Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariana Rodriguez.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a non-binary – first generation American multifaceted performance artist based in Miami, Florida. Since the early age of five, I would find myself hopping on stages in between band breaks at restaurants. Singing my little lungs into a mic to an adoring audience of servers and patrons.
As payment, I would receive flans and sprites. Looking back, I realized that the stage has always drawn me into its spotlight. Years later as a young adult, I attended The Academy of Arts and Minds in iconic Coconut Grove. There I had a very unconventional and rewarding high-school education with a primary focus in theatrical arts. I not only acted in several school productions but also began my playwrighting journey. In four years, I had written, produced, and directed several plays. One of them going on to becoming award-winning as “Best Original Play” in a state-wide competition. Upon graduating in 2013, I knew I had some tools under my belt to take on a whole other beast of a city: Los Angeles. That same summer 18 y/o Mariana moved themself into a mystery city, with starry-eyed dreams and hunger for more knowledge attended the prestigious Theater Academy Conservatory at the Los Angeles City College, the home of alumnis such as Mark Hamill and Morgan Freeman. There I continued to mature as an actor and director taking a multitude of classes over full-time students. I branched my theatrical endeavors into the production side – stage managing many award-winning plays (Seven Decembers) and truly enjoying every piece of the Production puzzle. Eventually, moving back to Miami into a transformed city. Never had I seen my home be so vibrant with art made by young queer people like myself. We humbly call ourselves “The Scene”: a tight-knit queer family of performers ranging from drag queens, kings, and things to singers, musicians, dj’s dancers, models, make-up artists. The list is ever-expanding.
Now thinking on it, we could start a huge company together. And we kind of do, in our own underground way, as queer artists have done for years. I began to mesh my political involvement with my artistic inclinations and there is where Mami Issues was born. Performing in several spots in Miami: Gramps, The Corner Bar, Wigwood, 229, Blue Room Dance Hall in drag, Stage Managing Wigwood Miami, First annual Wynwood Pride, and a reoccurring Drag Cabaret. This is just a breakdown of what I do in the night. During the day, I work for Paper Street Media. My day job is just as zany as my night one: I write and produce adult content – can I say Porn on here? For both straight and gay audiences. I never really expected my writing to take me to the adult industry but really, it couldn’t be a better match for me. I have always been open and accepting of the more “taboo ” things in life, feeling very empowered by the NATURAL FORCE that is the human body, connections/relationships, and how these translate into an art form.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Even if I had the opportunity to walk down a smooth road, I wouldn’t even look in that direction. My inner compass has always been drawn to the unconventional paths. Some of the struggles were handed to me early on, again, being first generation to immigrants who fled Cuba by raft already set me in a certain economic stature. I used this to my advantage. I come from a very inventive family who knows how to make anything out of nothing. In the end, looking back at it now, the things I would present and create with little to no resources always stood out to my peers. It’s a different perspective, it has passion drenched all over it. Growing up queer was no easy feat either. It always felt like I was cheating myself of living my life authentically, something I had done in all other aspects of my life. I never formally came out, just got a girlfriend like any other person did. It was all normal to me until my family found out and all of the sudden I was a complete failure. I hated to think that all of my family’s sacrifices would have been for nothing. That’s the burden of being the eldest in a first-generation household.
Ultimately – not being accepted is what pushed me to pursue my own identity and life in Los Angeles. There I faced a completely different set of struggles I had never experienced, I had a very difficult time with housing (I have so many beautiful friends who are now my family who extended their arms out for me and truly helped me survive) and was diagnosed with Borderline Personality and Bipolar Disorder. It was a long journey of RE-self discovery. In both my queerness and mental health, Today, I am an advocate for all of the hardships I’ve faced. Being a Fat Non-Binary, First Generation Cuban, with Bipolar and BPD. I am able to invite people to find comfort and power in themselves and use hardships as strong foundation to a very rewarding life.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am known for thinking outside of any box that is given to me in both my night and day life. I am very much someone who strives to unify a community through the only way I know how; art! I stay current, I use my intense personality to extend important messages to audiences who may have never seen a topic in my perspective. I am most proud of how much I’ve accomplished in such short amount of time. I’m proud to be a part of a very powerful movement. All while staying true to myself.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck comes with gambling and boy, do I love to gamble. I think being in touch with my intuition has really placed me in front of so many opportunities that even when I didn’t think they would be fruitful, I took anyway and was seriously rewarded. Risk-taking is an art, and sometimes you have to jump and trust that life has a net right under ready to catch you.
Contact Info:
- Email: mariana@paperstreetmedia.com
- Instagram: @mamiissues6
Image Credit:
Tobias – @critterchasin
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