By: Diamond Johnson Area's designer, Piotek Panszczyk, and his talented team have an impressive knack for dissecting and exploring their chosen theme each season until they unearth something fresh and captivating. This season, they began with the eyes, which led to the creation of cartoon eyes, and ultimately culminated in the simplified yet striking shape of a circle inside another circle. With this innovative and imaginative approach, Area continues to push the boundaries of fashion and captivate audiences around the world. Photograph Credit: Vogue “The eyes as a symbol just always speak to us because they connect so many of our favorite art forms like Pop Art in the ’60s or surrealism in the 1920s; from Warhol to Man Ray,” Panszczyk told Vogue. Photograph Credit: Vogue This collection showcases a stunning range of denim ensembles, including mini and maxi dresses, jeans, and tops that perfectly embody the theme of circles and jewels. Area has always been a trailblazer in creating cutting-edge denim designs, and this season is no exception. “We’re expanding into more and more categories and they don’t always click for a lot of people; if you come from a fashion show kind of perspective, maybe you don’t know that we also do jeans, and we also do jersey” said Panszczyk. Photograph Credit: Vogue The beautiful peach and light pink hues took center stage for the avant-garde runway show. The collection was a delightful feast for the eyes with its stunning floral patterns and intricate ruffled shapes. Panszczyk assembled an impressive range of dresses, pants, and tops that blended seamlessly to create cohesive looks. Every outfit in the collection featured a flawlessly woven circle theme in some aspect, creating a sophisticated and unique feel. Photograph Credit: Vogue At the conclusion of the show, the fashion concept was stripped down to its core essence, featuring a magnificent gold metallic ring with a shimmering crystal suspended in the center, elegantly floating in a sea of black cotton. This captivating design element was prominently featured at the center of an oversized cotton shirt, on the halter neck of an effortless jumpsuit, and on the breasts of a sleek strapless shift dress. This bold avant-garde design choice left a lasting impression to onlookers. Area's collection at New York Fashion Week was nothing short of extraordinary. Their bold and visionary approach left a lasting impression on all who beheld it, showcasing unparalleled innovation and creativity. With their futuristic flair, Area pushed the boundaries of fashion, solidifying their reputation as true visionaries in the industry.

By: Diamond Johnson Mark Badgley and James Mischka's latest collection is a stunning tribute to the glamour and elegance of the Swans' upper-echelon galas and cocktail parties. Inspired by Ryan Murphy's "Feud: Capote vs. the Swans", this collection exudes confidence, drawing from the timeless beauty of the Swans' style. "The way they used to dress back then—a beautiful column gown with one alluring detail—is kind of like how our girls like to dress today,” said Badgley to Vogue. "Everything is bold and simple." Photograph Credit: Vogue The designer duo has outdone themselves with their latest runway collection of gowns, cocktail dresses, and suits. This time, they have opted for a more subtle color palette featuring metallics, blacks, and jewel tones. Each piece is designed to make a bold statement and leave a lasting impression. "We've done so much color lately, but all of a sudden, our ladies love black again," Badgley added. Photograph Credit: Vogue The Badgley Mischka runway was a true spectacle, with stunning floor-length dresses adorned with piles of ruffles. The designers fully embraced extravagance by adding an ethereal charm to their gorgeous ensembles. The ruffles cascaded down the dresses, creating a swan-like grace and exuding opulence and grandeur. Every ruffle was meticulously placed, making the dresses dance with every step on the runway, captivating onlookers. Photograph Credit: Vogue The elegant silver-coded outfits commanded the audience's attention, showcasing their luxurious and timeless sophistication. Each attire shimmered and sparkled as models glided down the runway, captivating viewers with intricate beadwork, lavish fabrics, and exquisite detailing. From dazzling evening gowns adorned with simple sequins to sleek metallic cocktail dresses, the silver hues added a celestial allure to every look, making them impossible to ignore. Photograph Credit: Vogue The runway came alive with a burst of colors as vibrant yet simple dresses illuminated the stage, offering a refreshing departure from traditional eveningwear. Each dress was a celebration of color, featuring bold prints, rich jewel tones, and playful combinations that dazzled under the runway lights. The collection showcased a diverse palette that embraced the joy of self-expression, from sweeping gowns in shades of sky and sapphire blue to dresses in fiery reds and pinks. Photograph Credit: Vogue The collection showcased a stunning selection of black attire, comprising dresses, coats, and suits, each exuding an undeniable sense of power and sophistication. The sleek contours and striking silhouettes of each outfit were awe-inspiring, commanding attention and instilling a feeling of confidence and authority. The timeless and elegant aesthetic of the Upper East Side has been Badgley Mischka's focus for years, and the influence of the Swans proved to be a perfect match. Photograph Credit: Vogue

By: Diamond Johnson The historical Grand Central Station witnessed a memorable event as the outstanding New York brand, Tommy Hilfiger, staged a dinnertime show at the opulent Oyster Bar. Fans crowded the 42nd Street exit to catch a glimpse of the celebratory mood. After a year away, Hilfiger returned to New York Fashion Week with a bang. Witness the heartbeat of New York City! Tommy Hilfiger's latest collection features all the classic pieces, but with a fresh twist. The varsity jackets, peacoats, chinos, and crew neck sweaters have been cut slightly oversized with hefty, boxy proportions. Additionally, the rugby and polo shirts have been transformed into playful, preppy dresses, and prim button-downs have received supersized stiffened collars for a dressier look. Photograph Credit: Vogue Tommy Hilfiger is a true legend when it comes to American sportswear. His timeless designs include chinos, polo shirts, cable-knit sweaters, and camel coats, all of which are essential pieces in any fashion lover’s wardrobe. This season, Hilfiger has decided to take these classics to a whole new level by infusing them with the vibrant energy of New York City. He believes that New York is the epitome of “classic American cool,” he told Vogue, and his latest collection is a testament to that. Photograph Credit: Vogue Stripes were a standout feature at the show. These striking design elements exuded a playful sophistication, injecting a sense of energy into the show. Drawing inspiration from classic nautical influences and preppy aesthetics, the stripes were a masterstroke of contemporary style that perfectly encapsulated Tommy Hilfiger’s iconic brand. Photograph Credit: Vogue Oversized coats stole the spotlight at the show, exuding an air of effortless cool and urban poise. These statement pieces commanded attention on the runway, with their generous proportions and luxurious fabrics adding a sense of drama and comfort to each ensemble. Photograph Credit: Vogue Tommy Hilfiger's classic colors are truly memorable, and set the brand apart from the rest. The combination of white, red, and blue creates a distinct Americana charm that is given a modern twist. These colors are the foundation of the collection, resulting in a cohesive and captivating aesthetic that celebrates the essence of New York style with modern flair. Photograph Credit: Vogue Tommy Hilfiger's runway was a plaid paradise, showcasing a stunning array of prints in various colors and patterns to create a timeless look for each outfit. Photograph Credit: Vogue Varsity jackets took center stage at the show, re-imagining classic collegiate style with contemporary flair. Featuring bold color blocking, luxe materials, and intricate embroidery, these jackets captured the essence of youthful energy and sporty refinement. Photograph Credit: Vogue The show featured a stunning collection of skirts that embodied femininity and elegance. The range included both flowing maxi skirts and more structured mini skirts, each meticulously tailored and detailed. Photograph Credit: Vogue "It's all about relevant shapes, relevant details, and making it wearable and affordable," said Hilfiger to Vogue, "but above all, it still has to be Tommy." This moment was unforgettable, a true embodiment of the essence of New York and distinctly representative of Tommy's unique character.

