MEET DANIELA VILLEGAS HAYEK

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To know her is to love her. I met her years ago when I first moved to Los Angeles. She is the love of a friend, now his beautiful wife. Daniela is classically elegant, sophisticated and has a mind anyone at a dinner party would be feverishly fortunate to be planted next to.

She is graceful, insightful, and full of precious wisdom, gorgeously curious and has heart that beams like her smile. Her laugh is contagious and her love for her family makes you want to hop on a plane to Mexico and drink, laugh, eat and thank them for creating her into the lovely woman she has become.

Her art, her jewelry creations are magnificent. You can actually feel the love she made them with. The sister-in-law to the talented Salma Hayek, she has grown her art into a sought after accessory for red carpet events. She has, and I have no doubt will continue to warm hearts and continue to be a well-respected artisan among the finest. Besos sweet, D…You can find her exquisite creations at www.danielavillegas.com

We had been given a viciously hot day in Topanga to shoot on the mountain I knew I wanted to capture her on. We had a rock star team–the ever talented celebrity make-up guru Ermahn Ospina (www.ermahnospina.com) and equally acclaimed hair talent of Alan Martinez. We had a ridiculously fun time collaborating and I’m proud to say it shows…

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DLV :: DID YOU FIND YOUR CAREER OR DID IT FIND YOU? HOW? WHEN? WHERE? WHY?

DVH :: This career has embraced me all along.  It has found me even when I have had to put it aside for a while. I feel blessed with the opportunity to have my hobby, my passion, career and business be the same.

DLV :: WHERE WERE YOU RAISED? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT IT?

DVH :: I was born and raised in Mexico City.  All my family is there, I was raised with a strong connection to my roots and heritage, to love our culture, the colors, food and people. I had a really fun and nice childhood.I miss my family and some friends, but being honest Mexico is always in my heart and it is easy to travel to my hometown. L.A. is home for me now and I just love it, its a place that I feel safe and a city that has given me the opportunity to expand in so many levels, to focus on myself, in my family, my work,……  is “happyland” for me.

DLV :: NAME THREE PEOPLE YOU ADMIRE AND WHY.

DVH :: My dad (Rafael). He has taught me that life is joy, that we should laugh about ourselves. To not waste time storing material things, to use our energy and love to accumulate experiences that will make us better human beings. He still teaches me that life is a win/win situation no matter what, to enjoy everyday!

My great-grandmother (Ita). She was the woman that inspired me to become a jewelry designer, the chicest woman I’ve ever met. She was a strong, passionate, lovely, fun woman that touched the heart of every member of my family.

Brothers Grimm::Storytellers of classic fairytales. I admire them because they loved what they do, you can feel the passion for their work.  They have inspired in one way or another a collective consciousness.  Their stories makes us dream, to believe that nothing is impossible.   Their stories are a reminder for me to keep our heart like a kid, to enjoy simple things and have fun.

DLV :: IN THREE WORDS DESCRIBE LIFE.

DVH :: Beautiful, sharing, magic

DLV :: WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR?

DVH :: My greatest fear is not to have the courage to engage and explore new things or experiences I want to include in my life.  To lose the capacity to savor “life”.

DLV :: WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST LOVE?

DVH :: The light! From the sun that gives me love and energizes me everyday, to the light of the humans, animals and plants that my heart have connected with.  We all have a light that sparks within endlessly.

I believe that even if we die, that trace of light that we make in life will never disappear, is going to be there forever, hugging and shining permanently in the universe.

DLV :: IN AN IMAGINARY WORLD, JUST BY WALKING BY YOU, STRANGER’S COULD ACCESS ONE PIECE OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT YOU THAT YOU WANTED THEM TO KNOW MOST. WHAT IS IT?

DVH :: That life is a powerful and joyful journey.

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