Nayana Estanislau: embracing your dreams and living like a local

Nayana Estanislau is a dynamic entrepreneur and fashionista from Los Angeles by way of Fortalaza, Brazil. She has held many jobs and positions throughout her career, but her life in entrepreneurship and fashion have been her most notable.

What did you want to be when you were younger? Please tell us about how those dreams transformed into your present/ future dreams and achievements.

I always wanted to be famous when I was a little girl. I thought I wanted to be a model. When I became a teenager, I learned more about fashion besides the models, I fell in love with the creative aspect of it and the self-expression. Being a fashion designer became my dream and so I went to college for Fashion Design, started my first clothing line when I was only 18 with $400 my parents gave to me and started to build my career.

What barriers or hurdles did you overcome in trying to follow your dreams?

Moving to LA has been very challenging because I left my comfort zone back in Brazil. Providing for myself by working a full time job while working on my brand on the side is very challenging. Not having an investor is super hard too. Manufacturing in LA is so expensive

What advice would you give someone following in your footsteps?

Embrace your dreams in every size they may come. Be true to yourself. Don’t try to live someone else’s dreams. If they seem small, don’t feel less than for following that “small” dream. Anything counts when you work with love and intention of making the world a better place. If your dreams are too big and scary, remember who you are and remember who God is. There’s only so much we can do. It’s a mix of hard work, bravery, consistency and God’s favor.

To see more of Nayana and her brand, check out https://lushorama.com and @shoplushorama on Instagram. Nayana also travels the depths of Los Angeles at @lalikealocal. 

If you have any questions for Nayana, feel free to write it in the comments section!