Davion: Building Without Pretending

DAVION ON GROWTH, GRIT, & GRACE

INTERVIEW BY: EMILY ARAUZA

APRIL 23, 2025

Houston isn’t just a city, it’s a space where individuality gets sharpened, where movement and mindset matter. Davion exists at the intersection of discipline and expression: a model, skater, gym head, and believer who’s not chasing trends—he’s testing limits, mostly his own.

This conversation isn’t about aesthetics—it’s about alignment. About what happens when you stop trying to look the part and start living it. About the quiet work behind confidence, and the faith it takes to build something real when self-doubt still lingers.

Davion talks about early hesitations, spiritual grounding, and the decision to finally go all in. He opens up about the version of himself he’s still becoming, and what it means to grow without losing your center.

There’s no performance here. Just presence, purpose, and the kind of honesty that sticks with you.

Davion: “I’m Davion. I'm a skater model gym guy and believer; trying to make the most of my one life experience by doing stuff that I think is cool or scares me.”

Emily Arauza: “Pursuing what excites you and leaning into what scares you takes real self-awareness and courage. I’m curious, what’s something recently that pushed you out of your comfort zone but ended up being worth it?”

D: “Any modeling endeavor to be honest. That and teaching myself to skate. For a while I kind of had a sense of imposter syndrome thinking about how I’m just Davion. Wondering if I can do it thinking that was just for the people on Tv or others who kind of just look cool online. Once I walked my first show and then another and another it set in like oh wow this isn’t just a goal anymore I’m really doing it I really am becoming all these things I wanted to be while just being me. Kind of like landing a kickflip for the first time it was like okay that’s one and one more then eventually I was able to say yeah I just do that now. In the spirit of it “being worth it” it was worth it for the version of myself who couldn’t but wanted to and finally did. I’ll only be human once it’ll be nice to check off things on the list that are universally cool. Jumping from something high into some water, skateboard tricks, having swag, getting buff, retiring my elders it’s kind of subjective when it comes to what’s “cool” but that’s all I’m really going for just trying to bleed it dry.”

EA: “That’s beautifully said. There’s something really powerful about proving to yourself that you can, especially when that younger version of you didn’t quite see how it would happen, just that he wanted it. Modeling and skating are such public things too, so to push past imposter syndrome in both takes real inner work. I like that parallel between walking your first runway and landing your first kickflip—both are such defining moments, but they become part of you once you’ve done it enough times. Do you feel like there’s a version of yourself you’re still chasing now, or have you started to feel more grounded in who you already are?”

D: “I really appreciate it, I am still chasing the Davion that knows how to make a ton of money online, can say he retired his parents, reads and writes everyday, has seen the world ate all the good food etc. those couple things that will make me feel happy and fulfilled but in the meantime I like to believe I’m pretty grounded in being me I always valued authenticity. I think I’ll be the same Davion from now to forever on. It's really just the habits and people I have around that will have to change in order for me to be where I wanna be, so who's to say. I do know those couple factors do play a huge role in someone’s development so for now I take it a day at a time.”

EA: “I like how you think and I would like to say that the fact that you can stay true to who you are while still reaching for that next level—that’s real maturity. And I totally agree, the people you surround yourself with and the habits you build can either hold you back or push you forward. It sounds like you’re in that sweet spot of self-awareness and ambition. How old are you now, if you don’t mind me asking? And how old were you when you first felt like you were stepping into the things you really loved—whether that was skating, modeling, or just chasing a life bigger than what was around you?”

D: “24 and 24. I hate to say it but It’s a harsh truth I had to come to terms with. I’ve been into my hobbies and full of passion for so many years but had never really tried my hardest. I never put in 100% 100% of the time. That was until my birthday this year and because of that I’m kind of ready to go all in and see what I can get out of life. Similar to how I mentioned earlier dealing with imposter syndrome. I guess I still do to this day at times. It’s going to be a bit of a task to reach my full potential. I'm sure any motivated individual could say the same. It’s really just doing it at this point.”

