We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kalianna a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kalianna thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I have been happy and unhappy as a creative but I am excited to say that the level of happiness I have now is the most I have ever had and I owe it to getting to use my creativity regularly. It feels like this is what I was meant to be doing and I focus on having a good level of balance with my work and how I create. After being in the creator space for the last 7 years, I can say with 100% certainty that I would not be able to return to a 9-5. However, I do miss being able to “turn it off” sometimes- it is like you are trading a 9-5 for 24/7 but there is nothing that would fuel my soul quite like creating does.

Kalianna, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hey! My name is Kalianna (Kay-lee-anna) and I am a colorful content creator who seeks to find the joy and FUN in life. When the world feels like chaos, I hope to bring some light and joy to whoever watches my content and maybe even inspire someone to embrace color into their life and wardrobe! To help me with that mission, I also started my online rainbow boutique called Aspyn and Ivy. Having such a strong love of color made me realize how clothing stores are seriously lacking in the color department-especially for sizes over a large. I had no choice but to start my own boutique so we can carry colorful clothes year round and in sizes s-3XL! Having both content creation and a boutique makes my ADHD very happy because every day looks a little different for me!

I have been creating in one way or another for as long as I can remember. I started filming as soon as I could get my hands on a camera and basically haven’t stopped in the last 10+ years. Growing up in Maine (which is basically like one giant small town), I knew that it wasn’t the place I wanted to stay in forever. Don’t get me wrong, I loved growing up there and always enjoy making a summer trip home but I knew there was so much more for me out there. Being my indecisive self, I just closed my eyes and picked a random place to move to Logan, Utah. I had never been and didn’t know a single person there, but I signed a lease online, picked up my car, and away I went. Having such a culture shock in Utah opened my eyes to so many possibilities that I never would have even thought of if I hadn’t moved to a new place. I was working at Tjmaxx, going to college to study marketing, and Doordashing on the side- even with such a full schedule I still made time to go out and take photos and content for my socials. Doordashing brought me to so many new murals and locations I never would have found without it so I would be working and getting colorful pictures at the same time. It was an hour commute back to my house every day so I used that time to listen to inspiring albums and podcasts over and over again until I could see it for myself. The next thing I knew, I was getting small brand deals on Instagram, opened my online boutique, and put in my two-week notice on a napkin in the breakroom of Tjmaxx. I just knew that if I put in the work and refused to give up that I would be able to make this happen for myself.

After Utah, I found myself moving to Las Vegas. Another complete culture shock that made me realize that I have been playing it small. I was determined to grow my brand and make this my forever career. I went to as many photography, modeling, creator meetups that I could possibly find. I met so many amazing creatives that added fuel to my fire of creativity. It was a place where my creativity thrived!! After covid, I ended up having to move once again to a place I had never been and didn’t know anyone- an ongoing theme in my life it seems. That place is Houston, Texas (where I am at now). I live here with my pet pig Pumba, my dog Henry, my cat Louis, my brother (also my assistant), and my husband.
It has been very up and down through the years but I am very proud of my content and where my brand is at now.

I think what makes my content so unique is that it has such a strong element of “me” that it just can not be replicated. I get so energized and excited to create my content and I think that feeling comes across to my audience. The internet can be such a negative place- unless you are on my colorful side of the internet! I do things for my inner child and I think that inspires people to feel free to do the same whether that be wearing a funky outfit they have been scared to wear, painting a colorful mural in their house, or simply using a funky mug for their morning coffee. Adding the overall happy vibes to a vibrant rainbow aesthetic, it’s a recipe that is simply me that I can then take and offer to brands with similar messaging! It makes me so incredibly happy to be able to get creative and come up with fun (always colorful) content for brands!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

It started out as a personal mission to give myself the space and freedom to be authentically me and to create with joy, for joy. Through the grace of God, I have been able to take this mission to my audience as well and it has been one of my biggest blessings. I still screenshot every comment and DM from people who saw my content and are now feeling called to show up as who they truly are. My life changed when I started allowing myself to show up as who I am instead of who I thought I had to be so to know I am helping someone realize that in themselves, it feels like an honor to be a part of. Wear the fun COLOR! Be who you want to be! Seek the JOY in your life! Life is too short to not be happy.

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

Creating is fuel for my soul. Having a day of creating feels like when you have your first beach day of the season, with nothing on your mind but a good time, and your cheeks are slightly flushed from the sun. My cheeks are usually flushed from my filming lights but it’s practically the same! I just love it. It is inspiring to look back at my videos and photos through the years and see all the creative things I did and my life journey documented. Even if this wasn’t my career, I would still be creating. I was posting for 7 years before I was able to do this full-time. The fact that I even get to create as a job is a blessing I don’t take lightly. It makes me want to get out there everyday and film, paint, take photos, style colorful outfits, craft, and do anything that lets me use my creativity in some way. I have become the happiest person I have ever been by really leaning into what I love and creating for the joy of it. And then seeing how that content helps others lean into what they love and being who they are is even more icing on the cake! It really is like one big happiness cake that you can take a slice of just by being creative and being your unique self!

Contact Info:

• Website: aspynandivy.com
• Instagram: @kaliannakali
• Youtube: Kaliannakali
• Other: Tiktok: @kaliannakali