Makeovers & Motivation at Cola-Con

Sometimes when you give, you end up getting back more than you bargained for. Earlier this month I had the pleasure of being a special guest at Cola-Con, a hip hop and comic book convention. The organizers of the event invited me to not only speak on a panel about women in entertainment, but I was also able to do my own modeling workshop. I wanted to bring a bit of my world to Carolina... the glamour and the flashing lights. I wanted people from my home to be able to experience what I do everyday. Being creative brings me so much joy, and I want others to know how that feels. Each one teach one, you know. But I wasn't expecting that I'd get so much in return.

Going into this whole thing, I wasn't sure how many people would attend that were really interested in modeling and how many were just curious as to what we were doing. The workshop turned into more of a makeover session, and it was perfect. There were a couple of career women that needed a release from their regular work week, so we hooked them up. There was superstar singer Brittany Bosco who stopped by for support. I had a cute zookeeper come in for a glam session. Turns out her dad was a photographer so she already knew how to work the camera. Go 'head, girl!

A few days before the event, an old college buddy of mine emailed to ask if his 5-year-old daughter could come to the workshop. He mentioned that she was interested in acting and modeling and was hoping that I could at least meet her. I'm always a little funny about kids in this business, but I thought "why not". As soon as I saw little Gabby, I saw the light in her eyes and knew she needed to be at the workshop. The Paul Mitchell School team sat her down and went to work on her hair. We decided her hair should look fun and textured to go with her spunky personality. I wanted to make sure that Gabby's parents at least got a good headshot for her to start her career. And when she got in front of the camera, it was magic. She's such a little star!

One of my most rewarding moments was helping out a mom of two. She walked through the doors a little unsure about if she should stay or go. She wasn't into modeling, but I knew she was in the right place. The workshop was more of a pampering session for this hardworking mom. The Paul Mitchell School team gave her the royal treatment. She came in as this tired, frumpy person and left a glowing confident woman. Her transformation made me tear up. Now I know what Stacey and Clinton feel like on What Not To Wear.

So many thanks go out to the Paul Mitchell School for sharing their love of artistry with us. They worked wonders and I am so in debt to them. Thanks also to Michael Dantzler of Kayode Photo for all his hard work on the pictures. These people volunteered their time and talent out of the goodness of their hearts. Oh, and Preach Jacobs and the crew that put on Cola-Con, you guys should be honored for what you do for the artistic community in Columbia. Continue to nourish what others often neglect.

This is what happens when cool people come together for the greater good. No attitudes. No egos. Just love. Thank you for this and let's do this again soon.

XOXO


P.S. for more photos, click here.

Halloween Glam

The thought of getting dressed up for Halloween is super exciting. I start planning like a month or so in advance. "Ooo, what should I be? I could do this. I could do that." After talking about my ideas amongst friends, I come up with a killer costume. And then a few days before, I ditch the whole idea. This is exactly what happened this year. I was dead set on being George Michael from the Faith album complete with stubble and aviators. Then earlier this week, I wasn't feeling it. So today, I panicked. "What the freak am I going to be?!"

I know I'm not the only one who's done this. Or, even better...you've got the greatest costume figured out in your head, let's just say Karl Lagerfeld as an example. Sorry to any of my friends who are actually dressing up like this.
You've got the wig, glasses, gloves, suit...so you think you're all set. But before you can even vocalize your grand plan your BFF says she's going to be Uncle Karl but she's taking it even further with a stuffed white cat. Ugh. Foiled again. So what do you do now? Don't fret, my little pretties.

Go for what inspires you. Maybe it's a color or an animal. Maybe it's your favorite song or movie. If you're totally into Frank Ocean's album, throw on some tangerine makeup and a dress of the same color and call yourself Channel Orange. If you're an 80s kid, find a cute auburn bob wig and a pink dress and say you're Molly Ringwald from Pretty in Pink. Just make sure you pout a lot. Wink, wink.

Search through blogs or flip through magazines and let awesome style grab you. I was totally moved by Jean Paul Gaultier's Ready-to-Wear Women's collection that honors some of music's biggest icons. Think about how easy it is to pull off Grace Jones or Boy George, but how fun it would be. Or maybe there's just a fantastically dark makeup look you've been dying to try. Halloween is the holiday to do. I really love vamp makeup with deep violet lips and cat eyes. Super sultry.

