Page 125 - Cosmopolitan - USA (February 2020)

O N M A Y A
Jonathan Cohen
blazer, top, and
friendship, but she skirt. Lele Sadoughi
earrings. Sarah
was also interested in
Chloe ring
putting that in her
work. You know,
things that feel like This umbrella is totally necessary to block out all
admissions of secrets.” the rain and sun inside this indoor studio.
Their collective
word voms have
created a show so
relatable you’d think
FBI agents had been
recording your every
move for the past
decade. Anna and
Maya’s Pen15 (yup,
just your basic penis
joke) characters do all
the things you thought
only you did with your
best friend. The differ-
ence is they don’t
worry if something is
too weird to say out
loud. Their real-life
alter egos just write it
into the script and
cross their fingers that
everyone else will
laugh too.
“We write for each
other,” explains Maya.
“I get excited when
I’m writing and think,
Anna’s going to
read this. It’s almost “ I G E T E X C I T E D W H E N
spiritual. That sounds that I’m an alien. I’m,
I ’ M W R I T I N G A N D
cheesy...” like, trying to wear
T H I N K , ‘ A N N A ’ S G O I N G
“No, it doesn’t!” human clothes and
The show’s new T O R E A D T H I S .’ ” prove I’m a human.” written themselves
season will tackle Adulting feels most back into junior high.
topics slightly more get past that awkward like an extreme sport It may be hell, but
mature than mastur- growing-out phase. in professional set- they’re stuck in it
bating in a bed full of “forever hell,” which is IRL, the women tings, like interviews together.
stuffed animals (see: pretty on the nose have grown up… and photo shoots It’s like that old
character Anna’s when you think about ostensibly. (even this here adult- saying: Nothing helps
parents’ divorce and the fact that under- “I’m trying to be an ish fashion shoot, with grow out your bangs
Maya’s period), but neath it all, everyone adult. It’s just, when its pretty weird vibes). faster than a support-
don’t worry, the is basically just a set of I’m not fully comfort- Which may be why ive friendship. Okay,
tweens will perma- DIY bangs waiting to able, I feel like I have Maya and Anna have nobody has ever said
nently remain in to hide certain parts of that. But it does get
seventh grade. Actual myself,” says Maya. you through pretty
Maya describes it as a “Like, I’m trying to hide much everything else.

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