Cassidy Montalvo on Confidence, Style, and Sister Energy -

Cassidy Montalvo has become the internet’s beloved “big sister,” blending warmth, authenticity, and creative style to inspire millions. From nostalgic fashion to real-life vulnerability, she’s built a community rooted in trust, empowerment, and honesty. Today, she opens up about confidence, creativity, and the journey behind her growing influence.

You’ve built such a strong community online with your warm “big sister” energy. What inspired you to take that approach when you first started creating content?
Honestly “big sister” energy just came natural to me. From being a big sister myself, coming from a large family, and having kids young that’s just a part of my DNA and who I am online will always be who I am in person  I am a big sister, I am a mom to 2 little girls, I am a girls girl, and a content creator. Mesh all that together and that big sister energy is unavoidable, but I am very thankful for that, because its truly helped me build a strong community. I have always wanted to have a space that is warm, safe, authentic,
and fun. The same feeling I hope my own sisters and my daughters will always get from me whether we are hanging out or I am helping them in some way.

You’re known for blending unique styles with nostalgic, decades-old trends. What era of fashion inspires you the most right now, and how do you modernize those looks for today?
I have been really inspired by that transitional era between the 90s and early 2000s. That time was truly such a defining moment for expressive fashion, and no one can say I don’t love expressive fashion! I love to take the old classics and modernize them a bit by focusing on cleaner lines, more flattering fits, and adding in my own twist of that boho cowgirl look I love so much! Truly feel like I am living in a full circle fashion moment right now. The woman I am today dresses exactly how the 13-year-old version of me hoped. I actually used to “design” clothes and I still have those notebooks (I say that very loosely, because I could not draw, but I tried) and so much of what I did at 13 I am wearing today, just influenced more so by the styles and silhouettes that have come out since then.

Many of your followers see you as someone who makes beauty and fashion accessible. How do you keep your content relatable while still pushing creative boundaries?
I never want to be the girl who talks at people, I always want to talk with them. Honestly, I am not even sure relatable is the right word for any content creator. Everyone’s reality looks different, and it changes with every season of life, so instead of trying to be relatable, I just stick to being me within the season of life I am in. Raw, unfiltered, me. That’s how my people find me.

I do love to push myself creatively and playing with trends, but I balance that by sharing the real-life stuff too. I love a good styling session, I love a good beauty hack, but I also love to share the bloopers, the 10 minute chaos of getting ready last minute, the mom pick up line outfit, and the red carpet look. I love being a mix, I am the girl wearing an amazon outfit with a designer bag. I break things down the way I would for a friend; here is what worked and here is what didn’t and why and here is a tweak I made to fix it. Sharing it all, heart on my sleeve and embarrassing screenshots included. Creativity is more inspiring when its honest. My community doesn’t need perfection; they just want ideas that feel accessible and a space that feels welcoming. As long as I stay transparent about the process and grounded in real life, I can keep evolving.

Growing your audience to over 3 million across platforms is an incredible achievement—especially organically. What do you think has been the key to building and maintaining that level of trust with your followers?
I think trust is built in the moments people don’t see as glamorous. Anyone can share a
beautiful outfit or a curated moment, but I have always made it a point to show the whole
picture. I have such an amazing audience that has truly been with me through the craziest years of
my life. They have been through all the chapters, from being a hotel manager barely paying rent, to learning how to be a mom, through loss, through wins, they have watched me rebuild my life multiple times. I think when people see your evolution instead of a perfected highlight reel it creates deeper connection. They say you must give trust to get trust, and I have trusted my community from the start. I also genuinely care about my community. I read their messages, I listen, I take feedback (even the not so kind feedback), and I try to create content that feels like a conversation not a performance. So much of this job is about consistency, built it’s also about sincerity. If you show up as yourself everyday even when its messy, people learn they can trust you.

You often share beauty hacks for people who “didn’t have a big sister” to teach them.
What’s one piece of advice you wish you had growing up when it comes to beauty or
confidence?
I wish someone had pulled me aside and said, “HEY you’re actually supposed to like yourself.” Not in a cocky way, but in a knowing my worth way. Confidence isn’t something you’re magically born with, it’s just tiny choices to back yourself up every day. Beauty and confidence really has so little to do with what’s on the outside and so much more to do with being at peace with yourself and not being at war with your reflection. I had a college professor teach in a class that the human brain can’t actually differentiate between someone else speaking negatively to us and us speaking negatively to ourselves. The impact is the same. So every time you talk down to yourself, your brain reads it as truth, not opinion. That’s why self talk is SO important and man I wish I had learned that sooner! I grew up thinking the tougher I was on myself the better I would make myself. Reality was I spent a lot of years ripping apart a girl who was just fine th way she was.

As both an influencer and entrepreneur, how do you balance authenticity with the business side of partnerships and brand collaborations?
Easy, I don’t take a brand deal or work with a brand that I don’t use or haven’t bought from as a customer myself  Authenticity is not something you can just turn on and off, it’s the filter everything goes through. When you approach collabs that way, the business side really just becomes an extension of your real life not a separate persona. Influencer marketing is truly a win, win, win, system. I get the coolest job ever and work with my favorite brands, the brand gets REAL customer reviews out to their target audience, and audience gets a discount usually way better than normal and a real time review!

Fashion and social media are constantly evolving. How do you stay inspired and ensure your content continues to feel fresh and true to your personal style?
I pay attention to the trends, but I don’t let them dictate my style. I view trends like a spark! I love taking something current and filtering it through my own aesthetic!

You’ve become known for your DIY styling and creative fashion ideas. What’s been one of your favorite DIY projects or transformations you’ve shared online?
I think my favorite DIY is coming soon! I decided to make my own dress for my husband’s Christmas gala this year, and it’s the most involved project I have taken on, but I am doing it as a novice crafter so if I can do this anyone can! If I had to pick one already completed, I think right now it would be the beaded purse. It was such a simple idea that really turned into something so fun and unique.

What’s a moment in your career that made you realize your influence was truly making an impact on your audience’s lives?
There have truly been so many moments, and I am so thankful, but I have to say it’s always the quiet DM’s that get me. That girl who says she finally stepped out of her box and is starting to love herself and find her confidence. Those messages really make me realize this is so much more than fashion.

Looking ahead, what’s next for you—whether in fashion, entrepreneurship, or expanding your personal brand?
Honestly, I have a lot of things I am manifesting behind the scenes and I am really just moving in alignment with that. I am in a season where I am trusting my creativity and following the things that feel exciting and fit well. I have really found the best things I have ever done came from leaning into the pull of my gut and not forcing a plan. So, for me, what’s up next is more evolving with this crazy amazing career!