Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Flores.
Hi Nancy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up raised by a single parent in multiple households. Jumping from one house to another, I wasn’t given the opportunity to grow when it came to my creative side. I ended up living with my uncle for over 15 years and was limited to only one room.
You definitely cannot express yourself or figure out who you are when you’re in a cluttered space. Cluttered space meant a cluttered mindset. I could’ve moved out and started sooner. But for me renting an apartment just didn’t sound like my cup of tea. I wanted to eventually own.
Growing up was definitely not easy for me. I would constantly get bullied in middle school and high school. It was really hard for me to fit in. I also had an abusive ex that just made everything worse for me during high school.
Time past, and I reunited with one of my old middle school friends during my senior year. His name is Nacho. We met in middle school while we were playing Call of Duty Black Ops zombies back in the Playstation 3 days. Playing on the mic late night shooting zombies. I remember my 8th grade year came along and it was Valentine’s Day. Nacho randomly came up to me and gave me a stuffed Valentine’s Day Teddy bear. I remember blushing so hard when he gave me that teddy bear. After middle school ended, we unfortunately went to separate high schools after that. I was more busy once high school came along since I was in band so I didn’t get to play as much online as I wanted to. So we did loose touch. But I never got rid of that teddy bear. Once we reunited again, we hung out NON STOP DAILY. I would go to the gym with him daily just to have a little extra time to hang out. I would sneak out, he would pick me up. And when we weren’t together, we would be playing online of our Playstation 4. Our friendship turned to a relationship. He told me that he never stopped thinking about me. And how his love for me never faded. Now Nacho is now my fiancée as of April 13th on his birthday. I honestly couldn’t have been more thankful for him for helping me with my mental state. I’m extremely lucky to have him.
During Covid, I had a lot of time in my hands. I remember thinking I wanted to start creating with my hands. I started making jewelry, oddities and curiosities, rugs, home decor etc. I didn’t think it was going to last me long with my creations. I would randomly start getting commissions when I first started and I was doing little flea market events. I went years working for myself. And I still do! I still get commissions, I still do events selling my creations. It makes me happy knowing there is a lot of people out there that love my pieces that I make. I would stay up daily until 5 am just creating non stop. I try not to do that as much now but I definitely still have my moments when I stay up super late.
Now I partially work with one of my good friends Michelle and Edgar who now own K9-Cuts groom and boarding in Garland Tx. I honestly couldn’t have asked for anyone better to work for aside of working for myself. Both of them are extremely supportive with what I do and with choosing my path. If you’re looking for a place to board your fur babies or if you’re looking for a groomer, definitely check out my friends shop K-9 Cuts Groom & Board!
A little after Covid, Nacho and I decided to try a new sport. We are both very active when it comes to fitness. The gym can get boring sometimes so I suggest we try doing Pole fitness. As we were signing up, there was another class that was available that caught my attention BAD. That class being an aerial class. Specifically the giant metal hoop also called Lyra. We were so invested into this sport to the point we bought our own equipment and even made the jump in buying our 20ft aerial rig. We decided to set it up at his dad’s house. I would go back and fourth from my house to his house. Thankfully we lived down the block from one another so the walk wasn’t so crazy!
In 2023, Nacho and I decided to make a big leap. After living with my uncle for many years and him living with his dad, we had a good bit of cash saved up. We bought our very first little big house in May of 2023. I say “little big house” because it’s a cute 2 story house but still cozy! We both didn’t realize this was going to be a big step for us not just as home owner, but we started to grow and glow as a person. I started creating my art more since I now have my own office space and started to invest myself more and more into aerials now that I don’t have to go back and fourth. I occasionally get aerial gigs here and there. Specifically aerial chains as that is what I specialize in now.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Oh gosh, this question definitely hits a spot in my chest. The road was absolutely not smooth whatsoever. So many zigzags, turns, and u-turns. I was stuck in the same spot for longer than I wanted to. Figuratively, and physically. I didn’t have many friends either. For a large portion of my life, it was always me and my Soul dog Cujo that recently crossed the rainbow bridge. That silly boii has seen me go through some scary times. Lack of self love. Lots of self Hate, lots of self Doubt. I never believed in myself. I’m very thankful for Nacho that helped me push through some of the scary times in my mind.
The lack of interactions with people also made me very insecure that I’ll never make friends. Communication was something I lacked on in a cluttered environment. Over the years, communication has gotten easier for me. As of recently of 2023, I started to slowly let go of a lot of the self hate mindset. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still working on 100% loving myself but it’s definitely not where it used to be.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I do a little bit of everything. From my creative arts, performing, Go-Go dancing and working with dogs.
Something I’m most proud of is performing. Not everyone is able to get up and do something in front of a crowd. Let alone on the chains! I crave that adrenaline rush I get when I do perform despite how nervous I get before I go on!
Friday nights I spend my nights dancing the night away as a Go-Go dancer at a goth club called Panoptikon here in Dallas. The amount of supportive and lovely people I’ve met in the goth scene and in the circus scene is unreal. I don’t think I’ll be the person I am today if it wasn’t for these two worlds that I’ve came across.
I’m known on stage as Lilith De’Vil.
I had a cat named Lilith my freshman year and ever since instagram became a thing my user has always had the name Lilith.
Overall I’m proud of everything. Finding a balance between my art, performing, working with dogs, It can be a lot but it’s definitely something im enjoying. Choosing my own path and not following the traditional “go to college and work a 9-5”
What sets me apart from others…?
I would say is that I’m doing everything for fun. It’s an experience for me. Something I’ve envisioned myself doing. Being on stage. Ever since I was a kid, I enjoyed being on stage. I think one of the best moments on stage was when I was in 5th grade for a Cinco De Mayo play and I got to dance in one of the big traditional Mexican Dance dresses! I remember feeling so pretty with that blue dress representing my culture. I also did a lot of musical plays. I also had a huge passion for music. I decided to try out band in 6th grade and ended up playing the clarinet. Eventually I moved up and tried bass clarinet which I stuck with the majority of my band journey. Concert band in high school came along and I got to play the contra bass clarinet! I felt sooo cool playing the biggest woodwind instrument we had in my school! Getting involved was something I enjoyed.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
The biggest risk I’ve ever had to do is not working a standard 9-5 job for a steady income anymore. Im following my passion doing what I enjoy doing.
I honestly didn’t think about it as a risk until this question. I dont necessarily see myself as a risk taker, I’m just focusing on my mental health and wellbeing.
Pricing:
- My pricing for aerial arts is very flexible! I’m always willing to work with people budgets.
- As for my creations, my prices range from as long as $3 to almost $100. The biggest item and most expensive item sold was a Notorious B.I.G. and a Michael Myers rug.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @LilithxxDevil https://www.instagram.com/lilithxxdevil and @JorogumoMystiques https://www.instagram.com/jorogumomystiques
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/184YHrWYQB/
Image Credits
@wolfeyevisual
@Scott.Fischer.Photography
@Beagle One Photography
