Mur is a Toronto scene queen and hair and beauty expert. On-set she specializes in stage hair and gel styling and online she showcases her ever-evolving hairstyles, from a bleached crop to her two-tone bob and expertly laid baby hairs.
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Corey Wash
in new york, los angeles, female, 2
Corey Wash is an artist and model based in New York. As her modelling career picked up momentum, her passion for art grew. While modelling started sustaining her financially, her art became an outlet to explore more complex issues through the lens of her main character, Willoughby.
Stats: 20.1k Instagram followers
Read MoreNik Théberge-Dritsas
Nik Théberge-Dritsas definitely has one of the most creative Instagram pages ever. By day, he does advertising for OCAD and does multimedia work with Toronto retailers ZANE and Opelle. By night, Nik hosts Chopped, a monthly dance party “where Vogue Nights meets Club Kid Couture.”
Read MoreAce Dillinger
Ace Dillinger is a Toronto-based DJ with a penchant for afrobeats, trap, and dancehall. Her uptempo, eclectic mixes can be heard at popular clubs like Apartment 200 and Oak Island. In addition to playing shows and building her own brand, Ace shares her DJ expertise with emerging female DJs at mixing workshop and panel series, Intersessions, hosted by Chippy Nonstop.
Read MoreRenata Kaveh
in toronto, fashion, photographer, female, 3
Renata Kaveh is a seasoned Toronto-based fashion photographer, set designer and art director. Her portfolio is stacked with shoots for likes of Elle Canada and Forbes, creatively capturing faces like Stacey McKenzie and MIA. This year Globe Style advisor ranked Renata among Toronto’s best dressed, proving that her fashion expertise transcends beyond the lens.
Read MoreJesse Boykins III
in male, music, music producer, new york, los angeles
Where are you from?: I was born in Chicago, Illinois and my childhood was spent in Jamaica, then Miami and New York. Now I’m here, in Los Angeles.
What do you do?: I sing and went to New School University for Jazz where I also taught myself how to produce.
What is your dream creative project?: I believe firmly in collaboration. I feel like that’s what the art of music is; being able to have a band and have different energies combining to make this one entity. I don’t have a problem producing my own stuff; I just never want my voice to be the only thing that’s expressed. I have a lot to say for sure but not only do I learn in the experience of collaborating with someone, but we definitely bring things out of each other. So although I have been collaborating with some people since 2007, I still love to bring in new talent.
Is there something you wish you knew earlier?: I did all right early on; I was an independent artist, shooting all my own things but would have videos on TV and was getting awards for things I didn’t even know I was nominated for. The main thing I wish I knew earlier on in my career is the art of collaboration with brands, like I did last year. It started by just taking a lot of pictures and conceptualizing ideas and then they’d meet me and I’d have more to talk about besides the music.
Tell us about the female project you’re doing and why did you decide to, instead of putting in the music, give women a direct voice with that project?: I always go back to my childhood and think about how certain situations were handled. I felt like most men didn’t necessarily take the time out to understand women. So I thought that was how you’re supposed to be as a man. And then growing older and having to deal with my ego within relationships, I realized that’s not how you should be as a man (laughs). Often when a man and woman have a conversation it feels like a show because of the concept of attraction. So with the women’s project I interviewed women ages 17-65 and asked questions that I felt they were probably never asked before. The questions were: ‘What do you love about being a woman?’ ‘Long term lust or short term love?’ ‘Tell me the first time you experienced love and the feelings that come with it?’ ‘Beauty or danger?’ ‘Climax or balance?’ ‘Chaos or structure?’ ‘All the things you hate about a man?’ ‘All the things you love about a man?’ ‘What’s on your list of a paper perfect man?’ ‘When I say Love Apparatus what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?’ And ‘do you like smiling?’.
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Paul Pusha
in new york, creative consultant, events, male, 2
Paul Pusha is a creative consultant and accessory designer living and working in NYC. After a career in fashion, where he worked for the likes of Alife and Hood By Air, he transitioned into consulting and designing masks and jewelry because he believed that they were better suited for his skills. Today, he runs AK Cartel, where he sells bags, chains, masks and bustiers, which merge high fashion and hypebeast seamlessly.
Read MoreBambii
Bambii is one of Toronto’s most viable new DJ exports. Her online posts and Instagram stories are just as unpredictable as her choices behind the boards but on both platforms, she comes off as effortlessly authentic and well-rounded. Bambii has been tapped to create mixes for Thump, The Fader and NEEDS&WANTS and has toured internationally, both as a solo act and as Mykki Blanco’s DJ. Between tour stops, Bambii throws her own parties, which serve as safe spaces for POC and LGBT folks.
With a growing following nearing 10k followers, Bambii receives over 700 likes per post, on average, with an engagement rate of 7.5%. Whether she’s jamming in an Uber or capturing the scene at one of her shows, her videos garner over 2k views.
Read MoreJess Albano
Italian-bred, Melbourne-born and Toronto-based stylist and self-described ‘fashion psychic’. Her international upbringing and travel-heavy lifestyle has given her a wider scope of trends and deeper consciousness of fashion production. As a #whomadeyourclothes enthusiast, ethical sourcing and sustainability are non-negotiables in her styling work and in her own line of unisex army jackets and accessories, Albano.
Read MoreShaquille Gilbert
Shaquille Gilbert is a writer and model based in Toronto. Since migrating from Montreal, he has made strides in journalism and fashion, with ambitions to merge both industries by eventually highlighting queer people of colour in the arts.
Read MoreAlex Salinas
Where are you from?
I am an earthy mixed Latina born and raised in Toronto. My father was Chilean and my mom is from Napoli.
What do you do?
I am currently a program creator and facilitator at a City of Toronto Youth Space. We are a non-traditional space where youth can attend programs that range from employment etiquette to producing beats.
What is your dream creative project?
Lately I have become obsessed with the sun, light and shadows so my dream creative project would definitely be a collection of photos I took of the sun and the way light is reflected on and off certain objects throughout the course of a day. I would love to have a series of both photos and film. I guess what’s stopping me is my lack of knowledge of film but that’s stupid because I still feel inspired by the imperfect quality of the photos I take on my undying iPhone 6s.
If your life were a movie, what would be on its soundtrack?
I am definitely a person who struggles with favorites. I have way too many favorites for my favorites to even BE favorites anymore. If I had to pick the top five I’ve been most recently listening to, they would be “Blessings on Blessings” OSHUN & Proda, “Que Te Pedi” La Lupe, “Da Art of Storytellin’, Pt. 1” Outkast, “Bombo Fabrika Remix” Little Simz & Gabriel Garzon-Montano, and “How Come You Don’t Call Me” Alicia Keys (her vocals, amazing). If my life were a movie, I would definitely expect my soundtrack to be a collection of sultry songs sung by La Lupe.
DJ GetLive!
GetLive is a New York-based DJ who spins everything from classic boom bap to high-tempo club mixes. The Queens native embodies the American Dream, having flipped his SoundCloud mixes into a residency at Schimanski, where he holds court in their Hip-Hop Room.
Stats: 13.8k Instagram followers
Read MoreWanze Song
Wanze Song is an international designer whose broad background is reflected in her eclectic designs. Having initially immigrated from China to Canada as a child, she built strong connections in Toronto’s design community and eventually graduated from Ryerson’s School of Fashion. Today, she runs her growing brand from Berlin.
Read MoreSam Houston
Sam Houston is a photographer and art director based in Toronto. When he isn’t working towards his Publications degree at OCAD or updating his aesthetically-pleasing Instagram, Sam works retail.
Read MoreDina Roudman
Dina Roudman identifies as a “loud and stubborn Taurus full of energy.” Otherwise, she is a creative multi-hyphenate with talents in photography, painting and modelling. For the latter she is signed to Dulcedo Models in both Toronto and Montreal and working towards a degree in graphic design. She has an impressive following of 24.9k followers on Instagram.
