Advin Illa

Actor | Filmmaker | Entrepreneur | Founder & CEO, Iconic Style Magazine

Advin Illa’s journey is defined by resilience, creative ambition, and disciplined execution. At just 17 years old, while still in high school, he became a father and raised his son as a single parent an experience that forged the responsibility, focus, and emotional intelligence that continue to guide his career.

After graduating, Advin served in the U.S. Army as a combat photographer and filmmaker, training at the Defense Information School (DINFOS) the same institution that trained four U.S. vice presidents, including JD Vance. During his deployment to Iraq, he participated in 500+ humanitarian missions, documenting stories of resilience amid conflict. He was stationed at Saddam Hussein’s palace, worked closely with the Pentagon Public Affairs team, and documented critical military and diplomatic operations. His first mission was alongside Samantha Power, then Administrator of USAID under President Barack Obama.

Following his deployment, Advin was offered a role on President Obama’s White House photography team, but chose instead to pursue advertising, earning a degree in the field. Over the next decade, he built a successful career working with luxury and global brands. His work included participation in a Super Bowl commercial and contributing to his team’s “Marketer of the Year” win for Jaguar’s British Villains campaign.

Despite this success, Advin followed his true calling acting and storytelling. His entry into the film industry began as a personal assistant to Hugh Jackman and his family, where he gained firsthand exposure to the discipline and longevity of a world-class acting career. Inspired, he pursued formal training at Stella Adler Studio of Acting, T. Schreiber Studio (under the coach to Nicole Kidman and Julia Garner), HB Studio, and The Barrow Group, developing a craft grounded in psychological realism and emotional truth.

During the pandemic, Advin expanded his creative scope by studying at the New York School of Interior Design, later designing luxury residences and hotels for elite clients, including a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, the CEO of Sony, Bon Jovi, and multiple billionaires in New York City.

In 2024, Advin founded Creos.ai, a virtual photography studio delivering high-end visual solutions for entrepreneurs and brands.

In 2025, he founded Iconic Style Magazine, where he serves as Founder and CEO, leading a New York–based luxury fashion, culture, and media platform with global distribution and a growing streaming and events ecosystem.

Most recently, Advin received significant recognition for his role in The Fight, a series inspired by real and imagined events from the Iraq War. He is also a co-producer and actor in M.I.A., a military drama written by Jim Hanks, exploring female empowerment through the story of a Navy hero and his singer wife.

Beyond his professional work, Advin is deeply committed to social impact. He is an advocate for veterans and immigrant communities, actively working toward policy reform and long-term civic engagement. With a focus on equality, representation, and justice, Advin plans to run for the United States Congress in 2032, continuing his mission to serve underrepresented communities.