Today we’d like to introduce you to Zhanae Janae.
Hi Zhanae, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m a music producer, entrepreneur, model, and vlogger from Atlanta. My mom really instilled in me from a young age to do whatever you set your mind to no matter how many obstacles get in your way or who tells you that you can’t. That’s been a really big thing to me since I can remember and has encouraged me to forge my own lane.
I’ve always been surrounded by music, with my father being a musician, my mom being an avid listener and putting on kitchen concerts, and my grandma turning on Beyoncé performances religiously for me to watch and be inspired by. Ultimately though, it was one of my brother’s friends, coming over our house and playing with a beatmaker that made me really want to start producing.
My mom was also a hairstylist, so I practically grew up on set watching her do the hair of rappers, artists, singers, models and being awestruck about the whole process that led up to the final product that everyone else got to see. Shows like RuPaul’s drag race, Project Runway, and America’s next top model also left me wanting to both own a beauty business and experiment in front of the camera.
When it comes to my Vlogging though, me creating my own podcast, “The Power Is Mine”, making motivational/educational videos on Instagram, and giving my supporters a front-row seat of some of the things that I experience within my own life on YouTube is part of me, wanting to change the world through being more than just a pretty face and showing people that they can grow and heal from anything that comes their way with patience, persistence, and prayer.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has nowhere NEAR been a smooth road, lol! I’ve had a lot of on and off struggles throughout my life (mostly financial or experiencing homelessness) that stopped me from beginning my business when I actually wanted to or sustaining it, but I was just always super persistent, and I never let it keep me away from what I really wanted to do. I think my biggest struggles were my mom passing away and dealing with Covid. My mom’s passing REALLY hit me hard and I actually officially launched my business in the midst of Covid, thinking that it would do well and it did not do well lol.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
If I had to really describe myself in terms of work, I would just say that I am somebody who loves to experiment with what I feel like doing at that moment.
That’s why I’ve had a whole lot of fun with my modeling and dancing and I’m most known for that but I’m also known for my motivational videos.
I’m super proud of my modeling work because I put together all the details by myself, and I drew inspiration from so many different places for each shoot. I really had the chance to let my inner child go crazy and have the time of her life.
I’ve just started producing music and I can’t wait to release projects that everyone will be able to take in and it’ll resonate with them so they can really make people feel something special.
I feel like what sets me apart from others is that I really do lead with my heart. Compassion, inner beauty, and education is also very important to me so the biggest thing is trying to teach people that it’s okay to still be a good person in this cruel world even if it’s not rewarding all the time.
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 learned to appreciate the little things and to love on people while they are around because you never know when you might not see them again.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-is-mine/id1689156940
- Instagram: Instagram.com/Jzajah
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@Jzajah
