Spring 2019
FLASHBACK
FASHION DJ Takeover
LINDSAY SILBERMAN
ON LIFE AFTER SYRACUSE
GRL GRL GRL GRL
PWR PWR PWR PWR
Confident. Fearless. Career-Oriented. Trendsetting.
SPRING 2019
EDITOR IN CHIEF Tayler Bradford
EDITOR IN CHIEF Katie Intner
DESIGN DIRECTOR Sarah Thomas
MANAGING EDITOR Quinn Gawronski
PHOTO DIRECTOR Sam Lane
SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Payton Goad
ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR Caitlin Johnston
DIGITAL DIRECTOR Nicole Valinote
EDITORIAL STYLE EDITOR Livia Jones FEEL GOOD EDITOR RaeAnne Kascle COLLEGE LIFE EDITOR Abigail Sterling FEATURES EDITOR Lexie Sicher
WEB STYLE EDITOR Jo Allen FEEL GOOD EDITOR Alexis Stackhouse COLLEGE LIFE EDITOR Raven Rentas SOCIAL MEDIA ASSISTANT Erin Eagle
PHOTOGRAPHER Hannah Frankel
FRESHMAN INTERN Lily Tubman
STYLIST Monica Zuckerman
FRESHMAN INTERN Danielle Sterling
STYLIST Alexa Davis
PR DIRECTOR Monica Nowicki
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Taylor Kaplan Jennifer Gordon Emily Gunn Claudia McCann
PR ASSISTANT Catie Bradshaw SPECIAL THANKS Alicia Kavon David Sargalski
STYLE
Table of Contents
10 Clip It
Travel back to the ‘90s with these nostalgic accessories.
12 Came Through Drippin’
Dive into summer with these UGirl approved beach must-haves.
13 Beach Babe
Leave your resting beach face at home.
34
14 Nail the Accent
Upgrade your basic mani with a pop of spring.
FEEL GOOD
16 Bust Down, for a Beach Booty
Incorporate these bum boosting tips into your summer prep routine.
18 Healing Hues
Enhance your mood and detoxify your body with a chromotherapy sauna experience.
19 Breaking Up with Blue Light
Put down your phone, and pick up these five blue light protection tricks.
20 Let’s Spoon
All jokes açaí’d, we are obsessing over this DIY recipe.
COLLEGE LIFE 22 Behind the DJ Booth
Life After Syracuse Lindsay Silberman’s journey from graduation to ‘Gram fame.
DJ and influencer Amrit Sidhu shares how she uprooted her life in Australia to follow her dream to succeed in a male-dominated industry in New York.
24 Global UGirls 26 Sliding Into Your Dream Job
Use your social media addiction to get a job.
27 Insights on Influence
Six UGirls spill their secrets to staying inspired.
28 Summertime with My Sister Vacations spent battling illness.
FEATURES 30 Splash of Spring
IN EVERY ISSUE
08 UGirl Picks 09 Quiz
38 How do UGirls Use Their Influence?
46
40 Flashback Fashion
47
Don’t shy away from blossoming with these bold looks.
For our fourth issue - devoted to the power of influencers-we asked UGirls around Syracuse University how they impact others A new take on old trends.
The Kombucha Cocktail Hookups from Hell
Letter from the Editor
A
s the elevator doors slide open, I catch a glimpse of pink. I step into the rooftop social club, sit on a satin millennial pink booth and await University Girl’s Spring 2019 cover star. Nestled above Sixty Les’ Lower East Side hotel, Make Believe is on-brand with UGirl’s girly, chic aesthetic. While I review my interview questions and mood boards, Instagram influencer Lindsay Silberman struts into the room wearing platform heels that match my booth. We chat about her nonlinear journey from SU graduation to ‘Gram fame. I was immediately inspired by her relatable experience as an OG UGirl, and I hope sharing her story will inspire you too (pg 34). Since the interview, I have realized how much I have grown over these past four years. Living with a sense of fearlessness cannot be taught and won’t be found by focusing on the way others view you- it comes from within. I want UGirl to empower women to reach a place of authentic and unconditional self-love. But the path to self-love is not always easy (pg 28). I began developing the UGirl brand over Thanksgiving break in 2016. Little did my sophomore self know, it would turn into a publication pored over by girls all over campus. UGirl influences its readers, and in turn its readers hold an
immense responsibility to influence others (pg 27). Because you are a part of the next generation of influencers, take a moment to think about your physical and digital interactions. No matter how many friends or followers you have, you are an influencer in your own right (pg 38). Let’s influence with intention and live by the saying “empowered women empower women.” We’ve discovered nine international influencers who live by this motto (pg 24). The thought of leaving UGirl is bittersweet, but I will continue to hold these values with me. Whether you gain the confidence to rock a pastel gradient manicure (pg 14) or a pair of vintage biker shorts (pg 40), I hope UGirl continues to inspire. Special shoutout to Quinn Gawronski and Abigail Sterling. It has been such a pleasure working with the both of you. I am so happy to pass my baby along and watch it flourish. I would also like to thank the rest of UGirl’s insanely creative and talented team, especially Katie Intner and Sarah Thomas. To my family, thank you for your unconditional love and support. To my besties, thank you for introducing so many laughs to my time at SU. Until next time…
Xx,
Tayler Bradford Editor-in-Chief
Letter from the Editor
A
s I sit on my pink fuzzy carpet with my laptop and a long list of interview questions in front of me, I wait for DJ and influencer Amrit Sidhu to interrupt the dial tone. Suddenly, a soft and bubbly Australian voice picks up. During the hour interview, we discuss how music, a passion from college, inspired her to follow her dream to be a DJ in New York. When I reflect on the influence college had on Amrit, I think about myself freshman year. I came to Syracuse University wanting to find direction and to make an impact. But I never expected a string of ideas written down in weekly planner to transform into an empowering platform for college women. Flashback to two years ago in December 2016 when UGirl was just an idea. Tayler and I set out be a resource for our peers and wound up building a community of strong, independent SU girls who have the potential to become the next generation of influencers. We can take note of the influences in our lives; the UGirls we follow on social media (pg 26) and our best friends who become our family (pg 27). But more importantly, we should recognize the influence we have. Think about the way we influence the people around us. Maybe
it’s through an Instagram post or simply sending a supportive text to a friend (pg 38). However you decide to impact others, I hope that UGirl empowers you to be the powerful, badass leader you are. As I prepare to graduate next month, I begin to reminisce. I think about the piles of ’90s-esque orange clothing (pg 40) I have collected for game days and the hair clips I’ve popped on for nights out with friends (pg 10). As my four years at SU comes to an end, I know the relationships with my most powerful influences, from my mentors to my roommates, will still grow. I’ll continue to look to people like our cover star Lindsay Silberman (pg 34), who decided to quit her job as a magazine editor to influence her family, friends and followers full time. Whichever story in our influencer issue speaks to you, know that you can be everything a UGirl is and more: confident, fearless, career-oriented and trendsetting. A very special thanks to our extremely talented UGirl team, but especially Quinn Gawronski, Abigail Sterling and Sarah Thomas. I also want to thank Tayler Bradford for bringing UGirl to life with me. Lastly, thank you to our readers for supporting and inspiring us; We wouldn’t be on our fourth issue without you!
Xx,
Katie Intner Editor-in-Chief
UGIRL PICKS
for the next generation of influencers.
Gaga Hoops, Revolve, $44
8 UGirl Spring 2019
I
Fashion Influencer
Fitness Influencer Beauty Influencer Food Influencer
{ STYLE }
models left to right: EVVE CHMIELEWSKI, BELLA RUIZ
Travel back in time to the ‘90s with these nostalgic accessories.
