We recently connected with Queen Doyenne and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Queen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with what makes profitability in your industry a challenge – what would you say is the biggest challenge?

Payment isn’t always guaranteed with each project. In this career path you will gain a lot of experience and networking opportunities that can set you up for success, but don’t assume each door that opens for you is your “golden ticket” opportunity. Most of the time, you will be gifted with amazing chances to work with people but the only payment they can give you is their name/ credit on your work, but by you knowing that person can open another opportunity to speak with someone else. Whether it is modeling or acting you have to be happy with knowing that you will be financially uncomfortable for many years within this field.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

When I was younger I always wanted to act. I started performing in plays during my high school years, and by college, I was minoring in Theatre. Modeling didn’t become something I was interested in until the middle of my junior or sophomore year. During this time photography was starting to become a great avenue for people creatively, and a friend of mine wanted a test subject for his portfolio. At the time the photoshoot meant nothing to me, but unbeknownst to me, other photographers felt differently. Now, I have stretched my modeling career to new heights that I am still surprised that I have managed to accomplish. The biggest success I am proud of is my mental state. I have grown so much as a woman, and to be honest, within this industry you need to have a strong mindset or you will get defeated at every turn.

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.

Mentally acting and modeling will drain you. I am a creative artist in two fields where I am having to use my body to draw up feeling within the audience or consumers, and to make the matter even worse this market is competitive. This market can be very toxic to people that don’t solidify who they are as a person. People will convince you that you need to work with them or that you have to “devalue” yourself to make it in this business. But that is simply not true, if you allow people to feel as if they can push you to do what they wish then more people will continue to do it again. I suggest you write down your goals and purpose to remind you of “who you are” as you go through this business.

What do you find most rewarding about being creative?

Sharing my work. I truly do not expect anyone to share my work because I don’t model for validation from others. But when it happens it shocks me. I don’t expect anyone to care enough about me to want to share what I have made.

I know sharing, liking, and commenting on things may not seem important, but if you share someone else’s work then it exposes that person to a new pool of people to whom they would have never had access. Little things like that can mean so much to an artist.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_queendoyenne
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QueenDoyenne
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/_queendoyenne
• Other: https://linktr.ee/_queenaloe

Image Credits
IG: portraitsofmemphis