Tiera Deberry: Confidence Is Key

Tiera Deberry is from Wilson, North Carolina

Admin Assistant during the day, a CNA at night and a Model 24/7. 

She inspired herself to start taking her modeling career seriously this year. Yet! she wishes she could say that she has been modeling for awhile. She's only been in one fashion show but that was enough to spark her passion for fashion and make her dedicated to establishing herself as a serious model.

 She’s been wanting to model since she was a teenage, but she shares that she didn't feel she had the confidence. She didn’t feel like she would fit in, if she was pretty enough or that she would get accepted in the modeling entertainment world. The more mature she became the more confidence she built and now she understands that modeling is what she wants to do and she’s not stopping until she gets where she wants to be in this modeling industry. 

Advice

If “you want to model for real make sure that you are dedicated. Don’t let one “No” detour you from your dream. Learn from all your criticism so it can build you to a great model..." 

The ability to offer advice, self reflect and learn can go hand in hand. The modeling industry can be a peculiar place but she explains that she wouldn’t change anything about the modeling industry. She feels like every aspect of modeling is a growing process. As a model she DOES feel she needs to work on being more sociable with other models. She says sometimes her shyness gets the best of her. She can become a little stand offish if she doesn’t know a person and that’s one thing she needs to work on as a model, in her book. 

Fun Facts & Other Creative Talents

• If she could do a photoshoot with any Top Model in world she would choose to work with Tyra Banks. She has paved the way for black models all over the world with her runway, TV show, books and Guest Appearance on Talk Shows such as the: Steve Harvey Show. 
• The other creative talents she was given is her gift of dancing and writing Her writing came from when she was dealing with personal problems in life so she just wrote down all her feelings. It turned into poetry, music etc and a passion over time.

Social Media Contacts

FB: Tiera La’Shaunda

FB Model Page: Tiera Βαмβι Deberry

INSTAGRAM: Exclusivelydivine

TWITTER: iCheetah_

With Big Dreams Model: Jasnia Alston

From Henderson N.C. We Give You: 

Jasnia Alston.

She was always into fashion and has been interested in modeling for awhile. She shares that her biggest idol is Tyra Banks. She hasn't done many shows, but back in 2009 she participated in one with a wonderful designer by the name of: Elegant Evenings. She enjoyed herself and felt very beautiful in those garments. She hasn't actually made it to the place in life she is dreaming of but with FAITH and PRAYER, she believes all her dreams will come true.

The Advice she would give to upcoming models would be, to just be yourself. She had many ups and downs as far as weight and her ideal image is concerned. But she had to learn that everyone is made in the image that God created us to be. So, she may not have all the features that others have but that is what makes her unique and beautiful. So in the end: just be yourself.

The one thing that she would change in the modeling industry would be the image of models having to be super skinny. She doesn't like that many starve themselves or are self conscious about the fact they have to weigh 100 pounds. Its not good she says. She wishes that more agencies and more companies would honor the weight factor. She reflects on her modeling strengths and weaknesses and one thing she believes she could improve on would be to branch out more, take on more projects, and basically just step out on FAITH.

She would love to do a photo shoot with a very well known model from the show AMERICAS' NEXT TOP MODEL: Eugena Washington. She loves how embraces her beauty and her humility. In her reflections she talks with us about designers that she would like to work with one day. One of those designers being Michael Kors. She loves his designs and everything about him! 

Her future in the fashion and modeling world is extremely bright and full of endless possibilities. She continues to grow as a model and has something in mind that she would like to try out this fall. She is currently brainstorming with hopes that the shoot she wants to do will come to pass.

You can contact her and see her upcoming work at the following: 

Facebook: JaszyMechelle

Instagram: JazzyMechelle

"Hidden Artistic Compositions..."

Terrence Keith 

IT Guy and Photographer from Newport News, Virginia. 

"Hidden Artistic Compositions..."

He has two businesses, one for each of the hats he wears. The Black Tower IT Services, which he has dabbled in since 1997, and Dejanael Photowerx, formerly known as Dejanael Photography, which he started, in earnest, last year. The IT business grew out of him crashing his first home computer. He needed to get it back up and running before his wife got up the next day, and things kind of progressed after that. Dejanael started out of requests for portraits and wedding shoots, and it has progressed from there. 

While he has only been shooting “professionally” for about 6½ years, and only shooting as a business for one, he has carried a camera with him pretty much everywhere since 1988. During that time it was film, and he loved it because there were so many things you had to be mindful of; unlike digital, you couldn’t delete and re-shoot. Oftentimes you wouldn’t even have a second chance, so you had to really know what you were doing before the shutter button was pressed.

His first full-blown “photo-shoot” was a boudoir session for a dear friend. He remembers that he was nervous because he wanted it to be perfect. He also remembers there was this one shot, that she wanted to do, and it just happened! One of the most amazing photographs he has ever taken. He still marvels at it from time to time.

He shares that Landscape Photography is his passion. 

He loves finding ruins, or anything that is abandoned. He's really partial to looking at common everyday things as if they are hidden artistic compositions. He fell into Portrait Photography because of family and friends requesting portraits pretty often. Then he found Fashion Photography, which he has grown to love, by a total accident but he is really digging it right now. 

In the world of photography he doesn't consider himself “gifted” at all. Honestly, he claims he is kinda so-so, but he loves what he does, and he loves how people feel about his work. He has never had any formal education, but he has no problem doing research, and asking questions. He has connected with so many amazing artists and photographers that have helped him improve his craft, that he can’t even begin to name them all! 

