Interview: Arielle Estoria
“I am such a big fan of telling our individual stories because they’re all so different and all so necessary and no one, no one can tell your story like you can!”
Can you start by telling the readers a little about yourself? (Family, career, etc.)
Born and raised in foggy Northern California, I am a Writer Speaker and Creative (which entails a web of other roles as well). I enjoy creating a space where people feel okay with feeling, the heartbeat behind my work is a diligent pursuit of instilling and reminding people of their worth through words. I have co-published two books of poetry: Vagabonds and Zealots (2014) and Write Bloody Spill Pretty (2017), which can both, be found on Amazon.com! And in 2016, released her EP of poetry and music titled Symphony of a Lioness. Currently, I have the opportunity to live life as a creative with my hands in various places that all make me giddy to some extent.
You are making a name for yourself as a speaker and a writer. Can you talk a little bit about how you got started?
Oh goodness, well I’ve always been tied to the arts in someway. I’ve always loved writing, I had so many journals growing up and I always filled them with stories and poems instead of doodles. I graduated from an Arts High School and pursued theater in that period of my life and somehow always gravitated towards a stage. I then got to college and poetry came back into the picture and not just to stay in my journals but to say out loud! I competed on a competitive poetry team for two years and became president of my poetry club on campus. Then I started sharing at school and being recorded in videos and then people started asking me to come and share and it became this ripple effect that just kept going. It was very much so this moment where I realized: 1. It was bigger than me 2. It wasn’t about me and that was the best discovery honestly.
A lot of your written work is really personal, body and self positive, what inspires you?Vulnerability, can that be an inspiration? I’ve always wrestled with being too much of a feeler, exposing too much of myself and then I realized we aren’t given enough spaces where we feel comfortable to do that or be that. So I wanted to create a space, give opportunity where it’s kind of like “hey I’ll go first. And then your turn.” I am also surrounded by a lot of amazing people and we have these conversations that definitely stem what I post or write about.
What is something you've learned from doing your work?
Wow. I learn something daily….about how beautiful life is, how good God is, how small I am and how worthy people are.
We are never really done growing up. What do you hope to do in the future?
So much more of this!! I tell people all the time—I just want to create in any and every capacity. In the future it would be awesome to land some neat acting opportunities, travel more and keep living my best possible life!
“You’re beautiful. You are worthy. You are so much more than this world will tell you that you are, you don’t need to be fixed—you deserve to be loved. Ignore the voices of comparison and everyday that will be a challenge but know that the kind of glitter you have doesn’t glisten like everyone else’s!”
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
Coffee—but really.
And the people I’ll see that day!
Do you have advice for girls growing up today?
You’re beautiful. You are worthy. You are so much more than this world will tell you that you are, you don’t need to be fixed—you deserve to be loved. Ignore the voices of comparison and everyday that will be a challenge but know that the kind of glitter you have doesn’t glisten like everyone else’s!!
Do you have any female figures that you look up to? (real or fiction)
Totally. My mom for one, because well she’s my mom and she’s amazing, Kerry Washington, Viola Davis, Adele, I haven’t seen Wonder Woman (yet) but I’m just gonna add her to the list, pretty much every woman I’ve ever encountered.
Why do you think it is important to tell our stories?
Wow...I am such a big fan of telling our individual stories because they’re all so different and all so necessary and no one, no one can tell your story like you can!
What is something in life that you are most proud of?
So many things! I moved away from home, graduated college, wrote two books, have freelanced for three years now—I wake up everyday. Oh goodness we have so much to be proud of!
A few favorites:
Book: “If you find this letter” by Hannah Brencher, READ IT.
Band/Song/Music Genre: Oh goodness, too many. Current favorite song? UH-HUH by Julia Michaels, for more favorite follow me on Instagram and every Friday I do a little dance party!
Quote: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.” - Marianne Williamson
