At just 15 years old, designer, model, and actress Liliana Mijangos is taking the fashion industry by storm. After unveiling two distinct collections in two days at New York Fashion Week—including a showcase at Runway 7 and a royal endorsement from His Highness Dr. Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe—Mijangos has proven age is no barrier to haute couture. Supported by a three-generational family team alongside her mother and grandmother, the young creative bridges her background on set with sharp runway direction and ambitious expansion plans toward Paris Fashion Week.
In this exclusive interview, Liliana shares how she balances high-stakes fashion shows with teenage life, navigates the business of scaling a boutique label, and brings her multi-generational vision to the global stage.
Please welcome Liliana Mijangos to About Insider!
Hello Liliana Mijangos, welcome to About Insider! At just 15 years old, you presented two full collections at New York Fashion Week with LC Couture. What goals did you set for yourself heading into NYFW, and how did it feel to achieve them on a global stage?
Going into NYFW, one of my biggest goals was to show that even though I’m young, I can create something that people will remember. I wanted both collections to have their own personality and tell a story, while still showing who I am as a designer. Being able to see everything come together on such a huge stage was honestly surreal. There were so many people watching, and seeing my designs on the runway made me feel really proud. It also made me want to keep learning, creating, and pushing myself to do even bigger things.
Your showcase at Runway 7 marked a major milestone. Looking back at the experience, what connections or key media and industry relationships did you walk away with?
Runway 7 was such an amazing experience because I got to meet so many different people in the fashion industry. I connected with designers, models, photographers, stylists, media, and other people who were really supportive of what I’m doing. One of the biggest things I learned is how important relationships are in fashion. You never know who you’re going to meet or where one conversation can lead. I walked away with new connections, advice, and a lot of inspiration for where I want to take LC Couture next.
Behind LC Couture is a three-generational family team involving your mother and grandmother. How do you divide the business, design, and production responsibilities among the three of you? What makes LC Couture really special to me is that it’s a family business. My mom, my grandmother, and I all have different roles, but we’re constantly working together. I’m mostly focused on the creative side, like coming up with designs, choosing fabrics, and figuring out what I want the collections to look like. My mom helps a lot with the business, planning, and organizing everything, and my grandmother brings her experience and helps with the production and details of the garments. We all give each other opinions, and sometimes we don’t agree, but I think that actually makes the designs better. Having three generations involved makes LC Couture feel really personal and special.
One of the highlights of your NYFW appearance was receiving a royal endorsement from His Highness Dr. Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe. How did that interaction come about, and what was running through your mind when he wore your jacket on the runway?
That was definitely one of the moments I’ll never forget. I had the opportunity to meet Prince Mario-Max through the fashion event, and then he ended up wearing one of my LC Couture jackets on the runway. When I saw him wearing something that I had designed, I was honestly so excited. It was one of those moments where I had to stop and think, “Wow, this is actually happening!” Seeing something that started as an idea in my head being worn on a runway in New York was such an amazing feeling. It also gave me even more confidence to keep designing and believing in my ideas.
You started as a young runway model at age 10 and pitched your own design ideas directly to a show’s creative director. How did that early pitch set the tone for your entrepreneurial mindset today?
I think that experience really taught me not to be afraid to speak up about my ideas. I was only 10, but I had ideas about the clothes and the show, and I decided to share them with the creative director. That gave me a lot of confidence. I realized that I didn’t have to wait until I was older to have ideas or start creating something of my own. Now, when I have an idea for LC Couture, I try to actually do something with it. I’ve learned that you have to be willing to speak up, work hard, listen to people, and sometimes take a risk. That experience definitely helped me develop an entrepreneurial mindset.
Balancing a rising career in fashion and entertainment with standard teenage life takes immense organization. What does a typical workflow look like when preparing for an event as large as NYFW?
For an event as big as NYFW, organization is everything. My workflow usually starts months in advance with the creative vision—developing the collection, sketching designs, selecting fabrics, and deciding how I want the overall story to come together. As the event gets closer, the focus shifts toward production: finalizing garments, fittings, alterations, coordinating models and styling, and making sure every detail is ready for the runway. At the same time, there are interviews, photoshoots, rehearsals, and other commitments that have to be scheduled around school and family time. I’ve learned to break everything into smaller deadlines rather than looking at the entire event as one huge task. My family and I keep a detailed schedule and communicate constantly about what needs to be done. And I still make time for normal teenage things, because having that balance helps me stay grounded and enjoy the experience rather than feeling like everything is just work. By the time we arrive at NYFW, so much preparation has already happened that the goal is really to stay focused, trust the process, and enjoy the moment when everything finally comes together.
