Underrated Magazine: Vol 1 Issue 3 - Luce Del Sole

Magazine is a student-run magazine
Underrated
the hidden talents of UofT! We
showcasing
topics including music, fashion,
discuss
beauty, movies, health, and more! You
astrology,
find us at Underrated Magazine on Instagram
can
Underrated Magazine on Facebook.
and
- LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT -
We want to acknowledge that the University
of Toronto Scarborough Campus, is built on the
territory of the Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat,
the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the
Credit Nations. This meeting place is still the
home to many Indigenous people from across
Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the
opportunity to work on this land.
- ABOUT US -

PLEASE READ.
Here at Underrated Magazine, we understand that we have a platform and with that platform, we
must do good in the community. Even though this issue is supposed to represent playfulness and
glee, we want to shed light on what has been going on around the world within the past month.
Below are some resources on how you can help India, Palestine, Venezuela, and the Indigenous
peoples of Canada.
India
https://covid.giveindia.org/
https://www.ketto.org/fundraiser/mission-oxygen-helping-hospitals-to-save-lives?payment=form
https://www.projecthope.org/
https://my.care.org/site/Donation2?
df_id=29863&mfc_pref=T&29863.donation=form1&s_src=172120CVBHM0&s_subsrc=FY21ERIndiaC
OVIDMediaOutlets
Palestine
https://palestinianyouthmovement.com/sheikh-jarrah
https://www.map.org.uk/donate/donate
https://www.pcrf.net/
https://www.pchrgaza.org/en/how-to-help/
Venezuela
https://give.unhcr.ca/page/51148/donate/1?
ea.tracking.id=SEM21_Venezuela&utm_campaign=CA_PS_EN_Venezuela&gclid=CjwKCAjwy42FBhB
2EiwAJY0yQidKeSenemDUg4rIZIv5FX2vZg99oY6bIxpeJVvFooKWbvDMdUjPLBoCgWIQAvD_BwE&gcls
rc=aw.ds
https://www.savethechildren.org/us/where-we-work/venezuela
https://www.projecthope.org/venezuelan-crisis-what-you-need-to-know/09/2018/
https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/countries/venezuela
Indigenous peoples of Canada
https://theindigenousfoundation.carrd.co/
https://www.gofundme.com/f/supportindigenouscommunities?utm_campaign=p_cp+sharesheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer
https://linktr.ee/torontoindigenousharmreduction
https://www.change.org/p/prime-minister-of-canada-stop-the-canadian-governments-legalbattle-with-st-annes-residential-school-survivors?source_location=topic_page

Creative Director's Note
Welcome back, I hope your summer is going great so far!
Although it is not exactly like previous summers we have had
in the past, I still hope you all are getting the most out of it. In
the meanwhile, let this magazine give you some tips and
tricks to have a nice and joyful summer or at least give you a
fun thing to read in your spare time.
For this issue, the theme is (obviously) summer and I
wanted to exemplify that as much as possible. I used plenty
of floral patterns and vibrant colours to represent the sun,
the oceans, and all things summer! I had a lot of fun
designing this magazine as summer is one of my favourite
seasons of all time. A special thank you to the team for
helping me out on this issue! I could have not done it without
all your support. A big shoutout to Maria Nikolaeva for
allowing us to use her photo for the cover of this issue, thank
you!
Without further ado, please enjoy this issue done by
amazing writers and talented artists. I hope you all have a
great summer and hopefully we all can soon enjoy the
weather to the fullest with outdoor patios and safe, covidfriendly
hangouts.
Gurkiran S.
Creative Director

TEAM
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tara Hejazi
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Gurkiran Singh
EDITOR & SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Jasmine Saini
WRITER AND SPOTIFY PLAYLIST MANAGER Victoria Veroni
WRITER Sarah-Mei Chen
WRITER Sarah Scott
WRITER Hailey Munroe
WRITER Maidah Afzal
WRITER Isabella Lombardo
WRITER Samridhi Singh

