Today we’d like to introduce you to Zaynah Mason.
Zaynah, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Typically, you think of a model as someone who has always been beautiful and photogenic. You think of spunky Victoria’s Secret angels and charismatic Naomi Campbells. That was never me.
Growing up, I have always had issues with my self-esteem. I was always very quiet and depressed, trying my best not to draw attention to myself. It even got to the point where I turned to self-harm as a coping mechanism, which did not do me any favors.
I was skinny. My hair was “nappy.” I was awkward. I never pictured myself as being beautiful.
Some time in high school, my mother made me stop straightening my hair because it had so much heat damage and was breaking off. Eventually, I just cut all the damage away, and that’s when I began to mend my self-esteem. Since I was forced to rock my natural hair, I learned how to care for it. I wore creative styles that I could never do with straight hair. People began to notice me and, for the first time, I felt beautiful.
One day in 2014, a photographer approached me in a hair salon and asked me to do a photoshoot with him. I spent my entire childhood watching America’s Next Top Model, so I always dreamed of having a photoshoot of my own. That’s where it all began! I was nervous at first but loved being in front of the camera. The movement in front of the lens came naturally. I used a lot of things I learned in my dance classes to translate into poses, and it really worked for me.
From there, I started connecting with lots of different photographers around Atlanta to create a portfolio. I’ve been published twice, and I landed an awesome gig with a hair company. Now I’m the face of Superline Hair’s crochet line!
My journey in modeling has been long, but I’m nowhere near finished. My ultimate goal is to model full-time, so I would love to be signed to an agency one day. It has been a bit of a struggle because of my height (5’2), but the industry is changing! I’m very hopeful for the future of my modeling career.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
One of the biggest road bumps that I’ve met in my career was getting robbed near the beginning of my modeling career. The robbers maced me and knocked out two of my front teeth, which tore down the self-image that I had worked so hard on building. I was ugly all over again. Of course, I got the teeth replaced, but the hit to my face was so hard that it completely changed the alignment of the rest of my teeth, altering my smile forever. I basically had to get used to a new mouth.
It definitely hasn’t been easy. Aside from trying to maintain a good relationship with my self-image, there are lots of predatory people within the industry. You have to be cautious when meeting with people to shoot. I’ve had several photoshoots that seemingly went well, but then the photographer would disappear without giving me the photos we agreed on. On top of that, it’s very hard to find good, paying gigs on your own. Believe it or not, I found the gig with the hair company on Backpage after searching high and low for modeling jobs.
Another obstacle for me is marketing myself. It’s a lot easier for me to submit myself for a paid modeling gig than it is to advertise my services and set my own rates. I have an extensive portfolio, but I’m always nervous that I’ll undervalue myself or set my rates too high. That will just come with growing more confident.
What should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My specialty in modeling is movement. As opposed to doing more beauty shoots and face modeling, I really shine when it comes to dynamic poses and creating different shapes with my body. My dance background has equipped me with flexibility and spacial awareness, so I never run out of poses.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success as being happy with where I am in life. For me, that means having a job that I genuinely love, looking forward to the days I have ahead of me, being able to travel, and maintaining good relationships with my loved ones. I already have lots of interesting stories to tell, but I would like to have some more inspiring ones as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.zaynahmason.ga
- Email: zaynahmason@yahoo.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/madame_zay
- Facebook: facebook.com/simplyzaynah
- Other: https://maximcovergirl.com/2019/zaynah
Image Credit:
Black & White photos: Alexander Sikwitit
Black dress photos: Jared Houske
Mermaid: Ashley Patty Productions, Hannah Twiggs MUA
Red and white top: Denardo Lee Gastin
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