As an artist, Janella Hernandez’s work is all about balance. The freestyler and fashion influencer can be found dribbling a football in cities across the world as she promotes various brands, but she got her big break outside the Koreatown Galleria.
Over a year ago, one of her first viral videos showcased her style. Hernandez is the obvious star in the videos, but the neighborhood frames her footwork, all of it buzzing with the same energy she brings to her art.
“It’s really cool to be part of a community. I feel like when you mix in your neighborhood, you bring a whole different kind of audience,” Hernandez told The LA Local. “I just love the idea of being able to rep Koreatown. In a way, I’m just someone that’s part of this huge ecosystem.”
Since those first videos, Hernandez has created sponsored content for 7-Eleven, LEGO, Northgate Market, the LA Metro and many more brands. Typically, she’s decked out in vibrant colors, intensely focused on keeping the ball off the ground, but also carrying a sense of glee for the moment.
In one of her first viral videos, she sported a Guatemalan jersey styled by the LA brand Hood Baby . She remembers how people in the comment section complemented her style, but also loved how the fabric of Olympic and Western wove into the whole scene.
“I feel like that’s the perfect intersection to see everyone getting on and off the bus and just people living their daily lives,” she said. “I just kind of wanted to bring energy to that corner.”
Now with World Cup fever gripping the planet, the 26-year-old, first-gen Latina is reaping the benefits as more people celebrate her footie-meets-fashion approach.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
LA Local: What was your family’s reaction when you showed them your work as an influencer?
Hernandez: Now they’re just really happy for me. I think my mom is starting to understand a little bit more about the movement behind what I do. I feel like if anybody knows how much I struggled, it would be my mom. Even understanding where she was coming from. It was such a learning process for me to understand like, “Oh, she had this different upbringing, this different childhood in Guatemala that I could probably never even imagine.” It’s just different when you hear stories from your parents and especially being first–gen. I’m pretty sure she also thought this wasn’t possible. Social media wasn’t even a thing until recently, so it’s just been a journey, and they’re absolutely there for me now.
LA Local: Koreatown doesn’t have the biggest park spaces. There’s not a lot of green spaces to do stuff like the dribbling you do. What’s your approach to freestyling there?
Hernandez: That’s also a whole other thing. Understanding that I was one of those people who lacked access to like actually play soccer, like on a club. I was always playing out wherever I could. Taking that back to the street was kind of like just full circle. I feel like a lot of people can relate, but not a lot of people speak up about it, and even the fields being like locked up, too. It’s just hard for people to participate in sports and soccer. It has everything to do with that too. If we had more public spaces, that would be perfect.
LA Local: Were you in town for the Mexico vs. Korea game?
Hernandez: Yeah, I went to Seoul International Park for the game. I even went out to the Koreatown Plaza, too. I went to the little food court they had going on, because I wanted to see the mix of people. I wanted to see where the Koreans were, where the Mexicanos are at and it was just interesting to see everyone outside. It felt really good.
LA Local: There was an electricity in the air that day.
Hernandez: It was really nice to see the different colors. You have the Korea red, then you saw the Mexico green, and white and red. I heard a lot of people say it looked like Christmas. It was just cool to see everyone active and come together for that moment. I feel like it’s so important, especially now, when we have so much happening and the attacks recently to our communities. It was just nice to see us finally being able to celebrate without feeling like anything else. That’s really what I love about football, too. It’s just the way it brings people together.
LA Local: Who are you rooting for in the World Cup? (Question asked prior to the round of 32)
Hernandez: For in the next round, I keep telling people I’m going for any Latin American country, because obviously mine did not make it. I’m kind of like free-for-all with Latin American. Mexico would be really cool. I would love to see the city come alive again. I guess you could say Mexico.
LA Local: What’s a message you want to leave people with about being creative?
Hernandez: Be true to yourself. Follow the passions you have, and just stick to it, and do it with love. I just think that you should be doing the passions that you have with love, and everything will unfold for you then.
