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FASHION MAGAZINE INTERNSHIP ADVICE

Published by Jessica Moy

Hello all!

I hope the first month of 2018 has been treating you kindly and that you’re smashing all of your bad ass new years resolutions. If not, that’s ok, you’ve got a whole new month coming up to try again.

RESILIENCE IS KEY!

If one of your goals this year is to get more involved in the fashion and/or editorial world, you’ve likely played around with the idea of internships. Internships are a way to kick-start your career, build relationships, and gain experience working in the field you’re interested in.

I created a video almost 5 years ago (yup.. 5.. years.. ago..) titled: My Fashion Magazine Internship Advice. I get questions in the comments section of this video all of the time and thought it was time for an update. If you want to watch baby Jessica, a recent graduate who went through a plethora of internships and had sweet side bangs, you can watch THAT video below.

Now for the updated version.

I created a video on Get Up & Go Girl (have you subscribed? You should by clicking HERE!) and curated questions I got from the above video and answered them below. Questions such as the best/worst parts of being an intern, how to handle competition, and the application/interview process.

Internships have helped me IMMENSELY when it came to observing and learning from talented editors, stylists, and photographers. It has given me an opportunity to be published nationally and was a giant stepping stone for my career. Of course, it’s not always glamorous (I mention the non-glam side of internships in the vid), but it will give you a better understanding if the fashion/editorial career path is right for you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rB1BDoB9V8

NEW YEAR, NEW ME?

Published by Jessica Moy

HAPPY 2018 MY LOVES!

Typically around the holiday season I get a little somber, especially since it’s my third year in a row away from my family. But, if I learned anything from the past few years is that you make your own happiness. I repeat: YOU MAKE YOUR OWN HAPPINESS!

Instead of curling into a ball and hiding away, on Christmas Eve I headed to Seoul to be with my friend Annie and celebrate December 25th with red bean donuts, ice skating, and treating myself with skincare related prezzies. And of course, I vlogged it all for ya.

My New Years Eve was way less eventful. I bundled up at home in my thickest blanket, gathered my favorite junk food (chicken burgers, french fries, popcorn, and chocolate ice cream), and had a solo Harry Potter movie marathon. It. Was. Ah-mazing. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is by far the best movie of them all.

I fell asleep around 11PM (lol, living the dream!) and woke up at 1:30AM with texts from my family in Canada wishing me a Happy New Year! Since I went to bed pretty early, I got up around 5:30AM to watch the sunrise at Dadaepo Beach. It’s a tradition in Korea to watch the first sunrise of the new year, and that’s exactly what I did.

Do you believe in the saying “new year, new me?”

I do. Sort of.

I’m not one to make resolutions but I do reflect on the past year and what I can do better, who I want to surround myself with, and goals I want to achieve for the upcoming year.

The year 2018 will be full of MEGA changes.

I’ll be starting a whole new chapter.

So in a sense 2018 will teeeeechnically be a new year.. new me.. right?

Also, I wanted to let you know that I might not be posting a whole bunch within the next few months. My focus is shifting to other projects, which I will share with you very soon. Until then, I love ya long time.

Let’s make this year the best one EVAAAAA-HHH!

Jessica

THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE

Published by Jessica Moy

Christmas isn’t a big deal on this side of the world, it’s another Valentine’s Day for couples to hold hands, take pictures with pretty lights, and have a quarrel by 8PM. You’re not in an official relationship in Korea until one of you storms off in rage in public. Sighhh, I love witnessing real life K-dramas.

It also doesn’t snow in Busan so it hardly feels like the festive season. But even when the weather does get below zero, I still order vanilla milkshakes (I can’t be the only one!) because how could you say no when it comes with a topping of caramel corn!

There have been a couple frigid days in the city, but that’s just a valid excuse to eat a copious amount of hot noodle soups. Whether it’s ramen, pho, or a kimchi jjigae, noodles are my ultimate comfort food.

My favourite kind of noods are the ones sold in the alley ways of Nampo. You just pop a squat with an ajumma and eat what they serve ya.

This isn’t the holiday season I’m used to back in Canada, but it will do for now. Have a happy, healthy holiday season my dear readers. Love ya long time!

THE HATE U GIVE – ANGIE THOMAS

Published by Jessica Moy

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas follows Starr, a teenage girl who witnesses a fatal shooting of her best friend, Khalil, by a police officer. The title actually derives from the rapper Tupac’s philosophy of THUG LIFE (The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody). True. Very, very true.

