Today we’d like to introduce you to Viva Bradley.
Viva, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My story starts with a young girl who had dreams bigger than the heels she wore around her mother’s kitchen floor. This girl came from a small town called Cartersville, GA. She was a fashionista that wanted nothing more than to be the next top model of her generation. She eventually grew up and realized that she wasn’t just going to be a model. She had the brains to become a college graduate, a proud representation of a model for women of color, and a future activist for women empowerment of loving the skin that you’re in. This young girl is me.
I am blessed to have the opportunity to work with multiple business owners and creators in modeling and collaborating ideas for all the world to see. It definitely wasn’t always this way for me. Every opportunity, I had to encourage myself that I was good enough. I had to remind myself that no one was going to hand me success. I had to hustle and fight through in order to be seen. I had to realize that sometimes you’re not always going to have people cheering you on. You are your biggest supporter and your loudest cheerleader, so own it!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My journey in the modeling world has definitely had its up and downs. I’ve had to learn how to grow a thicker skin when it comes to my appearance. I’ve had to hear a thousand no’s before I heard one yes, and even be told by modeling agency’s that you don’t have the look and maybe this isn’t the career for you. To be told that you don’t have the “model look”, would have been the end to most girl’s modeling careers. How can you argue with someone that has been in the industry for years and has seen every look in the book? Being the Latina that I am, of course I wasn’t going to accept that answer. I knew deep down I had a God given passion for this art.
Life so far has shown me that not everything is going to go your way. Sometimes you’re going to have to reflect on situations and understand that everything happens for a reason. God introduces us to situations and people when we’re ready to take it on. If I didn’t get booked for a job or get the opportunity to work with certain major companies, it was because I wasn’t ready for it. I currently never let a no stop me from my dreams, but sometimes you’re going to hear no more than you’d like to. My best advice is for this is to understand that if you have an undying passion for something then it will come true. No matter how much money you have or the number of followers on Instagram, you will be noticed.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I am first a student. I currently study marketing at Georgia Highlands College and I plan to transfer to Georgia State in the summer. I also freelance model for commercial shoots, runways’, and contribute to some ambassador work. I absolutely love being able to work with other creators to capture breathtaking images that make me feel proud to represent Atlanta. I have recently been published in Vogue magazine and Dark Beauty Magazine for some beautiful editorial pieces.
To add to my resume, I am also a singer/ song writer. I plan on writing my own songs in the future and hopefully finding the perfect, producer to vibe with and create crazy compositions. I’ve been a dancer for five years as well and I dance anything from hip-hop to contemporary. My favorite style of dance would have to be salsa and bachata. I could dance the night away and forget everything around me when I’m dancing to this music. I act and co-host a podcast called Behind the Culture l Atl. We talk about everything and anything! We love to discuss life, love, and food especially from an ATL point of view. We shout out local business going on in ATL and organizations that give back to the community. I share this platform with two of my co-hosts, Imani Brown and Garett Eldred. They are a constant blessing that reminds me to be a humble and open-hearted person.
I think what really sets me apart from the rest, is my drive and hard work for everything in my life. I’ve been told that I’m the type of person to be so focused on a project that my friends and family will wonder where I am because I stay so busy. I try to make an effort to stay connected with my loved ones, but my actions have shown them that all the hours and days away from them aren’t for nothing. I’ve had to give up so much in order to be where I am today, and they respect that. It takes determination and discipline to be able to say no to chilling and hanging out over working hours on a set. It may not sound ideal to others, but I truly enjoy what I do. I want to keep on this journey and let the blessings keep coming. I am set on knowing that I will leave a legacy and having people remember the who I was and what I stood for.
Contact Info:
- Address: 360 Pharr Rd Atlanta, Georgia
- Phone: (678) 848-7665
- Email: morgan.bradley62@yahoo.com
- Instagram: @vivalabreannas
Image Credit:
Max Pierre, Carrie Brown, Banvoa, Geno Snaps, Bianca Estela
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