Darianka has built a world that feels half-Tumblr scrapbook, half-future fashion fantasy, and she moves through it with the kind of confidence that comes from knowing exactly who you were at fourteen and refusing to let go of her. Born in Costa Rica and raised in a small Florida town, she learned English through Disney Channel and carried those early pop-culture obsessions straight into her work today.
It shows in everything she touches: the Coachella looks that go viral every year, the soft-focused MySpace energy in her style, the steady stream of references to Britney, Aquamarine and the girls who defined a certain kind of glitter-covered freedom. This year she stepped onto her first runway at Tyler McGillivary’s “Mermaiden” show, a moment that felt as surreal as it did full circle. Now splitting her time between New York, Paris and wherever inspiration pulls her next, Darianka is shaping a nostalgic yet sharply modern lane entirely her own.
For this 18 Questions feature, she lets us into her universe.
What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
I speak Spanish! I was born in Costa Rica, so Spanish was my first language, and when I immigrated to Florida, I knew no English. I learned English from school and by watching Disney Channel.
If you could manifest one thing for yourself this year, what would it be?
I want pink Uggs with rhinestones under my Christmas tree.
What’s a song you currently have on repeat?
Touch of my hand. Britney always.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
The higher the heels, the closer to God.
Who would play you in the movie of your life?
Me.
What’s one thing you can’t live without?
Pop Music & Taco Bell
What’s a movie or show you could watch over and over again?
A guilty pleasure is like Vampire Diaries, but I love The Virgin Suicides, and I find a lot of comfort in Tim Burton movies.
If you weren’t doing what you do now, what do you think you’d be doing instead?
My life is a dream come true, so I don’t think I could do anything else and be so truly happy, but I wanted to study to be a marine biologist.
What’s your favorite city in the world?
New York.
Describe yourself in three words.
Curious, Intuitive, and Playful.
You made your runway debut at Tyler McGillivary’s “Mermaiden” show, what was running through your head right before you took your first step onto that runway?
I was so excited to be invited to be a part of the most perfect mermaid world. My hair was taped down, but I had nothing underneath, so I was totally freaking out about it coming undone since it was windy. I was running around asking all the hairstylist to keep hairspraying my hair down. It was so fun and worth it though.
Tyler’s collection took cues from Aquamarine, if your teenage self had seen you walking that show, what do you think she’d say?
Aquamarine is top 10 favorite movies for me and I grew up passing my town’s water tower and always being like “I need to swim in there,” so I was so excited to meet Sara, who plays Aquamarine, and just have that magic energy coming from the show.
There’s something really nostalgic about your style, it feels like MySpace-era energy meets 2025 glamour. Do you consciously tap into that early-2000s world, or is it just who you are?
My style is totally embedded in my DNA from just growing up and having these 2000s icons like Britney, Mischa Barton, Paris, and the Olsen twins. I naturally gravitate towards the 2000s and the fun, carefree attitude that defined that era.
Your Coachella looks have gone viral year after year, what’s your secret to creating moments that feel effortless but still completely unforgettable?
Thank you! I grew up dreaming and wanting to go to Coachella. I was raised in a small town in Florida, so it felt far away. Now that I’m able to go, I play into the stuff I would reblog on Tumblr when I was 14 because it’s just so fun to reference. I’m just channeling the girl who was obsessed with these moments in the first place
Influencing can sometimes look easy from the outside. What’s something about the job that people don’t see — the unglamorous or surprisingly hard parts?
There’s pressure, for sure, but I don’t like to sit in it. I just try to keep it fun and remember I’m lucky I get to do this.
When you’re not in front of the camera, how do you recharge or get inspired again?
Being in nature or doing something grounding after a lot of days on set is always so nice. I love reading in Central Park or just walking around.
You were just in Paris for Fashion Week. What’s something you want to prove to yourself while you’re there?
I learned how to order a chocolate croissant and sound French.
If you could design your dream fashion moment, the city, the designer, the vibe — what would it look and feel like?
Probably a 90s or 2000s archival look, or I love the Jonathan Anderson pieces he’s done for Dior. I love fashion with history — my dream closet is all vintage. It’d be so fun to do something in Japan.
Follow via @darianka
Photography Emma Beiles
