Anyone But Me’s Nicole Pacent is Anything But Mrs. Smith

May 1, 2010 by admin
Filed under Her story, Respect, Youthfulness

Nicole Pacent plays Aster on the web series, "Anyone But Me"

By Michelle Golden

The new hit web-series Anyone But Me’s Nicole Pacent looks like a spitting image of Angelina Jolie. Created by one of the writers and Consulting Producers of The L Word and ThirtySomething, Susan Miller, and independent filmmaker Tina Cesa Ward Anyone But Me introduces a new post 9/11generation struggling with homosexuality, identity, and modern long distance relationships. Pacent flips her freshly salon highlighted brown hair, flashes a Crest-white smile and tells me she has been acting since she could put one foot in front of the other. Placing her Au Bon Pain coffee near her computer, she explains how she was nominated as one of Shewired.com’s 2009 Gay Women of the Year and what it means to her to be a part of Anyone But Me.

“We’ve amassed such a wonderful, small niche following for Anyone But Me,” said the New York University Tisch School of Arts graduate who plays 15- year old Astor, Vivian’s (played by Rachael Hip-Flores) on-screen love.

“I think people really relate to the Vivian and Astor characters and the fact that in that first [SheWired.com] interview when I came out, people were really psyched about it. I guess it’s just not that typical,” says Pacent. “It’s funny to me now because it’s just so second nature for me. I don’t even think about it. I talk about it because it is who I am, and it’s part of my life.”

After coming out publicly to the press as bi-sexual on April 21, 2009, shortly after the release of the first season of the web-series, Pacent has been contacted by devoted fans saying they have been touched by her efforts. “It’s why I act at the end of the day. Besides my own love for it, it is to do something that makes a difference with people.”

As a kid in the early days of her acting career, Pacent often played the little mermaid during recess, always showing admiration for the song, “Part of Your World,” to the point that even to this day, she still relies on it as her audition song. Theater was always something that just “made sense” to Pacent.

“Anything that was theater or music related I just loved. When I watched a movie or went to see a show, I was just completely transfixed,” she said. “I went to see Red Riding Hood when I was seven and all I wanted to do was be red riding hood.”

But the confident and smiling actress reminiscing about her musical production and community theater days on and off the playground actually used to be a little girl scared of coming out to her peers, and more importantly, to herself.

“It’s such a funny idea this whole idea of coming out because if we lived in a world where people didn’t assume that you were straight until proven otherwise, then maybe things would be different. But really you come out everyday to people.”

One would never think that in the middle of a hockey field where practice was being held, someone could have an identity crisis. However, for 15-year-old Pacent it was possible. During a summer afternoon, her and her teammates saw, what they thought, was an attractive-looking guy across the field. A few minutes later they found out that this guy was actually a girl, when he, or rather she, took off a baseball cap to expose a shaved head and a face that had very apparent girl features. That moment was the turning point in Pacent’s awareness of her sexuality. As all the other girls laughed at the idea that they could possibly think this ‘guy’ was “cute,”

Pacent still could not get it out of her head that she still thought the girl was attractive in her eyes.

“I remember looking at her intently and being like, ‘That’s a girl. You know it’s a girl now. Why are you so attracted to her?’ I had to keep on telling myself, you know this is a girl, right?’”

At 15, coming out was a scary process for Pacent. It was different and she did not know anyone her age that identified as gay.

“It was so the other. As soon as it came in my conscience mind that this just might be who I am, I suddenly was alienated in my own head. I became the other that everyone could talk about, and to me, that was very scary. It was scary because it was real.”

Able to relate on a very personal level with her character on Anyone But Me, Pacent says Astor is very confident.

“She’s much more myself now than myself in high school. Myself in high school was a little more Vivian,” says Pacent. After moving from New York City to Westchester, Vivian has to deal with coming out to her peers in a new school and neighborhood and subsequently has a hard time adjusting to that idea while still maintaining her relationship with Astor back at home.

“Sometimes I was comfortable with it and sometimes I wasn’t. In terms of owning to who she is, she is more mature than I was. Astor is the kind of girl that I would date, not necessarily the person I am,” says Pacent.

