From the very west of Texas, comes to us this incredibly talented and funky lady who creates art through every medium and outlet she gets her hands on; from clothes, make-up, fashion shows and magazines. I was lucky enough to be able to know her for sometime now and see her growth in fashion as well as the impact she’s had on the city of El Paso, Texas. She’s become popular and well known for her ‘out of the box’ style and kaleidoscope sense of fashion. I was so honored to have had the opportunity to make a small feature on her.

Lola Coppola: What’s your name? Who are you?

Cassandra Arredondo: My name is Cassandra Arredondo but I’m known as Cachis . I am a twenty, loud, weird, optimistic, OCD fashion foward girl who is in the process of becoming a fashion designer. I am a makeup artist, and photoshoot director.

LC: Many of my viewers and followers may not know but we’ve actually known each other for quite some time. I’ve always admired that you’ve always been fashion forward as a kid, what/who has inspired your transition of fashion through the years?

CA: My mom has always been my true inspiration since I was a little girl, she’s always managed to make something inexpensive look like a million bucks. SIMPLE items like a blouse and a pair of jeans never seamed to call my attention. I have to admit I can never be simple. Colors and funky looking clothes seemed to have always grasped my attention. I love being able to seeing an item and picture how I would personalize it to wear it. Fashion; I see it as an art, being able to dress up everyday whereas some people see it as a regular routine. Alexander McQueen, Betsy Johnson , Vivienne West Wood, Chanel, have been on the of top list for daily inspirations. They are all so different but somehow they’ve guided me to better my sense in fashion as well as my designs. Its always been my dream to one day be a fashion icon.

LC: Have you ever hit a moment where you feel your creativity can’t go any further or is that impossible for you?

CA: My creativity has never hit a point where I can’t go any further, but I do feel like it has hit a point where it will eventually become a pile of too much thoughts clustered so at times I do have to take a step back and look at what I’m doing and figure out what the true meaning of it all is. Usually my creativity comes to me very easily.

LC: If you had to choose between being a fashion designer or a famous make-up artist, what would you choose and why?

CA: At the moment, I would have to choose being a famous makeup artist. It’s something I’ve really fallen in love with and can see myself doing everyday. WHY you ask? Because as fashion design is a form of art so is being a makeup artist. I see it as a win-win situation, designers will always need a makeup artist to complete their looks. Makeup is non-ending form of transition as well as creativity, works wonders for women especially, and is fun for any girl or women who loves to try new things.

LC: What is Rebel Blush?

CA: REBEL BLUSH is the name I gave to the style of make-up I do on girls. It first started out as a hobby but people quickly took notice. I’ve always been asked me to do others makeup so I figured I would take pictures of my work and put it on display for people to admire. I’ve done work for local fashion shows and local photo shoots where I try to practice and participate in whatever I can to acquire more practice.

LC: What is Awkward Unicorn and what inspired it?

CA: The Awkward Unicorn magazine is non-exiting hun, BUT I will be coming out with a magazine of my own called MISMATCH MAGAZINE. Hopefully released by the end of May. I will also be launching a summer line of high waisted shorts designed by me.

LC: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

CA: I see myself in New York in 5 years finishing fashion design school, becoming famous, traveling world wide for fashion week, starting new trends, working behind the fashion shows doing make-up, and being a photographer. In 5 years, I plan to be a triple threat. Fashion Designer, Make-Up Artist, and Photographer.

LC: Are you working on anything at the moment?

CA: I’m currently working at BCBG Max Azria and Geogeske G2; an amazing and delicious restaurant in El Paso, Texas.

LC: How do you deal with people “judging” you based on what you wear/how you wear it?

CA: The way I deal with people judging what I wear/how I wear it, is by always keeping a big fat smile on and essentially wearing whatever with pride. My motto is: life is too short to wear boring clothes, so I always like to dress UP, not down. It’s always nice to dress uniquely and have your own style, it only makes peoples stare more worthwhile.

LC: Being in such a competitive field, what drives you to overcome all the negativity?

CA: I’m not going to lie, at times  I’ve fallen in the negativity due to personal things that have happened to me, but being in a competitive field just gives me more of an urge to work harder to get there. Negativity only drives me more to keep going because coming from a very traditional mexican family they have always had a stable life, and as for myself, I know I could never live like. It only makes me have more goals for myself to reach. I may not have all the money in the world nor attend the best of schools but hey, no one got famous by a snap of a finger. They worked their asses off, started from the bottom and reached their way to the top;  I plan to do that.

LC: What are doing right now? Fashion? Make-up? Where is the focus?

CA: RIGHT NOW, I’m doing make-up when I don’t work fashion but I’m designing high waisted shorts to sell during the summer. My main focus is the new magazine, I want MISMATCH magazine to focus on local talents such as art, fashion, etc.

LC: What are your top five songs at the moment?

CA: Lana Del Rey: Summertime Sadness
Calvin Harris ft. Ellie Goulding: I Need Your Love
Rihanna: Stay
Florence and the Machine: Say My Name
Justin Timberlake: Mirrors

LC: Do your see your style of pops of color changing with time as you age or has your style become more of a signature for you?

CA: I’ve always loved color in my wardrobe, I’ve never been a one color person. My closet contains literally every possible color you can think of, but I would have to say my style has become more a signature for me. I don’t think my style is ‘all that and a bag of chips’ but it’s always nice when people compliment me on what I’m wearing. It gives me a thrill and butterflies in my stomach.

LC: Will we be seeing more of you in the near future? Maybe in a NYFW?

CA: I feel God will put me in peoples lives whenever he feels it’s the right time, I feel he gave me a gift so I’m trying not to let it go to waste.

Want to see more of the talented Cachis, make sure to check out her Facebook, as well as behind the scenes of her make-up on her Rebel Blush Instagram!