Autostraddle Calendar Girls 2014: Cynthia is Miss January

Sometimes, SOMETIMES you can’t cover your face with smokin’ hot lesbians. When this happens why not cover your walls with them instead!? That’s where the 2014 Autostraddle calendar comes in! If you haven’t picked up the 2013 calendar yet, you should probs get right on that — they’re available in our store for $18! For 2014 prepare to have your mind blown, among other things.

Artist’s Statement from Robin Roemer:
I want to start off by saying I wish I had a few weeks to photograph each of our 130 applicants, because they were all beautiful and inspiring! We are honored so many of you wanted to participate and we hope, at some point, we can work with each one of you. I mean that most sincerely.

This year we went through our applicants based on the survey first, the photos sent in to me had little to do with who our final picks were. We chose based on answers to a variety of questions. We wanted people who really had a sense of what the project was all about, were readers of Autostraddle, and were involved in their communities at home. We wanted women bursting with energy and love. Second, we wanted to represent our incredibly diverse our community: beauties of all different shapes and styles and backgrounds and gender expressions. Finally we found ourselves with 13 models, its 2013 now so twelve just wouldn’t do, who we feel represent some of the most brilliant our readership has to offer. I hope each of you, especially those of you who applied and were not chosen this year, enjoy this year’s calendar.

Cynthia is Miss January

miss_january_cynthia_robinroemer_1

miss_january_cynthia_robinroemer_2

Cynthia in her own words:

Hey homos! My name is Cynthia and I’m a 22 year old recent grad from the University of Iowa. I turn 23 on January 19th so shout-out to all the Capricorns! This year, Robin wanted us Calendar Girls to submit some of our personal stories. I was going to share the story of how I told my parents I was going to California to visit a law school when I actually had a photo shoot for a queer lady calendar, but I’ll save that one for later. I’d like to think that something unique about me is my energy. I just love life and the people in it so much! It doesn’t take much to make me laugh and when I start it usually takes me a while to stop. I really believe when we emit positive energy in our words, actions and thoughts we attract even more good vibrations to ourselves. I also am starting to believe I can think things into existence but again, another story for later.

Get to Know Cynthia

Where are you from?

I’m from several south suburbs of Chicago but for the past five years I’ve lived in Iowa City.

Occupation /Major/Passion:

I just graduated from the University of Iowa in December with a B.A. in Political Science and a Minor in Theatre. I’m applying to law schools right now and hope to eventually practice human rights law. In the mean time I work in a group home, providing care for amazing individuals who happen to have developmental disabilities.

Why did you want to be a part of this project?

I still can’t believe I was chosen to be a be a part of this project! Major love to Robin, Sara, and everyone who helped make the 2014 calendar happen! It was an experience I’ll truly never forget. Autostraddle is more than a website; it is an amazing community of queer women. It’s the personal stories shared by brave women on this site that gave me the courage to finally come out.

I’m a first born, first generation Cameroonian-American with very traditional and religious parents. My decision to come out was absolutely terrifying. Still, I knew that no matter how my family reacted, there was a community of understanding ladies ready to accept me with open arms. After coming out there were lots of tears, lots of prayer and things still get a bit rocky at times but I’ve never been closer with my family and wouldn’t have things any other way. I just hope that sharing my story inspires women the same way other Autostraddlers have encouraged and inspired me.

On a lighter but just as serious note, I also wanted to be a Calendar Girl because the eligible lesbian population in Iowa City is roughly 4.5. Since my OkCupid isn’t getting many hits either I figured, “What better way to get myself out there?!”

Crew:
Co-created by Robin Roemer and Sara Medd
Photographed by Robin Roemer
Wardrobe styling by Sara Medd
Hair by Taylor Stevenson
Make-up by Marla Verdugo
Line Production, Location Scouting and Catering: Sarah Croce
Design, Location Scouting, Production assistant: Alex Vega
Lighting Assistant: Kamila Baker
Production Assistant: Christina Bly
Puppy Wrangler: Mollie Thomas

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 and remain on-topic. These posts exist to celebrate women, so any  criticisms of the model, her appearance or the appearance of the Calendar Girls as a whole will be deleted. Furthermore, any direct questions/concerns about the project in general can be to robin 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?

Join AF+!
Related:

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.

64 Comments

  2. cynthia, you are gorgeous. robin, your photos always blow me away. guys, the 2013 calendar is currently hanging on my wall and let me tell you, waking up to gorgeous girls in bathing suits staring back at me definitely makes the cold mornings a little warmer. what i’m trying to say is, everything about this post is perfect.

  4. Wow! I don’t even have words… just her skin, her eyes, and her smile! Autostraddle you have officially made my heart give out.

  5. riese and i have decided that we both want this romper but also that we would never ever, ever, do it the justice that cynthia has. damn.

    • I’ve had this conversation with Medd multiple times. It was made for her I think! :)

      Love this lady! She’s so beautiful, funny and sweet! Thanks for being part of this Cynthia!

  16. As a newcomer to the site one of the things I’ve enjoyed doing is perusing the beautiful calender girls, and there have been some truly beautiful females on disply and WOW..Cynthia is no exception, she really is quite magnificent – I am so happy I found this site!

