Moving With Purpose, Creating With Heart: Interview with Austin Castillo-Leovan
By Maddie
Whether he’s commanding a room with his voice, grooving through a dance circle, curating a fire fit, or hosting an event, Austin Castillo-Leovan shows up fully as himself. He doesn’t fit himself into one box. His creativity isn’t performative, it’s personal and intentional. Every lane he steps in feels driven by the desire to express, uplift, and move people in meaningful ways. For Austin, creativity isn’t about chasing visibility. It’s about alignment between who he is, who he wants to become, and how he shows up for others.
Photo by KBR | Contagion Media
“As a creative, I just love to utilize all of my talents as much as I can,” Austin says. “110% effort. Fashion, dancing, MCing, hosting – all rooted in the person of who I wanted to be when I grow up.” The idea of becoming the version of himself he once imagined sits at the core of Austin’s journey so far. However, believe it or not, creativity wasn’t always the plan for him.
Growing up, Austin didn’t necessarily see himself as an artist. His early interests leaned more toward science rather than creativity. “I don’t think I really was a creative person growing up,” he admits. “Maybe creative in science… like STEM. That was what I was going to go into.” He earned his Geology degree from Iowa State University, but little did he know he was going to walk down a completely different path after graduation.
The shift didn’t happen overnight, it came through real life moments, including one conversation with his dad that would unexpectedly change how he saw presentation and confidence forever. “My pops said to me, ‘Alonso [his middle name], what are you wearing?’” Austin recalls, laughing. “I had on a flannel and jean shorts I thought looked fine at the time, but my dad thought differently. And what he said to me was: ‘when you look good you feel good, when you feel good you perform better.’ After that, I started dressing with more intention.” That moment stuck with him. Not because it was about clothes, but because it was about intention, about how external expression connects directly to internal confidence. Fashion then became a gateway to self-belief.
Before dance or fashion took center stage, Austin’s first true creative outlet came through something far more intimidating: public speaking. “As someone who grew up really shy, who was afraid to talk to girls or make new friends, I am super glad that public speaking was my first creative outlet,” he says. One of his earliest opportunities placed him in a setting few young people ever experience: speaking at the Iowa State Capitol about equal access to education at 6 years old. “After a while it started to click with me… what I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it,” Austin explains. “That was my first glance at my creativity. My words moved people emotionally. I realized how powerful my voice was.” The realization that words could shift perspectives and make people feel seen planted the seed for everything that followed.
Photo by EJ Mañón | Contagion Media
If public speaking helped Austin find his voice, dance helped him find his soul. “Dance is expression. Dance is an outlet. It’s an extension of who you are as a person… your body, your feelings,” he says. “It’s that piece that can fill a hole in your heart and your soul.” Austin speaks about dance not as a skill, but as a birthright. Something we all once had before fear and judgement crept in. “Everybody’s made to dance,” he says. “You hear music as a baby and you do a little dance. Then one day someone might have told you that you look stupid, or to stop dancing, and it made you believe that you couldn’t dance. But it’s our natural born right to dance.” That belief alone fuels his passion for dance battling, performing, and getting into crowds. He thrives in spaces where energy, movement, and authenticity collide.
That same philosophy stands with Austin’s work in fashion and clothing, especially through In Tha Cut Opportunity Shop, the creative venture he’s building with purpose. “It gives everybody the opportunity to get fly,” he says. “We have different price points, different varieties. But just like dance, fashion is an extension of self.” For Austin, styling isn’t about trends, it’s about helping people see themselves with confidence. “When I get to work with people and extend who they are,” he adds, “it is something truly meaningful.” When asked what makes an outfit stand out, his answer is simple but powerful. “Confidence,” he says. “If you can wear it with confidence, I can’t ignore you.” His personal style reflects that mindset along with a blend of streetwear and businesswear. Vintage Ralph Lauren, vintage Tommy Hilfiger, leather jackets, and Uniqlo staples are in his current wardrobe rotation.
Photo of Austin Castillo-Leovan and B Bailey by EJ Mañón | Contagion Media
Austin draws inspiration from creatives who move with purpose. His partner, Maddie plays a major role. “She’s a creative herself,” he says. “Watching her discipline and work ethic, her fashion sense… it’s very inspiring. As her fashion sense shifts, mine does too.”
Kendrick Lamar and Wallo267 also shape his perspective, not just for their success, but for how they uplift others. “What Kendrick is doing with pgLang is rooted in community,” Austin says. “And Wallo — the man is a master of speech. He paints pictures with his words and makes me better.”
Working with Contagion Media has allowed Austin to step further into the media space while staying aligned with what he values most. “It’s been love,” he says. “I’ve been able to network, gain opportunities, and gain insights within media. And it’s fun. I don’t think of it as dreadful work. I look forward to it.”
Looking ahead, his dreams stay consistent with his values. If given an endless budget, Austin wouldn’t build something for himself, he’d build something for others. “I would create a grant to allow people to get paid to be creative,” he says. “An incentive to be creative.” Ultimately, Austin’s goals come down to impact. “The biggest thing is to speak life into people at a grand stage,” he says. “And the stage doesn’t have to be physical, it could be online.”
Whether through dance, fashion, words, or community, Austin Castillo-Leovan is building a creative life rooted in intention, confidence, and connection. And he’s just getting started. With goals that stretch far beyond stages and screens, Austin is focused on speaking life into others and building opportunities where creativity feels accessible, not exclusive. As he continues to evolve, his work remains a reminder that when creativity is rooted in purpose, its reach extends beyond the artist.
Edited by Natalie Wheeler on August 8, 2026
