Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Maxine Oglesby. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Maxine, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

Interview

A moment that drastically changed my career was being attacked on the job for just doing my job. It sounds strange but here in Philadelphia is a jungle. I started working as a crossing guard last year for about four months. Then I was jumped suffering a broken nose broken hand, ptsd, and concussion. After I went through a period of depression because of the circumstances, one day I just woke up and decided ti tell the story on TikTok and it blew up. This sparked my budding career as a content creator. I make content about fashion, politics, vlogs of my daily life, and mutual support for others. I realized my strength and tenacity, I started to fall in love with myself. No matter what Im going to chase my dreams as a creator/model and see where it leads me.

Maxine, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am not limited to one craft nor position and I would never limit myself in such a manner. I am a Model, soon Undergraduate in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing, and an overall creator. At 18 yrs old I began cosmetology school, In foster care as a child and I had to learn how to do my own hair and fend for myself. I evolved in cosmetology school and throughout life, I didn’t graduate because the profession didn’t make me feel whole. Something in me wasn’t complete, something was missing. I always worked odd jobs like Home Health Aide, Customer Service Rep., School Crossing Guard, and the list goes on. I desired something – I always felt in my heart I was meant for a greater destiny. I attended Keystone Job corps and graduated top of my class, but I couldn’t find a job because of my criminal record, My children’s father stole a car. It was in my possession, unbeknownst to me. I was still arrested for it and was charged with Felony 3. My options were extremely limited, so I began modeling while working as delivery driver for GoPuff. After my first photoshoot there was this rush of adrenaline. I was intrigued, I longed to do it again and again. This journey started in 2022, Since, I have been published in Malvie Magazine 4 times, walked in five fashion shows, directed photo shoots, and so much more. I personally like to play it safe at all times, so I decided to go to college and major in the things that take place behind the camera, Fashion buying. I began college in August 2023, with this I began exploring creating content. Now still in school, I currently influence for hair vendors on Tik Tok, building my own brand Pretty Darn Twisted. I am now on Workman’s comp, Being attacked by three women for helping a child (doing my job) did not break me. I KEPT PUSHING. I didn’t let these circumstances that I am still actively going through from that experience define me. There has been a plethora of opportunities presented to me since that attack, most importantly I know exactly who I am. I am set apart from most. I have been through trauma after trauma and after, I get up from those traumas swinging. Turning that pain into strength and motivation to chase my dreams and morphing into who I envision myself to be, and not what society says I should be.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Your memory only goes back so far as a child, unless that memory burns itself so deep that you’ll be able to recall later in life. At 8 yrs old I ask my father can I call my step mother “Mom”. Even though we were two different colors I didn’t recognize anyone else as such. Some time later, dad takes me on a road trip and packs me a bag for a lengthy stay. When we arrived I was scared, the street was dirty and the home rundown. Where was I? Dad introduced my Mom, her skin matched mine and there was other children who looked similar to me so she had to be Mom. My Father said he would be back for me and that turned in to summer vacations and winter vacations. My dad lost custody of me, I would cry so terribly because I hated leaving my home to go back to this woman that THEY called my Mother. The imposter would abuse me, call me names, and then apologize. My Mother was my own monster in the closet. I began to run away around 12 years old, the imposter had me committed to a mental institution claiming I was crazed, which they found untrue. When that plan didn’t work, she sent me to foster care the next time I ran away – 14 yrs old and 8 months pregnant. I had my son and was doing well in foster care for 11 months. I needed help with my preemie, as a young mother I was easily overwhelmed, the imposter declined to help so my foster parent allowed me time out of the home for the weekend. The imposter called the home and found out that I wasn’t there, reported me as a runaway, and had my baby taken from me. I died that day, I kept pushing striving for better. Now today, I am 30 yrs old in college, one child in MY CUTSTODY who goes to one of the top schools in this state, I own a home, and I am on the path to so much more.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was revenge. I come from a community where it is in our culture to take matters in our own hands and never to rely on the system to solve our problems. I lived this life well in one point of my life indulging in behaviors and a lifestyle that was unruly. I would wind up in jail, get into fights, and be out late nights smoking and drinking. The last time I was arrested I was in there for 6 months and my judge told me, “If you appear in front of my again, you will serve 2 1/2 years up state”. This was a slow process to unlearn behaviors that structed the type of person I was. Everyday I woke up I looked for something positive to get my hands into and if there was a setback I remember what that Judge told me. I refuse to be in a cage forced to limit my greatness.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ms.prettyfacee___/profilecard/?igsh=MXR6OGxseTR3Z3A2NQ==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/156BUJAq1D/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ms.prettyfacee_?_t=8r32xqG7wDL&_r=1

Image Credits

Jlg Visuals

Frank Gutierrez