Today we’d like to introduce you to Alayah Nicole Cortez.
Hi Alayah Nicole , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story really started in Milwaukee, where I was born and raised. Eventually, my mom made the decision for us to relocate to Houston because I was going through a lot mentally and emotionally, and we both felt like I needed a fresh start and a different environment.
At first, I thought moving would automatically make everything better, but I quickly learned that a new city doesn’t mean your struggles just disappear. I still had to navigate my mental health, hospital stays, treatment programs, school, friendships, and just figuring out who I was while being in a completely new place.
For a while, it was really hard. But little by little, things started clicking for me. I started understanding myself more, finding things that made me happy again, building new friendships and becoming more comfortable sharing different parts of who I am through beauty, fashion, lifestyle and content creation.
One of the biggest things I realized through everything I experienced was that I wasn’t the only girl going through things behind the scenes. There are so many teenagers who can look happy online or seem like they have everything together and still be dealing with things people don’t know about.
That realization made me want to use my platform for more than just posting content. I want to help create spaces where girls can come together, have fun, feel safe, be encouraged and motivated, and be around other people who understand them. I want those spaces to include the things I genuinely love beauty, fashion, fragrance, music, creating content and just being a girl but also give us opportunities to pour into each other.
That is really how I got to where I am today. I’m still growing, still learning and still navigating my own challenges. I don’t have everything figured out, and I think that’s part of my story too. I’m learning that I can be working on myself while still using what I’ve been through to encourage someone else.
Houston gave me the opportunity for a fresh start, but more importantly, it gave me room to start discovering who Alayah Nicole really is and what I want to represent.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Moving to Houston gave me a fresh start, but it didn’t automatically fix everything I was dealing with internally.
I’ve had to navigate my mental health, hospital stays, treatment programs, changing schools, friendships, family changes, and the pressure of being a teenager. People think kids don’t have pressures or feel stress but we do. A lot of the times we feel misunderstood, overwhelmed, or like we need to figure everything out all at once. Or maybe like they don’t have to figure it out at all and just forget about everything.
You can have really good days and really bad days. I had to learn that asking for help doesn’t make you weak, and that saying I don’t care or it doesn’t matter makes things better.
I had to learn that everyone is not your friend, not everyone will like you. And not everyone will have the same intentions especially with social media around.
People see the fun videos, outfits, events and opportunities, but they don’t always see what is happening behind the scenes or on the inside. I’ve had to learn how to separate what people say or think about me from who I know I am. Because people will always have something to say.
I’m still growing through a lot of these things, but I think my struggles have also helped shape the kind of person I want to become. They’ve made me more aware of what other girls and teens may be going through and are a big reason why I want to create spaces where everyone can feel supported, encouraged and comfortable being themselves.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am Alayah Nicole Cortez, and I specialize in just being me.
Me looks like beauty, fashion, fragrance, content creation, girlhood, creativity, and creating moments that people can actually remember.
I’ve never liked being put in a box, so I never want to make other people feel like they have to fit into one either. I think a lot of people, especially teenagers, start to feel alone or like something is wrong with them when they don’t see themselves represented or can’t relate to what everyone else seems to be doing. That can really affect how you see yourself and your mental health. Which is why so many people struggle with mental health because they try to fit inside a box for someone else.
I want people to know that you can be different things at the same time. You can love beauty and fashion and still have hard days. You can be confident and still be figuring yourself out. You can be social and still sometimes feel alone. None of those things cancel each other out.
That’s exactly why we created ANC Experience to curate events and experiences that make people feel good, bring people together, and leave them with memories that last long after the moment is over. We want every experience to feel intentional, exciting, welcoming, and personal.
For me, it’s bigger than just creating a beautiful event. I want people to walk into an ANC Experience event and feel like there is space for them to be exactly who they are.
That’s what I’m most proud of.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I would say empathy and authenticity have been the most important qualities in my journey.
I’ve always cared about making people feel included, seen, and like there is a space for them. I try to put myself in other people’s shoes because you never really know what someone is going through behind the scenes. Sometimes just knowing that someone understands you can make a huge difference.
Authenticity is just as important to me. I’ve learned that there is power in sharing my testimony. People need to know who you are, what you’ve gone through, and what you stand for.
I don’t want people to think they have to put on a front or be something they are not when they interact with me. I want them to be and come exactly how they are and I feel telling my truth will help people do that.
We all are human.
Pricing:
- Our events are currently free. We collaborate and work with other business and host the events.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alayahhh.nicole_ and https://www.instagram.com/theancexperience
