The Zillennial Zine

Please tell me I’m not the only person who logged into their PrettyLittleThing account on March 3 and noticed they underwent a massive rebrand. I was completely wrecked when I saw what was once a fun, youthful, and upbeat clothing site now turned into a mature, contemporary, and (dare I say it) bland shopping hub. Needless to say, PrettyLittleThing’s sudden switch-up was not on my 2025 bingo card. I felt like PLT was perfect the way it was. However, understandably, there have been varying reviews and concerns regarding this new image. So of course, now is as good a time as any to discuss. Maybe there is more to it than meets the eye and we can grow to love this new version of our once-favorite clothing website.

Long gone are the days when looking something up required you to have a house full of alphabetically organized encyclopedias. We have since moved to significantly more efficient ways of accessing knowledge over the last few decades. Google search engine has held down the number one spot as the go-to search engine for what seems like forever. But now the question is… has social media become the new way to search for information? Is using social media as a search engine the new way to research? And better yet, if using social media as a search engine is the new way of life, what are the pros and cons? It can’t be sustainable, right?

Influencers have been infiltrating our lives since the 2000s. It originally started with blogs. It was a different form, but the premise was the same. Trendsetters. “Mommy Bloggers” were the original influencers. If you wanted to be the perfect mom, you simply needed to do everything these unrealistic and glorified supermoms did. Now, twenty-five years later we have the influencers that we know (and some love) today. With a multitude of subjects to influence and countless amounts of money being made by them and the companies sponsoring them, lately, there seems to be no topic that’s free of the sway of influencers. Influencers with no qualifications is the name of the game. And I believe it should stop immediately. There are so many reasons why it’s problematic and not sustainable. And I’m happy to delve into them with you.

Ahhh… conferencing. The art of traveling to a different place, entering a huge convention center and making career-related small talk while hoping to make a genuine professional connection. It’s nerve-racking, isn’t it? Of course, some people live for it and look forward to these annual events. But for some (like myself) it’s overwhelming! Mentally, physically, and emotionally, it can drain you and keep you on edge even though you’re meant to enjoy the networking opportunities undoubtedly coming your way. It’s something that you’ll eventually get good at but how? It doesn’t happen overnight. So here are some conference tips for your 20s. Because how can you become a pro if you don’t start now?

Country singer, Linda Martell, once said, “Genres are a funny little concept… In theory, they have a simple definition that’s easy to understand, but in practice…some may feel confined.” Guyanese scholar, Rodney Walter, once said, “A culture is a total way of life. It embraces what people ate and what they wore; the way they walked and the way they talked; the manner in which they treated death and greeted the newborn.” So with these two incredibly accurate viewpoints, how does a musical artist comfortably and without offense create music that integrates various sounds and genres? Is mixing music genres acceptable? Is there a correct way to do it? I’m truly not sure but maybe after this article, we’ll have a better idea of where we each stand on this topic.

Having siblings is hard. Sure it can be beautiful and rewarding. But it’s not always easy. I don’t care if you have a stepsibling, half-sibling, an adopted one, or one you share two biological parents with. Whether you’re twins, one year apart, or facing a 20-year age gap, you have someone taking up space as your other half. You’ve grown up with them or at least share parental ties. One thing that is always going to be true… you will grow together in some way. You will either grow closer or grow apart. If you’ve experienced this, you understand how world-shattering it can feel to grow in opposite directions or how warm it can feel to grow a true bond. But one or both feelings are inevitable. So, if you’re wondering why do siblings grow apart, keep reading. You just might find out how to repair this life-long friendship.

We live in a judgmental world. It’s a world full of people who feel their way of doing things is the only way. It’s the case with things as minuscule as how many chocolate chips should go in your cookie recipe to things as monumental as whether you should have children. Imagine that. Someone judging your decision to have or to not have children. And the craziest part about it is the silent beef between the two groups. Moms judge childless women and childless women judge the moms! It’s a mess! If I were to guess (as a childless woman myself) mothers subconsciously wonder, are childless women happier?  And I’ll admit some women are wondering if mothers are happier. Who’s really winning?

