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Elayna Lopez, 21, aka E-Money, is a professional dancer from D.C. with some of the dopest style to walk the streets of NYC!

We caught up with the glam-rock ballerina, who kicks off our weekly Style series, to find out a little bit more about the lady behind the threads.

Tell us about growing up in D.C. before moving to the Rotten Apple!

I went to Catholic high school in Maryland. It was very strict artistically. We weren’t allowed to express ourselves through clothing because we wore uniforms. I’d try to spice it up by throwing different color buttons on my cardigan, or putting pins on my blazer and I’d always get detention for it. 

You’ve been a dancer your whole life?

Yeah, my mom is a dance instructor and my father was a breakdancer.

I trained at the Dance Theater of Harlem in D.C. then I moved here a week after graduation to train at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. At first I thought my dreams were to get into a dance company, dancing at the Lincoln Center doing The Nutcracker, but along the way I figured there’s other things out there for me too that are different. Ballet is just kind of flavorless and it’s all very synchronized, so I fell into hip-hop.

I took poppin’ and locking at Alvin Ailey, and my dad helped me with breakdancing. I studied Chris Brown by imitating him. Then I took hip-hop classes at Broadway Dance Center. Later, I was chosen to backup dance for Teyana Taylor.

When did your style evolve into what it is now?

Last year I began to create things out of my surroundings and rock it. I shaved my hair because I was bored, dyed my eyebrows different colors, which, by-the-way, I was so pissed when I saw the Chanel ads with the same look.

Is your style to be rebellious or are you trying to make a statement? 

I’m just doing me. Making a statement is how you are as a trendsetter, inspiration for others. I dress how I feel on the inside. If I’m sad I might wear all black, but add a splash of color with funky shoe laces or a bright lip. I’m sure I wasn’t the first one to wear a cigarette box as an earring, but I had never seen it before, so I took that chance. A couple months later I recognized this girl from a party at Whole Foods and she had on two Newport box earrings, so that was cool.

What or who inspires you?

The streets. Dark, muggy scenes, water running down a wall in the subway. I have a shirt that looks like that. My biggest inspiration is music. I’m a huge rock and roll kid.

Jeremy Scott. He’s extremely outside the box. He takes chances and he’s not safe. He’s the person I’d love to meet and pick his mind. He’s very eccentric. 

How would you describe your style?

I usually just say “a hot mess” but yeah, ’80s rock band groupie.

The tattoos you have on your knuckles, are those only tattoos you have?

Yeah, and on the inside of my lip. That was my first one I got it with Teyana [Taylor]. She got a gun inside her lip and I got roses. That’s her favorite band.

I won’t be getting anymore because I’m still a ballerina. If I get a job doing ballet I can just cover these up with professional makeup.

What are they?

A pizza slice because it’s my favorite food, a diamond, Saturn because I’m really into astrology and constellations, the all seeing eye represents where I’m from [D.C./Maryland] on the dollar bill, and presidential stuff. A cross and bones, a broken glass bottle.

You create most of your accessories and jewelry, but where do you usually shop?

Thrift stores! It’s amazing the things I find. Vintage Versace, Dior, Gaultier. I look out for old band t-shirts. Also boutiques like Patricia Fields, but a lot of unique designers send me products to rock and promote for them. I’ll do a photo shoot in it, or wear it in a show and put the word out because I get asked every time I’m out where’d I get stuff I’m wearing. So why not make a hustle out of it?

Will you make or sell your own accessories?

No, I just do it for me. I don’t think I have the discipline for that. I’m just focused on my dance and modeling. 

You can follow Elayna on twitter @LAYNAL0P3Z

Stay on the look out for who we’re going to feature next week! It could be you! Keep Grinding!