Today we’d like to introduce you to Maya Turner.
Hi Maya, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Where can I even begin, I had a very rough start
But isn’t how all success stories start out.
I was dealing with the fact that my grandfather was dying, and he only had a short few months and he passed away July 1 six days before my birthday. He suffered from MDS. Its a type of cancer that stopped certain cells in the body and without being able to fight it it can lead to an illness that some people can fight it and can’t. When I first got started in modeling in 2019.
I was in between leaving a job that I was not ready to end because I love and have a passion for teaching and working with children in children with disabilities. Dealing with my grandfather’s illness it made it difficult to really figure out what was the best decision for me to do for work. But I couldn’t figure it out. I knew that I needed to figure out what I wanted to do because life was really showing me what I had to soon get ready for but I really honestly haven’t never figure that out graduating from high school, in 2012. I just went with the flow maintaining a job
Going to community college ( and there’s nothing wrong with going to community college I just was undecided on what I wanted to do ) pretty much making sure I had the main important things I needed under my belt to maintain life as a single parent.
That’s when I decided to start, living and making my passions a career.
One of my passions that I love is music that’s my biggest career goal
But at the time I was too nervous to let anyone hear me sing so it was the best opportunity for me to engage in my modeling journey, in 2019. Modeling has gave me the inspiration to pursue all my passions. I am currently 28. I will be 29 on July 7. Cancer baby, but at the time in 2019 January, I lost 125 pounds, weighing at last ending 2018 of March. I’ve never had any type of self-love or worth for myself.
I was always a heavy girl when I was younger and only had one relationship
That I received an amazing daughter out of it. But I really lost my purpose when I didn’t know who I was after my daughters father walked out on us when she was six months
But just like the season come and go. Every season has its ending, and every season has its beginning. And that’s where my season started when I first went to LA with the blessing of my dying grandfather who paid for my first plane ticket where i first became published in, not just 1 and not just 2 but 3 magazines by the way did I mention that was my first time stepping into the industry were out and taking a chance with faith
I knew that my start that my grandfather gave me was the key to unlocking all my dreams I just had to continue to put the work in and I’m so blessed that even though he’s not here anymore he definitely was my angel in disguise. Now that is 2022 my obstacles have of course reached in different ways that I thought I would never be able to pick back up and get back started in modeling again or even talking.
I was raped in August 2021 and because I suffer from PTSD that same week I ended up in a car accident. Having to take a few months away from social media and working on myself from August last year to finally stepping back into social media April this year definitely help me regain strength and energy and it has also put me in the right position that I need to get to my destinations with me understanding and now having more skills for my mental state and spiritual self , that I have now is so empowering
And to have modeling as my open door to speak up and out about the challenges that I faced and how certain skills allowed me to develop a different mindset to be able to strengthen and cleanse, I’m glad I’m able to express myself in fine communities that also relate to my pictures brings me such fulfillment, that I can show others how to self love themselves, and to let your authentic self shine because it does wonders when you do, modeling allows me to do all that in one. Things happen for a reason and now I’m in a position where I can make this a full-time career along with many more other passions and dreams that I have. It’s all about self love,mental healing, patience and dedication. The best part about my modeling career is that my daughter has picked up a liking to it and her watching me on TV and see me walk on runways, it’s such an amazing feeling.
I love the confidence that it brings her without her being fearful or feel like she cant because you can. And I’m living proof.
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?
My journey to self-love was through Modeling. Its a great way for me to really express my emotions, especially when people came to ask me about my dieting and weight-loss journey, which if it wasn’t for Instacurve products, I honestly don’t think I would’ve been able to pull off my weight loss, and looks so divine.
to top it off I ended up working for the company by becoming a model for the fitness brand and I have been still since 2018, until now. It’s amazing what a picture can really stand for & capture and being able to find myself after all these years of not loving myself really made me never want to fall back into not knowing my worth again. When I first decided to start with my modeling, it didn’t work well but as I continued my second-month go-round I ended up being published in a magazine in Atlanta called “Cream magazine “ my first year in 2019 as well as being published in “CIE fashion magazine” in LA. Following being published in another magazine in Las Vegas called “The LAxperience”. I have walked for fashion shows such as “the walk of fashion” and “The Model Experience” twice during fashion week. And I’m actually going to be walking for them again for a New York fashion week in September and Ally fashion week again in October so definitely follow my story to follow how you can keep up with me walking in action . I’ve also worked with “ Busta rhymes“ in his music video under DV casting agency as well as a YouTuber name “prettyboyfredo”. I started off as a freelance model. I was not expecting much as I had no training or a team other than 2 females that I’ve seen who model for a while, so I was grateful to have there advice on how to pursue and what to look for it when entering a career like this without a team or any type of guidance but I’ve pushed through and believe in myself and because of that I finally found my passion and more importantly, started it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My next chapter Is getting involved into my music next along with acting, being an entrepreneur is really hard to just stay connected with one dream. Working with major artists and celebrity photographers has been a blessing. It really shows how much work you put into yourself to be on platforms like the ones I’ve been on so far and receiving other industries and agencies who views your work. I do enjoy everything that modeling has to offer. From losing weight to self-love from fashion to being an influencer and having such great creativity to express. Modeling isn’t just about Fashion and wearing makeup and having to be a size 2 on a strict diet.
it really is about being a leader and loving who you are and allowing your authentic self to shine.
There’s no wrong when it comes to Fashion; it allows you to be true to who you are and becoming. It also gives you the motivation to manifest your dreams and see yourself before you even get there and allows communities to see you being you and OK with it. It makes you want to continue to love yourself and be able to live & show the world who you are by living in your true form…
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?
