Alice Vol. 4 No. 2

WHAT IT 

MEANS TO BE 

A QUEEN 

Local drag queens discuss 

the impact drag has on their 

lives and their communities 

A TABLE 

CONVERSATION 

WITH FRANK STITT 

Alice sits down to talk food with 

Birmingham’s 2018 James Beard 

Award winner 

TINY FOUNDATIONS 

How one woman turned love and 

loss into 240 square feet of solace 

Alice Spring 2019 

Redef ine 

Now is the time to defy expectations

HYDRATION X 2 

No Parabens or Sulfates 

Cruelty Free 

Not Tested on Animals 

Gluten & Nut Free 

Available online at highereducationskincare.com 

@highereducationskincare

Letter from the Editor 

Volume 4 

Issue 2 

Romper - SOCA 

On the web: 

alice.ua.edu 

@alicethemag 

pinterest.com/alicemagazine 

Contact Us: 

alicemagazine.editor@gmail.com 

Editorial and Advertising offices for Alice Magazine are located at 

414 Campus Drive East, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. 

The mailing address is P.O. Box 870170, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. 

Phone: (205) 348-7257. 

Alice is published by the Office of Student Media 

at The University of Alabama. 

All content and design are produced by students 

in consultation with professional staff advisers. 

All material contained herein, except advertising or where 

indicated otherwise, is copyrighted © 2018 by Alice Magazine. 

Material herein may not be reprinted without the 

expressed, written permission of Alice Magazine. 

In the Alice office, we often ask one another, “What does 

Alice mean to you?” 

For me, Alice is the ultimate role model. She embodies 

everything I love about womanhood, and she always pushes 

things a step further. She wears the bolder pattern. She is 

the bolder person. 

This issue, I have found new role models in the office: the 

Alice writers. Writers are now looking to Alice as not just a 

place where they report stories, but where they share their 

own stories. 

In the fall, we launched our Tell Your Truth blog, a 

platform for women to send us their narratives and have 

them published in an unedited, uninhibited way. 

On the Tell Your Truth blog, and in this issue of Alice, we 

have personal narratives about health and identity. We even 

have an affirmation on page 112 that our readers can start 

incorporating into their daily lives: 

I am in love with and respect my body. / I am treating 

my body well and my body is treating me well. / I am strong 

and healthy, full of energy and happiness. 

These snippets that we say to ourselves in the early 

moments of the day and before our heads hit the pillow, 

have the power to bring out our true selves. 

The honesty of our writers got me to be honest with 

myself about the sayings that have pushed me along. 

This year, my affirmation was “You are the Editor in 

Chief of Alice. You are meant to be here.” Before taking on 

this position, I was just Becca. And Becca was awesome. But 

she did not fit into the title of “Editor of Alice.” It was a little 

too big, and she was sure everyone noticed. 

Just as Alice had been my role model, “The Editor of 

Alice” became my cooler alter ego. If I was Beyoncé, (and 

I’ve certainly wished I was), The Editor of Alice was my 

Sasha Fierce: the secret, powerful persona who was pulling 

the strings. 

I repeated “You are meant to be here” over and over, 

encouraging myself to act how I imagined this mythical 

Editor of Alice would act. Through my affirmations that 

I was the editor, and I was meant to be here, I grew into 

my role. I started to see that the costume I thought I was 

wearing was really just my skin. I was Rebecca Rakowitz, 

Editor in Chief of Alice. 

She was there all along, I just needed my affirmation to 

find her. 

I want to thank my staff for their unwavering dedication 

to Alice. And to all the women who have shared their stories, 

thank you for telling your truth. Women being honest about 

womanhood – that’s what Alice now means to me. 

Rebecca Rakowitz 

Alice Spring 2019 1

Editorial 

Editor in Chief Rebecca Rakowitz 

Creative Director MK Holladay 

Photo Editor Alexis Craft 

Managing Editor Meg McGuire 

Market Editor Kristina Cusolito 

Fashion Editor Kallen Sebastian 

Beauty Editor Kali Sturgis 

Lifestyle Editor Sara Beth Bolin 

Food and Health Editor Anna Klement 

Entertainment Editor Mia Blackman 

Social Media Coordinator Ashby Brown 

Marketing Editor Alexis Wolf 

Online Editor Gillian Castro 

Art Director Ally Thomasson 

Contributing Writers 

Sara Beth Bolin, Kaitlyn Gabaldon, Lucy 

Hanley, Hope Haywood, Cora Kangas, 

Peyton King, Anna Klement, Meg McGuire, 

Sydney Pellegrini, Molly Powers, Rebecca 

Rakowitz, Irene Richardson, Emily Safron, SK 

Stephenson, Donnamy Steele, Rachel Stern, 

Camille Studebaker, Ariana Sweany, Hannah 

Taylor, Christine Thompson, Natalie Vande 

Linde, Lexi Wachal, Caroline Ward, Maleah 

Watt, Talya White, Bailey Williams 

Contributing Designers 

Shana Oshinskie 

Models 

Jamajah Anderson, Dani California, Alexia 

Carrión, Amber Chan, Xsuela Douglas, Amanda 

Flamerich, Jada Foster, Hanna Fridriksson, 

Court Geary, Bentley Harden, Alexandra Huryn, 

Flo Justens, Sumin Lee, Dia Lysis, Montana 

Maniscalco, Katie Merifield, Jess Moore, Anna 

Petrey, Angelita Randalson, Sage, Vaishnvi 

Sridhar, Rachel Stern, Dominique Stevenson, 

Kali Sturgis, Ally Thomasson, Tina Turner, 

Natalie Vande Linde, Maleah Watt, Kierra 

Wright 

Hair and Makeup 

Hanna Fridriksson, Leah Jackson, Donnamy 

Steele, Kali Sturgis, Christine Thompson, Sarah 

Tucker, Natalie Vande Linde 

Advisers 

Editorial Mark Mayfield (msmayfield1@ua.edu) 

Advertising Julie Salter (julie.salter@ua.edu) 

Published by UA Office of Student Media 

Director Paul Wright 

Contributing Photographers 

Tanner Bramlett, Syd Cargal, Tristan Hallman, 

Bentley Harden, Kourtney Iman, Sam 

Macdonald, Montana Maniscalco, Alyssa 

Motte, Grant Nicholls, Ally Thomasson 

2 Alice Spring 2019

6 

BEAUTY 

6 

11 

15 

19 

11 24 

BEAUTY BY THE DECADE 

SHOW YOUR SKIN SOME LOVE 

THE KEY TO EDGY EDGES 

FLOWER POWER YOUR ROUTINE 

TO WASH OR NOT TO WASH 

Table of Contents 

33 

47 

LIFESTYLE 

28 

31 

33 

35 

31 

FASHION 

52 

HIDDEN PRESENCE 

IT JUST BLOOMS 

MY LILLY PULITZER-PRINTED, 

SORORITY-STICKERED GAY AGENDA 

FROM “HELL” AND BACK 

40 

43 

47 

52 

BROOCHES: THE 

FORGOTTEN ACCESORY 

GROCERY LIST 

HOW HIP HOP CULTURE 

DISRUPTED THE 

SNEAKER INDUSTRY 

ELEVATE YOUR STYLE 


59 

FEATURES 

56 

59 

62 

64 

71 71 

77 


THE FINE ART OF MAKEUP 

A TABLE CONVERSATION WITH 

FRANK STITT 

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A QUEEN 

SCENES OF NEW ORLEANS 

LACY AFTERNOON 

84 

ENTERTAINMENT 

95 

84 

87 

89 

YONDER 

TO ALL THE DISNEY MOVIES 

WE’VE LOVED BEFORE 

MUSEUMS, MANSIONS AND MORE 

OVERLOOKED TUSCALOOSA LOCATIONS 

POSITVE PODS 

105 

95 

FOOD & HEALTH 

98 

101 

105 

109 

109 

112 

FRIENDS WITH THE MEAN GIRL 

INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS TO INSPIRE 

EVERY EATER UNDER THE SUN 

WOMEN WHO PUMP IRON: 

THE EMPOWERING MINORITY 

UNBELIEVA-BOWL 

AN AFFIRMATION TO HEAL 


6 

11 

15 

19 

24 

BEAUTY BY THE DECADE 

SHOW YOUR SKIN SOME LOVE 

THE KEY TO EDGY EDGES 

FLOWER POWER YOUR ROUTINE 

TO WASH OR NOT TO WASH 


Beauty 

by the 

Decade 

A look at beauty standards in 

the last century. 

1940s: 

A decade filled with doubt and fear, 

the 40s also experienced a cultural shift 

as women in America joined the industrial 

workforce while men were overseas 

fighting in World War II. This shift led to 

the introduction of on-the-go makeup with 

powder compacts replacing the loose, messy 

powder of previous decades. Now working 

in environments which were considered 

unfeminine, women began to travel with 

their cosmetics. Of the many fads in the 

40s, the most prominent one was the full, 

red lip. Women were encouraged to outline 

their lips with matte liner, put on a thick 

coat of ruby red lipstick, and top it off with 

a smidge of Vaseline for a little shine. With 

those simple steps, the au naturel look, 

born out of wartime rationing, became a 

little more glamorous. 

Get the Look: 

Revlon Colorstay Lip Liner - Raisin 

Milani Color Statement Lipstick - Deep Red 


1950s: 

As the 40s faded away, so did propaganda geared toward 

women in the workforce. Marketing efforts focused on the 

housewife outfitted with perfectly coiffed hair and hourglass 

figures accentuated by full skirts. The more defined the better; 

this was true of bodies, brows and eyeliner. Stars Grace Kelly, 

Brigitte Bardot and Audrey Hepburn sported thick, arched 

eyebrows framing doe-like eyes, emphasized with heavy, 

winged eyeliner. 

Get the Look: 

Glossier Boy Brow - Brown 

MAC LiquidLast Liner - Point Black 

1960s: 

The 60s saw the beginning of the second-wave feminist 

movement as young, independent women emerged from 

the wreckage that was the 50s marketing movements geared 

toward creating housewife robots. Women no longer felt the 

need to be constrained by what men thought they should look 

like and wear. Pants were all the rage, and the one-look-fitsall 

attitude toward beauty faded away in favor of a multitude 

of trends. Women began wearing their hair naturally, and the 

afro hit peak popularity in the late 60s. Gone were the days of 

dramatic red lips; pale nudes and pinks were the way to go. 

From the hippie girl’s preference of no makeup to Twiggy’s 

bold black eyeliner and false lashes, beauty in the 60s became 

a form of self-expression and independence from the societal 

expectations of what a “real” woman should look and act like. 

Get the Look: 

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick - Baby Pink Cream 

CoverGirl TruNaked Eyeshadow Palette - Smoky 


1970s: 

As women pushed for equality, 

androgynous appearances became the 

new norm. False eyelashes were traded 

in for subtle swipes of mascara, and 

sunkissed, glowing skin was favored over 

full coverage foundation. Initially a small 

fad in the 40s, tanned skin exploded into 

a full-blown must-have beauty aesthetic. 

Coupled with earth-toned lipsticks and 

eyeshadows, the warm look we now 

associate with the 70s was born. As the 

second-wave feminist movement forged 

ahead, in 1972, Ms. Magazine launched. 

Co-founded by feminist pioneers Gloria 

Steinem and Dorothy Pitman Hughes, 

the magazine paved the way for similar 

woman-led editorials. The 70s also 

saw a breakthrough in racial diversity 

in the fashion and beauty industry as 

supermodel Iman emerged on the scene 

and became a muse for top brands. 

Get the Look: 

Jergen’s Natural Glow Instant Sun 

Moisturizing Lotion - Deep Bronze 

L’oreal Paris Visible Lift Blur Blush - 

Soft Berry 


1980s: 

“Don’t you ever refer to me as ‘your girl’ 

again...I’m no girl; I’m a woman.” Released 

in 1980, the Oscar-nominated film 9 to 5 

was one of the first movies to address (and 

denounce) the issue of sexual harassment 

in the workplace. The 80s also saw the rise 

of feminism in opposition, as can be seen 

in The Heathers (red scrunchy, anyone?), 

a movie essentially about mean girls 

before Mean Girls existed. The cult classic 

perpetuated the idea of raging against 

the machine, going against the grain of 

stereotypical teen-flicks of the decade. As 

women’s attitudes became bolder, so did 

their beauty looks. Neon eyeshadows and 

lipsticks were all the rage. 

Get the Look: 

Tarte Color Splash Lipstick - Fuchsia 

Big Sexy Hair - What A Tease Backcomb in 

A Bottle 

1990s: 

Where the 80s were bright and bold, 

the 90s saw a shift toward muted browns 

and pastels, a la Drew Barrymore and 

Jennifer Aniston. The 90s also marked the 

full emergence of third wave feminism, a 

decade defined by debates. Female artists 

and pop stars were on the rise, providing 

young girls with liberated role models. 

Many argued this hypersexualization of 

women was contradictory to the ideals of 

the feminist trailblazers which came before 

their time. As young, independent women 

dominated the pop culture scene, so did 

the fads they introduced. From the Spice 

Girls to Missy Elliott, the music scene of 

the 90s was characterized by anthems 

of women empowerment. Female artists 

inspired other women and immortalized 

looks we now associate with the decade 

that brought us “The Rachel” and Cher 

Horowitz’s timeless “Ugh, as if!” 

Get the Look: 

Burberry Wet and Dry Silk Eyeshadow - 

Stone Blue 

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick - My 

Mahogany 


2000s: 

In 2004, Dove launched its Real Beauty 

Campaign, a campaign geared toward the celebration 

of a woman’s natural beauty, steering away from 

the model-esque ideals of the common marketing 

targeted toward women. The 2000s also saw an 

increasing amount of young and independent girls 

at the helm of tween entertainment. Shows Hannah 

Montana, iCarly and That’s So Raven featured 

adolescent girls facing real world problems, albeit 

unrealistic scenarios. As a result, these young stars 

became the models for which teenagers and young 

girls sought to imitate in life and in beauty. Glossy 

lips and sparkly eyelids reigned supreme in the early 

2000s, gracing the faces of every teen. 

Get the Look: 

NYX Professional Makeup Foil Cream Play 

Eyeshadow - Woman of Steel 

Merle Norman Lip Polish - Diamond Diva 

2010s-Present: 

The present decade is one latent with opposition, 

specifically featuring two trends on opposite ends 

of the beauty spectrum. The age of YouTube and 

makeup bloggers ushered in a trend of full-faced, 

heavily contoured looks. More recently, a trend of 

light, minimalist makeup has developed, facilitated 

by millennial-based brands Glossier and Milk. While 

these two trends diverge, both looks stem from selfexpression 

and the belief that women should do their 

makeup based on what pleases them, not others. 