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
1 6
E n j o y y o u r S p r i t z
o f S u m m e r
11 15
I s S e a s o n a l
D e p r e s s i o n R e a l ?
B e a u t y
S u m m e r F a v o u r i t e s
37
T h e S u n s h i n e S t a t e :
A R e v i e w o f S e a n
B a k e r ' s
T h e F l o r i d a P r o j e c t
50
A n I n t e r v i e w w i t h
C o m e d i a n P r e c i o u s
C h o n g
19 22
P l a y l i s t : G O L D
A s k A n o n
23
T u r n i p B o y
C o m m i t s T a x
E v a s i o n
27
A s t r o l o g y / H o r o s c o p e

U N D E R R A T E D
ENJOY YOUR SPRITZ
OF SUMMER!
By Isabella Lombardo
Picture this. The sound of strange and familiar laughs
mixed with the scent of sunscreen and notes of vanilla
and coco cream dancing through the warm summer air.
Meanwhile sunrays, piercing from a clear blue sky, hug
your every move as you walk along a city street with your
favourite people by your side.
I've been doing some reading on the phenomenon of
summer’s mysterious spell and the effects it has on
people. Not so surprisingly, humans physiologically
respond to the summer season in a way that could never
be compared to the winter season (DiGiulio, 2016).
Biologically speaking, the human circadian rhythm is ruled
by having a steady light source to keep our body’s clock in
a functioning pattern (DiGiulio, 2016). The sun is the key
to the circadian rhythm for all life sources on earth.
Therefore, It is no surprise that our sun-filled summer
months work in our favor, by not only giving us amazing
tan lines but also helping regulate optimal bodily function
both physically and mentally (DiGiulio, 2016). Needless to
say, summer is just as well deserved as it is necessary;
which is why there is no better reason to take full
advantage of the summer ahead of us, and to thrive on
the natural gifts it has to offer. Yes, we may be staying
closer to home this summer than we previously
anticipated or planned for but remember, it is all about
your perspective. You will only enjoy what you perceive to
be enjoyable. Here are three healthy reminders as you
step into summer mode this year!
- 1 -

U N D E R R A T E D
Remember that EVERYONE is in the same boat
It is so simple to fall into the belief that no one understands
your summertime sadness, but believe YOU me, you are not
alone! We understand the desire for summer, to just feel
more like summer. Being the idealist that I am, I like to
believe that the worst is behind us, with this pandemic. I
promise you if you look hard enough, you will find that your
patience and perseverance throughout this unprecedented,
long season may just have impacted you in a positive way.
Let me give you a starting thought, I can confidently say that
you’ve learned that you are more resilient than you ever
gave yourself credit for and that is worth embracing!
Sources
DiGiulio, S. (2016, October 6). Yes, The Change In Seasons Really Does Affect Your Mood. HuffPost.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/yes-the-cooler-seasons-really-do-affect-your-mood_n_57ee93fde4b024a52d2ea6f7.
Silver, N. (2020, July 13). Circadian Rhythm: What It Is, How it Works, and More. Healthline.
https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sleep/circadian-rhythm#how-it-works.
- 3 -

U N D E R R A T E D
"This piece comes from my love for children's
books and my appreciation for mother nature.
I have incorporated bright and magical
colours for florals and trees because there are
so many undiscovered colours within this
world that mother nature has blessed us with.
The human-like figure represents mother
nature and how she carries the entire world
on her back with calmness and stillness. "
"Solitude and loneliness are often confused.
Solitude is a positive state to be in! There is
power in the bliss we feel when being alone. I
have created this piece to show calmness and joy
within being alone. The large landscape around
the human figure shows how big the world is and
the human figure describes comfort with her
body language within that large landscape. the
colours are warm yet bright to bring the feeling
of comfort, bliss, and calm. The lemons represent
longevity and purification, which are two words
to describe the process of being alone and being
okay with it"
- 5 -

U N D E R R A T E D
Maria
Nikolaeva
No idea is too big or
too crazy
Maria Nikolaeva is a 22-year-old
photographer and editor based in the
L.A area. Her style plays with the multi
colours of nature alongside the beauty
of city life. Not only does she make
dreams come to life, but she captures
them as well.
Cover photo is by Maria
NIK.OLSM
NIK.OLSM
- 9 -

