We recently connected with Alexis Young and have shared our conversation below.

Alexis, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

When I was 11 or 12, I started making YouTube videos in my room. I’m an only child, so I had to make some type of fun and express myself creatively. My parents got me my first vlogging camera at 15 and from there I taught myself how to edit on Adobe Premiere. when I graduated high school, I started getting into photography and video. I started working with music artists with their creative branding for album releases. Now being a senior in college, (getting my BFA in Graphic Design with a Minor in Public Relations) I have gained a lot under my belt when it comes to working with different types of creative projects, and at the same time, still staying true to my love for fashion, and how that plays a role with thinking creatively as a whole. The beauty and Fashion content I have created has opened so many doors as far as what I could see myself doing career-wise in the future. Making that type of content for 11 years has followed me to my age now and I have learned so much from my journey.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Alexis Young. I am a 22-year-old Stylist, Fashion Content Creator, and Photographer from Birmingham, Alabama. I have been making Content since I was 11 years old, starting with making YouTube videos. That led to me getting interested in creating not only Fashion and Beauty Content for myself but reaching into different types of Content Creation. I have worked with music artists on many Album Photoshoots, and even directed my first music video last year! Honorable mention, Normani reposted my single cover re-creation to her song ‘Fair’ which definitely motivated me to keep going. creating something that I know I can’t live without. I knew that I didn’t want to do just any job. when I told my parents that I wanted to go to school for Graphic Design, I know the first thought they had was that I was going to get a job in corporate and that was the end of it. That’s just not the plan for me.

Currently, at the moment I am doing photography and styling freelancing. I worked on some music projects here in there for artists, but my main focus right now is tapping more into the fashion industry and creating my place in it. I am very skilled in Streetwear and comfortability. Growing up, I was always taught that you can’t look good and be comfortable at the same time. You always had to be dressed up and there’s no way you can make it look flattering. We live in different times now. Style is based on the individual and not on the whole collective. There are so many ways you can dress without going the extra mile. That is one thing I try to help people get familiar with. That’s probably the one thing I love about streetwear style. There are so many different alleyways within it but at the end of the day, it’s all about making your comfortability your focus point. Make it the thing that makes you stand out from others. Brands like Nike, Champion, and even Off-white have been brands I look up to when it comes to having that mindset when it comes to fashion.

I’m proud of the growth that I’ve made over the last couple of years, especially with the personal goals that I have made. There are times when I have doubted myself or felt that I couldn’t do something that put my mind to. There were times when I felt lonely, that I have no one to relate to, where my trust was low and so many different obstacles made me feel like I couldn’t go any further. Prioritizing my mental health, and letting that fuel me when it comes to making content is the one thing I look forward to every day when I wake up. Another exciting thing is seeing people’s reactions to the work that I make or help them with. I love connecting with other creatives and solving creative problems.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One thing I had to unlearn was that success comes quickly, and if you don’t have it, you’re not worthy.

I’m not sure where exactly I learned this mindset from, possibly having very perfectionist people in my life. At a young age, I used to think that if I’m not giving my 100% I shouldn’t try it all. That is the worst advice that anyone could ever give a child. I was also taught that if it’s not done then, you’ll be left behind. I had to learn that, especially these last couple of years. Being on my own in college, I realize that everyone is in different places in their lives. There’s no finish line. I used to wonder why certain people were getting certain things quicker than me. Not realizing the backstory behind it and how much work they put into their craft. We always see the result, the good moments, but we never notice how many hours and hours of working on something it takes. Learning that has made me realize that I do have a short attention span, and learning certain patterns that I have gained over the past couple of years and learning how to find a way to make it work for me has been rewarding and also a challenge. But the challenge helps with growth.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding thing about being creative is having the opportunity to wake up and create a vision that is mine along with other creative people. I don’t like living my life under rules or other people’s expectations. I like living under my own rules and decisions. That is exactly what I strive to do every day. I am grateful for the opportunities I have gotten with the people that I have met. hearing other people’s stories, and having them trust me with their vision is a gift in itself. It is something that is always bringing me different scenarios every day and I love experiencing something new because of it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.iamalexisyoung.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/alexisjyoung
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexisjoiyoung
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/lexlgold
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@AlexisJYoung
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@alexisjyoung?_t=8ZuygBIsC5u&_r=1

Image Credits
Cierra Reddin, Nvsh, Ak Oden, Jordan Jones, Ess Paige, Keoshia