I am Jiovani Cervantes: Creative Director, Stylist, Writer, and Mentor.

My name is Jiovani Cervantes.

For the last 9 years I have been forging a unique path through the creative landscape, seamlessly blending music, poetry, fashion, creative direction, and mentorship. Emerging from the vibrant creative arts and music scene of Downtown Olympia, I like to think that my evolution reflects a deep commitment to authentic expression and community engagement.

At the early age of 7 years old I knew already what it was I wanted to be when I grew up. A creative, an artist, someone that created and shared art as a means of making a living. All while positively inspiring, influencing, and impacting others along the way. How I figured all of that out at 7 years old? It was a combination of the music I had access to, the internet, and what was going on in my own household.

My older brother used to play a lot of Tupac Shakur, and my mother was a huge fan of Prince. Two prolific musicians who stood for more than just the music. When my mother finally got the chance to put a computer in our living room, I spent most of the time listening to their work and watching their interviews on YouTube, resonating with almost every single thing that they had said and advocated for. I felt inspired enough to begin writing my own lyrics talking about the way I felt and what was going on in my not so peaceful household, using it as an outlet to simply escape the madness. 

Fast forward to sophomore year of high school, still having been writing lyrics and poetry at this point, while also putting together outfits for my friends to wear to school, one of my best friends had given me access to a recording software called Mixcraft 7. This changed everything, because now I could finally record all of the music and poems I had been writing after all of these years. I did as much as I could to make enough money to buy a computer set up, an audio box, microphone, soundproof shield, everything I needed. Once I had finally done so, the trajectory of my life changed forever. The music and poetry I had shared opened the doors for me to play in cities like Bellevue, Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, and even landed a recording deal with an independent record label called Turnstyles Entertainment. I was 16 at this time.

Something that also changed the course of my life was a presentation by representatives from FIDM Los Angeles during math class my junior year of high school. Aside from the music, I was always interested in fashion. Around this time, I had already been curating closets and outfits for my friends, and what these representatives had confirmed for me in this presentation was that what I was doing for my friends was already a career field called "personal styling." It was at this moment where I was absolutely convinced that it was possible for me to have a creative career. I kept this in mind moving forward.

(Playing at the Olympia Lake Fair with Dj Aikibo in 2018)

In the midst of what felt like my dreams coming true, I recognized how important it was to give back as much as I was gaining in my career. That's biblical. So, I made sure to spend a lot of my time organizing humanitarian initiatives where me and a team of volunteers would gather canned food items, toiletries, and clothing to give out to the homeless in Downtown Olympia. I also spent a lot of time working with at risk youth teaching them how to use music as a tool to deal with life's challenges and adversities, exactly what it was for me growing up. For all of this community service I was eventually awarded a multi-cultural leadership award by the North Thurston Public Schools district office and had my name put on a plaque in the city of Lacey.

(Accepting the Bonnie Evans Multi-Cultural Leadership Award by the NTPS district office in 2018)

For a year and a half, I attended Eastern Washington University studying Immigration Law on a full-ride scholarship. During this time, I participated in their first ever talent show where the winner had a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card. I became the first student in EWU history to win not one, but two talent shows back-to-back by performing my own original music. To my knowledge, they've never had another talent show after that. What a confirmation to stay on the creative path, right? Not only was I studying and making music, by this time I knew how to put together outfits for people using what they currently had in their closets and how to shop with them at their favorite stores. Battling the idea of staying in school or dropping out and going all in on my creative abilities, I dropped out in the middle of my sophomore year at EWU. After 4 weeks had passed, I received a phone call from my best friends who had established a company out in Los Angeles and offered me an opportunity to move there and become a creative full-time. After 1 week I had packed a suitcase full of clothes and was on a flight to Los Angeles with $600 to my name. I was 19 at the time.

Transitioning from music to fashion in 2019, with so much opportunity in the big city it didn't take long for me to find work as a stylist in Los Angeles. Thankfully, I got connected with the right people at the right time and I ended up working with companies like KARL KANI, Wealth Nation, Artist Rewards, NOTMRW Media, and Milk Room immediately styling various celebrities, musicians, and social media influencers. From there, the rest is history.

(My first styling gig in Los Angeles, assist styling a Fall/Winter lookbook for the iconic fashion brand KARL KANI in 2020)

These days, I work on producing my own photoshoots for publication, creative directing fashion projects and runways, develop start-up brands in the e-commerce space, and mentoring aspiring stylists who aim to make their mark in the fashion industry. Now, I'm focused on obtaining my credentials to become a creative arts teacher in Seattle and Los Angeles, working with youth and showing them how to hone-in on their crafts and express themselves through various creative mediums. 

As I get older, I'm 25 currently, I've realized what my true purpose is; leading a life that is creative, impactful, and self-sufficient, all while hopefully inspiring others to do the same and showing them how. Most of my dreams have already come true and I'd like for that to be the case for the next aspiring creative or artist that I meet and however I can contribute to their journey I will happily do so. 

Along with finding a new purpose, my dreams and goals have changed significantly as well. If you would've asked me what they were 5 years ago, I would've said something like "my dream is to be a renowned musician or stylist, and my goals are to build multiple streams of income and getting a loft in Los Angeles all by the age of 30."

Now, if you were to ask me what they are I would tell you that "my goal is to become a financially liberated creative who empowers other artists, my friends, my family, as well as those in need. My dream is to be the best person, friend, family member, husband, and father that I can be to those who truly love and support me."

(Styling Carli Meacham in TEODORE MATA for a shot that would end up on their e-commerce website in 2022)

I credit God for this amazing life that I have lived so far. I've been able to do all that I had dreamed of as a youth early on because of his grace, and I'm excited to see where he takes me as I embark on this new journey of becoming a creative arts teacher. My message to those who aim to turn dreams into realities is this:

You weren't given a vision by accident. If it keeps you up at night, if it burns in your chest, then it is yours to pursue. This path isn't easy; creativity rarely follows a straight line. It loops, it stalls, it tests your resilience. But, if you can commit to the process of constantly evolving, learning, and trusting your intuition, you'll find that the dream you're chasing starts to take shape in ways you've never imagined. Build with intention, connect with community, and remember that the finish line isn't the product or a paycheck-it's the impact you make and the lives you touch along the way. Stay rooted. Stay visionary. And whatever you do, just create. 

- Jiovani Cervantes

Website: Jiovani Cervantes
Instagram: Jiovani (@jiovanicervantes) • Instagram photos and videos
LinkedIn: Jiovani Cervantes | LinkedIn