I wandered around a costume shop for hours today trying on stuff until something moved me. If that's what you have to do to find your Hallow's Eve mojo, then do it. But don't let the lack of an elaborate outfit put you in a funk. Sometimes, you got to get creative. However you decide to masquerade, do it with style.

Blank Like A Model: Essential Beauty

Being a model means that you always have to be camera-ready. Between photo shoots and commercials, there's no room for bad beauty days on my schedule. How do I pull it off? It takes a little dedication, but it's sooo simple. In this edition of Blank Like A Model, I'll give you a few of my essential beauty tips that will keep you glowing all day.

1.Deep clean: Splashing water on your face in the morning to wake you up is just not enough. Faces need a little scrub-a-dub every morning to get rid of the dirt and excess oil that collected during sleep. The same thing goes for a nighttime routine. Make sure to use a makeup remover before you cleanse. I like to scrub with an exfoliant cream every other day and use a facial mask at least once a week. Your face will thank you for taking special care of it.

2. Protect all your skin: Whether it's moisturizing or using sunscreen, it's important to protect all your skin, not just your face. I don't care if you've got skin as soft as a baby's bottom, moisturizing must be a priority. I love cocoa butter infused with vitamin E. It evens out my complexion while also protecting me from the sun. Just stay away from anything too oily or heavy that may clog your pores.

3. Hands off: Every time you bring your hands to your face it spreads germs and dirt that can cause pimples and other irritations. Train yourself to keep your hands off and to use tissues any time you need to dab or wipe something away. This is doubly true if you feel a pimple or blemish creeping up on your face, since the oils from your hand will make it worse. Also: keep your hands out of your hair! It’s a nervous habit for so many people and it just spreads oil and dirt everywhere. If you use your fingers to style your hair, be sure to wash them before and after.

4. Brighten up your eyes: Age and lack of sleep can take a toll on your peepers. Not to worry. Use a calming eye cream or cucumbers to soothe your eyes in the morning and at night. Keep the area underneath your eyes moisturized and dab a little highlighter in the corners to make them sparkle. Finish off with mascara on top and bottom lashes to really open your eyes up.

5. Just blush: I never used to wear color on my cheeks because I thought it looked unrealistic. Then a very cute guy made me blush. Rosy cheeks are a sign of youth and flirtatiousness. Dab a little pink on the apples of your cheeks to keep you looking vibrant.

6. Freshen up: Your face and hair can attract dirt and antioxidants throughout the day. I like to do a mini facial at lunch time that includes using a toner to clean off excess grime and reapplying. You can do the same thing for your hair with Free Your Mane's Reviving Spray. It'll bring life back to your beautiful tresses.

7. Do it with a smile: No matter how you may look on the outside, it's so important to feel good on the inside. When you laugh or smile, your face instantly lights up and you forget your worries at least for a moment. Smiles are infectious, so share that joy with those around you.

You may not be a Hollywood starlet or a catwalk queen, but you are lovely. May all your days be filled with happiness and beauty.

Now Represented By:

Hip hip hurray! Mama's got a brand new agent. I am now represented by Pinkerton Model & Talent. About a year ago, a friend mentioned that I should check out the agency. Even though it took a long time, I did my homework and finally decided to switch up my game.

My booker has me testing like crazy in an effort to update my book. So I'm currently on day five of my mad photo shoot spree. It's a lot of hard work, but my portfolio is going to look great! It's kind of fun to be a new face.

On Point: Guarded Oxford Pump

A classic shoe gets a feminine upgrade. I am literally obsessed with oxfords. When I got into a store, my eyes are immediately drawn to these shoes. Oxfords are perfectly preppy. They can take a plain t-shirt and khakis from drab to Ab Fab with just one click of your heels.

So just imagine how cute you'd look in these Fergie Guarded Oxford Pumps. Seriously, this baby should be a staple in your shoe collection. Peep the signature Oxford detailing. This shoe laces in the front but zips up on the side for easy access. And check out that wing tip pointed toe. Killer! If you're not dying to have these stems, you've got issues.