The Butterfly Effect Bring it back to the ‘90s with butterfly clips that elevate your style in a fun and girly way. Whether you use one or multiple, these cute clips will keep your hair out of your face. Don’t be afraid to mix and match colors! Where to get it: Assorted Color Butterfly Hair Clips. Amazon.com, $8
Hair Care Cocktail by KATIE INTNER Vitamin C. Hyaluronic Acid. CBD. These beauty buzzwords are typically synonymous with skin care. But in the last two years, several beauty brands have begun putting these popular skin care ingredients in hair care products – and they work. While the overlap between skin and hair might sound odd, there is science to back it up. Skin and hair are made up of similar proteins, fats and skin cells. While skin care gets all the glory, try to incorporate these key ingredients into your hair routine this spring.
10 UGirl Style
Vitamin C This trending ingredient has been said to be the secret to acne-free, vibrant skin due to its capacity to build collagen and brighten complexion. When applied to hair, vitamin C produces the same effect. If your hair is prone to breakage and looks dull, add this powerful vitamin to your routine to help your locks absorb iron for a strong and healthy look. Vitabrid C12 Hair Tonic Set. Amazon.com, $59
Triple Threat Upgrade a classic low pony by incorporating on-trend, colorful barrettes into your look. Using barrettes not only tames flyaways, but they also transform any outfit effortlessly. Where to get it: GIMME Value Pack Snap Clips. Amazon.com, $7
photography by SAM LANE hair by EVELYN TEPERMAN
Hyaluronic Acid
CBD
This acid might sound intimidating at first, but it’s the most hydrating ingredient on the market and can hold up to 6 liters of water. When added to hair, hyaluronic acid can add moisture back in, produce shinier locks and even make curls springier and more defined. Add a few drops of a hyaluronic acid serum into your conditioner or coconut oil. Leave in for 10 minutes and rinse. Or opt for an all-in-one product like this one from Honest Beauty.
Cannabidiol, aka CBD, the non-psychoactive compound derived from the cannabis plant, is having a beauty moment right now. CBD-spiked hair products can help build proteins to prevent breakage and make fuller, thicker hair. The vitamin component of CBD can protect your locks from free radicals and environmental stressors like dryness and frizz. Add a CBD shampoo or conditioner into your routine for healthier locks with minimal risk.
Moisture Milk Leave-in Conditioner. Honest Beauty, $20
Nourishing CBD Shampoo. Emera, $25
Style UGirl 11
Came Through Drippin’ Dive into summer with these UGirl approved beach must-haves.
2.
1.
3.
4. 5.
6.
8. 7.
9.
10. 12.
11.
13.
1. Earrings: For Love and Lemons, $78 • 2. Bikini: Princesspolly.com, $60 • 3. Shell Choker: Forever21.com, $10 • 4. Lip Gloss Plumper: Buxom, $21 • 5. Sunnies: Forever21.com, $6 • 6. Phone Case: Apple.com, $39 • 7. Sunscreen: Glossier.com, $25 • 8. Air Pods: Apple.com, $159 • 9. Scarf: Urbanoutfitters.com, $12 • 10. Headband: Urbanoutfitters.com, $12 • 11. Bag: Urbanoutfitters.com, $44 • 12. Bracelet: Freepeople.com, $28 • 13. T-shirt: Nastygal.com, $15
12 UGirl Style
Leave your resting beach face at home. by TAYLER BRADFORD photography by SAM LANE You’re walking along the beach, trying to search for the perfect place to snap a pic for Insta. As your bestie begins taking photos, your wicked frizzy hair flies in front of your face. To get the perfect shot, rock this foolproof hairstyle. You will not only tame your hair, but you’ll also look super cute. Update your messy bun with a patterned necktie or opt for a playful look and tie the scarf into a bow! Don’t forget to leave a couple of strands out to frame your face.
model KRISTIANA MORELL
Complete the millennial pink beach look:
Pink Levi Shorts: Urbanoutfitters.com, $69 • Shell Earrings: Urbanoutfitters.com, $24 • Scarf: Oliveandpepper.com, $12 • Beach Towel: Bando.com, $38
Style UGirl 13
Nail the Accent Upgrade your basic mani with a pop of spring. Spring is a time for renewal, so why not start by upping your manicure game? Try a multi-colored, pastel look or get a little fancy with rainbow foil nail art. The aesthetician behind UGirl’s spring nail looks is Jordan Cramer, a senior at SU, who turned her manicure hobbie into a business called @nails_by_jord.
Pretty in Pastel
photography by SAM LANE models left to right: SHANYAH SAUNDERS, ALEXIS BRUUN 14 UGirl Style
Jordan’s Hacks: 1. When doing your nails at home, paint your thumbs last. This allows you to use
your thumbs to remove the excess paint that gets on your fingers without ruining the rest of your manicure.
2. To remove gel at home, buff your nails with a nail file, so the polish is
worn down. Soak a small cotton ball with a nail polish remover that has at least 90 percent pure acetone and put it on the nail. Next, place tin foil over the nail to hold the cotton ball in place. Allow the nails to sit this way for about five to 10 minutes. Then use a cuticle pusher to scrape the polish off. Once it is all removed, buff your nails again.
3. When painting with pastel colors, wait at least 30 seconds for each coat to dry so that strokes aren’t streaky and the consistency of the polish on your nails is even.
4. When applying foil to your nails, use a tweezer to pack it down and avoid getting any bumps.
Foil Fever
{ FEEL GOOD }
Bust Down, for a Beach Booty Incorporate these bum boosting tips into your summer prep routine. by RAEANNE KASCLE photography by SAM LANE model PAYTON GOAD
When the Syracuse sun comes out after a four month hiatus, you can finally pack up your parka. With summer only a few weeks away, your mind is transported to the beach. Try out this quick and effective circuit in the comfort of your room that makes getting a beach-worthy booty a summer breeze.
16 UGirl Feel Good
Reps: 10 Sets: 3-5
Booty Facials
1. Grip & Dip
Tropical Bum Scrub
Do this simple move, and you’re guaranteed to feel the burn in all the right places.
Ingredients: Pineapple & Sea Salt These simple ingredients eliminate stretch marks and bumps. Pineapple juice is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, while sea salt helps clear up acne, fade scars and unclog pores. Mix 1 tablespoon of pineapple juice with one cup of sea salt. Wait for the sea salt to dissolve. Scrub mixture onto the booty in circular motions. After 30 minutes, wash off with warm water.
Grab a medicine ball and drop down to a squat position. Keep your back straight and core engaged. Place one knee on the ground, followed by the other knee. Keep your upper body in line with your knees. Work your way back up to a squat, one leg at a time. Hold this squat for three seconds.
BOOTY BOOST LEVEL
2. Power Pop Get into a squat and step your right foot to the side, followed by your left foot. Hold the squat position and channel the power in your legs to explosively jump up, swinging your arms behind or above you. Land in a squat and pause before repeating on left side.
Sheet Masks for Your Cheeks Check out the Bawdy Beauty Galaxy Kit: These natural plant-based sheet masks will help fight cellulite, improve uneven color, and illuminate the skin’s texture to make your booty look its best.
Up for a challenge? Put a resistance band around your ankles to increase difficulty.
