Hello, 47Club!
This issue is stunning! We have truly beautiful articles by everyone involved and even more on the way! I've known I wanted to do a pride issue forever, and I'm so happy with how it turned out. Our issues just keep getting more clean, and I am so so so excited to create our next one.
For this shoot, we wanted to capture each color of the rainbow. The main problem: how do we not make this look like a Target pride ad? And how do we not make this look... chugey.
We decided to go for a 90's zine editorial moment and I would say we did pretty well! The pictures were edited with warm tones and grains which enhanced the feel we were trying to go for. Jake and I also interviewed each model to give the shoot more personality.
I'll see you next month! Enjoy the shoot <3
ROYGBIV - The Issue 05 Shoot
RED - Melody Nguyen (She/Her)
How do you show pride?
"Coming from a traditional town and moving to New York City showed me how acceptance and diversity can completely change the atmosphere of a community. I show pride by continuously encouraging my friends around me to always be themselves and embrace what makes you different."
How can Pride Month inspire and encourage individuals who are struggling with their Pride?
"Pride Month is a time everyone, more than ever, can realize there’s an entire community that supports you for who you are. I personally am inspired and encouraged by my peers who stand for pride and see that it is ok to be part of the LGBTQ+ community and there’s nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, it’s something to be proud of."
Orange - Catalina Torress (She/Her)
How do you show pride?
"I show pride by being unapologetically myself, open, and accepting of everyone I meet. "
How can Pride Month inspire and encourage individuals who are struggling with their Pride?
"I think pride month can inspire and show individuals that being part of the LGBTQ+ community is something to be celebrated, embraced, and shared!"
Yellow - Ka'enaaloha Watson (She/Her)
How do you show pride?
"I show my pride by actively using my voice and my art, including fashion, acting, content creation, and film making to normalize the beautiful world of queerness. Being queer is beautiful, I show pride by being unapologetically myself in every space that I enter. I am all of my identities; native Hawaiian, a woman, and queer, I definitely make it known. As an actor and filmmaker, I choose to work on and create projects that highlight people of color and those in the lgbtq+ community. Supporting other queer individuals and artists specifically is one of the biggest ways that I and everyone can show their pride for being queer or support for queerness."
How can Pride Month inspire and encourage individuals who are struggling with their Pride?
"Pride month is a time for everyone of any sexual orientation and identity to be unapologetically who they are. It’s a time for self-expression, self-love, community building, and aloha. The queer community advocates for this all year, however a whole month dedicated to these ideals impacts many people's lives. Observing those who are comfortable in their skin gives others the confidence to follow in their footsteps. Pride is not just for big flashy clothing and parades (although very fun and an integral part), it centers around what is inside. It recognizes that everyone of every race, background, identity, and gender is loved and deserves love. Pride Month inspires those of every race, identity, and background. And while some may view Pride month as a time for only queer people, pride month has the extraordinary ability to inspire not only those in the queer community but everyone in the world."
Green - Jake Pranian (He/Him)
How do you show pride?
"I show pride by being proud of who I am every day. Not just as a queer person, but as an artist, performer, friend, lover, and as a human."
How can Pride Month inspire and encourage individuals who are struggling with their Pride?
"Pride is just one example for those who are questioning their sexual identity that regardless of who you love or how you like to express yourself, there will always be space for you in this community. You are loved unconditionally, and you can take as much time as you need to fully come to terms with what makes you feel comfortable."
Blue - Livia Hetes (She/They)
How do you show pride?
"I show pride by celebrating my own and others’ authenticity and individuality!"
How can Pride Month inspire and encourage individuals who are struggling with their Pride?
"Pride Month highlights a community that is so important to people who might be struggling with their sexual orientation or gender identity. Everything becomes easier when you have a support system."
Purple - Ady Karnacewicz (She/They)
How do you show pride?
"I show pride by surrounding myself with queer people that both make me feel safe and that I can look up to. Community is important for every type of person, but the queer community has a way of changing and saving lives by simply accepting people as they are."
How can Pride Month inspire and encourage individuals who are struggling with their Pride?
"Proper representation is one of the easiest and most important ways to make an individual feel seen. Seeing someone that dresses/acts/looks/lives their life in a similar way that you wish to makes anything feel possible. A lot of us come from places where our specific orientations were not reflected in any sense, so to see someone now publicly and unapologetically being themselves can give us the power to do the same."
Photographer: Mark Bluemle
Creative Director, Casting, Production Manager: Ka'enaaloha Watson
Production Assistant Jake Pranian
Photo Editing: Mark Bluemle and Ka'enaaloha Watson
Graphic Editing: Jake Pranian
MUA: Kindra Kirsh
Interviewed by Jake Pranian and Mark Bluemle
📍 47Magazine HQ