Conversations with Antoinette Johnson

I’ve worked in the entertainment industry for the past five years as a fashion stylist, creative director, and content creator. I started as a fashion blogger, posting plus-size fashion inspiration and planning to body-positive events. Transitioning from content creator to becoming the owner of my creative business, Forever Anti Studio. The studio is 2x nominated creative agency that develops and creates visions that are designed to align with our client brands. My work has been featured in Amazon Music, Complex, Rolling Loud, NYFW, and CEEN TV.

Mental health is something that I also struggle with in my entrepreneurial journey. I realized how much work I had to put into making my business successful. And during this journey as a creative, I went through downfalls in my personal life that I couldn’t imagine bouncing back. But, I knew my dreams and goals were more important than my struggles and choose to persevere. Styling and creating have given me such an outlet to express myself and have allowed me to share the gifts I have with the world and make me happy. They’re going to be times on your business journey when you feel like you’re not worthy, not getting anything right, or you don’t feel like you belong at the table that you work hard in, you have to remember to take up space and always think about the end goal.

I am a creative director and fashion stylist who works in the music and fashion industry. I started out working on small fashion shows, and photoshoots for small businesses, then I had the opportunity to assist styled Manny Jay Styles for Dreezy at the Laquan Smith NYFW show in 2019. This opportunity made me realize I wanted to work in the entertainment industry. I started pivoting into the world of celebrity styling and creative direction. A lot of my freelancing work allowed me to work in different areas of the entertainment industry including film/TV, music, and fashion. This experience gave me the expertise to start my creative agency, Forever Anti Studio. The studio develops and creates visions designed to align with our client’s brand. Services include album rollout, performance styling, red carpets, press shot, etc. And our work has been seen on Amazon Music, Complex Canada, NYFW, CEEN TV, etc.

When you are creative, you decide that starting a business is already a huge risk. I remember how I got the opportunity to style Tara Lord for Rolling Loud. I just came out of my mental health break, and I didn’t think I was able to create the work as well as I used to. A lot of those feeling came from fear. I had to relearn my worth and took a leap of faith despite my fears of failing to weigh me heavily, I realize that my dreams and goals were bigger than my fears and kept persevering. Don’t let the fear of striking you out keep you from playing the game. So keep taking those risks despite what fear you have.