Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mila Freeman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Mila, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?
Success means different things to different people. A lot of people see success as a destination, but I see it as an ongoing pursuit. I think it starts with having a clear vision and a solution to a problem. It takes courage firstly because to achieve success you can’t be afraid of failure which most of the time will inevitably happen. Secondly, it takes resilience and determination because when you do fail, you have to pick up and try again and again until you get the results you want. Success also takes passion because I would hope that whatever you are wanting to succeed at, is something that lights a fire inside you and something you will always be learning about.
My mother taught me what it means to be successful. She immigrated from Brazil to America alone and has since built an amazing private practice on her own. She’s truly an inspiration to me. Even today, with her established business, she’s always educating herself more on psychology and going to conferences. Or she’s learning about expanding her reach even more. Long story short, there’s always work to be done.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
With a lifelong passion and an eye for aesthetics, I found it increasingly challenging to find clothes that I loved that complimented my curves. So I decided to create my own designs, drawing inspiration from my Brazilian heritage and my travels. I’ve poured immense thought and care into bringing Gata and this SS2025 collection to life.
Gata’s aim is to have a refined blend of timeless elegance and effortless comfort, designed to suit the needs of the modern woman. This first collection offers a versatile range of pieces that seamlessly transition from lounge to travel to evening wear. With a focus on breathable, bra-free comfort and luxurious yet practical fabrics, Gata’s first collection embodies both the spirit of adventure and the ease of home. It’s a celebration of style that adapts to a life well-traveled, creating a wardrobe that feels as good as it looks.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
I’ve been posting on social media since high school but I would say I started taking it seriously when I moved to Los Angeles about seven years ago. I was 22 years old and loved creating content and posting as a hobby. Through consistency, I started gaining recognition and a following. Then I started getting asked to do more professional shoots and did some professional modeling which helped grow my page as well. I think if I were to start from scratch again today, I would pick a niche and only post about that. Now, with TikTok too I think it’s much easier to grow if you’re super consistent with it. Harvesting a sense of community is super important too. I know my followers love it when I respond to their dm’s asking about where an item is from or responding to a comment.
Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?
The way I funded my business is somewhat unconventional. When COVID hit, I had to pivot because the industry was closed and I was getting no work. I was unfortunately a victim of revenge porn on reddit and as young woman I decided to take back control and start an Onlyfans. The first month I made more money than I’d ever seen my whole life so I ran with it and made the best of the situation. I finally had the courage and wherewithal to start Gata and have been using my own money to fund the entire thing. I eventually would like to find investors to expand even more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gatastudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatastudios/
