Creatively Blog

Hispanic Heritage Month reminds our community of how ingrained Hispanic influence is in contemporary creative industries and our culture. One such leader in the fashion industry is Nicole Chavez, a celebrity and wardrobe stylist based in Los Angeles, California. 

Chavez (who is of Mexican descent) is a style expert who found her love for tailored fashion in early childhood. Her “over-the-top” style was inspired by her grandmother’s luxe attire and accessories, in stark contrast to the rest of her family’s understated tastes. And where does an envelope-pushing outfit perform better than at the red carpet? Chavez’s all-star client roster includes award-winning actresses such as Kristen Bell, Jessica Simpson, Reese Witherspoon and Ellie Bamber.

Chavez pinpoints her style direction as a celebration of self-expression, optimism, and body positivity that extends to her emphasis on championing up-and-coming talent. Outside of fashion styling, Chavez also designs, curates, and consults for various fashion and talent-led brands (and a proud mom of three).

You can check out more of Chavez’s work here on Creatively and @hellocreatively on Instagram.

What is the first creative project you remember?

In junior high, I became totally obsessed with “The Making of the Sports Illustrated 25th Anniversary Swimsuit Issue” video, which documented how everything came together behind the scenes. Jule Campbell was the fashion editor at the time, and I was fascinated by her. I was so inspired by the creative process that I had to recreate it myself that summer! I convinced my friends to model, styled the suits, scouted the locations (different parts of the backyard), and had the best time directing and photographing my own “swim issue.”

Describe your aesthetic in three words.

Eclectic, luxe, and effortless.

What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?

Early in my career, I was invited to join a group of artists and creatives on a trip to Uganda to bring awareness to an organization called Invisible Children. The goal was to help children affected by the LRA while empowering and protecting local communities from further violence. While there, we were able to attend the opening of a school for young girls. It was such a powerful and life-changing experience, and getting to share that with my clients and colleagues made it that much more fulfilling.

What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?

After years spent hyper-focused on clients and kids (we’ve got 3!), this past year, I committed to creating and building my own brand identity. From the logo and color palette to collaborating with Squarespace on launching a site, the process called for some serious self-reflection at every step. It’s an ongoing project that has reconnected me with my passion – I love being able to share my creative vision and inspire others to experiment, create and play with style. My mission is to help everyone build their style confidence in an easy, accessible way.

Do you think creativity is something you’re born with, or something you’re taught?

I believe it’s both! It’s innate, but it is also something that can be learned and harnessed through experience.

What’s the last dream you had?

It was actually a lovely one—this dream was like visiting the past, but taking place in the present. Rachel Bilson and I were back on the set of The OC (my first “big break” into the industry) with everyone, filming a reunion show. Seeing everyone and knowing we were still working together 20 years later felt full circle and rewarding.

One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?

I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for the fellow creatives that opened those pivotal doors for me and supported my work. I hope that I can continue to mentor and give back to others in the same way as part of my legacy. It’s the connections and relationships that I treasure the most about this industry.

Follow @nicolechavez on Creatively.

Creatively is more than a platform—we’re a creative collective.

Questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@creatively.life.

After leading successful design teams at Polo Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch, and more, Melissa Battifarano was appointed by Rihanna, in 2015, as Design Director at her newly formed company, Fenty Corp. Battifarano defined Fenty X PUMA, a brand-new sport fashion brand, from the ground up, pushing the boundaries of traditional activewear, as seen on the runways of New York and Paris Fashion Weeks.

After the success of Fenty X PUMA, Battifarano took the lingerie market by storm with Savage X Fenty, a ground-breaking new brand that truly embraced beauty in all shapes, sizes, and forms. Battifarano not only led design at Fenty, but was also intimately involved in driving brand development, including casting, make up/hair design, music/sound direction, and styling show looks for 6 NYFW and PFW shows; most notably, she contributed to the stand-out success of the inaugural Savage X Fenty Amazon Show in September 2019.

