Meet #MBLMuseyClient Fashion Stylist Keyla Marquez

Meet sought-after LA based wardrobe stylist Keyla Marquez. We have known each other since we were wee little 20 year old babies working at American Apparel many ions ago. We realigned some time last year when Keyla decided to take her Mobetta Beauty seriously. Since we have all been in lockdown since mid-March, my dear amiga Keyla has launched her newest baby called White T-Shirt project to help those deeply affected by Covid-19.

Mo: Keyla, welcome! Tell us a little bit about your fabulous background as a stylist and how you got into it.

Keyla: Well it started off as a favor for two of my friends who were getting their fashion photography careers started (Paley Fairman and David Cortez) and I started testing with them as a means to grow their portfolio. Within the first shoot I knew it was something I really enjoyed doing and I was actually really good at it, so before assisting anyone, I would test almost every weekend and if it wasn't for that I would probably still be assisting lol. I assisted for a year (I was the best assistant by the way) and Ive been on my won now for 3-4 years.

M: What were some of your challenges dealing with Covid-19 and how did it inspire you to propel your project?

K: At first I was just worried about people around me getting sick, thankfully my immediate family and community of friends is safe and that makes me happy. After a month of reading books, listening to albums, watching incredible cinema and sleeping in I had my staycation fix and knew that this has no end date so I had to get to work. Being the empathetic Virgo that I am I knew I had to do something, a lot of immigrant families and individuals will not be getting the stimulus check, or any financial help from the government so I launched this project to help those in dire need from this Covid-19 pandemic.

M: What is the concept behind it, who are the designers you’re collaborating with, and how is it providing relief at this time?

K: I was thinking about my own childhood and how this is not the first time I've been in quarantine and the idea sprouted from a wild event in El Salvador which is were I was born and lived until I was five years old. Long story short there was a civil war and at the end we came out with white flags, towels and t shirts as a sign of peace and surrender and I was like what if I ask everyone I know to reinterpret the white tee into art and fashion and sell the pieces and all the money goes into helping all these people? I reached out to sooo many people and half of everyone responded and now we have 40 artist on the bill and I couldn't be more excited! Auction starts next week May 14th! The list of designers is huge, you can find it here. I think its providing the participants and myself a chance to give back to our communities and at the same time create something beautiful for a worthy cause, its providing us all to create love and magic because we are in some pretty dark times right now and we need to shine as much light as possible. It's up to us to spread love because white trump America is doing the opposite and we cant let them win or continue to kill POC for o damm reason.

M: How have you been improvising with your work since you work so hands on, like me?

K: I actually have my first virtual campaign that I'm styling this week, its been challenging finding websites to buy from, but you face these challenges in real life too. I am shipping the looks to the talent, then having a fitting with each via face time and then our incredible photographer is shooting it via face time. Its so wild to me that we are doing this but campaigns must go on, people are still buying things and I am actually really excited about it. I have a good feeling we are going to make a beautiful campaign and I get to work with my favorite client and get paid, so in the end we all win.❤️

M: Do you have any advise on how to handle your sanity In quarantine that’s been particularly helpful? (I.e. baking, gift exchanges, etc.)

K: I started doing the 21 Abundance Meditation by Deepak Chopra, my friend is leading it and invited me to her group, (I heard theres a bunch going around) and its been so great to have these daily spiritual mediations and tasks to do. Really forces you to look beyond your immediate needs and search deep into your spiritual and emotional self to ask the real questions that make us enlightened individuals <3 I also learned to bake and its so fun to see all the delicious things you can make, I try to balance it by doing Madfit videos because although they are 20 HIIT they will make you sweat so it doesn't feel that bad when eating these yummy desserts.

M: What’s your favorite service at Mobetta Beauty and why?

K: ALL SHEBANG facials, because MO goes inn!!! I feel so relaxed everytime I go, I miss getting facials so much, its honestly my biggest heart break, my skin is so sad right now, I try and do weekly steams but nothing will ever replace the love, and healing care that mo gives you. I miss you so much girl!!! But honestly, everything she does is heavenly, my eyebrows have never looked as good as when Mo does them and same with my eyelashes.❤️