Today we’d like to introduce you to Jalynn Brannon.
Hi Jalynn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Since 2011, I’ve been going by Bigthickk! I lived most of my younger years in Nashville, Tennessee and moved to Atlanta in the middle of middle school! This was a big change but also helped me grow and learn how to adapt to this fast-moving world! I have always been “bigger”, and I never beat myself up about it! So, starting in new school in the middle of the year was nerve-racking but it helped me come into my personality! I’ve always had a vibrant and fun demeanor so making friends came east to me! Soon after I was settled in, I wanted to challenge myself and tried out for cheerleading in 8 grade year, and I made it! I was so happy to start this new chapter in my life because I knew I had not only the attitude but physical ability to exceed at the sport. All my life, I have been extremely flexible and a fast learner so picking up the routines and stunts came with ease. When I started high school, my confidence was at an all-time high and my determination was to succeed at anything people thought a plus-size girl couldn’t do! Of course, I tried out for high school cheerleading and got it each year, which helped me get comfortable in front of crowds and cameras. Not to mention that the standards and requirements for high school cheerleading definitely went up, physically I had to push myself harder and mentally, I had to prepare for society’s thoughts on a “Fat” cheerleader.
Around 2011, on the way to a game I put the most two important adjectives together that describes me to a T: Bigthickk! She was like my persona, alter ego, someone who didn’t take no for an answer, someone who didn’t let her weight stop her! Then senior year, I got an opportunity to model for a friend photography class assignment and fell in love with being in front of the camera even more, it just felt natural. I was living the typical high school dream, whole class of friends, cheer captain, school’s most spirited, All-American cheerleader and Prom Queen. So after riding this high, I graduated high school and attend Kennesaw State University, where I took my skills and talent in modeling to another level! Since I chose to be a communication major, I had no problem talking to any and everybody and gaining network connections. Through that, I met a lot of good Photographers and started booking shoots and Fashion show on a weekly basis. Since then, I have worked with multiple Boutiques, Bodypaint artists, Music artists and brands all around Atlanta. I have done Multiple brand Ambassador projects with names like: Juicy body goddess, J. ALAN clothing, and Craze above. Modeling has expanded my creative freedom where I have became an Instagram/ TIKTOK Influencer and constantly pushing content that introduces me to multiple people in the industry like LIL yachty and comedian Druski. I have had one of my pictures posted on Alicia Keys Instagram, and also Cardi B retweeted a dance video I created to her song “Up”. So with all my hard work and pushing myself past the things I’m comfortable with, I’m slowly being offered better opportunities and ways to not only showcase what I offer as a model but who I am as a person.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Modeling is definitely a slippery slope, one day you can be a hit and the next your dropped. In life, the things that come easy to us leave the fastest so when I look back on my journey, I’d rather see the bumps in the road then smooth pavement. When I first got started, my main obstacle was find reliable opportunities because people can book you for a shoot and don’t even show up. I eventually found a Facebook group pages, where I was able to connect to more models and photographer who were having the same problems as me. Those pages really helped me in finding people who could shoot at any moment if needed, but with that you do run into some creeps who are looking for unprofessional work and were not serious about the job. Another obstacle I ran into being a Plus Size model was finding brands that had my size, most only went up to a large or size 12. I always thought that if they didn’t have clothes, I could just model accessories and shoes but being “curvy” didn’t fit their image. I attended multiple models calls where I was the only plus size model there and I still would not get booked. So when they say “bigger models don’t get booked” I felt that every time I didn’t get a callback. With every setback, there’s a comeback and I found my niche of plus-size brands and boutiques where I’ve done the best modeling yet. It wasn’t till recently that brands actually made themselves size-inclusive. Lastly, the struggle that affects me the most would be finding the opportunity that is going to get you the “big break into the industry”.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Right now, I’m working at the airport for Delta on the ramp, but I hope to join their corporate Communication team in the near future. When I’m not at work or modeling, I am creating art and doing multiple DIY projects. I love creating beautiful moving pieces of art that show a window into my life outside of my professional life! I also spend a lot of my time gardening, this past season I grew some Mammoth sunflowers and sold the seed it produced to people in my community and employees at work! Lastly, I also do hair mainly on friends and family right now. I strive to be a jack of all trades: hair, nails, lashes, you name it!!!!
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
This is always the best question because most people try to gatekeep the secret in fear someone will outdo them in the same area but not me. First thing I tell anyone starting something new and scary is, “just do it, take the chance, the worst they can tell you is ‘no’ and I rather that then wondering ‘what if'”. I hate thinking that I should have done something I didn’t do because I was “scared’, you never know until you try and if it doesn’t work out, then that opportunity just wasn’t for you. Secondly, get on Facebook Group pages and make connections, then get some headshots for your portfolio. Lastly, create every social media outlet out there and post your content, send it to magazines, agencies and brands you want to work for! Never get discouraged because you never know where one opportunity can take you!
Pricing:
- Book for a shoot (1hour= $100)
- Cost Per TikTok: ($100 -150) depending on length
- Insta Post ($150 per post)
- Insta reel ($140-$200)
- Insta Story ($50/day; $80/2days)
Contact Info:
- Email: jalynnbrannon@gmail.com
- Website: https://jalynnbrannon.wixsite.com/jalynnbrannon
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/bigthickk
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jalynn.brannon
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/bigthickk
- Other: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRMQ263G/
Image Credits
Blazer – cody pace (ig @opticsforus) yellow top- chyna (ig @portraitsbychina) black bathing suit sam (ig @hinavisuals) silver dress telvin (ig @thelightismymuse) leaf- Phil (@gregxstudios) black and white (@mr.maylink)