Performing as Astor on the show makes Pacent think a lot about her identity as an actress, saying that often where people have trouble in acting is where they have trouble in life too. Sometimes during scenes where she needs to become vulnerable, Pacent finds it hard to do so in front of other people when she is not in control. “There have been times in scenes where I’m like, ‘Should I cry in this scene?’ and I found myself so uncomfortable at the idea of crying and I ask myself ‘Is that me being uncomfortable for Astor or me being uncomfortable for me?’

Since coming out to her peers and family, Pacent is finally comfortable forming relationships with other women and not afraid of being judged. The Angelina-look-alike is starring again on the second season of Anyone But Me.

“You know, my ex-girlfriend in the beginning thought I looked like Angelina Jolie but then over time said ‘Yeah I saw it when I first met you, but I don’t see it anymore. You’re just…you.’ That’s what I get from most people. They see it at first and then they don’t see it anymore. I mean it’s an incredible compliment. That woman is outstandingly beautiful. Can’t argue with it.”

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It’s complicated, thanks to Facebook

May 1, 2010 by admin
Filed under Boys, Love, Relationships

He cheated. Now what?

March 31, 2010 by admin
Filed under Boys, Love, Relationships

Edit This Fashion Magazines: overcoming distorted realities

January 31, 2010 by admin
Filed under Beauty, Elegance, Fashion, Fashion Features, Respect, Society, Taste

3 Comments

Reality vs. Airbrushing. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris, WireImage | Huffington Post

By Michelle Golden

It’s no surprise that magazines, advertisers, and marketers use the “art” of airbrushing photographs to alter what reality looks like and to convey a certain type of image. Covers of magazines show flawless actors, actresses, singers, and models. We’re all aware of this as consumers. We know these models don’t really look the way they are portrayed on the glossy pages, but for some reason we’re okay with it. We still go ahead and buy the products being advertised or the clothes being modeled. Then we get upset when the bathroom cabinet piles up with a collection of face washes that never really worked, cover –ups that advertise miracles and provide none and mascara that claims to never clump and does so after the first use. Still surprised that Vanessa Hudgens appears to have no zits as she advertises for Neutrogena’s skin clearing cleansers? Don’t be. Two words: Adobe Photoshop.

Recently there has been a lot of talk in the media world concerning the evils of airbrushing, a photo editing technique that is used in the mentioned and infamous Adobe Photoshop, providing a means of shaving off any imperfection. The messages behind many advertisements have been increasingly misleading.

The question major companies have been faced with is when have we taken airbrushing too far?

On September 29 an advertisement that appeared only in Japan, by fashion clothing line Ralph Lauren, featured model Filippa Hamilton who appeared to have a waist smaller than her actual head. Airbrushing images already illustrates an unnatural appearance, but as viewers, we still accept it, because although the models look perfect, oddly enough, we still think this beauty is realistic. However, Ralph Lauren, in this advertisement, showed the world exactly how distorted some perceptions of beauty can be.

Looking at the ad and of this poor model whose body was obviously not accepted for what it was, I couldn’t help but think, “Wow. She doesn’t even look simply skinny. She looks sick.”

After reading follow-up articles, I was astonished and rather revolted at the fact that Ralph Lauren actually had fired this model just a few months before they used her image for the advertisement. Hamilton, who had worked with Ralph Lauren since 2002, said in a New York Daily News article, published October 14, that she was fired because she weighed too much and could no longer fit in the company’s clothes.

Yet, Ralph Lauren still used her face and her body… well, only a sliver. The rest was edited away.

Promoting an unrealistic body image hurts the average teenager in more ways than just one. Do we really want to further encourage eating disorders or other unhealthy lifestyles? No. So how can we, as the voices of the next few generations, and the new faces in the social media world, alter this distorted so-called-ideal perception of beauty? How can we bring the natural back in beautiful?

