International (skateboarding) Women's Day
LifeToday is International Women's Day and the day we celebrate women and all the amazing things they do. Women have always been a big part of our magazine and we wanted to take the opportunity to thank all of these special people. Skateboarding needs more like you!
Mila Franovic
fashion editor
Color is the only skateboard magazine in North America with an in-house fashion editor and we are damn lucky that it's Mila Franovic. This Serbian stylista has an amazing eye for fashion and makes sure our readers know what they should be putting on every morning to look fresh to def before they step out the door. She keeps all of us at the office lookin' good and laughing at the random hilarious nonsense that seems to pour endlessly from her mouth. When she's not brightening up our offices with her infectious personality, strange instagrams, and glasses full of coconut water that she extracts with a hammer and screwdriver, Mila Franovic is shutting the shit dowwwwwn DeeJaying some of Vancouver's hottest club events. We love ya babies!
Linda and Mila discuss office politics
Linda Ounapuu
operations manager
Ever since we shuffled our desks around a few months back, I've had the absolute pleasure of sitting across from our Operations Manager, Linda Ounapuu, sharing in her endless stream of anecdotes, expertly chosen music playlists and infectious laugh. Linda is the Wendy to our Lost Boys. She's the glue that binds the 7-plys of Color magazine, making damned sure our magazine gets out into the hands of our readers. Without her, we'd have boxes of mags just sitting around the office and we'd know next to nothing about Estonia.
Jenn Jackson
arts editor
Ever since Jenn Jackson took over as our arts editor, there's been no shortage of amazing artists featured in our pages. At any given moment, you can ask Jenn what's hot in the Canadian art scene right now and she'll quickly list of 5 people she's really into. From Nova Scotia to Victoria, her network of creative people she associates with is vast. Currently, Jenn is freezing her butt off in Banff working away at the Banff Center for the Arts. We don't get to see Jenn around the office as much as we'd like too, but it makes her rare appearances here all the more exciting and joyous. As an editor, I should mention that Jenn is extremely organized and punctual with her articles... and that makes me very happy.
Read about Jenn's recent residency at The Bruno Arts Bank in Color 10.1
Alexis Gross
contributing photographer/editor
Alexis Gross can show you how to load an AK-47, roll a fat-ass joint and put back the hugest pastrami sandwich you ever saw washing it down with a bowl of Moza ball soup and a pickle. She also has an incredible gift for photography and manages to get the best interviews out of skateboarding's most difficult subjects. So far this year, Alexis has ventured deep into the California desert with the crew from Comune, had her work exhibited as part of the Hour Hands show and hung out with Jereme Rogers just hours before he freaked out on drugs and destroyed the hotel room where they did the interview. We love ya 'lexis.
Alexis Gross with selections of her work inside the Comune office
Alana Paterson
contributing photographer/editor
Here's another one of our favourite female photogs who's not afraid to mix it up with the boys. Alana continues to impress us with her eye for timeless photography and consistently turns in amazing shots for us to ponder. She even earned herself not one but two spots on the highly coveted cover of our year-end Special Edition (9.6) and a place on the gallery walls during the Hour Hands photo exhibit.
Check out Alana's latest photo essay Filthmode MC in the new Color 10.1
Natasha Lands (aka DJ Cherchez La Femme)
renaissance woman
Tasha is a deejay, promoter, fast-talker, photographer, artist and all-around rad human being. Cherchez is responsible for throwing us some of the best parties this town has ever seen and she always comes through in a pinch when we need something. Sure it's next to impossible to get her out of bed before 1:00 pm, but once she's up and rolling, she doesn't shut it down til she's the last mutha fucka in the club. Natasha has an utter infatuation with the Wu-Tang Clan (specifically Ghostface Killah) and this earlier this year she not only brought him into Canada for the first time ever, she snagged herself a sit-down with the OG (although that didn't go so well... we'll tell ya later). On top of it all, Natasha just launched her own record label Student Loan Records and we expect big things from her in 2012!
Find out where Cherchez is spinning next by following her on Twitter @djcherchez
DJ Cherchez La Femme
Michelle Pezel
shop owner / 'zine maker
This year is the 10th Anniversary of Antisocial—easily one of, if not the, most iconic skateshops in Canada and much of that is owed to owner Michelle Pezel. A prominent figure on the West Coast, Michelle keeps the skate vibe strong and the boys in check. She is a dedicated individual who publishes her own all-girl skateboarding 'zine called Idlewood and has deep connections to the international organization Skateistan. She also rips a mean mini ramp. You're amazing Michelle!
Honourable Mentions
We could fill an entire issue with all the amazing women who have contributed to Color over the years. Here's a list of a few more key gals.
Jennifer MacLeod
Mish Way
Michelle Ford
Jody Rogac
Rhianon Bader
Jenilee Marigomen
Robin Black
Leah Turner
Julia Lum
Janine Prevost
Jessie Van Roechoudt
Michelle Carimpong
Libby Wann
Anna Kovler
Anne Cottingham
Sarah Milanes
Jackie Linton
Hana Pesut
Angela Fama
Jenny Charlesworth
Amy Mattes
Cheyenne Turions
(If I've forgotten anyone, my sincerest apologies)
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
