Meet the Team

Editors

  • A man with glasses, wearing a white cap, a brown jacket, a white shirt, and a red striped tie, standing on a beach with the ocean and cloudy sky in the background. He is holding his cap with both hands and has a surprised or happy expression.

    Lorenzo dela Cruz | Founder & Editor in Chief | San Antonio, TX

    Lorenzo dela Cruz is a photographer, content creator, and creative director from Sacramento, California. As a recent graduate at the University of California, Berkeley with a BA in Film & Media, Lorenzo has always strived to use art as a medium to represent the human experience. As a Filipino American observing a lack of Asian identity in San Antonio, he founded Nopality Magazine as a safe space for young Asian Americans and creatives in general to have a platform for their voice and work, highlighting their work and personal expression.

  • A young woman with pink and purple hair taking a selfie in her colorful, decorated bedroom.

    Gwyneth Gravador | Managing Editor | Houston, TX

    Gwyneth is a Houston-based Filipina designer and digital creative with a focus on Art with a minor in Advertising. Her work blends bold visuals with nostalgic and pop culture influences, spanning projects like brand design and digital posters. Outside of her creative practice, she enjoys streaming, gaming, exploring music, and expressing herself through ever-changing hair colors.

  • A young woman with long black hair smiling, wearing a sleeveless maroon top and earrings, against a green background.

    Natalie Haruka Ewe | Executive Editor | Dallas, TX

    Natalie Haruka Ewe is a storyteller based in Dallas with a background in Marketing and Performing Arts. Guided by a sense of wonder, she hopes to bring out that same spark of curiosity in her readers through her writing.

  • A young woman with black and blue hair smiling and posing outdoors at night, with pink flowers and other people in the background.

    Jae Santos | Marketing Manager | McAllen, TX

    Jae is a Filipino digital artist and graphic designer based in McAllen, Texas. They graduated with an Advertising & Public Relations Bachelor's degree with a Graphic Design minor. Jae has worked with multiple startups, growing small businesses, and managed & designed for social media accounts of the vibrant city of McAllen! Their work is driven by their passion to enhance the ideas of inspiring creatives and bring their vision to life.

  • A woman with curly dark hair and glasses smiling and sitting on a blanket under a large tree in a park, holding a cup with a red straw.

    Alexis Carrillo | Art Director | Tucson, AZ

    From the deserts of Tucson, Arizona, Alexis is a graphic designer who is interested in illustration and editorial designs. As a recent graduate and student employee at the University of Arizona with a BA in Design Arts & Practices in Print, she's learned how to use a variety of digital art mediums that help audiences understand the stories and cultures being shared. Her future goals reflect this and she hopes to implement these lessons through her designs in magazines and social media.

  • A young woman with light skin, reddish-brown hair, and a warm smile standing against a white patterned background.

    Samantha Firmin | Photo Editor & Creative Director | Dallas, TX

    Sam is a photographer, art director, and storyteller currently based in Austin and Dallas, TX. A recent graduate from UT Austin with a degree in Advertising, she’s pursuing a career in marketing and directing within the live events and entertainment industries. She loves exploring new creative outlets and is passionate about telling stories that spark meaningful conversations and resonate with audiences.

  • A smiling man with short dark hair and a beard, wearing a dark red t-shirt and black pants, sitting on a wooden stool against a gray textured backdrop.

    James Russell | Copy Editor | San Antonio, TX

    James is a photographer/videographer based in San Antonio, Texas. While being mostly self-taught in photography. With a background in writing, his main goal is to tell the story in its most authentic way possible. Helping others express themselves with who they truly are.

  • A person taking a selfie with a vintage film camera in front of a mirror, wearing a beanie and sweater, in black and white.

    Tommy Horn | Merchandise Manager | Houston, TX

    Tommy is a photographer/content creator based in Houston, Texas. While being self-taught in almost every medium he’s done, photography seemed to be the one that resonated the most with him. With a background in content creation and video editing, Tommy’s main goal is to help others and himself achieve their best possible versions of themselves.

