Meet Krystal Weldon Orellano | Author, Poet, Model and Teacher.

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

Hi Krystal, how do you think about risk?
Taking risks is a part of life. People regret the things they don’t do rather than the things they do. Failure is a part of the process and being afraid to fail will always hold us back. It takes a lot of strength to be able to put myself out there, but I want the world to hear my voice when I write. I am not scared of rejection; I welcome of it. For every rejection, there is a new door opening for me to enter. This is how risk taking becomes a beautiful part of my career. I do everything and talk everyone to build a platform for myself.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am local author, writer, poet, model and teacher in the Tampa Bay area. I carry with me a passion for the pen. Writing is my first love, and this is what makes writing special. Currently a student in Saint Leo’s Doctorate program in Education leadership, I am a woman determined to make her mark on the world one picture and written word at a time. Growing up with an Afro-Latino mother from Puerto Rico and an absentee Caucasian father, I immediately felt different and out of place. Being biracial, Caribbean and Hispanic in the United States has come with many scars throughout the years. Insecurities of being different have plagued this little girl and transpired a woman of color to feel proud to express herself artistically. I want to create a platform for all women of color to follow. I write poetry and models to express the beauty in diversity and the importance in representation. In my childhood, there was a lack of black and Latin representations in the media. I believe it is up to this generation to show the next generation the importance of what it means to be the change in the world. In the words of Langston Hughes “I too am America.” The Krystal Orellano brand wants to be an inspiration and build a legacy for years to come. As an entrepreneur I am a spoken word artist and author of the books The Evolution of Poetry and Quench. The next few Projects are a poetry book called Through the looking glass of a biracial Afro-Latina; A memoir called The chronicles of a biracial girl and my first novel The Lover’s Passion Lounge. My work has been published in many fashion and poetry magazines across the world from the U.K. to China. I have recently participated in photoshoots with Victoria Hanely from America’s Top Model, Prolific Magazine, Miss Global Fashion Modeling agency, New York Fashion week, Amazing Magazine, Orlando Fashion Week, Poetry Is radio show, and many events in the Tampa community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
`If I wanted to show my best friend that was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever, I would take them to of Florida’s many beautiful beaches or hidden caves full of streams. There is so much do in this state from the oldest city of Saint Augustine to author Zora Neale Hurston’s hometown in Eatonville. We could not forget the family friendly times in Orlando with Disney and Universal Studios or down south in Miami and Key West. There is no place here I wouldn’t want to go to.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have some many people to thank for my success as a writer and author. I just completed my master’s in creative writing and want to thank my professors at Saint Leo University. My two professor I want to thank for pushing me to complete my thesis which will be my next poetry book is My professor’s Gianna Russo and Anne Barngrover. I also cannot give more thanks to the three women who run the non-profit group Kitchen table. This is a safe place for women writers of color and really make a powerful voice in their community. These women are Shree L. Greer, Jasmine Smith, and Tiffany Slam Anderson, (https://www.kitchen-table.org) The last person I always want to give credit for is my beautiful baby boy Miles Devin Weldon’Young. I would be lost without him.

Website: https://krystaldawn285.wixsite.com/website

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystaldpride86

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystal-weldon-orellano-9661a8221

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gypsyorellano

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krystal.dawn.10441

Youtube: Krystal orellano

Image Credits
Austin Zeli, Leslie Madwell, Genie Bryan, and Spiz Flavorz.