Meet Palina

We were lucky to catch up with Palina recently and have shared our conversation below.

Palina, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I believe that every time we come to this world for a new human experience, we bring a **bunch of new purposes** with us. When we start a new life path as children, we don’t remember anything from previous existences, so we are like a clean, white sheet of paper—with infinite chances to rediscover our souls by finding these purposes.

We learn things, make mistakes, fall and get up, take risks, meet people, love, suffer, and love again. Sometimes, it takes us our **whole life to find the purest and most important love—the love for our own self.** One of the ways to find this self-love is through self-realization by discovering and developing our talents. We possess natural curiosity and creativity when we are small, and if we grow up in a healthy, free environment, surrounded by love, empathy, trust, and respect, we **blossom fast** and see life through a positive prism of creative passion. No matter what we choose as a profession or vocation, we are destined to be free to invest our life, time, and energy into something we truly enjoy doing.

My personal path to finding my purposes was, and still is, a joyful one. I was told when I was a little girl that I was a **special gift** to my mother. Despite many physical challenges while I was under her heart, I had very low chances of survival due to her illness, the stressful environment of domestic violence, and instability. The day I chose to be born, my neck was wrapped in two rings of the umbilical cord, and my mother had to give birth to me three times. Despite all this, I was **meant to come into this world for a great life**, full of colors and bright experiences.

I grew up to be very decisive, brave, and artsy. My mother told me I held and tried to use colored pencils anywhere I could *before* I could walk. I was often grounded for destroying beautiful home wallpaper by trying to embellish it, scolded by teachers for doodling in my math or Russian workbooks, and of course, I would always try to add more illustrations to any reading book my mom would leave unsupervised. I wasn’t naturally good at drawing, but I wanted to learn; I didn’t have innate talent, but I worked hard to gain the skills. My family knew I would be an artist one day, and they just **let me be**.

I fell in love with my first profession as a **fashion designer** when I was about eight years old, watching Mexican soap operas in the early 90s. The entire glamorous world of it captured my mind, molded it, and gave me my first professional purpose: to be there, in the heart of the fashion world.

I didn’t have a plan, but I had a dream that gave me the determination and energy to pursue a fashion design career. I envisioned myself studying in Paris or Milan, working in famous, prestigious fashion houses. Without financial support—my mom worked as an accountant, and I had no help from my dad, who suffered from depression and alcoholism—I set a goal to get into **St. Martin’s College of Art in London**. It was unattainable in terms of tuition but was the best school in the world, the one that gave birth to the greatest iconic names in fashion history.

I wasn’t able to get a proper degree there, but I made it possible to study a course after I graduated with honors from Moscow’s College as a costume and fashion designer at the age of 20. I was initially rejected for visas to the UK, France, and Italy. Because I was young and unmarried, I was humiliated and labeled as one of the many desperate Russian girls searching for a way to leave unstable Russia in the late 90s and early 2000s.

I had a dream, and that was my **fuel of determination**. I learned English, French, and Italian. I tried to get out there as soon as possible, but it wasn’t time yet. So, I accepted an offer as a costume designer at Mosfilm, the biggest film production company in Russia. I completed two projects with passion and hard work, enjoying the process and the experience, but I was ready to try again.

My destiny led me to meet my first husband, a Mexican digital artist, in the USA in 2001, when I was an international student who went for the summer to work and improve my English. I fell in love with that handsome genius, but I never thought that short summer story would change my life; my priorities were focused on my career, and I didn’t allow myself to think about getting married before I turned 30. But God always has a plan for us, so I listened to my heart and let it happen. We were in a long-distance relationship for four years, and my feelings only grew stronger. When he came to Moscow and asked me to be his wife, I didn’t think twice.

In 2005, I traveled to Mexico, and six months later, we were already living an exciting, happy life in London. I had no working visa, but I was there—it was my chance, and I used it\! I worked as a server and paid for my **Art Marketing course at my dream school—St. Martin’s**. Through my human network and word of mouth, I found an internship with a London-based designer, and then I got a job at the prestigious Oxo Tower designer building at a Couture Wedding Salon. I was so satisfied; I felt accomplished and happy because I was serving my first life purpose—**self-realization through creativity**. I was only 23 and had checked everything off my bucket list.

Suddenly, I started falling emotionally into a hole—a **depression of unknowing** of my next moves. *What next?* I was empty. London turned into autumn, and my eyes turned from blue to gray, just like England’s sky in October.