From the moment I opened the cover I breeeeeeeezed through this novel. I couldn’t put it down!

I admired the mention of African-American history and culture. Some references I knew such as the acknowledgement of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American from Chicago who was murdered for flirting with a white woman. But there were others I had to Google search (my history teachers would be so disappointed..) such as the Ten-Point Program, which was a set of guidelines written by The Panther Party, and Nat Turner, an African American who led the most effective slave rebellion in America.

These references were essential to the novel because it gave Starr’s character (and myself) further of understanding of race and police brutality in America.

What I loved most, however, was the resilience of Starr’s character. She was loving, complex, and an inspiration for those who are looking to find their voice. What makes her so relatable was that she was not totally fearless. There were moments when she didn’t speak up or lacked faith in herself. I think we’ve all been there, right? Having self-doubt and giving in to moments of weakness. It’s hard to rise up to an occasion when you’re scared out of your wits, especially when you’re in Starr’s shoes and the whole world is watching.

I highly recommend this politically relevant read to not only young adults, but anyone who wants a good fucking story about uplifting diversity and eliminating stereotypes. If you want to wait until the movie, it will be coming out next year, that works too.

Here are a few quotes I loved:

“This will sound mean, but just because Khalil’s not living doesn’t mean you stop living.”

“Sometimes you can do everything right and things will still go wrong. The key is to never stop doing right.”

“I feel like shit right now. I can’t believe I let Hailey say that. Or has she always joked like that? Did I always laugh because I thought I had to? That’s the problem. We let people say stuff, and they say it so much that it becomes okay to them and normal for us. What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?”

“Brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared, Starr. It means you go on even though you’re scared.”

SEXUAL ASSAULT: SHE’S NEVER “ASKING FOR IT”

Published by Jessica Moy

Sexual assault must never be tolerated. Period.

Any form of inappropriate touching without consent is not ok, even if it’s a person you know or consider a friend. Saying “no” doesn’t have to turn into a fight, it’s not a debate or up for discussion.

No means no.

Unfortunately, the word no is sometimes not taken seriously and because of this I (and millions of other men/women) have been grabbed, groped, pushed, forced, pressured, hurt.. the list goes on.

The way I dealt with sexual assault was I suppressed. If I didn’t talk about it, it never happened. But it did. It has happened to me and it wasn’t until my most recent encounter that I went over the edge. Enough is enough.

I came home from work, pressed record, and made the below video. Nervous to hit the publish button, I didn’t know how it would be received. Will I be judged? Not understood? Am I revealing too much information? Then I thought of the millions of men and women who are also victims of sexual assault and part of the #MeToo movement.

I posted the video and went to bed.

When I woke up in the morning, I saw a flood of messages from friends and followers who took the time to relate, support, and fill my heart with love.

Recovering from sexual assault is a process. There is no timeframe for healing.

Ask yourself: If this happens to you, what will you do? What will you say?

Write down a response. Read it out loud.

“This is not appropriate.”

“You are making me uncomfortable.”

“Leave me alone.”

“No.”

Even if you’re carrying your story silently, you are loved, cherished, and believed. You don’t owe your story to anyone. But for those who want to break their silence, speak up. Let the world hear you.

For more information visit RAINN, an anti-sexual violence organization. There are people who will listen and want to help. A better world is possible.

THE WORLD HAS ALWAYS BEEN RUN BY MEN

Published by Jessica Moy

“The world has always been run by men, and it still is today. Only thirteen countries and 6 percent of Fortune 500 companies are run by women. Just 13 percent of police officers are women, and only a few hundred are police chiefs. And less than 20 percent of the U.S. Congress is female. These numbers reveal a power structure that has marginalized women and others for far too long. We need to see more women in these roles – and more people of color, LGBT individuals, and members of religious minorities and underrepresented groups of all kinds. We are seeing what happens when power is held nearly exclusively by men. It gives rise to an environment in which, at its worst, women are treated as bodies to be leered at or grabbed, rather than peers entitled to equal respect. It wouldn’t solve all the problems we face if more women were in power – although I believe we could get quite a lot of good done. But one thing’s for certain: many fewer people would be groped and worse while trying to do their jobs. And that would be a major step in the right direction.”