One of the causes sponsored by JChoice, the new social network engaging Jewish youth in creative ways to make charitable contributions to diverse and meaningful causes of their choice, inspires teens to look beyond appearance. The Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association (MEDA) offers programs to guide teens to make healthy choices that will positively influence their self-esteem individually and those around them. Since food plays such a huge role in our society, family, and different cultures, eating disorders is a horrible aspect of reality that is coupled with the concept of food. Specifically among Jewish preteens and teens, eating disorders have been a prevalent concern. As mentioned on the JChoice website, a study conducted by the Jewish Women International site, has found that three in four Jewish girls between the ages of twelve and fifteen, have engaged in unhealthy eating and weight lifestyles. The mission of MEDA is to reach out to these preteens and teens in Jewish communities and to continuously raise awareness. MEDA reaches out to their targeted communities by creating different projects to remind our youth the importance of staying healthy and loving one’s body. One example of such a project is where interested members design a mirror with affirmations. These mirrors are then delivered to young teens that have been hospitalized for their eating disorders. In my opinion, such a project really emphasizes on the importance of loving the body you’re in. It encourages the power of the mirror as a reflection of one’s self and how essential it is to treat it with the utmost care, because, the body is probably one of the more fragile things in life.

What makes MEDA different from perhaps other health-related organizations is that the actual organization itself is comprised of six members who have recovered from an eating disorder. By being able to relate on such a personal level, these members can truly engage in helping both Jewish and Non-Jewish teens from many different communities recover from the dangers of eating disorders. MEDA partners with other eating disorder treatment facilities nationally. Founded by Rebecca Manley in 1994, MEDA was envisioned upon the idea that it would act as a safe haven for those individuals struggling with an eating disorder and a place where family members and friends of such patients can learn more about the illness and how to support their loved ones.

Through educational presentations, workshops, and speakers, MEDA reaches out to many diverse audiences to explain the causes of the illness and the emotional and physical effects. Together with organizations such as MEDA, we can work towards editing away eating disorders from society and providing a new, healthy model and face for all those magazines creating their own false and dangerous idea of beauty. Together recovery IS possible.

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Reconnecting with my Birth Country: how I spent 22 days volunteering on an Israeli army base

October 31, 2009 by admin
Filed under Her story, Respect

3 Comments

by Michelle Golden

I used to look at the piles of photo albums my mom had stashed away in her closet. Photograph after photograph of her, at 18 years old, in army uniform, smiling with the other Israeli soldiers on her base. It depicted a world I would never grow up to learn about once my parents moved to the United States when I was only six months old.

Over 19 years later, I am back in Israel, sitting in a parked Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) staring up at the Israel summer night sky after a long day of volunteering on the base, wondering why, only now, I’m back in my birth country.

What I quickly realized is how sheltered I was growing up in the States as an American, only worried about GPAs, Grey’s Anatomy and the latest tips in Cosmo. More importantly, I finally understood why my Israeli family always glorified their country back at home and why my cousins were counting down the days until they were old enough to sign up for the army. And us Americans are counting down the days we are of legal age to drink.

See, there’s the difference. Because the love for their country is so strong, Israelis really do show the rest of the world through their brother and sisterhood. Being passionate about a country is to protect the country. Even people who are not citizens of Israel want to join the Israeli army because of the level of dedication. By simply being a volunteer, I wanted to get the same sort of experience, even if I wasn’t to start up basic training in a few months.

My interest in going to see Israel sparked when I went back to my high school at the end of this past May to re-unite with a few old classmates. I remember specifically when someone got up and said they were going to spend a week in Israel. He wasn’t Jewish. He had no connection to Israel. But apparently he did.

Knowing at that point that I needed to go to Israel, I called every agency I could that afternoon. I finally came across Sar-El Volunteers for Israel, a program where students and adults from all over the world can spend a few weeks volunteering on an army base. After talking to the president of the program and submitting the necessary paperwork, I booked my ticket, and left for Tel Aviv, Israel on July 9, 2009.

I remember when I first jumped off the bus that brought us to Mount Hermon, where our base was located at the most northern part of Israel, what we would learn to call home for the next 22 days. Our group excitedly stood outside where the soldiers raise their flag each morning, gawking at the Israelis walking around with guns, drinking Coca-cola, and looking back at us as if they’ve never seen 11 foreigners from different parts of the world with so much luggage, weird clothes, and strange accents. Little did they know, no matter how different we seemed, we all shared the same passion and love for the same country: Israel.

“There’s something about the country, about Israel,” said Sar-El ’09 volunteer Genevieve Reisman from Scarsdale, New York, “Israel is a country where you just don’t feel limited.”

