7 Atlanta creatives dish career advice and style inspo
These six women from Atlanta are sparking new life into the art, fashion, and music scene, setting hotlanta ablaze. They spill the tea on their styles, secret talents, and end the cat vs. dog debate once and for all.
Read on to find out more about these bad-ass babes!
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Marissa (@marissa)
What do you do?
I am an R&B recording artist based out of Atlanta, Georgia
How do you describe your style/aesthetic?
I describe my style as comfortable chic! The coolest part about fashion right now is that there are no rules and a lot of influence is coming back from the 90’s! Recently I’ve been completely obsessed with anything that’s oversized or jean. My daily look is super simple hair and a natural glow makeup. I can take the same chill outfit I wore for maybe a studio session and completely turn it around for a night out with adding some dope heels and jewelry.
Who are your idols?
My idols are definitely Lauryn Hill, Aaliyah, and Brandy.
Tea or coffee?
Coffee! I’ll do anything for a tall iced caramel macchiato at Starbucks *winks*
Best advice you can give someone?
The best advice I can give someone is to enjoy the process. Sometimes as people we get so caught up in trying to reach our end goal that we loose sight of what’s in front of us. Its easier said than done, but enjoying the process and experiences you have to go through to get to your end goal will make you appreciate your end goal more! There is a process for everything and nothing is forever! So just enjoy it!
Skye Lin (@limin.min)
What do you do?
I am an emerging director, stylist, and influencer borned in China raised in Vietnam. I emerge myself in a wide range of capacities both in front of and behind the camera, while competing my Bachelor of Fine Arts from SCAD. Though regularly featured in digital camera as a model and personality alike, my styling, creative direction and photography has been breathing a new perspective into Atlanta’s fashion industry and everywhere I go.
How do you describe your style/aesthetic?
Sometimes I wake up and feel like being a boy, then I’ll be one. The next morning I wake up feel like being a princess, then I’ll be one. Staying whimsical and true to my feeling is my style.
What’s your favorite memory?
Midnight talks with people who taught me that I am not an outcast, who let me know I’m not disconnected to this world.
Tea or coffee?
Milk tea.
What’s your dream job?
I dream to wake up every day and do something that is impactful for women and the fashion industry. Fashion is a powerful thing, and I want to use it in a way that spread love, hope, and positive messages. I am starting a creative house called Front Row. The name Front Row derives from my first experience sitting front row in a fashion show and I just knew I belong in the fashion industry. So when it gets hard, the name itself will remind me of the first love feeling, why I started it. I want Front Row Creatives to be a fun and fair playground for creatives who embraces the diversity of fashion, a force that change the fashion scene in Atlanta and everywhere we go, and a powerful influence that can help the world a better place through story telling. I hope this could be my full time job!
Best advice anyone’s ever given you?
Stay soft and kind.
Ayanis (@itsayanis)
What do you do?
I am a creator. I am vocal recording artist. I sing R&B and pop, I dance and I also act but I do not put myself within any boundaries because I can do anything I put my mind to. I am a stylist too… if I’d say so myself lol
What are your hobbies/pasttimes?
I like to have fun….I swim any time the weather is right. I enjoy anything that requires thinking, creating, or moving your body like rollerblading and skating. Of course I enjoy music and keeping up with what’s in. I also enjoy traveling and gaining new experiences, going on adventures.
What’s your favorite memory?
My favorite memory comes from my childhood when I was around 3 years old and when I began singing in my family church choir. The love, acceptance, and encouragement I received from my pastor and his wife still influences my journey today. The church trips, the choir rehearsals, the food after church… I can still remember the taste of the potato salad till this day lol. The memory of my church is the foundation of who I am.
Best advice anyone’s ever given you?
Believe in yourself at all cost. Everything in life stems from belief. It doesn’t matter if your parents don’t believe in you, or your friends don’t see your vision, you have to believe in yourself for you! You have to look in the mirror and say I believe that I can and I will! It’s an affirmation over your life. That is how anything is possible!
Best advice you can give someone?
Always keep it real with yourself! Being your true self is the most important, because you have to live with you at the end of the day.
Marintia D (@marintia_d)
How do you describe yourself?
I would describe myself as an energetic and creative person. I can’t stay in one place for too long; I like to be on the move and make every day count. I consider myself a very open minded person, i love trying new things and meeting new people. I am very easy to talk to because I like to make people feel welcomed wherever we are and not make them feel left out.
How do you describe your style/aesthetic?
I love fashion and clothing, Im into a lot of different styles and i tend to study people by what they wear. In my world what I wear is how I am feeling that day. The weather doesn’t affect my style, if i want to wear a skirt and it’s freezing outside i will still wear it. Also, if I feel comfortable in it I will be confident enough to wear it. I like to keep up with the latest fashion because it’s always changing and something new comes out every day.
Best advice anyone’s ever given you?
The best advice anyone has ever given me is “No doesn’t mean sh*t.” When you are young your parents teach you that no means no. As you get older and you start figuring out what you want to do with your life and your passion, you begin to pursue your dreams. Many people tend to give up when they hear the word “no.” I take that word as a reason to go harder for what you love and keep trying until you succeed. When you give up your passion, you give up on yourself. As long as you believe in what you do and you keep doing it and making it better every day the word “no” becomes a reason to work harder.
Dogs or cats?
Dogs, period.
Have you ever been in love?
I have been in love and it’s such a beautiful feeling. Just knowing that someone is there for you makes you feel appreciated and loved. I think everyone should return the love they receive because you always get what you give.
What’s a secret talent you have?