By: Diamond Johnson The Grammys 2024 is finally here! The red carpet was graced by a plethora of stunning beauty looks that left everyone in awe. From chic and subtle minimalist glam to fierce and daring bold looks, there was something for everyone to admire. Here are the top beauty looks from the red carpet of the 2024 Grammys. 1. Halle Bailey Photograph Credit: Vogue Halle Bailey truly looked like an "Angel" with her stunning hip-length waves, bold brows, and radiant skin. 2. Tyla Photograph Credit: Vogue Tyla confidently flaunted her signature style, exuding a radiant and natural glow that illuminated her entire look. 3. Dua Lipa Photograph Credit: Glamour All eyes were on Dua Lipa, who looked radiant with a bronze complexion, violet-flecked gaze, and glossy pink lips. Her cherry cola waves completed the show-stopping look. 4. Miley Cyrus Photograph Credit: Vogue Miley Cyrus's beauty look is simply stunning, taking us back to the 1980s with her sky-high, teased brown locks and bold eye glam. 5. Olivia Rodrigo Photograph Credit: Vogue A true "Vampire". Olivia perfectly embodied the 1990s supermodel aesthetic with her voluminous hair, expertly applied winged eyeliner and gradient cherry lipstick. 6. Summer Walker Photograph Credit: Glamour Summer Walker confidently rocked a stunning white feather ensemble complemented by voluminous lashes, glossy lips, and glowy skin. 7. Lana Del Rey Photograph Credit: Glamour Lana Del Rey confidently rocked a gothic glam with her jet-black hair styled in a voluminous bow and heavy fringe, complemented by a nude lip. 8. Coco Jones Photograph Credit: Glamour Coco Jones's stunning "bronze, glowy glam" look was expertly created by her makeup artist, Diana Shin. The glam gave Coco a naturally flushed glow, leaving her looking radiant. 9. Victoria Monet Photograph Credit: Glamour Victoria Monet embraced a stunning, confident makeup look featuring an alluring ombré mocha lip, dramatic lashes, and glowing skin. 10. Gracie Abrams Photograph Credit: Glamour Gracie Abrams effortlessly sported a natural and glowing look. Her eyes were strikingly bold with a touch of eyeliner coupled with strong bows, and her cheeks had a rosy blush that added to her radiant appearance.

By Angel Neal Marc Jacobs’ has always been a master statement-maker so we didn't expect the Spring/Summer 2024 collection to be any different. The S/S 2024 collection was a playful presentation of fashionable fun, solidifying the brand as one of New York’s best. Marc Jacobs marks 40 years of the Marc Jacobs brand, by bringing the love of dolls to the forefront of its runway. The cult brand brought dolls to life for Spring/Summer 2024. The event took place at The Park Avenue Armoury in NYC on Friday evening. As guest entered the venue, they were immersed in Jacobs fantasy-live dollhouse. The Models found themselves dwarfed by a comically large set of tables and chairs, which set the tone for the collection. Hair was heavily volumised and featured ’60s-inspired, hairspray- styles, followed by oversized, voluminous versions of everyday silhouettes. Jacobs reminds us getting dressed should be fun and functional. The show's hair and makeup further illustrated a doll-like world, with extra-long faux eyelashes and towering wigs inspired by The Supremes. The makeup artist behind the looks, Diane Kendal, told Vogue, "At first we were doing single lashes, then we doubled them up." Across numerous tailored looks, which were seen in navy plaid and beige, buttons were enlarged to hefty proportions. When it came to footwear, bulb-toe stilettos featured alongside rounded flats and deconstructed platformed boots, which exposed “clip-on” style detailing to the front. Bringing chic loungewear to all of our closets, Jacobs offers a bedazzled version via Heaven, the designer's Gen Z-marketed, trend-driven sub-label — marking its runway debut. Velour zip-up hoodies and matching underwear check off the Y2K box, with crystal embellishments taking the shape of the brand's two-headed bear logo and spelling out "Heaven by Marc Jacobs" on the sweatshirt's back. [Marc Jacobs 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs]

+ She's Proof You Can Cater to All Your Talents, even at the same time. Kijsa Gifford has mastered the art of being able to cater to all her talents, never allowing anyone to box her in. From the outside looking in, Gifford’s life has been a whirlwind of dedication and success and she’s just getting started. Her work ethic and enthusiasm have made her extremely successful in the gym, behind the camera and on her journey of entrepreneurship, as has her positive mindset. Photographer: Jeannie Albers Words: Angel Neal Kijsa Gifford is actor, entrepreneur, and multi-award-winning athlete. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Kijsa spends much of her busy schedule traveling between the entertainment hubs of Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York City. Highlighting her versatility and commitment to her craft, Kijsa recently wrapped filming a feature film for the Lifetime Channel. She will also make her mark in the upcoming short film “The Coffee Shop” and is slated for numerous lead roles in feature films set for production in 2024, including "Myra’s Last Hope" and "The Time is Now." With her early years marked by rigorous training in gymnastics, volleyball, lacrosse, and collegiate pole vaulting, the budding actress is well-prepared for an array of action roles as well as her other genres of interest, which include drama, comedy, and rom-coms. With a unique family connection to iconic actress Marilyn Monroe, Kijsa aptly named her production company Norma Jean Entertainment, poising herself to undertake her own future film projects. For more information on Kijsa, please visit: kijsagifford.com. Though Kijsa’s acting journey began at age 4, it took a backseat to her athletic endeavors for much of her childhood. Now ready to fully take on the pursuit, Kijsa is embracing her passion for acting. She’s recently wrapped an episode of “Space Transports, is in pre-production for “Solace in the Little Things,” appeared in the upcoming short “The Coffee Shop,” and is slated for a number lead roles in feature films set for production in 2024. Kijsa now balances her busy schedule between Tampa, Florida and the bustling industry centers of Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York Meet Kijsa. This is her story. Your earlier years consist of rigorous training in gymnastics. What prompted your interest to get into acting and the film industry, well action performance to be exact? I actually started acting when I was 4 years old. I auditioned for TV commercials and did plays and pageants. I had to step away for a while because of my intense training as a gymnast since it didn’t leave any room for acting in my schedule. So, once an opportunity opened up for me to begin acting again, I took it. Being a natural athlete has prepared you to naturally overcome and work hard and face obstacles that may come your way in the entertainment industry. What has been your motivation to keep going? My reason for being an actor may be different than others because my ability to express myself artistically as a child was only through my sport. I love acting regardless of the outcome. I love the artistic expression of becoming another character or person and being privileged to tell their story. So, for me the joy is within the art itself and not the outcome. I try to stay focused on delivering the best performance that I can. If that leads to something, that’s great. If not, then I move on. No big deal. How has it been juggling school at USF and pursuing your entertainment endeavors? It is a struggle for sure. I am only taking one virtual class next semester so that I can focus on training and acting. I am going to take classes year-round so that I can free up time and space in my life to focus on acting. More women are becoming comfortable with being behind the scenes when it comes to producing, writing, directing and just taking over the entertainment film industry. Your latest venture—your production company Norma Jean Entertainment—is named after your distant cousin Marilyn Monroe. What is the primary focus? What inspired you to create it? Besides acting, I am a really good writer. I was getting asked to look at scripts and give feedback or give my input on them. I noticed an area that could use some help—female characters. I noticed that many times the character could use more emotional depth and development. Often I saw that she was written to be entitled, a bully, shallow, over-sexualized, as well as other negative traits instead of positive traits. Then I started looking at a lot of the roles out there for girls like me. Many of the roles required nudity, among other things. It made me wonder: if I was a young girl growing up and saw women that looked like me on TV, and they were almost always being used as sexual objects or painted in a not-so-positive light, how would that affect my psychological development and mental image of myself? So, I started Norma Jean Entertainment to help launch some projects that will develop scripts and productions that are good stories about women with solid character development. Don’t get me wrong, if nudity is done in good taste and it makes sense for a role to add to the character, then by all means it has a place in the film. But I wanted to see more positive role models for young girls growing up. Marilyn Monroe also struggled with roles that typecast her for many years. She dreamed of being taken seriously