Get the Look(s): 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Amrezy Highlighter 

Milk Sunshine Skin Tint SPF 30 


Show Your Skin Some Love 

Tips on how to make your skin feel and look better without the filters. 

By Donnamy Steele 

Mask. 

Who doesn’t love a good masking session? 

Whether you’re with your girls or having muchneeded 

alone time, taking at least 15 minutes out of 

your week to mask is not only fun and relaxing, but 

it is a great chance to focus your skincare routine 

toward your problem areas. Finding the best mask 

for your skin can be tricky, but most masks specify 

which skin type they work best on. Taking the time 

to find the right mask for you is worth it. You and 

your skin deserve some extra TLC. 

Product Recommendations 

Biorè Self-Heating One Minute Mask ($8) 

This charcoal-based masks brings a little warmth 

while also leaving your skin feeling clean as a whistle. 

LUSH Mask of Magnaminty Face and Body Mask 

($1) 

Mint isn’t only a good chewing gum flavor. This 

mask deep cleanses, exfoliates, and tones to give 

your skin a refreshed glow. 

L’Oreal Detox & Brighten Clay Mask ($13) 

This clay mask is infused with charcoal to clean 

out those pores and brighten up your complexion. 

Cleanse. 

Let’s be real – we’ve all fallen asleep with a full 

face of glam on before. But making it an every night 

thing can harm your skin. 

Makeup remover wipes may look like they get the 

job done, but they actually only scratch the surface 

of the dirt that is trapped in your skin. Using a facial 

cleanser after removing your makeup is essential to 

rid your skin of things that can cause breakouts. 

Tip for makeup lovers: You may need a little 

more than a face wash to fully clean your skin. 

Try preparing your skin with micellar water or a 

cleansing balm all over your face. These products 

break down makeup without tension and tugging. 

Plus, it takes half the time as a makeup remover 

wipe. Breaking down makeup will make your skin 

easier to clean when you go in with your favorite face 

wash. 

Tip for the au natural: Even if you haven’t put a 


product on your face, your skin is still dirty. 

Pollution and dirt can seep into your pores. 

Play it safe, and give your face a good cleanse 

every day. 

Product recommendations 

First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser ($21) 

This cleanser is gentle and effective! It 

cleanses your face of dirt and oils, and is soft 

on your skin. 

Skyn Iceland Glacial Face Wash ($30) 

This face wash has a foamy texture that 

smooths over the skin and leaves your face 

feeling refreshed and restored. It also focuses 

on clearing up stress-related bumps and 

acne, which is a huge factor for breakouts. 

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing 

Water All-in-1 Cleanser & Makeup Remover 

($9) 

Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing 

Cleansing Balm ($34) 

Exfoliate. 

If you have ever struggled with acne or 

unwanted texture on your skin, focus on 

exfoliation. Exfoliating can do more than 

just rid your skin of dirt and grime. It makes 

your face feel smooth and ready for makeup 

application. It is also great for breaking 

down stubborn dry patches and bringing 

blackheads to the surface, ultimately helping 

you get rid of them faster. Try including this 

step before you go in with your face wash, 

2-3 times a week. 

If your skin is more on the sensitive side, 

add a little water to your exfoliating face 

wash to soften the product. When you apply 

it on your face, it won’t feel as rough on your 

skin. 


Vasanti Cosmetics Brighten Up! Enzymatic 

Face Rejuvenator ($34) 

Tone. 

Toner is important in order to fully 

clean your skin. Makeup, dirt, oils and more 

can seep into your pores, and if you don’t 

clean your face well and often, it will build 

up overtime. Try using a toner after you 

go in with your face wash and before you 

moisturize. This small step in your daily 

routine can prevent you from breaking out. 

It is totally worth the extra step. 


Thayer’s Rose Water Witch Hazel ($7) 

Toners with witch hazel are a bonus 

because they focus a little more on problem 

areas such as pores. Just saturate a cotton 

pad with the product and wipe your face 

down before you apply moisturizer. 

Moisturize. 

Moisturizing helps soften skin, prevents 

and soothes dry patches, and gives skin a 

healthy and hydrated glow. 

If you decide to add only one of these tips 

into your daily routine, moisturizing should 

be the one. No matter what your skin type 

is, it is always important to moisturize. Just 

like our bodies need water, our skin needs 

hydration. That is where moisturizers come 

into play. 



Keep your moisturizer on your 

bathroom sink or night stand. It is harder 

to ignore when it is not tucked in the back 

of a cabinet. 


First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream 

Intense Hydration ($32) 

This one is perfect for sensitive skin 

because you have the option to use a 

scented or unscented version of their face 

moisturizer. It also has SPF in it, which is 

great for protecting skin from sun spots. 

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream 

($89) 

It’s never too early to start using antiwrinkle 

creams. 

Clinique Moisture Surge ($19) 

72-hour auto-replenishing hydrator is 

great for if you need a moisturizer that will 

last throughout the day. 

All of these are great for moisturizing 

and can double as a primer to wear under 

your makeup. They keep your skin looking 

and feeling hydrated throughout the day. 

Breathe. 

Stress can cause breakouts, which 

causes more stress, which causes more 

chaos for your skin. We don’t want that. 

Take a moment to yourself. Read, take a 

bath, watch Netflix. Whatever your routine 

may be – don’t forget to breathe. 

Show your skin some love, and watch it 

love you back. 


The Key to 

Edgy Edges 

By Christine Thompson 

The perfect way to jazz up any hairstyle 

is with some F I R E edges. Whether 

you’re off to a red carpet affair or 

the gym, this how-to guide will teach 

you how to slay your edges in a few 

simple steps: 

Products you’ll need: 

Styling Gel 

Edge Brush or a Small-Tooth Tapered Comb 

Rattail Comb 

Toothbrush 

Hairdryer 

Hairspray 

Sweetheart Natural Swoop Edges: 

Clean, Natural Edges 

1. Begin by squeezing a dime-sized 

amount of product onto your finger. 

2. Next, take your toothbrush and 

scoop the product off of your finger 

and onto the bristles. 

3. In a sweeping motion, use the 

toothbrush to bring sections of the 

edges down and then backwards (in 

the direction of hair growth). This 

should be a singular motion, but 

you can repeat the motion a number 

of times with the same section 

of hair to achieve a perfect halfcircle 

swoop. Repeat this step until 

you’ve completed all of your edges 

surrounding your forehead. 

4. Take the section of hair beside your 

ear. With a dollop of curl pomade 

(NOT gel) in between your thumb 

and forefinger, pinch the section of 

hair. Pull outward several times until 

it’s a uniform, free-hanging curl. 

5. If you have naturally straight hair, 

try the previous step while wrapping 

the tendril around your finger to 

create a curl, or curl it slightly with 

a wand or iron before applying the 

pomade. 

6. Spray your edges with your preferred 

hairspray. 

Fierce Fun Edges: Defined, Edgy Look 

1. Take your toothbrush and brush all 

the hair on the side of your head 

straight back in the same direction. 

2. Next, take gel and squeeze a dimesized 

amount onto your finger. With 

your toothbrush, scoop the product 

off of your finger, and apply the gel 

to your edges using the bristles. 

3. With the gel this time, repeat step 

one. 

4. Using your tapered comb, use the 

teeth to bring your hair down and 


swoop selected sections. This should not 

happen in one, concise motion. Rather, it 

should be done in multiple small motions to 

make the swoop defined. 

5. Go back over it with the toothbrush to 

smooth it over. Be sure to avoid the the lines 

- you want them to stay sharp and clean. 

6. Separate the baby hairs closest to your ear 

and make them into a section of their own. 

Place gel on that section and smooth them 

downward. Then, using the very top teeth of 

the comb, create a swirl downward. 

7. Repeat the above steps on both sides 

8. Finish off with hairspray. 

Earrings - SOCA 

Baddie Baby Hairs: Swirly & Fun 

1. For this particular style, it’s helpful to pull 

your hair back, and brush your baby hairs 

forward so that they’re easy to style. 

2. Begin with squeezing a dime-sized amount 

of product onto your finger. Then, take your 

toothbrush and scoop the product off of your 

finger with the bristles. 


Earrings - SOCA

3. Focusing on the front section of your edges: In a 

sweeping motion, use the toothbrush to style the 

edges in a half-circle similar to Step 3 in the first 

how-to. 

4. Then, focusing on the right and left sides of your 

edges vertical to your ears - put the pomade on the 

toothbrush, and brush the hairs downward toward 

the ears. 

5. Next, using the sharp metal end of the rattail 

comb, create waves, swirls and loops in the 

straight gelled hair. Do this by making swirling 

motions with the point, and pushing the hair back 

and forth as needed to create your desired look. 

6. Complete with hairspray. If needed, blow dry your 

edges on the cool setting to accelerate the drying 

process. 

DOs and DON’Ts 

DO deep condition. If you have coily/curly locks, 

moisture is K E Y. Especially for my 4C girls: A good 

leave-in conditioner does wonders for your edges. 

Make sure you’re keeping your hair healthy so that 

your edges can slay. 

DO avoid hairstyles that will pull out your edges. 

Traction Alopecia is REAL, ladies. If the braids are too 

tight, say something. 

DO wrap a scarf around your edges at night before 

you go to bed. The bonnet is not enough anymore. Find 

a cute satin/silk scarf in a fun color, and make it part of 

your nightly routine. 

DON’T do your edges before your makeup. In order 

to make your makeup seamless, you have to blend it 

into your scalp. This step can totally ruin your edges 

if they’re already done. If you do them before, wrap a 

scarf around your edges to protect them while doing 

your makeup. 

DON’T scratch your edges too much. Edges can, 

unfortunately, get really itchy: RESIST. THE. URGE. 

Don’t ruin all the hard work you put into doing them. 

If you really need to scratch, try lightly patting where 

it itches. 

DON’T put too much product on your edges at 

once. It’s always better to start off with a little and then 

add as needed. Too much product can lead to obvious 

buildup and a flaky look. 

PRO TIP: Have some bald spots in your edges? 

Don’t worry. It’s totally normal. Find an eyeshadow 

shade that matches your hair color. Then, using a small 

eyeshadow brush, fill in the gaps lightly. Remember to 

start off with just a little bit of shadow and build. Do 

this after you do your edges, so you don’t wipe off your 

eyeshadow with the gel! 

One final thing: 

I know edges can be frustrating. But remember... 

you got it, sis. 


Flower Power Your Routine 


Go green and bring florals into 

your makeup bag. 

By Kaitlyn Gabaldon 

Clean beauty brings the vibrancy of 

nature into your beauty routine. The trend 

has taken the beauty world by storm, with 

many new brands popping up and offering 

non-toxic products that are good for the 

environment and your skin. Taking things 

a step further, many of these products are 

formulated with plant-based components 

that provide skin-boosting benefits and are 

vegan-friendly. 

Plant-based beauty products keep 

ingredient worries at bay by making it 

easier to understand exactly what goes into 

products. Harnessing the power of nature 

provides powerful ingredients that aren’t 

harsh on the skin and pigments that bring 

colorful pops to your makeup. 

Using plants in personal care isn’t 

anything new, but today, it’s a more refined 

process with a wider expansion of products. 

Each plant has its own particular properties 

that can help deal with specific concerns. Mix 

and match plants to create your perfect green 

routine. Be mindful of where it’s sourced 

from and how the different ingredients react 

with one another. 

Here is a starter list of ingredients to get 

you started on a more clean approach to 

beauty. 



Calendula: This derivative of marigold is 

great for soothing irritated skin and retaining 

skin’s natural moisture. 

Lavender: Lavender is so much more than 

a soothing scent. It also helps to reduce 

redness, increase the renewal of skin cells, 

and it can be used to treat dandruff. 

Prickly Pear: There is a reason this plant 

can survive hot and dry environments. Its 

moisture retention properties keep skin and 

hair hydrated. Bonus: It is full of anti-aging 

amino acids. 

Orchid: Brighten up your skin while reducing 

fine lines and wrinkles with this exotic 

flower. 

Chamomile: Chamomile works wonders 

against inflammation and puffiness. Pro 

tip: Brewing some chamomile tea bags and 

chilling them is a simple yet effective way to 

combat puffy under eyes. 

Licorice Root: Perfect for those with 

sensitive skin to treat blemishes and control 

oil production. 


TO WASH 

OR NOT 

TO WASH 


By Natalie Vande Linde 

The beauty industry is constantly presenting new hair care 

treatments to consumers. In recent years, the idea that not washing 

your hair can benefit it has prompted many women to transition to 

shampoo-free showers. Although we all want to feel fresh and clean, 

it seems a daily shower may not be the best way to achieve healthy 

locks. This idea has taken off as influencers and hairstylists alike have 

stressed the fact that not using shampoo everyday can regulate the oil 

production on your head and leave your hair shinier, softer and a lot 

less dry. 

Mary Hellen, a student at Appalachian State University, has been 

on a six-year journey to “no-’poo” showers. 

“Honestly, it started out of laziness,” Hellen said.”I just noticed the 

longer I went without washing, the healthier it looked.” 

Data gathered by consumer analysts at Kantar Worldpanel, 

illustrated that many women seemed to be experiencing this result 

when they phased out their trusty shampoo. In fact, Kantar’s data 

revealed that women are now washing their hair less than three times 

a week for the first time in a decade. However, transitioning out of 

using shampoo is a lengthy process. 

“It was definitely greasy for a couple of months,” Hellen said, “but 

I can just feel that it’s so much healthier.” 

Although Hellen experienced the common effects of transitioning 

from using shampoo, such as greasiness and dandruff, she said the 

process was well worth it and completely revitalized her hair for the 

better. 

“It’s okay if it’s a little greasy,” Hellen said. “People honestly don’t 

notice.” 

As for those who are interested in trying out this new method, 

Hellen’s advice was to phase out your shampoo slowly and to not be 

afraid of going without washing your hair. Hellen said she went from 

every other day, to every three days, to once a week before she cut 

out shampoo entirely and switched to her current products of choice: 

baking soda, tea tree oil and occasionally apple cider vinegar. Hellen 

most commonly uses baking soda, as do many other bloggers and 

women who have abandoned the shampoo route. Generally, Hellen 


washes with baking soda every two to 

three weeks, using apple cider vinegar on 

the ends of her hair every once in awhile 

to add shine. Hellen recommends using 

about a teaspoon and a half of baking soda 

mixed with a small amount of water and 

tea tree oil to wash your hair. Massage the 

mixture into your scalp and let it sit for a 

few minutes, then wash it out. 

