We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Deovani Jean a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Deovani, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
My best advice is to fake it until you become it. Build the pattern. Break the cycle. Turn lack into abundance. Have a trusted friend or family member to confide in, and if that’s not an option, seek a therapist—someone who can truly hear your darker half and help lift your spirit. Surround yourself with good people, and you’ll find that good people come into your life when you strive to be one yourself. Be kind. Compliment a stranger. See beauty in everything, and look beyond the surface.
Be the mirror you want to see in the world. Speak to yourself with kindness and encouragement. When you fall into a dark place, consciously think of something light and positive, even if it feels like a battle within yourself. Keep fighting your darker half until you no longer need to fight it. Instead, you’ll learn to see the beauty in both your dark and light sides, embracing the balance they bring to your life.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m from Canton, a small town in North Georgia that’s not so small anymore. My love for fashion and my first steps into art and self-expression began here. From art class to telling my teacher I wanted to be a YouTuber (only to be shot down immediately), I’ve always been drawn to a bigger stage—whether for myself or helping others shine on it. This drive has led me to work with major stylists and land my first celebrity clientele within my first year as a stylist.
With time, my taste has refined, and my skills have sharpened. I’ve grown with every job, especially with the guidance of incredible mentors like Autumn Naomi and Akilah Ho-Young. As I enter 2025, I’m thrilled to take the knowledge they’ve imparted to me and introduce the world to my new styling agency, Agency 11:11, which I’m launching in collaboration with my business partner, Reid Elrod, a fellow artist and fashion enthusiast.
Agency 11:11 is just the beginning of a much larger fashion conglomerate we’re building in Atlanta. Our goal is to not only expand our own reach but to uplift other fashion lovers in the city, particularly the younger market. Everyone deserves a platform. Everyone deserves a chance to shine, and we’re here to help make that happen.
Additionally, we’re working on a nonprofit sector focused on providing clothing to the underprivileged, especially children. 11:11 is where dreams become reality, and we’re determined to turn those dreams into something tangible for the people who need it most.
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?
Resilience, perspective, and communication have been pillars in my journey, and I believe they’re often overlooked—especially by creatives starting out with no connections or financial support, relying solely on ambition to move forward. These skills have been crucial for me, particularly as someone still early in my path. It’s only been a year since I’ve felt a clear sense of direction. Before, it was just a love for fashion, but now it’s a passion driven by purpose and ever-expanding knowledge.
Resilience is non-negotiable. You have to rise every time you fall. Even when the challenges feel insurmountable, staying proactive and pushing forward is vital. Progress, no matter how small, is still progress. This connects directly to the importance of perspective. I firmly believe that comparison is the thief of joy. While self-critique and the desire to grow are natural, measuring yourself against others only detracts from the joy of creating. You are the author of your story, the creator of your art. The goal isn’t to replicate someone else’s path but to carve out your own. That said, inspiration from others can be healthy—it fuels the creative process without compromising your individuality.
Lastly, communication is indispensable. Articulating your goals, sharing your vision, and building meaningful relationships are essential skills in any industry, but especially in creative spaces. Opportunities often come through connections—whether from people you know or those they introduce you to. Strong communication ensures that your ideas are understood and that your voice is heard.
These skills—resilience, perspective, and communication—are interconnected. Resilience helps you push forward through setbacks, perspective helps you see the bigger picture and stay true to yourself, and communication allows you to share your journey with the world. Together, they create a full circle: keep going, stay inspired, and remain open to all that lies ahead.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
When I first entered this industry, I didn’t fully understand what it truly meant to me. Now, it’s everything, my world, my oxygen. On set, I sometimes feel an inner nervousness, which stems from my deep desire to perform well and prove to both my associates and myself that I’m one of the best.
What I once interpreted as anxiety, I now recognize as drive, a powerful force that pushes me to care deeply about my work and give it my all. Answering this question has made me more conscious of that. It’s more than just nervous energy; it’s a reflection of how much I care.
As this drive grows, so does every other facet of my artistry—my taste, professionalism, and intuition. It’s a constant evolution that fuels my creative journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.deovanijean.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deovni/profilecard/?igsh=dm0ya2plMTJ1ZXN6
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deovanijean?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@deovni?si=U4lilK7PPcoG-fjj
Image Credits
COVER IMAGE SHOT BY JOSEPH T. (@driftingcanvas on IG)
EDITORIAL SHOT BY HALAHNA S.
(@halahna.imgs on IG)
E-COMM SHOT BY WISDOM W.
(@wisdom.tiff on IG)
FOR JADE CHRISTINA
(@jadechristina.co on IG)
OTHER IMAGES INCLUDE BTS OF SHOOTS & ATLFW WORK.
(@complexx.photo on IG)
(@atlfw on IG)
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