Amazon: Pack of four for $32 or BawdyBeauty.com: Individuals for $9 each
BOOTY BOOST LEVEL
See the full booty workout at universitygirlsu.com
Feel Good UGirl 17
Healing Hues Enhance your mood and detoxify your body with a chromotherapy sauna experience. by ALEXIS STACKHOUSE
I
n the comfort of a private sauna suite, Eden Kirshenblatt, 22, wraps herself in a towel and opens the door. Warmth emits from the infrared heaters and floods the room. She steps inside the 125-degree space and takes a seat on the wooden bench. “You just sit there and sweat like you’ve never sweat before,” the senior marketing major at Syracuse University says. After using a studio-provided iPad to select the Sam Smith Pandora station, Kirshenblatt closes her eyes, and all of her troubles begin to melt away – literally. “When my friends and I came back from spring break in Mexico, we just needed to flush out our systems,” Kirshenblatt says. They headed to Saunacuse, a local infrared sauna studio just 10 minutes from SU’s campus, to get the job done. Unlike traditional steam rooms, these saunas detoxify the body without creating an uncomfortable, stuffy environment. In addition to detoxification, this unique healing method delivers a number of wellness perks such as skin purification and stress relief. Kirshenblatt has been a Saunacuse regular for about a year. “It’s definitely a way for me to feel better and detox my body,” she says. This studio offers 30 to 45 minute infrared therapy sessions, ranging from $25 to $35. Chromotherapy, incorporated into each session, uses different colors on the visible light spectrum to deliver health benefits. As Kirshenblatt relaxes, two lights – orange and green – kiss her skin. This lighting combination may seem to clash, but Kirshenblatt intentionally chose it to help alleviate her cold
18 UGirl Feel Good
illustration by SARAH THOMAS
symptoms. Green light acts as a nerve relaxant while orange light improves respiratory problems, according to Saunacuse. Color and light not only influence our bodies, but also our mood. With a lack of Syracuse sunlight, we are prone to seasonal affective disorder (a form of depression that’s related to changes in seasons). “The warmth of infrared is the best thing we can do for ourselves when we haven’t seen the sun in weeks,” Saunacuse owner Gina Insalaco tells us. With sweat dripping down her face, Kirshenblatt pauses the music and starts a new episode of Queer Eye using Saunacuse’s iPad. This week, Kirshenblatt experiences the sauna session solo. But next week, she plans on booking a 2-person room. “It’s a nice place to catch up with a friend since you can just sit there and chat for 30 to 45 minutes,” she says. Although Kirshenblatt exercises about five days a week, she still finds time for a weekly sauna sesh. “You definitely feel like you target certain parts internally that you wouldn’t necessarily target from a workout,” she says. In addition to giving the respiratory system a boost, orange light targets fat cells which can result in increased metabolic rates. A 30 minute infrared sauna session can burn up to 600 calories. Following the session, Kirshenblatt grabs a lavender-scented towel and inhales deeply. The calming aroma clears her sinuses. She exits the sauna and pours herself a glass of fruit-infused water to rehydrate. “I definitely feel rejuvenated and like I got the sh*tty stuff out,” she says with a smile.
Chromotherapy Benefits Circulatory and nervous system activation
Fat burner and respiratory system support
Body purification and indigestion relief
Immune system boost and nerve relaxant
Muscle and skin cell reactivation
Inflammation reduction and toxin-elimination
Breaking Up with Blue Light Put down your phone, and pick up these five blue light protection tricks. by LEXIE SICHER
illustration by SARAH THOMAS
J
ulia Chatzky, a senior at Syracuse University, jumps into bed and wraps herself in a white fuzzy blanket. Before opening up her laptop to binge her latest Netflix obsession, she looks to her wooden night stand. She reaches past her RayBans to grab her blue light-coated prescription glasses. When Chatzky revealed that she spends up to nine hours on her phone and computer each day, her eye doctor recommended that she purchase a pair of blue light glasses. Ever since, Chatzky religiously wears them. “I’ve grown to hate the light from my phone and computer, especially at night, and now notice myself getting headaches when I don’t have my glasses on,” Chatzky notes. Blue light is a harmful color on the visible light spectrum. Because it has short wavelengths and high amounts of energy, blue light penetrates the skin and eyes. Emitted from the sun, smartphones, computers, TVs and other screen devices, blue light can cause headaches, weakened vision and wrinkles. It can also cause sun spots and inflammation, as well as mess with the body’s circadian rhythm. College students and young adults are especially susceptible to the harmful rays. Young adults between the ages of 18 to 34 spend 43 percent of their time each day on a tablet, smartphone and computer, according to a 2018 Nielsen study. Blue light protection can help prevent headaches and keep your skin looking flawless for years to come!
Five Protective Tips Block the Blues
Protecting your skin is just as important as protecting your eyes. Clear lens glasses are super trendy, even if you don’t have a prescription pair. The layer of glass or plastic serves as a barrier between your screen and eyes. Wearing blue light glasses can decrease the strain blue light has on your eyes. Find a cute, cheap pair on Amazon for as little as $10.
Screen It
If the glasses aren’t for you, invest in a blue light screen protector. You can find protectors for your smartphone, tablet and laptop that cost as little as $20. Once you place the protector on your respective screen, you will never have to worry about blue light again.
Sporting SPF
Everyday moisturizer and sunscreen is a foolproof way to protect your skin from blue light emitted from the sun. Many moisturizers, serums and tinted moisturizers contain SPF, making protection from harsh blue light a breeze to add into your routine. Even if you’re not laying out in the sun, four workdays in front of a screen is equivalent to 20 minutes of direct contact with the sun, Dr. Howard Murad says. Sofia Rasmussen, a senior communications and rhetorical studies major at SU, applies a hydrating lotion that contains SPF everyday. “I use it because I have struggled with acne my entire life and went on Accutane four times,” she says. “I have to take extra good care of my skin and I’m happy that I already have a routine of wearing sunscreen daily.”
Necessary Nutrients
Products containing antioxidant-rich ingredients like green tea, vitamin C and retinol provide a barrier that protects against blue light. Moisturizers, serums, toners and facial cleansers that contain antioxidants guard your skin from toxins like cigarette smoke, pollution and pesticides that infect the air.
Mental Moderation
Even with all of the precautionary steps you can take to protect yourself from blue light, you may start to regret those late night Netflix binges and scrolls through Instagram. Limiting the amount of screen time is the easiest and cheapest way to start protecting your skin and eyes daily.
Feel Good UGirl 19
Let’s Spoon All jokes açaí’d, we are obsessing over this DIY recipe. by CAITLIN JOHNSTON photography by DYLAN ROMAN-HOLBA
DIY Açaí When the snow begins to melt and the ‘Cuse skies become bluer, you naturally want to ditch your all-black wardrobe and revive your closet with colors. Add to this vivid explosion by reintroducing spring colors to your diet with a DIY açaí bowl! Not only are açaí bowls rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, but they will also leave you feeling rejuvenated and ready for spring.
20 UGirl Feel Good
Servings: 1 bowl Prep Time: 5 minutes Ingredients: • 1 packet of frozen açaí blend • 1 frozen banana • ¼ cup milk, almond milk or yogurt • Toppings Instructions: 1. Mix the açaí blend, frozen banana and milk or yogurt in a blender until it is completely smooth. 2. Pour the mixture into a bowl and add your favorite toppings. 3. Before you start spooning this smoothie bowl, snap a pic! Your phone always eats first. Extra tip: Use a cookie cutter to shape your dragonfruit into little stars or your mangos into perfect circles for an aesthetically pleasing treat!
