Today we’d like to introduce you to Oni Washington.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am actually from NJ, where I worked as an Accountant for the government, but I have always been artistic with a dream to be in entertainment. I started off doing spoken word and music in high school. However, I am into other arts as well and had a desire to learn to sew.
So I did, I took a class about five years ago and have been designing and sewing clothes since then. My clothing company is called Kente Kween where I offer limited custom commissions and specialize in sewing lessons and parties. I recently had the honor to create a dress for the love and hip hop reunion for one of the cast members, Miss Pooh and maintain a working relationship with her for custom pieces.
To me, entertainment is a wide umbrella and there are several things I do within that. I got to Atlanta about two years ago and hit the ground running on a track to accomplishing my dreams. Another goal of mine is to be in a tv series or movie, so I began acting once I got here. Took some improv classes and did a few performances at the village theater and since then I have been in 2 plays, both written by ATL’s Hottest award winner Ms. London Beverly. My first play entitled “Stop bringing your good booty calls to the family breakfast table” I played a supporting role as the play’s comic relief. And just this past weekend I was the lead actress in “How to love a damaged man.” And I will also be starring in another upcoming play entitled Damnation in December 2019.
In addition to making strides with my fashion design and acting, I have been performing stand up comedy and have rocked the stages at the famous Punchline and Atlanta Comedy Theater. I also have another upcoming show at the Laughing skull on Sunday 10/15.
My goal is to nurture and cultivate my talents of acting, fashion design and comedy and continue making strides to becoming a household name. I also still rap. I work at a middle school where the school nurse and I create songs for and with our students!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the major challenges I have faced is being a mother. My son is six years old, and there is a delicate balancing act to being a mother and being ambitious. There is also a double standard regarding men chasing their careers and women chasing their careers. We are expected to do it all, and that expectation can be hard to meet. But I am a strong believer in the fact that your failures and obstacles are what truly create character. The most successful people were made greater by their own failures as well as their successes.
Another major issue has been lack of funding. With big dreams, you need big money and that money has been a struggle to get. Maintaining a household AND trying to build brands and businesses is extremely difficult.
Please tell us about Africanpinupgirl, Kente Kween, & 30Somethin.
@KenteKween – Kente Kween is my clothing brand where I specialize in African Prints with a sexier edge than you normally see as well as vintage cuts that take inspiration from the past while elevating with futuristic fabrics and techniques. I also specialize in making headwraps and will be having a “Make your own headwrap” party by the end of this year.
@Comedy.oni – My name for stand up is “30 Somethin” – what sets me apart from other comedians maybe my love for building characters, storytelling, impressions and accents plus throwing some physical comedy in there too.
@africanpinupgirl – Is a moniker for myself and my pages show the miscellany that is me. I cannot be put in a box. I have several interests and passions and God has given me the desire to pursue them. This page is all-encompassing of some of my designs, music, and acting. My specialty for acting is comedic. I have done background work on Love and Hip hop Atlanta, and a few other shows and movies.
I am most proud of coming to Atlanta and truly making strides towards my dreams in only two short years. I have sewn for a celebrity or two, starred in a couple of projects, and started my stand up career! God is so good and he keeps on blessing me because I am faithful.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I used to love singing in church. My grandma would take me to her church and I guess she had pull because she put a word in somebody ear that I could sing. Next thing I knew I was singing “This little light of mine” as my grandma looked on proudly, almost every Sunday. It was my first exposure to rocking a mic at about five years old, and I been in love with the mic ever since.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @africanpinupgirl @comedy.oni
- Other: @kentekween
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