Niki Koss is the future of the film industry. This accredited producer, director, and actress is not new to the game. You can spot Niki on Freeform's "Famous In Love," and now, she has more to offer under her production company K Factor Films. Niki has produced numerous movies, and one of her latest films,
Night Night, directed by the one and only Koss, dropped last November. Jejune is super excited to gain insight into her productions and experience behind the camera. Niki's talents are undeniable. She has also been featured in 2021's Forbes 30 Under 30 for acting, directing, and producing. In addition to her achievements in the film industry, she is a diligent spokesperson for "Open Door Media," a non-profit education program centered around global culture and issues. Niki's brilliance does not stop there, and Jejune is eager to share! Please continue reading for Niki's origin story, her work at K Factor films, and her efforts to assist the homeless.

Jennifer Lauren Is Spreading Kindness Everywhere She Goes

Jennifer Lauren is as much of a dichotomy as her band Diamonds and Whiskey. She can be a bit rough around the edges, coming from of life of “hard knocks”, but has a beautiful heart of gold, which spreads love of kindness everywhere it goes. Diamonds and Whiskey recently released their fierce new single “Walk Hard”. In her interview with Jejune Magazine, Jennifer discusses the development of Diamonds and Whiskey, and the support she hopes to provide through music. She and the band are very passionate about playing at benefits, and most recently played at ‘Vet Fest’ and ‘Jessie’s Rally of Hope’. Read on to learn more about Jennifer Lauren and her devotion to giving back!

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 39Sophie LaSalaJanuary 19, 2022Music, Musican, Singer, artist, Kindness, giveback, Give back, lyme disease, health, health care, Country, country pop, countryComment

Dreaming Big with Tara Moayedi

Tara Moayedi is definitely one to watch! This 8-year-old is a natural performer which lead her to working in commercials and modeling. Recently she has made her debut on television, where she stars as Sarah Malik in the Apple TV+ sci-fi drama series, Invasion. In addition to her devotion to acting, she is committed to philanthropic work. Tara is involved with the Child Foundation, helping underprivileged kids succeed. Continue reading below to learn more about incredible young actress.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 39Sophie LaSalaJanuary 18, 2022actress, Apple TV+, TV Series, philanthropyComment

Editorial - Learning From Isabella Gomez

Isabella Gomez is the star of the new HBO Max comedy series “Head of the Class,” where she plays a young high school teacher looking to shake up the classroom. Gomez is not new to sitcoms, you may also recognize her as Elena Álvarez in the award winning comedy series “One Day at a Time.” At the heart of each show you can find an underlying theme of community and family support, which Gomez believes in wholeheartedly. She is also really attracted to what representation in the media can do for both individuals and whole communities, which can be seen in her two roles. On the charity front, Gomez is involved with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Wild Elements Foundation. Through her partnership with Wild Elements, she was matched with innovator, Rosamira Guillen, who is the executive director at Proyecto Tití in Colombia. Under her leadership, Gomez is fully fully educated on her work in order to bring that information and opportunities to her followers. Read on to learn more about Isabella Gomez, her roles in “Head of the Class” and “One Day at a Time,” upcoming projects, and her charity work.

Shaun Johnson + Big Band Experience on the Big Band Sound

Shaun Johnson, front man of Shaun Johnson + Big Band Experience, is mixing the passionate sound of the big band era with his charity work to give fans an experience they won’t forget. Shaun Johnson + Big Band Experience is compiled of some of the best instrumentalists and arrangers in the Midwest. When asked about the band’s sound, Johnson described it as standing on the shoulders of greats while adding the genres of today. Their new album ‘Made for Her,’ recently came out, and is dedicated to all the strong women in Johnson’s life, including his wife, sister, and three daughters. On their tour stops, The Big Band Experience raises money for local charities. Some of the charities they have worked with include: Children's hospitals, Wishes & More, Lunch is Served, Little Kids Rock, Susan G Komen, and community building in Rwanda. Read on in our interview to learn more about his musical career, the band’s mission, and how they are giving back.

Zarna Garg is Whipping Up Some Laughs

Comedian Zarna Garg, affectionally known as ‘Auntie Z,’ is a TikTok sensation. Encouraged by her son, Zarna downloaded TikTok early in the pandemic and uploaded some of her jokes to the platform. Within the first week, her jokes had garnered 3 million views. Before TikTok fame and stand-up, Zarna had passed the bar and became a lawyer before trying her hand in comedy. She encourages everyone, especially young Indians, to veer off the beaten path and try comedy, if that is where their heart is. Zarna also currently helps out with Comedy Cures and fundraises for Children's Hope India. Both are organizations near and dear to her heart where she can share her comedy to help out those in need. Continue reading our interview with Zarna Garg to learn (and laugh) some more!

The Re-Debut of the Multi-Talented Elisa Nicolas

Elisa Nicolas is a Canadian-born, Ohio-based Asian-American songwriter. For three decades, she has been observing, experimenting, and translating the human experience into song. Elisa’s musical talents extend beyond songwriting, as she is a multi-instrumentalist and singer. Since writing and recording across numerous styles including rock, jazz, country, pop, and R&B, this critically acclaimed Asian-American LGBTQ alternative artist makes her re-debut after a 12 Year hiatus. Her latest song “No Answers” is the leading single of her new album, Year of The Locust, which was released early November. In addition to her musical devotion, she is committed to giving back in her community. Elisa spends time at her local foodbank, MidOhio Foodbank, and dedicates time each year to building houses for Habitat for Humanity. Continue reading below to learn more about the multi-talented woman, Elisa Nicolas!

