Our Limited Edition Girl-Friendly T-Shirt

New Moon's first limited edition t-shirt is here! With its inspirational message, "reach for the moon," the shirt is sure to be a hit with both girls and parents. We only printed 100 of these t's, so when they're gone, they're gone!

The New Moon Store's Girls Advisory Board is looking for ideas for future t-shirts slogans. To make a suggestion, send an email to store@newmoon.org.

What Kids Can Do highlights New Moon article

Our friends at What Kids Can Do are featuring a New Moon article, "Sounding Off," in a special section of their website titled "Everyone is Different."

In a personal essay originally printed in the July/August 2002 issue of New Moon (themed "Differences"), 12-year-old Gloria wrote about what it's like to be deaf.

"I experience life in a way that most people never will," Gloria
explained. ..."I'm happy the way I am. I wouldn't want to be anyone else."

Click here to read Gloria's essay.

Punk Planet Introduces the Fourth Wave

"Are you ready?" Susan Beal asks in the September/October 2005 issue of Punk Planet. Beal's report from the 2005 Turn Beauty Inside Out conference describes a new generation of feminists:

"A growing number of girls ... are rejecting mainstream media and using their own Internet, TV, and publishing resources to create their own positive responses and strong messages in a new twist on feminism--the modern and media-savvy fourth wave."

Following the report, six insightful girls who attended the conference speak for themselves in "Voices of the Fourth Wave." As Beal discovered, the girls have a lot to say and are more than comfortable sharing their views. Let's hope they keep speaking up long past their teenage years!

"Muffin tops" distasteful, some say

Kim Ode reported on the rise of "muffin top"--a new term for the flesh that sometimes rolls over the waistband of girls' low-rise jeans--in the Minneapolis Star Tribune this weekend. Kate Freeborn, New Moon's managing editor, gave Kim her take on the term. Here's an excerpt:

The term was new to [Kate], but its intent all too familiar. "Anything that compartmentalizes girls and labels them according to body parts is negative," she said. "Again, we're not looking at the whole girl, but her legs, her butt, and now her muffin top."

Actually, she added, a little roundness is a sign of good health.

"These are girls whose hormones are working, whose bodies are changing in all kinds of ways," she said. "They should have a little stomach out there. It means their bodies are doing what they're supposed to be doing.

"But fashions can be unkind. My sense of what I hear from the girls is that they are not thrilled with the fact that they don't have a lot of options."

What's your reaction to the term, and the trend?

Being 13: Keeping that playful spirit

Clare, 13, of New Moon's Girls Editorial Board, thinks being 13 is "fabulous":

"It's a point where you've almost left childhood, but not quite, and you get to look at being adult up close while still being able to play and have fun and generally act like a 7-year-old without being too shunned. The fact that New Moon is turning 13 reminds me of that. It's as if we've grown up enough to be a widely-known and respected magazine, but still keep that playful spirit we had starting out."

Being 13: "I wasn't alone."

Nicole, 13, from Virginia, on how New Moon helped her at 13:

“I have been getting New Moon for only the past year but reading the magazine has helped me a lot . When I turned 13 I thought that I was going to be, well … powerful. Turning 13 didn’t feel any different than turning 10 or 11, but what I did feel was older, more mature. … I used to bury myself in books to escape reality, but your magazine helped me to open up and see that I wasn’t alone.

“My favorite departments of the magazine are “Dear Luna” and “Draw Luna.” They really take you inside the different girls’ minds. Seeing what they see. Feeling what they feel. New Moon was really a place for me to express myself. It has also helped me to get closer to my mom and now we can talk about everything, and I do mean everything.”

Being 13: Surviving "the pit of doom"

From 13-year-old Emily of Maryland, who is about to turn 14:

“When I turned 13, it was considered, by me, to be the entrance into *the pit of doom* (a.k.a. the ‘journey’ that is involved in being a teenager). I found myself in a place where I most desperately wanted to be taken seriously, but no one would. … There's definitely good stuff about it, too! It felt almost as though, while I could still be a kid at those special moments when I really needed it, I could also be more independent. The key to surviving this age, I think, is to be persistent! In order to get people to take you seriously, you have to let them get to know you.

“I find that New Moon has a very, very good grip on what it feels like to be a teenager (or kid). I think that probably has a lot to do with the fact that they work so well with the kids who are regular contributors to the magazine. Kids aren’t afraid to send stuff and to contribute.