That moment when I felt the limitless possibilities was when I put on the Israeli Defense Forces uniform for the first time. Turning around to show the others, one of my friends had said, “You know you actually look like an Israeli soldier?” At that moment, I suddenly felt this intense feeling of closeness to the country where I was born. I felt like I was a part of the country, the unity, the people, and the togetherness. So maybe I wasn’t serving their country for two years like some others, but I was engrossing myself in an experience of a lifetime. I wanted to feel the passion these Israeli soldiers felt everyday as they stood straight with their weapons at their sides, saluting the Israeli flag. For three weeks I was one of them.

For the Israeli citizen, joining the army is the equivalent to the American going to college upon graduating high school, except it is mandatory. What makes the Israeli and United States army different is that serving the States is on a voluntary basis, whereas it is a requirement of all Israeli men and women once they turn 18.

What I realized while volunteering on the base is that the love for the country is so strong that even people who are not citizens of the country want to enlist. Tzvi Gamsu, one of the volunteers in our group, had decided such when he packed up all his belongings and said goodbye to South Africa. Gamsu realized he wanted to join the Israeli army when he took a look at the Israeli soldiers enlisted and the ones that had just completed their years of service and thought that they were doing something really great and “learning things about life that no where else you can learn.” After selling his car, bike, packing up his room, saying bye to his friends, girlfriend, sister and the rest of his family, Gamsu booked his plane ticket and walked away from the country where he lived his entire life and started a new one in Israel.

Growing up having dual citizenship makes me feel like I can call two countries ‘home.’ After this experience in Israel, I can associate with understanding what culture and unity actually means. In the United States we say we are united for all, but it’s sometimes hard as a 20 year old, one that has grown up in the country and gone to school in the city, to feel it. In Israel, however, it’s hard to not be a part of the community. It seems like Israel is in the news every other day. People have the right to have their own opinion about Israel, but what it comes down to is there are a lot more people out there who want to see Israel continue to grow. I may be a Jew that didn’t grow up immersed in a Jewish education, but after seeing the Israeli lifestyle, I have this new gratification for the country.

I still rely on Cosmo for healthy lifestyle tips, worry about my GPA, and feel the need to keep up with Grey’s Anatomy, but now I identify much more with Israel than I did before and who knows, maybe one day I’ll actually join the Israeli army for more than just three weeks. We’ll see.

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Staff

June 5, 2009 by admin
Filed under Youthfulness

Nikki Roberti

Editor-in-Chief

Nikki Roberti is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of REALITY Check Girl Magazine, conceptualizing the idea back when she was in high school. As a teenage girl, she had trouble finding a magazine that truly related and applied to her real life. Especially when trying to balance her faith and love for God as a Christian with other things she enjoyed as a normal teen growing up in society (ie. beauty and boys), she felt like sometimes girl magazines were too much “cupcakes and rainbows.”

Her love for journalism began back in the early 90s when she used to watch the television series “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” immediately falling in love with her hero Lois Lane. At age 13, she was the youngest journalist to write for the mother newspaper of USA Today, Florida Today’s Verge section where she contributed for 5 years. She is nationally known as a Newspaper Association of America Teen Fellow and the female Florida recipient of the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Scholarship for journalism in 2007. She also helped Poynter Institute develop an online course on how to train teen journalists.

Studying journalism at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC., Nikki wrote for the campus newspaper, The Appalachian, as a Lifestyles Reporter and religion columnist for two years, a copy editor for one year, and is currently the Online Editor. She also works as the professional videographer for the Michael Alvarado Band.

Though a journalist through and through, Nikki does surprisingly have a life and enjoys cooking anything and everything, especially cheesecake and Italian food thanks to her heritage. She is also a 7-time award winning playwright with 25 performances of her work under her belt in areas including Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, The Kennedy Center in D.C., Virginia, California, and on Broadway Road in NYC. Like Lois Lane is her journalism hero, Neil Simon is her inspiration as a playwright.

