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

Dreams and Passions: Opera, Musical Theater, Singing

One of my biggest passions is to sing Opera, or Musical Theater in general. I only experienced musical theater once in my life, but even though it was a lot of hard work, I had a blast learning and making new friendships with the young men and women that were part of the production. 

Start All Over: A Brand New Life For Me

I hate NC. I'm so ready to move away from here. 

I'm ready to have a new life. I'm ready to erase this life and start completely over with a new set of cards. 

At a young age, I knew that once my mother passed away that my life was going to be hard. That I was going to get all the messed up cards. 

I'm not really sure what God wants me to do with my life at this point. I feel like I have done everything I could possible do to get my foot in the door to success, but each time I think I'm about to go forward another door slams in my face. Another rejection. Another no!

People don't understand that attached to this door slamming is one of the biggest factors. I don't have a strong support team. I thought I could build one quickly, but as soon as I started getting serious about my walk with Christ most of the people who supported my vision disappeared. But such is the life of a lone wolf... I guess.

I had a nervous break down today, because I drove all the way around town to get to an interview an hour early in the hot ass sun, only to have the owner interview me then tell me that I need training when I have been in hostessing for five years or more. 

He didn't care that my car is fucked up and that I can't fix it. He didn't care that I used my last bit of case to get to that interview. He didn't care that my tires were bad and my car was basically falling a part. All he wanted me to do was do what he said or else I would not have the job. 

Raleigh has nothing for me. I need to move somewhere else. I need to go somewhere, where I can start all over. Be someone completely new. Where I can be and feel appreciated. 

The other part is that not having parents plays a big role too. 
I'm the only grandchild that doesn't have any parent to just help me. I keep asking for help and people look at me like I'm crazy. Like it is strange for me to even think about asking...

I don't know why my life is like this... I'm so tempted to say fuck it all. But I can't because everything that I do is connected to God. My heart beat is connected to God. I know too much about God and what God expects to turn around or to turn my back or to walk away from his truth, peace and unconditional love. 

I never thought that having a walk with Christ would be glamorous but I didn't think it would be like this. All I want to do is get out of this hole. I want to get into a two bedroom house with two bathrooms. I want a new car, mustang and I want a job. That's all. I'm not asking for anything crazy or too hard. People receive things everyday but then when it comes to me. I always get the short end of the stick. 

No one ever pays attention to the poor old wise woman, until they hit their head and get their head busted open. 

No one cares about quality, until they get tired of listening to that crap they call music nowadays. That noise with a beat to it. 

I'm so sick of this life. I want a new one. 

Dedicated Woman of GOD: Chynadahl Malandie

Before you read this you need to know that we all fall short of the glory of God. That no human on this planet is perfect. But that God can clean up anyone for his glory. 

This entry really should go into the other blog, but this young woman has played such an important role(s) in my life that I felt it necessary to speak on it here. On the front. 

I really don't deserve to be shown such kindness, nor love because I am imperfect and I have many flaws myself which I am asking God to clean me up from. But even with me knowing that, I am still loved. 

I was never the best at public speaking, so if you Woman of God are reading this know that I love you very much and that I am very thankful and grateful that God gave you the patience and the love to deal with me. 

Young Adults in the workforce (Part 1): Frustrations in even finding Basic Work

I never had so much trouble trying to find a job in my life.
I know that these are tough economic times but maybe they would not be if people who had plenty enough were not so greedy. But that is another story.

I found this article on craigslist and I wanted to share it because it somewhat sums up the frustrations of trying to find a job.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ofc/3905362929.html

 

Myself and many other young adults, broke our backs and necks to attend college because it was slammed down our throats that in order to live a comfortable life we needed a degree. So we worked hard to get one. But what did we get from it?

 

 

What I'm finding now is that even though I have a degree that most places are reluctant to hire me because I don't have enough experience (they say). But it does not take a rocket scientist to follow directions on a piece of paper and or on a HD LG screen. It just takes a person to know how to read and to comprehend what they are reading. Those are basic skills.

 

 

Most of the experience that I have is with modeling, working with children, administrative/clerical work, hosting and singing.

 

Yet, if I were to put all the experience that I have my resume would be over 5 pages long then because It is not set in perfect alignment with the rules of the "corporate" world then it gets tossed.

 

Perfect margins!

 

Double space!

 

No exotic fonts!

 

 

It has to follow the guidelines or it won't even be considered.

 

 

That's another limitation right there.

 

Why? because how can you see my full array of potential if it is not written in front of you, thus causing the employer to assume that I don't have any experiences in the field that the job is in, when I actually do.

