all things latti

www.latoyahawthorne.com | www.awalkingvirtue.org

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My interview with Combobulate Magazine. :) combobulatemagazine: Hello Latoya, I hope you are having a wonderful day. I wanted to ask you some questions about who you are , where you’ve been, and where you are going. I hope that by sharing your story, we can help inspire other people.   What is your full name and where are you from originally? My full name is Latoya Hawthorne. I’m from St. Andrew, Jamaica. At what age did you move to America? I came to America at age 7. Did you go to College, if so what did you study? I studied Advertising for 3 years. Now studying communications with a minor in Sociology for my last year. At what age did you decide to start modeling? I started modeling about age 16 but I didn’t think I could be a model, so I stopped. I think I started to take it seriously at age 22. What is your favorite part about being a model? I love that I get paid to dress up and get makeup done. I also love the gift bags! Most of all I love figure art modeling. I just pose and my mind goes off into a world of making mental lists. It’s so relaxing to me. Figure art is definitely my favorite part. A little birdie told me you are a boxer, is this correct? If so, tell me a bit about how boxing is a part of your life. Haha…yes I am a trained boxer. I’ve only had one amateur fight though. I won! I started boxing after modeling in a runway show. The opening of the show was a female boxing match. I was really intrigued and introduced myself to the founder of the organization. The organization is Knockouts for Girls. It’s made up of female boxers who fight for a good cause. The funds from these events goes towards paying tuition, buying gifts, and funding other needs to deserving girls. I first started by volunteering at different events and teaching little girls how to box. I then decided to start training. It’s definitely a great workout for modeling. It also gives me a sense of reassurance. I used to have really low self-esteem as a teenager which resulted in a really bad relationship. I wish I had these self defense skills back then. So I understand you started an organization called “A Walking Virtue” Can you tell me a little bit of what that is about? A Walking Virtue is a photography studio based out of Los Angeles. I loved being on the other side of the camera. I started by shooting nature. Then I pushed myself to shooting people. I enjoy shooting raw emotion. The name “A Walking Virtue” came from my story of low self esteem from my past. I was on crutches at a young age and never thought I could model. I was in an abusive relationship and couldn’t stand up for myself. So now I’m a walking virtue and I want young women to also be virtuous. The funds from my photography go towards my mentoring program for young women. I teach art classes and skill building workshops at shelters, middle schools, and high schools. I also provide one on one counseling with a few homeless young women living in downtown Los Angeles. Why is mentoring other women such a huge passion of yours? Are you motivated by a personal experience? I want young women to know that they can do whatever they want to do. I want to help maximize their creativity. I wish I had someone at a young age that kept telling me to keep going. I did, but my former boyfriend started to stifle that dream. It’s very important to surround yourself with people who truly care about your well being. What is your ten year goal with A Walking Virtue, and your other efforts? I see a Walking Virtue with more clients, I see me publishing my memoir about overcoming domestic violence, drug abuse, and low self-esteem. I would love to have more campaigns and published work under my belt as a model. I’m in the process of becoming a certified Domestic Violence Counselor as well as obtaining my degree. I will continue to mentor at-risk youth. These are all goals that I’m working on for this year. I definitely try to avoid “future tripping.” I definitely see myself doing exactly what I’m doing now but more experienced in 10 years. If you could be known for one thing, what would that be? That I was a walking virtue. My boyfriend actually gave me that nickname after I told him about my past. So he gets the credit for the name of my organization. :)   Ok now five fun questions: Do you have a celebrity crush, if so who? Adam Levine! What is your favorite color? Green…avocado green. Do you like the beach, or do you prefer wooded areas? I love the beach! Do you have any pets? I have the cutest little Dachshund. His name is Nugget! :) What is your favorite beverage? Red wine, water…that’s pretty much what you’ll find in my fridge. :)

My interview with Combobulate Magazine. :)

combobulatemagazine:

Hello Latoya, I hope you are having a wonderful day. I wanted to ask you some questions about who you are , where you’ve been, and where you are going. I hope that by sharing your story, we can help inspire other people.

 

What is your full name and where are you from originally? My full name is Latoya Hawthorne. I’m from St. Andrew, Jamaica.

At what age did you move to America? I came to America at age 7.

Did you go to College, if so what did you study? I studied Advertising for 3 years. Now studying communications with a minor in Sociology for my last year.

At what age did you decide to start modeling? I started modeling about age 16 but I didn’t think I could be a model, so I stopped. I think I started to take it seriously at age 22.

