lucky you to be related to Sun Hee! she’s amazing and one of the chicest ladies I know. in terms of competition, well, the truthful answer (for me at least) is that I don’t feel competition on a personal level. however, yes, there can be a bit of competition (in a healthy way) on a professional level. we’re all scrambling for the best stories for readers and there’s a bit of overlap. so, for instance, if I scored an exclusive with, say, Guido Palau in our September issue (which we did: check it out, it’s amazing) or Beyonce in our October issue (mum’s the word on whether that’s the case), someone at a “competitive” magazine might be bummed out. overall, though, the magazine community is tightly knit and tiny. so it serves people well not to be rabblerousers or drama queens

a) flip-flops. because communal showers are gross but foot diseases are even grosser b) makeup remover wipes. the reality is that in between schoolwork, socializing, and campus involvement, washing your face can fall by the wayside. whenever possible, remember to cleanse your face thoroughly at night but if not, at the very least, use a makeup removing wipe. Burt’s Bees and Yes to Carrots have good ones! c) dry shampoo, for the same reason as b. my favorite is Serge Normant’s but John Frieda has a good one too d) a quick and easy makeup routine. whether it’s a winged liner and pretty pink glossy lips or a bold red lipstick and clean mascara, have a go-to “look” that’ll make it easy for you to look polished. enjoy college—have the time of your life! :)

I was pre-med but eventually majored in English. here’s the truth: it doesn’t matter a whit what you major in. you should major in the subjects that you love and excel at. for me, pre-med was torture. I had to work so hard (not kidding: for organic chemistry I think I studied five hours a night, just for that one class) to do okay. but creative writing and English classes always made my heart soar. and they’d feel natural. at Teen Vogue (and at any other magazine), you have people who majored in the obvious, sure: English, writing, art history, communications, fashion, etc. but there are also business, Spanish, engineering, and a lot of “unrelated” majors. the key thing: experience. intern, intern, intern

well, it was such a long time ago that it’s a bit of a haze. I’ve been working at Teen Vogue almost seven years! I must’ve been around 24 when I got the job and it all transpired super quickly. Amy Astley called me on a Tuesday, I interviewed with her on a Wednesday, I handed in some ideas (called an “edit test”) on a Thursday, and I got the job offer on Friday at 8 AM! lesson: you never know when life will take a wonderful and unexpected twist and always be prepared :)