Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Deyanna Denyse. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Deyanna, thanks for joining us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

Of course, it has. I am nude. The Art of Misunderstanding comes with the territory in this modern society. As mentioned in my recent #MyNudeMyTruth campaign, being nude (especially in POC communities) has a negative stigma. Being nude on social media doesn’t make it any better however my attempts to clear the confusion with explanation help bring a sense of clarity and healing in most cases. I’ve been mischaracterized as ” easy/down to f*ck”, “slutty”, or/and having “low self-worth” ect for displaying my nudity as boldly as I do. None of these characteristics are in alignment with my truth.

I’ve learned that we all have been programmed by similar domestications, subjecting us to see the world and others through false lenses. We often project these domestications onto others in an attempt to make sense of what we see. When this happens, I work on being mindful of this projection and allow it to be exactly that – a projection of outdated beliefs or dogmas- without internalizing this as truth. I know exactly who I am, there isn’t anyone alive that can tell me My Truth. For so long I have allowed others the power to control my narrative/my why. No more. I have always known exactly why I undress from the very first time I posed for a shoot or artist. My intentions have always been clear and it rings true throughout my journey. I then realized the collective doesn’t read or listen because if they did, I wouldn’t have been misjudged in the first place. I digress.

I’ve also learned the importance of standing firm in my beliefs despite the gaze or opinions of onlookers. 85 percent of the population are “followers”, 10 percents are “leaders” and the remaining 5 are “observers”- I learned to lower my expectations and my need for external validation. I trusted and validated myself, respectfully. What I am doing is completely outside the scope of what we deem as “normal”, I am creating a new paradigm. These observations can be unpacked further in my book “Save The Bees” which is currently available on Amazon.

Deyanna, 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?

My passion started as a healing modality, a means to develop a strong sense of self from the inside out. I initially started as a Yoga instructor who decided to practice nude in her living room. At the time I was recently discharged from the military and started a plant-based diet, my weight dropped tremendously and my sense of self diminished with it. I noticed this and decided I didn’t want to sulk in the energy of lack any longer. I would post nude yoga along with a journal entry of my progress on social media, whilst facilitating sponsored events with a recent mentor. After gaining my confidence, I facilitated this space on my own for other men and women who were too, healing self-deprecating thoughts regarding their body image. Shortly after holding these spaces, I was approached by an attendee, who was also a photog. We connected and took beautiful photographs. One thing leads to another and I found love in the Arts of figurative/ expressive modeling. It was very different from commercial/ beauty modeling and the need for artistic brown bodies was far and few between. I wanted to bridge the gap and change the narrative of nudity

Today, I am a professional Nude Performance/charcoal Artist, Healer, and poet/author with 28 Vogue publications, 4 Books, 2 Nft’s. and a global campaign. I have had the opportunity to muse for some of the most prolific Artists around the world and worked with clothing, skincare, and jewelry brands. I wear many hats in creative and healing spaces such as muse/model. photog. creative/art direction and yoga instructor, reiki healer, meditation guide, and spiritual life coach/mentor.

Working with me guarantees success as it is my intention. I produce tasteful and artistic pieces- I also facilitate a safe space for creative freedom, it’s a WE thing. OUR voices and ideas are shared and equally used in each process/project.

I am most proud of my strength and perseverance as I have had a rocky journey filled with doubt and feelings of lack that has manifested as people/naysayers. Overcoming this was difficult however I came out the other side with the same smile I went in with. This is the blessing that I hold dear.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Initially, I started my journey as an Art Model, posing for artists. This, although fun, was a dead-end road. Most art models are rarely credited or seen as human beings. I noticed that after 2 years, I decided to pivot into performance artistry as a way to take control of my journey and expand outside of the norm, whilst using the skills I acquired as an Art model. I no longer wanted to be a face on a painting that no one would know/recognize as a person. I would think of the famous Mona Lisa portrait and her smile, no one knew the day and life of the muse yet her likeness has rippled throughout our history. I am more than a source of inspiration, I too am an artist, and sitting/posing for hours is a talent/skill that should be recognized.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Undressing is more than gaining attention or appealing to the male gaze. I undress in protest- I undress to change the narrative of nudity- it’s an act of self-love and purification. My poems are more than stanzas but are soul activations, a source of healing and awakening. I am creating a new paradigm of understanding/living and expanding the perception of the world we live in. My work is spiritual in nature- biblical, and historical. Channeling the lost dimension of the Divine Feminine.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.deyannadenyse.com/
• Instagram: @deyannathedenyse
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZSbY6SwkRf17gc2i7OlWyA

Image Credits
Kalvin Reeves, Erik Griggs, Gregory Prescott