Magic Selfies Chicago is a new trend that has taken the city by storm. People are flocking to various locations across the city to capture unique and enchanting images of themselves. These magical selfies offer a surreal experience, allowing people to transform themselves into fantastical beings or transport themselves to otherworldly locations. The concept of Magic Selfies Chicago involves using augmented reality technology and special effects to create stunning photographs. By using a mobile application, individuals can add filters, animations, and other effects to their selfies, making them truly magical. From floating in mid-air to transforming into mythical creatures, the possibilities are endless with Magic Selfies Chicago.

Chicago entrepreneur creates ‘happy moments’ via South Loop’s Magic Selfie museum

From floating in mid-air to transforming into mythical creatures, the possibilities are endless with Magic Selfies Chicago. One of the key attractions of this trend is its ability to transport users to popular landmarks and iconic places in Chicago. Whether it's taking a selfie atop the Willis Tower or posing in front of "The Bean" at Millennium Park, Magic Selfies Chicago takes ordinary photographs and turns them into extraordinary works of art.

Magic Selfies owner Zhazha Casanova champions a “hustlers’ spirit,” and hopes it rubs off on her three daughters.

Zhazha Casanova, owner of Magic Selfies, takes a selfie in the bathtub photo booth in the South Loop.

Magic Selfies owner Zhazha Casanova, no matter what she’s done over time, takes pride in creating moments for customers they will remember for years to come.

“I just love creating experiences. I feel like life is all about experiencing moments,” said Casanova. “There are certain moments that stick with you like: ‘Man, that was a good time.’ ”

2021 Fall/Winter Entertainment Guide

The Morton Arboretum’s Illumination — Tree Lights celebration.

Copyright 2017 Michael Hudsojn

The arrival of cooler weather and shorter days can’t stop Chicago from having a good time. Find something fun to do in the city with our Fall/Winter Entertainment Guide.

Casanova, a Mather High School alumna and Miami native, opened the South Loop’s Magic Selfies in February amid the COVID-19 pandemic with the aim of creating “happy moments” for customers far and wide.

The museum, which is located in the Roosevelt Collection Shops, has about 16,000 Instagram followers, and a steady customer base — an example of Casanova’s drive and promotion.

Each room includes powerful themes that change periodically such as a bathtub filled with rubber ducks, newspaper pages, a basketball motif, sunflowers, and a lifesize unicorn, among other backdrops.

When: noon to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, noon to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays

Where: Roosevelt Collection Shops, 1143 S. Delano Ct.

Tickets: $20 Wednesdays and Thursdays, $25 Friday and weekends; free for kids 0-3, $18 for kids 4-12

“I can create these different rooms for people to come in and do that versus me helping one person individually,” said Casanova, who says she’s created Christmas and Beetlejuice-themed pop-ups. “It’s like I can help a lot of people; I’m sure there’s at least one person that you’re following or one person that you’ve seen that has a picture in one of these rooms.

“Some people come in here, and they’re so shy like: ‘Oh, I don’t know what to do.’ By the time they come back here, they’re a whole different person. In this space, you can be who you want to be. You can do TikTok [videos], and not feel stupid because everybody else around you is doing the same thing.”

Casanova, a creative director by trade, has a process where she imagines the themes for each room. She also rents a room that customers can utilize for birthday parties and other events.

Zhazha Casanova, owner of Magic Selfies, looks at a sign that reads “Hustle” in the money photo booth in the South Loop.

“The process is basically just figuring out what’s hot, what do people want, what colors do they want,” said Casanova. “It’s easy to put things up there, but it has to be what the people like. You can’t just be like: ‘OK, I might like the color pink,’ but everybody might not like pink. I’m saying I have to dibble and dabble and see what it’s looking like right now and what goes with the themes of this moment. It’s figuring out what rooms and what themes I want to create.”

Which rooms are the customers’ favorites?

Casanova says it’s “The Hustle Room,” where customers can throw fake dollar bills around, and she has an inclination as to why the room resonates.

“I think it’s a very powerful room,” she said. “ ‘Hustle’ means never giving up. It means consistency. It means always having a backup [plan]. I’ll always have a backup because when you’re a hustler you’re hustling. . The hustlers’ mentality is being consistent with what you need to do and getting s— done.”

Zhazha Casanova has created a series of themed selfie rooms with diverse backgrounds at Magic Selfies.

Casanova, a brand manager with ​​Bombay Sapphire, has passed on the entrepreneurial spirit to her three daughters, and one of them works at Magic Selfie.

“I’m a kid at heart, so it’s all about for me showing them a way you can have fun and be a boss and you can make money, and do all these things that you want to do,” said Casanova. “I love creating and how to create stuff for people, so it was really important for me to showcase that. Your passion isn’t stopped because you have kids or anything like that; it should grow stronger so your kids can see anything is possible.

“Raising kids is very scary. I think sometimes when you’re a young parent you lose yourself; I never lost myself, and I think my kids appreciate that. I’m an honest parent and I show them anything is really possible.”

