We’re looking forward to introducing you to Lilly Lovely. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Lilly , it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
Beneath the surface of confident smiles and polished social media feeds, many people are quietly battling an inner voice that tells them they aren’t enough. They carry a secret weight—a fear that they’re not as capable or worthy as the world seems to believe. This lonely struggle often goes hand-in-hand with a deep-seated sense of loneliness, a quiet ache for genuine connection that persists even when surrounded by others. At the same time, countless individuals are fighting a silent war with their own minds, battling anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges. They put on a brave face each day, going through the motions of a “normal” life while an unseen storm rages within, their immense strength hidden behind the facade of everyday life.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hola mi gente! My name is Lilly Lovely, and I’m an Afro-Latina from the South Florida area with Cuban roots. I am a professional makeup artist, writer, and the Chief Operating Officer of Fancinematix Productions. My career has been a journey of passion and purpose, starting with my work as a makeup artist, with my work featured in major campaigns for brands like Gymshark, Gilly Hicks, McDonald’s, Bacardi, and the VMAs.
What makes my story unique is how I’ve woven my love for artistry and storytelling into a diverse portfolio of projects. My brand, Lilly Lovely Artistry, is currently preparing to launch a highly-anticipated secret product and will also be offering makeup classes. For those looking for a personal touch, my “Shop with Me” service is also available now.
I’m also currently focused on launching my non-profit, Lovely Me Impact, which will give beauty school students hands-on experience on professional sets. This program will also help the community by offering free beauty services to those in need. In addition, I’m preparing to relaunch my podcast, Beselfishly, where I host conversations about mental health and healing from life’s challenges. The incredible response to our sold-out “Whispers of the Heart” inner-child healing event showed me how much a platform like this is needed. All of my different ventures—from my artistry to my role as COO—are driven by a single mission: to create and empower others, whether it’s on a film set, in my community, or through a heartfelt conversation.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed that I had to be perfect. I felt that every mistake was a failure and that being a good person meant never doing anything wrong. I thought I had to be strong for everyone, all the time, and that showing any weakness was a sign that I wasn’t enough.
As an adult, I’ve learned to let go of that impossible standard. I now believe that imperfection is a part of being human. I understand that mistakes are not failures but lessons, and that being strong doesn’t mean you never feel pain—it means you have the courage to face it.
My journey with the Beselfishly podcast and our “Whispers of the Heart” event has been a powerful reminder of this. By creating a space to talk openly about mental health and healing, I’ve seen that my vulnerability is actually a source of strength, not a weakness. It’s in those raw, authentic moments that true connection and growth happen.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could go back and speak to my younger self, the one kind thing I would say is: “Your story isn’t over. This pain is not your final destination.”
At 17, I carried a heavy burden. The emotional abuse from a relationship and the lack of support at home left me feeling completely alone and worthless. Depression became a dark cloud that overshadowed my life, and in my deepest moment of despair, I believed that ending my story was the only way to find peace. It was the hardest and most heartbreaking mental breakdown I have ever experienced.
But I know now that that moment of despair was not my end. It was the beginning of my healing journey. I would tell my younger self that her voice deserves to be heard, that her feelings are valid, and that one day she will use her experiences to create a life filled with purpose and to help others heal.
To anyone who is currently in that dark place, please know there is hope and there is help. You are not alone, and your story is so valuable. Please reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me—the COO, the makeup artist, the writer, the podcast host—is absolutely real. It represents the parts of me that I’ve worked hard to build: the ambitious, creative, and passionate person who is driven to make an impact. My professional successes, are all authentic parts of my story.
However, the public version is not the complete me. It’s a curated and polished reflection of what I’m doing and what I’ve accomplished. The “real me” also includes the quiet moments of doubt, the emotional scars from past trauma, and the continuous journey of healing. The “real me” is a working mom trying to balance it all, a person who understands the daily battles with mental health, and someone who knows the feeling of not being enough.
My goal with the Beselfishly podcast is to bridge that gap. I’m choosing to share those more vulnerable, unpolished parts of my life to show that it’s okay not to be perfect. The public version of me is what I do; the real me is who I am. And by sharing both, I hope to show others that they can be both successful and human, strong and vulnerable, all at the same time.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Oh man, Hopefully when I reach the age of 150 years old ……when God calls me home, I don’t want to be remembered just for my accomplishments, but for the impact I had on people’s hearts. I hope people tell a story not just about what I built, but about who I was to them.
I hope they say that I was a person who understood the power of resilience. That I took the darkest moments of my life and used them to create light for others. I want them to remember that I was someone who wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable, to share her scars, and to say “me too” to someone who felt alone.
I hope my story is a testament to the idea that love is the ultimate power—the power to heal, to empower, and to change the world. Whether it was on a film set, in a beauty school classroom, or through a podcast episode, I hope people remember that I lived a life driven by a mission to help others see the beauty and power within themselves. I want my legacy to be one of love, compassion, and the unwavering belief that everyone’s story is worth telling.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @itslillylovely @beselfishly @lillylovelyartistry
- Facebook: Lilly Castillo
Image Credits
@draculaxfilms @visionsbyrico @dwightxm
