While most students are worrying about their social lives and extracurricular activities, Jericho residents Nina Ukpabi and Alison Warren are writing about them. The two ninth graders at Jericho High School started an on-line teen publication called Tres Chic Magazine which can be found at www.treschicmag.com.

The free magazine, which was founded in Oct. 1999 and covers areas such as fashion, beauty and entertainment, is e-mailed to over 1,000 subscribers monthly. "Sometimes it comes out bi-monthly depending on the amount of school work that we have," said co-editor Alison Warren.

People first heard about the magazine by word-of-mouth and now Tres Chic Magazine has links on other web sites as well as many search engines making the magazine easily accessible.

Co-editor Nina Ukpabi started a general on-line publication covering various topics when she was in sixth grade which she describes as "less professional." This gave her the knowledge and experience to start Tres Chic Magazine.

"Nina and I were in gym class one day and she told me that she was interested in starting another on-line magazine," said Warren. "I told her that I would love to be involved and would be her co-editor." That was the start of a great partnership.

Ukpabi specializes in the computer and technology aspect of the publication and Warren focuses on the writing, although they switch roles and help each other often. For the most part, the tasks are shared between the two editors based on their interests and knowledge. "I write many different articles for the magazine," said Warren. "I write a column called Chloe's Diary which recounts the life of a teenage girl." Although the editors do use some real life stories, they also create situations that average teenage girls experience and write about them in the diary column. "Breaking up with a boyfriend is a popular topic," said Warren.

Some articles require help from experts. When the editors are writing a column about skin care, for example, they search the America On-Line membership directory for members who list dermatologist as their occupation . "We usually find people who are willing to help us out and answer questions that subscribers have regarding their skin," said Ukpabi. "We do not want to misinform our readers so we try and get professional help."

Many of the subscribers are friends of the co-editors, although their readership is rapidly expanding. "My friends are surprised when they see the web site because they do not expect girls our age to be doing something like this," said Ukpabi. "They are surprised, but they are happy about it and they think we are doing a great job."

Time is the biggest problem the editors have faced. "I love writing and it is something that I like to do in my spare time," said Ukpabi. "This magazine is not something that I see ending until it affects my schoolwork. I try and find time to do this on the weekends or after I do my homework because school comes first."

Although Ukpabi and Warren now have great experience in the field of journalism, they both plan on pursuing other lines of work. Ukpabi plans on being a doctor after she is done with school. "If I can write on the side it would be cool," she said, "but I do not know if I will be able to."

Warren wants to be a singer and does not plan on being involved with journalism in the future. She is currently making a demo tape and is planning on singing the National Anthem at Madison Square Garden for a WNBA New York Liberty game on June 25. Also, Warren will be traveling to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios in Florida during her spring break with one of the many school sponsored vocal groups that she is involved with. "It is easier to write from experience." she said, " The articles that I enjoy the most are celebrity articles because it's what I want to be, so that is my area of interest."