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

Hi Bruja, what’s the end goal, career-wise?
The end goal for me is to share my knowledge. Teach young women and men, mainly from poverty, that you can be your version of success and not have to be a product of your environment. Being a model and a source for people who don’t have that—becoming a self-published author and traveling the world. Growing up, when I started my business, I had no knowledge, no example to look at, not even now. So wherever go, and I meet young creatives, it’s essential for me to share what I know and where I’ve failed, so they can avoid making the same mistakes I did.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think what set’s me apart from others is my originality. When I first started drawing, I drew myself in different ways I saw myself. If you look at the main face of By Bruja, that is me. When I was younger, I had sleep deprivation for years. I used to have highly vivid dreams I couldn’t explain, so I used to draw them. My art is relatable. I think the thing I’m proud of up until now was getting my products in-store, especially early in my career. Shoutout to Living with Green on the Upper East Side. Outside of that, just simply being able to make a living off my art. Not many people can say that. Getting to the point I am today didn’t just take being creative. Because, unfortunately, there are so many talented people who don’t get far, I believe what got me here is my hunger to want to know more. I never feel like there isn’t more for me to tell because of where I am now. Whether it’s creatively, professionally, business-wise, I continue to fuel myself with knowledge, books, podcasts, etc., from people who are started from the ground up. I stay hungry, so it always sets me apart from others.

Nothing I’ve done up until this point has been easy. Many people always commend me on my accomplishments but don’t know how many times I had to fail in private to get there. Wasting thousands of dollars on sh*tty products, not selling out, people telling me, no, you can’t have a successful business or make money from it. Fast forward now, I got my GED, own a 5 figure business, have my place, excellent credit, all at 22. I am saying this because only YOU can change the narrative of your story—nobody else. You have to want it so bad; it’s the only way.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were “visiting” New York, I would give her the ultimate New York welcoming, of course. If you’re from NY, you know we come out at night, and real Nyers don’t go to the city to have fun. I would take her uptown for a chopped cheese, of course. I’m a super foodie; I legit have a food spot for every type of food, but Stoned Pizza, she loves a good smoke and eats sesh. Then take her out to an absolute classic NY party; if you were outside growing up in NY, we were in Pianos, Kinfolk ( kinfolk shut down during the pandemic 🙁 ). I would take her out to meet my other fabulous friends and get lit, honestly. There is so much to do in NY, so even if we want a calm night, we would go to Frames to bowl, eat and drink; frames also have a mini club. Or even Paint & sip! There are many sceneries and beautiful, fun things to do in NY depending on the season; even in BK and all over the city, they do drive-in movies of classics, so if you’re a chill kind of person. That can be your vibe too.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I would first say my mom, of course. If it weren’t for her allowing me to be creatively expressive, I probably wouldn’t have accomplished so much at such a young age. When I was 4, she put me in dance school cause I loved to dance. I did eight different forms of dancing for 5/6 years, even got offered a position at 10 to dance on tour around the world, but I was too young; She’s the first person I tell all my ideas to. Before I even knew I was an entrepreneur, I was one. I was ten years old, crocheting handmade scarves and selling them for 40 a pop at school. That then transpired into me tapping Into myself creatively to the fullest. I then, at 16, became a full-time makeup artist for three years ( a lot of people don’t know that about me ). Then, I started making clothes, making seasonings, writing an ebook. After all these years, I cultivated a group of people around me who fueled me to the fullest, Fame, Stephanie, Marta and Aziz. Growing up in the hood, there weren’t many of us creatively tapped in. We were all trying to make a living. So shoutout to everyone who used to come out to my art shows, sell me out every time, all my supporters. I probably would’ve still been in the hood if it wasn’t for everyone.

Website: www.bybruja.com

Instagram: bybrujallc

Twitter: bybrujallc

Facebook: By Bruja

Image Credits
Photo credits to Ant, Childish_ant and Marta, godlysinner.

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