We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Victoria Henley . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Victoria below.

Victoria , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

Following my appearance as a Top 5/6 finalist on the reality competition series America’s Next Top Model, I always knew that I wanted to expand my modeling career into more entrepreneurial endeavors (a “Model-Prenuer”, if you will), and using my newfound platform, I created Magnifique, my own fashion, production, branding, and development company. Through my company, I have trained, developed, and mentored over 6,000 models and around 800 designers/retailers, creating organic opportunities for networking and opportunity. Although undeniably more progressive that in years past, the modeling and fashion industries still, far too often, fall prey to an exclusive, elitist mindset, and I always strive to be the very antithesis of that mindset. My shows and platforms are fully inclusive, perpetuating a brave new beauty standard which is inclusive of all ages, sizes, races, and genders and ardently supportive of sustainable fashion and independent designers. Many platforms remain stuck in an archaic anti-networking mindset (much to my shock, some outside companies with whom I work actually assert “networking bans” ensuring businesses are not free to network or connect with one another at their events), I am staunchly committed to the notion that there is room for everyone to success in this field, and I want creatives and professionals to feel not only free, but also encouraged, at my events to expand their brands and build connections.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was raised in a small, agrarian town in the southwest corner of Georgia, and while I was always proud of my roots, I knew from a very young age that I wanted to explore the world and go on grand adventures. Upon discovering that my cousin was a model for Ford Agency, I asked my wonderfully supportive mom if I could take modeling lessons with her in order to build my base and expand my knowledge of the industry. Soon, I found myself in shows and catalogue shoots as a child model for numerous well known retailers, and continued to be involved in projects ranging from independent films, to community theater, to Shakespeare, fashion market shows, and beyond throughout my childhood and teens. However, what could be considered my “big break” came when I was selected out of nearly 350,000 possibly contenders to ultimately be selected as Top 5/6 of America’s Next Top Model, with Tyra Banks. During my time on the show, I worked with prestigious media outlets, designers, and personalities (including Elle and Nylon Magazines, Mara Hoffman, and Alicia Keys and Tyler Perry), and after the show, I found myself with a trove of opportunities that awaited, largely to be attributed to my brand new “Tyra Banks Seal of Approval” (as one of my friends so eloquently stated)

Soon, I had added top shows like New York, Miami, Los Angeles fashion weeks and much more to my resume, and subsequently, I went on to become the youngest host for a national home shopping networking as well as the company’s youngest-ever fashion week liaison.

My international experience included London Fashion Week, work for many international fashion houses, and an event of which I am most proud: an animal rescue benefit editorial shoot (we are hearing up for our next benefit to benefit this company) for Lands in Love Resort and Animal Love Rescue (a vegan animal sanctuary which houses over 1,200 species.)

I have continued my work with production shows across the United States through my company, Magnifique, and I also host my own syndicated radio show and podcast called “Backstage Pass” on IHeart radio/FCB radio network & pen the travel blogs for our written platform, produced by CT Magazine.

During my “spare time “ I serve as the chef liaison and marketing dorector for my family’s pecan orchards, Vicki Lynn Pecans , through which we have worked with top chefs and restaurants across the nation.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I can think of two instances in which I found myself at a crossroads and in need of a pivot. The first was when I found myself in a standard 9-5 corporate style job, and I was tirelessly working to thrive in both the corporate job while still attempting to run my Magnifique business. I could feel that I was spreading myself too thin, was neglecting important details with clients, not getting sufficient sleep, and I was sick with fever nearly constantly for two years. I stubbornly refused to accept the fact that this job was stifling my creativity and was not right for me; however, when the job did end, I found a trove of brand new opportunities (productions, travel-based platforms, new networking events for my company, and the IHeart Radio gig) arising almost instantaneously. My illnesses cleared up, and I took all of this as a sign that I was exactly where I needed to be. A self-described workaholic, I learned from this instance that working harder does not does not always mean smarter, and I try my best to channel my energies into ventures that will be optimally beneficial for myself and my clients.

My second experience where I learned lessons in the importance of adaptability was the Covid-19 Pandemic. Like many Entreprenuers and business owners, I found all my planned events come to a screeching halt, my calendar immediately clearing as this strange new illness swept the nation. During the first couple months of complete shutdown, I pivoted live events into virtual platforms, planned socially distanced training sessions, called venues and fused previously planned events for future dates, and I also learned clever new ways to organically network online and build /expand my client base using methods such as “hashtag targeting.” As a Type A individual, I find great comfort in “The Plan” but the pandemic taught me how important adaptability is as an entrepreneur, and in a “sink or swim” environment, sometimes all you can really do is grab your metaphorical surf board and ride the wave!

We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.

The story in which I “met” my business partner is a bit unconventional as my business partner is my mom; therefore, I have, of course, known her my whole life. However, we didn’t begin officially working together until I was put in a major bind by a photographer who did not show up for an event booking, leaving me to nervously stare back into the faces of nearly 70 models and a dozen designers at an event who had no one present to take their photos. Ready to step up to the plate, my mom Lynn, volunteered to take the photos, which made perfect sense as she was always the designated taker of photos at any given family gathering, with a penchant for getting just the right angles and capturing all the best moments. Using the professional grade camera which she typically just used for fun, Lynn intrepid lay shot photo after photo until all of the dozens of booked shoots had been completed. Upon the conclusion of the event, I was absolutely blown away by the positive feedback I was getting on her photos. Typically, I would receive many complains following shoots (“the photographer rushed me”, “I didn’t like his attitude”, “the lighting was bad”, “I want a refund!” And so on), but I was floored by the fact that I received not one complaint on my mom’s images. I was delighted to be informed that her photos were receiving awards for photo competition entries, designers were making sales by utilizing the imagery in their online catalogs, and neatly half of the participants were already requesting to book more shoots with her.

I informed my mom that I would like to partner with her as the house photographer for my production events, after which she invested in high grade professional cameras, lighting systems, tripods, and equipment to accommodate the monumental workloads which awaited her. Since, she had shot thousands of models, designers, and we have maintained an exceptional working, and personal, relationship.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.IHeartradio.com/backstagepasswithvictoria
• Instagram: @victoriahenley
• Facebook: Facebook.com/Quirkyvictoriafanpage
• Other: Instagram: @lynnhenleyphotography @vickilynnpecans Facebook.com/backstagepasswithvictoria Facebook.com/VICTORIAHENLEYs Magnifique Facebook.com/vickilynnpecans Email: Magnifiquerunway@gmail,com (we are always looking to connect with other fashion industry professionals, who are welcome to email me here anytime)

Image Credits
Photographers: (Casual) Lynn Henley Photography Studio Swimsuit Image: Keith Milliagn Pink Dress image: KayZee Couture Live runway event images courtesy of: London Fashion Week