; take comfort in this. Write a list of things that you enjoy. Write a list of things that you do everyday.

Compare them. Adjust accordingly.

Do what you love (and maybe figure out how to make money doing it). If your first thought after reading that sentence is “yeah right, that’s never gonna happen,” please, review steps 1 through 5.

7. Go back to the basics as often as possible: be present. If you’re stuck in traffic, getting yelled at, walking your dogs, about to take a nap, or feeling exceptionally awkward at a social function, take a moment to focus on your breathing. Ask yourself how you’re doing, connect with your future super-self, and remind yourself of all that you’re grateful for in the moment. The more often you do this, the more at peace with yourself you can become, and the more you’ll feel like a badass.

8. Physical health is connected to your mental health. If you’re not sure where to start to, maybe start exercising. It’s a common theory that feeling physically healthy stimulates

a healthy mentality. You hear tons of people say that exercising in the morning makes them feel more energized, focused, and motivated throughout the rest of their day.

Imagine how much energy, focus, and motivation you can have if exercising became a habit, if you exercised every day…They would multiple infinitely! This doesn’t mean high intensity workouts or running 5 miles a day. It can be taking afternoon walks, stretching every morning, whatever you can handle, but once you’ve gotten used to your preferred exercise, gradually continue to challenge yourself. Try longer or more intense workouts, make an even greater effort to hydrate and feed yourself wholesome foods. Your body will appreciate it and so will your mind!

9. Hang out with other badasses.

I’m sure you’ve heard this before: you evolve into the people you surround yourself with. Avoid those who constantly complain, who remind you of the cons and not the pros, who tend to hold grudges or are usually angry. If they make you feel productive simply because you got yourself out of bed to get to class and they didn’t, it’s a start, but they’re definitely not helping you. Others who channel their inner badasses or are at least trying to, are the people that might drag you out of your comfortable corner and shove you into great risks and even greater opportunities. They are badasses because they’re doing the same thing to themselves.

10. Write it all down - your goals and your future. Write a little narrative about the life you want, every little detail. Who you want to be in your life, where you want to travel, where you want to live, what kind of home you want, exactly how much money you want to make, the tasks of the job you want to have,

how you get your job, what kind of clothes you’ll wear. Don’t leave out what you’re hesitant about. Read, read, read this narrative as often as possible. Make it your manifesto, your motto, your daily prayer. By doing this, you manifest the words into existence. Read it so often that you’ll start to believe it is impossible for you to have any other life.

Transform it from fiction to nonfiction, story to reality. Feel accepting of what will happen, feel expectant, feel excited! See your potential future in front of you. Grasp it, and refuse to give up on it! That’s when life happens - the highs and the lows.

Now you have an overwhelming list of all that you have to work on, and you’re probably still trying to decide if you should get up and get cracking on your to-do list or take a well-deserved nap. You may be thinking “well, your opinion isn’t going to cut me a check.” It’s not necessarily about reading something that will give you all the affirmations you crave, it’s about realizing what you’re not doing and understanding that only by taking action things will happen for you.

Just take one task at a time, and don’t half-ass it. You can’t channel your inner badass sitting on the recliner in your comfort zone. After that, just be proud of yourself. Jen Sincero’s last and most important step in every chapter is to love yourself unapologetically.

Love yourself because you are perfectly capable of doing anything, because you deserve it, because you need to while you can, because it’s the key to happiness. You’re doing an awesome job!

Love yourself because you are a badass. You only have more to gain!

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LIFE’S TOO SHORT, BUY THE UGLY SWEATER written by Ola Abuelhassan

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I once read a quote by fashion icon, John Galliano that said, “The joy of dressing is an art,” and I honestly felt those words so deeply. It reminded me of the times I used to stay up till 2 am just putting together the craziest outfits. I remembered how much excitement it brought me; it truly did feel like art. I fell in love with the ensemble of pieces that seemed like they could never work together, yet they did in their own eccentric and beautiful way. Then, I quickly recalled how many of those crazy outfits I actually ended up wearing out - very few. Why is that? I thought to myself.

Why is it that I took these clothes off of their hangers with so much enthusiasm, only to end up putting them right back in the closet where they would never see the light of day?

Admit it, how many times have you looked longingly at a piece of clothing in a store or on someone else and just thought to yourself, “I could never pull that off,” or “I’m not bold enough for that”? We’re all guilty of it. Our minds flood with belittling thoughts like, “Oh, if only I was taller or skinnier or edgier...” Well, I’m here to tell you that

- surprise! - you wear the clothes, the clothes don’t wear you. Just because you put on a vintage t-shirt, ripped jeans, and a leather jacket doesn’t mean you have to start listening to Nirvana. There’s no need to prove that you meet the qualifications to wear a certain outfit.

A friend once interviewed me for an online fashion magazine she was interning for, and one of the questions was: “How would you describe your style?” I really had to think hard about it. I remember finally saying that it was “unpredictable” because it changes all the time. One month I could be feeling really edgy and dress in black on black with leather boots everyday. Then the next month you’ll catch me completely casual in Nikes and a denim jacket. The magazine’s Instagram account ended up posting a picture of me captioned with my exact answer, and the response was unreal. So many people agreed about the fluidity of their style, and that’s when I realized I wasn’t the only one.

Since then, I’ve started to revolve what I wore around the idea that “if

I like it, I wear it.” It doesn’t matter to me if the piece is boho chic, but I’m usually in thrifted vintage. I’ll put that crochet kimono on and strut like I’m at Coachella if that’s what I feel like doing that day. So buy that grandpa sweater you loved that your mom made fun of at the store. You’re not actually going to become a grandpa.

That’s not how it works. Could you imagine though?

In my bright purple room at 2 in the morning, blasting Britney Spears is where I found my love for the unconventional. Years later is when I found the courage to be it. And I finally realized that what I choose to wear should not trap me in a box because I define the clothes, the clothes do not define me.

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Tezeru Teshome 4th Year Phd Theather/ Dance Major

Rachel Novak 4th Year, 6th College Human Biology Major “I love bright colors, wearing dresses, and accessorizing with earrings and necklaces.”

“My style varies depending on the weather. But mostly I am really inspired by male clothing and skater gear. Also very in to the 70s glam and hip-hop grunge.”

TRENDing at ucsd

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Emily Vasquez 3rd Year Global Health Major

Marquez Balingit 2nd year Nanoengineering Major

“I am currently I’m into more of a classic, clean, minimalistic style.

Meaning that I tend to lean towards solid colors and simple styles.”

“I like wearing vibrant colors or just regular band/rap group shirts. I’ll wear anything from all black and grey to bright colors.”

Rachel Ekiss 4th Year Economics Major, Business Minor “I try to keep it casual but cute! Effortlessly chic and trendy.”

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TREND MAGAZINE FALL / WINTER 2018 follow us @trenducsd