We recently connected with Alexaundria Groves and have shared our conversation below.

Alexaundria, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I come from a close knit family and its been instilled in me since birth, to always be kind, stay true to yourself and to go aggresively after your goals. I want to leave behind a legacy of strong-will, kindness, creativity, ingenuity, and humor. I would like for people to remember me as someone who blazed the trail and provided positive opportunities for individuals to grow and be their best selves. I enjoy serving as a connector for people to coexist and create magic! I want to make the world a better place by advocating and encouraging those who may feel like they don’t have a voice, and for those who need a little push to conquer the dreams that they desire. One of my favorite quotes from Mahatma Gandhi is “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. That was posted as a banner during my time in high school and I often refer to that when I think of everything I wish to accomplish for the greater good of my family but also my community.

People will say that I did my best to be a great mother to my beautiful children. I believe people may say that I was committed to personal and professional growth in order to help others reach their goals. They will also say that I moved to the beat of my own drum and that modeling was a way for me to express myself through my art.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m originally from South Bend, IN. I participated in pageants in my teen years and went on to win Miss Michiana 2005. There were no additional avenues for modeling so I moved to Indianapolis in 2011 to complete my undergraduate degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences and to also start my modeling career.

In 2014, I signed with a mother agency. I gained industry knowledge, created a network of creatives, established a photography portfolio and built lifelong connections as well as genuine relationships. From that experience, I was able to participate in numerous fashion shows including Women Empowerment Fashion Events, one of which honored Inspirational Speaker, Iyanla Vanzant, have had multiple appearances in Midwest Fashion Week fashion shows, Indiana Black Expo fashion show featuring designer Korto Momolu, a finalist from “Project Runway”, have done promotional modeling for Revlon’s “Creme of Nature” natural hair care brand, David’s Bridal and have also been published in multiple magazines including Obscurae Magazine.

In 2017, I became a freelance model, representing myself. I continued runway coaching from then until now with groups and individuals, one of my clients is my former mother agency!

I began hosting community events under the name “Faces of Our Souls” in Indianapolis in 2019 as a way to provide networking opportunities for entrepreneurs to share their brands, intentionally connect with the community and learn about others in their areas. Merging my passion for community involvement and fashion, I included a fashion show during each event, showing the importance of self love and positive body image. I saw the need, so this was a way for me to take action.

Throughout the years, we have been able to provide support in form of monetary as well as clothing donations to the Julian Center, a domestic abuse treatment center for women and children in Indianapolis, Indiana as well as Thrifty Threads, a thrift store and donation center owned and operated by The Julian Center.

When I returned home to South Bend, IN in 2021, post covid, I wanted to expand my network and collaborate with other industry creatives and bring a creative culture focusing on modeling, to our community.

Thus, Michiana Modeling Workshop, LLC.was formed. My business partner, Ashley Varner-Warren and I created our curriculum based off of our past successes as well as challenges as they related to modeling.

Michiana Modeling Workshop is a monthly mentorship and model development program based out of South Bend, IN. The program is designed to assist current as well as aspiring models of all ages with industry knowledge, skills and preparedness in order to further their modeling careers and successes. The curriculum consists of modeling basics, fashion industry knowledge, business skills, and personal development.

Upon completion of the program, models will have the skills and knowledge needed to start a career in the fashion industry. Each cycle concludes with a finale fashion show of all cycle participants.

Our program is also geared toward mentoring and encouraging transparent discussions with youth centered around confidence and self love.

We have had models launch their modeling careers and go on to get signed with modeling agencies, be featured in commercials and also walk for fashion weeks across the United States.

I am most proud of mine and my partners working relationship and commitment to continued growth with the program but ultimately helping those who want to go further with their modeling ambitions and increase their self confidence. We are the first model development program South Bend, IN has ever seen and our goal is to sustain, expand and continue serving the community that raised us.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Ashley and I played basketball against one another in high school. When I returned home to South Bend in 2021, I had began doing small modeling workshops at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, as I worked on getting the word out that I had returned home and wanted to offer assistance to those interested in learning about the modeling industry.

I ran into a community member that Ashley and I both knew, who encouraged me to connect with her as she wanted to do something similiar, given her background and career in modeling!

Ashley reached out and during our first sit down meeting together, we had mapped out a 6 month curriculum for the program! The rest is history!

I do my best not to force anything in my life. I believe that the best experiences happen organically and this partnership is definitely one of those experiences. Completely grateful for my partner, for her vision, expertise and everything that she brings to Michiana Modeling Workshop!

How did you build your audience on social media?

Initially, we discussed our target audience, content we wanted to share, days and times we wanted to post, and hashtags we thought would be relevant as we began sharing about the business.

We have built our social media followings organically and I’m proud of how far we have come. My partner and I also use our personal pages to help drive traffic to our business pages in order to gain more buy-in from those who we already have connections with.

My advice for those wanting to build their pages, just start! Not every post will be perfect, but there is always someone who looks to your posts for motivation and has a genuine interest in what you share.

My favorite type of content to post is reels! You can get so creative and really make it your own while sharing the information necessary to your following!

Last piece of advice, HAVE FUN with it!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michianamodelingworkshop/ and https://www.instagram.com/facesofoursouls/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Michianamodelingworkshop/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexaundria-g-48026b231/

Image Credits
Chantal Dominique Keaonna Pumel Melies Kish