We were lucky to catch up with Mya Turner recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Mya, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
My mom is one of the major reasons I’m progressing towards my dreams and goals every day. What she did right, was allow me to be. She didn’t dictate, rush, or pressure me like most parents do to their children during and after high-school. She allowed me to discover and pursue whatever I desired at the moment, whilst being my number one supporter. 2019-2020, my last year in high-school, I was the student who was taking college classes, honor classes, doing extracurricular activities, like honor society, being on the dance team, in choir, AND I worked a job. My mom had no worries about my future because it seemed that I had it all figured out. She thought I’d be the first person in our family to go to college and graduate. Little did she know, I did NOT want to go to college, I hated school, and I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life after school. I was depressed, stressed, and anxious. I knew I didn’t want to live the typical life: Graduate high-school, go to college, get a job, get married, have kids, die. Booooo! No! The thought of living that life paralyzed me and had me depressed for years after high-school because I didn’t think it was possible to live the life I truly desired, simply because I never seen anyone I know live the life they desired. Despite me not going to college and being unemployed for a year, my mom was supportive and understanding. She found a therapist for me and allowed me to take the time to heal before I finally started working in the “real” world.
Working in the “real” world didn’t last too long for me. Around 6 months of working typical jobs, my mental health was negatively affected because I knew those jobs did not resonate with me. I knew that there was better and more for me somewhere, somehow. But before I quit the job I was working, I began doing something called “network marketing”. I thought it was perfect for me because I could work from the comfort of my home and it was commission based! I believed in myself, so I quit the current job that I was working at…. After quitting, I didn’t make any commission doing network marketing for 3 whole months, even though I worked 5 days a week. I wasn’t being paid monetarily but I was being paid in valuable ways. I gained knowledge, I learned how to speak publicly, I learned how to promote myself, I got rid of my social anxiety, and I started posting fearlessly on social media! Yet, that wasn’t enough for me, I wanted money too! The motto that kept me going was “you have to work without pay before you can get paid without working”. My mom would often question how it was going, but not because she didn’t believe in me. She noticed I wasn’t seeing any results, monetary wise, for quite some time. She was becoming impatient and frustrated for me because she would see and hear me working daily! I hid my impatience from her and the others that I worked with because I knew it was going to work out. I just had to remain patient and positive. Then before I hit month 4 of no commission, FINALLY, I started making $1000 a month.
When I finally started making money working from home, I feel I showed my mom that she can fully and confidently believe in me. I feel that I showed my family that I can do anything I put my mind to! That I don’t have to work a typical job to make money, that there IS another way! I got invited to go to Miami, Florida to connect and network with coworkers and strangers. My mom lended me $200 for a plane ticket, further showing her trust and support in me. In Miami, I unexpectedly made $600 in one day, (no I didn’t scam anyone) so I was able to pay her back, which made her believe in me even more!
But just like working a typical job, doing network marketing for the rest of my life did not resonate with me. A couple of months after returning home, I quit network marketing. I met some intelligent, creative people who gave me wisdom and taught me things that I continue to use and still benefit me to this day, but I realized I had different desires than them. I sat with myself and asked myself what I wanted. I used to tell my coworkers from network marketing that, “I want to get paid to be pretty. I’m going to make the most money having fun, and being myself.” Some of them didn’t believe that that was a possibility, but I knew it was.
I wanted to be a model! Why did it take me years to realize?! In high-school I was told I should model, at the jobs I worked I was asked if I was a model, in network marketing everyone thought I was a model! But because I didn’t believe in myself, I didn’t notice that the answer to what I wanted to do with my life was always in my face!
In 2023, my mom supported my desire to be a model by finding a runway casting call and took me to the audition. And the rest is history. She’s been at every local fashion show, almost every photoshoot, has driven me to almost every casting call, hair appointment, makeup appointment, and fitting. I’ve been on the cover of KNOW magazine, I’ve been in Forbes, I’ve done 25+ runway shows, walked in NYFW, 30+ photoshoots, all within one year and 3 months of modeling! I’ve never had any training and I don’t have an agent. I’m 21 years old and I’ve accomplished all this because I believe in myself but most importantly because my mom has been supportive and allowed me to trial and error before discovering what I believe my calling is.
And if I were to feel that modeling is no longer for me, I know she’d support me on my next venture through and through.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started modeling in January 2023, but I didn’t start taking modeling seriously until July 2023, because I didn’t think I could be successful. I was always told you must know someone in the industry to succeed. Eventually, I let go of that limiting belief and began to pursue what I was always told I should do: Modeling! Most of my modeling gigs are in Saint Louis, Missouri. I am branching out to bigger cities like Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York. I’ve had many aspiring models ask me what I did/do to get where I am today. I know that, “beauty captures eyes; personality wins hearts”! My personality is positive and infectious, so I always attract those who can assist me on my journey while I assist them on theirs. Photographers, designers, makeup artists, and hairstylists love working with me because of my energy! My energy brings me opportunities that someone with a bad attitude won’t get! My versatility, confidence, manifestation, consistency, great support from my mother, and constant improvement are key components that bring me success.
Pursuing modeling has been quite a challenging road. The main struggle along the way was money. Many people would allow the lack of money to prevent them from pursuing their goals; I took it as a challenge! I often could not afford a makeup artist, hairstylist, or clothing for photoshoots. Through that adversity, I learned to do my hair, makeup, and style myself from the clothes and accessories I already had in my closet, my sisters’ closet, my mom’s closet, and by thrifting! I would like to add, I do have advantages other models may not have. I have a built-in beauty team in my family. My mom does hair, one of my sisters is a cosmetologist, and my other sister learned how to do makeup from Sephora. Growing up around them also encouraged me to learn how to beautify myself! I also taught myself to build relationships with people I met at runway shows. Those relationships brought me makeup artists who do my makeup for free, designers who want me to model their clothing in photoshoots, and hairstylists who want to do my hair to promote their brand!
