We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Malik Perry . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Malik below.
Malik , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Any advice for creating a more inclusive workplace?
As a model, I want the industry to continue merging the culture into a more inclusive job setting but, also broaden its classism within the industry. The industry is open to orientations of all sorts and tones of who we are as people but I’d say that it’s still pretty segregated within the budget for different people. I want upcoming models to understand that although you do have to invest in yourself to get the quality you’d want out of your gigs you don’t have to produce such a grand scale project to convey that you are adequate for the desired market. Other than the model I want to see more stylist who understand and look like me beautifying darker complexions especially hair. Often times the hair is either shaved or done by someone local opposed to having the confidence of the stylist being able to do what you know is capable. I believe that the true beauty of our lifetime comes from our pain so don’t be afraid to incorporate that into your art in a tasteful manner.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a fun loving charismatic yet stoic individual. I come from a large family with 5 other siblings. I am one of the oldest being the oldest boy and having two older sisters and 3 younger brothers. Id like to think of myself as Nashville weather! You never know what your gonna hear coming from me! Now for as for my career, I’ve always seen myself as a model since the age 7! I remember looking into a catalog and thinking to myself that’s what I want to do. Now it wouldn’t be up until 17 where I actually vocalized my interests. In high school I mentioned this to any and everyone! I would go out side in the middle of class and take pictures with friends and record myself even if i didn’t have on the most flashy coordinated outfit (the teachers allowed me to of course)! Through one of my middle school teachers who then transitioned into high school ,Gloria Christian ,referred me to one of her colleagues Dewayne Richard’s. He was one of the first photographers who helped me start off my portfolio and gave me encouragement to continue on as male model. But before then, I went to a local casting at tribe talent management, which is who I’m signed with now. With my first time they turned me down! Sad I know but at the time I had blue hair and I was extremely nervous I didn’t let my personality show! Within 2021 I went back and tried again and succeeded!
For my modeling as a brand I’d say I am high fashion art and everything in between. I am flexible with everything I can get my hands onto making a mark in this big world! I like making a statement with every piece of work I do. Id describe my brand as editorial funk! Delicate in nature yet brute and strong within energy! I want future clients to know that whenever you are ready you know where to find me! I cannot wait to see what we are able to produce
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
So as you know I went to a model call with tribe showing interest and I was declined. Now at that time I was a student athlete running track as well as an employee working at kfc. During this time, I didn’t have the best living circumstances but, I made sure that never stopped my drive. So I went back 4 months later and I got signed. At that time I was riding the city bus to every destination including school so my schedule looked about waking at 4am to make to school riding metro transit at 6 and getting in at 7:05 and then maintaining school while participating in sports along side work. I say all that to say that as I was newly signed with tribe I had many other commitments that started to impede on one another especially since I was stressed at home with my mom at the time. Before being able to work in the industry I took on tribe’s informal classes and was paying my fees as well! Now because I was going through so much I had to give up on it for a year to get my living situation under control as well as my school life. I never told my agents why up until recently and they thought I had given up on them and myself. In that time I kept practicing and taking pictures of myself online trying to market myself. I felt bad because my parents couldn’t support that aspect of me and I understood but I also felt ashamed that I wasn’t able to just be and do as I pleased to succeed. So I used my small checks at the time and payed all while helping what I could at home. Now to put it into perspective my day was long even after work because ide have to walk back home which was a mile from home with huge hills I’d get home around 12 every day and do it all over Again until I graduated. All through that time I kind of ghosted my agents which in turn showed that there time wasn’t valuable since I never spoke on the real reason I wasn’t as invested as I could have been fast forward ward into recent year 2021 I went back and hashed things over and now here I am modeling under tribe and meeting new faces along the way
How did you build your audience on social media?
I am still building my audience on instagram and Facebook but a lot of it came from being in school and simply writing my handle on the board or talking about myself to others while joking around. I usually am the funniest one in the room so as a captivate I inform people of my interests and they follow the journey with me. My best advice to building your social media presence is to find the people who find you! What I mean by that is start following people that inspire you and start going to the spaces that give you inspiration and knowledge on what it is you want to do
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tribetalentmanagement.com/portfolio/mainboard-men-mainboard/men/1996848/malik-perry
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malik_perry__
- Facebook: Malik Perry
Image Credits
Trevor Cornish Laquest ware Jalivia winters Deandre Brown