An Inspired Chat with Macki Alvarez-Mena of Los Angeles

We recently had the chance to connect with Macki Alvarez-Mena and have shared our conversation below.

Macki, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: When was the last time you felt true joy?
Last week attending the Djo concert at my favorite venue in Los Angeles, The Greek Theatre! One of my best friends was able to score some pit wristbands last minute knowing I was a major fan. The entire experience reminded me that kismet is all around us and music, creativity, and friends who feel like family will always be a constant. It was my very own “Back On You” from The Crux moment!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! My name is Macki and I’m an illustrator / designer from Miami living in Los Angeles. I am a proud USC Trojan, graduating as part of the first class of the Iovine and Young Academy where I developed life long skills, mentors, and most importantly – friendships. I have been diligently working on my own kids brand / property, MACKI, since I was in middle school, acting as my North Star as I navigate life professionally and personally. I also freelance with multiple brands and designers, continually sharpening my skills and finding creativity in different mediums!

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
Definitely my parents! Both born in Cuba, my parents immigrated to the United States at a young age to escape Fidel Castro’s new regime. Being Cuban and first generation American, I’ve always instilled my parents work ethic into everything I do. America is filled with opportunity and dreams are achieved every day – but only after years, decades of hard work. My mother is a creative, while my father has been a lawyer for the past 40 years, providing me with the ultimate balance of reaching for the stars while finding a practical way to land on one. I credit this mindset to anything I’ve accomplished thus far – believing in myself no matter how daunting my own imagination can be, but placing one foot in front of the other with logic and strategy to achieve it. Growing up, my mom always repeated “those who are successful are never the most talented, but the one’s who want it the most. It is always 10% talent, 90% hard work.”

Additionally, my younger sister Coco has been the loudest example of proving what hard work can achieve. Four years ago she accomplished her dream of signing with Chicago-based dance company, The Joffrey Ballet, only after decades of sacrifices, perseverance, and a never-ending work ethic. Flat-footed with the odds stacked against her, she persisted, taking every “no” as an opportunity to improve rather than accepting another fate. Coco is the perfect tangible example of the belief system my parents have instilled within my sisters and I – believe in yourself but you must do your part to get there, magic doesn’t happen overnight.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Ah! This is a real one. As I continue to get older I have realized how much fear infiltrates my daily life. I can logically separate my fears within a situation but struggle to eliminate the feeling. I’m still working on it!

However, navigating fear through my art and specifically seeing myself through my animated version helps understand those feelings by creating a light-hearted spin on the heaviness. I’m able to bring color, humor, and raw emotion all into one message depicting the complexity of certain situations while also reminding myself of the fun and positive reward flowing through feelings can have. Resilience gets tougher as we grow older and become jaded, but courage is not the absence of fear, it is being afraid and doing it anyway.

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. Is the public version of you the real you?
I’d say so! Obviously there are parts of me no one else can see, but for the most part I think anyone who knows me would agree I wear my heart on my sleeve and am incredibly authentic – sometimes for better or for worse.

The whole reason I began creating art and specifically my brand, MACKI, in the first place was to learn how to fall in love with myself through self-acceptance, and hopefully inspire others to do the same. It is all about bridging your internal and external self, creating your own reality by navigating and understanding your own highest potential – whatever that may be.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Doubting myself and my character! I am by far my own worst enemy most of the times, but breaking patterns can be incredibly difficult. If I knew I had limited time, I would begin to live more authentically listening to my own belief system over what others or society may believe “should be.” However, I have learned that most often those voices don’t even exist in reality and are only in our minds, reminding myself that everyone is trying to accomplish the same.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__macki/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/macki-alvarez-mena-629078bb/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072043576319&sk=about
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@__macki

Image Credits
Amy Lê Photography