We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Whitley Nabintu Marshall. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Whitley Nabintu below.

Whitley Nabintu, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Having faced multiple near-death experiences, including two full-body recoveries, chronic illness, homelessness, and food insecurity all before my 21st birthday, these experiences were the fuel that formed me, ignited my passions, shifted my perspective, and guided me to the purpose-driven life that I lead today.

After receiving multiple life-saving blood transfusions from a severe car accident, I went on to working a 16 year career as a Biomedical Apheresis Charge for the American Red Cross in transfusion medicine. Seven of those years, I worked perdiem at the same teen shelters I had once received services from.

I have learned first-hand the incredible healing power of nutrition and exercise, and the importance of forming healthy habits that last. In my adult life I have been both a size 2 and a size 18. It was at both these heaviest and lowest breaking points that taught me to intentionally hold compassion and love for the body I am in, no matter the size, shifting my mindset from LOOKING a certain way to TREATING MYSELF a certain way, leading me to coach others, of all abilities, to do the same as a Certified Personal Trainer

Amidst the pandemic, my once fully-booked dance performance schedule had completely dropped into oblivion. Getting long Covid myself, it was an opening towards instrumental life shifts to focus on life goals I had felt were out of reach, as I was no longer physically capable of the 12 hour shifts at the Red Cross. I utilized this free time and took steps towards my dreams. Combining my passions for expanding beauty standards and bridging communities through the arts, I launched Artlovelifestyle Magazine.

Each seasonal issue has a theme highlighting the markers of true beauty: compassion, diversity, strength, resilience, authenticity, and is inclusive of all shapes, sizes, shades, ages, genders, and backgrounds. We hosted our First & 2nd Annual Flowers that Feed Art and Fashion showcase, where we were able to feed over 6000 Mainers each year.

Having lived and traveled across the US as well as abroad in East Africa, I have a unique perspective with diverse cultural and creative influences. I have a wealth of experience coordinating volunteers, developing leadership programs, and serving diverse communities both locally and internationally. I have co-directed the Barefoot Truth Dance Company since 2013 and have been a performing member of Ikirenga cy’Intore Rwandan Cultural Troupe. Additionally, I am a landlord and real-estate investor.

Together with Patrick Kiruhura, who I met in Rwanda, we co-founded World Roots Culture Exchange, and created the Compassionate Leadership Project. Our mission is to create a worldwide network of leaders actively cultivating a culture of compassion, through shared stories, cultural arts, community service, and leadership development.  This year I will launch my 90-Day-Transformation guided journal and Compassionate Leadership training.

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

I am artist, activist, and entrepreneur based in Portland, Maine. Through coaching, workshops, and leadership, I strive to inspire people to embrace their unique, authentic beauty and work towards being the best versions of themselves, mentally, physically, and spiritually. My aim is to expand beauty standards as a model, coach, the Owner and Editor-in-Chief of Artlovelifestyle Magazine, and as the reigning International Mrs USA. I seek to provide opportunities and elevate underrepresented voices in print and on the runway, producing fashion events, and hosting message-based photoshoots and cover contests focused on the markers of true beauty: compassion, strength, resilience, diversity, and authenticity while emphasizing inclusion of all shapes, sizes, shades, genders, ages, cultures, and backgrounds. As a part of my Mind•Body•Compassion Coaching, this year I plan to release my 90-Day-Transformation guided journal and Compassionate Leadership training.

I believe that if we unite in leading with compassion–compassion towards one another, compassion towards the Earth, compassion towards animals, and most importantly, self-compassion– as the value we hold greatest, we will find the lessons and solutions for everything we need and seek. In the divided world we live in, compassion brings heartfelt listening, new perspectives, open-mindedness, greater understanding, wisdom, and unity. This ideal is where the Compassionate Leadership Project was born. Every seemingly negative circumstance I have faced, has led me to this purpose.

I am a signed model with Couture La Rouge LLC, one of Model Society Magazine’s “Top 22 Models of 2022,” a VIP Model for Supermodels Unlimited and International Face Magazine, and was recognized in the NYC Journal’s “Top 30 Women Leaders to Watch in 2022,” as well as the Entrepreneurs Herald’s “Top 30 Inspiring Women to Look Out for in 2023.”

Artlovelifestyle used to be my personal art brand, with the vision of one day creating a magazine that ties in my love for the arts, passions for expanding beauty standards, Compassionate Leadership, and bridging communities through the Arts and cultural exchange. ArtLoveLifeStyle is an arts and lifestyle magazine consisting of a compilation of creations and musings of all creative genres bringing experiences, reflection and healing to life while encouraging a sustainable and just future for all. To us, art is a lifestyle. In this community, we aspire to drive conversation and inspire compassionate action. We believe that art has the power to communicate ideas, concepts, and cultures in an understandable way, while opening and engaging in complex conversation with the heart. By employing empathetic dialogue, based on the ideals of humanism and nonviolence, art can also empower people to understand and inspire action. Contributors share their endeavors, projects, vision, philosophies, and culture through various art forms, while also supporting and connecting with other inspirational creatives, making the reader an integral part of the cultural conversation. We strive to represent a uniquely inclusive and accessible, diverse culture through the intersection of written and visual art and encourage creatives to step into confidence with their unique and authentic style.

Within each issue, you will get a glimpse into this world as you will notice the markers of true beauty throughout the pages: compassion, strength, resilience, diversity, authenticity, and inclusion of all shapes, sizes, shades, genders, ages, cultures, and backgrounds.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I am extremely interested in lifestyle design. After reading “The Miracle Morning,” by Hal Elrod, followed by “The 5am Club,” by Robin Sharma, I was inspired to set morning and evening routines with baby steps forming small habits bringing me closer to the ideal life and my dreams. I keep an evolving document in my Google Drive that breaks down hour by hour, each day of the week, of what my “perfect” day/week/ life would look like. I try to take on two small achievable shifts at a time to make my current life look more like my ideal life.

In leadership, my greatest influence is Marshall Rosenburg, PhD, author and founder of the global non-profit, The Center for Nonviolent Communication. His teachings are based upon principles of nonviolence highlighted in the teachings of great masters such as Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of my creative journey has been helping people embrace their authenticity through True Beauty Photoshoots, featuring diverse beauty and perspectives in Artlovelifestyle Magazine, and coming to a point of being able to provide opportunities for other creatives in print and on the runway.       

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/artlovelifestyle
• Instagram: @whitleynabintumarshall, @internationalmrsusa, @artlovelelifestyle, @mindbodycompassioncoach
• Facebook: Whitley Nabintu Marshall, International Mrs USA, Artlovelifestyle Magazine
• Youtube: Artlovelifestyle

Image Credits
First photo in orange paper dress was taken by Dale Almeidawashington, Dress by Nova Threadz Crowning photo by Eva Flis Photography Artlovelifestyle Flower photo/digital layering & imaging is by me, Whitley Nabintu Marshall True Beauty photo laying down with leaves is by Candid Hearts Studio Artlovelifestyle Cover images are labeled with credits If I’m missing credits, please reach out directly and I will provide them!