The success of immigrants like Aileen Avikova, COO and Founder of Enchanted Fairies Magical Fine Art Portraiture (EF), is living proof of the very real hope and the opportunities available to live the American Dream.
Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, Aileen’s mother chose to be a homemaker, creating an environment filled with warmth, laughter, and lots of storytelling from some of Aileen’s favorite authors, including Gabriel García Márquez, a master of the Latin American magical realism genre. As a filmmaker and inventor, her father also infused a sense of magical creativity into her childhood.
During these early years, Avikova faced struggles, but with just the clothes on her back and a small box of photographs, she clung to her pursuit of the American Dream, always keeping her eyes and her drive focused on the future.
Homeless in America
Aileen Avikova’s journey from Mexico to being homeless in America had started with such high hopes. Her father had scripted a film detailing the Cristero War in 1920s Mexico. The family traveled to the U.S. for filming, but production stopped when contract disputes erupted. They discovered he had signed a contract with American stakeholders that unknowingly forfeited his full rights to his own creative works.
Afterward, Aileen’s family went through a tumultuous time. Her mother made the fateful decision to leave Mexico with her children and fight for a better life in America, stepping in to be the person her children needed her to be. When Aileen arrived in her new country this time, she knew nothing would ever be the same again. All the comforts of home and the familiar places would be forever lost.
Despite the challenges, Aileen’s family never lost hope. Her mother, a beacon of strength, took on multiple manual labor jobs, often juggling three or four at a time, to provide for her family. She instilled within her children a great work ethic, as well as an emphasis on excelling in everything they do and the importance of giving back more than what they earned. Her unwavering determination, remarkable fearlessness, and ability to weave magical stories of future dreams and success transformed each hardship into a bearable situation, instilling in Aileen a sense of resilience that would guide her through life.
Photo Courtesy: Enchanted Fairies
A Magical Journey
The great masters of the past say that life is a journey, and along that journey, there are breadcrumbs to a future where your legacy is cemented. For Aileen and her family, her future was hidden in her family’s love of art and magical realism, in the photographs she carried to America, and in the kindness of people she met along the way. Aileen believes your family’s journey is the same, and through photography and storytelling, your family history can help solidify a compelling future for you and yours.
A child becomes only who they can see themself as. At Enchanted Fairies, Aileen wanted to make sure that each child felt like the hero of their own story. To see yourself as the hero of your life changes your destiny and allows you to write the life you never thought possible. Once people realize how limitless they are, they soar.
Avikova is enthusiastic about supporting young people in as many ways as possible. She has tied her charitable missions into the EF business model, donating a portion of the profits to worthy causes that support children and their families. Not only does Aileen work to ensure that EF delivers a world-class magical experience, but she also has a deep desire to help families preserve their family history with heirloom-grade photographs and personalized storybooks that will be cherished for decades to come.
To create your own memories, visit https://www.enchanted-fairies.com and request an invite today!
Published by: Khy Talara
