Born in 1993, I developed into a feminist
and I don’t take being a female lightly—we are in an endless battle not only for our race but our gender. It’s up to women like me to continue to empower other women and reminding every other woman they are Queens. Figuring out how to do that, I knew being a public figure and sacrificing my own privacy for the development of others was necessary, so I started modeling. At 5’5, average size, it’s just not the norm. With the criticism and negative comments for not being over 6 feet tall and a size 2, I came home several nights in tears knowing I could give up anytime but knew I couldn’t for every other woman around the world who doesn’t even think about this opportunity because of what’s advertised. I follow models like Eva Marcille and Twiggy and they empower me as a petite model. It has to be a domino effect at some point or their legacy will end as short models.
I began my career as a model in Newport News
and walked the runway in several fashion shows like Fashion Bug’s Clothing store, Apricot Lane Boutique, Fayetteville Fashion Week and Beauty and Barber Fashion show, just to name a few. I even tried out for America’s Next Top model season 22, won for the DC region and although I didn’t make the show after challenging so many different beautiful models, I appeared in a CW commercial and gained so much experience from entertainment professionals that can never be taken away from me. Losing the competition there was not hardest part for me. It was walking away from it with the mindset to quit altogether. But seeing how much support and love I had in Petersburg helped me to know I couldn’t quit and in an instant, it was no longer about me. I was reminded that I was going up against every nonbeliever for every bullied little girl, every average size to chubby girl, and every little girl who’s been told they couldn’t. It hasn’t always been easy but it’s always gotten better.
Walking on the runway is not the only modeling accomplishment; I have had the pleasure of teaching young girls the basics of model walking and watched their confidence grow. I can’t tell you the feeling KNOWING I’ve been the reason for some aspiring model to change not only on the runway, but at home too.
I picked up acting unexpectedly and it charmed its way into my life without my approval! I started acting when under the training of Philip Keith learning how to talk to MODELING agents and he pushed me to act after offering a free training with him just to try it out. From that first improvisational (improv.) class, I fell completely in love with the camera. He recommended I attend a talent conference in hopes of being signed to a national agency and I took a chance! I flew to Florida with my mom and god mother and competed against several other talented actors and models. I was offered 4 contracts and I signed with the one closest to home—Evolution in Charlotte. The experience was incredible! You can never truly understand where your passion lies until you’re surrounded by people with the same goal as you.
Acting has saved me. From films (Malicious Intent II), short films (It’s All Good, Ride with a Vamp), TV shows (Sleepy Hollow, Shots Fired), and stage plays (Lord, Who Am I), I am put in a position to bring a vision to life. It allows me to experience someone else because every role I was privileged to perform, allowed me to put myself in someone else’s shoes and see things from their point of view.
But it hasn’t always been glitter and gold for me. Focusing on my career forfeited my happy home. Being engaged to someone not in the industry and they fall short of understanding your dreams tears the home down. What you see is only what I show but I have happiness and problems like everyone else. I realized my own happiness was important and although we ended on bad terms, I’m happier now than before.
When asked to give “one word to describe” myself, I can never think of just one word. In fact, I have so many different words that pop up in my mind—and not what you would think. I come up with words like ‘silly’ and ‘quiet’, or ‘cautious risk-taker’ and my favorite cliché ‘fearless’ and ‘afraid’. I come up with all of this in one thought but as an entertainer, my thought process digs deeper than the words you just read.
As a child, making my family smile and remaining down to earth, whether it was being goofy dancing or eating just as much food as my brother but still able to hold an articulate conversation with the CEO of any company, I gained the nickname ‘Lucy’. That’s where my silly side comes from but meeting new people always tucks me away in my shell. To be an actress, being preserved is not something you would think right? ‘Speak when spoken to’ a church wife told me a long time ago. I wish she’d never told me that because in my mind, I truly am Lucille Ball. I want to be loud sometimes, silly all of the time, serious just a little bit but myself every day. I can relate to her in so many ways because defeating the odds is what she did being a woman. There’s so much our culture feels we shouldn’t do or we can’t do but I CAN. Any woman reading this CAN. For me, fear sits in when I know as a woman, I have to fight twice as much for my spot in life. But if I can inspire just one young girl to push a little harder for her dreams, it’s worth the fight.
Competitive—that’s the word I like to describe myself. No one can tell me I can’t and being the absolute best at what I love to do is what I’m fighting for every day. If there were another America’s Next Top Model competition, I would be the first in line because I don’t want to give up. I don’t want to give up on myself and I don’t want to give up for you!
So who am I? I’m a thinker, a model, an actress, a queen, and a writer. As a writer for 10s and Better, I’m going to bring you heart, entertainment, reality, glitz and glam, and overall the real! Recognizing local and published entertainers and black business owners, shining light on their success and bringing it right to you! Filling you in with current events and giving you Kourtney’s honest thoughts! Each publication at the end of my section, I’m going to answer a Q&A from the previous week and highlight a personal view. All questions are to be sent to kourtneyataylor@gmail.com (or the magazine’s chosen email) and you’ll find them here!
Until next time, Kourtney Taylor
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