Today we’d like to introduce you to Kourtnee Monroe. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Kourtnee Monroe left her small town in Texas on a journey of self-improvement and a hunger for more life. She was discovered in Texas, but Texas could not hold her ambition. After being scouted online for an upcoming movie opportunity, Kourtnee took a flight to New York City with no money, no support and really no plans of ever returning to Texas whether she got the job or not. She did not get the job, but what she did get was a pathway to a whole new world of being. New York is the big league in the modeling and entertainment industry. Her leap of faith fueled by her ambition, work ethic (and naivety) turned out to be the best move she would make for her life. Kourtnee worked for small agencies in NYC, doing some television work such as the hit TV show Impractical Jokers. She also took some opportunities modeling for fashion shows, such as Kanye West Yeezy fashion show. Kourtnee has booked many freelance modeling photoshoots with various photographers and brands, which have helped to garner experience and an impressive resume. Eventually, she would cross international borders and work with modeling agencies in Milan, Rome, Italy, and most recently, Seoul, South Korea. Working overseas was like living a dream. Unfortunately, the pandemic brought Kourtnee back to her roots in New York City, where she has continued to work freelance with various brands. Her most recent works are publications with the popular men’s magazine, Playboy. And FHM. Being a published model is truly a dream and worth the hard work. Kourtnee is just getting started as her career is now taking her out of Edinburgh, Scotland, where she will frequently work as an actress, commercial, and print model. Kourtnee has never been one to play it small. She always had big goals and dreams and in high school was considered the crazy ambitious one, being coined as “ambitious girl.” Having a few stints in college but never being able to stay put in one location long enough, the pandemic allowed the opportunity for Kourtnee to study online. She is now pursuing a lifelong dream of studying criminology and forensic psychology. After being accepted at a prominent university in Edinburgh, Scotland, my degree is my next big achievement.
Kourtnee is multifaceted and has a very colorful mind with an interest in many fields. True crime, criminology, forensic psychology, writing poetry, and philanthropy are my natural interests. She even writes to prisons as a passion project and will later do her internship or volunteer work in a prison setting. Kourtnee Monroe is not just a pretty face! Success has many definitions for different people. My idea of success is financial freedom that can provide me and my loved ones a life free of worry. It’s complete creative freedom to do as I please and in the process, acquire wealth which in turn can assist others. I have never been a selfish person, and giving is one of the biggest satisfactions and motivations of my success. I believe there is enough success for everyone in the world as a corny as it sounds, with hard work and fearless determination, your idea of success can be achieved. I love the quote by Beyonce that says, “If you want power, go straight to the source of it.” To me, that means aligning yourself with the right sources that can assist you to achieve your dreams and goals. It means inner alignment, an inner knowing that no matter the obstacles, you can’t take no for an answer. And as the late Freddie Mercury (who is another one of my biggest inspirations) said, “You mustn’t consider failure. If you consider failure, you fail.” I live by that quote because now I know that I only fail if I stop trying to elevate and accomplish my dreams. No one can tell me no because if they do, I will find another way to make it happen. That was my mindset coming all the way to NYC alone, and now that will be my advice to my future self and people I encounter. My career is taking me out to Scotland, and I am very excited for my future endeavors in Edinburgh. Eventually, I hope to get back to Milan and Seoul and work more with my agencies. In the meantime, I will continue working toward my Psychology degree. The future is very bright, and I’m not even who I am yet!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road at all. When I first started modeling, I had no money and no support in a tough city like New York. I had to work my way up without connections or stability. That was a huge obstacle. After the tragic incident with George Floyd, the world learned to be more acceptable to people of color, but I also faced a lot of discrimination and rejection due to my race. There were limited opportunities for models of color. The industry still needs a lot of work and more representation for people of color.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a model and writer. I am most proud of my publications in Harper’s Bazaar and L’ Official magazines. I am also most proud of my recent billboard in Edinburgh, Scotland. Modeling in the United Kingdom was a dream goal since 2013.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Edinburgh is my new city, and I love everything about it. I believe that sometimes our souls call us to places. Life in Edinburgh feels more cinematic. Very few places come close to the beauty of Scotland. Being there feels like being in a dream because it is such a historical and magical city. It is considered the most haunted city in the United Kingdom. The air feels cleaner, the food tastes fresher, and the energy in the city is so light… USA will always be home, but I can’t help to have this intense love affair with Edinburgh.
The only thing I like least about Edinburgh is that it is not a 24-hour city and alcohol stopped being sold at 10 pm! Coming from a city that never sleeps, like Manhattan, that is my biggest complaint! But that’s nothing I can’t handle!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kourtneemonroe.com
- Instagram: @thekourtneemonroe
- Twitter: x.com/thekourtmonroe
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KourtneeMonroe
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/OUR-ETERNAL-LOVE-Kourtnee-Monroe/dp/B08BF44MKS
Image Credits
Arthur St. John
Steve Star
Zanella Fotos
Red Eye Photography
Manny Hortas
Cantera_image
Still Stealer
Jk Hill Photography
Cochise Clausell
Audacious Intimates
