Life & Work with Di-Jana Keyes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Di-Jana Keyes.

Hi Di-Jana, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
My name is Di-Jana Keyes & I’m born & raised in Los Angeles, California. I’m a local runway & commercial print international published model, aspiring actress, a hip-hop songwriter, & a creative director for photoshoots. I’ve been modeling for over ten years now & over time, I’ve grown to be interested in other fields around the entertainment industry at which inspires me to share & challenge models to pursue bigger than where they’ve started. I’m the type of person who’s always interested in many opportunities. However, Hollywood is not a cheap investment. The things you love & want to do is a journey. But I told myself that I’m such a “jack of all trades” that I’m going to do anything & everything to pave my own lane of success. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When I first started modeling, I was in college, homeless, & I wasn’t knowledgeable to what it took to carry on as a young model in 2014. So, I fell back & got my life together for a while. I may not have graduated college, but I found a new home & went through many jobs to get me to the right one that could financially support me & the dreams that I wanted to make happen would come true. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
When Cardi B released Bodak Yellow in 2017, I became inspired to write music. I felt like the song had such lyrically art & had put hip-hop for the women on a new map quest. So, I took time out every day after work to practice my writing skills & by 2020, I invested in purchasing my own studio equipment. A year later, I released my first song on Spotify, YouTube, & Pandora called “Slide 4 U” by RoseGvld. With that proud moment, I became pressured to continue with modeling by going on numerous casting calls. I would book over ten fashion shows in a year & tell myself, “I’ve only scratched the surface.” In September of 2023, I directed & produced my first editorial. I call it “the Black Collection” which is inspired by a sex couture pictorial from Mugler & Playboy in January of 1999. I admire Mugler for their edgy fashion statement as a designer & director. But I also admire Playboy for its compassion through women empowerment. I decided to recreate the image by implementing black culture. I noticed that in the original photo there is no diversity. I became interested in using the blueprint of their image to build not only my portfolio but other models, photographers, & designers of black culture as well. I developed a theory that the 25-year-old new revised version of the image would raise the bar & set the tone for black excellence by delivering a difference in natural talent, elegance & beauty. The editorial that I released in January of 2024 has been published in Los Angeles & in Amsterdam for two front-page magazine covers. As my crew & I are very proud, the message from all of this started with a vision that turned into a dream. As I continued to want more of that dream to be real, I constructed a plan to build a team. I invested my time & worth into something that grew into a bigger image. Finally, that image has rewarded me with new pressure to strive for better creativity. I’m looking to perfect my craft & form a business out of my new founded passion for fashion, art, & music. I’m interested in becoming the LA model that inspired other models to remain independent as an entertainer & an entrepreneur. It’s important to choose other outlets & create your own foundation. As my year unfolds, I have developed into Los Angeles’ new emerging creative director. My message for anyone reading this is to stay active. Learn, prepare, practice, & develop yourselves on the daily. Always humble your come ups & comebacks because when a person looks back on their past to create a fruitful future, that’s when the blessings appear most appreciated. 

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I will be developing an annual prestige theme-based photoshoot. Sort of like a personal Met Gala in which I will be hand-picking my models, designers, & photographers to share the experience. This will be a paid gig. So, I always like to announce good luck & welcome aboard to whoever is lucky to collaborate with me to lead a team of not only black excellence but cultured excellence towards a better future. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dijanakeyes.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.rose.gold007?igsh=MWQ1ZGUxMzBkMA==

Image Credits
Tyrone Thomas Jr.
Rejeana Black
Klyde Wright
Sevin Sabali
Khayla Connor
Nykhia Bass
Perri Jordan