as an actress, and she was a fantastic actress. So, Norma Jean Entertainment will produce films that Marilyn would have enjoyed and wanted to be a part of—films with class and sophistication. What kind of roles would you like to see more of in film and ones you’d like to play and why? I would like to see more roles about female empowerment. I recently read an Instagram post by Blake Lively that relays my sentiments and reasons perfectly, which said, “When I grew up, women were always pit against one another. It took me until adulthood to see that the instinct for women to lift each other up to their highest potential is the norm not the exception. Most of my best friends are women who would’ve been packaged to me as threats or competition. It’s our job to show the younger generations the power in aligning rather than dividing.” That paragraph sums up why I started Norma Jean Entertainment and why I felt inspired to write scripts that show the world our true nature. I experienced this and still experience this in sports. It’s time to create that change. As a popular athlete and rising actress, you are followed by so many people. How do you balance the pressure of always doing the right thing, and encouraging your followers to follow their dreams? Well, I am certainly not standing here under the illusion that I am some great model or am perfect. I struggled for many, many years with self-love, friends, depression, anxiety and have had my fair share of nuclear meltdowns. What I think maybe makes me more palatable is my sincerity and honesty when I say to someone, “I see you, I hear you, I was you,” because I was. There is no secret sauce. Life is a struggle. It is finding the things that make you happy and taking small steps each day towards something better. Over time, you look back and realize how far you have come on the journey. I think most people can relate to that. The athleisure fashion style is big right now. Has fashion played a role in your career yet? Do you get dressed up for fun? Are you into fashion? I have always been a huge fan of athleisure. Mostly because that type of clothing flatters my figure the best as an athlete. It is also great that I can leave a workout in the same clothes and wear them out to meet a friend for coffee or do errands without having to change right away. With the sheer number of hours I spend training, every second counts, so that has been a life saver for me. I am hugely into fashion. I love so many designers and love glamourous and high fashion too. One of my bucket list items is to be able to go to a real fashion show. When you're multi-talented sometimes you'll have people telling you, you need to stick to one thing. Has there been a cheerleader or a role model who has influenced you to pursue all your dreams? Someone who inspires you to keep going. My mom and sister are my rocks. They support me whenever I come up with one of my wild ideas or dreams. And they are there to help me pursue it. I couldn’t have done any of it without their support. I was told years ago by coaches, teammates, and other parents that I was crazy to walk away from gymnastics because of how good I was at it. It was my mother who said, “You are an athlete Kijsa. You can become good at any sport you choose. Do what makes you happy.” I am glad that I had her support to leave and pursue so many other sports. I know of quite a few girls that are still in sports that they don’t love because they did not have the same support system to leave. So, I feel lucky and blessed to have had that support. What invaluable lesson you learned that you can share with the next entrepreneur that would impact their business decision making? Start small and take your time. Build your business as you see fit and go with your gut. The most important thing is to stay true to yourself and your vision and always walk with integrity. What can we expect next from you? Now that the actors' strike is lifted and exciting projects underway? I have a lot of projects in the works that I cannot talk about just yet. But what I can say is that I just wrapped on a feature film for the Lifetime channel that will be out in February 2024. I also was just in season 2 of two different TV series that will be on streaming platforms. I am in talks now for three feature films and a TV series. My short film projects that are out now or are coming in early 2024 include, “The Coffee Shop,” “Myra’s Last Hope,” and “The Time is Now.” I really liked “The Time is Now,” where I was able to play a drug addict and show a completely different type of character. In “Myra’s Last Hope,” I play Starla, a young runaway girl who is separated from her parents and gets stuck in a dystopian town. In “The Coffee Shop,” I play Jace, a barista, in a unique story that follows various people who frequent a coffee shop and their stories. Where can we follow you? @kijsagiffordofficial FB: Kijsa Gifford www.kijsagifford.com .

Introducing Rabanne H&M A celebration of movement, radical craftsmanship and easygoing glamour and just in time for a killer outfit to wear to Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour film. Collection available today. See our favorite looks below. H&M x Rabanne Top, $349; Skirt, $399; Cap, $249; Bag, $249; and Sandal, $299. Photo: Courtesy of H&M What can we expect? In true Rabanne fashion, a party-ready capsule that spans both fashion and home. Rabanne x H&M will also be the retailer's first designer collaboration to include a homeware line, with sculptural vases and small accessories lined up for the November launch in selected markets. H&M x Rabanne Dress, $399, and Cap, $249. Photo: Courtesy of H&M "I approached this collection with a desire to create an inclusive, instinctive vision of fun, drawing out the playful side of Rabanne with the chainmail and sequin pieces and offsetting them with 1970s tailoring and leisurewear," the designer said in a statement. "Paco Rabanne was a genius when it came to radical design and innovative materials; I'm excited to take that philosophy further with a collection that makes our icons more accessible and also pushes the boundaries of sustainability." The Rabanne X H&M collection is now available in-store and online. Shop some of our favourite Rabanne pieces below: H&M x Rabanne Dress, $399; Bangle, $69.99; and Sandal, $299. Photo: Courtesy of H&M H&M x Rabanne Blazer, $299; Turtleneck, $119; and Trousers, $129. Photo: Courtesy of H&M H&M x Rabanne Top, $69.99; Trousers, $99; Cap, $59.99; and Slides, $129. Photo: Courtesy of H&M H&M x Rabanne Top, $79.99; Skirt, $299; Earrings, $79.99; and Slides, $149. Photo: Courtesy of H&M H&M x Rabanne Dress, $399, and Cap, $249. Photo: Courtesy of H&M

M.Diggs is the brainchild of Malcolm Diggs, a brand dedicated to pushing boundaries and expanding people's idea of menswear. Previous collection’s have highlighted comfortability and style silhouettes perfect for the resort season. We wouldn’t expect the F/W 2023 collection to do anything else but deliver. About M. Diggs NYC M.Diggs NYC is a fashion retail brand that designs and develops modern unisex resort wear apparel. We are dedicated to pushing the boundaries and expanding people's idea of menswear. We design for the person that wants to be well dressed and comfortable while still being able to stand out in any crowded room. Our collections have been seen on celebrities like; Ledisi, Tiffany Haddish, K. Michelle, Kalen Allen, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and D Smoke. The brand has also appeared on hit shows like BravoTV’s, “Blood, Sweat and Heels” and VH1's "Black Ink". Shop the brand here: www.mdiggsnyc.com Socials: @mdiggsnyc

THE Laughing Lovebugs Help With Your Overall Physical And Emotional Health Lauren and Alik Colbert take laughter very serious. The laughing duo is on a mission to educate the world to laugh daily. These Certified Laughter Yogi's provide wellness services for all kinds of occasions. Your safety, comfort, vulnerability, and trust are their mission, and their yoga technique will help reduce stress and bring out joy and connection through laughter. Photographer: (c) Ryan Powell Photography Words: Angel Neal What initially led you to laughter yoga in the first place? It was the stress in the workplace on both of our ends. And we were in a really dark place at that time. Lauren: I myself, unfortunately, from that workplace stress experienced some health issues. Every time I would go to the doctor and say, what is causing this and the doctor would say it could be stress. But my issue was, I did not know how to manage my stress or how to de-stress. So one day, I was feeling really low, and I was like, You know what, I wish it was something I could do to relieve stress. So I googled those exact words, unique ways to relieve stress, and laughter yoga pops up, and I'm like, is this real? I never heard of laughter yoga, Is this legit and I did further research and saw that it was a real thing. It was founded in 1995, by a medical doctor in India that found that laughter really is medicine. What ages can participate in laughter yoga? All ages, from age four and up to seniors can participate in laughter yoga, it's unlike your traditional yoga session. You don't need a yoga mat. You don't need any special clothing. You don't need to be flexible. You don't need to be in a good mood. Because in laughter, yoga, we're teaching people to laugh unconditionally, to choose to laugh to improve their mental, emotional, physical and social health at the same time. And the only part about laughter yoga that is similar to