We were lucky to catch up with Doll Whitney recently and have shared our conversation below.

Doll, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

After I am gone, I would like to be remembered by my perseverance. There were Countless hardships and battles I fought due to domestic abuse. I conquered those struggles, crawled out on my bruised knees and bloody palms to escape. Now I take it seriously to advocate for those who need to end the cycle of abuse in their own lives. I also would like to be remembered by the love and compassion I put into being a mother, and a good friend. Finally, I would like to be remembered as a suicide prevention advocate.

Doll, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Blue collar trade work and modeling are a very spectacular combination. I’m the first woman in my family to join a union trade as my profession. Modeling just comes as a bonus in my life. Learning something new every day while making enough money to support my family has been my dream.

I don’t mind rolling up my sleeves and pulling on my work boots every day because it doesn’t even feel like a “job,” when you enjoy what you do. Modeling is a bonus because I enjoy bringing out creativity and business skills while being dressed to impress.

I started modeling at a very young age for my grandmother Elaine, who taught cosmetology and competed in various shows. Elaine has been teaching for decades now! Soon after modeling for shows, I learned how to be a photographer while taking dual classes in high school. I was requested soon following that for friends who became photographers for a living. Suddenly I was inspired to begin a lot of networking. I began to make business cards, post my work on social medias, speaks with photographers who hosted events in other states, create portfolios, and become my own advertisement.

I am a survivor of domestic abuse and violence, as well as an advocate for suicide prevention. It is important to me to help others to end the cycle of suffering with domestic abuse. Recently I partnered with a local artist who is a suicide prevention advocate as well. I cannot wait to see where we go with our partnership. ColdSaint is a very good friend who I promote by wearing his brand to represent him during photoshoots. I want to spread awareness and prevent more suicides or domestic abuse from happening ever again.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Social media platforms definitely helped build my reputation as a model. Posting often on a professional page creates awareness of my work. Answering partnership opportunities quickly becomes routine and helps grow my connections. When scheduling social media live events for question and answers interviews, I have become more successful at building followers and supporters. Also, thanking partners I work with publicly, tagging them, and sharing their work has helped my friend’s businesses flourish, which in turn makes my heart feel full. The more that I post my work, the stronger I get.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

When I became interested in modeling I learned that you must join an agency to be a model and fit into a “body criteria.” I quickly had to unlearn this. I do not follow a specific set of body guidelines. In my eyes I see all body types as beautiful and unique in their own way. As a mother I want to teach my children that they are loved, and we take care of ourselves and each other regardless of social media’s body criteria. It’s wrong to shame someone because of their body in my opinion.

I did not have to join an agency to become a model. There are classes, as well as plenty of resources out there in order to make my way as a model with out an agency. Body criteria puts shame into our children’s little hearts. This is why I post “body positive,” images in my social medias. We need to love ourselves and be open minded about throwing the scales out of the checklist on a modeling job.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunshinexxmoon?igsh=MWt0bGFzdjBrbzY0NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072537547705&mibextid=LQQJ4d
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sunflowerxxdoll?_t=8jVgSDnAnwx&_r=1

Image Credits
Ashley Redding Creative for every photo accept for the last one Visually Inspired photographed my husband and I at the red carpet event.