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Bloomer in the Spotlight 🌼
Meet Azaila, who is fueled by mango-flavored bubble tea and The Sims.
Azaila is a bubbly (no pun intended) sophomore at a performing arts high school in Philadelphia. Below, we chat about her impeccable style, making internet friends around the world, and finding her confidence through social media.
Late Bloomer: What’s it like where you live?
Azaila: I actually moved to the city a couple of years ago so I’m still a little bit new to stuff. My mom––she’s very overprotective––she’s finally letting me go out so I’m really happy about that. We moved here because I go to a performing arts school in the city so it was easier for transportation. I used to go to a Catholic traditional middle school but then I was like, “I want to try something different for high school. I don’t want to do private school. I want to dress the way I want to dress.”
LB: What’s it like to go to a high school that specializes in the arts?
Azaila: Honestly, I know it’s going to sound really cliché but it’s amazing. I’ve made so many friends. I’m a very talkative person and I’m in theater, which is perfect because I like acting and dancing. I like singing a little bit but I’m not that good. Everybody is just so different and nice to each other. It’s really a perfect fit for me and I’m glad I changed schools up.
LB: You have such fabulous style. What’s the inspiration behind it?
Azaila: When I was in middle school I used to dress up really colorful and the way I wanted to. A lot of people––they wouldn’t pick on me––but they’d make little remarks to me. It would make me feel insecure so I wouldn’t dress the way I wanted to. My school was very traditional and a stereotypical private school. When I came to the performing arts high school, everyone was really edgy and grunge and indie aesthetic. Nobody cares what you wear. People will wear big platforms and no one will say anything to you. It’s all about your character. When I started posting more on social media, I got more comfortable in my skin and what I wore.
The girls who inspire me the most on social media are Jazzy Le and Fionnaleigh! Not only are their styles so cute and trendy, but they are so honest with their audience and have a genuine personality.
LB: What do you and your friends like to do in non-pandemic times?
Azaila: We would go to Starbucks or a sushi place and just sit there and talk for hours. We would literally do nothing––listen to music, watch YouTube videos. We’d have a bunch of sleepovers at my house because my house is closer to my school.
LB: In what ways has the pandemic affected your life?
Azaila: I’m doing virtual school right now. It honestly sucks because we’re in the theater program and we can’t really get the full experience. We get a monologue, learn it, and perform it in front of a camera. It’s just not what you want the freshmen to know what a performing arts high school feels like.
I feel like the pandemic takes a toll on everyone’s mental health. I’m doing OK because I’ve met a lot of people online, which is amazing . There are so many nice people but sometimes I feel lonely still, especially because I’m an only child. I’m just in my house all day. I don’t do anything. I try to go on walks and stay active, listen to music, and FaceTime people. It’s upsetting because you can’t really see your friends and we can’t do the things that we did in ninth grade.
LB: Once the pandemic is over, what are you most looking forward to doing?
Azaila: I want to go to New York City really badly. My friend Aiyana and I have planned a trip to go there after the pandemic but we’re not too sure because we’re still a little scared about everything going on. But we might have a road trip and invite other friends and just go to stores and get bubble tea and shop.
LB: Are you a big bubble tea person?
Azaila: Yes, I’m obsessed! Every time I go out I get bubble tea. I always get the mango with extra, extra bubbles. It’s really bad because there’s so much sugar but it’s so addicting. I even got my own tapioca pearls to make it at home. But I’m trying to not drink as much.
LB: What are some things that you do to take care of your mental health?
Azaila: When I’m feeling down, showers help me calm down so much. Cleaning my room, too. I always have to tidy up my room and keep myself busy. But also realizing why I feel this way because I know distracting yourself feels good, but realizing why you feel that way is also important. I listen to a bunch of different music like indie bedroom pop on Spotify. I’ve been reading a lot, too––just keeping myself busy and trying not to fall back into that hole where I was before. And trying different things, too.
LB: What kinds of different things have you been doing?
Azaila: I’ve been trying to play the ukulele. I’ve had it for years and I played it so much and then I stopped. I forgot how to play it but it’s getting back. I’ve been pen-paling, too. I have a pen-pal, Gea, and she lives all the way in Germany. She’s so sweet. We send each other cool different flavors of tea. We tell each other what songs to listen to, movie recommendations––just how we’re feeling, and catching up. We don’t text, we just pen-pal each other because we don’t want to get bored of it. Some of my other pen-pal buddies are Fadim, who lives in France and Kendra, who just moved to Colorado!
LB: I love that so much. How did you guys become friends?
Azaila: We became friends over Instagram! I actually met my online best friend on Friday. His name is Nate and we’ve literally been texting for over two years. We finally got to see each other and when we saw each other we just jumped on each other [laughs]. My parents are skeptical about meeting friends online but I’m like, “No, they’re really, really nice people!” [laughs] No, but the internet is very, very big. There are very nice people, but there can be mean people, too. You just need to watch out.
LB: Is Instagram your favorite app or do you have other faves?
Azaila: I love Sims 3 on iPhone but a lot of people play on their laptop. I love that game with a passion. I have Sims 4 on PC and all of the expansion packs but then I gave my computer a virus because of all the content that I downloaded. Besides that, I use Snapchat and YouTube a lot, especially TikTok. It helps me when I’m bored.
LB: What’s something that’s bringing you joy right now?
Azaila: I have three things. My best friend, Aiyana; we’re on the phone all the time. She makes everything so much better and she calms me down when I feel anxious––and I get anxious a lot. We’ve been friends for 10 years. She’s just amazing and is like my sister.
And my two dogs, Dora and Leonidas. They’re very sweet but Dora can be very hyperactive.
