By Sophia-Joelle McDowell
Erin Brown is a lesbian influencer and advocate for queer culture. Her podcast The Lesbian Peep Show covers all things lesbian, sapphic, and dyke culture—from queer history and identity development to body politics, relationships, and more. Along with her podcast, she also created The Sapphic Syllabus archive to preserve and promote lesbian narratives and histories. We spoke about the pod, authentic expression, activism, and everything in between.
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By Emily Laptad
CW: Mention of domestic abuse/violence, complex trauma, and childhood trauma.
On October 22, 2022, I woke up to listen to the bonus tracks on Taylor Swift’s tenth studio album, Midnights (3am Edition). It was a spiritual experience that nudged my personal life story in a direction I never saw coming when the lyrics, “Give me back my girlhood, it was mine first,” crooned through my earbuds as I listened to “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” for the first time.
So, it’s fitting that it’s 3 a.m. now as I try to weave together the words to illustrate just how much the historical popstar, musical mastermind, and 14-time Grammy Award Winner means to me—and so many other Swifties too. This particular editorial has been in the making for over a year now, and after tossing and turning over the shear dismay that Taylor blindsided the Swifties with a brand new album, The Tortured Poets Department, that’s coming out on April 19 (we all thought we were getting reputation (Taylor’s Version) instead) now felt like a better time than ever.
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By Sophia-Joelle McDowell
When was the last time you played with dolls? For Mikaela Moody, the answer is pretty recently.
Moody, who has over 100 Bratz dolls to her name, is all about play. And after moving to Los Angeles in 2014 to pursue an acting career, Moody, now 27, is a self-proclaimed Life sized Bratz doll.
Moody continues to act here and there (you may recognize her from the popular short inspirational Dhar Mann videos), but you’re more likely to find her making her own videos and posting them online. First it was cooking videos on TikTok, but as she lost interest in posting cooking content, Moody found herself creating videos that scratched a more nostalgic itch.
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By Sophia-Joelle McDowell
Photos by Whitney Young
Jaspreet Kaur’s love for poetry began at age 13. Now, at age 42, she uses her own pen and her voice to display her passion for social justice.
This was her therapy. “In 2015, I finally plucked up the courage to share my poetry with the world, and my journey as ‘Behind the Netra’ began,” Kaur explained. “Since then, I’ve been using the power of poetry for social, political, and cultural change, specifically on gender discrimination, mental health stigma, and the postcolonial immigrant experience, performing on stages across the UK.”
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By Bella Rainey
Photos by Bella Rainey, Art by Kelcie McKenney
Fast fashion: the buzzword of the century. We’re all doing our best to avoid it—but with trends moving faster than they ever have before, it’s easier said than done.
Whether you’re a fashion-forward girly or simply looking for event-specific pieces, renting a piece instead of buying one full price (and never wearing it again) could be the move for you. Renting clothes can put money back in your pocket (girl math?), while promoting a more sustainable way to dress your best.
As clothing rental services grow in popularity, it’s getting harder to find your right fit. Let’s break down the pros, cons, and my overall ratings of three fashion rental services.
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Catcall 