Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nica G. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Nica G, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
It was around 2018, but at that time I was a natural hair care specialist and was more so focused on being more creative as a hair stylist and trying to work on sets. I wanted to create unique and powerful looks for black women. I envisioned my work featured on the covers of magazines, and on runways for events like NYFW. I wanted to be the “IT” girl of hair design known worldwide. In 2019 my hair artistry was featured in my first editorial on two beautiful models, Ruka Bello and Ariel Richardson! I later styled celebrities like Angela Lewis aka Aunt Lou on “Snowfall” for her season 3 press tour, providing her with a style that was regal and commanded the attention of everyone in any room she walked in. I also styled Luvvie Ajayi Jones for her Sorel X PopSugar photoshoot. I sculpted her natural tresses into the likings of a crown. Shoutout to Texture Management, owned by Felicia Leatherwood, a remarkable natural hair expert most recently known for her many styles on Issa Rae for providing these opportunities and solidifying my name as a Celebrity Hair Stylist!
Set life was fun and exciting! At some point it left me desiring more. I began to dream bigger and I eventually came to realize I had creative visions of my own, beyond hair… I began creating lists in my phone of my own photoshoot and video concepts. I was typically inspired by the desire to shift people’s perspective on topics most tend to have a negative outlook on. In 2020 I executed one concept featuring my daughter, in a short video titled “Beauty In Our Community” and then again featuring my best friend Jasmine Paige, a beautiful plus size woman. I directed every bit of these shoots, from the location selection, to wardrobe and dress design, down to the makeup and the hair that I used my talents to style. I’d never been more proud! Shoutout to Brookssmedia, the best videographer and cinematographer to EVER do it! It’s a huge perk he also happens to be my husband.
Directing left me desiring even more. I wanted to be the STAR! I was still working as a natural hair care specialist… but life behind the chair no longer fulfilled me. In October of 2021, I resigned from salon life, and closed my hair business to pursue both modeling and directing.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
Well, I’m Jenica Brooks, born and raised in Chicago, Chi-city, where I currently reside. ps I have about 2 good winters left in me, they don’t call it the windy city for nothing! I’m a mother of 1 and a wife, of which I’ve been married to my husband for 4 years, together for 13! As of October 2021 I am a retired Celebrity stylist and Natural Hair Care Specialist who is now in pursuit of modeling and directing full time.
For a little back story, I got into hair after dropping out of college twice. I wasn’t working a job at the time and was in a pretty low place. One day I looked up a YouTube video of a popular style known as the “Invisible Part Quickweave”. I slayed that style, and the rest was history. I would do my mom’s hair, my sister and her friends, my cousins and really anyone who would let me! I loved helping women feel beautiful, the instant boost it gave folks when their tresses were styled to perfection. I wanted to know the ins and outs, the science behind hair, so in August of 2013 I enrolled in Cosmetology school. While in school I worked part time in Retail/Customer Service, until I decided to focus solely on hair. In 2014 I began building my brand “Hair by Nica G”. In March of 2015 I completed my 1200 hours and tested for my license that I did in fact receive! I went on to work for a blowout chain called Drybar in Lincoln Park where I developed my round brushing skills, and if you don’t know a BOMB blowout can truly change lives. But, I quickly realized I wanted to focus on black hair care and went on to work for myself in the hair industry. I moved into a salon in downtown Chicago right off the Magnificent Mile aka Michigan ave. and established my name as a natural hair care professional. I later moved into the prominent west loop neighborhood at a salon called Relax She’s Natural, where I finally gave my business its official name “No Curl Denied” and finished out the remainder of my time behind the chair.
I accomplished so much as a hair stylist, I learned a lot of lessons, some MUCH tougher than others and I regret nothing in those 10+ years of my life. It was truly a blessing to have cultivated a safe, and PROFESSIONAL hair care experience for the black community. I was able to scale my business across the nation from coast to coast, accumulated over 800 5 – star reviews from my fabulous clients, connect with amazing trail blazing hair care professionals and became a 4 time published hair stylist. Though my time behind the chair has come to an end, I am still passionate about changing the black hair care experience. I can’t share too much right now, but be on the lookout for No Curl Denied, as it will be a revolutionary resource hub for professional hair care, for both women AND men!
Now that it has been a little over a year since ending my hair career, I have made great strides in both modeling and directing! As I mentioned a lot of my inspiration stems from the desire to change people’s perspectives about topics most tend to have a negative/ jacked up outlook on. I have executed more of those concepts I had listed in my handy dandy phone, one being a video project/spec ad called “Plus Size Bodies Do It Too”. I not only directed by starred in this project alongside some amazing women who stand behind the message. The inspiration for this video was to shine a light on plus size bodies being involved in fitness, because we very much so are! The stigmas around plus size bodies and our health are harmful and not always factual. I’m sure it’ll ruffle some feathers, and it’s meant to do just that. Quite frankly, as the old saying goes, “You can’t judge a book by it’s cover.” It’s time people face the REAL issues most have with plus size bodies, and to me that is simply you don’t like the way I look. As both a model and a director I aim to change to Plus Size narrative. I believe my mere existence is a protest against what most believe about a plus size person.
As a director I also have goals I WILL achieve in the tv industry for black hair care/ the beauty industry. In particular, the black hair care community has been taking a turn for the worse slowly but surely. The lack of care and professionalism is traumatizing and the cause of a lot of misleading information being spread, permanent hair loss of people both young and old, and so much more. I aim to change that by shining light on those doing it right and elevating the Black Hair Care Experience. But again, I can’t speak too much on that just yet, just know its coming!
Within the next month or so I’ll have more to share on one of the biggest modeling stride I’ve made, I just don’t want to jinx anything! Ya’ll can certainly keep up with my next moves via IG or YouTube @blackgirlmyworld.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the never ending opportunities to inspire and uplift others by creating bodies of work that speak to not only my current reality, but the world I desire to live in. Black Girl My World is more than JUST a social media handle, it’s my way of life and my work shines a light on a different perspective!
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I’d say a huge part of my creative journey stems from being what younger me needed. My mission is to show up authentically in all aspects of life, which is not limited to just being plus size, but a PROUD black woman who understands she can have all that her heart desires, and goes for it UNAPOLOGETICALLY!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chicagoplussizemodel.com
- Instagram: @blackgirlmyworld
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@blackgirlmyworld
Image Credits
Ruka Bello Mecca Nur Jasmine Paige Brookssmedia Bekah Wriedt Tiambriss Desire