We were lucky to catch up with Orlando James recently and have shared our conversation below.

Orlando, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I grew up under what most would consider a stable, straight forward house. My parents wanted me to go to college after high school, get a job, have a 401k, probably start a family somewhere along the line. I did that, well most of it. But I did that because I was scared. Scared of being who I wanted to be. I graduated college with a Bachelor’s degree in 4 years. I took some time to figure out life after school, I didn’t necessarily jump right into a full time job. Instead, I worked 3-4 part time jobs over a span of 3 years. I was bar backing, working at a gym, coaching kids playing soccer, many different things. To be honest, I was just doing anything I could to not “conform” and work a 9-5. Eventually, I said F-it. Might as well try it. I applied to a few jobs, nothing I was truly interested in.. But I got a call. I did an interview, and before I knew it I was hired. I began working for a health care agency, as a home care recruiter. I despised the recruiter role. Everyone was a recruiter after college. Funny how I got a full time job and felt like a failure. TO myself.. My parents were happy. I wasn’t. I told myself I’d quit after 6 months. 6 months went by. I told myself, I’ll do a year… One year went by.
I was living at home commuting an hour 10 minutes to get to work, everyday, working 8-6pm, then going to the gym. Looking back on it, I have no idea how I did it. 2 years went by. I guess, my boss really liked me and saw potential in me. I was going to the big meetings, I was leading people, I was taking on new roles. It felt good, but only for a moment. Then it left, I was not meant for it. I knew that was not my purpose. I needed to take the risk. I was saving up, but didn’t have a concrete plan.
All I knew was that I was not going to be there another year. I was not going to be the next Tom, with his mini van and house on a lake where he still had to accrue vacation days. I’ve always felt like I was meant to entertain in some way. I grew up playing sports, and when that ended I felt empty. Since I was little I knew I was suppose to be big, but not just popular. I wanted purpose.
The day I mapped out my words to quit, I’ll never forget. I walked in my boss’ office, sat down and before I began to speak he told me congratulations. Talk about confusing. He told me I being promoted. In that moment, I told myself, No. No risk, No magic. I put my two weeks in. It was an incredible moment.

I packed my car and moved to Atlanta. I went with my friend, to pursue modeling. Long story short. It didn’t work out. I went broke. But I did meet people, I did do things I never thought I would. I got into acting, I did things, There was magic..

I ended up having to move home in 2019. And there I was, feeling like a failure again. But, I was motivated as ever. I had no where else to go but up. Im grateful my parents were there during that time. They pushed for me to get a job again, I didn’t want to but, I started applying. I did a few interviews, but it wasn’t working this time. I felt that God did not want me to go that route again. So, I made a plan. And I turned that plan, into a brand,

I joined tiktok in 2020 during the pandemic, And to be honest, I didn’t want to. I had a semi good thing going on modeling representing myself and creating. I had a small following, I’d say around 14k maybe. I did tiktok for a few weeks then stopped. I said F thissss… thinking I could do something better. Well, after two weeks I got back on it. I was determined to learn this app. I was spending 4-5 hours on it a day creating. Eventually, people saw the magic. And for now, the rest is history.

I’m no where near where I want to be. I haven’t even scratched the surface for real.. But I’m on my way.

IF there’s one thing I’d ask anyone looking to make that change, waiting to take that leap, it would be this: What’s greater, the risk?.. Or the reward?

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My creative journey began when I was a kid, drawing. I think all kids drew, but I really enjoyed it. I was taking my moms printer paper and laying it across the table sheet by sheet and drawing these long, elaborate pieces of art. Dragons, warriors, all types of things. Eventually I put the pencil down, I don’t know what happened. I think sports just kind of took over. But when all that ended, I just didn’t feel fulfilled in life. But I also didn’t know I was missing that creative part. I didn’t grow up wanting to be a model, or make videos. Not at all. People told me to model in college, it would be in my ear often. And looking back, I don’t know why. But I said why not. I did a lot of research on Instagram finding photographers in my area to shoot with. I began doing photoshoots, and like all us models, we look back and laugh at those first few months/years. I feel like I got robbed lol.. But you gotta start somewhere.

