Brithenie Kerlegrand Speaks On Her Modeling Inspirations, Breaking Through as a Creative, Being a Black Woman in the Industry, Pros and Cons Of her Profession, And Her Plans For 2021.

As we continue to highlight more amazing women for our Women’s History Month series, I wanted to stay within the realm of our most recently released interview. I decided to shift gears a bit and put some focus on an entirely different industry that I’m not all the way privy to, allowing the women involved to share their stories. Two days ago we released an interview with fashion model and travel aficionado, Destiny Owusu. Today, we stay within that same industry with rising NY fashion model Brithenie Kerlegrand, who some of you may know as Brizzle B.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Brithenie on a few occasions, but we initially met via social media. I’ve always admired her work but one shot in particular that stood out to me and ultimately helped connect us was her rendition of Drake’s Dark Lane Demo Tapes cover shot. We had a brief direct message conversation about how dope the shots were and she mentioned how she wanted to reshoot them for quality purposes. That was almost a year ago. Today, the talented model has been featured in shoots for upcoming fashion lines such as Mineral Melange Swimwear, Eaunoir Swimswear, Mika Nicole New York, and more.

I had the chance to catch up with Brit to talk to her about her modeling journey, being taken seriously as a creative, her experiences in the industry thus far, and what’s to come for passion in 2021. Read the full interview below.

1 - What age were you when you discovered what modeling was?

I was maybe 7-8 years old. It was around the time America’s Next Top Model came out and I was just so fascinated by these beautiful women. I was always teased for my height so it was cool seeing women be praised for it. I used to pretend I was on the runway after that and that I was Tyra Banks.

2 - Who were some of your modeling inspirations?

Tyra Banks definitely, Naomi Campbell, Iman, Anok Yai, Joan Small, and just so many more. They made and still make me feel seen in this industry.

3 - Do you remember the first time people started to take you seriously as a model? Talk about that experience and what it meant to you.

My first memory of being taken seriously is from 2018. I was still fairly new in this industry and started doing shoots with Jamari (@lux.vsn). Those shoots we did were unique to me because they allowed me to see my potential and I really feel like he helped me make my mark. My shoots with him were a pivotal moment in my career because people started to notice me less as the photogenic girl and more as a model. Working with him has pushed me to step out of my comfort zone. I started to believe in myself more. I’m forever grateful for his ability to help me grow in my craft.

4 - As a Black woman, how did you view modeling coming into it while knowing most of the industry’s history?

I saw it as this scary world that’ll just eat you alive if you aren’t strong enough. It's like you have to be a certain size, a certain height, look a certain way. I felt like “Well, what if I’m not that token black girl? What if I don’t make the cut?” It was such a mental battle honestly and it still is sometimes.

5 - In your opinion, why do you feel women like yourself have a hard time breaking into the modeling industry?

I think it’s hard because the beauty standards for models are so extreme, especially as a black model.

Social media has made things so much harder because everyone is doing the same thing and you have to push yourself out of the box. Also finding the right people to work with! There are people who do not have your best interest at heart and will not lead you down the right path. Knowing the difference between a good photographer and someone who’s just in it to be a predator helps a lot.

6 - You’ve been featured in a lot of campaigns, both still shots and videos. Talk to me about your experiences up until this point.

They’ve all been so great! I’m not gonna sit here and say it’s all been perfect. I’ve had bad experiences but I’ve also had so many great ones. Each shoot that I’ve done has always been better than the last. The campaign I did with Garçon Couture probably was the most pivotal. It was always my dream to be on billboards and to finally see myself on them, I saw my hard work paying off. I cried like a baby after that one. My home shoots are definitely some of my favorites because I finally was able to show how creative I can be. I fall more and more in love with my career with every shoot I do. I love it here.

7 - If you could list your pros and cons to what you do, what would they be?

My pros would be:

Creative expression
Being on set
Getting glammed
Working with amazing people
Making great friends

Cons:

Having to glam myself
Shoots with no direction
Creepy photographers
“Exposure shoots”
Unprofessionalism

8 - What advice would you give the aspiring Black model?

Don’t put yourself in a box. Don’t let anyone else put you in a box either. There is no limitation to what you can do. Have good people around you who will always encourage you. Always do your research on who you are working with! Always! If something about the shoot doesn’t feel right, no matter who the photographer is, don’t do it. Just stay positive, keep your head high and your heels higher. You got this.

9 - What’s your true definition of success?

For me, success is when I can be excited about going to work every day. When my job doesn’t feel like one. Also being able to live comfortably doing it. I want to be able to help others live their dreams so as happy as I am with where I am, I’m not successful until I can help my community.

10 - As we finish up the first quarter of 2021, is there anything your audience can expect from you moving into the second quarter and beyond?

Yes! I’m definitely going to be doing a lot more visuals and editorial work. You’ll be seeing me in magazines and billboards this year. I’m also hoping to have a master class this year so look out for that. I’m stepping out the box fully and a whole new Brithenie is coming!

Make sure you follow Brithenie on Instagram to stay updated on moves and her newest shoots!

Rising Model Brithenie Kerlegrand Speaks On Discovering Her Passion.

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