So Plush Modeling Company

On the Rise model Austreah Mitchell took time out of her busy schedule to speak with me about her modeling career and So Plush Modeling Company.

BIO

     My name is Austreah Mitchell, I am 24 years old, married, and I have one son named David C.A., born and raised in Detroit. I have a Associate degree in Television/Radio Production and one in Medical Billing Administration. Modeling became apart of my life in the Spring of 2007 when I went to my first casting call for a plus size agency called Yummy Modeling. I signed with them for a year and then went on to freelance modeling, working with the best photographers in Detroit.

     

So Plush Modeling Company was established in March 2011. I created this company to help aspiring plus size models jump start their careers.  We want to showcase curvy models and their many talents. We have numerous of networks to help them become successful in modeling industry. So Plush helps find casting calls for different modeling gigs, help build portfolios, comp cards, model coaching, etc.

     

Project So Plush was created to help women with their self esteem, help motivate, and aspire. We want to help them by showing them the path to sucess. Contining education or finishing school, start careers, helping single mothers, etc. is what we want to do for the community. Project So Plush have many events coming up, such as, "Make Me Over", "Girls Nite Out", and "Project So Plush Chat". These events are geared to help women in different areas. Being able to do public speaking, socialize, help self esteem, and  more.

    

I want to be successful in this industry as well as help someone else achieve their goals and dreams. You can contact So Plush Modeling Company by emailing us at soplushmodeling@gmail.com and Project So Plushprojectsoplush@gmail.com. Also, visit our website at www.soplushmodeling.webs.com and on Facebookwww.facebook.com/soplushmodeling.  

Me: What motivated you to start the So Plush Modeling movement?

Austreah:  I want to show the world that curvier women are beautiful and talented. I feel as though we don't get enough credit or equality when it comes to fashion and entertaniment. Also, I want to inspire women and for them to love themselves and their curves!

Me: Why do you think it is so important to have a program that works on giving women self-esteem, and other skills that will help them in their professional career path?

Austreah: Its important because not a lot women get told that they are beautiful and they can do and be what they want. To have confidence is a big part of anyone's life, this makes you a strong person and be able to take on the world head on. So Plush Modeling shows women how to conduct themselves in the business world by showing how to book gigs, public speaking, market themselves, just to name a few. We also show how to apply makeup, beauty and health tips as well. These are very important skills needed. I believe in teaching and educating on life lessons as well.

Me: Since you have a "passion for fashion" do you have a favorite designer?

Austreah: Yes! I have a few. I love Verg Wang, very simple, elegant, classic. Kimora Lee Simmons, bold, loud, and "I'm here!".

Me:Have you ever been discriminated against because of your size when it came to modeling? If so how did you overcome that obstacle?

Austreah: No, not yet, and I hope that I don't.

Me: Where do you see So Plush Modeling and Project So Plush in the next 5-10 yrs?

Austreah: In the next 5 years I can see So Plush Modeling with 10-15 working models and they are traveling all over the country, working with designers and compaines. Project So Plush in the next 5 years helping women overcome struggles in their lives and helping them build self esteem and confidence in themselves. So Plush Modeling and Project So Plush in the next 10 years, having offices in each major city and having more models and still helping and saving women.

Me:. And what else can we expect to see from you? Do you plan on doing some more modeling or just helping other women achieve their greatness?

Austreah: Oh yes! Please expect more from me and my models! I also plan on having boutiques that cater to curvy women. I want to also have a curvy woman magazine. Maybe a cosmetic line! I'm always going to help women achieve their  goals and dreams, I know thats my calling from God!.

LaBellla Modeling Agency

LaBella Modeling Agency

The La Bella Modeling Agency is an Atlanta based business that was founded in
August 2011. LBMA is an up and coming agency that represents only the best. The
company is based off of a simple slogan, "Beautiful Women of Stature and
Respect".

