Since the beginning of time disease and illnesses have plagued mankind. As we have evolved and spread across the globe, so have infectious viruses. While outbreaks have been fairly common in modern times, the majority did not reach the pandemic levels that COVID-19 has. Widespread disease developed when society shifted to agricultural communities. Trade between communities created new opportunities for interactions between humans and animals. As trade became standard, the scale and spread of these diseases began to increase dramatically.

Epidemics such as the plague, smallpox, tuberculosis, and others first appeared during these early years. As society advanced, larger cities were created, and living in close proximity to each other and animals, with poor sanitation and nutrition, were breeding grounds for disease. Exotic and overseas trade routes spread these novel infections far and wide, creating the first global pandemics. Since then, many more widespread diseases have evolved including Cholera, the Spanish flu, and now Coronavirus. Read more to learn about the deadliest pandemics in history.

"Nails are accessories, art, a mirror for your mood, the foundation to an outfit, and a conversation starter." Rachel James describes her starting force to found Pear Nova, and reminds us of the importance of the nails. Our nails reflect our personality, style, and even who we are, and we know we don't want to use products from toxic companies anymore. Pear Nova is cruelty-free, 10 free, and vegan because, as a vegan nail brand, health, quality, and inclusivity are what they look for. When Rachel James first Googled“how to start a nail polish brand,” we wonder if she knew she would be so successful that create both a sustainable and fashionable brand. Recently Pear Nova collaborated with The Nova Star Project which is a nonprofit organization devoted to educating, strengthening, and empowering domestic violence survivors for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We talked to Rachel James about the brand, the latest nail trends, and the effects of Covid-19. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about Pear Nova.

Our contemporary politics makes it is easy to see the stark difference in police treatment of Black Lives Matters protesters in comparison to the Trump rioters. Actor, Sports Enthusiast, and Civil Rights Activist Reggie Watkins is creating systematic change, saying everyone should understand why the entire system needs to be defunded and overhauled. His journey has been long as an actor but apparently, he always knew what he wanted. He recently portrayed Sgt. Lawrence Sims’ in Activision's new “Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War” game. At the same time, he co-founded the San Fernando Valley-based non-profit organization “The Valley Of Change,'' which is a community-based team of people who wanted to see change and decided to assist in the progress. Also, he gives importance to diversity in the sports talk space so that he is busy with his podcast, “Brothas On Football'', which covers football from a Black man's perspective. We talked to Reggie Watkins about his career, activism, and BLM movement. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about Reggie Watkins.

At the Indian Canyons, the ancestral home to the Agua Caliente Tribe, stands a lone figure clad in glitter and gold. Her artist name is Yozmit and she transcends more than her surroundings as she is surrounded by the elements of California —Yozmit transcends gender, time, and space. She is a transgender music-visual performance artist who is also a costume designer. Her art and performance intend to spread her message of *DoYou* - "a process of becoming fully self-realized and acting upon self-identity. DoYou is [her] artistic mantra to shift power from external conformity to internal realization/” She has collaborated with the likes of Alex Sandar, Susanne Bartsch, The BOX New York, The Box London, Supper Club, Sleep No More, Queen on the Night, and has performed at Burning Man, Coachella, Life Ball, Lincoln Center, and many other notable venues and events. In our interview with Yozmit, we talk about her identity as “Two-Spirit” and the artistic value of SELF. Please enjoy our exclusive editorial with Yozmit below.

Like many artists, navigating the music industry right now as an artist can be tough, but ALIX doesn’t let that stop her. Bay Area based artist, ALIX, let us join in on her livestream of her album “Feel Better” where she brings a California breath of fresh air to online viewers. Being the young artist she is, she gives us an inside feel of what it’s like to be a young artist in this tough industry and just exactly how she’s navigating through it. Besides music, ALIX is heavily involved in “Clear List Organization”, an organization dedicated to helping struggling teachers during Covid-19. ALIX shares with us why she feels teachers are essential workers and so important to the development of society. Please read our exclusive interview below.

Aria Brooks alias ARIA is a young creative to be on the look out for. When she’s not starring in Nickelodeon’s revival of the hit 90s sitcom, All That, she’s mixing her artistry and activism to inspire others to continue difficult, yet important conversations. ARIA’s latest single, Am I Next? and its music video are powerfully influenced by the Black Lives Matter defining the Summer of 2020 and beyond. Jejune talks to ARIA about her artistic endeavors, how they’ve looked during COVID-19, and how she is encouraging BIPOC and white youth alike to take a stand for social justice.

