Today we’d like to introduce you to Rae Francis.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Rae. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Where did I start? Hmm. That’s funny, growing up, I always got the “You should be a model comment” I never thought anything of it because as a kid in school I sprouted first. The tallest girl in middle school, so ofcourse that came with jokes from the boys. One day my mom and I were walking in South Shore and one of the old dress boutiques had Live Manniquins(which is one of my favorite styles of modeling now) as in the window and also representing the then John Casablanca Modeling and Career School. Of course, this was a sign, right? So, my mom and I went to an information session and signed me up. I learned the basis of modeling from what should be in my Model Bag to how I should go to castings. After the classes ended, we never followed up I just continued living my normal life as one may call it.
Fast forward to 2013, I went to support a friend at a House of Nahdra show. We got there a little early, so we went to hang with her where the models were getting dressed. As we walked in the back this sweet soul, who I now know as the designer Nahdra was like, of course, you ladies are walking in the show. In my mind I said is “Is this lady crazy? I’m nowhere near prepared to walk in this show. I had on a new pair of shoes that were slightly too big and couldn’t imagine walking barefoot.” She didn’t take no for an answer she put on some tribal makeup and had us dressed in a matter of minutes. When I tell you the adrenaline I felt that day, I never felt in my life before (Now, I’ve grown to love that feeling I get right before I go on the runway). I was sure I was going to fall in these heels, there was no way I could walk in these heels on a runway.
To this day, I cannot tell you what anyone looked like in the crowd or what the crowd sounded like, I just knew I had to snap back into my John Casablanca training. After that show, I continued to walk a couple more shows with The House of Nahdra and started getting others wanting the “Bald Blonde Model” to model for them. A year later, I became pregnant with my Pride and Joy Riley and thought okay well this is it. After I found my passion and something I love, I’m a mom now, so I have to focus on that. I thought, of course, no one is going to want a mom as a model. After I had him, I defiantly thought yeah, definitely no one is going to want a mom as a model until I connected with Tobi Mankinde and we did an amazing implied nude shoot at the Inner Sanctum. Tobi would send me pictures as he was finished with them and his comment wit be I love the rawness of this shoot. You got it! Of course, I loved his work but I still couldn’t imagine me as a mom and a model.
As we put them out, the feedback was things I never thought I would get, others really saw it, I just couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t. My sister pushed me day in and day out as we sat on the phone. I even started toward my other passion for Culinary Arts because I thought my modeling days were over. But God had other plans something in me just couldn’t let go of the modeling industry, it drove me crazy, I dreamt about it, I craved it, I prayed on it and found myself right back in like I never left. Getting back, I got a message on Facebook from a fellow model I did a show within the past asking me if I was available the following day and there I was introduced to Pink Shoe Lounge. I did my first shoot with them it felt amazing like I went home so ecstatic that I got the opportunity. As PSL prepared to launch I also took the opportunity to apply AGAIN to the Fashion Week Brooklyn that I’ve applied to in the past years and didn’t get to but I said what the heck they are either going to say yes or no.
Finally, PSL website launch came. It was a blast but by the end of the night, all I wanted was my bed and food. I got something better. A phone call asking me to come to NY that Tuesday for the final steps of casting for the FWBK. Again I prayed I prayed was this the right decision going so last minute because I couldn’t bring Riley. But how could I teach my son to reach for the stars and go for his dreams if I didn’t do that myself. My village supported me and told me to go. One of the BEST DECISIONS of my life! Let’s just say, I slew the Brooklyn Runway at FWBK meeting some amazing people and gained some more amazing opportunities that summer.
As I came back, it was time to model for PSL at Privé Spring Classic, such an amazing event that I wanted to be apart of the company all while making a little extra cash that summer. So, I went home and applied for every position they had available that weekend. Kenneth Rivers who I now call “Boss Man” called me about a couple weeks later, by then I figured they were interested in me. He told me he would give me the opportunity of helping him with email Correspondence, nothing too big but I said what the heck it can’t hurt and I just wanted to prove that I could do the job. Every show, I got more and more responsibilities. I loved it, I fell in love with the shows, the people I met more every show. Just as I took modeling, I took being apart of this show I eat and slept the Classic Shows working on them.
