Today we’d like to introduce you to Daphne Bryant.
Hi Daphne, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi! My name is Daphne and I’m a bit of a multi-hyphenate monster. What I mean to say is, I pretty much create whatever feels natural, though most people probably know me as the founding EIC of Dreamworldgirl Zine. DWG is a nostalgic multimedia publication all about girlhood, and it’s the best thing I’ve ever made.
Ever since I was little I’ve loved writing and reading, and I ended up going to Emerson College for Creative Writing. While I was there I got involved in a bunch of different organizations, but ultimately fell in love with print magazines and editorial. My junior year I got the impulsive idea to make my own, independent zine, something super whimsical and DIY, something that felt like an extension of my brain and the things that I adore. That was Dreamworldgirl! Now I live in Los Angeles, where I’m building our West Coast branch and working to form community that feels both genuine and spontaneous <3
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Certainly not! Then again, what is? When I started the zine it was just a hobby, but it has since grown, and there’s a lot that goes into running a zine as big and busy as Dreamworldgirl. You have to deal with internal and external disputes, constant marketing, managing multiple departments, etc.,. We just had our third hiring season, which is always hard; this year we received over 1,000 applications and conducted almost 70 interviews. And of course, even in a space as uplifting and beautiful as DWG, there are always haters. In the midst of all the chaos, you have to trust yourself, know your worth, and lean on your friends, family and team. You also have to remember why you started all of this, and why your mission matters, because it does!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Dreamworldgirl Zine is honestly more than just a zine! It is a creative space, community, and network for women and other marginalized gender identities. Nostalgia grounds our work, and we are super inspired by early 2000s magazines. What sets us apart? Our commitment to inclusivity and willingness to grow. Girlhood is the kind of thing that has been mainstreamed by cishet white women, and it often leaves out groups that I share intersectional identities with (such as POCs and queer individuals). DWG isn’t perfect, but we really do try to foster a space that platforms and is accepting of as many people as possible.
I’m very proud of the sheer amount of work we’ve done. DWG has only been around for a year, but as a publication we’ve done everything from photoshoots in Hong Kong to press at the Beverly Hills Film Festival. Spontaneity is also at the core of what we do, and at DWG we believe that good art doesn’t need to be meticulously planned all of the time: be impulsive, go for new things, make your dreams come true!
Anyone interested in buying a digital zine can do so on our website, while print zines are available at our in-person events in Boston and LA, as well as in select LA bookstores (check us out @ Skylight Books’ Arts Annex)! We also sell merch, offer virtual workshops, do paid promo and community-based ads, started a subscription service, and so much more: find our stuff @ www.dreamworldgirlzine.com!
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The zine industry is evolving, and having a bit of a renaissance right now. I think in the next 5-10 years we will surely see more and more popping up all over the world, especially those that mix online and in-person community. Both are important, especially in our current political climate, and zines are the perfect platform because they have always been so inherently political. They will continue to be, and you’ll see a plethora of messages from marginalized communities being delivered through mediums such as print, film, digi, and whatever else our awesome generation comes up with.
Pricing:
- $15 for a print zine
- $11.99 for a digital zine
- $5 for a virtual mag workshop
- $5 for paid promo on IG
- For ad and collab pricing, please email <3
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dreamworldgirlzine.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreamworldgirlzine/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dreamworldgirl-zine
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DreamworldgirlZine
Image Credits
Personal Photo: Iz Alexander
Photo 1: Alex Cullina
Photo 2: Isabela Costa
Photo 3: Shauna Gentile
Photo 4: Muse Studios
Photo 5: Kaitlin Wang
Photo 6: Emma Cahill & Rebecca Calvar
Photo 7: Natasha Cohen
Photo 8: Ana Lopez
