Fame!
ChickSpeak is an organization and online magazine for young women created to inspire Big Dreams, Strong Values and Success in the world.
Our magazine exists to be the most entertaining and engaging reflection of women’s life in college, while also providing the support and information necessary to stay healthy, grounded and achieve great heights while in school and well after graduation. We are your voice- your interests and passions, your unique journey and experiences.
Articles are updated daily and written by women currently in college and cover everything from health and beauty, to relationships, travel, entertainment and much more. We also feature guest writers and columnists who are recognized experts in their fields and who act as advisers to our members. Members can post comments on articles and build relationships with other members and the ChickSpeak Team through forums, personal blogs and private messaging. We are an evolving concept and welcome any woman who’s excited about this to get involved!
*You are the Voice of ChickSpeak*
- Become a ChickSpeak member for Free! Join Today! Join Now and Become Entered in Drawings for Give-A-Ways and Prizes All Year Long!
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- Meet the Founder
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“At first my knock wasn’t that big of a sound, but then it was like the knock in the Wizard of Oz. It set up this echo through the halls until it was heard by everyone.” ~ Shannon Faulkner
Meet the Founder
Christina
Christina Twomey isthe President & Founder of TaraFinn Productions, LLC, the parent company of ChickSpeak.com. Christina is devoted to creating resources and products for the betterment of young women’s lives. ChickSpeak.com, a website for college women, is among the company’s first projects.
Before starting TaraFinn Productions and ChickSpeak, Christina was an event planner in Washington, D.C. She worked closely with the owner of the event company in planning celebrations for the world’s elite. Several of the events that she helped coordinate included The Kennedy Center Honors, dinners at the White House, Kate Spade’s launch party co-hosted by Vogue, and a celebrity birthday gathering topped off by a Peace Concert led by Bono of U2 fame and a brief personal meeting with former U.S. President Bill Clinton.
Despite the glitz and glamour of life in D.C., Christina pursued her long-time passion of helping young women. In 2005, Christina and her team launched TaraFinn Productions, LLC in Baltimore, her hometown, to create a community and strong information source for college aged women in all walks of life.
She holds a bachelor’s of science degree in business administration with an emphasis on marketing and public relations from Washington and Lee University, located in Lexington Va. As a student at Washington and Lee, Christina was highly involved on campus. She served as co-chair of Traveller, a student organization that was established to improve the safety of the campus and surrounding community. Christina also studied Mandarin, was a member of Kappa Delta national sorority and a Rho Chi.
In addition, she served as a LIFE peer heath educator, which provided her with knowledge on topics including sexual assault, eating disorders, dating violence, depression, time management and healthy living, all of which she was able to share with her peers. In 2002, Christina was selected by Washington & Lee University faculty and students as one of the“Most Inspirational Women on Campus.”
Still highly active in the community, Christina serves as the secretary of the Washington and Lee Alumni Association – Baltimore Chapter; second vice president of the Notre Dame Preparatory School’s Alumni Association Board; and as a member of the Baltimore SmartWomanmagazine Editorial Advisory Board. She is also a volunteer of the Notre Dame Preparatory School Blair Leadership Scholarship and is involved with the University of Maryland Baltimore County’s ACTiVATE program.
Meet the Editor
Lindsay
Since Lindsay Aurora Tigar was given her first voice recorder at five years old, she has dedicated her life and ambitions towards journalism. Lindsay graduated from Appalachian State University at the top of the journalism class and continues to pursue endeavors that seek to encourage women and positive body and self-images.
During her freshman, sophomore and junior year at Appalachian State, Lindsay was involved with The Appalachian, Appalachian State’s student newspaper. She held various positions including Lifestyles Reporter, Lifestyles Editor and the Associate Editor for Editorial Content. She also wrote a women’s advice column titled “The Ladies Room” for two years where she discussed everything from relationships and body image to fashion and health. Through her experience at The Appalachian, Lindsay was able to pursue and achieve other experiences at media outlets across the East coast.