Of course, there were some obstacles and challenges along the way; working with unprofessional photographers with no manager or team agency really helping you or with you can be very alarming when you are coming into an industry with no knowledge or skills. Especially being a female
But that doesn’t mean you can’t succeed. Reaching out to people who have been “Modeling” in the industry for a while longer than I have At the time has helped me a lot with making sure that I am not walking into an unprofessional or unsafety shoot and that I had the correct questions to ask before even meeting with the photographer or the person booking me. The hardest part about modeling sometimes for me is my health can play a major role with me dealing with two types of cancers l; however it also allows me to keep pushing through because I know that I’m making my mark for sure.
Of course, it’s hard when you’re not following the traditional path that your family might have planned for you but it’s important for you to live through the vision that you were shown especially if it’s positive and can help change lives. Sadly 2019, losing my grandfather definitely shaped me into figuring out what I needed to do. I guess you can say it gave me fire underneath that ass to push thru
Remember I did say that, recently 2021 I got into an accident where I suffered from PTSD from being sexually assaulted. After facing a major trauma, it has been a little bit hard getting back on my feet. I do feel like my story needs to be heard and I’m fighting for my voice to be back and now that I have a way more better understanding of mental illness, I have managed to have more tools to handle the new obstacles that will be faced with along with new challenges & blessings that I Will be receiving.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Currently, I am out of work due to disability but I was working as a teacher amazon and a waitress. I’ve always managed to have a series of jobs but I really have a major passion for music its been my biggest passion , And I would say I am no longer nervous about having a voice of mind being heard. So I’m excited about getting into more of my authentic self and modeling has really opened up the door for me to feel confident enough to open up doors that I never thought I would be able to see myself in. I am looking to work more ways and since I am looking to move to Atlanta actually this year of 2022, this is a great location for me to be able to network and for q refresh start for my daughter and I and also my modeling and musical career as well. I’ve also I am coming out with my podcast in the next month talking about mental illness and really giving a lot more clarity and skills with the tools to help people who are looking to learn more and need some healing guidance in their life. But also to maintain that confidence to go for what they wanna do and go for what makes them feel alive.
I really enjoy being an entrepreneur; it allows me to strategize all my passions more rather than work in one area. I have really big dreams in giving back & bring communities together talking about mental illness and so love to our young & older generation, Will really allow people to put fear to the side and go for their dreams.
Once I conquered loving myself, my competition is only me at this point. And what sets me apart from others is that the person that I became and is still becoming is the person who I envisioned years ago. I just didn’t know how to let her
( me ) be free. The one thing that I’ve learned about myself is that I have the ability to conquer anything I set my mind to. Besides my looks besides the clothes, When I come to work, I always give my thousand percent. My journey has made me a very strong alpha female and when I set my mind to something, I’ll get it done. I do have a loving heart and I am not a person that’s just going to walk over someone who doesn’t know where to go. I have no problem showing someone the directions and giving them the skills to get them to their destinations not quicker but with more knowledge and understanding getting there.
I don’t believe in knocking someone when they’re off their high horse; I believe fixing a crown is how you continue to receive your blessings and that makes you who you are.
I’m a leader, not a follower and I’m building a strong empire that you definitely want to be a part of, with the skills an the faith with grace and believing in my spiritual higher power
That everything will work out the way they were meant to go as long as I’m putting in the work I’m already great.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy is being a mother. I never had the greatest relationship with my mother nor do I have a father that’s in my life and with my grandfather passing it’s definitely made it more alarming to make the small memories count. After my daughter’s father walked out when she was six months, I was attending college and working two jobs all loving a single mother for the first time. Trying to pay bills and having a 6month baby, definitely kept me going in that dark moment. Of course, I flunked my finals in college because of the major load I had to take on in 2016
Somehow something about my daughter, she always knew how to make me laugh when I came home from long days at work and seeing what new facial expressions
I would receive and being able to share her first walk & her first word was such an amazing reward. Just to
be able to see her growth and now that she’s in school and is now 6 since her birthday was May 20 shows me how much work I put in already , time has really flew by so quickly that she’s the reason why I continue to go this hard and not give up just to see her smile every day just to see her excitement just to see her confidence that she’s picked up from even watching me conquer my dreams has allowed her self-esteem to be so high that she knows she can do anything and having someone like her in my life when faced with moments of darkness , has given me the light at the end of my tunnel to keep pushing thru
Especially when things seem like it’s too much pressure
she definitely knows how to make you laugh. I named my daughter Melanie besides me Loving music she used to always bounce and kickbin my stomach when I played her
Instrumentals or certain music and if I stopped she would kick so much for my left side, I knew that she was going to be a handful. But more importantly she had a thing for music and connect l with it so easily and quickly
I love to sing, I love everything singing and music offers just like fashion music allows me to find the words that I can’t express when I am down and depressed or mad even . When I say there’s something that makes me feel so close to God, it makes me feel like I’m OK and I’m at peace
Pricing:
- $100 an hour
- $100nudity (including lingerie, Half or full nudity, Bathing suit)
- $80 for traveling out of the state
- $150 Hair and makeup (No artists or MUA)
- $35 non-deposit booking fee
Contact Info:
- Email: Maya.adore93@gmail.com
- Website: https://instagram.com/mayaa_dore?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/mayaa_adoreee?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/MsThingg
Image Credits:
Smdvision, dvcasting, themodelexperience, Creammagazine, thelaxperience, ciefashionmagazine theoffbeatmuse, unitedcasting agency.
