On the right track. Full speed ahead. Think of any analogy for ambition you can fathom, and that's Gianna Lynn DeMercado. With smut like The Jersey Shore distorting today's female image, it was refreshing to shoot Gianna. Her energy raced along the tracks of the set; she was just enchanting. At 25, she runs
Heartbeats Unlimited, her non-for profit, and just collaboratively launched
A Girl's Best Friend, an online collective of several artistic and determined ladies. Ode was lucky enough to have Make-up Artist Jen Shaver of
Kabuki Kosmetics &
Demented Dames Boutique, also of A Girl's Best Friend, doll up Gianna Lynn for the Shoot.
Gianna, tell us what we need to know about you...
GLD: Well the most essential thing to know about me is that while I'm adaptable, I don't fit into a mold or conform to preconceived notions. By day, I am a career-driven professional, by night I indulge in my more creative side. I have strong values, but I'm not without a few vices. I'm a lover, not a fighter... but I will fight for what I love. I am my own biggest critic; I'm a perfectionist and an overachiever. I'm a firm believer in the idea that nothing worth having comes easily.
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Dress: Vintage Floral
Shoes: Bally
Hat: Blanc Couture |
ODE: What do you draw on for motivation?
GLD: Sounds cliche, but I think that my biggest source of motivation lies in the idea that anything is possible. I truly believe that open-mindedness, and the ability to define your destiny, are key to self-discovery. In another aspect, the majority of what drives me comes from the struggles and changes I've experienced. Some simply growing pains, and others more serious in nature. Nevertheless, I think these low points act as an extreme motivator for me, and I've managed to come out of some sticky situations with a renewed sense of purpose.
ODE: Tell us about Heartbeats Unlimited...
GLD: Heartbeats was an idea literally conceived in a dream of mine, which eventually manifested itself as Heartbeats Unlimited, Inc. The initial vision was to create a lifestyle brand which drew upon my personal experiences fundraising for the American Heart Association, while incorporating a message of creativity and empowerment. Today, it's transformed into somewhat of a campaign for social awareness. So far, we've done a line of t-shirts, events, mix-tapes, and we currently have a series of ongoing artistic projects with few things in the works. The goal is that everything related to Heartbeats Unlimited convey an underlying message of 'passionate involvement, creative expression, and purpose driven action'. While It's very much still in stages of evolution, we're always in search of potential partnerships/ collaborations; with its ever expanding resources, I'm anxious to see what this company can accomplish in the future.
ODE: How did A Girl's Best Friend get started?
GLD: Similar to Heartbeats Unlimited, the idea behind A Girl's Best Friend was directly inspired by the creative abilities of those around me. So many of my close (girl)friends have devoted their time and energy into self-run businesses, projects, and professions; as a means to further expose their talent and drive. Following the concept of 'strength in numbers', together we formed a collective of diverse, yet like-minded, female entrepreneurs and artists. Challenging the idea that diamonds (or any material item) could ever truly be a girl's best friend, we represent the fact that when directed with passion and purpose, a personal sense of ambition is the vessel that can get a girl to where she wants to be in life.
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| Make-up Artistry by Kabuki Kosmetics |
ODE: What are you excited for, and what can we expect from AGBF?
GLD: I guess the better question would be, what am I not excited for...?! Not to say it's easy to be (or that I am) so positive all the time, but at this point in my life I realize that reaching a goal is just a platform for setting and reaching your next goal. You have to have a sense of excitement and urgency about your goals, or it's easy to put them off or abandon them for no good reason. I tend to keep my mind busy, so I constantly have ideas for collaborations and a desire to share with others what I find interesting and newsworthy. A Girl's Best Friend, (and Heartbeats Unlimited) really fuel this passion for me. The plan for A Girl's Best Friend is to make it an online portal for news, events, and promotions from girls in the collective. We have plans to create an online shop and put together some kick-ass events for later in the year. Ultimately, I see AGBF as our own personal empire, allowing us to spread the word on everything from fashion and beauty tips to health and career issues, to various causes, and so on... if we can dream it, we can do it!
ODE: What do you think is essential for a girl to have style?
GLD: Well there's the most obvious, confidence, but I also think style is about being creative and taking risks. I often look at a piece of clothing and ask myself, "can I really pull this off?". Ninety percent of the time, I go for it and see what happens. My personal style incorporates a lot of influences from costumes and theme dressing; I like wearing things that remind me of a certain era or character. I definitely use fashion as a way to both express myself and pay homage to things I love. Some people might not get it, but for me, it's fun. I know I'm not the first to say this, but the most important thing about style is not taking it too seriously, and feeling good about yourself.
ODE: Gianna, you're 25, smoking hot, and extremely successful. What do you think has gotten you so far at such a young age?
GLD: I honestly feel like true success is an illusive thing. But I can say that I have taken advantage of opportunities when they were presented to me, and this has gotten me farther than one might imagine. Maybe I'm being modest, but I don't see myself as extremely 'hot', intelligent, or even business-savvy. On the other hand, I haven't let a lot slip by me and it seems to have pushed me to the forefront in a lot of situations, despite my young age.
ODE: What challenges have you faced in reaching your accomplishments thus far?
GLD: I think our generation is unique in that we have grown up receiving so many messages about who we are, and what we can be. These perceptions make it difficult for a person, (especially a girl) to feel confident about being different and finding their own identity. Like many girls my age, I've had to experience life and make my own mistakes in order to learn from them. A major turning point for me was in 2005, when at the age of 20, I was diagnosed with a serious cardiac condition and underwent a major open heart surgery. This experience left me feeling both vulnerable and determined. It forced me to shed a lot of my fears about life and death, and while I still find it somewhat awkward to share this fact with certain people, It's been an opportunity and inspiration for me to appreciate life in a way I never could have before.
ODE: What exciting new projects can we look forward to, from you?
GLD: Well, I definitely suggest you keep an eye on agirlsbestfriend.biz and heartbeatsunlimited.com for the latest news and updates. Otherwise, I've set some goals to do some campaigning/ public speaking for the American Heart Association in the coming year, and I just found out that I will be the featured Earth Girl for April 2011, on earthgirlz.org. Like I said before, I'm finding it hard not to be pretty excited these days!
Articulate, capable, and inspiring. Gianna Lynn DeMercado was an absolute pleasure.