Nikki loves people and seldom sleeps, so if you ever want to talk, shoot her an email at editor.realitycheckgirlmagazine@gmail.com

RESPECT

Editor: Irene Herring

ELEGANCE

Editor: Lauren Sprowl

Lauren Sprowl is a student at Appalachian State University. She plans to major in Foods and Nutrition and then continue her education, Lord willing, somewhere in New York to receive her Registered Dietitian license. You will find her running through town, but she enjoys the feeling of freedom jogging down the back country roads soaking in the smells of wild flowers, new crops, and fresh air so much more. On the weekends you will more than likely find her on the lake with family or friends water skiing and attempting to wakeboard which usually ends up in a face plant (but it’s okay…I don’t have to be perfect…I just have to do my best;))! Her smile is restored daily by the One who thinks she is to die for, and she is awestruck by the Master Artist’s paintings as the sun goes down. Her zeal for life is endless, and even though it’s hard, she’s taking life one day at a time, step by step, behind the one who knows the directions!

AMBITION

Editor: Catey Gonzalez

Catey Gonzalez is a 19-year-old sophomore pursuing a Creative Writing degree at Appalachian State University. Her ultimate goal is to become an author and to teach Creative Writing at a university, both of which she thinks God has been nudging her towards for years. Catey has lived in Boone for over half her life now and, though she doesn’t like having to drive several hours for Chili’s, she absolutely loves it here. She also absolutely loves singing, laughing, knitting, authors John Green and Nicole Krauss, Nancy Drew PC games, coloring with Sharpies, and the best TV show ever made: Doctor Who. Even more than those things, she loves her hilarious family and her best friends, Kyle Miller and Jesus Christ.

LOVE

Editor: Emily Herring Dunn

Emily grew up in a very close-knit family: her father (a minister), her mother (the editor of Resepect), and two sisters- one older, one younger. Since birth Emily has never known anything but the love of her family and the love of Christ.

Moving from her parents love to love for her own family, Emily married her high school sweetheart and is still happily married. The two are working hard in school as well as loving unconditionally and growing up together, with the intention of growing old together.
Wanting to write since childhood and gaining the attention of teachers, family friends, and close acquaintances, she is currently working on two novels (and another idea in the making). Making sure she has a back up, her plan is to teach English to middle schoolers or high schoolers until she makes her break as an author (or magazine editor/writer).

Emily is always available to help with relationships and minister as well as God allows her. Although her signature column is “Married in College” she will be more than happy to make exceptions and answer questions or concerns about any sort of relationship. Feel free to e-mail her at love.realitycheckgirlmagazine@gmail.com

INTELLECT

Editor: Caitlin Mack

Caitlin Mack is a third year student at Appalachian State University majoring in Chemistry with a concentration in Forensic Science, Criminal Justice, Anthropology, and Spanish. Her goal is to gain a doctorate in Forensic Anthropology, to teach on the college level, and to work as a consultant for the FBI. Caitlin’s pastime activities include reading, walking in the woods, and sharpening her skills as a first-degree black belt in two martial arts. She also graduated from North Raleigh Christian Academy, third in her class.

TASTE

Editor: Allison Casey

Allison Casey is a resident of Raleigh, North Carolina where she is actively involved in the local music, art and nightlife scene. In her spare time she enjoys going on adventures, making her own jewelery and trying to teach herself the guitar. She is in love with her old, beat-up orange sneakers and has a penchant for leaving her cellphone in strange places. Allison currently works in retail, but can’t wait for her big break as a writer.

Fashion Editor: Gerardo Mendez

I am 24 years old, an engineer holding a master’s degree and a bundle of talent. I have been a writer since I can remember, winning national awards on essays, poems and short stories. I have been interested in fashion forever, since the first time I held a pair of Prada shoes, I understood that clothing is a manifestation of art, of the pure desire for perfection in lines and shapes. Working as a fashion collaborator for online magazines from LA to NYC, I have gained a deeper understanding on what’s in, what’s out, and what works for you. My hobbies are going to the gym and painting, as well as shopping. I am about to be a father for the first time, and evidently, I expect my baby’s first words to be, at least, Gucci.

