Iskra Lawrence is a model, entrepreneur, and influencer with nearly 5 million Instagram followers, but her journey to success hasn’t always been easy.
“As someone who has always stood for self-love and self-acceptance, it was very difficult [as a model] because I ran into a lot of hurdles,” Lawrence told Yahoo Finance in a recent interview.
She explained that she was rejected by mainstream agencies for being “too big” and high-profile agencies for being “too small”, adding that she got into a “mission” to “change the industry”.
It’s a goal she’s witnessed firsthand, having advocated for unretouched photos and doubling down on her personal and professional mantra that people are worthy just the way they are.
“Everyone, at some point in their life, hasn’t felt like enough, no matter what career they’re in, no matter what community they’re in…we’re just pulled in a lot of different directions on the type of person we should be,” Lawrence said, referring to his own experience.
“It’s really tricky when you’re trying to value yourself,” the model continued, explaining that she encourages people “to build a system of values and values based on their characteristics, or their talents, or the things that they bring into the world” – not just looks and appearances.
Yet this mindset can be confusing on social media, and it’s often a double-edged sword for creators who rely on platforms to reach but can easily get caught up in the noise and pressure to commitment.
“This generation is really trying to figure out how they use social media in a positive way, but also have set boundaries so they don’t consume it and make them fall into this comparison and desperation,” Lawrence, who posts frequently about her. personal and professional life online, told Yahoo Finance.
“Everyone at some point in their life hasn’t felt like enough…”Iskra Lawrence, model, entrepreneur and influencer
The model added that boundaries are also important for her own mental health, admitting that she is still learning to balance the content creation side with her own personal consumption.
“I meet a lot of creators who are struggling, and sometimes they have to delete the app from their phone because it’s overwhelming,” the model noted, emphasizing that social media should be a positive influence. Otherwise, it is important to take a step back.
To combat mental health issues, Lawrence created the Self-Fund Planner, which includes goal setting, supportive prompts, inspirational quotes, and self-care recordings to help users invest in themselves. themselves.
Additionally, the model recently unveiled a new skincare line, Saltair, which includes serums and body washes.
“Our slogan is ‘everyone is welcome here’. I always knew my end goal was to create brands that truly cared about inclusion, the message they delivered and the images they portrayed “said the entrepreneur.
“I was definitely exploited”
Despite Lawrence’s professional success, her career began with little to no pay – something she rationalized at the time in order to book gigs.
“I was definitely exploited, I was definitely working for free. I was definitely signing a lot of rights to my images,” the model admitted.
“I learned a lot, but unfortunately I think there is still a lack of protection from modeling agencies in general,” she explained, lamenting the industry’s lack of transparency.
“Personally, I felt like I was employed by them when in reality, you’re the model, you’re the client, and you pay the agency’s commission,” she said.
Lawrence sees her online growth as a way out, saying her social media following allowed her to speak out against unfair contract terms and find the brands she wanted to work with.
“It’s really important for models to know they have a voice. We’re really made to feel that if you’re picky you won’t work…there’s a lot of politics in the industry,” he said. she adds.
A shift in perspective on race
Outside of her professional life, Lawrence has gained popularity as a new mom, often posting about the struggles and realities of motherhood. But Lawrence has an added layer of perspective as the mother of a mixed-race baby.
Following the murder of George Floyd, the model posted a lengthy Instagram that read in part, “As a mother, I will protect you in any way I can. But I know that will never be enough. The color of your skin will impact your life in some way. I can never understand. Your father will have to teach you things like a privileged white child that I never had to learn.
Lawrence said the experience of raising a biracial child has transformed her life and strongly influenced her parenting style so far.
“It completely changed my perspective. I have a privileged life.” She explained that meeting her black partner, Philip, made her realize that “I was able to choose when I thought about racism”.
She added: “There’s just a constant challenge of being mindful and having these open conversations from day one with our child and with my partner about how I’m doing and what more I can do.”
Lawrence tries to select books where her son can feel represented, and frequently analyzes the communities she is part of to ensure they are diverse.
“There will be so many different challenges that will be different for us raising a biracial child…we have these conversations on a constant basis,” she concluded.
Alexandra is a Producer and Entertainment Correspondent at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @alliecanal8193
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