Boston’s fashion scene is having a major moment, and Kendelle Monae is one of the scene’s most exciting faces. She has been putting on for the city, and has released a string of projects that prove her to be one of the hottest creatives coming out of Boston.
Not too many individuals can successfully maintain multiple talents as well as her. Kendelle Monae, better known as TrendyKendi is a model, actress, content creator, hostess, and much more.
We got a chance to speak with the rising star TrendyKendi for an exclusive interview. Check it out
As a kid from Boston, who or what inspired you to start modeling ?
When I was kid, Americans next top model produced by Tyra banks would come on The CW channel & I would pretend to be apart of the competition with the upcoming models on tv. I would practice posing when they would be at a Photoshoot. Every time a girl won best photo, I would tell myself I could’ve done it better. I started envisioning myself as a contestant on the show & believed that one day I would be. At the age of 9, I started working on how to be more comfortable in front of a camera. My friends got their first phone & I made my first Facebook page & tried the poses, I’ve practiced in front of the tv/mirror. I looked crazy but it was just the start.
What are some advice you would give someone looking to start their modeling career?
Honestly some advice I want you to know is to have tough skin for this career because this industry will eat you up & spit you out. There’s gonna be alot of times where people don’t like your look or height or your weight & YOU have to remember you’re not everyone’s cup of tea. Me for example, being a petite model with an amazing walk, it’s hard for me to land high end fashion shows because of my height but yet I have worked with some of the greatest designers in Boston, NYC, Texas, and Atlanta because my walk speaks for itself & they liked my look. I’m usually very confident when I walk into a casting call because I want them to know I’m very serious & that I can handle anything they throw at me.
Learn to take criticism. Don’t get offended if someone thinks you’ll look better in a different pose, position, or style. Photographers/designers are very opinionated & sometimes they have planned something in their heads over and over for months, and want it to be exactly as they seen it in their mind & that’s ok. We, as models are meant to make that dream/idea become reality.
You must create a comp card. Even if you don’t know any photographers. If you don’t know what a comp card is, it’s usually a 6in. by 8in. card with updated pictures of you that has your information on it like updated sizings and call back information. Most importantly make copies to have a few on stand by & a digital one to send out for online castings.
Creating a portfolio is very important as well . It shows your next upcoming gigs, you’re experienced & what you’re good at. If you’re best at posing in front of a camera or/ runway. As well as showing how active you’ve been in the modeling industry.
What keeps you going when things get tough in your career?
The things that keep me going when I start to feel discouraged is how I started from absolutely nothing. I didn’t know any photographers or any models that knew how to freelance model. I was 18 years old & I won “selfie queen” in high school, and I knew from that point people would know me as the girl who loves to be in front of a camera. I like to remember how much work I’ve put into myself & building my career in a state where’s it’s not very common to be a freelance model. I also think of every person that’s doubted me & told me I was too short, average pretty, or just not good enough. A lot of people thought I couldn’t do it. They thought I wasn’t serious about my craft and everytime I’m doing a gig or walking on a runway it makes me go even harder when I think of that. For those who did believe in me; My aunt who told me, “ I can do anything I put my mind too” My grandfather who always made feel beautiful everytime I seen him & told me, “I was so pretty I could be a model.”
UPCOMING- I’ll be walking for first the time, in NYFW & MAFW 2024, which is so exciting! I’ll be applying for Miami swim week as well in the summer
time. I’m hanging in UMASS Boston Alumni Exhibition until March. The “Afrofuturism” photoshoot, where we recreated the black panther movement and with me, is 2 other models & photos shot by Chellypic photography.
I’ve started creating content on YouTube, TikTok , Instagram and I feel like I’ve become a really dope influencer in the past few years. My small channel is getting a lot of Recognition & Im so proud of myself for coming as far as I have! I started hosting in 2023 & now I’m a hostess in a few popular clubs around Boston & Providence. Which is cool cause I met a lot of celebrities & made a lot of great connections.
Being a brand ambassador for multiple brands is alot of work but it’s important to represent all of them responsibly & still be creative. I work for a Mua artist “ Flexery “. I also work for a nail tech, “kolor me” which is fun because I’ve became a hand model & get to express nail art in new ways every 2 weeks. I work for a couple of clothing brands & they send me a couple outfits to shoot in & then focus getting published.
UGC content creating is what I’ll be looking forward to doing more of since I am considered an influencer. I will be working with alot of brands that will send me there products and I have to create an advertisement video or take pictures with me using the products. I’ve already worked with facetopo, pollux cosmetics, Omnias Brushes, Flex’s cosmetics and more on the way!
I will be featured on a couple of podcast in the near future as well. I’m so excited for the journey I have ahead of me!
If you had a chance to work with anyone in industry, whether it’s a famous YouTuber , model, or just a great mind, who would it be and why?
I admire Queen Naija, Kimora Lee Simons, Rihanna, Anne Hathaway, and Jayda Cheves because they represent the resilience, confidence, iconic integrity, and the brand I aspire to achieve. I’d be honored to work alongside any one of these accomplished individuals. They’ve proven to be respective role models throughout my modeling, hosting, acting career and building a brand of my own. Additionally I’ve walked in my fashion show at the age of 10, it was a baby phat fashion show, so you know I had to go off.
How do you balance constructive criticism and self-confidence?
The way I balance constructive criticism and self confidence is by remembering that I have a job to do, I have to remember that I am art piece and not everyone is going to want to look at my artwork or be fan of what I do/how I look and without sounding shallow, I can respectfully say I love the skin I’m in. I love my body, my face shape, my hair color, my eye color, the way my nose gets red when I’m cold, and how tall I am. I know that I am smart & capable of doing pretty anything if I wanted to. Constructive criticism is valued to me because it helps me grow , and that’s all I can ask for, if someone can see my potential to help me grow – why wouldn’t I listen to better myself? Anyways a little advice I want leave the readers with is manifest that dream & focus on it! You can do anything, if you have goals, you can achieve them, and if no one told you today; I’m going to tell you, I believe in you & you’re trendsetter cause we’re better duhhhhh.
Alright, so before we go, how can our readers connect with you to learn more and show support?
If you want to connect with me on other platforms here are the links!
https://www.instagram.com/trendykendi/ (https://www.instagram.com/trendykendi/)
https://youtube.com/@TrendykendiTheModel?si=qFoBDlzlDUy0cWQM (https://youtube.com/@TrendykendiTheModel?si=qFoBDlzlDUy0cWQM)https://www.tiktok.com/@trendykendi_ (https://www.tiktok.com/@trendykendi_)
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