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

M.J., thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I’ve always been different. I’m not sure at exactly what age I discovered I was different but I knew at around 18 my first year of college that I just didn’t have an ordinary purpose. I was still in my hometown of St. Louis, Missouri right after high school attending my freshman year of college. I knew my freshman year that I wanted more, and that this just wasn’t enough. So eventually I moved to L.A. just three days after my 20th birthday to go to Fashion School and to start my career in Modeling & Entertainment not having a clue where it would lead. I just trusted my gut. Sometimes it takes for us to experience things and to go through something in order to find out who we really are. It took for me to go to college in my hometown for one year to realize I was bigger, my purpose is bigger and that I needed a change. So I moved. I’m now a Grammy Award Winning Singer/Background Vocalist, an Online Store Owner with my very own fashion & beauty brand selling cosmetics, clothing & accessories. I’m also a Content Creator, Designer, Model/Actress, Stylist & Fashionista… what you really would call a JANE OF ALL TRADES.

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 came out to L.A. to go to Fashion School gaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Fashion Marketing. But in the process of that, a bunch of other things that came along with who I am sort of fell into my lap, like music, art, custom designing, etc. I started my first fashion company from one of my homework assignments that I was inspired by that I ended up turning into a real live t-shirt business. I am a real Jane of All Trades. An all-around true creative. No one really taught me the things I know how to do. It was natural. I have so many different gifts that God blessed me with so I can’t just do one thing.

At one point I became an inspirational t-shirt designer at just 24 years old working in all angles of the fashion industry from creative directing, styling, marketing, merchandising, etc. Because of my love for Fashion & having good style with my own originality, it led to me starting my own online store formally selling vintage clothes right out of my closet, and other great thrift finds which has now turned into “MJ’s Closet” (www.MJsCloset.net) & my new beauty & cosmetics line “MJ’s Beauty” (www.MJsBeauty.shop).

With music, singing was always a passion when I was young. I just didn’t realize how much. Nor did I ever really know that it would take me this far. I had dreams of being a singer but never thought I’d be blessed to partake in it the way I have. Since moving to Los Angeles, I’ve been tremendously blessed to background sing behind some of the best artists and musicians in the field. I’ve made many Television appearances such as The Grammys, American Idol, The X Factor, The American Music Awards, The TV Land Awards, James Corden Show, The Late Late Show, Steve Harvey’s Little Big Shots, The BET Awards, Taraji P. Henson’s White Hot Holidays, 2018 Stand Up To Cancer, The Morgan Freeman Tribute, etc. with celebrities and legends like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Chance The Rapper, Snoop, Jordan Sparks, Andra Day, Alicia Keys, Neyo, Garth Brooks, Nick Jonas, Janelle Monae, Amber Riley, Javier, Empire’s Jussie Smollet, Grace Vanderwaal, Little Big Town, and more.

I’ve also been blessed to sing background vocals working with major artists such as Kanye West & winning a grammy with him on his Album “Jesus Is King” released in 2019 & Lukas Graham on his album ‘The Purple Album’ released October 26th, 2018.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think I am extremely hard to understand if you are a non creative. Does it feel good? No..but that is the reality. What I mean by being hard to understand is that there is nothing “regular” about me and there is nothing on this earth “regular” that I want to do. Some people are okay with working 9-5 jobs, or having non creative careers. For me, these are just not things I prefer. I don’t enjoy most things if there’s no creativity involved. So if I do pick up a 9-5 job it has to be something I love about it, something creative, something I love to do, etc. in order for me to enjoy it. It definitely makes life a lot more challenging for me but I can’t help who I am and who God created. I wish non creatives could understand what it’s like being someone like me, but as I’ve grown and matured that’s just not the reality so I’ve learned to except it. I’m just different and even when I try to be like everyone else it just doesn’t work out.

How did you build your audience on social media?

When I started my social media journey I was just me. I was authentic, and people loved it. I posted outfit pics, hair, makeup, etc which gained a lot of traction. Mainly the fashion pics is how it began. Then I started inserting singing videos, and me creating and doing other things I loved. I think a lot of people were extremely inspired by my life and the things I was good at and they still are to this day. Then they would began to see the opportunities I would get from it left and right and my audience just grew. My advice to people that want to build a presence and want people to see their talent is POST POST POST! Not just pictures of food, or nature. You HAVE to post your talent, what you’re good at, etc. You have to be a bit vulnerable sometimes. That’s the only way to build a presence.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/marqueta_p
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marqueta_p
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MJsClosetShop
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MJ_of_All_Trades
• Other: https://www.mjsbrand.co
  https://mjscloset.net/collections/mjs-beauty

Image Credits

n/a