 

Then even when I search for basic hosting jobs, I'm finding that they are asking for the person to do a lot more than requires of a basic host job, but they don't want to pay.

 

Not only do some places want you to seat the people but they want you to

Clean the windows/bathrooms/take out the trash

Help servers bring out their food

Sometimes take orders for the server

Run additional errands (not written in the job description)

Have a degree/be attending school

(Yep, just to stand at the front of the door and greet people with a smile some places require you to have some kind of degree)

 

Yet, I have been working long enough to know that there are always make exceptions to the standard rules.

 

That's why it is not so much about what you know in general (general knowledge etc), it is about who you know and what you KNOW about them.

 

Nowadays if you want to make an honest living by let's say working in McDonalds, you have to jump with hoops, walk on hot coals, swim with sharks, sit on an ant hill and all kinds of crazy things just to get minimum wage, which really translate too enough money to keep your lights on and the hot water running.

 

It is very sad. I have never seen it this bad before. A few years ago I could come home from college and just hop on craigslist and have about several interviews lined up back to back in one day. Now, I'm lucky if I get even one.

 

Then I have seen where they hire people who don't even want to work, don't have any of the credentials or qualities that the job description asked for but because he/she knew someone that knew someone well boom they got the job.

 

So the question is, what is the point in going to college at all? And what is the point of trying to keep yourself as role model citizen. What is the point in going for all the prestigious jobs just to keep up with the "jones" and or to keep a good name when in reality if you were to just meet any stranger who had money and a need for some assistance, you could get a job that quick???

 

Going through all the trouble to polish and primp and watch what we say and do good and volunteer and have the perfect resume etc And in the end none of that matters that much because it really is all about who you know.

 

 

 



The Biggest Move: Things to Do, Places to See, People to Meet

I have a dream: To get out of North Carolina.

I have been here way too long. Everyone that I meet is starting to sound the same and look the same.

I'm ready to move, but the trouble is that if I make the wrong move I could invite trouble into my life.

I like the peace that I have. Yet, I wish I could travel and still maintain the peace.

I feel like I keep trying everything that I can think of and nothing is working. I swear that the entire NC has seen my resume and no one seems to want to hire me for anything, not even washing dishes. It can't be anything that I have said or done because all they know of me is by my resume. So, I nit picked my resume and even had a few friends review to make sure that it was presentable... but still no change.

The other thing the modeling thing hasn't moved much. The last major thing I was in was women's empowerment. I poured my heart and soul into doing that show only to find that I was only given 15 seconds on the stage and I still didn't get any photos back, because I have to pay for them.... (even though I didn't get paid for doing the show in the first place....see how NC works?)

I need a job. I need a place to live and a need another car, it doesn't have to be fancy just something that actually starts when you put the key in the ignition the first time.

I had a few people claim that they would help me get this modeling and singing thing off the ground, but for some reason either they only committed to one task and then disappeared or they got distracted and forgot about me.... that seems to be the case, the latter of the two. I'm always being forgotten.

I'm tired of people not knowing my name or comparing me with other people.

I'm tired of sitting in NC wasting my life, when everyone else is moving forward.

I'm tired of people telling me to be patient when they are driving in a new car, have their own bed to sleep in and have all the things that they need and want.

I'm tired of being at the bottom, when I know that I know, that I KNOW that my place is at the top.

I'm thinking of switching the game entirely and really shocking people, not because I want to but because I need to make money to support myself. It's not like I have a husband or even a dad that helps me full time or any parents at all for that matter so I'm pretty much on my own....

If it wasn't for my grandmother I would really be in trouble because she is the only one (out of my biologically family) besides my step dad once in a blue moon that helps me do anything. My aunts have given up on me. They (like I always knew they felt) see me as a burden "another mouth to feed" and don't care if I make it in life or not....

I know that I have to make a choice soon and get my life started. I thought about going into the military. I have said this so many times now that I'm really considering it because it seems to be my option left other than going to the "dark side" and degrading myself which breaks my heart just to think about even doing....

I want to go where the beautiful people are. People who look like me. People who take care of themselves and hold themselves to a higher standard. I want to be in every magazine, commercial, billboard, runway, tv show that there is and I want people to know who I am. I want to sing and make music that people fall in love with. I want to go where people are friendly, talk and have conversations with you because they want to get to know you. I want to go where things happen. Where people appreciate, respect and admire the beautiful people that God created....  

Where change happens every day. I feel like NC is a hole in the wall. A waste land for people who have either given up on life or have travelled all over the world and are ready to settle down and reflect on their memories...



