Autostraddle Calendar Girls 2013: Jade is Miss May

Another year, another opportunity to create a kickass calendar of smokin’ hot lesbians. If you’ve not picked up the 2012 calendar yet, now would be the time — they’re available for the post-holiday price of $10! For 2013 we did something completely different yet totally spectacular.

Are you ready to meet the 2013 Calendar Girls?


video edited by Sarah Croce and Lauren Aadland

Now, onward and upward — here’s Robin!

Artist’s Statement:

For the 2013 Autostraddle Calendar, we put on our bathing suits and hit the water! My goal this year was to do a black and white series that was playful, sexy, and all about the women. I sought to capture images that would reflect the models’ feelings of freedom and comfort in their own skin. We chose a simple expanse of sand and water where the horizon is somewhat indistinguishable, and it was the perfect setting for a very personal and introspective look at each of these extraordinary women.

As a photographer, photographing an entire day at the beach is a great challenge. You need to maintain consistency as the light changes drastically throughout the day and the tides ebb and flow. This adds an interesting element in the images as over the course of the day, we watched them play and interact from sunrise to sunset. We closed the day with some very quiet, intimate interactions between the women who’d come to know each other over the course of those hours.

I love coming away from these shoots knowing that all of these women are now friends, and I hope that these images reflect those bonds formed.

A huge thank you to our beautiful models and our amazing crew for a job well-done. A special thank you to stylist and co-producer Sara Medd for being my partner in this project.

Robin, Photographer

Crew:
Robin Roemer, Photographer and Co-producer
Sara Medd, Stylist and Co-producer
Sarah Croce, Production coordinator and video
Lauren Aaland, video
Alex Vega, designer
Christina Natale, Make-up
Brandi Andrews, Make-up
Taylor Stevenson, Hair
Michelle McCaw, Hair
Sabrina Bringuier, Photo Assistant

Our May Lady is Jade:

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Jade in her own words:

Hey girl hey! My name is Jade, I’m 22, crazy, quirky, and fun. I’m originally from New York, but recently reside in lovely Orange County. I’m a little ball of energy and love to always be busy. Most weekends you can find me out somewhere in WEHO trying to out walk drag queens and dancing on the stages at The Abbey with the girls. I’m the master of all ‘That’s What He/She Said’s”. I’m very spontaneous and love going on random adventures and meeting new friends. My remedy for everything is laughter and I fully believe in Carpe Diem. I love my life and all my wonderful friends — I call them my twins and sisters. RuPaul taught me “If you don’t love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else?” Can I get an amen?!

A big thank you to Autostraddle for letting me be a part of such a beautiful and inspiring group of women.

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Robin’s Phoner with Jade

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What got you interested in the Calendar Girls project?

Well since I’m fairly new to the scene and just moved out here I thought it would be a really cool opportunity to meet some awesome lesbians, which worked because now we’re all friends and hang out! Just really to put myself out there.

You did a great job of running Baywatch-style into the waves!

[laughs] I try! It’s hard to be sexy, you know.

IT is! So tell me about what you like to do for fun!

I’m kind of a closet nerd. I love to read, paint, watch trashy TV. Lately I’ve been kicking ass at Wii Just Dance!

Yes, I own this as well. What is your fave song in Just Dance?!

Don’t laugh, but Jessie J’s “Price Tag” is my favorite. I know the whole thing by heart!

I love that song!

I’m obsessed about her!

She’s amazing. Other than Jessie J, what is your biggest passion?

I think right now it would be writing. I’ve been working on a book for years.

Oh nice. About what?

About my life growing up. Moving a lot, my family, and how they feel about me being gay, my random adventures and just how I see the world. It’s hard when your family isn’t just black, but they are black, Chinese…and Jewish.

Oh wow! What a unique background, sounds interesting!

Yes! I just found out a few months ago that my family is Jewish, too.

Mazel!! Do you have a favorite food?

I love….tacos! That’s what she said! No, but really I love them, and anything Mexican really.

Tell me about what you do for work.