LBMA is dedicated to promoting talent to various companies seeking to use them in
print, tv, web, promotion, etc. While we can not guarantee results, we believe that
if the model is self-motivated and has the look we can assure them that we will do
everything in our power to place them in front of as many clients as possible. This is
a very competitive industry, so we sign only those that we feel will be successful.
We carefully select our models because we want to guarantee the best in the
industry.

LBMA is always available and willing to work hard to make every event that we are
apart of a success. With integrity, determination and self-respect on our side, the
La Bella Modeling Agency is sure to leave a mark of their own in the modeling
world.

Contact Information:
Labellamodelingagency@gmail.com

Karissa LaShae CEO/Owner

Fashion Photographer: Tracy Johnson

On the Rise fashion stylist and photographer Tracy Johnson took time out her busy schedule to speak with me about her "on the rise" career!!

TRACY JOHNSON

Photographer/Fashion Stylist

BIO

 She’s definably young at heart, fun and stylish with her vintage-mod wardrobe selections and her picturesque creativity.  Her artistry is a unique blend of the camera’s eye and the mind’s envision coupled with beautiful people who are the subjects of appeal.

Tracy fell in love with taking pictures and documenting life, but it wasn't until late December 2010 that she really got the motivation from her brother and sister to start her own photography business which she now calls, THE ART OF FRESH, INC. Now she’s hooked and on a steady rise to becoming one of the most wanted photographers in Atlanta.

A mother of two and a role model to many, she has never met a challenge that she could not beat or a dare that she did not meet. Tracy believes she has finally found her calling in Photography it fits her so perfectly. Time on the set with Tracy is so much more than just a ordinary photoshoot!  It’s a beauty session where Tracy is allowed to use all of her gifts at once, coupled with the talent, confidence & beauty of her subjects to form captivating photography.    

So when you hear that someone small is making BIG moves...have no doubt that that person is Tracy Johnson..."Yeah, you heard right"! 

 Me: When did you know that had a passion for photography?

Tracy: About a year ago, Me and my hair/makeup artist bff, MeMe,

partnered to style a shoot with two models here in Atlanta in an
effort to build our portfolios; mine as a fashion stylist and hers as
a Hair/Makeup Artist. We had a photographer on deck and were set to
go. It was 13mins before call time when we realized the photographer,
who had not answered any of my calls the morning of was going to be a
"no show". Rather than cancel, MeMe had a nikon that we used to do the
shoot ourselves and between the two of us, the shoot came out
fiercely. I got me my own camera and flirted around with the whole
concept of photography and I fell in love with it. I felt so in my
element as a creative mind. From there I knew I was meant to be a
photographer.

Me: What inspires you when taking pictures of people, places, or things?

Tracy: Of People, it's inner-beauty and endless possiblities that

inspire me. I love architecture, shapes and colors. I appreciate the
artistry of picture perfect spaces and just enjoy overall capturing
the beauty of all mankind and landscapes.

Me:  Do you prefer to fashion photo shoots or freelance work?

Tracy: I love the fashion shoots particularly because I am also a fashion

stylist. I put together all of the wardrobe pieces in my fashion
shoots but i enjoy freelance work as well.

Me: Where do you see yourself within the next 5-10 years? 

TRacy: In the next 5 to 10 years, I will have graduated from grad school,

running a non-profit for children in under-priviledged communities and
will have seen success in my business that leads me to becoming an
achieved national Photojournalist.

Me: So far have you had a favorite photoshoot that you are proud of?

Tracy: All of the shoots have been my favorite because they seem to get

better with each shoot but I must say the one that I was most proud of
was the one I did at the Troy Davis Demonstration that took place in
Jackson, GA, the day he was executed. I'm a sociology major at Spelman
College with a concentration in Visual Sociology. Being able to
capture the essence of what the "I Am Troy Davis" campaign meant for
me, my children, my classmates, friends and the entire world, was epic
for me. It gave me a chance to really develop my scholarship and my
research interests.

Me:  What makes you different from these others photographers? What really

 sets you apart?