LB: Is there anything else you wanted to add?
Azaila: If you feel like you’re scared to post something on the internet because somebody’s going to judge you or you think your friend is not going to like it or you think the boy you're talking to is not going to like it, all I have to say is just do it. At the end of the day, your Instagram is your Instagram. Your Snapchat is your Snapchat. Your social media is just your social media. No one should have any input on what you get to post or what you get to say. If people are making you feel that way, honestly you should not have them in your life at all. People should be uplifting you and saying, “Yeah, go for it!” Surround yourself with positivity and positive people.
A few of Azaila’s favorite things:
Bubble tea: My love for bubble tea is unreal! The amount of times I get bubble tea in a week is very concerning. The cashier from Mr. Wish even knows my order and name. My go-to bubble tea order has to be the mango smoothie with extra, extra bubbles.
Manga: I am currently reading I Want to Eat Your Pancreas, Strawberry Fields Once Again, and Chi’s Sweet Home. The name threw me off for the first book, like what does that mean?? At first, I thought it was about cannibalism, but after asking a few of my friends, they said that it was about a girl who was dying of pancreatic cancer and that it would make me cry. I am a very emotional person, so I am waiting to watch the actual anime!! Reading definitely calms me down and it helps pass my boredom in quarantine. I am such a big reader and you will always almost catch me at Barnes & Noble on the weekends.
Fashion! Fashion! Fashion! I have been so comfortable in the clothes that I wear in the past few years! I expanded my taste in freshmen year when I finally got to see people wear what they wanted confidently and not care what other people had to say. I love shopping for skirts and shoes mainly! I am a very short person, 4’11 to be exact, so when I wear my Demonias or Doc Martens, I feel so powerful and tall. Something about being taller than other people who are usually taller than you just makes me feel so good. I am hoping to get the cute Hello Kitty Doc Martens this summer!! :) Some of my favorite stores are Minga London, Boogzel Apparel, and Urban Outfitters.
Sims 4: I wouldn’t be able to live without Sims 4. That game changed my life, literally. I remember begging my mom to get me all of the expansion packs for it and her saying “maybe” always got my hopes up. But I am so happy that I have been able to play it for so long and even play with other gamers as well.
Plants! I have over 20 plants in my room, which is very overbearing but I am in love with each and every one of them. My room definitely has the freshest air in the entire house my mom tells me that all the time. I have mainly pothos! And I absolutely love propagating them and putting them in empty places in my room. My obsession for plants definitely grew over quarantine!
tysm, Azaila! 🌼
Beyond the Algorithm 🔮
The weather is warming up (🙏🏻) and with spring right around the corner, we’re looking forward to trading our snow boots for chunky sandals (we’re still thinking about Carley’s incredible neon green platforms, tbh). So we asked: When it comes to spring fashion, what are you most looking forward to wearing?
1. “I am so excited to add more vibrant colors into my wardrobe! During winter I have been wearing many earth-toned colors and I have been seeing new pieces that are colorful and perfect for spring. I also can't wait to start wearing more dresses! They are my favorite piece of clothing and I tend to gravitate towards them out of any other piece. Zara just came out with colored jeans that range from yellow, green, and pink, and they are super cute and trendy. My favorite sneakers to wear with my spring dresses are Veja sneakers!” ––Allie Zacharia, 16
2. “When it comes to spring fashion my favorite thing is shoe fashion! During the other season you’re limited to the weather conditions and spring is perfect condition for any type of shoes. My favorite is wearing my platform white Steve Madden’s. You can pair them with any outfit and just makes me feel bold. I can use that extra height too, haha.” ––Ciara Gomez-Bryant, 15
3. “I’m very excited to wear lots of jewelry, specifically rings from @shopsweetthing on Instagram and necklaces from iamkoko.la. I’m also super excited to purchase new sets from I.AM.GIA!” ––Riley Luna Ford, 17
4. “I really can’t wait to start wearing more skirts! I’m a relatively small person coming in a 5’3” tall so there’s not much height on me. Not only that, but my torso is really short so while I have long legs for my body they’re not exactly long. Getting to the point, I have always liked skirts but I’ve always thought they looked bad on me so I’m really excited to try and push my comfort zone this year and try to wear some new skirts! I’ve purchased a few from a couple different places such as Los Angeles Apparel, Minga London, and American Eagle.” ––Alexia Ryan, 18
5. “I can’t wait to wear my Tevas, they have become a staple shoe in the warmer weather and there are tons of varieties. My personal favorites are the midform Tevas, I love platform shoes and these are both functional and stylish! Also the colors are super unique.” ––Caroline Skrebutenas, 17
ICYMI 🗞
Tiffany Haddish’s very endearing reaction to winning a Grammy. 🥲
Ahead of her new documentary, Dancing With the Devil, Demi Lovato opened up to The New York Times about her 2018 drug overdose, her queerness, and navigating identity: “It’s weird to think that I had more sense of identity as a 15, 16-year-old than I did as a 23-year-old.” 🦋
On Tuesday, a gunman opened fired at three separate spas within the Atlanta-area killing eight people, including six Asian women. This is just one the many hate crimes the Asian community has experienced over the past year. You can take action against these racist attacks by donating but most importantly, don’t stay silent. 🗣
In the meantime… ✨
We ate this spiced chicken coconut rice dish for din last week and are still dreaming about it.
And here’s a song to get ya through the week:
P.S. We wanna hear from you! 🐌
Want to nominate a friend (or yourself!) for “Bloomer in the Spotlight”? Got a burning question for “Plz Advise”? A brilliant recommendation for “Beyond the Algorithm” or an idea for something else?
Get in touch at latebloomernewsletter@gmail.com 💘