Fashion, media & storytelling
Culture shapes how we see the world.
Fashion. Media. Identity. Storytelling. The creative industries have been part of my world for decades—and continue to influence how I think about visibility, expression, and social change.
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From Hollywood to a wider world.
My career began in fashion and entertainment, working as a fashion stylist in Hollywood and the celebrity fashion editor for Vanidad magazine.
I was also drawn early to the possibilities of digital media. In 1997, I founded FashionTeen.com, one of my early ventures exploring the intersection of fashion, entertainment, and the emerging internet. What began as a creative opportunity became a broader career in multimedia publishing, storytelling, and entrepreneurship.
Over the years, I have written books, produced media, worked with artists and public figures, and explored the ways images and stories influence culture.
Building Creative Businesses
My interest in media and storytelling also led me to build several creative businesses. Through Mega Muscle Productions and Mega Muscle Models, I worked across talent representation, photography, video production, digital media, and live events. Later, through Malama International, I expanded into film and multimedia productions exploring Hawaiian culture, wellness, and lifestyle, including the award-winning film Aloha Life.
These ventures brought together entrepreneurship, creative direction, production, and visual storytelling—experiences that continue to shape the work I do today.
Fashion. Identity. Visibility.
I've never seen fashion as simply what we wear. It is a language—one through which we communicate identity, challenge expectations, and express who we are.
That perspective continues to inform my writing and advocacy. Whether examining the relationship between personal style and professional identity, challenging outdated dress codes, or exploring the importance of queer visibility, I remain interested in the ways culture can open doors—or close them.
jeito magazine - photo by kristof. styled by brian rusch.
House of Otra
House of Otra is my creative and publishing venture, bringing together independent cultural perspectives through fashion, photography, lifestyle, and storytelling.
With a growing network of regional publications, the ambition is to create space for voices and perspectives that are often overlooked by traditional global media—and to show that culture doesn't need one center to have worldwide influence.
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No matter what we do for a living, we need the freedom to be our authentic selves. Visibility is more than being seen. It is one of the ways we change culture, challenge expectations, and expand what the world believes is possible.
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A conversation is a good place to start.
© 2026 Brian Rusch. Humanitarian. Strategist. Storyteller.