Her Story
About Milena
I studied fashion for my Bachelor of Arts undergraduate at Arizona State University, which is now ASU FIDM. After graduation, I worked for a small jewelry company called LuxLio with their brand Mermaid Beads Jewelry, which mostly operates out of Etsy. I did silver work with them, including laser cutting, polishing, tumbling, and making custom jewelry pieces for orders. I also helped them with some of their photo shoots and marketing initiatives in Arizona. Then I moved to New York City in June of 2023. I had been applying to internship opportunities in New York, and Peerless saw the potential in me, so that's when I moved out here. I was a Creative Direction intern to start, and then I still work on that same team to this day, just as a photo shoot coordinator. I've been with my current company for almost 3 years, and it'll be 3 years in June. This fall 2026, I'll be relocating to Bologna, Italy, for a Global MBA in fashion and luxury goods. I ranked number two among all applicants for the program, so I was awarded a scholarship as well. This is a great next step for me to either be a creative director one day or own my own business one day.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Milena
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say that it's really just determination, and I do feel like working in this industry for a few years, I do get the sense that women do have to work harder for the same opportunities as our male counterparts. So it's really having the strength and determination to push through that, and to show everyone your worth, and how hardworking you are. And that's really how I found success, is just being super persistent on what you want. If you have a goal, just work at it, little by little, and don't give up. I know that's cheesy, but it's really just being determined and waking up each day, willing to put in the work.
02What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Quality and craftsmanship are very important to me. It was really important for me to find a program that was business while still being in fashion specifically, and to be somewhere where luxury kind of started. I wanted to be in a place where they still hold quality and luxury to such a high importance that I don't feel we do as much here in the U.S. anymore. I'm very excited to tap into that because quality is very important to me in craftsmanship. I also really appreciate the quality craftsmanship that LuxLio does with their jewelry, making everything in their own studio to this day.
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