“Furries”—a community of folks famous for their full-body animal costumes—are overwhelmingly white and male. We talked to ladies in the scene to find out what life’s really like behind the mask.Her eyes are huge, and their bright green color pops against her scarlet hair. But the most striking things about her are her ears, mainly because they’re pointy and the size of pizza slices. As we talk, she gesticulates with giant fuzzy paws. No, I haven’t just swallowed a tab of LSD—I’m talking with a “furry,” one of the many… Read more

The New York Times reports that Kesha and Zedd have released their new collaboration "True Colors," with the permission of Kesha's producer, Dr. Luke. The song comes amidst the continued legal battle between Kesha and Dr. Luke—Kesha sued her producer back in October 2014, accusing him of sexual and emotional abuse. It's Kesha's first new song since 2013. Zedd clarified on Twitter that the song was issued with the permission of Dr. Luke's label, Kemosabe, and RCA, another Sony subsidary. "We didn't use any loopholes,"… Read more

Thirty years after her death, iconic painter Georgia O'Keeffe is still making headlines for her apparently inadvertently controversial art. This week, a Michigan teacher was fired for using the word “vagina” during a classroom discussion of the artist's work. O'Keeffe’s stunning close-up painting of flowers have for years been interpreted as depictions of female genitalia. The artist consistently denied the validity of these interpretations. 1970s feminists celebrated O'Keeffe as the originator of "female iconography,”… Read more

I slept on a severely busted IKEA mattress with springs popping up everywhere and a caved-in middle for years because that’s how much I HATE mattress shopping. It’s so awkward lying on all the beds while a salesperson creepily hovers. And in most mattress stores, sticker shock frequently had me heading for the door before I even test-drove a single pillow-top. So when a rep from Sealy asked me if I’d like to try out their new Cocoon mattress, a memory foam “Bed-in-a-Box” that ships right to your door, it was like a… Read more

Marjane Satrapi is a graphic novelist and filmmaker and uses both of these mediums to tell the story of her homeland, Iran.Satrapi was born in Rasht, Iran, a city on the Caspian Sea, in 1969. According to Wikipedia, her parents were highly educated members of “an urbanized stratum of Iranian society.” They were politically active and supported Marxist causes against the monarchy of the last Shah. She’s related to the Qajar Dynasty through her maternal grandmother.The Qajar Dynasty was the Persian royal family from 1785… Read more

When I meet people for the first time and they ask me what I do, my first reaction is to smile. It always lands halfway between a snort and a laugh, and with my face bright I say, “I own my own business.” Inevitably, the questioning proceeds:“Oh, what kind of business?”“I sell products online.”“Oh, what kind of products?”At this point the smile comes back again. “It’s a little out there,” I say.“What?”“I have my own brand of personal lubricants.” And then I can’t help but laugh for real.Sometimes my job sounds… Read more

On April 15th, three of the youngest participants in the Tribeca Film Festival debuted their short film, Girl Band. 23 year-olds Cailin Lowry, Olivia Mitchell and Kerry Furrh, recent grads of the University of Southern California, wrote, directed, produced and edited a film about career-driven female friendships, in the hopes of turning it into a TV series. While Lowry, Mitchell, and Furrh are clearly very driven in their respective fields, I expected Girl Band was somewhat experimental based solely on their age. My… Read more

As Billy Joel once sang, "The good old days weren't always good." If you think advertising is sexist bullshit NOW, oh boy, you're gonna want to sit down for this one. Get ready to take a trip back, way back, to a time when newspapers and magazines ran ads like these without a second thought to sexism. Enough talk, let's dive right in: Oh, sweetie, did you think the "cankles" obsession was a recent phenomenon? I mean, it may be against the customs of public decency for a man to see your ankles, but BY GUM, if he's going… Read more

What makes mean girls mean? It's a question that has intrigued feminists, parents, and Hollywood for decades, but what do scientists have to say about this seemingly inevitable social phenomenon? The latest theories may blow your mind. One of my favorite books as a child was The Against Taffy Sinclair Club. It was a YA novel about a group of fifth-grade girls who form a club devoted to dissing their classmate Taffy. What was so wrong with Taffy? Well for starters, she made the egregious mistake of growing boobs. I… Read more

It’s easy to understand why powerful women and girls in literature have often proved to be inspirational characters for songwriters. Authors have already created compelling characters and storylines for lyrics, so the addition of a decent tune should equal a hit. Check out these ten top tunes, all sparked by fictional females: Charlotte SometimesPenny Farmer’s haunting children’s book Charlotte Sometimes (1969) is the inspiration for this single by The Cure from 1981. It’s the story of schoolgirl, Charlotte, who… Read more

