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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Living through an era of uncertainty and change has presented most of us with challenges. Plans didn’t happen as expected, but we were forced to persist. This time period will be remembered in history and those of us living through it will be remembered for our strength and creativity, even in isolation. Back in February, I remember feeling so overwhelmed. There were so many opportunities and such little time. All I wanted was a break, a moment to collect myself. Organize. Relax. Work on my photography. Then came March, and the whole world just stopped. I suddenly had nowhere to be and nowhere to go. The whole country was asked to stay home, and this seemed like the break I had been asking for. For a minute, I was relieved, but as time kept passing I found myself wasting time on social media ERH 2IX¾M\ - EWOIH Q]WIPJ LS[ GSYPH - TSWWMFP] [EWXI XLMW XMQI# 8LI [SVPH LEH ½REPP] WPS[IH HS[R ]IX - WXMPP GSYPHR´X ½RH XLI QSXMZEXMSR XS HS ER]XLMRK 8LI [SVPH WIIQIH XS FI KIXXMRK [SVWI ERH XLIR WS HMH Q] ER\MIX] I nagged at myself every day for mindlessly scrolling on my phone, it almost became an addiction.This routine seemed toxic and things were not getting better. ,IVI [I EVI EPQSWX ½ZI QSRXLW PEXIV ER IRXMVI WYQQIV LEW EPQSWX GSQI ERH KSRI ERH PMJI WXMPP WIIQW confusing and uncertain. Although I have not mastered my craft like I had imagined doing in quarantine, I am learning how to navigate my own mind during these unprecedented times. To me, that’s all we can do right now. %W [I EPP PIEVR RI[ [E]W XS REZMKEXI XLI [SVPH :EVMERX 1EKE^MRI MW ½RHMRK MRRSZEXMZI [E]W XS VITVIsent the growth within our society. During quarantine, Variant has interviewed and hired a new executive board, LIPH SRPMRI QIIXMRKW ZME >SSQ TPERRIH MXW ½VWX IZIV WYQQIV MWWYI GVIEXIH E RI[ PSKS HIWMKRIH QIVGLERHMWI rebranded and came together as a stronger team. Not one human is the same though, and we take value in that here at Variant. As young creatives, we are always trying to learn and improve. We have been forced to improvise. We took on a challenge as a group to use this time to come together better than ever before. During quarantine, Variant has grown a lot. Thanks to our web editor, Grace Dearing, we now have an updated website and a weekly newsletter sent out via email. In an attempt to educate and inform, copy chief Ellie Roberto launched “The Edge,” a curation of the latest news stories uploaded to our social media pages every Friday. Jordan Schmitt, our head of social media, has stayed on top of putting out relevant content multiple times a week. Thanks to Zoom and Slack we have also been able to stay in contact and create an entire issue remotely. -R XLMW MWWYI +VEGI (IEVMRK VIWIEVGLIW ERH I\TPEMRW LS[ EWXVSPSK] GER FI YWIH EW E KYMHI XS ½RH GSQfort during unprecedented time (pg. 10). Executive editor Jonathan Pierron shares his take on masks as fashion WXEXIQIRXW TK *SV XLI ½VWX XMQI IZIV 'SPPMR &PEGO ERH 7STLME 1YRS^ WYFQMXXIH ZMHISW XS FI MRGPYHIH MR the issue. *VSQ SRI GVIEXMZI XS ERSXLIV - IRGSYVEKI ]SY XS XEOI XLMW XMQI XS VI¾IGX FEGO MRXS ]SYVWIPJ 8VIEX yourself with love and patience. You deserve that. No one has the answers right now, but if we all use this time to work on ourselves I have hope that we will become a stronger country. I hope to be reunited in the fall, but if not, we will evolve marvelously. Like we always do. Stay safe and take care of yourself. XO

VARIANT MAGAZINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MADISON SALYER EXECUTIVE EDITOR JONATHAN PIERRON ASSOCIATE EDITOR GABRIELLA HAYES ˜ CREATIVE DIRECTOR SOPHIA MUNOZ CHIEF OF PHOTOGRAPHY KATE BENDER

