Renowned vocalist, pilot, best-selling author, psychologist and theater producer — what a career! Judy Whitmore has an inspiring story that will remind you to chase your dreams. After putting her music career on hold to raise a family, Judy finally took the leap into singing in 2014 when she co-founded the cabaret group, ACT THREE. The trio brought timeless standards to life at legendary venues including Carnegie Hall and the Ritz Hotel in Paris. Their journey to Carnegie Hall was chronicled in the award-winning documentary film, Once Upon a Dream. Through all of those accomplishments, Judy always felt that something was missing. She knew it was time to get that magical box of dreams she had stored away all those years ago, embrace that music career she’d always dreamed of and soar on her own. In 2018, Judy ventured onto the stage alone with her show-stopping, cabaret-style vocal act. Judy just released her enchanting cover of Great American Songbook classic “Moonlight in Vermont,” which is a part of her mission to keep the songs of the Great American Songbook alive. We also love that Judy continually gives back to her music community by serving on the Board of Directors of Pacific Symphony. We’re excited to share our exclusive interview with Judy Whitmore below.
Paula DeAnda is glamorous and grateful. The Texas native and 2000s' icon comes back stronger and sexier with her latest single, “Freaky.” With her new song, DeAnda shows her maturity as an artist and a woman, encouraging listeners that they can find a source of empowerment within themselves. DeAnda is always looking ahead, finding ways to give back through her music. Jejune had the opportunity to talk with DeAnda about her amazing music career, all things “Freaky”, and what she’s hopeful as we progress into a post-pandemic reality. To learn more about Paula DeAnda, continue reading below.
While some people wait for their inspiration, actress Avianna Mynhier creates it. She landed her first gig on the hit series The Walking Dead as Rachel Ward in season 10. Then, more recently, she finished filming, during the middle of the pandemic, the Amazon Prime drama series 'Panic' where she can be seen starring as Abby. But this is far from the only thing she has done during the lockdown. Feeling dishearten by covid she decided to create a place for people to connect, her podcast 'Uprising.' In every episode, she aims to speak with a different kind of inspirational person. She is passionate about women empowerment and frequently participates in conventions including the Women Deliver and Professional Businesswomen of California conventions. We talked to Avianna Mynhier about her career, podcast, and women empowerment. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about her.
Brazilian Londoner Marcelo Deiss is a citizen of the world, and he shows this through his music. Embedded with politically and socially conscious messages, his music is a testament of Deiss’ commitment to making the world a more just one. The singer-songwriter latest EP, Hurl, is the story of an artist disenchanted with the status quo, yet hopeful about the future and art’s place in it. Jejune sat down with Deiss to learn more about his vision for Hurl, how he makes music from the melody to the lyrics, and how he uses his multicultural background to uplift others. To find out more about Marcelo Deiss, continue reading below.
As an actress, media entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Sarah Podemski is making her mark in Hollywood and in her local community. Most recently, Sarah has a recurring role in the new sci-fi mystery comedy-drama series Resident Alien airing now on Syfy. She also brings her passion making room for Indigenous perspectives with her new project, Shine Network, which is the first-ever digital platform celebrating Indigenous content from a female perspective. Outside of acting, through her business Totem Designs, she designs unique dreamcatchers which give back to her Indigenous communities. This past year, she was able to donate over 100 dreamcatchers to raise funds for charities including, Black Food Toronto, The Regis Korchinsky Paquet family, Six Nations Child and Family Services, and the Navajo nation. Sarah is truly a shining star as a professional and as a person. We’re so excited to share our interview with Sarah with you. Continue reading below!
Say hello to Oliver Trevena —the man who is known for his interview and hosting skills. We’re flipping the script and sitting down with this famous British host turned actor (alongside his adorable pup Georgie) to catch up on his latest projects. Here’s what you need to know: Oliver making moves and is working to make the world a better place. Between shooting several movies (Rising Hawk, Embattled, The Reckoning, Out of Death) in the past couple of years and growing his new business Caliwater with his partner Vanessa Hudgens, Oliver is using his talents to help spread awareness of forced child marriage in India. Serving as producer for a docuseries entitled Unmuted, Oliver hopes to produce content to unmute the voices of girls and young women in India who were forced into marriage too young. He also works closely with the Not For Sale Campaign, which provides resources to end human slavery and trafficking. Inspired? We are too. For more on Oliver Trevena, please read our exclusive editorial interview below.
