We were lucky to catch up with Maria Stratigis recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Maria, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Growing up, my parents emphasized academia so much, that I programmed myself to believe there was no other option but to go to college, get a degree and work a “good, stable job”. It felt like, becoming anything other than a ‘lawyer or a doctor’ would be unacceptable! So I never took a creative career seriously when considering what I wanted to do with my life.

While in college, making friends and connections between classes, commuting & working was a challenge for me. To top it all off, I developed severe acne at the age of 18, resulting in crippling self esteem issues and social anxiety.

I’m a firm believer in everything happening for me, and not ‘to me’. Even though I struggled with loneliness and insecurities, I found my love for makeup and beauty and the empowerment that comes with authentic self expression. I took the time alone to teach myself about skin care, makeup products & application, trying different looks brought me so much joy! I started practicing makeup application on others and after college, I spent a few years as a makeup artist. Of course I loved the act of doing makeup, but what I loved most about it, was the way a client would transform from one person into a glowing goddess by the time we finished. She would smile more confidently, I would catch them admiring themselves more in the mirror, the energy was powerful and unstoppable!

I knew in that moment, I wanted to help others express their highest selves using my craft and talents.

Maria, 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?

My name is Maria Stratigis, and I am a content creator and blogger for the brand, Style Stratigi.

Insecurities, fear and doubt are all a natural part of the human experience. But in our modern day age of social media, we are almost always comparing ourselves to the messages of what it means to be beautiful & desirable according to society. My brand is a reminder that beauty and style is always a reflection from within! It is so important to love & accept yourself unconditionally, because once you do, you can pull anything off!! That eyeliner you’ve always wanted to try? Be your own best friend, and hype yourself up! Always wanted to wear bold, bright colors? Accept yourself radically, and you’ll become confident to know that you deserve to be LOUD, be HEARD, be SEEN, and be LOVED for taking up space!

In today’s world of bloggers & influencers, I want my brand to be a safe space where others are inspired to cultivate their own style and idea of beauty that celebrates themselves exactly as they are, not so that others want to be like anyone else or buy things to make them ‘more beautiful’.

It takes so much patience, compassion and forgiveness to love yourself, but there can only be one you; at Style Stratigi, I want to celebrate that!

What do you find most rewarding about being creative?

My favorite part of being a creative is the way that I can reach people.

I always loved fashion & beauty magazines, and I want my brand to feel like a style and beauty mag for the soul!
The most rewarding moments for me are when someone tells me how much I’ve helped them love themselves and inspire them to dress and express their highest selves!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

“the harder I work, the quicker I’ll reach my goals.”

Sometimes the worst thing for a creative is to work ‘harder’! When you’re an intuitive, an empath, a person who is happiest when expressing themselves, we need REST. We must RESET!!

My journey has been a long, slow & steady one, and for that I’m so grateful. Each time I think it’s a smart idea to work more, longer hours, cranking out productivity, without resting – and not just physical rest, but mental & emotional rest – I’ve been more burnt-out and sicker than ever, resulting in longer downtime.

I’ve learned that we must listen to our bodies; the hustle cannot exist without rest. And the harder, longer I work can sometimes result in the opposite of what I want or need.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stylestratigi.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/style.stratigi/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/style.stratigi/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/StyleStratigi
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfleFCHCOBWkElxRyakR7iQ

Image Credits
Photos are my own