Latina Entrepreneur Ellyse Espinoza Has No Apologies — but She Does Have Lots and Lots of Sneakers

Latina Entrepreneur Ellyse Espinoza Has No Apologies — but She Does Have Lots and Lots of Sneakers

(photo by VLJ Photography)

GRAPHIC DESIGNER AND prolific entrepreneur Ellyse Espinoza, who has tens of thousands of followers across multiple social media pages, has a sneaker addiction. And that's just one of the revelations the founder of State Line Designs (think tees and crop tops emblazoned with slogans such as "I am the prize" among many other gloriously giftable goods) — and of the HTX Boss Babes organization that seeks to empower women looking to excel in the business world — shared in answering our influencer questionnaire.


What accomplishment are you most proud of? Building State Line Mobile Boutique, my fashion boutique on wheels, has always been a dream of mine. I custom built a trailer to take my brand mobile.

Name three things on your bucket list. Learn to barrel race, travel to Tulum and learn to surf.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? A tattoo artist.

If you weren't doing what you currently do for a living, what would you do? Be a creative director for a fashion or sports magazine.

Don't be modest: What's something you love about yourself? My unapologetic attitude.

What do you appreciate most in others? Honesty, loyalty and integrity.

What's something you can't go without for more than a day? Sadly, my phone.

You have an unexpected day off in Houston. How do you spend it? Taking the doors off of my Jeep and heading to the beach.

Is there a new restaurant or bar in town you're loving? I love Brass Tacks in the East End for coffee and lunch.

Finish this sentence: Skinny-dipping is… Not on the agenda.

Name-drop time: Who's the most famous person you've ever met (and how did that happen)? Vin Diesel. I interned at NBC Universal in L.A., and Fast and Furious was one of the first movie posters I worked on. My boss knew I loved Vin Diesel and sent me to the conference room to meet him when one of our films came out. I was super nervous. He was the first official celebrity I ever met.

Tell us about your closet. Something new you love, and also something old? I love sneakers and collecting Air Jordan 1's. I have my own sneaker closet. I just got the [Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG] Hyper Royals that I waited months for, and I still own a pair of Jordans from when I was in the 7th grade.

Your porn-star name is your favorite thing to cook plus your where you want to go on your next vacation. Go! Steak Tulum.

Your alternate porn-star name — they have those, you know — is your favorite Houston restaurant plus the label on the undies you're wearing right now. La Esquina Savage Fenty.

What would you choose as your last meal? Medium well steak with A1 sauce.

The dinner party question: Name three people, from now or any time in history, you'd invite as your perfect guests. Beyoncé, Nipsey Hussle and Selena Quintanilla.

Is there a charitable cause you support, and why that one? CAS. Childhood Apraxia of Speech is a motor speech disorder that my son, Arian Lukas, was diagnosed with at age two. I try to raise awareness for CAS and also coordinate a fundraiser to educate and raise funds for families.

What's something about you people would find surprising? I am an introvert. My social media totally makes me feel like an extrovert. But in real life, I prefer a smaller group of friends.

Who would play you in the movie of your life? Wishful thinking: Vanessa Vasquez. She's an Emmy-nominated actress from Houston and a local Latina who is absolutely amazing. I've been blessed to meet her, and she supports my clothing line, so I would be so honored to have her play me in a movie.

In five words or less, what's your advice for living a happy life? Mental health over everything.

Business+Innovation
Cool for ‘Schools’! CIS Wants to Transport You to a Whimsical ‘Wonderland’ at Milestone Gala

CIS 2024 Gala Honorary Co-Chair Judy Tate, Co-Chair Lauren Brollier, Co-Chair Cassie Milam, Honorary Co-Chair Kirby McCool

WHETHER YOU PREFER Alice, the Mad Hatter or the Queen of Hearts, Communities In Schools of Houston’s A Night in Wonderland 45th Anniversary GalaA Night in Wonderland 45th Anniversary Gala is not to be missed! Join in the celebration for a whimsical good time on Thursday, April 4th, at the luxurious Post Oak Hotel.

Keep Reading Show less

Jacob Hilton, a.k.a. Travid Halton, at home in his kitchen, where he enjoys cooking as a form of therapy.

PINK FLOYD'S THE Wall. Sinatra’s In the Wee Small Hours. Beyonce’s Lemonade. Three divergent examples of the album as a cathartic, psychological, conceptual work, meant to be experienced in a single sitting. Houston singer-songwriter Jacob Hilton, 37, who records as Travid Halton, a portmanteau of his mother and father’s names, might balk at being mentioned in such company. (This is a thoroughly unpretentious man, who describes himself as an “archaeologist turned singer-songwriter.”)

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment

How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

Keep Reading Show less