Yara Shahidi has signed with Women Management modeling agency to further pursue her career in fashion.
“I have always loved fashion as a form of self-expression, from my pocket watch collection to my appreciation of blazers and bow ties,” the teen says of her partnership with the agency. “Partnering with Women Management is allowing me to venture further into the world of fashion with a team who understands [me].”
Understanding Yara is certainly about more than taking pictures. “It’s important to see yourself in media,” the teen shares. “The visuals we’re presented with allow us to understand that things are attainable. If you turn on the television and only see black drug dealers or black people in poverty, it shapes your opinions. I think it is part of our duty as content creators and people within the entertainment industry to challenge those stereotypes.”
“Challenging those stereotypes” is the central reason why Shahidi chose Women Management. “I was on the phone with my now agents, Ryan and James [of Women Management], discussing my goals and aspirations of what we want to come of this partnership. In the middle of this great conversation, James interrupts and says ‘This is all fantastic, but I want to here about the novels and podcasts you’ve been reading and listening to.’ We ended up talking about Their Eyes Were Watching God, Catch 22, my love of history, Hamilton, and listening to Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet soundtrack on repeat. After that conversation, I knew that they were the perfect team for me. They really want to know who I am.”
Be on the lookout for Yara in her first modeling gig. Catch the young star on ‘Black-ish” every Wednesday by way of ABC.