Toppings: Blueberries Mango Coconut flakes Buckwheat
Dragon fruit Pumpkin seeds Figs Mint leaves Feel Good UGirl 21
{ COLLEGE LIFE }
Behind the DJ Booth DJ and influencer Amrit Sidhu shares how she uprooted her life in Australia to follow her dream to succeed in a male-dominated industry in New York. by KATIE INTNER Australian-born Amrit Sidhu has traveled the world, running the gamut from Bali to Morocco to Paris. Last winter during a trip to Barbados, she experienced the perfect beach day: crystal clear water and a bright blue sky without a cloud in sight. While the Barbados sun made the day ideal for relaxing on the beach, Sidhu slipped away to the small car she had rented. She spent the next four hours listening to the radio, taking note of each song
22 UGirl College Life
photography by RAVEN VARONA
that played. Scrolling through the songs she discovered, she knew she had gotten golden inspiration for her next DJ set. “I used Shazam for every single song that played,” says the New York-based DJ. “It was amazing, hearing new songs and finding out what they are. I get [music] inspiration from everywhere. Life, friends, word of mouth, traveling and hearing things I’ve never heard.” But before a show, you can’t find
Sidhu near her phone. Instead, she takes a shot of espresso, turns off her phone and takes a power nap. “I need to just close my eyes for 30 minutes and put my phone away to disconnect,” Sidhu says. “[Music for me] is the one time that nothing else exits. I’m out of my body and connecting with people.” Sidhu’s preshow routine is crucial, as she is responsible for playing at some of the most prestigious events in the fashion industry. In November
2018, she played at the Guggenheim overseeing collaborations for brands 35K Instagram fanbase, Sidhu has Museum for the Dior Gala, alongside like Opening Ceremony, Sidhu realized struggled to balance her job at artist Jorja Smith and for guests like that Starworks only worked with A-list Starworks and back-to-back tours. Olivia Palermo and Princess Olympia celebrities and not the influencer “It got the point where I physically of Greece. “Getting to work with talent beneath. She pitched the idea to couldn’t be at an office and touring.” designers I’ve always looked up to or feature influencers through Starworks In August 2018, Sidhu left her agency pinned on my vision board is so cool,” to her boss. He loved the idea so much job to DJ full-time. Following her Sidhu says. Because Sidhu grew up that he promoted her to the director departure from Starworks, she still in the beach town of Perth, Australia, of engagement, where she created a does consulting work, including the only fashion she knew was bikinis, brand new department. writing strategy, casting and helping sarongs, and T-shirts. “When I moved While working at Starworks, Sidhu with creative direction for brands. here, it was like a different world.” started to DJ for fashion brands like As Sidhu gears up for her U.S. and While growing up, Sidhu played Coach and Nike. “I love working with Europe summer tour with Genesis, the piano and had a special affinity these brands because they respect me she knows no day will be the same. for jazz. She went on to study jazz as an artist and want to work with me,” But she’s no stranger to the nomadic composition at the Western Australian she says. “And I can because I don’t lifestyle of being on tour as she just Academy of Performing Arts in Perth. have a boss. I’m my own boss.” returned from her longest tour yet in “Everything in music derives from the But getting to be her own boss Europe this past February. Instead of jazz form so it was a natural evolution,” proved more difficult as a woman of winding down after her show in Paris she adds. Her love of music flourished color in the male-dominated industry during fashion month, she attended throughout college. an after party From the moment she before jumping on graduated, she started a plane to her next DJing. “I fell into DJing Amsterdam, “If you’re a woman of color, it’s 10 times city: naturally because I had Netherlands. access to it,” Sidhu says. Even after as hard. It doesn’t matter what field you After college, completing her first she struggled to break sold out tour with are in, you are underestimated. into the music sphere. Genesis, Sidhu still “I had this ‘what do I doesn’t think she’s made People always think you slept with do with this degree’ it. It’s just a milestone realization,” Sidhu notes. she is celebrating. “In somebody to get there.” She packed her bags and the music industry, left Australia to travel there’s always room to through Europe and Asia grow. That’s been super with a few DJ gigs lined up, eventually of DJing. “I’m female, a woman of color instrumental in being my biggest living in Bali for a few months. As an and an immigrant,” she adds. “And if source of inspiration.” attempt to pursue DJing full time, Sidhu you’re a woman of color it’s 10 times as It’s the third stop of her “God Is ended up in New York in 2011 without hard. It doesn’t matter what field you Wild” tour with Genesis. Big block a plan, visa or family member in the are in, you are underestimated. People letters spelling “Amrit” run vertically same continent. “Moving to New York always think you slept with somebody on a screen behind her at the from such a small city was really, really to get there.” Moroccan Lounge in Los Angeles on a tough,” she says. While trying to make Along the way, Sidhu found friends Friday evening. Her entire body bursts a living as a DJ, she struggled to stay in within the music community who with energy as she dances to the ABBA NY without a visa and had to leave the she could lean on – including rapper song in front of the crowd in her pink country every three months in hopes Tommy Genesis. “We’re away from vest, graphic T-shirt, printed biker customs didn’t stop her. our families, but we have each other. shorts and colorful Nike sneakers. Sidhu knew she had to find a 9-to-5 It’s really nice,” Sidhu adds. So when When she stops dancing to return to job to stay in the states. She put her Genesis asked Sidhu to go on tour the DJ booth, she looks around the DJ plan on hold and landed a job as with her two years ago, the decision room. Her eyes scan the crowd as she the executive assistant to the CEO was easy. “From a DJ standpoint, we reads the audience for a clue to her at creative agency Starworks. While just clicked.” next song. She hits play. booking celebrities for magazine Since going on tour two years editorials like Travis Scott for GQ and ago and performing in front of her
Fav spring trend?
Your biggest influence?
Fav meal in NYC?
Your best piece of advice?
Anything western inspired: cowboy boots, animal print, fringe and leather vests.
My mom and my manager, Ramya! Both equally my biggest cheerleaders and critics.
I love the pancakes at Five Leaves. That’s my comfort food. Big sick, really good.
Step outside your comfort zone, try new things and say yes!
College Life UGirl 23
Global You don’t have to hop on a plane to experience Tokyo’s Harajuku-inspired culture or London’s edgy street style. You just have to unlock your phone. International Instagram influencers transport you all over the world with the tap of a finger. by LIVIA JONES
@chrissyford
56.9k Followers New York, New York As the Senior Digital Editor at Harper’s Bazaar, Chrissy Rutherford is always rocking a bold power suit. Her posts display an aspirational girl boss lifestyle and endless ways to brand yourself in a professional, stylish manner.
@floguan
116k Followers London, England This Japanese and London-based influencer has an energetic style that will fuel your feed with bright colors and positivity. Whether she’s sporting a Playboy baseball cap or an angelic crop top, her outfits are always #extra.
@collagevintage 1.1M Followers San Miguel de Allende, Mexico A member of the #RevolveFamily, Sara Escudero’s Insta handle illustrates her aesthetic perfectly. Her feed is reflective of her personality with warm-toned pictures and flowy, bohemian ensembles.
@asiyami_gold
222k Followers Port Harcourt, Nigeria Asiyami’s feed gives us major vacation vibes. Not only is she known for her inspiring captions, but also for her tropical, glowing style that will definitely influence your spring and summer wardrobe.
24 UGirl College Life
UGirls Coming from every corner of the globe, influencers create a diverse community through their unique cultural perspectives on fashion and beauty. Here is our top pick of global fashionistas you need to follow. illustration by EMILY GUNN
@darjabarannik 158k Followers Oslo, Norway
@tamaraclaren
Four words: simplicity meets European flair. When you visit Darja’s Insta, you enter the ultimate destination for luxury fashion. Her simple silhouettes and bold accessories are stylish enough to inspire all of your daily looks.
