Pink & Sparkly

When I was eight, I witnessed Barbie in all her pink and sparkly glory and I knew who I was going to be. I discovered Barbie through the fairies hosting fashion shows on 14-hour plane rides with my dad, where “Barbie: A Fashion Fairytale” and “Barbie: Princess Charm School” became my go-to films. From an early age, I traveled between the U.S. and Asia as my dad’s sidekick, visiting production factories. Thanks to him, I had the unique experience of seeing both the creative and business sides of the textile industry.

When we arrived in the Philippines, Dad wasn’t running your run-of-the-mill facility. No no no - it was “Sela’s Fashion Studio,” where the floor was made of diamonds and the fabric came from unicorn mane. Barbies lined up to get fitted in outfits and gowns designed by yours truly. While Dad met with managers and monitored machines, I ran around stealing scraps and asking workers to help me sew something fabulous. I turned a scrap of mesh into a couture floor-length ruffled gown with a piece of ribbon tied around Barbie’s waist. String thread became necklaces and bracelets. The list goes on. In this moment, in this memory, I was the pink and sparkly.

I’ve learned that finding your “sparkle” takes determination plus creativity. In the seventh grade, I fractured my spinal tibia skiing just days before Christmas. This left me in bed through dark winter months and introduced me to depression and anxiety. I struggled to cope. I turned to creativity as an outlet, and started a YouTube channel that allowed me to combine technical skills with a sense of expression. The more I created, the more I found myself. I’d stay up for hours editing a video, getting the sound layering just right, and making exciting overlays. In the daytime, I’d get home from school, run (hobble on crutches) straight to my room, grab my camera and start recording. I made fun fashion challenge videos like “Recreating Outfits on My Pinterest Boards,” and “What I Wear in a Week.” I’d spend hours laying out and planning each outfit I wanted to share.

As I’ve watched my dad’s brand grow, I’ve seen firsthand that trial and error are a fundamental part of fashion. Factories undergo stressful processes of revisions and adjustments to create the best possible product. Evolution is fundamental in discovering who you are, and to becoming the best version of yourself.

High school wasn’t the “Princess Charm School” dream I expected... far from it. During sophomore year, I went through some of the most difficult days of my life. Yet, one day, I remembered I just had to use the pink and sparkly mindset. I decided to wake up early, curl my hair, do my makeup, listen to “Get Your Sparkle On” by Barbie, and pick out a look that was effortlessly sleek yet daring, head-to-toe black with every detail dialed in. My fitted black long sleeve top gave a polished but cozy base, and my black leather leggings added that sharp, edgy vibe. Over it all, I had a glossy black puffer coat, its high-shine material making me look and feel unstoppable. My black Doc Martens grounded the outfit with a rebellious feel, tying everything together. It was understated power with a dash of badassery.

I’ve learned that life isn’t pink and sparkly, until you decide it is. Fashion holds the power to make you feel better, to make you do better. Wake up and wear what empowers you. A good outfit changes your mood. A good mood changes your day, maybe even your week. Good weeks change your month, good months change your year, and good years change your life.

This is pink & sparkly.