We recently had the chance to connect with Sun Alarcon and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sun, 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 something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I think the fact that I’m in a position in life where I can help all my loved ones brings me the most joy. There was a time where I did not have this opportunity. In fact, I wasn’t even in the right minded position to help myself. In that moment, I lost everything. I lost my confidence, I lost my job, I lost my momentum. However, I never lost my circle and my circle never lost hope in me. They never stopped loving me, and they never stopped believing in me. When I was suffering a mental battle, it was the love I received that won me over. That love and support I received isn’t just something I’d like to pay back, but pay forward. It’s this love and support that I aim to put into action by any means. As long as I know I can help those around me, everyday is a joyous day. If I know someone I love needs help, I’m happy to do so.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I like to describe my career like a caramelized onion. There’s so many layers to it, but the longer I cook, the sweeter things get and at the end it’s still true to its core. Obviously, I am a chef, duh! Just kidding! After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in 2015, I hit the industry running having gained experiences in merchandise buying, e-commerce, marketing, and social media. I’ve worked for some of the biggest names in fashion and retail in the LA area, met celebrities along the way, networked relationships, but most importantly I learned what I was truly meant to do. Since I could remember I was always described as a very expressive person. Whether it be me customizing my clothes, dying my hair all of the colors, or even posting my point of views on my growing Youtube channel, I always enjoyed something creative. However, as my career and experiences grew, my knack for creativity took a backseat. Not to mention, I was also discovering my trans identity and trying to navigate that. It was a constant mental battle trying to get taken seriously in some of my work environments, thus leading me to feel drained and unfulfilled. A few years ago is when I started to model, and gain some experiences in on camera work all while balancing it with my corporate career. It reignited that creative bug, and truly I didn’t want it to stop. While my corporate work was wearing me out, I felt called to lean into my creative side. When I lost my full time job in 2023, it seemed like I had lost my purpose but it truly the wakeup call I needed. I really had no choice but let my modeling career be my bread and butter. It’s crazy to think all those little creative projects I’d do for fun as a teenager is what I actually do for work now. Especially being a trans woman in this industry having the opportunity to be my most authentic self on camera showing the world who I am and who I’ve grown to become feels like the ultimate prize. At the moment, I mostly do live hosting, social media content, sales analysis and producing. I juggle multiple gigs a day for all the companies and projects who continue to onboard me. I think it’s safe to say my real desire was to be myself, and I’m happy to have forged a career path where I get to do that boldly, loudly, and unapologetically. Bringing it back to my onion metaphor sometimes when I really have the time to chop it up, it brings me to tears but nonetheless, it’s so full of flavor.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
So, there’s this story in my family that gets told about me when I was about 3 years old. I would throw a yellow towel on my head pretending it’s my long hair. I’d sing, dance, perform, or even just go on casually with my day. I guess doing that a toddler boy, you’d think that’d be a huge indication, that 1, I was always destined to be a star, and 2, I was meant to transform and blossom into womanhood. Of course, I tell that story as it was described to me for years and when I tell you for a while I acted like I didn’t remember. I do remember, every bit of it. That was one of the first memories I could ever look back at my inner spirit and know in my heart that I was being my most powerful, expressive, artistic, and genuine self.
Not to mention, the towel or pseudo wig at the time I’d wear on my head I named it my “gaga.” Me in 1999 performing, singing, and dancing with a wig calling it “gaga,” sounds familiar right? I bet you did not have a 3 year old boy in the 90’s predicting Lady Gaga’s career on your 2025 bingo card. All jokes aside, she coincidentally happens to be one of those icons I have to thank for allowing the space for me to be me, to be creative, and to be brave. Looking back it sounds so silly, but yes, I had it in me all along, and I use those early memories to remind me of my power.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Everything you’re feeling on the inside is correct. All those dreams, all those visions, they’re all tangible and you will get there. You are going to look in the mirror one day and recognize the inside of you is fully manifested. Keep going, you’re that girl!
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Spending a lot of time in my career being on camera, telling stories on social media, and exposing myself to people from all over the world, I do think the public version of me is getting more and more accurate. There are some quite behavioral nuances I have accustomed to develop an extent of an online persona but for the most part, I can’t hide me. I often get real time feedback of what people think of me whether I like it or not in the comment section of livestreams. So I do know what the public eye sees in me. Being that my career requires me to be so exposed, I take the power into my hands. I have control over the narrative of what I want people to know of me and I hope that shows. While most people in my workplaces are probably seeing that I am a funny, witty, knowledgable, sassy, saleswoman, I try to show the sweeter, spiritual, family oriented part of me every chance I can get.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What light inside you have you been dimming?
Oh I definitely struggle with downplaying my own capabilities. It probably is some sort of trauma response for living my life with so much doubt that I believed it for way too long. Imposter syndrome is always something that I deal with and then of course, I get reminders that my career, my skill set, my overall presence is deserving and has earned its merit.
I used to have built up frustrations with my past modeling agent because the jobs and submissions I’d get sent seemed so random and obtuse, I felt like they didn’t make sense for my brand. I’d get sent fit tech, or even vitamin commercials which at the time, I was convinced because of how naturally glam and fashion focused I am, I wouldn’t be fit for those gigs. I’d complain to my modeling coach, questioning “why do they keep sending jobs I’d never be hired for?” My modeling coach was shocked because she knew my capabilities, she knew at the time how young my career was. Why would I ever think for a second I’d be undesirable? While she appreciated my self awareness, she couldn’t help but notice the doubt I was casting on myself. Yes, sure, specific gigs could out of my normal genres but by no means would that take away the possibility of me being a desirable candidate. Fast forward to now, I’ve definitely taken on projects and worked with brands that seem off my normal market. But, did the check clear? Was I still hired? Did I get the job or assignment done? Absolutely!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suntheunicorn/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/Suntheunicorn
