Who are we?

Avril Rincon is well-invested in how beauty trends on social media have affected women across many platforms. Her experiences come with her former occupation as a lab scientist at Kristen Cosmetics. Here she was able to oversee the chemical formulas and packaging of a vast array of products like blush, mascara, and foundation. In her 10 years working for the company, she started to realize how loosely regualted the indrustry was, all for the sake of commmercialism. After exposing the company's practices in a leaked TMZ interview, she took the courage to quit her job to better inform the public about such nuances and the importance of being properly informed of what is in your beauty products.

In truth, Avril is a senior at UCLA majoring in Human Biology & Society and minoring in Chicano Studies. She is passionate about serving underserved communities in health care and the built-in-environment. She is working on publicizing research on air pollution and how it affects people's respiratory health. She is committed to making a change in her community through volunteer work like being an ambassador at the Los Angeles Food Bank.

Emily St. Denis is contributing to the website in the role of a Pulitzer prize winning investigative journalist. She is known for her powerful perspective pieces exploring ethics and her desire to expose consumers to the truth and empower people to make health conscious choices. Additionally Emily is passionate about making sure readers are enganged with the material both actively and visually, therefore she has put a lot of effort into the presentation of this website. 

In reality, Emily is a fourth year UCLA student studying Human Biology and Society. While working towards her undergraduate degree Emily has also worked as an EMT and as a research associate at a biotech firm. She has recently been published for her research in COVID and Genetics. After graduation Emily will be attending medical school and is interested in getting a dual Masters of Bioethics to pursue her ultimate goal of serving as a physician and working on a hospital ethics board.

Jenna Reppas is taking on the role of this project's historiographer with a specialization in digital chronology. She earned a Master's in journalism and has archival experience for magazines, corporations, and universities. She also minored in fashion marketing and computer science, and spent the last 3 years working for Vogue Magazine as a website editor and development scientist.

In actuality, Jenna is a 4th-year Human Biology and Society major at UCLA. She has spent her undergraduate years conducting genetic research into leukemias, volunteering in a variety of clinical roles, and being among the leadership of several student organizations. She is especially interested in socially-founded health disparities, and recently studied abroad to explore European public health. After graduation, she will be working as a medical assistant and applying to medical school. Her ultimate goal is to be a physician and practice internationally.

Dr. Sophia Yu has recently earned a dual doctorate education in medicine and scientific research, specializing in the field of Endocrinology. Throughout her career, Dr. Yu has worked at the bench and clinically on research pertaining to EDCs, particularly PFAs and phthalates.  

The real Sophia is a 4th year undergraduate at UCLA studying Human Biology & Society and Spanish! She is passionate about community health, and works as one of the undergraduate coordinators of the Mobile Clinic Project at UCLA to serve the unhoused community. Sophia also has a research interest in infectious diseases, and conducts HIV research under the David Geffen department of Pediatric Infectious Disease. In her free time, Sophia enjoys writing opinion articles, going to the gym, and crochet!

Yasmeen Talaat is a natural hair advocate and beauty blogger. She gained popularity online as she documented her shift from chemically straightened hair to natural curls. She also gave advice on her blog about what cosmetic products women of color should use. Her work focuses on empowering women in their use of beauty products in a way that highlights their natural features.

In the real world, Yasmeen is a 4th year undergraduate UCLA student majoring in Human Biology & Society. Yasmeen is passionate about the health disparities that Black people, especially Black women, endure. Currently, she works at the David Geffen School of Medicine in the Opthalmology department where she assists in academic programming for resident doctors. She hopes to become a physician in a field that directly benefits Black women and build education programs that break down medical racism among physicians.