“I love ‘Draw Luna’ simply because when you look at the drawings there, you can see so clearly how girls picture themselves and the world around them. … The only thing I’d like to see more of in New Moon is political discussion. Instead of just showing people who are doing peace protests, show them, and give a little about the other side.”

What's it like to be 13?

New Moon turns 13 in September! As TIME magazine reported in "Being 13" last week, "teens are growing up in a culture that sexualizes children and immerses them in adult images." New Moon magazine, edited by and for girls ages 8-14, is different. Instead of publishing adult-created content, New Moon brings girls' experiences, knowledge and understanding forward.

In honor of New Moon's 13th birthday, I asked some of our 13-year-old friends what it's like to be 13 and why they read New Moon. Here's what Siri, a New Moon reader and Girls Advisory Board member, had to say:

"Being 13 is pretty much like being any other age, except that I think 13 is the age where you grow the most as a person. Being 13 also means having more responsibility and being trusted more than someone who's younger.

"Other magazines that girls my age read have fashion and boy advice, and tips about how to make your body look good, and what foods are best to eat. New Moon, on the other hand, tells girls that they are beautiful for being themselves. Girls should feel comfortable in their own skin even if they don't know the difference between Dior and Manolo Blahtnik. New Moon gives girls an opportunity to say what they think, and I think that is very important. If girls are continually given the opportunity to speak their minds, they'll develop their own character and will know how to be their own person. If girls are continually told what to think, like they do in other magazines, then girls will end up acting all the same, and they might have trouble thinking for themselves in the future."

Wear it if you like, girl advises in "Fadshion" article

Carin, 15, a New Moon contributor and Computer Advisory Board member, was featured in the Lancaster New Era last week. Carin wrote about fads in the July/August issue of New Moon (pictured at left). "Fads are marketing strategies, a way to get you to buy something," Carin explained in her article. She wanted girls to know that fads don’t happen by accident. “You have to realize that it is controlled,” she told the New Era. Other feature stories in the "I Don't Buy It" issue cover labeling, reality TV, and craft projects. Check it out!

Businessgirl donates profits to charity

Natalya, author of "Natalya's Happy Hugged Hens" in the July/August issue, was featured in the Daily Camera yesterday. Natalya, 12, said she wants to be a journalist, and we think she has great potential!

More press about TBIO participants

The girls who attended the 2005 Turn Beauty Inside Out conference are still sharing what they learned about movies. Caitlin and Kaylor's take was recently published in the Davis Enterprise.

"Body Language": Predicting a Girl's First Period

To help girls learn about their bodies and their health, each issue of New Moon contains a "Body Language" article. The July/August 2005 article, "Study Period," describes how doctors are looking for a way to predict a girl's first period. Kati, 13, helped them out. To read Kati's article, order a copy of the issue. Members of the media can contact me for a copy.

9.5 Stars for "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"

Last Sunday, a few of the girls who met actress America Ferrera at the 2005 Turn Beauty Inside Out conference discussed America’s latest movie, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," with Nell Minow, Yahoo's "Movie Mom." Ten-year-old Pia gave the movie 9.5 out of 10 stars. "It really celebrated girls for their personalities, not for their bodies," she said. Caitlin, 10, also liked the film. "It was nice to see a movie that wasn't about girls hating each other and being mean!" The actresses thought the movie was true to their own experiences, Minow said. Read more in her interview with Amber Tamblyn and Blake Lively.

Girls Excited About "Sisterhood" Chat

Two more girls who will participate in the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" chat this Sunday shared their opinions of the movie:

"I thought the movie was really good, but of course, the books were better," says 12-year-old Sasha from California. "The books really showed me a lot of different perspectives, and I could always relate to some of the feelings the characters were having. I also really liked how all the girls were different and the actresses who played them did a really good job. My favorite is Carmen, because she has the body type and personality most like mine. I can really relate to her, in more than one way."

"I liked how the movie followed most of the book, and the actresses were great (I love America!)," says 15-year-old Nicole from Illinois. "I could relate to each of the characters in some way or another. My favorite part of both the book and the movie is when Carmen tells her dad how she truly felt. I was crying during the movie;I just loved how Carmen let him have it."

If you've seen the movie, feel free to post a comment!

Minnetonka Girl Knows Inner Beauty

Check out this story in the Lakeshore Weekly News about 10-year-old Surene, one of New Moon's "25 Beautiful Girls." Surene attended the Turn Beauty Inside Out conference in Los Angeles in April, and was invited to participate in our "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" discussion next Sunday.

