Meet Espr | Multi talented content creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Espr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Espr, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’ve always been very creative. I come from a family of artists, so art & creativity has always been a part of my life. My big brother, Junior, would draw comic books when we were younger. It was something I loved about my brother. My mom has always been a creative person, I grew up watching her remodel our homes. She can always turn something ugly, into something beautiful. My Grandma Carmen, would make piñatas, crochet clothes and hats, sew dresses, and create decorations for parties. My little brother, Louis, would make graffiti art, draw and create projects. Back in 2010 he made a Deadmau5 head. It was incredible, it came out amazing. He was also into photography. He was taking a photography class in high school and he would practice everything he was learning. Our mom bought him a Canon T3 and the pictures he shot, are absolutely stunning. I love creative people and i love being one too. I love how my mind works. For example, when I create my rave bras, I decide what the theme is, and my mind starts automatically filling with ideas. All of my ideas come together, like a puzzle does, and I physically create what was in my mind.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I can’t place myself in just one category because I create all types of content.
I post on YouTube, tiktok and Instagram. I create content like skincare, makeup, hair, exercise, rave bras, DIY, remodeling, dancing, storytimes, try on hauls, photography and much more. When I first started my Youtube Channel, I would upload storytimes and Makeup tutorials. I fell in love with the process of filming, editing and uploading. I changed my Instagram account to “public” and began expressing myself through my pictures. I would create pictures of my brothers, with me. My favorite picture editing app is PicsArt. One of my favorite pictures i took and photoshopped is a picture of my brother and I. Itook a picture of myself, looking up a heart shaped collage, full of pictures of my little brother, his ashes placed in front of me. In my hand dangling, my music note necklace, that has some of his ashes in it. I photoshopped a picture that I took, of my brother, reaching down to hold Gianni’s hand. I added my brother to my picture, and changed the opacity of him, to make him look like he was reaching down, to grab my necklace. I wanted to show how I feel that though my brother is physically gone, he is still around, guiding me. I got into photography because of him. I had always wanted to be a model since I was a kid but was rejected because i wasnt the height “a model should be”. Once i learned the basics to photography, i started taking my own pictures. I go all out with the set up and the angels. I take all of my pictures and edit them, myself. The birthday photoshoot i created this year, was by far, my best yet. Im really proud of how skilled ive gotten with that. Im working towards having the confidence to model for actual photographers. Im still really shy about it. The career I’m working to attain, is one where I can freely be creative and financially take care of my family and my 40ish stray cats. My stray cats mean everything to me, theyre my family too. I have doubted myself, a lot, through my years and creating content, online. But Espr is confident and has big dreams, so I have to keep going, because the sky really is the limit. I was diagnosed with bipolar type 2 last year. I had seen a video on tiktok of a girl saying that the antidepressants the doctors would prescribe to her, were setting off hyper manic episodes, because she had undiagnosed bipolar disorder. I was diagnosed with severe depression and PTSD after my little brother passed. I had tried many different antidepressants and they would set off my anxiety, I couldn’t eat, i would be very shakey or I couldn’t sleep for days. When I would tell my doctor (at the time) that I was feeling all of these effects after the first few doses, he told me that there was no way i was actually feeling any of that because the medication takes 6 weeks to make any changes. When I brought up that tiktok video to my therapist, Amara, she scheduled me with a pyschiatrist. Turns out the antidepressants were setting off hyper manic episodes. I’ve been on lamictal for a year now and started antidepressants a few months ago. The lamictal stabilizes my mood, so the antidepressants don’t set off my hyper manic episodes, like before. I struggle a lot with my mental health but I’m working really hard to manage it as best as I can, so i can achieve my goals. I have my therapy appointments every week, with my Therapist, Julia. She truly helps me and never let’s me forget what an amazing person I am. Whenever I have a tangled up mess of emotions, worries, or anger, she will help me untangle it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would definitely take them to my favorite movie theater, century 16, in aurora. The prices work perfectly for someone who loves going to the movies. I’m a “platinum” club member because of how much I go. Lol I would take them to my favorite places to eat, like Kokoro, Camaron Loco and anywhere they make spicy food. I really enjoy dancing, so i would definitely take them to a club or a rave. I would also take them to see my stray babies. It’s always a boost of serotonin to see them. They always run out to their food bowls when I go feed them. Its so precious!!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mom is one of my biggest supporters. She’s always allowed me to be me. My mom bought me my first high end eyeshadow pallete. She loves all of my content. My dad, who built me my first makeup mirror when I decided i wanted to create makeup content. My 2 boys, who support and encourage me. My son Gianni, has always gone to the beat of his own drum. Gianni is who encouraged me to embrace my unique self, exactly how he does. My son Adi, always builds me up and doesn’t let me doubt myself. He makes sure to tell me how beautiful my makeup is, every single time. My brother Junior was an artist, he expressed himself through his drawings. I express myself through my different types of content. My stray cats really motivate me to pursue my dreams and change the lives of those i love, which includes them. Im currently feeding around 40. Im working hard to achieve my career and give my strays the life they deserve. I plan to build my dream house and set up a beautiful, big space in my backyard, for all of my stray cats. We’re a forever thing. Lastly, my little brother, Louis. He had so many artistic talents. He was one of my biggest supporters. He would be so proud of the rave bras I’m able to create now, I wish he could see how good I am at it now. Espr, was my brother’s artist nickname, that’s where the name comes from. Espr is my brother and I, together. Its like when I got my driving license and I was scared to drive on the highway, because I was scared to switch lanes. Lol. I would say that he & i made ONE good driver. I would drive and he would tell me when I was clear to switch lanes. I used to tell my brother, “you are going to be someone big Louis. I know you will” and I would imagine all the things he would accomplish, being the creative artist he was. Now, it’s up to me, to make Espr, a known name and be known as a multi talented creator. If I make it big, Louis made it big, and that’s one of my main goals. After my brother died, my therapist once told me, “you were one person when your brother was alive and now, you have to figure out who you are, with your brother gone”. It took me years, but I know who I am now, I’m Espr. Im creative, determined, unique and I express myself in so many different ways.

Instagram: @espr5280

Youtube: Espr 5280

Other: Tik tok @espr.5280