Battifarano is currently working on the creation and development of her own brand, TONY 1923, a love letter to her late father. Simultaneously, Battifarano has taken on Creative Director roles at both Diesel and Wolford, creating the vision and design direction for their new athleisure ranges. With savvy technical design skills and an innate understanding of culture, Battifarano is undoubtably a creative force to be reckoned with in the fashion industry.

You can check out more of their work here on Creatively and @hellocreatively on Instagram.

What is the first creative project you remember?

The first creative project I remember was a pastel drawing that I did in the first grade. It was a colorful bouquet of flowers in my mom’s crystal vase on black Canson paper. The school put it in the local library, and I remember being really excited to see it up! My father enrolled me in art classes after school, which was the foundation for me going into a career in fashion and design.

Describe your aesthetic in three words.

Functional. Detailed. Sexy.

What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?

By far my tenure with Rihanna has been the most fulfilling work I have done in my career thus far. So many unforeseen challenges, problem-solving, and pivoting on a dime. Paving a way to a whole new category that had never been done before. Very fulfilling and rewarding work.

What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?

Several projects taught me a lot about myself, but the first one I can recall is working with Tory Burch to launch Tory Sport. I had worked most of my career in menswear, with just a few short stints doing women’s. In this industry, a designer can become very easily pigeonholed. It is wild that other people’s opinions of what they think you can do can affect your confidence. I was unsure that I would thrive or even survive in my new role! Tory believed in me, and I did my due diligence to overcome my fears, push myself, and learn/absorb from everyone what I didn’t know. You just have to believe you can do something, study, learn, and ask questions. And a little bit of “faking it until you make it” doesn’t hurt either!

Do you think creativity is something you’re born with or something you’re taught?

I think it is a bit of both. I do think we are hard-wired in one persuasion or another, but creativity can express itself in many ways. I believe that I was fortunate to have my creativity fostered during my childhood, and I was never stifled at all. Confidence and reassurance are vital to young people; this is why I am so passionate about mentoring young talent. We need leaders, especially females. This was a bit lacking for me when I was a young designer looking for guidance.

What’s the last dream you had?

I don’t think I dream very much. Not sure what that means, but I’ll take that up with my therapist (LOL). I used to get very terrifying recurring dreams that I was in the passenger’s seat of a car and the driver, whose face I never saw, would be unable to drive the vehicle anymore. I would have to take over and not quite able to reach the pedals or the steering wheel (as there is a body in the driver’s seat and I’m reaching across). The car was always going out of control in one way or the other. I would wake up in sweats! Thankfully, it’s been some years since I’ve had these recurring dreams. They were truly terrifying! Yikes!

One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?

Wow, I’ll be thrilled if anyone is talking about me in 100 years! I hope they will write that I was part of a movement that made people feel confident, strong, sexy, and free to wear exactly what they want. And I helped to create the clothing that made them feel their best.

Follow @melissabattifarano on Creatively.

Creatively is more than a platform—we’re a creative collective.

Questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@creatively.life.

Few people in the global beauty and fashion world are as renowned behind-the-scenes as Dionne Cochrane. NYC-based Cochrane is a casting director and producer specializing in global beauty and fashion. With extensive scouting experience, Cochrane’s eponymous casting agency has done exceptionally well in the world of beauty.

Boasting a team that has worked with some of the industry’s top brands and creative agencies, Cochrane Casting’s goal is to provide its clients with the best talent for fashion shows, print, motion, street casting, and commercial projects. Simultaneously, Cochrane works as a freelance producer for beauty and runway productions with brands like Theophilio and Pat McGrath Labs. Within this work, Cochrane lends her skills to campaigns that authentically promote intersectionality and inclusion, and has done so over her almost decade-long career.

Cochrane’s client list includes Google, Mastercard, Converse, Tumi, Shea Moisture, Beats by Dre, Kiehl’s, The Row, and more. Most recently, her casting work for House of Aama’s Salt Water film received a Best Ensemble Cast nomination from the La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival.

You can check out more of Cochrane’s work here on Creatively and @hellocreatively on Instagram.

