Beauty of the Week 2.26.22 – Eva

Eva, tell our readers a little bit about who you are, where you are from, what you do and all the good things in between!
Hello, everyone, my name is Evelyne, but everyone calls me Eva. I’m a Capricorn, my birthday is December 30th, and I’m from London, England. However, my family’s heritage is East African, Ugandan specifically, and I’ve lived here in the United States for almost six years. I’m currently living in Miami, Florida.

I am the Director of Operations for The Joint of Miami, a 420-friendly club in Wynwood, located in the heart of Miami’s Art District. But that’s certainly not all I do; that’s my day job! Lol

I’m also an Event Planner, Private Chef, and Professional Model. I’m very passionate about both people and food. I cater all sorts of events; Office parties, yacht parties, album releases, you name it! I’ve even curated my events and partnered with local DJs and Music Artists. In addition, I host my online cooking show, Eva’s Xperience, where I interview Upcoming Creative Artists and Entrepreneurs while cooking a delicious meal. I’ve had the pleasure to host multiple clubs all over Florida, and I also got to MC a Cinco De Mayo showcase featuring The amazing DJ Nasty.

What got you into modeling, hosting, and event planning?
My modeling career began relatively recently, in March 2021. I always wanted to do modeling when I was young, but being raised in a strict African home, I never thought I’d achieve it. Where I come from, modeling is just that, a dream; my mother told me I needed a career, a “real job.”

As chance would have it, not long after I’d moved to the US, a friend of mine, an upcoming model at the time, asked me if I’d like to take pictures with her photographer. After just two shoots, I got my first professional booking; the rest was history! Ola’jouwon Fox & Tre’illi will always have a special place in my heart for launching my career, and I must pay homage to them. I have been blessed to be in some of the most incredibly talented Artists’ music videos! People like Daddy Yankee, Dj Khaled, Future, Lil Baby, Kodak Black, LPB Poody, and Kranium, to name a few. I have had the honor of being featured in the Orlando Voyage and a few Orlando Runway Shows. I prefer editorial modeling, but I do not limit myself! I also do Lifestyle Modeling and am a brand ambassador for several boutiques.

What’s currently on your reading list or podcast?
As I was getting myself stabilized here in the US, I took a call center job as a Suicide Prevention Specialist. Because of that experience, I learned the importance of mental health. I love a good podcast, especially about mental health, awareness of self, or spiritual awakening. Some of my favorites are Jay Shetty, Tom Bilyeu, and Dr. Joe Dispenza. Whenever I need to refocus, they are who I turn. I enjoy the challenges of the mind they offer. Applying their methods to my life has helped me support a healthier way of life, being more positive and limiting negative thoughts.

How do you stay in peak shape? What’s your workout and diet regime?
Going back to school days, I was a swimmer, and I also ran track and field star back home in London. It gave me a strong foundation for physical fitness. Aside from that, I try my best to eat as healthy as possible and work out at least three times a week. In addition, I do a heavy detox called The Cleanse every three months. It has many benefits; it helps with your digestive system, skin, and overall health. My secret for a flat stomach is drinking hot water with lemon when I wake up before bed and after every meal. Oh, and for all the ladies, yes, I have a waist trainer, and I love it!

What does self-care look like for Eva?
I mentioned earlier that I know the importance of mental health, and recently I’ve been focusing on self-care and what that means to and for me. I’ve always been giving, but now I’m entering a season where I promise to provide myself with what I’ve given to others so many times. Self Care for me, is spending quality time with myself. Self-care can look like taking time out to meditate or reading a good book on the beach. It’s also staying consistent with my fitness goals and telling my friends “no” when they ask me to go out to the club…. Sometimes! Lol. But seriously, I’m learning that it is not such a selfish thing to cater to myself and my mental health. Sometimes we need to get to know who we are again. Self Care is anything that contributes to your peace.

What’s something you wish you knew before getting into modeling?
Growing up in London, experiencing “colorism” for the first time here in the US, I must say, was quite an incredible experience. I wish someone had told me! So many times I’ve arrived on set, I cannot tell you how many MUAs “didn’t know how to do ‘dark skin women’s makeup.” Eventually, I just started bringing my makeup to every set, even if I knew an MUA would be provided. It’s frustrating because they often don’t have the right colors to match my skin tone, and I end up in the bathroom fixing it myself. I charge more MUAs to become more equipped with handling different skin tones.

One piece of advice I’d give to upcoming models, which applies to all facets of life, is don’t expect to win every battle but always keep fighting. You can only hope to get chosen for some of the things you try. But you must keep submitting and applying. I say this: don’t ever feel bad if you didn’t get a gig you wanted. It’s hard, but I had to learn that. It can be upsetting because we’re human and get excited about things we get passionate about, but that alone doesn’t mean we’re the right fit. Stay consistent, and it will pay off, I promise.

We are all about Black beauty, what does Black beauty mean to you?
For me, Black beauty means being strong, resilient, and proud. Be proud of where you are from and not just who you are. Black beauty is remaining Queen through all the pain, heartbreaks, and setbacks and knowing they don’t define you. Flaws add to our beauty; we come in all shades & shapes, so it’s also about standing firm and embracing one another.

With a growing fan base and platform, what is something you want your followers to take away from following you on your journey?
I want my followers to know that I’m very much human. I make mistakes, struggle, cry, and have been through a lot in this life, but I’m resilient. Considering my story, my friends often say that I’m one of the strongest and most determined women they’ve met. I want people to know that I’m just like you and share similar stories and experiences. I understand my flaws and that this healing journey began with self-awareness and taking accountability for my actions. At this stage of life, I’m focusing on forgiveness, and it’s a working progress! But I know it’s what needs to be done to move on to the next step of self-mastery and my goal of living in peace and abundance.

Lastly, what’s next for Eva?
Next on my plate is another curated event at The joint of Miami! We’re launching a Brunch series every Sunday starting March 19th, so come out and enjoy good food and great vibes with us! I’ll also be relaunching “Eva’s Xperience” very soon, so stay tuned and be on the lookout for your favorite artists!

Any final remarks?
It is truly an honor to be featured in The Official Black Magazine! I must be doing something right, am I right? Lol

I want to take a moment to thank the CEO & Publisher of The Official Black Magazine, Michael Cox, for giving me this fantastic opportunity to share a little bit of my story with the world! Thank you, and stay tuned!!!