BIO

I was drawn to the idea of creating a version of myself that was free from any connections or ideas people had of me that I had no control over.

I wanted to build a new narrative that revolved around the artist, the designer, and the entrepreneurial powerhouse that I know myself to be; that's why I changed my name.

Donatella Azygous emerged as I shed the skin of Diana C Munoz, like a snake molting to reveal a new layer. I am shedding every trauma, every notion of limitations or boundaries set by my perception of society and my place in it. Becoming Donatella means I am unstoppable, I am bold, ready, and I am a force. A state of mind that was conceived in Diana's world and is coming to fruition in Donatella's reality, I think she would be proud.

I was born Diana Carolina Muñoz, a first-generation, American-born, full-blooded Colombian. My parents came to the U.S. with the same hope most immigrants had, building a better, more secure life for their family. My parents were born into impoverished communities, my mother being one of nine, my father, one of thirteen. They grew up playing on dirt floors in homes lacking in both food and love. Arriving in the U.S. they began their journey working odd jobs, holding down two to three at a time, in an attempt to create a better life.

I grew up in a humble household, rarely taking note of my family's social standing, and though things got tight, we were always provided for. Growing up, my mother still took the time to hand-make costumes and decorative crafts; she inadvertently exposed me to a process I eventually would come to fall in love with, creating. Through his example, my father taught me the value of continued hard work and showed me the power of independence.

As a child, I was always considered "advanced" I was bussed to magnet schools and was even offered the opportunity to skip grades a couple of times. Being bussed out of the hood allowed my mind to develop beyond what I could see out of my front door. Although troubles at home may have followed me wherever I went and manifested in outrageous behavior at school, I excelled when it came to creative thought and application. I was a cleaver, hyperactive, evil little fuck.

At the age of ten, my mother became pregnant for the third time when I was interested in art. I'd accompany her to every doctor's appointment during her high-risk pregnancy; we were at the county hospital for what felt like an eternity a few times a week. I began to pass the time by lugging around an encyclopedia. I loved fish, so "F" was a perfect choice. I started drawing every fish in the "F" section and obsessed with rendering each fish with all of its details and colors. That Christmas, Barbie and Polly Pocket fell from my wish list, and art supplies began to take their place. I won't say art saved my life, but it helped make sense of the madness. I now had something to focus on, something I loved.

Art became a constant in my life, from selling my first drawings in 4th Grade, creating my first brand in 10th Grade, to eventually working as a creative director and presently being a tattoo artist. Art consumes my free time, my mind, and my lifestyle. It allowed me to design my whole life, from my friends to my environment. So it only made sense to choose a name that makes the design process complete, the name of my higher self, a name with no attachments to the past, and ambitions geared towards the future.