We recently connected with Danny Ramirez and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Danny, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

Growing up my younger brother and I were raised by a single mother. So from the get-go, we were introduced to things like hard work, struggle, perseverance, and willingness. Our mom always wanted to make sure we had everything we needed from a young age to be able to succeed and blossom into thriving adults. No matter how hard things got, my mom would always see the positive in any situation. She knew things would be alright. That’s something I still try and practice every day. Everything we do has some kind of consequence, but worrying and focusing on the negative is not going to do you any favors. When I create and come up with new ideas for photos or t-shirt designs, I forget that at the end of the day I’m doing this to showcase what I love and what I’m good at. That is why I try to take risks and chances, without focusing on anything negative. I think about my mom and how she would want me to be as fearless and positive as she is.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Muy Cute started out as an idea of bringing things together that I personally love in regards to Latin pop culture, the LGBTQIA+ community, positivity, humor, and inclusivity. I’m a graphic designer by trade and have always wanted to create a line of graphic t-shirts that would encompass my skill set when it comes to illustration and typography. Muy Cute was born as a platform for all things that are Muy Cute and geared towards other Latinx/Latine folks in my community. My favorite part of creating this brand has been being able to take it on the road to various markets and seeing firsthand how people have been receptive to what I have been working so hard to create. Latino male culture demands that we withhold emotion and remain serious. I wanted to break this cycle and show that there isn’t anything wrong with loving things that are considered feminine, evoke emotion, and cross the line when it comes to gender roles. It has been a rewarding journey so far and I’m very excited to keep moving forward with Muy Cute by pushing boundaries and staying true to himself.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being creative for me is being able to come up with an idea or vision that showcases who you are or what you love. I have been fortunate enough to connect with other like-minded individuals with similar paths as mine through my art. That to me is a priceless experience that I truly cherish. Getting to experience others through their artwork but also being able to share something of yours through your work as well.

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

Building my social media presence mainly came from doing my research on folks and peers that were in my same lane career or brand-wise. Not only did that help me gain knowledge of the space I was going into, but it also helped me see what was already going on and how I could come into the space with my own viewpoint and direction as an artist. This may sound cliche but do not be afraid of reaching out to folks and asking questions. The worst thing that could happen is that they either don’t see the message, or they may not provide you with the information you were hoping for. Building a social media presence can be a long process, but people will see that hard and will be a lot more inclined to follow you on your journey. Especially when your presence is 100% you.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thedanram.com
• Instagram: @muycutemerch & @thedanram