This week’s Campus Celebrity is Sara Villegas. Sara is majoring in Fashion Merchandising and working on getting a Social Media Marketing certificate. She holds a position at the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA) as the Public Relations and Social Media Chair. Her involvement on-campus has been incredible and she shares with us her experiences at Cal State LA.
Major
What sparked your interest in fashion?
Ever since I was little I’ve liked it and sparked my interest. I think it was a way for me to express myself, even from a young age. I’m a middle child, and being a middle child I always wanted to stand out and I did that through clothes. In high school I was that person that wore weird clothes.
Why is fashion significant?
Not only does it allow everyone to express themselves, but it is also a way to communicate. We say a lot about ourselves even through what colors we chose to wear. Having a certain style can also form identity, and is the simplest way for us to express ourselves.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In 5 years I hope I’m done with my master’s degree. I want to travel, so working for WGSN Company, which a world trade company that follows trends. They have different offices, but I want to work outside of California, maybe London. I love traveling, so I can see myself moving and getting to know different cultures and ideas where I can get inspiration.
What is your dream job?
My dream job is actually to work for WGSN as I previously mentioned. Trend prediction and travel are what draw me to that company, but maybe starting my own company at one point in my life would also be amazing.
Style
Do you have a favorite piece in your closet? What is it and where did you get it?
I have a dress that is tan and has different kinds of designs in it. The reason why I love it so much is because my grandmother gave it to me. I’ve been wearing this dress for me for about 7 years now and I can make it look like any style with the right accessories. I can make it look boho, casual, or even formal sometimes.
Can you describe your personal style?
I would have to say girly. I like to wear skirts and dresses all the time, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like to play with other styles. Sometimes I like to be a little more edgy or rocker-ish, but I always incorporate femininity into it.
And who/what has had some influence on your personal style?
I would definitely have to say Audrey Hepburn and Carrie Bradshaw. A lot of my style comes from Carrie Bradshaw because she is feminine but also has this ghetto fabulous style going on. I really like embracing those two, you know, gold hoops with cute femme dress. Carrie also takes a lot of risks when it comes to clothes, so I do become influenced by that as well.
Who would you say your favorite designer/brand is and why?
That is a tough one! I don’t know. I mean, I do follow designers and I do follow shows, but I don’t have specific ones. I can say though that Burberry, Marc Jacobs, and Alexander McQueen capture my attention.
CSULA Involvement
Have you been involved with any clubs or orgs here on-campus? Can you tell us a little bit about what this organization does?
I am part of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance. What we do is empower people and fight for equality. It’s really such a great organization because we want to help everyone to feel connected and safe and it’s definitely a place where we can sit and talk about our struggles. The stigmas that goes with being a feminists—“You’re a man hater.”—That’s not true. We love men! There are men in our club, and there are men who are also feminists, it’s not about hate, it’s about equality. We are all just trying to strive for the same thing, and that is quality and having the basic human rights. We are also very involved with the LGBT community and the Coalition. We all try to come together because we want a women’s gender department in this campus because there is a demand for it.
How long have you been involved in FMLA and what your position entails?
I’ve been involved for about 3 years, and I am currently part of the board. I’m Public relations and Social Media Chair. I take part in connecting with everyone online, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
What’s your favorite part about being involved in FMLA?
I think it’s the solidarity and being able to express our ideas, our beliefs, and our feelings. If you are having a bad day you can go and talk to them and they are more than willing to listen and talk to you, and that’s really what we are about.
What does it mean to be a feminist to you?
To me it means to strive for equality and strive for having a better place for women and other genders. If we work hard we can achieve that, the simplest way to work together is to respect one another. We don’t have to agree with each other, but we do need to respect each other. Listening, Learning, Respecting.
Life
If a friend could describe you in 3 words, what would they be?
They would probably say I’m outgoing, a little crazy, and friendly.
What is your favorite place to eat on/off campus when you have the time to actually sit down and enjoy a meal?
I love sushi! I like to go to Gyu-Ku because they have happy hour and it’s such a great place to socialize when you just need to let your hair down and relax. I also like Cha-Cha Chili’s because it’s so close to school and I can go hang out with my friends here at CSULA.
What else do you do when you’re not in class, org meetings and events, or working?
I like to run. I wanted to run the LA Marathon, but I twisted my ankle, so that didn’t turn out. I do also like to go to shows and concerts, and I absolutely love traveling. I actually have a trip planned out at the end of the month to go to Portland.
What do you love about Cal State LA?
What I like the most about Cal State LA are the people. If it wasn’t for the people that I meet here it would be boring. I meet people in my Fashion Program, FMLA, Coalition, and I’ve met a lot of people in the Metro that just go to class and go back home. I it is so important to socialize and network, meet new people! We should take advantage that we have a Cal State LA community, there is a lot to be offered.