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Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Esmeralda Ramirez of Hollywood, California

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We’re looking forward to introducing you to Esmeralda Ramirez. Check out our conversation below.

Esmeralda, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Many industries are currently suffering and finding work is incredibly difficult for a lot of people. This includes the Visual Effects industry, an industry I’ve worked in for over 12 years now. However, despite the current hardship, I’ve found so much joy and pleasure with content creation and expressing myself creatively on social media for three different accounts – My pinup fashion and beauty page, my visual effects and movie lover page, and my small business page. I’ve always been a really creative person and sometimes when I’m working it can be challenging balancing a professional life with my personal life so I am taking this time as a small blessing in disguise. I feel like I’ve rediscovered myself in all the best ways and I’ve been able to learn and do things I never thought I could.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Esmeralda Ramirez and I am a Visual Effects professional of 12 years, having worked on big blockbuster films like The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and TV shows like Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2. I’ve wanted to work on movies ever since I was 5 years old so I dedicated my entire life to that dream, something that eventually became my reality. Sometimes I still pinch myself and think “Is this real life?!” because of how surreal it all still feels compared to when that dream started 29 years ago.

Outside of my Visual Effects career, I am also a content creator and small business owner where I manage my three brands:

One brand is my pinup/rockabilly/vintage brand (@QueenOfHeartsEs) where I post beauty and fashion content and highlight small businesses while also collaborating with other businesses and content creators that also share the same passion and love for all things pinup/rockabilly/vintage. My unique sense of fashion tends to be one of the things many people remember me for!

Another brand is my Visual Effects/Movie Lover brand (@Es.In.VFX) where I share my love and passion for visual effects and share behind the scenes looks into films and TV shows while also sharing my adventures at screenings and then sharing my thoughts with reviews. I am surprised by how many people enjoy my reviews and how they decide if they’re going to watch something based off of what I thought!

My third brand is my small business (@QueenOfHeartsEs_Shop) where I share my own handmade products and art. I own my own online shop and sell my unique handmade goods which are primarily press-on nails that I design and hand paint myself. I also make custom press-on nails for my customers who might be looking for something niche or super unique to them. Recently I had designed some Tron inspired glow in the dark nails that ended up going viral and had others recreate them with their nail techs, which was super surreal and exciting! But I also know how to tuft rugs, make jewelry, design and make bookmarks, design and make stickers, sew clothing and accessories, and so much more. I guess you can say I am multifaceted!

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
When I was a child I used to believe that I had to fit into this societal mold in order to be liked. That if you didn’t look, speak, or act a certain way, that you wouldn’t fit in and would be labeled “weird” or “nerdy”. I was always a quirky kid with a silly personality and sense of humor that enjoyed anime, video games, movies, horror, art, and music.

Spoiler alert, I still am and still enjoy all of those things! Even though I was heavily bullied, ridiculed, and humiliated not only as a kid but well into my adult life, I knew I didn’t want to follow everyone else’s scripted path and instead forged my own. One where I could be who I want to be without fear of judgment. Ironically, some of those bullies have decided to pop up and ask me for tips and advice after having seen me do well in my life. I guess it goes to show that when you believe in yourself, forge your own path, and become your best authentic self, the rest will fall into place just as it was always meant to!

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have been so many times I wanted to give up, but you know what I’ve come to learn over the years? Every time I almost give up but don’t, the outcome always supersedes the problem or issue. For example, I almost gave up on my small business recently due to low engagement and zero orders, but then one day I was just making something for fun for myself and ended up posting a video of it not expecting much. Well…when I went to check back on the post, it had gone viral and I had orders lining up! This gave me a whole new, eye-opening perspective and now I feel re-inspired to make new things and post new content. To every single person that viewed that video, those who commented on it, shared it, reposted it, and especially those who placed an order, THANK YOU!

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I really want to one day build my own empire where I can work for myself and be my own boss. Having worked under some really nasty, rude, condescending, and disrespectful people throughout my life, there just comes a time where you realize you just don’t want to work under anyone ever again.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That despite my own hardship and rough upbringing that should have made me a really cold and mean person, that I beat all odds and succeeded in life with a warm heart and willingness to help others along the way. I am still working through a lot of my trauma, but I am so proud of who I am as a person and how I am always willing to grow and evolve into a better version of myself every day.

I want to be remembered for how I made people feel and that I showed up for them and cared for them, especially when they felt all alone.

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