COPY CHIEF ELLIE ROBERTO

PHOTO ASSISTANT OLIVIA GORDON

COPY EDITORS MARGAUX AUGIER, FARAH CHIDIAC

DIGITAL TECH ELLIOTT MAGENHEIM

HEAD OF STYLING AEDEN GROTHAUS

HEAD OF PUBLICATION DESIGN OLIVIA DUTKEWYCH DESIGNERS EMMA DENGLER, LINDSAY KATZ, JORDAN ˜ SCHMITT, SOPHIA DAUGHERTY MUNOZ, OLIVIA DUTKEWYCH HEAD OF MAKEUP JOHANNA ANTONUCCIO TREASURER EMMA HERZIG PHOTO EDITOR KAILEE RICHEY

CO-HEADS OF EVENT PLANNING CYDNEE LIVINGSTON, LILY ROBY HEAD OF PUBLIC RELATIONS JORDAN SCHMITT PUBLIC RELATIONS LOGAN BARRAGAN HEAD OF ADVERTISING ASHLYN ANSEL WEB EDITOR GRACE DEARING

MODELS AEDEN GROTHAUS, MARAYA BROWN, ASHYA NICOLE REEVES, DELANI DORSEY, SIR’QUORA CARROLL, JONATHAN PIERRON, SYDNEY HONAKER, OLIVIA GORDON, JOHN ANTHONY SCIARRETTI, GINA SCIARRETTI, JULIA SCIARRETTI, KIRSTYN, HAGAN FAMILY, PEAT LYNCH, KYLEE BETHEL SUBMISSIONS AEDEN GROTHAUS, COLLIN BLACK, FARAH CHIDIAC, GRACE DEARING, HARLEY WINCE, JONATHAN PIERRON, LILIA ˜ SCIARETTI, MADISON SALYER, OLIVIA GORDON, RYAN MAXIN, SOPHIA DAUGHERTY MUNOZ, SYDNEY HONAKER STAY CONNECTED WITH US! VRNTMAGAZINE.COM / @VRNTMAGAZINE

Gabriella Hayes Associate Editor

Madison Salyer Editor in Chief

Emma Herzig Treasurer

Ellie Roberto Copy Chief

Olivia Dutkewych Publication Design

Ashlyn Ansel Head of Advertising

Jordan Schmitt

Aeden G

Head of

Head of Public Relations

Grace Dearing

Web Editor

Kailee Richey Photo Editor

Sophia Daugherty MuĂąoz Creative Director

Jonathan Pierron Executive Editor

Elliot Magenheim Digital Tech

Margaux Augier

Farah Chidiac Copy Editor

Copy Editor

Cydnee Livingston Co-Head of Event Planning

Grothaus

f Styling

Johanna Antonuccio Head of Makeup

Olivia Gordon

ate Bender Photo Chief

Photo Assistant

Lily Roby Co-Head of Event Planning

Table of Cont E v o l v e

E v o l v e

E v o

page 1

page 5

page 7

pa 9

T ell me h ow you R ea l ly feel

p r is ms

fr om th e s oil of h at r e d

e vo lv e

page 20

page 21

page 22

ou ast rology c lu b

u s c r imina l ju stic e system

protesting for black lives mat ter

pa 2

tents l v e

ge 9

e equa l l

ge 3

rid e

E v o l v e

pag e 11 be aut y i n the rain

pag e 27 necessa ry accessory

page 15

page 17

t h e silh ouet te

stu dy of s el f

page 29

page 31

aligned to reb u il d

the creative push i always needed

“Life is precious. With police violence and a pandemic it has taught me that time is precious.”

In the current times of massive changes, we asked Variant re how their lives and outlooks have shifted in the

“I’ve learned to appreciate the people who love me through the bad times and not just the good and I’ve learned that my voice is important and needs to be heard no matter what. There can be no change without realization and communication.”

“Realizing that adulthood is just you learning all the bad stuff you were taught as a kid.”

eaders and contributors about past few months.

Responses Collected by Jordan Schmitt Portraits by Harley Wince

“My understanding “My understanding of ofwhat whatthings things are necessary and unnecessary are necessary and unnecessary (belonging wise. wise).You Youdon’t don’tneed need aa lot belonging to happy. be happy. lotbe to ” ”

“I’ve learned to protect my peace and be mindful of who I let have access to my life.”

“I feel more connected than ever to the earth and it’s inhabitants due to the state of the world.”

“I’ve realized how much I base my happiness on being around others, or how extroverted I am.”

“With everything going on in the world I LEZI HIGMHIH XS ½RH TIEGI MR XLI WXSVQ ²

“I’ve learned that much more is in our hands than I previously thought. Our future is malleable, so we need to make it what we want of it.”