  • Kimberly Saenz | Copy Editor | El Paso, TX

    Kimberly Michelle Saenz is a poet and artist based in El Paso, Tx. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso, awarded a BA and MFA in Creative Writing with a minor in Art History. Kimberly is ambitious to record the intersection of culture, history, and language as a study of and resistance to convention. Because she encourages the use of creative outlets to confront and challenge the self and the institutions which shape us, and values interacting with other artists and their work, Kimberly is pursuing a career in publishing, editing, museum studies, and/or academics. Kimberly aims to publish her own writing because she wants to make a difference and understands the catharsis that comes from writing and creating.

  • A person with red hair wearing glasses and a gray hoodie, holding a yellow dog hat with floppy ears and face on their head in a room decorated with colorful posters and artwork.

    Kara Noun | Lead Designer | Houston, TX

    Kara Noun is a Houston-based Cambodian graphic designer. Kara is a recent graduate from the University of North Texas with a BA in Interdisciplinary Art & Design, double minoring in both Fashion Merchandising and Marketing. Her priority in her designs have always been focused on emphasizing self-expression, creativity, and constant growth.

Photographers

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    Julieta Torres | Houston, TX

    Julieta Torres Aldana is a graduate from the Savannah College of Art & Design in Savannah, GA where she obtained her Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Film, Television and Photography. She currently resides in Houston, TX where she spends her time photographing events and concerts, specifically focusing on the K-pop and cosplay scene. When she's not busy creating, she spends her time listening to music, playing video games or taking her dog on a walk. 

  • A young woman with long dark hair and a septum piercing, wearing a black jacket, standing on a bridge in a city, with skyscrapers in the background, and a camera hanging from her neck.

    Leila Miranda | Austin, TX

    Leila Miranda is a photographer born and raised in Austin, TX. In her free time, she can often be found capturing street scenes along Congress Avenue or Guadalupe Street. She’s also a big live music fan, so if there’s a show going on, there’s a good chance she’s up front snapping shots of the band—or the crowd going wild.

  • Headshot of a young woman with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing a navy blazer and white shirt, against a dark background.

    Michelle Sy | San Francisco, CA

    Michelle is a Chinese-American photographer and creative from New Jersey, now based in San Francisco. She graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor's in Business Analytics but has always had a passion for the arts, music, and travel. Capturing a special moment is always her goal, whether that's an artist on stage or a beautiful landscape somewhere.

  • A woman with long, wavy, reddish-brown hair is wearing a crown made of green leaves and orange flowers. The photo captures her face, emphasizing her makeup and expression, against a dark background.

    Odawni Villahermosa | San Diego, CA

    Odawni Villahermosa is a photographer currently based in San Diego, California. Born and raised in the Philippines and having lived in Japan, her perspective is shaped by a tapestry of cultural experiences. Her work is driven by a deep curiosity for people and their stories, capturing them with artistry, intention, and a spirit of creative exploration. 

  • A young woman with long hair playing an electric guitar on stage under red lighting, singing into a microphone.

    Shelby Schulz | Kyle, TX

    Shelby is a self-taught photographer based in Austin, TX. When she isn't obsessing over photography, you can find her making music with her band Talking Backwards. Her goal is to one day be able to make a living off her creative passions. Until then she enjoys spending her free time working on her own creative projects, hiking, playing video games and watching movies.

  • Person smiling and making a peace sign with their fingers, wearing glasses and a brown T-shirt, standing near a chain-link fence against a dark background.

    Quenton Hua | Austin, TX

    Quenton Hua is a Houston-born photographer and software engineer based in Austin, Texas. He recently graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Computer Engineering. What began as a hobby in street photography eventually evolved into a passion for capturing everything from cars and nature to events. When he’s not coding, gaming, or doom scrolling, you can probably find him playing pickleball.

  • A person with multiple earrings and facial jewelry holding a Canon camera, with a dark background and a red light illuminating them.

    Lexy Elder | Oklahoma

    Hey Nopals!

  • A woman with glasses and a beige shirt smiling as she holds a cat and a bag of cat treats at a birthday celebration. The table has a white birthday cake with rainbow sprinkles and a lit candle, and a festive decoration with the number 2.

