Danielle Wideman Founder/Editor-In-chief, Goddess Magazine Faced with the onslaught of derogatory references made by and at women toward women, Danielle Wideman Danielle saw the need for a magazine that could mentor teen girls and become their outlet.  In 2009, Danielle she launched Goddess Magazine which she created to highlight the accomplishments of everyday teen girls and informing its readers about issues that may affect them such as low self-esteem, body image, importance of education, and relationships.  “Some teen girls do not understand the meaning of their self-worth,” she explained. “I want to ensure its mission is carried out through each issue to let young women know you can reveal the Goddess within them!”

Danielle’s background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Communications from Northern Illinois University and a MBA from The University of Phoenix. While at NIU, Danielle was the Editor-in-Chief of NIU’s magazine called The Voice.  While in this position, she transformed the publication from a print version under the old name, Huskies Highlights to an online version.  She implemented an internship program to hire writers, graphic designers and photographers to stay within the budget. With this position, Danielle has learned the importance of implementing and operating a magazine.

Tell me about your magazine. Who's your target audience?

Goddess Magazine is a teen magazine for high school girls. Our mission is to provide teens a positive outlet where they can not only receive a wealth of information that affects them but they can also be a part of magazine by submitting articles, poetry, short stories and artwork.

What are the features of your magazine?

The magazine is geared to telling stories of teen girls. We have a section called GoddessStar. This section was designed to highlight the accomplishments of our readers. We want to know if they are overcoming negative situations, or excelling in school, or if they are volunteering their time to help others. We also discuss advice for health, college admission, how to find a job, the latest in entertainment, and fashion tips.

Who writes for your magazine?

I currently have a volunteer staff of teen and college writers.  We also have amazing contributors that are committed to helping us each issue.

How long has your magazine been out?

The first issue of Goddess Magazine was released February 2009. It has now been a year and eight issues.

How do you distribute it? Free? Subscription?

The magazine is distributed online. We offer online subscriptions for $12/year. The online subscriptions gives you access to the online digital issue.  We also have print subscriptions for $36/year for six issues.

What inspired you to start this magazine?

I started Goddess Magazine because I realized African-American teen girls did not have a publication they can call their own. I want my readers to be able to relate the magazine and to see themselves in the magazine. I know teen girls may not have someone talk to or have someone that understands them. I want Goddess Magazine to be that friend for them to turn for answers and solutions to their problems. 

How did you come up with the name?

I chose Goddess for the name of the magazine because every woman should like a Goddess, Goddess means being honored, adored and intelligence. I also chose the slogan “Reveal the Goddess within you” to represent the magazine.

Where do you see your magazine in five years?

 In five years, I see Goddess Magazine being more than just a publication but mentoring opportunities for teen girls. The magazine has so many opportunities for teen girls to be a part of.

Do you have any upcoming events?

On June 5th, we are hosting a teen expo at the Chicago Youth Programs located at 5350 S. Prairie from 12pm-3pm. This day will be dedicated to teen girls. We are planning to have vendors there for the girls to get advice about college, beauty, health, and more. We also have a fashion planned to give girls fashion tips about what to wear this summer and how to dress professional for work or a job interview.  We also plan to give away two $500 college scholarships to high school seniors.  Vendor and sponsorships are still available.

Where can people find you online?

You can visit the magazine at www.GoddessGirlMag.com.

How can people contact you?

I can be contacted at Danielle@goddessgirlmag.com or (773) 259-0383.