We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Allison Johnson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Allison , so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.
With modeling, I sometimes have to deal with haters every week. I’ve told myself over and over again that people, especially young ones, are envious of success. Jealous people despise others, particularly those who are merely attempting to improve their own lives. I don’t associate with jealous people, thus I opted not to interact with others that hold a negative view. An opinion from a cruel tongue, is irrelevant in my eyes.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Allison Johnson, and I have found immense joy through my modeling career. I have been modeling for four years, and have managed to make appearances for Dillards, JCPenny, and a number of boutiques and small businesses. I also hold an ambassadorship for Bucked Up, a preworkout and supplement line that is beneficial for a variety of fitness goals. I am apart of an amazing organization known as the Charlottes Fashion Collective. The Charlotte Fashion Collectives primary goal is to make the fashion industry a community. All models are made to feel welcome. The CFC will actually be launching an amazing production on October 19th! “The Sound Of Fashion” will be a great night filled with fashion, talent, and fun. A variety of different designs will be broadcasted, as talent struts the runway! Check out the Charlotte Collectives Website for tickets and more information.
Additionally, I have walked on over 10 runways, and also won 2024 North Carolinas Teen Model of the Year at North Carolina Fashion week. I was overjoyed to have won a title I’d been working on for nearly three years!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three qualities I have used throughout my modeling career are confidence, ambition, and motivation. Understanding that there is always someone else ahead of me motivated me to be the best version of myself. I knew I wasn’t always going to be chosen for a particular project, and I wasn’t going to get accepted at every casting call. This realization helped me go further and taught me to be confident in the face of rejection. This moto helped me set personal goals and made me constantly look for new successes. It’s a great relief to be able to not win or be recognized without feeling frustrated or hopeless. My advice to those looking to start a career in fashion is to never give up on your goals and dreams. Quitting does nothing and will always leave those with nothing. Simply trying, may impact you tremendously.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
My sister has been the most influential person in helping me find my way in my career. My sister’s name is Caroline Johnson. She specializes in beauty pageants and has recently been crowned “Mrs. Catawba.” Caroline has always reminded me to remain confident in what I do, and not to give up regardless of opinions. She has attended nearly all of my photoshoots and has chosen to watch and film them for me. Caroline is always willing to give me the best advice on how to improve myself. Having her by my side throughout my career has heightened my inclination towards modeling. She has always assured me that I could do anything I set my mind to and has been there for every step of my modeling career. I am extremely fortunate to have such a soothing and kind individual as my sister.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thecharlottefashioncollective.com/models/women/2187344/allison-johnson-cfc-id#-c230043m
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonjiolijohnson/
Image Credits
Feature Photo and 3rd/4th photo submitted: William First Photo submitted: John Chandler 2nd photo: Todd Burton
