First Impressions: Malia Pyles
Malia wears MIU MIU
Perpetually marching to the beat of her own drum, Malia Pyles is not concerned if anyone follows, but the path she has paved through embracing her individuality is sure to inspire others.
words by Michelle Malek
With the current state of celebrity being tethered to social media presence, Malia Pyles says that her style is more vintage when it comes to technology. Fresh off of just replacing her 2012 MacBook, a contrast to her tech-savvy role as Mouse in the MAX original Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin and its follow-up season Pretty Little Liars: Summer School, she says all celebrities need a “How-To” crash course in social media.
Recalling the sweltering SoCal summer days as a young teen, Pyles reminisces the times she would be driven by her mother in their air-conditionless Volkswagen from her hometown of Orange County to audition in Los Angeles to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. Pyles, being of half-Filipino descent, pointed out the struggle of assimilating in an industry that has historically favored casting white actresses. The understanding of racial bias within the industry fueled the encouragement of her mother, who helped to foster an environment of artistic expression. “She always gave me so much support in my pursuit of acting because she knew the industry wouldn't support me,” she continues, “I once had an acting teacher tell me that because you are racially ambiguous, you're always going to be the best friend; you'll never be the lead.” Although there is still a long way to go regarding diversity in the industry, Pyles agrees that change has been seen throughout her career. Through her roles in Baskets and Pretty Little Liars, Pyles plays Filipino characters that honor her heritage; she even gets to play alongside the esteemed Lea Salonga in the new Pretty Little Liars series.
Malia wears MIU MIU
Like Pyles, Mouse identifies as queer, but her story surpasses more than that of self-discovery. Although it may not mirror her true feelings, her character exudes a quiet confidence while also creating a world via the internet that stems from past trauma she faces. The complexity of Mouse’s character adds the ability to resonate with multiple audiences of all age groups. Psycho-killer aside, of course. Pyles had hoped to add this relatable layer when accepting the role. In the vein of relatability, Pyles could also recall a time when she was into Creepypastas and Five Nights at Freddy's lore, much like Mouse’s obsession with SpookySpaghetti.
“I hope she [Mouse] can be a stand-in for the little weirdos and the teens that march to the beat of their own drum and are atypical. To show them that their uniqueness and special interests are what makes them unique and amazing.”
Along with her acting talents, the current 23-year-old is the ultimate fashion babe, listing designers such as Collina Strada, Elena Velez, and Mark Gong as her inspirations. A part of her love for fashion is the ability to express herself and go beyond boundaries outside the typical trends ever since she was a young girl. Instead of exploring her local fluorescently lit trad department store, she opted to be driven to Santee Alley in Los Angeles for her shopping. “My mom's hand-me-downs, or hand-me-downs in general, were my favorite things ever. I liked to play with different silhouettes and clothes that resonated with my spirit,” she says. With her stardom continuously rising, Pyles is transforming into herself a fashion lexicon and feels fortunate to be dressed by brands that align with her style and vision to go against the grain. She says, “It's been really affirming to further my confidence and learn more about my body in these gorgeous silhouettes.”
Malia wears MIU MIU
In the spirit of autonomy, Pyles continuously searches for opportunities to push herself in unfamiliar directions, even breaking away from her identity closely tethered to the West Coast. “I've promised myself that at some point, I want to spend at least six months to a year in Manhattan or Brooklyn,” she says. “At times, I think I can be very introverted to my own detriment. To be in an area where you're forced to walk and interact with people just to survive would probably be a good change of pace for me.” Even if, for a brief moment, the eagerness to grow and further her horizons is an opportunity she won’t pass up.
This interview has been edited and condensed.