in this issue on the cover: Designer RA
Swimmies Swimsuit Editorial, pg 12
Snake Jezebell Bethany Demuth, pg 24
Summer: featuring models Francheska Pujols and Marium Ali, pg 34
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@thebenitaruddGirl you killed it, love love love the outfit @ikfrenchNice beats and pictures to look at @emeraldmodelsYes we certainly will.. thank you for that @marsha_makeupstryThank you for mentioning me m.glad and happy she is amazing model and had amazing experience with photographer too
@eternitycmthank you so much! it’s an honor to be featured in your magazine @beyoubeautychicagoJust like @eternitycm said , it’s such an honor and a dream come true @nassimaouaazLegendary times with Mr. John Ashford. Bless!!! Thanks for shouting me out and bringing me back to 2017!!
RA SWIMMIES Instagram @ raswimmies
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Editorial
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RA SWIMMIES
Model Kayla Winters
Instagram @ awesomeright
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Marium
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Model Services:
Marium Ali Instagram @_song_minha_ MUA Services:
Nina Ahjahnia Instagram: @Nina_Nixie_mua Photography:
Karl M. Lee Instagram: @karl_fashion_photographer
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Dana
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Model: Dana Jacquart Instagram: @daynuhjay
Photographer: Mateen A Khan, (M.A.K Studios., Inc) Instagram: @m.a.k_fashion_studios_music WWW.VIVYDMAGAZINE.COM
The Prestige Photoshoot
The creation of a swimsuit featuring Brittney Meads. Watch and read as a fabric goes from the shelf to the beach.
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY BOBBY LEE “Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts. The first part is called “The Pledge”. The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He shows you this object. Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course… it probably isn’t. The second act is called “The Turn”. The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you’re looking for the secret… but you won’t find it, because of course you’re not really looking. You don’t really want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn’t clap yet. Because making something disappear isn’t enough; you have to bring it back. That’s why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call “The Prestige”.” - Excerpt from Christopher Nolan’s 2006 film “The Prestige”
L
ike a magician, designers go through much of the same process when creating something magical. They often take something ordinary, such as an old shirt, a pair of jeans, everyday fabric and combine the physical with an image of possibilities in their head. Of course, as with most things that are created, the patron or the person from the outside cannot see the vision of the artist or designer. Most of us see a fabric store and do not even think twice about going in. It is the job of the designer to vitalize that vision and bring the patron into the art itself. Upon the first look of the fabric you would see it as a series of repeating colors, florals, and lines. Undeveloped…the material can be described as loose, flaccid, maybe even boring. But to the artist this plain and familiar item is just the beginning of something spectacular.
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All the clothing worn in the images by Brittney were handmade by Brittney. For more information on Brittney Meads please check the following links: www.instagram.com/ bmeadsdesigns www.facebook.com/bmeads
After inspecting it, here is where the trick opens, the formulating of how to improve or repurpose commences. It is then up to the designer to take this item and turn it into something exceptional. After the fabric is cut and paid for, the designer takes it and continues the creation process. The fabric is unfolded and laid out. The designer’s wand and chants are now seen and heard. Scissors are used to reshape, pins are used to hold, as sewing machines are used to bind. The once uninteresting item now has new shape and form, something unseen until now from the mind of the artist. Of course, this takes time in development and effort
and it is not complete. The secret now is to perform “The Prestige,� which is to have the completed item to energize the wearer. After all it is not fashion until it empowers and generates an emotional response, something to transform ordinary people into superheroes. It is an ordinary day here in Pensacola, Florida. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and designer Brittney Meads takes us on a journey through an everyday fabric store. She has graced us with a little insight on how she constructs a swimsuit from the selection of material, the design, and final the photoshoot.
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Editorial
Thank Goddess Fashion Editorial
authent w w w . a u t h e n t i c b y j o h n a s h f o r d . c o m Instagram @johnashfordshoes WWW.VIVYDMAGAZINE.COM
Editorial
tic by John Ashford
Model: Courtney Rone Make Up: Arasy Alamsyah Hair: Karen Vanderburg One piece: Karen Hurley Collection Red & White top: Patrice Goodluck Jewelry: Sultry Affair Style Boots: Authentic by John Ashford Photography: John Ashford
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WELCOME TO TH
Mesh Dollhouse is a model management company and empowerment group for plus size women. Mesh has a heart of gold. She’s had 126 women come through the company to date and has touched 21 states in 3 years.
2020 ROYAL 8 Charmain Guerrier Elizabeth Neal (Isabella Simone) Monique Dior Marla “LuvTigress” Johnson Juanita Smith DeQuandra Mathis Ms. Anita Yvette (Wilburn) Dakotah Shari WWW.VIVYDMAGAZINE.COM
HE DOLLHOUSE
“Our Billboard is all about self-love and reassurance. All of the winners (previous and current) represent our brand with such authenticity, passion, and dignity! This opportunity isn’t just about the Billboard; it’s about networking, building your brand, sisterhood, self-love, and standing for something bigger than yourself!” This month VIVYD Magazine has the honor of sitting down with Tameshia Monroe founder and CEO of Mesh Dollhouse. A native of Miami, Florida, she goes one on one with Bobby Lee and discusses her brand, inspirations, future projects, and the release of her latest billboard. Every year Mesh Dollhouse offers an opportunity for a select group of ladies to be featured on what is now their third consecutive billboard. The 2020 billboard featured beauties from all of the country and will be the face of the company for the upcoming year. This year VIVYD Magazine was a proud sponsor of the 2020 billboard and was on hand for the reveal. Welcome to “VIVYD Interviews” I would like to thank you for the opportunity to conduct this interview. There is a story here of inspiration and determination that our readers and followers would love to hear. So let’s begin with the basics… How did you get started in the Industry? It was through the grace of God. I received a comment on Facebook from a gentleman suggesting that I should try modeling. I thought to myself, “sure I will give it a shot.” From there I became a self-taught model, later creating Mesh Dollhouse as a result. Now we are three years into it and we are still here.
That sounds amazing and powerful, self-awareness is the biggest key to striving and reaching success. Who is your biggest inspiration? I would have to say Steve Harvey. I watch him every day. He is very motivating and provides several inspirational guides for free that I have been able to bring to the company, my team and my models. So I look up to him for all that he has given and what he continues to give. Steve Harvey is awesome, I too have listened to him and patterned some of my thought processes and practices behind his motivational words of encouragement. How did you come up with the name Mesh Dollhouse? Being a two-time savior of domestic violence, I wanted to build something where women could come together as a place of refuge. A place where we could talk, cry, scream, laugh or whatever; a place where we could do it together in self-love and positivity, all while helping each other while we continue to grow. Mesh is a shortened version of my full name Tameshia and Dollhouse is the place where we come together to get glammed up, to love each and encourage each other.
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Evelyn
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Model: Evelyn Phan Instagram: @evelyn_phan
Photographer: Jonathan Monte-Rosa Instagram: @Streetpeepz
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