What is the first creative project you remember?

In high school, we had a literary magazine, and I was on the staff. I just remember how exciting it was to not only contribute my poetry but to help put together the magazine for our school. Collaborating with other creative students was really fun and probably why I still enjoy collaborations today. Shout out to the best English teacher, Sr. Connie.

Describe your aesthetic in three words.

Authentic, Nostalgic, Bold

What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?

I’ve had the opportunity to work on some amazing projects. Recently, I did the casting for Google Pixel’s latest campaign that highlighted their Real Tone software that can capture our diverse skin tones more accurately. Not only did the campaign have representation in front of the camera, but it was also behind the camera! I can’t describe how good that makes me feel.

What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?

I was the Casting Director for Black Fashion Fair’s debut issue Volume 0: SEEN. It taught me about the power of community and collaboration. So many talented Black creatives were able to be seen and share their stories authentically. That’s so important and it reminded me that my ideas and contributions matter.

Do you think creativity is something you’re born with or something you’re taught?

It can be both, but I know it’s in my DNA. My mom is so creative so I’m sure it made it easier for my brother and me to tap into our creativity early on. There are things we are taught that can enhance the creativity we already have.

What’s a dream collaboration or project you’ve always wanted to do?

I was born in Jamaica but left the island at a very young age. I’ve been able to cast and produce a few editorials there but my dream is to have a campaign shot in my neighborhood—on my father’s land or the roads I used to walk with my grandparents to church. I love how Grace Wales Bonner captures the beauty of our heritage in her work and I’d love to collaborate with her and other Jamaican designers like Martine Rose, Bianca Saunders, Theophilio, and more.

What’s the last dream you had?

I was preparing a bath for someone using rosemary, thyme, and lavender.

One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?

Hopefully, it doesn’t take 100 years for people to write about my work or my impact on this industry. Maybe they’ll write about the award-winning films I did the casting for, or a successful publication I founded that’s still running.

Follow @MissDionneNYC on Creatively.

Creatively is more than a platform—we’re a creative collective.

Questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@creatively.life.

On September 10th, 2001, Louisiana-born designer Billy Reid held a highly-anticipated New York Fashion Week show for William Reid, his first clothing line. And while the show was a tremendous success, what played out on the world stage the day after – and the years that followed –ultimately prevented the brand to thrive.

Determined to bring his creative vision to life, Reid came up with his next line a few years later, opening up a store in downtown New York in 2008. Yet, the day that the first Billy Reid store opened was the first day of what would be many in recession.

Despite what could be seen as signs from the universe to give up, Reid didn’t. And that persistence has been honored and celebrated with exponential success since. Today, Billy Reid offers menswear, womenswear, footwear, and accessories with an emphasis on domestic manufacturing, proprietary textiles development, and high-quality construction. The brand reflects Southern roots paired with New York sensibility, reflecting Reid’s personal authenticity and expertly crafting wardrobe staples that are built to last. Reid’s collections have a vintage feel, incorporating antique brass buttons and buckles with silk ties and cufflinks, made completely from repurposed materials.

The clothing brand remains authentic to Billy Reid’s tastes, including his love for music, evident by his partnership with Nashville guitar maker Gibson. Together, they’ve launched an exclusive collection of limited edition styles featuring Reid’s take on the iconic Hummingbird guitar artwork.

Fast forward to a few years: Reid was named GQ’s Best New Menswear Designer and won the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award. He was named Menswear Designer of the Year at the 2012 CFDA Fashion Awards (one of his four CFDA awards). His story and success show that craftsmanship and commitment to your creative calling never go out of style.

You can check out more of Reid’s work here on Creatively and @hellocreatively on Instagram.

What is the first creative project you remember?

When I was in first grade, we were asked to do a painting with our handprints. I took that in a different direction, and the result looked like fire. My parents kept that hanging in our house on the wall for as long as I could remember growing up. It always made me feel like I made something special.

Describe your aesthetic in three words.

Effortless. Ageless. Warm.

