Today we’d like to introduce you to Edward Wallace.
Hi Edward, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am an Actor in Season 2 of Starz PValley, Fashion Designer with Brand Edward Eliesya, Model at The Lyngale Agency out of Atlanta, Nominee for ATLs Hottest Fashion Designer at ATLS HOTTEST AWARDS, Founder of LGBTQ+ Hearts Place – a nonprofit for the LGBTQIA Community and their Allies. I am also the owner of Eliesya J’s Boutique, Mafanikio African Goods Store, Elixur Organic Skincare, and Luxurye Locs Hair Extensions and Wigs. My goal is to be a traveling fashion designer / hair stylist/mua all in one.
I am presently Fashion Designer for Celebrity Brent Moorer Gaskins and his TV character Ambrosius Vampeer, ATLS Hottest Rapper, Bougie Trouble – Alexis Hill, and ATLS Hottest Female Model, Queen Ashley – Ashley Shepherd.
I got started in the late 80’s making clothes to go to school because we were not rich and my mother had 4 boys to care for on her own. My mother Cassandra Vamper was a front-page model in NY in the 70’s. Gracing catwalks and front pages of magazines like The Disco Promoter. Fashion was inherited. My mother was always flawless when she stepped out and the whole town knew her. My love of fashion came from my love of my home Brooklyn, NY and NY in general.
We moved to the south to NC when I was young and I hated it. I went back and forth to NY every chance I got. Summers, Holidays, Birthdays, Funerals. I love the city and the vibe. My fashion is taken from those experiences as well as new ones. Growing up in the south was not easy and met with all sorts of adversity. From having a single parent, being different, bullying, fighting, alcohol and addiction, trouble with the law that was unwarranted. Southern Pines, NC is a very racist place.
I later moved to Fayetteville, NC homeless and 305 pds. to a shelter. I was working odd jobs at The Revolutionary Co-working Center to get free office time. Seven days after my release from prison I started Mafanikio African Goods Store and I wanted it to grow. Inside the RC was a modeling company owned by Jennifer Baker of Metro Faces. I approached her with my business in hopes of collaborating and she and her associate Parris Harris immediately told me I should model even though I was big.
While living in the shelter, I found a job at Chipotle Mexican Grill. Being poor, my meals were 3 times a day 1 large Chipotle Bowl and 1 Large Bag of Chips split into three meals. I lost a lot of weight this way. I had been following an awesome designer on Facebook, Latoya Stockdale Harrington. She was so amazing. She was having a model call for a show she was having. With all my new weight loss and already good looks I decided to go. I killed it and was accepted into this Amazing Traveling Fashion Show and Stage Play.
I started modeling and acting. After that one of my customers at Chipotle and I were having a conversation about my weight loss and what I was doing. I told her I started modeling. She got excited and said her mother was doing a big show and needed a male model. She called her mother on the spot. I met her mother and she put me in her show. The Bad Boyz and Galz of Glam Tour with Nikki Minaj’s Iconic Celebrity Stylist, Terrence Davidson. I opened his show singing and modeling. I had to sing the song from Coming To America, Here Comes Your Queen To Be. I was introduced to the world at this show as Edward Eliesya J Wallace, Model and Fashion Designer. My career has taken new heights ever since.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. When I created Eliesya J’s Boutique in Aberdeen, NC things were great. I had gotten an email about being nominated one of the INC5000 and business was good until the building was sold. I moved to Fayetteville then to start over. I struggled with addiction so when Eliesya J’s Boutique doors closed, I checked myself into rehab. After leaving there, I moved to a Half-Way House / Addiction Abuse Shelter. Business picked up again as a Personal Stylist. The moving around was devastating to the business and brand. And the reason for my false incarceration from this racist town of Southern Pines I was raised in didn’t Help! I had to leave Fayetteville to return to Southern Pines for court for a minor infraction. When I arrived to the projects where I was raised, I was spotted and arrested. I was beaten and put in the psychiatric ward because I was non-compliant. I had no idea for 2 days why I had been arrested. I was in town for a matter that didn’t warrant arresting me. I found out 2 days later I was being accused of RAPE. My world ended. I was incarcerated for six months in Carthage in a cell no bigger than a closet for 23 hrs a day. I was made a high-risk inmate because I was fighting back because of my innocence. This parole of sorts lasted five years. Devastating my business, my name, my credibility and everything. I was so hurt and confused. I had been with my husband since 21 and just couldn’t understand being accused of this crime.