U N D E R R A T E D
- 14 -

U N D E R R A T E D
What daydream am I wearing this piece in:
I’m in Hawaii. I’m rollerskating as the sun
is setting. The wind is blowing in my hair
as the sun is creating a dewy glow on my
face. I don’t have a care in the world. Life
is good.
Where to buy it:
Shirthttps://www.playhood.net/collections/tops/
products/red-rose-sketch-hawaiian-shirt
Shortshttps://www.playhood.net/products/redrose-sketch-shorts
pr_prod_strat=copurchase&pr_rec_p
d=6550043787315&pr_ref_pid=655003297387
5&pr_seq=uniform
Next on our list is this Vintage 90’s Floral
Wrap Skirt from Thrifted by Taylor
What is it: A maxi skirt that is originally
from Caractère, but is pre-loved.
Price: $30 CAD
Details: Since this piece is thrifted, it only
comes in one size which is 32 inches, but
wow, it is so cute. This black skirt is
covered in delicate white flowers which
are perfect for summer. This skirt also
features a slip which creates a flirty look
and drapes perfectly over the hips and
legs.
Background: Thrifted by Talyor is a thrift
store that was founded by Taylor McArdle.
The store includes items from apparel,
shoes, accessories, phone cases, and even
phone case charms. McArdle is located in
Oshawa/Courtice, ON where items can be
either picked up or shipped. Pieces are
either thrifted or pre-loved, but are in
excellent condition.
What daydream am I wearing this piece
in: I’m on a picnic with my best friends in
Trinity Bellwoods Park. We have a
charcuterie board set up with little puff
pastries. There’s a nice breeze that blows
through my hair which catches the eye of a
very attractive person. They ask for my
number and the rest is history.
Where to buy it: On Taylor’s Instagram
page, @thriftedbytaylor
- 16 -

U N D E R R A T E D
@mai_even
E-mail: info@maievenretro.com
Website: www.maievenretro.com
My name is Mai, I’m 24 years old and a parttime
digital artist.
My main occupation is studying Computer
Science, but when I close my laptop, I get to
open my tablet and start drawing. My
artistic style seems reluctant to fit into just
one box. I am a person with many interests
and I find inspiration in these and my
current mood. One great theme for me is the
70s retrospect. This includes flower power,
feminism, and anti-fashion. Others are
nature and dancing or flowy movement. As a
result, I draw a lot of flowers, naked women,
and butterflies.
As a digital artist, I am able to do projects
for people all around the world, whilst
sitting in my home in Denmark. I’ve been
lucky to get to work with some amazing
small business owners in the vintage
community, creating logos, stickers, and
graphics for SoMe.
You can find my illustrations, creative
collabs and more on Instagram (@mai_even).
- 18 -

U N D E R R A T E D
G O L D
Gold Playlist
Samba De Flora - Airto
Shadows Of The Night - Blue Feather
Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless) - Crystal Waters
Stages - Don Laka
Gamesofluck - Parcels
I’m A Kid - Jadu Heart
Evan Finds the Third Room - Khruangbin
Nomalizo - Letta Mbulu
She Can’t Love You - Chemise
Enjoy Your Life - Oby Onyioha
Drop Me a Line - Midnight Magic
Julia - Jungle
Everybody Loves The Sunshine - Roy Ayers Ubiquity
Sweetest Taboo (Soca) - Rebles
Gyöngyhajú lány - Omega
Preludio - Luiz Bonfá
Anenome - The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Dance (pt 1) Remastered - The Rolling Stones
Rock Number One - Cassius
Promises, Promises - Naked Eyes
Freaking Out the Neighborhood - Mac DeMarco
Buck ‘em Down - Da Beatminerz Mix - Black Moon
in Our Angelhood - Cocteau Twins
The Look - Metronomy
Team Favourites
Lover Forever - Babe Rainbow
deja vu - Olivia Rodrigo
good 4 u - Olivia Rodrigo
Levitating - Dua Lipa ft. DaBaby
Come Through - H.E.R.
Kiss Me - Sixpence None The Richer
Kiss Me More - Doja Cat, SZA
Samba De Flora - Airto
Sundress - MC Virgins, Yung Bae
Aqua - Blue Honda
I Want You - Mitski
- 20 -

