Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Monica Ahanonu. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Monica, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
Growing up, my parents owned a business. Seeing all the hours and dedication they put towards their work became ingrained in me. As I got older and wanted to pursue my own passions, I unconsciously would mimic what I saw them doing while I was a child. Their example showed me that if you put in the hard work, you stand a good chance of getting what you want in life.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Monica Ahanonu is an illustrator, model and creator based in Los Angeles. Many consider her an expert in color theory and vector illustration. Monica started her career at DreamWorks Animation where she honed her unique artistic style. Now as IMG Models’ first signed illustrator, Monica is emerging as a leading tastemaker in fashion while she continues to elevate her talents in illustration.
You will find Monica showcasing her signature style and doing capsule collections, book illustration, package design, digital campaigns as well as on the red carpet for various events.
Monica’s client roster spans brands in media, clothing, consumer products and publishing. She has recently worked with UGG, Ruggable, Frito Lay, Chase Bank, Google, Facebook, Netflix, Sephora, Johnnie Walker, TIME, Simon & Schuster, Adobe and many more.
Monica continues to innovate the digital space for Black artists. Her portraits and pop art make learning about people from other cultures, industries and backgrounds accessible. Monica recently published her fifth illustrated book with Chronicle Books – Black Icons in Herstory. Monica wants to make sure everyone honors their own uniqueness and beauty.
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?
Discipline, willingness to ask for help and curiosity about others no matter their area of focus. I would definitely advise those starting out to find mentors – you can have mentors for various parts of your life. Find people who are doing what you want to do and find ways to talk to them. One of the best things a mentor told me when I was early on in my career, is to “meet everyone and don’t ever refuse a meeting.” You never know what you can learn from someone’s journey.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
I had a mentor – Christophe Lautrette – who I worked with at the beginning of my career. Christophe’s encouragement allowed me to adjust my mindset of what “finished art” should look like. I had a belief that my art was only complete if it looked like something I had seen before and he encouraged me to draw the way I liked and decide when things are finished, even if they didn’t look like all of the art I was seeing around me. I learned that the key to finding your style is deciding how YOU like things to look, not how you think they should look.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mahanonu.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monicaahanonu/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MonicaDesignArt/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicaahanonu
- Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@monicaahanonu
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