To ease up the process, mix the 

concoction in a little dish beforehand so 

that you are prepared for your shower. 

Hellen said to be careful in the winter 

when using tea tree oil, as it can dry out 

your hair and scalp. 

“Coconut oil hair masks help with 

dryness,” Hellen said. 

For those who are not quite ready 

to toss aside shampoos but still want to 

improve the health of their hair, Hellen 

said to look for shampoos without sulfates. 

Sulfates, though effective at cleaning hair, 

can often irritate the skin and strip hair of 

essential oils. 

She also advises washing every three 

days instead of every day or even every 

other day. Alternate your hairstyles on day 

two or three if you start feeling greasy - try 

out a pony or a slicked back bun. This is a 

method even Kim Kardashian has attested 

to, as she has shared that she only washes 

every five days. If you do decide to give the 

no-shampoo method a try, Hellen suggests 

giving it a go in the dead cold of winter. 

“I wore a lot of hats then,” she laughed. 

Transitioning out of shampoo is 

different for everyone. Thinner hair may 

need more frequent washing than thick, 

coarse hair. Additionally, if you begin to 

experience symptoms like severe itching 

or redness when trying to abstain from 

washing, abandoning shampoo might not 

be what is healthiest for your scalp. 

The beauty industry and the people 

in it present us with a multitude of new 

methods to keep our bodies at their best. 

While for some this may be ditching a wash, 

others no doubt want to hold onto those 

fresh-smelling shampoos. Remember that 

phasing out shampoo will take time to 

adjust, but the process is totally natural. 

Although “no ‘poo” may not be for everyone, 

try spreading out your washes a bit more, 

experimenting with new styles, and seeing 

how your hair reacts. Remember each head 

of hair is different, so go with that leaves 

you and your hair feeling healthiest. 


28 

31 

33 

35 

HIDDEN PRESENCE 

IT JUST BLOOMS 

MY LILLY PULITZER-PRINTED, 

SORORITY-STICKERED GAY AGENDA 

FROM “HELL” AND BACK 


HIDDEN 

PRESENCE 

Laura Lineberry is going beyond expectations and this 

realm, proving that female ghostbusters are not just a 

figment of hollywood’s imagination. 


By Sara Beth Bolin 

Laura Lineberry has had a connection with the 

supernatural for as long as she can remember. 

It wasn’t until college that she realized that 

not everyone had the same experiences that she 

did. Not everyone felt the things that she felt when 

she walked into a room. Not everyone could sense 

when someone else was there. 

Lineberry moved to Tuscaloosa to work at The 

University of Alabama, first in communications 

and then in the school’s art department. But when 

she’s not mentoring future graphic designers or 

doing freelance work for clients, she’s investigating 

local hauntings with the Tuscaloosa Paranormal 

Research Group. 

The group offers free paranormal investigative 

services throughout Alabama for both private 

residences and businesses. They describe 

themselves as an “ethically-minded” group of 

people who are searching for the truth using 

scientific methods. And by doing so, they hope 

to bring balance to both our realm and the 

paranormal realm. 

Tuscaloosa Paranormal Research Group 

investigates using a doubt-first method. When 

they first walk into a client’s building, everyone is 

a skeptic. They check the building for copper or 

wiring problems that have been known to cause 

environmental issues, weird feelings and even 

hallucinations. But when every other possibility 

has been ruled out, the team starts using their 

training to find the root of the problem. 

Paranormal investigators use video 

surveillance, photography, and recordings known 

as electronic voice phenomenons, or EVPs, to 

find evidence of supernatural activity. Through 

multiple visits to investigation locations, the team 

procures hours of recordings to comb through. 

Lineberry explained that, although it may sound 

simple, these methods work more efficiently than 

one might think. 

Lineberry recalled one night when they 

recorded an EVP of a man who wanted to stay 

distant from them. 

“What was interesting was we investigated 

this place several times, and he was always very 

friendly,” Lineberry said. “But that night, he just 

wasn’t in the mood. His name’s John.” 

Lineberry explained that the group investigates 

both residual and intelligent hauntings. Residual 

hauntings are like a recording of previous events 

playing on a loop, like whispers or footprints. 

Intelligent hauntings, unlike residual, can interact 

with the environment around them. 

“Energy can linger,” Lineberry said. “We all 

know when somebody’s standing behind us, you 

know, and a lot of times, it’s just you could feel the 

energy of that person. So that energy, the residual 

energy, can be found in furniture, can be found in 

homes; pretty much anywhere. And an intelligent 

haunting is one that will literally interact with you, 

will answer questions, will move things when you 

ask it to move things, that kind of thing.” 

Lineberry herself has travelled all over the 

Members of the Tuscaloosa Paranormal Research Group: 

There are 9 active members of TPRG. Pictured are from left: Casey Lineberry, Laura Lineberry, 

Heather Boothe and Founder David Higdon. 


country exploring haunted locations. One of the most 

famous locations she’s visited is the Stanley Hotel in 

Estes Park, Colorado, which became famous for Stephen 

King’s The Shining. King himself stayed there, and the 

experiences that he and his wife had inspired the events 

of the thriller. The hotel is known as one of the most 

haunted places in the country, and is a favorite place for 

paranormal investigators to travel. 

Lineberry has been to the hotel four times. One time, 

nothing happened until around 2 a.m. when she and 

her husband were asleep. A thump against the fourposter 

bed, like somebody running into the corner, woke 

Lineberry up. 

“I looked at my husband, who was snoring, and all 

of a sudden, I was facing him, and I felt the side of the 

bed coming down like somebody was holding it down,” 

Lineberry said. “I froze. I was about touch my husband to 

wake him up when something touched my back. And I 

lost it. Screaming, yelling, running.” 

The next day, Lineberry’s husband played the video 

and the recorder at the same time. They heard a voice a 

minute before Lineberry’s “freak out.” 

“It was a little girl’s voice that said, ‘Who’s that?’” 

Lineberry said. “Clear as day.” 

Everybody has the power to get rid of an 

entity in their everyday lives. All you have 

to do is be strong and say ‘go!’ 

Although some of her experiences sound terrifying 

to a supernatural novice, she assures her clients that 

paranormal entities are normally not there to harm. 

Many times, they just want to stay in familiar territory 

and do not realize that they are scaring the humans 

that also occupy the space. But if these entities do make 

clients uncomfortable, it’s easy to get rid of them. 

“If you have to deal with somebody that’s intimidating, 

you stand up to him just like a bully,” Lineberry said. 

“Everybody has the power to get rid of an entity in their 

everyday lives. All you have to do is be strong and say, 

‘Go!’ or ‘Now leave my house.’ It’s literally that simple.” 

While ghost stories and supernatural tales can cause 

many people to run for the hills, Lineberry loves to deal 

with the real thing every day. She’s helped discover a 

ghost’s favorite song and even witnessed the spirit of her 

former dog run between her legs like the dog had years 

before she died. 

She hopes that her experiences help prove to others 

what she has believed for so long— that we are not alone. 


It Just Blooms 

By Rebecca Rakowitz and Talya White 

Many people name children after their 

grandparents. Kristin Logan named a 

truck after hers. 

And not just any truck, a 1994 Japanese 

mini truck painted pastel lime green. A 

green that’s reminiscent of light green 

cupcake frosting, Pinterest-worthy Easter 

eggs, or the green buds that surround a 

cluster of baby’s breath. 

It’s a truck that has the steering wheel 

on the right, and a high-pitched, cartoonlike 

horn. 

It’s a truck that Logan had to learn how 

to drive in a high school parking lot. One 

she can’t take on the interstate because it 

tops out at 55 mph. 

It’s a truck with a bed outfitted with 

custom shelving and a zip-close canopy 

to protect the merchandise in case the 

weather turns. 

And it is a truck that is the cornerstone 

of her and her husband’s latest business. 

Kristin and Todd Logan are the proud 

owners of Bloom Flower Truck, a truck that 

is affectionately named Fern after Logan’s 

great grandmother. The only one of its 

kind in Tuscaloosa, Bloom Flower Truck 

is a make-your-own bouquet flower store 

on wheels. For the past year, Tuscaloosa 

natives could find the bright green truck 

parked around town on the weekends and 

Logan selling flowers by the stem out of the 

renovated truck bed. 

“I have always loved flowers,” Logan 

said. “[Women in my family] always had 

fresh flowers on my table.” 

There is a beauty in bringing fresh 

flowers home or gifting them to a loved 

one. Part of the beauty comes from the 

flower itself, but there is a quiet kindness 

that can be found in the way flowers bring 

about smiles. 

When Logan started seeing flower 

trucks on social media and during a trip to 

Nashville, the business model and product 

spoke to her. 

“I wanted to try to give it a shot and 

make it easy for people to buy flowers by the 

stem,” Logan said. “Not full arrangements, 

but where they can come up and make 

their own little arrangement, take it home, 

and put it in their own vase.” 

As often as she can, Logan gets locally 

grown flowers from the Tuscaloosa- 

Birmingham area. Last spring, she filled 

her car with buckets and buckets of flowers 

from a woman in Birmingham and fondly 

remembers how her car smelled of flowers 

for several days after. 

“It’s different and it’s special,” Logan 

said. “And I want people to appreciate 

the work that goes into growing these 

little flowers and especially for these local 

farmers.” 

Logan hopes to one day own a small 

warehouse to work out of and host flower 


arranging classes. In the meantime, Bloom 

Flower Truck is filling a mobile market in 

Tuscaloosa. While there are a handful of local 

flower shops, none have taken their product to 

the streets where it can’t help but be noticed. 

“The thing that gets their attention is the 

truck,” Todd Logan said. “I mean, they see 

the truck and they’re taking pictures and, you 

know, doing all that.” 

Fern’s photogenic nature is nothing to be 

scoffed at. The rows of fresh flowers, rustic 

light bulb letters, and of course, the iconic 

green paint job make Fern the perfect photo 

opportunity. She is the kind of truck one might 

find on the Explore page of Instagram, but 

instead Fern is parked across from local coffee 

shops, in the parking lots of boutiques, and at 

the farmer’s market. Students make up about 

85 percent of the business, so being able to 

park where students hang out and study has 

made a large impact. 

For the Logans, business truly is blooming. 

Bloom Flower Truck has regulars who frequent 

the truck itself, moms from across the country 

who contact Logan to deliver flowers to their 

daughters at The University of Alabama, and 

husbands who buy flowers subscriptions, so 

new bouquets are delivered to their wives every 

couple of weeks. Fern also travels to birthday 

parties, bridal showers, and local events to 

bring everyone in on the fun. 

Logan describes herself as “not very 

business savvy,” but the success of bloom 

flower truck begs to differ. 

Logan’s advice to women who might 

describe themselves in the same way, is to get 

out of their comfort zone and start something. 

“You just kind of have to go for it and do 

your thing and not worry about everybody else 

around you,” Logan said. 

Going for it, and not worrying about 

everyone around you, are rules to live by for 

Kristin, Todd and their flowers. 

Like it says on the back of the Bloom 

Flower Truck business card, “A flower does not 

think of competing with the flowers next to it. 

It just blooms.”

My Lilly Pulitzer-Printed, 

Sorority-Stickered Gay Agenda 

By Sydney Pellegrini 

At the beginning of every semester, I walk a couple of 

blocks from my sorority house to the bookstore to pick up 

a Lilly Pulitzer agenda. It is a planner which I will start 

the year out writing my assignments in every day, only 

to inevitably abandon a few weeks into classes. Truth be 

told, I am not the most organized person. I am also not 

the most likely person to be an Alabama sorority girl. 

When I decided to go through rush at The University 

of Alabama, my mom was ecstatic. She went to a Big Ten 

school, had bigger hair, and was heavily involved in her 

sorority. I grew up hearing the stories of her glory days, 

and on some level, I always knew I would be a part of 

Greek Life. It seemed like the thing to do. 

I never thought much about the fact that I might not 

be the right “type” of girl to be in a sorority. That is, until 

I told my high school friends about my decision to rush, 

which resulted in a lot of confused facial expressions and 

teasing. I wasn’t a sorority girl. I was a theatre kid: your 

typical outgoing nerd. 

And I had a secret. I was (at least mostly) gay. 

I spent the majority of high school jumping in and out 

of the closet, telling only a few close friends who I had 

known since I was six that I might have feelings for girls. 

Sort of. I thought. Occasionally. Perhaps, but not 

really. But I would never, like, date a girl. 

I went to college. I pledged a sorority. I went out with 

fraternity boys and made friends with people within my 

little bubble. And I kept my secret. 

By the time my junior year rolled around, it was 

getting harder to deny the fact that I was falling in love 

with a girl. We had become close through class projects, 

rides home from bars, secret-sharing, sleepovers, lunches 

and weekend trips. It was October of that year when I 

realized I didn’t want to spend another minute without 

her, and I didn’t want to hide our relationship. 

So, I came out. 


34 Alice Spring 2019 

I came out to my friend Anna in a wordvomiting 

frenzy when I busted through the door 

of my sorority house the morning after my nowgirlfriend 

and I first kissed. 

I came out to my friends Jamie, Rachel and 

Caroline a few weeks later, in the tiny shoebox 

room right next door to mine after rumors started 

to spread. I wanted them to hear it from me first. 

I came out to my roommate while I painted a 

banner in the basement, shaking the entire time 

because I didn’t know if she would want to live 

with me again the next year. 

I came out to my Big while we both sat on 

the tiny couch in my room, and I cried because 

I didn’t know if she would be able to love her 

religion and love me. 

I came out to all the girls I sat with at lunch 

every weekday, making no eye contact to avoid 

the inevitable adverse reactions. 

And get this: Nothing happened. 

Nobody shunned me or talked badly about 

me. No one gave me rude looks or avoided me in 

the halls. My roommate is still my roommate, and 

she’s never acted weird about changing in front 

of me or sleeping two feet from me each night. 

My friends barely batted an eye; some told me 

they knew all along. A long-standing rule against 

bringing girls as dates to functions was retracted, 

and I was even elected to a cabinet position. I have 

not once had a less-than-pleasant interaction 

with a girl in my sorority because of my sexuality. 

I have been embraced with open arms for exactly 

who I am. I have had younger girls come up to 

me at parties and tell me how much they love me 

and my girlfriend together and how happy they 

are for me. 

