Exploring Girlhood and Creativity with Daphne Bryant, Founder of Dreamworldgirl Zine
By Natalie McCarty
Image Provided by Daphne Bryant
In the vibrant world of multimedia publishing, Dreamworldgirl Zine stands out for its nostalgic celebration of girlhood and its creative exploration of the Y2K era. Founded by Daphne Bryant, this Boston and LA-based zine has quickly made a name for itself by blending literary and visual arts in a whimsical and inclusive space.
With the debut issue, DIY, set to launch this Saturday, August 17th, and plans for ongoing print and digital publications, Dreamworldgirl Zine is a testament to Bryant's innovative vision and commitment to showcasing marginalized voices.
In this interview, we dive into Daphne Bryant’s creative journey, the inspirations behind Dreamworldgirl, and what’s next for this exciting project.
Image Provided by Daphne Bryant
Q1: The Birth of a Dream
Dreamworldgirl Zine is such a unique and nostalgic project. What inspired you to create a zine centered around girlhood, especially with its roots in the Y2K era?
A: I’m a Creative Writing and Publishing student, so I’ve spent a lot of time reading and writing prose, poetry and magazines. I knew I wanted to create my own publishing press one day, but I didn’t really feel like I had an angle. As an interdisciplinary artist myself, I slowly began to land on this idea of a multimedia publication, and then I started to think about the fact that there are not many whimsical spaces for women and other marginalized gender identities. In my university classes, I was tired of feeling inadequate just because I liked YA, queer or girly things. The zine honestly started out as a “fuck-you” to literary cages. It’s for all things girlhood because girlhood is pure and fun to experiment with; it evokes vibes that just makes people want to create. To me, that feeling is the greatest gift I could give someone. As far as the decades the zine is inspired by, the Y2K era just sort of made sense; it’s a time that many girls feel connected to, and it’s also known for its campy and relatable depictions of “girlhood”. My marketing director, Rachel Chu, really helped me bring that concept to life.
Image Provided by Daphne Bryant
Q2: Crafting a Whimsical Space
Your zine is a multimedia platform that blends literary and visual arts. How do you balance these different elements, and how do they work together to create the whimsical, creative space you envision?
A: I love this question! So yes, Dreamworldgirl Zine publishes all the classic things a literary magazine would, but we also publish visual arts, and then on top of that one of the biggest things we do every season are our theme-based photoshoots. It’s definitely a lot, but in a “dream world”, we’d have magazines like ours. It was important to me that there would always be spaces for people to write (like our online blog and the print issue), but that we also gave platforms to photographers, graphic designers, musicians, etc.,. We’re publishing articles and reading submissions at the same time as we’re casting models and executing photoshoots. This means that there’s something for everyone, at all times, and I really adore that.
Image Provided by Daphne Bryant
Q3: Celebrating Marginalized Voices
Dreamworldgirl Zine is dedicated to women and other marginalized gender identities. Why was it important for you to center these voices, and how do you ensure they are authentically represented in your work?
A: As a queer black woman myself, I have a lot of intersectional identities. I’m always craving BIPOC heroines and lesbian movies, you know? If I have the resources to provide that kind of representation to people, why wouldn’t I? Diversity and inclusion are both so important to me, and I knew I wanted my zine to center voices that often go unheard or underrepresented. To ensure I’m doing this authentically, I limit submissions and staff positions to women and non-binary individuals. That way, the stories you’re reading and watching are coming from the perspectives of people in the community. I also prioritize LGBTQ+ individuals in casting and in the mag, and make sure to platform their voices whenever I can. I want women and other marginalized gender identities to look at my zine and think: wow Dreamworldgirl sees me, they get me. As far as my personal journey, I make sure to keep educating myself and having meaningful conversations with friends, family and strangers.
Image Provided by Daphne Bryant
Q4: Launching and Learning
You launched Dreamworldgirl Zine in April of this year. What have been some of the most rewarding and challenging aspects of starting this project, especially as a creative director?
A: If you scroll back far enough on our Instagram, you’ll see what creative direction DG Zine originally launched with, and it’s changed a lot! I think one of the difficult things (at first) was finding our voice. We already had such a niche concept, but figuring out how exactly to market that to other people was a challenge. The biggest challenge was dealing with thiefs; any creative person knows that their artistic property is everything, and it sucked that there were individuals, mags and organizations that directly stole from us over the summer. Handling those situations was so stressful, and really taught me a lot about trademarking and copyright. Recently the zine really has become a business, and businesses have to be protected. On the flip side, one of the most rewarding things about launching has been seeing the growth the zine has had in only four months. We’ve amassed 3,000+ followers across social media platforms and built the foundation for a local and global community. I love knowing that other people also understand, appreciate and fuck with my vision. I am so grateful, and read every comment, and every DM, and every email with the biggest smile on my face.
Image Provided by Daphne Bryant
Q5: Nostalgia and Y2K Inspiration
The zine draws heavily on the nostalgia of the Y2K era. What is it about that time period that resonates with you, and how do you see it influencing the themes and aesthetics of Dreamworldgirl?