She interned at Sophie Magazine, an Asheville-based women’s publication. While at Sophie, Lindsay edited advertisements, directed photo shoots and helped with various sections. Then, during her sophomore year, Lindsay was introduced to the fabulous and always-inspiring, ChickSpeak.Com. For the past year and half, Lindsay has written mainly relationship columns for ChickSpeak.
Following her sophomore year, Lindsay achieved one of her greatest goals: making it to the shining lights of New York City. While living at 24th and Park Avenue in the heart of Manhattan, Lindsay interned at Cosmopolitan magazine in the beauty department. From filing press releases and products to having the opportunity to meet with editors and write a blog for Cosmo’s website, Lindsay loved working for the #1 read women’s magazine and living in the city she’s adored her entire life.Through her experience at Cosmopolitan, Lindsay was given the chance to be a Skin Clinic Blogger for Seventeen.com, where she wrote about her skin condition while receiving free dermatology for four months.
After returning to Appalachian State following the best summer experience of her life, Lindsay continues to write and edit for ChickSpeak, and recently became involved with the campus radio station, WASU. Additionally, Lindsay is a founding member of the Sigma Gamma Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity, Inc., and helps to plan Appalachian’s Women’s Leadership Conference each year. Also, she served as a Student Orientation Undergraduate Leader for incoming freshman and transfer students for a year and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.
She is also the 2005-06 recipient of the People Helping People Scholarship, and the founder of the community service club, SOUL, an acronym for Serving Others Under Love. SOUL is based at Enka High School in Asheville, N.C.
One day, Lindsay hopes to be one of the top editors at a major magazine, open a bakery and have a few books on the The New York Times Best Seller’s List. And if it’s not too much to ask for, an adoring husband and a baby or two.
E-mail Lindsay at chickspeak.editor@gmail.com or lindsay.tigar@gmail.com.
Current ChickSpeak Contributors
Ever since she was a tiny tot, Fatima Meadows has had a fascination with health maintenance. A current exercise science major with a biology and psychology minor at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, she spends most of her time reading, studying, and writing. One day aspiring to be a P.A., she also hopes to do medical research and write for a medical journal. Until that day comes, her past times include admiring the newly painted sky every day, learning about everything she can, cooking in her new kitchen, playing her guitar, swing, tango, and salsa dancing, and giving her undivided attention to the most adorable person ever created, her hubby-to-be, Jon. You can check out her blogs here.
Katherine J. Chen is a sophomore at Princeton University, where she majors in English with a certificate in Creative Writing. She maintains what she calls a “Truman Capote” schedule of practicing her art form no less than two to three hours daily. These days, she works as a freelance writer, editor, and intern for a variety of magazines and websites. In what spare time Katherine has, she likes to watch interviews on “Charlie Rose” and play with her 5-year-old Maltese, Einstein. Katherine aspires one day to work in The Big Apple as a top editor and writer for one of her favorite magazines.
Despite having graduated with a rather focused BA in art history and classical studies in May 2009, Jasmin Charters would love to have a degree in just about everything. While in university, she was heavily involved in theater, doing everything from acting to stage managing to painting and occasionally wrote for the school paper. Additionally, she attended art openings galore, played clarinet in a symphonic band, and was lucky enough to be accepted into the creative writing program in her final year. From a very early age, Jasmin was bit by the travel bug, and has traveled as far as Israel and Japan, studies in countries such as France, China and Alberta, Canada, and lived in Slovakia, and England short term. Jasmin loves the Food Network, fashion, a good latte, a good book, and collecting photography, prints and paintings by fin art students. She currently volunteers at two art galleries, and her local archives, and hopes one day to get her Master’s when the timing is right.
Additional Contributors: Cady Childs, Emily Olivieri, Debora Biasutti, Maxine Frendel, Jennifer Sinrich, Julianne Olson, Shaneika Booker, Zac Roberts, Pete Havens
Past ChickSpeak Contributors
Allison Casey was born with a gypsy spirit. She recently graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in English and is in the midst of planning her latest adventure. As one of three daughters born of airline employee parents, she grew up in airports across the country. She would like nothing more than to find a job that would pay her for writing about travel. In her spare time Allison likes exploring and photographing old buildings, making her own jewelery, attempting to teach her self the guitar and going to every concert and art gallery she can. Check out her blog here.