YOUTHFULNESS

Editor and Public Relations: Meagan Renee

Meagan spends far too much time memorizing song lyrics and random facts about bands and pop culture and not enough time studying. She is a self-proclaimed champ at “6 degrees of separation” and is happy she finally has a constructive outlet for her “useless” information. She is an award nominated author/journalist, writing for a year at Florida Today in the Verge section, and is currently working towards a degree in Communications at FSU. She was last seen as “Mother (Mrs. Lottie Child)” in the 2008 Summer Fine Arts production of “Crazy For You”, Meagan’s second supporting lead role. The first being in Nikki Roberti’s award winning “An Under The Table Affair” as “Rachelle (Not Rachel)”. Meagan is also the gal behind the curtain with the Myspace and Twitter. She prefers photographs over autographs, “Pics or it didn’t happen, vids or it was photoshopped.”

Contributing Writers

Kelli Curtis

Kelli Curtis is a freelance writer and photographer based out of Eugene, Oregon. She gr aduated in June 2009 from the University of Oregon with a degree in magazine journalism, in which she pursued her passions: telling stories of life in both written and visual means. She has worked as a copy chief, staff photographer, freelance writer, and a freelance photographer, and she feels blessed for those opportunities to help her grow professionally and personally. Outside of work, Kelli enjoys reading, learning to sew and cook, singing, and being active. The world is a beautiful place that she loves to explore, especially with her husband by her side.

Katelyn Stark

Katelyn Stark is a sophomore at Appalachian State University. She came to Boone to follow love but ended up finding God, great friends, and a place to call home. She is currently majoring in history – secondary education. Some people think she’s crazy for wanting to spend the rest of my life in high school but, on the contrary, she can’t wait for the challenge. She has a beautiful family, wonderful parents who are more in love then ever, and two extraordinary sisters who are her best friends. She is also very involved in InterVaristy Christian Fellowship, which is a great campus ministry at ASU. Reading is also a huge component in my life. I am always reading at least two books at one time and force my favorites onto my friends. I enjoy hiking but will never sleep outside, college football season is my highlight of fall, and spreading the love of Christ is my passion. I believe that loving others is the most important thing one can do in life, and forgiveness, along with grace, are huge components of that.

Nicholette von Riche

Nicholette von Reiche is the writer of food columns “Diva Dinners” and “On the low down”. She lives in Manhattan and describes herself as an obsessed foodie who likes anything related to food, food writing, décor, styling, recipe development, food photography and testing and tasting new food. She has a keen interest in style and designs in all their forms. She currently freelances as a recipe developer, food writer, food stylist and consultant.

Nicholette studied Food Science and Nutrition at Cape Town University of Technology (CPUT) in South Africa. Her career in the media industry started when she interned for Ideas Magazine. This creative living magazine is a one stop guide to fresh, modern living for woman with creative flair, woman who love to entertain and beautify their homes with their own unique style. Today Nicholette has freelanced for other food magazines, has worked in events, retail, food recruitment, is skilled in styling, recipe and menu development and much more but she says the Ideas Magazine motto has stuck with her. She likes to take something mundane and make it extraordinary. She aspires to give her readers practical, creative content and strives toward making her work an inspiration of décor, entertainment and food.

Nicholette’s services and examples of her work can be viewed on her website at www.nicholette.biz. Also view her food blog at www.blog.nicholette.biz.

Ronesha Dennis

Ronesha Dennis is a 20 year old, junior journalism major at Howard University. She is an avid reader and music-lover, with shopping, writing and creating poetry as her hobbies. Born in New Orleans where she received “substandard” preparation for journalism, Ronesha one day hopes to start a magazine for students in her hometown so they can obtain the skills she didn’t have the opportunity to learn when she was younger. When Ronesha is not studying or being active on her school’s campus, she is likely watching TV in her dorm room, or out enjoying the District of Columbia with friends. Her favorite stops are the Smithsonian museums and Dupont Circle.

Katherine J. Chen

Katherine J. Chen is a sophomore at Princeton University, where she is majoring in English with a certificate in Creative Writing. She wishes some day to become a blend of David Remnick, Harold Bloom, Anna Wintour, and Northrop Frye. Her dream job is to work as a fiction or poetry editor at “The New Yorker,” a magazine she reads religiously from cover to cover, including all the ads. She is obsessed with writing and editing and maintains what she calls a “Truman Capote” schedule of practicing her art form no less than 2-3 hours every day. These days, Katherine works as a freelance writer, editor, and intern for a variety of magazines, websites, and blogs. When she is not slaving away at her computer, Katherine can be found watching her vast collection of BBC comedies or playing with her 5-year-old Maltese, Einstein.

