Conversations with Jennifer Michelle

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Michelle.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Thirty years ago, I was volunteering at Greater Gospel Lighthouse. As I was walking up to the table to make sure everyone was ok, my Pastor, Reginald White, looked at me and said, “you will make millions taking pictures”. Startled, I stood there and listened to him talk about a career in the fashion industry. I was startled because I had not shared my modeling career with anyone.

When I moved to Charlotte, I met a young lady who connected me to someone in the fashion industry. Through her connection, I was able to meet with a designer who just happened to be planning a fashion show. She invited me over for a fitting which just happened to be right before her interview with The Charlotte Observer. As we finished my fitting, she told me I might be selected to take a photo in one of her looks for the article. There were so many pieces we loved it made deciding which look we would feature difficult. It was at that moment I became this super confident, almost arrogant person.

My words to her, “oh you don’t know who I am! I get what I want and will have more than one look in the paper.” The photographer and reporter showed up and the rest is history. I saw my opportunity and seized the moment. I made sure to change so the reporter saw me in one look and the photographer another. They both loved my looks so we shot four. When the article was released, they picked two of my favorite looks and added my name to the article. I thought this was my defining moment in fashion. I was wrong.

My first runway show would prove to be the moment where I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Thelma Caraway gave me the opportunity to walk for her after much prodding and persistence. She didn’t like my look at first because I was too small. After I walked the first time, I was hooked. I knew I was meant to be on the runway. I would work with Momma T and Daddy Bill for years. It was during my time working with her that I learned I had a gift to coach other models on posing and walking the runway. I had no idea my time with them would prepare me for a career as a professional runway coach.

In 2013, I was presented with my first opportunity to speak as an SME at a local school for career day. As I was planning for this event, my tagline, was Jennifer Michelle, MTAM. More Than A Mannequin was created. Shoutout to M Lee Stuart II, my manager at the time who helped me with this.

Here we are today and I am showing the world and myself, what it truly means to be More Than A Mannequin. I have learned to embrace all the things that makeup Jennifer Michelle. The woman who loves the great outdoors, art, music, great food, traveling, modeling, acting, dancing, coaching, speaking, ministering, hosting, and planning events. I love being able to help them achieve their goals.

I have found peace in allowing myself to operate in every space I find myself in. There was and is purpose in everything I have done to this point. The hurt, pain, learning, and experiences all prepared me for my next project and level. With every coaching session, I learned more about working with different people and personalities. With every episode of Everyday Runway, I was prepared for my time filming movies and television shows.

With every apprenticeship working with greats like Teddy Andrews and Robb Ferguson, I was prepared for planning weddings, showers, theme parties, and producing fashion shows. With every coaching client, I was prepared for managing clients and running a talent agency. My many years working in Corporate America prepared me for running a virtual assistance business and nonprofit organization. Everything we do is preparing us for the next thing we are to do.

With all of my professional success, my personal life has been the exact opposite. Navigating as a professional model and trying to include someone in my personal has led to many days where I have questioned myself. After a number of traumatic relationships and a nasty breakup, I began processing my pain and penned my first book, I Choose Me.

If I have learned nothing else, I have to choose myself and no longer worry about what others would think when I walked away, said no, and ended anything that challenged my peace. I Choose Me is my personal story of how I overcame trauma and moved into a place of peace.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road getting to this point in life. I have had so many challenges on this road to success that at times, I thought about giving up and walking away from the things I love. As a suicide survivor, I know how the mental anxieties of life can make one feel like doing anything else is pointless.

Financial challenges are just one small part of building a life you love and want to live every day. I learned early on that I would need to want to do this for more than the money. I loved modeling and producing events. I would do it every day for free for years because I just had to get that rush from burning the runway. It was not until I learned my former business manager was botching deals that I had to learn the business side of the fashion business.

I had to follow in Auntie Oprah’s footsteps and take control of the money, On the other side of walking away from a toxic friend and business relationship was paying jobs. Yes, I was constantly challenged by people and brands reaching out for TFP (trade for pictures) or exposure deals. I finally had the guts and resume to start saying no to them. I was working with a client a few years ago and she informed me that word on the street was “I was the person to contact for free work”.

My biggest challenge was getting others to realize my worth and value. I know I should be paid for my work and paid well. Whether it is for a fashion show, company outing, consultation, virtual job, or contract work, I expect to be paid for my time, talent and expertise. If we can get passed the free or bare minimum payments, we can work together.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am More Than A Mannequin.

I am a change agent who specializes in helping businesses streamline their services, increase social media engagement, and create operating procedures to maximize their revenue and community impact. As a change agent, I help dreamers become achievers.

I am known for my work on the runway and in the fashion and entertainment industry. I have been seen in a number of our classic shows, The Game, Being Mary Jane, and most recently Our Kind of People. I hosted the longest-running tv segment Everyday Runway, on the local news and now air it on Suite929. I can be seen in the movies Naked on Netflix, Captive, and The Cycle. I am proud to use this platform to help others break into the industry and find confidence in themselves. I am proud to have coached models and entertainers that have appeared on television shows, in music videos, in movies, and in magazines. When I think of my industry babies, I smile. When I meet them, I tell them they are stuck with me for life. They truly become family. Ask Shauntese or Ingrid!

I am also known for my nonprofit, Culture Queens Outdoors. This group is special to my heart because our goal is to create opportunities for women of color to have access to the arts, culture, and outdoors. Black women are the most influential individuals and when we come together, we can bring change to any situation. I started this group because I did not see other women who looked like me when I visited museums, galleries, performances, and at the top of waterfalls. Our group is a diverse group of women who bring so many talents to the community. Teachers, designers, models, ballet dancers, artists, and more. When we host an artist talk, they connect with their community and bring more people to establishments where we were not always welcome.

As the event planner, I am most proud of the shows I have been able to successfully produce. The Culture Queens have been involved with shows bringing diversity. In 2022 we have produced a sell-out, standing room show for The Mint Museum Uptown and a beautiful night of culture with the Grooming Greatness Foundation led by the incomparable Monique Douglas at Studio 229. We are in the planning process for a show in September, Fresh2Death. It will highlight an all-men designer roster that will show what Street Wear is. It is going to be so crazy!

My thirty years as a model and walking in major shows like NYFW and Miami Swim Week gives me an edge when it comes to producing fashion shows. I was the person sitting quietly in the corner watching and learning. I remembered my lessons from working with Teddy Andrews and added all of these experiences together to create a formula that works for me and my team,

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
To purchase my book, I Choose Me, visit my website at itsjennifermichelle.com. If you would like to work with me, please send an email to jennifer@cltqueens.com. I am available and travel anywhere as long as there is a budget to complete your vision. We are always looking for opportunities for The Culture Queens to participate in cultural and outdoor activities.

If you would like to sponsor our group for an event, please reach out. We also plan team-building events for groups, businesses, and organizations. The power of nature to connect with others is like none other. Finally, if you would like to make a donation to the Culture Queens, please feel free to visit our website to make a donation. Checks can be mailed to Culture Queens Outdoors, PO Box 31492, Charlotte, NC 28231-1492. To learn more about us, visit cltqueens.com.

Pricing:

• Hour Consultation $250
• Sponsorship Gift $75
• Membership Gift $50
• I Choose Me $25

Contact Info:

• Website: cltqueens.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culturequeens_clt/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/culturequeensoutdoors/

Image Credits
Glyn Stanley, Cynthia Clarke, Stills of Joy, 729 Photography, Alvin Jacobs, Culture Queens, and Yaviri Escalera