Inclusive Media Initiative Creator Q&A: Rhea Mallari
Where creativity, culture, and identity come together: An interview with Rhea Mallari aka @Rheawind.
At Pixability, supporting diverse voices is central to our mission through the Inclusive Media Initiative (IMI), a program designed to help brands invest in and amplify creators from underrepresented communities across YouTube. During Women’s History Month, we’re proud to spotlight creators who are not only building communities online, but also bringing their creativity and perspective to audiences in powerful ways.
One creator who embodies this spirit is Rhea Mallari, also known as @Rheawind. I had the chance to see Rhea perform live this past holiday season in the Hip Hop Nutcracker here in the Bay Area, a high-energy reinterpretation of the classical ballet that blends hip-hop dance with a timeless story. Watching her performance with my kids made it clear just how powerful storytelling can be, especially when artists bring their own voice, culture, and style to the stage.
That same passion for creativity and connection carries into Rhea’s work as a creator. Whether she’s performing, directing films in Los Angeles, or engaging with her community on YouTube, she represents the kind of authentic voice that makes platforms like YouTube so impactful.
In the interview below, Rhea shares more about her journey as a creator, the women who have inspired her, and what Women’s History Month means to her.
Theresa: Can you tell us about your journey as a creator? What inspired you to start your YouTube channel, and how has your content evolved over time?
Rhea: Upon graduating college I was unhappy with my identity and life direction. Youtube was my place to research self improvement and mindset advice so I revisited entertainment videos from Ryan Higa. The joy and laughter uplifted me so much that it inspired me to make my own version so I can make other people feel happy. I want to show the power of entertainment and how it can change the way you see life and uplift your mood in way you never thought it could.
Theresa: Are there women, either in your life or in the media, who have inspired your creativity? How have they influenced the way you approach your work today?
Rhea: Bgirl Mislee is a stunt woman who combines breaking and action stunts in films. She inspires my hard work ethic in physical movement and creating action films that share my authentic movement.
Anna Akana is an actress and creator who makes self-help videos in her skits. I learned to tell stories that make people heal from her.
Jin (jinleebaobei) is a dancer who combines all her dance styles with her culture to connect with her ancestors. I’m inspired by her deep passion to tell stories and connect with her spirit through art.
Theresa: As a Filipino-American woman, performer, creator, and director, you bring your full identity to the films you create. Representation is crucial on platforms like YouTube. What core message do you hope your audience takes away from your work?
Rhea: You can create your own path if the traditional one is different from your authentic self.
Theresa: What challenges have you experienced as a woman building a platform online, and how have those experiences shaped your voice as a creator?
Rhea: There will always be eyes that will see you highly and underminingly from all genders. I’ve learned to have stronger boundaries with my time and energy by creating a lifestyle that gives me the agency to choose places and communities that give me peace, balance and support.
Theresa: Programs like Pixability’s Inclusive Media Initiative (IMI) aim to help brands support diverse creators and ensure media investment reaches underrepresented voices on YouTube. What does your dream brand sponsorship look like? What kind of brands would you like to collaborate with?
Rhea: NIKE – Nike should sponsor my next short film and dance battle event that fuses breakdance, stunt action, and cinematic storytelling because it authentically embodies movement, self-expression, and pushing human limits. The film is about a dancer fighting their way out of a loop that repeats every time they lose a fight on the street. It will be premiered at a dance battle and this event brings together the stunt/film and hip hop dance community. Nike’s clothing products and merchandise will be worn by the performers in the film and sold at the dance event.
Theresa: How do you connect with your audience, and what does your community mean to you?
Rhea: I connect with my humor by relating to people’s struggles moving their bodies and with every stress.
The community I built appreciates mobility and flexibility, and that leads to stretching and conditioning for people’s well-being.
Theresa: What advice would you give to women who want to start creating content but may be hesitant to put themselves out there?
Rhea: Although there are people who will judge the way you communicate your artwork, you can learn to be more clear for yourself and the right people will understand it.
Theresa: What goals or projects are you most excited about in the future?
Rhea: I’m excited to shoot more short films where I combine action and dance to music. An upcoming project is my short film “Shadow Work” where a girl’s shadow fights her from her own evil act.
To learn more about Pixability’s Inclusive Media Initiative, or to sign up, see below.