Zoe De La Paz leaves Chicago corporate job for Yellowstone sewing role

Zoe De La Paz, a 26-year-old former mechanical designer and drafter, has transitioned from a corporate career in Chicago to a life of costume sewing in Yellowstone National Park. After leaving a position that paid an annual salary of $75,000, De La Paz moved to Wyoming to work for Xanterra Parks & Resorts, the company managing businesses within the park.

De La Paz reported that her new living arrangement allows her to pay less than $100 per month in rent, providing a level of financial freedom she did not experience in the city. Her move is driven by a long-standing passion for sewing, a skill she developed through making cosplay garments starting at age 14. She previously balanced her engineering role with nighttime and weekend work in the arts, including an opportunity working with the musical artist The Weeknd.

Currently, she works sewing and repairing uniforms and costumes, viewing the role as a stepping stone toward her ultimate goal of working on Broadway. She described the sewing process as meditative and a way to utilize both her technical skills and creativity.