“Life has been harder. It’s harder to see the good in people and society.”

Written by Ryan Maxin Artwork by Ryan Maxin There are several elements that connect to the “Evolve” theme. First, the EVLV logo at the top pays tribute to Variant Magazine’s continued efforts to spread awareness to our world’s changing political and social ideals. 8LI HMZIVWM½IH GYPXYVI EX 3LMS 9RMZIVWMX] MW ZIV] MQportant to me, and I’m glad that Variant shines a much needed light on it. Second, the “hatred” soil references the deep, deplorable history of hatred (against certain

QEVKMREPM^IH KVSYTW ERH VEGIW XLEX XLI 9RMXIH 7XEXIW has, something that has become increasingly known in recent weeks. Lastly, the plant represents all of the good things that we are seeing today following the countless I\EQTPIW SJ MRNYWXMGI TIEGIJYP TVSXIWXW ½PPIH [MXL PSZI unity among those who are understanding of people who are different from them. This shows our ability, as humans, to evolve even in a time of extreme chaos and, WXERH YRMXIH MR XLI ½KLX JSV IUYEPMX] ERH IUYMX] JSV EPP

From the Soil of Hatred

% ½PQ F] Sophia Muñoz

Evolve equall is the idea that togethe 9

er, we can all evolve. Equal+all=equall 10

Beauty in the Rain Photographed by Madison Salyer

The Sil The Silhouette A Film by Collin Black

houette 16

EVOLVE EVOLVE

EVOLVE

Astrology club is a place for the curious and a safe space to explore something new. written by Elizabeth Lily

My name is Elizabeth Lily and I am the scribe of astrology club. I feel I have become a better person from doing so! I have met so many new people and learned about the stars, space, and myself in a way that I did not know before. This group of people is so accepting and open, and we do so much more than look at horoscopes, in fact we do not really look at them at all. We teach and educate how the alignment of the stars and your place in the universe combine to guide you. Support of our beliefs, practicing mediation and yoga, and constantly bettering ourselves is what this club is for. We hope to be able to do special events outside of

our meetings, have guest experts come in, and encourage all groups of people (even skeptics) to join us too. There are so many opportunities for leadership and great connections in astrology club. It is for sure a great conversation starter. You can follow us on Instagram ERH 8YQFPV $SJÂ˝GMEPEWXVSPSK]GPYF EW [IPP EW 8[MXXIV $SJÂ˝GMEPEWXVSP ;I LEZI a group chat with all our member so we have a space to ask questions and share information too. If you would like to receive emails about our club or have any questions, please reach out to me at IP $SLMS IHY 20

Infographic by Farah Chidiac

I often feel that there is no space for LGBT+ work or representation, but as I sit to write about this topic, I’m at a loss. Something that would usually flow so easily to me seems wrong or selfish to talk about. While I deem lack of LGBT+ representation a huge issue today, I have also never been one to turn away, especially now, from the undeniable truth that we are living in a country where Black people are disproportionately killed by the police. Not only this, but they are more likely to go “missing,” be incarcerated and earn less money in the workplace than their white counterparts. As a white person, I will never understand what that is like. The question “Where do I fit into all of this?” quickly pervaded my mind and took over nearly every thought I had when it came to writing. How can I use my privilege and the voice I have for good, without speaking over Black voices? Is this the time to talk about LGBT+ issues? The more and more I thought about these questions, I realized that these things go hand in hand. You cannot be LGBT+ and also NOT anti-racist. Both of these issues are incredibly

relevant and important. I have always been vocal about what I believe is right, and I cannot stop now. I am dedicating time to educate myself on how I fit into these conversations as a queer, white person. I encourage you, the reader, to do everything in your power to do the same. I know one of the most valuable things I can give to other LGBT+ people around the world is a voice and a safe space. While doing this, I am adamant about reading and consuming art from the black community. There ARE stories, sounds, visuals that need to be amplified because they have been sold short time and time again. There IS a place for this community in the media. It is more than brilliant. It is heartfelt, angry, loud, vibrant, and beautiful. It is worth hearing, and we are going to make it heard.