47.4k Followers Frankfurt, Germany
Tamara’s feed encapsulates Europeaninspired beauty in a minimalistic way. The neutral palette of her trendy, chic outfits is #goals.
@katie.one 420k Followers Paris, France Because Katie Giorgadze calls Moscow, London, and Paris home, her Instagram naturally reflects a multi-cultural background with dreamy travel photography. Check out her ’Gram for flicks of whimsical Parisian streets and tasteful, feminine style.
@ayaxxamiaya 225k Followers Tokyo, Japan These Japanese twins capture your attention with their matching pink wigs and vivacious runway-ready fashion. Known as the “Pink Twins,” this duo has a unique, playful style that encompasses everything from oversized pastel tweed jackets to chunky platform heels.
@whenwordsfail_ 40.7k Followers Sydney, Australia Danielle and Nicole are twin bloggers from down under who share fitness and fashion advice. These self-confessed beach-lovers rock trends from billowing dresses to animal print booties. Cruise through their neutral-toned feed for the ultimate summer style inspo.
College Life UGirl 25
Use your social media addiction to get a job. by KATIE INTNER As I hit the send button on my Instagram direct message to the Bustle editor, a chill ran through my body. I checked Instagram every 15 minutes, waiting for “seen” to appear below the message. Each time I addictively opened the app, I second-guessed my decision to reach out on Instagram after seeing an available freelance position on Bustle’s career site. I stared at the editor’s account and eyed the “email” button below her bio, anxiously wondering if a direct message was the most professional route to pursue the potential job opportunity. All of my anxiety melted away when I walked into the coffee shop in SoHo, New York two weeks later to meet
Lauren Caruso, the managing editor of one of Bustle’s site’s The Zoe Report. I strode out of the coffee shop an hour later with a vanilla latte in one hand and a freelance writing position at The Zoe Report in the other. I cracked a smile thinking about my riskyyet-successful tactic to pursue a job through Instagram. I asked myself: “is social media the new career site?” Social media has been categorized as a negative tool that can be addictive and harmful by lowering one’s self-esteem. But now, in the digital age of Generation Z, social media platforms can work in a user’s favor – especially students looking for jobs and internships. According to The Muse, an online job platform, 92 percent of companies use social media for hiring – and not just LinkedIn. Sixty-six percent of companies use Facebook and 54 percent use Twitter. Whether you are looking to score an internship at a Fortune 500 company – with 45 percent linking their social media accounts to their career portals according to Staff.com – or land a job at a marketing startup, social media can help you secure the position. And it’s not only lower-level professionals posting job listings on social media. Through Twitter, Jenny Hollander, the digital deputy director of MarieClaire.com, found her last two fellows and her Morning Editor. She says they have been the best candidates she’s found. “More than once I’ve posted a simple tweet with a job description and seen more than 10,000 impressions in [that] space [in] a week,” Hollander says. “That’s 10,000 people who are now considering whether they’re the right fit for that role, or if they know anybody who is. Most of those people aren’t in my immediate network, and probably wouldn’t have known that we were
looking for someone just like them.” Twitter is not the only social outlet used among higher-up professionals. “We have recruiters here who go on Facebook and ask their friends if they know anyone with these skill sets, and to contact them,” says Catherine Giametta, director of recruiting at New Yorkbased recruiting firm Core Staffing. “Same thing with Twitter. You’ve got CEOs reaching out directly [to candidates] and putting [out] Twitter posts of jobs that they have open. They are absolutely bypassing recruiters. And there’s a lot of internal recruitment like never before.” But depending on the industry, some social platforms work better than others. Hollander found Twitter to be more successful than Facebook. “The [Twitter] job posting reaches more people,” Hollander adds. “If you restrict your search to just one or two existing networks, whether they’re social, professional, or online, then you limit your pool of potential candidates. And without meaning to, you’re excluding the people who aren’t already in those networks.” The network of connections that lie within social platforms are just one way social media has taken off in the recruiting space. “Networking is everything,” Giametta adds. “So depending on who your contacts are, absolutely be aware of Twitter, and even Facebook. You never know who is in your network and who is going to be putting jobs out there.” Next time a wave of stress washes over you as you think about securing a job or internship, scroll through your Twitter or Instagram feed and take a chance by reaching out to your dream company or professional idol.
Hacking Your Job Through Social Media 101: Make a list of professionals whose jobs you admire and follow them. A lot of professionals in communications, marketing and business will post job and internship opportunities on their Twitter feed or Instagram stories. “Follow the brands you want to work for, and follow the [professionals] who work there,” Hollander notes. “Often, the people who tweet about these jobs are the people hiring for them.”
26 UGirl College Life
Make your profile professional. You’ve heard this time and time again, but your social profiles should not only reflect your fun during the weekends. A good rule of thumb is to look through your social channels and delete any images you wouldn’t want to show your parents. Giametta recommends making a professional Twitter to use for the job and internship hunt and keeping your profile active by posting industry news.
Have your social media account reflect your industry. If you are looking to go into photography, add a link to your portfolio in your Instagram bio. If you want to pursue a career in politics, use your Twitter to re-post political articles. So when you reach out to a professional, he or she recognizes your professional goals and will be more willing to connect.
Insights on Influence Six UGirls spill their secrets to staying inspired. by RAVEN RENTAS
illustration by SARAH THOMAS
My Mom, My Inspiration
Friends Who Become Family
“The women in my family have helped support me in my transition from home to college by continuously supporting me throughout all of my endeavors here at Cuse. I talk to my mom almost every day, and whether it’s just hearing her voice or her giving me advice, it is very comforting to know that she is always there for me. My mom is the strongest woman I know and I couldn’t thank her enough for having my back through everything!”
“My best friends are not only my biggest support system, but they also influence me in every aspect of my life. They constantly prove to me what hard work looks like through endless study dates at Bird. Being around people who are so motivated influences me to want to work just as hard as them.”