A: I’m known in my circles for having a very stylish, 90s/early 2000s inspired fashion sense, and I’ve always loved film, music and other kinds of media from that era. It’s just freeing and silly and entertaining. Even the fact that our zine publishes in print is so reminiscent of that era and all the teen magazines that were big at that time. Y2K influences most of what Dreamworldgirl Zine does, like the graphics we make which are inspired by everything from 90s fashion catalogs to early 2000s romcoms. Our website, which I designed, was made to look like the kind of thing you might stumble upon in your childhood and become obsessed with. As far as mood and aesthetics, Dreamworldgirl will forever be rooted in the Y2K era, and I think that nostalgia is what keeps people coming back.
Image Provided by Daphne Bryant
Q6: Publishing Worldwide
With contributions from all over the world, how do you curate content for both the print and digital issues? What do you look for in the work you choose to publish?
A: Loveee this question too! While most of our contributors were based in the U.S., we also published artists from the UK and writers from Australia. This was a purposeful choice. I think the reason why I sandwiched “world” in between Dream Girl is because I really want the zine to take on a global feel. International submissions were definitely encouraged and considered when cutting down 120+ submissions to 24 selected pieces this past season. As far as what I’m looking for, I think whimsicality is a big one. I want work that is unique, different and playful; we are not the kind of magazine that publishes high literature! The things that would not fly in your academic classroom are perfect for us. I also prefer pieces that align with the issue’s theme, or the overarching theme of girlhood. People that interpret the theme in interesting ways really impress me and my team of readers. Finally, marginalized identities and work about that or by people from those communities are always highly valued.
Image Provided by Daphne Bryant
Q7: The Dreamworldgirl Blog
The Dreamworldgirl Blog is a year-round platform for non-fiction work, short films, and photography. How does this online extension of the zine complement the seasonal issues, and what role does it play in your overall vision for Dreamworldgirl?
A: Dreamworldgirl Blog was created when we realized there were a lot more people interested in writing for the zine than we initially thought! Since the blog is 24/7 and not tied to any specific theme, people can always pitch whatever they want, whenever they want. It provides something for our followers to read while they wait for our seasonal issues to release, and it’s a little more unhinged as well! I think the blog helps us simultaneously connect with modern trends and tap into nostalgic topics, which are both things that Dreamworldgirl does best: familiar but new, as I like to say.
Image Provided by Daphne Bryant
Q8: DIY and the Debut Issue
Your debut issue, DIY, is coming out this Saturday. Can you tell us more about the theme of this issue and what readers can expect from it?
A: Of course! I’m so excited for the zine to come out! Our Issue 01 theme, DIY or Do-It-Yourself, is all about carving your own space in whatever that looks like for you. It’s dedicated to the innovators of the past, present and future, and it couples themes such as autonomy with a crafty, collage-like aesthetic. Readers can look forward to a wide range of photography, art, prose and poetry pieces. You’ll find powerful playlists, tear-jerking poems, interviews with Tik Tok celesbians, fashion inspo, generational tales of love, and so much more. Trust me when I say we really do it all, and I can’t wait to hear what everyone thinks of it.
Image Provided by Daphne Bryant
Q9: Creative Inspiration and Vision
As a writer and creative director, where do you find your inspiration? How do you stay motivated and continue to push the boundaries of your creative work?
A: I am first and foremost always inspired by my personal experiences and the people around me. I pour my heart and soul into Dreamworldgirl everyday, and there are little bits of me sprinkled everywhere if you look close enough (not in a creepy way)! I’m also so inspired by my friends; they are all so talented and constantly setting the bar. If you think I’m cool, they’re cooler. I’m also really inspired by Pinterest; you can find everything there, I swear to God. Any photoshoot I creative direct or piece I write is supported by the research I’ve done on that app. 10/10, would recommend. When it comes to staying motivated and pushing my boundaries, I think the important thing is to always be thinking: what’s next? Brand collabs, a podcast, a MOVIE?! With Dreamworldgirl anything is possible, and I remind myself that there are no limits to this project because it’s mine, and I get to shape and mold it.
Image Provided by Daphne Bryant
Q10: The Future of Dreamworldgirl
With Dreamworldgirl Zine growing, what’s next on the horizon for you and the zine? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you’re particularly excited about?
A: Perfect segway! There is of course our launch party this weekend, which will be the end of our summer season and a celebration of our first issue. I can’t wait to meet people who’ve been following us online, and also I’m hype about the clothing swap! As far as future projects, I can’t give too much away, but we have secured a visual collaboration in NYC with digital creator, influencer and model Darianka, which is our biggest collab yet! I really just envision Dreamworldgirl Zine becoming an empire of sorts. A creative network, a safe space, something that can support me financially: I’d love to be successful enough to properly pay our staff and volunteers and reward them for all their hard work. Ideally, what was my dream will become the dream of others. That’s what next <3