I decided to launch PRIDEWALL, a website dedicated to LGBT+ people, their personal stories and art of all mediums. This tight-knit online community will allow connection and understanding through each other’s experiences both similar and different. Until then, push yourself to consume LGBT+ and black media. Ask yourself not only “What can I say?” but also “What can I DO?” It is not enough to post, you MUST be urgent and active. Two simple ways you can be active right now are by reading about and donating to the Black Lives Matter movement, many of them benefiting the black LGBT+ community. We’ll talk soon. - Olivia

Written by Jonathan Pierron Photographed and Illustrated by Jonathan Pierron

Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask Wear a Mask

As we move further into the global COVID-19 pandemic, wearing a mask has become a new normal for society. All over the world, the practice of wearing masks in public to prevent disease has become normalized and integrated into JEWLMSR %W E VIWYPX MRGSVTSVEXMRK QEWOW MRXS SYXÂ˝XW LEW become an interesting challenge for many people who use fashion to express themselves. Looking beyond the pandemic, I am curious whether this will remain the norm. Will wearing masks simply be a passing trend? No matter how you do it, please wear a mask! Help prevent the spread of this virus as much as possible, and do it with style. <3

Aligned to Rebuild To put it simply, 2020 has been a year of highs and lows. Communities across the world are watching daily life transition into an unprecedented era. From the Australian FYWL½VIW MR 2I[ 7SYXL ;EPIW %YWXVEPME XS the global COVID-19 pandemic and to the more recent Black Lives Matter rallies and protests, major historical events are taking place around the world.

something that you’ve felt your whole life but couldn’t put into words, and you can learn how certain behaviors affect you and how you can change them,” Frison says.

It is easy to feel overwhelmed and out of control during a time when so much is unknown and “new normal” is a phrase echoed off TV stations, radios and plastered EPP SZIV WSGMEP QIHME 7S TISTPI EVI PIEVRMRK to cope in a variety of ways. For many, this means turning to astrology.

%GGSVHMRK XS 7MQSRI 1EXXLI[W ER I\TIVX in naturopathy & herbal medicine, bestselling author and founder of the Universal Life 8SSPW ;MWHSQ 7GLSSP ´W 9RMZIVWEP =IEV number is four (2+0+2+0=4).

Astrology has become a widely followed trend over the years and can be a helpful tool in understanding the unexplainable. Deven Frison, a Cincinnati native who has followed astrology for years, believes understanding the meaning of planet alignments and zodiac signs comforts her when she feels out of control. “Astrology outlines why things are the way they are … You can get an explanation for 29

In a broader sense, astrology can be a helpful tool for explaining why the world works the way it does and why certain events take place.

The number “four” in numerology focuses on structure, foundations, dedication and planning, and “four” as a Universal Year number occurs once every nine years. Therefore, in terms of astrology, 2020 is a year to work on strengthening foundations, even if that means the foundation has to ½VWX JEPP ETEVX .ER EPWS QEVOIH XLI ½VWX 7EXYVR Pluto conjunction in 38 years, according to Matthews. As the planet of structure,

7EXYVR SJJIVW [MWHSQ PMJI PIWWSRW ERH WIPJ VIWTSRWMFMPMX] ;LIR 7EXYVR MW EPMKRIH [MXL Pluto, the planet of transformation, death ERH VIFMVXL [I EVI TVSQTXIH XS VI¾IGX SR what outdated organizations of power or control need to be rebuilt. On a global scale, the theme of crumbling foundations is most clearly seen within the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. As a result of the pandemic, many people’s lives changed HVEQEXMGEPP] ERH WSGMIX] [EW JSVGIH XS VI¾IGX on things that were taken for granted or RIIHIH GLERKMRK 7MQMPEVP] XLI &PEGO 0MZIW Matter movement quite literally calls for the rebuilding of large organizations of power. This movement also calls for the reevaluation of individual thinking and action.

Understanding this idea of breaking down to rebuild may help people to see promise in times of uncertainty. “People fear the things that they don’t YRHIVWXERH 7S VIEPM^MRK XLEX QE]FI GIVXEMR hardships should be happening right now might be comforting for people who don’t understand why things are happening,” Frison WE]W ±7TMVMXYEPMX] ?ERH EWXVSPSK]A MW VIEPP] YWMRK your own intuition and your own judgment and knowing that there could be other JEGXSVW XLEX MR¾YIRGI XLI [SVPH EVSYRH YW But, it shouldn’t be the end all, be all.” Written by Grace Dearing

“It makes sense that things are currently crumbling so that something else can be put in its place,” Frison says. Although astrology is not an exact science and does not unequivocally determine what happens in life, it can be a helpful guide and a [E] XS ½RH GSQJSVX MR XLI YRGSRXVSPPEFPI 30

