The first person I remember being totally in awe of is Avril Lavigne. Bizarrely my dad was the one who introduced me to her. He had heard her on the radio and was suitably impressed that a then 17-year-old was making music. But it was more than that, I think as a lover of the Sex Pistols and the Clash he found it hard to relate to other bubblegum pop stars my sister and I listened to, but then along came Avril with her skater look and he was sold.
I distinctly remember being on a coach one time with my school friends when Avril Lavigne came on the radio and I was hit with this wave of realisation that I wanted to be just like her. I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit it, because it led to me making some very questionable fashion choices.The leather wristbands, the tie thrown over a vest – I had the look down. Saying this, I do still think that she was a way better and cooler role model than a lot of other pop stars, because she didn’t really look like a lot of other people in the mainstream media. She was more like a toned down, female version of Sum-41 or Blink 182, celebrating her rowdiness and general attitude of not caring what other people thought. I actually think we need a new Avril Lavigne, someone who breaks out of the Instagram-ready look so many celebrities have at the moment. As I think everyone knows, pressure is mounting for people to look perfect at all times and we’re in desperate need of someone to let people know it’s actually okay to be a little messy and angry.
I have to say I was somewhat sad when she departed from her early image, but even though I would never usually admit it – I’m still an Avril fan. I’ve seen her in concert before and I can’t say that I wouldn’t like to see her again.
-Scarlett Evans
Manager, Contemporary Art
Girl Museum Inc.