I am not saying everything is perfect here or 

in other houses or other social circles. I’m sure 

there are some people who don’t love the fact 

that I’m gay. And that’s fine — it doesn’t bother 

me. But I can honestly say that being openly 

gay in an Alabama sorority is not as scary as it 

sounds. I know all that “Sisterhood forever! I love 

my sisters!” talk is annoying, and I don’t know 

how much I buy into all of it, but I will say this: 

Sisterhood can be something unexpected. It can 

be something wonderful and real. It can be openminded, 

forgiving and sincere. 

I used to think I wasn’t meant to be a sorority 

girl. Now, I’m pretty damn proud to be one. No 

matter how obnoxious my hot pink Lilly agenda 

might be.


om “He 

and Bac 

Editor’s note: The source in this article requested 

anonymity for safety and privacy reasons. 

Madison needed to sustain her narcotics 

addiction. It was the thing that was keeping her 

going. 

She had not always been like this. In fact, there 

was a time when she was clean. She quit drugs 

when she became pregnant with her son, but three 

years after his birth in 2011, she relapsed. 

Soon after, Madison’s father died and she 

relocated from Omaha, Nebraska back to the 

South. 

She was homeless. She didn’t have anyone to 

go to for help. She lacked a system of support, 

and she would soon fall prey to a system that was 

anything but. 

Next thing Madison knew, she was in 

Montgomery, Alabama, in a world she described 

as “Hell.” In this Hell, she was robbed, abused 

and raped. In this Hell, people preyed on her 

vulnerability. In this Hell, she was forced into the 

world of human trafficking. 

“I had lost my child, my health, everything,” 

she said. 

It was her drug use and vulnerable state, 

Madison said, that made her more susceptible to 

being trafficked. 

It all started out, she said, when the traffickers 

told her, “You don’t have to be one of those girls, 

you don’t have to do that.” But then they told her, 

“Here’s this much of drugs, go sell that.” 

The traffickers were setting her up to be robbed. 

Once she was robbed, she was in debt to them. So, 

she had to do other things to work it off. 

“All of the major cities are 

connected with interstate 

systems, and it flourishes from 

Huntsville down to Mobile. 

We are all connected to a 

statewide circuit.” 

“It’s like a moth to a flame,” she said. “They’re 

drawn to people like me who don’t have a network 

of support, and so – easy targets.” 

Victims can easily become trapped in an 

industry that is at work across the state of Alabama, 

and one that has become a pressing concern 

among law enforcement officials and human rights 

organizations throughout the Southeast. 

Madison is not alone as a human trafficking 


ll” 

k 

victim in the state. There were 31 cases prosecuted 

as human trafficking in Alabama in 2017. 

Tuscaloosa Police Department Lt. Darren Beams 

said Interstates 20 and 59, which stretch from 

near the Mexico border through Atlanta, are 

thoroughfares for human trafficking in Alabama. 

The interstate system brings the trafficking 

business to Alabama from neighboring states such 

as Tennessee, Louisiana, Georgia and Florida. The 

Birmingham area shows the largest concentration 

of trafficking activities, but the crime is a problem 

statewide, Beams said. 

“All of the major cities are connected with 

interstate systems, and it flourishes from 

Huntsville down to Mobile,” he said. “We are all 

connected to a statewide circuit.” 

According to the National Human Trafficking 

Hotline, 68 human trafficking cases in Alabama 

were reported in 2017, and 184 calls made to the 

hotline referenced Alabama. 

Efforts are being made in Alabama to reduce 

statewide human trafficking. Beams said law 

enforcement is working to establish a statewide 

protocol for all agencies to use and encourage more 

collaboration between local, state and federal law 

enforcement to help women, like Madison, who 

are victims of trafficking. 

Christian Lim, the project administrator for 

the Alabama statewide human trafficking protocol, 

said traffickers exploit the vulnerabilities of a 

person. He said anybody that has a vulnerability 

can be a victim of human trafficking. 

“For a lot of sex trafficking, it could be poverty, 

or it could just be something as basic as somebody 

lacking the relationships that they really need in a 

home or something like that,” Lim said. 

According to the Polaris Project, a national 

nonprofit organization that gathered statistics 

from the National Human Trafficking Hotline and 

BeFree Textline, 2,762 of the 10,615 cases analyzed 

involved minors in 2017. The top recruitment 

tactic for sex trafficking in 2017 was intimate 

partner or marriage proposition. 

Lim is part of a research team that conducted 

a series of 20 focus groups throughout the state, 

including interviews with 114 professionals who 

may have worked with human trafficking victims 

or potential victims. The team was able to identify 

617 potential victims of human trafficking that 

they had worked with in 2017. Out of the 617, he 

said about 354 were probably minors. 

Kat Kirkpatrick is the marketing supervisor 

for The WellHouse, a residential facility in 

Birmingham that houses adult women who are 

victims of sex trafficking, providing them a safe 

place to go and work on recovery. She said pimps 

will hang around schools or shopping malls where 

their potential victims are, adding that it is not 


usually like the movie Taken, where the victim is 

stolen off the street. 

“It’s a lot of coercion and manipulating of 

trust, lies and kind of deceitfulness,” she said. 

“They seek out these 

women who are potentially 

fragile in that way and they 

exploit it.” 

Kirkpatrick said if the trafficker is female, she 

might befriend the potential victim at school and 

then say, “Hey, you know I’ve got this guy.” 

If the trafficker is male, he might become her 

boyfriend or take her out and buy her nice things 

and treat her really well because traffickers focus 

on people who are searching for and craving love 

because of a past trauma. 

“They seek out these women who are 

potentially fragile in that way and they exploit 

it,” Kirkpatrick said. 

After about a year in human trafficking, she 

found a way out of the life she was stuck in. 

After a couple stints in jail, she saw the phone 

number for The WellHouse in her Facebook 

messenger from her son’s grandmother. She got 

out of jail, called the number, and they picked 

her up the next day. She began her time at The 

WellHouse in October 2015 and was there for 

two years. 

“It was probably the best thing that I could’ve 

ever done,” Madison said. 

Once at the property, Kirkpatrick said 

women like Madison first go to a short-term 

house called the “immediate shelter,” where the 

goal is to improve their health. There is a doctor 

who comes once a week, and the women wear 

donated clothes because they often arrive with 

nothing. 

Madison said that never having to wonder 

what she was going to eat or where she was going 

to stay gave her an opportunity to think about 

her future and what steps she could take to reach 

goals she hadn’t had before. 

The women also have a caseworker, trauma 

counselor and a general counselor who have 

individual sessions and group therapy with the 

victims. 

“We try to get them back to square one,” 

Kirkpatrick said. “They’ve seen a lot of trauma, 

and they are in rough shape when we get them, 

and so it’s just all about recovery and restoring 

them to where they need to be.” 

Madison has been out of The WellHouse for 

a year now, and she is in school with full custody 

of her son. She was diagnosed with Hepatitis C 

when she first got to The WellHouse, but she got 

medication for it and is healthy. She reached her 

three-year sobriety anniversary in October. 

In a state where a network of traffickers is 

creating a stronghold, Carolyn Potter, CEO of 

the WellHouse, is creating an even stronger 

network of people fighting to put an end to the 

trafficking industry. Potter encourages people 

to support or volunteer with organizations like 

The WellHouse. She also recommends learning 

common signs of trafficking, such as branding or 

tattoos of the trafficker on the victim, downcast 

eyes, fearful posture, and the appearance of 

being malnourished and sleep-deprived. 

“Spotting signs of victims is key,” Potter said. 

“If you learn to spot the signs, you can call the 

police and save a life.” 


40 

43 

47 

52 

BROOCHES: THE 

FORGOTTEN ACCESORY 

GROCERY LIST 

HOW HIP HOP CULTURE 

DISRUPTED THE 

SNEAKER INDUSTRY 

ELEVATE YOUR STYLE 


Brooches, 

the Forgotten 

Accessory 

Brooches and Hat - 

Twice as Nice 


By Emily Safron 

There is nothing we love more than the 

reemergence of an old trend. This spring, we 

see the return of the brooch. Originally used as 

cloak fasteners worn by the Celts and Vikings 

during the Early Medieval period, brooches 

have seen a thing or two. And now they’re back 

for more. 

Here are a few of our favorite ways to style 

your brooches: 

Wear Your Brooch on the Back/Clasp 

of Dress 

A common complaint for accessories that 

pin to clothing is that they leave a hole or ruin 

fabric. If you’re wearing your hair up, consider 

putting a brooch onto the back of your outfit or 

on top of the clasp of your dress for a little extra 

sparkle. It is a place where any potential holes 

will go unnoticed at a later date. 

Tie a Neck Scarf and Add a Brooch on Top 

In addition to brooches, silk neck scarves are 

having a moment. Select one of your choosing 

and, once tied, slide the brooch pin into the 

knot. By doing so, you can add a statement to 

an already trendy accessory. 

Add to a Headband or Hat 

Brooches are often seen as an accessory for 

hats. By adding one atop a cute floppy sun hat 

or beret, your look will catch so many eyes. If 

you’re more of a headband gal, clipping it to the 

side makes for another cute look. 


Add to a Bracelet or Watch 

If you have a minimalistic bracelet that isn’t 

made out of metal, consider adding a brooch 

through it. One that is the same color as your outfit 

can even help it stand out more. 

Add a Brooch to your Hair 

Brooches are the perfect asset to your clothing 

and accessories, but what about including them in 

your hairstyle rotation? Spice things up by adding a 

brooch to the back of a ponytail, bottom of a braid 

or front of a bun. 

Wear Multiple Brooches 

Just like pins, brooches are great to showcase 

your personal style. Consider adding a cluster of 

brooches to your outfit. The pieces will play off each 

other and add an interesting touch to any outfit. 


GROCERY LIST 

GROCERY LIST 

GROCERY LIST 

Dress and Earrings - Fab’rik 

Glasses- SOCA 

GROCERY LIST 

GROCERY LIST 

GROCERY LIST 

GROCERY LIST 

GROCERY LIST 

GROCERY LIST 

GROCERY LIST 

GROCERY LIST 

GROCERY LIST 


Fashion defies 

circumstance. To reserve 

this self-expressive art 

form for special occasions 

is an injustice to your 

closet. Don’t shy away 

from the chandelier 

earrings. Rock the red lip. 

Wear the platform shoes. 

Every day is a new excuse 

to play dress-up, and 

the grocery store aisle is 

Monday’s runway. 

Lace dress and Shoes- Fab’rik 

Red shorts- Fab’rik 

White top - SOCA 

Earrings and Sunglasses - Fab’rik 




How Hip Hop 

Culture Disrupted the 

Sneaker Industry 



By Molly Powers 

The popularity of hip hop music has 

increased exponentially. The artists on top 

are dominating the music scene, consistently 

landing on Billboard Hot 100 charts, while 

hundreds of underground rappers fight to 

climb the SoundCloud ladder to meet their 

idols at the top. 

When it comes to being an artist in 2019, 

the whole package is a necessity for achieving 

success. This means how you dress, what 

you stand for, and who you know is just as 

important as creating good music. What an 

artist is wearing means everything to their 

fans. The consistent success of artists who 

sport exclusive sneakers, designer belts 

and clothes by brands the general public 

has never even heard of, has revealed a 

growing community of people obsessed with 

replicating their favorite artist’s style. 

In the splash zone of this newfound 

community lies hip hop icons and, thus, 

streetwear enthusiasts, creating a foundation 

of maximum originality. Having a strong 

personal brand and unique style increases 

recognition amongst the plethora of artists 

in the industry. French Montana’s popular 

hit No Stylist boasts about Montana’s 

personal style being so good he doesn’t need 

help getting dressed for events or parties. 

This emphasis on originality is translated 

from the artists’ lyrics into the clothes they 

wear and the way they present themselves. 

Virgil Abloh, creator of fashion 

brand Off-White and menswear 

creative lead of Louis Vuitton, is often 

credited with inciting the collaboration 

revolution we are currently in. Brands 

evermore are combining their designs, 

logos and specific styles with each other 

to create brand awareness in each other’s 

target market. Abloh 

famously redesigned 

seven of the most popular 

Nike silhouettes, putting his 

own recognizable “work in progress” designs 

on Nike’s classic, blank canvases. 

This famous collection opened the 

floodgates for, or at least popularized, 

the hundreds of sneaker collaborations 

between sneaker powerhouses and hip hop 

artists. The collaborations range from the 

trendsetting, groundbreaking Kanye West 

x Adidas “Yeezy Supply” collections, to the 

exclusive, limited pair of Travis Scott Nike 

Air Force 1’s. Not only are these artists 

setting trends by what they are wearing 

on their own feet, they are selling their 

personal designs, blurring the lines between 

the music and fashion industries. 

We are living in a time where no one, 

including hip hop artists, wants to be boxed 

in to one segment of their industry. It is 

becoming increasingly more common to dip 

your toes in several disciplines. As we move 

towards independence and originality, we 

begin to mix and match the “rights” and 

“wrongs” we were conditioned to consider 

while getting dressed in the morning. 

Those who do not subscribe to hip hop 

or streetwear subcultures are still wearing 

sneakers, whether they know the source of 

the trend or not. On the walkways of college 

campuses, there has been a massive influx of 

sneakerwearing, especially among women. 

In this era of breaking down barriers and 

stereotypes, women are wearing Nike Air 

Max’s with their flowy skirt instead of 

wedges or sandals. If you haven’t already 

got your own favorite pair of sneakers, 

don’t fret: the trend isn’t going anywhere 

anytime soon. 


Earrings - SOCA 


Jacket - Jeff McFly

Elevate 

Your Style 

Sunglasses and earring pairings you can 

use to elevate your style this spring. 

By Rachel Stern 

It’s time to go big with accessories this season. 

The miniature eyewear and handbags that 

dominated 2018 are slowly fading out, making 

room for the oversized and the bold: a glamorous 

look that continues to stand the test of time. 

On the runways at Dior and Prada for Spring- 

Summer 2019, we saw big bold sunglasses in 

vintage-inspired looks. Strutting on the runways 

of Stella McCartney and Gucci were sunglasses 

with a sporty, futuristic feel; imagine super-tinted 

ski goggles with embellishments and oversized, 

abstract curves. 

Turning to jewelry trends, 2019 is sticking with 

the glamorous, the glitzy and the embellished. 

Models displayed bright pearls, plenty of lavish 

beads, geometric shapes and luscious hoops. 

Ariana Grande owns this look in her 7 Rings music 

video, where she’s heavily beaded and layered 

with gems. An 80s look is also reemerging with 

retro and oversized heart hoops and studs. 

Anyone can bring these bold combinations 

of eyewear and accessories together to add some 

style to the everyday: 

The Classic Look: Pair Ray-Bans with oversized 

pearls or tortoiseshell hoops for a sophisticated 

and understated look. 

