We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Imari Hicks a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Imari thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

A few years ago, I created a nonprofit modeling company called Inspiring Models. This program is about letting women, men and even kids know that they are perfect the way they are. We go through life kind of questioning who we are and if we look good enough for society. The world plays a huge part in our insecurities for ourselves. Inspiring Models is all about embracing those insecurities and turning them into confident boosters. To love and be yourself for who you are. Most modeling companies/agencies have limits and requirements, Inspiring Models does not have any of that. We just encourage everybody that comes our way to love and care for themselves. We work on ourselves together as a family and push each other to be great. Modeling is a fun and good way to start that. To learn who you can be in front and behind a camera.

Imari, 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?

My name is Imari Hicks, I’m twenty-one years old. I have a growing modeling and photography business. I got into photography about three years ago. I wanted to embrace beauty in a different way, I wanted to keep the inspiring name that I have earned over the years. I wanted people to feel safe and loved in a world of modeling and photography. So I created Inspiring Models. A new way for women or men, girls or boys to feel beautiful or handsome. A new way to love yourself and not question your beauty. Where imperfections are perfections. Inspiring Models is a nonprofit program in Dallas, Tx. We have tryouts every year in March and begin our next season. There’s photoshoots every month and great opportunities for every model that we gain. This is not just a modeling program but it is a family.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

My creative mind, being in a photography world, you have to bring anything new to the table. Every photographer is different and how they work is different. I love being outside the box and extra, my photos show that. My photos speak for themselves and line up with Inspiring Models’ image. If Inspiring Models is about empowerment and differences then my photos, my art has to be empowering and different.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I need people to understand that the world’s say so is not our say so. We define ourselves they way we want to. Letting the world or even society tell us who we are and who we can be is not the right way to live. That’s when you gain insecurities about yourself because now you’re comparing yourself to society’s beauty when we should be loving our OWN beauty. Inspiring Models is all about loving YOURSELF and being YOURSELF. I always tell my models to come as they are and be who they are. I want to see their personality in the photos. I want to see their beauty in the photos. I want to feel their emotions in the photos. We block out the world once our photoshoots start.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.imarihicks.wixsite.com/inpspiringmodels
• Instagram: @inspiring.models

Image Credits
Inspiring Models