Girls’ Life – July 2019

Publisher and Founding Editor

Karen Bokram

@girlslifemag

Creative Director

Chun Kim

Beauty & Editorial Director

Kelsey Haywood Lucas

@bykelseylucas

Fashion Director & Senior Editor

Jessica D’Argenio Waller

@jessdwaller

Associate Editor

Sydney Adamson

@sydneytayloradamson

Copy Editors

Chris Zang (Copy Chief)

Molly Glassman

Lindsey Silken

Contributing Editors

Kim Childress (Books Editor)

Sarah Wassner Flynn (Executive Editor)

@sarahwassnerflynn

Katherine Hammer (Content Assistant)

Emily Mullin (Editorial Assistant)

Interns

Shirin Baharlou • Bailey Bujnosek •

Griffin Kirk-Short • Allie Nagel •

Bolupe Olaseinde • Logan Potter •

Briana Ramos

GIRLS’ LIFE ADVERTISING

National Advertising Sales Director

Brooke Winters

Content & Marketing Director

Kelsey Haywood Lucas

Content & Marketing Associate

Sydney Adamson

Content & Marketing Assistant

Bénja Gladden

Materials to:

3 South Frederick St., Suite 806

Baltimore, MD 21202

GIRLS’ LIFE CIRCULATION

Consumer Marketing Manager

Paulette Paxton

RESOURCES

Have a general Q?

Check out girlslife.com/FAQ

Want to advertise or partner?

Email [email protected]

Wondering who to contact?

Go to girlslife.com/masthead

Girls’ Life and GL are registered trademarks of

Girls’ Life Acquisition Corp., Wilmington, Del.

All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

xoxoKaren

I probably shouldn’t say this, but there is literally no one more

surprised than I am that, after 25 years, Girls’ Life is still going strong. I

can still remember sitting on the steps of a printing plant in Mendota, Ill.,

holding the first issue. It seemed like an impossible dream to me then—

and it still does.

People ask me all the time how I got the idea for Girls’ Life. The

answer? I was working as an editor at Seventeen magazine and part of my

job was to read all the letters (yes, actual snail mail letters) from readers.

Like thousands of them.

Girls would share their worries about getting good grades, their

heartbreak over unrequited crushes, their anxieties about fitting in at

school, their puzzlement over puberty (“All my friends have their period,

why don’t I?”). Meanwhile, back in those days, Seventeen ran articles on

planning your wedding and decorating your first house (yep, really). The

only problem? Our audience at Seventeen was actually more concerned

about homework than homemaking.

So I decided that I would create a magazine for those unserved young

readers and their questions. And, 25 years later, we’re still doing it.

People also always ask me how much longer Girls’ Life will stay in print.

Usually I just shrug and smile, but here’s my real, too-long-for-random-

party-chitchat answer: We’ll keep doing this as long as girls need a safe,

supportive space to get the credible information and amazing inspiration

they need to be the best version of the person they want to be. And as long

as they want a place that allows them to dream bigger, live better, dare

bolder—and feel authentic and celebrated.

So, yes, we’ll keep asking the experts for their secret hacks to scoring

that elusive A in a tough subject. We’ll keep reporting on the societal issues

that hold girls back from their full potential. And we’ll keep shining a light

on real girls who have overcome challenges and pursued their passions.

Advice on how to cultivate a kind and supportive crew, handle the ups

and down of crushes, navigate the craziness of trying to pack in school,

family and extracurrics...all while somehow carving out time for some fun,

friends (and a little self-care)? We’ll keep writing about that, too.

And, yes, we’ll keep creating the most fabulous fashion and beauty

features, right alongside our books and food and fitness coverage.

Twenty-five years later, I still consider it an honor to edit this magazine

for you. And, for 25 years, it’s been my privilege to work with the talented

individuals who write, edit, design, photograph, model, style, sell, strategize

and simply show up and get done whatever needs to get done. They are the

heart, soul and true creators of GL. None of what you have in your hands

would exist without them.

The final question everyone always asks: What’s Girls’ Life going to be

like in the future? I can’t say I have the answer to that one, but what I can

promise you is that we are going to keep advocating and celebrating every

part of a teen girl’s life because, 25 years later, Girls’ Life is who we are...

and it’s what we do.

What’s your

favorite Girls’

Life cover of

all time?

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