Today we’d like to introduce you to Stella Priscilla
Hi Stella, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born in Brazil and immigrated with my family to Boston, MA, at the age of three. The cold city life was vastly different from where my parents had grown up in both Africa and Brazil, but they made do. Despite the language barriers, they found employment in factories and adapted to the fast paced city life in pursuit of the American Dream for their children.
When I was in second grade, I found myself in the right place at the right time and was awarded a fully paid scholarship to any college of my choice by an organization called Say Yes to Education. My elementary school in Cambridge, MA, was selected for various reasons, one being the large number of low-income students with immigrant and minority parents.
This program did not disappoint. It set up our entire class for success, providing us with tutoring, mentorships, summer camps, and other resources to keep us focused and on track to be the best versions of ourselves. The founder of the organization, Mr. George Weiss, along with the rest of the advisors and staff, quickly became like family to me. My creativity caught their attention early on, and they often provided me with new art supplies, art classes, and other creative outlets.
I went on to have an incredible opportunity—one I would have otherwise never had. I graduated high school and went to college for Graphic Design.
I have always been a creative individual. I have never known myself to not be completely focused on some sort of creative outlet. Drawing, painting, photography, dance, fashion design, home decor, sculpture, baking—you name it, I did everything. In fact, choosing a direction to follow creatively was a difficult decision. In the end, I selected Graphic Design because I felt it gave me the most options to create. I could use various mediums and ultimately enjoy all the things I loved about being creative.
I remained in Boston until my sophomore year in college, when I decided to move to sunny Tampa, FL, where I earned two prestigious Addy Awards and completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design. From there, I moved back to New England and then back again to Florida, working in various roles within the design field. I started as a Graphic Designer at a small boutique agency and then worked my way up to Creative Director. I worked in small agencies with mom-and-pop clients and large companies serving big-name clients. I loved every part of it.
I could never have enough creative outlets, so I started my own photography business during this time. My photography studio grew quickly, and my work was nationally published in major magazines. I focused most of my energy on my own brand and grew my photography business.
In 2016, I welcomed my first son, and my whole world changed when I became a mom. I quickly realized that my long days on shoots were not ideal for having a brand new baby, so I packed up for Florida once again to be closer to family. The photography market in the Orlando area was immensely saturated at that time, and I found it hard to make my mark. I took a step back and realized I had to start something new again. I used all of the knowledge I had developed throughout the years to create a home decor brand. I named it HÖMGRL because I was just a girl at home trying to make my little creative dream happen. I “mom-ed” all day and worked all night, rarely sleeping. When he napped, I held meetings, and when it was bedtime, I was designing and building my new business. I knew I had to make HÖMGRL work.
I often refer to myself as a “relentless creative” because I just don’t give up, and what do they say? If you build it, they will come. HÖMGRL was a success. My little business hit record numbers, and we were doing so well—better than I had ever imagined. Then, COVID hit. Lumber became difficult to source, shipments were delayed or lost, and the price of materials skyrocketed. My little business took a hit—a big one.
I started homeschooling my son around the same time and launched Raising Wolf. This became another creative outlet for me. He was my muse, and watching him grow and learn was now my favorite thing in the world. I have a deep belief that all children are creative, but at some point, most of us lose interest in it. I wanted to share everything I know with him and immerse him in all things creative. My creative ideas, recipes, art, and homeschooling tips struck a chord with many moms, and I quickly grew a following. In 2021, I welcomed my second son, another little budding artist, into my family.
In the past couple of years, I have continued to grow Raising Wolf as a homeschooling mom to two boys, and I have started to revive my HÖMGRL brand with downloadable art options to help alleviate the rising costs associated with producing and shipping my artwork and home decor pieces.
Additionally, 2025 has been a significant year for me, and I have decided to go back to my roots and pursue something I have always wanted to do. I have started my own creative agency, Stella & Co. Creative. It’s both scary and exciting, but I know that with hard work and determination, I can succeed. I am committed to showing my boys the value of hard work and following your passions, and I also know that I am making my parents proud and honoring their sacrifices.
As I embark on this new journey, I am filled with gratitude for the experiences that have shaped me and for the opportunities that lie ahead. I am dedicated to creating a space where creativity thrives, and I look forward to helping others bring their visions to life. With each step, I am reminded of the importance of resilience and the power of dreams, and I am eager to see where this path will take me next.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://raisingwolf.com | homgrl.com | stellacocreative.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/raisingwolf | instagram.com/homgrl | instagram.com/stella.co.creative