A year later, I am beyond grateful to be the Director of Arts and Fashion for the Privé company. Talk about growth! I am now Producing the show from Designers,Artist,Models, Glam Team to the Production Team and Media Team at the W Hotel Boston. The people I have mentioned working with and some I haven’t gotten the chance to have pushed me to be greater beyond belief. They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. I have gone from modeling to producing the shows and mentoring some of the models and building everlasting relationships with them. I have gone Into the acting world being in big screen movies such as Equalizer 2 and I Feel Pretty. I have started the Journey of my own Culinary Business POSHeats. Doing so many things i never thought i could accomplish. You asked how I got where I am today. Hard work, tears, prayers, my village, & Abbah!!! But world, I’m not done yet!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Smooth? No, not at all! Worth it? Yes! Bumps in the road, becoming a mom, as I said earlier, I never thought I would be a model after having Riley but the funny fact is he pushed me to be better at my passion, my craft. Riley looks at my photos as though he’s an agency and tells me truly how he feels about each shoot. I remember he would cry whenever I was leaving but as I said I’m going to work and he realized it was modeling he got calm. “Okay Mama, you going to work? You going to take pictures?” And yes he felt he needed to see pictures as I came home. The harsh criticism equaling reality and lessons. Lord the criticism is hard. In this industry, you have to build a tough skin. I remember when I finished FWBK, I walked off like a boss to my family, my mom said “you need to go tone after she saw me in a swimsuit scene. Lord, I cried, I cried, I cried. I was so hurt, how can my own mother say this I thought. I felt I’m the only person who can criticize myself, thinking I was already my biggest critique. But after the tears, I prayed on it. Guess what Mama was right. After a couple industry meetups, I got the same response “Rae you need to tone”.
At first, I blew them off because I felt I dropped my baby weight. I have a pretty face they didn’t know what they were talking about. Finally, I said if I want to grow and be better I must listen. I went and toned and boy the opportunities grew. Oh, let’s not forget the closed doors. Can I tell you I thought growing up, your first crush or first breakup was heart-wrenching? I never felt a heartache like a literal heartache like I felt when I didn’t get called back after or when I got the rejection letter from a modeling agency. It was literally like my first and one true love breaking my heart. I’ve come to realize not getting what we wanted is what we need sometimes and God does everything for a reason. I wish I could tell you it’s an easy straightforward road but hey we wouldn’t appreciate or blessings if we didn’t have to go through any obstacles. Ladies, like Jocelyn from Jocelyn Mercedes, says to me all the time “just because you got one no doesn’t mean your journey has ended.” Oh and don’t forget to pray, pray before every decision, every opportunity!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Rae Francis – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am Model|Chef|Event Planner|Director of Arts and Fashion|Brand Ambassador|Momtrepreneur but most of all #IAMRAEFRANCIS.
I am proud of my brand and the brands I have worked and collaborated with because of the woman I am today.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
I am huge on keeping a planner. I usually have my planner and my notebook jotting things down. I literally go through two to three notebooks a year. That’s where I write all my ideas, dreams, prayers, & plans, hey, anything for that matter, lol!
Contact Info:
- Phone: 857-245-5422
- Email: RaeKFrancis@gmail.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/IAMRaeFrancis
- Facebook: Facebook.com/IAMRAEFRANCIS
- Other: Instagram.com/POSHeats
Image Credit:
MUA: Ifemoa, Wardrobe: Pink Shoe Lounge, Photographer: Elbert John (A Man with a Camera), MUA: Jackie Reid, MUA: Ursula, Photographer: Stanley Desarmes, Stylist: Jocelyn Alabano, Bikini: Claude Michelle, Photographer: Dan Minicucci, MUA: Taki Jayy, Photographer: YayisPhoto
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