It’s no secret that I’m closer to the Millennial end of the Zillennial generation subcategory. I’ve experienced some special and life-changing events that only we’d understand. For example, I remember the first mp3 player, the first cellphone that played music, the first iPhone, Beyonce in Destiny’s Child (with 4 members), and …the beginning of Rihanna! I can recall the first time I heard “Pon de Replay.” We were mesmerized and wanted more. So, as I reminisce on my 5th-grade self, who listened to Music of the Sun on an mp3 player, I must acknowledge Rihanna’s incredible career and music catalog. What better way to do that than to figure out our zodiac signs as Rihanna songs?

I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love friend vacations. I’m telling you, those friend vacations are truly some of the most fun you’ll ever have in life. However it can be difficult to decide on the best place to visit and determine whether it offers what everyone is looking for. Finding a location that satisfies all the different personalities and individual needs of your group can be taxing and ultimately lead to the trip idea never leaving the group chat. This guide will tell you how to finally raise that vacation group chat from the ashes of unmet resolutions and expectations. And it all starts with choosing the perfect friend group vacation spots.

Calling all my sexy Cowboys and Cowgirls! When Beyonce tells us to go country, we go dirty south. I’m talking about cowboy boots, hats, denim, chaps, and fringe. This is not a game by any means. If you were online between May and October of 2023 and beyond, you know how serious the wardrobe was for The Renaissance World Tour. So, if you didn’t take it seriously then, now is your chance to redeem yourself and make “Muva” proud. And I’m here to help! Here is a guide on appropriate Cowboy Carter Tour outfits. I’ll get you rodeo-ready in no time!

The most educated generations are Millennials and Gen Z. Our generations have been collecting diplomas like trading cards. That was the point, though. In exchange for our degree and our proven ability to learn through a 4-year academic program, we earn a job that will lead to a thriving career. But we are just realizing that this wasn’t a foolproof plan. This leads to a very controversial question. Can you be successful without university training? Or is the idea that higher education unlocks the key to success outdated?

It feels nearly impossible to protect your peace nowadays. There is a constant influx of counterproductive posts on social media, unsolicited comments from the people around us, and endless sources of pain and suffering worldwide. We can’t possibly stay grounded and mentally healthy with all the doom swirling around us. You are not alone though. Although there are many ways to deal with this sad reality, it’s helpful to lay out the rules and guidelines of how to not let others’ negativity affect you.

What are some non-negotiables when it comes to your dream job? I like flexibility. I hate to be micro-managed. And I prefer to work in an environment with like-minded people so I can be myself, unapologetically. But wait… I want to get paid well. I also love an abundance of vacation and sick days. Oh, good health insurance is a must! However, I like to work virtually as often as possible too. Damn, this is harder than I thought! Here’s the truth of the matter. Does the perfect job exist? Maybe. However, we may need to readjust and reimagine what perfection is.

Dedication. Devotion. Loyalty. Commitment. These are typically seen as positive words. They’re qualities that any employer, lover, family member, or friend would prefer. They’re qualities that prove you are in it for the long haul. These adjectives come with expectations that sometimes prove to be counter-productive to our growth and trick us into forcing things that aren’t meant for us. I think we all need to have a discussion about how to know if something is meant for you.

From open marriages to living separately we seem to be more open to these discussions. This revelation was brought on by a recent statement made by Abbott Elementary’s Sheryl Lee Ralph about her own marriage. She and her husband of 20 years have lived apart for their entire marriage and it has worked out beautifully. Maybe married couples with separate bedrooms know something that we don’t.

If you’re like me, you’re a Beyonce fan. And if you’re even more like me, you dabble in the fun practice of astrology. But despite your level of Beyonce knowledge or how much you partake in the study of astrological signs, there’s at least one song in her endless catalog that matches perfectly with your zodiac sign. So, let’s explore our zodiac signs as Beyonce songs.

If you’re like me, you’ll have a mini heart attack when you turn 28. At 29, it will intensify. Why? Because it’s the last year of your 20’s. But aging is a blessing. It’s a gift not awarded to everyone. I’m here to tell you what it’s like, what to expect, and what you should do before turning 30.

Many of us were taught that romantic relationships take priority over friendships when we grow up. Although as children, the importance of friendship was emphasized. However, after a certain age, we are expected to act as if our romantic relationships are the only ones we need. This may lead some to wonder, are friendships important? I’m here to tell you that maintaining and preserving your friendships is equally important to nurturing your romantic relationships.