Sustainable Winter Clothing For The New Year

2022 is officially here! With many New Year’s resolutions just beginning, one global resolution we should all continue to commit to is sustainability. In this article, you will find a variety of sustainable clothing brands that you should be sure to check out this winter. Whether you are looking for a new winter coat to start off the new year or cozy scarfs and hats for loved ones, this list of sustainable winter clothing brands is likely to have the winter essentials you are looking for!

'What She Said': Amy Northup And The Unheard Voice

Amy Northup is an actor, director, Intimacy Coordinator, and a trained victims advocate with the Crime Victims Treatment Center. Amy has dedicated her career to advocating for sexual assault victims, which led to her recent directorial debut in the film ‘What She Said.’ This film follows Sam, a sexual assault survivor, as she deals with the trauma of the assault and the process of convicting her attacker. Sam has a strong community of friends and family who want to help her heal from this experience, but she ultimately feels frustrated with herself and others as she tries to build back her autonomy. In this interview, Amy eloquently answers all of our questions regarding the film, the production process, and how she is advocating for sexual assault victims in all aspects of her career.

Welcome 2022 With Greener New Year's Resolutions

Believe it or not, it is already time to ring in a new year! In this feature, we present to you a list of ten greener new year resolutions that you can implement in your own life in 2022. Going into our junior year of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to take care of ourselves and our environment. Learn how to effectively recycle leftover food and single use plastics with tips on composting and how to recycle right. Additionally, find ways to reduce your carbon and food footprint with an online calculator from The Nature Conservancy. Ultimately, within this list, you can expect a variety of greener solutions with our own recommendations of resources and eco-friendly products to set you up for a year of success.

Xavi de Guzman Trains His Mental Fitness

Xavi de Guzman is a power house! His aptitude for sports fueled an athleticism that led him to a professional career in boxing. This beast of a man went as far as to win the 2008 lightweight championship title in Canada. Unlike most actors, Xavi received his first on-camera role without any acting experience – ABC’s “Rookie Blue” as a boxer. Since “Rookie Blue”, Xavi has appeared in numerous productions including The CW’s ‘The 100’ and ABC’s ‘Take Two’. Now you can check out his most recent project on Netflix, where he takes on the role of Ethan in the miniseries "Maid". In addition, Xavi is a huge advocate for mental health! Through his experience as a professional boxer, he learned the importance of taking care of one's mental health. He founded of the Play On foundation and created a talk titled "You Can't Be Out of Shape to Chase Your Dreams". Read on to learn more about Xavi de Guzman journey as an actor and advocate for mental health.

The Future With Omicron

This time last year the world was faced with the toughest holiday season yet, but with the hope that next year would be significantly better. With the possibilities of further lockdowns, weakening vaccinations, and new restrictions being increasingly discussed, many now fear a repeat of 2020. Despite this being the last thing governments want to do, with the increasing fears of the new Omicron variant will it be the harsh reality we have to face?

Articles, zIssue 39Saanvi SethiDecember 22, 2021covid, omicron, testing, nyc, london, lockdown, restrictions, biden, boris, covid-19, delta, variants, CDC, NHS, vaccines, covid vaccines, WHO, booster, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, virus, masks, mandates, immunity, researchComment

Emiliana Guereca on Women's Reproductive Rights and Equality for All

Emiliana Guereca is the President of the Women’s March LA Foundation, which was founded in 2016. In her interview with Jejune Magazine, Emiliana explains that the Foundation was established due to the 2016 election and the amounting threats towards Women’s Rights from both parties. Even today, their work is more prevalent then ever. Recently, the states of Texas and Mississippi have created legislation to ban abortion well before fetal viability. In response, the Women’s March Foundation is putting together a direct mail postcard campaign aimed at big brass Texas businesses asking them to support women’s reproductive rights. Over 250k postcards have already been sent to CEO’S of Texas organizations that supposedly support women. Readers can get involved by visiting their website, listed down below. Read on to learn more about the important work Emiliana Guereca and the Women’s March Foundation of LA is doing to advocate for equality.

COVER: Constance Marie - Empowering The Latinx Community

Constance Marie is a Los Angeles-based Latinx force. While she has had a prolific career from the beginning, she has always prioritized working on projects that highlight the Latinx community and social causes. You may recognize her from her powerful performance of Regina Vasquez in the revolutionary show “Switched At Birth”. But this month, she will be seen as 'Beatriz Diaz' on "With Love" — the new Latinx romantic comedy series for Amazon Prime Video, created and written by Gloria Calderon Kellett. Constance will be playing a character that many women in America will be able to relate to, answering questions like: "What happens after the happily ever after?" Constance Marie is more than a powerful actress. She is a mother, a humanitarian, and a fighter for a better world and planet for future generations. Please continue reading below to learn more!