Today we’d like to introduce you to Nandi Cotton
Hi Nandi, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always loved dancing! Dance has been my outlet for many moments of emotional growth and struggle in my life. As I got older, it became the catalyst for expressing my femininity. So during the pandemic I did a lot of IG Live dance classes as well as self photography. I had a lot of time on my hands and it helped keep me busy when I was feeling stuck in my house. Doing the classes made me fall back in love with my body, when then translated as confidence in my diy photo shoots. Once the world started opening back up, so did I. I invested in a few photo shoots with local photographers and was hooked on fully developing my modeling skills. I went from photo shoots in my living room to being in Harper’s Bazaar. Now I’m a published freelance model and digital creator and it’s wonderfully shaped the way I approach life and other creative projects as well.
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?
There have definitely been challenges on this journey. I have often delayed my progress to prioritize daily life situations. While I’m building my portfolio as a model and improving my storytelling and editing skills for content creation, I’m also working a full time job. And a few side hustles on the side lol. And I’ve found that this is the reality for a lot of creatives, especially if you aren’t funded or not quite making enough to quit your full time. Not to mention life doesn’t stop for you while you’re getting it together. When I first started modeling, I was out of work for a year and relied heavily on my family and friends for housing. I’m still so grateful that they let me use their spaces to record product reviews, co-lead wellness workshops, and do professional photo shoots when I couldn’t afford to rent studio space. My village has been very essential to my creative development.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m naturally an introverted person, but going for my goals has pushed me out of my comfort zone. I’m a model, dancer, and creative director. I’ve been dancing since I was 9 years old and I’ve been modeling for about 5 years. I currently teach feminine energy movement classes and I’m also available to book for private sessions, bachelorette/birthday parties, and art classes/events.
During junior year of college I was introduced to the concept of dance for film and I was intriguingly fascinated. It never occurred to me to create choreography for the purpose of crafting film. Though I was clearly familiar with music videos and musicals, this particular concept seemed a little different and I was eager to dive into what I could do with the concept. And then I forgot about it for a decade lol. It was 2023 when I finally decided to create something. I choreographed and directed a dance film with my friends and I’m really proud of it. The purpose of the short film was to highlight the complex emotions with being a black woman wondering if her black man would make it safely home to the family. I have another dance film project that I’ve been sitting on that I’m planning to complete this year. As long as I keep trying, I know that I’ll find a way to be happy with my art. It is ok to be seen and heard for your creativity!
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
If at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try again. Aaliyah was right.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplynandi/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NandiAziza
Image Credits
Kevon Richardson, Chuck Marcus, M. A., Brittany Gary, Curts Scene It Photography, Timothy Bowser
