⋒ What is your name?
Ciara Strickland
⋒ What are your pronouns?
She/Her/Hers
⋒ How old are you?
25 years old
⋒ Where are you from?
Chattanooga, Tennessee
⋒ What line of work are you in or do you aspire to be in?
I work for the Department of the Navy. I aspire to work in the social media/marketing/photography world, whether a part of the government or outside of it.
⋒ How do you identify in the LGBTQ+ community?
Lesbian
⋒ At what age did you come out? How long did you live with your identity as a secret?
I believe I was around 15 or 16. I knew there was something different about me early on, but it was one of those things that was not talked about.
⋒ What do you want to share with readers that showcases how you COME AS YOU ARE?
Me being myself is me being open and honest and that’s a big factor in life. I like to challenge myself and see what the results are. One of my top favorite quotes goes like this: “Do or do not, there is no try”. Challenge yourself and see what you accomplish.
I think one of the most prominent ways that I showcase CAYA is by wearing suits. When I wear a suit, it’s almost like a piece of armor. I wear them and feel unstoppable.
⋒ How has living your life authentically transformed your life for the better?
Once I realized that living my life for me and ONLY ME was the key, I couldn’t be stopped. I started to gain confidence and quickly realized that I was made this way for a reason. That confidence grew into my personality and eventually translated into my style.
⋒ What challenges have you faced since living an authentic life? How have you overcome those hardships?
While living an authentic life, I have faced several challenges. One of those being that because I identify as a lesbian and am very open my sexuality, I was not afforded the opportunity to coach volleyball at several top high schools. The schools loved my credentials, but once they found out that I was a part of the LGBTQ+ community, the offers were retracted.
I took those challenges with this mindset: “One door closes and another one opens”. After the many job offer retractions, I had an amazing opportunity that same year to coach as an Assistant at a HBCU and I never looked back.
⋒ Is there someone in your life who inspired you to live authentically or always encouraged you to show up as your truest self?
The first that comes to mind is my wife, Andraia. She’s encouraged me to be the person I am today in regards to my style and showing my true self via social media and throughout life.
Next, would be my photographer and friend, Char. With every photoshoot and conversation, she encourages me to not conform to what was perceived as “normal” in the everyday media. She encouraged me to keep pushing boundaries and myself.
The next that comes to mind is my friend, Bradley. He helped me to come up with the name “The New Mix”. Him and I served in the USN together and he always lived his life as he wanted and I aspired to have the confidence he had. He pushed me when it came to creative ideas and has been one of my biggest rocks.
⋒ Any advice for readers on how to connect with their courage so that they too are able to show up for their life as their truest selves?
My best advice is to just be yourself and the rest will follow. Once people see that you are confident in yourself, truthfully, you can empower so many others.
⋒ Last, but certainly not least, if you could choose any song to be your life’s anthem, what would it be?
The Stakeout – Russ
A quote that Ciara would like to leave you with:
“I’d rather be hated for what I am than loved for what I’m not”
Words by: Ciara Strickland
Photo Credit: Charlyn Photography (Facebook) @charlyn.photography (Instagram)