The iconic Sonic Youth frontwoman can do it all, and if her new memoir, Girl in a Band, is any indication, she already has. Here, the indie rock pioneer, style idol, and art star takes us on a visual journey of her life, from her surfer girl days to her latest incarnation in the music/art duo Body/Head. When I was 10, we lived in Hawaii. This house had a lanai (patio) with a screened wing enclosing the side where my bedroom was. The tropical scents were always intoxicating, and fed my preadolescent fantasies. My… Read more

New Zealand-born artist Niki Boon started her photography project as a way to document her children's alternative childhood and education growing up in the rural environment of Marlborough, New Zealand without television or social media. The mother of four believes it's "a lifestyle that may seem unconventional to some, but I am here to celebrate the magical place I choose to live with my family."Niki captures the freedom of childhood as well as well as life without social contructs that affect the way we grow up and… Read more

Filthy, feminist, and fabulous—Brooke Candy is a pop star for a new ear. Here, she models some freaky fall fashions, and delivers some real talk. A former stripper and the daughter of Hustler’s one-time CFO, 25-year-old rapper Brooke Candy first caught our eye when she appeared in Grimes’ 2012 video for the song “Genesis” and pretty much stole the show. With her insanely long pink braids, metal body suits, and stacked raver-style sneakers, it was impossible to keep your eyes off her. Later in 2012, Candy released her… Read more

In South Korea, a coalition of LGBT activists are trying to start a wave against conversion therapy — a wave that’s barely visible for now.South Korea brands itself as a democratic nation, a polar opposite from its northern neighbor, and boasts one of the biggest economies in the world. But it's still largely homophobic.Edhi Park, a transgender activist for LGBT rights, knows this from experience. She was raised in a Christian family who taught her that gender aberrations like homosexuality were an illness. She… Read more

We are all very excited about Kazoo, the new magazine for girls which just exceeded its funding goal on Kickstarter. We love the idea of a new magazine for girls encouraging them to be "smart, strong, fierce, and, above all, true to themselves." Before we were old enough for Seventeen and Sassy, we learned to be confident and inquisitive thanks to these magazines! Put on your protective eyewear, you're about to get a "blast from the past!" 1. Girls' Life Since 1994, Girls' Life has been teaching us how to cope with… Read more

Happy Coretta Scott King’s birthday! The activist and Civil Rights leader was born on April 27, 1927 and died in 2006. Although many people know Coretta mainly as Martin Luther King Jr.’s wife, in reality, she was so much more. Besides being a Civil Rights leader in her own right, she was also active in the feminist, LGBT and anti-apartheid movements and was a lifelong advocate for human rights. Here are 7 things you didn’t know about Coretta: 1. Her Civil Rights activism went far beyond her role as Martin Luther King… Read more

When I was a kid, I loved The Wizard of Oz. Despite the fact that I found the flying monkeys and the Wicked Witch of the West utterly horrifying, I watched the movie over and over every chance I got. It was my first experience with loving the feeling of being scared, which now manifests itself in my love of the horror genre. It felt exhilarating to watch something with the underlying tone of terror, which came from Dorothy's feeling of being lost and alone. The set itself reflected the hopeless fear of her journey.… Read more

An “educational” film from 1937, “How to Undress in Front of Your Husband” begins with a warning to women that men could be watching us at any time. The male gaze — er, I mean, candid cameraman — snoops on two women while they are undressing alone in their bedroom, as the narrator explains:“In the old days the boudoir was considered a sanctuary where a lady could retire, if she wished to, in privacy. But in this age of snooping reporters and candid cameramen, nothing is sacred.” That’s right, ladies! The male gaze… Read more

We caught up with celebrated stylist Patricia Field as she prepared to close her legendary New York store. But for this iconic septuagenarian, the end of an era is more like a new beginning. You may not know Patricia Field’s name, but it’s impossible not to have seen her work. As the costume designer for Sex and the City, the most fashion-forward show of the late ’90s and early aughts, she was responsible for Carrie’s tutu in the title sequence and that classic nameplate necklace. The Emmy Award-winning stylist also… Read more

On Monday, Paul Nungesser, the alleged rapist of Columbia University graduate Emma Sulkowicz, filed a suit against the university for gender-based harassment. You most certainly remember the story of her carrying her mattress around campus and through her commencement in order to protest her rapist being found not responsible by Columbia. Nungesser has now filed a new 100-page complaint against the school.He originally argued that Columbia allowing Sulkowicz’s “Carry That Weight” art project and other protests were in… Read more

