PureWow's Editorial Assistant: Angie Martinez-Tejada
Angie Martinez-Tejada always knew she wanted to work in the editorial field, specifically in fashion, but she didn’t realize exactly what career path in fashion she wanted to take until she began interning in several positions. “My journey started when I was about 16, I interned as a fashion stylist assistant in my hometown, Charlotte NC. Throughout high school, college, and even after graduating, I interned, assisted, and worked for free in different PR agencies, several wardrobe stylists, as a social media manager and for a blogger and content creator.-- all so that I could figure out my niche within the fashion industry.” “Luckily,” Angie says, “I think I found it!” She loves to create fashion and lifestyle content and says that one of her internships is actually how she landed her job at PureWow which really shows the value in having a strong work-ethic and maintaining professional relationships.
As an Editorial Assistant at PureWow, her day to day consists of assisting their editorial team which includes writers, freelancers and editors. “I make sure that articles are built in our content managing system, emails are built and scheduled to send to our subscriber lists, I edit photos for web stories, and occasionally get to dabble in some research and writing--I'm still fairly new to the position, but I really love what I do and I'm excited to keep building skills as time goes on.”
Looking back on aspects of her childhood, she has memories playing in her moms closet with her clothes, loving America’s Best Top Model and Project Runway, as well as having a journal where she would sketch out fashion designs. She believes she always knew, and saw signs that she would pursue a career in the fashion industry. “When people started constantly asking me for style advice and complimenting how I put looks together, I decided I would become a source of inspiration for them. Especially since growing in Charlotte, there weren't many fashion icons to look up to.”
The biggest advice Angie would give someone who may want to have a similar career to her would be to create, create, create. “Even when you don't feel like it; honor your commitment, not your mood. Do something each day that takes you at least one step forward towards improving your skill and building that portfolio. That way, when the opportunity comes, you are already prepared.” She says that it is also critical to surround yourself with people who inspire you.
When looking back on her life and realizing when she wanted to be a writer, she recalls that the last time she remembers being good at math was in 7th grade. “Once math became difficult for me, I used writing as a crutch.”
She also admits that she talks a lot. “So writing is like talking, but with words. I realized that the only thing I loved more than consuming information was sharing it, and writing was a natural way of doing so. It's personal, it connects people.”
Since she has a profound love for fashion, I asked her what fashion advice she would give to anyone. “You can NEVER go wrong with an all black outfit. And if an all black color palette intimidates you, brighten it up by adding a pop of color via an accessory.”
Angie has been pondering a lot lately about life and where she may be in 5 years. “I see myself continuing to refine my career, as a fashion editor, paving roads for people who look like me. Traveling to Europe, securing brand deals, launching my own brands... and with a husband, maybe?”