I grew up in New York City, New Jersey and a lived in a few other states, and since I was very young, I’ve always been drawn to fashion and the arts. Art has always been how I expressed myself — through drawing, painting, and music. I took piano lessons as a child and thought for a while that I wanted to be an artist. It felt like the most honest way to translate my feelings. Over time, I started blending that artistic side with fashion. I realized that style could be a living, breathing form of art — a way of expressing identity, mood, and story.
I started modeling as a teen with brands like Bedhead and Manic Panic, but I’ve always been just as passionate about what happens behind the scenes. Even when I was younger, I’d spend hours styling looks, sketching out ideas, and shooting concepts with whatever camera I had access to. Being in front of the camera was exciting, but creating the full vision — from concept to composition — was what really lit me up.
Being a trans woman has added a powerful dimension to my creative process , not as the focus, but as part of the soul behind what I do. Expression and authenticity matter deeply to me, and that comes through in everything I create.
How would you describe your work as a Fashion Influencer and Digital Creator? What type of training did you get as you worked towards launching your own business?
I’d describe my work as a blend of storytelling, fashion direction, and creative visual branding. I don’t just wear the clothes, I build a world around them. I’m always thinking about mood, movement, and emotion. Whether it’s a campaign or a simple moment on the street, I want it to feel cinematic and layered.
How would you describe your work as a Fashion Influencer and Digital Creator? What type of training did you get as you worked towards launching your own business?
I’d describe my work as a blend of storytelling, fashion direction, and creative visual branding. I don’t just wear the clothes, I build a world around them. I’m always thinking about mood, movement, and emotion. Whether it’s a campaign or a simple moment on the street, I want it to feel cinematic and layered.
My formal background is in fashion and marketing, but my most valuable training has come from experience. After finishing school, I started working as a creative director and art director for a few small brands and fashion magazines. That gave me hands-on knowledge about concept development, branding, and visual storytelling.
Eventually, I used those experiences to launch my own platform. At the time, there wasn’t really a blueprint for what I was doing, so I just figured it out. I experimented a lot, tried different approaches, and slowly built a voice and presence that felt true to me.
What I love most is the creative freedom. I get to shape visual narratives that reflect not only my personal style but also my emotional world. Styling, directing, and creating full concepts — that’s the part that comes most naturally to me. It’s not just work; it’s how I express who I am.
I also lead a small, close-knit team. I have a photographic assistant who comes with me to shoots — I direct, style, scout, compose, and edit all of my own shoots, especially the campaign work I do with brands. I also have an assistant who helps manage my schedule, meetings, and logistics. We work in sync, and I feel grateful to have people who support the vision while keeping everything organized.
The most challenging part is staying emotionally available while constantly producing. There’s this unspoken expectation to always be on, especially in digital spaces. You’re not just a creator, you’re also a brand, and it can be a lot to hold. I’ve had to learn how to create boundaries and protect my energy, especially as someone whose work is rooted in vulnerability and expression.
I also lead a small, close-knit team. I have a photographic assistant who comes with me to shoots — I direct, style, scout, compose, and edit all of my own shoots, especially the campaign work I do with brands. I also have an assistant who helps manage my schedule, meetings, and logistics. We work in sync, and I feel grateful to have people who support the vision while keeping everything organized.
The most challenging part is staying emotionally available while constantly producing. There’s this unspoken expectation to always be on, especially in digital spaces. You’re not just a creator, you’re also a brand, and it can be a lot to hold. I’ve had to learn how to create boundaries and protect my energy, especially as someone whose work is rooted in vulnerability and expression.
It all starts with alignment. I ask myself: does this brand make sense with my voice, my message, and my audience? If something feels off or inauthentic, I won’t take it on. I value integrity over volume.
Once I say yes, I dive into creative direction. I think about the narrative I want to tell, how I’ll style it, where I’ll shoot, and how the brand’s identity can come to life in my world. Every project is treated like its own little art piece, even the smaller ones. I don’t just want to promote something; I want to create a moment.
I’ve found that building genuine relationships with brands leads to longer-term collaborations. And honestly, my community trusts me because I only work with people and products I actually believe in. That relationship is everything to me.
One night last VFW you came wearing a very special outfit created in collaboration with Old Fashion Standards that included a hat beautifully embroidered with the words TRANS RIGHTS. We’d love to hear the inspiration for this collaboration and how you worked together to create the look. Will this hat be for sale?
My boyfriend William and I wore pieces from her Spring/Summer 2025 collection that night, and it felt like such a proud, celebratory moment. The designer is currently open to custom orders for the TRANS RIGHTS hat, which I think is amazing. We haven’t officially discussed a wider release or new collaboration, but who knows what the future holds.
Is there any last thing you’d like to add? Something not shared above, an upcoming event, a favorite go-to quote, or even your thoughts on finding your own personal style?
I think style is deeply emotional, it’s how you show up in the world and reflect your inner truth. Fashion, for me, has always been about mood, intuition, and self-expression. It’s not about following trends. It’s about staying connected to who you are and allowing that to evolve.
There’s this quote from Alexander McQueen that always stayed with me, “Give me time and I’ll give you a revolution.” That’s how I feel about my path. Everything I’ve done, from modeling to creating to launching my own platform, took time, care, and vision. And I’m just getting started.
That moment was really close to my heart. It all started when I responded to one of the designer’s Instagram stories, and I said, “We should make a hat that says TRANS RIGHTS on it.” That idea came from me, and it felt important to use fashion as a form of visibility and power.
From there, it turned into this really organic collaboration. We started tossing around references and embroidery options, and within a few weeks, the hat was brought to life. The designer behind Old Fashion Standards is someone who really understands the soul of fashion. She’s deeply committed to craftsmanship and timeless aesthetics, so for her to take on such a bold message was really meaningful.
Your brand seems to be growing and expanding. What can you share about your goals for the future?
There’s a lot I want to do. I’d love to return to more behind-the-scenes creative work, directing, styling, concept development, especially for campaigns or runway collections. Being a creative or art director for a brand is definitely something I see on the horizon. I want to help shape the visual identity of fashion in ways that are bold, inclusive, and emotionally resonant. I’m also itching to make more video content, not just promotional things, but storytelling-driven pieces, maybe short films or editorial-style videos that go deeper into process and identity.
There’s a lot I want to do. I’d love to return to more behind-the-scenes creative work, directing, styling, concept development, especially for campaigns or runway collections. Being a creative or art director for a brand is definitely something I see on the horizon. I want to help shape the visual identity of fashion in ways that are bold, inclusive, and emotionally resonant. I’m also itching to make more video content, not just promotional things, but storytelling-driven pieces, maybe short films or editorial-style videos that go deeper into process and identity.
And I have a new era coming soon — you’ll definitely notice it through my hair. That’s usually how I mark change. I’ll be releasing a teaser soon, and I’m excited to step into something that feels like a next evolution of what I’ve been building.
Is there any last thing you’d like to add? Something not shared above, an upcoming event, a favorite go-to quote, or even your thoughts on finding your own personal style?
I think style is deeply emotional, it’s how you show up in the world and reflect your inner truth. Fashion, for me, has always been about mood, intuition, and self-expression. It’s not about following trends. It’s about staying connected to who you are and allowing that to evolve.
There’s this quote from Alexander McQueen that always stayed with me, “Give me time and I’ll give you a revolution.” That’s how I feel about my path. Everything I’ve done, from modeling to creating to launching my own platform, took time, care, and vision. And I’m just getting started.
Links -
- Website - www.willowdelrose.com/
- Instagram - @willowdelrose
- Threads - @willowdelrose
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