Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Isabella Chavez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Isabella, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?

This is a story that I will keep with me forever. I was living in Hollywood at the time, going to school and perfecting my craft. This was an evening where I was working and had gotten off around 5:00pm. The café I worked at would have would have food that was going to expire so whenever I could, I would go around Hollywood Boulevard and meet with some of the homeless who were in need. Especially in Hollywood, you’re seeing people sleep on concrete ground and using tarps as a bed. It could get tough, being there in the heart of it definitely came with a lot of heaviness. Seeing people struggle like that everyday can really weigh on your spirit.

I was carrying a few bags of food down the walk of fame, and I had stopped to interact with a man and a woman I had seen a couple streets down from my apartment. Immediately I was greeted with a huge smile from this man. He had the brightest blue eyes, looked to be about 50, shaggy blonde hair, and a skinny build. “Why hello there!” He said. I greeted him back with a smile and set my bags down. After a few minutes of talking he had explained that he had been sheltered there on the street for a while, and that his name was William. He was full of so much life and energy. His essence and instant vulnerability felt almost like a warm hug. Unfortunately his “home” consisted of a few tarps, a dirty, frayed blanket, and a trash bag of old DVD movies. I looked down and saw he had old Barbie movies, the Shrek series, and the original live action Garfield. Which was a favorite of mine when I was a young girl. I complimented his collection and mentioned how Garfield was a classic favorite of mine. Immediately, he sprung up, grabbed the DVD from his bag, and handed it over to me. “Well, it’s yours now!” he said with a huge smile. I remember responding, “Aww, but this is your stuff!” and he replied with, “Oh but you have to! It was meant to be. You need to have it!” William felt like the kind of soul who carried so much through their eyes. One look at him and you could see he had a whole story and journey behind them.

Looking at him in the eyes, seeing his care for the world and people, was a moment that touched my heart in ways I don’t know how t0 fully put into words. It’s easy to put your head down and ignore the hardship of homelessness, because a lot of us feel powerless in the act to help or really make a change in the system so these people aren’t on the streets. Everyone deserves to have a roof over their head, clean water, access to a shower, and food to fuel them. William did not have much at all, and he knew his circumstances were not ideal, but even against the odds, he said “you know, life is beautiful, you gotta share it with others.” William reminded me that day how even when we feel like we have nothing to give, we still have each other and that is enough. The fact that was so willingly ready and selfless to give me a piece of himself, his things, with0ut having anything, was a touching moment for me.

I still have my DVD from William and I cherish it forever. I continued to see him for a few weeks afterwards, but one day, he was gone. I still dont know where he could be, but I hope he’s safe and doing well. His energy and heart is an experience I carry with me, and a memory I hold close. He is the definition of selflessness and reminded me of the true beauty of connection.

Isabella, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella Chavez. I am a Singer, Actress, Model, and Entrepreneur who grew up in Seattle, Washington! I moved to Hollywood, CA when I was 18 to purse my career in performing. I have a background in classical music, jazz, and opera. I started recording my own Pop music when I was 15 years old. I am now releasing my first studio EP called, BE KIND, in January! I come from a family of public speakers, as both of my parents are self made entrepreneurs. My father immigrated to the states from Mexico when he was just 15 years old, knowing no English, and starting from the bottom. My mother grew up in a very small town in Northern California, and also fought hard to make her dreams reality. I have had the best examples of determination and hard work in my life, that I am so grateful for. My family has had to work incredibly hard to get where they are today, and to give me the life I have. In my case, with being a creative and Indie Artist, we kn0w that this career takes a lot of hours, hard work, fueling yourself and your craft, and staying true to yourself. Which is harder said than done, but the beauty is in the struggle.

Growing up as a curvy woman, I faced a lot of adversity in Middle and Highschool. For years I battled with an inner voice of perfection that told me I needed to be smaller to be seen or accepted. This is still something I still struggle with, as we all can have that inner voice. However I’ve learned over the years that showing up as yourself is the best thing you can do for yourself and your dreams. Because what’s meant for you, will be yours, as long as you’re not pretending to be something you’re not. .

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

MY best advice with this is to POST POST POST, on your story/reels/main feed! I used to feel embarrassed or like I was posting “too much.” I remember when I first started working with a publicist to promote my music, and he told me I needed to be posting almost everyday to get traction. I cringed thinking, “oh god, are people are gonna be annoyed with me?” But you know, being an artist/creative/entrepreneur, you have to embrace the cringe of sharing. And usually, the ‘cringe’ comes from an inner judgement of oneself. And what I say to that is, silence! You are meant to share what you’re called to share. Once you move past that, you’re unstoppable. Use hashtags, reply to comments (engage with your audience always!) do polls on your story, and find your niche. Post about your niche! Personally, I LOVE fashion, so for me, I love to do fashion reels on Instagram. It brings me joy and I love doing it because I’m passionate about it. Also dont be afraid to interact with other accounts as well, get your username in the comments!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I LOVE this question. For me, it’s also the fact of being an Indie Artist and all my projects are self-funded, it just makes the final results that much more gratifying and meaningful. Knowing the hours, sweat and tears you put in, and then too see it come to fruition is the best feeling. Also connecting with people who share a similar experience as you, similar struggles, it’s an incredible feeling to connect with others in that space. Even if they aren’t creatives themselves, this brings people together and who doesn’t love connection like that.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isabellachavezzz/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCFjC-advfYognSiKOiFz5Rw