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But first, let me take a selfie at the South Loop ‘selfie playground’

Rainbow metallic streamers hang near a life-sized blue and silver birthday cake as a neon sign lights up with the words “Let’s Party.” In another room, a bubblegum-pink shaggy carpet takes up the floor space underneath an equally pink vanity that sits waiting for a bimbo to claim her seat. All while a larger-than-life unicorn sits in the lobby, waiting for guests to snap a picture. This is anything but a typical playground.

Magic Selfies, 1143 S. Delano Court, is a “selfie museum” with 17 different set designs to choose from that encourage people to Instagram away.

Owner and creative director Zhazha Casanova said the place is more of a playground rather than a museum because she encourages patrons to “run wild” with their phones and interact with the sets.

Casanova, a 2010 marketing alum, is a set designer at heart. Her first endeavor was creating Studio G in 2016, a business lounge for women in Chicago, followed by the House Of Beetle Pop Up Bar and A Holly Jolly Christmas Popup in 2020. Then, on Feb. 5, she opened Magic Selfies.

Boas and dresses hang in Magic Selfies’ “Barbie Land” room next to hearts that illuminate the room with neon pink. Kaylie Slack

“I fell in love with … creating experiences for people and seeing how much people enjoyed going out and actually doing something that’s not like the club or your typical day out,” Casanova said.

She also admired the Museum of Ice Cream—a New York and San Francisco-based selfie museum and cafe—but said she did not have enough bandwidth to pull off a similar concept. Instead, Casanova began brainstorming and thought of the idea on a smaller scale to create multiple rooms where people could take “dope” selfies.

Casanova said during quarantine, she worked on the selfie experience by creating sets and using her daughters as models. Designing these various sets was a way for her to release her creative energy when there was nothing else to do, she said.

Though she said it is hard to choose her favorite set, the one with money lining the wall and dollar bills on the floor is one of her favorites because it represents “manifestation.”

Zhazha Casanova, owner and creative director of Magic Selfies, likes to refer to her business as a “selfie playground” because patrons can move around freely and take photos in any location. Kaylie Slack

“Every time people come [to this set], they just feel so rich,” Casanova said. “I love seeing them throwing up the money [and put it] in their pocket. They don’t even know that they’re manifesting this … in their life.”

For coronavirus safety precautions, occupancy is limited, parties are kept at a safe distance from one another, masks must be worn when not taking photos and Casanova continuously wipes down the props.

Five people are allowed in a party and no more than 40 people are allowed inside at a time, she said. Guests will have their temperature taken at the door and are also limited to a one-hour time slot.

In the coming months, Casanova is working on “Season Two” of Magic Selfies with sets that are summer-themed.

Magic Selfies contains over 10 curated rooms and over 20 decorated walls perfect for photos and video. Kaylie Slack

Casanova said she has come a long way since first designing sets and it is refreshing to reflect back on her success creating Magic Selfies.

As a Black, Hispanic woman and a mom of three, she has worked hard to prevent societal stigmas from interfering with her dreams. Instead, she has turned her fantasies into realities, she said.

“I never want to stop [outdoing] myself because I feel like I’m my only competition,” Casanova said. “I always tell people that I work with, ‘When you’re doing something and you’re building, try to stay off of anything that can shift your mind from what you really want to do.’”

Not only are these magical selfies fun to create, but they also provide a unique way to capture memories and share them with others. With social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, users can showcase their magical selfies to friends and followers, garnering likes and comments along the way. Magic Selfies Chicago has become a popular activity for locals and tourists alike. It offers a fun and immersive experience that allows individuals to unleash their creativity and have a bit of escapism from the everyday world. Whether someone is visiting Chicago for the first time or has lived in the city for years, Magic Selfies Chicago provides a new and exciting way to explore and document the city's beauty. In conclusion, Magic Selfies Chicago is a trend that has captivated the city. It combines augmented reality technology with stunning effects to create enchanting and fantastical images. Whether it's transforming into mythical creatures or posing at iconic landmarks, these magical selfies offer a unique and fun way to capture memories and showcase creativity. So why not join the hype and take a magical selfie in Chicago?.

Reviews for "Enchanted by Chicago: Selfie-Worthy Locations You Won't Believe"

1. John - 1 star

I was really disappointed with Magic Selfies Chicago. The whole experience just felt like a gimmick. The props and backgrounds were cheap and unimpressive, and the photo quality was subpar. The staff wasn't very friendly either. Overall, it was a waste of time and money. I would not recommend this place to anyone looking for a fun and memorable photo experience.

2. Sara - 2 stars

I had high hopes for Magic Selfies Chicago, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The photo booth options were limited, and the props looked tired and worn out. The staff seemed uninterested and didn't provide any guidance or assistance during the photo session. The whole process felt rushed and underwhelming. I wouldn't visit again or recommend it to my friends.

3. Alex - 2 stars

Magic Selfies Chicago was a bit of a letdown for me. The photo quality was average at best, and the backgrounds were generic and uninspiring. The selection of props was limited and not very exciting. The staff was indifferent and didn't make any effort to engage with their customers. It felt like they were just going through the motions. I wouldn't prioritize a visit to this place if you're looking for a unique and enjoyable photo experience.

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