If you love a good binge-listen and looking for a new podcast to add to your queue, look no further. The ladies of Tampon Rock just completed their first season and let us tell you… it is binge-worthy. The scripted podcast follows two lesbian narrators, Chloe and Deja, as they luckily and unluckily navigate the Oakland love and music scene. There’s quirky music, there’s comedy, and (what we love most of all) there’s relatable and authentic storytelling. In our interview with the team behind Tampon Rock —Alysia Brown, Sarah Aument, and Sophie Dinicol— we discuss the importance of representation when it comes to telling Queer stories of all kinds. We dive into the show’s unique musical nature, the complexity of character creation, and recording during the pandemic. Want to know more? Please read our exclusive interview with the creators of Tampon Rock below.

If there’s such a thing as a curiosity guru, Kendall Long would certainly be one. After she made her debut on season 22 of The Bachelor and later on Bachelor in Paradise, Kendall became a sensation. Her lovable personality, quirky interest in taxidermy, and kind heart are what make Kendal a person we couldn’t wait to interview. We talk to Kendall about her new book Just Curious: A Notebook of Questions, which is exactly that: a book of questions (and a journal too!). And let’s be honest: Just Curious is coming at the best time of the pandemic when Zoom calls and staying indoors during winter could not be more monotonous. We need to stay curious! We also chat about Kendall’s love for animals, represented by her secondhand taxidermy hobby and her rescue pup Pistachio. If you’re curious about Kendall and interested in what she has been up to since her time on reality TV, please read our exclusive interview below.

Audrey Grace Marshall maybe 11 years old, but she has already attracted some pretty interesting roles, playing the young version of Cassie in HBO Max’s The Flight Attendant, and also playing a young 'Trish Walker' in the amazing final season of Marvel's Jessica Jones. When she isn’t busy playing the younger versions of epic women, or running around in her New York City life, she is very passionate about helping mature dogs through Susie's Senior Dogs; a nonprofit organization working to bring awareness to the plight of homeless senior dogs. Please read further to learn more about Audrey in our exclusive interview below.

Sasha Daniel is a gifted Russian-Israeli musician, actress, and mental health advocate. She uses her creative talents to explore inwardly as well as create a dialogue about sensitive issues such as love and relationships, vulnerability, and mental illness. Sasha has been writing music for years, using her unique life experiences of living and traveling around the world as inspiration. She spent two years touring across New York, the Mid-West, southern United States, Israel, and Canada until she moved back to Tel Aviv and began producing her own songs. Jejune sat down with Sasha to discuss her new EP and her volunteer work with the Non Profit Organization Latet.

The pandemic ushered me into a season of change that was unexpected. I have been a graduate student working on my Ph.D. for the last five years as an international student in Canada. 2020 was meant to be my final year when I would see myself achieve a career goal of becoming a “doctor.” However, months into the pandemic, I found myself needing more financial security and emotional support than being a doctoral student would (and could) allow. So, in November, I packed up my belongings and moved back to my hometown for a job in higher-ed that would allow me to make a livable wage and live in a less expensive area.

Many artists have been negatively impacted by COVID-19, especially with the closure of venues and live performances becoming a nostalgic memory of yesteryear. Here at Jejune, we are inspired by those who have found a way to pursue their art and continue creating during these times. For Georgia Black, her new single “Invisible Enemy” is a demonstration of both persistence of art and the unity felt amongst communities during quarantine and shelter-in-place across the world. We fell instantly for the sauntering sound of Black’s smooth voice accompanied by dreamy synths and violins (truly reminiscent of a James Bond Film), which come together in “Invisible Enemy” to positively depict citizens who stay at home as heroes. We speak to Black about her time in quarantine, where she draws inspiration, and about her day job as a Learning Support Assistant in the UK. For more about Georgia Black please read our exclusive interview below.

While TikTok certainly existed before the pandemic, the popular (and might we add addictive) video app became a beloved past time for creators, viewers, and consumers during shelter-in-place. For 16-year-old Emma Norton, TikTok is a place where she can exhibit her mad make-up skills and penchant for entertainment. Her personality is as charismatic as it is authentic, — making Emma a magnet for admiration and attracting over 5.9 million followers on TikTok (and counting!) and over 300 thousand on Instagram. Emma gives us insight on TikToker’s place in speaking out on social issues —a hot and growing topic in 2020— and the positive potential of social media to spread awareness as we move forward into another year with bigger goals for our society and the world at large. We are so excited to share our interview with Emma and we are sure that this TikTok star, actress, and influencer will dance her way into your heart. Please read our exclusive interview with Emma below.