We had the good fortune of connecting with Kay Kent and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kay, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
So, I’m actually from a small town in Southern New Jersey! My hometown is even smaller, in fact, a lot of people don’t even know where or what it is; Everyone knows everyone there and it’s like a pretty tight knit community. It’s very much family oriented and has a lot of history to it. In my opinion, there’s nothing really special there, other than that it could be a good place to live if you have a small family.

Growing up, and even still to this day, my dad always encouraged me to try my best and to advocate for issues I really thought needed to be brought to the public attention. During the COVID-19 quarantine, feminism really caught my eye. Before doing some researching, I really did not know what it was; All I knew was that it was something having to do with “girl power”.

After doing some research, I quickly found out what these women were advocating for. It wasn’t just coming together to gain power, but it was to bring attention to certain issues affecting women and to gain gender equality. Obviously, there is so much more to feminism (different waves, different opinions, etc.), but I knew I wanted to join the fight towards the goal to gaining equality. Especially during 2022, when the historical Roe V. Wade case got overturned, I advocated on social media for women’s rights to their own body. I was constantly sharing posts about bringing awareness to how this affects our society. With my dad being a father to 3 girls, he was naturally okay with me being a feminist and supported my avocation.

Besides a background in avocation, I also have a background in writing and graphic design, which aligned with what Girlhood Magazine was looking for. When I first found Girlhood Magazine, I was so intrigued with the mission to help empower young girls. I wanted to commit and support this organization with their goal.

6 months into dedicating my time with Girlhood Magazine, I got the amazing opportunity to become Co-Editor-In-Chief. I was thrilled to accept the position! Since then, I have helped build the organization and met so many amazing and talented girls!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As the Co-Editor-In Chief for Girlhood Magazine, I’m so thankful for this opportunity and this amazing community we’ve built! I’m so proud of all of the work we’ve accomplished and the platform we’ve built. I think what sets us apart from others is our mission to give young girls a comforting space where they can freely share their stories and connect with others. We’re different than other magazines because we don’t just generate content to publish into our issues; We make sure to make young girls from all around the globe feel heard and supported! Our issues feature creative works, whether it be poems, personal essays, artwork, or even interviews with other women!

Where I am today professionally has been such a fun journey, but I’ve had my challenges. Sometimes I run out of motivation and will not do anything for days. Trying to get myself to do certain tasks can be such a challenge at times; It can be especially hard when I have to balance school work and work for the magazine. With a positive attitude, I’ve gotten better at motivating myself, but I still have those moments where I mentally do not want to do anything. To say the least, it definitely was not easy, but with a determined mindset, it helps a lot.

I’ve learned a few lessons along the way. First, having determination and holding your head high can get you a long way. If you don’t believe in yourself and don’t have motivation, it will not get you very far. Having a clear mind definitely helps as well. Second, you have to go with the flow and understand not everything can go your way. Usually, I’m the type of person that likes to get things done before it’s due. But when others don’t turn in things on time due to say, personal reasons, you just have to go with the flow as you can not control them. Lastly, you have to have an open mind. With the media constantly changing, you have to be able to be okay with hearing new ideas and feedback.

What I want the world to know about Girlhood Magazine is that we’re more than just a magazine that publishes work, but we’re also a community that offers support and encouragement towards young girls. We want to make this community a safe space where everyone can feel comfort. We’re so proud of our work and accomplishments so and can’t wait to see what the future holds for us!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
So obviously, I am not from the Dallas area, so I can not say much about it. But if my best friend was visiting Philadelphia for a week, I’d make sure to give them the best experience I could offer to them. Here’s an awesome itinerary filled with lots of adventures!

Day 1: Arrival and Exploring Downtown
Morning: Pick up my friend from the airport and head to the Reading Terminal Market for some breakfast. They have lots of choices and basically everything you can think of.
Afternoon: Go see the Rocky statue! It’s literally such a Philly icon and a staple to visit.
Night: Go to a sports game. Whether it be an Eagles, 76ers, Phillies, or a Flyers game, it’s definitely an experience. Philly sports fun can be intense, but they can be a lot of fun.

Day 2: History and Education
Morning: Brunch at Talula’s Garden
Afternoon: Go visit the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the Betsy Ross House. Philadelphia is literally the History Capital of the U.S. and those are a lot of iconic places!
Night: Go to Geno’s to pick up some iconic cheesesteaks and then take a tour of Eastern State Penitentiary.

Day 3: Adventure and Nature
Morning: Brunch at Honeysuckle Provisions
Afternoon: Visit the Philadelphia Zoo.
Night: Visit Longwood Gardens and watch their iconic fountain show.

Day 4: Entertainment
Morning: Grab a bite to eat at Wawa because today we’re heading to the Jersey Shore!
Afternoon: Spend the day on the Wildwood Beach and Boardwalk.
Night: Grab some Mac’s Pizza on the boardwalk and ride some rides on Morey’s Pier!

Day 5: Thrills and Fun
Afternoon: Take a trip to Dorney Park for the day!
Night: Dinner at Cantina La Martina and visit the Franklin Square.

Day 6: Arts and Culture
Morning: Grab brunch at Dutch Eating Place and visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Afternoon: Visit Love Park and a mini photoshoot in front of the LOVE sign
Night: See a show at the Kimmel Center or the FIllmore!

Day 7: Relaxation and saying goodbyes
Morning: Take a small walking tour in Old City.
Afternoon: Spend a few hours shopping at the King Of Prussia mall.
Night: Have a light dinner at Maggiano’s Little Italy before saying our goodbyes.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to give a huge shoutout to Rhea Meka, Girlhood Magazine’s founder, for the amazing organization she created! I’d also love to extend that shoutout to Girlhood Magazine’s Executive Directors, Anusha Bhardwaj, Emily Diaz, and Nur Aqilah Umairah Binte Ashnol, who dedicate so much of their time to helping Rhea and I.

Another special thanks to all of our talented staff and supporters! This organization wouldn’t be the way it is without all of you and from the bottom of our hearts, we appreciate you so much!

Lastly, I’d also like to thank my dad, my family, and all of my friends for supporting me and encouraging me to advocate for important issues! You guys are literally the best supporters I could ever ask for and I love you all so much!

Website: https://girlhoodmagazine4.wordpress.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlhood.magazine?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/girlhood-magazine/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/girlhoodmag_

Other: Girlhood Magazine Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7i3kdumooDZJWgJbfcWo80?si=346a7b9d12f04b42

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@girlhood_mag?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

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