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LUNA SOFIA MIRANDA: THE SEDUCTIVE STARLET

Feature Editor / Koko Ntuen

Photos / Felipe Zapata-Valencia

CD + Styling / Phil Gomez

Beauty Editor / Rory Alavrez

Cover Art / Mikey Meza-Pérez 

Hair Stylist / Isaac Davidson / Che Nieves 

Styling Assistant / Alon Cameron

MUA / Anaiyah Simmons / Nyala chamberlain / Sophie Hartnett

 

From the dimly lit stages of strip clubs to the blinding spotlight of the Oscars, Luna Sofia Miranda is living proof that an “It-Girl” isn’t born—she’s made. The actress and filmmaker has crafted her own narrative, transforming from a broke college student hustling for tips to a rising force in Hollywood. With her mother—a fearless Venezuelan immigrant—as her guiding star, Luna discovered her own power the moment she cashed in a life-changing amount of money, realizing she didn’t need a degree to make it big. Instead, she dropped out, picked up a camera, and started chasing the stories she wanted to tell.

For Luna, an It-Girl is more than a trend—it’s a phenomenon. A cultural flashpoint. Someone who emerges from the underground and into the mainstream, embodying the fantasies of the moment. And when she stepped onto the Oscars stage, it wasn’t just a personal win—it was a victory for every woman with an unconventional past, every dreamer rewriting their own script.

Now, with two films in the pipeline and a highly anticipated horror feature, FILMGIRL, on the way, Luna isn’t just making waves—she’s making HERstory.

When you think about the women who shaped you, who comes to mind?

I always think about my mom. She was the strongest person in my life. Anytime I feel afraid, I remind myself that she left her home country, Venezuela, at 17. I cannot imagine how hard that must have been, yet she made New York City her home. She always stood up for what she believed in. She was an activist, an educator, and a filmmaker. She had 2-3 jobs at any given time, yet still found a way to volunteer and show up for the Latin community. She taught me that the media is the most important tool in today’s world, and that film could be used to uplift people. Women’s Herstory Month is all about honoring the trailblazers and change makers. 

Do you remember the moment you realized your own power?

There’s this one night I will never forget: I was a 19 year old, broke college student trying to pay my way through film and theater school, and the girlies from the theater department took me to work at a local strip club so that I could continue my education. I remember sitting in my friend’s car at 5AM, covered in glitter, holding $900. I had never held that much money in my life. I remember understanding my worth for the first time, not because I had money, but because I produced that income all on my own. I didn’t need this overpriced theater/film program to succeed. I didn’t need to hand over my hard-earned cash to an institution that didn’t see my value. I made this money all by myself, and for the first time, I felt that I could make my dreams come true. It was then that I decided to drop out of school and use my money to produce a film instead.

What does being an It-Girl mean to you?

It-Girls come out of nowhere. One day (or night, in my case) they are just *there*. Everybody is talking about her, and everybody has something to say. Some people love her and call her mother, some people hate her and deem her a c_nt. But even those who despise her cannot escape her, she’s everywhere and nowhere. She is the moment. All of your pop-culture fantasies and hang-ups are wrapped up in her. She is glamorous, gritty, and misunderstood.

What is a moment in your career that felt like a victory not just for you, but for every woman who dreams of taking up space in this industry?

I’ve known since I could crawl that I was an actress, but it always felt like an impossible dream. I’m known for being a stripper-turned-actress, but I am also queer, latina, and the daughter of an immigrant. I almost gave up so many times and harbored so much doubt in my bones . I know there are millions of people out there who feel the same way right now. Being onstage at the Oscars in a flashy golden dress was unreal. I never imagined it would actually happen, but I prepared for it anyway, and I wanted to wear something that would be impossible to miss. I wanted to say “hello world, I am here, and you can’t look away.” It was proof to me that I belong in this industry, even when I have felt like an outsider so many times. I invite anyone who feels that their dream is impossible to keep going- use my story as proof that there is a path forward. *The dress was from the New Arrivals

If you could send a love letter to the next generation of women—artists, rebels, visionaries—what would it say?

Life is too short to care about what other people think of you. Listen to your mother, she loves you and she won’t always be around. Don’t talk trash about other women, it won’t help you. Just because no one sees the value of your ideas – or you – does not mean you are not golden. Some people wouldn’t know joy or brilliance if it fell on their heads. Become a producer – of film, music, theater, literature – don’t leave your destiny (or employment) in someone else’s hands.

The world still has a long way to go when it comes to sex work. What’s a conversation we should all be having right now?

The world needs “exposure therapy” when it comes to sex work. In my experience, most people who judge sex workers are doing so because they don’t understand it, and people fear what they can’t understand. We need more mainstream books, movies, and content that offer a nuanced portrayal of sex workers. There is a lot of amazing work being produced within the sex worker community, but it doesn’t reach a wide enough audience. I think most people – even the judgy people – would eventually give in to their curiosity if they came across a book or a movie that offered them an inside look at sex work. Anora was really special, because it was an indie film about sex-workers that got mainstream attention. I think it changed a lot of people’s perception of sex work and we need more content like this to start shifting the narrative.

Hat, Tableaux Vivants. Earrings, Seville Michelle. Shoes, Gedebe.

All art forms tell a story. What story do you want to be remembered for?

I want to be remembered for breaking the rules, for pushing the boundaries of who an actress is supposed to be and what she is supposed to look like. I want to be remembered as someone who never forgot where they came from, who made art for their community. I want to be remembered as someone who took money from privileged men and turned it into film. I want to be remembered as someone who was kind, outspoken…and hot asf.

If you could sit down for a conversation with any woman in herstory, who would it be, and what would you ask her?

Frida Kahlo. She was the original multi-hyphenate; painter, writer, botanist, feminist icon. She’s been turned into an image, a symbol. I wonder how she would have felt about that. I wouldn’t want to be cringey and interview her, I think I would wanna hang out and talk about plants and death and magical realism.

HERstory is being written every day. What’s the next chapter in your life?

I have two films in the works right now. I play a lead role in Youthful Pleasures, an indie sex comedy, and I am also in post production for FILMGIRL, a horror film that I wrote and produced. I’m very excited about my film, and I have big plans for the release in New York City.

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