Meet Christina Amazan

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

Hi Christina, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I really don’t think I chose a creative career. It most definitely chose me. I’ve always been moved to create. From wanting — no, needing — to have that 64 count Crayola crayon box with the built-in sharpener back in kindergarten to playing piano, flute, and piccolo throughout my formative years. Then falling in love with Art History and Advertising in undergrad at Florida State University and becoming a copywriter. When you distill all of that creative energy, I think I’m just super passionate about communicating through art. Storytelling. Making people feel something. Anything. Everything. Yeah, that’s it. I’m in a creative career because I want to make people feel.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
First, I have to say — being a copywriter was not the plan! I was supposed to be an orthopedic surgeon. Because bones were easy for me to remember and my Haitian immigrant parents expected nothing less than for me to become a doctor. But I rebelled and followed my passion for Art History. But after one eye-opening internship, and a particularly mean-girl curator, I picked up Advertising as a second major and became a copywriter. It’s been over 10 years and I’ve created campaigns for many notable brands including Apple, Suave, Dove, Vaseline, TJMaxx, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and more. I’ve won some awards, including a 2018 WWD Beauty Inc Award for Collab of the Year and two Webbys. I also mentor young creatives of color through various industry programs, including 4A’s MAIP, The One Club’s ONE School, ADCOLOR, and the Marcus Graham Project. Giving back to help guide and inspire other creatives in advertising has been my greatest source of pride. And now I’m expanding into creative writing and screenwriting. I’m loving the learning process and applying for fellowships. My desire to find new ways to be a storyteller never ceases to amaze and excite me. I’m eager to write stories I wish there were more of. Some poignant. Some seemingly pointless. But all worth telling.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m super new to LA, so I’m still finding my favorite places. The idea that “beach” is an actual option for me now is still a bit wild. Even though I grew up in central Florida, the beach was kind of far from us. And spending much of my adult life in NYC, beach was very much not an everyday thing. So straight off the plane, I’m taking them to Manhattan Beach. Maybe catch the sunset. We’ll be chasing sunsets the whole trip. And LA really comes alive at night with so many bars and restaurants to explore. I love that ambiance is an expectation here too, so we’re bound to find something with a nice vibe. As a certified foodie girl, I’m definitely building an itinerary off of must-eat meals and taking my friends along for the ride. Honestly, if I wasn’t so into writing, I would’ve been a chef or food critic. But hey, who says I can’t find a way to do both?

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First, I want to acknowledge that I am not self-made. I am the creation of two Haitian immigrants, Joseph and Marie, who come from a longline of powerful ancestors who all sacrificed their dreams to make sure I had the opportunity to pursue mine. I have two older sisters, Deborah and Samantha, who were my very first friends in life and have always been an inspiration. I have the very best sister friends around me. Alexandria, my bestie since age 5, is low-key my agent in life and advocates for me to no end. Melle Phillips, who continues to believe in my creative path. Ayahna, Siham, Christelle, Haye, and so many more. You know who you are and I love y’all for real. And lastly, a special shoutout to Matthew Houvouras, my AP Art History teacher who believed in my creative mind and set me on the artistic journey I’m on today. It really takes a village.

Website: https://www.camazan.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camazan/

Twitter: https://x.com/camazan