As many of you know already, I’m quite obsessed with print media. I had so many magazines as a teenager and I literally wish I kept them all. Just a few months ago I stumbled on Y2K Magazines (@y2kmagazines) on Instagram & TikTok. It was like stepping back into a time machine and flipping through all those pages again.
This inspired me to start to document my own collection of books and mags from my college years. I had to chat with Stephanie who runs the account all about the many collections and thoughts on 90s/00s magazines from a current perspective…
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How did you start your account?
The back story…I had the idea to create the y2kmagazines Instagram account back in September 2018. I was already following some nostalgia accounts on my personal Instagram and started to feel inspired to create an account in that same community. I was obsessed with teen magazines when I was younger and even had 5 or 6 subscriptions at one time. So, I dug out my old Seventeens, Teen Peoples, CosmoGirls!, etc. and started scanning. I wanted the account to be a place to look at high quality images from those magazines – for the people who grew up with them and for those who didn’t get the chance.
When did you first start collecting magazines? What did you love growing up?
I was born in 1993, so my collection started in the 2000s. I still remember my very first magazine from the grocery store. It was the May 2001 issue of Popstar! with Britney Spears on the cover. Aside from magazines, I really loved music growing up. As a kid, Britney Spears was my favorite. Then, a few years later I became obsessed with Avril Lavigne and The Killers. I also loved The OC. I credit The OC for expanding my music taste beyond the Top 40 radio hits at a young age. One last thing – I really loved reading growing up.
Why do you think there is such a renewed interest in magazine culture?
I think it’s part of this 90s/00s revival that’s been around for a few years now.
With print media sadly decreasing, teen magazines are basically extinct. There’s really nothing like them anymore, and I don’t think they can ever be replicated. They’re time capsules for fashion, music, movies, and celebrities. When you flip through them, you’re transported right back to the 90s and 2000s. That experience is incredibly nostalgic for those who grew up reading them, and it’s also fun for younger generations who are flipping through them for the first time.
What do you want the youth to know about the ages of print media in the 90s/00s?
I want them to know about some of the ugly aspects of print media in the 90s/00s, especially in these magazines. I like to showcase the more lighthearted features, such as the cool photoshoots, colorful graphic design, forgotten ads, outdated technology, discontinued makeup, etc., but I don’t want to pretend like they weren’t toxic to a degree. Lack of POC and body diversity was a major issue. Diet culture was everywhere. Articles on how to get boys to like you were a dime a dozen. It was a mess. But it’s also eye opening. We can look back on that time period and appreciate the progress that has since been made. I don’t think we need to throw out all the teen magazines, but I think it’s important to acknowledge those issues, while still enjoying the nostalgia.
In another direction, what are some of your favorite films growing up?
Clueless is my all time favorite. It’s so clever. I also loved Legally Blonde. I will always recommend watching that movie after a breakup. 10 Things I Hate About You, Bring It On, Heathers, Scream, and The Parent Trap (1998) are also some of my favorites.
Did you look to teen fashion magazines to compose your personal styles? If so, which ones were your style?
I did! Teen Vogue and Elle Girl were some of my favorites to look at for fashion inspiration. By the time I started high school in 2007, I was obsessed with Nylon and tried to emulate the styles they featured… which led to many visits to Urban Outfitters and American Apparel in my teen years.
What is one grail issue that you’re searching for?
I love this question! It’s not exactly a particular issue, but I would love to get my hands on an issue of Moxie Girl/MXG Magazine. I don’t have any in my collection and they’re super rare, so it would be exciting for me to snag one.
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Follow Stephanie of Y2K Magazines on Instagram @y2kmagazines and TikTok @y2kmagazines !
