Conversations with Donovon Alexander

Today we’d like to introduce you to Donovon Alexander

Hi Donovon, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My first love of the arts was film. I’ve always enjoyed watching movies when I was a small child. I remember this one afternoon, it had to be a weekend, I was flicking through the channels and I saw two of my favorite Jim Carey movies playing at the same time on different stations. One station was playing Me, Myself, and Irene while the other station was playing The Mask. In that exact moment, I told myself that I want to be in movies growing up.

When I was in 5th grade, I had a girlfriend name Marissa Lashay Little. I will never forget that girl because she opened my mind and my eyes to many of the same dreams I still have today. Marissa was a child model that worked with different brands like Sears, Toys R Us, American Girl Doll, and a few others. I remember she and I were on the phone talking about how I wanted to be an actor and she told me “a good way to get into acting was through modeling”. We ended up putting our mothers on the phone so they can speak about how to get me into modeling and Marissa’s mom suggested a few agencies for my mom to look into. At the time, I didn’t know that she was introducing me to a new found love, until I started doing my research. That’s when I noticed that the TV show America’s Next Top Model was something real. From there, I went down the rabbit hole of looking up different models from Naomi Campbell, Tyson Beckford, Iman, Cindy Crawford, and the list goes on. Everything started to connect! By the time I was in 3rd grade, I was already assisting my mom with her outfits and giving her fashion advice. I’ve been dressing myself for school ever since I was in kindergarten because I use to hate the outfits my dad would put together for me, and I would always remix the outfits my mom set out for me the night before based on my mood and how I felt in the morning. So it just made sense! I already had my own personal style, I loved film, and now I’m being introduced to this world of expression without speech. To me, still to this day, modeling is very much like acting. There’s a concept, there’s a character to match it, and it’s my job to bring it all together and blossom it into life.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has been everything but smooth. There’s been bumps, curves, turn-arounds, roundabouts, and pit stops! In my early years, one of my biggest struggles was growing up as a young boy in Chicago and not sharing the common dream of wanting to be a professional athlete. Personally, I fought through a lot of bullying. Another struggle was not being the most masculine looking boy. Up until recent years, male models, were very cookie-cutter. As I’ve gotten older and navigating through the industry, being someone that doesn’t come from money (nepotism) has presented certain challenges of having to maneuver with limited resources.

These specific challenges, along with a few others have made me into the confident business-savvy person I am today. From knowing my worth, to creating opportunities for myself, and keeping my faith; I would not change anything about my journey.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an artist, and my medium is modeling. I am also an author.

I am most known for my fluidity within my look and my style. I have the ability to embody, both, femininity and masculine energy seamlessly.

I am most proud of making a name for myself through my work ethic and my creative expression. I also love that I have always been true to who I authentically am without allowing the opinions of others stir me away from being honest and real.

What sets me apart is my faith, my resilient spirit, and being Donovon- no matter who I am around, what room I am in, or allowing my success change the way that I treat others.

How do you define success?
I define success by setting a goal or goals, taking the necessary steps to achieve said goal, and being impactful to the ones around you- especially if they assisted you in reaching your goal.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.donovonalexander.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/donovonalexander?igshid=1uskh012xawuz

Image Credits
PHOTO 1 [Black tank, jean, white background]: CREDIT – shot by Caleb Thomas ( @truereligionemoji )

PHOTO 2 [White tanks, jeans, Mac book in lap, getting hair done]: CREDIT – shot by Caleb Thomas ( @truereligionemoji )

PHOTO 3 [Floral Suit]: CREDIT – shot by Jon M. Dailey III ( @jondailey_ ) for Suited By Dutch ( @suitedbydutch )

PHOTO 4 [B&W with painted face, in suit]: CREDIT – shot by Jon M. Dailey III ( @jondailey_ ) for Suited By Dutch ( @suitedbydutch )

PHOTO 5 [Profile shot, black tank, long hair, soft curls]: CREDIT – shot by Ronald Flowers ( @rome_god)

PHOTO 6 [Headphones, eyes closed, curly hair]: CREDIT – shot by Franz Fanon ( @_franzfanon )

PHOTO 7 [B&W, shirtless, pinned up hair, stockings]: CREDIT – shot by Cody Dash ( @cody_dash )

PHOTO 8 [Bald head, all white]: CREDIT – shot by Marlon Turner ( @marlonturner_ )

PHOTO 9 [Nike, working out]: CREDIT – shot by Caleb Thomas ( @truereligionemoji )