Meet Ms J7

We recently connected with Ms J7 and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ms, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

I believe my work ethic was shaped by three foundational influences.

First and foremost, my faith and God. It instilled in me a deep sense of gratitude for each day and a responsibility to use my abilities with purpose and integrity. From a young age, I understood that discipline and accountability are choices we make daily.

Second, my parents modeled work ethic not through words, but through action. My mother demonstrated resilience and grace. She showed up every day to a job that may not have fulfilled her spiritually, yet she carried herself with positivity, dignity, and pride in providing for her family. From her, I learned consistency, strength and endurance.

My father left an even deeper imprint. Despite battling lifelong illness, he rose at 5 a.m., endured physical hardship, and still worked full days without complaint. Watching him persevere through adversity taught me that commitment is not conditional. You show up because you gave your word, not because it is easy.

Athletics also reinforced this discipline. I live by a simple mantra:
“To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late. To be late is unacceptable.”
Preparation, punctuality, and accountability are non-negotiables for me.

As a mentor in the circus arts, I have learned that talent alone is never enough. During our humanitarian work, one of my longtime students discovered her passion for the art form and expressed a desire to follow in my footsteps. However, when she later declined a charitable commitment she had made in order to pursue a different opportunity, it highlighted an important truth: professionalism and integrity matter more than exposure. Our reputations are built on honoring commitments, especially when no one is watching.

I believe we should treat others the way we wish to be treated — with respect, reliability, and follow-through. To me, work ethic is not just about effort. It is about character. It is about doing the right thing, keeping your word, and showing up fully — every single day.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m often asked to describe what I do, and for many years—even my own management team struggled to distill it into a single sentence. It took nearly fifteen years for me to fully recognize that I am not simply an athletic coach in the circus arts or the owner of an entertainment company. At my core, I am an entertainment visionary.
The first thing I tell producers when they reach out to me is simple: If you can dream it, I can produce it. That philosophy has guided every project I’ve developed and every platform I’ve built.

Following the passing of my mother in 2022, and personal health issues, I made a meaningful transition. I stepped back from coaching, private instruction, and performing to focus more intentionally on creating opportunities for other artists. Today, much of my energy is dedicated to developing platforms that allow exceptional talent to showcase their craft on a larger stage.

My creative work has also expanded into publishing and character development. I have produced a children’s book currently in the illustration phase with well-known Comic Con artists. In addition, I’ve created two original characters that I plan to pitch to Pop Mart this year. I am also writing a novel centered around a personal tragedy that profoundly impacted my life on November 21, 2024. Alongside that, I am collaborating with a publishing company on a memoir chronicling my journey and the creation of J7 Productions and how I literally ran away and created my own Circus.

One of the most common misconceptions about my company is that we exclusively produce circus arts. While international cirque is certainly a specialty, J7 Productions is a full-scale production company based in San Diego, California. We provide comprehensive entertainment services across multiple industries, including television, film, and music videos. I also work with a diverse range of performers and actors—many of whom are outside the circus world entirely.

In addition, we offer a diverse and versatile roster of talent and specialty entertainment. A few of our services include professional photography, videography and make-up services. We provide cosplay characters, Disney princess performers, and iconic movie cars. We also feature unique specialty acts such as swimming mermaids, sword swallowers, aerialists, fire breathers, stilt walkers and contortionists along with skilled puppeteers, experienced voice-over artists, and caricature illustrators.

We proudly provide catering services in partnership with well-known San Diego restaurants and food trucks. Our team also produces large-scale set designs and event environments. We collaborate with some of San Diego’s most respected industry professionals to deliver exceptional experiences for corporate events, weddings, team-building functions, and private celebrations of all kinds.

I am currently developing and preparing for distribution my proprietary bubble solution, MsJ7’s Magnificent Bubble Mixture. In addition, I have been commissioned to cast talent and source vendors for an upcoming ranch-themed wedding photo and video shoot. Simultaneously, I am coordinating specialty circus performers — including Rolla Bolla and Duo Roller-Skating acts — for a well-known Canadian circus production.

At its heart, my work is about vision, storytelling, and building platforms where artistry can thrive—no matter the medium.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, three pivotal experiences had the greatest impact on my professional development.

