Robert Ball, singer/songwriter from Toronto, Canada, has a soulful voice with velvet tones to match. Having been inspired from everything Broadway, pop, and world music, to R&B and country, Robert has a diverse background that shows in his work. His new single, ‘I Need A Man,’ was recently released. The song emphasizes the importance of deep soulful connection with someone, not just a short term fix or casual fling. Additionally, Robert is on the steering committee for ‘BGMN’ the Black Gay Men’s Network of Ontario, and a mentor, teaching artist with NIA Centre for the Arts, Vocal Coach with TIFTPA. As an LGBTQ artist, Robert explains that he finds it particularly important to ‘pay it forward’ to his mentees. Read more about Robert Ball’s music and activism in his interview with Jejune below.
Bringing an idea to life takes innovation, passion and a whole lot of patience. What's more powerful is if the creation brings people to another world for just a moment and sparks a new notion in the viewers. None other than Benjamin Von Wong is doing it as we speak. The Canadian-born artist is a big advocate for Ocean Plastics and has been creating art pieces to bring awareness to the most critical issue faced today — Pollution. Known for his environmental art installations and hyper-realist art style, he recently launched a new campaign, Turn Off The Plastic Tap. Jejune got the opportunity to converse with Von Wong to learn more about his creative endeavors and mission to make positive impacts unforgettable.
We might be a little late for National Hispanic Heritage Month, which celebrates cultures, achievements, and contributions made by Latin Americans, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still celebrate them! In this feature, we are excited to share ten incredible Hispanic brands to add to your list of brands to know about. Each one is in a different location, sharing different stories, but what do they all have in common? Sustainability! Check out more below!
Adequately nicknamed the “The Black, Gay Martha Stewart,” Robert has in hands in almost everything; he is an Author, Fashion Designer, Producer, Branding Coach, and GIPHY/TikTok creator. His new book, Courage Behind the Mask: A Story of Life, Death and Surviving COVID-19, tells the story of his mother’s battle with COVID-19 and the stories of the healthcare workers who worked tirelessly to save her life. Robert and his mother were finally reunited in the summer of 2021 after 828 days apart. The duo took part in a series of book signings, speaking events, and TV interviews during their time together. Images of the reunion can be seen throughout the article. Read on to learn more about Robert E. Blackmon, his new book, and why he believes you should never take a single moment for granted.
Introducing Emma Malouff! This Los Angeles based actress is a star on the rise. She developed a love for being on stage at an early age when she began dancing Ballet at the age of three. After seeing the “Nutcracker”, she knew immediately that she wanted to be a performer and continued her passion for dance until she was 15 years old. She left dance to pursue her love of acting and move to Los Angeles. With a passion for acting from a young age, at only 18 years old, she is taking on her first recurring co-star role is “Impeachment: American Crime Story”. Beyond her passion for acting, Emma is an advocate for human trafficking awareness. Please continue reading below to learn more about Emma Malouff, and how she is helping to make the world a better place!
Akeem Mair, actor and activist from Pasadena, California, has big dreams and a big personality to match. In his interview with Jejune Magazine, Akeem explains the chance instance that inspired him to become an actor, the dedication he has to his profession, and his own ten year plan. Never one to take an off day, Akeem keeps a list of goals and action points to work on throughout the day. His new film, It’s On You, will also be finished later this year. Being a black man in the film industry has never been easy, but Akeem looks to the greats like Denzel Washington and Sidney Poitier to provide representation and inspiration. Additionally, Akeem gets into his charity work as a community leader with the Mysankofi Live experience and his lifelong volunteer work with the First African Methodist Episcopal Church. Read on to learn more about the man himself and his developed sense of community created through his work.
The news of the current pandemic has been plastered all over the world for the past year, shocking figures of death tolls, new variants and lockdowns that have put all our lives to a halt. As the world begins to regain some sense of normalcy, the hidden consequences of the pandemic are just beginning to show. For healthcare workers on the front line the consequences of the pandemic are far from over, and emerging research shows that the psychological impacts on those fighting the pandemic may be just beginning.
The style of a Rockstar is often synonymous with glitz and glam, but what if we told you that it could be sustainable too? That’s right, you don’t have to sacrifice any of the glamour in order to make a positive impact on the planet! In ‘The Rockstar Edit,’ Jejune has compiled a list of fashion brands with clothing that embrace the rock and roll lifestyle while also ensuring that their production process is both environmentally and socially responsible. Be sure to check out Cielo Studio or Monika the Label to fulfill all of your Stevie Nicks impersonation desires. Or look into the faux fur and leather brand Apparis to add a pop of color into your wardrobe! Not totally into the rock and roll scene? That’s okay too! Our ultimate goal with this list was to find responsible fashion brands that help our readers embody their true selves, or find something fun and edgy to wear when you need a little escapism. Check out the full list below!
If someone hasn't told you already, meditation and yoga are cheat codes for life. Accruing internal balance and calmness from yoga will make your day-to-day peaceful and whole. Don't know where to start? Start with Deep! Based in Virginia and Washington D.C, Deep, AKA DeepElevation LLC, will take you to new heights. Deep is a Yogi, life coach, and author ready to guide the masses to tranquility. His Punjabi ancestry further helps him achieve spirituality on a deeper level, and he is prepared to share his gifts with the world. Deep is well versed in Ashtanga Vinyasa and Yoga Nidra, and his talents have opened him up to teaching in prisons and war zones. Not only is he the go-to guy for learning self harmony, but he is also a published author! His recently released book innocence, which is a collection of stories and poems that delves into vulnerability and embraces the concept of shedding social norms and influence. 50% of this book's profits go to the Khalsa Aid & Islamic Relief, which is providing necessities for those affected by poverty. Jejune is delighted to talk to the wise Deep about his insights on the world. This interview covers his incredible pro-Bono work, his book innocence, and how to self-surrender at will. Please continue reading below!
