We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lady Maximo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lady below.

Alright, Lady thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

What is success anyway? To me success is being able to live a meaningful and inspired life, living it the way you want to and doing what you most enjoy, while being surrounded by people who matter to you the most. Now within that definition includes success in your career goals and the fulfillment that comes with achieving that. I think what it takes to be “successful” is first finding your WHY. Why do you want to accomplish these goals or make more money or reach these milestones? When you figure out your WHY, you also figure out what is truly important to you and the sacrifices you’re willing to make to get to that while keeping a healthy balance with all the different aspects of your life.

From there, you have to map out a plan of attack for your short-term goals and long-term goals. There is never one path to become a successful fashion stylist but I like to always say that as long as you’re creating opportunities for yourself and you’re consistently taking steps forward (whether they maybe be small or big steps), then that’s good enough.

How do you create opportunities for yourself? Work with fellow creatives, put yourself in spaces that allow you to be inspired by other artists, talk to them about your work & your passion, offer to create art together. Fostering good relationships with other people will always pay off somehow. Sometimes it may take years, in my experience some took more than a decade, but there is no such thing as wasted effort. Every little thing counts.

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

I am a fashion stylist or otherwise called a wardrobe stylist. I style commercial, lifestyle, print, beauty, and editorial campaigns; music videos, tv commercials, and all kinds of social and marketing content. I also do wardrobe makeovers and red carpet styling for private clients.

I have been in this industry for almost 13 years. I started as an international student at FIDM in LA in 2009, and as a 27-year old immigrant from the Philippines with no immediate family around me, I knew it was going to be an uphill climb, but one that I was prepared to conquer.

I believe that what sets me apart is being able to read a client and their identity, understand what their needs are, and then help them visualize their story whether it be through a photo, a video, or simply an outfit. That’s what I am, I am a visual storyteller.

I also think that my international background has given me a broader range of experience, perspective, and creativity which has proven to be an advantage when it comes to creative direction and styling. I want the world to know that when they hire me, they are hiring an upgraded extension of themselves. I use my creativity, experience, and skills to help them express their vision in ways they may not have even thought of. I am always going to bring that edge, and that “it” factor.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist/creative is being able to be a part of the conceptualization of an idea, the planning and brainstorming alongside all the other creatives, seeing the hard work that every single vital person in production contributes to the project, and the culmination of all these amazing moving parts that produce a single, stunning, meaningful piece of art. It is magical and it never fails to make me feel proud and grateful.

Is there a mission driving your creative journey?

My mission? It has never been my ultimate goal to style the biggest celebrity or land the highest styling accolade. It’s always been about impact for me. I just want to make a positive impact in every project I do. Whether it’s making a client feel as seen or as beautiful as they’ve ever felt, a brand as authentically represented as they’ve ever been, an idea as fully-realized as ever imagined. That’s my mission. Seeing my work leave a lasting imprint on whatever or whoever I touch, it feels a bit like I’m leaving a small legacy and that’s priceless to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ladymaximo.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ladymaximo
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ladymaximo