We recently connected with Tshunna Fields and have shared our conversation below.
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
I’m a model from Montgomery, AL. I started my modeling journey in 2015, eager to be on America’s Next Top Model with Tyra Banks. On January 1 of that year, a classmate introduced me to my first fashion show. At the time, I was very insecure and self-conscious, but I decided to take a chance and do something I had never done before. I started off as a runway model, then eventually went into commercial and print. Modeling gave me so much confidence that I eventually lost 90 pounds and became a published model in 2017.
As my success with modeling took off, I ended up having a hysterectomy at 24 years old due to chronic fibroids. I first discovered that I had fibroids at age 17 when they were the size of a golf ball. However, by the time I had reached 24, I had one fibroid the size of a small watermelon, as well as 15 more tumors ranging in size from golf balls to softballs. The surgery had a significant impact on me, both physically, mentally, and emotionally.
One month after my surgery, I moved to Dallas, Texas on June 7, 2019, from Hendersonville, Tennessee due to life changes. My motivation at the time was to find a career that motivated and inspired me, as well as put money into my pockets. With only an Associate’s in Business Administration, I managed to land a job at the Omni Hotel in downtown Dallas as an administrative assistant. Shortly after, however, Covid happened, leaving me out of a job and on unemployment for some time. After Covid started to clear up, I went back to school at Ogle School of Hair, Skin, and Nails and graduated in 2021 with my Aesthetics degree and a Microblading certificate.
Today, I am fully healed physically, mentally, and emotionally. I have acquired all the educational skills necessary for my beauty/microblading eyebrow business. I have also started modeling again, both in runway and print. My journey into the industry hasn’t been easy, nor has my personal life been easy. But one thing I know for sure is that no matter how far down you fall, your determination to get back up can prove to you who you are and what you are meant to be. I do feel at this stage that I am getting a second chance at life after.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
A story that I feel illustrates my resilience would be a particular timeframe where I was phase with heavy depression, and suicidal thoughts after being a victim of gun violence and mental abuse. During that time frame, it took the faith of a mustard seed to see myself through and not take my own life. Instead, I thought about all the great things that I could accomplish in this world in all the people that I could share my story with, and influence to stay in this world to.
Have you ever had to pivot?
If there’s anything that I know is that everything changes nothing stays the same. With that knowledge in business career and in life, it allows you to be comfortable in his strong when life throws things at you that she didn’t see coming. Each move that I’ve made within the past five years wasn’t necessarily a decision of my own. It was due to dangerous situations happening or financial issues. I have pivoted multiple times in many different ways but each step I’ve learned to keep God with me interest that a higher power is with you at all times. It’s a reach out to those that. Love you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/TshunnaShannel
- Instagram: TshunnaShannel
- Facebook: TshunnaShannel