Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey-Marie Mohammed.
Hi Kelsey, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Kelsey and I am a visual artist, content creator, and the Founder and CEO of The JoClin Agency, a digital agency servicing businesses in the art and fashion industries. I’ve always been a lover of the arts and I would say my career has happened quite organically. I graduated from Winston-Salem State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Mass Communications. Shortly after graduation, I moved back to Brooklyn, NY, the city where I was born.
When I first got to NYC, I dabbled in a bit of everything from interning at a marketing firm, a modeling agency, working retail and I ultimately ended up working in film and television. I worked on shows such as Power, She’s Gotta Have It Too, and for networks such as CBS, NBC, and Netflix! Although I was working in tv production, I knew it wasn’t my dream — there was something else within me that I needed to pull out. I’d always been a lover of reading books, going to art museums, art galleries, consuming art, and creating art through photography. I began taking images and sharing them on my Instagram account and my account started to grow.
I moved to Johannesburg, South Africa in 2018 and lived there until February 2020 with time spent in between that timeframe in Botswana and London. While abroad, I was able to grow artistically and really hone in on what I desired in life. I was working as a writer during my time in South Africa. I came to the U.S. in February 2020 with plans of staying for two weeks, but my plans got turned upside down when COVID-19 caused international borders to close, including South African borders. I stayed in Raleigh during the rise of the pandemic and while in Raleigh, I continued to write, paint and take photos.
I decided in July of 2020 to move back to NYC and since then, I’ve been working full time as a content creator and visual artist. After meeting my mentor, she advised me to start a business doing social media for individuals. I started The JoClin Agency in October 2020 and since then, it’s grown to a 6 figure B2B agency servicing clients in the art and fashion industries.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I went through a lot of moments in my early and mid-twenties where I was just uncertain of the future. Looking back, I realize that I was experiencing anxiety around the future. I’ve always had a yearning for success, but the college didn’t quite prepare me for the real world.
Yes, you have to work hard, but what’s really important is building a network of like-minded individuals and really cultivating a community. Most of my struggles were figuring what I wanted to do. As a creative, it’s hard to really niche down on what you’re passionate about. I naturally love writing, art, and photography, but I had to really figure out how I was going to take what I love and make it into a means of living.
Another major struggle for me was getting stuck in the US during the pandemic. I came here to visit with one suitcase and had to essentially start over from scratch. Most of my belongings are actually still in South Africa, a place I haven’t returned to since February 2020.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My content creator brand, @Kelseydashmarie, is where I really share my love for art and fashion. I work with fashion brands, specifically sustainable fashion brands, to create content and style the clothing in my personal style. With my paintings, I am heavily influenced by my Caribbean heritage and use bright colors to tell the story of Trinidad and Tobago, the country where my parents are from.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I think something surprising that most people who know me or my work/brand might not know about me is that I sometimes despise social media (shhh, don’t tell my clients) and I wish I was an adult in the times before technology.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.thejoclinagency.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/kelseydashmarie
- Facebook: http://www.instagram.com/kelseydashmarie
Image Credits
Lebo Lukewarm