What is your favorite part about being a model? I love that I get paid to dress up and get makeup done. I also love the gift bags! Most of all I love figure art modeling. I just pose and my mind goes off into a world of making mental lists. It’s so relaxing to me. Figure art is definitely my favorite part.

A little birdie told me you are a boxer, is this correct? If so, tell me a bit about how boxing is a part of your life. Haha…yes I am a trained boxer. I’ve only had one amateur fight though. I won! I started boxing after modeling in a runway show. The opening of the show was a female boxing match. I was really intrigued and introduced myself to the founder of the organization. The organization is Knockouts for Girls. It’s made up of female boxers who fight for a good cause. The funds from these events goes towards paying tuition, buying gifts, and funding other needs to deserving girls. I first started by volunteering at different events and teaching little girls how to box. I then decided to start training. It’s definitely a great workout for modeling. It also gives me a sense of reassurance. I used to have really low self-esteem as a teenager which resulted in a really bad relationship. I wish I had these self defense skills back then.

So I understand you started an organization called “A Walking Virtue” Can you tell me a little bit of what that is about? A Walking Virtue is a photography studio based out of Los Angeles. I loved being on the other side of the camera. I started by shooting nature. Then I pushed myself to shooting people. I enjoy shooting raw emotion. The name “A Walking Virtue” came from my story of low self esteem from my past. I was on crutches at a young age and never thought I could model. I was in an abusive relationship and couldn’t stand up for myself. So now I’m a walking virtue and I want young women to also be virtuous. The funds from my photography go towards my mentoring program for young women. I teach art classes and skill building workshops at shelters, middle schools, and high schools. I also provide one on one counseling with a few homeless young women living in downtown Los Angeles.

Why is mentoring other women such a huge passion of yours? Are you motivated by a personal experience? I want young women to know that they can do whatever they want to do. I want to help maximize their creativity. I wish I had someone at a young age that kept telling me to keep going. I did, but my former boyfriend started to stifle that dream. It’s very important to surround yourself with people who truly care about your well being.

What is your ten year goal with A Walking Virtue, and your other efforts? I see a Walking Virtue with more clients, I see me publishing my memoir about overcoming domestic violence, drug abuse, and low self-esteem. I would love to have more campaigns and published work under my belt as a model. I’m in the process of becoming a certified Domestic Violence Counselor as well as obtaining my degree. I will continue to mentor at-risk youth. These are all goals that I’m working on for this year. I definitely try to avoid “future tripping.” I definitely see myself doing exactly what I’m doing now but more experienced in 10 years.

If you could be known for one thing, what would that be? That I was a walking virtue. My boyfriend actually gave me that nickname after I told him about my past. So he gets the credit for the name of my organization. :)

 

Ok now five fun questions:

Do you have a celebrity crush, if so who? Adam Levine!

What is your favorite color? Green…avocado green.

Do you like the beach, or do you prefer wooded areas? I love the beach!

Do you have any pets? I have the cutest little Dachshund. His name is Nugget! :)

What is your favorite beverage? Red wine, water…that’s pretty much what you’ll find in my fridge. :)

17 notes

Don’t be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves.
Dale Carnegie (via phenandpaper)

16 notes

my first cover ever!!! make sure you read my story…(pg 30-35) Photography by Jenn Hoffman. MUA - Shelly Samia bisforawesome: ComplexD Magazine Island Issue 08 is now LIVE! Complexd is the UK’s first on-line lifestyle magazine celebrating multicultural women of all shades, shapes and sizes. We compile content that is inclusive, relatable, visually diverse and representative of reality. We aim to encourage you by featuring the success stories of talented individuals and we want to inform you on the lifestyles of women from a multitude of countries and cultures. Overall we serve to embrace togetherness and most importantly, eliminate stereotypes by being a forward thinking publication capturing a wide and varied audience.

my first cover ever!!! make sure you read my story…(pg 30-35) Photography by Jenn Hoffman. MUA - Shelly Samia

bisforawesome:

ComplexD Magazine Island Issue 08 is now LIVE!

Complexd is the UK’s first on-line lifestyle magazine celebrating multicultural women of all shades, shapes and sizes.

We compile content that is inclusive, relatable, visually diverse and representative of reality.

We aim to encourage you by featuring the success stories of talented individuals and we want to inform you on the lifestyles of women from a multitude of countries and cultures.

Overall we serve to embrace togetherness and most importantly, eliminate stereotypes by being a forward thinking publication capturing a wide and varied audience.

Filed under UK caribbean complexd magazine culture culture domestic violence drug abuse england international models island jamaica jamaican models latoya hawthorne latoya hawthorne model latti london los angeles models otto models self esteem women jenn hoffman photography shelly samia