traditional yoga is the deep yogic breathing exercises. So we always tell people, you can participate at any age, because all you need to do is learn how to laugh and breathe. Can you guys give us a little snippet of the environment participants can expect in the session? So every time we start a session, we always give the introduction, the steps and the guidelines to laughter yoga. You can expect a nurturing, comforting environment where all you have to do is follow the instructions. It's a bit like Simon Says, where we show and tell and then we actually do the laughter exercises together. It's an interactive session. So you can expect to, you know, make a lot of eye contact, whether it's virtually on a zoom session, or in person, and you can expect that you're going to be laughing unconditionally, which may feel a bit uncomfortable at first because we logic our way through laughter typically in life. We rely on humor, comedy or reason to laugh, but in laughter yoga, we always say that you're choosing to laugh for the health of it. So the best part about laughter yoga is you can actually fake laughter during a session. So you can do this in any type of physical location as well. We've had participants that have done virtual sessions even in the back of an Uber. You can do this at workplaces, you can do this in a park, you can do this at family gatherings. You can do this anywhere, as long as you can laugh and breathe. We actually customize the sessions according to the demographic we're serving. So for example, the children's yoga session will look quite different than a workplace laughter yoga session and a workplace laughter yoga session will look quite different than a laughing yoga session with seniors. The demographic has their own challenges and their own points that they need to address. So we customize each session to go with that. What mantra do you guys live by? Lauren: Don't wait to laugh, choose to laugh. Alik: The best time to laugh is when you feel like you can't or you don't want to. There's an increase in the divorce rate around the world, and people often talk about one of the reasons of failed marriages is that couples don’t date or have any fun together anymore.Could it be that they don't laugh anymore as a couple? What advice would you give to a couple trying to bring back the joyinto their marriage? Wow, that's a really great question. That's one of the demographics, we love educating and serving couples, But the thing is, couples laughter is so important and engaging in laughter and in playfulness more is a priority. Especially because there are so many challenges that can be experienced in relationships whether it be family or with your significant other. You're two different people who have two different life experiences and two different ways of thinking, ways of being. So you're more likely to run into some type of disagreement or conflict or something, sometimes even run into stress. But the thing is, when you can laugh with each other, it adds levity and lightness to the relationship. And to be around a person that you love, and to see their face light up when you laugh. It just reminds you why you're together. When we're laughing together, when we look at each other, it's our best face. It's the face that attracted us to our loved one. it adds that levity, it adds a level of connection, you could look at your, your loved one, and you see that you're both laughing, you know, you have some type of understanding. It's a universal language of not only humans, but the universal language of love. The most interesting thing we learned along this laughter journey in our relationship is we use laughter a lot. And so coincidentally, and ironically, the same happy hormones that we mentioned earlier, the dopamine, the oxytocin, the serotonin, and endorphins. All of those feel good and happy. Hormones are the same happy hormones that you release when you fall or feel love. So isn't this such a beautiful coincidence, that when we are laughing together, we're actually saying I love you. Not only do I love you on the outside, but I love you on the inside. We’ve laughed more in the time that we’ve become laughter Yogi's than we’ve ever laughed ever in our life. And we’ve noticed the difference in our connection between the two of us, our relationship has gotten a lot better from the time that we got into this business versus when we weren't in it. And it was just from laughing. What are some of the benefits of laughter yoga? Well, there are so many. To be quite honest and transparent with you before actually becoming laughter Yogi's and actually, even while we were practicing these sessions, outside of our business, we practiced laughter daily. And we did not believe that laughter has this many benefits, benefits were far reaching, you can't believe how many of them and how they touched on different facets of our life from pain, to sleep to connection with family and loved ones with yourself. So the benefits are really far ranging. *Mentally, it helps reduce any anxiety or depression. It helps improve your sleep and improve your cardiovascular health in addition to relieving pain. The stresses the body the stresses any tension or and relaxes you, your mind and your body. Also, it also helps to benefit you emotionally, it helps with emotional regulation and helps with improving your emotional intelligence, emotional release. Many of us are comfortable with stress, but uncomfortable with laughter. We think that we have to wait for a reason to laugh. We think we have to wait for someone to make us laugh. So laughter yoga really helps people and even us to choose to laugh daily, and to choose to laugh. *During those times where you feel like you don't want to laugh, or you feel like you don't feel like laughing. Because the most profound benefit of laughter yoga is it teaches us that even if the laughter is fake, the benefits are always real. Because the body and brain does not know the difference between real laughter and fake laughter. And you still release all of the feel good, happy hormones. You release dopamine, you release oxytocin, release serotonin, and endorphins, just from real laughter or fake laughter. So even with that fake laughter, you're still releasing all those feel good, happy hormones. All those hormones are activated within your body that are really good for your health, and help boost the immune system. As we said, it relieves pain. It helps us to socially connect with ourselves and others, reducing that anxiety or even some people have, like social anxiety with others. In environments is a certain environment. Some of it really lights up the reward center in the brain as well. What’s the difference between laughter yoga and watching your favorite comedy sitcom or special? There's three major differences between a laughter yoga session, and laughing at a funny movie or a joke, and we call them the three Ds; that's the depth of your laughter, the duration of your laughter and the dependability of that laughter. Depth of the laughter– So we always say all laughter is good. It feels good. However, in order for those health benefits to kick in, you need that deep belly laughter that mirthful laugh that you we lead you to in laughter yoga. This helps to increase your lung capacity, increases your oxygen intake, so you can oxygenate your blood and activating the diaphragm, in addition to relaxing all your mid muscles in the lower part of your body, which improves your cardiovascular health as well. Typically, when laughing at a funny movie or joke you're laughing very shallow and quick. A lot of us are shallow breathers. And that puts us in the sympathetic nervous system instead of activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which is that relaxed and relaxed repair state of being versus the flight response, which is the sympathetic nervous system. Duration of laughter– The timeframe matters. When you're watching a funny movie or listening to a joke, you're laughing for a few seconds or a minute, if you're lucky. In order for those health benefits to kick in again with the laughter you need to laugh at least 10 to 15 minutes of sustained laughter. You can only get that in a laughter yoga session. Dependability of laughter. So when you're laughing in a laughter yoga session, you're guaranteed to laugh. Why? Because you're choosing to participate. You're choosing to laugh. When you're laughing at a funny movie or a joke. What do you have to do? You have to first think that is funny, right? It has to again, make you laugh. The laughter is conditional based on a condition. In laughter yoga we teach unconditional laughter, you're choosing to laugh unconditionally, for the health of it, for the health benefits of it. So with that dependability, that's a major factor as well, in the difference between laughing all the time, or especially when, when you're experiencing stress or challenges, you typically don't want to laugh, you don't feel like laughing. Well, this is the benefit of laughter yoga as well. Because when you are experiencing stress, those are times that you actually need laughter. When you feel like you shouldn't laugh and you feel like you can't. Because what happens is, we find out that scientific studies show that 90% of health conditions and illnesses are due to stress. So again, as I said, In the beginning, you know, we've become quite comfortable with stress. So stress piles on top of stress on top of stress, and we don't even realize how stressed we really are. We usually don't take the time to check in with ourselves. So minor stress, major stress, minor stress, just piles up and then unfortunately, it leads to health conditions and illnesses. So with that being said, engaging in laughter, remember, it can be fake. You can fake laugh because you're allowing yourself to release that stress, activate all of those feel good, happy hormones, allowing yourself to reset. This actually helps to interrupt and reframe your reaction to stress, serving like an emotional circuit breaker. So when you're stressed out, laugh, you flip that switch, and you kind of cancel out that stress response immediately. Well a lot of people like to live by the saying ‘Laugh at my pain’ or ‘laugh to keep from crying.’ At what point on a stress journey should someone consider laughter yoga? We always say that we encourage people to laugh daily. We encourage people to laugh, for the health of it, not only because this is our business, but this is our passion. Laughter yoga and laughter exercises, in particular, have really improved the quality of our lives overall. And it can improve the quality of anyone's life, that is human that can laugh and breathe. It improved the relationship we have with each other and the people around us, but most importantly, it improved the relationship we have with ourselves as individuals. So we always encourage people to laugh more during their daily life. It can be as simple as laughing while you're washing the dishes, laugh while you're getting ready, doing those things that you don't often find pleasurable. Those are the times that you laugh. There are those times where we are experiencing stress or tension in our relationship. I mean, many people think that we don't argue that we always are happy but we always tell people we don't laugh because we're happy. We're happy because we laugh! Because when we're experiencing stress or tension in our relationship, we do this laughter exercise called argument laughter where instead f verbally cursing my partner out because we're upset or stress we channel that into an angry laugh. We can be angry, we can be feeling the same emotions that anyone else can be feeling. But at the end of it, there's no need to really apologize for what was said during the anger because we're only sharing laughter. Laughter is just the sound, you can express yourself any way you want, but translate it into laughter. That way, you're releasing those pent up feelings and emotions that your holding into your your body. You're allowing yourself the opportunity to release without offending or hurting the other person, your partner, your friend, your family member, wherever you're having a conflict with. And at that moment, you have time to cool down, to reset, to reframe, and then to address the issue. Without all the emotion that heats up that feeling. So it really does help us to reset ourselves. So when we're doing the laughter argument, it allows us afterwards to talk about it, because something happens on a physiological level in the body that we don't see with that hahahahaha. It activates all those feel good, happy hormones that we mentioned earlier. It gives you that dose of those feel good happy hormones, and then also helps us to emotionally regulate ourselves. And where we're able to express better, it helps the brain to think clearer. So it increases our emotional intelligence as well. So we always encourage people to laugh, laugh more, laugh as much as possible, laugh, don't wait to do it. Don't wait for that good time or distress to stop or that celebration or that birthday. Laugh, more laugh often. If you wait for those times to laugh, those moments come far and few in between. So we always tell people to choose to laugh more, choose to laugh, when in your daily life. Anytime, anywhere, stuck in traffic, laugh. The essential pursuit of life we feel is finding joy and finding happiness. But the issue is, how do we maintain it? You don't always have to have a reason to feel good. What do you say to those people who feel like they need a reason? Alik: You don't need a reason to feel bad? You never question yourself, when you feel bad, you just go along with it. But when it's time to feeling good, we need all of these different moments, these reasons behind why we should feel good, we just have the right to feel good. It's your birthright to feel good. You deserve to feel good. Just because you're simply breathing, you're alive. You deserve to feel good. And many of us place conditions on feeling good. We think as we mentioned earlier, we need to have a certain amount of money or a certain career or we need to have a benchmark. We put our joy in a box and we lock it. And we only let it off when we feel like we have the right to yeah, whatever the other emotion it just runs free. So we say that's the biggest lie to tell yourself that you don't deserve to feel good, or you have to wait or, or that that's on a condition that only when something happens or only when it's your birthday, or only when it's a special event. And we're saying this from people that from from a perspective, we used to be those people. I used to bottle up my emotions when I was stressed. I would just hold it all in. And sometimes I felt like I did not deserve to live either. Prior to finding laughter, I was going through things and I felt like I didn't deserve to actually live. How strange is that? My first session of laughter yoga that I actually took, I read what a Mormon said about the benefits. I was in a yoga studio and looking around it was information posted about laughter yoga, and I'm like this stuff can't be true. All this stuff can't be true just from laughing. And the session started and I checked in with myself. I read how I felt on a scale of one to 10 To be honest, I was only at two. And the session started and I was a skeptic. I didn't believe it would work. But I actually engaged in the exercise, just like if you go to the gym, you don't want to get on a treadmill. But if you get on that treadmill and you run you're going to reap the benefits whether you like it or not. Well, I participated in the laughter yoga session. And halfway through that session I said let me check in with my scale number, it couldn't have gone up. I'm just laughing. I'm faking it. To my surprise, that number had gone up, it went up dramatically to the number 8. Nothing in my life had changed in that one session. I mean, I was down in the dumps, nothing changed. But the fact that I laughed, I felt uncomfortable laughing with strangers. And by the time that session ended, I felt like things in my life had changed, but nothing actually changed. It made me realize that my life, the things that I held, that was stressful, and things they were all temporary, it was something that I held on to. It was something that I held on to, I maintained my stress. Lauren: And for me, I was one that did not know how to manage my stress or emotionally regulate myself. So for example, as I brought up earlier with the arguments, if we if I was experiencing stress, anger, anxiety, or tension, and even in our relationship, I would drown in those emotions that were drowned in that anger are drowned in that stress, which unfortunately, this is why I had that health conditions because of the stress and carrying that stress and be uncomfortable with stress. And for me, laughter has helped me to empower myself to be present in the moment to laugh in the face of that anxiety, laugh in the face of that stress, and also helped me to be present in the moment with feeling good. It helps me to emotionally regulate myself, where I'm no longer drowning in my emotions, I own my emotions. I can choose how I want to emote, I can choose how I want to feel I can allow myself to feel that anger or that anxiety, but I can laugh in the face of it and allow myself to ease into the next moment. Ease into the stress moment, instead of holding on to that anger holding on to that stress. So it allows me to regulate those emotions. Because emotions we always say is energy in motion is supposed to move through you. They're not there, emotions are there to help you to really be aware of what's happening. And to guide you into the next moment. They're supposed to be fluid. They're not supposed to be held on to unless it's good for you or it's beneficial for you. What is that balance between internal and external happiness? It's all about internal. And I would say it's 99.9. There's a big difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is temporary joy. Joy is internal. It's awakening that inner child joy. See, a lot of us for example, we laughed a lot when we were children. And one thing we know for sure, every single person as an adult once was a child. On average, children laugh about 300 to 400 times a day on average. As adults, if we're lucky, on average, we laugh about 10 to 20 times a day. A huge difference. So can you guess why we're not laughing as much as when we were children? We're stressed with responsibilities and bills, all of that has taken that inner child joy away from us. However, remember what I said it's an inner job. So that inner child is still there because you were a child once and scientific studies show that children don't laugh because they're not stressed or because they don't have bills. Children laugh because they play. As we grow older, we stop playing. Children are having a whole bunch of joyful moments because they're playing. They don't rely on a good mood or a sense of humor, or jokes or, or stress or a birthday party to laugh. They're laughing because they're joyful