We recently connected with Le’Shawn Taylor and have shared our conversation below.
Le’Shawn, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
With me being the only one in a room that looks like me, that in its self drives me to succeed. I find all of my power, as well as all my willingness in myself because inspiration from outer sources can sometimes fade, and you can out grow them, so you have no choice but to depend on you, and be the reason you want your craft, business, or page to be effective towards your audience whatever/whoever that may be. Its power in being different and personal power is able to motivate you to grow…I’ve learned that being considered “different” to whatever type of industry, or entering a space where no one looks like you but still having the courage to continue can contribute the most to getting the job the done.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
As of right now I am currently launching 3 brand pages across every social media platform including Instagram, TikTok, Youtube etc. Those pages are SKYN, HYLTH & FYT, and HAREI. These pages all deal with the personal well-being of ones self, ranging from skincare, physical health, mental health, as well as hair and scalp health. They were developed to educate individuals of different ethnicities, backgrounds, gender, or preference on different products or information due to dividing spaces in the world where they may have just didn’t know or felt uncomfortable to ask. I am all about self care and I personally feel as though I embody every sense of the word, so I figured why not combine everything I love into one, and share it with the world to help others elevate their state of well-being or make them feel confident, seen, or noticed. Down the line I am going to launch my own product line for each page and turn it into a real brand because I personally believe my products and energy in general can change the outlook on the world one person at a time. As for right now, I will be reviewing different products or methods that have helped me improve my body and mind over the years, and share information on different topics not a lot of people talk about or can handle because self care is important and what comes along with that is tough conversations as well as certain realizations and its important for my readers to know that I am on the same journey to wellness just like you so they don’t have to go through it themselves whether it may be acne, weight gain, stress, or heat damage. We all go through something and I want a majority of bases covered.
As for my own personal branding, I am focused on my acting and modeling career as well. I’ve currently been in 3-4 projects which includes short films, movies, and TV shows that will stream on different platforms across the states. While building my acting portfolio, i’ve met some of the most amazing and supportive people who are so dedicated to their craft and building their own dreams from the ground up like Black On The Scene Productions or Gogli Entertainment, and everyone i’ve met on freelance sets from makeup artists to fellow cast mates, to extras, or even crew members. As for modeling, I do my own freelance work or with the help of MODE Talent Group where I find different locations and put on an outfit to just feel confident and live my life. I look at photography and modeling as creating timeless memories and an expression of yourself with the different forms of poses or outfits. Along with that, I also want to get back to focusing on my Youtube channel where I want to do sit down videos but mainly vlog my daily life on set or at certain work locations, or just my life in general to continue to make those special memories and have them saved.
Lastly, my greatest challenge may be me returning back to school. My plans right now for this will continue to be a mystery to the public but overall, I want to go back to expand my knowledge in my field(s) so that I can expand my brands with the right knowledge in the future.
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 most important qualities, skills, and/or areas of knowledge i’ll say was really impactful in my journey is probably resilience, knowing when to restart, and having faith. I personally feel as though those things go hand and hand for me, but they also require a good deal of balance because I always wanted to push forward with my endeavors but I sometimes had to slow down and know when to revamp my content or create a completely different outlet for myself but still have/had enough faith in myself to know that I can build everything back up from scratch and improve every single time. Advice, I can give someone to help them better improve on the qualities I listed above, is at the beginning of their journey, don’t be afraid to experiment with quite literally anything in your life because inspiration can strike at any moment that’ll set you on a different path you never would’ve thought you would go on. Just be open and receptive to every life experience, even ones that are “boring” because you never know what you could learn about yourself in the silence that’ll possibly elevate you to where you want to be. Have that faith, and the resilience to keep going no matter how bumpy the path may be.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
Even with me having so many of what is considered good qualities, there are times where my confidence can run low and that’s one of my greatest obstacles right now given the profession I want to fully get involved in. One of the main things I am currently doing to resolve that, is not compare my life to others lives because we all have our own “perfect timing.” I can now find a sense of security within my self where I allow myself to feel safe yet vulnerable at the same time allowing myself to feel these emotions knowing that in due time they will pass, and that’s not who I truly am.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leshawnxmontrae/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCRqX8gxmgM6eTVFh8Ll6B-Q
