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

Jessica, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?

Most definitely my work has been misunderstood. The biggest misconception is that as a small business owner I shouldn’t be so personal and/or involved in or with my business. My thought is that as a double minority owned business. I have to work twice as hard and apply twice the amount of self-pressure in order to be seen as an equal or in the very least, to just have a lane in this industry. Some people will not choose to work with you because you are too involved or do to much, and others won’t work with you because you’re not personal enough. Yes, there has to be a healthy balance between the two but who really gets to determine that? Again, I am of the thought that if GOD blessed me with this gift, shouldn’t I be the one to dictate how that gift can be turned into building success for others? What I have learned is protecting my center, my core, and keeping the reason why I started this journey at the forefront. Before I can lead anyone, I have to be found guilty of my service to others and being a vessel for my purpose in life to positively infect and encourage others.

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?

So, a little about me; I’m a big city girl, with a small town heart. Raised in Dallas, TX starting my business in San Antonio, and getting to enjoy life in Houston; I like to tell people, “I’m from Texas” when asked “where are you from.” I have almost 14 years in the business and 3 years ago, started Meshaun Model Management, LLC ®. We are a full service Agency located in south Texas and currently gearing up for expansion across the State. To-date, we’ve been blessed to have signed over 70 female and male models, 16 years of age and up; majority of all talent being black and brown; Latina, Afro-Latin and African-American decent and over the age of 25. I will be transparent in saying I do not know all the ins and outs of this industry, but what I know, I know and it has been proved to work well. One of he many things that I vow is to never give up on anyone as long as they put in the work and consistently show up for themselves. With weekly modeling and acting classes and multiple photographers on staff; as well as multiple stylists, a talent director and hair and makeup team; we are sure to be committed and dedicated to assisting you in meeting your modeling goals.

As a kid growing up in the 80s in a big city like Dallas, and being the product of a single parent home, my siblings and I were always involved in after school activities. The hobby that stuck was modeling and walking. It took me so far out of my comfort zone; and being the shy kid, that really didn’t take much. Everything took me out of my comfort zone. I was the painfully shy kid who just wasn’t confident i herself. I was teased and bullied in school and in the home, and didn’t have many friends. I had so many things I wanted to accomplish and would dream some of my biggest dreams flipping through pages of the old school ‘Victoria’s Secret’ catalogs and looking at ‘Jet Beauty of the Week’ and seeing celebrities who looked like my mother and my aunts and my grandmother on covers of ‘Essence’ when I decided, “I want to do that too.” I’ve always been in heels or walking in my red cowgirl boots that I wore everywhere; when this one opportunity for this one showcase in Las Colinas came along, I was extremely excited. I was in awe. These shy and petite men came in during the day and by the time the lights went down for the night’s show, they transformed into confident GLAMAZON’S. They made walking in 6 inch heels look like walking through a park. They were sure of themselves and no one could tell them any different. My mother and grandmother have always been the most beautiful woman in the world to me, and that night, I finally thought, I could be beautiful too.”

This industry can get a bad wrap for being shallow; and in years past, it definitely has been. However, I am most proud of the the broad spectrum of representation the industry has opened up to and accepted. My goal was to create a lane that people who looked like me or didn’t look like me and just didn’t fit the “status quo” of modeling, didn’t feel outcast or made to sit on the sidelines when it comes to their gender, age, body type, height, background, culture or age.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

In order to build your presence on social media platforms, you have to first know who your audience is and/or who you want to reach. What is your product? What is your goal?

Once you have that, be intentional with posting. Question here, what’s the first thing you do when you wake up? If you’re like me, the answer is “check my phone.” For that reason, decide how often you want to post; at the same time every morning. Or, three days out of the week or only on the weekends. No matter How often you decide to post, be consitent with your content and don’t forget to post who you are. People will enjoy getting a sneak peak into the real you.

Now that you’re posting regularly, are you interacting with those comments and likes? Are you using “reels,” and live videos. Are you sharing the real you beyond posting content? People who start to follow you are eager to get to know you. What makes you the way you are, what music are you listening to?

If nothing else, be mindful of what and how you post and the content you share. It’s all intention and all good!

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

One thing that I can share is that I really am not a people person. No seriously; though I am in the business of people, I am not a “people person.” Remember, I’m the shy “ugly duckling” from Dallas that was never really noticed and always outshined by literally everyone around me. I’ve had to take the worst of words thrown at me by people who knew me the least and deal with that; and that made me find me; the person I really am. Of course, I’m going to walk into a room and the energy will instantly shift (that I am still processing), but that feeling is not something I need all the time to be me. I like to say that I am an introverted extrovert. I can be around people and have a blast and really take in the moment. However, it takes so much energy. Especially when you’re always viewed as the “life of the party.” Being in my room, in my corner with lit candles and a glass of wine is my happy place.

I’m a mom of teenage boys, and a daughter, I’m an auntie, a sister and best friend. I am active in my church and I enjoy the simple moments in life. Going bowling with friends, or seeing my 2yo niece enjoy a splashpad in the middle of summer or having a game night with the family, or shopping with my mom. Those are the memories that give me life.

People think that in order to do this type of work, you have to be “on” all the time, always out and about and making appearances. When in all honesty, I do not enjoy wearing makeup everyday. Do you know what that does to the skin? I’d much rather moisturize and watch movies or binge watch anything on Food Network and protect my peace. Having an on again and off again relationship with mental health issues, making sure I have moments to myself to just be, mean the most to me. I enjoy what I do and I am blessed to have the amazing platform to spread love and happiness, encouragement even to those who need it. However, I have also learned to take the necessary “step back” from time to time. Those are the best moments.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.meshaunmodels.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/meshaunmodelsllc
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/meshaunmodels
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/meshaunmodels
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/jessicameshaun

Image Credits
@jandkphotography_1 | @the_confident_you | @codeblackphotography | @captured_in_the_dark | @hollywood_hayes_photography