Today is the day we have all been waiting for, the day when all of our dreams come true. Sweetie darling, it’s the release of the Absolutely Fabulous trailer!In case you’ve been living under a rock (or in the US), Absolutely Fabulous is one of the BBC’s most beloved sitcoms. It has had a rocky life of on-air off-air since 1992, but the people have spoken and a feature film is what they desire! The film follows middle aged, but desperately hip PR agent Edina Monsoon and her best friend/enabler Patsy Stone as they… Read more

Members of the Martha Graham Dance Company model some bold spring looks ---Photographed by Kah Poon Styled by Emily Lentz JenkinsMakeup by Jerry LopezHair by Hikaru Hirano Special Thanks to Our Dancers: Tadej Brdnik, Lloyd Knight, Natasha Diamond Walker, and Ying Xin This article originally appeared in the April/May 2013 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today! More from BUST Kim Gordon And Her Daughter Coco Bring Back The '90s In Madewell Campaign Designer Hester Sunshine Talks 'Slutty Kindergarten Teacher'… Read more

Time to get a life refresh for a whole new Spring season - the BUST Craftacular has everything a stylish rebel needs to get back into the #spring of things. Get tickets here and RSVP on Facebook today to get updates!Here's what we've got planned for this edition: Over 30 of the choicest handmade vendors selling handmade items you can't find anywhere else.Rad activities to get you pumped for Spring, including Kitty Bungalow's Kitten Cabana! MeowBe one of the first 200 people through the dooreach day and get a FREE… Read more

Every month BUST selects some of the best new music out there. Our April/ May issue was full of artists that will have you ready to walk through the park, earbuds on, taking in some fresh new music. Here is a playlist of our favorites, so get ready to rock out with Tacocat and Parquet Courts, ponder the meaning of life with Frankie Cosmos, and just vibe out with Iggy Pop. Listen Below. More from BUST Listen To 23 New Songs BUST Loves This February Blazing To Beats: A 420 Playlist Beyoncé’s ‘Lemonade’ Is Here And We’re… Read more

It’s well-known that Hollywood doesn’t like seeing women of a certain age onscreen — and, far too often, “a certain age” means 35. In 2015, a study found that just 30% of the already limited number of women shown onscreen are over 40, compared to 53% of men.Director Lorene Scafaria knows just how hard it is to get movies about older women made. She directed the new indie dramedy The Meddler, starring Susan Sarandon as a recent widow who finds herself meddling in the lives of her daughter (Rose Byrne), her daughter’s… Read more

It is 2016. Young women like Amandla Stenberg and Rowan Blanchard are using their public platforms to start complex conversations about gender equality. Activists like Janet Mock and Laverne Cox are helping to increase transgender visibility in the media and by extension, in society. Matt McGorry is publicly (and hilariously) exploring how to "do feminism" as a man. Jaden Smith is the face of Louis Vuitton's new womenswear campaign, challenging the idea of gendered clothing and rocking the heck out of some outrageously… Read more

The cardinal complaint about online dating, other than the constant questioning of why did he feel the need to send that dick pic, is how difficult it is to meet online matches in person.Tinder user Jackie Daddio decided to solve this problem by inviting every single one of her Tinder matches to a collective picnic. After making a Facebook event called Jackie’s Collective Tinder Date, she individually messaged over 600 of her Tinder matches a link to her event page and the message “Come to this. All my Tinder matches… Read more

Rasenth is an illustrator, comic artist, and animator from California, currently living in Japan. You've probably seen some of Razzy's work on social media already, as these epic illustrated takedowns of sexism have been shared countless times across social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest. Since the comics made their debut on Razzy's Tumblr in 2014, they have become required viewing for anyone who needs help explaining the subtle ways sexism affects everyone's lives. Of the first series, Razzy… Read more

“I don’t really care why you’re an asshole. The fact that you’re an asshole is enough.”Martha Plimpton isn’t one to mince words, especially when it comes to reproductive rights. The actress, singer and activist has a lot to say — and even more to do — on the subject of women and their health as well as the people (or assholes) trying to restrict reproductive rights. Plimpton is the co-founder of AisFor, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing women's reproductive rights and ending the stigma against abortion… Read more

The only people having more fun than you will while watching Shaan Mutiyaaran Di dance are the dancers themselves. The all female NYC-based Bhangra dance team—whose name translates to “the pride of women”— has been taking the competitive bhangra world by storm. Bhangra is a traditional folk dance from the Punjab region of South Asia and is typically male-dominated in competition; all-women teams are uncommon and all-women teams winning are almost unheard of. SMD was founded in 2008 by Dheerja Kaur after she graduated… Read more