– Sheryl Sandberg

Must read: Sheryl Sandberg Misconduct, Sheryl Sandberg Says We Must Change The Power Structure

GIRL POWER IN GAPYEONG, SOUTH KOREA

Published by Jessica Moy

Hello lovelies!

Quick blog post for ya! I wanted to fill you in on my latest trip to Gapyeong, South Korea for a pleasant Woman’s Empowerment Retreat organized by The Seoul Chic. Myself and 20 other ladies met up at Garang Pension (an hour or so away from Seoul) which was S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G, especially since it was in the middle of autumn and leaves were changing on the surrounding mountains.

We had a jam-packed weekend filled with fun activities such as pear picking, cooking/eating homemade meals, face masks, and personal chats about life, dating, and sharing stories about the pros/cons of being a foreigner in South Korea (we had A LOT to say..).

It felt nice to unplug for a weekend and fill the soul with lessons/life advice from supportive, ambitious women.

Check out my video for mooore!

IT’S OK

Published by Jessica Moy

It’s ok to be on your own.

Take time for self-care.

It’s ok to not understand.

Not everything needs to have an explanation. We are currently living on a planet that no one knows the exact age of, spiraling hurndreds of miles per hour in vast darkness, in a universe filled with matter we can’t truly identify. Yet, here we are.

It’s ok to stand up for yourself.

Don’t let people walk all over you just because they’re louder. Let them know your truth.

It’s ok to be sad.

Ugly cry it out. Scream at the top of your lungs. Let yourself feel your way through.

It’s ok to miss him.

He misses you too.

It’s ok to give into a moment of weakness.

Be honest with your feelings and remind yourself how far you’ve come. You will make mistakes but you’re also capable of making radical changes.

It’s ok to fall asleep early.

Put your phone on airplane mode, slather a thick layer of lavender scented lotion on your chest, and go to bed at 8PM.

It’s ok to take a step back.

Stop being so damn hard on yourself.

It’s ok to binge watch a TV series or read all day long.

The world can be a scary place. Do not feel guilty when you want to limit your news intake and check yourself out for a little while.

It’s ok to not love where you are in life.

Accept it. Then, when you’re ready, start over. It’s not easy but for goodness sake, take control of your own life. Travel the world, fill your heart with culture, pursue your passions, buy two boxes of greasy pizza and eat one without guilt and give the other to the homeless man on the street, challenge yourself, fail, run up a mountain and feel your heart beat so fast you think it’s going to fall out of your chest, kiss boys, kiss girls, be humble, fail again, celebrate, and stick to your guns. You have all the power to start your life over again. You do. And I don’t know how many clichés I have to tell you to make you believe me, I mean, who am I to tell you what to do. But what I do know is that you matter, there are people who care about you, and nothing is more empowering than igniting the fire within and letting it fuel your soul. The world can’t wait to see what you’re going to do next.

WEEKEND TRIP TO CHUNCHEON, SOUTH KOREA

Published by Jessica Moy

Before I get to Chuncheon, I want to rewind a bit and chat about last month when I went to Seoul for Hera Seoul Fashion Week. My last one, ever. WAH!

I am incredibly lucky to have attended four wonderful seasons of SFW, and each time I am amazed by the creatives in this city. I only had time to attend one show and invited my friend Dev to sit front row with me at NOHANT. The mix of prints and textures made me miss spring/summer already, not to mention the designer chose the best looking models in the game.

One model from the show stood out the most, Han Hyun-Min.

Born and raised in Korea, Han Hyun-Min is ethnically half Nigerian, half Korean. Stunning look kid, eh? I couldn’t imagine the struggle this 16-year-old (YES! 16!) had to/probably still goes through growing up in a homogeneous country. I have no doubt that he is going to make international waves in the fashion industry.

This season at SFW I stopped every human who either had glitter on their face or neon coloured hair to snap their photo and include them in my street-style beauty post for FASHION online. Want to take a gander at the photos? I KNOW YOU DO! See all of the magic by clicking HERE!

Ok! Now let’s get to why you clicked on this post!

The following weekend after SFW, I made my way to the city of Chuncheon for the Chosunilbo Chunchon International Marathon. I participated in the 10k run and finished in 58 min. AYY! The goal was under an hour, and I did it! I honestly didn’t think I could since I’m someone who (as of late) needs a moment to catch their breath after climbing a flight of stairs. If I learned anything from this run it’s that human endurance and strength can seriously surprise you sometimes.

Chuncheon is known for their dakgalbi (spicy chicken stir-fry) so obviously I had to partake in a feast while I was there. The Myeong-dong Dakgalbi Street is a famous street in the city that is lined with dozens of dakglabi restaurants. I ended up going into one that was not too busy, and an ajumma who worked there didn’t even let me order, she just started to give me food.

I didn’t hate it.

Dakgalbi is popular, not only because it’s delicious, but it uses simple ingredients such as chicken, garlic, sweet potato, rice cakes, and carrots (among other ingredients) and has a low-price point. I think mine came up to be $10? A great price considering a huge pan full of food (yup, pan, not plate).

I loved every second I was in Chuncheon, it’s a city that’s little worn down but it still has plenty of history and charm.

Did I mention I accidentally stayed at a love motel? They gave me condoms and massage oil. LOL! Oh yes. See it all in my latest vlog!

BEARTOWN – FREDRIK BACKMAN

Published by Jessica Moy

Finally!

After many months, I have finished reading Beartown by Fredrik Backman. This novel was a pretty intense read and covers topics relevant to society today – peer pressure, homophobia, rape, integrity, etc.

To sum it up, Beartown is a small community who lives, eats, and breathes their junior hockey team. The team could potentially give this town recognition, sponsorship money, and opportunities for players to get into the NHL. As an important game approaches, one of the star players comes under fire when he is accused of leaving a young girl traumatized. People of the town become divided and readers witness how society can quickly brush disturbing events under a rug when it comes to protecting the reputation of a town rather than a value of a single person.

The ending left me confused as hell (I won’t give away any spoilers), but it’s a good confusion. I’m constantly reflecting back on EVERYTHING that has happened and if you are a super sleuth you can probably figure it all out, but I haven’t, yet. All of this won’t make sense if you haven’t read the novel, but I’m looking forward to the sequel “We Are Against You” which should be published in the summer of 2018? Maybe? I was reading forums about the book (to see if they can answer some of my Q’s, but it only made me scratch me head more) and stumbled upon this question:

“In the course of the novel, we see that playing on a sports team teaches young people values like loyalty, responsibility, and commitment. But we also see instances of exclusion, aggression, and entitlement. Are their certain behaviors that are rewarded in a sports competition but considered inappropriate in daily life?”

When you play in a competitive sport, you’re taught that the other team is the enemy and you must win because winning means you’re better (entitlement). So, we often dehumanize the enemy because your only goal is to beat them, which can lead to fights (aggression). When a player on your team falls short, you cuss them out or sit them on the bench (exclusion). Yes, there are behaviors that are rewarded in sports competitions and considered inappropriate in daily life, but I think coaches have a huge impact on how their players view the competition. As much as coaches should teach proper skill sets for the game, there should also be proper sportsmanship training.

Growing up as an athlete myself, the emotional side of sports were often brushed to the side. Sometimes I didn’t know how to handle loses so I’d blame myself or lashed out at teammates when they didn’t pick up their weight. Sport competitions are emotional as they are physical. Perhaps high school, university, and junior teams should hire sports psychologists to provide positive reinforcement, teach athletes how to deal with anxiety and develop communication skills. Everyone would benefit. Having a sports psychologist on every competitive team could potentially be a solution to control the inappropriate behaviour outside of the game. Right?

In any case, here are some of my favourite quotes from the book:

“Success is never a coincidence. Luck can give you money, but never success.”

“Hate can be a deeply stimulating emotion. The world becomes much easier to understand and much less terrifying if you divide everything and everyone into friends and enemies, we and they, good and evil. The easiest way to unite a group isn’t through love, because love is hard. It makes demands. Hate is simple.”

“When are you going to admit that is isn’t ‘hockey’ that raises these boys, it’s YOU LOT?…Fucking men! You’re the problem! Religion doesn’t fight, guns don’t kill, and you need to be very fucking clear that hockey has never raped anyone! But do you know who do? Fight and kill and rape?…MEN! It’s always fucking men!”

“There are no women’s teams here, so they learn that hockey only belongs to them, and their coaches teach them that girls are a ‘distraction.’ So they learn that girls only exist for fucking. She wants to point out how all the old men in this town praise them for ‘fighting’ and ‘not backing down,’ but not one single person tells them that when a girl says no, it means NO.”

“Another morning comes. It always does. Time always moves at the same rate, only feelings have different speeds. Every day can mark a whole lifetime or a single heartbeat, depending on who you spend it with.”