New Moon® Girls to Review "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" Online

A group of girls who met America Ferrera at the 2005 Turn Beauty Inside Out Conference will chat online about "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" on June 26, 2005. Nell Minow, yahoo's "Movie Mom," will lead the girls in a critical discussion of the movie (you can read a transcript of New Moon's last Movie Mom chat). Here's the press release.

The New Moon girls who have seen the movie so far agree that it follows the TBIO Best Practices for Movies, portraying girls in a positive and realistic manner. “I saw the movie and had a great time watching the actresses portray characters many of us came to love while reading the book,” said 13-year-old Siri, a Girls Advisory Board member who attended the TBIO conference in April. You can read the girls' reactions to the TBIO panel America participated in, "Being a Girl in Hollywood," on the girls' conference blog.

Inner Beauty Shines Through Girl's Poem

The Anchorage Daily News recently featured two girls from Alaska: Ann, who was honored as one of New Moon's "25 Beautiful Girls" this year, and Eve, who wrote a poem to nominate her friend for the issue. According to the article, Eve is a long-time fan of New Moon Magazine. "It's about expressing yourself and being who you are," she told the Daily News. "It represents girls voices and what they want to say." Congratulations to both of these beautiful girls!

Plain Dealer: This Beautiful Girl doesn't miss TV

The Plain Dealer reports today that not having television in her home has been a big plus for Heidi, a 12-year-old Cleveland girl featured in New Moon's "25 Beautiful Girls" issue. "It gives me a lot more time for other things," Heidi told Fran Henry of the Plain Dealer. Heidi and her older sister Hanna, who nominated Heidi for the issue, have been reading New Moon for five years. Founder Nancy Gruver says New Moon helps adolescent girls hold their own against the "impossible demands" imposed on them by our culture.

Ophelia Project celebrating TBIO in Tampa Bay

As Ernest Hooper noted at the end of his St. Petersburg Times column, our friends at the Ophelia Project in Tampa Bay are celebrating Turn Beauty Inside Out this Saturday with a walk/run, rally, and health expo. You also can download their flyer on how to stay safe and strong.

Turn Beauty Inside Out Day coming up on May 18, 2005

Since 2001, girls around the country have been celebrating Turn Beauty Inside Out (TBIO) Day on the third Wednesday of May. TBIO was inspired by New Moon's first annual "25 Beautiful Girls" issue, published in May of 2000. Each year, girls and women around the nation develop TBIO Day events in their communities to educate the public about girls and media images. Here in Duluth, Minnesota, the New Moon girls are planning a community celebration for area youth. TBIO Day also is an opportunity for advocacy and personal action. Girls can get a free TBIO Day Action Kit from Mind on the Media that contains ideas and tips for planning and implementing successful TBIO Day activities.

Some Hollywood Execs Passed the Buck at TBIO Conference

Jennifer Hahn's feature story in today's Los Angeles City Beat describes what girls found themselves up against at the recent Turn Beauty Inside Out conference: a "deeply entrenched and conservative industry." Geena Davis, the tallest star at the conference, stood solidly behind the girls, but Hahn noted that while the Hollywood executives who attended seemed well-intentioned, they tended "to throw responsibility back at the girls." Not to worry, though--the New Moon girls won't back down.

Girls Weigh in on Antiboy Shirts

I invited the Beautiful Girls and their nominators to weigh in on the antiboy t-shirts that are popular right now. Here's some insight from 13-year-old Emily: "Yes, some guys are jerks, but so are some girls. The important thing is not to make sweeping generalizations about it. Rather than being nasty and deciding 'I don't like boys,' girls should be at least making an effort to connect with guys. [Antiboy t-shirts] tell girls that it's okay to be mean to someone they don't understand. It's the same as judging someone by their looks. It's a cop-out." What do you think? Feel free to post a comment.

In other news, Bryce, a 9-year-old honored as one of New Moon's "25 Beautiful Girls" this year, is featured in the Leavenworth Times today. "No matter how a person looks, if they act ugly or mean it makes them that way," Bryce says. "Looks aren't everything."

Reports from Turn Beauty Inside Out conference

New Moon's first "25 Beautiful Girls" issue, published in 2000 as a response to People's "50 Most Beautiful People" issue, ignited a grassroots campaign called Turn Beauty Inside Out (TBIO). For information about last week's TBIO Girls Leadership Conference, check out a blog written by the girls who attended, and read Karen Stabiner's commentary in the Los Angeles Times about the girls' demands for better movies and TV. Parents who attended the conference with their daughters said the sessions were great conversation-starters!