EA: “Owning the fact that you hadn’t gone all in before, but choosing now to change that—that takes humility and real self-respect. It’s way easier to pretend we’re giving 100% than to admit we’ve been holding back. But now that you’ve made that mental shift, everything you do from here on is going to carry more weight, more intention. You mentioned imposter syndrome still creeps in sometimes and I think it does for anyone who’s chasing something bigger than themselves. But you’re clearly moving with purpose now. Who inspires you the most in all this? And what’s a piece of advice or mindset you live by that keeps you going, especially when doubt shows up?”

D: “My Family and the creator of the universe. It’s a surreal feeling knowing I literally cannot lose or fail as long as I have God on my side so lately I've been trying to walk in faith and things are looking good. I don’t wanna be someone who tries to force my beliefs on anyone but because you asked. My piece of advice is for everyone to seek the kingdom of heaven first. Whatever that may mean to you. The world’s gonna stay messed up and harsh it always has been and always will be. Be you and stop apologizing for it. Find the beauty in it all, find a reason to smile. Eat good food, treat your body right, let go of bad habits, adopt new ones, and become the best version of yourself even if it’s just a little bit better than yesterday.” 

EA: “That’s wonderfully said. There’s a deep kind of peace in knowing you’re covered—like no matter what obstacles show up, there’s something bigger holding you steady. And you’re not forcing anything at all; when it comes from a genuine place like that, it just resonates. “Seek the kingdom first”, that hits. That kind of clarity in a noisy world is rare. And yeah, Jesus is King, no question. I’d love to know more about where that strength comes from—what’s your background like? Did you grow up with faith in the picture, or was it something you found more on your own as you got older?”

D: “Yeah I was raised a believer and then lost my faith for a little bit trying to look cool and be accepted by other people. Eventually hit my face really hard on the ground and came back around like oh yeah life is better like this. I don’t mean to downplay the severity of obeying God but it’s like following the rules of a game. If you do it and master it you’ll most likely win and if you don’t you lose or are disqualified.”

EA: “I really love how humble you are. You’re honestly one of the first, if not the first, I’ve talked to who gives full appreciation to Jesus in such a real and grounded way. It’s refreshing, and it shows in how you speak and how you live. What you said about life being like a game really stuck with me, when you follow God’s way, you give yourself a real shot at winning. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s right. Was there a specific moment that snapped things into place for you, or did it happen gradually over time?”

D: “It was a gradual thing, kind of just having deep talks with the wiser people in my life and then guiding me. Going through the motions of living life I kind of have always been sensitive and in touch with how things make me feel so as I matured I was able to process it better and test what works for me.”

EA: “That makes a lot of sense. Having those deep talks with people who’ve been through more and can speak from experience really does something, especially when you’re already someone who’s in tune with your emotions. It sounds like you’ve always had that inner sensitivity, but now you’ve paired it with maturity and reflection. Do you find yourself self-reflecting often? And if you could go back and change anything about your journey so far, would you? Or do you feel like everything had to happen exactly how it did to get you here?”

D: “Yeah I get really deep in thought but that’s mostly when I’m alone. I wouldn’t change anything. I think the high highs and the low lows make a person.”

EA: “I commend you for embracing both the highs and lows and see them as necessary parts of who you’re becoming really speaks to your maturity. That kind of self-reflection—especially when you’re alone and letting your thoughts settle—shapes a lot of clarity in the long run. What do you think God is teaching you right now? And how do you feel that lesson is shaping or impacting your career and the way you’re moving toward your goals?”

D: “I really don’t know what the lesson is right now. It’s gotta be a mix of having faith and betting on myself. I think that’ll give me the confidence to dive all the way in on what I think will work for me in order to achieve my goals.”

EA: “That sounds like a powerful place to be, even if it’s a bit uncertain. Having faith and learning to bet on yourself at the same time, that’s a serious balance, and it’s probably one of the most important lessons anyone can learn when they’re building something real. I’ve really appreciated hearing your perspective, is there any advice you’d give to someone else who’s just starting to lean into their purpose or step out in faith the way you have?”

D: “I will say for your last question my advice for anyone is to only accept what you deem yourself worthy of, which I would hope is nothing but the best from yourself and from the people and situations you allow in your life. Don’t settle for mediocrity and push past your limits. Trust yourself and if you don’t right now build yourself into someone you can trust. Taking it all in everyday life is so deep and in depth. You’ll only be this young and full of life today right now. Stay cool, eat healthy and love your people.”