- Jennifer Ball, Freshman, Human Development and Family Science
- Olivia Peck, Sophomore, Information Management and Technology
Finding Strength in Celebrities “Serena Williams influences me. She’s a strong athlete and mother at the same time. She defies expectations of an average mom by proving that you can raise children while still being a badass.” - Halle Hall, Senior, Biochemistry
YouTube for YOU “I learned how to do makeup by watching Vogue tutorials on YouTube. When I got to college, I didn’t know how to do my makeup. The Vogue channel taught me everything I know. My favorite videos are the ones with Kylie Jenner because they’re usually longer and more in-depth than the others.” - Briana Garcia, Senior, Environmental and Interior Design
Work It, Work Out “I really look up to Kayla Itsines. She is a great inspiration to people who are trying to be healthier and gives a very positive look on social media. When I don’t have barre class, I make sure to do one of her workouts.” - Caroline Nethercott, Senior, Social Work
Inspiration from Instagram “Ashley Graham inspires me every day to embrace all body shapes and lifestyles in the grand scheme of health and beauty.” – Felicia Ramallo, Senior, Nutrition
U Girls
U Girls
Summertime with My Sister Vacations spent battling illness. by QUINN GAWRONSKI
M
y sister Taryn and I sat with our cousins in their overgrown Portland backyard, circled around a buzzing fire pit. Smoke rose into the murky black sky, winding through the empty clothes lines and twisting vines overhead. We grilled Polish kielbasa sausages and cradled wine in hand, catching up after years spent apart. Taryn ate two kielbasa with the gluten-free buns we had picked up at the store. It was the most I had seen Taryn eat the entire trip. She excused herself at least three times before announcing exhaustion and retired to our queen mattress. When I was a sophomore in high school, my mom called while I discussed my latest crush with friends. I picked up the phone and hear, “Your sister has lupus.” Hot tears streamed down my cheeks and panic raced through my head. After the diagnosis, I watched her skip breakfast, claiming the lupus medication made her nauseous. When the doctor advised her to avoid gluten, family dinners became tedious operations. Often, she slipped into the basement after meals; I would quietly follow her to press my cheek against the carpet and squint under the door to see if she was kneeling in front of the toilet. For years, I couldn’t taste my mother’s home cooked meals. Instead of enjoying dinner, I calculated if Taryn would finish her food, offer bites to my dad or blame stomach aches for the full plate scraped down the drain. It felt like a shadow followed my sister wherever she went. Since fifth grade, I can recall blurry visions of her suffering. I remember humming light bulbs encased in metal cages when I visited her in the hospital. As I got older, I learned they
illutration by LIVIA JONES
were there so suicidal residents like my sister couldn’t break the lightbulbs and slit their wrists. I remember raw cuts running down my sister’s thighs, her explanation that our cat scratched her. As I got older I learned she had a knack for dissecting razor blades. Even though I’m four years younger than Taryn, I have always been able to read my sister. The suspicion that shrouded me as she slipped out of her camping chair had accumulated over three years. An hour after she pardoned herself from our evening around the fire, I slipped under our comforter. Her thick ebony hair entwined with mine as she restlessly shifted. I lay awake, and
Were people noticing her absence? How many calories did she drink from the wine? For Taryn, this evening was the norm. She shifted in our humid room all night, stomach churning from vomiting and abusing laxatives. When she slipped out of the room to the bathroom for what seemed like the hundredth time that night, she was sure not to wake me. For most of our first trip without our parents, my sister’s memory is blank except for illness and anguish. She thought my mind was cloudless - that I vividly recalled our conversations as we drove through the Columbia River Gorge and plunged into the icy depths at the base of a waterfall in our swimsuits. All I remember is the sick feeling in my stomach when I saw her in a bathing suit; her body transformed into a brittle tomb. At 5 feet 5 inches tall, she weighed 100 pounds. Her once beautiful figure was reduced to a sickly outline in a red bikini. Before my eyes, my sister melted away into a woman I didn’t know. A month after our trip to Portland, I packed heavy suitcases for my first semester of college abroad in Strasbourg. My sister’s furniture was stuffed into a U-Haul for the long drive to Seattle. All she wanted was to cross the country and start fresh. The night before leaving, I sat across from my parents at our wooden kitchen table after dinner. It was a typical night; Taryn had escaped the meal with phony plans or faked nausea. At this point, I had lost track of her list of excuses. My parents spent my adolescent years shielding me from my sister’s wounds. At 17, I realized I was old enough to protect them from another trauma, tragedy or treatment. I was ready to raise the red flag.
Before my eyes, my sister melted away into a woman I didn’t know.
28 UGirl College Life
wracked my mind for the best way to ask a question that tormented me for years. My pulse radiated through my chest. “Do you have an eating disorder?” I said bluntly. She rested in the deep silence for a moment. Then she said no. Her anxiety about that dinner started hours prior, at the grocery store. I wanted spicy pepper jack kielbasa and she refused, versed with the pain the spices would cause when she purged it later. I devoured my dinner and she sat inches away, feeling her body expand after each bite. Purging wasn’t enough for that meal, so she took laxatives. When she sat back down from trips to the bathroom, panic mounted: What if she hadn’t gotten all of the bun out of her stomach?
I told them Taryn had an eating disorder. They didn’t believe me. During Taryn’s first night in Seattle, her old habits prevailed: she purged and used laxatives. In that moment, the floodgates burst open. She decided to let herself become the puppet of her illness. My mom arrived in Paris a few short months after I left Colorado, visiting me on my fall break with trips planned to Burgundy, Lyon and Strasbourg. I took her to a familiar spot where I had visited weeks before, sprawled on the grass listening to the chatter of Parisian children running past a bubbling fountain. While my mom and I perched on a bench in that park, my dad was in Seattle visiting my sister for the first time. My mom’s phone rang, and her face sank. She hustled away from me and came back minutes later, her face blotchy and red. I knew what the call was about by looking at her face. The tranquility of that park was shattered in a moment. Taryn and my dad had tried to go for a walk, but her ears were ringing loudly and she couldn’t breathe. These were only a few symptoms of her heart failing. For the first time in nearly four years, Taryn asked for help. In the ER, doctors used a child-size blood pressure monitor on her arm because it was too small for the adult cuff. She was put on two IV lines for six hours,
and doctors told her if she hadn’t come in, she would have had a heart attack by the end of the week. After the hospital released her, Taryn drove back to Colorado with our dad. Within hours, Taryn lost her job, apartment and all the money she had invested in her thirst for a blank slate. She was committed to a residential treatment center for people with eating disorders. When she checked in, she weighed 89 pounds. For three days, she used a wheelchair because she couldn’t walk. Her first stint in the center was 98 days, and later she went back for 64 days while riding the perpetual rollercoaster of recovery. Truly, the only thing she didn’t lose was her life. For weeks, Taryn thought she lost me too. I barely spoke to her and was vicious when I did. All my inklings, sweat and suspicion that piled up over those years were true. The little girl I sat in laundry baskets with, made home movies with and grew up beside lost all of the light inside her. Since my first steps to visit her in the sterile mental hospital hallways, the bliss of my sisterhood felt like a fabricated folktale. I was so exhausted with the lies that shrouded most of my adolescence, whether it was my parents or sister attempting to protect me. But I eventually found the truth at a time when it was too late for me
to save my sister. To me, Seattle was another suicide attempt. Three years after I uttered that question in the darkness of our Portland bedroom, Taryn, my mom and I are on spring break in Puerto Vallarta. Bright morning sun warms our T-shirt clad shoulders as condensation drips down glasses of iced coffee onto the balcony. She microwaves corn tortillas, and we spread spoonfuls of green tomatillo salsa onto our scrambled eggs. We eat and debate whether we should go to Thailand or Bali after I graduate next year. I clear the dishes and she emerges from the bathroom, cheeks wet and eyes red. Her small frame folds into my arms. I suggest that she put on sunscreen away from the mirror. Her illness can’t be erased or medicated, and her recovery is anything but linear. She will struggle with it for the rest of her life. She battles to have a life not defined by her disorder. She battles to clasp all of our memories in the palm of her hand. So, we wade into the calm waves and take in the mountains, the cityscape across the blue water ahead of us. I look at her and ask if she ever realizes there is so much beauty in the world to appreciate, so much more to our lives than the bodies we walk in. She says yes, and swims closer to me.
College Life UGirl 29
{ FEATURES } photography by SAM LANE
makeup by QUINN GAWRONSKI
Don’t shy away from blossoming with these bold looks. 30 UGirl Features
models left to right: DANIELLE CORSAN, CHERILYN BECKLES
Get the look: Create this watermelon-inspired look with a bright blush and vibrant green eyeshadow. With your blush brush, sweep the pink color up from the apples of your cheeks to your temples. Blend the blush onto the outer corner of your eye, and pat the green shadow onto your lid with an eyeshadow brush for a subtle transition.
Get the look: If you’re feeling bold, feature a trendy burst of bright yellow shadow on your lids. Spray a f lat eyeshadow brush with setting spray for a long lasting look. Don’t be afraid to mix and match colors by blending your brightly-hued blush to the outer corners of your eyes.
