We recently had the chance to connect with Luis Telles-Cornejo and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Luis, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me is anything but ordinary, and that’s exactly how I like it. Mornings often start with catching up on client messages for my private practice, PsychoSocial Therapy, where I work with queer and BIPOC communities. From there, my day shifts into the creative side of my work with Queer Magic Entertainment, producing and promoting episodes of the Queer Magic Podcast, developing styling concepts, or directing photoshoots for clients who want to see themselves represented authentically. I also spend time creating content for Instagram, where I blend education, activism, fashion, mental health, and self-expression to inspire and inform my audience. My schedule often includes preparing for or delivering talks and workshops as a speaker, covering topics from queer mental health to the power of self-expression.Some days I’m on set, making sure every detail reflects my vision for empowerment and self-expression; other days I’m at my desk, planning events or collaborating with designers and creatives. My work as a therapist, model, and creative director all flow into each other, a balance of holding space for healing and creating spaces for joy and visibility. No matter where I am, my days are centered on building work that celebrates queer identity, dismantles limiting narratives, and invites people to see themselves in their fullest expression.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Luis Cornejo — a queer, first-generation Guatemalan and Mexican American therapist, model, speaker, and creative director based in Los Angeles. I’m the founder of Queer Magic Entertainment, a platform I created to celebrate self-expression, representation, and empowerment for the queer community and beyond. Under Queer Magic Entertainment, I host the Queer Magic Podcast, where I bring together conversations on identity, mental health, and culture with guests who inspire and challenge the way we think about ourselves and the world. I also offer styling and photoshoot services that were born from my own experience of rarely seeing people like me — queer, BIPOC, outside of mainstream beauty standards — represented in fashion imagery. My goal is to create spaces where people feel seen, powerful, and unapologetic in their expression.
Alongside Queer Magic Entertainment, I run my private practice, PsychoSocial Therapy, where I specialize in working with queer and BIPOC communities. I’m also a speaker, sharing my expertise on mental health, self-expression, and advocacy at events, panels, and conferences. My work is unique because it blends the personal and professional, activism and artistry — whether I’m on a stage, behind a camera, or on a runway, everything I do is about dismantling limiting narratives and creating space for people to take up room exactly as they are. Right now, I’m focused on expanding Queer Magic Entertainment through more live events, collaborations with designers, and creative projects that inspire people to embrace their fullest selves.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One moment that profoundly shaped how I see the world was realizing, as a young queer person of color, that the narratives I had been taught about myself were never mine to begin with, hey were created by systems and cultures that saw difference as something to erase or “fix.” Growing up in an extremely religious household, I was told that queerness was wrong, that femininity was something to hide, and that my worth was tied to achievement. For years, I tried to mold myself into something more “acceptable,” even if it meant silencing who I really was. The turning point came when I began to do my own healing work, not just as a therapist, but as a person reclaiming their identity.
That shift was the seed for Queer Magic Entertainment and everything I do now. It’s why representation matters so deeply to me, why my podcast exists to tell our stories, and why my styling and photoshoots are about creating images where people like us see themselves celebrated, not minimized. That moment taught me that visibility isn’t just about being seen, it’s about being seen on your own terms, in your own power. And once you experience that, it changes how you see the world forever.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me the value of authenticity in a way that success never could. When you’ve experienced rejection, invisibility, or the weight of not being accepted for who you are, you learn to recognize what truly matters. Growing up, much of my pain came from hiding parts of myself to survive. I hid my queerness, my femininity, my voice, my creativity. Even professional achievements couldn’t fill the emptiness that came from not living in alignment with my truth.
That’s why the heart of Queer Magic Entertainment is about creating spaces where people don’t have to hide to be celebrated. The Queer Magic Podcast, my styling and photoshoots, and even my speaking work all come from that lesson — that joy, connection, and healing are built on self-expression, not conformity. Success might validate what you’ve done, but suffering teaches you why it matters, and for me, it’s the “why” that drives everything I do.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in the mental health field is that therapists have to be “blank slates.” As if our humanity, identities, and lived experiences somehow get in the way of the work. In reality, those parts of me are what allow my clients to feel seen and understood. In fashion and the creative industry, one of the biggest lies is that representation is improving just because brands occasionally feature diverse models. Too often, it’s surface-level, a campaign here or there, without changing the systems that keep the same narrow standards in place.
Queer Magic Entertainment was my way of rejecting both of those narratives. Through the Queer Magic Podcast, styling, and photoshoots, I’m intentional about showing the full spectrum of queer and BIPOC identity, not just in token moments, but as the standard. The lie is that you can only be taken seriously if you fit into the mold. The truth is, real innovation and connection happen when you create your own space instead of waiting to be invited into someone else’s.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had 10 years left, I’d stop saying yes to things that drain me or don’t align with my values. So much of my early career, both in therapy and creative work, was about proving myself, even if it meant overextending or compromising my energy. Now, I’m far more protective of where I put my time and heart. I’d double down on projects that bring joy, amplify Queer and BIPOC voices, and create real impact, like expanding Queer Magic Entertainment, hosting more live events, and producing creative work that tells our stories unapologetically. Life is too short to dilute your purpose for the comfort of others, and I’d want every moment of those 10 years to be spent living fully, loudly, and on my own terms.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.luis-cornejo.com
- Instagram: @luis_thee_lmft
Image Credits
Yaqueline Hernandez, Jorgie Aguilar, Fidelina, and Yesenia Barajas
