What made you want to transition into being a musician and how did you get your start in the music industry?
I started making more of a transition into the music industry around 2015 after I met Norwegian music producer Harald Austad who’s now my husband. I have always been a singer and a performer but I had so many amazing opportunities in fashion when I moved to the city that I ran with that creative outlet first. Fast forward to now, pre-pandemic I performed and hosted three Amber Rose Slut Walk women’s rights marches and will be releasing a new music project late fall.
What have been some of the highlights of your career thus far?
Hands down being a part of both Vol 1 & 2 of Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty for Amazon shows. Especially as a neon-haired size 18 model it has been the greatest highlight of my career thus far. Forever grateful to have such an icon like Rih and the brand believing In me. I’m not crying..you’re crying! Lol.
What inspires you and helps your creativity?
First off, I think marrying a fellow artist is a constant source of inspiration in itself. I also have a strong community of super creative like-minded people who inspire me daily! When I moved to NYC I was lucky enough to become instant family with Yusef, the celebrity hairstylist behind artists like Rihanna, Normani, and Naomi to name a few. He is hands down the most creative person I know and always helps push me as an artist. Not to mention how important being well versed in the world of fashion, beauty, and music really is because baby, if you want to talk the talk you need to walk the walk.
What was it like for you as a creative person and growing up in this small town and then moving to a big city like New York?
It was definitely hard growing up with a large liberal personality in a small mainly republican town. After scoring a coveted fashion internship at Conde Nast I moved to New York City and it immediately felt like home. It was a place where the louder you were the better and everyone had the drive to make a name for themselves. I quickly fell into the underground ballroom scene through Yusef who is now the overall father for the House of Miyake Mugler. It opened me up to a whole new world of self-liberation and creative freedom that I am so thankful for.
How do you balance all of your creativity?
My husband Harald and I both freelance so we have turned our home into a massive creative space to house all of our projects. We do everything from produce and write our own music, modeling/producing shoots, to full-on creative direction. I think allowing ourselves the freedom to wear many hats and explore the different things we are good at keeps me creatively balanced for sure.
I know you were a writer for Yahoo Magazine, how does that writing process differ from your music writing process?
One of my many hats is being a plus-size style expert covering the market for various digital publications. I have always had a passion for fashion and showing people of all sizes how to play with their look and think outside the box. When it comes to my music writing process it is a lot more intimate and more of me telling my story as an artist.
I feel like we are seeing a bit of a change in the fashion and beauty industry with representation now. What are your thoughts on these changes and where would you like to see this space, 5 years?
100 percent! Since I started working in the fashion industry out of college in 2012, I have seen major strides for body positivity and inclusion overall. I can only hope that as time goes by the representation will only expand and that there will be much more opportunities to show the beauty of all marginalized communities within the industry.
Who are some of your musical influences?
I am one of those music freaks who can find beauty in and sing along to anything. Growing up I wanted to dance like Britney Spears and sing like Christina Aguilera with the swag of Rihanna and the twist of Michael Jackson. With that said, it wasn’t until I discovered the icon Beth Ditto of The Gossip that I finally saw a plus-size artist slaying mainstream, sitting front row at the Chanel show’s while still staying true to her voice of individuality. Forever an inspiration.
