Questions I get Asked Often
How Can I Become A Hand Model - HERE
How Can I Become A Voiceover Artist - HERE (source Backstage.com)
now a few STORIES OF PERSEVERANCE AND REFLECTION ALONG MY JOURNEY
FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD
In February 2010, I visited New York City for the first time. My goal was to volunteer for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. The year prior, I had applied to be a volunteer but never heard back from IMG. So in January of the following year, I called IMG everyday until they were able to give me the name of the volunteer coordinator. I then searched for her on Facebook and messaged her several times expressing my interest to be a volunteer and probably got on her nerves in the process, lol. I had less than 3 weeks before Fashion Week would start and was so determined to be a volunteer, that I decided to buy my plane ticket and book my hotel and hostel before I received word if I was admitted or not. The day before I left to go to NY, I get an email stating I was confirmed to be a volunteer for Fashion Week!!! Thank you lawd! That trip and my experience in NY for a week, ignited my passion to move to NY for good 2 months later. That same year, I went from volunteering to getting paid to dress models backstage. I’ve worked so many jobs during the course of my time in New York but the one thing that remained consistent for 10 years was working Fashion Week every season. I learned a lot and fulfilled my goal. Mission complete.
MAKING SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING
I use to have a blog back in the day called Ms. Fashionista J. I started the blog when I was unemployed living with my parents in Houston in 2009. I had NO PLAN for what I wanted to do with my blog but just write about fashion and entertainment. Fast forward to when I moved to New York in April 2010, I would use my blog to pitch to PR reps about covering some of the hottest events in New York City. Aside from covering events, my blog allowed me to explore New York, challenged me to strengthen my pitching techniques, and was used as leverage for other opportunities such as being a fashion guest on the Nate Berkus Show, an emcee for TJ Maxx Fashion Show at the Brooklyn Seaside Concert Series and for Marshall’s during Lucky Magazines FABB Conference. After 5 years, I outgrew my blog and decided to end it. The biggest takeaway about my blog was that it showed me I could create something of my own and it can manifest into tangible opportunities.
BUILD YOUR TOOLBOX BUT DONT GET TOO COMFORTABLE.
During the course of my time living in New York, I’ve had jobs in several industries:
Technology/Consumer Electronics
Financial Services
Haircare
All of these jobs were appealing to me in the beginning because it allowed a certain degree of control of my schedule; PLUS being almost homeless created a level of fear so having a steady job eased my anxiety. These jobs allowed me to travel all over the United States, consult with people from different parts of the world, enhance my time management skills and strengthen cross functional communication. It also showed me that my creative, ambitious and curious mindset couldn’t FULLY grow as an employee of a corporation. God has a way of ending things when you force yourself to stay in a situation past its expiration date. It forced me to renew my faith and eventually strike out to be SELF employed FULL TIME.