As we get older, it’s easy to worry about our looks and to fear invisibility. The antidote to that is Advanced Style, photographer Ari Seth Cohen’s online homage to older people’s street style. His second book, Advanced Style: Older and Wiser (out April 26 from powerHouse), features photos of amazing women and men from around the world who make every day a performance with their wardrobes. Forget invisibility, these gorgeous seniors shine in their fabulous getups. The book also includes a few essays from A.S. all… Read more

Denim Day is an international movement that grew out of protest to a 2010 rape case that was overturned because the judge said that the survivor's tight jeans meant that she must have helped her rapist remove them. Every year, people wear denim on Denim Day as a way to fight rape culture and raise awareness of sexual assault. Join Fashion Week Brooklyn this year on April 27. For the past three years, I, Stewella Daville, have been recognized in the fashion industry as a high fashion model. I have had an amazing career,… Read more

We’ve got good news and bad news about Twitter.The bad news is that Twitter seems to be notorious for online harassment: doxing, threats of violence, public shaming, Gamergate, MRAs, rape threats — we could go on. We all know that Twitter struggles to compete with the growth rate seen by other social networks, and their attempts to lure new users to the Land of the Blue Bird (longer tweets! Polls! Algorithms! GIFs!) have failed to acknowledge that repeated harassment is, for too many, the reason for leaving… Read more

Sheer tights have ditched their conservative baggage. These printed versions give the illusion of tattoos without any commitment. Except, of course, a commitment to looking effortlessly lit. Hand Painted Beetles Tattoo Tights, $22.92tattootightstatul.etsy.com Girl With Balloon, $34.50hottattoosocks.etsy.com Mary Jane Tights, $13dollskill.com Two Become One Printed Sheer Tights, $33.95trendylegs.com --- By Callie WattsPhotos by Megan SeniorModeled by Olivia HarrisonShoes by Lulu's (Beetles Tights and Two Become One… Read more

This April is the 20th National Poetry Month, and what better way to celebrate than by curling up with a good book? While most of us can name at least a few women in the field, here’s a list of contemporary poets you may not be familiar with. 1. Claudia RankineRankine is a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets and has published five volumes of poetry, two plays and various essays. Her 2014 book, Citizen: An American Lyric, won the PEN Open Book Award, in addition to numerous others, and was a finalist for the… Read more

For a world so big, people have never seemed to stop asking themselves the basic question of “How do I meet other people?” When you live on a planet of seven billion, a part of you just wants to say, “Just walk outside! That’s it.” But it never really seems to be that easy; especially in the age we live in, where people feel more comfortable with a virtual interaction than one of the physical form. In fact, it would seem that the more comfortable we become with meeting people online, the more fearful we are of having… Read more

The internet is an amazing place to share thoughts and ideas and create a unique dialogue between writers and their readers. I am grateful for criticisms, new information, and the expansion of a conversation though the format of online comments. What I don’t appreciate are hateful, obtrusive, and obnoxious comments. What scares me the most are comments containing threats and violence. This is a reality that writers face in their field, and while it varies and there is a spectrum, online harassment is most likely to… Read more

Adam is 18 years old and a senior in high school—he loves pizza, nature, pretty girls and video games. He despises mowing the lawn and prefers to spend much of his time in his bedroom playing on his iPhone. When in a bookstore, the manga section is his top priority. He talks about wanting to go college to become a zoologist. Some days this changes to veterinarian. Other days this changes to, “Maybe we should just open our own food truck.” Sounds pretty typical, right? If you ever met Adam, though, you wouldn’t think he… Read more

Beyoncé has done it again. After weeks and months of teasing us with the surprise release of “Formation,” her Super Bowl performance, her new tour, her ELLE interview about feminism, and a mysterious HBO teaser trailer, Beyoncé finally released her new album — and it’s perfect. Lemonade is a stunning, genre-spanning visual album that, divided into chapters, tells a story of marital infidelity, anger, grief and reconciliation. The visual album incorporates spoken word poetry by Somali-British poet Warsan Shire. Filmed… Read more

In 1964, Lovelace’s Women in Space Program was given the shaft after a paper written by a couple dudes who felt their masculinity being threatened stated that women shouldn’t go to space because, well... Periods. They convinced NASA that putting a hormonal woman in control of a “complicated machine” was a bad idea; that somehow, women free bleeding in zero gravity would be detrimental to the galaxy as a whole. There was also talk of “retrograde menstruation," a completely made up condition that would cause blood to flow… Read more

