Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Marie.
Alexis, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Growing up, being taller than average and slim, I was always told that I should model. It wasn’t until I was 13 years old, that I had my first taste of modeling. Through my uncle, I was able to walk in New Orleans Fashion Week. I’m from there, so it was great to have connections in the city. I had never walked in a fashion show before but it seemed like a natural transition from dancing my whole life. I knew I enjoyed being on stage, so the nervousness was not there. Everyone swooned over me and I was smitten with modeling. From there, I did photoshoots to get comfortable in front of the camera and walked in another fashion show at Essence Festival.
Two years passed and my mom was working at a medical office and returning calls, when she contacted a patient that worked at a local modeling agency in Columbia, South Carolina where I lived. It was kind of serendipitous. After handling what my mom had called about, she asked her how she could get her 15-year-old daughter into modeling. That week, my mom brought me into the agency to meet my soon to be mother agent. She groomed me, taught me how to walk, pose, do my hair and makeup, helped me grow out the thick eyebrows you see today! She helped me book test shoots, get comp cards and once I was ready she took me to New York to meet with larger agencies. I did amazing at the open showcase and got callbacks from all seven agencies, such as DNA, Elite, Ford, Wilhelmina and many more. They loved my look but my hips were “too wide.” That was hard to hear but I was determined to make measurements and return the next year. So, my mom got me a personal trainer and helped me eat healthy to lose some inches.
I returned the next summer and it was the same thing. I was torn. Then, my mother agent had set me up to go to a casting call in Atlanta for a smaller agency than the ones in New York. I nailed it and was signed on the spot. I was ecstatic to be signed because it felt like my hard work had finally paid off after all these years. I began booking jobs for Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth, Jeffrey Cares, making more money than any 17 years old could dream of. I was doing so well, I was able to graduate high school a semester early to pursue my dreams of modeling professionally. The months passed and I knew I had to go to college in the fall, but I did not know where. I wanted to go to a military college but I did not want to put modeling on hold. So, I decided to attend a local technical college my freshman year so I was able to still pursuit modeling and attend class.
My first year rapidly passed and I had to make the decision to reapply to my initial college of choice, the military college both my brothers had attended previously. So, I did and prepared to put modeling on hold as I would have to cut my hair in my first year there. I went off and was able to do some minor modeling when I was home for the holidays and summer but it was not enough. I was not happy because I was not doing what I loved. It was not until my senior year during the spring semester, I decided to do something about it. I wanted to walk in Charleston Fashion Week, where I attended school, so I managed to work around my cheer, class, and military schedule, to make castings, fittings, rehearsals and of course the actual shows. That was huge for me. From walking in CFW, I signed to my second agency based out of Greensboro, North Carolina.
A month after graduation, I began working in a corporate office. I knew this was not what I wanted to do, but it had to be done. Thankfully, my boss was understanding my dreams of modeling and allowed me to miss work for shoots from time to time. I worked there for about a year until I was fed up with going to work miserable every day. I had finally put in my two weeks notice. I had no plan of what I was going to do or how I was going to provide for myself, but I knew I needed to take this leap of faith. I struggled financially for about a year as I was finding my footing in this new world for me. While I wasn’t booking as many paid jobs, I was networking with photographers and getting free photoshoots to post on my Instagram. From there, other photographers started to notice me and wanted to work with me. I started to build my social media and make Maria Kills my brand. I started having companies reach out to me to do promo work and that’s when I became an influencer. Instagram was my calling card. I had celebrities, huge companies, the best of the best photographers following me and noticing my work. I booked reality tv jobs and worked with many celebrities.
My social media had become my business. I was doing more for myself than any agent had ever done for me. Fast forward to present day, I rebranded myself and revamped my book and began working with my initial agency again and that in combination with my work on social media, has been the best thing ever for me. I created my own lane and a perfect balance for myself. It is what works for me.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been a smooth road by any means. I’ve had many doors opened and many doors slammed in my face. I’ve been told no many times but I did not take it as a no but just a not yet. I truly believe in God’s timing and God was just telling me not yet. I had to grow as an individual, grow in my faith, learn hard lessons, become stronger and make wiser decisions before God was going to bless me with the success I knew I was destined for. I’ve been told my hips were “too wide” when I was skinny already. I’ve missed many opportunities due to college, my job and just not being able to make it, I believe everything happens for a reason and that opportunity just was not meant for me.
The advice I would give to other women is simple, do not give up. You have to have perseverance and be strong in knowing what’s meant to be will be and what’s for you, will be for you. There is no blueprint to success. Every successful person found their way to success through their own failures and what worked for them. Also, in the era of social media be mindful not to be envious of people that you follow because you do not know what they are going through, what they did to get to where they are and remember, no one is posting their failures. My advice for young women who are just starting out on their journey is to stay true to you. A lot of people will try to change you to become “what works” but no one can be more you, than you and that’s what makes you so dope and stand out from the crowd. Be you, everyone else is already taken.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a model and influencer. I started out as a model and my work was not really seen due to my clientele, however, once I started utilizing my social media more, I was able to crossover and become an influencer. Social media is a job in itself, but I am a model first and foremost. I specialize in modeling and I’m known for my height of six feet, my thick eyebrows and my Instagram name Maria Kills. I’m most proud of as a brand, how far I have come and although I am not a household name, I feel like I am on the way to becoming one. Eleven years in the game and I am finally getting the recognition I deserve. My energy and personality are what sets me apart from the others. My favorite compliment to receive is how dope my energy is, how chill I am and not like the rest and how pure my vibe is. I am often told my energy radiates through my pictures.
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
I definitely feel like the experiences I had growing up playing a huge role in setting me up for success later in life because my dad was in the Army and instilled an impeccable work ethic in me. I do not half-ass anything in my life and I perfect everything I do. My mom is also the strongest person I know. Through the adversity she faced in her own life, she made sure that I never wanted for anything. She gave me everything she did not have and more. She is my biggest supporter and will walk to the end of the earth for me. She provided me with the tough love and nurturing I needed to become the woman I am today. I truly wouldn’t be anywhere without my parents. They gave me the world and continue to every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mariakills.com
- Email: booking.mariakills@gmail.com
- Instagram: @mariakills_
Image Credit:
@shotbysed, @breonnacollier, @brianleahyphoto, @thecamkilla, @ahmadbarber
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