Meet Jana Lilly

Jana, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My mom was diagnosed with agoraphobia & severe anxiety at a young age. Years before she was aesthetician and a fashionista. I remember her making her own looks that are coming out today! However, These things restricted her from living a normal life, constantly with worry and fear. Her sisters, my aunts, always took me out school shopping, and to my games.

I always had to have a say so in what I would be wearing for the day. I dressed with the intention of being the center of attention. I loved styling my mom and my aunts for their day or their dates. Let’s not get started on school shirts. Going shopping was like real-life flying (of course it would be when it wasn’t my hard-earned money lol). Because my mom couldn’t be there with me, I couldn’t wait to get home to put on a show! The first walk ever in life I did was for my mom. And she let me have it, class was in session. Shoulders back, chin up, eyes straight, chest out and relax. I had fallen in love! On the plus side, growing up an Italian I had already been accustom to hairspray. Eventually, it grew from shows for mom & family to shows for the mall, to full-on runway fashion shows! What can I say, the camera loves me.

Has it been a smooth road?
Besides my mom being diagnosed at the age of 30 with her ailments, she had me at the late age of 40. As soon as I became understanding of what our situation was I knew I had to help. I could see relying on the family for help was adding stress, I tried to do everything I knew I could just so we wouldn’t have to ask. First job was at ten years old, making pizza boxes. I would walk to the grocery store shop the extremely specified 2-page list, and push the buggie 2 miles home and up the stairs every single month. A few years later, my mom found the fire in herself to claim independence and became self-employed.

As a 54-year-old woman working as hard as she was, I knew it was important to help lighten her load as much as I could. I went with her to every single job and helped her get through every tough job. My mom gave her all for me, and now I get a chance to give it all back. She took care of my grandparents, her parents, for five long years. And now I have had the pleasure of taking care of my mom full time for five years now in counting! I love having her live with me, the advice the cooking and most of all the fashion shows continue! I love watching her light up when I’m sharing all of my work with her. She thinks I’m so beautiful and great at what I do and I just hope she sees herself in me. because thats my favorite part, when I see her in myself

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am a fashion, commercial, and runway model. I am most known for looking 5’9 while standing tall at 5’4. I have a knack for making my legs appear to be longer than what they are. I am most proud of how far I have come to be as short as I am, with as many tattoos as I have. Proud to be a rebel and go against all odds and conquer. I believe I have no fear to be me. You can like me love me hate me whatever just enjoy me. I have a huge heart, and I am beyond randomly goofy. Most importantly my imagination still lives on.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Atlanta is an amazing place to become and be whoever you choose to be. This is one of the greatest places to meet people coming in and out all over the world. Now that it’s growing, so are the opportunities. I am also a history nut and no matter where you look , there’s history everywhere, life-changing history.

And of course, the number one thing everyone cant stand but contributes to is good ol traffic. It’s not so bad after I turn my car into a full-on karaoke concert