Today we’d like to introduce you to Cionna Jones.
Cionna, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 30, 2006, and moved to Texas in middle school. My parents are from California, even though my dad was actually born in San Antonio, he moved to California young and met my mom there. So coming back to Texas was, in a way, a return for him, but a completely new world for us. The move wasn’t easy though, don’t be fooled. Moving across the United States in U-Haul trucks with your family while you’re going through puberty, figuring out who you are, and trying to fit into a new environment all at once is a lot to carry. But, my parents, my sister, and I we became closer in ways I don’t think would’ve happened otherwise. San Antonio is where I actually became myself. I started figuring out who I wanted to be — which eventually turned into building my page, and my business. What started as me documenting my life and perspectives turned into something people actually connected with, and that’s grown into the brand I’m building today. I’m proud of the woman I’ve become, and I’m excited about the woman I’m still becoming.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been the smoothest, no, but I don’t think something worth building ever is. When you’re doing abnormal things, you’re going to run into obstacles that either push you forward or knock you down. I’ve dealt with my own mental health struggles, grief at a young age, and a few spiritual rebirths along the way. But resilience is something I was raised on, and it’s carried me through all of it. I’ve learned to stick to my plan, not my mood, to keep my eyes on the end goal even when things get hard.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a creative entrepreneur, I run my own clothing and jewelry business online while documenting my life as a Black 20-year-old masculine woman. My page covers a variety of topics but they all trickle down to wellness, mental health, and authenticity. I’ve always had a love for creating and documenting my life even when I was a little kid. I enjoyed editing, and making videos I can show my family or even upload them online. The love for creating never left, it just found a bigger purpose. What sets me apart is the representation I bring, both as a Black LGBTQ creator and as a young woman building her own business. There’s not many masculine women creators, especially in San Antonio, so being able to start a new wave and take space is special to me. But what I’m most proud of isn’t the likes or the emails, it is the DMs. I’ve had countless messages from random people around the world about how I inspire them to take their mental health seriously or gave them a new perspective they needed.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I like best about San Antonio is how the people here double down on the culture. People talk about Fiesta like it’s the World Cup, and they love the Spurs like family. That kind of city loyalty isn’t something you can teach, you either feel it or you don’t, and San Antonio has every part of that. What I like least is that I don’t feel as much diversity or entrepreneurial ambition here yet. It’s a military city, so a lot of what I hear about “future plans” centers around that. I don’t hear much about people wanting to travel, see the world, or take a leap on something they’ve always wanted to do. Coming from Vegas, I grew up around billboards, quick weekend trips to LA and Venice Beach, I was surrounded by a lot of different backgrounds and ethnicities, and that creative, entrepreneurial energy early on. San Antonio isn’t quite there yet, but I can feel a shift happening, and I’m excited to see how the city grows, and includes more spaces that reflect different backgrounds and ethnicities.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecikay
