We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marlana “Marley” Tucker a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Marlana “Marley”, 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 knew I wanted to be a model when I was a teenager. I new showed had aired called America’s Next Top Model hosted by Tyra Banks (a black supermodel from my hometown, Inglewood California). After seeing how much of an amazing impact this show had on my fashion sense, my self esteem, it awake my passions. The experiences these models were getting surpassed the beauty on the runway, it was more than a competition. It was a platform Tyra used to building character, reflecting a unique diverse sisterhood, all while showing all the hopeful aspiring models around the world that we can do it too. I knew then that one of my dreams I was to be a fashion model of some form. I wanted to be the one to show others that they too can come from anywhere and make somewhere!
Marlana “Marley”, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I was 14yrs old when I booked very first modeling gig. I modeled dresses and fancy hats for a church runway fashion show. Who knew that at the beautiful age of 41 I would have a modeling contract. My dreams started coming true when I hit the runway again but this time modelling for celebrity designers pieces for 2021 Los Angeles Fashion Week (LAFW). I can recall during the quarantine in 2020 I found cooking, painting and cracking jokes to be therapeutic. I had some childhood flashbacks while I was painting n watching some old ANTM reruns. I promised myself that once we were able to go “outside” I would participate in things that made my soul happy…like comedy, art and fashion that sparked my interests. Modelling was the perfect creative outlet/career/passion that lifted my vibrations and raised my frequencies. Since March 2021 I’ve been in 11 LAFW runway fashion shows, editorials, music videos, various photoshoots for a number of high end fashion designers, published over 7 times in 2021 including Los Angeles Times, CIE Fashion Magazine, Voyage ATL magazine, “Miss March” Coffee Brown 2022 calendar , and more. I’ve even had the honor of being interviewed by some of the most incredible podcasts hosts in LA like 5 Stax of Cali’s Finest Radio, and Mary Moutry of Pusssykat Chronicles, and others. During the course of things, I found a second passion in being able to make people laugh.. I say this so much but my proudest moment was on June 19, 2022 when my picture was published on a huge billboard in Beverly Hills for LA Times on the first national Juneteenth which also fell on Father’s Day. The billboard is still up and I’m representing for my city!! I’m also something like a comedic madam of ceremonies (I ain’t no mistress 😂) and I keeps the audience laughing every time.. That’s how I help heal the world, one laugh at a time. I enjoy encouraging self love & self care thru out all my avenues. I accomplished all this with no management, no agency and no investors. It’s only up from here now that I signed with Metro Faces International as of 11/2022 (ATL/NYC/MIA/LA!
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
For me the most rewarding part of being a model/ creative is the fact that my Mama and my children say they are so proud of me for pursuing my dreams and achieving my goals. As my legacy grows so will my ambition to break generational curses. I merely desire to become the best version of myself over and over. No matter what I face I’ve found that a new definition of self love emerges with every awakening and every time I elevate a level. I know I’m going in the right direction. Hugs and Kisses to my grandson that made his way into the world DEC 2022. ❤️
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I wish I new about brown pasties (nipple covers lol) I wish I knew about getting early to all your bookings and casting calls so you can you can increase your chancing of being seen. Stay after your events (if you can) I always meet people in an authentic light and get major opportunities for networking. You literally never know who you will meet at these things. I also wish I knew to invest in a creating nice fashionable professional portfolio and to get a COMP CARD before you do anything!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Www.instagram.com/onebarmar
- Facebook: Www.Facebook.com/STUPID.PEOPLE.SNIPER
- Youtube: Choclit Dollhouse Podcast
- Other: Tiktok: @onebarmar
Image Credits
David Walker Shot by Dave photography Cristian Leal MUA & photographer U Got Tha Look Photography Simone Hall / Detroit 2 LA Ent. Semajae Brown / Providing Platforms LA Jason Armond of Los Angeles Times Accessories: Natural Empress Accessories Wardrobe: Fashionova , Shein, Pretty Little Thing, TC Creations, Devine Styles, Rozarr Designs, Designer Yeux, Foreign Ways (NY clothing line) Stylists: Tammy Carter, Khaliah Clark, Justace Devine. Megan Marie , Crazii Kid, Simone Hall Models: Gabrielle & Rae