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

Hi Amy, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?

Since a young age, I have known that I am an artistic individual. From summer courses to internships to hobbies, I always sought out creative opportunities. It wasn’t until I was in my final years of high school that I truly reflected and thought this is what I should and need to be doing for the rest of my life as it simply makes sense to me. If you asked me about my dream job, it included fashion design, interior design, dancing, acting, graphic design and more. Ultimately, I decided to pursue a career in graphic design and am still doing this now full-time. Then, as new social media platforms emerged, and with the rise of ‘influencing’, I wanted to do more and get even more creative. I am obsessed with beauty, fashion, health and wellness, and love working in those industries as a graphic designer, but I wanted to test the waters and try creating content relating to these fields. I would create videos reviewing products, discussing companies I admire, sharing fashion tips, and all sorts of things! As I started doing this more and more, I learned so much about these industries, and brands started to reach out to work with me. I now not only work as a graphic designer, but I get to work an amazing side hustle with brands to create custom videos and photography about their service and/or products, and it is so much fun! While I still have a long way to go in terms of the influencing space, I am focusing on enjoying the journey rather than the endpoint. I want to entertain and educate my audience on beauty, fashion, health and wellness and that is my sole focus as I move forward.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets me apart is my relentless determination to be the best I can be. I have faced many obstacles along the way, and am always asked, how have you not quit? How do you keep going? And my response is always that I simply have to. I made a choice for myself to refuse to quit or give up. From being laid off three times due to COVID-19, to working for startups that spontaneously went bust and shut down, from working in incredibly toxic and deceitful work environments, from being ghosted by 50+ employers, from making it to the final round of numerous job applications and never being the one selected, I felt like someone was out to get me. It absolutely impacted my mental health and self-worth but despite it all, I couldn’t stop because then what would I be? Someone that lets the negative situations around her, define her. And now, I get to work as a graphic designer for an amazing beauty brand and as a social media influencer and creator. I have a long way to go but I am excited about every step. The biggest lessons I’ve learned through all of this is to not let the circumstances around you define your self-worth. To not take things personally even when they seem very personal! To not let one, two, or even 100 no’s question your talents. Keep going, keep pushing forward, and keep your chin up!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

I moved to Colorado Springs for a year to experience more nature, try a new city on the opposite side of the United States, and go on an adventure. If my best friend was coming to visit, I’d show her how beautiful and unique Colorado Springs is by exploring all its natural attractions including Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, Seven Falls, Red Rocks Open Space, Pulpit Rock Open Space, and more. We’d eat at, arguably, the best taco place I’ve ever been to, Dos Santos, and we’d bop around all the quirky speakeasys hidden in downtown Colorado Springs. If this trip was extended, some of the best cities I’d take her are Austin, TX, Phoenix, AZ, and Denver, CO.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my insanely remarkable parents: Bruce Major and Jo Major. They have always encouraged me to be myself and do what makes me happy, never once questioning my choices. They empower me and unconditionally love me, and have made me the woman I am today.

Website: https://amy-major.com/

Instagram: @amymajor

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amymajor/

Other: TikTok: @amymajor18

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.