We had the good fortune of connecting with Maya Perez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maya, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
A lot of my designs and inspirations are inspired by the Puerto Rican culture. I’ve always admired the art and history behind the island and I find a lot of inspiration there and use it to create most of my pieces.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Any journey, no matter what it is, isn’t easy. I think a lot of times we fear to push ourselves because we’re scared of failing or scared that it may not work out but there’s beauty in giving things a chance. If my jewelry brand was able to reach the world I’d want them to know that nature is one of God’s greatest creations, and finding art through that is always fun. I’d also hope that our brand was able to make our customers feel confident in some kind of way through wearable art.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them to Puerto Rico. Specifically around Fajardo & Luquillo PR. The first place i would go to eat is “El Meson” there’s just something about a good strong coffee with a breakfast sandwich that I love. If I wanted a drink, I would go to Carabali or visit the Kiosks and taste a few different drinks from a few different places. I would consider this spot a nice hangout place to do a couple of different things. They offer horse back riding, go karts and other cool activities. At the end of the day I would hammock and fall asleep to the sounds of the coquis and rain.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give credit to my mother for having confidence in my journey. Without her I wouldn’t have been confident enough to start this jewelry business on my own. Once I started, I started to have my own visual visions and new projects I wanted to start.

Website: azlynco.com

Instagram: Instagram.com/azlynco

Image Credits
Azlyn Photography – Maya Perez

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutTennessee is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.