Joy Smith

November 29, 1988 is a day that will live in infamy. Okay, not INFAMY, but maybe it will become ridiculously well-known after I am world-famous and have a national holiday in my honor. Or maybe it will only be important to my poor mother who had to suffer through nine months with me and my restless limbs. My name is Joy, but almost everyone in the world calls me Joy Beth or JB. I am a voracious reader, avid writer, and neglectful student. I am a Junior English major at Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA), and I absolutely love it here. My goal is to eventually teach… or edit… or write novels… or short stories…. or a magazine column. You get the idea. I’m just your typical girl taking life one day at a time, all the while trying to impress the only Man that matters.

Sophia Vilceus

My name is Sophia Vilceus, a current junior at CUNY City College of New York with a major in English with a concentration in creative writing, with a cumulative GPA of a 3.8.

As a young child my first two languages were both English and Creole. By the time I was placed in elementary school, I had tremendous difficulties not intertwining and confusing the two languages and actually had to be placed in ESL (although I was born in New York). I believe by trying to perfect these two languages at a young age, my love of language, words, and writing blossomed—by merely attempting to better my communication skills, I in turn met my first love, which was words.
I aspire to become a renowned writer, a person who is respected and admired for her craft, one who leaves a lasting imprint on literature itself.

Arielle Sobov

Arielle Sobov is a senior journalism major at Quinnipiac University. You can usually find her shopping at local boutiques or laughing at her own jokes. Extremely energetic and positive, Arielle is always looking for an adventure or something new to try. She is an absolute Jersey girl at heart and one day wants to go on tour with a band. A passion for writing and journalism since the day she learned how to hold a pen, she can’t wait to make her break into the magazine world. She is inspired by strong women, good taste in fashion and people who are not afraid to express themselves. In a few words, Arielle is a small girl with a huge heart and even bigger dreams.

Amy Marturana

Amy Marturana is a sophomore at Syracuse University. She is a Magazine Journalism major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Amy plans to also major in Spanish, and is going to spend a semester abroad in Spain. She is also completing a focus in Fashion and Beauty Communications, since she loves everything about clothes and fashion. Amy’s family is the most important thing in the world to her, and she is so thankful to have such amazing, loving people in her life. She is also proud to be a member of the Chi chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta, and is lucky to have awesome friends she can call sisters. Amy loves to travel, and hopes to snag a job after she graduates that will allow her to do a lot of it (Oh hey, National Geographic ;] ). When Amy isn’t busy with schoolwork or working at Forever 21, she is either relaxing spending time with friends, hanging out with her mom, listening to Britney Spears (don’t judge), dancing or eating (most likely something very unhealthy). She is also an active member of comm.Unity, a communications club at SU that does free work for local non-profit organizations. Amy writes for the Elegance and Ambition beats of REALITY Check Girl, so check out her articles every month!

Janie Dumbleton

Janie Dumbleton is a junior at the University of Georgia where she studies English and Religion. After graduating college she aspires to attend graduate school and pursue writing and design careers. She enjoys volunteering in her community and when free time works itself into her schedule; she loves to create by knitting, sewing, embroidering, and any other crafty activity. Alongside writing and crafting, photography is a new hobby quickly working its way into her favorite activities. Ferris wheels, wind chimes, Polaroid’s, and puns are some of her favorite points of inspiration. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, she loves sunny days and the prosperity of nature. Her free-spirited attitude allows her to see life as a journey with avenues always open. She is extremely excited about REALITY Check and its future and writes for the Fashion and Respect portions of the magazine.

Courtney Miller

Courtney Miller is a junior journalism major at Ithaca College in New York. She enjoys water sports in the summer with her best friend, film-making and over-analyzing television shows. She is most relaxed when she swims and most energized in a crowd of a thousand rocking out to tobyMac. Her floor is scattered with old issues of Vogue and Vanity Fair and she has a Roger Federer Beanie bear perched on the bookshelf. She grew up on a steady diet of Veggie Tales and Roma Downey out in the midwest and wants to travel the world.