Technically I have five jobs. I’m a wedding consultant, a promo model – I just work at Dinah passing out a million tampons – an extra in commercials, a fashion show dresser, and I randomly do lighting for movies. Translation: I’m a college student.

Special Note: As of December 2010, we request that the comments on Calendar Girls posts, unlike every other post on this site, be exclusively positive. These posts exist to celebrate women, so any shit-talking or criticisms of the model’s appearance will get deleted. Direct concerns about the project or website as a whole can be directed to robin at autostraddle dot com or riese at autostraddle dot com!

Before you go! Autostraddle runs on the reader support of our AF+ Members. If this article meant something to you today — if it informed you or made you smile or feel seen, will you consider joining AF and supporting the people who make this queer media site possible?

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Robin

Robin specializes in entertainment, lifestyle and portrait photography. She's also a Creative Producer, Director of Photography and co-owner of Scheme Machine Studios LLC, her production company based in Los Angeles. Robin loves shooting for TV and film and has worked with media companies like Legendary Pictures and Viacom. She shot and directed the Pride campaign for Google called #ThisIsFamily. Robin has had the pleasure of working on national campaigns for companies like Dove and Levis, and had the unique opportunity to shoot for non-profits and initiatives such as The Black List, Save the Children, Move to End Violence, Have a Hart Day, and The Clinton Global Initiative. She is most proud of the work she has done with organizations such as The Ad Council and RAINN working on national impact campaigns. Her celebrity roster includes Cyndi Lauper, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, The B-52s, Keri Hilson, JB Smoove, Tegan and Sara, Margaret Cho, The B-52’s, Andreja Pejic, and many more. She was there for Autostraddle’s birth and proudly served as A-Camp co-director for many years.

Robin has written 82 articles for us.

34 Comments

  1. I love reading these interviews! Jade sounds like she is all kinds of fabulous!!

  2. She sounds so fun, and looks great – glad she decided to put herself out there

  9. I’m the queen of that’s what he/she saids! haha Love this! Thanks Autostraddle!!!!

  18. I have to admit this is the first time I actually clicked on a Calendar Girls link but damn….I had to.

    Jade is hot and sounds like a cool girl.

  20. Jade!! Thanks so much again for being part of this project! You are a sweetheart! :)

  21. Thought #1: I think the taco comment should get an honorary comment award, even though it’s in the post itself rather than the comment section.

    Thought #2: Jessie J is this indie rock snob’s secret guilty pleasure. Don’t tell.

    Thought #3: I just happened to blog yesterday about the AS calender, and the feelings I had when I read a comment on a feminist FB page about how Autostraddle doesn’t get off the hook for objectifying women just because it’s a site for queer girls (for the record, I don’t really feel like that’s what’s happening here). So I’d just like to say in a completely respectful and non-objectifying way that these are lovely photos.

  25. Someday, when I am in a less Midwesterly position, geographically speaking, and/or have the means to ship my arse out west, I long to become an Autostraddle Calendar Girl myself. I always enjoy these interviews; fabulous queers and mahvellous photography.

  29. From one calendar girl to another…HAYYYY GIRRRRRRRRRL.

    YOU LOOK SO SEXSI.

    I AM LIKE OH MY GOD.

    Then I remembered your grrlfrenn.
    Backing away now.

    (not really)

    You’re stunning. You are. You are a beautiful black woman and you are definitely HOLDING IT DOWNNNNNN.

    #werqboo

  31. Gosh, Jade is really pretty; she has a pretty friend in that one picture too!

  32. JADE!!!! Lookin good! Doin big things with your bad self! :) proud of you girl! How do I be a part of this? Lol love to give back to the LGBT community :)

  33. Fabulous fabulous. For so long, we at qindonline.com have been searching for a source of truly sexy, classy but cheeky images of women to direct our readers to. Funny how things you need are often right under your nose! I love this whole calendar girls concept. The girls are so attractive and that is no lie coming from a gay guy with no vested interest! Fabulous. Definitely going to send more qindonline.com readers your way!
    smooches
    Victor

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