U N D E R R A T E D
BLUSHED
ANGELS
Hey everyone! My name is Tiffany Cheung, and I
just completed my second year at Ryerson
University, where I’m majoring in the Creative
Industries, specializing in Graphic Design and
Media Business. I’m also the mind behind Blushed
Angels, an Etsy shop selling stickers and prints all
designed by me! Like many of my fellow small
business owners, I started my small business
during the COVID lockdown when I felt like I was
just wasting my life away. I thought to myself
since I know a bit about graphic design, why don’t
I start coming up with some designs and see if I
can turn them into stickers? And soon enough, I
was able to launch my shop in February 2021!
Blushed Angels are not only an online store but
also a place where I share all my other graphic
designs. Looking at my Instagram page, you’ll be
able to see that most of my graphics are a mixture
of pastel and bright colours, as one of my main
goals is to offer a sense of playfulness and raise a
smile to those who stumble upon my work.
Another prominent feature you’ll notice is my love
for adding smiley faces and the use of geometric
shapes, in which I am able to create lively
graphics without them being too overwhelming.
I’m currently working on a new project where I’m
designing cartoon illustrations inspired by the
Rubber Hose cartoon animations of the 1930s. I
have so far completed three illustrations and I am
planning to launch them as a new sticker
collection in the near future. All of these
illustrations and my other graphics are going to be
posted on my Instagram soon so follow my
journey along!
Etsy shop- @BlushedAngels
|www.etsy.com/ca/shop/BlushedAngels
@blushedangels
@blushed.angels
- 22 -

U N D E R R A T E D
“Tips for remembering your selfworth
and trusting the process?”
Look at Pete Davidson, if you saw him
in the street I assure you that you
would think he is just another
homeless man. But, damn now we
ALL thirst for him. He trusted the
process and the process trusted him.
If you want to know your worth, go to
a grocery clerk and ask what they
would price you as. Add tax. Trust
that minimum wage employee with
your whole self.
“I’m not really happy with what I’m
doing in school. I want to pursue
music. I’m worried my parents won’t
be happy though. Should I still do
it?”
Yes, you should do it but in a sneaky
way. Okay here’s what I would do. Do
it on the side as a “hobby” but make
it a serious hobby. For example, for
your electives take a music business
course. Convince your parents it's
just a hobby just like how old
YouTubers used to just do youtube as
a hobby before being an influencer
was a thing. Then, when you become
successful go up to your parents and
say “HA”. Exactly that, no context.
They won’t even know it’s because
you’re a success now. But you’ll
know, you’ll know everything.
“I think I have a crush on my
coworker

U N D E R R A T E D
Courtney is a UCLA student who
primarily sculpts and animates. She
has a great interest in all art
mediums as well as film; her goal is
to become a stop motion animator.
She has been sculpting with polymer
clay since she was 8, and loves to use
it to recreate every trend and meme
she sees!
Courtney currently runs an Etsy shop
with over 1000 sales featuring her iconic
meme jewelry including Vine earrings,
an iCarly inspired line of jewelry, among
many more! She advertises her shop on
her TikTok account with has over
370,000 followers! Her videos are fastpaced,
comedic sculpting clips of her
jewelry as well as highlights of her
animation!
@cosmicfuss
@cosmicfuss
- 26 -

