We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lexx Lauray. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lexx below.
Hi Lexx, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
I have realized that being the only person in the room that looks like me is a superpower that allows me to fly under the radar and end up on top of the world before anyone could bat an eye! However, that was not always the case. Growing up, I was an eclectic and artistic individual with a passion for uniqueness. I loved surrounding myself with eccentric people who dared to defy the rules placed on us by society and those who aimed to redefine what was “right.” As a child, I had dreams of becoming an artist and a doctor but often after expressing my dreams, I was faced with backlash and doubt. I was told that I would never get that far in medicine and that becoming an artist would firmly dedicate me to a life of poverty. I was strongly urged to find a different “more attainable” career. I continued my passionate pursuits, but this doubt placed on me by others would resurface in my college years as imposter syndrome.
It was crucial to surround myself with people that looked like me as I pursued my dreams, so I matriculated into my first-choice university-Clark Atlanta University (CAU). At CAU I had to make a choice- it was either Pre-med or Fashion and Design. I chose medicine and I put my artistic endeavors on hold. Being at HBCU (Historically Black College and University) made me feel more at home but still, I stood out in ways that I did not understand. I would spend my years at CAU conducting research and traveling around the United States for research internships every summer. However, a pattern began to emerge once I graduated from CAU- no one looked like me! I was brown skinned with colorful locs and piercings and a unique style of dress and I never hid that. When I walked into a room of scholars, I was looked at as though I found the wrong door! I remember feeling so uncomfortable in these spaces as if I did not belong here even though I got here the same way everyone else did. I remember feeling the need to be the brightest and quickest one in the room so to assert myself and assure others that I did in fact, open the right door. This method of “proving” I belong here was so exhausting that I gave up. I took all my piercings out and dyed my locs a deep brown just to better fit in with my colleagues. I felt like I was beginning to lose myself just to get the opportunities I wanted.
In 2019, I was accepted into Medical School and then it hit me! Years of hearing that I will never be a doctor, being forced into a box, having to choose between my passions of medicine and art without the opportunity of both, all made me realize that being the only person in the room that looked like me was an underrated gift. I was doubted most of my life, but here I was accomplishing everything I said I would. I walked into rooms where I was treated as if I did not belong there which, in all honesty, gave me discipline, determination, confidence, and courage to evolve. It gave me the skill to adjust easily and effortlessly in uncomfortable environments and that turned that into a fun hobby for me. Now I place myself in uncomfortable environments to test my adjustment skills. When I came to this realization, I came back into myself! I dyed my hair again, I put my piercings back, I got new body art, and I basked in my diversity.
When I encounter patients, they look at me bamboozled “You’re a doctor?” After I answer, I enjoy watching the slow shock cross their face! It makes me happy inside to know that I am redefining what a physician “should” look like! I also decided that I do not have to choose between medicine and art and that I can do it all. I am more than my career and I chose to no longer allow society to fit me into their box of rules. I design clothes, I draw, I create! I am a creator and a physician, and I love my duality! I began modeling after being signed to a micro-agency based out of Atlanta GA “The Stud Model Project” and I have watched my creative career blossom. I was cast in New York Fashion week several times, I have graced the runway for The Small Boutique Fashion Week, in addition to other runway shows around the states. I have been cast in films and booked for Print modeling and I add more to my repertoire every day.
Being the only one in the room that looked like me made me brave and daring. It created an unwavering determination to succeed despite the naysayers. But most importantly, it taught me that diversity is what breeds success and that it is something that should be welcomed and celebrated in every room I walk into even if I must celebrate alone! Being multifaceted is a gift- who doesn’t love range?
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Within the last year and a half, I have picked up sewing and I have thoroughly enjoyed it! I love being able to bring to life the ideas I have roaming freely in my mind, and I love learning different ways to sketch, design, and sew! I am looking forward to the journey I have ahead with honing my skills and perfecting my craft! I follow some of my favorite fashion design influencers and brands on social media to keep me inspired and soak up any tricks of the trade I can!
I found love with modeling and because I treat modeling as a passionate hobby, it gives me the opportunity to express myself in meaningfully connected ways! What I really enjoy most about modeling is meeting designers with the same creative expression as me. Last year I manifested being able to model abstraction and just as I dreamt, I was chosen to represent “Design for Identity” created by a local artist Ania Diallo for Nashville Design Week in 2023. As a nude model, I was transformed from head-to-toe with body paint and redesigned to represent Afro-futurism! The colors were extraterrestrial, vibrant, and I even glowed in the dark! My dream came true and ignited a determination in me to find other artists, designers, and creatives with out-of-this-world visions!
Another passion of mines has always been bringing people together in ways that allow them to network, socialize, celebrate life, and enjoy each other. I began event production as part of a collective based out of South Florida in 2023 where we create elevated, decadent spaces for Black and Brown QTPOC in the community! A year and a half later, our collective is still going strong hosting monthly events at unique venues across south Florida. We have developed a dedicated following and have even collaborated with Gay Pride organizations in our region to host and produce Pride events in Miami! I have been able to network and collaborate with other prominent community members and organizations to further redefine spaces for LGBTQIA+ people of color. I personally have a passion for healthcare and providing resources for members and allies of the community, as such, I am always seeking ways to give back to my community in ways of healthcare education and volunteer work.
Overall, being a model, creative, event producer, physician, and jack of all trades allows me to access a plethora of spaces and encounter those who are just as multifaceted as I am! I am my own brand and I operate as such and in the future, I look forward to Lexx Lauray becoming a household name!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, I believe that the three qualities that have been most impactful on my journey would be discipline, determination, and becoming a “forever learner”.
Discipline has proven to be one the most valuable attributes in my journey. It’s already difficult to push through trials and tribulations to reach your goals in life, but without discipline, it will be nearly impossible. The long nights spent studying my crafts meant that I had to decline hanging out with friends, attending events, and sometimes traveling to new destinations because I knew that in the end, I would be successful in reaching my goal. I accepted that I would miss out now to prosper later and I relinquished the need for instant gratification.
My discipline with learning my crafts encouraged my determination. I must ensure that missing out on these small things would mean I will prosper in the end. Failure has never been a part of my vocabulary and I was determined to never see it. No matter how many no’s I heard, I knew that all I needed was one yes!
Lastly, I chose to be a forever learner. I am a believer that you should never stop learning and by keeping that quality dear to me, it made learning new skills exciting. I am eager to be better in whatever I do in life and regardless of your destinations in life, we are all living a human experience. It is in our nature to learn. The moment we stop learning is the moment we become complacent and our advancement towards our goals ceases.
Overall, I would advise those that are on a creative or professional journey to stay focused and most importantly, show care and attention to their mental health! When we neglect our mental health, the rest will decline. Discipline, determination, and educating yourself on your gifts will set you up for success in the future but loving yourself and cleansing your mind will keep you successful and prosperous.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am looking forward to networking and collaborating with unique fashion designers and brands. I am looking for designers with a edgy, alternative, and unique styles of work. I want to model in abstraction with a fashion brand that seeks out and appreciates diversity in all realms. My goal is to be a blank canvas to be transformed into any and everything imaginable. I am also eager to network and collaborate with event producers around the world to see how we can help bring something new and niche to our communities. I am seeking photographers and other creatives to work together on content and further hone our skills and have fun doing so! I seek out modeling agencies that are actively recruiting eclectic individuals of all shapes, sizes, colors, and gender identities! Lets work!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexx_lauray?igsh=MWs3ZmhjbmhlcWltZQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Other: Business Email: Alexandrialauray@gmail.com Instagram: Lexx_lauray
Image Credits
Stud Model Project
