Newspaper Page Text
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THE YEAR OF THE UNDERDOG
MAN OF THE YEAR
Justus Steele, best known as Lonni Giovan
ni, is a stylist, model, actor and writer
hailing from Harrisburg, Pa.
For him, his underdog story begins with
geography. Because Harrisburg is such a
small place, he never felt like he fit in,
especially with his sense of style.
“I just never really fit in, and I just al
ways dressed differently,” Steele said. “I
always looked different, and everybody
thought I was from Cali or New York; any
where but here.”
He laughs now looking back at his young
er self.
“I always just felt like when I left the
house I had to look a certain way because
you never know who’s going to see you,”
Steele said. "But I didn’t realize I was in
Harrisburg, Pa., and nobody was going to
see me. I always just dressed like a ‘ce
lebrity,’ or someone that you would want
to know."
Upon moving to Atlanta, he quickly real
ized he could make fashion a long-term
deal.
He began to engage in social media
and has now worked with brands like
boohooMAN and Paul Evans. In addition,
he interned at “The Tonight Show Star
ring Jimmy Fallon, where he worked in
costumes and wardrobe.
Steele counts Luka Sabbat and Jaden
Smith as his biggest stylistic influences
today. He prefers to stay unpredictable on
a day-to-day basis, preferring not to think
out his ensemble unless it’s for a special
cause.
“I really dress how I’m feeling that day
and I also feel like you can never do too
much,” Steele says. “I don’t know, that’s
just me, I’m always going over and above.”
Jimeria Williams is a graduating senior at
Spelman College from Leeds, Ala.
She describes herself as an analytical,
creative, free-spirited artist. This is re
flected by her business, Jim’s Paintbox,
where she is able to bring her ideas to life
as a makeup artist.
She has been doing makeup since high
school, which she began to explore with
her clique of friends.
Williams is very close to her mother, who
is also her biggest fashion influence.
She describes her mother as being “fly
as hell.” In fact, she inherited her love
of beauty, specifically her appreciation of
red lipstick, perfume and vibrant colors-
her stylistic signatures--from her mother.
She absolutely glows when mentioning
her mother.
“My mom is 62, so she had me when she
was 40,” Williams says. “She had already
established herself and she had time to
really pour into me and allow me to do
whatever I wanted. That goes from ex
pressing myself creatively, intellectually,
visually, everything. It was cool.”
Because of this, her love of fashion and
makeup was allowed to thrive. For her,
this is her true passion.
“Makeup is powerful,” Williams says.
“That’s an understatement. It’s not con
fined to women or femaleness. You can be
whoever you want to be when you put on
a full face. There’s so much confidence
attached with that for a lot of people who
wear makeup. You know, if you’re feeling
bad one day, just putting on mascara can
make you feel better.”
Her business is a vehicle for her to con
nect with others while allowing her to ful
fill the larger purpose of Jim’s Paintbox:
womanism through beauty.
The first thing one comes to understand
when speaking to Davia Murray is the end
less love she has for her hometown.
“I don’t want to say life was like a mov
ie, but there’s no better city than Chicago
in my opinion,” Murray said. “Chicago is
home of some of the most diverse artists,
stylists, designers and rappers.”
Her interest in fashion was pronounced
from a young age.
“I remember being a little girl and I want
ed to be a fashion designer, so of course I
was watching America’s Next Top Model,”
she said. “I was looking at Tyra Banks,
people like that.”
Today, her fashion sense, and her influ
ences, are more eclectic. She counts her
influences today as being Tracee Ellis
Ross, Solange and Rihanna.
“i’ve never been that girl that’s had that
distinct style,” Murray said. “I've always
valued diversity. I like to channel a differ
ent look every day.”
When putting together an outfit, comfort
and personal aesthetic are most import
ant.
“It’s never been about the designers for
me,” Murray said. “I like the thrifty find.
You might catch me at Rag-O-Rama pick
ing out some nice stuff. I feel like a lot
of people associate style with money and
high end designers, but it’s not about
them, it’s about what you like.”
She wants to pursue broadcast journal
ism long-term and would ideally work in
the arts and entertainment realm hosting
fashion shows.
Memphis is a city rich in history and cul
ture. It’s the home of Elvis and Three 6
Mafia.
It could also be seen as the ultimate
home of the underdog exemplified by its
beloved "grit and grind” Memphis Griz
zlies. Despite having all the tools to be a
major market, it tends to be disregarded
at the hands of its larger southern coun
terparts like Atlanta and Houston.
Much like his city, Jordan Littlejohn is also
overlooked. Many people turn a blind eye
to his stylistic genius, and he recognizes
it.
“Growing up in Memphis, a lot of guys
are closed off from the fashion world,” he
says. “All guys know is Polo and Jordans.”
Littlejohn remembers always gravitating
to the bright colors of fashion icons like
Pharrell and Kanye. However, his biggest
influence came sophomore year of high
school when he heard Harlem rapper
A$AP Rocky.
Rocky name-dropped fashion designers
like Raf Simons and Rick Owens on his
debut project “Live.Love.A$AP,” and it
immediately piqued Littlejohn’s interest.
He began to do his research, and learned
about brands like BAPE and UNDERCOV
ER and became a student of the culture.
Now, he’s one of the most stylish people
in the entire AUC. He’s able to stay on the
cutting edge of fashion because of one
of his favorite hobbies: window shopping
and piecing together outfits in the Safari
browser of his iPhone.
Still, he never forgets the giant chip he
carries on his shoulder.
“Being an underdog is being able to do
things that people never thought you’d be
able to do,” Littlejohn says. “I’m sure a
lot of people would think somebody from
Memphis wouldn’t have style in compar
ison to guys from New York or LA or DC,
you know, fashionable cities. I want to be
able to prove people wrong. People from