  18. i absolutely love everything about these pictures! especially the sunflowers! cynthia, you are perfection!

  21. Hey baby Cyntee it’s your little sister Maggie, I can’t believe it you’re on the internet!!!!!!!!

  22. GURL! You are stunning and amazing. Tangentially related, I’m finishing a masters at University of Iowa and I’m a capricorn so if you are still around IC we should be friends! And you’re beautiful.

  25. You’re in Iowa? I’m in Missouri. We should meet! Also, I love that you passed off this photo shoot as a visit to law school :)

  30. One: You are absolutely gorgeous.

    Two: Thank you for sharing that you came out to a very religious family and that it all worked out OK. It means everything to me to hear stories like yours.

    Three: Gorgeous.

  31. I’m from the south suburbs as well, and I’d love to know you. You are beautiful, and the even the stars abstractly cavorting across the universe do not do your beauty justice, lady.

    Stay peaceful.

  32. Capricorns represent! MY BIRTHDAY IS JANUARY 16th. OBVIOUSLY THIS MEANS WE ARE SOUL MATES.

    right?

    Everything about this girl is incredible.
    Everything about these photos is incredible.

    Happy birthday to me.

  35. every year we just get more beauty and brains all wrapped up in 1 (okay, 13) packages. miss cynthia, you are exquisite.

  36. You are a very brave and beautiful young woman. Especially for coming out to very religious parents. Keep it up Cynthia.

  39. I lived in Iowa, near Iowa City, for four years and I never saw anyone this beautiful there. Had I known, maybe I would’ve stayed.

  42. Oh my goshhhh you guys! This is all so exciting and still unreal and I’ll just be smiling from ear to ear all year!! Thank you so much for all the nice comments, you sure know how to make a gay girl grin :)

    My 11 and 14 year old sisters and their comments though? I’m dying. I love you sissies!!

    Robin & Sara I’ll love and thank you endlessly for allowing me to be a part of this. It feels so great to be gay and out and proud! Thank you to Autostraddle and the whole crew for making this happen! Taylor & Marla thank you for making me seksi! And thank you to Sarah Croce for existing. Mmhmm.

    To anyone reading this who is struggling to come to terms with their sexuality or having problems coming out to their close ones.. I feel your struggle and take your time. It won’t happen overnight but it gets better. It really, truly does! I struggled with my own sexuality from a very young age and it wreaked havoc all over my life. I finally found peace once I realized being gay was not the worst thing I could do as a daughter or older sister or Christian or whateverrr. I didn’t and don’t want to hurt my loved ones but no one should live life suppressing their own happiness in attempts to ensure the happiness of others. Someone will always be mad about something you are or are not so if they don’t like you simply because you’re a raging homo then F themmmm! F ’em real good! You do you and focus on those who love you, not hate you.

    And I don’t wanna spoil any surprises but you ladies are seeeriously in for a special treat!!! Every calendar girl has been gorgeous but good lord, the rest of the 2014 girls are all so incredibly beautiful and so amazing and so all the things. Be excited. Happy New Year, Autostraddlers!!!

    Xoxo,
    Miss January

    • MY name is Cynthia! AND I’m a 20 year old theatre MAJOR…and I’m a lesbian AND my mom is from IOWA and my dad lives in Chicago….SOOOO practically we’re twins. amiright?

      Not only has autostradlle been a community and a life raft for me as of late,they’ve found and celebrated my someone I can so easily relate to! This rocks!!!

    • Robin,

      You have done it again. And everytime I see another beautiful, drop-dead Autostraddle Calendar Girl of color my heart skips a beat (and so does my vagina). It’s like dayummm, where do y’all be when I need a date? WHERE DO Y’ALL HIDE?

      WHYYYYYYYY do I have to see all the pretty young thangs on the internet only? Congratulations Cynthia on your beautiful photos and I surely hope that there’s a release party in L.A. that I can attend :P

      oxoxxo
      Luna

  43. She is absolutely gorgeous.From the positive energy she exudes,her beautiful smile and thoughtful responses. Love the outfit, love her natural hair. She certainly put a smile on my face.

  45. MY name is Cynthia! AND I’m a 20 year old theatre MAJOR…and I’m a lesbian AND my mom is from IOWA and my dad lives in Chicago….SOOOO practically we’re twins.

    Not only has autostradlle been a community and a life raft for me as of late,they’ve found and celebrated my soulmate! This rocks!!!

  47. Wowza…pretty warm for usually frisky weather.

    And yes, I did note what it usually meant.

    And Cameroonians represent!

    Also, you’re frakin hot. Thank you BOTH for existing!

  49. Cynthia, beautiful! I, too, want this romper. We should all acquire this romper and wear it to A-Camp. Whaddya say, Riese and Laneia? Does someone want to make us ROMPERS? Romper room. Let’s do it.
    Also, Cynthia has the same birthday as me, Crystal and Brandy…making “Havmas” (as Riese and Marni refer to it) sort of a major holiday for Autostraddle. Just saying.

  50. Hey! I live in Iowa City! And while Im not personally eligible, I have a few eligible lady-friends! Haha

  51. I can’t believe this is the last day I will see these pictures. Goodbye Cynthia and good bye money cause I’m definitely buying that calendar!!!

Comments are closed.