Today we’d like to introduce you to Keela Starr.
Hi Keela, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve had so many jobs, lol. I started working for IBM and was pursuing commercial print and acting at the same time. After six years on the job, I realized that the corporate life wasn’t for me so I decided to pursue life on the other side of the camera. After walking into a local modeling agency and offering to work for free, I became an intern, soon after I became a paid employee. After several other opportunities working in agency’s as Assistants and being promoted to an Agent, I was offered a job to work for a fashion agency in New York City. I worked for several years and came to a crossroads of “Where to next?” I was offered an opportunity to work for a Management company in LA but after many chats with friends that said, “Keela, why work for them?–you have the contacts.” I decided to pursue the industry on my own terms.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Life itself is not a smooth road. We may have periods of bliss, but every good story has plot twists. I mean, I’m a woman from the south that entered the glitz and glamour of fashion and entertainment. There were and are a lot of bumps and bruises along the way. This journey brought me face to face with myself (which is never easy). A lot of my lessons that I’ve experienced in my career allowed me to work on my own self-confidence. Learning that it’s not always about me and being very empathetic with my young pliable models and actors that I have the opportunity to inspire and manage. When you’re working with clients at such an impressionable age, you realize that your role in their life is more predestined. It’s not just about the bookings and the work, but making sure they’re healthy, well balanced and they get an idea of what life is really about.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an undercover workaholic. I’m the CEO of “K. Starr Management”, an 11-year-old company that scouts, develops, places and manages the careers of models. Throughout the years, my beauties have been spotted on runways, campaigns and advertisements for designers and retailers such as Prada, Gucci, Chanel, Salvatore Ferragamo, Stella McCartney, Coach, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Missoni, Oscar de la Renta, Dior, Dolce and Gabbana, Chloé, Valentino, Etro, Ralph Lauren, Alberta Ferretti, H&M, Abercrombie and Fitch, Zara, Calvin Klein, MAC Cosmetics, Estée Lauder, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s and the list goes on, My models have been featured on the covers and inside Vogue, Vogue Italia, Vogue Japan, Vogue UK, Vogue Beauty, Teen Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, InStyle, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Essence, Weddings Unveiled, The Knot, Southern Weddings, Better Home and Gardens and many more.
During the first quarter of 2019, I became co-partner with my friend Margo Gabriel and we started “The Oui Agency”. The Oui Agency’s a full-service talent agency that represents actors and models. With our collective years of experience you may have caught a glimpse of our talent in commercials and print advertisements for Fortune 500 companies and brands such as Coca Cola, Apple, T-Mobile, Target, Home Depot, Delta, AT&T, Toyota, Nike, Buick, Frigidaire, Verizon, Wells Fargo, McDonald’s, Regions Bank, Ritz Carlton, Mandarin Oriental Hotels, Hilton, Nike, Staybridge and Homewood Suites, Crayola, and Publix to name a few.
For my own mental health and balance, I began my journey with Reiki. Reiki is a Japanese form of alternative medicine called energy healing. We use a technique called palm healing or hands-on healing through “life force energy” that’s transferred through the palms of our hands to the patient in order to encourage emotional, spiritual and physical healing. After receiving a session with Michal Spiegelman, I was hooked and wanted to learn how to practice this life-changing modality on myself. Shortly after my session, I registered for the Level I course that lead to Level II and after a small break, I became certified as a Reiki Master Level III in 2017.
I love the idea of helping others. I believe it’s a gift to have the opportunity to help people on their journey. One of the things that’s brought me joy in my career is to discover an undiscovered talent and then watch them on a runway, in a magazine, on a billboard or on television. To witness their personal goals and dreams fulfilled means everything to me. It allows me to see the manifestation of my purpose actually play out. As a Reiki Therapist, observing the changes through the healing process is very rewarding, obviously for my client but for myself as well. It’s a true blessing.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I’ve had a crash course in the importance of being still. To go with the flow, be grateful and more kind to others. To focus on the positives in life and block out the negativity and “noise”. No matter what’s going on, stay active and BE THANKFUL.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kstarrmgmt.com, www.theouiagency.com
- Instagram: @kstarrmgmt @theouiagency @thenovacenter
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KStarrMgmt
Image Credits
@amymphillips @gmaromagazine @argentinedee @mcarsonphotography @theatomicstarz @siejeakime @theatomicstarz @beautybybrittaneyshanae @iamaglamourgoddess @sgretouching @weldonbondstudios @vigourmagazine @emilyybowerss @james_l_hicks2photography @iamkelvinmyers @qtipsstyleinc @vigourmagazine @fashionwidower @tybaxxter @berthaamugaofficial @clearlyfocusedmediaworks @fashionwidower @officiallyy.tiffany @houseofchichi @_hairbysean @pleasershoes @tcb_atl @bazaaruk @mckennahellam @agatapospieszynska @charlieharrington_ @anitakeeling @garethbromell