CLICK TO SHOP

Dear Fairy Model Mother: I'm Not Working

Hello lovelies. I know it's been a while, but Mama's here. With all the traveling and socializing these past few months, I've just been swamped. But enough of that. Let's get to it. I was inspired to write this after a few conversations this week with some fellow models. It seems like these disgruntled beauties have been dealing with agency drama. This leads us to today's question:

What should I do if my agent isn't getting me any work?

Just like businessmen and lawyers, models talk shop too. We see each other at photo shoots and we keep each other informed. "Who are you with? Do you like them?" That's usually how the conversation starts. From there we get down to the dirty-dirty. We begin to open up to each other about issues we're having with our agents. One thing that's been coming up lately is models not going out on castings and not booking any jobs. Oh my gracious, haven't I been there.

When you get signed with an agency, you think you're going to be working nonstop. You're a fresh face and your reps want to make sure they are pushing you as much as possible. For a year or so, you're shooting around the clock, then the work slows down. This could be for a number of reasons. It may be a slow season. Maybe your look isn't hot right now. Who knows. There's a possibility that you need to update your book to gain more lucrative clients. If so, your agent should be encouraging you to test. Whatever the case may be, it's important that you keep an open dialogue with your people. Pick his or her brain to see what's really going on.

And if after all this you still feel like you're still not being given the same opportunities as the other models with your agency, maybe you should move on. When your agents aren't making money for you and you're not making money for them, it's time for a divorce. Don't waste your years, because you're not getting any younger. Take a look at your contract and figure out your exit strategy. Make sure it's an amicable split. Remember, it's not personal. It's just business, and you've got to be in the business of you. But don't rush to conclusions prematurely. Weigh out all your options.

I hope this helps, darlings. We've all been in situations where we feel our talents aren't being appreciated like they should. That's why we have each other to for group therapy sessions. Sharing is caring. As always, if you have any questions your fairy model mother is here.

"Shake It Like a Polaroid Picture"

Just updated these for Rocket Garage Amsterdam.

It's so necessary so that agents and clients know what you really look like at any given time. The thing is, I don't think I've really changed that much.

Thanks Christian Shorter for taking these. You rock.

Keep it simple. Keep it minimal.

Ain't No Shame in My Game

Sometimes conforming to the pop culture's perception of beauty can cause us to feel bad about ourselves. We can look in the mirror, and no matter what size we are, we think we're too this or too that. Body image is one of my favorite topics because it's an issue that will always exist. You can be the most picture-perfect woman in the universe and still find flaws with yourself.

Plus Model Magazine has dedicated an entire issue to discuss this concept of being ashamed of our bodies. Curvy women are often given the side eye by society because of their size. Media would have you believe that in order to be attractive one must be thin. In the spread called "Is Body Shaming Present in Our Lives", Plus Model Magazine challenges this idea by showing images of curvaceous women with nearly nothing on but jewels. They are not hiding themselves underneath clothes, because they don't need to.

Body Shaming is not just an issue for "real size" women, but skinny girls and guys too. We must all learn to love our individual shapes and sizes and be content with what we have. If you take care of your body and live a healthy life, who's to tell you if you're too thick or too thin. Love yourself.

Chime in: Who is at fault for body shaming- ourselves or the media?

Model Bites: Napa Valley Grille

People like to eat. People like to see pictures of food. I like eating food, so this new column is the perfect recipe for my blog. Introducing Model Bites. I was so inspired by all the delicious Instagram photos and the chatter about models and their eating habits that showcasing my appetite for yumminess only makes sense. I hope you enjoy. For the first installment, I visited Napa Valley Grille in Westwood to see what dishes the chef's cooking up this season.

