Chelsea Boys

Meet me at this event.
It's going to be a HOOT!
FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE:
CHELSEABOYS

CANDIDS: OMARION

Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Omarion. I went along on a video shoot with a friend of mine and took pictures in the background. These are just a few candid shots of him. The funny thing is that I used to have a little crush on Omarion. Meeting him was cool, he was well mannered and professional. Quite honestly, the boy is handsome and a great performer. He has a new album in stores on Tuesday, December 26 called "21". Be sure to pick it up. Much continued success to Omarion. Be sure to check back for more CANDIDS!

Anything Is POSSIBLE!!

2007 is finally here! I've been anticipating the arrival of 2007 for about 3 years now. It shouldn't be a surprise as to why. It's the year of THE SEVEN! Obviously, the number 7 is significant to me hence me starting this online magazine. I have claimed this year to be the year that I chase my dreams and make them realities. I have a few projects on my plate that I would like to see come to fruition, so we will see what happens.

Be on the look out for great things this year as some of the projects that I have my hands in continue to blossom. I will be producing another fashion show for b. michael this February, alongside Dr. Neil Lowe. The premiere issue of Rockstar Magazine will raise eyebrows so be on the look out for that as Raymonde C. Green aggressively takes on his role as Editor-In-Chief. Coming this March, "Dirty Laundry" will hit movie theaters across the U.S. Many congrats to Nathan Williams and Maurice Jamal. OCEAN Tuesdays will continue to pump at Splash, I hope to see you there. Phoenix Sun's collaboration with Fred Pierce, James Saunders, Charles Jackson, Lee Soulja & Ricky D continues with THE BLACK CIRCUIT Party.... stay tuned.

Make this year really count for yourself. If you've longed to travel, GO SOMEWHERE! If you've longed to be in a committed relationship, MAKE IT HAPPEN! If you have a project that you've neglected, PICK IT UP and COMPLETE IT!! No more excuses!!! With all of the resources available to us today, we have no reason to be unhappy. So the next time you defer one of your dreams, remember it's a choice that YOU made, because ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!

Thank you for taking time out to read The7Magazine.com. Save this site as one of your favorites, I promise you won't regret it. Have a wonderful 2007!!

THE 7 MAGAZINE: JANUARY 2007

Gracing the cover of The 7 Magazine this month is Amerie. In December, I got a phone call from the Editor-at-Large at Sohh.com asking me if I wanted to tag along on an interview he was doing with Amerie. Who could pass up an opportunity to photograph one of today's hottest vocal vixens.

She stepped out of a modern luxury sedan in front of a popular New York night spot. It was a chilly Wednesday afternoon in the Flat Iron District. Great personality. Flawless skin. Beautiful teeth. And luxurious jet black hair.

FLAWLESS - JANUARY 2007 - John San Juan

1. WHAT IS YOUR RACIAL BACKGROUND? My father is half Puerto Rican from Ponce. My mother is full Filipina. You have to give it up to mixed race Asian babies these days (Nicole from Pussycat Dolls, Cassie, Amerie, Will Demps). The genetic mix is off the chain!

2. WHAT IS YOUR ARTISTIC PASSION? Dance. I've been dancing since I was 5 and, aside from my fulltime day job working on the corporate side of entertainment media, my side hustle (since everyone in NYC has a "side hustle") is a professional dancer. I love the performance aspect of it, the emotive quality, the difficulty yet simultaneous beauty of the art.

3. HAVE YOU EVER DONE DRAG? ELABORATE. Oh geez Nathan why did I get this question? Alright honestly, people call me a prettyboy, but I personally think I'd look horrid in drag. So no I've never done drag nor do I ever intend to do so. The closest I ever came was donning a corset and heels momentarily on a dare during a drunken college party at Cornell. But it was so incredibly suffocating and uncomfortable, I took them off within minutes. I did, however, get a lot of compliments on how my legs look amazing in heels. But they were probably drunk too. HA!

4. I HEARD THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE THAT YOU ARE AFFILIATED WITH THE BALL COMMUNITY. HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT? WHAT HOUSE ARE YOU ASSOCIATED WITH? I joined precisely because everyone told me not to. There is so much apathy, disgust and almost blind hatred against the Ballroom Community. And I completely do not agree with it. To me, it doesn't matter if you compete in Sex Siren or if you're part of a gay book club, you are still a potential Michael Sandy victim. You can be a muscle head circuit boy or a femme voguer, but you still are denied the right to legalized marriage. The ignorance that divides us is saddening because at the end of the day, we are all still gay men... OF COLOR. Despite my intense fear of having to walk in a Ball(!), I recently joined the House of Mizrahi because they are one of the few Houses that attempts to minimize the marginalization of the Ballroom community and bridge the gap between it and the rest of the blatino community. It's empowering and exciting.

5. HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR BODY TONED? Simple: I don't eat. It's bad I know! My boys all know: "John San Juan don't eat!" I go to the gym fairly religiously, because my day job can get insane and weight training is cathartic. During dance season, 3 hours of rehearsal a day helps to keep your body fairly well toned and flexible too.

6. DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF JOHN SAN JUAN. These last few months have been an anomaly because I took a hiatus from dancing. But typically during a dance season, I'll go to work from 9-6PM. Gym for an hour during my lunch break. Leave work for rehearsal from 6PM-9PM. Throw in industry auditions and go-see's a couple times a week. People don't understand how crazy my schedule can get sometimes, balancing a career and dance on the side. But I'm young and I love it. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

7. WHAT 3 THINGS WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN 2007? 1. Career advancement so I can finally buy my own home... so close! 2. Learning not to be so self-deprecating. 3. Get a boyfriend!

THE SHADOW: Starting Over

on starting over…the one thing that holds true for everyone on the planet is that we all have a past, a present and a future. whether our future is for the next 5 days, 5 years or 5 decades we're not sure… but a future exists for all of us. for most, however, we live in the present, but carry the trials and tribulations of our past into the future.

i used to be one of those people, but i have been very much awakened in the past few weeks. i took a seminar called the landmark forum, which forced me to look at my life, my persistent complaining, insecurities and my past, and face them head on. the idea behind the forum is that you cannot move on and grow into your future until you complete your past. i cried more during the weekend seminar than i have in the past 15 years of my life, and as a result, i am now free to create for myself any future that i wish free from the burdens of my past.

i walked into the seminar looking around for people in black robes anda table full of cups with red kool-aid, but instead, found a nice french woman standing at the front of the room welcoming the attendees to their future. little did i know, this french woman would soon break me down, tear me apart and change my life forever.

i decided to attend landmark under the guidance of my friend nathan seven scott, who advised me to take advantage of the seminar – "you'll get out of it, what you put in." as a result, when frenchie asked of the room,"why are you here?" i immediately raised my hand (not knowing i was going to be asked to go to the microphone to speak). i mentioned my insecurities and lack of confidence as the primary reason for taking this seminar. i wanted to rid myself of these things in order to move on with my life without fear.

before i knew it, i was being broken down and had my life handed to me like a hard kick in the ass. as i explained my insecurities, etc. her response was, "so, when did you decide that you were worthless?" excuse me? i never said that i thought i was worthless. "well, your words and explanations speak differently… how old were you when you decided that you were worthless?" dayum… she got me. i'll spare you the details of the conversation, but she essentially went through this "conversation" with everyone in the class.

the main focal point of this seminar was about "completing your past." we realized how much we complain about the people in our lives and the situations we find ourselves in. and further, how those complaints stem from our own issues with ourselves. think about it- when you complain about someone, it has absolutely nothing to do with them. it has to do with a problem you have about that person. they could careless. if i'm complaining that such and such is too slow or whatever; it has nothing to do with that person, but everything to do with my impatience. you feel me? think about some of the persistent complaints in your life- like REALLY think about them. what are they really about? are they actually about that person or thing, or are they about some problem you have in your own life that you are imposing onto someone else? i'll almost bet that it's the latter.

anyway, i realized that i was complaining way too much and for no reason whatsoever. we were challenged to call the people in our lives, share what we were experiencing as a result of taking the course and apologize to them not only for complaining about them, but also apologize for blaming them for the problems within our own lives. heavy, huh? i called my mom, dad, and several of my friends both past and present; as well as wrote letters to those whom i could not contact, and just purged myself of all of this unnecessary bullshit. bring on the tears.

the part of the course that i got the most out of and that was pretty much the pivotal moment of my transformation was an exercise in "being." everyone who knows me knows that i had a problem in social situations in terms of fear. i've always been too scared to go up to someone and say "HI", start a conversation or meet people in general. ihid it under the guise of being shy (which definitely wasn't the case), but in truth, i was just way too insecure and didn't believe in myself.

as a result of this exercise and the lessons i learned from the seminar in general, i'm free. not only from my fear, but from the past imposing itself onto my life and my future. if i were to walk into a bar or club right now, i'd be able to talk to anyone there- and that is a great feeling.

i can now start fresh - create a life for myself of living in the moment and doing things that make me happy. i'm living a life without fear, insecurity or complaints. and i must say, it feels fucking great! and i'm incredibly grateful. so to seven, i give you a truly heartfelt thank you! now that i'm set free, i'm almost a bit scared for the world cuz, um… y'all not ready for THE SHADOW. trust! tout est possible!