A self-proclaimed Jill of All Trades, Charissa Arsaoui has masterminded one adventurous trip around the country after another proving that all a girl needs to survive in this world is a quick wit and a keen sense of style. A regular contributor to ChickSpeak, Buzzine, and DisFUNKshion Magazine as well as one of the newest interns at HANGProud, she embraces each day with childlike curiosity and outstanding faith. Though always pressed for time, she never fails to count her blessings one miracle at a time.
Kristin Larmore has scattered friends on the eastern countryside from Alabama all the way up to Michigan, without one place to call home. She graduated with honors this year from Appalachian State University with a degree in jounalism. Her recent passion is food and health, and though she’s willing to begin her career anywhere, she’s determined to become a food writer, hopefully a food critic. In her free time lately, she strives to find pleasure in simple things, visit the gym constantly, catch up on relationship and spiritual reading and learn everything there is to know about healthy eating. She was born and raised in North Carolina, but has joined her family and become a Midwestern girl. She’s still listening to her country music and wearing her cowboy boots and hat in Ohio, though. She’ll never forget her southern roots.
Despite being diagnosed with primary liver cancer in May 2007 and having since spent the majority of her time seeking active treatment, Jessy Garrett graduated in the summer of 2008 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in English. Returning to her hometown in western North Carolina to recuperate, she chose to seek out sources interested in her writing, and began publishing a column in a local newspaper about being a young woman living with cancer, which she also archives at her blog. While she hopes to continue to write about being a cancer survivor and cancer advocacy, she loves writing about other topics, as well, like relationships, mind & body, beauty, and sources of inspiration. She is the proud parent of Jack (the cowardly Corgi), addicted to her ever growing library, and convinced that life is always sweeter with fresh flowers gracing her home.
Deciding to pursue a career in the magazine industry was an easy decision for Johnie Emma Gall considering her intense love of fashion, writing, photography, and design. Besides interning for Foam Magazine and Life & Style, Johnie is also a street style photographer for various outlets. When she’s not working hard, she enjoys running, heading to the beach, and hosting outdoor dinner parties, and battling it out on eBay for Alexander Wang pieces.
Chantal Waldholz graduated from New York University with a double B.A. in Journalism and English in hopes of becoming a future entertainment journalist. Interning at Billboard and US Weeklymagazines is where she cemented her love for all things celebrity, fashion, and gossip. A contributing writer for ChickSpeak, she is also a web editor for HollywoodChaos.com and an on-field reporter for To27.com. She loves spending time with her boyfriend, childhood best friends, and family. While she adores obsessing over Johnny Depp and constantly checking up on the latest gossip, she dislikes close-minded and superficial people. Currently living on Long Island, she hopes to one day move back to New York City or live in Los Angeles.
Nikki Roberti is a junior journalism major and media studies minor at Appalachian State University. She’s been recognized nationally as a Newspaper Association of America Teen Fellow, the female Florida recipient of the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Scholarship, and helped Poynter Institute online develop a course on how to teach teen journalists. She was the youngest member to write for The Florida Today’s teen section, The Verge, at age 13, and interned there for 5 years where she won numerous awards and developed a popular blog online called “Passing Notes: Reflections on love, relationships, and conflicts.” Nikki also works for The Appalachian, Appalachian State’s college newspaper, as a Lifestyle Reporter and online religion columnist for two years, a copy editor for one year, and is currently the Online Editor. Loving all things multimedia, Nikki is currently the Society of Professional Journalists’ Web designer and master for the ASU chapter as well as the professional videographer for the Michael Alvarado Band. Nikki’s current project is founding REALITY Check Girl Magazine which launches its semi-monthly website http://www.realitycheckgirlmagazine.com/ September 1. Nikki is also a 7-time award winning playwright with performances featured in NYC, DC, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, and California. Other than that, Nikki is a workaholic who enjoys cooking and making balloon animals, while worshiping her hero Lois Lane. Find out more about Nikki at www.appstate.edu/~robertinm.