With the changing of the leaves comes a changing of the menu for this rustic piece of heaven called Napa Valley Grille. The restaurant adds dishes that comfort your belly like Warm Brussels Sprout Salad with Pancetta, Butternut Squash Soup with Spiced Pepitas, and Garam Masala Rack of Lamb to an already exquisite selection of food. Executive Chef Taylor Boudreaux pulled from an eclectic mix of cuisines including Indian, Italian, and his own creole roots for the fall harvest menu. My mouth was watering just looking at the list of appetizers and entrees, then my stomach started growling, and I knew it was time to order.
I wanted to try some of the new items but still get a taste of the restaurant's tried-and-true staples. First up was the Sweet Corn Agnolotti, a delicious ravioli-like pasta filled with a corn purée. Then came the Black Figs and Prosciutto drizzled in balsamic and extra virgin olive oil with a dollop of buratta. The dish had great texture with savory and sweet flavors, but still light and delicate. The next few dishes had me swirling in a food coma. From Chicken Kale Salad to Blue Crab Cakes...Steamed Mussels with spanish chorizo and white wine... The Larry Turkey Burger with smoked cheddar and a side of sweet potato fries. Oh my gracious! My eyes must have been bigger than my stomach, because I didn't leave room for dessert. This rarely ever happens, I swear. But if I'd had space for anything else, it would have been either the Butterscotch Bread Pudding or the Chocolate-Studded Zabaglione with Chocolate Tuiles.

I highly recommend dining at Napa Valley Grille this fall. Chef Taylor has filled the menu with fresh, seasonal ingredients and created some amazing dishes. So enjoy and feast until your belly says it's satisfied.
Buon Appetito!

Thanks to Wagstaff LA for a most exquisite lunch experience!

My Style: Retro Shapes

Never let a cute outfit go to waste. When I saw this dress hanging in Native Boutique, I knew I just had to have it. The neutral colors and retro pattern just called out to me. So I went to the dressing room, slipped it on, and fell head over heels.

Originally, I wore this outfit in my shoot for It's Hair Magazine. The glossy only used one photo in this look for the shoot. Taye Hansberry's pics were so good that I just couldn't let them sit in the vault forever.

At first glance, this may look like a summery dress. But you can easily convert this into a great look for the fall. Just add a dark tailored blazer, close-toed heels and rich neutral colors for makeup and you've got your perfect autumn look for day or night. I love wearing this dress with a navy blazer and cute caramel chunks heels. I look like a pumpkin spice latte.

What I'm wearing...
Dress: Ark &Co.
Shoes: Steve Madden
Sunglasses: Marni for H & M
Bangles: Target
Necklace: Borrowed from Taye
I'm strolling by these posh stores off Melrose looking like a million bucks but my entire outfit was less than $100. See, you don't have to spend a lot to look fabulous.

Xoxo

I Heart CBTL!

Coffee lovers unite! Y'all know how much I like my lattes and Earl Grey in the morning, actually it's more like all day long. And you also know how much I love free stuff. Put all that together and you've got one great giveaway. On Saturday in celebration of National Coffee Day, myself and thousands of others waited in line for the new CBTL coffee machine. Crazy... no doubt. Worth it... heck yeah!

Here's the deal. Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf announced that it would be giving away 2,500 of the Kaldi single serve machines. The catch was that you needed to bring in your old coffee maker in exchange. I was so down for this. I was a barista for four years, and my old espresso machine was on the fritz. So why not "Trade Up Your Cup" for something even better.

My gang and I woke up early that morning to go get our new machines, but we weren't the only ones. As we were just blocks away from the Coffee Bean near Sunset Plaza, we noticed a long line forming. I immediately jumped out of the car, grabbed a wristband, and held my spot in line. Before I even realized it, nearly a hundred people were standing behind me, and then more. There were even entire families waiting with their old coffee makers to trade up. Supposedly, a few dedicated folks had set up camp since noon the day before to get not only the new Kaldi, but also a milk frother (only for the first 200 in line). I must have been number 1,240.

Surprisingly, the line moved swiftly. We made it inside the event and were greeted by CBTL CEO Mel Elias and the most enthusiastic volunteers who took our old machines and added to the batch. Eventually these trade-ins will get donated to charity. Sharing is caring. Ok, so after that we got vouchers for our new coffee makers. But which one? There was silver, blue, red, and black.

I am so indecisive. While I mulled over my choices, I decided to test out the samples. A really sweet CBTL barista showed me just how the new machine works. Let me tell you, the espresso was perfecto! No cream or sugar needed when the shots are pulled just right. As I danced and sipped my coffee, I made my decision... the red one! I picked up my new baby and hugged it tightly. When you find the right espresso machine, you can never let it go.

Thank you to the whole gang at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and also Wagstaff Worldwide for such an awesome party. You guys rock! Now, thanks to my new CBTL Kaldi, I can wake up with my own perfect cup of coffee, tea, or espresso without leaving the comfort of home. Sweet!