Survivors are the zine the world has been waiting for. Director Maria Polzin has created one of the few publications that utilize fashion and photography to empower survivors of sexual assault and spread awareness of sexual violence.
Last year the magazine joined forces with The New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault to produce 300 copies of their first print edition. The release party and exhibition, held at 8 Washington Mews, featured work that aided in erasing the wrongful stigma that often paints sexual assault survivors as “victims”, and instead emphasized their reality as strong warriors that cannot be silenced or shamed.
Survivors message transcends the print page and makes tangible and physical differences through their partnership with The NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault they are able to reach out to survivors who are interested in participating in the publication. From there, they meet with the participants, who creatively direct them on how and where they would best like to be photographed. The process is all about embracing confidence and re-writing a false narrative that has been unfairly pushed on many. As director Maria Polzin (@thevirginmaria) says “Positive Dialogue can only increase awareness and therefore, decrease violence. We must all work together to create spaces where judgment is not tolerated and feelings are not validated. Validating voices of survivors is two-fold because it engenders empowerment in those that are heard while changing the culture that promotes silence. Survivors Magazine exists to serve this purpose.”
The magazine’s first edition features photography by Emily Gordon (@emilygordinphoto), make-up artist and creative consulting by Hannah Woldetsadik (@khaaleesihanniye), creative consulting by Alston Waton (@alston2008), and cover artwork by Anjelica Roselyn (@anjelicaroselyn). And the zine’s social media is curated by Nairobi Hilarie (@melanin.monro) and Clayton Brown (@clayybaee), features profile pieces on inspiring survivors and creatives who are making a difference.
This year, Survivors mag is coming back bigger and stronger than ever. As the team gears up for the 2018 release of their second edition, we can expect to have even more powerful voices amplified and celebrated. To stay up to date on the release of the second edition, you can follow Survivors Magazine on Instagram at, @survivorsmag.
