With one of his celebrity clients, musical artist Mike Posener, next door, fashion designer and celebrity stylist Jesse J worked to inspire Grand Terrace High School (GTHS) seniors with a special presentation just before Memorial Day weekend. The presentation was the second the 28-year-old fashion mogul made to local senior students in two years, having spoken to the class of 2013 at his alma mater, Colton High School, last April. “I really want to inspire these kids,” Jesse J—full name Jesse Guillen—said before Thursday’s presentation kicked off. “You know, I didn’t get this type of training when I was that age, and it’s really cool to come back and talk to the students and inspire them.” The presentation was intimate and quiet, taking place in the high school library, and when asked who was interested in fashion, a number of students’ hands raised. Guillen told the students, “Fashion is for everyone, no matter what shape or size. It’s cool to be able to show who you are through your clothes.” Since he “started from the bottom” with his own brand, Jesse J Collections—a collection he described as a “mix between edgy and high end”—at just 19, Guillen has seen success, having the opportunity to travel the world and work with celebrities including Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, Mike Posener and Wiz Khalifa, to name a few. Both he and his work have also been featured in magazines like Vogue and 23 Magazine. His most recent accomplishment is contracting to do work with BET. He told the students that life in the fashion industry can be fast-paced, but it was his dream. “I could book myself seven days a week with no rest or days off, but I love what I do so much that I don’t mind. I sleep, breathe and eat fashion,” he said. Guillen explained that his experience as an intern for various celebrity stylists and fashion designers, his full-time schoolwork at FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) in Los Angeles (Guillen holds his bachelor’s in fashion design) and full-time work as a visual merchandiser at Forever 21 at the time, helped him get his start. It also taught him valuable life skills. “When I first started out I was in charge of responding to emails, getting bookings and doing all my paperwork myself,” he said. “Your writing skills need to be good. You need to market yourself in your writing, in anything, and make people interested in wanting to work with you.” Guillen’s biggest piece of advice for students was to start taking opportunities now. “Surround yourself with people in the industry you want to get into. That’s free knowledge you can get. Any training that you can get, any opportunity or program you have the opportunity to take, do it. You will help guide yourself and give yourself a better understanding of the career you’re interested in.” Bev St. Andrews, a friend of Guillen’s, said, “I’ve known him since the beginning of his journey, and to see him grow step by step is incredible.” Following his presentation, Guillen gave out various items such as t-shirts and hats to the students.

Jesse J Talks the World of Fashion at Local High School