From the editor

Fun fact: when I got offered this job, I cried. And to be clear, I mean I cried with fear, not joy. That might sound absolutely ridiculous, to be offered your dream job and for the dominant emotion to be abject terror. But that’s the truth. I don’ t really like wearing heels. The idea of ‘networking’ with strangers brings me out in a cold sweat. I don’t have the first idea how to properly apply eyeshadow, let alone a full face of make-up. I hale public speaking – at best ii makes me lightheaded and anxious, al worst ii gives me panic attacks. I like nothing better than taking a screen break, reading a book and being in bed by 10.30pm. I am not, I thought, the person for this job. I am not, I thought, what a magazine editor is or should be.
Why am I telling you this? Because reading this issue’s big interview with our wonderful, talented and inspiring cover stars reminded me just how important these stories are. And we all have them. ‘I’m not super glamorous, and it’s hard to fit in a lot of the lime,’ admits Kizzy Edgell. ‘There’s a multitude of things I feel insecure about,’ says Rhea Norwood. ‘I’m far from the idea of what you think a “celebrity” is,’ agrees Corinna Brown. But, she adds, ‘that’s beautiful, because[ … ] that in itself is going to inspire loads of other people to feel like they can achieve their dreams.’ It’s true, and that’s one of the incredible, exhilarating takeaways from Netflix’s Hear/stopper.
When the show, an adaptation of Alice Oseman’s graphic novels, dropped in 2022, it hit the top 10 chart in 54 countries and became a viral sensation. Its depiction of the journey to figuring out who you are, your individual value and what you want to stand for as a person struck a chord with viewers of all ages and it’s not hard lo see why. The series is a resounding reminder that we all have our insecurities, and the more we can try to support each other through them, be accepting of them and open to sharing them, the closer we’ll get to learning to celebrate these perceived flaws or differences as the strengths they are. ‘We’re trying to paint a picture of what we want the world to be,’ explains Yasmin Finney.

From stereotyping Gen Z as filler-loving social media addicts and insinuating millennials would own houses if they weren’t so busy spending money on avocados and taxis, to lumping the entire younger generation together as ‘snowflakes’ – ii has to slop! Empathy, compassion, introspection, inclusion and, well, flat-out caring about our planet’s future – these aren’t weaknesses and society needs to stop acting like they are. All I can say is that if the Hear/stopper cast are any indication of where generations to come will take the world, I can’t wait.

Download from:

NitroFlare

• Cyber Magazine – March 2023
• Computer News Middle East – June 2023