WRITTEN PORTRAITS of people sPotted IN NYC.

The Scratcher

Samantha Levin

She couldn’t stop scratching. The veins in her hand cringed and slithered to the surface of her tan, cracked skin. Her boy-cut, orange hair glowed like the shiny, red border of her Powerball lottery ticket. She kept blinking while her right leg vibrated rapidly with her breathing. She couldn’t stop moving. Her lips, her eyes, and her mind punched the card. She looked up. Her muscles released. The lottery ticket leaned back on the bench while she dropped to join the Orbit gum wrapper and O Magazine subscription on the floor of Grand Central.

Spotted on a bench in Grand Central Station in New York, NY

Samantha Levin
Samantha Levin

At two years old, I became a brand — a swirly-haired girl who smiled and winked on the labels of my parents’ juice business, Fresh Samantha. Eighteen years later, I found a passion for branding. I started my own agency called For the Gut that specialized in healthy food and beverage products. As a double threat creative director, I’ve written copy and designed identities, packaging and content for numerous premium brands. I also had my own brand, a juice business that I sold in Whole Foods across the Northeast.

I’ve been featured in Voyage LA, and my work has been showcased in Forbes, Adweek, Wallpaper, Nylon, and TechCrunch.

Website

The Invisible New Yorker