In my home town, I was beaten, threatened, cops followed me everywhere, I was locked up on several occasions for no reason at all. My criminal record demolished by false accusations, fights, dirty looks, dirty comments. I was then given a crooked court-appointed lawyer that railroaded me saying that if I didn’t take a plea agreement, they were going to give me 65 years to life. I was denied my request to change from this crooked lawyer and wound up serving 2.5 years in prison for a crime I did not commit. Rebuilding since this has been taxing to say the least. But I believe in me and knowing that that person was not me in any shape or form, I moved on with a new business. Mafanikio African Goods Store was born. Getting to know Fayetteville after my return. I wanted my business to grow. I started an app. I signed up 150 ppl on the bus alone!! Life was new. I took The First Inmates to Entrepreneurs class ever offered in Fayetteville, NC by Brian Hamilton Foundation. This was an amazing experience that brought me national press. I was able to expand my business tremendously and do great things. I always wanted to start my own clothing brand so now I am the Creator of EDWARD ELIESYA Custom clothing for the modern fashionista and jet-set gentleman”.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Edward Eliesya J Wallace specialized in Head to Toe Looks. I am a learning MUA and Natural Hair Care Stylist. I already create timeless fashion designs so I want to be your complete one-stop shop. I have clients in Charlotte NC, Atlanta, GA and more. My dream is to be a Traveling Stylist / MUA / Designer for Celebrities, Socialites, and Up and Coming Artist.
I am most known for my Iconic African Attire created for Hair-In-Motion Magazine Spring 2021, and African Attire hand created for The Bad Boyz and Galz of Glam with Nikki Minaj’s iconic Hair Stylist, Terrence Davidson, being an actor in Starz PValley and being Celebrity Designer for Brent Gaskins.
I am Most Proud of all my 12 Magazine Publishings as an Entrepreneur / Designer (Farbe, VoyageATL, Monocle, Canvas Rebel, IPEN, UNV, Brian Hamilton Foundation). Proud to be inducted as a Dudley Eagle by the Dudley Brand and met Joe L. Dudley himself for the mastermind group at his mansion in NC weekly. Also to have been on of the First Graduates of Inmates to Entrepreneurs first in Fayetteville, NC, Being A signed Model / Actor for The Lyngale Agency, Helped as Executive Assistant the creator of the NC Natural Hair Care curriculum for NC start one of The First Private Black Owned Hair Schools in Fayetteville, NC. Moving to ATL.
What sets me apart from others is I’m just genuinely me!! Good Energy, Hella CReative, Ambitious ASF, A Whole Vibe!! And amazing Designer / Model/ Business Man. LIT!
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
The risk I take is daily. I am a GAY, EX-OFFENDER, and Entrepreneur trying to navigate this crazy world. While being a caregiver and student, I still have to keep me going and my mother’s affairs and household together as well as her medications and health. Living back in the town where I was raised is just a risk period.
Pricing:
- Custom Clothing Design start at $225 – $300
- Custom Styling starts at $125
- Personal Shopping starts at $115 per hour
- Custom African Attire $200+
- Fashion Design Consult – $50 per hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://eliesya69.wixsite.com/mysite
- Instagram: instagram.com/EdwardEliesya
- Facebook: facebook.com/edwardeliesya
- Twitter: @BlaqueOwned09
- Youtube: youtube.com/channel/UCkikkP-0VsOJNN6oCmLzldw
- SoundCloud: https://anchor.fm/eliesyaevolution
- Other: https://mtindo-fashion.square.site
Image Credits
Photogrphers: Dennis George Photgraphy Edward Eliesya J Wallace Models; Edward Eliesya J Wallace Raquel Chanel Modeling
