Today we’d like to introduce you to Maisha Thaxter.
Maisha, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
AE began and was known as the first Lesbian Modeling Agency located in the Bay Area of California, Stud Production. Eventually, marketing and advertising was added and the company was later dissolved due to its fast expansion yet need to outsource in other areas. AE was developed three and a half years ago bridging the gap between marketing, advertising and modeling. Where one would request the services for advertising assistance needing flyers, billboards, commercial assistance, etc. we provide those requested services along with the addition of a suited model instead of petitioning for one. We are no longer a one sector agency as we are open to all models however what makes our models stand out is the value we put into our models.
Our models are significantly unique. They are not your average model in height, weight, etc. however having taken upon their look books you will see glimpse of fashion, commercial, print, promotional and so on. We have adjusted the wheel and use it to our advantage. In marketing, we provide market research, market analysis, digital marketing, strategic planning and more which generally folds back into alignment with advertising and modeling. We want our clients to get the most out of the services we provide and to be equally successful in their companies as they grow and prosper.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No! I don’t think any business would ever be a smooth road. In Stud Production, I struggled a bit in the beginning because I cold-called before I knew what it was. I called and called and called. I didn’t know what I was doing. I was only 24 and at the time, all I knew was I was young and wanted my company to be successful. Each company I called didn’t want to offer advice or didn’t want to work in collaboration with my agency so I kept going. I sent emails and called for months. People would suggest and send me here and there and one day I’m not sure how long it took a lady who owned a major local magazine owner whom said she had never heard of an agency like mine and wanted to use my models on the cover as well as do a six-page spread with my models. I couldn’t believe it. I thought it was a joke. Just about three weeks later, it happened. I was overjoyed. After that about three weeks later, I got an email from CURVE magazine who at the time, was a major national Lesbian magazine who also wanted to place me in their magazine. Once again, I couldn’t believe things just started to happen, one thing after another. Then I was in Essence Magazine. Then a couple of international magazines and I was requested to fly out to L.A. to do some local events but it was just getting to big and I had no staff just models. No income just my investment. It just became too much too fast.
Please tell us about Aggressive Expression Modeling Ad Agency.
What I am most proud of as a company is the growth in my company. It is steady growing over time. I value everything now because I’ve already gone through things so this time, I have an upper hand. I can see most things before they happen or I can project how to divert away from things before they get in the way of things.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would do absolutely nothing differently. The Agency is slowly growing and we are building in number. I think maybe I would network from jump if anything but you have to first have all key components to start networking so I don’t think I’d do anything over. I did it exactly how it should have been done. If anyone is looking to start a company and looking for advice, I’d say go a little slow and think about the entire process. Try and see the beginning to the end in visualization. Try and write it all out, your needs and wants. Move piece by piece instead of looking for instant gratification because that is totally unrealistic.
Contact Info:
- Website: aggressiveexpression.com
- Phone: 832-356-6471
- Email: aggressiveexpression@outlook.com
Image Credit:
Photos of Fernanado Barajas Credit (jhason.photos on IG)
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