because they engage in play. So what laughter does is it awakens that inner child joy, the reason why we say joy is an inside job.There's something that happens on a physiological level, when you allow more joy in your body responds based on how you feel. Your body is composed of chemical and electrical signals. So you produce electrical signals that produce chemicals and chemical compounds in your body. So your cells are responding to that complement of that combination of stimuli. And when your body is full of that, if you have compounds in your body, like cortisol and all other stress hormones in your body, those take a physical effect on your body based on how you feel. Joy is unconditional. How happiness differs? Happiness is good, too. But it really is based on a condition. Think of happiness as a thermostat. You keep your internal thermostat set high, just like your house in the wintertime. You can bet the temperature on the outside or if it's cold, or if it's high, depending on how you set your inside. It can be a barrier for whatever else is on our side of you. And while we always share with people if you have to practice this, you have to practice joy, you have to practice feeling good. You don't have to practice stress. You don't have to practice anxiety. You don't have to practice depression, you don't have to practice paying your bills, you have to practice any of that. But you do have to practice feeling good. Laughter yoga and laughter exercises is a way to practice. Joy is a way to practice feeling good. It's a way to practice laughing more, because it could be fake. And it's so silly. That's my favorite part. It simply only takes 15 minutes rather than 10 minutes of your day, whether you're getting ready in the morning, taking a shower, working or whatever. 15 minutes of just laughter whether you're doing it in a group setting or by yourself, it's beneficial. And the thing is, as I said, many people are like, Oh, this doesn't feel comfortable, because you know, you're not laughing. There is something in the left side of the brain that wants you to think logically, your way to laughter the left side of the brain is logical, analytical and judgmental. So when you're laughing, you're not laughing for a joke or comedy or reason it may feel a little uncomfortable at first. So we will say to everyone, we understand that it may feel uncomfortable at first, but there is a way to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. And that's what I experienced in that first laughter yoga session. Like I said, I was uncomfortable. I was around strangers. It was my first time. And even though I was uncomfortable, I did it and I reaped the rewards. Now, I still felt uncomfortable. But I tried it again. And I got less uncomfortable. And over time, I got more and more comfortable with the fact that I was uncomfortable being comfortable. Read the full interview in the Fall issue of Disrupshion Magazine, available to purchase here Magcloud. Where can we follow you? You can find me on all platforms @laughinglovebugs.

+ Her New Single The Man That I Met Meet MAYCE, she is widely recognized as one of today's most respected vocalists and songwriters, with over 130 million views on YouTube and 10 million streams on Spotify. Photographer: Tevin Baker Words: Angel Neal So from swimming, to being a classically trained pianist to pursuing music as an artist. When would you say the singing music bug actually hit you? When I started playing piano, singing really became a passion of mine. I was trained classically, I loved it, and it was a great learning experience for me. My love really came from hearing pop songs and making different renditions of them on piano by ear. It started happening so naturally. Growing up in St. Petersburg, Florida how has that influenced your personal style and sound in music? I performed a lot locally around St. Petersburg and dreamed of performing at Jannus Live in Downtown St. Pete. As far as my live show, I definitely took inspiration from the local bands there and all the spaces we had used to film videos. I think the inspiration for my artistry moe came from traveling and touring. So you recently became an independent artist. Do you feel more empowered to produce the music you want now? How has it been reinventing MAYCE? Being an independent artist is very tough. I think the biggest challenge when being independent is fully funding your own project, but things always end up working out and you find people who believe in you. Having that management for so long gave me the illusion of protection around me, but it really was all mental. Separating from that was definitely a difficult adjustment that gave me a new respect for all independent artists. I do feel a lot more empowered now with a lot better direction of where I want to go, no distractions. The initial thought of reinventing MAYCE has been in my head for about three years now. I wanted to do it, and was super nervous, but had a lot of patience. I had to know this is going to be my identity for years to come and this is what I want to be known for. With that constant end goal in mind, it helped me realize that I was making the right decision. I felt renewed, reinspired, and doing what I always wanted to do. Do you feel you’re at a stage in your career where you know who you are as an artist, a performer, and an entrepreneur? I am at a stage in my career where I know who I am, I’ve never felt more myself or sat in my own artistry as well as I am right now. I feel empowered, reinvented myself, and like I’ve opened a door for other people who follow me, knowing that it’s okay if you want to take a risk and make a change. Rebranding is a powerful thing and I am definitely so much more authentic now. Does Utah hold a special place in your heart because in a way it represents a transitional shift in your musical journey? Absolutely. Utah was such an important part of my life. I fell in love for the first time, different than any other love I’d felt before. I experienced a whole different music culture. It was so real and different. I also met some amazing people who have inspired my music today. Being able to pick up and move to a new state, knowing only one person, was really tough and lonely. It was a challenge for me that I’ll never forget which made it a very special place for me. One thing we love about artists is their journey of finding their unique style. We noticed streetwear is a huge part of your aesthetic. What is your relationship with fashion? I really just throw on whatever I’m feeling. I like to set the tone for the day with my fashion. Having an attitude with each look is super important. I love wearing things that match the place that I’m going, it really changes all the time. I can go from preppy Sofia Richie style to straight-up Lady Gaga. You never know what you’re going to get, very unexpected. I do love streetwear and being casual but still elevated. Do you still run your brand MASE’? How has that been going? Yes, it hasn’t been as active because I had come out with my first collection around COVID time. Now I have expanded not only my fashion line, but I have a media company as well. I am expanding the brand in all areas and will be putting out more collections with MASE soon after my new music comes out and I get back on tour. Do you like to experiment with different genres? Or how would you describe your sound? I love experimenting with all different genres, I think the biggest genre I want to experiment with more is country. I am such a fan and I love all the songwriting abilities, I take a lot of inspiration from country music. I would describe my sound as a blend of alternative pop and a tiny bit of Western. Today we look at streams, social media, and sometimes don’t really focus on the beauty in the music. What defines a real artist to you in 2023? I still am very old school and I really look at the stage presence and body language in performance, especially since our world is so digital now. Looking at the artist through the lens and seeing how they connect with the song and perform with it, is a huge indicator of a real artist. If I can feel you through the camera, that’s when I know who is authentic. The way they move, I can tell if they’re singing it to really reach someone. YouTube has been a big part of your journey. But we currently see a shift that people are more connected with their audience on TikTok and Instagram. How has it been navigating these platforms? I feel like I have mastered the platforms now, of course, there are definitely things to learn every single day. When YouTube was first shifting for me it was difficult to understand what was happening. With YouTube, the trends come and go so I knew how to quickly pivot and that has been really helpful for not only me but the others that I work with. With social media, you always have to pivot quickly because these platforms are essential now. You have an ear for remaking songs we saw during your YouTube covers. Now that you are working on original music. Do you write your own music? What do you love most about the writing process?Yes, I write all of my own music, I love songwriting. All of my songwriting comes from a very personal place, whether it happened to me or someone in my life. I love the lyrical side of making music and it’s very therapeutic. It has a very cool way of releasing a lot of feelings for artists and is a great outlet. Putting something on paper is my way of coping with things and putting it out into the world is such a weight lifted off your shoulders. It