Today we’d like to introduce you to Najma Shy.
Najma, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I moved to Atlanta five years ago to attend Oglethorpe University and had no intention of embarking on my own entrepreneurial pursuits while I was in school. During my first year, I noticed that there were students on campus who needed help maintaining their natural hair and locs. I started helping them out on a personal basis as I was hesitant to charge for my services.
When I mustered the courage to charge, I would provide two-hour-long services for $15-$30 dollars. After a while, I felt drained and I did not feel as though I was being compensated fairly for the quality that I was providing. With the encouragement of a few good friends, I increased my prices and began marketing my business as “Styled By Naj” (@styledbynaj on Instagram) both on campus and in the Greater Atlanta area as I would venture off-campus. Now, even after graduation, I have a healthy flow of clients on campus and throughout.
I also ventured into modeling during my time at university. One day during my senior year, I was walking through Little Five Points when a random guy stopped me and asked me if I’d ever modeled before. I giggled because I thought I looked a mess that day but I agreed to have him snap a couple of shots of me on the spot. I loved them. The rest is history. I knew I had potential and I refuse to let that go to waste. All of this to say, Atlanta is THE place to start your business ventures and meet people who inspire you to take new steps in a more fulfilling direction.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Modeling is fun. Acting is fun. But it is also work and there are many times when you will be weary about your next steps as this is an industry of rejection. When you’re doing it for fun, you have the privilege of avoiding this but once you decide to go for castings, you are setting yourself up to face rejection quite a few times. You never know what directors are looking for and it is up to you to brush yourself off and keep going with the same confidence you walked it with.
Financially, if you are not already supported by parents or a spouse or sponsor, you will be responsible for funding your outfits for shoots, high-quality photoshoots, travel expenses, comp cards, headshots, etc. You are your own business and you have to invest in yourself consistently to see real growth. This is where your network comes in. I’ve been blessed to shoot with some reputable photographers because I’m not afraid to build those relationships and reach out to those whose work I admire. You have to be your biggest advocate, even if you have an agent
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’d say that I’m a jack of many trades but my main focus right now is branding myself as an actress and model and expanding my brand and online following. Most of the opportunities that come to me are through my Instagram and as my followers grow, the opportunities do. I specialize in commercial modeling but as I branch out, I would like to walk in fashion shows and find my niche once I’ve explored working in different areas.
Something that typically sets me apart is my hair, my height and my ability to help creatives bring their visions to life. Standing at 5’11 with a head full of long locs gives me a signature look but what’s more important is having a strong work ethic and being able to see the creative vision through and deliver. In just over a year of modeling, I’ve developed the skills and confidence to do so.
We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
I think there’s definitely saturation in the market. There are so many young women who brand themselves as models but what separates the ones who make it is who they know and the quality of their work. Luckily, in this age of social media, it is quite easy to brand yourself without the help of others and meet people you wouldn’t typically get to meet, you just have to be consistent because when you’re not engaging, casting for gigs and developing your brand, another aspiring actress or model is.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 9735924673
- Email: najmashy@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/_najmama_?igshid=1l6lck4ryrom3
Image Credit:
Michael Diangelo (headshot)
Sammy Sampson (adidas)
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