Meet Karina Payanzo | Dancer & Aspiring Businesswoman

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

Hi Karina, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
Some of the most important habits for my success are self care and consistency. I believe that if I do not prioritize my physical and mental wellness then it is impossible to be producing my best work. As an athlete some important self care habits for me are eating balanced meals, maintaining my strength and stamina through regular training, and trying to get 8 hours of sleep a night. I also like to journal to visualize and process my goals and put them into action. I also love surrounding myself by likeminded people who I can learn from and be inspired by. Practicing consistency in all my healthy habits has been very helpful for me to see concrete results and success.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have been a dancer since I was six years old and have always had a passion for all forms of art. I enjoy playing piano, guitar, singing, and also fine arts like painting and crafts. My passion for integrating all art forms together has gotten me through my Dance BFA and many creative endeavors. I have never been one to fit into any box which was definitely a challenge throughout my life. I still struggle every day with learning to be okay with being different from everybody else. I always have to remind myself that we all have our own set of talents, skills, and interests for a reason. I believe that God gives us each talents and interests for a purpose and to try to deny who you are and fit a societal mold would be doing everyone a disservice. Art is one place where you can truly celebrate and express who you are. Art heals. Art heals you as you create, and continues healing you and those around you when you share it. My goal as an artist is to help us all heal each other through sharing our different art forms.

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 love going for hikes in LA! Some of my favorite hiking spots that are challenging and provide great views of the city are Griffith Park and Runyon Canyon.
I love brunch and two of my go-to spots for brunch are Breakfast Republic and the Waffle.
If you’re looking for a peaceful place for a picnic, doing some reading, or just connecting with nature, the Silver Lake Meadow is a beautiful place where I love to go to disconnect.
I am an absolute coffee fanatic and you can always find me exploring coffee shops. Some tried and true favorites are Philz, La Colombe, and LaLa Land. A new seasonal favorite of mine is Horror Vibes Coffee in Noho.
The most beautiful beach I have been to is El Matador in Malibu. It is a bit of a drive from the main LA area but it is worth the trip and the drive itself has stunning views.
A great place for dinner or happy hour is Cabo Cantina! They have great margaritas and tacos!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I will always dedicate my shoutout to my amazing mother. She is the strongest and smartest person I know. She has always been an example of someone who could do it all. When things get hard she is always the one to give me encouraging words of advice. She always offers me different perspectives and unbiased opinions to help guide me through life and confusing times. While being a great mother, she has done so much in her life from earning two Ivy-League degrees to leading various nonprofit organizations in her community. The hard work and success she has shown me has been the greatest inspiration and motivation for me to chase my dreams.

Instagram: rina.bean_

Image Credits
Lindsay Rosenberg Photography @lnzyrosephoto