Read MoreParris Gordon
The jewelry designer and co-founder of Beaufille, a Toronto-based womenswear and jewelry brand thats been recently dubbed as one of the best jewelry lines by fashion designers, by Vogue Paris and has been worn by Lady Gaga, Yasmin Sewell and Net-A-Portiers around the world.
With a combined Instagram following of 38k, her brand’s demographic consists of 84% women, average age being 27, primarily living in London, Toronto and NY, with an average income of $48,800.
Read MoreSapier Behr
Where are you from?
From New York, still living in New York. For now...
What do you do?
I manage a luxury cosmetics store, but my passion really is helping people create their aesthetic through skin care and makeup. I feel like the term "makeup artist" has become synonymous with "beat to the gods" over the top instagram work. Once you really involve the wellness aspect of healthy skin care and lifestyle, and really work hand in hand with your customers on a regular basis, you can really help people form themselves into a representation of what they want to be. That's my passion.
What is your dream creative project?
I've always had this idea of being a "life-stylist". Basically, with all that I've learned in both the cosmetics and fashion world, I would love to help people get their whole life in order. From how they dress, what they put on their face, how they conduct their lives. Be involved in their entire lifestyle. Mostly I feel like people look to all these people on instagram to simulate what they believe is the ideal lifestyle, and I think there's room to find it within yourself. I'd love to help people be their own best self.
What are your go-to tunes for:
Getting ready to leave the house in the morning? - Duh, Whitney Houston everything. Can't start the day without Whitney.
When you’re exercising? - Beyonce, the entire Lemonade album. It's literally the only time I can listen to that album the whole way through. Beyoncé really takes you on a journey!
Going out for a night on the town? - Well it all depends. I have one playlist called "R&B Boyz" with old Trey Songz and Lloyd and Usher when I'm feeling sexy lol. But I also have one called "Pick Up The Phone" which is basically a compilation of trap music when I'm trying to be lit.
In your city, where is your fav place to:
eat? - Ciccio in Soho and no one knows about it but it’s literally one of the best Italian restaurants ever.
dance? - 205 Chrystie (when I don't want to see anyone I know and just shake my ass)
drink? - Flower Shop
shop? - There’s a string of small shops in Williamsburg on Bedford Ave between N4th and N5th that I buy everything at. (Trying to support those local businesses especially the women owned ones!)
Is there something you really want to do in your city that you haven't yet?
Go to the Statue of Liberty! I'm a terrible New Yorker and never do any of that cool stuff. But I'm trying to see the views from her crown!
Kindly recommend 3 people that inspire you…
Joseph of Mercury
Between his retro style and timeless tunes, Joseph of Mercury has managed to stand out in Toronto’s dense music scene. Before pursuing a solo career, Joseph had an impressive resume behind the scenes, penning and producing songs for Majid Jordan, Nelly Furtado, and Blood Orange. Today, he has a buzzy EP and unique visuals under his belt that has caught the attention of Globe Style and Billboard.
Though Joseph of Mercury’s has over 5k followers, his online reach is over 13k, with 25k impressions. His audience is main demographic is between 25 and 34 years old in Toronto, LA, London, Mexico City and New York.
Read MoreMimi Harris
Mimi Harris is a native New Yorker conquering marketing, modelling and motherhood simultaneously. She also paints and has a passion for music education, adding to the strong multi-hyphenate culture in NYC.
Read MoreRandi Bergman
You probably love the 90’s, but you definitely don’t love the 90’s as much as Randi Bergman does. Randi is a freelance fashion writer and 90’s enthusiast based in Toronto. Prior to being freelance, Randi worked as the Executive Digital Editor for FASHION Magazine and led her team to four consecutive awards for best website at the P&G Fashion and Beauty Awards. Now, in addition to writing, she hosts a throwback podcast, Capsule ‘98, where she covers all things 90’s.
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