What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?

With Gibson we were able to take their iconic hummingbird artwork and put our own subtle take on it. It was intimidating as we didn’t want to screw it up and didn’t know if they’d be into it. Fortunately, they loved the work. The process of putting the concept together was so energizing and the customer reaction to the product made a wonderful moment for both our brands.

What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?

I realized that keeping things real and personal is the best approach for us. You don’t have to make things up if it comes from that perspective. Our Gibson project taught me that you never stop learning. You can have a voice, even when collaborating with something as established as the Hummingbird Guitar.

Do you think creativity is something you’re born with, or something you’re taught?

I believe that creativity is likely in everyone but shows itself differently in each of us. There’s also a confidence factor that gives people the freedom to continue to be curious and explore ideas.

What’s the last dream you had?

I dreamed I was at a Thanksgiving gathering with a large family that I didn’t know, but somehow I ended up there. On their patio outside, they had a fleet of new Cadillacs and had a car race/scavenger hunt. Somehow I got lost on the road and abruptly woke up… What the hell is going on in my dreams?!

One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?

I hope that in 100 years, people say we made one of their favorite pieces. 100 years is a long time, so maybe their family kept the collection alive.

Follow @BillyReid on Creatively.

Creatively is more than a platform—we’re a creative collective.

Questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@creatively.life.

You’ve probably seen photographer Michael Muller’s movie posters, but perhaps you haven’t heard about the adventure that brought him into photography in the first place.

Muller was born in Northern California, where he lived with his family before moving to Saudi Arabia. He lived overseas until he was fifteen, visiting more than fifty countries. Compelled by his travels, Muller picked up a camera. Back in the United States, teenager Muller began capturing professional snowboarding.

By the time he turned 22, Muller’s passion grew into becoming a leading entertainment and fashion photographer. He has celebrity portraits of Joaquin Phoenix, Brad Pitt, and Scarlett Johansson under his belt among so many others, as well as pages and covers for Vanity Fair, Elle, and Rolling Stone. He is also the cameraman behind the iconic movie posters for The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Iron Man trilogy. Most recently, Muller has focused on underwater shark photography. He has worked on a studio lighting system which he takes underwater to light ocean life.

You can check out more of Muller’s work here on Creatively and @hellocreatively on Instagram.

What is the first creative project you remember?

I was 15-16 years old traveling all over Europe shooting for Vertical Addiction, the first-ever snowboarding calendar ever made.

Describe your aesthetic in three words.

Organic Hyper Realism.

What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?

The most fulfilling collaboration so far would be the shark project which took about 17 years to complete. I’m doing something to help the ocean, and animals, not helping a company with their image. I’m just doing it for the love of it. That’s the most fulfilling type of work. It’s like we always say, people protect what they love.

What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?

Every project teaches me something about myself. Only over time and experience, you can go from hope to faith to complete trust, which is where I’m at and have been out for about a decade now. Any shoot I show up to, I know I’ll get it done, no matter what the situation is.

Do you think creativity is something you’re born with or something you’re taught?

I think creativity is something you’re born with but it definitely takes nurturing. You need to work at it just like an athlete needs to work on their muscles. You have to be shooting every day to work that creative muscle. One of the challenges I see today with digital, people just shoot continuously and hope for that one photo they were lucky on. I learned on film (where every photo cost me two dollars), so I made every shot count.

What’s the last dream you had?

The last dream I had would be the app I created. A dream that started small and has grown into a massive novel of dreams. It requires a lot of footwork and asking for help from people who know a lot more than me.

One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?

That I cared deeply.

Follow @michaelmuller on Creatively.

Creatively is more than a platform—we’re a creative collective.

Questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@creatively.life.

Ask Holly Silius for her body of work, and you’ll find the result to be quite literal. The British-born multidisciplinary visual artist of Lithuanian descent seeks to subvert traditional representations of the human body. Silius’ background in fine art and SFX make-up lets her straddle the lines of design and wearable art, producing stone body cast sculptures, masks, photography, and body jewelry.