Although, many people have said many encouraging words they are really helping that much (right now) because what I need is a job that I can do with full quality, so I can save up money to travel to some of the places below:

*New York*

 

 

 

Miami, Florida

 

 

LA, California

 

 

Virgin Islands

 

 

Tokyo, Japan

 

 

 

Greece

 

Spain

 

 

These are only a few places that I hope to travel to one day... but either way if I can just get out of North Carolina then I will be happy. 

 

 

 

 

 





 

 



 

 



 



In My Absence... Experiences and Upgrades!

I have been MIA because of a lot of reasons, but mostly, if I had to sum it all up it would be because I start to lose hope.

There is so much that has been since I last blogged. I'm only going to recount the main highlights. If I can remember them all. lol

I guess the main thing to remember here is that my life changing. I feel like I'm just standing still but every interaction is another opportunity for personal growth in my book.

1. Women's empowerment

2. First Music Video

3. Auditioned for X-factor

Women's Empowerment

 

 

I never thought that I would make it, to be perfectly honest. There were so many models who had awesome walks. I honestly believe that God gave me favor in that situation. It was an experience that I needed to have in order to grow in my walk with Christ. I have no doubt about that. It was also a time when I discovered that I'm beautiful and that I no longer had to carry the pains of my past and the memories of those who bullied me and tortured me to no end because of a condition that I have that I can not help nor change.

 

 

This is what I will say... the experience was much needed. I had a lot of fun and I met some awesome models who were so humble and sweet. The only thing I wish there was more of was organization. I kind of felt like it was thrown together at the last minuet and we were all just expected to go with the flow of the sea or get left behind.

 

The garments that I wore were beautiful. There was this one gown by Bramer Leon that was just fabulous. I felt stunning. I felt powerful and I certainly felt classy! But I didn't get to wear it in the show because it was hard to walk in. I have been practicing since that time walking in gowns so that the next time I get into a gorgeous gown I will be able to walk in it. My heart stopped when I put that gown on and all my worries disappeared. It was a definitely a moment that I felt the presence of God in the midst of all the chaos and changes. The hair was fun and loud! and the makeup was bold, exotic and beautiful! I truly felt like a grown ass woman! haha

 

I would say that women's empowerment is a modeling experience that every model needs to have or a show very similar to it, because I learned a lot.

 

 

1. Always be on time, like a hour early just in case there is a change in plans

 

2. I always come prepared. Even if you think you don't need it. Bring it anyway.

 

3. Always be friendly and treat everyone with respect and love.

 

4. Pray all the time during rehearsals.

 

 

5. Listen. Pay attention. follow directions (makes rehearsals go by a lot faster)

 

 

6. The people who have the money make the rules. If you don't like it then you don't get to be apart of their show. That's just how it is.

 

7. Modeling is business. Its just business. Its a popular saying in the modeling world.

 

8. You have to have a "tough skin" to model because if you don't you will get eaten alive.

 

9. When you finally get your time to shine, bring it to the MAX and don't stop because the next model will outshine you if you don't take advantage of your time. Give it all you've got!

 

10. Modeling is not an easy job. Long hours, sometimes no pay but the experience actually ends up being more than the pay in some cases.

 

11. Learn all you can from those who are industry. Don't go into any casting call or audition thinking that you "KNOW EVERYTHING!" because I promise you that there will be someone there who is more experienced than you.

 

 

Music Video (Blaze- Lose it)

 

 

I never thought I would be in a music that would be nationally televised. I put it on my bucketlist lol but I always thought it would come later in life. I'm thankful nonetheless... God has a funny way of surprising me sometimes.

 

Anyway, anything you do in the entertainment business is going to be hard work. IF you think that you are just going to waltz and start making tons of money from day one then you are in the wrong business.

 

The models that I get to interact with are very sweet and humble. We all get along and we never have an issues. We all have goals and work very hard and we know and love God. 

 

The music video was a lot of work to put together. The hours were long and it took the entire day the next day to complete it so that they could get all the scenes that they needed it. But let me say this! When God is in the midst of anything that you do, all you will receive is QUALITY! QUALITY! I was sad that the video didn't get to be air on BET on the day that we were all told that it would but that's not because our team didn't have everything lined up. So it was told to us that it would air next season. 

 

I already know that God has great plans for this amazing R&B group called: Blaze! They are very respectful young men. Very professional and kept the whole team smiling all day long.

