Today we’d like to introduce you to Kion Glover.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kion. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
How did I get to where I am at today? Wow. A question! I’ve always been into modeling as far back as I can remember. I remember watching every season of America’s Next Top Model and buying the magazine that had the promo picture of all the contestants in it.
When someone would get eliminated, I would cross their face out on the promo pic! So yes, I was a super fan. My mom uses to model as well in Europe back in the 80s so I think modeling has always been in me. I use to do school Fashion shows here and there but I never got into it myself. Wasn’t until college, I tried out for a modeling troupe I didn’t make it but I still wanted to pursue modeling. College was rough. My last year, I almost lost my life in a near fatal car accident. I lost my car, broke my collar bone and had several stitches on my face. I survived and walked away with my life. After that accident, I had a new outlook on life. It can be taken so quickly from you. We need to cherish it more and find our purpose so we can live towards it everyday.
Fast forward to after I graduated, I fell into that post grad depression. I had no clue what I was doing. I was working yes but I felt like I could be doing more. Where was my life headed? Should I be doing more? After that accident, I wasn’t going to just live life. I’m going to live it to the fullest but I needed a hobby or something to keep me sane while doing this boring 9-5 lifestyle.
Because of my friends out in NYC, they helped me I “re-discover” my passion for modeling. It just felt like I can do this and that I may a potential career in this if I dedicate myself to my craft. I was at castings every weekend, sending agencies my pictures everyday, doing as many shoots as I could. I stuck to it despite not having a mentor or real guidance. I didn’t know what I was doing. Nonetheless, I developed as a model, I got signed, I became a brand ambassador, I got published in magazines, and I traveled doing a few fashion weeks in NYC, Philadelphia and one in New Jersey. It wasn’t easy however. It was tough mentally. Being an “average” sized woman, I was looked at in this industry as “curvy” or even plus size! I couldn’t believe a size 8 was plus size. There were even times I was last to be fitted at shows because no clothes would fit me. It was rough but I didn’t give up on my dream. I kept going and I don’t plan on stop until I’m modeling a major brand breaking the size barrier in an industry that wants us all to be one size, that’s impossible and unrealistic.
Has it been a smooth road?
Life is never a smooth road. No matter what you do or how hard you try, something’s going to happen. Not to be pessimistic but in reality that’s just how life is. There are high and lows. Left and rights. Bumpy roads with several detours that you have no clue why it’s even happening. Been there. I struggled with modeling. Definitely. I compared myself. Changed my diet. Changed my lifestyle to fit being a model. My weight was constantly on my mind. Little jokes about my weight would get to me. Like I previously said, there were times I was close to tears at a fitting because no clothes would fit me. I felt so defeated… Other times I would just be slapped in lingerie or a bathing suit which is cool but I don’t want to be sexy all the time. I want to be edgy, commercial, boyish. Sometimes I don’t want to always be sexy. I want to venture into different kinds of modeling. I’m capable of more. There’s been a lot of constant nos. The constant waiting. Using my last to get to a casting just to be seen for two seconds and not even make it. It gets to you. But I’m not letting it stop me. If anything this is fuel.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
My business is me. My business is the Kion Yvonne Model Brand and it’s an investment! I’ve invested time, money, my feet in heels for hours, a lot of comp cards and just the hope that I will become something one day. I specialize in modeling yes but I also get into photography and I also have a mental health IG called You Are Not Alone Blog. I started my mental health blog when I was diagnosed with mental illness and just felt the need to share my story and help others. It’s been rough nonetheless but I plan on doing a lot more with my blog. For now, it’s just starting yet like my modeling career, I see my mental health blog going somewhere. I’m proud of my modeling. I’m proud of my mental health blog. I’m proud that despite my mental illness that I keep going and fighting. It shows people REGARDLESS of what you going thru you can turn that crappy situation into something beautiful. I guess that’s what sets me aside. I’m dedicated. I work two jobs almost everyday, I model, I’m going back to school for my masters while doing everything I do. I do it all and I want people with mental illness to keep fighting and doing what makes you happy. Find your craft. Find what makes you beyond happy and invest in it. Invest in your happiness.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @kiyvonne_ @YouAreNotAlone.Blog
Image Credit:
Photographer: Jade IG @montegajade; Outfit: Bare Apparel Inc IG @bareapparelinc
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