We recently had the chance to connect with Slade Bone and have shared our conversation below.
Slade, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Outside of modeling, I’ve been finding a lot of joy in creative collaborations with people I’ve met lately. whether that’s shooting spontaneous photo concepts, sharing music, or exploring new spots together. These moments give me the same spark as my career, but with a more personal touch on the other side of the camera. Meeting and connecting with other emerging creatives has opened my mind to new perspectives and outlets beyond modeling, like music and beautiful storytelling, which I’ve started incorporating into my own passion & projects. Some of them are still building and creating behind the scenes, but even witnessing their hard work, unrecognized dedication, & process has inspired me to experiment more freely and blend fashion with deeper forms of expression.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Slade Bone & I’m a model from Atlanta, GA. However, my brand merges together photography & storytelling that showcases a raw, authentic side of me beyond fashion. Represented by my mother agency Atelier041, my work spans across runway, commercial, & concept driven shoots that blurs lines between modeling & performance art. Pushing beyond the industry standards, I strive to bring a raw emotional edge & symbolism that connects fashion to my identity.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I’ve realized not all bonds aren’t fractured through one action rather than smaller things like overthinking, self doubt, & the need of reassurance. Those internal anxieties create unspoken expectations which lead to pressure rather than connection. What restores a bond is letting go of those worries & showing up authentically as yourself with consistency without trying to be the perfect person. Respecting each other’s pace, valuing different viewpoints, & creating shared experiences bring people closer. At the end of the day, bonds deepen when you choose one another despite differences, imperfections, honoring boundaries, & helping each other grow in balance & truth.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
One of my most defining wounds of my life has been growing up with envy. Wishing I could be the kid with designer clothes, the biggest following on social media, the one driving before 18, or the smartest & outspoken in the classroom. That left me with a void & in adulthood as anxieties, doubt in my mindset, & needs for validation. I’ve realized those habits were really my way of seeking fulfillment in those goals I set for myself in childhood. Healing has looked like self confidence & accepting my journey is different & that’s okay. I’m learning to be at peace with who I am now confidently & trusting what’s meant for me will come rather than forcing it. I maybe forgetful & ditsy at times, but I’m also knowledgeable, creative, & selfless. I’m still working through people pleasing tendencies and the pull to always be ‘the best,’ but I see now that our wounds don’t have to define us. What defines us is how we choose to grow from them. Even pain has been a teacher, and some of the hardest moments have given me strength ten times over.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in modeling is that exposure is enough, or that perfection is the only thing that sells the industry fantasy. The truth is, exposure doesn’t pay your bills, and it’s not perfection that resonates, it’s authenticity. Behind the glamour, there’s a lot of unpaid work, constant rejection, and pressure to meet impossible standards. I’ve felt it myself, being under six foot, not always having flawless skin, and not fitting the traditional mold. But what I’ve learned is that the industry’s rigid requirements don’t define you. What really lasts is individuality. The way you carry yourself, the story you tell, and the energy you bring when you show up as your authentic self. That’s what connects, and that’s what builds a lasting career.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What will you regret not doing?
What I would regret most is not showing up fully as myself in all aspects of my life. With bonds , I’d regret holding back vulnerability out of fear of being too much, instead of letting them see the raw and imperfect sides of me that actually build meaning. In modeling, I’d regret letting self doubt, height, or industry standards stop me from betting on myself and proving that character is what really sells. And with finances, I’d regret staying in survival mode rather than building stability that lets me create freely without constant stress. At the same time, I’m learning the importance of pacing myself, not rushing into outcomes, but allowing growth to unfold naturally. A tree doesn’t grow overnight, and neither do we. At the end of the day, I don’t want to look back and feel like I dimmed my light just to meet standards. I want to know I chose authenticity, risk, and growth, even when it scared me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sladebone
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sladebone
Image Credits
Photographers:
Micheal Rooke
Atelier041
Skyye Kimmons
