To honor of the origins of our publication, the GIA MAG team sat down for an intimate photoshoot with our namesake, Juniperangelica “Gia” Cordova, and our founder, Teddy Lake. In the accompanying interview, we asked Gia to tell our readers about herself.
Q: Who are you?
Gia: I am a student, an organizer, a mother, an optimist, a Beyonce lover, devoted fan.
Q: What makes you, YOU?
Gia: I’m a really badass person. And I know that about myself, and I think that’s special. I hope everyone’s on that journey to really love themselves to that level, and I think that’s what makes me special. I can protect myself and love myself in a way that lets me go through this world as strong as I am.
Q: Who is your inspiration and why?
Gia: I have so many inspirations. Princess Diana is my inspiration because in a really monarchy way, she was a badass and went against whatever institutions she was a part of. My mother is my inspiration because she has survived for so long. With or without academia, she has been a strong, resilient woman that has guided me through this world. My kid is my inspiration mainly because he is the logistical reason why I need to keep on going.
Q: What do you want to be known for both at Berkeley and beyond?
Gia: I’m known for not being wavered by other people’s opinions. I’m known to follow my own heart and my own mind, and that’s what I want to be known for in the world: a bitch who won’t be bothered, but hopefully a nice one.
Q: What are you most proud of?
Gia: I am most proud of the fact that I’m still an optimist, and I still think the world can live in peace one day. I’m really proud of the fact that I’m still fighting for a world without oppression while also trying to live that practice today.
Q: Can you tell us about your outfit?
Gia: As a trans person, the wardrobe is such an intense idea mainly because my body is or isn’t the way I want it to be. So when I wear things and I feel pretty, it isn’t just a coincidence. It’s very intentional for me, and I’m very proud of the fact that I can get myself to the point where I look in the mirror and I feel beautiful. And these clothes help.
Q: How do you feel like your style has changed over time?
Gia: My style has really been informed by my financial stability. So when I was homeless in high school, it was very much based off of free clothes, which was a challenge, but I did it. I did it. I was pretty. With more financial stability, I get to choose more, so now I get to test the limits. And I think also as I get more comfortable with my gender, I’m also able to not just always rely on feminine clothing but really test what I like.
Q: What is your favorite piece of art?
Gia: My favorite art piece is called “Our Lady” by Alma Lopez. She is an artist I believe in the Southwest. She made a modern depiction of the Virgin Mary, but the model is topless, and a lot of skin is showing between the two models. It stirred a lot of controversy in 1999 because obviously religious folks were like, “What are you doing to our Guadalupe?” So that art piece was really daring, really pushed the limits. Also it kind of captures what I feel about religion at least right now in my relationship with being Catholic and queer and a woman.
Q: How does it feel to have a magazine named after you?
Gia: It’s so cute! I think as an organizer the work I do is to keep people alive. It’s to make this world a better place for people like me, and even people who are not like me but are still going through shit. As a trans woman, it’s exciting to have that honor and to know people respect me to the point where they create magazines with my name on them.
Q: Where do you imagine yourself in 10 years?
Gia: So in 10 years, I will be 32. I would have a lot more kids. I would have a few graduate degrees. And I don’t know what job I’ll have, but I hope that I’ll have healed a lot more. I hope that I’ll have prioritized myself within my family, and I hope that I will have cultivated a lot of relationships that I’m proud of. I’ll have friendships that have been over a decade, and I hope that I’m just happy.
1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th, and 10th photos by Andy Myers.
3rd, 7th, and 8th photos by Natalie Shao.