 

 

 



A lot of people forget my mentor, bestfriend, sister Malandie Winston. It is not enough to write about her in this blog. I will be writing about her more often than this because she has a lot to do with my transformation from a slave to a Queen. Let me just say for right now, that if it was not for God sending that beautiful lady in my direction I would probably dead or really messed up right now...

 

I'm very thankful for that Lady. I'm very thankful for her mother too who raised her to be a strong woman of God. So much more to say about her and her mother but I will have to stop there because when I think about how much they have helped me and how much I have grown in my walk with Christ in being around them tears come to my eyes. I felt so lost before I met Malandie Winston and I was so scared... but... let me just leave it there and say Thank you God for blessing me with her in my life.

 

X-factor Auditions

 

 

I did not expect to audition for x-factor. My grandmother said that she saw the auditions being talked about on the News or and that's when I decided to go investigate. So the day before Saturday I printed out all the necessary paperwork.

 

When I got to the line that Saturday at like 7am. I didn't think there would be that many people but there was a line. It wasn't as long as I thought. I stayed at the mall from 7am to about 4pm. My audition time was for 12:30pm but I didn't get to sing until about 2:45pm. The staff for the event were very friendly and I met some really awesome singers. Everyone was nervous! I prayed the entire time, from the time I got out of the car, while I was waiting in line to sign up and even right before my turn to sing. I sung fever (I know I need to get a new song lol) but the rendition that I did it in was different and the judges loved my passion and style, and voice. But of course they didn't pick me! That's how it always happens. They love everything about me, but they never pick me! lol

 

 

The experience was worth it. I must say that its strange that when you are standing in line waiting for you turn to be in the spotlight, everyone around is singing their hearts out and showing off but the second they step in the center of attention they seem to forget all about their confidence. That's how every audition is that I attend when it comes to singing! I know that God gifted me with a POWERHOUSE voice and I know that soon I will be able to share my gift with the world. I try not to go into an audition thinking that I'm better than anyone else or even wanting to win because just in case I don't then I won't ever be too disappointed. I will admit that this time I was little bit sad because I really wanted to travel. But that was my mistake... God isn't ready for me to travel yet. In that disappointed I had to seek advice from my best guy friend who is passionate about his walk with Christ too.

 

In that conversation he reminded me that I should be content with where I am and the peace that I now have in my life. When I ever I speak to him he always makes my problems feel so small. And it was true. Winning x-factor is not as important (not even close) than doing the work of God. I kinda got side tracked and he helped me regain focus on what was important. I also in that conversation discovered why I even associate myself with him in the first place. And it is simple because truth recognizes truth and love recognizes love. So I'm happy with the peace that he and I have now. We have come a very long way in such a short time, but I wouldn't trade where we are now in for what we use to have even if some of the moments did put a smile on my face ;)

 

 

 

 

 

Dream Big: The Singer & The Supermodel

I'm ready to travel away from NC. I feel like I'm trapped. I feel like every moment I spend in NC I'm suffocating and my abilities, talents or gifts are "drying" up. I have never wanted to fly from the nest as bad as I want to now. It is a thirst that I can not quench. 

So my goal is get to NY. It is all I dream about, even if I don't get to stay long at least I can get a chance to be somewhere, where I have a fighting chance of being heard and seen. 

I want to be in big productions, musicals, runway shows etc. I have so much talent bottled up inside of me but people in NC just look me over. There have been people who started out wanting to help me get out there but then they got distracted or they started wanting to control and possess me. They wanted to mold me into the person that they wanted me to be and it clashed horribly with who I really was in the inside. 

I spent the beginning of my twenties worrying about everyone else. I dipped in and out of relationships that led to nowhere and all I have to show for all the time and effort that I put into those relationships are bruises and scars. 

So it is time for me to step out on my own and do my own thing. I can't be afraid to let my light shine. I thought I had a team of people who I could trust, but realized that I have to put my full trust in God and let him order and direct my steps. 

Please don't get me wrong I am very thankful for all the people that God placed in my life and all the many more that I will meet on this journey. When I make it to the top I will be sure to give them recognition. I know that no matter where I go I will keep them close to my heart. Their kindness. Their Love. Gives me strength to keep going on in life. There were a lot of times when I wanted to give up on life all together. But each time I wanted to quit, there was always a voice that said "don't give up. don't quit." 

I want to be in magazines, in commercials, on TV shows, on billboards etc. I want my face to be seen everywhere! I want people to see my face so much that there won't be anywhere, where they won't see my face. I want the people who hurt me, put me down and spit on my life to see that I made it. I don't hold grudges. I forgive people. But I never forget. 

I will be a supermodel and I will sing. 