Suddenly, a new spark of warm light lit up my heart while looking at the cutest baby on a mama’s lap on the bus. *The idea\!* I felt something new, a desire to have my own child. I still remember that inner smile on my face. I shared it with my husband; he was excited but worried about our legal status in England. We didn’t even try; it just happened. I found out I was pregnant the next month and was jumping over my head with happiness. I knew it would be a boy, and I would give him so much love, more than I could ever imagine having inside of me. I filled my heart and my life with a new purpose: **to create a new life**.

We moved to Puerto Vallarta, the paradise on earth, a traditional coastal town in Mexico. Since then, I’ve lived the colorful life of resort luxury anywhere I go. My son was born on 07/07/07 in room 107. He is my blessing, my motor, my love, and my hero.

For many years, my life spun around him, but it never stopped me from **self-realization as a creative mind**. I opened my first business, my atelier, when he was 14 months old, and I was already divorced. My marriage didn’t last, but we remained good friends and responsible, loving parents to our little son until he reached adulthood.

At the age of 30, with many awards, celebrity clients, incredibly interesting projects in both Mexico and the USA, costumes for theaters, opera singers, fashion weeks, and my own fashion brand, I reached the end of my passion for the fashion world. My mind stopped seeing any purpose in what I was doing for humanity. All I saw was hard work for my own ego and the momentary pleasure of my clients wearing my dresses. *What was I really doing for society? Nothing.*

I was about to discover my next purpose: **giving**. I left my profession—10 years of professional work and 20 years of passion—for a new project in my life. I decided I wanted to give back to the country that made me feel like home: **Mexico**.

I started as a voluntary cultural promoter in Cancun. Then, I studied Sustainability for Non-Profit Organizations, and within a year of searching, I was appointed as the General Coordinator of Patronage of Culture and Art in Cancun. I was in heaven with happiness, helping to develop art projects for the art community and bringing joy to Cancun’s people by promoting cultural events. I organized symphony concerts, exhibitions, and festivals. In eight years, I saw how my humbled efforts and work changed lives and entire communities. My heart was fulfilled with love and happiness from giving. That was my third purpose.
While I was aligned with my soul and heart, fulfilling this new purpose, I was finally ready to accept another beautiful gift from the universe—a true love. I met my soulmate, the other part of my heart and my life partner who shortly became my dear husband, Luis. We are happily married now for 10 years.

Then Covid happened. We moved to Florida, and my new life stage started: first adaptation, then routine, then a new crisis. I thought I needed another baby. I already had two wonderful boys, but I had this idea of becoming a mother again. I lost two pregnancies along the way; I was devastated physically and emotionally. I needed to heal myself and mediated every day.

In my meditations, I started to notice questions and self-judgment about one specific theme: *Why am I not satisfied with my own projects when they already work? What is my true purpose in life? Why do I always want something new?*

God did not make me wait for answers. I heard the voice very clearly, and I obeyed: **”Write it down.”** I heard, **”You have now discovered your first three purposes, and you are serving them.”**

1. **”Your first gift is Self-realization through creativity—that’s why your mind is in constant search of new.”** New projects are the vital vein in this existence, so I can’t breathe if I’m not creating something new, something exciting for me, where I have interest and meaning. When I finish working on the “new” and get into a trap of just operating in cycles, my soul loses interest and starts fading in colors of positive emotions. It sends me a sign to start a new search, new inspiration, and new ideas.
2. **”Your next purpose of this life is to learn from your children. Your older son Yan is your teacher. Everything that happens to him teaches you a life lesson; he is your guide to your better version as a human being. Even through pain and fear, you learn from him.”** I finally understood\! Yan nearly lost his life this year in a violent attack while defending a young lady. I saw him bleed from his lung, by his side in the intensive care unit at the hospital, and I finally realized that he is my greatest teacher in life. I should listen to him more and stop trying to teach or educate; he is 18 now and very wise.
3. **”Your third gift is positive communication to humanity; be very careful with what you say, because it has power.”** I realize that my interest and talent for learning languages is just a tool that serves this mission. I’ve realized that the more I dive into metaphysics and learn and apply positive thinking and speaking in my own life, the more I spread it around, and it causes positive effects on people. And that makes me very happy; it feels right and warm.

After I wrote down these three main purposes, I felt so much relief. I finally felt that I am in the right place, in the “right shoes.” It gave the answers to all my doubts about my life decisions. It all just feels right now. I stopped judging myself for always wanting new experiences and for not prioritizing material assets over creative self-realization through my projects.

