Today we’d like to introduce you to Chekesha Johnson.
Hi Chekesha, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was a skinny high school athlete with dreams of playing in the WNBA or becoming an Olympic triple jumper. My English teacher scheduled a meeting with her modeling agency in Houston. After conducting my interview, I got signed on the spot. I began getting booked for local ads and fashion shows around the city.
After high school, I put modeling aside because I received a full scholarship to play basketball at University of Arkansas at PineBluff. While in college, my mom ran into her childhood friend, Sinden Collier, a major photographer in Los Angeles who photographed talent for the cover of Essence magazine. My mom showed her photos of my modeling pictures, and she agreed to work with me if I ever visited Los Angeles. I immediately booked a flight to LA for spring break. There was an agency interested in working with me, but Sinden advised me to start my career in New York because it was a better market for black models at the time. I went back to Arkansas to do my research, and she was right! When I graduated from UAPB with my computer science degree, I visited some agencies in NY and got signed. I traveled back to Houston and worked four months as a waitress to save money, then bought a one-way ticket to the Big Apple. The rest was history! My booking was for a Nike campaign which led to Vibe magazine booking me within my first few weeks in NYC. 16 years later, I’ve shot photos for Glamour, Seventeen, Cosmo, Essence, and Maxim magazine. In addition, I’ve been in commercials for Target, Kohl’s, JCPenney, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter, Aveeno, and Whataburger. I modeled on three seasons of project runway, shot beauty ads for L’oreal, Bobbi Brown, Sally Beauty Supply and many more.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In the fashion and modeling industry, your job is solely based on how you look. Beauty is heavily determined by the shape of your body. It’s full of rejection and can be tough on a person’s self-esteem. I started my career in an era where models were pushed to be a size 0 or size 2. My biggest struggle was my curves. The first agency I worked for in New York would measure me every time I walked in. They wanted me to lose 2 inches in my hips even though I was already very thin. They gave me meal plans and tried to force me into hiring some expensive celebrity trainer. They ended up dropping me because of my size a few years later. Luckily, my resume and portfolio was strong enough to get me immediately signed by two other agencies who believed in me. I’ve been able to last this long in the industry because times have changed. It is more inclusive now with a focus on digital advertisements, which opened the doors for more opportunities.
We’ve been impressed with Fashion Showdown, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am the founder and CEO of Fashion Showdown. This platform is a design competition where local designers showcase their talents and gain exposure in the fashion industry. What sets us apart from other fashion shows is our selection of one lucky winner who earns a grand prize package of an all-expense-paid trip to New York Fashion Week and a cash to start their new collection. I am proud to have created a space for designers to feel like their work is appreciated by honoring them and contributing their dreams. After every show, it makes me happy knowing I provided a different experience that they will remember for a lifetime. In addition to the show, our company offers industry workshops, model boot camps, runway coaching, and commercial consultations. The merchandise of our motto is “Fashion is not Dead” is available on our website.
What were you like growing up?
I was a true athlete my entire childhood up until graduating college. If I wasn’t on the basketball court, track field, or in church plays, I was typically a shy person, In my spare time, I was a nerd for computers learning about programming, and writing codes. My love for modeling activated once I became an adult.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thefashionshowdown.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fashionshowdown/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefashionshowdown
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/fashionshowdown
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ArOdpUy1GGVjpeA0Mw60A
Image Credits:
Terry Thomas Photography
