Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Brown.
Natalie, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Of course! So my name is Natalie Brown however I go by Natalie Diane. I’m from Trenton New Jersey, lived in Birmingham, Alabama most of my life and recently moved to Georgia to pursue my dream. I knew I wanted to be in the industry ever since my uncle asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I told him a rockstar. Being a teacher, doctor or lawyer never crossed my mind. I actually didn’t fully get started until I was in middle and high school. My mom would take me to casting calls and I would sit there forever even though I was told yes we never was able to go through with for financial reasons. After high school I stopped modeling until it was my junior year and senior year in college that’s when I found my love for modeling again. I started with a troupe in college called Forever Young Modeling Troupe, where I was able to do college fashion shows and some photoshoots that I was able to set up.
Once I graduated I knew I wanted to take this career path seriously so I started with a troupe back home and then I was signed with an agency in Birmingham Al. This agency Kurvy Girl Model Management allowed me to build my name in the city of Birmingham Al. I’ve done photoshoots, runway shows, brand ambassador work, radio appearances, extra work from tv shows like Star (FOX) and The Quad (BET). After leaving Kurvy Girls, I decided to pursue my dream as a freelance model still. So that brings me to where I am today—walking in NYFW, The Model Experience in LA and Miami Swim Week. Also, being able to shoot for brands in Birmingham as well as Georgia! And I’m not even close to being done.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth road for me. I was growing up in New Jersey and Philly, where my sister and I had been picked on for being different. Kids would throw eggs at our car and house window and try to fight us for no reason. We were only in elementary school. But that’s how my whole life has been from elementary to high school kids picked on me and I had little to know friends. Even teachers throughout college would tell me I’d fail. Starting out modeling when I was younger, I wasn’t the most confident person. Because I got bullied, I never really thought I was as beautiful as my mom used to tell me. But not only did me getting bullied make this a hard journey, but me being scammed out of so much money; well, me and my mom. There were events that we went to and I would get picked automatically which made me super excited because I knew this was what I wanted to do. But then they would ask for hundreds sometimes thousands of dollars and not until I got older did I realize I was being scammed. So sometimes of my mom had the money she would pay it because she knew this was something I was passionate about. Later on, I learned you should never pay money for auditions or casting calls.
Another thing that stood in the way of me pursuing my dreams the why I wanted to and knew I needed to was when I gained all my weight in college. I went from 125 to almost 200 pounds. I was told I was “too big” to be a model. So I worked my butt off to lose that weight and proved so many people wrong. Even from me being 29 years old, I still get comments that say you’re too old you need to be settled down in a career with kids. But that will never make me happy if way. Through all my adversities, I was able to show people I can conquer any and everything is thrown my way.
Please tell us about your work.
My brand goes by the name of Natalie Diane the way this name came about is by me contemplating what I wanted my “stage name” or model name to be. I asked my sorority sister and her response was, “Natalie you’ve made it so far with your name alone and by being yourself why change that?” That responded amazed me so I decided to use that. I’m a model, act, a brand ambassador, host, and personality here in Atlanta, Georgia. However, I started my brand in my 2nd hometown Birmingham Alabama (Trenton NJ is my first). I inspire the youth that no matter what stands in your way chasing your dream is the most important thing. I also teach that bullying is not okay. No matter the form. I’m anti-bullying because it’s not cool nor is it fun to experience. The things I’m most proud of is that I’m a small-town girl that was able to pack up her bags and walk-in NYFW, Miami Swim Week and The Model Experience in LA—also being able to pick everything up and move to a different state to pursue my dream. Reaching young people and allowing them to see that anything they put their mind to is possible. I look a my niece and nephew and I see that they have big dreams and this is important to show them that it’s possible. Never stop dreaming. My brand is different from everyone else by me being me and I’m not afraid of failure. I’m not afraid to be the person I was called to be anymore. At first, I was but now nothing or no one can stop me.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
That’s a pretty good question. So I think it’s safe to say almost everyone has had their fair share of good and bad luck. For me, it’s been hard work and determination so when it comes to good luck and bad luck. I feel like it’s the same as success and failure. In life we all have obstacles that stand in our way but it’s all about how we react to those obstacles. So my life hasn’t been easy but it hasn’t been the worst either. So comparing the two for me is difficult because I’ve had my good days and bad days. But I’ve always was able to look at those bad days in a good way for the most part.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://msha.ke/thenataliediane/
- Email: nataliediane17@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenataliediane/?hl=en
- Facebook: Natalie Diane
Image Credit:
Model Natalie Diane
Mike Wilson Photographer
Creative Director Harley James
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
