In the 21st century, with the ever-expanding horizons of technology, countless women turn to social media for entertainment and influence. That being said, we rely on many creators and distributors to produce such artistry; however, we, as consumers, face a large, growing problem: AI. A plethora of online content, including articles, artwork, videos, and even animations, is now being aided by or even produced with artificial intelligence. Not only does this defy the purpose of creating art, but it also completely eradicates the purpose an artist holds. This is a continuous problem newer generations face, yet it seems as if nearly no one truly acknowledges the severity… except for one young woman.
Olivia Periu is a student at Mother of Divine Grace, currently in her junior year. Olivia is one of many: an artist, vocalist, animator, content creator, writer, curator, and many more. Along these lines, Olivia, too, has grown quite frustrated with the growing lack of depth in artistic platforms. Countless pages on social media, television entertainment, books, and many other forms of media have indulged in AI usage or new minimalism. Olivia found that she was craving something more, something modernity lacked: traditionalism. Yet, instead of standing with the majority, Olivia decided to do something about it.
This autumn, Olivia took on the project of creating a digital magazine that held these values and purposes she sought after. She wanted something feminine, cunning, yet still staying true to what God has intended for women; this prompted Olivia to begin designing The Audrey Magazine. I, and many more, I presume, found myself desiring to learn more of the true values of her digital magazine, and what it was really about. That being said, I arranged for an interview between Olivia and me.
To start our conversation, I asked Olivia, “What exactly made you come up with the idea to create The Audrey Magazine?” She responded, “I came across a few online magazines that had beautifully crafted designs, which resonated with my style. I thought to myself, ‘What’s stopping me from creating a magazine like this, that also holds traditional Catholic values?’ I also wished to showcase Catholic girls like me, who do not get a lot of good representation in the media. One woman I model myself after, the late Audrey Hepburn, is infamously known for showing elegance and class. I thought it would be fitting to name my magazine after her.”
For my second question, I queried, “What makes The Audrey Magazine different from other online arts magazines?” Olivia answered, “What makes The Audrey Magazine different from other magazines is the handmade, original artworks that embellish each page. Long ago, almost all magazines had a team of artists who would create and embellish each page with care, using hand-drawn sketches and paintings. Unfortunately, that practice seems to have diminished in the current era. I want to bring such a traditional technique back by making each décor around The Audrey Magazine hand-crafted. Not only that, but to run a magazine by teen Catholic girls, for teen Catholic girls.”
For my third question, I asked Olivia, “What has inspired you to create this?” “My inspiration around The Audrey Magazine is my friends and older work done in magazines. I have seen my friends produce beautiful works of art in almost every genre; these God-given talents should be shared with the world, and what better way to do that than in a magazine made just for them. As well as that, I was inspired by vintage magazines ranging from the 1890s to the 2000s. The designs, hand-crafted drawings, inspired me to create my own magazine that cherishes such technique, and hopefully revive it,” she answered, graciously.
My fourth question began with, “What are your goals for The Audrey Magazine?” Olivia responded, “What I strive to do in the Audrey Magazine is to showcase the God-given talents of teen Catholic girls. In doing so, I hope to inspire and uplift others to do the same and pursue their art to the fullest of their potential.”
For my final question, I wished to ask the most important question of all. “If you had to tell the readers one thing, what would it be?” Olivia smiled, responding with “Whatever you choose to do in life, create. God is everywhere, and so is the art He has given us— so create for Him in all that you do.” This drew our interview to a lovely end.
To gather everything previously mentioned to an end, I find that Olivia is a pioneer in a world of young, female, religious creators. Not only has she created something new, but she has also created a network for other Catholic girls, seeking to create or be inspired. If you, like Olivia, are seeking something more, to honor God through the arts and media, perhaps you should look into The Audrey Magazine! You can find the Instagram page at @theaudreymagazine for more information. Do keep in mind, the magazine is still in project stages; Olivia is looking for more contributors!
