The fun thing about fashion is that it sometimes causes you to cross paths and find common ground with people you might not have met otherwise. That was the case with us encountering Brazilian beauty, barrel racer, and online presence Maria Paula Maia. Her style and striking beauty put her on our radar (@mariapaulamaia_ on Instagram), and then, in a fortuitous turn of events, a delayed flight put her in our Fort Worth store. We’ve since struck up a working relationship with her and she recently styled a shoot with some favorites from Romance & Rustlers, some sneak peeks from Cowgirl Rising, and even some Heritage classics!
Because she’s a fresh face to most of our audience, we did a Q&A with Maria so y’all can get to know her, in her own words. (Please note: While she has a strong mastery of it, English is not Maria’s first language.)
DDR: Tell us a little bit about yourself — where you're from, why you feel connected to the Western/cowgirl lifestyle and fashion, and a little bit about your life/profession/passion.
MARIA: I'm Maria Paula Maia, a digital influencer and barrel racer. I was born in the northeast of Brazil, in Alagoas, a state with beautiful beaches. My father has always been a horse lover and breeder, and that's where my passion began. I married a team roper and moved to São Paulo, where I currently live. Here I began my career in barrel racing, and we traveled all over Brazil to rodeos. I love the country lifestyle, and I've always loved fashion. From there, I combined my two passions and started generating content on the internet, uniting these two universes. I love showing the urban public the richness of Western fashion and how our essence is full of charm, culture, art, and elegance.
DDR: How did you get introduced to barrel racing and how has it shaped your life's path?
MARIA: In the city where I was born there was no barrel racing, the only horse sport that existed 10 years ago was vaquejada, a sport in which my father and brother compete, and show jumping. One day at home I watched barrel racing on television for the first time, and it was love at first sight. It was from that day on that I became curious about practicing the sport. I asked my parents to come to São Paulo to take a Barrel Racing course, and when I returned to my city I decided that I would become a barrel racing athlete. I fell so in love with the sport that I started attending competitions in São Paulo as an admirer, and it was at one of these competitions that I met my husband, and he trained me to start competing in rodeos. I never thought that horses would shape my life completely, as I studied law at college, but my love for them was always so special that my story with them was already written by God. It was through them that I met my husband, through them and our lifestyle that I seek inspiration in fashion, and it is thanks firstly to God, and then to them that I have gained a loyal audience that follows me on social media.
DDR: How and when were you first introduced to Double D Ranch?
MARIA: Eleven years ago, I went to the NFR in Las Vegas for the first time with my sister-in-law, and there I first saw the brand's clothes. I was enchanted! I bought my first shirt from the brand on that trip. After that, whenever I traveled to the US, I bought a few more clothes. They became collector's items for me and I'm very enamored of them, because they're clothes that catch people's attention wherever I go, they're true works of art, and they always have very special details. The brand isn't sold in Brazil, so I always asked a friend who lives in the US to bring it to me when I liked something, and that's how I became a true Double D fan! Hahahaha!
DDR: What is it that drew you to the DDR brand and how has your relationship with it developed?
MARIA: I love clothes that involve handcraftsmanship, that have history and unique details, and DDR stands out because it is a brand that is different from all the others on the market. The quality is wonderful, the fabrics are impeccable, and the marketing strategy also really enchants me! I always say that DDR is the height of luxury in Western style. When you wear the brand, you wear a lifestyle! My relationship with them began last year, when I went to the Cheyenne rodeo. We were going to spend three days in Miami on the way back, but our flight was canceled and the airline changed the flight, so we had to sleep one day in DFW. We arrived in [Fort Worth] and went straight to Stockyards, which is a place we love! I passed by the DDR store, it was closed, but I recorded some stories showing the store window to my followers and mentioned the brand. The next day I woke up to a message from DDR, asking if I was interested in creating content for the store. Our flight left DFW for Brazil in the afternoon, but I used the little time I had and went there to create the content in the morning. After all, it was a dream come true to work with DDR. It was incredible, and in the end I thanked God so much that my flight was canceled and I ended up in Texas! Hahahaha! God is perfect in every detail.
DDR: You have a significant Instagram following. What spurred your interest in being an online presence? What is your focus, niche, or intention with your content creation?
MARIA: It all happened very naturally. I never thought I would create content on the internet. As I said, I studied law, and being a digital influencer never crossed my mind. I think my lifestyle, coupled with my passion for horses and fashion, was something that attracted the public. I only posted things that I thought were cool and my day-to-day life, and that started to catch people's attention. Little by little, I created a community that admired me, and a really cool exchange with my audience. From then on, brands started inviting me to do some work, and when I realized that, it became my profession. Today, my niche is fashion, country lifestyle, and rodeo enthusiasts. And my biggest intention on the internet is to inspire these people through my life.
DDR: What would you say is your life's motto or a mantra you try to live by?
MARIA: My life motto is in Proverbs 16:3: "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
DDR: Is there anything else you would like to add, share, or make sure people know about you?
MARIA: One day, they criticized my style and said that my way of communicating fashion was too Western and that I wasn't suited to work with urban brands. I held my head high and maintained my style. That's why I say, be true to your essence, be humble and always keep your feet on the ground. One day, you will be recognized for it. Western fashion is at its peak, and today great doors have been opened for me!
Cowboy Canyon Jacket: A statement jacket, you just need a neutral base look, and it's already the icing on the cake of the production. It's fun, elegant and very timeless.
Gal Brushpopper Vest & Pants: A completely unique look, which reflects the culture, and which carries a lot of personality. It has a mix of colors that I love, from beige, brown and turquoise.
Donna's Varsity Jacket: A super fashionable, vibrant jacket that brings a certain romanticism to its embroidery. It goes perfectly with a good pair of jeans! I love the idea of the colors, as they are super bold and easy to match.
Rancher's Quest Jacket: Elegant, chic and classic. Full of versatility, makes an impression, and very universal – suits all cowgirl personalities!
Zamm Jacket: A rock star's jacket! I love the rock trend mixed with Western style! Perfect for a cowgirl with a lot of personality! It gives off a stronger and bolder image!
Comments will be approved before showing up.