Following your success at NYFW, LC Couture is targeting expansion into wholesale distribution, retail collaborations, and trunk shows. What is your strategic roadmap for scaling the brand?
Our roadmap is really about growing LC Couture thoughtfully while protecting what makes the brand unique. We don’t want to scale simply for the sake of getting bigger; we want each new opportunity to strengthen the brand and reach the right audience. First, we’re focused on building a strong wholesale foundation—developing collections that can work for select boutiques and retail partners while maintaining the craftsmanship and creative identity of LC Couture. From there, retail collaborations and carefully chosen partnerships can introduce the brand to new customers and create opportunities to tell our story in different markets. Trunk shows and fashion events are another important part of the strategy because they allow us to connect directly with customers, receive immediate feedback, and create a more personal experience around the collections. They also give us the opportunity to test different markets before making larger commitments. Long term, I’d like LC Couture to grow into a recognizable fashion brand with an international presence, while remaining true to its family foundation. For me, the goal is to build something sustainable -one collection, partnership, and relationship at a time rather than rushing the process.
Transitioning from child acting—such as portraying young Olivia Munn in Violet—to leading a fashion label requires distinct skills. How has your background on set influenced how you direct your runway shows?
My experience on set taught me a lot about preparation, timing, and communication, and those skills have carried over naturally into directing runway shows. Acting also taught me how important it is to understand the story behind a production and to stay focused even when there are a lot of moving pieces happening at once. When I’m directing a runway show, I think about it almost like a performance. The collection has a story, the models must understand the energy and attitude I’m looking for, and the music, lighting, styling, and pacing all have to work together. My acting background helps me communicate that vision and understand what performers need to feel confident. At the same time, fashion has taught me a different side of production. I’m not just performing in the show. I’m responsible for the creative vision behind it. Being able to combine those two experiences has helped me become more confident in leading a team and turning an idea in my head into a complete experience on the runway.
What was the biggest operational or logistical challenge your family team faced when putting together two contrasting 2026 NYFW shows in two days?
The biggest challenge was coordinating two completely different collections on an extremely tight timeline. Because the shows were one day apart, we essentially had to treat each collection as its own production while making sure nothing from the first show disrupted preparations for the second. The logistics involved much more than just finishing the garments. We had to coordinate fittings, alterations, accessories, styling, models, backstage organization, and the runway presentation – all while keeping the creative vision of each collection distinct. Because LC Couture is a family-run brand, my mom, grandmother, and I stayed in constant communication and divided responsibilities based on our strengths. There were definitely moments when things became hectic, but that experience taught me how important preparation, flexibility, and teamwork are. The biggest lesson for me was that a strong creative vision has to be supported by equally strong organization behind the scenes. Seeing both shows come together successfully made all of those long hours worth it.
You have your sights set on Paris Fashion Week as your next major international target. What key benchmarks are you focusing on before taking the brand to Europe?
Paris Fashion Week is definitely a huge goal for me, and I’m really excited about the possibility of taking LC Couture to Europe. Before we make that step, though, I want to make sure the brand is ready. Right now, I’m focused on continuing to grow as a designer, creating strong collections, and making sure every piece represents what LC Couture is about. We’re also working on building more relationships with boutiques, retailers, stylists, and people in the fashion industry. I also want to make sure we have the production and business side figured out, because going international is a big step. There’s a lot that goes into shipping, fittings, travel, organizing a show, and making sure everything runs smoothly. Most importantly, I want to keep learning and growing. I’m only 15, so I know I have a lot more to experience and learn in fashion. Paris is a big dream, and I want to be prepared when the right opportunity comes. I’d love for LC Couture to eventually have an international presence while still keeping the creativity and family story that make the brand special to me.
You can connect with Liliana Mijangos through Instagram @liliana.mijangos, @lccbyliliana, and IMDb
