Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariana Ertmann
Hi Mariana, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I came to Houston a little over a year and a half ago. It wasn’t exactly my first choice—it wasn’t New York, London, Spain, or Mexico City. But life had other plans, and Houston ended up surprising me. I found a city full of opportunity, meaningful connections, amazing friends, and, most importantly, love—the kind of love that helps you grow into your best version with confidence and purpose.
My story starts in Colombia, where I earned a degree in design and discovered my passion for aesthetics. I’ve always been drawn to fashion and interiors, but my path wasn’t always clear. Like most of us at 17, I didn’t have the maturity to make such a huge decision about my career. I come from a pretty conservative family, which I’m sure many of you can relate to. They strongly encouraged me to study architecture, believing it would offer financial security. And honestly, as a creative person, I thought it made sense at the time. It felt like the closest thing to what I wanted, which was to create beautiful things and appreciate great design.
After two years, I realized architecture wasn’t making me happy. Without telling my family, I started taking business classes, thinking it was a more practical path that aligned with my family’s entrepreneurial background. But even that didn’t feel quite right. Eventually, I discovered the design faculty at my university, and everything clicked. After some difficult conversations, my family gave me their support to switch degrees, even though it meant starting over. With more experience and maturity at 21, I finally understood what would make me happy. My love for architecture evolved into a passion for interiors, and I took every chance I could to work on small projects with friends and family, exploring that passion and gaining practical experience.
After completing my program, I moved to Texas for an internship with an interior designer. It was a great opportunity that gave me hands-on experience with how the interior design industry works here in the U.S. When the internship ended, I knew Houston had a lot to offer, so I decided to stay, and just in time, I met my now-husband, which ultimately made Houston my home.
Not long after, I took a role as an Associate Designer at a local studio. This experience challenged me to step out of my comfort zone, manage large projects, and focus on all the little details. But eventually, my passion for content creation kept pulling me back.
The content I create is aligned with the biggest passions in my life: wellness, fashion, and interiors. Wellness, in particular, has been the most transformative one—it’s taught me how to love myself in order to love others and to be kind to my body, my mind, and those around me.
Leaving the 9-to-5 (which I realized is not for me) gave me the space and freedom to dive into content creation full-time. Since then, I’ve had the chance to work with amazing clients across different industries, consulting on brand content and marketing. Every collaboration has been incredibly rewarding, and I’ve been lucky to meet some wonderful people along the way.
I’ve also had the chance to partner with some amazing brands that have reached out and sent me pieces to create content with, confirming that I’m on the right path. It’s been exciting to see my audience grow slow but steadily, and I’ve managed to double my following since I started this journey. It’s been a winding road, but every step has shaped me into who I am today: doing what I love, surrounded by amazing people, and sharing life with someone who supports me. I’m excited to keep growing, creating, and seeing what new opportunities come my way.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Moving to a new city meant leaving behind my family, friends, and the comfort of home in Colombia. The transition wasn’t easy, as I faced moments of uncertainty while establishing myself professionally. I learned valuable lessons about life, resilience, and the importance of being discerning in my relationships and choices.
Despite these challenges, I’ve been incredibly lucky to have found love along the way. My partner has been a constant source of support, helping me grow and encouraging me to be my highest self. Life has rewarded me for embracing who I am, and I’ve come to realize that every struggle has shaped me into the person I am today. While the journey has had its ups and downs, I’m grateful for the experiences that have led me to this point.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a content creator, I enjoy sharing glimpses of my life, embodying a minimal, sophisticated, and timeless style. I really love everything wellness, and I strongly believe that it’s so important. If we take care of that aspect of our lives, everything else will come better and easier, and that is what I try to inspire in others. I also have fun sharing beautiful pieces I come across with, whether they’re fashion or interiors. I have always received comments from people saying they really like my style and what I share, so I try to bring them inspiration every chance I get.
For other brands or individuals, I offer a well-curated vision that creates a clear and cohesive identity, ensuring they connect with their audience on a deeper level. My background in design and passion for aesthetics enable me to bring a unique perspective to each project,
Recently, I had the pleasure of working with South to North here in Houston, where I directed their marketing efforts and social media. Which was so fun and amazing to do for a brand that is already beautiful and that is bringing such stunning vision to this city.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’m not naturally a risk-taker; I really appreciate stability and safety (I’m very Taurus, ha!). But life and my entrepreneurial spirit have nudged me to step outside my comfort zone. I try to be discerning about the risks I take and trust my intuition, which I’ve learned is one of my greatest strenghts.
Moving to this country was a risk for me, and leaving the stability of a 9-to-5 to focus on my own brand and passion was another leap. But looking back, these decisions were what brought me closer to my dreams and goals, and I’m excited to keep embracing more of those opportunities as they come my way!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: marianaertmann
