Today we’d like to introduce you to ShaVonne Boggs.
Hi ShaVonne, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been a tall structured woman since young. I stand 6’0 and have received many “You should model” throughout my lifetime. Watching all of America’s Next Model as a child, I knew modeling was something I wanted to do on as an adult. I truly never had parents that support me with this dream of mine so of course as a child, it was hard to pursue. However, I am blessed to be able to flourish after becoming independent from my family.
I can say my story started in the beginning of 2021 during COVID. The college (Paine College) I was attending lost their accreditation so I was forced to transfer schools. I’ve always wanted to go to Florida A&M University so I then applied receiving my acceptance letter later that summer. I was very determined around this time and used it to fuel my purpose to get into modeling. Starting school that August, I began to meet many photographers from FAMU, which I then began doing different creative collaboration shoots. I’ve done many shoots within this year which has helped me learn different modeling techniques.
After that, I began to reach out and connect with many other photographers/MUA’s/
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 is about lessons and healthy decisions which I learned at a young age. God blessed me with two beautiful parents but they didn’t grasp the chance to heal from their childhood traumas. My childhood was filled with much emotional, physical, and mental abuse from the ones I was taught should love “me” the most. As a child, I was a praying warrior because I wanted a change but I specifically knew I wanted to tell my story. It’s truly unbelievable and a blessing to see how I flourished. However, as a child, I loved models and enjoyed the lifestyle, freedom, and influence they had by being one. A goal to show the world a warrior can come from unfortunate battles. I lost my friend to suicide, my biological father to drugs, and my grandmother to a broken heart during my four years in college.
Within these years, I saw how love and lust can kill you slowly without notice. I wish I had the chance to show my father a better life than being on the streets. I pray one day, my mom heals and God begins to show her the overflow in her life. I regret not letting my friend know he was perfect no matter what. It’s hard chasing your dreams and your biggest fans, not be your family too. But it’s a blessing to understand God doesn’t give your strongest ones the weakest battles. My time will come in abundance and as for now, I hustle and pray with faith that I’ll get there. I’m growing to love my flaws while I become a strong woman within them. The stronger I become; the harder my stride, the better my walk, and the brighter my smile. I am now in a place of peace and abundance and even though I’m human, I understand that healing moves new barriers. I can connect with my emotions and let my childhood traumas love on me and define beauty as strong. I can’t wait to help change the world, taking the word “model” and becoming the best version of one. Not only for myself but for God.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a creative model. I was recently featured in Forbes and walked more than 40 designers for Miami Swim Week. I was also apart of New York Fashion week and had an amazing experience working with top designers. I am very gracious to be able to flourish in my career being an unsigned model at the moment. The confidence and structure I have on the runways set me apart from the others. Confidence coming from the years of abuse I endured but the fight I have to keep going every day to make a better future for myself and family. Not only am I an independent model, I will soon be a first-generation graduate from the #1 Public HBCU in the country (FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY) while taking 21 credit hours this semester. My strides carry healing, one day being able to show others that it can be done. I’m so proud of me, 24 years old and constantly breaking generational curses! I am really a STRONG blessed woman!
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What truly makes me happy is being able to make others smile. I love connecting with genuine people and having true connections. I am God-given, I love people feel worthy of themselves. I want to be able to help change the world and help others get closer to God in the long run. I’ve faced much adversity being a black woman within the industry and my childhood however, it makes me go strive harder to show the world IT CAN BE DONE! I am truly happy to succeed past the things that was sent to stop me within my life and successfully strut the runways in a powerful manner. “God the is within me, I will not fail!” -Psalms 46:5
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/matte_films
- Twitter: twitter.com/__yesimshay
- Other: TikTok.com/yesimshay_
- Email: inquire.shavonne@gmail.com
Image Credits
Miam swim week photos, @mindofjr – Tre Butler @samlaguerrex – Samuel LaGuerre Matte Collection (Miami swim week) @theluckylott – Pete Lott, Matt Han
