'Usher has worn my shoes', says Cardiff-born artist Tesni DeLuna
2025-02-17
Category: entertainment

A young artist who started her paint business "by chance" has worked for some of America's biggest stars. Tesni DeLuna, originally from Cardiff, has designed custom shoes and products for celebrities such as Usher, Drake and Lil Baby.She started the initiative while working in a gym in Austin, Texas, and said it had gone from strength to strength.Ms DeLuna said her job was "a lot of fun" and she was excited to see what the future held. 
Ms DeLuna moved to Connecticut in America when she was 12 years old, but after losing her job during the Covid pandemic she relocated to Austin, Texas.Her business began by chance when a colleague happened to see her colouring at a desk instead of working, and asked if she could paint the "boring" white shoes he had just bought for his daughter."I've been painting shoes ever since," she told BBC Cymru Fyw.
Ms DeLuna's work varies from painting shoes to a wide range of other products. She has built an impressive clientele that includes world-renowned rapper Rod Wave, professional golfer Sergio Garcia, basketball star Cameron Brink, and CrossFit champion Noah Ohlsen.She said: "Usher has worn my shoes on stage, and there's a picture of Lil Baby holding three pairs I gave him."I didn't see Drake with the camera bags I painted for him but I've heard he likes them so I'm happy." Although she does not often meet the stars in person, Ms DeLuna regularly receives tickets to their concerts - including Drake and Usher."I really enjoyed doing work for them and then going to the concerts. It's a lot of fun." 
Ms DeLuna said she hoped to work with more female athletes in 2025, adding: "I want to grow the business more now and want to give much more energy to the business because I have always worked 9-5 so I only work on shoes in the evenings, but now I want to do it full-time."Ms DeLuna is expecting a baby girl in two weeks' time and has already made lots of shoes for her - and the family is planning on coming back to Wales for Christmas. "Wales is a big part of my history but it will also be an important part of her history, so I can't wait to come back and show her and my husband why I love Wales so much."