From working with top models, celebrities, and public figures, Silius’ approach to the human form is inclusive of all bodies. Inspired by model Lio Mehiel’s top surgery, ‘Phantom Feel’ is a 2021 series of stone body sculptures reinventing traditional figurative sculpture with a gender-queer and transmasculine body. Silius’s raw approach to the human form has materialized into collaborations with Prada, Gucci, Miu Miu, Apple, Yeezy, and many more. For Silius, the body is but a canvas, ready to bend the boundaries.

You can check out more of their work here on Creatively and @hellocreatively on Instagram.

What is the first creative project you remember?

Wow, that’s a difficult one… I think I made a merry-go-round out of plasticine when I was 5 that spun around.

Describe your aesthetic in three words.

Morphology, sexy, liquid.

What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?

It might be a project that hasn’t even begun yet, which I hope I can make happen. It involves 3D printing with ocean waste plastic and an icon.

What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?

My 3D-printed wearable body sculptures were inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe. I learned so many extra aspects of this project that I feel like my knowledge of new methods really expanded. It’s super exciting and feels like I can achieve many new ideas by learning and being patient.\

Do you think creativity is something you’re born with, or something you’re taught?

I believe it’s both. You can have a natural flair for the arts and creativity, but I think it can be nurtured into something more. Some people cannot draw but they are good at putting a style together for themselves or a home and learning about how to put certain aesthetics together. I do believe you are born with a taste level and a certain level of ‘perfection’ though. That can vary so much — different people enjoy different levels of taste. A Basquiat is so different from a James Turrell with different audiences, but both still command a high level of respect.

What’s the last dream you had?

I can’t remember my last dream, but I did have a nightmare the other night. I have a sculpture piece called ‘Re-occurring Nightmare,’ so I do suffer from those a lot.

One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?

That’s a question I haven’t ever thought about… I would hope it stands the test of time and triggers provoking questions.

Follow @hollysilius on Creatively.

Creatively is more than a platform—we’re a creative collective. 

Questions or feedback? Reach out at feedback@creatively.life.

Heal your inner child: A mantra designed around guilt-free play. But for artist Dori Desautel Broudy, the phrase means pouring youthful glee into her illustrations as the founder of the Gallery of Good. The Philadelphian-based former lawyer reengaged in her childhood love for storytelling and drawing after entering motherhood. Seeing how art instilled joy and confidence in her three children, she set out on a mission to cultivate creativity beyond her home.

Broudy champions the importance of social responsibility, donating a portion of all gallery purchases’ net proceeds to charity. But Broudy is even creative in how she gives back to her community: her most recent project was a purpose-driven NFT collection to support victims of the crisis in Ukraine. What began as indulging in her inner child grew into a pursuit of play for all who peer into Broudy’s portfolio.

You can check out more of their work here on Creatively and @hellocreatively on Instagram.

What is the first creative project you remember?

I used to illustrate our family’s holiday card each year. Images of Santa Claus leaving presents under the tree and stockings hung from the mantle were examples of works from my earlier youth, but I continued with such projects during adulthood while practicing law as well.

Describe your aesthetic in three words.

Celebratory, thoughtful, vibrant.

What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?

One of the projects I am most proud of is creating artwork for and curating the new Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity in Philadelphia. In addition to my own works, there are pieces by more than a dozen artists of diverse backgrounds whose pieces create an environment celebrating the community being served by the Health Equity Center; the principles underlying the mission of the Black Doctors Consortium (hope, equity, empathy, for example); and, of course, the City of Brotherly Love.

What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?

At present, I am more aware than ever of my responsibilities as an advocate and effective communicator—not only because of my roles as a mother, coach, and lawyer, for example—but as an artist and creator, who expresses values of equality, respect and individual liberty organically through my work.

Do you think creativity is something you’re born with, or something you’re taught?

It is undoubtedly both. Each of us has a level of innovativeness and curiosity which is creative in nature (and hardly limited to the art world). Being taught how to harness one’s creative energy into a productive, fulfilling and thriving enterprise is particularly helpful and important, as is the ongoing support of loved ones.