Lauren Blankenship spent her toddler years sporting a bathing suit and golashes and her love for all things fashion has only grown throughout the years. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with dual degrees in Marketing and Public Relations, but pursued her career in fashion at the corporate offices of Belk department stores. Building a foundation in buying as an Assistant Buyer for Intimates, then moving to the private brands division as an Assistant Product Manager for Activewear/Intimates she has learned everything from crunching the numbers to the drawstring construction of a sleep pant. When she isn’t working the hours away in her little gray cube she logs her thoughts away on her personal blog With Unabashed Gratitude, spoils her two dogs rotten, spends her time planning the wedding of her dreams, and continues her endless search for the perfect pair of jeans and pasta that has no calories. She hopes to one day write for a living, documenting the beautiful world around her and the crazy little life she lives, and with any luck all while she sits on her pack porch looking over the mountains sipping a hot cup of coffee.
Laura Tabor is a junior at Appalachian State University who is studying Spanish, Creative Writing, and Journalism. She enjoys learning more about how and why people communicate, as well as meeting and talking with interesting people from faraway places. She hopes to one day write long-form journalism or translate for the Spanish section of a newspaper. She loves hiking in the woods, contra dancing, terrible puns, and warm weather.
Victoria Meade has written for several publications including Chickspeak and The Appalachian, her college paper, and has an additional portfolio of plays and short stories under her belt. She is very interested in writing for a small magazine or newspaper in the future, and would also be interested in an art direction position. She plans to head a committee at “The Peel” a literary magazine on her college campus in the fall. She is currently a senior majoring in English with a minor in theatre. She is highly career driven and considers building her wardrobe a worthwhile investment.
Cassandra Zink graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and with internships at Carolina Woman Magazine, Jane, Conde Nast Portfolio and NC State alumni magazine. Most recently, she interned at People, where she interviewed stars like Ashanti, Julianne Hough and Ally Sheedy, and SELF, where she was happily surrounded by thousands of products for the 2009 Healthy Beauty Awards. When not reading magazines or blogs, she can be found poolside with a book, at the movie theater or in her kitchen trying to cook. Keep up with her at her blog, The Cassandra Syndrome.
Donna Choi’s love of fashion is in her genes. Growing up, Donna could often be found wearing luxurious dresses created for her by her mother who studied to be a fashion designer in Korea. Donna went on to graduate from Brandeis University and is currently working for the World Wildlife Fund in Washington D.C. In her spare time, she loves to throw dinner parties, train for marathons, and actively volunteer within her community.
Kim Kuykendall graduated from Towson University with a B.A. in International Business, but her real passion is fashion. Able to spot a fake Fendi at 50 ft. and always in tune with the latest trends, she was a natural pick for our Beauty+Style section. Kim’s also a Phi Mu Alumnae, avid runner and scuba diver. She lives in Baltimore with her cat, Princess Honey Child.
Maria Liberati has been called the “Italian Martha Stewart” by Celebrity Society Magazine (May 2006). A company unto herself, She’s the creator of the trademark The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati TMand a new line of spices developed in Italy, Sapori D’Italia. A successful entrepreneur, former international supermodel and professional chef, Liberati is looking forward to hosting her soon-to-be-released TV show.
Lauren Robbins is a world traveler with a background in sustainable energy and politics. She left the comforts of home in order to fufill a personal calling to become a missionary in Benin, West Africa. She’s training locals in sustainable skills and serving the community in a multitude of ways. Lauren’s thoughts appear in our Travel section. Follow her full journey at LaurenLaughs.
Tarryn King is a recent graduate from George Mason University in Virginia. With degrees in Business Administration and Communications, coupled by a passion for public relations, she’s got a keen sense of day-to-day media and trends. Aside from freelancing for ChickSpeak as a special assignment writer, Tarryn loves to spend time with her Alpha Xi Delta sisters, and hearts anything on E!.
Lindsay Spangler currently attends Towson University and will be graduating in December of 2007 with a B.S. in Marketing. She’s one of ChickSpeak’s Marketing Associates and does much of the day-to-day public relations and marketing assignments. Not only is Lindsay a key player within our office, but she also has a secret obsession with all things chocolate and the Food Network.