You are at a party. The music is loud and you are surrounded by many strangers. The anxiety wave is coming to your body. With Covid-19, we forget this feeling with the craving of socializing, but this feeling of anxiety has always been there. Producer Tsu Nami makes us feel this emotion with her recent song 'Party'. It is not like any other song about partying; it reflects the social anxiety of not wanting to be at a party, and even the energy of the song holds the anxiety. In addition to her music, Tsu Nami inspires other women, especially women of color, who want to pursue a career in electronic music, which is a male-dominated industry. She has some very illuminating ideas on the topic. Currently, Tsu Nami is sharing her music to thousands with the emergence of virtual festivals. We talked to Tsu Nami about her music career, anxiety, sexism, and being normal again. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about Tsu Nami.
Singer-songwriter Izzy Frances reintroduces us to the wonders of nature. The indie-folk artist is nothing short of sophistication, finding inspiration from the natural world and her own life experiences. A trained neuroscientist, Frances gracefully intersects science with art, and we couldn't be more excited to talk with her about how she does it. Frances discussed the story behind her latest songs, her ode to Earth with Beautiful World, her fascination with the BBC’s Big Cat Diary and her partnership with the Sacred Nature Initiative. To learn more about Izzy Frances, continue reading below.
Over a year ago, all of our lives were changed forever. This pandemic has challenged everyone in ways that we never thought possible. But there is finally a light at the end of this seemingly unending dark tunnel —the vaccines. With more and more people getting vaccinated every day, there is hope that we can get back to some semblance of normalcy.
I don’t know about you, but as sustainable clothing continues to gain traction, I need some environmentally conscious kicks to stay on trend! Climate change has proven to be a global calamity. No doubt about that. The planet continues to suffer from the consequences of depleting natural resources. Since that is the case, why not splurge on quality —and may I add snazzy— 100% premium vegan sneakers? Enter LOCI: The sustainable footwear brand perfect for any lifestyle. LOCI’s methods of embodying their mission of eco-friendly sneakers is nothing short of innovative. LOCI prides themselves on being a vegan, cruelty-free, and sustainable shoe brand. They keep you stylish and sustainable by creating their products with various type of non-animal leathers and recycled materials. Jejune spoke with Emmanuel Eribo, the co-founder of LOCI, and touched on LOCI’s mission, future ventures, and their partnership with Nikki Reed. To learn more about LOCI and their contribution to the world of sustainability, please read our exclusive interview below.
Lexy Panterra dances through life and never says sorry. The singer, rapper, and dancer uses her platform to empower women and girls to be their best, authentic selves. From “TwerkOut” - her online twerking classes to her latest album Baddie Vibez, Panterra leads with an image of confidence, strength, and femininity, encouraging her fans to unapologetically practice self-love. Jejune had the pleasure to get to know more about Lexy Panterra, we got to talk about her music, venturing into rapping, her passion for dancing, and what makes her feel good. To learn more about Panterra, continue reading below.
What does it take to create the right aesthetic for super heroes, post-apocalyptical villains, and pop culture icons? As a costume designer for shows like Flash, Arrow, and The 100, Beverley Huynh knows how to make costumes stand out in binge-worthy media. We were excited to speak with Beverley and get her perspective of costume design in relation to representation. Beverly’s main focus is using her her platform to tell her story about needing to have more women of color in entertainment in front of and behind the camera. In all of her career as a costume designer she has always been one of very few minorities in "the room" making decisions, which is where the real power of Hollywood is. Until there are more people of different cultural backgrounds holding power there will always be an uneven balance in the industry, and that is what Beverley is fighting to change. For more on Beverley, please read our exclusive interview below.