Today, October 11th is National Coming Out Day. It is a day of freedom and light for many LGBTQ+ individuals, encouraging them to talk with family and friends about their sexuality, which is life-changing. Many people also celebrate the liberation spirit through flags and pins, not just in the United States, but also in Ireland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the UK, where the day is recognized. To tell you a little more about this huge moment in people's lives, how it can change and save a life, Jejune had the pleasure to interview a team of talented and inspiring transgender actors. Starting from Ann Thomas, founder of the first transgender-owned and operated talent management company based in Orange County, followed by Emmett Preciado and Zoey Luna. Please check our interviews below.
You’ve heard the idiom “the cat’s meow” but did you know it could make you go viral? That’s the charm of Meredith Bull! Inspired by the mundane sounds around her, Meredith uses her musical talents to create memorable and even viral sounds for TikTok. Have you heard the relatable “meowing cat” sound? Or maybe the popular “Hank Green Explaining Candle Wax” sound? That’s Meredith at work! Aside from creating content for TikTok, Meredith is also a musical artist and she has built her unique indie sound from her TikTok experimentation. In our interview with Meredith, we talk about her creativity and inspiration for music (spoiler alert: there are cute cats involved!). We also discuss her journey with sobriety and how being sober has changed her life for the better. She is now an advocate for sobriety, and works to help others recover from substance abuse. Please continue reading for our exclusive interview with Meredith Bull.
Welcome to L’Freaq’s Dark Synth-Pop Kingdom —where darker lyrics, inclusivity, and the power of poetry reign. As if that doesn’t sound bad-ass enough, wait until you hear L’Freaq’s new single “Showgirl”, which is a real demonstration of powerful lyrics backed by intentional artistry of sound. As a master of metaphors, L’Freaq uses her music as a mode of critique of the facades of the music industry and society at large, and that’s exactly what you get in “Showgirl.” As an ally of everyone on the spectrum of gender and sexuality, bullies, racists, and sexists are not allowed in L’Freaq's kingdom. She is a supporter of the Ally Coalition and frequently advocates for mental health awareness. We got to sit down with L’Freaq to dive into her songwriting process, her advocacy work, and what keeps her inspired. Continue reading for our exclusive interview with L’Freaq below!
Say hello to Henri Esteve! Based in Los Angeles, this Cuban-American talent is making big waves in the acting industry. You can spot him in Revenge playing the black sheep bad-boy hacker “Javier”. He can also be seen playing “Abel” in the Amazon award-winning series Homecoming, and the questionable but lovable “Javi” in Grown-ish, streamable on Freeform. This actor is always at work, whether he's pushing his limits on a motorcycle or using his platform to advocate against Cuba's brutality against its citizens. Henri is a brilliant actor, as well as being an avid supporter of mental health in teens and young adults. He implements this passion through the JED Foundation: a non-profit organization that prioritizes mental health for all! Learning from his past experiences, Henri is a true believer in community and support. Jejune is excited to talk to this compassionate human being about his experiences with acting, his thoughts on the crisis in Cuba, and how he deals with stress and anxiety in such a demanding industry. Please continue reading below for the full interview with Henri Esteve!
A bombshell beauty with brains! Enter: Susie Abromeit. This Los Angeles-based queen is everything we've been looking for! As an accomplished actress, model, and singer, she has much to offer, and we're in love. You will be too! Before her success in the entertainment industry, she was a ranking NCAA professional tennis player. Talk about a woman who can do it all!
Without a doubt, Susie is a familiar face to many. She is the incredible Pamela (us fans call her Pammy) on the Netflix Original Hit series Marvel's Jessica Jones and Mrs. Hardin on The Forever Purge, a recently released action movie. Susie's range is unbelievable! She managed to do a total 180 in her professional world and still come out on top, as victorious as ever. In this interview. We're so glad she is open to writing a book about her experiences (fingers -crossed) because we can't get enough!
But no chance the inspiration stops there. While off-screen, Susie is hard at work to build a better world. She is heavily involved in philanthropic projects such as Represent.us and other world-altering organizations. With Represent.us, Susie and other beautiful people infiltrate the political system and educate others to reshape a corrupt institution. "We the People" will have a place at the table! Jejune is so excited to sit down with Susie and chop it up with this absolute star! In this interview, we cover Susie's love for tennis, her upcoming projects, and her selfless work as an ambassador with Not For Sale: an operation that counters modern-day slavery. Susie is truly a force to be reckoned! Please continue reading below for Susie’s cover feature.
Alice Kim, founder and CEO of PerfectDD, wants all women to feel empowered in her clothing. The brand’s story started with her. As a 32DD bra size, Alice could not find comfortable and chic clothes that fit her properly. Through research she learned that the average bra size in the U.S. is a 34DD and that over 20 million women in the U.S. fall into this demographic of D+. With this in mind she set out to create her brand, PerfectDD, to empower herself and others. The brand is also socially and environmentally responsible, garments utilize natural fibers, are made in in local, family-owned factories that pay fair wages, and are produced in small batches to reduce excess inventory. Additionally, the styles are timeless and can be a staple in your closet for years to come. Read more about Alice Kim, her sustainable fashion brand, and body positive fashion below!