I invest my time and money into things that truly mean progress for me and the community, such as founding the **Art\&Fab Lab in Cancun** for local children, organizing art exhibitions for my students in Naples, or simply learning new mediums and writing and illustrating my own children’s and art books. It all makes me feel growth as a human being. The progress and the knowledge that I am leaving something tangible behind make me happy, too.

This year, I won a new idea that I turned into a plan: **to travel around the globe with my family in two years**. Not only as tourists but as nomadic artists. My goal is to immerse myself in the culture of each country, absorb their art and customs, and transform it through my own creative filter into art experiences and art classes via my **Instagram account** ([https://www.instagram.com/art](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/art)\_voyage\_palina/) and **YouTube channel** ([https://www.youtube.com/@palinastudio2025](https://www.youtube.com/@palinastudio2025)) through two different projects: **Creative Odyssey** (for kids) and **Art Voyage** (for adults).

This inspiring plan has lit up my heart, and my wonderful husband is just as inspired as I am. Our nine-year-old son Lev, a passionate biologist, will have his own channel where he will share his international experience not only as a side traveler but as a future entomologist.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

🌎 Nomadic Artist: My Professional Focus

Today, my professional life at Palina Studio is the perfect blend of these three purposes. I am a multidisciplinary artist, author, and entrepreneur focused on experiential art education and creative philanthropy.

I produce art across various mediums (find my work on Instagram and Facebook at Palina Studio). My art and children’s books are available on my website: www.palinastudio.com, as well as on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/stores/Palina-P.-Chavez/author/B0B36Z987X?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=32d8fe9a-7162-4d5c-99c3-8a074a1811b1) and Barnes & Noble (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/palina%20p%20chavez).

Exciting New Development: The Global Adventure
My most ambitious project is my two-year plan to travel the globe as a Nomadic Artist with my family. This immersive journey is not just travel; it’s a professional endeavor to absorb global culture and transform it into educational content and art.

I am sharing this journey and leading two separate programs on my channels:

Creative Odyssey (for kids)

Art Voyage (for adults)

Follow this adventure on my dedicated Instagram account (https://www.instagram.com/art_voyage_palina/) and YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@palinastudio2025). This exciting plan keeps my mind in constant search of the ‘new’ and allows me to share positive inspiration with the world.

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

1. Positive Mindset
This has always been my top priority. Developing a resilient, positive mindset has served as my foundation, allowing me to transform challenges—from early physical struggles to career pivots—into fuel for growth.

2. Intentional Communication
I learned to rigorously filter my vocabulary, even in my self-talk. I make sure to always use good, constructive words. This practice isn’t just about external politeness; it makes everything I do meaningful and aligns my actions with a higher purpose. The words we choose are powerful creative tools.

3. Diversity of Art Skills and Global Knowledge
My journey required a commitment to constant learning and skill diversification, far beyond one discipline. This includes the dedication to mastering new artistic mediums and techniques, as well as critical professional skills like marketing (MKT), computer knowledge, and learning multiple languages. This blended toolset has enabled every career pivot, allowing me to communicate, create, and share my work globally.

Advice for Those Early in Their Journey
My advice for anyone early in their career or purpose-finding journey focuses on internal commitment, self-respect, and embracing change:

Commit to Your Passion as Your Sustainer
Love what you do even more than you love it now. Your passion is and will always be your therapy, your fuel, and your emotional, physical, and financial sustainability. Do not view your work merely as a job; view it as a critical component of your well-being.

Prioritize Self-Trust Above All
Be true to your purpose and do not betray yourself for anything in this world. You are the most valuable asset you have—your soul. Listening to that inner voice and honoring your own needs and desires is the most important decision you will ever make.

Embrace Constant Evolution
Do not be afraid to change. We are constantly evolving. If you are no longer happy in the place where you are—go and see the world! Time is the most precious thing we have. By just waiting for a better moment, we lose the most important one: today. Every day is a fresh opportunity to do better with your own life.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

The most important thing my mother did for me was to let me choose the life I wanted and the profession I loved. There was one particular instance that changed everything: as a 14-year-old girl struggling with very low self-esteem and self-confidence, my mother sent me to a modeling school for two months. This experience was transformative; it helped me emerge as a young lady from an “ugly duckling.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.palinastudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palinastudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100029115717286
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/palina-pantyushina-de-chavez-96956a27/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@palinastudio2025

Image Credits

Kateryna Pechorina