Features UGirl 33
34 UGirl Features
Life After Syracuse Lindsay Silberman’s journey from graduation to ‘Gram fame. by TAYLER BRADFORD
L
indsay Silberman, 31, strides up the steps of a plane after spending eight days in India. As she scrolls through her camera roll contemplating which pictures to share with her 148k Instagram followers, her flight approaches the tarmac in the Maldives. Across the expanse of her oceanfront bungalow, Silberman glimpses a sliver of vivid teal. An unobstructed view of the Indian Ocean unfolds before her when she steps onto the sunlit balcony. She wants to dive right in. “My goal on Instagram is to be both inspirational and informative,” she tells her followers in an Instagram Story. “Rather than just posting pretty pics with zero takeaways, I’d rather provide some useful info that might help in the future.” At the first of four hotels hosting her in the Maldives, Silberman takes a beginners mixology class. Nostalgia arises as she recalls her first bartending gig at Harry’s Bar, a well-known nightlife spot among Syracuse University students. This SU alumna studied magazine journalism at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Comunications, minored in marketing and was in the fashion and beauty milestone program. Four years later, “I think I knew that the party was over,” she says. “I was nervous about saying goodbye to the life I had known and starting what would eventually be a lifetime of working.” Immediately following graduation in 2009, Silberman moved back home to New Jersey for a few months. She was on a mission to save up enough money to briefly survive life in NYC without any confirmed job offers. “It was totally irresponsible, but I just wanted to get out of my parents’ house, and I was so eager to move into the city,” Silberman says. She did not envision herself interning after college, but accepted a part-time gig at GQ. On top of working an unpaid internship, Silberman slaved
photography by VICTORIA SAPERSTEIN
over signature cocktail drinks as a waitress and pounded out freelance articles on the side. The recession was in full swing, and the job market was scarce, so securing a paying job was no easy feat. After a few months, GQ had major layoffs. “All of a sudden, the rug was pulled from under me,” she says. But because she made connections, the GQ editors helped Silberman land her first paying job at Inc. Magazine eight months after graduation. “It wasn’t what I had imagined my first job to be,” she says. “I didn’t know the first thing about business, and I certainly didn’t care.” Despite her preconceptions, Inc. turned out to be a pivotal point in her career. Not only was Silberman pushed out of her comfort zone, but she also
to leave a stable job she loved for a magazine that didn’t exist yet, Silberman referred to advice Berentson once gave her: Even if the magazine were to fail, there is no experience in the industry like launching one. “That was the advice that made me decide it was the move,” she says. With about two dozen employees, building DuJour was a major hustle. “We were putting together this really fancy luxury magazine with virtually nothing, and it was so fun,” she says. Silberman would work at the office until one in the morning for months on end. “[The team and I] were in this crazy thing together. By the time it came out, it was a triumph,” Silberman says. Another memorable triumph occurred during the production of DuJour’s Summer 2015 Issue when the team shot a feature with Chrissy Teigen and John Legend. Silberman was selected to interview the power couple because of a previous interview with Teigen in 2014. The three met over lunch at il Buco in downtown Manhattan for the cover story. According to Silberman, they ordered everything from roasted octopus to milky burrata and drank a lot of rosé. “It was just a boozy, great time,” she says. “Of course I had to go in with an intention of getting good quotes from them, getting a good story. But it also felt like I was hanging out with friends.” With a desire to produce more content, Silberman started to pitch travel stories to her editors. In response, they said, “If you can get yourself there and figure out an airline to host you and hotels to put you up, knock yourself out.” Her first travel endeavor through DuJour was an eight-day trip to Japan. “I came back [thinking] I can’t believe this is something I get to do for work. After that, I was totally hooked,” she says, her blue eyes glimmering with excitement.
“Do it for the story.” Not for the Instagram Story – for the piece. found her mentor, Jane Berentson, there. “If you are able to cover something you are not passionate about, then when you eventually get a job that aligns with your interests, you are going to kill it,” she says. And that’s exactly what happened in June 2011. Silberman left Inc. for TV Guide to cover celebrities and reality TV. Her jaw dropped when she saw Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez walking the red carpet. “I will never forget that moment,” she says. A year into her job at TV Guide, Silberman was approached by the founders of a new publication that had yet to launch: DuJour Magazine. “If I had just been focusing on one thing my entire career, I probably would have gotten bored,” she says. “So being a generalist, as they say, was really beneficial for me. It’s the thing that got me my job at DuJour.” Although it was a risky move
Features UGirl 35
Whether she is staying at Tommy Hilfiger’s mansion on a private Caribbean island or traveling to the small middle eastern country of Oman to sleep in luxury tents in the desert, Silberman lives by the mantra: “Do it for the story.” Not for the Instagram Story – for the piece. To give her friends and family a glimpse into her extravagant travels, Silberman created an Instagram account in Aug. 2012. “I didn’t even want to be in any of the posts,” she says. “I was embarrassed to ask someone to take my photo.” Silberman decided to leave DuJour after four and a half years to fulfill her travel itch. By leveraging her connections, Silberman traveled around the world freelance writing for publications like Vogue.com, Cosmopolitan.com and The Wall Street Journal for a full year. When she returned to NYC in Feb. 2017, Town & Country approached her to join the digital team as a senior editor. One year later, Silberman was promoted to the editorial job she had dreamt of since graduation: deputy digital editor. While Town & Country’s digital footprint continued to grow, Silberman’s personal account blossomed as well. Silberman loved her job at Town & Country. “But I had this desire to branch off and build my own mini version of all these places I have worked at before,” she says. Plus, she knew she could begin to monetize her flourishing Instagram. It wasn’t until Oct. 2018 that she officially put her corporate job on pause to pursue a full-time career as a luxury lifestyle influencer. She remains on staff as a contributing editor at Town & Country, freelancing 1-3 articles per month. It took Silberman around four months to build her website, Lindsaysilberman.com. Within a few minutes of its launch, her blog had about one thousand people reading it. Her website traffic perpetually skyrockets because she answers many of her reader’s questions and curiosities. “The amazing thing about Instagram is that I can dictate my content based on what people want and what they’re asking for,” she explains. Before she left for the Maldives, Silberman published a piece on how to use credit card points and miles to travel around the world for little to no money. She couldn’t help but crack a
36 UGirl Features
smile when her DMs began to flood with exciting messages from followers who took her advice. Moments like these validate Silberman’s efforts to offer her #SilbSquad valuable information. “The influence I hope to make is to help people live their best luxurious lives and help them figure out what’s going to be the best use of their time and money.” In an attempt to become closer with the digital community she has formed, Silberman planned a meet and greet at Bluemercury, a luxury beauty retailer, in Rockefeller Center in Dec. 2018. Before solidifying the partnership event, the Bluemercury team asked Silberman if she could guarantee 50 attendees. “Worst case scenario, I’ll ask my friends and family to come. That will be 50,” she says chuckling. Within 24 hours of posting the invitation on her social media, 200 people RSVP’d. “I didn’t understand why anyone would want to come meet me,” she says. “I was like, oh they’re just coming for the gift bags or something.” But when she entered the store in her 4-inch black thigh-high boots, she knew her #SilbSquad came for her, not just the products. “Seeing an entire huge store filled with these people I talk to everyday,” she pauses. “It was very real, which was crazy. I attracted a community of people who are like-minded.” From planning trips to producing content to negotiating deals with brands like Taj Hotels, Stella Artois and Caudalie, Silberman has no days off. Her gig is a one-woman show, so she’s working harder and longer than ever before. It’s 2 a.m. Silberman’s husband, known as @InstaHusband who she met at SU, is fast asleep. But she’s still grinding. In bed. In the dark. In work mode. The light from her computer illuminates her face. Her eyes are craving sleep, but her skin is begging for intense hydration. An urge to try a new skincare product washes over her. After placing a Snowfox sheet mask onto her face, she records herself smoothing out the ripples while reviewing the item. She calls this excursion #InsomniaBeauty. Once she posts the video on her Instagram Story, she finally puts her phone down. Six hours later, she drafts a Japan itinerary for a summer 2019 family trip.
