Helena Stringer

Helena Stringer is an outre designer that came to Second Life after hearing about it from her sister. Following a lengthy research session, she dove headfirst into the virtual world. Although initially choosing mostly to explore all she could, which was hampered by her shoddy Internet connection, she eventually began to appreciate the user-created content that surrounded her and began learning how to participate. Before coming to Second Life she had almost no experience with much other than video games, so she taught herself how to use Photoshop and how to script, animate and create sculpties. A friend gifted her with a kit to create hair with and she began putting together her first pieces.

Initially, she traded her hair for goods from others, but eventually managed to snag a spot in a mall. However, her first official store, the Stringer Mausoleum, was opened up on a piece of land she was gifted. After this, her Stringer Shrine line came out, and from then on, she’s been expanding constantly, purchasing her own land and opening up several satellite stores. Her love of unique hairstyles, especially mohawks, has earned her the title of “Queen of the Hawks”. She is inpsired to produce hairstyles and other works that she believes to not have been seen before. Relatively unknown until Hairfair 2008, her loyal fanbase has since exploded, giving her hair much more attention.

Helena Stringer owes everything to her sister, who has helped her and supported her ever since she first rezzed. Without her sister, she could have never gotten where she is today. She also owes Second Life a great deal for allowing her to express herself and meet new people. She enjoys sharing and believes, after spending a great deal of time penniless in Second Life, that helping new residents get a leg up is vital. Talking to people and making new friends is something she enjoys immensely, and after a long day of work, is something she does to relax. In real life, she lives on a farm in Canada and has a background in the military, schooling for mixed media and business and as a virtual tattoo artist. She is also a mother, and proud of it. Her store has a dedicated blog, which can be found here: (http://slstringer.blogspot.com/)