Where Are They (The Bright Young Things) Now?
Every year we run a series called Bright Young Things where we handpick talent from all around the world and shine a light on them for being wonderful humans.
In order to be selected you have to be bright, young and a thing, preferably someone doing something that makes us ‘go holy fuck that’s cool.’ With the world going to absolute shit, climate change, the cost of living crisis and a literal war breaking out there is no argument against the fact that it is the youth that are copping it the worst right now. And yet every single year we are blown away by the sheer hope and heart the kids seem to possess. All of the talent we’ve featured in the past have grown into people who we are so deeply proud of and can’t quite believe that at the time the rest of the world hadn’t yet clued onto just how great they are. Next week we will be introducing you to the class of 2024 Bright Young Things, but before that we wanted to check in with our old friends and see what the heck they’ve been up to since we featured them.
Mia Boe
‘Wowza okay, I think it was 2 years ago?? I don’t know how much I’ve changed but have had some epic opportunities, showing at the NGV, National Portrait Gallery, Monash University Art Museum, casually working at University of Melbourne (Victorian College of the Arts), done a residency in Mexico City… but still working and living in Melbourne.’
Just casually Mia was featured as a finalist in Australia’s most prestigious art prize, The Archibald, for her portrait of Tony Armstrong this year.. so you know… killing it.
Poppy Starr
‘Right now I’m currently in Budapest. I had the last Olympic qualifier before the Olympics and unfortunately I just missed out on going to the Olympics. My girlfriend is from Paris and she flew over here for a couple days and I booked a spontaneous trip back to France with her to hang out for a couple months. It’ll be the first time in what feels like forever that I can just chill for a second haha!’
Kobe Hughes
‘Currently in Nicaragua! Honestly not much has changed maybe my hairs a little longer haven’t got a cut in a few years now ha.’
Caity Simmers
‘I am sad that I’m not 17 anymore. I turn 19 this year and that is a very terrifying thing to think about. This year I feel a lot smarter and better at articulating my thoughts and feelings to people I care about. Feeling like the world is still too much for me but it’s a little more manageable. In terms of surfing, still love it. In terms of competition, still have a lot to get better at and it’s fun to learn. In terms of everything, I’m enjoying :) Hope that’s good’
Jiro Platt
‘Sick! It’s easy for me to say not much has changed because I’m still the same kid skating every day but since last year I’ve become a legal adult because I turned 18 in May. I feel like I have progressed in my skating I feel like I have more pop and ability, I’ve just gone on a Volcom trip I’m really stoked on, and lately I’ve been trying to better myself mentally and physically when it comes to strength and attitude. I’m trying to change to be a better more confident person on and off the board.’
Cole Walton
‘Where am I now: I am in the French countryside visiting friends at the moment physically. Mentally I am really happy and about to drop a few projects that have been in the crockpot for a while. #staytuned. What’s changed: I moved out of my parents house, I am really into biking around/exploring, I have a tattoo that says “Superb owl”, and I played golf for the first time.’
Royel Otis
Technically we didn’t actually ask them because we literally just posted the shots they took for us on the disposable we gave them at Kilby Block Party. That’ll do donkey. That’ll do. PS. They are fucking killing it right now aren’t they? Who would’ve thought? (Us. We did).
Keep your eyes peeled for Bright Young Things 2024, presented by Boost launching next week.
