Today we’d like to introduce you to Cruz Rendon.
Cruz, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started modeling in high school while attending Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. I was behind the camera making short films in high school and eventually, I ended up in front of the camera. A Dallas-based photographer found me on Instagram and asked to do some test shoots for his portfolio. He talked of the underrepresentation of marginalized communities in the modeling industry and in media. I didn’t realize I had modeling potential until this conversation and subconsciously, I knew it was because I didn’t fit the typical beauty standards. I remember wanting to become an actor from a very young age but don’t remember watching anyone on TV that looked like me. I found a community while taking classes at The University of Texas at Austin through Spark Magazine. I began modeling for the fashion publication and then I was being booked in Austin, Dallas and New York City for commercial shoots, runway shows such as Austin Fashion Week and was published in several magazines. Visibility is now something that I keep in mind with any work I create. I’m a fashion writer, stylist, and casting director for fashion photography and I want to make sure that marginalized communities have a platform. Being Latino and queer means my work is personal and it deals with identity, sexuality and the intersection of it all.
Has it been a smooth road?
Like most creative fields, you have to overcome rejection and take criticism lightly. I struggled finding myself because I didn’t think I had what it took to model professionally. People told me I wasn’t tall enough, big enough, sexy enough, etc and that can take a toll on you mentally. Now I make sure to take simple steps daily toward loving myself. Self-care is a big deal in my world. Coming from a traditional Mexican, religious Catholic family meant I had to face criticism in my own home. I’ve lived my entire life in America and my parents haven’t. My lifestyle is culture shock to them and although they love & care for me, they haven’t fully been able to wrap their heads around it.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I consider myself a fashion guru. I am a part-time model and writer. I write for Orange Magazine’s style section. I also style and cast photoshoots around Texas. I recently launched my blog cruzrendon.com where all of it comes together. My main goal and purpose is to give others a platform. I want people of all identities and communities to have visibility, be listened to and celebrated.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Dallas is a huge creative hub for anyone interested in fashion or modeling. There are plenty of photographers, designers and stylists willing to help each other out in order to start building one another’s portfolios. The hardest part is gaining enough courage to start reaching out.
Contact Info:
- Website: cruzrendon.com
- Email: cruzirendon@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/cruzship
- Other: linkedin.com/in/cruzrendon
Image Credit:
Photographers: Gabe Arturo, Marcus Ibarra, Andrew Zhao, Alma Zamora, Casey Tang, Evan Ortiz
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