#MomCrush Monday Series: Meet Layana Aguilar, Founder of The Fashion Squad School, & former Project Runway superstar

1.) You’re an entrepreneur, founder of The Fashion Squad School, Fashion Designer, and Content Creator. What gets you up in the morning? What keeps you up at night?

I’m a happiness chaser! What gets me up in the morning is my gratitude for having another day ahead of me, another chance to go after the life I want to have. Seeing my kids and my husband’s faces, helping my daughter choose her outfit for school, seeing my son reading his book on the couch and making my super delicious smoothie for my husband. 

All of those little things give me so much fuel to face my crazy days! I used to let the thought of all the things I had to accomplish the next day keep me up at night, but I have learned to prioritize my sleep and my alone time with my husband after the kids go to bed so now I’m happy to say that most nights I’m peacefully sleeping! 

2.)  As a former Project Runway superstar, your skills were put on full display for the world to see. I am sure you were tested in ways you did not expect.  What three lessons can you share with our readers about your experience on the show?

Being in a reality show where you are competing with others in your field and your work is being constantly judged by strangers every day was such a crazy experience! I learned so much from it.

Number one: 

-It does not matter what other people think of your work. If you are happy with what you do and you believe in it 100%, that is all that matters! You are never going to make everyone happy so you might as well focus on doing YOU! Then others will follow or fall in love with it too. 

Number two: 

-DO NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SEE ON A REALITY SHOW! 

Even on a show like Product Runway, which is a reality show where the contestants are truly showcasing their talent. There are a lot of editing tricks and story producers who manipulate the contestants to fall into the characters and the drama they want you to play. 

Number three: 

-Learning how to work under pressure is a necessary skill to have! 

3.)  The pandemic allowed you to launch The Fashion Squad School, an after-school program built upon empowering children and teaching the next generation of creatives how to utilize their skills and hone in on their fashion design craft.  Can you share with us your motivation behind this?

I always felt a calling that I came into this world with a mission to spread love. I wanted to be an entrepreneur and build an empire based on love. There is no better way to do that than by nurturing the next generation of creatives! 

I saw this, even more, clearer after I became a mother. My passion for nurturing children and seeing how important it is to let them express themselves, to make sure they feel validated and loved, is truly so important for their upbringing. I combined my love for fashion design and the connection I had with it to create The Fashion Squad School.  I was a very shy child, but fashion and being creative gave me the confidence and power I needed to become the woman I am today. 

4.) Being such an incredible mother and entrepreneur, what are three things you would like to share with EVERY mom or mom-to-be about how you can still achieve your PERSONAL goals while managing your mom and home life?

I will sum it up in one: 

The truth is, there is no such thing as finding the “right” balance. Juggling between being a mother and an entrepreneur is no easy task. It’s a constant juggling act, where the priorities and demands of each role are constantly shifting. As a mother, there are always unexpected challenges that require your attention, whether it’s a sick child or a school project that needs your help. As an entrepreneur, there are always new opportunities and challenges that require your focus and dedication. Balancing both roles requires flexibility, adaptability and a willingness to make trade-offs. It’s a journey of trial and error, learning to prioritize and delegate and recognizing that perfection is not always attainable, but despite the challenges, being a mother and an entrepreneur can also be incredibly rewarding. It’s a chance to make a positive impact on both your family and the world around you and to inspire others to pursue their dreams.

5.) What is your favorite song lyric? Why?

It is so hard to pick one! But the lyrics that always come to mind when I think of LIFE, are from the song “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas. I love this song. 

The song’s opening lines are: “I close my eyes / Only for a moment, and the moment’s gone,” always reminds me of the idea that life is short and fleeting and that we should make the most of every moment. I live in the present, and my future is a consequence of the choices I’m making now. 

“All we are is dust in the wind,” this phrase emphasizes the idea that no matter how much we accomplish or how much we accumulate in life, we are all subject to the same fate of impermanence and mortality. When I listen to this song, it encourages me to appreciate the beauty of life and to make the most of every moment, even as I recognize that everything is ultimately temporary.