Photographer Danielle Guenther's photo series "What The Bump?!" is not your typical maternity shoot... That is to say, there's no beaming couples standing back-to-front, prom date style, making heart-hands over an exposed pregnant belly. There are no flower crowns in a wheat field (lending credence to my childhood theory that babies actually did come from a cabbage patch, what is UP, wheat fields?). Instead of the cliches usually found in maternity shoots, Guenther captures the realites of pregnancy: cravings,… Read more

This is not the Sculpey of your kindergarten art class. Well, OK, it is. But this chunky polymer pendant is so dang cute, no one will ever know. Freshen up your wardrobe with make ’n’ bake clay beads for some brand-new jewelry that costs less than a latte. Materials Polymer clay (e.g. Sculpey, available at craft stores and online) in at least three colors Clay hole cutter (or long kitchen skewer) X-Acto or butter knife Baking sheet Necklace cord of your choice (leather, suede, jute, cotton, etc.) Scissors Instructions… Read more

New Yorkers, rejoice! Spring is finally here! Snow is officially in the rearview mirror and we’re in Spring’s sweet spot. The weather is warm and breezy, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, dogs and babies are smiling, you’re feeling optimistic, and we still have a month left before the mind-numbing heatwaves of Summer approach. What better way to celebrate than eating Instagram-worthy food, getting your braid on, and supporting local artists at the BUST Craftacular, this Saturday! Here’s a roundup of wonderful… Read more

Prince Rogers Nelson, the icon known as Prince, passed away at age 57 in his home in Minnesota Thursday, and we’re still recovering. Unlike many popular musicians in the early 80s, Prince emerged as an entirely unique, gender-bending artist who broke the barriers of gender conformity, as well as increasing the visibility of female sexual appetite. Yes, he did become a republican who didn’t vote because he was a devoted Jehovah's Witness, and yes, he also spoke against gay marriage later in life, but that doesn’t… Read more

Ange is a New York City-based performance artist whose photographs are so unflinchingly evocative, you can't help but wince! As an outward expression of inner turmoil, Ange covers her naked body in objects that are typically used to inflict pain. These photographs definitely elicit a visceral reaction! Scroll through to see all of her works, which are available for purchase online. More from BUST 10 Dreamlike Photos Of Girlhoood That Will Fascinate You 15 Photos Of '90s Teens In Their Natural Habitat — Their Bedrooms… Read more

Slut. Witch. What do these words have in common? Both have been used to put women in their place and to punish them for not conforming to societal norms. Only now are women (and people of all genders!) reclaiming the words that have once used to malign them, and celebrating those labels! Did someone say celebrate? Sounds like we need a party up in here!Slutist is a sex-positive feminist collective created in 2013 by Kristen Korvette. Slutist’s mission is “to uncover and undress the intersections between sex, gender,… Read more

The lure of fast fashion is hard to resist — it’s hard to say no to super affordable, super trendy clothes that you know will get you all of the likes on Instagram and all of the compliments on the sidewalk. I’ve shopped fast fashion for a number of reasons: being broke enough that spending more than $20 on a piece of clothing feels like a luxury; coveting a pricey designer style and finding an affordable knockoff; and simply enjoying being able to walk into a brick-and-mortar store instead of searching online and paying… Read more

FROM THE EARLY, gross-out cult films like Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble to the later, more mainstream escapades—like Hairspray and Cry-Baby—esoteric music has always been central to the John Waters cinematic experience. So it should come as no surprise that the director/actor/writer/photographer has branched out yet again as the musical curator of bizarre holiday-song collections. Hot on the heels of last year’s irreverent A John Waters Christmas, New Line Records is releasing A Date with John Waters just in time… Read more

Beginning as a comedic trope of the meddlesome needy mother imposing on her daughter’s life, The Meddler could have digressed into a story of codependency or farcical feminine competitiveness a la Monster-in-Law, but it didn’t. Susan Sarandon plays Marnie, a widow in denial who distracts herself with consumerism and shallow, yet intrusive, relationships with strangers around her. As her daughter pulls away to grieve her father’s death and rebuild her life after the end of a long-term relationship, Marnie also tries to… Read more

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who love John Waters and assholes. I am, of course, one of the former, so I was thrilled to get the chance to interview the man dubbed by William S. Burroughs as the “Pope of Trash.” For over 30 years, this director and author has been enlightening us with his special brand of filth. No one can touch his brilliant sense of whacked-out humor or his unique flair for glorifying trash. John graciously met me at his New York City pied-à-terre, a very posh pre-war apartment… Read more