A graphic with a black and white image of someone taking the picture with a cell phone of a young girl. In blue/purple colored text up top, the title Smile for the Camera. In a black box down below: A Short Story by Jessica Junqua.

The cover of Dug Up Magazine. Volume 3: July 24, 2025. A graphic featuring a selection of authors and artists’ names. FEATURING: JESSICA JUNQUA LOGAN WARD LISA LAHEY ABIGAIL MARTIN JOHN MARK KING MONTY BURR RICK MCQUISTON DANIEL LETZ MADISON PIERRE THOMAS BULL R.K. WEIR WILL CHERICO FRED TAULBEE BILL WOLAK COVER ART: GABRIEL TAVARES On the right hand side, art of a blue man being swallowed by a black demon like character.

A page from Dug Up Magazine featuring Smile for the Camera by Jessica Junqua. A headshot is featured on the left, and on the right, a biography: Jessica Junqua is a writer and stage/film actor based in New Jersey. Her short story Smile for the Camera follows a teen girl trapped within her family's toxic vlogging empire, and what happens when she tries to escape. Blending psychological horror with family drama, the story peels back the glossy layers of internet fame to expose the disturbing truths beneath. It is a stand-alone piece adapted from a novel-in-progress that dives deeper into the world of the Ashton family. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Arts with a minor in Musical Theatre from Montclair State University. When she isn't writing, she's listening to music, adding to her notebook collection, and a cat- mom of three.

Behind every curated post lies a darker truth—Sasha’s life as the daughter of an influencer spirals into horror when their perfect brand begins to rot from the inside out.

My #YA short story Smile for the Camera has been published in #DugUpMagazine! Check it out!
#WritingCommunity #publishedwriter