We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Fania Johnson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Fania below.

Alright, Fania thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My mission is to educate, and influence upcoming inspired models to always strive to be their best self. Being a woman of color we sometime aren’t able to take advantage of certain opportunities out there to help us get to the next level. Our opportunities are limited due to limited resources, our living environment, and just financially not being able to afford it. As a model of over 15 years of experience I understand how expensive things can be , but I also understand the importance of sacrificing to get yourself to the next level. I pride myself in being affordable to my students as a model coach while also providing them with high quality skill and knowledge that will get them to the next level of their modeling journey.

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 am a model / model coach with over 15 years of modeling experience. My coaching background goes way back to my teenage years. I would teach my little sisters and their friends how to walk in heels in my moms basement . I didn’t know then that God was molding me to do what I’m doing now and I can’t do help but be in awe of how everything came together for what I’m suppose to be doing today. I’ve had the privilege to work with many different models over the years and have lasting friendships. I had one model friend reach out to me In regards to a friend of hers needing a model coach for her show. I was very much appreciative for the opportunity and thankful to her for thinking of me , when obviously should could’ve taken the opportunity for herself. During those times of coaching I had several models come up to me afterwards praising me on how much they had learnt from the one class and were asking if I offered one on one sessions. The following day I called around to various studios getting prices on the spaces and in search for the perfect location . I started up my one on one classes the following month with just 3-4 students consistently coming every Sunday from 4-6pm. Simultaneously I was reaching out to fellow fashion show producers offering my services as a model coordinator. My goals were to help make their production run smoothly with me providing the service of coaching all of the selected models and taking full control of the models and backstage flow of the show . Once I got connected with the shows I utilized each opportunity to work with the models of those shows by building rapport and giving them the helpful feedback that they felt that they were missing. The models would love the feed back that they received and would instantly wanted to join my classes. I’ve been blessed to coach over 100 models involved in the various fashion shows that I’ve coordinated . Although Runway coaching is my main area of coaching I’ve also had the privilege to creative direct for a few well known Photographers here in Atlanta. Creative directing and posing the models for the photographers has also grown to be something that’s excelling under my brand. Photographers are very grateful for this service ; they able to solely focus on shooting the models and not having to give direction on how to pose. I pride myself in making the model feel very comfortable as well as making it where they will walk away feeling very confident that they’ve capture some great photos. I am most proud of how my brand name as a coach is slowly getting a buzz and I’m just ready to see what else God has in store. I do not take any of my opportunities for granted and although I’m a coach I make sure to always be a student .

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Although I’m still at the beginning stage of building my coaching page , I however can say that my page has grown quite fast for me to only have created it not even a year ago. Some tools that has helped my following grow is definitely posting relevant content to what my brand represents. If you go on my page you will always see reels of my classes of me teaching my students techniques or me giving helpful tips to fellow models following my page. I will post pictures of my shoots or past shoots to let my followers see that I practice what I preach. When I’m out at events I’m always promoting my page and asking people to follow me. And lastly while posting my content I’m using relevant hashtags that’s going to get my content seen and eventually people will see it and if they can relate they will most likely like the post then eventually follow you.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

One of the best source for new clients for me has definitely been social media. Mainly instagram and Tik Tok. My consistency on social media has helped individuals to see my content and eventually want to experience the class for themselves. My second best source has been my students who attend. They are great for posting their own reviews of my class and that allows for their followers to see my class and eventually contact me , come out to a session , love the session and then they sign up. And my last source has been being ok with giving out a few freebies. I know what I bring to the table as a coach so if that mean offering a free session to get a few people in the room then that’s ok. I’m confident in knowing that the experience itself is going to be something that they feel that they MUST experience again and 9 times out of 10 they come back and sign up for a paid class.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://form.jotform.com/modelcoachfania/im-modeling-by-fania-j?fbclid=PAAabF8dl8zH4Ku6WxFNHAFkO-uyyHOYVujSTDg6gJZn2x28_VPWGTEuUWsOA_aem_AY40us9tqpviB6zIfNB9LBmrRlcJcBhPsn7MkE2jDgSLRbESg9peSgXNcSGrGNGzgDA
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Modelcoach_fania
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strutyosteff?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
@Kerwin Davis @Alarmblu @lwjvisuals @darian_the_photographer @illshotsjoemapp