We recently connected with Chantee Wimberly and have shared our conversation below.

Chantee, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Professionally, I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy. I been in the medical field for 10 years. I currently work for a local home health agency which allows me to have the flexibility I need as a wife, mother, and fashion model. My husband and I also own real estate and we manage several of our own properties.

I started at an early age. I married young and have twin daughters. It was not until I was about 34 years old. I was at a funeral and my Aunt asked me have I started modeling yet. I said no and she replied that I was going to miss out on my blessing if I did not get started. Later that year, a friend of mine who is a photographer asked me to collaborate with him on a project. He gifted me free photos in exchange for my time. Several months later, I entered myself into my first local fashion show and fell in love with modeling. I was in a place where my confidence was low but this space seemed to help pull out the woman I always dreamed of becoming. From then on, I kept seeking opportunities to pursue modeling. At the time, this was my form of therapy and self development.

I decided to become more serious about my craft Fall of 2022 and signed with my agent Helen Wells.

Chantee, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Again, I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy. I been in the medical field for 10 years. I am a real estate investor and my husband and I have been buying and selling properties since 2008. We have twin daughters and I have been married for 12 years.

The most challenging thing for me is juggling my responsibilities as a wife and mother. It’s challenging and takes a lot of discipline to maintain my career and balancing being a wife and mother while pursuing my dreams.

I have been criticized by some for going into modeling, specially swim. It is a sensitive subject for some but my spouse and I communicate. He understands my goals and my desires and his opinion is the only opinion that matters.

I proud of the fact that at the age of 36 I am not allowing my circumstances and age define my abilities. In my first year, I became a brand ambassador for a local designer Me by Lee Boutique. I walked for her in NYFW this past February. Shortly after that, I entered myself into a national model search for Miami Swim Week and was a finalist. Even though I did not win, I met so many models and designers which I had the pleasure of working with. I walked in my very first swim show in Las Vegas and booked my dream shoot in the desert. Since then, the exposure has been incredible and I’m very excited for next year and what I have lined up in the first quarter.

All of this would have been impossible without the support from my family. I am truly grateful for them all.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish I knew how to really get started. I spent a lot of time (months) trying to find casting calls on my own. I did not know how to find designers or knew where to start. As I think back over a year ago, it’s almost as if the opportunity came to me. My friend is a journalist in Cincinnati Ohio and she did a story on a designer, Alishia Lee. She highlighted that she was going full time with her business, Me by Lee. I followed her and added her as a friend on social media. A week later, she posted a casting call for her very own show. I was finally put into a space with a community of models who have been helpful ever since.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I am a fitness fanatic. I love going to the gym and I train 3 days a week with my personal trainer, Shanequa Johnson Evolv U Fit Academy. Since the beginning of this year and starting swim modeling, I have been told by several other young models that I inspired them to get into the gym and get fit. It’s an amazing feeling to inspire someone to take care of themselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: Chanteewimberly.com
• Instagram: @chantee_wimberly
• Facebook: Chantee Wimberly

Image Credits
Yohan Hameed YHI images Bryant Brown Mr Brown Photography Wellington Guzman