Today we’d like to introduce you to Ann Neika Jean Charles.
Ann Neika, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
As a young (dark-skinned) black woman, I never really had the confidence within myself to know how beautiful I was. I had a hard time transitioning from back then to who I am today.
Throughout my youth, I was constantly teased, from my complexion to my height (I use to hate being tall because I thought “no one would like to be with a “tall girl” boy was I wrong lol), to the way I use to dress (and boy can I say, I really had no taste in fashion lol). This trauma started of since kindergarten all the way to high school.
I wouldn’t go a day without somebody saying something such as: “why is skin so dark?” (Lights turn off) “oh my gosh, where did Anika go?!” “What are you wearing?” (Laugh at a distance) all sorts of things, trust me, the list goes on and on! and the worst part was, those comments were mostly from children, children of my age, same school, same ethnicity or different. Sometimes, the adults would partaken as well. As a child, these comments forever grew within me, they caused a young beautiful black little girl to feel like she was never enough, wasn’t beautiful enough, she probably would never be seen as attractive or considered a standard of beauty. As I grew older, a drastic turn occurred. I pushed through and rather then destroying me, I realized how these comments made me stronger.
My confidence started to burst out and it was definitely noticed. I started to get compliments from others (remember those guys that used to call me ugly ? Lol yeah them too) telling me I was beautiful, “I could get it,” you know the typical. Now being ”sexualized is not always a compliment), but knowing that someone was actually attractive to me felt pretty good for a hot sec. People were actually falling in love with my complexion, describing it as it being rich and beautiful (now, they could have been just really nice, or puberty just happened to stop and paid me a visit and hit me like a truck lol) either way, I was thrilled to hear something different other than hatred towards my appearance. It was then, the idea of modeling came to surface.
I was still struggling every now and then with my confidence of how I looked, I knew it was going to take time, but man, did I learn to embrace it. Since then, my research started, I looked into modeling to boost my confidence, and break out of my shell. To be that beautiful, confident, bold woman, I was destined to be. I owed It to my younger self. I was determined to make it happened, networking, actually putting myself out there, I really put in a lot of work to be where I am today. The process was truly challenging, but it was worth it. I am still a work in progress, and I know I will be the best possible at what I do. I dream to take this career even further and make it international. Beauty comes in every shades and form. If I’m not the “standard of beauty “ for someone, I will be for someone else.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There has been a lot of obstacles and challenges along my path. It is indeed a journey. Within the model industry, I still come to face those same traumas and harsh comments that I once faced as a child, if not worst. Being a “dark skin model” in the industry is all the obstacles/challenges there is. To have to think that I’ve escaped my tragic childish just to run into those same feelings as a model, is like a never-ending nightmare. As if I have to apologize for being a woman of color, or for being dark skin. I get told that I wouldn’t be able to get represented by a certain company due to fact that they had enough “ of my kind”.
What is that even suppose to mean? And don’t get me starting on the fact that they think 2 to 3 “black models “ is considered “diversity”. Those type of standard and limitation also causes models of color (black), to turn against each other. It becomes a competition, more of a competition because modeling is already though to get In as it is, they are so limiting and streak with their height requirements, the weight, the features, but you want to be a dark skin black model at it too? The competition will be up to the roof. You have to work as hard and MORE!
Everything a model is to do, you’ll have to do that and MORE! As a mode, even though I came across those same tribulations as a child, I also learned how to have tough skin and not take everything to heart (for the most part). But you also shouldn’t allow (anything)!. Oh! And also, just a word of advice, mental illness, depression, anxiety, and insecurities all of those are REAALLLL!!! You really would need your time and have some moral support to go through it, whether it’s from a family, friends, or even a pet. For me, I could sometimes be such an introvert, so I choose to always count on my little furry babies to calm me down.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I do a lot as an individual, but I showcase my modeling more than anything else. I believe to be really good at it. I’m known to always BRING IT whenever I’m giving the opportunity, .and if I need some type of improvement, I make the adjustments and keep it moving. I am mostly proud of how far I’ve made it, and how much I’ve constantly grown. I believe my personality and overall who I am sets me apart from others. I could always say something as l corny as “I’m ambitious, enthusiastic, creative, funny (I mean, I due tend to get goofy as hell tho lol) yes, I am all of that and much more, but so are others. What I truly am, is myself, that is enough to set me apart from others, cause lord knows there definitely isn’t another one like me, another ”Ann Neika’s,” and if there were lol, we would all be in trouble.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I honestly don’t think I would really change much from what I’ve done. I just wish I have done it earlier.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://oncemodels.com/product/ann-n/
- Email: anneika45@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anika__50
- Other: https://www.vybellemodels.com
Image Credit:
Cover picture
Photographer: @joewesly
Digitals from Agency: @vybellemodel
Second and sixth pictures
Photographer: @shotbydandystudios
Hair and makeup by: @slayed_by_laura
Third picture, 4th, 7th, 9th 10th and 11th
Photographer: verse_city
Make up artist: @mikkis_makeup
5th picture
Photographer: @ct_gameover
8th picture
Photographer: @wandering_eyez_
12th and 14th picture
Photographer: @jcole305 @jcole950
13th picture
Photographer: @_xavieralbert
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