The Creative Push I Always Needed written by Writer Lilia Sciarretti Photographer photographed by Lilia Sciarretti

Human touch and human connection. We crave them, we long for them, and as of late, we didn’t know how much we would miss them until they were gone . Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many creatives including myself had to stop working for a while as much of our work involved the art of human interaction(or contact). As a photographer, I value the hugs and handshakes I share with my clients who often turn into friends. The movement of the client’s hair because it wasn’t PE]MRK VMKLX 8LI LMKL ½ZIW - KMZI EW - WLS[ XLIQ the raw image on my camera, hyping them up for their effortless modeling skills. This physical human connection is something I am grateful to experience, as I’m able to meet and work with so many incredible people each day. Connecting with people is my favorite thing about all of this. Meeting them, learning what drives them, how they met the love of their life or why they prefer jam to butter on their toast. The people I work with inspire me. Whatever the conversation may be, no matter the quality or quantity,I cherish it. The fact that they felt 31

vulnerable enough to open up to a girl like me means more than they will ever know. I guess you could say I was bummed that I haven’t been able to physically connect with people for quite some time. But, COVID-19 didn’t stop me from creating. When quarantine set in, I moved from my tiny, claustrophobic apartment to my parents’ home. Luckily for me, being the oldest of six kids provided me plenty of models to work with and the guilty pleasure of telling my siblings what to do. I photographed my siblings nearly every day. “John Anthony, come stand in this light in the stairwell. It’s perfect.” ±+MRE WMX LIVI -´Q KSMRK XS HVETI XLMW ¾SVEP sheet behind you.” “Julia, let’s put vaseline on my lens and see what happens.” Surprisingly, they enjoy modeling for me, but in this case, they got over it pretty quickly; Being the extrovert I am, and in order to keep my sanity, I knew I needed to be connecting with individuals other than my family. I needed more. I needed the human connection back. So, I began to do some

K m b F s o I u o w research and see what other creatives were up to. Like me, many of them were posting old contentin an EXXIQTX XS OIIT XLIMV -RWXEKVEQ TVIWIRGI EÂžSEX 3XLIVW were offering porch sessions, in which they would photograph families on their front porches . While I adored this idea, I wanted to push myself to my creative brink. Thatâ€™s when I came across the #FaceTimephotoshoot hashtag. As I scrolled through the hashtag, hundreds of photographers were doing something I had never seen done before, I became instantly obsessed with the idea. I called my friend

I a w T s

L w m w I t m a o Y

Kirstyn, told her to throw on minimal makeup, change out of the clothes she’d been wearing for several days now and FaceTime me. Throughout the hashtag, I saw many people simply screenshotting or taking live photos through the app, but wanted to give it my own touch. So, I set up FaceTime on my laptop and shot her on my camera. The results were exactly what I envisioned and then some.

quickly posted them on Instagram and marketed sessions for $40. People were attracted to the idea, and the price TSMRX WSPMHM½IH XLIMV JEWGMREXMSR - FIKER shooting friends, couples and newly-weds.

Luckily for me, I was able to be blunt with Kirstyn when things weren’t working mechanically. The screen between us wasn’t too much of an issue. Only when switched from friend to acquaintance that the digital barrier began to challenge my creativity. Poor internet connection and overexposure served as creative obstacles and sometimes caused an YRGSQJSVXEFPI WMXYEXMSR YRXMP [I ½REPP]

were able to conquer the technical. FaceTime photoshoots taught me patience, when to take a step back and how to truly appreciate what I was practicing. It resulted in learning how to slow down the art of photography altogether. As the world began to slowly open back up, a close photography colleague of mine asked me to come into his home and photograph his family in their quarantine routine;untouched and unposed, simply carrying out their daily tasks. I immediately agreed and arrived at their home the following week, spending the morning photographing them in their space.

9RI\TIGXIHP] Q] GVIEXMZI NYMGIW [IVI ÂžS[MRK HYVMRK UYEVERXMRI - am very grateful for it, as I created more during this time than ever before. I think it was because I was forced to create a routine for myself ,and I decided to make photography a major part of it. Now that friends are giving hugs and joining hands once again (with a mask on of course), I think we can all agree that this time apart has made us appreciate the art of human touch and connection more than ever before. For me, quarantine has made me miss the small, intimate moments I was able to share with people on a digital platform. Although quarantine had such a negative connotation, I will forever appreciate this time that pushed me to grow creatively.

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