Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitley Marshall
Hi Whitley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Whitley Nabintu Marshall is a multifaceted force in the realms of art, fashion, dance, and activism. As the first openly pansexual International Mrs USA of 2022 and North America’s World Top Model, she embodies diversity and inclusivity in all facets of her work.
As the CEO & Editor-in-Chief of Artlovelifestyle Magazine and the creative mind behind Artlovelifestyle Attire, Whitley is on a mission to redefine beauty standards and amplify underrepresented voices both in print and on the runway. Through sustainable fashion events like Flowers that Feed Art and Fashion showcase and True Beauty NYFW, she creates platforms that celebrate compassion, resilience, diversity, and authenticity while emphasizing inclusion.
Despite facing multiple near-death experiences with two full-body recoveries, facing food insecurity and a brief period of homelessness at the age of 19, Whitley turns her pain into purpose spearheading the Compassionate Leadership Project. Additionally, she is the founder and director of the Rhythm Rebels Dance Collective, captivating audiences worldwide with her performances.
Through her Mind Body Compassion Coaching, Whitley adopts a holistic approach to empower her clients, aiming to cultivate authentic and compassionate leaders within pageantry, the fashion industry, and beyond.
Her impact extends beyond her professional endeavors, as she graces the covers of prestigious magazines such as Vogue, Success, Forbes, Los Angeles Business, and more. Recognized as a top woman leader to watch, and an official nominee for Beauty It’s Everywhere’s Mrs. Of the Year 2023, Whitley’s accolades include the Director’s Leadership Award, the Inspirational Woman Award, Congeniality Award, and the Spirit Award presented by Pageantry Magazine, among others.
Whitley’s dedication to fostering compassion, resilience, and inclusion serves as an inspiration to individuals worldwide, making her a true trailblazer in her field.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs. Such is the duality of life. These experiences shaped me, ignited my passions, and led me to this purpose-driven life. I have a lot to be proud of. My personal story is one of resilience, rising from struggle, beauty from ashes: When I was 18 I was in a near-fatal car accident- and received life-saving blood transfusions, then worked for the Red Cross for 16+ years; after moving from Chicago to Maine I faced teen homelessness-then worked for 7 years at the same teen shelters I received services from alongside my job at the American Red Cross; at 20 years old I was hospitalized with a rare lung disease and was in a coma for 10days; I lived in Burundi (Africa) 2007-2008, returned to Rwanda in 2019 and later launched World Roots Culture Exchange with a Rwandan friend, together working towards bridging Communities through the arts and culture exchange; I gained and then lost 70lbs, later becoming personal trainer and Nutritionist, launching Mind Body Compassion Coaching. I would say my proudest accomplishment is turning pain into purpose.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an all around creative and live a multifaceted lifestyle. My greatest passions are expanding beauty standards and Compassionate Leadership. As CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Artlovelifestyle Magazine, I aim to amplify underrepresented voices both in print and on the runway, producing sustainable fashion events such as Flowers That Feed Art and Fashion Showcase and True Beauty NYFW. Each season we hold True Beauty Photoshoots and publish themed issues focusing on the markers of True Beauty: compassion, resilience, diversity, authenticity, and inclusion.
In 2021 I launched Mind Body Compassion Coaching, adopting a holistic approach towards personal development, specializing in lifestyle design in additiontobeing a personal trainer and Nutritionist. I have become known for raising authentic and compassionate leaders within pageantry, the fashion industry, and beyond.
Additionally, I am the founder and director of the Rhythm Rebels Dance Collective. The Rhythm Rebels Dance Collective is a unique collaboration of dancers of all experience levels from across New England. Known for bringing impressive stage dynamics, mesmerizing colorful visuals, energy movement, and flow arts, we are often seen accentuating live bands at music festivals. We perform internationally, bringing our own colorful flare of both improvisation and choreography to the stage. Each dancer has their own unique style as each dancer has different creative and cultural influences. As a collaboration, the energy is unmatched, sharing fusion dance, flow arts, and fire dancing within our repertoire.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
The key to unlocking growth exists just outside of our comfort zones. Reaching new heights does not come without climbing higher.
When the pandemic hit, it significantly impacted my life. With events being canceled everywhere, so did my dance gigs. On top of that, I got sick was was no longer physically capable of working long hours at the Red Cross. The circumstances forced me to take new steps. The Red Cross had been my stability and sense of security for years, so stepping into life as an entrepreneur was terrifying in certain ways. Yet it was those exact steps that brought me into a lifestyle that better honored my creative gifts, taught me new important skills, and brought me towards the life of my dreams.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artlovelifestyle.com
- Instagram: @mindbodycompassioncoach, @whitleynabintumarshall , @artlovelifestyle, @artlovelifestyleattire
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindbodycompassion
Image Credits
Floral shots: Candid Hearts Studio
Yolanda Christine Photography
Studio images: Eva Flis Photography
Final 3 images: Moda Chic Photography