What’s the last dream you had?

I was waiting to pick my children up from school and Broadway music sensation Sutton Foster was doing the same. We engaged in a chat about how difficult it is to raise children in the days of social media and technological advancements. Next thing you know, Lin Manuel Miranda pulls his car up to school and gives us a wave.

One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?

I’m so glad that I “found Dori.” Her work is beautiful for what it represents, how it makes people feel, and who/what it positively impacts, as it is to look at.

Follow @dori on Creatively.

Creatively is more than a platform—we’re a creative collective. 

Questions or feedback? Reach out at feedback@creatively.life.

Drawing inspiration from Jungian therapy, the merging of the conscious and unconscious mind, Maalavidaa‘s highly saturated, abstract NFTs explore the intricacies of human emotion. Maalavidaa, also known as Alycia Rainaud, is a French-Canadian graphic designer and digital artist based in Montréal whose psychedelic, iridescent aesthetic encourages creative introspection. Beginning her career as a creative director in editorial design, Maalavidaa’s expertise extends to branding, motion design, programming, and so much more.

With an interest in psychology, particularly color therapy, mental health awareness, and meditation, Maalavidaa founded Heal The Deal in 2021, Metaverse’s first emotional support club, a safe space driven by a creative, inclusive, empathetic community. For Maalavidaa, creating art serves as a pathway to increase emotional intelligence, an attempt to work through life’s daily complexities through her simultaneously vivid yet dark visual experiments.

You can check out more of their work here on Creatively and @hellocreatively on Instagram.

What is the first creative project you remember? 

I do reckon it was back in 2013 when I was in my second or third year as a design student. Everyone had to create something based on a different theme. I chose Urbanism and modeled a mini skyscraper for birds with a bunch of textures mapped on the outside. Now that I say it, that sounds pretty weird!

Describe your aesthetic in three words.

Emotional, psychedelic, colorful.

What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?

It’s hard to tell. I’ve had the amazing opportunity to collaborate with fantastic artists for years. They all became friends and taught me so much in their own way of apprehending art and life. Recently, I worked on a collaboration with Chuck Anderson (@nopattern) for his “Infinite Pressure” series and the piece we created together really struck me with feelings of joy. This is not a familiar emotion for me to work with but it ended up being a wonderfully enlightening experience.

What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?

I do believe it will always be my master’s degree thesis in graphic design. This whole experience and process trying to link design and psychology really carved the path for me to become the designer of emotions I am today. My function as a creative is to make people feel things.

Do you think creativity is something you’re born with, or something you’re taught?

Always a mixture of both because creativity is in everything. I’ve been creative in many shapes and forms throughout my life, whether as a hairdresser, an overthinker, a Sunday writer, or a digital artist. Creativity is sensitivity. Everyone feels it, but you have to open the door for it to consume you.

What’s the last dream you had?

I dreamt that I was pouring resin on my bathroom tiles and on my bed. Then I realized that it was obviously so impractical because my bed was now hard as a rock and my tiles slippery as hell. I had to scrape it out with my hands but somewhere in the middle of the process, I decided I wanted to order pastries. A pretty basic dream for me.

One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?

Not sure I’ll be remembered, but if so, I hope they can write about who they were when they came across my work and see how far they’ve come.

Follow @maalavidaa on Creatively.

Creatively is more than a platform—we’re a creative collective. 

Questions or feedback? Email us at feedback@creatively.life.

At some point in our lives, we all experience a moment where we would rather just…fly away. And Tanyka Renee is among the few who have become actual pilots to do just that. Having traveled to 111 countries, Renee creates inspirational content to encourage others to join her in the never-ending journey of self-discovery. Renee also works with brands as a cultural content strategist, marketing maven, and travel consultant, championing representation of Black and Brown creatives.