TAKE A RIDE AT THE NAKDONGGANG RIVER RAIL PARK

Published by Jessica Moy

For the first time in a long time, I’ve been published in print!

PRINT IS NOT DEAD!

Kidding, print is definitely dying.. ever.. so.. slowly.. *sigh*

But! Let’s keep things positive and hopeful! You can physically touch and smell my latest article in the November 2017 issue of The Daegu Compass and read about my time at the Nakdonggang River Rail Park.

If you live in the city of Daegu, pick up a copy and flip to page 32. If you’re not a reader and more of the visual-type (you’re the reason why print is becoming extinct..), I made a vlog about my time at the rail park, which you can watch by clicking HERE.

THE BEST BEAUTY STREET STYLE LOOKS DURING SEOUL FASHION WEEK

Published by Jessica Moy

Fashion may have been the focus, but beauty reigned supreme as Korean trendsetters strutted the grounds of Dongdaemun Design Plaza with chic, puffy eye make-up, eyebrow slits and dramatic, striking lenses. Looks were bold, carefree statements that opposed tradition. Coloured hair of sunburst reds, icy blondes, and pastel pinks were a signature look amongst the stylish youth as well as cheekbones bedazzled with gemstones.

In the ever-growing wave of male beauty, men rocked flesh-toned foundation with edgy eyes and bold lips inspired by the latest K-pop music videos of EXO and BTS.

See the best beauty looks outside Hera Seoul Fashion Week this season.

Article and photos for FASHION Magazine.

I WENT BACK HOME TO CANADA

Published by Jessica Moy

I haven’t wrote a regular catch-up-with-me blog post in awhile.. eek.

Well, I guess it’s time for you to grab a cup of tea and take a seat because I’m feeling chatty! Also, I need to fill you in quickly about my life in Korea so the first half of this post is dedicated to that, and I apologize in advance as I know my thoughts will be all over the place.

READY? LET’S GO!

I am only in Busan for another 4-ish months and then I’m hitting the ground running toward my next adventure. People have been asking me what I’ll miss about South Korea and honestly, I couldn’t tell you because I haven’t been away long enough to know. Perhaps the kind people? Convenience stores at every corner? Cheap public transportation? The food? Well, maybe not so much the food, Korean BBQ.. MAYBE..I know I’ll miss are the picture perfect parks. I recently went for a 5km run at Samnak Riverside, the place with the best running trails in the city. My 10km marathon in Chuncheon is a couple weekends away and I am PUUUUUMPED! My t-shirt and number bib were delivered to my door and it made me smile ear to ear. I haven’t been training much, I’m essentially winging it, but I love marathons – the feeling, the vibe, the support.. I can’t wait!

OH! Something else I’ll miss about Korea is the hiking. I recently went for a walk up Hwangnyeongsan Mountain and went on a day where the sun was million degrees. I was sweating literally everywhere. At least the views were pretty.Changing subject matter.

Do you ever have one of those days where nothing goes right? You think the entire world is against you and you start flipping desks and knocking ice cream out of the hands of children because if you’re not happy, NO ONE CAN BE HAPPY! I had one of those days recently and my rage resorted to opening a bottle of wine and doing some online shopping on ROMWE. Apparently I needed a lot of rose themed items, and that’s exactly what I ordered. My favourite pick was the rose bralette featured below, cute right? Changing subject matter, again (told you this blog post will be all over the place).

I went on a rail bike adventure not too long ago and wrote an article about the fun-filled day for the Daegu Compass (YES, PRINT! IT STILL EXISTS!). As a result, I won’t give too many details, but you CAN watch the vlog.

Now, to get to the reason why you clicked on this blog post.

I WENT HOME TO CANADA FOR THANKSGIVING AND MET MY NEICE MILA FOR THE FIRST TIME! AHH! LOOK HOW CUTE AND PERFECT SHE IS!

It was nice to be back on Canadian soil, only if it were for just a week. I made sure pumpkin patches and apple picking were on my itinerary.My brother, his wife, their baby-boo Mila, and I went to Downey’s Farm and basked in the hundreds of pumpkins and apple trees. True bliss.It was nice to be around friends and family that I haven’t seen in a year and a half. It was like I never even left.Want to come home with me? Heh heh. Watch my lastest vlog of my trip back home to Canada and getting ALL DA BABY CUDDLES!