Conversations with Mayan

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Mayan.

Hi Mayan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
It honestly started during my childhood. I kept myself busy with entertainment, like watching VH1, MTV music videos, and movies, and I fell in love with it and everything that came with it. I feel like music, fashion, and film align together. When I was in preschool, my siblings laid out the blueprint for my future.

My 3 sisters and my mother would watch this show called “America’s Next Top Model” hosted by Tyra Banks, and they would also have all these Vogue and GQ Magazines on their bedroom walls. My oldest brother, who is 14 years older than me, was in high school around this time, and I used to think he and his friends were the coolest guys in the world. They would wear all the high fashion clothes that were cool at that time, like Bape, baggy jeans, polo shirts, white t-shirts, and basketball jerseys.

He also wanted to become a DJ. He would go down to our basement and play around on his Dj equipment and play loud music. I also grew up being a theater kid at my church from age 6-12. But when you’re growing up as a child you tend to lose focus on the things that are meant for you and place your focus on something else and try out new things and fit in with others. I ended up doing that, and I quit (haha). It wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I started to do what I do now.

I used to sit in class and pull out my notebook, color pencils, and draw while class was in session. I would draw “HBK” with a broken heart, replacing the B, manifesting a brand I would create if I had my own fashion line. I would draw T-shirts and Sweaters and put the HBK logo on them. Throughout high school I wasn’t too focused on my education, I was very lost about the future and was living in the moment. I felt like the dream I grew up having was too big for me to obtain.

I didn’t consider myself an athlete even though I ran Track & Field for fun to pass the time and socialize, but I guess I was an okay runner. I got the opportunity to move to Iowa at a small school and run track, and I decided to go for it just to see what type of learning experience I would get from it and what would come out of it. Eventually, everything didn’t go well, and I ended up not competing due to health problems. I was so lost during this time, especially being far away from home, with no family around me.

One of my teachers played a TED Talk video to give me some hope and motivation, and this is when things changed for me. The man speaking in the TED Talk video topic was about success, and he stated that “Every human being knows what they want to do in life, and if we still don’t know what that is, think about your first/early childhood memories and what you used to do as a child that would make you happy.” And when I heard that, I instantly went through a spiritual awakening, haha.

That was all I needed to hear I instantly thought about what I previously mentioned earlier about me being a theater kid, my family being in love with the modeling business, and being entertained by clothes and film.

This happened in 2022, so I moved back home to Lansing, Michigan, and started to chase my dreams, starting my own clothing brand that should be released sometime in June or July, trying to work my way into the fashion business, whether I’m selling clothes or modeling, and also getting into the film business.

We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road.

Life isn’t easy at all. I dealt with a lot of ups and downs. During my first year of college, dealing with health problems and getting a lot of blood tests done, not competing, being sad, depressed, miserable, and my family being 600 miles away from me, I started having regrets about my decision. Things got really tough.

But I appreciate that time because I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now if it wasn’t for that time in my life. I grew up as a church boy, and I was taught to weather the storm because that’s when god prepares you for the good things to happen.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I would consider myself an entrepreneur. I’m an artist, and I’m very photogenic, but most importantly, I have my own clothing brand called HBK Clothing (Heartbreak Kid), which should be released this summer.

What separates me from others is that I have a very high self-esteem. I enjoy my own presence. I enjoy being by myself, focusing on my work ethic, creating and thinking of ideas, and just being the best version of myself each day I get a chance to wake up in the morning.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned through this journey is to be yourself and to protect your peace.

Surround yourself with authentic people who can help you. Whether it’s with your life goals or your mental health, eliminate things that don’t serve your purpose, and surround yourself with people and things that make you feel loved and appreciated.

That right there is literally the key to happiness and life, and so many things fall in line for you once you figure this out.

Pricing:

• $20
• $20

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @hbkmayan and @mi.hbkclothing

Image Credits
Jay Hernandez @chopshotit_