If those are the only two things that I get to do in life, then I will do them to the best of my abilities. I'm not married. I don't have any children. I have my degree. So, I don't have anything holding me back from reaching for the top. I tried to follow the rest of the world and after undergraduate school, go straight into getting my masters but everything that you could think of blocked me. It may be in the cards for me later, but not right now. 

All I need to do is meet one person who believes in my abilities the way I believe in them and then I will be okay. 

I have to be careful because "all that glitters is not gold" so sometimes even when people offer to help out of being "kind" they develop a hidden agenda. The more they help me, the more I owe them...

So I have to make sure that everything is genuine. 

I also want to go to a place where my creativity will be appreciated. Where I can write, sing and model and get recognition for my talents. People in NC move too slow for me. They also don't have much appreciation for beauty of any form or any kind. If it doesn't fit the mold, then in their eye it is not beautiful. But I'm done with that close minded thinking. I want more in life than just sitting around watching the world move. 

2013: Year To Experiment (part 1)

This year I made up my mind to branch out of my comfort zone and try some new things. I'm not saying anything too dramatic, like try a new drug or anything (I can't mess with that type of stuff anyway. I have to keep my body clean because my body is a temple that I want Jesus Christ to "dwell" in (so to speak)). 

Try new things like: 

Get some of my poetry published. 

Audition for another musical. 

I was in one in college (an original production) and it turned out really well. There were three performance nights. The house was pretty much packed. I was surprised that I had the strength to stick with it despite the drama that I was going through at the time with my ex and his "housekeeper." 

But such is life... I'm in a completely new phase. Although, it hasn't been the easiest of phases to step into. 

One of the things that I'm going to focus on is strengthening my walk with Christ. I was already strong before. The strange thing was that it was my strength that men tried to tear down (now instead of tear it down they try to manipulate and control it...) Also, I found that my strength didn't last. So, now I rely on the strength of God to help me get through. 

In saying that I ran across a book that I found quite interesting and very fitting for this phase...

Transformation: Name Change(Legacy of Greatness)

Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible. 

Corrie Ten Boom

I'm a writer.  It is my second passion.

I write poems, novels, short stories, screenplays, songs, speeches, you name it I love to write it. That is my second passion after singing. If I could make money writing then that would be fantastic, but unfortunately what I write is controversial and I feel like people are not ready to read it because they don't like to hear the truth. 

When I write I don't sugarcoat anything. I say it how it is and then I let the people reflect on it. I have gotten angry and hateful responses in the past for some of the things that I have written about men. It was not that they were not TRUE statements, but it was that those statements did not apply to the ones that were reading it and thus made them feel "some type of way." 

I have changed a great deal since my days in college. I have changed so much in the last six months that it even amazes me!

Granted...

This transition is not easy, because a lot of the things that I would have asked my mother I now have to go find other people to ask. I have asked God many times "why he had to take her..." but of course I never get a response. I'm in this transition for a reason. I was dealt the unlucky cards because I'm meant to be apart of something great. 

I feel it. I know it. 

If not through singing, then through writing and if not through either one of those then through sharing my big heart. For example, I love children (I don't know if I will ever have my own but...). When children see me their little eye light up and big smiles cross their faces. I work at a daycare, only a few times a month of course for now. But when I see those kids my heart just fills with all the patience and kindness and joy in the world. It is an incredible feeling. They listen and are obedient. I don't ever have to get firm with them at all. 

I'm thinking about teaching, but we will see where God needs me to be.

I have a heart bigger than the sun. I know that God gave me a big heart so that I could bless other people with it. In saying that I also have to say that, that means I must protect it with all the energy I can muster. I got rid of all my distractions. I got rid of all the people that were holding back from Greatness.

On top of the songs that I already have from my teenage years (ones that I'm revamping...), I'm also finally in a place where I can write new material. New poems. New songs. I now have the time and energy to focus on positively influencing the world. Many people want to be heard and be seen. But I want to (and will) leave behind a 

LEGACY of GREATNESS. 

I confess that this walk has not been easy. There was a point where I felt like I lost more than I had gained, but the truth is what I lost in distractions I gained in blessings. I now have more peace. I now have more humility. I now have more love in my life than I could ever imagine. I was so hurt before so much to the point that I was going to give up singing. I almost lost my gift to sing because I wanted to be distracted from the world so bad, but I firmly believe that God sent angels to keep me on the right track ;)

I think that God has a few more things to clean up in my life, a name change and then I will be all set to really change the world not just with my voice but with my heart and the one that I carry: my mothers.