Chapter 1: Becoming Girl Hazard
Monday, September 22nd
Dear Diary,
The weather had been perfect all September. Not an ounce of rain, not a hint of humidity, until this morning. On the one day I really needed my blowout to last, the city was wet and cold.
I glanced into the rearview mirror and the driver glanced back at me. We didn’t know each other, but little did he know, he was a part of my story.
As I checked my phone, the time flipped from 10:55 to 10:56. I immediately started to panic. We were stuck in traffic, the car wasn’t moving, and honking echoed from every corner.
Time management isn’t my strong suit, but today, of all days, I couldn’t be late. I had to get out and run.
“Excuse me, sir, I’m good from here.”
I cinched tight the belt on my trench coat and stuffed the layers of my dress inside.
All that I had on me was myself, some sparkly Jimmy Choos, and a vintage clutch. Together, we were going to run a mile.
Bolting through crowds of suited-up Wall Street men, I finally made it to One World Trade Center. As I stood right beneath the building, I almost didn’t recognize it. I couldn’t see the tip, the very thing that set it apart from every other building in the city. “Is this it?”
I ran up the stairs and to the side of the building, where I took a second to rest and fix my shoe before I started sprinting again.
Through the front doors and a time-sucking security checkpoint, I found a security guard and tapped him on the shoulder. “Excuse me, sir? I have an appointment with
Margot Lane at 11:00.” He pointed me in the direction of an elevator and said,
“Condé Nast. 85th floor.”
I was sweating, slightly late, and doing my best not to look so out of breath. I really needed to make this elevator ride count.
I opened up my purse and pulled out two sparkly hair clips. I know I can always rely on a pair of clips to save the day. I quickly snapped one in on each side and touched up my gloss.
The doors opened, and I stepped out.
The lady at the front desk escorted me into the waiting room. Staring through the large glass windows, I could see the entire city. The Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, even New Jersey.
Another couple minutes passed, and the lady returned. “Ava? They’re ready for you.” As we walked further down the hallway I thought to myself, Take a good look around, everything is about to change.
Entering a new room, a tall brunette woman stood up and greeted me. “Hello, Ava,
I’m Margot. Welcome to Vogue.”
In front of her desk was a small living room where we sat. Margot explained what the interview would look like and added that the conversation would be recorded for transcription.
She placed a small silver recorder on the table in front of me, pressed the side and it started blinking red.
Margot pressed the side of the recorder and it started blinking red.
The interview had begun, and I had become her.
MARGOT: So… who is Girl Hazard?
ME: Girl Hazard is who I became the moment I made myself the priority. She’s proof that femininity doesn’t mean weakness, and danger doesn’t mean recklessness. She’s the version of me that speaks with purpose, moves with certainty, and walks into any room knowing exactly who she is. That’s what it means to be a Girl Hazard. We all have that version of ourselves. I just stopped standing in her way.
MARGOT: Where did the name come from? Was it always Girl Hazard?
ME: The name Girl Hazard came from a blog I started when I was younger. It was basically a digital diary. I needed a space to put my thoughts, but writing in a notebook never felt satisfying enough. I thought, Why not start a blog with an
undercover name? If people find it, cool. They can listen to me rant and we can be pen pals without ever knowing who I actually was. Until now, I guess.
MARGOT: Was there a moment when you realized it was more than just a blog? That she was… bigger than that?
ME: I’ve always been a big dreamer. One day I’d say, “I want to be a movie star,” and the next, a rockstar. And still, I want to do all of those things, but fashion pulled me in first. And honestly, I love that fashion gets to be the first chapter.
MARGOT: Of all the dreams, I’m not surprised fashion came first. It reveals so much about who you are, before you even say a word. And right now, your outfit is already telling a story. How would you describe your style?
ME: If you opened my closet right now, you’d see it’s almost entirely black, white, and pink. I like to keep it simple and sleek, but with a little bit of glam. My go-to outfit is a black maxi dress with a big pair of diamond earrings. Simple, but still a statement.
MARGOT: Do you think that’s how your designs will feel too? Simple, but still a statement?
ME: Girl Hazard is the combination of elegance and edge. The designs are made to make you feel like the most unstoppable version of yourself: the rockstar, the movie star, the fashion designer… the girl whose presence speaks louder than words. The clothes are a reminder of that, and when you put them on, you don’t just wear it. You become it.
MARGOT: And ten years from now… where do you see Girl Hazard?
ME: Ten years from now, Girl Hazard won’t just be a brand you wear, it’ll be a world you step into.
Margot reached for the recorder, clicked the side, and the blinking light stopped.
After a moment of silence, Margot looked up at me.
“Some brands sell clothes. Yours is going to change the way women see themselves- and who they allow themselves to become.”
As I left the interview, I replayed Margot’s words in my head. Stepping into the elevator, I realized that for the first time, Girl Hazard wasn’t just a part of my imagination. She was about to be introduced to the world, and there was no turning back.
With Danger & Grace,