U N D E R R A T E D
Aside from that, I love how simple
the game itself is. Personally, I
don’t like to think and strategize
too much during games as it
stresses me out, and takes away the
fun of the game. This casual
adventure-based game has just the
right amount of violence through
its dungeons, while also still being
very chill and laid back, kind of like
Stardew Valley.
Join me and all the other
anthropomorphic producers
in Veggie Ville as we help
Turnip Boy demolish Mayor
Onion’s Tax laws. Come one
now, what are you waiting
for?
As for replay value, Turnip boy
Commits Tax Evasion has multiple
endings so that you can live out
your wildest dreams of taking down
the government again and again.
It’s available on steam as well as on
the switch, so you can scheme and
terrorize Veggie Ville whenever you
want and even on the go.
- 28 -

U N D E R R A T E D
Joey Chu
I am a San Francisco-based visual artist traversing disciplines of illustration, design, film
and photography. I am passionate about telling authentic narratives through purposeful
design. I prioritize story at the forefront of my work, whether it is to convey a moment, an
emotion, or complicated concepts.
@__joeychu
- 36 -
My pursuit in the
creative industry
launched me
opportunities to
cover human
experiences all over
the world, tackling a
wide range of
subjects such as
technology, human
rights, cultural
experiences, and
trauma caused by
natural disasters.

U N D E R R A T E D
- 3 8

U N D E R R A T E D
In “‘The Florida Project’ Director Sean Baker”, a Spotify interview by Indiewire, Chris
O’Falt discusses with Baker his choice to highlight a lesser-known story. According to
Baker, screenwriter Chris Bergoch had made him aware of the events happening down
in Florida as he had travelled there to visit his mother. “He started sending me a few
articles from the local news about the situation happening down there, as well as photos
that he was taking while he was driving up and down Route 192 and saying ‘Look, there
are kids playing in the parking lot here, they’re playing wiffle ball. These kids live here.’”
(O’Falt and Baker 4:21). Baker, upon further research, decided to highlight the people of
this community, eventually leading to The Florida Project. Sean Baker explains the title as
what the purchaser of the land [of which Disney World now sits on,] called it, in order to
keep the plans on the “hush-hush” (O’Falt and Baker 4:00). He also went on to note that
living in these motels was a result of both the decreasing tourist attraction and the
recession of 2008 and its housing crisis, where people would move into the area looking
for work after losing permanent housing and would try finding residency in these motels
as it was their only choice (O’Falt and Baker 5:44).
As Baker mentioned, the Great Recession that took place in 2008 had left a housing
crisis. By the end of 2009, their housing issue had not rebounded, as money was used
towards paying debts rather than towards purchasing houses. Though The Florida Project
does not necessarily follow one, true story, it instead tells the tale of many during this
time and the unfortunate, lasting effects that can never truly be recovered without the
proper attention and accountability.
- 40 -

USED TO BE A BIG
“IT
SPOT.
CRACKHEAD
AND ALL
PROSTITUTING
LET IT BURN. LET
THAT.
U N D E R R A T E D
In an interrogative scene between
Halley and a neighboring motel
manager, Halley becomes aggravated
that their prices had changed. Doing
what she does best, she screams
profanity in an attempt to get her point
across, yet to no prevalence. “Listen to
you. And your child. No wonder you’re
in this situation.” (The Florida Project).
This interaction illustrates the intended
approach to Halley’s appearance, yet
when watching her daily struggle
towards finding her small wins, the
viewer begins to see a larger issue at
hand.
The U.S poverty rate is continuously
increasing, with over 7.8 million
Americans facing debt in 2020, reports
The Washington Post. Though entirely
fictional, The Florida Project places the
national issue under the spotlight as it’s
undermining villain, and the characters
act as mere victims to it. Less of a “pull
yourself up by the bootstraps” type of
film, we see an authentic interpretation
of what the constant dread of debt can
do to a person. Why does Halley act
brash when Bobby counts her rent in
front of her? She knows the value of her
money, as she had worked just as well to
collect each dollar to get it to his hands.
Why does she act inappropriately in
front of her daughter? It’s hard to keep
debt hidden when you’re living in a
300ft room with the manager knocking
on your door each day to remind you of
your dues. This movie reminds us all to
return to empathy, especially for those
failed by the system and the inequalities
that come with the lack of support and
the increase of an educated background
for job listings. Even those with their
lives set out for themselves fall back on
the jobs that are expected to be filled by
the less qualified, which takes away
from those whose lives solely depend on
these minimal wage jobs.
IT BURN.”
- 42 -