    Amethyst Chagolla | San Antonio, TX

    Based in San Antonio, Texas, Amethyst is a photographer and student at the University of Texas at San Antonio, studying film and sports management. When she’s not working or pursuing one of her many hobbies, she can be found at concerts, spending time with family, or with her daughter, her cat.es here

  • A young man wearing a yellow photographer's vest with the number 111, standing on a football field at a stadium.

    Joaquin Diego Valle | San Antonio, TX

    Joaquin Diego Valle is a San Antonio based digital storyteller with a background in journalism. He is passionate about storytelling and with he hopes that with his work he is able to create something that can last longer than him.

  • A woman with glasses taking a selfie with a camera, smiling, in front of a ceiling decorated with hanging purple and white lights.

    Crystal Truong | San Antonio, TX

    Crystal is a photographer, creative, and music lover based in San Antonio, TX. Graduating from UT Austin with a degree in Marketing, she hopes to use her skills to pursue her dreams in the entertainment industry. You can find Crystal at a concert, at a grocery store, or at home playing video games.

  • A young man with black hair wearing round glasses, a black shirt, and silver jewelry, looking thoughtfully at the camera.

    Ramray Wong | Dallas, TX

    Ramray Wong is a Filipino photographer based in Dallas, Texas. To cleanse the palate after long days of studying Math at UT Austin, he developed a passion for photography and music as creative outlets. Combining the two, he now specializes in live-music photography. Outside of concerts, you can find him locked in his apartment practicing an instrument, shooting creative portraits on film, or supporting local events.

Graphic Designers

  • A woman with curly hair sitting at a table in a restaurant, looking at the camera. There are coloring pages, markers, and a phone on the table. The background features wooden walls and a window showing an outside view.

    Briana Yewell | Dallas, TX

    Bri is a graphic designer from south Florida based in Dallas, TX. She graduated from FAMU with a BS in Graphic Design and loves print/physical media. She aims to make art in a way that people are able to visualize and understand her mind. She is a hardcore music, animanga and fashion lover - she uses all three to influence her work daily!

  • A woman with long dark hair smiling in front of a Windows XP desktop background featuring a green hill and blue sky with clouds.

    Natalie Gonzales | Houston, TX

    Natalie Gonzalez is a Houston, Texas–based creative designer specializing in branding, apparel graphics, and visual storytelling. She studied Graphic Design at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, where she developed a strong foundation in narrative-driven design. Her work explores the intersection of internet culture and cultural phenomena.

  • Illustration of a flower cacti with spikes and a pink flower, with the words "NOPALITY MAG" in the center.

    Alexandra Rodriguez | El Paso, TX

    Hi Nopals!

  • Close-up of a woman's face with dark hair, wearing a gray top and a silver necklace, against a dark background.

    John Mai | Dallas, TX

    John Mai is a multidisciplinary designer currently based in Dallas, TX. He graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a BA in Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communications (ATEC). As a creative, he is passionate about expanding his toolkit by exploring and learning new digital mediums to tackle modern design problems. Outside of design, he enjoys supporting local creative organizations and communities, with a focus on fostering third spaces.

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    Jackie Le | Los Angeles, CA

    Jackie Le is a Vietnamese American artist based in Los Angeles. She is a recent graduate from California State University of Fullerton with a BFA in Entertainment Art and Animation. With her art her goal is to create fun meaningful stories that connect with others. In her free time you can catch her at KPOP concerts, dancing around, or crafting and drawing silly little things!

  • A young woman with long, wavy hair that is blonde with dark brown and purple streaks, wearing a white top and a silver necklace with a heart-shaped pendant, sitting on a bed with a gray headboard and white pillows in a hotel room.

    May Nguyen | Houston, TX

    May is a creative designer based in Houston, TX, specializing in concept art, advertisements, and merchandise. She holds a B.A. in Strategic Communications from the University of Houston and works in event operations. In May's free time, you can find her baking, crafting, or on some sort of side quest.

