Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kelly Alexander. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Kelly, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

Fashion and Beauty have always been a part of my career and life. However when covid19 hit in 2020 my Product, “Tomboy Wicked” and beauty business came to a grinding halt. Every store that carried my line had closed but I still had an opportunity in the form of a New Reality International Lifestyle and Fashion tv show that would sustain my lifestyle and brand. To my surprise within 4 months of putting off shooting the Fashion Reality show that I was picked up on as a product sponsor, decided they could no longer shoot for safety reasons due to covid. Needless to say, I was now a little full of anxiety and fear of my uncertain financial future. Unsure but concerned for my safety and that of my friends, family and neighbors I began to make mask to keep us protected.

After a few weeks I was wondering how the world would go on and how could I stay relevant as a Product developer but to my surprise one morning I opened my email and had an important message from American Vogue Editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour. She was talking about the fashion industry and how hard hit the designers and industry had been hit as a whole. It was then that I began thinking of ways I can potentially help both the fashion and entertainment industries. I came up with a show called Models Talk that I would then produce and launch on KAFTV (KA Fashion TV on Roku & www.KAFashiontv.com).

I felt that this could succeed because it was bigger than me and I personally had friends still hurting that I wished to help. I would give back freely and Keep designers relevant by featuring them on my show. This would be for Designers, Models and Celebrity “role models”. I believed that it was important to show the good the love and the endurance through our industry to help others find hope. In my mind it was no way that it would fail. Exactly 2 years of starting this show I was awarded, ” Best Streaming Fashion Talk Show” by Hollywood African Prestigious Awards. What a huge honor! The honorable episode that was so loved featured R&B Historian, Amazon Best Selling Book Author Tyrone Dubose. Tyrone Dubose On KAFTV Models Talk

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My Name is Kelly Anne Alexander and I am a family oriented creative person that loves life and people. Although I was born in Seattle WA. I have lived most of my life I sunny Southern California. I’ve always felt a need to see the good in life, air, water, fire and the energy that we all need to survive. I have raised 3 children and had the joy of a 2nd Marriage to my high school sweetheart, Corwyn Alexander.

I have a strong love for my family and Entrepreneural Quest, thus the reason I have always worked for myself and sometimes had to carry a 2nd job to make sure when business was slow that I could maintain my family needs. Even with that fashion and beauty were always in my birds eyesight, peripheral and future. I am proud to say that because of my hard work and Branding, my commercials of my line had been seen during the American Music Awards. My brands have been in NYFW LAFW PARIS Pageants and even in feature films. One of my The Biggest joys was to have LAFW and Vogue representers invite me to feature their models and designers that were also being featured in VOGUE magazine. The very magazine that brought my show to life. I was then able to feature World known Designers, such as Avel Babudio, Xiao Fen and Adrian Alicea, as wells feature such international crosser-over models as ANTM AzMarie, Sky Saxour and Berite LaBelle that have all been the cover of or featured in various international Vogue Magazines.

I have most recently been contracted as the Fashion Choreographer of International Presentation Of Performers
(IPOP). This is an honor to be added with an explosion of talent that is allowing me to run that entire portion of the show in July/Aug 2023 in the city of Anaheim Ca. Not to mention the luncheon and meetings with FIDM and beginning our KAFTV Youth Symposium. Partnering with 4 DTLA showrooms full of designers waiting for my show to featuring them with much needed good press. I will also be a featured media press at the BET A list Mansion Fashion show. This is the Affirmation of being a visionary and believing in the vision that I wanted for me.

KAFTV two slogans are, “Where we work hard to brand YOU” and “Where Fashion is Life”

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

In my creative journey I wish I knew about the city funded resources that are offered to companies that give back. There are so many Brands and city backed grants that help small companies grow their business when you show that you offer aid, help or goods to the community, which is very much worth your time and energy to help fund your creative vision. I also use Vimeo app as a creator to help visually tell my stories to clients that want to see where we could go with their brand as it is a Great tool.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson that I had to unlearn is that Not everyone is worthy of your time, energy or efforts no matter how much you love, like or respect them. To grow as a person, sometimes its ok to step into a new realm or circle of peers and try your hand at something new. I had to understand that sometimes you can be good or even great at something that you have possibly never tried before and all because it’s a passion in you that you didn’t know was being cultivated. I say that because, I found myself alarmed when a few that I once worked with discovered that I was no longer available to do them favors (as I had done free for years) as I was working for my new clients and partners. No matter how many times I would try and show favor to them it wasn’t good enough because who did I think I was. I mean, after all it was only 2 years ago that I, A mere woman was GIVING my Time and Energy away while never asking for anything in return because I thought clearly that I was working with friends that would appreciate and give back. That was not the case. When you are a person in business or branding and you are giving of yourself, it’s good to practice saying, ” Let me get back to you on that or Let me check my calendar.” This will begin your journey of what’s important and who’s important for you to follow up with. I had to learn this, and I practice it today.

As my new group of peers and partners grew, I was now cultivating a business that operated on the pure value of honesty, excitement, connections and my expertise. In this new place I found that others saw my hard work and efforts as Worthy of Hire. I like this new place that I have stepped into. Afterall, a good workman is worthy of his or her hire! Special Thanks to: Producer Tonya T Canon and Music Man Strickland Esqkwire.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kafashiontv.com
• Instagram: official_ModelsTalk
• Facebook: KAFTV Models Talk
• Linkedin: KAFTV Kelly Alexander
• Twitter: kaftv OffIcial_ModelsTalk
• Youtube: KA FASHION TV
• Yelp: KA FASHION TV

Image Credits
left to right: 1: Logo 2: back stage of LAFW Models Talk with Designer Avel Bacudio & Model Sky 3: behind the scenes interview with YABA TV on KCAL9 & Models Talk Host Kelly Alexander 4: Red Carpet HAPAwards 5: Behind the scene of Models talk w/ Designer Lindie Sayman 6: Magazine Vigour Feature 7: KAFTV motto 8: Behind the scenes of photoshoot with TomBoy Wicked brand & Model Tay