Meet India Iman Hernandez-Hervey

Today we’d like to introduce you to India Iman Hernandez-Hervey.

India, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My name is India Iman and I am the current reigning Miss World America Georgia. My platform is called The Making of The Beauty Sector which details the origination and progress of my non-profit organization, The Beauty Sector. Alongside my pageantry ambitions, I am currently a full time actress and model based in New York City. My entrance into the fashion industry initially began at the early age of two years old due to my mother’s own personal experience with Modeling and Broadcast Journalism. I have been in love ever since! As a first generation student, my priority was always to pursue higher education. I decided to postpone my acting and modeling profession at 16 years old to later graduate from The Georgia Institute of Technology in Midtown Atlanta with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and a concentration in Econ & Financial Systems. It was during this time that I actually began writing my business plan for The Beauty Sector.

My non-profit idea was my way of using my personal experiences and passions to give back to my community. After graduating, I immediately pursued a tech career in Silicon Valley, California as a Technical Program Manager for Tesla Motors. While approaching my third year with the company, I boldly decided to transition careers and purchased a one-way ticket to the Big Apple. I have now been acting and modeling full time for the past seven months with my first motion picture being Halle Berry’s directorial debut, “Bruised”. I recently was casted on an upcoming talk show via the Pluto TV network entitled “Say It With Spyce”, a title I created. I believe that my journey is nothing but God’s personal plan for myself intertwined with my persistence and uniqueness. I will forever be in his debt and proud to be!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My journey has been everything BUT smooth. I hope anyone reading this understands nothing about Georgia Tech or the fashion industry is easy especially when you try to conquer the two. It’s more about being unapologetically you and not making the same mistakes twice. For a more recent example of my struggles, I believe the masses understand how difficult it is to be successful in New York City. It’s the city overrun by talent and no sleep. Going there alone, unsigned, and with no contacts proved early to be unlucrative. I ended up working 6 jobs at the same time to stay above water while trying to invest in my career. It has been one of the hardest tasks of my life but I have nothing but respect for this path I chose. I wouldn’t say I’m even through the thick of it all. I have been subjected to various other obstacles because of this decision such as losing support from the ones that love me the most and, furthermore, mental instability. However, this all just refers back to having solidified perseverance and truly believing in yourself. “Nothing worth having comes easy.” – Theodore Roosevelt

The Beauty Sector by India Iman, Miss World America Georgia – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
One of my life goals is to introduce to the world my non-profit entitled The Beauty Sector. The Beauty Sector’s purpose is to conventionally blend the idea of Beauty with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) while having our primary focus be young girls of color. I want to show children at this impressionable time in their lives how being beautiful on the inside as well as out and being technically educated do not have to be discrete ideas. I will do so by utilizing mentorship led by multifaceted female professionals, classes specializing in STEM subjects, etiquette, and female hygiene, and, lastly but not limited to, volunteerism. I realize the direction that our job market is going and I want to make sure our future generations of minority women can sustain within it while being greatly successful. My platform, The Making of The Beauty Sector, signifies the journey I am taking to make my non-profit a reality and to ultimately introduce girls and women worldwide to my mission. In doing so, I have partnered with The Andrew & Walter Young Family YMCA where they are committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Undoubtedly, a great match with The Beauty Sector. The terms of our partnership enable me to help with the coordination of various STEM and philanthropic events for adults and children within the Atlanta Metro area. As youth outreach by way of public speaking is a hobby of mine, I take part in these events on behalf of The Beauty Sector by giving talks and Q&A sessions not only at our Y sponsored events but at our local modeling agencies!

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I personally define success as the outcome that results in the accomplishment of a goal. Coming from a tech background, I like to measure my productivity via meeting deliverables, or personal tasks, I have set for myself while trying to obtain the overall goal. My deliverables range from set dates, to profits, to securing genuine contacts, great content/publications, or, most importantly, how I benefited others.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: indiaximan
• Email: indiaximan@gmail.com

Image Credit:
Leo Marshall, Michele, Terrell Shedrick, Chris Gonzalez, Terron Carter, Josh James

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