Today we’d like to introduce you to Maxxi.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I come from a background of singers, writers, dancers, and creatives. Growing up I was always interested in entertainment but was overtly shy to do any of those things. My mom and grandmother started putting me in different classes and lessons at a young age, and that helped build my confidence, but it was never out of my own interest. I’m glad they pushed me though because it gave me an opportunity to explore what I truly had an interest in, and it continuously pushed me out of my comfort zone. Since elementary school I would join the chorus, art clubs, performing arts classes, and fashion shows at every school I went to or in the city I lived in at the time. The commitment and love for it all convinced me to turn these hobbies into a profession. It started out in girl groups, studying music performance in college, booking freelance modeling gigs, and steadily grew from there. I had plenty of hiccups, but I appreciate every turn on my journey because it has made me who I am today. I’m most recognized for my modeling experience in runway and singing to some, but I wear many hats and steer away from boxing myself into one niche, talent, or skill. Music and modeling have a deep hold on me, and acting follows right behind that, but I also love working behind the scenes in all of those areas. I’m so grateful that I’ve found what I think is my purpose in all these passions and that is to share the gifts that God gave me to the world in hopes that it encourages others to do the same and grants them true happiness and joy for life itself. Life can be hard when you’re not doing what you love or are destined to do, so stop depriving the world of your unique greatness and live in your truth!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I want to be successful, and I don’t think any story about someone with notable success has been exempt from any kind of struggle. It hasn’t been a smooth road for me. Some challenges I’ve faced along my journey are dropping from college several times, homelessness (living on people’s couches/sharing rooms), being completely broke, and having to start from scratch over and over again. That’s not easy at all and bringing it up reminds me how strong I had to be to get out of that cycle and broken mental head space. To be quite honest, I’m still fighting. My biggest battle so far has been dealing with grief from the loss of all my grandparents (Mary, Robert, Esther, and Eugene), my father (Eugene Jones), my brother (Randy Jones), and my cat (Mint) all within the past couple of years. It’s hard waking up and knowing they’re not with me anymore. I wish they could be here to witness how far I’ve come thanks to their love and support. May their souls rest in pure peace and I hope I’m making them proud. I have my days where I want to quit and where I do quit, but I know that’s just a temporary mental obstacle meant to keep me from achieving all that I desire and what they truly wanted for me so I have no choice but to keep shining and winning for them and the people I still have with me in this life.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m known for a lot of things to many different people, so I like to consider myself an all-around creative. I started as a singer and music artist then transitioned into the modeling and acting industry in my teens. I have about 8 years of freelance modeling experience in runway, editorial, sports, and retail e-commerce. I’m currently seeking agency representation and management to assist in furthering my modeling career, but I will admit that I love my freedom and ownership as a freelancer along with making new connections and friendships through every gig. I’m most proud of my consistency and dedication to my career. I let myself have those bad days when things get slow, but I always pick myself up and get right back into it. I love the work that I do and strive to build longevity within the fashion and entertainment industry. I believe my skills, personality, and experience, along with my unique look sets me apart from others. I don’t take it for granted, and I’m very grateful I have gained so much knowledge in this game since it ultimately plays a role in how I stand out as well.
We’d love to hear about what you think about risk-taking.
I believe that one of the most critical steps in any creative journey is taking risks. For myself, getting out of my comfort zone was a risk. I was a shy and reserved child, so putting myself out there and pursuing a career in music and modeling which involves being in the spotlight and exposing parts of me I’d normally only share with close friends and family was the biggest risk I’ve ever had to take. I had to give up my normalcy in order to achieve certain goals. To this day I’m not sure how such a fearful young lady grew the confidence to pose in front of a camera, sing on a stage, walk on a runway, and even collaborate, network, and build relationships with others. Being yourself, expressing yourself, and sharing your gifts and talents with the world in hopes that people will love and support you are high expectations to have because for most that can be a crushing and humbling experience. But regardless, you’ll never know what works or not unless you take risks. I definitely view myself as a risk-taker. I’ve taken a lot of risks, big and small, like asking for favors and monetary support, traveling to castings or auditions in other cities/states with barely any money to my name, showing up to photoshoots and networking events alone, messaging or emailing designers and music connects to grow my network, and even using my very last to invest in myself for a project or important gig. I owe it all to God for always looking out and miraculously providing for me. If it’s worth it, take the risk!
Contact Info:
- Website: maxxi.world
- Instagram: @hernameismaxxi
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/hernameismaxxi
- Other: www.hernameismaxxi.com
Image Credits
@blk.fgr
@papirobinsonjr
@dock.pro
@tommychungphotography
@jordyn.ari
@jdthecombo
@brendan_baul_photography
@hernameismaxxi
@hernameismaxxi
