HER

My Name is Mariana Michalek and I am the designer and creator of the magazine you are seeing. I wanted to create something I was deeply passionate about. I knew that this would be the only way I would finish the project.

After evaluating what my passion project would be and the nervousness of a looming deadline, I decided to make my project about the celebration of women. Who they are, what they do, and what their beauty is. Although this magazine does not cover everything amazing about women, I hope it gives a glimpse into how inspiring and strong women are.

Women are the most influential and strongest people to walk the earth. In a world where society might categorize strength by physical attributes.

I see strength deeper than the physical. Strength is also mental, and emotional. Strength is picking yourself up wiping your tears and putting a smile on your face when that is the last thing you want to do. Strength is fighting to stand up for yourself in a world that picks on you for your weakness.

Despite societal norms, women prove themselves again and again by rising up to be leaders, warriors, and heroes. Not apologizing, being "ladylike" or being silent. If women did as they were told we would be nowhere as a society today.

My mom is the strongest woman I know.

She fights the stereotypes of women in Law-enforcement, every day. Protecting people in a men-saturated field. She raised me to work hard, be strong, independent, and to be kind. This magazine is dedicated to my women friends, family, and to every woman who opens it.

If I could tell my younger self anything, I would tell her that being a woman is hard, it's tiring, and it's not fair. I would also tell her I would not trade being a woman for anything in the world.