Meet Ayana Whitaker

 

We were lucky to catch up with Ayana Whitaker recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ayana , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I am a huge day dreamer who takes all my goals very seriously. Once I set my mind to something, I have to accomplish it. Throughout my experience, every time I feel I am so close to a goal, roadblocks appear. I learned that even with detours, the lemons will always turn into lemonade. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey so enjoy every moment of the process. Resiliency has taught me that things don’t always turn out how I vision them, sometimes they turn out even better than imagined. No matter how many no’s I get, I will not allow anything to get in the way of my goals. Regardless of any set backs, you have to see the journey all the way through.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I call myself a Boss Mom. I play different roles in my life. I am a Plus/Curve Model, Content Creator, Registered Behavior Technician, and so much more. The main role in my life is being a mother. It can be challenging wearing many hats, but my drive to be wealthy pushes me through.

As a plus model my niches are editorial, runway, and print. I am expanding into commercial as well. I got into modeling in 2019 after a break up. I started runway in 2022, and been elevating ever since. I have been in shows in New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Kansas City, and Omaha. I just enjoy expressing myself through photos and being able to capture the vision on the runway. I want curvier women to see there are women who look like us in these spaces. Body inclusivity has came a long way, but also has a long way to go.

As a Registered Behavior Technician I work with children with autism. I teach clients’ behaviors that will help them with everyday life. This is perfect for me because I am very passionate about helping others. Being able to see the progress from my assistance makes the job all worth while. It is also very flexible which allows me to still enjoy my life.

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?

Three most important qualities I would say you need to succeed are being resilient, committed, and approachable & coachable.

Resiliency, referencing above, is important because you are going to hear a whole lot of no’s before you get that yes. And that’s okay because rejection is just redirection to a greater blessing that’s meant specifically for you. With being a plus/curve model you just need tough skin. Be confident enough to know that you own everything you touch. Enter and leave that room feeling and smelling like a million bucks. Nothing anyone says can hurt your feelings, because you practice self love and no one can touch that.

Commitment shows dedication. Are you a person someone can rely on? Are you dedicated towards your craft? How disciplined are you to the goal? All of these questions can be asked when one is questioning are they committed. In the model industry, once a designer or production team sees you are trustworthy, efficient, prompt, and reliable, they going to always choose you. It’s important to show people that you are trustworthy so that when opportunities arise, you will be one of the first to know.

Make sure to be approachable and coachable. Those are great traits to have. People love working with a kind model who is open to feedback. The job is to sell the garment. Be the designer’s biggest advocate, work with them and not against them. I have also invested in coaches because there is always more to learn and ways to perfect your skills. Invest in yourself because you are the brand.

The advice I have is to take that leap! Start the journey. Once you start, invest in yourself! It takes money to make money. You will get a huge return on your investment in the end. Get out your comfort zone and travel. Most of the connections you will meet will be outside of your hometown. Go to that casting, stop second guessing your skills and go! Never tell yourself no. For mothers, go be great and do what you enjoy. Don’t feel bad for wanting to still achieve your goals, your life is not over. Be open to constructive criticism and work on your skills. Hire a coach who aligns with your vision. Based on the law of attraction, what you put out you will get back tenfold. If you want to be successful, it’s inevitable you will.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

I would say my family has been a huge impact in my life. I was a family raised baby, and it’s always taken a team effort. When it comes to my drive I see me getting that from my mother and grandmother. I see traits of myself coming from my mom’s and dad’s side.
I was raised to be very respectful and treat others how you want to be treated. Those traits alone have gotten me far.

My family helps me with keeping my daughter when I need to travel. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have that support. It’s very needed and very appreciated! I am super grateful for my support system.

My peers have been a huge help with confidence. Most of my friends I made through modeling are super genuine and loving people. We uplift one another especially before a show. We also protect each other when it comes to safety in the work place. I appreciate my model coach and my agency for giving me more opportunities to meet and connect with more models. Connection is big for me and helps me overcome some of my social anxiety.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Kaboré (Kevin Kabore)
Authentic Shots (Bre White)
Kimberly Easter Photography
Out of the box imagery (Megan McEwen)
Denver 303 Magazine
Mountain Storm Photography (Devin Crowbear)
Riek Bol
Terrence Tryon

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