We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Menen Nehneh a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Menen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

Allowing myself to step into my creativity has been one of the most liberating experiences I have had, to date. I have worked plenty of jobs, and none of them compare to embracing my creativity and capitalizing off of it. I come from a line of women in healthcare, and I have always wanted to help people in some way, ever since I was little. It wasn’t until I had a coming of age moment that I realized, I can be a doctor in another way. I would deem my energy, and creativity, inspiring, infectious, and pivotal. I have something no one else has, because I am me. Being a creative has compelled me to reflect, forced me to be confident, open, enabled me to grow, and so much more. Being a creative isn’t something minuscule, it’s monumental.

Menen, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi, I am Menen Nehneh, I am from Jamaica, and raised in Atl. I am a content creator, freelance/ editorial model, musician, author, creative director, and guide. I bloomed into my creative space about a year or two ago, and started on Instagram. My friends would ask me to model for their brands, and I would always comply. That enabled more people to know who I was, and created a space for me to model for brands. This soon turned into being a canvas for editorial shoots. I then started to explore TikTok, and would go viral for random videos. I realized that I could use that platform as a route to highlight who I wanted to be. My career would always shift its mold along the way, so instead of confining myself to a niche, I embraced myself fluidly. For me I am a canvas, a muse, an intellect, and a nurturer. With anything I do I multiply, and enhance. I embrace myself with no boundaries, and push people to emancipate themselves. I am someone who doesn’t search to make someone feel whole for the moment, but to linger and impact. I am most proud of my relationship with God. During this time of growth I have transformed myself repeatedly, to rebirth who I am now. Knowing Yahweh is to know peace, freedom, love, and supernatural possibilities. God has enlightened me, and planted a seed in me that I have chosen to water, and that I will always be most proud of. I will be releasing books, beginning my podcast series, and releasing more music by the beginning of next year!

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I believe society can be more open, and accepting of creatives. This new generation of creatives have been breaking the boarder in terms of tradition, and I am here for it. I am originally from Jamaica, so there are significantly less opportunities to thrive as a creative outside of music. I want to see more appreciation, and support from our society in different countries to embrace this new tide of creatives. We all deserve a space to grow how we choose.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When I first entered college I was in nursing school. However it took me failing my TEAS to realize I wasn’t being honest with myself. I have always wanted to help people, and my mom is a thriving being in the medical field, so I wanted to make her proud. I realized I didn’t want to go the traditional route, and create something bigger than myself. I started all the way over, and am now in college for business. I am putting full fail in myself as a creative because plan A is the only way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://menennehneh.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/menennehneh
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/menennehneh

Image Credits

@evilmyths
@justin.j1k
@sycoproductions
@mooke.micheaux