VUE

D E A R R E A D E R , Flashback to the 1990s. You're a kid growing up in New Jersey. Your parents are packing the car for another summer at the shore house. Beach chairs are piled high, the cooler is packed, and your siblings are already asking, "Are we there yet?" before you've even le the driveway. e ride feels endless. Bruce Springsteen is singing "Jersey Girl" through the speakers. e windows are cracked just enough to let the summer air in. Somewhere between asking "are we there yet?" for the tenth time and watching the scenery change outside your window, you know you're getting close. en you catch that first glimpse of the water. e salty air coming through the window. e excitement of pulling up to your shore house. Days spent on the beach and nights spent on the boardwalk. e rides, the games, the ice cream, and the feeling that summer might last forever. Growing up, those trips down the Shore became some of my favorite memories. Looking back now, it's not the big moments I remember most. It's the little things. e car rides. e laughter. e traditions. e feeling that summer had officially begun. As America celebrates its 250th year, I find myself reflecting on the traditions, memories, and summer moments that connect generations. at spirit carries throughout this issue. You'll also find highlights from our spring event at the beautiful new Fauzan Shore Club. It was such a joy to plan this celebration alongside our incredible team, and seeing it all come together so seamlessly made the experience even more rewarding. Inside these pages, you'll find stories about icons that have stood the test of time, including the bikini as it celebrates its 80th year. You'll also meet our cover star, Margaret Josephs, whose confidence, authenticity, and unmistakable New Jersey spirit have made her an icon in her own right. One of my favorite parts of creating VUE NJ is connecting with the people and businesses that make our state so special. Every issue gives me another reason to appreciate the communities, stories, and familiar faces that make New Jersey feel like home. If you're new here, welcome. I'm so happy you're here. As you turn these pages, I hope you're reminded of your own summer memories. e ones that instantly take you back. e ones that make you smile. e ones that remind you that sometimes the simplest moments become the most unforgettable. Wishing you a beautiful summer, A snapshot of a summer day at the Jersey Shore with my cousin and dad that still makes me smile all these years later. JAMIE-RAE L AWRENCE Ed i to r- i n - C h i ef & C re at i ve D i re cto r

• Cover