  • A person with curly dark hair is dressed in vintage-style clothing and accessories, including pearl necklaces, lace gloves, and a lace bonnet adorned with pink pearls and flowers. They are making a peace sign with both hands and are surrounded by green foliage and peach-colored roses.

    Valentina Arenas | Kyle, TX

    Valentina Arenas is a Chilean artist based in Kyle, TX. She is a recent graduate of the Fashion institute of Technology with a BFA in Illustration. She likes to experiment with mixed media, blending traditional techniques with digital processes. When Valentina isn’t making art, she’s mostly reading a book, eating or hanging with her friends.

Writers

  • Close-up of person with short black hair with a purple tint, wearing a white sleeveless top and yellow earrings, standing in front of a textured cream wall.

    Vi-Linh Nguyen | San Antonio, TX

    Vi-Linh Nguyen is a Vietnamese American web developer and digital artist currently based in Texas, who likes to write stories on the side. As a recent alumni of DePaul University's Computer Science graduate program, her goal has always been to make a more creative digital experience landscape through art and code and storytelling. When her eyes aren't glued to a computer Vi-Linh can be found upcycling or making up stories for the characters in her head to live in.

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    Vi-Anh Nguyen | San Antonio, TX

    Vi-Anh is a digital artist and programmer currently based in Texas. After getting her Master's in Computer Science, she strives to combine her love of art with her passion for code to create something more colorful for the digital world. When she's not working digitally, she enjoys reading comics and playing video games to explore what she can incorporate in her own storytelling.

  • A woman with long dark hair wearing a white shirt and light blue jeans, standing by a waterfront with the Tower Bridge in London in the background. She is holding a brown tote bag and a phone in her left hand, near a black railing and a life buoy station.

    Jessie Wang | Austin, TX

    Jessie is a writer from Chicago, IL and now working in Austin, Texas as an engineer. She graduated from the University of Illinois in Computer Science and Philosophy and is interested in how technology shapes media and daily life. Outside of work, you can find her at the climbing gym, hanging out with the same 2 people, and drinking coffee. 

  • Rhode Duenas | Austin, TX

    From West Texas to Central, Rhode is a writer, photographer, and creative as well as a huge concert junkie based in Austin, TX. As a writer, Rhode believes everyone has a story. All it takes is someone to listen. She also happens to be a graduate student at Texas Tech University pursuing a master’s in Mass Communication. While she’s not panicking about her next due date, Rhode is trying a new restaurant or coffee shop in the morning and watching her favorite artists at night.

Social Media

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    Sydney Reed | San Antonio, TX

    Sydney Reed is a San Antonio native who loves diving into the world of social media and keeping up with the latest trends. She’s always creating, curating, and sharing what inspires her. When she’s not scrolling for the next big thing, Sydney is dabbling in writing where she gets to blend her love for sound and storytelling.

  • A woman with wet, curly dark hair taking a selfie outdoors. She is wearing a green dress with white patterns, gold earrings, a silver necklace with a heart-shaped pendant, and pink lipstick. There are trees and a building in the background.

    Jennifer Cano | San Antonio, TX



    Jennifer Cano is a graduate from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and minor in Marketing. Aspiring to connect and create communities through visual storytelling and creative works in the digital space. In her free time, she likes reading, watching her favorite shows or playing video games.

Production

  • A woman with long black hair, glasses on her head, wearing a black shirt and a necklace, smiling in a home kitchen.

    Khrista Trovela | Brownsville, TX



    Khrista is a Filipina-American from Brownsville, TX with a strong background in advertising and PR. She is an ever-evolving creative that hopes to use and refine her artistic skills to tell impactful stories on and off the clock. Driven by her curiosity and love of learning, she is a serial creative hobbyist—exploring different artistic pursuits from music to film photography.

  • A man with curly black hair wearing sunglasses and a light purple polo shirt stands on a rooftop or observation deck. In the background, there is a lush landscape with many trees, some buildings, and a clear blue sky.

    Akshaj Turebylu | Dallas, TX

    Akshaj is a writer, director, and producer from DFW. He works on projects related to music culture, literature, and religion.