March 14, 1995
When HUES magazine makes its debut on college campuses and newstands nationwide this month, it won't be mistaken for just another women's fashion or beauty magazine because it portrays beauty in all HUES.
HUES (Hear Us Emerging Sisters), created by Dyann Logwood and twins Ophira and Tali Edut, emerges during Women's History Month with a fresh voice for women ages 18 to 35. Four years ago the three, frustrated with unrealistic images of women in magazines, decided to create an alternative publication that included women from all cultures and experiences. During deep discussions over pizza in their dorm room at the University of Michigan, the idea for HUES was born.
The women found on the pages of HUES are all shapes, sizes, sexual orientations and economic backgrounds. Its story topics include how women are taught to hate their bodies, the AIDS attack on women of color and poor white women, and why Jewish women who get nose jobs are demonstrating self hatred.
HUES is scheduled to hit the stands at UC Berkeley and UC Los Angeles later this month. SF State's Franciscan Shops is in the process of ordering the magazine. SF State students can get HUES at chain and independent bookstores around the Bay area or by mail.
"Most magazines portray a very narrow image of beauty," said Ophira Edut, 22, who defines beauty in terms of personal strength and character. "We want to help women find their essence, without defining themselves in comparison to Cindy Crawford."
With a multiracial staff of 25, including three men, four issues of HUES have been published and distributed regionally in the Ann Arbor, Mich. area, Logwood said.
Logwood explained that since women--especially women of color--rarely have the chance to speak for themselves in the media, HUES offers a space where women can tell the world who they are, rather than be told how to look, act or dress. At the same time, HUES deals with the serious issues all women face, such as domestic violence, sibling abuse and date rape. But the magazine also offers a healthy dose of humor and editorials never short on flavor."We want women to know they are going to get the truth from us," Logwood said. "We want women to feel that they have a place to speak, even anonymously, about serious issues." Input from readers is welcomed by the magazine staff, Logwood added.
The Eduts and Logwood, Michigan natives, who call themselves "spiritual sisters," plan to move to Detroit after Logwood graduates this June with a degree in public relations and advertising. The Eduts graduated last May, and have both contributed to Sassy Magazine and various publications in the Michigan area. Tali was responsible for Sassy's first, and only, multicultural cover, which she got a chance to design in Sassy Magazine's Second Annual Reader-Produced Issue Contest in 1991.
The overwhelming response from the University of Michigan to this publication, which comes out in April and October, convinced the publishers that going national was the next natural step. The three publishers hope to gain national advertising but vow they won't compromise their unique voice. Currently all of their advertising comes from the Michigan area.
A two year, four-issue subscription is $14.99. Call 800-HUES-4U2.