Last evening was the Fashion Awards MD Emerging and Rising Stars presentation. Some of you may know, some of you may not. I was on the final ballot for Emerging Designer of the Year. I didn’t take home the trophy but, ironically, I woke up this morning feeling… refreshed. Maybe refreshed isn’t the best word, because I was and still am tired as hell. As a matter of fact, I’ll be tired as hell for a good while to come. But, when I woke up (read: dragged myself out of bed) today, being tired was oddly okay with me. Why? Because the best is yet to come.

I didn’t win, but out of 11,000 total nominations, I feel honored to have been a finalist. Yea, I can be macho and say “Oh, FAMD just ain’t ready for all of this yet!” and maybe that would be accurate. Maybe they’re not ready because it’s not here yet. But you better believe I’m working on it. Tirelessly. Growth is imminent. Actually, growth is in progress. 

This isn’t a review or commentary on the event. I don’t think that will come on Tumblr. More so, it’s a personalized reflection.

HUGE shout-out to the winner, M | Alexander. I’m glad I took the time to introduce myself to him following the show. He’s fly as ever and definitely has a lovely character and personality. His acceptance speech, in my eyes, was the best of the entire night. His words of thanks and mention of designers functioning as a union put me at a certain ease. We both have a world of potential yet to be fully explored. I can’t wait to see his as well as my own and I hope our futures intermingle in a positive degree.

T’is all.

I may be tired… as hell, but I’m feeling good today!

Sidenote: I STILL don’t know who nominated me, but I’m sending mad crazy love to them. I’m honored to have been acknowledged. It’s those exact things that keep me going.

Janelle Monae could wear a muumuu and I’d be okay with it. She’s that gorgeous.

#CurrentlyReading 

*sigh*

Photographer: Nate Tyler

Clothing Designer: Syreeta C

Model: Mary Celeste

Makeup: Bth Artistry

Hair: Ericka Cherrie