Zendaya once said, "It's important to learn into hope and lean into beautiful things that I see my peers doing, whether through activism or art." Although Zendaya may not consider herself an activist, I deeply admire how she continuously pours into the black community. She goes above and beyond, supporting black-owned businesses, designers, and artists, reflected in her works, including fashion and film. She stays connected with her roots, surrounded by a team filled with black creatives. Within the fashion industry, she utilizes activism to pay homage to many Black women who came before her. For instance, her 2020 Essence cover featured a tribute to Donyale Luna, the first black supermodel. By wearing a purple Versace reminiscent of Beyoncé's iconic “Crazy in Love '' look, and incorporating a Vintage Haute Couture into her outfit that Eunice Johnson previously owned, and many more to come. Most of the recognition is tied to her intentional clothing, as she tries to honor black personalities in her looks. Furthermore, she has a past history of collaborating with black designers including Jason Rembert, Anifa Mvuemba, Carly Cushnie, and Christopher John Roger- understanding the importance of investing in black business within the fashion industry. Zendaya’s contributions to films, promotes representation, showcasing black excellence and creativity by producing art that reflects on different experiences and social justice issues- such as her portrayal of Marie in “Malcolm and Marie” or Rue Bennet in HBO's Euphoria. I appreciate Zendaya's efforts because she encourages young people and young women like me to continue expressing ourselves and supporting one another in the process. She emphasizes that black power and positivity matter and that we should keep fighting for our voices to be heard. Her ability to empathize and connect with us makes her a great advocate, sharing her struggles as a young black actress navigating Hollywood as well. Her experiences led to her understanding and passion for human beings as she continued to stay informed within the black community. She is truly inspiring, and I will forever be grateful for her.

Art has always been essential to my life, from drawing to painting, photography, fashion, film, and craftwork. I've always expressed myself through these aspects of visual arts, perceiving the world through an artistic lens. Within my coming-of-age, art has become a voice for me, highlighting my individuality and sharing my personal experiences in my life. As I continue my artistic journey, I aim to expand my storytelling by showcasing my artwork on big platforms, including social media, art exhibitions, and galleries. Overall, I want to build a brand as an artist, create an artistic vision, and utilize art to connect with others. A main theme that I want to remain constant throughout my art is serenity and individuality. As someone who deeply values mental wellness and self-evolution, I strive to portray concepts that underlie this theme, such as the experience of struggling with deep-rooted insecurities and emptiness. However, I also seek to signify the beauty of self-discovery, where one learns to listen to one's needs, gain self-awareness, and let go of inevitable situations that are unhealthy or no longer serve a positive or progressive purpose. Through the stories I tell through my art, I hope these experiences and the emotions conveyed resonate with others who may have felt similar at some point. As I continue to grow and evolve as an artist, my goal is to utilize the power of art to form connections with others. I plan to explore art culture and different art mediums, such as photography, digital art, film, and fashion. I envision myself networking with various artists, attending art workshops, and visiting art galleries to incorporate what I learned from them into my artistic style, gaining a deeper understanding of art history and techniques. Furthermore, networking with other artists and others in art can help me broaden my perspective, contributing to my growth. From these experiences, I expect to promote myself as an artist and showcase my work. Although, I'm still figuring out my path. I am focused on challenging myself to grasp different art techniques, allowing me to be well-rounded within the art industry. My journey as an artist is closely tied to my values and surroundings, which influence my creative process. Art has become a transformative aspect of my life as I share stories that enhance my self-awareness. With my artistic skills, I will continue to produce art shaped by my personal experiences, aligning with others who share my vision. In time, not only will I create art for my content, but I want to inspire others to promote healing, self-love, and empathy toward one another. My vision for my art will encourage other individuals to face their insecurities and learn to embrace themselves.

This photography series, The Garden Party in the Golden Afternoon, reflects self-evolution, showing the perspective of when an individual indulges in their own company. I developed this concept based on my personal experiences with self-discovery. My main focus was to capture a whimsical and tranquil feeling. Beautiful drapes engulf a set of objects arranged on the table within the photo's scenery. Each element has its significance, such as the mirror representing self-affirmations, as the individual realizes their true beauty; the journal indicating expressing one's feelings, thoughts, and emotion through writing; the porcelain tea cup signifying relaxation and reflection on one's self; lastly, the flower vase reflects an abundance of happiness, and blossoming, appreciating all the good aspects in one's life and more to come. As these aspects correlate, they all underline the importance of self-care and healing.   Creating these photos revolved around experimenting with color and light using objects. I mainly composed different elements around my house. I even used a projector to reflect a warm yellow tone. In the beginning, capturing these pictures was challenging because I had to adjust the lens and lighting on the camera to get a good image. Furthermore, I explored different angles and used Photoshop apps such as Lensa and Adobe Lightroom to achieve my desired aesthetic. I sought to select photos from the shoot that would best represent my overall series. In the end, I am proud of the final product, and I believe that each photo in this portfolio demonstrates my skill and creativity as a photographer.

Art has always been essential to my life, from drawing to painting, photography, fashion, film, and craftwork. I've always expressed myself through these aspects of visual arts, perceiving the world through an artistic lens. Within my coming-of-age, art has become a voice for me, highlighting my individuality and sharing my personal experiences in my life. As I continue my artistic journey, I aim to expand my storytelling by showcasing my artwork on big platforms, including social media, art exhibitions, and galleries. Overall, I want to build a brand as an artist, create an artistic vision, and utilize art to connect with others. A main theme that I want to remain constant throughout my art is serenity and individuality. As someone who deeply values mental wellness and self-evolution, I strive to portray concepts that underlie this theme, such as the experience of struggling with deep-rooted insecurities and emptiness. However, I also seek to signify the beauty of self-discovery, where one learns to listen to one's needs, gain self-awareness, and let go of inevitable situations that are unhealthy or no longer serve a positive or progressive purpose. Through the stories I tell through my art, I hope these experiences and the emotions conveyed resonate with others who may have felt similar at some point. As I continue to grow and evolve as an artist, my goal is to utilize the power of art to form connections with others. I plan to explore art culture and different art mediums, such as photography, digital art, film, and fashion. I envision myself networking with various artists, attending art workshops, and visiting art galleries to incorporate what I learned from them into my artistic style and gain a deeper understanding of art history and techniques. Furthermore, networking with other artists and others in art can help me broaden my perspective, contributing to my growth. From these experiences, I expect to promote myself as an artist and showcase my work. Although, I'm still figuring out my path. I am focused on challenging myself to grasp different art techniques, allowing me to be well-rounded within the art industry. My journey as an artist is closely tied to my values and surroundings, which influence my creative process. Art has become a transformative aspect of my life as I share stories that enhance my self-awareness. With my artistic skills, I will continue to produce art shaped by my personal experiences, aligning with others who share my vision. In time, not only will I create art for my content, but I want to inspire others to promote healing, self-love, and empathy toward one another.