Today we’d like to introduce you to Diana Cardona.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The story is a long one, but it began from within and was enhanced by meeting many beautiful individuals along the way. I’ve always known I was meant to create. Growing up in Honduras, then making the move to West New York, New Jersey consisted of being engulfed in my family life. Sharing a room with three other siblings kept my creativity at bay. My passion was sparked when I began collaging at the age of 14. I would use any magazine I could get my hands on, whether it be from the nail salon to the stand near my home — this is where my interest in fashion took off and my escape was discovered.
From then on, I began to explore creating through different mediums. Make up, hair, styling and anything I could get my hands on were my defining characteristics. Moving out at 17 allowed me to a bask in my independence. I explored higher education, trying my hand at a physical therapy degree, knowing it would be the more “secure” option. After a year and a half, I decided to take a year off and find myself. Every morning before clocking into work at a local restaurant, I would sit at a park on West 4th to journal but ended up sketching patterns, doodles and jewelry instead.
As the end of the year approached, my interest in fabrics and interior design had sparked. A regular at the restaurant, Brett Douglas, knew my new aspirations to pursue interior design at Pratt, invited me to work on set as a prop stylist assistant. Not fully knowing what that entailed, I took my chances and ended up walking into a Victoria’s Secret shoot — angles and all. That day I fell in love with all aspects of photo and video production; I knew I had found my purpose.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The road has not always been smooth, but I’ve trusted in divine timing the entire ride. I think my biggest obstacle was acclimating to the United States. From the new language to the culture, I knew my independence and resourcefulness had to be cultivated at a young age. My mother pushed my sister and I to live on our own at 17. Though this period of my life was tough, I now appreciate how it has positively impacted my life path and allowed me to explore the world freely. While discovering myself was difficult, I found it to be one of the most beautiful journeys I’ve taken.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’d say I specialize in production work and art direction. Currently, my focus is on social media content, but I’m most known for is my film photography. That’s definitely a hard question, I’ve loved all the projects I’ve worked on so far. I think what I’m most proud of and what sets me apart is my versatility. Being able to be multifaceted has helped me immensely in my career and allowed me to delegate well on set. My most recent project, art directing for clothing brand Phenom Los Angeles, is one of my most recently displays of this skill.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Joselin, my father, has been my biggest supporter from the beginning. He’s always seen my potential and been on my side, no matter what part of my journey I was on. My sister Kim and my family. The performing arts academy, my high school teachers/coachess, and Chris Walsh for the life lessons. Olof Grind, the stranger who taught me how to use a film camera after we met jaywalking in the same direction one day in Brookly. Wendy for dealing with me in my early 20s. All of my co-workers and the regulars I met at Taqueria St Marks who cheered me on and added fuel to my creativity. The iconic Carolina Gonzalez, my fairy Godmother. My friends Semina, Cookie, Alice, and neighbors who support me day-to-day.
Contact Info:
- Email: alreadyeuphoria@gmail.com
- Website: https://creatively.life/AlreadyEuphoria
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/euphoricdiana/
Image Credits:
Picture of me by Bo Chapli The others are all taken by me. Subjects: Yanick sako Jyn Gittens Kim Cardona Tajsiana Tapp Jewelry shoot for Ethangi Breyalea Bruna Gomez