U N D E R R A T E D
Although Sean Baker is an independent director, he managed to attain a higher budget
for this film as a result of the prosperous Tangerine (2015). His casting direction hence
became seduced by Hollywood, where he would work with agencies that had strong
followings, as well as a larger network for actors. Though he feared recognizable faces as
it would take away from the realism of his stories, he couldn’t resist Willem Dafoe’s
“transformative power”, which was able to make Baker “buy this Bobby character as soon
as [Baker saw] him.” (O’Falt and Baker 13:35). I found this response interesting as I
couldn’t agree more with his choice, as Dafoe’s increasing presence in indie films have
grown accustomed to me. Largely known for his role in the Spiderman trilogy as Norman
Osborne/ The Green Goblin and even recently so as Nuidis Vulko in Aquaman (2018), he
has also appeared in well-crafted, gorgeously filmed movies that have fallen under the
mainstream media radar (such as At Eternity’s Gate (2018) directed by Julian Schnabel,
where he played Vincent van Gogh, or The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) directed
by Wes Anderson, where he played Klaus Daimler). Fortunately, Dafoe’s familiarity with
Tangerine (2015) gained Baker’s assurance that Dafoe was capable of working under him,
and would eventually lead to Dafoe’s Oscar nomination for the role.
- 44 -

U N D E R R A T E D
Other Summer Films to Stream
recommended by our TEAM
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
1. Tara: Call Me By Your Name (2017), 2. Gurkiran: High School Musical 2 (2007),
3. Hailey: Crazy Rich Asians (2018), 4. Sarah C: Mean Girls (2004)
5. Victoria: Midsommar (2019), 6. Isabella & Samridhi: Mamma Mia! (2008)
7. Sarah S: Promising Young Woman (2020) 8. Dina: Under The Tuscan Sun (2003)
9. Jasmine: 27 Dresses (2008)
- 46 -

U N D E R R A T E D
Hi Underrated Magazine! My name is Zachariah Highgate, a rapper, writer, and
content creator born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. I started writing and
recording music when I was 16 years old, but I was content creating on Youtube
even before that! Growing into the artist I am today has not only allowed me to
create music that speaks to my life experiences, but it has also helped me
diversify my content and showcase my abilities as a multi-hyphenate. I’ve
released several singles, EPs, and mixtapes over the years and am currently
working on new music to release in 2021. I also wrote for Margins Magazine
this past year and was able to create content for their monthly releases that
reflected myself and other racialized individuals in the city of Toronto.
Description: My new Youtube channel (TheZachariahExp) will follow my
“experience” in all aspects! I started the channel with my web series “Road to
Bloom” which documented my journey to complete my “Not So Full Bloom”
mixtape while spending time with my friends. I recently re-uploaded the
interview series I conducted on Instagram live last year (2020) to the channel,
with plans to continue it very soon. The interviews allowed me to speak with
talented individuals I’ve connected with over the years and develop my media
skills. I truly enjoyed facilitating them and found them to be informative for
both the viewers and myself! I have now introduced gaming (via live streams)
to the channel, which is something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time. I
grew up playing video games so I can’t wait to share this side of “Zee” with my
supporters while introducing myself into the Twitch universe (something I’ve
also wanted to do for a while). In the coming months, I would also like to start
vlogging on the channel in order to share additional aspects of my life.
Additionally, I plan to continue producing documentary/reality-style content
that follows my musical and personal life. I find it to be work I take great pride
in and I enjoy sharing my experience through a “reality television” lens. I’m
really excited and can’t wait to see where it goes! Thank you so much for your
support!
@TheZachariahExp, @ZachariahHighgate
@TheZachariahExp
TheZachariahExp, ZachariahHighgate
TheZachariahExp
- 48 -

