We were lucky to catch up with Krystal “Gypsy” Orellano recently and have shared our conversation below.
Krystal “Gypsy”, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I get my resilience from my constant yearning the need to better myself for my son. We all need a reason to keep fighting through the hidden darkness within all of us. He is mine. I have been a writer since the time I was young enough to understand the concept of written language. Writing is my purpose for breaking through the hardships of life and my son is my reason I keep moving.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am local author, writer, poet, model and teacher in the Tampa Bay area. I carry with me a passion for the pen. Writing is my first love, and this is what makes writing special. Currently a student in Saint Leo’s Doctorate program in Education leadership, I am a woman determined to make her mark on the world one picture and written word at a time. Growing up with an Afro-Latino mother from Puerto Rico and an absentee Caucasian father, I immediately felt different and out of place. Being biracial, Caribbean and Hispanic in the United States has come with many scars throughout the years. Insecurities of being different have plagued this little girl and transpired a woman of color to feel proud to express herself artistically. I want to create a platform for all women of color to follow. I write poetry and models to express the beauty in diversity and the importance in representation. In my childhood, there was a lack of black and Latin representations in the media. I believe it is up to this generation to show the next generation the importance of what it means to be the change in the world. In the words of Langston Hughes “I too am America.” The Krystal Orellano brand wants to be an inspiration and build a legacy for years to come. As an entrepreneur I am a spoken word artist and author of the books The Evolution of Poetry and Quench. The next few Projects are a poetry book called Through the looking glass of a biracial Afro-Latina; A memoir called The chronicles of a biracial girl and my first novel The Lover’s Passion Lounge. My work has been published in many fashion and poetry magazines across the world from the U.K. to China. I have recently participated in photoshoots with Victoria Hanely from America’s Top Model, Prolific Magazine, Miss Global Fashion Modeling agency, New York Fashion week, Amazing Magazine, Orlando Fashion Week, Poetry Is radio show, and many events in the Tampa community.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back, I think were the three qualities, skills and areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey are life experience, my education and having my son. I had to grow up early. I was own by 17 and had to learn how the world worked. Honestly, the world doesn’t care about your story. You have to make them care. I had too fight, figure out and make do with what I had sometime. It was lucky God blessed me late in life with Chrildren. I didn’t have the tools pr the maturity to raise children young. I enrolled myself in school at 26 and that was the best decision I have ever made for myself. College has taken me places and allowed me to network with some of the right people in my community. My advice I would give people along this journey don’t get distracted. Stay on you path. If you get thrown off or distracted, walk back on the path and keep trailing. It’s never too late.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always looking for partners to collaborate with. As an artist it’s always important to collaborate and network with other artists. I collaborate with anyone who is goal driven, passionate, and motivated to move up in life. Work never stops after the 9-5 is over.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Krystal Orellano
- Facebook: Krystal Gypsy Orellano
- Linkedin: Krystal Weldon Orellano
- Twitter: Krystal Gypsy Orellano
Image Credits
Leslie Madwell
