Varsity’s Creative Team has taken on a breathtaking project seeking to explore queer love and loving. Varsity’s Creative Director Leah Mclaine and Vulture Editor Lily Maguire worked with thirty-one models, eight stylists, three photographers and two videographers to capture the innumerable ways queer identity is navigated across a trilogy of spaces. Queer models perform what it is to see, understand, mimic, fail, become frustrated at, and interpret how to love queerly, fleeting between heterosexual imitations and authentic self-expression. From the discovery of sexuality in the hidden corners of Downing’s Howard theatre, to self-conscious presentation in Emmanuel’s opulent dining hall, to unfiltered intimacy within a bedroom, a multitude of narratives are explored. Yet surveillance and performance runs through the shoot with the models presenting to the public which is always watching as videographers, undetected, filmed interactions behind the scenes.

THE DISCOVERY...

The first scene is an exploration of the plethora of experiences that accompany the discovery of queer identity. This scene tours the different ways this journey can be taken. Perhaps by observing others from a distance, using them as a reference of how to be queer, or reaching out to those individuals hoping to connect with them. As much as discovery is internally driven, the need to connect with others is as important. Ultimately, this scene is about longing to grasp your identity whilst struggling to access the queer community. The creative team explores mixed feelings of joy celebrating new forms of intimacy, contrasted with shame and needing to hide.

THE DATE...

The next scene, Dining, represents the aftermath of accepting your sexuality and queer identity. A date scene scenario combined with a looming presence watching your every move, this scene explores the self-consciousness that follows accepting your identity. A need to present in a certain ‘hyper’ way dominates with the models conscious they are being watched, overthinking how to present and constantly dissecting how they will be perceived

INTIMACY...

After discovery and experimenting with self-presentation comes being able to relax into your true self experiencing intimacy. By delving into the dynamics of being queer and becoming intimate in the private space of a bedroom, this scene juxtaposes the feelings of ease and caution navigating new dynamics. Yet an on-watching presence excluded from the bedroom remains, looking into the room, hesitant and unsure. Instead, they observe, longing to be intimate, to imitate, unable to access the space of the bedroom.

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Mountain View

The Modern Pre-Raphaelites

Creative Direction: Varsity's Creative Director Leah Mclaine & Vulture Editor Lily Maguire

Video & Film: Videographers Gabriel Johnson & Rosa Prosser. Photographers Leah Mclaine, Evie Hall, Rebecca Tyson & Victoria Somerton. Film developing by Take It Easy @takeiteasylab on Instagram.

Varsity's Creative Team: Creative Assistants Sharleen Opia, Nicola Medicoff & Dominika Baerova. Head Stylist Maddy Fisher & Fashion Director Zoe Geall. Head of Set Design Caitlin Van Bommel

Stylists and Set Design: Styling by Ella Curry, Eve Blain, Oyinkan Akinbolagbe, Beatrice Coulter, Freya Beard, Alex O'Shea & Anna Chandler de Waal. Set by Catherine Knight, Katheryn Sheaf & Scarlett Ryan

Models: Sarah Mulgrew, Connor Phillips, Elizabeth Laurence, Charli Cowgill, Lily Silence, Edoardo Chidichimo, Hetty Opayinka, Clara Grosz, Ani Goddard, April Egan, Naphysa Awuah, Madeleine Anderson, John Palmer, Maisy Redmayne, Bella Cross, Kirsty Turnbull, Taisa Martins, Isobel Maxwell, Alexander Morgan, Matthew Cormack, Abdullah Khan, Jen Ocran, Larisha Apete, Ines Magre, Isobella Todini, Nathan Fernandes, Evie Hinchliffe, Jaden Tsui, Kailan Hanson & Jude Jones