There are only a few things that he considers “challenges” during shoots. The first one is MAKEUP. When it is done right, he can deal with almost anything else. When it’s wrong, well, he gets a headache. Sometimes, less really is more. The other peeve is posing. He doesn't mind if the model isn’t experienced, but if they consider themselves a pro but posing them is like "manipulating a burlap bag of rocks", then things aren’t going to go smoothly. Lastly, he finds bad attitudes a major creative turn-off. If they come in like they own the place and begin their conversation like he is their butler, the session is not going to go well, if at all. Photography is FUN, and for him, it’s going to stay that way!

There are so many people he would love to photograph, but if he could pick only one well-known person, today, it would be former President Obama. If for nothing else, he thinks that conversation would be amazing, even if they did NOT say a word about politics. He has a lot of respect for former President Obama as a person, just watching his interactions with people and with kids. He’s got what he calls “The Grandpa Gene” and he reminds Terrence of his father-in-law in that respect. The photographs would be a treasure to him, but that conversation? Priceless.

He has done a lot of shoots in various places but if he could do a photo-shoot anywhere in the world it would definitely be Tuscany. He relates that the reason is because he and his wife watched “Under the Tuscan Sun” and fell in love with the region. He's a hardcore suburbanite, but he loves the rustic appeal of that entire region. It’s as if time just kind of… stopped there. It’s romantic.

The projects or events that are emerging is the anticipated collaboration with he and a fellow photographer. They are working on a coffee table book, which has him super excited. He is also going to be revamping some work he did for the anniversary of Nat Turner’s Insurrection. That project was on display in Norfolk a couple of years ago, but this time it’s going to be more exciting, and he is going to dig into the history, and the artistry of the project a lot more.

When asked if he had any other gifts or talents he laughs saying how he used to be a pretty decent singer, and a pretty good saxophonist too. He smiles saying that he should have been a musician, but life had other plans.

His Advice To Up and Coming Photographers

"Don’t forget that photography is about expression. Don’t get too wrapped up in being super-technical, unless that’s your thing. Knowledge of your craft is good, but being able to evoke a feeling in your audience is even better. Focus on pictures that put the viewer IN the moment, pull them into the story." 

He can be found at the following web sites:

http://www.500px.com/dejanael-photowerx

http://www.dejanael.com

http://www.facebook.com/dphotowerx

Comedy Coming Up From The South: Darren Brand aka "Big Baby"

Darren Brand is a multi-faceted individual with great taste in style and comedy. He is from Southern Pines, NC. He was twenty-five years old when he realized that he wanted to be a comedian. A lot of people know him as "Big Baby" from the WildnOut cast season 7&8.

He became be a boss, comedian, and host just through his everyday interactions. It kinda just happen. He really didn't know you could make a living being a comedian and not have a huge name, but he had business partners in "nxlevel" who later inspired him to become an entrepreneur.

He drove from Charlotte NC to NYC for his first 15 minute audition. He later recalls that his first time meeting NICK CANNON was at his second audition in NYC. His adventures continued with him recording live and some of his most memorable moments he had on WildnOut were smoking with Snoop Dogg , the hype vibes of the Travis Scott and Waka Flaka episodes.

He has been busy making boss moves with hosting and and co-hosting homecoming step-shows, Women's empowerment, Joking Off, and being the opening comic for Comedy Central. He found that audience love him on stage and he has performed stand up comedy all over the world. He does it full time now. It's how he makes the majority of his living.

When he isn't on stage making money off his jokes and witty comical style he enjoys listening to all types of music. He shares that some of his favorite artists are Drake, Big Sean and Wayne. He gets to hang out and party with Music Artists, but when asked if he could party with any famous celebrity he joking replies that he would choose President Obama and his reason was "cause I know he turn up behind closed doors."

When asked If he could give advice to his 15 year old self he said he would "Start doing stand up now and take it serious." In all his success he still has goals for himself. The two goals that he would like to accomplish in let's say the next 5 to 7 months are to be apart of a theater or arena show of 2500 or more people. He is always pushing himself to achieve greater and when asked what was the hardest thing he had to do in his career he told us that it was when he quit 9-5. He jumped out there and started depending solely on his talent and it was scary but it had to be done.

He can be reached through social media at:

darrenbrand.com ig : darrenbrand_ snapchat : darrenbrand5 

For Trendsetters: Thorough Breed Apparel

Shayla Cobb is a dynamic and versatile designer. The name of her company is Thorough Breed Apparel which she started in 2006. 

Cash Plug Records We Are Global (Updates & Treasures)

Cash Plug Records is the largest networking promotions platform that the world has ever seen. We have plugs all over, from NC to TEXAS, to California, to all the way in London!

Here are a couple of the events that we are currently promoting:

But, We don't just make money, and promote events we also take care of our community. Mr. Dot Jones is the CEO of #CashPlugRecords. He is doing what he does best, which is helping others stand on the solid platform (#CPR) provides with courage, dedication and hope. 

Check out the video! 

Coast To Coast Fashion Show: November 1 2014

I decided to take my modeling career into my own hands. I realized that if you want to get anything done in life, that it is best to just do it yourself because if you wait for someone else to do it for you or to help you, you will never get anything done. 

I was not focused before. I was too busy trying to help everyone else "find" themselves, that I inevitably lost myself in trying to help them. 

Now, I'm focused on accomplishing my goals. It sounds selfish on one hand, but on the other hand if I don't help myself then how can I help and or be a blessing in helping other people?