From Illustrator to Web3 Pioneer: How Mara Built 'Women of Cosmos' on Stargaze

I began my professional career as a digital illustrator a few years ago, but art has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. I was an incredibly creative child, always making something—whether it was clothes for my dolls or countless drawings. Despite this passion, I never formally studied art. Before pivoting my career, I was working as a Beam Simulator in the events industry for major clients like Samsung and Estee Lauder.

The turning point came when the pandemic severely impacted my industry. It was then I decided to fully pursue my passion for creation. I started freelancing as an illustrator and graphic designer, and by the end of 2021, I dove headfirst into the world of NFTs.

I would describe my work as having a soft, dreamy aesthetic, where I often portray powerful and resilient women as my central characters.

My style is distinctly cartoonish, heavily influenced by the anime I loved to watch and draw as a child.

I draw constant inspiration from women and the beauty of the natural world, as well as my own life experiences. My goal is to create pieces that encourage people to embrace their true selves.

While I admire a specific artist deeply, my primary inspiration for my NFT work comes from my personal feelings and memories, my love for nature, and my talented fellow female NFT artists.

I feel so inspired every time I open Twitter and see my timeline filled with incredible art from people across the globe. The sheer amount of talent is astounding! To name a few inspirations: Habiba Naif, Diego Merello, Chris Alliel, and Tiffatronn, among many others.

I discovered NFTs thanks to my partner, who works as an investor and cryptocurrency advisor. Initially, I entered the NFT space as a collector and investor. However, after a few months of seeing so many talented 1/1 artists thriving in this incredible space, I decided it was time to contribute with my own artwork.

Beyond the significant benefit of true ownership and provenance, I believe NFTs give us the power to reinvent ourselves. We can experiment and create without limits. In this era, we are the true owners of our work, free from the constraints of client briefs or external demands. This creative freedom is truly revolutionary.

Crucially, NFTs are enabling artists and creators to make a sustainable living from their art for the first time. Without intermediaries, many artists have found a way to earn a proper income from their passion. Furthermore, NFTs open up a massive window of opportunity for career growth. I’ve had the chance to collaborate with artists and projects I admire and have my work featured in art exhibitions I could only have dreamed of before joining this space.

I had been a Cosmos enthusiast for a while when I first learned about Stargaze, so it felt like the natural next step in my journey.

I applied to their Genesis Creator program, and when I was chosen by the community, Women of Cosmos became a reality.

I couldn't be happier with that decision. The Cosmos community has been incredibly supportive and gave me a welcome I never could have expected when I was starting out.

I’m proud to say the growth has been completely organic from the start, both for my personal account and for Women of Cosmos. I’m the sole person behind both accounts, and I always prioritize genuine interaction and engagement with people. My approach on Twitter has always been to support artists and projects I admire, participate in conversations and Twitter Spaces, and share my own work while uplifting others. I believe this authenticity is key.

While I sometimes collaborate on giveaways, you can’t build a lasting community that way—that audience will eventually fade. You need to connect with people who genuinely love what you do and share your core values.

I predict NFTs will be integrated into all sorts of businesses, from brand campaigns to video games. Owning an NFT that acts as an access pass to exclusive services will become normalized and adopted by many well-known brands.

Furthermore, I believe it will evolve into a more robust system that enables artists, both big and small, to build careers, furthering the democratization of art. We're starting to live this reality, but we’re still in the very early stages.

Following the Women of Cosmos roadmap, I will continue with our project's primary goal: supporting other women-led projects, providing various benefits to our holders, and expanding our collection to other ecosystems and blockchains.

Women of Cosmos is just the beginning of a long journey. I aim to continue building and growing the community to establish this project as a benchmark for 1/1 art in the Cosmos Ecosystem. I also want to develop side-projects focused on helping people begin their Web3 journey.

On a personal note, I plan to launch a podcast and create short-form videos featuring casual conversations with other artists and projects, sharing industry tips and personal experiences.

I’m excited to collaborate more with other projects to contribute to the growth of our Cosmos ecosystem, attend international events, and generally, continue empowering and inspiring women to chase their dreams.

The best way is to send me a DM on either my personal Twitter or the Women of Cosmos Twitter account! I’m always happy to meet new people in the NFT and crypto space.

Otherwise, definitely join the Women of Cosmos Discord (where you’ll find all the latest news and updates) or visit our website.