Cool and Edgy: Make the streets your catwalk 

with black shield sunglasses a la Gucci and 

chandelier-style beaded earrings. 

Chic Glamour: Miu Miu showcased gorgeous, 

giant shield glasses with gem-speckled rims, 

which would pair well with silver hoops for 

maximum glamour. 


Street Style Icon: Pair futuristic shades of the shield or semi-rimless variety with geometric metal earrings. These gogglelike 

shades, stolen straight from the ski slopes, retain their functional feel, making them a daring fashion statement for even 

the sportiest among us. 


Flirty and Fun: Embrace your girly side and rock feminine patterns and colors to feel light and fun this spring. Bella Hadid 

rocked pink polka dot shades on Fendi’s runway matched with big floral studs: the perfect pairing for any brunch or 

picnic outing. 



Geometric: If you’re not into the 

big and the bold, you can still rock 

proportionally-sized frames in 

geometric shapes like triangles and 

rectangles. Even heart shapes are 

making an appearance, as seen by 

Each x Other. Pair heart glasses with 

heart-shaped hoops for a girly and 

youthful look. 

Truly, there are no rules that 

can’t be broken. As seen from the 

SS19 runways, the crazier and more 

nonsensical, the better. So don’t be 

afraid to mix and match different 

styles and colors with your earring 

and shade pairings. All of these give 

an instant elevation to seemingly 

common looks.

56 

59 

62 

64 

71 

77 


THE FINE ART OF MAKEUP 

A TABLE CONVERSATION WITH 

FRANK STITT 

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A QUEEN 

SCENES OF NEW ORLEANS 

LACY AFTERNOON 


Tiny 

Foundations 

By Meg McGuire 

In an office nestled on the third floor of Lloyd Hall, 

silvery light filters through a picture window overlooking 

the The University of Alabama’s Quad, sending warm 

shafts into a blue mug that reads, 

“Slow Down. Life is good.” 

Amanda Espy-Brown’s students can count on having 

fresh coffee brewed every morning in the breakroom to 

accompany seminars sprinkled with stories about her sons 

and kayaking trips with her dogs, Shiloh and Sadie. 

Between her time spent researching in Nigeria and 

trekking through the Alabama wilderness on geographic 

expeditions, her life has been characterized by taking 

on big challenges; but 50 minutes northwest of campus 

in a one-gas-station town, a small project stands as the 

manifestation of a narrative saturated with crushing loss 

and the bittersweet essence of healing. The foundations 

of this personal sanctuary are rooted in the true grit and 

trailblazing heart of a woman whose journey has been 

anything but tiny. 

Unexpected Change 

Espy-Brown rebelled against her family’s fivegeneration 

streak of civil engineering graduates from 

The University of Alabama to study geology at the rival 

Auburn University. It was there that she met her husband 

after a friend of theirs introduced her to his identical twin 

brother by mistake. After the mix-up was resolved, Espy- 

Brown was set up on a blind date with the real Warren 

Brown. She said it was love at first sight. 

After returning to UA for graduate school and 

discovering her passion for teaching, Espy-Brown went 

on to earn her doctorate and worked at Middle Tennessee 

State University. Her husband served as a combat civil 

engineer in the United States Air Force and earned the 

ranking of major. Eventually his career brought their 

family back to her Tuscaloosa roots where she took a job 

as the education and outreach coordinator at the Museum 

of Natural History. 

Soon after being hired, Espy-Brown’s husband came 

to her with significant peripheral vision loss. Doctor 

appointments eventually led to the discovery of a brain 

tumor. In their private moments together, the two of them 

discussed the logistics of transition. 

As the cancer progressed and concerns about their 


teenage sons, Carson and Marshall, and uncertainty about 

what the future might hold began to sink in, Espy-Brown 

said that her husband steadily reminded her, “You can do 

this.” 

Warren Brown passed away a year and a half later, 

but she held tightly to his encouragement and took on 

her new role as a single mother. In the face of terminal 

illness, she said Warren declared that his time was not to 

be considered “a life cut short, but rather a life completed.” 

Raising two teenage boys without a father figure 

present meant that Espy-Brown had to begin adjusting 

her approach to motherhood. That same year, her sons’ 

grandmother and close friend also passed away. Seeing the 

significant need for flexibility, she took a teaching position 

with The University of Alabama’s New College that would 

allow it. She said the move landed her the job of her 

dreams, combining her loves for geology and teaching. It 

was a fresh start. 

Inspired by her sons’ passion for outdoor 

sportsmanship, a hobby of theirs that had previously left 

her uneasy, she began the search for a piece of property 

to foster healing and a new sense of family. Espy-Brown 

said she never wanted her sons to feel like they had been 

cheated out of life experiences because they no longer had 

a father. She soon realized that being a parent, and not just 

a mother, required her to loosen her white-knuckle grip 

on security and allow herself and her sons to do things that 

scared her. 

New Beginnings 

On Christmas morning of 2013, Espy-Brown woke 

her sons to tell them that she had bought 130 acres of land 

in her own name. The trio drove out to the property to see 

the location of their new beginnings, and it was then that 

Espy-Brown began scheming the plans that would soon 

turn into blueprints for her tiny refuge. She said signing 

the deed without her husband’s signature to accompany it 

was equally surreal and empowering. 

“You have to be so, so intentional about rebuilding in 

a way that honors and leaves room for the person who is 

gone but also respects the need to carry on,” Espy-Brown 

said. “ I never, ever say ‘move on’ because we don’t do that; 

but we are obliged to ‘carry on,’ and I wanted to do that 

with joy and purpose.” 


With an original budget of $10,000 and a 

team of her family and friends, Espy-Brown 

began constructing a tiny house in Belk, 

Alabama. Her father, an attorney and civil 

engineer, was instrumental in the construction 

and obtaining legal permits pertaining to the 

home. And even though they rolled their eyes 

at her giddiness upon receiving a chainsaw 

for her birthday, Espy-Brown believes that 

her sons secretly appreciate her willingness 

to defy the stereotypical motherhood mold. 

She said the bonding aspect of laying new 

foundations brought her family a fresh sense 

of purpose. 

“The tiny house was integral to the healing 

process,” Espy-Brown said. 

However, she also recognized the need 

to coax forth essential, personal healing. Her 

husband’s passing had thwarted the dreams 

and plans she had sculpted around their 

relationship together. Espy-Brown equated 

losing a spouse to simultaneously losing one’s 

past, present and future. 

“I always compare it to looking out over 

a field covered with trees,” Espy-Brown said, 

“And each of those trees is a milestone in the 

future - all the obvious things like our boys 

graduating and getting their first jobs, but 

also things like traveling and running races 

together. When Warren died it felt like that 

field got wiped clean and was just this vast 

space as far as I could see.” 

For Espy-Brown, the tiny house became a 

tree on that field. It was a tree she needed. A 

landmark to work towards and look forward 

to reaching. 

“I have to repopulate my future with 

things that will be meaningful and, honestly, 

things that will just be fun,” Espy-Brown said. 

“‘Fun is underrated.” 

The cabin itself now measures 240 square 

feet on the main floor, dwarfed in comparison 

to the acres of surrounding piney foliage. It 

features a galley kitchen, porch, bedroom 

loft and both an indoor and outdoor shower. 

The team was responsible for tasks ranging 

from surveying to laying wheelbarrows 

full of cement in the unforgiving Alabama 

summer sun. Other family and friends 

donated materials that contributed to the 

house’s eclectic personality. Windows were 

transported from a Habitat for Humanity 

Restore, while her aunt offered wood that had 

been in her great grandmother’s home. Espy- 

Brown said that she loved the idea of giving 

these pieces new life through her project. She 

credits the completion of the project to those 

who partnered alongside her. 

Continuous Growth 

Looking back on the journey, Espy-Brown 

can attest to the personal growth that she has 

experienced through choosing to step out of 

her comfort zone. She advised that others, 

especially women, take initiative and pursue 

new, adventurous tasks, no matter their age. 

She understands firsthand the initial fear 

of failure, but it pales in comparison to the 

rewards reaped in the decision to simply try. 

With the project’s slow progress measured 

in fish fries, games of fetch with her dogs, and 

fear being conquered in learning to operate 

a chop saw, it became apparent to Espy- 

Brown that the little things in life are merely 

a reflection of things far more significant. 

In the most daunting wilderness, there is 

refuge in community, rest in the deep sighs 

following a long day’s work, and healing in 

sunsets that make one’s soul simultaneously 

ache and rejoice. This place is a monument to 

her husband’s legacy. A testament to the daily 

choice to be brave. For her, the tiny house sits 

as a microcosmic reminder of the human 

spirit’s deep-rooted tenacity to overcome the 

reality of a love not lost, but simply redefined. 

In the midst of every season, it beckons: 

“Slow Down. Life is good.” 


The Fine Art 

of 

Makeup 

A collection of looks inspired by 

paintings displayed at the 

Birmingham Museum of Art 


Looking Down Yosemite Valley, California 

Albert Bierstadt 

Buffalo Vector Border Crossing (Yellowstone) 

Merrit Johnson 


La boisson chaude 

Christophe Huet 

The Miracles of Wen Shu (Manjusri) 

China 

Revolutionary 

Wadsworth A. Jarrell Sr. 

Fleurs au Bord Belle-Île-En-Mer 

Maxime Maufra 


A Table Conversation 

with Frank Stitt 

By Anna Klement 

Some would think the best chef in 

America looks like Wolfgang Puck or Nobu 

Matsuhisa, maybe Bobby Flay. To me, 

America’s best chef looks like Walt Disney. 

Frank Stitt, the 2018 James Beard Award 

Winner, creates magic in his kitchen. What 

Walt Disney created for childrens’ cartoons, 

Stitt mimics with food. There is a very short 

list of chefs bred from Cullman, Alabama 

who value a salty oyster as much as a 

conversation on French philosophy. Stitt is 

as educated on history and culture as he is 

in agriculture. 

“Our cattle graze in sixteen different 

types of grass up to your neck,” Stitt said. 

He speaks of the quality of beef his 

farmers raise for his restaurant, Highlands, 

which was named one of America’s best 

restaurants. I could only imagine a restaurant 

higher than his on the list would have to grow 

seventeen types. 

Cross-trained in Provincial France, Stitt 

chose to take his extraordinary talent back 

home to Alabama because of the fruitful 

harvest seasons and his proximity to family. 

It’s clear he knows farm to table cuisine. Stitt 

grew up picking crops in his grandfather’s 

fields and organically learning that a chef’s 

relationship to cooking begins with seeds. 

He studied in California’s Bay Area before 

following a chef he was trained by to France. 

Like a francophile love story, he fell in love 

with the French countryside and the essence 

of slow food at a supper table. European 

fashion is to spend hours conversing, 

drinking and eating several courses. Dinner 

is the main event. After France, he worked 

in the Caribbean, for which he credits 

his incorporation of fresh seafood on his 

menu to. 

“I wanted to be crazy diligent about 

getting the freshest fish,” Stitt said. “Once we 

would get through our order of 20 snapper, 

we would move on to the next fish. That’s 

the reason we change our menu every single 

day...It’s kind of a badge of honor to serve the 

freshest seafood.” 

There wasn’t any formal training at a 

culinary institute to explain his level of 

excellence, but he did make an impression 


on Julia Child before he was nominated on a 

decade long streak for Best Chef in America. 

For someone like Stitt to accomplish so 

much on his own, he remains one of the most 

humble people I’ve ever had a conversation 

with (and I’ve never spoken to anyone more 

decorated than him in the world of food). 

His three restaurants create a sense of place 

when you sit down at one of his tables, as if 

he was sitting across from you like he was 

with me. His eye contact is fixed on me when 

he speaks, and he remains engaged with the 

conversation. 

“I want people to be 

wowed by the sincerity, the 

genuineness, the quality of 

the food,” Stitt said. 

You wouldn’t know unless you looked 

at the top right corner of his menu for 

Highlands that it changes everyday. The 

typography of his menu and logo is simple. 

Yet, it makes a bold enough statement for 

someone like me who geeks out over fonts 

to appreciate it. The font speaks a lot for the 

restaurant's atmosphere. It’s classic and 

whimsical. It’s reasonably priced for a nice 

meal yet has the sense of exclusivity only the 

best restaurant in America could give. The 

details in the decor aren’t obvious to a naked 

eye. The restaurant itself draws inspiration 

from Creole and French artists. The walls of 

the kitchen and private business area are still 

intact from the 80s. There’s framed news 

articles and shadow boxes of older menus 

with detail right down to who the servers 

were for the night. 

“Birmingham is really a place where 

I could take my California, French and 

Caribbean influences here,” Stitt said. 

“My mom took a second mortgage out on 

her house to raise money, since I needed 

investors to open the restaurant. Everything 

I had was used equipment.” 

The sincerity of Stitt and his staff is 

enough to earn a spot as the Best Restaurant 

in America. It took ten years of perseverance, 

hard work and dedication climbing James 

Beard’s list for the title to finally stick. If 

there was one thing he wanted to strive 

for in opening three restaurants, a James 

Beard Award was never his end goal. It was 

always about having the highest integrity as 

a proprietor and chef. 

“I want people to be wowed by the 

sincerity, the genuineness, the quality of the 

food,” Stitt said. 

Behind a great man, is his two equally as 

talented and hardworking women. If it wasn’t 

enough to have a champion restaurant, 

his pastry chef since the conception of 

Highlands, Dolester Miles - known around 

the restaurant as Dol - is a James Beard 

winner as well. She began working along 

Stitt with no prior kitchen training, just a 

stellar work ethic and sweet tooth. In present 

day, she bakes the purest coconut cake with 

a crème pâtissière that I’m not ashamed to 

say tastes better than my own grandmother’s 

recipe. 

“Dol didn’t have any cooking experience,” 

Stitt said. “She helped us sew the curtains a 

week before we opened.” 

Though he’s humble, Stitt remains 

confident in his recipe development. He will 

not take credit for any measure of success in 

his restaurants without mentioning his other 

life partner who works just as hard behind 

the scene: his wife, Pardis. Pardis has been 

responsible for advancing the business 

interests since their marriage began. He 

says it’s frustrating when people credit his 

success without mentioning her. 

“If I were her I’d be so pissed off,” Stitt 

said. “How dare you not acknowledge the 

woman who’s been here the past 25 years 

working equally as hard.” 

He says he practices new recipes every 

evening with his co-owner, as a great chef 

should. His face lights up and his tone 

changes when asked about Pardis. 

