(Part 1 of 2)

The energy in our Zoom meeting was amazing!

I sat down with Nicole Randone, founder of the popular Instagram page miss2005, via Zoom — while we both were matching in Y2K baby pink. You can probably find me in the comments of her posts talking about iconic TV shows like One Tree Hill, The OC, Laguna Beach, or movies like John Tucker Must Die, A Cinderella Story, or Raise Your Voice. We instantly bonded over our passion for the 2000s and the culture surrounding it! She really is miss2005. 

In this exclusive interview, we talked about all things pop culture, TV and movies, 2000s pop culture scandals, and her new up and coming projects. This was such a fun time chatting with Nicole and only Trusttalkbeauty got the inside scoop on some of her upcoming projects and what the brand miss2005 means to her. 

This whole interview was a vibe. Follow the Trusttalkbeauty Instagram to see clips from our Zoom chat. 

This interview will be split up into 2 parts because we talked so much! Part 2 will be all about fashion, beauty and music of the 2000s.

Now let’s get into the questions…

Sadie: Why are the 2000s so important for you? 

Nicole: “They are really important for me because I grew up in the early 2000s but I wasn’t really old enough to understand what was going on and appreciate it. I have 2 older brothers so I was always watching things that were wildly out of my target age demographic.I would see these girls In Juicy tracksuits driving Volkswagen convertibles, listening to CDs and I always wanted to be that. And unfortunately when I became a teenager those things fell out of trend. For example, flip phones fell out of trend and everyone had Iphones. Now this is more so me living my childhood dream and doing everything I couldn’t do when I was little. That’s why I love them so much.”

While Nicole is talking I can’t help nodding and agreeing with everything she’s saying. We. understood. I share how I also watched shows when I was too young (watching Pretty Little Liars when I was 6 for example…) We then also talk about Jonas LA and bond over our love for the Jonas Brothers. 

Sadie : How long have you had your 2000s instagram account? 

Nicole: “It was the 4 year anniversary on August 4th, which is actually Chad Michael Murray’s birthday!!” (Chad Michal Murray is the 2000s king and Nicole’s celeb crush.) “Yeah it’s been 4 years and I love it so much.”

Sadie: What is the most 2000s thing you own?

Nicole: “Oh my gosh, There is a lot,” she says, looking around her room. “I have a hot pink barbie radio. I listen to CDs all the time. That is a contender. I have about 50 early 2000s magazines. I have my own “Blockbuster” of DVDs and movies in my room.” 

I immediately freak out over her collection of magazines!! (She has a room tour on her account and Youtube where you can see a tour of her room — such an iconic living space.) I show her my pink Sony portable DVD player from when I was 4. I talk to her about an Instagram segment where she does magazine flip throughs, and ask her to give us a sneak peek at what magazine she will be flipping through next. 

Nicole: “It’s Teen People September 2005!”

She forgets who was on the cover so it will be a surprise for all her and all her followers! Can’t wait!

Sadie: What is one thing you wish would make a comeback? 

Nicole: “I know the Motorola Razrs are sort of making a comeback but they are flip smartphones. I wish either Motorola or T Mobile would re-release either the Razr or the Sidekick. But like the original! I don’t want a foldable smartphone, I want the real deal.” 

Sadie: Yes! Me too! That is so Naomi from 90210. The sidekick queen. 

Nicole agrees and says that Naomi from 90210 is one of her many idols. 

TV Shows and Movies

This is Nicole’s forte!

Sadie: What are your top 5 fave 2000s TV shows?

Nicole: Oooh, One Tree Hill is on top. What I Like About You, Laguna Beach — I’m obsessed with Laguna Beach. An underrated show called South of Nowhere, and for #5, Degrassi Next Generation. 

Canada represented with Degrassi Next Generation! I tell her where In Canada I live and she says she loves Canadian TV. 

She names a few of her fave Canadian Tv shows like Life with Derek and Degrassi! So cool to hear an American talk about the shows I grew up watching! 

Sadie: Are you more into reality shows or teen dramas?

Nicole: “That’s a good one. As much as I love early 2000s reality shows, I’m a big Laguna Beach fan, and Nick and Jessica Newlyweds. I’m huge on teen dramas. I love them. I love living vicariously through them.”

Sadie: Do you feel like you resonate more with the Disney stars from the early 2000s like Hilary Duff, Raven Symone, Christy Carlson Romano, or the late 2000s stars like Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, and Miley Cryus?

Nicole: “I grew up watching the late Disney stars but I do feel like I resonate more with the early 2000s ones. I relate to those girls more.” 

