Lamar is a muse for the ages, a lens through which we can explore the love within both our hearts and others'.
Check out the video and photos below.
But Co-Star's appeal goes beyond design and horoscopes. Astrology is ancient. The app isn’t based on a novel idea. However, Co-Star provided a system that worked seamlessly with the world we live in. It made astrology intrinsic with daily life and provided a platform for conversations about the cosmos. Its daily updates are filled with adages that are worth considering in almost every instance – like "You don't have to be perfect."
Before Co-Star, finding your birth chart meant searching for a website, entering your birth date, time, and location, only to receive a generic overview of how your cosmic placements influence your daily life. The best part of the app is being able to add friends on it and comparing your birth charts. Aside from that, there’s the daily do’s and don'ts, tongue-in-cheek advice and chart elaborations.
For anyone interested in astrology, it’s worth checking out, especially the community that’s grown around it. And now, Co-Star has taken that to the next level with its latest feature with which you can “enter the void and ask the stars” any question you desire.
This new feature allows you to enter a question and receive in-depth insights based on your natal chart and the real-time movements of the planets in the sky. I know, it sounds more ironic than true, which is why I took the app for a spin throughout my week just to see how it worked. From more ordinary questions, like “Should I have coffee this morning?” to “What is my destined career?”
May 2nd
On Tuesday morning, I woke up as usual — to the train clattering on the overhead tracks a couple blocks away. I cracked open a window letting the outside world and it’s sounds into the room. It made me think back to something I saw on instagram that had the caption, “Will I ever live in a small town?” In that moment, I truly wondered and took to Co-Star to find out what was written in the stars. Quite a balanced answer to say the least. At most, it was a reminder that ultimately wherever I live is my own decision.
May 3rd
Next morning, I thought I’d get a little cringe with the questions so I took to Co-Star to ask about my destined career. I think deep down we all know our destined career, if not the exact position, the realm in which we’d most flourish. I was curious to see if what I considered my path aligned with the feature’s advice. I hate to say that Co-Star kind of knows my tea. Much of the advice resonated and definitely inspired a moment of reflection.
May 4th
Finally Thursday, and after a coffee-heavy week, I was truly on the fence about that morning macchiato. I wanted a clean break from the caffeine crazed email sorting, and figured I could use something to back up my cause. I asked Co-Star if I should have that cup of coffee and was told, wisely, to listen to my body. Easy. And yes I still had one.
May 5th
On Friday, the feature finally dropped and a friend of mine who is quite the astrology fanatic was so excited to try it (as you can see). She took to asking about her trans-Atlantic dreams and knowing her, hopefully curbed her impulsivity. If the answer was any different, she might’ve been looking at flats within the next couple of hours.
May 6th
Okay yes, I know it makes sense to feel exhausted on a Saturday, but this week felt especially draining and I wasn’t sure why. I could agree that I took a lot more on my plate over the last couple of days and was reminded to ask for support in the future.
May 7th
Sunday, the start of the second week of May. As I organized my schedule and figured out my to do’s, I thought about what else I should focus on for the month. Co-Star suggested “direction and clarity.” To share my “unique perspective… and realize how valuable my voice truly is.” Again, I can't really argue with that logic and having this in mind will likely influence my decisions positivitely.
May 8th
Monday again. Today I wanted to check in about how the rest of my week might be. “Emotionally fulfilling,” is comforting and so far true.
To be honest, looking at all of the responses after a week was a little cringe to me. I felt corny to have asked such personal questions to a screen, but I think the beauty of it is that you can ask whatever you want and nobody has to know. At least in moments of curiosity, it’ll come in handy and hopefully provide that bit of validation that enables people to pursue the things they actually want to do. All in all, I liked the app, but personally loved the IRL version currently sitting at Iconic Magazines. Considering that so much of our lives are lived online, it's nice to have this physical touch. Hopefully you get a chance to check it now, if not, at least you have the feature at your fingertips.
What is your ideal office?
My ideal office would have to be an environment that I can learn in. But it would need a comfortable chair, fresh air, and natural light, because nothing renders colors better than sunlight.
What is your Achilles heel?
Overextending myself.
Who is the youngest person you trust?
My assistant, Ashley Stephenson.
What, or who, brings you to your knees?
Gospel Music.
What was the last song to affect you emotionally?
“Amazing Grace,” by Mahalia Jackson.
Where do you consider to be the most sacred place on earth? In Harlem?
I consider Egypt to be the most sacred place on Earth. In Harlem, The Schomburg Center.
Which mythological creature best embodies your personality?
The Sphinx.
If you could describe your practice in three words, which would they be?
Know Your Culture!
What was the best bite you took in the last year?
Vegetarian beef and broccoli at Go Zen in East Village.
What is your lucky number and why?
150. Whenever my mother played the lottery, that was her number. And every time her number came out, we got new shoes.
What is the magic word?
Christos.
How are you today; how are you feeling about your zine release?
I’m so happy and a little sad! I swear this zine is all anyone has heard me talk about for the last few months. There was so much work that went into every aspect of it, from shooting all the photos to designing the layout. I’m a little sad it’s over.
What does the title Sunny Sapphire mean to you?
My dancer name is Sunny. And whenever someone really good comes into the club I'll give them my number and put "Sunny Sapphire" in their contacts.
How important is it to you to portray dancers through the female gaze?
Our whole job is centered around pleasing men, like strip clubs have rules for the dancers — nails done, hair done, makeup done. But I think women always appreciate each other a little more. We notice the lashes, the sparkly highlighter, and the little details in each others' outfits. So I just wanted to capture that in a cute way. It’s almost like a girly yearbook.
What’s a misconception of the industry that you want to rewrite?
That dancers don’t have other goals and aren’t motivated. Or on the contrary, that you HAVE to have another job and dancing is just a side hustle. If dancing or sex work, or whatever, is how you make money, you shouldn’t be judged for it. Also I understand not everyone can be open about dancing, but they should never feel ashamed for what they do. I overly glamorize it sometimes because I know it’s not always easy and I want to remind everyone how beautiful they are.
What was a highlight of shooting Sunny Sapphire?
I mean sometimes I show up to the club and I’m just not in the mood so I end up chillin’ in the locker room taking pics of all my friends while they get ready. And we’re all posing in front of the lockers, making TikToks, laughing, and having a good time.
What did it mean to you to have office involved in the creation of your zine?
office is connected to this zine in a lot of ways. A couple of the collage images on the locker room page are things I cut out of office magazines. Like the tattooed hand on that page is from the J Balvin cover story, who I actually met one time at Sapphire. And my first stripper shoot, which is now the cover of the zine, was originally shot for office. It’s also given me the space to be myself and explore different mediums for my creativity, without feeling that I have to hide that part of my life. I’m very grateful.
Are there bits of home that you reference in your work?
I always get bursts of creativity when I go home to Madison. I’ve been wanting to create this zine for a long time since I shot a lot of the images over a year ago. Last time I went home I got so many ideas all at once for this. So maybe my home isn’t directly referenced because I never danced in Wisconsin, but it’s a place where all my ideas flow to me so I can come back to New York and make it happen.
Where would you like to see yourself in five years from now?
I think for a lot of dancers there’s a purpose behind why we hustle so hard at the club. A lot of us are artists, or pursuing a passion, and dancing allows us to financially support ourselves while we chase our dreams. I hope that some really dope music artists see my work and want me to shoot them in the style I’ve shot all my friends, doing BTS on music videos, or working with a brand to create another zine. My mind is open to all the possibilities of where this could take me, I don’t like to look too far into the future.
Where can we find your zine?
Right now my website, my IG, Dashwood, and LAAMS!