“I owe it all to her.” 

It’s no secret his productions of food are 

sensational love letters to his wife, and that 

is something even Walt Disney would be 

proud of. 



By Irene Richardson 

As drag queens become more popular in 

mainstream media, society is beginning 

to recognize drag performances as an art. 

Several new and experienced drag queens 

discuss the misconceptions that lie behind 

drag culture and how performing has shaped 

them personally. 

Leland Hughes always knew he wanted to 

be an entertainer. He just didn’t know the route 

he would take to get there until he discovered 

something he was really good at: drag. 

Before January of 2005, when Hughes first 

started performing, drag was never something 

he considered. After watching movies growing 

up, such as To Wong Foo, Thanks for 

Everything! Julie Newmar, a comedy from the 

90’s about three drag queens who take a road 

trip, he thought it was supposed to be funny, 

something people laughed at. But that belief 

changed when his friends took him to a drag 

show on his 18th birthday and he thought, 

“Maybe I could do that and do it better.” 

Today, drag has transformed and expanded, 

featuring different styles and forms. For many, 

like Hughes, who has performed as Genesis for 

over a decade, it’s a career that goes beyond a 

few minutes on stage. 

“One of the biggest pleasures I get from 

entertaining is you’ve got all this bad stuff in 

the world going on all the time,” Hughes said, 

“but for three to four minutes, maybe multiple 

times a night, people forget all the negative 

stuff going on in their lives… and their troubles 

kind of fade away for a moment.” 

The way a crowd reacts and the 

unpredictability of a show contribute to where 

a queen will take their performance. Hughes is 

concerned about everyone having a good time, 

but he also knows more can come out of a show. 

“[Performing is] being able to just see how 

people react to [drag] and being able to maybe 

change their mind about something they didn’t 

know before,” Hughes said. 

Drag queens provide entertainment, but 

performing is also an artistic expression 

and requires the skill, patience and practice 

associated with all other forms of art. When 

Ryan Pearson steps on stage as Liz Anya, the 

show culminates from several years of selftaught 

stage makeup, dance routines and 

sewing skills. 


Like any artist, Pearson has continued to 

grow in his art over the past two years since 

he started performing drag in 2017. When 

he first began, Liz Anya’s outfits consisted of 

a pair of ripped jeans pulled over a leotard. 

Now, Pearson is taking inspiration from 

Cruella de Vil for his next project. 

“Drag is an art form. You can’t really rely 

on other people to help you out with it that 

much because it’s something that’s yours,” 

Pearson said. “You have to be able to fully 

know what you’re doing or else you’re not 

going to be doing what you want to be doing; 

you’re going to be doing someone else’s drag.” 

While wearing a design specifically 

tailored for yourself works as a method for 

creating more confidence on stage, nerves 

come with the performance. This was 

particularly true for Gregory Harvey who 

began doing drag for the first time only a few 

months ago. Harvey, a University of Alabama 

student double majoring in graphic design 

and marketing, started performing as Dia 

Lysis in October of 2018. 

The first time he performed was scary, 

even with the large amount of support 

Harvey received from friends. Part of these 

nerves are due in part to a comparison of 

what people view on TV, such as on the show 

RuPaul’s Drag Race. 

“Whatever you see on Drag Race is touted 

to be the future of drag,” Harvey said. “That’s 

a double-edged sword because it brings 

something new to new to drag of course, but 

they see what’s on Drag Race and go, ‘This is 

what drag has to look like.’” 

Shows like Drag Race have been positive 

in making drag culture more normalized 

and popular. However, with attention comes 

misconceptions and misconstrued notions 

about what it means to be a queen. 

One of the most common 

misunderstandings stems from a belief that 

all drag queens identify as transgender. 

While that may be the case in some instances, 

it certainly doesn’t mean the words are 

interchangeable. The assumption can result 

in the harmful effects of transmisogyny. 

“Drag is female impersonation,” 

Harvey said. “That’s not to say there aren’t 

transgender drag queens. There are plenty 

of those, and a lot of queens find themselves 

through drag…It’s a situation where they’re 

mutually exclusive. They’re not the same 

thing and should not be treated as the same 

thing.” 

Hughes notes that transgender queens are 

a huge part of the drag community and they 

deserve respect. Assuming every drag queen 

wants to be a woman, however, isn’t a correct 

way to view the overall drag culture. 

Not comprehending drag culture, the 

etiquette, and the art of the shows, can 

lead to uncomfortable situations. Harvey 

described several experiences where men 

could not separate the show from the person. 

He’ll often receive lewd comments and 

inappropriate propositions from men after a 

performance. 

“It doesn’t necessarily mean they respect 

you as a person. It’s a fantasy they’re trying to 

live out,” Harvey said. “What I’m presenting 

is just an illusion. It’s not real life.” 

For Pearson, even with the negative 

attention drag culture can receive, he feels 

it’s had a positive impact on the LGBTQ+ 




community. More people are seeing it as an 

art form that’s pushing boundaries rather 

than something once considered taboo. 

He describes how he feels on stage with 

one word: powerful. 

He tells himself, “I’m the only one. I am 

the only one.” 

“I definitely think, since doing drag, I 

don’t care about gender roles and things 

like that,” Pearson said. “It’s definitely made 

me feel like I don’t have to box myself in to 

anything.” 

Harvey, like Pearson, emphasized that 

drag is an individualistic experience. And 

while Harvey said he keeps his drag life 

completely separate from everyday life, it 

doesn’t mean drag queens leave everything 

on the stage. 

Confidence, pride and an overall sense 

of power are all traits that translate from 

the stage to the more mundane aspects of 

life. By pushing boundaries and breaking 

gender norms, drag culture has allowed the 

performers a new sense of self-assurance. 

Ethan Burt heads for the stage every 

weekend as Dani California, but on a dayto-day 

basis, he’s a third semester graduate 

student at Auburn for geography and 

community planning. Even though these two 

parts of his life don’t intertwine, they’re still 

connected by the things he’s taken away from 

his performances. 

“It’s hard not to be confident when you’ve 

dressed up as a woman lip syncing in front 

of people,” Burt said. “If I can do that, I can 

pretty much do anything else. If I’m not 

embarrassed about that, I have nothing else 

to be embarrassed about.” 

Before performing drag, Burt said he 

wasn’t a huge fan. One of the reasons being 

he didn’t feel it represented all of gay culture. 

Now that he’s been performing for around 

two years, he’s changed his opinion. 

He said being a drag queen, though an 

individualistic experience, works to bring a 

community together rather than using it to 

make a statement. It’s more of an outlet Burt 

can use to showcase his artistic abilities, but 

intentional or not, drag queens have created 

impact. 

“Drag queens have usually been kind of 

like the most seen people in the [LGBTQ+] 

community, and they’re kind of the ones who 

take the brunt from most of the attacks from 

anti-LGBTQ+ groups,” Burt said. “So I think 

that drag queens in general have had to carry 

a lot of the strength for the community and 

voicing it because they are so visible.” 

Many drag queens are involved in 

efforts that benefit their local communities. 

Queens will perform at shows that double 

as fundraising events for local Pride 

organizations. Performing drag also creates 

an opportunity to travel and meet people 

from all different social circles. 

Pursuing any form of art is tricky and 

comes with a lot of trial and error. For 

Hughes, however, at the end of the day it’s 

about doing what you love and having fun. 

Looking back, he gives his past self one piece 

of advice: 

“Know that you’re going to face some 

difficulties that are going to try and steer you 

off what you love doing,” Hughes said. “Just 

remember who you are and everything will 

turn out.” 

Drag inspires, it pushes and promotes 

and brings people together. The same way 

everyone in a movie theater cries together, or 

everyone at a concert sings along, there is a 

sense of comradery and community formed 

by drag. 

“Nobody does drag to change the world, 

but we do change the world doing drag,” 

Harvey said. 



Outfit - Fab’rik 


Floral shirt, orange dress, 

yellow romper, earrings - Fab’rik 


The streets of New Orleans, Louisiana have witnessed 

the historical gamut of dark magic and jazzy jubilee. From 

its grand mansions and shadowed alleyways that whisper 

secrets of phantomed pasts, to the ever-present sound 

of a saxophone suspended in the air, there is something 

equally haunting and enchanting around every street 

performer’s corner. 




Kimono - Fab’rik 


Lingerie 

as 

Daywear 

By SK Stephenson 

Reclaiming and redefining 

the role of lingerie in fashion 

allows us to create space for 

versatile interpretations of this 

category. Women are intricate 

and complex within themselves, 

and fashion should be a vessel of 

expression that reflects all sides 

of the wearer. Lingerie is a direct 

symbol of women’s sexuality, a 

subject which has long been taboo 

in the public sphere. Gender roles 

and cultural expectations have 

taught women that femininity 

is equivalent to modesty, but 

modesty is a limiting notion that 

inhibits women from authentically 

expressing themselves. 



These implications are important 

to consider in discussing lingerie’s 

place in fashion because intimate 

apparel is just that: intimate, 

vulnerable and deep. Pioneering 

this paradigm shift in fashion 

encompasses a developed and 

inclusive notion of womanhood 

that reflects the liberated women of 

today and subsequently empowers 

the women of tomorrow. 




This trend of lingerie as 

daily wear blossoms in the 

spring. Gracefully swinging 

silk gives you the freedom 

to frolic through a blooming 

field. Intricate lace patterns 

resemble the shadows cast by 

late afternoon light peeking 

through the limbs of a budding 

tree. 

Key pieces in this trend 

encompass the essence of 

spring, so the colors should 

too. Think pale pinks and 

purples like flourishing 

wisteria vines, vibrant greens 

of new grass, and mellow 

yellow like the sun we’ve 

missed so dearly during the 

winter months. 


84 

87 

89 

95 

YONDER 

TO ALL THE DISNEY MOVIES 

WE’VE LOVED BEFORE 

MUSEUMS, MANSIONS AND MORE 

OVERLOOKED TUSCALOOSA LOCATIONS 

POSITVE PODS 



By Cora Kangas 

The stage is dark, abnormally so for 

the beginning of a dance show. Then the 

lights come on in the form of phone lights, 

aided by minimal stage lighting. The 

dancers look down like people do on The 

University of Alabama’s campus on any 

given Friday, phone in hand, not paying 

attention to the world — even though they 

are halfway across it, in Scotland. 

Yonder Contemporary Dance 

Company, a student dance group 

from UA’s campus, explores themes 

of technological distractions in today’s 

society through a carefully-choreographed 

routine presented across the globe. 

The interactive performance featured 

dancers performing different scenes, 

all while drawn to their phone. The 

relationships people have with technology 

became the central focus for dancers 

and audience members, who were 

encouraged to use their phones during the 

performance. 

“[IRL found the] sweet spot between 

interactivity, playfulness and profundity,” 

said critic Jim Ralley in his four-star 

review on BroadwayBaby.com. “...The 

interplay between focus and distraction, 

togetherness and separation, was neatly 

executed time and time again.” 

Students choreographed the entirety of 

IRL. Drew Martin, a junior studying dance 

and chemical engineering, spent countless 

hours with his team perfecting the theme, 

storyline and steps. 

“I started to question how much I used 

my phone and observed how much other 

people were,” Martin said. “I also began 

to notice how easy it is to be sucked into 

trends because of social media and the 

internet.” 

When deciding what to do for the 

choreography, he wanted to show how 

much easier it is to be controlled by trends 

because of social media. 

These ideas then had to be translated 

into a show. But communication varies in 

all settings — no two people are going to 

hear or say something the same way. So 

in order to make the dances and the show 

flow, everyone had to be understanding of 

everyone else. 

“Everyone had to collaborate on how to 

make clear transitions,” Martin said. 

Dancer Maddie Arancibia, a student at 

The University of Alabama, performed in 

IRL. She explained that the team worked 

with two different choreographers: one 

who wanted to start from nothing and see 

how the dance developed, while the other 

had a set vision from the start. 

“Both let us create our own phrases 

and incorporate our own ideas,” Arancibia 

said. “The entire time, it just felt like an 

open space to be creative.” 

Martin and Kendra Giles, a UA dance 

major, both danced in the show and had 

a similar experience working with the 

choreographers. They said the pieces were 

a collaborative effort while retaining the 

original ideas from the choreographers, 

making the show more personal. 

“There were no boundaries to what we 

could make,” Giles said. 

Yonder Contemporary Dance Company 

took this show around the South, from 

Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia, then, 

across the Atlantic to Edinburgh, Scotland. 

They used audience feedback to mold the 

show so that when they went to Scotland, 

it would be as near to perfect as possible. 

“This offered a very personal experience 

for both the performers and the audience, 

since no two shows were exactly the same,” 

Giles said. 


The dancers learned something new 

through every performance, such as learning 

how to perform in close quarters, work with 

different choreographers, and deal with the 

fatigue that accompanies a long tour. 

To Arancibia, the first tour was extremely 

important. 

“It allowed us to get comfortable with 

the show and develop chemistry with other 

company members,” she said. 

The final stop for the show was across the 

pond at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the 

biggest performing arts festival in the world 

Established in 1947, the iconic festival now, 

features over 53,000 performances across 25 

days. It was, as Giles said, “the experience of 

a lifetime.” 

At the festival, they handed out flyers for 

their show on the Royal Mile, a system of 

winding roads and alleyways in Edinburgh’s 

Old Town. IRL received praise from audience 

members, and even sold out for a show. 

“[The festival] is definitely something that 

will remain with the members of the company 

forever,” Giles said. 


To All the Disney Classics 

We’ve Loved Before 

By Caroline Ward 

Picture this: the year is 2003. It’s a 

rainy Saturday morning, and you’re in 

your coziest pair of pajamas. You rush 

through breakfast because you can’t 

wait to watch one of your favorite Disney 

movies for the 200th time. You approach 

your TV, and after a few minutes of 

debating the options - and maybe an 

argument or two with your sibling - you 

finally decide on one. Popping in the VHS 

tape, you drift off into another world for 

90 minutes of Disney magic. 

For 90s kids, these memories are 

filled with nostalgia. The good news is 

Disney has started to produce live-action 

versions of the stories that defined our 

childhoods, to be enjoyed by audiences 

old and new. 2019 seems to be the most 

promising year yet, with an impressive 

line-up of remakes including Dumbo, 

Aladdin and The Lion King. Here is our 

Declassified Disney Remake Survival 

Guide in anticipation of what’s hitting 

theaters soon. 

