The full version of this interview with accompanying spread was featured in Issue 1: Bloom.
Interview/Design by: Isabella Vega
Art by: Kristina Marie
Demi Rae Moreno uses the light within her to shine onto others. She made waves this past Spring on American Idol because of her larger-than-life style, naturally emotive voice, and optimistic attitude. Through her faith and positivity, Demi shows us how a closed door can be a blessing in disguise.
Isabella: What was your “aha” moment that you knew you were going to pursue music?
Demi: For most of my childhood, I lived with my grandparents. When I was 4, I remember my abuelita put on the Selena movie, the one with Jennifer Lopez. I remember seeing her singing and dancing so confidently, and I thought “I have no idea what she’s doing, but I want to do that for the rest of my life!” Since then, I started singing wherever, while I would clean the house or in the bath. My go-to song was “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid!
Isabella: In your Instagram bio, you have “Child of God” in it. How has your faith helped you in terms of your journey through life?
Demi: Throughout my life, my journey with my faith has had its ups and downs. When I was younger, my father was in and out of prison. I lived with my grandparents for most of that time. I remember being in school and seeing all of the other kids with their mothers and fathers dropping them off and thinking “Why can’t I have that?” I was angry at God for allowing it to happen, for not giving me that “perfect” family. When I was older, my father was out of prison and decided to clean up. He realized that he had missed so much of our time together, and became my best friend. It was also a time of my becoming closer to God, and I was finally able to be thankful for the life I had, for having my father. Whenever life gets hard, I am able to fall back onto God and trust in Him, knowing I always have someone to look out for me.
Isabella: In your audition for American Idol, you mentioned that you “never looked like anyone”, and that stopped you from pursuing music professionally. What has your journey with confidence looked like?
Demi: I think we all have that part of ourselves that we don’t like. I remember my weight becoming a struggle for me in high school, when guys wouldn’t ask me to go out with them because I was “too big”. Then, we have the whole social media thing of comparing ourselves to people that don’t even really look like that. The biggest thing I have learned is that we need to love ourselves wholly. God created only one of you, there is no one else in the world just like you. You can’t forget that. I have little girls write to me all the time and say “I want to be you!”. This is so heartwarming, but I always reply and say “No, Be YOU! That’s the best thing you can be.”
Find more Demi here: