Meet Erin Sweed of Rockstar Runway

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Sweed.

Erin, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was always the new girl. Always nervous and meeting new people moving from school to school. Until 8th grade when my Performing Arts syllabus included producing a fashion show, talent show, music video and a play. It was my first time modeling a beautiful handmade gown, my first time acting on stage, my first time singing on stage, my first time dancing on camera, my first time PRODUCING. The rest is pretty much history. I participated in all the talent shows I had the courage and resources to until I got to college and used my refund money to pay for Acting and Modeling classes at Page Parkes Center for Modeling and Acting.

In middle and high school I watched a lot of TV’s and read a lot of magazines. I always thought what they put in there was crazy and a bad influence on the kids so I wanted to change the content in the prints and on the airways. When AJ and Free left 106 & Park on BET I was done with TV and my focus was full on. It’s like when they left, a part of me left too. During that school time, I took band class, learned to read music, and play a few instruments, and choir. I grew up writing and singing and dancing but I was always so nervous I decided to focus on modeling so I didn’t have to speak. Crazy, I know.

In high school and college, I did a lot of traveling researching the industry and learning as much as I could on my journey to help me with my goal. I spent a month in Europe learning about international marketing before I graduated with my Bachelors in Business Administration with minors in Communication, Psychology and International Marketing in 2010. A few months later I moved to Houston and started Rockstar Runway.

Rockstar Runway is a fashion and entertainment marketing agency that specializes in the coordination of events, photo shoots and video productions. Our mission is to merge the Icon driven Rockstar Lifestyle with the Elegance of the Runway while cultivating an atmosphere of evolution. Here I am 7 years later with a massive resume with credits in film, career advising, talent development, campaign creation marketing and a portfolio full of clients and contacts around the nation.

Currently, I am writing a few productions and working with several media outlets for distribution. In 2019 I plan to be more involved in front of the camera but will definitely be producing quite a few projects in the next 365 days. Nowadays I focus on my goals more than learning. I’ve spent 15 years mastering my craft and I finally have the confidence to manifest my dreams instead of focusing on others.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Definitely not a smooth road. I’d say the main struggle was always being the New Girl. The Foreigner. Building a new foundation everywhere you go. Never really having a stable environment.

Between the moving around, the feeling of not belonging as the outsider and not always being familiar with the territory makes being the New Girl sort of dangerous and mysterious. I had a kid at 18 and that in itself was a struggle because I”m so fiercely independent I was determined not to let that stop me from accomplishing my goals.

What would I look like settling and then growing up trying to TELL my child not to settle? Lead by example. Walk by faith and not by sight. Lean not to your own understanding. All motto’s that get me through to this day. Being a “starving artist” and a “single mother” doesn’t quite mix.

Though that made life hard it wasn’t until December 27, 2017, that I really felt a struggle. I lost my grandmother on that day. I watched her take her last mechanical breath with her hand in mine and it was like she took my breath with her. I never felt a pain like the one that manifested inside of me on that day. It’s one that even as the unemotional detached Aquarian I am, I still don’t understand. She raised me. I am who I am today because of her.

Please tell us about Rockstar Runway.
Rockstar Runway focuses on building and establishing brands, new and old. We make connections and produce projects. In the first year of development, we conducted a research project to build the platform, develop a budget and implement the structure while scoping out the market. We successfully produced 3 events in 2011 and have consistently produced and annual show each year to celebrate our very first presentation in December 2011.

Rockstar Runway produces Fashion Shows, Photo Shoots, Music Videos, Movies, Commercials, Reels, Model Portfolios. We offer talent development for models, actors and musicians. We provide marketing tools for established and emerging brands as well as placement with media outlets.

Rockstar Runway is known for being the place people come when they get to Texas or Houston looking for anything industry and sometimes even other businesses such as real estate. We make the connections and manifest the goals.

I would have to say I am most proud that I have been able to use my platform to go back into the schools and help the youth overcome their fears of public speaking and performing. We spent 5 years at Alief Hastings High School as the Runway coach for their annual Fashion Show for the Fashion Design Program.

Not only was I able to mentor the youth in high school I was able to follow and provide college credit internships for some students in local colleges such as Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX. It’s always a pleasure to work with the next generation and try to influence them in a positive way.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Saved my money at an early age. I had so much expendable cash at such a young age I was wasting my money on unnecessary things I thought I needed. Listening to folks and trying to please everybody like tug-a-war. I really wish I would have focused on myself a lot earlier in life instead of being distracted by lord knows what.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ErinSweed.com
• Phone: 917.524.6520
• Email: erinnsweed@gmail.com
• Instagram: BeautyTh3Model
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erin.nicole.792
• Twitter: BeautyTh3Model

Image Credit:
Desmond Harris, Scott Hebert, Touche Harvey, Marc Sawyer, Ethan James, Christopher Michael Stribling, Salma Ekambi, Erin Sweed, Deon Smith, Erin Sweed, Marc Harvey Beauty, Yasmine Tiana, Lauren Carmon, Dus by Deon, Melodrama Boutique, Samantha Placensia

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