We recently connected with Cassidy Montalvo and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Cassidy , thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I didn’t have a single lightning bolt moment, it was more of a quiet and gradual unfolding. Growing up, I didn’t have access to designers or fashion schools, but I devoured magazines cover to cover. Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, they were treasures to me as a homeschooled kid with very little exposure outside that bubble. Those pages showed me a world that felt impossibly far away, yet deeply familiar in the way creativity always does. I think anyone who grew up more sheltered but sensed there was a beautiful world of style out there knows exactly what I mean. The real turning point came much later, when I realized that creativity didn’t have to follow a traditional path to be valid. When I first started sharing content online, it wasn’t perfect or confident at all, it was rough, way over edited, filtered, and full of blaring insecurity. But people connected to it anyway. That’s when it clicked: storytelling was the career. I didn’t need permission to create, I just needed courage, and a bit of vulnerability to be myself. For a long time, I thought I was “too much” because I didn’t fit the typical influencer mold. I tried to imitate what was trending, but every time I let that version slip and showed my nontraditional style and the truest parts of who I am, the response was stronger. It resonated more deeply. That’s when I found my community, not by becoming who I thought people wanted, but by finally being me.

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.

Hi! I’m Cassidy! Online known as Just Classically Cassidy. I wear a lot of hats these days: content creator, mom, business owner, fashion enthusiast, and hopefully a big sister to anyone who needs one. At the core of everything I do, though, is connection. I didn’t come into this space with a formal background in fashion or media. I actually grew up with very little access to the industry at all, just a lot of passion, and creative energy with nowhere to go. Fashion magazines were my window into a bigger world, and over time that love turned into a career I never could’ve imagined in a million years. What started as TikTok hair tutorials slowly morphed into outfit videos, then everyday life, and eventually into something much deeper. Today, I create lifestyle, fashion, and beauty content rooted in showing up as myself, exactly as I am. I also run my own jewelry brand and collaborate with major national and global brands which is a huge honor. At the heart of what I share is permission. Permission to show up as you are, to try, to fail, to evolve publicly, and to stop waiting until you feel “ready.” Confidence doesn’t magically appear and then invite you to put yourself out there, confidence comes from putting yourself out there. What sets me apart is that I don’t lead with perfection, never have, never will. I joke all the time that if you want to find my flaws, I’ll hand them to you on a silver platter. I lead with experience and a whole lot of hard earned lessons. I talk openly about confidence, anxiety, motherhood, creativity, and reinvention. I’ve reinvented myself more times than I can count, simply because I can, and because everyone deserves that freedom. We change with age and wisdom, and we don’t need to fight that evolution just because others might be uncomfortable with it. I also don’t see my audience as consumers, I see them as people. I’m truly most proud of the community I’ve built and the fact that so many tell me I feel like their “big sister on the internet.” That trust means everything to me, and I work hard to protect it. Even if the entire financial side of being an influencer disappeared tomorrow, I would still create because I genuinely love it, and that’s the place I always want my content to come from.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission is simple but deeply personal to me and it’s developed as I’ve built this space but: to make people feel less alone. I want my content to feel like a deep breath, a pep talk, or a reminder that growth isn’t linear, a FaceTime with someone telling them to not let life slip by while you hide in a box. Whether I’m talking about fashion history, confidence, motherhood, or creativity, the goal is always the same, to normalize being human while still dreaming big. To dress how you want, be who you are, and follow the path that feels true to you. I’m especially passionate about helping women step into visibility without waiting for confidence to magically appear. Confidence is built through action, not before it. If my work helps someone post the video, wear the outfit, apply for the opportunity, or trust themselves a little more I’ve done my job.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I built my audience slowly and imperfectly. There was no overnight success, just consistency, a little fake confidence that needed to be tested to turn into real confidence, and a willingness to keep showing up even when I felt awkward or embarrassed. I shared what I loved, talked about what I was learning, and allowed my content to evolve as I did and I let myself be cringey. Any aspiring content creator is going to feel and maybe even be a little cringey, go with it. That’s part of the journey! My biggest advice is this: don’t wait to feel confident before you start. Start because you’re not confident. People connect to growth in real time. Also, stop trying to sound like everyone else the moment I stopped chasing trends and started trusting my voice was the moment things truly changed. Do not let that first negative comment (which sadly will come) stop you. The best way to show up is to block out the world and focus on what is bringing you joy in that moment that could also bring someone else joy.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justclassicallycassidy/
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@justclassicallycassidy

Image Credits

Cassidy Montalvo