Q&A with
Lindsay Q: Beauty product you cannot live without? A: Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
Q: Skincare secret? A: Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Peel Pads
Q: Beach fashion trend you are loving? A: Wearing SPF50. Wrinkles are so 2016.
Q: Go-to editing app? A: Lightroom
Q: Summer bucket list vacation spot? A: St. Tropez
Q: Best travel hack? A: Put your foundation and eye cream into contact lens cases.
Q: Influencers you follow for inspo? A: @ofleatherandlace, @tezza
Q: Book every UGirl should read? A: “Influencer: Building Your Personal Brand in the Age of Social Media” by Brittany Hennessey
Q: Happy hour drink you’re obsessed with? A: Casamigos with a splash of club soda and an orange slice or Whispering Angel Rosé
location at MAKE BELIEVE AT SIXTY LES makeup by KARLA DURANTE hair by HILARY PHILLIPS
How Do UGirls Use Their Influence? For our fourth issue - devoted to the power of influencers - we asked UGirls around Syracuse University how they impact others. photography by SAM LANE
The
cate
dvo ng A
Ga Girl
rting ppo ow u s e by ’t kn uenc if I don e can fl n i n r e estu sitiv . Eve a po campus r nice g omore e b oph on nt o y to “I tr irl I see mplime Martin, S o g i any small c ~ Nalin .” a her, her day e k a m
The Socia l
Activitst
Queen
of Com
passion
“Every so how wo often, I text m y friend nderful s t and str ess, we hey are. Betwe essays about tend to en boys are. I sh , sch forg ow them that it h love an et how amazin ool d suppo elps.” ~ g we Sunny S rt in th ousa, So e hopes phomor e
upporter
S ol Spirit The Scho
“I wore th is shirt to class and Instagram po in hopes of sparkin sted it on my At first, I g a conve was scare rsation. d to put m But I kno ys w that in order to in elf out there. need to s fluence o tep outsid thers, I e of my c ~ Feryal N omfort zo awaz, Sop ne.” homo re
38 UGirl Features
Queen, I ecoming m d o H e s g involve yracu it by bein ect “As the S ir p s e s u nn yrac try to co spread S h s I can! I a y throug h it c n u u m m m r o in as c e U ills, S nio in the S ~ Katie D l.” o o everyone h c s e of the their lov
iet e Qu
Th
nion
The Ski n
pa Com
Care Gu
ru
ds, frien er. y m k for a tal care r than s a y l “I want e e a in en to genu of a list out them hat f I un, the show people t e s w b e u r ha .” apeutic r a o a y media, and eve t skin care ca “Bec o be mo n more listen t life stor s n be n k r t y in l a hobby a r l i care ca want to I try et to le ou rea nd the . On so n be se y h cial g a e e lp n n u h a others e s a hass g into the Yo seamle le. I n wh n throu ore ir o li s s fe s r ly s tyle.” ~ incorpo om ee pe Ashley S rate it Soph ’ve b ignore, S they dra Kim, enior r ve n lie e Be ~K The Body Positive
dget
Bu etter on a s d n e r T The
The Philanth
ropist ram, I try to “With my fitness Instag table at the or make people feel comf ir bodies.” the in gym and confident ore hom Sop y, ~ Mackenzie Darce
“I do charity work becau se I love making a dif ference. I vo lunteered at Save a Child ’s Heart last summer. W I put smiles hen on the kids’ faces, it felt amazing to give back.” ~ Emma Gutst ein, Senior
try to tagram, I s In n io h t they h my fas them tha igner w o h “Throug s d n r des eople a fashion o ent my h inspire p ig h y u ocum e to b don’t hav trendy! I like to d to see e e a place b v a to h to t n items ou phomore n my acc Eagle, So in r E outfits o ~ s evolve.” how style
Features UGirl 39
A new take on old trends. Photography by SAM LANE & HANNAH FRANKEL
40 UGirl Features
model CLAUDIA MCCANN Top: Thrifted, $25 Pants: ASOS, $28
model COLETTE LATHAN Biker Shorts: Forever 21, $19 Top: Windsor, $16
model AYUSHI SINGH Top: Forever 21, $8 Pants: IAMGIA, $80 Shoes: ASOS, $26
Kombucha Cocktail Add a boozy burst to your favorite probiotic drink. Servings: 4
by DANIELLE STERLING Crave a healthy kick before your night out at DJ’s? Ditch the sugary chaser for Kombucha, a fermented tea that is usually carbonated and loaded with probiotics. Add a healthy boost to your next drink with this delicious blueberry mojito kombucha cocktail.
Ingredients: • 1 ½ cups blueberries • 15 mint leaves • 2 limes, juiced • 2 tsp maple syrup • ¼ cup water • 1 cup ginger Kombucha • 1 shot tequila • Tonic water
46 UGirl Spring 2019
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Directions: 1. Mix all ingredients except the tonic water in a blender with ice and pulse until smooth. 2. Pour into four large glasses with ice cubes. 3. Top with tonic water. 4. Serve immediately and sip away!
Big (Broken) Ben
Fingernails Farrah
I met this hot guy with an English accent. I invited him over and we started to have sex. I was feeling myself, so I decided to try out a new sex move that I made up in my head. When we finished, I noticed a streak of blood on his thigh. He got up and huge drops of blood were coming from his dick. Blood was everywhere because, turns out, I snapped his dick. Unfortunately, while I broke his dick, he gave me international chlamydia! It’s cool though because we’re still friends on Snapchat.
I invited this guy over even though I thought he was gross. When we started to hookup, he fingered me. His nails were crazy long and were scratching me. I stopped him, and he then proceeded to bite the nails off and flick them into my bed and around my room! Then, he tried again with jagged, spiked fingers. I kicked him out and haven’t seen him since.
Senior
Netflix Nina Freshman
He was blackout drunk and wanted to Netflix and Chill. When the chill started, he tossed my computer off the bed. I freaked out, picked it up and realized he broke it.
Senior
Bloody Bianca Senior
I was talking to this really tall guy at after hours, and he took me to the basement. We sat down on a couch and started to make out. When we went to go back upstairs, he stood up and BAM! He hit his head on this wooden plank hanging from the ceiling. All of a sudden, his head started to gush blood. I ran to the closest bathroom to grab paper towels. When I barged in, two people were making out. I completely ignored them, grabbed a bunch of paper towels and ran back to find him in worse condition. I dabbed his head to try to stop the bleeding. Hopefully he didn’t get a concussion.
Pissy Polly Junior
Freshman year on Halloween night, I texted this guy I had a crush on. He came over, but the second he got into my bed, he fell asleep. When he woke up in the morning, he went to the bathroom. He came back, and I realized his pants were totally wet. I immediately wanted him to leave. I told him to look down and he said, “Oh sh*t. Can I still get a hug?” Before I knew it, his pissy pants were literally touching my bare leg.
Hookups From Hell illustration by CLAUDIA MCCANN
Spring 2019 UGirl 47
@universitygirlsu your student fee