The phenomenon of “the girl crush” has been circulating the globe for as long as anyone can remember. English women back in the 1500s probably wanted to be Queen Elizabeth just as badly as ninety-percent of the female population wants to be Jennifer Lawrence today. And no, it’s not just because both were rich and famous; there are plenty of women like that who aren’t nearly as admired (I’m talking to you, Miley Cyrus). It takes a certain kind of girl do be deemed “crushable”, and here’s a profile of some bonafide girl crushes walking around campus.
Name: Jeniffer Yuan (“Two Fs, one N”)
Age: 20
Hometown: Born in Taipei, Taiwan and raised in Sao Paolo, Brazil (“People always ask them where I’m from and saying both usually confuses them, so I just go with Taipei.”)
Major: Latin American Studies (“I’d really like to do something in theater, though.”)
Nickname: Genuine (Get it? JenYuan? Think about it.)
Unsuspected Facts: Originally attended Macalester College in Minnesota before attending NYU
Girl Crush Status: Born and raised in Brazil with a Taiwanese residency, Jen is not only one of the most photogenic girls you will ever meet, but most certainly one of the most multifaceted. Speaking a total of five languages (English, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, and Japanese), her interests range from off-beat plays to video games like Assassin’s Creed. Not only that, but Jen happens to be an avid cosplayer, having her own Facebook page dedicated to elaborate costumes created by Jen herself, those including Pepper Potts from Iron Man, Black Widow from the Avengers, Laura Croft Tomb Raider and, most impressively, many male characters. Dressing like a model by day and volunteering at Comic Con by night, Jen’s practically has her own super hero alter ego already.
HC NYU: So what got you interested in cosplaying in the first place?
JY: It started when my friend– well, I didn’t know her at the time, but she was looking for someone to cosplay with her, these two characters who were partners. I was in middle school and she took me, put me in the wig, and after that, well, it just kept going.
HC NYU: Who were your favorite characters to portray and are there any you have in mind for the future?
JY: I– wow, well the one I was most proud of was Sanzo from [the anime series] Saiyuki, but the most fun was Jack Frost from Rise of the Guardians because first of all, his costume is easy to move around in, and also because he’s playful and I can be really goofy [as him]. Also he’s just such a great character. I also really liked Laura Croft and honestly I really want to be Izio from Assassin’s Creed.
HC NYU: Who are your personal girl crushes?
JY: God, I have a lot, but I can’t think of any right now. Let me think: Scarlett Johansson, Dita Von Teese, Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone, Emily Blunt. Oh, and Beyoncè, plus my best friend Joyce.
HC NYU: What do you find to be good qualities in not just role models or girl crushes, but all-around admirable people?
JY: Someone that, if I were a lesbian, I would love to go out with. Mostly, I like people who have their own, I don’t know, people who have their own path set out for them and go along with their passions. You know how there’s this saying that people fall in love with other people’s passions? I mean, I feel like I struggle with what I’m passionate about, and I admire and envy people who know what they want. But it’s also the kind of “envious” where you aspire to be more like them.
HC NYU: Which moment in your life are you most proud of?
JY: There was a situation during a photo-shoot where I had to communicate simultaneously in three different languages (English, Mandarin, Spanish). There was also the time I won beer pong– either or, it’s a tie.