Renee’s travels are not merely for pleasure (although that is certainly a perk), but each destination serves as an opportunity to build community, connect people across borders, and spread her message of love, self-acceptance, and courage. Statistically, women of color are the least traveled in the world and Renee is here to change that. As the founder of multiple philanthropic organizations such as the Global Citizens Mentorship Program, Teach One Teach Many, and Take Flight, Renee guides underprivileged pilots, entrepreneurs, and content creators through aviation school and career opportunities. When it comes to chasing your dreams, the sky’s the limit…and for Renee at least, not even.

You can check out more of their work here on Creatively and @hellocreatively on Instagram.

What is the first creative project you remember? 

The first creative project I remember was myself! I was definitely that kid who always wanted to be different. I look at childhood photos wondering what I was thinking. I went to a very boring school and I did everything possible to not be boring. I was creating mood boards before I knew what a mood board was, cutting up teen magazines, admiring the fashion, the style, getting inspo for my room from my grandmother’s JCPenny and IKEA catalog. My childhood was this huge creative project of me trying to figure myself out.

Describe your aesthetic in three words. 

Notable ​recreatable visions. Growing up I watched movies like James Bond and Lara Croft and I wanted to be them. I wanted to embark on these magical journeys and explore the world. I would let my creativity take over as a child and act out movie scenes, jump on my bike and explore neighboring towns, people watch, and make up narratives about the strangers. I would take a mental note of scenes that evoked emotion whether good or bad. And this is how my aesthetic was created. My aesthetic is a recreation of notable scenes, it takes you to a familiar place. Maybe you’ve seen the scene before or watched it in a movie. My aesthetic is a guaranteed equation that results in viral content. One part relatable, one part recreatable—guaranteed to flood social networks.

What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on? 

I recently launched my “Take Flight” program and had the opportunity to collaborate with the organizations United Aviate and Women in Aviation. I’m big on always reaching back to help others achieve their goals. I know firsthand that finding the knowledge and funding for aviation school can be a headache. 

As a content creator, it is very important to me to not only give others opportunities, but also help brands recognize cultural moments and create content around these moments. I have a deep understanding of how culture works and what makes content resonate with people. United Aviate trusted me to recommend content creators to highlight and recognize. It’s a blessing to be able to work with brands whose core values mirror my own. These brands have become my family and my social media family has become theirs.

What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?
In one of my recent projects, I was given a huge budget that allowed me to hire the exact team I wanted to fully execute my vision. This project showed me what it is like to be able to create freely and not be in survival mode. Creating is my full-time job. I don’t have a trust fund lying around or a backup source of income. The pressure of creating for a living can cause me to not always create at my greatest or allow me to experiment. This project taught me that the possibilities are limitless when you’re given the resources to do whatever you want. I often wonder what my creative process would be for myself and others if I was allowed to experiment, study different artist methods, and just have fun with my creativity during my late teens and early 20s. Many of us were not allowed this experimental period or a time to figure ourselves out and tap into the unlimited methods of expressing ourselves. How do you know you’re good at something if you couldn’t afford or don’t have the time to try and do it?

Do you think creativity is something you’re born with or something you’re taught?
Yes, we were born with creativity. We were created from creativity. Creativity is all around us. Creativity is an energy and that energy is our birthright. It’s an expression, it’s how we express the divine, express ourselves, express our level of evolution, and express our feelings. We communicate through creativity. Our creativity is how we entertain ourselves and others, and how we solve problems. To be creative is to be alive.

What’s the last dream you had?  

The last dream I had was to become a pilot. Quarantine took a toll on my mental health and my therapist recommended I take a class. Jokingly, I said I want to take classes to be a pilot since I wasn’t able to fly. She recommended I look into it and I did! Becoming a pilot was a dream that I didn’t think I could accomplish and I did it! As a multifaceted woman, I can now add “pilot” to my list of titles.

One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?
Legacy is very important to me. I come from a long lineage of trauma and I feel it’s my duty to overcome generational curses and also inspire others to do the same. I hope one hundred years from now people will say, “she lived, she loved, and her work inspired many others to do the same.”

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