feels like closing a chapter and an amazing way of healing. Let’s talk about your new single; The Man That I Met. What inspired the track? It is about a relationship I was in, in Utah, and it ended in an upsetting way. Usually, when things like that happen, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth about that person, but I didn’t want to feel that way because we did have so many amazing times together. He was someone that I definitely could have seen myself with forever, but things changed and I didn’t want to forget all of the good things about him. It was a growing moment for me in this song, that I could still appreciate the good things. What do you hope listeners take away from the track? I really hope that people don’t feel alone in this feeling. Society loves to push the “you deserve better” narrative. I do agree, but it doesn’t erase the moments that we had with people. I did feel alone because everyone was telling me I deserved better but I did love this person and no one can change that. I am not going to walk away from this thinking bad thoughts about that person. I want people to take pride in loving the person they fall in love with and know that everyone has a different way of coping with things. What are you most excited for next? I am most excited about the story I am about to tell with the next few singles that are coming out. I have some amazing songs in the works and I want people to be able to listen to these songs and relate to it in some way. I am so excited to connect with people. Dream collaboration on a song? Post Malone Check out the video for The Man I Met , below. Are you singing your songs in the shower or other artists? I definitely have my songs stuck in my head a lot because I listen to them all the time. I constantly have a song in my head, I have recently been singing a lot of Miley Cyrus, I love her. I do go back and forth with the songs in my head. Who’s your R&B soul Mount Rushmore? SZA, Summer Walker, Snoh Aalegra, Madison Ryann Ward. Who's your pop Mount Rushmore? I just came across this up-and-coming artist, Matt Hansen, he is just amazing and has a little pop side to him. I would say him, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Ariana Grande. Read the full interview in the Fall issue of Disrupshion Magazine, available to purchase here Magcloud. Where can we follow you? You can find me on all platforms @mayceworld.

Ashlei’s multifaceted career in acting, writing, and producing has positioned her amongst the industry’s emerging talents that has up next. PHOTOGRAPHY BY Tim Schaeffer INTERVIEW BY ANGEL NEAL @ANGEL_STYLISTBEHAVIOR Things aren’t slowing down for Ashlei Foushee as she’s determined to make her mark in the industry of film. Her recent feature film, ‘On Fire’, is based on the real-life story of the Paradise fires from 2018 in California, which saw wildfires completely destroy an entire town, forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes, while 85 people tragically died. Foushee plays the role of Kayla, starring alongside Peter Facinelli, Asher Angel, and Lance Henriksen. So growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, how has that influenced your interest in everything from Ballet Theatre to acting? St. Louis is actually a very creative town. We have a lot of local legends. Maya Angelou, Josephine Baker and Chuck Berry are all from St. Louis. I mean, the list goes on and on. Jon Hamm, John Goodman, Evan Peters and Sterling K. Brown as well. I think St. Louis gets slept on because we're so close to Chicago. People expect great talent from Chicago but we also have amazing creativity in St. Louis. There's lots of free art programs that are cultivating the talent of the next generation of creatives. The St. Louis Forest Park offers free workshops for kids. We also have this thing called the Muny, which offers a park musical theater program in addition to putting on amazing shows and flying out actors from New York. So I think I just grew up in a very creative environment that fostered my creativity and made me feel like I could pursue anything. Do you remember your first cinema memory or TV show that resonated with you? Yeah, absolutely. It would have to be the 1980s version of Annie. Carol Burnett and Bernadette Peters did such an amazing job. I had a VHS tape of that movie and I would just run it back. I would watch it repetitively and it's funny because nobody in my family can watch a movie more than once. I know I have watched that movie probably 1000 times. I know it word for word. I just wanted to be one of the little orphans, screaming out ‘It's hard not life. I wanted to insert myself into the TV and dance with them. I think that's what really started my interest in pursuing acting. What makes you say yes to a project? I think I just have to resonate with the writing. Sometimes you get scripts, and you're just like, oh, this is corny. So yeah, I like to look over the project and find out who's the producer and director. I do research on what they’ve previously done. If it's a good vibe, I'll do it. Usually, you know, I'll be like, I'll audition no matter what. Because you never know, sometimes what seems like it could be just ok, might actually end up being a great experience. But usually, if the script is just like, flat out bad, I'll be like, nah. But if it's cool, be like, Yeah, let's go for it. You play Kayla, and the recently dropped gritty drama film ‘On Fire’? What was it like preparing for a role based on a real life story of the paradise fires? It was crazy. I think the main thing is I just wanted to honor real life first responders and real life emergency call operators. I have a really good friend who used to work in an emergency call center in Texas, and so she was the first person I called. I needed her to give me the full rundown. She told me so many stories from you know, the typical help I have fallen to women trying to get out of domestic situations or people stuck in trenches in the street. So you run through a gamut of emotions all day, every day, it takes a very strong and emotionally censored individual to be able to do that day in and day out. And I, you know, a lot of times, I am an emotional wreck, so I could never do it in real life. But I have so much respect for people who do that, and especially since, you know, there's no sense of closure when you hang up the phone. It's done. You know, so I just really tried to watch as many documentaries and read articles and things like that, just so that I could understand the responsibility of a job like that. I just really wanted to honor the people that do that because I have so much respect for them. What do you hope viewers take away from the film in general? I think it's just a heartwarming film in the sense of the power of community and the power of family. The film is inspiring, it's not a movie that you walk away from and go home without feeling the emotion. It's a film that has the power to restore faith and just the strength of people and the love of family and community and even in the face of terrible circumstances there's good in the world. We believe in manifestation, are there any genres that you're dying to get casted for? Oh yes, I’d love to play Storm of X-Men.That's what I'm going for. So speaking of mentorship, when we want to do multiple things we will sometimes need cheerleaders around us reminding us we don't have to just box ourselves in. So for you, who has had the biggest influence on you and your career so far? In my career so far, I have two stories. When I was in school, I had a mentorship with a producer named Cathy Schulman and she won the 2006 Academy Award for Best Picture for the movie ‘CRASH’. She’s also the creator of the film and has directed a few episodes of the First Lady's mini series with Michelle Pfeiffer and Viola Davis. Mrs.Schulman was just a great early cheerleader for me, she would always let me know I can do this. She told me, you can tell stories that mean something and don't take no for an answer. So she really gave me that push to go strong after college and a lot of people, you know, graduated from the program that I was in and decided to do something else. She was really one of the people who gave me the push I needed to pursue an entertainment career. And then a couple of years ago, I was sitting in a cafe in Burbank and in walked Denzel Washington. He ordered a salad. And the lady at the cash register was just trembling because she had to tell him, oh, we just dropped chicken and it will take about 20 minutes. Mr.Washington looks around and sees all the people looking at him and I see the panic register in his eyes, like, what am I gonna do for 20 minutes? Like, can I walk back to the car like, what do I do? My mom and I were sitting at the bar. He made eye contact with us. He slid in so smooth into the third seat. And he was like, Ya’ll, come here often. We talked to him for the next 20 minutes. He asked me what I did. And I told him I was an actress and he just poured so much into me. He was like, you can do it. He told me to never stop. At one point. He asked me how old I was. He's like, Oh, you're too young for the project that I'm casting but I'm gonna look you up, I'm gonna see you at work, young lady. He gave me the biggest bear hug when he left and yeah after that I’m like I'll never quit now. I've been told I could do it, by the goat. Read the full interview in the Fall issue of Disrupshion Magazine Next Gen, available now, Disrupshion Next Gen Vol.1 . Where can we follow you? You can find me on all platforms @afoushee .

