We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nicole De la Cruz a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Nicole, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Confidence and self-esteem are hard to tackle, even once you have established high respect for yourself. It is an ongoing battle. Why? Because you’re not the only person in the world. It’s human nature to compare ourselves, our looks, our skills, our societal status to others. It’s human nature to want what we can’t or don’t have. I always use the example of curly/wavy hair versus straight hair. A lot of curly and wavy hair women want to straighten their hair or wish for natural straight hair. Meanwhile, straight hair women buy curling irons to curl their hair, wishing they naturally had it. Now, obviously, this sentiment does not hold true for everyone, but based on the amount of conversations I have had with different women of different backgrounds over the years, a lot of women feel this way. And if it’s not the hair, it’s their eyes, their nose, something. We, as humans, will always find something not to like when compared to others.
So, to answer the question? How did I develop the confidence and self-esteem that I have today in terms of my looks, talent, etc? The simple answer is: I stopped caring. I stopped comparing. Everyone has things that make them different and that’s okay. I’m comfortable in myself, because I learned to love me for me and not for how close I am to the ideal women or the greatest singer in the world.
Sure, I’m not the only person in the world, but I can pretend I am. Focus on yourself and do what makes you feel good. Wear what you want to wear, go out and sing in the middle of times square even if you’ve never sang a day in your life because who cares? You are the main character. Embrace it. Embrace you.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a singer-songwriter, actress, filmmaker and TikTok Content Creator. At the heart of everything I do is storytelling. I am a writer whether it be a song, a film script, a novel or a 30 second TikTok sketch.
The thing that excites me the most about storytelling is putting the pieces of the puzzle together. The emotions, the characters, the bits and pieces that come together and connect so perfectly, creating a story that engages the listener and touches the heart. What is so special, is that moment when I tell a story and someone listening connects to it on a deep level. We share a sense of oneness with one another, that cannot be shared otherwise. Add the element of music and singing, and it takes the emotions and stories to another level. It not only touches the heart, but speaks to the soul.
On TikTok, I create short comedy and dramatic sketches about anything and everything, although I do try to stick to relatable topics. I started my TikTok February of 2021 as a way to increase my audience for my music and acting. Since then, I have garnered over 70 million views, 12 million likes, and 186 thousand followers on the platform.
As for music, I started singing when I was about seven years old and never stopped. Today, I have four released singles out on Spotify and other streaming platforms, with the Official Music Video for my single, Moonstruck (2021), having reached over half a million views on Youtube, produced by my film production company, Reign Productions in partnership with New Atlantis Media.
I’m currently working on my debut album set to release in 2024. The album will catalog the journey that I have undergone in the last year or so. There’s not much I can say about it yet, as things are still under wraps, but the 12 song album is set to release with a supporting U.S. tour, with its three leading singles to be translated into the Spanish language, to honor my Puerto Rican roots.
My production company and I are also working on our debut feature film, Lifeline.
Big things are comings! Lot’s of releases and announcements, so stay tuned!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Confidence is key. Fake it until you make it. It’s cliche, but it is absolutely true. Having the confidence in myself to keep going and move forward was very impactful on my journey and still is. Having confidence in yourself gets you through all the “nos” you will inevitably hear. Because there will be a lot of “nos” before there are “yeses.” Like I said earlier, the best way to start improving your confidence is to stop trying to be someone else, stop comparing. Be you and embrace it.
Make Yourself Known. Networking is super important in terms of getting to where you want to be. Big projects like this takes a team. You can’t do it all on your own: trust me, I’ve tried. Many times. Network with people in similar circles as you or even with a random stranger at a coffee shop. Strike up a conversation because you never know if that relationship could turn into a long-lasting partnership. Talk to anyone and everyone about what you do. If you’re not good at conversation, no worries. Start out small. Maybe instead of approaching a stranger at a coffee shop, make conversation with the barista. You’re already talking to them right? Extend the conversation. It’s as simple as “How’s your day going?” Little by little, grow these skills so that eventually you can go to networking events and converse easy. Talking about yourself is a whole other thing. Don’t worry about sounding like you’re bragging or full of yourself. Speak honestly, how you would with a friend, and I promise, you will not come off as sounding fake. It also takes confidence in yourself to speak about yourself, so once again, work on your confidence!
Be Open-Minded. Be open-minded to new ideas and collaboration. If things always have to be your way and your way exactly, that does not leave much room for growth. Don’t be afraid to fail. Trial and error is part of the process of anything that is ever to be successful. You can’t get everything right on the first try. With the way technology and social media is changing, be open-minded to new strategies. Don’t stay stuck in the old ways of anything, because the rest of the world will move on and leave you in the dust. Try new things! Experiment!
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
My mother. My mom is the one who really helped me build up my confidence, who encouraged me and gave me the advice to go out and network with others and build connections. She helped me become more open-minded in terms of collaboration because as a kid I definitely was stuck in the “I want to do everything exactly the way I picture” mentality. She helped me see the value in collaboration and taking advice and help from others. After all, two heads are better than one, no?
Contact Info:
- Website: nicoledelacruz.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/nicolemariedlc
- Facebook: facebook.com/nicolemariedlc
- Twitter: twitter.com/nicolemariedlc
- Youtube: youtube.com/nicoledelacruz
- Other: Stream my Music: nicoledelacruz.komi.io
Image Credits
Adam Sheridan-Taylor