Tracy: I think what really sets me apart from other photographers, particularly fashion photographers, is that I'm also a fashion stylist. This makes for simple, easy booking when a model is ready to update her portfolio. No placing ads on craigslist for stylists and makeup artists AFTER you book with a photographer. I do it all! My abilities allow me to be a 1-stop convenience for clients offering them high fashion, couture professional photoshoot for a very affordable price and if I sell a photo to a magazine, I gladly give a percentage to the model. Who does that?


Me: Nobody does that and I think that is great!!

 Contact Information:

Tracy Johnson

Twitter: @TheArtofFresh

tjohns72@scmail.spelman.edu

My Natural Hair Journey

Now where do I begin.....I began my natural hair journey by accident. It all started back in July of 2009, I had received my last relaxer and rocked a nice quick weave style when I decided to travel back home to St. Louis to visit my family. When I came back from my trip I decided to keep my quick weave in a little bit longer and then decided to get a sew-in for my birthday which is in September. Well instead of  applying another perm to my head I decided to just wash and blow dry out my hair, which I have heard is better when getting your hair braided instead of having your hair braided on freshly relaxed hair.

So with my hair freshly washed, blow dried and flat ironed I went to my stylist at the time to have a sew-in installed. I rocked the sew-in for about 2 months and then decided to take it down. I wore my hair out for about a week before I decided to install yet another sew-in. Again not perming my hair because I did not want to experience severe breakage when my hair got braided for the sew-in. Long story short I became obsessed with sew-ins and weaves that I kept them in my head for almost a year straight till I realized that I have not relaxed my hair. At that point I decided I might as well continue with this journey since I never really liked relaxers.

Now mind you during this period where I was wearing a lot of sew-ins you can call this my transitioning period because I refused to get the BC (big chop). I tried to embrace my natural hair texture but was afraid and decided to go to the dominican salon to get my hair professionally straightened. This was a big mistake but I was not knowledgeable at the time what happens when your hair comes in contact with extreme heat. I was just happy that they could straighten my hair so good that it looked like I did have a relaxer and it lasted for at least 2 weeks. But I started to notice after washing my hair my curl pattern, especially at the top was becoming very loose and even bone straight at the very ends. I decided to do a little bit of research to find out why this was happening and thanks to YouTube I was able to look up plenty of videos of heat damaged hair, and how to treat it. Thanks to those natural hair gurus such as Kimmeytube, NinaPruitt, Black Onyx and others I was able to really embrace my natural hair.

After one more full sew-in (meaning I left no hair out) for 4 months I decided to start rocking my natural hair. Now since I still had some straight ends I did not rock a wash and go style but instead wore my hair in a twist/flexi-rod set which turned out pretty good for my first try. I have always loved curly styles such as the flexi-rod set and with my hair being natural it was a great style for me to rock during my transitional period and even here after.

Now that I am fully natural since my stylist Danni clipped the rest of my dead ends I will continue to rock my flexi rod set, and I plan on branching out and trying the twist outs and braid outs and other styles that I see while watching different youtube channels. And hopefully I can come here and share with you all the good and bad of being #natural. I am not going to act as if I know it all but just what works for me. My hair length goal is to get to bra strap length, once I get there the sky is the limit. Stay tuned!!

6 week review of the Bohyme Egytian Wave

Just like the title says this is my 6 week review of this hair. I am shooting for having this hair in for about 8-10 weeks but we will see. The products I use in my hair is Tresemme Shampoo and Conditioner for the weave and on my leave-out I use Cantu leave-in conditioner which is great for my #natural hair.Some of the pics were taken between my 6 week and 8 week mark,

4 week review of the Bohyme Egyptian Wave

Check out this video, it is short and sweet and talk about the pros and cons to this hair!!

Bohyme Egyptian Wave Initial Review

This will be my first blog ever!! I love fashion, beauty, and everything in between. This first blog is about my review on some indi-remy hair by Bohyme. The type of hair is the Egyptian Wave, it is a nice loose body wave style. I purchased 3 bundles of hair in a #2, and they are 18", 14",and 12".

I purchased the hair from www.myremy.com

My stylist is Danni, if you are in the Atlanta area check her out at 404-798-7645.