Check Out Raiyonda Vereen’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Raiyonda Vereen.

Hi Raiyonda, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Raiyonda Vereen, and I am a costume designer with a career rooted in fashion, storytelling, and a passion for bringing characters to life through wardrobe.

I graduated from Howard University and moved to Atlanta with the goal of pursuing a career in fashion. I began my professional journey as a wardrobe stylist, working on music videos as well as fashion shows for Macy’s and the Apparel Mart. For nearly eight years, I built a successful and rewarding career as a stylist, working with artists and creatives while developing my eye for fashion and my ability to create looks that captured a person’s individual style and personality.

Although I loved styling, I eventually felt that I was ready to challenge myself and expand my career into television and film. When I made that transition, I quickly learned that styling and costuming are two very different worlds. I was fortunate to have people in the industry guide me through that transition, beginning my television and film career as a buyer and set costumer.

As a buyer, I quickly learned how to shop for characters and understand the importance of wardrobe in telling a story. I began to understand that costume is not simply about putting together great clothes—it is about understanding a character, the script, the director’s vision, the period, the environment, and how every piece of clothing helps communicate something about the story.

My first major television opportunity came through the BET Network, where I worked on Sunday Best. I then went on to work on Reed Between the Lines, starring Tracee Ellis Ross and the late Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Working on those projects confirmed for me that television and film were where I wanted to build the next chapter of my career.

As I continued to grow in the industry, I worked as a set costumer on television shows such as Single Ladies and on feature films including The Hunger Games, Hidden Figures, and Life of the Party, to name a few. Each production gave me the opportunity to learn more about the craft, work with talented teams, and develop a deeper understanding of how costume supports character and storytelling.

After several years working as a costumer, I was promoted to Assistant Costume Designer, which allowed me to take on more creative responsibility and become more involved in the overall vision of a production. In this role, I worked on television projects such as The Quad and feature films including Step Sisters, Best of Enemies, Drumline, and A Fall From Grace, among others.

A Fall From Grace was a particularly important milestone in my career because it introduced me to working as an Assistant Costume Designer on a feature film under the Tyler Perry Studios umbrella.

At the end of 2016, I went to Tyler Perry Studios to work on television shows and movies, and I never left. What began as another opportunity to grow within the industry ultimately became a major chapter in my career. Since then, I have had the opportunity to work on numerous productions at the studio, continuing to grow, learn, and take on greater creative responsibility.

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?
Looking back it has not always been a smooth road, but I can say I always was optimistic about life so it helped with problem solving. Like for instance, I hit a brick road in Atlanta when music videos and fashion shows were dying down and work was not so plentiful. Because there was a time where I could turn down jobs or pass them to talented people I knew because it was so much work coming my way. So when I realized work was slowing down I didn’t wait for it to stop that’s when I pivoted into working in tv & film because that industry was on the rise in Atlanta.

But it wasn’t an easy foot in the door or even in east transition. I had to get out and network interview. Then once I was hired to work on my first tv show I had to learn all the ins and outs of the costume department and continuity, reading and breaking down a script to understand the wardrobe changes, and so much more detail and moving parts in a costume department for tv & film. I had a lot to learn with styling vs costuming. So the learning curve intense however my positive outlook and willingness to learn helped with the transition.

Sometimes we get so comfortable that when we reach a bump in a road that causes us to reset it can feel like it sets your life back. But sometimes the setback was the set up for the life change you need.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As the lead costume designer at Tyler Perry Studios, I design majority of the tv shows and movies at the studio. I am the head of my costume department there and I create the wardrobe looks for the characters for the shows. I have to read the script, breakdown the script so I understand what is happening in each scenes with the characters to create the looks. I have a costume crew for each project and they all have roles within the department. I love to stay in my creative space to create looks and fit the actors in the looks but there is so much more that has to happen in a costume department outside of shopping, creating the looks, and fitting the actors in the clothing. There is a full staff 10-25 people working in the costume department on projects and everyone has specific roles that are all important to get the job done.

Some of the projects I am most proud of that I costume designed are Why Did I Get Married Again, Beauty In Black, All The Queens Men, Mea Culpa and Straw to name a few.

I believe my background in fashion taught me how to see clothing creatively, while my years in television and film taught me how to use costume as a storytelling tool. My journey has been about growth, taking chances, embracing new challenges, and never being afraid to evolve.

I am proud of how far I have come, but I am even more excited about where my creativity and passion for costume design will take me next.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Over the years, my experience, dedication, and passion for the craft have allowed me to advance to Lead Costume Designer at Tyler Perry Studios. Looking back, I can see how every stage of my journey—from fashion shows and music videos to buying, set costuming, assisting, and ultimately designing—prepared me for where I am today. I want to continue to encourage young and old people never give up on your dreams. Everyone has a purpose in life.

Finding your purpose is not always about having everything figured out; sometimes, it is about being willing to follow the path that keeps calling you, even when the path changes along the way. Living in your purpose means recognizing the gifts, talents, and passions that were placed inside of you and having the courage to use them to create something meaningful. It is understanding that every experience, every success, every setback, every unexpected turn, can prepare you for where you are meant to be. When you are living in your purpose, your work becomes more than just a career; it becomes an extension of who you are. You are no longer simply chasing opportunities, you are walking in alignment with what you were created to do, and there is a fulfillment that comes from knowing you are exactly where you are supposed to be.

Contact Info:

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