We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hennessie Martin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Hennessie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

Starting my brand, my business has been the biggest risk I have ever taken thus far in my life, and I am glad that I did it. Modeling as a plus size girl was already taking me out of my comfort zone, when I started back in 2011/2012, in college. I was just like “who wants to see a big girl walking a runway? She’s not small like the other models. Her hair ain’t long, she’s short, etc” You know all the things that we as a society are used to seeing in a model, I didn’t fit into those categories. So taking THAT step was already like “whew girl okay, you really doing it.” So fast forward through my college journey, life happening, me just being a regular working woman, going through the motions of being a young adult, maneuvering through life. But I have always felt like, you know, what will I do in my life, that will be impactful? What will I leave behind, how will I be remembered? So 2021, after doing a modeling gig for a friend, I finally decided like, something has to give, LOL! Like I have to do something with my life, something meaningful. Yeah I have 2 college degrees, but it wasn’t enough. So I started Humble Pressure Modeling, you know, taking that risk of a 1. having a black woman owned business that is 2. owned by a plus size model. I am going against everything that I am seemingly NOT supposed to do. HPM is my risky baby, it was my “What If” that turned into my “What now” because I will continue to take risks, I will continue to push the limits. You don’t like big girls, guess what here I am. You don’t like stretch mark, back fat, and rolls, guess what here’s mine. You don’t think big girls should show skin or be nude, guess what here’s my boobs and butt, now what? I will continue to push limits, cross the line, break down barrier and go against the grain with Humble Pressure Modeling. Because who the f*ck are you to tell me, I can’t do something because YOU don’t like it? I don’t give a d*amn, never have, never will. *mwah*

Hennessie, 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?

I started modeling in college, was heavy in it until life started doing what it does LOL. Health issues came, family stuff happened, so I was forced to take a break. That break lasted for a few years, but my love for fashion and modeling never died, never changed. The smoke was there, because the fire was still burning inside, slowly but surely. In 2021, Humble Pressure Modeling was born, and I am beyond proud of me, what I have created, what I have done, what I am doing, and what is to come. I am a fashion model, I also offer styling and creative directing services as well- and it can be photoshoots or a video. I love helping people, and everyone wants to look good, feel good, be seen, etc. I don’t care who you are, everyone wants it. So what I do is help those who aren’t quite sure what to do, where to go or how to achieve what it is they want to do. My main focus is plus size women because we are so heavily judged and marginalized, that too often we don’t feel beautiful and comfortable, we don’t want to step on toes, so we shut ourselves down and out, and often times we let life pass us by because of what others think or what society says should or shouldn’t be. Well, not today Satan! I am here to pull out the beauty, confidence, sassiness, sexiness, the smile and laughter out of my plus size babes. I am open to working with men and women, whatever you identify as, I don’t discriminate. My main purpose is to make my clients feel good about themselves, and make them see, baby you are beautiful/handsome, you are golden, you are uniquely made and one of a kind. Don’t ever let someone tell you differently, or let anyone bring you down.

What sets me apart from others, is that my humility, my humbleness and genuineness. In this industry, and really most if not all industries, it’s all a competition. Baby not over here. We can all meet, greet and eat together. I’m fly enough to know I can do whatever I want and put my mind to. However I am also humble enough to know that not everything is for me, I will be skipped over for others who are a better fit for a role/opportunity and that is perfectly fine. I know my lane, especially the one I have created for me, and I stay in it- most of the time LOL. I am a fun, loving, open, humble, woman. I love to laugh, I love a good meal, great vibes, and positive growth and energy, I have worked hard to get to where I am, to protect my peace, and I want others to feel the joy that I have, you know? Like, here let me share my sunshine LOL.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Chileeee, listen. I pivot all the time LOL. That’s the main reason behind my business name, Humble Pressure Modeling. Because before I am a model, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a co-worker, I am HUMAN. I just took a 2 month hiatus because I just didn’t feel like being Humble Pressure. The creativeness wasn’t flowing. I couldn’t think of a creative idea to do for myself, on top of dealing with life. But what I want people to understand is that IT IS OKAY! It is okay to feel like not being your brand/business for a day or so, hell a couple months. I am very big on peace, protecting your peace and mental health. If it is not within me, no matter how hard I try, then baby it just ain’t there. That’s when I say “Okay, Henn. Let’s take a break, let’s step back and regroup.” And who knows how long that may take. If my mental health and peace are not in order, how can I be of any good to myself, and then turn around and work with my clients? It won’t work. Because if my energy is off, it’s going to throw them off. So to all my business owners, brand owners, creatives, boss baddies, and entrepreneurs, YOU COME FIRST! Take care of you, before getting out here trying to work with clients. Mental health is so important yet underrated, especially in the back community. I think we all need to learn how to “pivot” and know when to move & groove, and when we need to pivot in a direction that slows us down in a positive and productive way, so that we can be & present our best selves to the world.

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

A lesson I had to unlearn was that not everyone in this industry is nice. I know it may seem childish or naïve, but that’s it for me. Because I am such a genuine and nice person, I have not met a stranger no matter the environment. But in this world of modeling, working with other models, I have learned that these girls can be rude, stuck up, stand offish, and just mean. Now, that is not to say a model can’t be shy, or new to the game even, you know, that is perfectly fine. Recently I had a shoot and all the models were getting along great, doing behind the scenes stuff, creating business and personal content- which by the way was also in our model contract agreements, that that’s what would be going on. There was one model, who if we were all in the room, she would move and get in her own corner or she would just leave. She looked bothered when she had to take photos with another model, she just stayed away from us the entire time. She didn’t speak to any of us, just the owner who was running the shoot, and the photographers. When we were getting ready to leave, ya know, praying for safe travels, she snuck out and was gone LOL we heard the car start up and we we’re like where is such and such, baby she was gone. Not a “bye yall, see ya later, nice working with yall, yall get on my nerves,” I mean NOTHING lol. What made it even like, more of a solid feeling and that it wasn’t just me, was we all were like “Is it just me or…..” and we INSTANTLY all knew what each other was thinking. Like, okay it’s not just me, everyone thought she had a weird vibe. We brushed it off, but a friend of mine who is years into the modeling and acting world, told me to not let people like that alter my energy and good vibes and keep doing what I’m doing. So I carry times like that with me, but I carry my friends words with me in front of it as well. We all come from different walks of life, I get that, I really do. It was just an off experience for me, because I love meeting new people and connecting and networking, and the old me, that would have shut me down and altered me in a negative way. So I thank God for the growth and continuous improvement in me to be able to handle things like that in a positive manner.

Contact Info:

• Website: humblepressuremodeling.net
• Instagram: @_humblepressure
• Facebook: Humble Pressure Modeling
• Other: email: humblepressuremodeling@gmail.com

Image Credits
Photo Credits: Jade Griffin Nashville State Community College Photography Class