We were lucky to catch up with Antwain Donte’ Adams-Hill recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Antwain Donte’, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
The most meaningful projects I have worked on to date were my fashion shows produced and directed by me. These productions have not only saved lives, but they have given the hopeless, hope, the talented, a stage to be seen, and the one wanting to quit, a new race. For the past decade, I’ve come up with a title that has somewhat defined who I was during my battle with suicide and who I am now fighting through depression and anxiety. These projects have not only been an artistic savior but in producing these shows, we’ve donated countless hours and tens of thousands of dollars to combat Mental Health & Suicide Prevention. Each fashion show brings a different perspective of the mental living room we circle on our minds daily. I’ve listened to stories of others and I’ve lived through mine and together, the combined project is what we bring year after year while saving one life at a time. Whether a model, vendor, staff, designer, or spectator, you’re bound to tap into the place most only dream about. It hasn’t always been easy because you can’t save everyone. However, as a Mentor, Fashion Creative, and Show Curator, I won’t stop striving and this is my why my reason, and my hope!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
My name is Antwain Donté better known as Coach. I am the proud Founder & Creative Curator of Stampede School of Modeling located in Atlanta, Ga and Washington DC with satellite classes in Dallas, Florida, Philadelphia, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. Stampede is an innovative modeling and etiquette academy for the talented, passionate, creative and artistic individual. We are the premier institution that prepares our canvases for the industry while giving them a mental space to be authentically themselves.
I got into the modeling business at the age of seven. When everyone around me wanted me to pick up a basketball, I wanted to be seen by the flashy lights and sounds of the applause. After modeling on stages around the world and graving dozens of fashion weeks, at the tender age of 18, I decided to produce my first fashion show. That show was my biggest failure to date and my most humbling experience. In a room full of chairs, only 19 of them were occupied and it was that moment I knew what failure tasted like. I recall my mother looking at me after the show and wiping tears from my eyes saying, “You’re not quitting. Just because they weren’t in the room this time, doesn’t mean they won’t be in the room the next time.” I pondered on that for two years as I got back into modeling and cancelled out all things producing. After my third year of walking for an HBCU modeling troupe, I knew I had more to give. I knew there was something I wasn’t doing that would give me complete joy. That’s when I started coaching models, and the real fun began.
I currently have produced, directed or choreographed over 845 fashion shows. To date have trained over 14,250 models worldwide and have sat on dozens of panels discussing why the industry needs Coaches like me and not just Agents. I have held contracts with 9 HBCUs and PWIs for their Homecoming fashion shows and model boot camps.
The person you’re interviewing today hasn’t always been this confident, humble, graceful, positive, talented and well respected. It took decades to get here and I don’t take this likely. I am honored and most grateful to have been able to build resumes, build talent, pour hope, give hope and defeat Suicide.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
At the height of my career with Stampede School of Modeling, I was diagnosed with a rare disease called Multiple Myeloma. This disease caused me to quit everything I loved in life. I was living in Atlanta, GA during this time and hospitalized for 19 days, and lost all hope. I finally shared my situation with my mom as my BESTFRIEND was the only person I confided in at that moment to keep everyone from worrying about me.
My mother came down to rescue me as any great mother would and took me back home to nurse to ensure my faith was aligned with my healing. I had undergone dozens of treatments, 3.5 dozen of medications and not being able to stand for long periods at a time. This defeat was heavy, and strenuous, and took all of who I was. It was mentally and physically draining and I no longer could be anything to anyone.
However, as each day went by, my faith rose. As each second passed, I became sure of myself in every capacity and put up a fight with life once more. I recall having a conversation with one of my models and he told me, “Coach if you give up now, you’ll never get to see how beautiful of a tree you’ve built by sewing seeds!” That was the only statement that I needed to hear. I pushed. I pressed. I prayed and here I stand, strong and cancer free.
After that fight, I then suffered from depression and tried to commit suicide. I’ll just say, my resilience and the grace of God… I AM STILL HERE!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being creative is seeing the product you’ve built, the seed you’ve sown, and the person that goes from canvas to mannequin. I’ve watched many models in my boot-camp flourish to be something the world sees on commercials, runways, and billboards and that has reassured me that I am doing the right thing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.stampedeschoolofmodeling.com
- Instagram: @fashionghuru or @stampedemodels
- Facebook: Antwain Donté Hill or Stampede School of Modeling
- Linkedin: Antwain Donté Hill
- Youtube: Stampede School of Modeling
Image Credits
Asuquo Eton @asuquotravels