Story & Lesson Highlights with Michelle Monique of Tucson

Michelle Monique shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Michelle , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity. Having intelligence and energy are cool but without integrity, those other characteristics lose their value. Integrity is what allows you to have a good energy, allows people to trust you, allows you to build relationships and use your skills for the right reason.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I do a lot! Aside from being a news writer, I’m also a singer-songwriter, dancer, and pageant girly!
I actually started getting more into dancing to become a better performer on stage as an artist. I got into pageantry to help me when it comes to dance audition interviews. I feel like everything I do goes hand and hand with one another and makes be a better performer in all areas.
As for my music, I usually enjoy making Latin-pop/Urbana type of songs. I currently have several projects in the making, I just need to find time to make content for them before I put them out.
Last time I spoke to you guys I was releasing music under Michelle Trujillo, but I actually change my artist name and am now releasing music under Michelle Monique!

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful was singing in my church choir when I was little. I think I’ve always love to sing and entertain (except when I was really little .. I used to cry), but being able to do that makes me feel confident and powerful. Although swim was life when I was growing up, I still dabbled in the music and performing world. I had some performance/singing opportunities in plays growing up and I also did a little dance and cheerleading here and there. Now that I’m older my love of performing has only grown and I feel more confident and more empowered than ever being able to sing my own songs and be on stage connecting with people. Feeling powerful comes from doing what you love.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
i would tell my younger self “you are smart.” Not the kind of smart that shows up on tests, because those were always a struggle for me, but the kind of smart that shows in her creativity. I always excelled in the arts – like dance, theater, music – but when it came to those regular subjects, it was lowkey a struggle. Event in college I struggled with my minor, sports management, and had to go through accounting twice. But, when it came to my major, broadcast journalism, I was so good at editing videos, photoshop, videography and like being able to show my personality through my work.
As I got older, I realized what I’m good at and what I find easy, other my actually find difficult. I would tell my younger self that she has her own unique strengths.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is for sure a part of the real me, but it’s not the whole picture. What i choose to show the world is the entertainer – the confident side of me that enjoys the spotlight and connecting with people. That’s real. However, the is a side of me that’s also quieter. Both versions of me are real. It’s important to stay true to myself, no matter what side people see.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes!
Fulfillment doesn’t come from praise, it comes from being your best when no one is looking and enjoying what you’re doing. As as artist, I think we all want to be seen or heard at some point, but doing it without praise is the true test of passion.
When I started making music I didn’t really have any wild expectations, I did it because it’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was a freshmen in high school. So, the joy I get from creating is something that keeps me going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/MichelleMoniquee?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafQ8-FnL32OPPYZdDCB6v0jmFzkXKqjffFD-ZBv6lwTbnfwVOBBk_iVBxdsRw_aem_L0evxScPS5BHdh7r9DDF5w
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchieetruu/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleMoniqueMusic
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/michelle-monique-trujillo
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mmichellemonique

  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/michelle-monique/1608724255

  https://open.spotify.com/artist/22F1P78pWE8MScw3uHhIYq?si=AMlPXrufQrCgv9lVlp-bOg&nd=1&dlsi=14dda0b17dac4314

Image Credits
Cruz Ocho Photo
Stuzz Media
Aryssa Trujillo