Today we’d like to introduce you to James Warrick.
Hi James, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Well, my story feels like many stories as I am sure other’s do too, or many lives even.
I was born and raised in Weldon Springs MO, or O’Fallon. I attended Francis Howell school district k-12. I grew up with my mom, my sister and my nana who all inspired and influenced me immensely in the areas of style and fashion. Probably most other things as well.
I was an all-star competitive cheerleader, traveling the country competing at national competitions.
My family always traveled to watch my cousins’ sports but traveling for cheerleading definitely sparked a wanderlust in me.
I had many amazing opportunities through cheer, and my senior year of high school brought one major and ultimately my final one. The chance to tryout and cheer for a world champion team at one of the best all-around decorated cheer gyms in the country “Cali Coed of California Allstars” although it was brief and quickly proved to be a learning opportunity more than a cheerleading opportunity, this experienced changed me.
I went home and moved on to college where I attended Mizzou (university of Missouri- Columbia) also briefly for only two years before deciding my focus and heart weren’t in it.
I had always felt a bigger calling and something expressive and creative. But I didn’t have the influence or community to learn more and foster this side of myself. Until I left Mizzou.
After I left Mizzou at 19 years old, I moved back to St. Louis in the spring of 2017. By this time, I had realized I loved taking photos and I loved fashion so obviously modeling and social media influencing became something worth exploring. I spent only a year back home working and figuring out my next move until some connections brought another opportunity for me to move to NYC, which was a dream of mine since I was 12 or 13 years old.
I moved to NYC after only a month of hearing of the opportunity. What an experience.
I spent the best year and a half of my life but also the most challenging in the best city on earth. I grew more than I could’ve imagined. I could do a whole interview on my NYC experience alone but wow. It was magical. Not to over glorify because there were struggles, stress, disappointment, depression, heartbreak, and a lot of loneliness but I wouldn’t change a thing.
Moving to nyc and living there solidified my hopes and dreams. I had always enjoyed posting on social media but I started to really hone my personal style, take pictures of my street style outfits and share them. I met and worked with some wonderful artists and amazing photographers. This is where I began to really want to make a career out of fashion, photography and social media so towards the end of my time in nyc I had yet another opportunity to travel to India for two weeks, which I did duh, but I had the crazy idea to record it all (on my phone at the time), edit it and start a YouTube and post it! It was the platform I could blend all my passions into one medium and still give them the separate attention and focus but being able to do it all essentially. After that trip I flew back to NYC, packed my life, and moved back here to St. Louis to pursue YouTube and the fashion and art world through social media.
I’ve been inconsistently doing it all for the past two years going on three. But not much growth has happened so this year I am trying to focus on consistency and brand growth! That’s also a huge reason I am so excited about this interview
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road and I truly feel like I haven’t quite gotten the wheels off of the ground with all of the things I want to do, start, and accomplish.
I think the biggest struggle for me is consistency and I think that goes hand in hand with imposter syndrome. Ie I am inconsistent becuase I don’t always feel like I am good enough or have what it takes to be successful in an industry that feels impossible to break into or become successful in unless your family is wealthy and well connected.
Imposter syndrome can be crippling and when it gets the best of me I just shut down creatively and don’t want to create or film or edit so then the consistency is effect which effects the growth and results I want.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a YouTuber and social media influencer. I would say I specialize in video editing and unisex/mens fashion.
I am probably known for in person my personality and energy but through social media probably my amazing outfits and engaging ig posts!
When it comes to my creative work I think I am most proud of my style.
This is also what I believe sets me apart from other, in my creative work, because I don’t like to dress like everyone else’s especially boys. People always compliment my outfits and style and have been told many times “nobody dresses like you” and “this is so you” which is like the biggest compliment because they’re saying “you’re so expressive that even this outfit embodies who you are” and that is special to me, it makes me feel unique.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Energy. Always energy.
Contact Info:
- Email: Mr.jameswarrick@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesswarrick/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCuR3DPbKN4TXoFyoow8pT6Q
Image Credits
Alison Bacon