Sadie: I feel like I grew up with the late Disney stars as well. Selena, Demi and Miley were the main characters and icons to me for so many years. If you could choose to live in any TV show and movie what would it be?

Nicole: “ I’m booking into One Tree Hill right now! I wanna be friends with Brooke Davis so bad and date Nathan Scott and be friends with Lucas Scott too!. For a movie… I wouldn’t want to be in a Lizzie McGuire movie because I don’t want to ruin the plot, LOL. I’m going back and forth between John Tucker Must Die and Highschool Musical.” 

Sadie: What show do you think ended too quick? 

Nicole: “Summerland!”

Sadie: We don’t have Hulu here in Canada but I want to watch it. I’ve heard about it through you! 

Nicole: “It deserved so much more than what It got! It only had 2 seasons and each season had 10 episodes.” 

She explains how it’s like Degrassi, Gilmore Girls, and Laguna Beach all in one. In summer 24/7 and with Jesse McCartney! 

I briefly mention how in Canada we didn’t have Disney Channel until 2015 so I had to watch those shows on a channel called Family, and how Nickelodeon shows were on a channel called YTV. 

Pop Culture

I ask Nicole what’s her favorite on-screen relationship and off-screen relationship.

She tells me her favorite on-screen relationship is Jess and Rory from Gilmore Girls, and her favorite off-screen relationship is Chad Michael Murray and Sophia Bush. 

Nicole also spills the tea on what happened in that relationship. She explains that while Chad and Sophia were married, allegedly Chad cheated on her with Paris HIlton. Chad was married to Sophia and Paris was dating Nick Carter from the Backstreet Boys at the time. Aaron Carter and Nick Carter went on to a talk show and spilt all the details. *tea spilt*

I ask what her “favorite” scandal from the 2000s is, and she says it’s that one. My favorite is the love triangle with Miley Cyrus, Nick Jonas, and Selena Gomez. When Miley goes up to Selena and sings “7 Things,” that song that was written about Nick. 

Sadie: Why do you think magazines were and still are such a huge part of pop culture, especially in the 2000s? 

Nicole: “Such a huge part is because there was no social media, so your direct access to your fave celeb was through a magazine. You couldn’t follow them on Instagram. You didn’t have access, you only had magazines. Teen magazines are kind of dying out because we have Instagram.”

Totally agree. A magazine was basically an Instagram feed. 

And for the big scoop:

Sadie: I heard you are writing a book!! Would you like to briefly touch on that? 

Nicole: “OMG YESS!!! It is going to be called The Class of 2005. Set in the early 2000s. It’s going to be a literary mashup of One Tree Hill, The OC and Gilmore Girls. I’m bringing that sort of vibe into the literary world because I feel like that doesn’t exist right now and I feel like we need that to exist. I have been writing since I was a little girl. Basically a dream come true!” 

I am so beyond excited for this book to be released. Can’t wait to read it. You heard it here first, everyone. The class of 2005 by Nicole Randone, coming soon!!!!!! 

Sadie: What would a typical day be like for you if you lived in the 2000s?

Nicole: “Wake Up, have a wardrobe montage, play my CDs, watch TRL before school, drive to school in my Volkswagen convertible (very Sharpay, top down), come home, read my Teen People magazine. If this is a dream 2000s day, I would go to an All American Rejects concert, come home and have a slumber party, go to Blockbuster, pick out a movie, and watch A Cinderella Story.” 

Sadie: What is your favorite thing about having your account? 

Nicole: “Aw! My favorite thing is making so many genuine connections, and many friends. My best friends were followers of my account! Like look at us right now! You get to meet so many like-minded people who like the same things you do, the same sort of shows, and instant friendship. I’m so thankful to be given this platform.” 

Nicole started her account 4 years ago and now she is doing interviews like this — not to mention interviews with the New York Times, writing a book, having a Youtube channel and launching a podcast!

I know from personal experience that the community she has built on this account is so nice, friendly and all like-minded. 

Part 2 of our interview is coming soon. Don’t miss it!! Also, be sure to watch the little round of quick fire questions we did on video. Check it out on my Instagram @trusttalkbeauty.  

Thank you SO SO SO MUCH to Nicole for doing this interview. We connected right away and I’m so happy about how this interview turned out. 

Make sure to watch Nicole’s Youtube videos at the channel “Nicole Randone” and follow her Instagram and tiktok @miss2005. And be sure to buy her book when it comes out and listen to her new “Miss 2005 Podcast.”

Sincerely,

Sadie