We had the good fortune of connecting with Ezzah Rafique and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ezzah, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
In 2020, amidst the pandemic, I wanted to gain more experience in editorial photoshoots but had no way of being able to while sitting at home. I took my cousin Iman with me to a local park to do a small photoshoot where I wanted to submit the photos to Vogue Italia’s photo submission. When I went to submit the photos, the website constantly kept crashing which frustrated me, and after not being able to find a place where I could submit my photos, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I remember texting Iman “I want to start a digital magazine, thoughts” and instantly the idea was born. I created HAZZE MEDIA with the intention of allowing creatives to grow their skills and gain professional experience by getting the chance of being published in Hazze Magazine or joining the creative team.

What should our readers know about your business?
HAZZE MEDIA is dedicated to bringing individuality through digital expression. We have a globally selling magazine- Hazze Magazine- that allows creative from across the world to have a chance to get their work published. Hazze also conducts interviews with artists, business owners, creatives and more which are uploaded to our website and our podcast network. I’m honestly most proud of how Hazze has been able to grow so much within the past year. Meeting new people and getting new opportunities is so rewarding when knowing how much work was put into everything. There are so many challenges that have come my way within this last year though. The rebranding process from ORENDA MEDIA to HAZZE MEDIA earlier in 2021 was one of the hardest things to do while juggling school. The team, my family, and my friends efforts to help me push through and properly rebrand really motivated me to give it my all. I learned a lot not only how to run a business and file paperwork but also how to establish vital connections, network, and skills that I would have never learned in high school like doing my taxes, marketing strategies, and leadership skills. Being a full-time college student now and trying to juggle HAZZE MEDIA as a full-time job while also getting sleep and having a social life is something that I am still trying to figure out how to balance. Overall though, I’m proud of how much I have actually been able to accomplish within one year and so excited for all that is going to come.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m actually from the Dallas area in Texas! But for now, because of college, I live in Austin so I myself have been doing a lot of exploring around the city here. One thing I will say is there is a lot of hiking and outdoor activities in Austin to do which, when I have time, I go do with my friends.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are a lot of people who have helped me get to where I am today. My family, my cousins, my friends of course all helped me in every way they could. But there are people who I’ve met along the way who deserve a lot more credit than they receive. Camila C, Leila Saidane, Orchee Sorker, and especially the Hazze Media Creative Team who help submit to the magazine and help put it together every month.

Website: www.hazzemedia.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ezzahazka

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ezzah-azka-rafique-055705206/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ezzahrafique

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGWSRnptK4qJ9k0UfcH3y0A

Other: Hazze Media Instagram: www.instagram.com/hazzemedia Read Hazze Magazine: https://issuu.com/orendamedia Submit to Hazze Magazine: https://kavyar.com/hazze-magazine

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