U N D E R R A T E D
What is the process like when you have
to create your bit?
I usually write about my life. Honestly, I
feel a little like a phony talking about
this because I haven’t been performing
lately, I’ve been teaching. But, I write
stuff down that happened, or that I
heard about and then build it from
there. Performing it loosely at a show
and then building from there.
How did it feel like teaching your first class?
Honestly, I was approached by Kevin Frank who was running
the Second City school to teach comedy. I think they wanted
more female stand-up teachers. I felt really unsure because I
wasn’t really a seasoned comedian or didn’t feel like one. I
mean I’ve done it on and off for years. So in my first class, I
was really nervous. But then I’ve found that it’s not really
about me ‘teaching’ it’s really just being a good listener and
creating a safe creative environment for people to share their
stuff, and find their voice. So much of comedy is confidence.
It’s crazy. But I’m not going to lie, before every class, there’s a
part of me that goes, “I really have no idea what I’m doing, why
am I teaching this?”
Do you ever feel overshadowed by your
father?
I used to. Not consciously. I wrote my
first solo show about that. Not just my
father, my entire family is formidable.
My sister Rae Dawn who’s a very
successful actress, and my other sister
Robbi who was on a series. My mom is a
talented comedian. It’s a lot. I feel like
I’ve found my place more now. And
maybe it’s good that I live in Toronto, so
I have carved out my own place in the
world. But I really appreciate my dad
and what he’s achieved. It’s fun.
Since COVID has shut down a lot of
comedy clubs and even your own
classes, how else have you been
showing off your material/teaching?
I haven’t really been performing. I did a
couple of zoom shows and I did a few
live shows over the summer. I’m hoping
to start hosting outdoor shows when the
weather gets nicer. I’ve been teaching
consistently over zoom. It’s nice to have
that to do. I also host monthly shows for
the classes.
Do you have any memorable moments when
you were performing? Ex: someone laughing
so hard they got a heart attack.
One time I was at a show at the Underground,
a weed room that’s unfortunately closed, and a
guy in the audience suddenly passed out. Like
his head fell onto the table as he died. But it
turns out he had a ‘green out’, which I didn’t
know was a thing. I also did comedy at a
nudist colony called Bare Oaks. We were all
naked. It was very memorable.
Some people still think being a comedian is not a real job,
what do you say to that?
Well, it’s hard to make a living as a full-time comedian in
Canada. Even in the States most comedians also write for a
tv show or act or do other things. Some are on the road and
make a living that way. I think people judge a job by the
money you make from it. Teaching has taught me that some
people gravitate to comedy for different reasons and that’s
perfectly cool. I used to care way more about what people
thought of my career choices. Also, I felt like a fraud if I
called myself an actor or comedian when I supported myself
with ‘a joe job’, but now that only bothers me when I’m
trying to get a good mortgage or do my taxes. Most people I
know work in a gig economy. And in the end, it doesn’t
really matter. I think sometimes seasoned comedians get
upset when people who’ve only been at it for a year or two
feel like they're on the same level. It takes years to get really
good and it takes consistently performing to stay good. I
used to want to be a ballet dancer and it has the same need
for discipline. I have a lot of respect for that. But of course,
there are some people who just shoot out of the cannon
really great.
What is some advice you can give to others
who are starting to go into comedy?
Write as much as you can. Perform as much as
you can. Listen to advice from people who you
respect. Don’t compare. Find joy in the doing.
My dad always says, “Expect nothing and you’ll
never be disappointed.” I mean the pandemic
has changed the landscape. But Toronto is a
great place to start out as a comedian because
there are a lot of opportunities for stage time.
So as a comedian who's in their 20s, I’d say
perform as much as you can for 2 or 3 years
and get really good. And then go to New York
or Los Angeles or London. Because in those
cities-it's much harder to get stage time. And
that’s the only way you can get better.
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U N D E R R A T E D
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U N D E R R A T E D
bethshake
bethjef
Hello, My name is Bethany, 25, and I
specialize in gouache and digital
illustrations! I began drawing at a
young age and always found myself
going back - experimenting with
oils, markers, acrylics, etc. After
sharing my work on Instagram, I
began a small Etsy shop where I
now sell stickers and prints. I love
vibrancy and texture in my work, At
the moment I’m obsessed with
colouring pencils so my style has
developed into a lot of free-form
sketching and improvisation with
masking fluid.
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/littleboef
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U N D E R R A T E D
Hi, I’m Ria otherwise known as
fairy.freak on insta and TikTok
and I’m an online makeup artist
that loves creating fun colourful
makeup and eyeliner looks! My
makeup style links to my
username as I love incorporating
both my aesthetics from cute n
creepy things! My makeup style
also is inspired by my fave
hobbies including drag, anime,
art, and music!
fairy.freak
fairy.freak
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U N D E R R A T E D
artist feature:
mysticpaperco
Heavily inspired by Alphonse
Mucha, Mary Blair, and 90's
anime, I am a Vancouver-based
designer and digital artist born
with a passion for art. I have
been drawing since I could pick
up a pencil and it has always
been my biggest dream to run
my own illustration shop.
Although it is just taking off,
running Mystic Paper Co has
been one of my most pivotal
moments as an artist.
If there was one thing I
would tell my younger self,
it would be to not wait for
an opportunity to come
along, rather create my own
opportunities. You don't
need the newest drawing
tablet, the most expensive
markers, or the best office
to get started, just get
started.
@mysticpaperco
www.mysticpaperco.com
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U N D E R R A T E D
Bridgshop
My name is Bri, I’m a 22-yearold
jewelry artist from Southern
California. I make all kinds of
jewelry, but mostly earrings. I
dream of empowering people
through my work, and I’m
making my way there every day.
Twitter/ig/tiktok are all
@bridgshop
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U N D E R R A T E D
@taraboogie
www.taraboogie.com
@taraboogieillustrations
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U N D E R R A T E D
- 68 -