Michelle Golden

Michelle Golden is a junior Writing, Literature, and Publishing student at Emerson College in Boston, MA. A transfer from Ithaca College in upstate New York, Michelle moved to the center of the Theatre District right outside of the Boston Commons at the beginning of her sophomore year. Besides in class, she can be found downtown editing away at articles, transcribing interviews, or reviewing submissions in the Teen Voices Magazine office. If you can’t find her there, then she’s filing registration forms at the Boston Ballet, ushering shows at the Cutler Majestic Theater, or networking with JChoice.org. In addition, Michelle writes for em magazine, Emerson College’s lifestyle campus publication and has written for The Berkeley Beacon, the college student newspaper. Previously an intern at the Mystic Arts Center, Michelle loves to dabble in many things at once. Motivated and goal-driven, nothing can stop this Bostonian. Born in Israel, Michelle plans on going to graduate school in either Tel Aviv or Jerusalem and hopes to one day publish a memoir. In addition for her love to keep busy, writing, and Israel, Michelle enjoys the company of her black and white fluffy cat she has named Miley. No one said it being named after Billy Ray’s daughter, so make your own assumptions. E-mail her at michelle_golden@emerson.edu if you want to sing about having the best of both worlds.

Laura Blythe

Laura Blythe is a junior Creative Writing major at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. Her ultimate goal in life is undetermined, but she’s convinced it will have something to do with children and writing, two of her greatest loves. Between writing for class and for fun, her awesome campus ministry and the amazing youth group she’s blessed to work with, Laura has little spare time. But when she can find a minute, she’s usually in the kitchen baking, cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals, or discussing theology with any one of her wonderful friends. She takes comfort each day in knowing that her life is in the capable hands of her Savior, who will never leave her side.

Laura Kuhns

Laura Kuhns is a senior at Appalachian State University majoring in Chemistry and minoring in Criminal Law and Biology. Though it seems like a daunting task, Laura continuous reminds herself of her higher calling to be a mission Pharmacist to those who need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. When it comes to the things that bring her great joy, she loves: to listen to music, watch Gilmore Girls, and crazy adventures on the Blue Ridge Parkway, whenever the opportunity arises. The shelves in her room are always full of Jane Austin’s greatest works and any book that might help her escape for a few moments. Without going into illustrious detail, Laura is simply a woman who longs to follow the Lord and all He has in store for her life.

Kelly Grenfell

Kelly Grenfell works full-time at Azusa Pacific University. She is the Program Coordinator for their Center of Global Learning and Engagement office (Basically study abroad office) Her basic work duties involve meeting with students for advising appointments, processing paperwork, planning events, learning about new countries and programs, and pulling pranks on her co-workers. She graduated from Azusa Pacific University May 2009 with a B.A. in Journalism and minor in Psychology. She misses her college friends immensely, but is happy to be living in Southern California again, so long as the sun is shining. I need my Vitamin D! In her free time she likes to go to the gym, read Marie Claire, collect classic literature, hang out with friends, waste time on Facebook, eat chocolate, catch up on her MANY TV show addictions (i.e. Gossip Girl, SYTYCD, Glee, The Office, and is anxiously awaiting the return of Chuck and LOST), and of course write for REALITY Check every month.

Tags:

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He cheated. Now what?

Edit This Fashion Magazines: overcoming distorted realities

Reconnecting with my Birth Country: how I spent 22 days volunteering on an Israeli army base

Staff

Nikki Roberti

Editor-in-Chief

RESPECT

Editor: Irene Herring

ELEGANCE

Editor: Lauren Sprowl

AMBITION

Editor: Catey Gonzalez

LOVE

Editor: Emily Herring Dunn

INTELLECT

Editor: Caitlin Mack

TASTE

Editor: Allison Casey

Fashion Editor: Gerardo Mendez

YOUTHFULNESS

Editor and Public Relations: Meagan Renee

Contributing Writers

Kelli Curtis

Katelyn Stark

Nicholette von Riche

Ronesha Dennis

Katherine J. Chen

Joy Smith

Sophia Vilceus

Arielle Sobov

Amy Marturana

Janie Dumbleton

Courtney Miller

Michelle Golden

Laura Blythe

Laura Kuhns

Kelly Grenfell

Number of Girls Getting a REALITY Check!

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