Lorna Golder recently graduated Washington and Lee University with a degree in English Literature. There she spent two years interning with Shenandoah and served as a social reporter for the campus news broadcast, A Week in General. The daughter of eccentric & loving parents, Lorna grew up in Florida with a strong appreciation for the arts & outdoors. She’s an avid reader, runner & coffee drinker. She currently lives in New York.
Julia Coney started All About Pretty in March 2006. “All my friends know of my beauty obsession. I will try any beauty product once. My motto is there are no bad beauty products, only products not made for every body. I’m obsessed with ‘lifestyles beauty,’ which is enjoying everything life has to offer- beauty products, travel, food and books.” May the Lip Gloss Be With You!
Alicia Dunams, author of the bestselling Goal Digger: Lessons Learned from the Rich Men I Dated, is a successful entrepreneur, model and success coach. Featured on Oprah and Friends Radio, she inspires “can do” action to help her clients design and live their dream life.
Annie Wilner is an expert beauty blogger for Eyeshadow Government and a graduate student at the Columbia School of Journalism. She has also contributed to US Weekly, Ms. Magazine and Flavorpill SF. She tries not to take life too seriously, and scrupulously avoids all forms of drudgery. At the moment, she lives in Brooklyn with her beloved computer and a mountain of makeup.
Patricia Granata Eisner is the Executive Director of the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship in Baltimore. This non-profit teaches students in low-income communities how to start and run their own businesses. Patricia is a graduate of Loyola College and the University of Baltimore where she completed her undergrad and grad work in Education & Writing. She loves shopping as much as the next girl, but has learned through trial and error and much disipline the power of savings and a balanced budget.
Jamie Walton earned her Literature/Writing degree from UC San Diego in under 4 years, and is now happily finding her career niche in marketing & copy-editing. Her unique perspective on the college experience & her work with Fox College Funding prompted her to start Surviving College Life, a blog written just for college students. She now spends her post-work hours baking, reading, and trying to answer more Jeopardy questions than her husband.
Itty Bitty City Girl graduated from a top University and is a freelance writer for many fabulous publications. She’s thrilled to be a columnist for ChickSpeak now and offers readers wisedom, humor and support in the areas of love, relationships and singledom. Consider her vous new best friend and the stylish big sis you always wished you had!
Christie Crowder learned so much in college that she literally wrote the book about it. She’s the author of Your Big Sister’s Guide to Surviving College, and writes for our College Life section. With topics ranging from Successful Academics to Communicating with Your Parents, she’s filled with common sense we can all benefit from. Besides being a great “big sis,” Christie is a life coach in Atlanta.
Joanna Alberti is the Founder of philoSophies™ and the creative mind behind the sassy and sophisticated character, Sophie. Armed with a degree from Boston University’s School of Management, a keen sense of humor and funny outlook on social trends, she not only gotten our attention early on, but Business Week’s too. She was selected as one of their Top 25 Under 25 in 2005. Joanna currently lives in New York.
Nancy Barry is a motivational speaker and author of When Reality Hits: What Employers Want Recent College Graduates to Know. As an expert on how to transition from college to the working world with success, Nancy’s ideas and incites in our College Life section are invaluable. Nancy lives in Dallas with her family.
Jennifer Levi, Ph.D.has taught English courses on college campuses of all sizes, and currently serves as co-chair of the English Department at Cecil College, a job she loves. When she’s not discussing great literary works with students, she’s kicking ass as a self-defense instructor for Charm City Kenpo Karate and Baltimore FAST Defense.
Ali Miller currently attends Towson University and will be graduating in December of 2007 with a B.S. in Marketing and International Business. When her nose isn’t stuck in textbooks she loves to bake, travel and run in races for cause oriented organizations. She has 5 younger brothers and sisters and adores her family.
Carrie Oleynikis is the Communications Specialist of the Towson University College of Business and Economics and a graduate student of Towson’s Professional Writing program. She is also a freelance writer and has been published in local and national publications. In addition to writing, she enjoys painting, reading gender studies books and fiction novels, and spending quality time with her tuxedo cat, Lilly.