I enjoyed it. I liked being in front of the camera. Expressing myself. Now I don’t know who allowed me to wear wheat I did but I found my style after some time. I got good. I learned my poses, I learned my angles. And, my hair was growing. I got out of the awkward stage. I think most models when they start if they aren’t signed, they’re willing to work with whoever. I was shooting any chance I got. Just trying to have as much content as possible to look professional and create a brand name for myself. As my platform grew, I began working with local clothing companies. Which turned into working with beauty/hair companies, and eventually making some money from it by being booked for shoots.

It was a ton of trial and error, trying to decide on what gigs to do, who to work with, what to charge, when to charge, everything. Once I got on tiktok and began making more short form content, I learned how to edit. And after two and half years on the platform I have grown an immense following. I’ve worked with some of the biggest names in beauty, traveled and worked, secured 5 figure deals for videos all while creating endlessly. And, I got to turn my own hobbies into businesses. I have a clothing line, a fitness brand that I am growing, and will be launching a digital media course in February that will help those looking to learn, grow, or even start their social media journey by developing their Brand. It’s crazy. I’ve never had a mentor, or someone tell my how to do anything that I’m doing. I’ve just been figuring it out every single day. I tell people, I quit my full time job, yea.. to work Over time. But when you do what you love, is it really work?

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I get asked this question a lot, and its so clear to me that I had no perfect plan. I just tried shit and stayed my authentic self. The thing with the internet is, once you put yourself out there, you’re out there. You have to have thick skin. Because no matter how many people you make happy, there’s always going to be someone that doesn’t want to see you win. I never let that bother me. I realized that as long as I’m me, and I’m showing up, the right people will follow. Social media is always changing. Tiktok was such a game changer for me. Like I said, I didn’t even want to do it. But, I figured why not. I wanted to challenge myself as well. I couldn’t tell you how often I was posting to Instagram while I was heavy in my modeling bag but, I can tell you with Tiktok I was posting everyday, sometimes multiple times a day. With all things that require your time, you must figure out a system. And that took time.
I was modeling, and creating full time. While hardly making any money. But I saw the light, I began seeing those big creators win. They were in places I wanted to be, with people I wanted to meet. I just felt like I should be in the same room as a lot of my idols. So it pushed me to stay consistent.
And with social media, you must be consistent in some way shape or form. You just have to try shit. You have to not only figure out what your audience likes, but what you like. What works, what didn’t. What did you actually enjoy creating, versus what you hated making.
I can’t tell you how many videos took me hours to make and didn’t get the response I was hoping for. But I didn’t let that stop me. I knew my shit was dope. I found my niche. I f love fashion, from my modeling days, I loved showing my confidence, my sense of humor, so I figured out how to incorporate all those elements into a brand. Once I learned how to perfect my transitions, lip syncing, editing, it was over. I knew I had something.
You have to believe in yourself. IF you don’t believe in yourself, nobody else will.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

So, I mentioned how I always saw myself with some sort of following or platform. Being “Somebody” to the public. But I didn’t know what it would be for. And of course I hoped it would be for the right reasons. As my pages grew and I saw my reach, I also saw my audience. The messages I get from people all over the world is so crazy to me. The items, gifts I receive, it blows my mind.. Because its like, from Tiktok. From a social media platform. Just by being me. The real reason I made a clothing line was to create something for people to have. My audience wanted to support me with more than a like or comment. They wanted something real, something physical. I didn’t go to school where I learned how to make clothes, I just said, I like fashion, I like art, I’ma make some clothes. And if I can’t sell 40 T shirts well at least I tried. They sold. And my first collection sold out. My point is, I want to give back as much as I can. I want people to feel like they are seen. Like they are apart of something, something bigger than me. Than them. I have a giant white board in my room with all my goals, plans, daily tasks, weekly tasks, I mean everything. That thang is thangingggg. Basically I got a lot of shit planned for the people.
But at the end of the day, I just want to make my parents proud. I want to buy my mom a house. Hear my dad say he’s proud of me. That they don’t have to work anymore. I got us.. That’s really it. My mom is my best friend, she is my rock. I will never quit, or give up because I have her. She deserves everything, and I’m going to give it to her.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @iamorlandojames
• Twitter: @iamorlandojames
• Youtube: @iamorlandojames
• Other: Tiktok: @iamorlandojames

Image Credits
Ohrangutang, Stewdiovisuals, Isabel Camille, Blk.Fgr, urbanallurephotos, japhs.world, Cameron Reed