She's Ready to Change the Narrative of Female DJ's. Dahlia Keisha Palmer, better known as DJ Rosegold has mastered the art of harnessing the Power Within to Shape her Reality and Fulfill her Dreams in the music industry. INTERVIEW BY ANGEL NEAL @ANGEL_STYLISTBEHAVIOR Tell us about your Canadian and Caribbean roots in your background, your upbringing and your introduction into the world of music. I was born in a suburb outside of Toronto called Mississauga. People mostly know that as being the place where the artist PartyNextDoor is from. I was raised by a very Jamaican family. My dad was in music for a very long time, while still is, but definitely more heavily back when I was a kid. We would spend our summers in Jamaica, going to studio sessions with him. So I was always around music. My brother got into music before I did. His name is Chillaa. He's a producer, he's worked with a whole bunch of people, all over Jamaica, Canada, the states, like all types of artists. And funny enough, I got into music because music started becoming more prevalent in my household physically. Because my dad would bring my brother to the studio all the time. My mom decided to build a recording studio in our basement. It wasn't until 2017 when I was in my second year of university, that I ended up actually getting into music for real. I was in school at York University in Toronto to be a French teacher. That's what I wanted to do my whole life. I had DJ games on my phone that I would just play for fun, and one day I decided I was sick and tired of school. I decided I didn't even know if I wanted to be a teacher anymore. I was just having one of those moments. I wondered if I could get a real Dj controller and actually, DJ. So I did and that's really what started my career. What are your plans for Rosegold University? Rosegold University is actually a concept I came up with after I dropped out of university. It was kind of like a pun, like, Oh, I dropped out of university. Now I'm creating my own school. So I first started doing networking mixers in Toronto that were a part of my brand. I wrote a book during the pandemic that also sold out. I recently created an EP that's available only on Audio Mac and SoundCloud because it samples reggae music, called Rosegold University Homecoming. So this was just an introduction to the things I want to do with RU. The next EP that's dropping soon is called Sorority, and it's going to be an all woman album. The first song from that project is coming out very soon. I basically wanted to create a space through music for women to be able to come together and collaborate and create a one of a kind project. Similar to what you know, we see DJ Khaled,Metro Boomin and Calvin Harris do. All of them have done such a great job of creating producer projects and collaborative projects. I just haven't seen it done by a woman on that scale yet. And I want to be that person because I feel like there's space for us to do that. So a part of the whole brand are my sorority house activations. I did my first one at South by Southwest this year, I have another one coming up at South by Southwest next year. So they're an all women concert and a show and an experience where you walk in, you can take yearbook pictures, it's a whole vibe.I'm really excited to keep growing the brand and to hone in on it. And I’m really excited to start releasing music because I've been working on it for a very long time. Have there been any barriers you've experienced? Or if you still do experience just in general as being a female DJ? I get asked this a lot and there's nothing that ever really comes to mind out the gate. I will say that I've definitely encountered things like, you know, me, trying to get opportunities for myself and going to network and putting myself out there and speaking to men in the industry and them having a completely different agenda. But I mean that that can happen when you go to the grocery store or anywhere. How would you define the job and describe the influence of the DJ? I would say it is a lot more than pressing buttons. I actually saw a tweet today. One of my friends who's a DJ, DJ Hella Yella, he's from Austin. He actually was one of the first people to ever put me on a South by Southwest show. I can honestly say, South by Southwest has literally defied my career. So shout out to Hella Yella.But basically, it was a tweet that said, “ DJs have to do so much more than just show up to a party and play music. Like there's hours of preparation behind it.” Just think about it, a regular person may go to work and get a lunch break, they walk away from their desk at any point. But as a DJ, you may get gifted alcohol, usually no food and you have to pay attention to the whole crowd. The actual real art and DJing is being able to read a crowd, that is the main thing, because no matter how much you prepare for a set, you could show up to the party and it's a completely different vibe. I think reading a crowd is really the hardest part. Contrary to popular belief maybe nine times out of 10, when I'm going to DJ somewhere, I'm actually not sitting in front of my computer before my set and planning it out. Because I mean, my crates are so organized, that's another really big thing, and making sure that all your music is in order, making sure your music is up to date. There's so many different components to it. The main thing that I think has allowed me to get the opportunities that I've been able to get has been me applying the business aspect to my career. But just because you didn't go to university, and take business courses doesn't mean that you can't now learn how to do those things. So that's something that I always encourage people to do. There are some amateur Djs today that create a playlist and literally just plug a usb into a system. How do you make use of technology in terms of the feedback mechanism between technology and creativity? What do humans excel at? What do machines excel at? That’s a really good question. I think humans excel at our ability to switch up the vibe when necessary and create a personalized experience. A machine can’t read a crowd, you can’t look at people’s facial expressions, and figure out if they’re vibing or not, that is something that a human has to do. And also, one big thing between putting on a playlist versus being an actual DJ is doing a live mix and knowing just how much of a song to play. I’m Jamaican, so I’m gonna use a dancehall reference, the way Dancehall DJs play, and the way we consume music is kind of like Jamaicans even just everywhere in the Caribbean, like Soca Music and things like that, too. We only really know the first like, 45 seconds to like a minute of a song, right? Imagine you’re at a party, you’re super high. And then it comes to the point where you’re like, I don’t even know what comes after this. I don’t know what verses after I don’t know if the song ends. I don’t know anything because I only know up till this point. And then you hear the song keep playing. And then it keeps going and then it keeps going and the vibe just keeps going down and down.. I think that’s the benefit of a DJ and that’s what sets a DJ apart from technology is we know when to stop a track, and even when cutting to different parts of the song is necessary. For example, Sicko Mode by Travis Scott, naturally DJs will play the beginning of the song and then jump to verse two, which is when Drake comes in, you know? So certain things like that are where that separation needs to occur. Read the full interview in the Fall issue of Disrupshion Magazine , here. Also you may keep up with all things DJ Rosegold via her Instagram. Where can we follow you? You can find me on all platforms @djrosegold.