Dumbo 

The live-action remake, which is set to 

fly into theaters on March 29, is loosely 

inspired by Disney’s 1941 animated film 

of the same name. Under the creative 

control of beloved and eccentric director 

Tim Burton, the film is expected to 

contain all the heartwarming elements 

of the original while focusing more on 

the stories of the humans surrounding 

Dumbo. Audiences can expect this 

version to primarily focus on Holt Ferrier 

(Colin Farrell), a former circus-starturned-war-veteran 

who is hired by circus 

owner Max Medici (Danny DeVito) to be 

Dumbo’s caretaker. When Holt's children 

realize Dumbo can fly, entrepreneur V.A. 

Vandevere (Michael Keaton) and aerialist 

Colette Marchant (Eva Green) attempt 

to exploit Dumbo’s talent for their own 

greedy desires. Not much is known about 

the title character himself. Well, except 

for the obvious – that he makes for the 

most adorable CGI elephant! For those 

wondering about cherished characters 

like Timothy Q. Mouse, there are no voice 

listings for any animated animals, hinting 

at the new direction in which this film is 

headed. Guess we’ll just have to see for 

ourselves when the ninth wonder of the 

world makes his return this spring. 


Aladdin 

Your wish has been granted! Disney fans should 

prepare to experience a “whole new world” starting 

May 24, as the love story between Aladdin and Princess 

Jasmine is brought back to life on the big screen. Prior 

to filming, Disney struggled to find diverse actors for 

the movie’s lead roles, who could both sing and act. 

That said, there is much promise for the actors who 

were chosen - Mena Massoud as the warm-hearted, 

street thief Aladdin, Naomi Scott as Princess Jasmine, 

Marwan Kenzari as the villainous Jafar and Will Smith 

as the beloved Genie. Smith has promised to put his own 

unique spin on the Genie while paying homage to Robin 

Williams’ iconic performance in the animated original. 

Although it was previously unknown if animal characters 

would appear in the remake, it has been confirmed that 

Iago the parrot, Jasmine's pet tiger, Rajah, and Aladdin’s 

partner-in-crime, Abu, will all appear via CGI. The film 

is expected to follow a storyline consistent with the 

original while utilizing director Guy Ritchie's actionpacked 

style to keep things interesting. New music from 

award-winning composer Alan Menken and La La Land 

songwriting duo, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, is greatly 

anticipated to be featured alongside classic tunes from 

the original. 

The Lion King 

Next in the line-up is this 1994 animated classic. For 

those who haven’t seen The Lion King in a hot minute, 

this movie tells the familiar story of Simba, heir to the 

throne, who must fight for his rightful place as king after 

his family is struck by tragedy at the hands of his uncle. 

After spawning numerous spin-offs, including a sequel 

and a successful Broadway musical, this childhood 

favorite is returning to the big screen as one of the most 

highly anticipated films of 2019. It seems that much of 

the storyline will remain consistent between the original 

and the remake, leaving the roster of star-studded cast 

members (Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé as Nala, 

Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, John Oliver as Zazu and Seth 

Rogen as Pumbaa) to spice things up. Fans of original 

songs like Hakuna Matata and Circle of Life, can rejoice 

since the new film will incorporate many of the same 

songs that made the first movie so iconic. Bonus for 

Queen Bey fans: She and Elton John have created an 

original song for the end-credits scene. There will be 

lots to look forward to when The Lion King drops July 

29, marking the 25th anniversary of the release of the 

original film. We love when things come full circle! 


Overlooked Tuscaloosa destinations 

By Ariana Sweany 

Tuscaloosa is a historically important and 

culturally rich town with many local treasures that 

often go overlooked. For those who call this place 

home, or for those who are just passing through, 

the following historic sites and local museums are 

essential to visit during one’s stay in Tuscaloosa. 


Capitol Park 

At one point, the city of Tuscaloosa served as the Alabama 

capital. From 1826-1846, Tuscaloosa boasted a picturesque 

capitol building. The building was built in the Greek revival 

style, complete with three wings and an expansive rotunda. The 

building was only used as the Capitol Building for a few decades 

and was later leased and used by Alabama Central Female College. 

However, in 1923 the building was burned to the ground during a 

fire which was started by routine maintenance repairs gone wrong. 

Today, the site of the ruins is known as Capitol Park and can be 

found on Sixth Street. The statuesque ruins create a haunting-yetcaptivating 

scene and are ideal for peaceful observation. 

Paul R. Jones Museum 

Also located on Sixth Street, this local museum houses the 

Paul R. Jones collection. The collection is composed of more 

than 1700 pieces of African American art, and is said to be one of 

the largest collections of African American art in the world. The 

collection is special partly because of its mix of art by both well 

and lesser known artists. The museum frequently collaborates 

with local elementary schools, striving to teach students about 

the importance of art in an exciting and educational environment. 

Paul R. Jones Museum frequently presents exhibitions to the 

public, showcasing artwork that celebrates black culture and 

artistic achievement. The museum is open to the public weekdays 

from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The Murphy-Collins House/Museum 

This quaint two-story green home is located on Bryant Drive 

and serves as a historic relic frozen in time, as well as a museum 

of African-American history. According to the Tuscaloosa 

County Preservation Society, the home was built in the 1920s 

by Tuscaloosa’s first black mortician Will J. Murphy. The home 

was built using brick and included other materials salvaged from 

The Old Capitol Building remains. The museum, although small, 

includes a surplus of artifacts and materials to help one gain 

insight into the past. The museum is open to the public Tuesday- 

Friday, 10a.m- 3p.m. 

Old Tavern Museum 

Originally built in 1827, this building originally served as 

an inn and tavern and was located on a stagecoach route which 

passed through Tuscaloosa. One of the oldest hotels in the state, 

the inn served as a resting place for soldiers, politicians, and other 

important folks. The inn was occupied as a private residence by 

several different families until it was restored in 1964 and later 

opened as a museum. Located near the ruins of Capitol Park, 

Old Tavern museum is a quintessential part of the history of 

Tuscaloosa. Old Tavern Museum is open daily for guided tours 

Tuesday- Saturday at 10:30 A.M. 

The town of Tuscaloosa is shaped by the stories of its people 

and it’s land. Visiting local museums and historic landmarks can 

be sacred, almost like stepping back in time. History is sometimes 

wonderful and sometimes horrible, but all stories are worth 

recognizing in reverence of those who came before us. Every town 

has a story, and Tuscaloosa’s story is one worth knowing! 


Jamison-Van de Graaf Mansion 

On Greensboro Avenue stands a local mansion 

which is open to the public and has interesting historic 

importance. The Italianate home is one of few homes 

still standing in the state of Alabama which was built 

prior to the Civil War. The 26-room mansion includes 

elaborate architecture, was commissioned for local 

political and businessman Robert Jemison Jr. in 

1859. The home was designed by Samuel Sloan, who 

also designed Alabama State Hospital for the Insane 

(Bryce Hospital). The mansion served as a public 

library from 1955-79 but is now open to the public 

for tours, weddings, and other events. The elaborate 

home is a Tuscaloosa time machine of sorts and is 

open for free tours every weekday at 1:30 p.m.


college women contributed to this magazine.

None of the 

images of 

women in 

this issue 

have been 

retouched. 


It’s in the bag 

Alice returns for an exciting Fall 2019 issue 

in October. Don’t miss it. Subscribe to the 

magazine at store.osm.ua.edu and receive this 

chic Alice computer bag with your first issue. 

Use code ALICE2019.* 

*Offer valid while 

supplies last. 


Positive Pods: 

Upbeat podcasts by women, for women 

By Lexi Wachal 

Podcasts are the perfect cure for music boredom. Long walks call for something to keep you 

engaged, but not keep your eyes focused on the screen. Enter, the podcast. There’s a podcast 

for every listener and every topic, and we’ve rounded up a few podcasts hosted by women that 

will be sure to keep you entertained and empowered. 

Don’t Keep Your Day Job - Cathy Heller 

This podcast is perfect for a daily dose of inspiration when the world seems like it’s just 

too much. Cathy Heller hosts this uplifting advice podcast full of happy stories and steps to 

help craft the life you want. Heller wants listeners to know their dreams are achievable. With 

exciting guests, most of which are entrepreneurs, the listener gets an inside look at how to fulfill 

their dreams. 

Stuff Mom Never Told You - Bridget Todd and Anne Reese 

Put on by the popular podcast How Stuff Works, this podcast is for those of us who 

constantly call our moms to ask random questions. Hosts Bridget Todd and Anne Reese do the 

research, and keep women updated about any issue they need to know about, even including an 

episode on why women’s clothes need more pockets. From politics to fashion, and everywhere 

in between, this podcast takes the guesswork out of staying informed. 


Call Your Girlfriend - Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow 

An oldie but goodie! This podcast is set up like a girls 

night with your best friends and has everything a girl 

could need. From discussing politics and world news, to 

Beyoncé and pop culture, it’s a little bit of everything in 

each episode. It’s funny and witty and the perfect show to 

share with a long distance best friend when you are each 

missing those quality talks. 

Good, Good Talks - Stephanie Lynn 

This biweekly podcast is essentially every young 

woman’s inner monologue. Still releasing new episodes 

today, host Stephanie Lynn weaves wit and humor with 

social commentary and news updates, as well as having a 

crowd of interesting guests. It’s a down-to-earth podcast 

that pours its soul to listeners, allowing them to feel like a 

part of the conversation. 

Off the Vine - Kaitlyn Bristowe 

Every Bachelor lover’s dream! This podcast is perfect 

for the listener who wants to let the stresses of the real 

world go, and enjoy a fun, light-hearted podcast. Host 

Kaitlyn Bristowe, a former bachelorette, shows her 

comedy chops in this hilarious podcast. With heavy hitter 

guests like Becca Kurfin and husband Shawn Booth, this 

podcast is a delight for Bachelor fans and otherwise. 

Another Round - Heben Nigatu and Tracy Clayton 

This Buzzfeed podcast. hosted by Heben Nigatu and 

Tracy Clayton, tackles serious issues like race, gender, 

and politics, with a hilarious twist. These women are 

funny, have serious chemistry, and make listeners feel 

comfortable talking about potentially divisive topics. 


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FRIENDS WITH THE MEAN GIRL 

INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS TO INSPIRE 

EVERY EATER UNDER THE SUN 

WOMEN WHO PUMP IRON: 

AN EMPOWERING MINORITY 

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By Bailey Williams 

“Perfectionism” is really not all that perfect. It took me a few 

years and some heavy tears to figure this one out. “Perfectionism” 

is really not as great as she says she is. 

In a matter of seconds, we can all probably name off the girls 

in middle school who sent us home crying to our mother’s arms 

because we didn’t put on our mascara right. We weren’t invited to 

the sleepover. We chose Bath and Body Works over Juicy Couture 

body spray. 

I became friends with someone like this after middle school. 

We stayed together through high school. We became even closer in 

college. They say college is when you learn who you really are and 

how much your friends shape you. In truth, I was thriving with 

her. Early into my freshman year, I discovered a lot about myself; 

my individualism, my determination, my organization, and my 

driven spark to do everything well to prove I could make it on my 

own. The friend of mine began to rub off on my behaviors, even on 

my thoughts. She introduced herself politely and as a natural social 

butterfly. We were inseparable. We were so close, we even spent 

the mundane details of the day together. This was my college best 

friend, Perfectionism. 

Like our friends in middle school, the story goes a bit the same 

way. Multiple times Perfectionism sent me crying to my mother’s 

arms. She told me my makeup wasn’t good enough. Then, nothing 

became good enough for her. She convinced me I wasn’t desirable 

enough to hang out with and could never obtain nice things, no 

matter how hard I tried. 

My friend Perfectionism convinced me that my eating habits 

were the next problem to fix. My ultimate guide to happiness, 

success and control were in Perfectionism’s hands. I was no longer 

in charge of my decisions. 

“Good foods only” was my mantra of grace. Meticulous meals 

planned weeks in advance were all that mattered. Skinny, slim and 

skeletal was my vision of success. 

I used to strive to strictly eat only real and quality ingredients. 

Somewhere along my genuine journey for being green, my path 

turned from walking down a road to wellness to walking on a 

tightrope of perfection. Any little movement swaying me off my 

thin rope of rules and regulations was enough to blow me down 


into anxiety, panic and punishment. 

Eating was my enemy. I was a foe to food. A prisoner 

to my perfection. Dictated by this disorder. 

I had come face-to-face with an unidentifiable 

reality. Completely stranded from the girl I used to be, 

I found my identity and body fat stripped bare. I could 

not find myself when I looked in the mirror. Nor did I see 

the girl I envisioned myself to be. The very things I tried 

to control: exercise, ingredients, perfect portion sizes, 

slim physique, were all staring hauntingly back at me in 

a contorted body I could no longer name. My demands 

had begun controlling me. And she was winning. 

I can vividly remember the “sick days” of sixth grade 

when anxiety came over me like a fever. Similar days 

hit me the past few years of college until they finally 

suspended me on a much longer sick leave than a day in 

bed with Disney channel and cookie dough. 

My new friend, Perfectionism-Morphed-Eating- 

Disorder, had taken so much of my time and focus that 

I looked more like her than I did me. Skin and bone, 

appetite unappealing, enthusiasm stripped bare, and 

passion as absent as my body fat, I had been hanging 

around with the wrong friend and it ended up sending 

me home. 

Who would have thought that being “too healthy” 

was a possibility. Perfectionism and Eating Disorder 

convinced me this was the lifestyle leading to 

fulfillment. It took a whole semester plus some digging 

deep into these issues and wounds to recognize the root 

of Perfectionism and Eating Disorder’s roles in my life. 

I listened to their opinions so much because I wasn’t 

secure in my own. I allowed their voices to speak to me 

when I questioned the power in my own. 

My new friend, Perfectionism- 

Morphed-Eating-Disorder, had 

taken so much of my time and 

focus that I looked more like her 

than I did me. 

It is now junior year of college, and I can confidently 

say, I’ve found my new friends. Their names are Love, 

Peace, Joy, Happiness, Completeness, Recovery, 

Restoration, Contentment and Life. They are with me 

always. They are my friends who will visit me when I’m 

down, celebrate in my victories, and check in on me 

because they care. 

If you’ve become friends with Perfectionism and 

whoever else belongs to her posse, I promise there are 

better girls out there. Don’t let the mean girls get you 

down. There is another friend group waiting to embrace 

you. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with disordered 

eating, the National Eating Disorders Association has 

resources at nationaleatingdisorders.org and operates a 

hotline at (800) 931-2237. 