Many people have felt the pain and grief that can remain from an old relationship. However, many of them ignore their emotions and tend to reject their pain. Nashville/LA/Artist/Songwriter TROY turned everything upside down and created his latest song Foolish by showing his vulnerability. It makes us feel our heartbreaks, and at the same time, embrace our flaws, and realize that it is natural to suffer. TROY’s music is like a medicine for healing heartache. TROY got his start in New York City musical theatre at age 12, and he continued his acting career in many shows like Victorious, The Last Ship, This Is Us, and New Girl. While he wrote music for himself, one day he decided to pursue music with more purpose and wrote Foolish, which is produced by Marti Frederiksen. We talked to TROY about his acting, music career, future of music, and voluntary works. Please read our exclusive interview below to learn more about TROY.
The Ukrainian-based Indie-rock band VINOK is a statement of authenticity and social change to create a new culture of justice in a land of the unknown. VINOK uses its unique sound and powerful lyrics to bring awareness and create discussions about various social issues. Their topics range from religion, women’s rights, and disability rights. Only established in 2019, the band has already graced some of the biggest festivals in Eastern Europe such as Ukraine’s Respublica Festival and Poland’s Slot Festival. Their latest single “Elephant Girl” is a story of transformation and the spiritual awakening of a female person with a disability. The title of the song is in reference to Elephant Man, a true story of a person who was judged and maltreated exclusively because of his appearance. The members of VINOK—Nathalie, Ilya, and Anton—all as individuals, have experienced or seen the hardships and tragedies life can have. To learn more about VINOK, their latest single, and each member, read our interview below.
If you don’t mind, I would like to tell you a little bit about Adam Waheed. This handsome Egyptian from New York City is a lot more than a pretty face. In fact, his good looks are almost an after thought in his comedy. He is known for playing innocent and playful roles where he is typically the ridiculous guy who leaves his ladies, friends, co-workers, or doctors completely flabbergasted. The shocking story behind Adam, and his massive social media following, is that he is a self-made man. He started out as wanting to be an actor, but there were just not enough roles for someone who looks like him. So, he took things into his own hands and started an empire of social media comedy. Cute, short skits that resemble videos one would see on sites like Funny or Die and CollegeHumor, with one small exception — Adam always casts a very diverse group of talent in all his videos. While the rest of the world is waking up to this, this is just natural for all of Adam’s skits. Adam’s skills don’t stop there. He has recently branched out to producing and acting in short films, like Tribes, and opening schools across the world for underprivileged kids. Adam certainly does it all. To learn more, please click here!
While there is a lot to be said about the ethos of instant gratification when it comes to shopping for the latest trends, we are also living in a time when consumers also want to shop guilt-free and responsibly. Many people are on the search for brands that are fashionable, sustainable, ethical, and of great quality. Consumers want companies and brands that align with their values. The only problem —How do you find these brands? The process takes time, research, as well as a little more patience than adding something to your Amazon cart. Enter Fashinnovation. Founded by Jordana and Marcelo Guimaraes, Fashinnovation is a platform created to help consumers find the sustainable brands of the future. As a growing and global network, Fashinnovation is paving the way for making positive changes to the world of fashion and technology.
Beyond helping you shop more responsibly and create the guilt-free closet of your dreams, Fashinnovation is (as you probably guessed from its name) a platform for innovation. Fashion, like all other businesses, is experiencing an immediate and urgent demand for innovation in all business models. Jordana and Marcelo bring together community voices to challenge the industry to do better and to dream of future that is more viable, inclusive, and sustainable. Through panels, conferences, and content creation, Fashinnovation is able build a diverse community of like-minded individuals in intersecting industries, allowing for industry professionals and the public to see exciting new ideas and trends in innovating production and creating more transparent supply chains. Ready to join the conversation? We were too! In our exclusive interview with co-founder Jordana Guimaraes, she explains her goals for Fashinnovation, tells us all about new brands they are partnering with, and how to become a more responsible fashion consumer. Continue reading our interview with Jordana below!