First, entering the circus arts without a traditional background or lifelong training meant I had to earn credibility in an environment where many performers had been immersed in the discipline from childhood. Navigating that scrutiny strengthened my resilience, work ethic, and commitment to continuous improvement. It pushed me to prove my value through performance, professionalism, and results.

Second, I came to realize that many of the skills my managers and mentors were providing—branding, networking, negotiations, and strategic planning—were capabilities I could develop myself. That shift toward self-reliance expanded my understanding of the business side of performance and empowered me to take ownership of my career trajectory.

Third, experiencing professional instability during the global pandemic challenged me to adapt quickly. Rather than allowing external circumstances to define my path, I used that period to reassess my goals, build independent relationships, and develop a more sustainable, self-directed foundation for my work.

Collectively, these experiences taught me discernment, resilience, and the importance of building aligned partnerships. They ultimately fueled my decision to create my own path, cultivate my own network, and build something that reflects both my artistic standards and my professional values.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I’m often asked — through referrals or even while I’m out in public — “How can I find you?”

After maintaining a website for over 15 years that never truly generated meaningful clientele, I made the intentional decision to shut it down. I returned to what has always worked best for me: authentic connection. Social media, direct phone conversations, and personal interactions while I’m out in the world sharing magic have been far more aligned with who I am and how I operate.

I’m also asked almost daily if I’m hiring or accepting new talent — and the answer is yes.

However, I am extremely selective about who I choose to work with. I am deeply mindful of the energy I allow into my space and into my company. I am not interested in manufacturing celebrities or feeding fame-driven ambitions. Unfortunately, many are chasing recognition rather than purpose — and I have developed a strong intuition for discerning the difference.

I work with individuals who are aligned with humanitarian efforts — artists who want to use their talents to uplift, to serve, and to give back. Performers who are fulfilled by sharing their gifts, not by chasing fame or fortune. Those are my people.

I didn’t start my company simply to pay bills or build a brand. I started it to share my Cirque talents while raising funds for charities and causes that are deeply connected to my heart. My mission has always been rooted in awareness — bringing light to humanitarian efforts and advocacy work that deserves a platform.

Collaboration is everything to me. I learned early in life that real success is built through teamwork, encouragement, and collective creation. In an industry that often revolves around “me, mine, and I,” I stand firmly in the belief that none of us rise alone. I would not be where I am today without the people who have supported, collaborated, and believed alongside me. The only way to continue expanding impact is through partnering with like-minded souls who share the same vision.

As the world continues to shift and reveal new realities, my commitment remains the same: to share light, love, and faith through my work. I believe deeply that each of us carries something divine within. When we come together to use our God-given talents in unity and service, that is when the true reward is felt — far beyond applause or recognition.

The best way to reach me directly is through Instagram @j7productions or on LinkedIn.

If you’re aligned with purpose over popularity and service over spotlight — I’d love to connect.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: J7 Productions
• Facebook: Ms J7 Cirque Entertainment
• Linkedin: Ms J7

Image Credits

Special Thanks & Credits

I extend my sincere appreciation to my circus students and their families, whose dedication and enthusiasm continue to inspire this work. Thank you as well to the talented J7 Performers, my exceptional makeup artists throughout the years, and my costume designer, Kathryn Elizabeth, along with my dedicated personal assistants.

I am deeply grateful to the photographers who have beautifully captured these moments: Pablo Mason, Jon Medel, Theresa Blackbird, Dean LeCrone, and Fritz Harmon.

Special thanks to the following venues and organizations for hosting and supporting our performances: Tiny Fest, Amnesty International San Diego Chapter, California Center for the Arts, Escondido, Senor Grubby’s, the Balboa Park Carousel, Comic Con and Spanish Landing Park, San Diego.

I would also like to acknowledge and thank Renee Seevers and my Tiny Fest family, as well as Dr. Peepers, Tarciana Bonomo, Adelaide Marcus, Christopher Banner, Terralynn Allen, Fuji Love, Quinten and Adrienne Fleming, Taylor Rydeen, and Shay Hebshi.

Finally, I offer my deepest gratitude to my soul sister, Tamie Schirlls, and her family. Her unwavering love, encouragement, and support in every aspect of my life have been a constant source of strength and guidance.