Instagram Accounts 

to Inspire Every Eater 

Under the Sun 

By Hope Haywood 

The beauty of today’s social mediaobsessed 

world is that we can lean 

on complete strangers to give us 

guidance, inspiration, and even life 

lessons. Instagram in particular covers 

all of the bases in terms of #inspo. One 

of the easiest forms of inspiration to 

come by on Instagram is that of foodie 

accounts. These accounts are run by 

everyday people who have turned their 

passion for good eats into a full-blown 

business, and even better, followers 

can stare longingly for free. 

You probably have your go-to 

accounts for inspiration to bring out 

your inner Michelin star chef. There 

are accounts you can’t look at if you’re 

easily tempted, and the accounts that 

make you want to go through your 

freezer and toss out your pint of Ben & 

Jerry’s. No matter what kind of eater 

you are, there are food legends to 

inspire your every meal. 


For the dairy-queens 

@cheesebynumbers: 

If you have a weakness for cheese boards, 

but can’t seem to perfect that “Instagram 

aesthetic” we all strive for, this account is 

a must follow. The page provides not only 

photos for inspo, but a step-by-step guide 

on how to build the perfect cheese plate for 

any occasion. After viewing this page, it’s 

a guarantee you’ll feel confident claiming 

the cheese platter for your next potluck. 

@thisisinsidercheese 

@dailycheesedelight 

@burratagram 

For the daring foodies 

@foodbeast 

If you are the opposite of our health gurus, 

and like to overindulge in the finer foods in 

life, this page is for you. This account covers 

all of the food bases, including (but not 

limited to) 50-pound ramen bowls, pizzastuffed 

burrata cheese, and pasta served in 

pub rolls. This is not a page for the weak of 

heart, so if you are feeling slightly peckish, 

and maybe even vulnerable, do not click on 

this page. 

@foodgod 

@thenaughtyfork 

@freshmen15 

For the carb-worshipers 

@foodsofjane 

Are noodles your kryptonite? We get it, 

and we have the account to fill all of your 

inspiration needs. Jane Schafer, who 

identifies as “noodletarian,” runs this 

account that covers everything from droolworthy 

mac and cheese to wonton soup 

recipes. It doesn’t matter what shape or 

form the noodles come in, she covers them 

all. 

@foodloversdiary 

@nycfoodcoma 

@pizzablonde 



For the devout vegans 

@rabbitandwolves 

This one is for the vegans out there who 

are doing it all: eating clean and enjoying 

every second of it. With detailed recipes 

and aesthetically pleasing photos to 

go along with it, any Average Jane can 

recreate these super clean eats. The 

greatest part about this page is that the 

food sincerely looks amazing. Whether 

you’re vegan or not, you can give these 

recipes a shot. 

@veganfoodspot 

@rainbowplantlife 

@bosh.tv 

For the health gurus 

@wholesomelicious 

Certified nutritionist, mother and author 

Amy Rains is any health nut's ultimate 

inspo. She provides excellent healthy 

recipes ranging from zucchini noodle 

shrimp scampi to paleo peppermint mocha 

fudge. If you are focused on eating clean 

but becoming bored with your meals, 

Rains is your go-to gal. 

@holyhealth 

@hannahharvestinghealth 

@paleorunningmomma 

For the sugar addicts 

@purewowdesserts 

For those of you with a sweet tooth, it might 

be safe to assume that you are already 

following this account. If you’re not, 

what are you waiting for? With all kinds 

of cookie dough-covered, icing-smeared 

desserts, this page is highly triggering for 

those of you who are vulnerable to the 

sight of chocolate, sprinkles and more 

chocolate. 

@foodbykara 

@foodstirs 

@emcdowell 

@chocolatewithcoffee 


WOMEN WHO 

PUMP IRON: 

THE EMPOWERING 

MINORITY 

By Maleah Watt 

The first time I entered a weight room, it was 

uncomfortable. Foreign. I felt like I shouldn’t 

have been there. I attempted to lift a 15 lb 

dumbbell around men lifting triple the weight. 

My confidence was low, and I was petite. I looked 

weak, and I felt weak too. 

But the main reason why I was uncomfortable 

in a weight room was because I am a woman. 

Despite my uneasiness, I kept returning to the 

gym to lift weights week after week. Over time, 

I began to realize I was not lifting for others to 

see, but I was lifting so that I could feel sexy and 

secure in my own body. When I became stronger, 

I became empowered. 

Weightlifting has numerous benefits for a 

woman’s physical and mental health. And yet, 

only about 17.5 percent of American women meet 

aerobic and strength training recommendations, 

according to Center of Disease Control and 

Prevention. 

Maybe you’re thinking, “I workout plenty. I 

run on the treadmill and I do tons of cardio.” And 

that is a very good thing. However, it is not the 

only type of training you should do for your body. 

Building muscle is crucial for health in both 

women and men to protect and support bones. 

Cardio is a go-to for losing weight, but did you 

know weight lifting actually may do a better job? 

Cardio will help you lose weight while you do it, 

but when you weight-lift, you continue burning 

calories up to 24 hours post-workout. The two 

go hand in hand in an ideal fitness routine. 

You should protect your bones and muscles by 

strengthening them with weights, and use cardio 

to tone and condition your body. 

Some women have a fear of looking “too 

bulky” if they lift weights. Getting stronger does 

not make you look bulky. It makes you look toned 

and empowered. Letting others tell you different 

only gives them power over something they 

shouldn’t. 

Weightlifting is up to your discretion. Any 

amount of weight, exercise and rep amount will 

leave you stronger than you were yesterday. 

There is freedom in this form of exercise that lets 

you get creative with your gym time. 



This arm workout can jumpstart your love for weightlifting: 

Equipment: Dumbbells of varying, comfortable weights. 

Instructions: For every workout, aim for three sets of 10. Rotate through 

workouts to provide small breaks. Form is very important in these workouts. 

Getting the form correct is more important than lifting heavy weights. Once you 

have mastered the form, you can add more weights as desired. 

If you are unsure of how to properly do any exercise, talk to a professional at 

your gym. 

Arm Workout: multiple days a week 

Biceps Curl(2D): Use two dumbbells of a lower weight. Stand with your feet 

hip-width apart, holding a weight in each hand with your arms down at your 

sides, palms facing forward. This is the starting position. Slowly curl your hands 

up toward your shoulders, squeezing your biceps. Keep your elbows tight to the 

sides of your body. Repeat. 

Triceps Extension(D): Use one dumbbell for this exercise. Stand with your feet 

about hip-width apart. Hold a weight in your hands behind your neck, elbows 

bent and pointing toward the ceiling. This is the starting position.Without 

moving your upper arms, straighten your elbows and extend the weights directly 

overhead. Keep your shoulders down and your core tight. Repeat. 

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Overhead Press (2D): Use two dumbbells of 

a lower weight. Take two lighter dumbbells, 

and create two right angles by your head 

so that your arms look like a football goal, 

and your head is in the middle. Lift both 

arms to the ceiling above your head and 

lightly touch the dumbbells together while 

extending. Bring them back down to the 

right angles, and repeat. 

Trap Lift (2D): Use two heavier dumbells 

and hold them at the sides of your hips. 

Shrug your shoulders as if you are saying “I 

don’t know” with your body while keeping 

your arms straight and at your side. Repeat. 

Alternating Forward to Lateral Raise 

(2D): Use two dumbbells of a lower weight. 

Stand with your feet about hip-width apart. 

Hold a weight in each hand with your arms 

resting along the front of your legs, palms 

facing in. This is the starting position.With 

a slight bend in your elbows, slowly lift 

your arms straight up in font of your body 

until they are in line with your shoulders. 

Then, slowly lower them back down to the 

starting position. Next, keeping that same 

bend in your elbows, raise your arms out 

to the sides until they are in line with your 

shoulders. Slowly lower them back down. 

Continue this, alternating between forward 

and lateral raises. 

Upright Row (2D): Use two dumbbells of 

a lower weight. Stand with your feet hipwidth 

apart, holding a weight in each hand 

with your arms down in front of your body, 

palms facing you. With your back straight, 

core engaged, and chest lifted, slowly lift 

your hands to shoulder height. Your elbows 

should extend out to the sides. Squeeze 

your shoulder blades at the top and hold for 

a second. Slowly lower your hands back to 

starting position. 

Remember: Form is everything and 

weightlifting can target other parts of the 

body as well. 

Take control of your body and mind and 

prove to the world that no matter what 

weight you lift now, you will be able to lift 

more and more every time. 

Feel empowered and you will be. 


Unbelieva-bowl 

The latest smoothie trend is thicker, yummier and even more photogenic 

By Lucy Hanley 

With avocado toast and artful lattes 

dominating the online foodie scene for the past 

few years, it’s time to accept the undeniable 

supremacy of the latest social media food trend: 

smoothie bowls. 

Looking back, 2018 was a year characterized 

by talk of veganism, mirror-glazed desserts, 

superfoods, #CleanEating, avocado, and 

unicorn-themed everything. This year, 

however, is the year of the smoothie bowl. 

Not to be confused with the also previously 

trendy açaí bowls, smoothie bowls are new, 

improved, and even more aesthetically-pleasing 

than a traditional smoothie. While smoothie 

bowls can be traced back to eastern cultures, 

açaí bowls originated in one of the only regions 

where açaí berries grow, Brazil. The berry is a 

regionally-renowned dietary staple, commonly 

employed as a nutritional supplement for the 

diets of those who cannot afford expensive 

grocery lists. 

Origin aside, smoothie bowls exercise more 

freedom in the composition of their bases. 

It’s meant to include a variety of fruits and 

vegetables to suit the individual’s dietary needs 

or preferences. 

Despite their flexibility of constituents, the 

bowls are expected to be carefully coordinated. 

They were conceived as a way to pair low 

glycemic fruits with nutrient-rich vegetables, 

nuts and other toppings, ultimately creating 

a delicious, nutritious and filling meal. These 

bowls are designed to be served thicker, colder 

and with a spoon. Their unique texture—one 

which is similar to that of a sorbet—allows for 

the addition of virtually unlimited toppings 

including coconut flakes, granola, sliced fruit, 

honey, nuts and berries. 

Lower glycemic fruits like cherries, 

apples, oranges, grapefruit and pears reduce 

inflammation in the body and help to maintain 

stable blood sugar levels throughout the day, 

making you feel fuller and more satisfied with 

your meal. These fruits also promote both 

weight loss and maintenance, as well as lower 

your risks of developing heart disease and type 

2 diabetes. 

Other common smoothie bowl ingredients 

like avocado, chia seeds and various nuts not 

only help to create a thick, creamy texture, 

but they also yield lots of anti-inflammatory 

omega-3 fatty acids. As far as diet is concerned, 



omega-3’s are as close to purity as you can get. 

Foods rich in these fatty acids reduce your risk of 

heart disease, fight inflammation, keep your skin 

clear, and even help you sleep better at night. 

There’s more to this trend than photo 

opportunities. Smoothie bowls also encourage you 

to eat slower and more mindfully. The benefits of 

eating slower are so are quick to be overshadowed 

by the fast-pace lifestyle dominating modern 

society. Eating slower allows for better digestion 

and hydration, easier weight loss and maintenance, 

and a greater sense of satisfaction after finishing 

a meal. On average, it takes your brain about 20 

minutes after starting a meal to send out signals of 

satisfaction and tell your body that you’re starting 

to feel full. 

Not only do smoothie bowls pack an artful 

punch, they also provide consumers with 

seemingly limitless combinations of ingredients. 

As an excellent way to break out of the normal 

routine consisting of more “standard” meal 

options, smoothie bowls provide a great outlet for 

incorporating unique, nutrient-packed foods — 

those that you might not usually reach for—into 

your diet. Think about it, when was the last time 

you casually sprinkled raw coconut flakes, chia 

seeds or cacao nibs on your cornflakes?

Açaí Smoothie Bowl 

1 handful of spinach 

½-1 frozen banana 

½ cup frozen berries 

1 packet açaí (can be found in 

frozen food section at grocery 

store) 

1 scoop collagen protein 

½ cup of frozen, diced zucchini 

¼ teaspoon cinnamon 

1-1½ cups unsweetened almond/ 

coconut milk 

Combine all ingredients in a 

blender. Blend until desired 

consistency. Pour into a bowl and 

top with almond butter, coconut 

flakes, cacao nibs and sliced fruit. 

Chocolate Coffee Buzz Smoothie Bowl 

1 whole banana (preferably frozen) 

1 tablespoon nut butter 

1 scoop collagen protein 

2 tablespoons flaxseed 

¼ cup frozen, chopped zucchini 

3 tablespoons cacao nibs 

1 tablespoon cocoa powder (optional) 

½ cup chilled coffee 

¼-½ cup almond milk 

1 handful of ice 

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until desired consistency. Pour into a bowl and finish with toppings of 

your choice. 

Paleo Superfood Veggie and Blueberry Smoothie Bowl 

2 handfuls of spinach or kale 

½ of an avocado 

½-1 cup frozen cauliflower or zucchini 

⅓-½ of a frozen banana (peel, split and half the bananas before freezing) 

½-1 cup frozen blueberries 

2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds 

1 tablespoon almond butter (to keep your recipe paleo, make sure your almond butter doesn’t have any added sugar) 

1 teaspoon cinnamon 

1 cup unsweetened almond milk 

Optional: for a sweeter bowl, add honey or agave to taste 

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Pulse a few times, then, once the mixture is slightly chopped, blend on high 

until desired consistency. Pour into a bowl and top with melted coconut butter, dried goji berries, hemp seeds, cacao 

nibs and dried coconut flakes. 

All recipes courtesy of @foodbykara. 


An Affirmation to Heal 

By Peyton King 

I am forgiving 

myself for 

eating the 

wrong foods 

and feeling 

unworthy. 

I am nourishing my body with fresh food and clean water. 

I am enjoying the food I eat. 

I am mindful of the foods I consume. 

I am energized and happy when I eat well. 

I respect and am in love with my body. 

I am treating my body well and my body is treating me well. 

I am strong and healthy, full of energy and happiness. 

I am perfectly capable of balancing my life and nutrition every day. 

I am grateful for the challenges and positive doors that are open daily. 

I am healing. I am discovering my health. 

I am attacking the negative forces like a warrior with a sapphire shield. 

I am now the kind of person who can smile and radiate positive energies 

to others. 


TRUNK SHOW BOUTIQUE 

There’s a Trunk Show Boutique inside 

each Supe Store. Visit us at Ferguson 

Center or at the Corner on Bryant Drive 

to see our latest items in for Spring!

SPINE IMAGE 

DO NOT PRINT PAGE 

Vol. 4 No. 2 Spring 2019 alice.ua.edu

Alice Vol. 4 No. 2

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