I can sing… kind of. I’ve heard a few people tell me I sound good but I’ve never really tried it in a profesionnal way. I love music so I would say it’s one of my favorite hobbies. There is a lot of different types of music and I wouldn’t say I have a type, if I like it, I’ll sing it.
Kenedee Hodges (@kenedeehodges)
What do you do?
I am a 19-year-old artist studying for a B.F.A. in Photography in Atlanta, GA. I spend a lot of my time advocating for plus size women. I love to eat good food!
How do you describe your style/aesthetic?
Ever since I’ve come into this new-found confidence, I’ve been super comfortable with showing more of my skin. One of my main things has been pushing the boundaries society puts on plus-size women and what they should/shouldn’t be wearing. Lately I’ve been sporting a lot of crop tops, mid-rise jeans, and sneakers. I would describe my overall style as “business-sporty-hoe!” I love to combine blazers or slacks with crop tops and sneakers. Sort of like “yea, I’m professional but I’m also here to have a good time.” And then top the outfit off with a bold black liner, lots of blush, and a pair of some gaudy earrings, and we’re out the door!
Who are your idols?
One person I would call a huge inspiration is Nadia Aboulhosn. Nadia is a model and designer who openly embraces her body. I’ve been a huge fan of hers for years. I’ve watched her grow and get better, which has inspired me like crazy when it comes to body image and self-confidence.
Lizzo is another person I spend a lot of my time looking up to. She is a musician who embraces her size and uses her platform to speak about body image, confidence, and women of color. Some of my other inspirations include Ilana Glazer, Petra Collins, and Michael Jackson.
Best advice you can give someone?
Always put your best interests first. Spend time taking care of yourself and your emotions. Always, always, always do what’s best for you. If you find yourself in a situation where you’re constantly putting something or someone over yourself, adjust. Keep people you trust close, but keep yourself closer. I’ve found that this is a great way to make sure you’re always in the best mental state.
What’s your dream job?
In 10 years, I hope to be making a severe impact in the editorial photography industry. I plan to use my talent to bring unconventional beauty to light in different publications, such as Vogue, Complex, and Paper. I want to be able to use my platform to speak about lack of representation of plus size women and people of color in the beauty world. I also plan to have a successful plus size clothing line on the side, featuring high fashion clothing for women sizes 12-32 which will be featured in New York Fashion Week eventually!
Erin Nicole Henry (@soil.mate)
What are your hobbies/pasttimes?
One of my stranger hobbies is walking the train tracks behind my house and collecting dried bones. It’s a really relaxing and fun way to get out and have a good walk while also collecting new things to use for future art projects.
Tea or coffee?
I love both, but I am definitely a coffee addict. I drink a few cups a day.
What’s your dream job?
What I’m currently doing, painting! It has always been my dream to be a freelance artist and to create only and whatever inspires me. I love being my own boss and taking control of all aspects of my life on a day to day basis. I only strive to continue to expand my career into different fields and wider spaces.
If you could travel back in time, when/where would you go?
I would love to experience Rome during the Renaissance. This time shaped one of my favorite periods of art, the Baroque era, which was one of my earliest art influences and one that still inspires my art today. It would also be incredibly interesting to experience life before the effects of technology.
Best advice anyone’s ever given you?
The best advice I’ve ever received was to erase any doubts I had and just focus on being an art producing machine. I can do anything I put my mind, heart, and hard work towards.
What’s a secret talent you have?
A lot of people don’t know that I’m a classically trained musician! I play French horn, piano, and guitar. Classical music is a very big inspiration and part of my life.
Alexandra O’Driscoll (@a.e.odriscoll)
What do you do?
I am an art school drop out now studying sociology. I have a part time job and also just started an online vintage shop I run through Instagram. Its called @harlowvintage, check it out! My dream is to sell vintage full time, it is my absolute favorite thing in the world.
How do you describe your style/aesthetic?
I am very inspired by Old Hollywood glamour and the idea of transformative beauty. I take a lot of creative enjoyment in crafting an image for myself, and recreating looks of actresses like Hedy Lamarr, Rita Hayworth, Jean Harlow and Marilyn Monroe. I am a big collector of vintage and am particularly drawn to the beauty and fashion of the thirties, forties, and fifties. I enjoy the theatricality of styles from this era and the artistry and meticulousness that went into the construction and design.
I have always been obsessed with clothes, but didn’t really commit to the look I embrace now until I was about twenty. The specific look I embrace makes me feel the most beautiful and confident and serves as a really fun creative outlet as well.
Who are your idols?
My best friend Isabel and my best friend/sister Elisabeth are massive inspirations to me in all aspects of life. My sociology professor Maura who I’ve taken several gender and sexuality courses with is one of the most intelligent, profound, eloquent woman I have ever met and I look up to her immensely. Also my fucking therapist! She is wiser than Grandmother Willow from Pochantas.
Tea or coffee?
I started drinking two cups of coffee a day ten years ago and it’s only gotten worse. If I still have adrenal glands I hope they are okay.
What’s a secret talent you have?
I can identify any breed of dog and tell you where they fall on the intelligence scale. When I was a little girl I carried an encylopedia of dog breeds around with me EVERYWHERE, obsessively flipping through it until it fell apart and then mysteriously vanished. I think my parents were concerned/wanted me to stop telling anyone who would listen how you if you don’t regularly bathe and moisturize a Chinese crested dog they will get blackheads and dandruff.
Photography and Styling by Valheria Rocha
Makeup for all besides Marissa: Jah Quinones (@therealjahq)
Hair for all besides Marissa: Ken (@kenbstyles)
Marissa’s makeup: Kimaris Jones (@makeupbykimaris)
Marissa’s styling: Metta Conchetta (@metta_conchetta)
