Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariah Kelli Givens.
Hi Mariah Kelli, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Mariah Kelli “MK” has immersed herself in the local fashion industry for over 20 years. She is professionally signed with Exposure Model & Talent Agency in Kansas City in the Commercial Model and Actor division since 2017 and has been a member of SAG-AFTRA since 2020.
The evolution behind Talk Your Walk LLC is to give models & actors a guide on how to begin or refine their journey in the fashion & entertainment industries with an array of virtual & in person coaching. Amongst recognizing the amount of growth in said industries within the Kansas City market for all ages, sizes & ethnicities, After years of coaching over 40 young and mature talent, on how to gain representation and book more jobs in the growing market. Mariah has changed her perspective from aspiring supermodel into being the ultimate model mentor & on camera coach.
Throughout her YouTube vlog “Talk Your Walk” Mariah seeks to answer questions that guide other models & actors to their very own versions of success. The “Talk Your Walk Model and Talent Foundations E-Book” was created by MK to guide those interested in beginning their career and propelling into their journeys with the tools needed to build a successful and well rounded career. She started modeling at age 12 and looked up to models such as Chanel Iman, Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbel and actors such as Tracey Ellis Ross known for her role as “Joan” in Girlfriends; and the strong female lead legend, Angela Bassett. Over the years she took acting classes with Kansas City Young Audiences and auditioned for Theater in the Park,, city-wide talent shows, and taking up any opportunity to be around the stage and the microphone.
Having thousands of hours of on camera, monologue, improvisation, hand modeling and runway experience with companies such as Sprint, Hallmark, Colgate, Taco Johns, Dell, Sam’s Club, Wendy’s, Community America, University Health Hospital Systems and DirecTV and more.
She enjoys volunteering with local philanthropic organizations such as Fashion Honors Autism, to encourage young boys and girls to develop positive self-images, while teaching youth about leadership, cultural inclusiveness and equality. In her free time, you can find her reading a self-help (audio)book over a light roast coffee, taking a swing at golfing and boxing, attending a fashion show or concert, traveling and she especially loves doing arts and crafts with her daughter, Felicity.
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?
The struggles as a young girl were the ones most of us resonate with, the pressures of tabloids and social media to look a certain way. When I was 13, there was no such thing as body positivity and it was very clear that if you didn’t fit in the box, you simply “can’t sit with us” … Then, after watching two seasons of America’s Next Top Model, I quickly realized that it wasn’t about your body, it was about the personality, tenacity and grit it takes to be the best version of yourself.
Nowadays, the road seems far less traveled and even more stigmatized because almost anyone can pose as a photographer and videographer and it makes for even more of a daunting journey when everyone is self proclaiming to help talent rise to fame. That can be extremely hard on a young girl or boys mental and even moreso, confusing to the parents who want to keep their kids safe in an industry that was once very harmful.
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?
My work is a great example of a mom-preneur who has overcome the stigmas behind keeping a 9-5 to keep food on the table and ahead of bills while exploring if being a creative / model / actor / mentor is truly lucrative- all while being a mother and pouring into her interests and passions as well. I am so proud to be not just a model, with billboards and commercials across the city, but I’m proud to be a woman who doesn’t let status, money or a resume define who I am. And while I feel like a jack of all trades master of none- I know that God has given me skillsets that get me through any season. I have overcome the fears of signing to be a model, while being a single-mother and moonlighting my way to a place of humility and grace. My journey as an entrepreneur has been so colorful and I owe it to my tribe and my loved ones for encouraging me to see through the “no’s” of modeling and acting while saying my name in rooms I was not in.
What are your plans for the future?
As I release my ebook, I seek to help others who believe they are ready to break into modeling and acting and being a resource for others, not just in the growing Kansas and Missouri market, but for anyone who can find me! I am looking forward to helping upward of 100 people this year: theatre kids, dancers, public speakers, health and fitness coaches, and more! This ebook will be a huge stepping stone in helping people navigate the entertainment industry in a healthy way while KC continues to grow in opportunities.
Email me for photoshoot, on camera speaking and model coaching at [email protected]
Pricing:
- Ebook $49.99
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talk.yourwalk/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkyourwalkkc/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/talk-your-walk-llc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Talk.YourWalk
- Other: https://stan.store/talkyourwalk