U N D E R R A T E D
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U N D E R R A T E D
@sijesns
@sijesns
- 72 -

U N D E R R A T E D
Poetry by AnneMarie
Armillotta
My name is AnneMarie Armillotta. With summer
approaching I am sure we are all looking forward to
going outside and enjoying the nice weather. I really
enjoy the summer as it gives me a chance to catch up
with all my friends and family and spend time outdoors.
As we all can relate summer was everyone’s favourite
time as a child, having fun with all the activities and
games we used to play. I hope you all enjoy my poem
and may everyone have a great summer! Stay safe!
- 74 -

U N D E R R A T E D
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U N D E R R A T E D
Ping Hatta is a Thai
illustrator and artist
living in Bangkok. Her
works explore
womanhood, subtle
experiences, dreams,
mystics, and attempting
to translate those
things intuitively into
visual form.
Ping works across various
mediums, including
painting, works on paper,
textiles, printmaking, and
digital. Her illustrations
have been widely published
internationally in British
Vogue, ELLE Thailand,
Marie Claire Mexico,
L’Officiel Malaysia, and for
brands such as Jo Malone
London, Sephora, and many
others.
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U N D E R R A T E D
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U N D E R R A T E D
giovannadraws
giovannadraws
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U N D E R R A T E D
Genna (rhymes with henna)
received her BFA in Graphic
Design in 2006 and worked at a
design studio until 2014 when she
took the leap to work for herself.
While she designs for a
variety of projects ranging
from stationery to art,
patterns are one of her
favourite things to create
because their puzzle-like
nature provides a challenge
that is very satisfying to
see come together.
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U N D E R R A T E D
marthalynnn
marthalynnn
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U N D E R R A T E D
C a i t l i n D a s
www.caitlindasdesign.com
caitlindas
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U N D E R R A T E D
Bear Studio Co
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U N D E R R A T E D
Nakane
Rika
rikanarts
Rika Nakane was born in Osaka, Japan. She is
currently a third-year undergraduate student
studying Neuroscience and Studio Art at the
University of Toronto Scarborough. Having
grown up mostly in Tokyo and Chicago, she
embraces her experiences and Japanese
culture in her work. Rika lives and works in
Tokyo.
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