What I do for a living is modeling full time. I specialize in runway, editorial, freestyle, and commercial photoshoots. I am most known for my poses, my hair and my runway walk. I do unique, eccentric, and sometimes dangerous poses to get the shot I want. I’ve posed one model during a photoshoot and I’ve been asked to do a posing class! My hair is infamous because it is jet black, big, and curly. I’m told I walk like I’m floating or that I walk similar to Naomi. What I’m most proud of is the dedication, fierceness, determination, and liveliness my eyes portray in my shoots and while I’m on the runway. Through my eyes, you can see that I am passionate about what I do! What sets me apart from others is that I happily, freely, and honestly share what helps me succeed in the modeling industry without fear of competition or losing out on opportunities. I know that if something is for me, nothing and no one can take it from me. I know that when I help others, I’m also helping myself. You get what you give.
My main focus is to inspire others with my words and actions. I want anyone who wants to model to know that they CAN model! And that this is what I experienced starting off as a freelance model. In the beginning of your modeling journey, you may have to pay for photoshoots, makeup artists, and hairstylists to promote yourself. And as you progress as a model, you’ll be asked to promote/collab with others because they know that you can deliver what they desire. One thing you must do is state your rates! Don’t hesitant to set your rates as the price that comes to mind.
I was afraid that others would think my price is too high or that I should just be grateful to collab with others and add to my portfolio. Then I realized… they reach out to me because they know I can deliver their desired service. Since I can deliver the services needed efficiently, creatively, and with a positive attitude, I am of value. For me, the highest form of value is time. Since I cannot be paid in time, I will be paid however much I feel I deserve to make my time here beautiful. Some people I will happily collab with and some I may be open to negotiating with. If I’m going to collab with someone, it has to benefit me too or else I’m just wasting my time.
Stand up for yourself and be vocal about your wants/needs or be walked all over and feel resentful. Your friends can wait. A boyfriend/girlfriend can wait. Pursue your goals. You have to put YOU first. If you don’t put you first, you will be last to everyone else, including yourself. Remember that all money isn’t good money. Your dignity, self respect, and self worth is the most important. If you chose money over your values, you are sure to lose yourself. You can’t miss out on opportunities, if it’s for you it’s for you. Rejection is redirection. One door closes, another one opens.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Unlike most people, I didn’t create a social media until after highschool. I was antisocial, I was the type to not speak unless spoken to. But to pursue my dreams, goals, and ambitions, I’ve become a social butterfly! Fashion shows, casting calls, and artists events are the social gatherings that I attend to build my social media. Before I was able to go to those events and confidently mingle, I learned an acronym to break the ice and help myself overcome social awkwardness and social anxiety. F.O.R.D. Family, occupation, recreation, dreams(hobbies/goals). I’d add my additional basics questions like “what’s your name?” and “where are you from?” as well. It also helps to answer those same questions, yourself, so it doesn’t feel like they’re being interviewed. Lastly, I’d ask for their Instagram and stay connected with them by liking their pictures and sometimes commenting! I feel I’ve built my community online by engaging with my followers. I’ll post a poll and allow them to choose which photo I’ll post next or I’ll ask engaging questions to get to know my followers better. I make sure my followers are seen and heard whilst giving them what they want! I’m consistent with posting and I respond to almost every comment and dms. I noticed the best way to gain followers is posting reels! I have the most engagement when they hear my voice AND see my face.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
The particular goals or missions that is driving my creative journey is happiness, financial freedom, and being an example for others. One particular goal that is driving my creative journey is happiness. I am the happiest when I feel inspired, when I feel that I am in alignment, and when I feel like I am doing what resonates with me the most. I experience happiness when I’m being creative, bringing other creatives’ ideas to life, as well as my own, challenging myself, encouraging and motivating others, sharing my experience, trying new things, and traveling. On top of that, I am extremely grateful that there happens to be a career that can fulfill my happiness!
An additional goal that is driving my creative journey is financial freedom. Right now, I already have the freedom! I have the freedom to choose. As a freelance model, I choose who I work with, the clothing, the hairstyles, the makeup, the shoes, the nails, the locations, the time, the rates, the dates, the designers, and the photographers. If I am told I don’t have the freedom to choose and I don’t like any of the options, I have the freedom to say no without repercussions. Although freelance modeling offers freedom, finances can be minute depending on how well known you are, the location you live, and if others can afford to pay your desired rates. I am going to sign to an agency, therefore, my freedom to choose may not be as vast. But I get to choose the agency! And the agency I choose will make certain that I am compensated prolifically. Financial freedom will then come easily!
The last goal that is driving my creative journey is being an example for others. The example that I want to be for others is to show them that through positivity, confidence, consistency, pausing, growth, and drive, you can do anything you put your mind to. You don’t have to know somebody who knows somebody. You don’t have to be born into wealth. You don’t have to put on a facade and be something you’re not. You don’t have to forget your morals and values. You can be yourself! You can change your life! You can start depressed and stressed and come out a success! You can stand up for what you believe in and say no! You can do it scared! You can try! You can persevere! You can be successful! You can be the one who breaks generational curses! You can be a leader! You can do ANYTHING you put your mind to! It is true. And I am much obliged to be someone who show is and will continue to show you.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Photographer: Kris Brand Photographer: Sarah Lovett Photographer: Angelita Gonzalez Photographer: Jeremy Braggs