Fellow Guild of Charlotte Artists (@guildofcharlotteartists) member Jill Melyssa (@jillmelyssa) had the opportunity to showcase her couture jewelry in The Sound of Fashion. She asked me to be her assistant and I was thrilled to have the opportunity.
A Dream Not Realized
Little known Zona fact: After doing a testimonial published in a print ad some time ago I got the modeling bug. The lights, cameras, and excitement were intoxicating. It was short-lived, however, as they said I was too short and their ideals of what a model should look like did not align with mine. That’s not to say it wasn’t fun while it lasted. However, the one thing I had wanted to do, an opportunity that never presented itself, was to walk a runway.
Lending a Hand
Fast forward twenty-odd years later and I am being asked to assist a designer at a show! Truthfully, the tasks I was assigned offered a nice opportunity to sharpen some of my managerial skills that I don’t use so often as a solo business entrepreneur. Jill placed me in charge of inventory, distribution, and collection. Being able to help her in her first-ever fashion show was nice. Imagine the fear, excitement, and anxiety she must have felt. I was happy to be there to support her. It was also nice that it wasn’t “my” show, so I didn’t need to worry about all the details, I only had to focus on certain tasks that needed to be taken care of.
Now, those of you who know me, know there are two Zonas; Work Zona and Fun Zona. Work Zona is driven to complete tasks efficiently, completely, and correctly. I was there to do a job and, damnit, I was going to do it right. That doesn’t mean that Fun Zona wasn’t invited at all. I dressed in my favorite outfit; an all-black corset and leggings. Unbeknownst to me this was actually the theme of Jill’s show; victorian lace and badassery.
You Better Work, Girl
Of course, no event can go by without a hitch. It turns out one of her models was a no-show and, of course, the pieces she was intended to wear were pieces Jill absolutely wanted to show. Surveying the outfits of all the models none of them quite fit the theme for this particular piece. When her gaze came around to me her immediate thought was “Zona, you could do it”. I didn’t hesitate and I told her I would do it. Not only did I walk out there with confidence (save for some nervousness as I waited at the entrance to the runway), but I was the first to represent her.
It was a bit of a crash course for me. Terms like “flood walk” – the walk all the models do together after everyone has walked and with the designer – were new to me. What I also learned was that I could still do the things that scare me, but that secretly I always wished I could. It was a bit of a Cinderella moment for me, albeit a bit more badass given the black corset with chains and buttons, black shiny leggings and heeled boots.
Dreams Fulfilled
What I learned after all this is my experiences have value. Over the years I’ve acquired life skills that have benefitted me in many different settings. Being a manager taught me how to handle a team, identify tasks and prioritize. It taught me how to devise and execute a process quickly. My creativity helped me quickly see her vision and help her make it a reality. My experience as a small business owner, operating in 10’x10’ spaces in pop-ups, taught me how to operate in small spaces efficiently. All those hours playing Tetris helped me manage all those pieces in a small container. Knowing how to be a friend helped me make her show a success. It was amazing to be able to sit back and watch her shine.
If you know me you have heard me talk about karma. You do good things, and good things happen. Maybe, by putting aside everything to help out a friend, karma was allowing me to accomplish something I never thought I would have the opportunity to achieve. On top of that, maybe this new experience will be something that I will carry forward to help me succeed in other future endeavors. Do you have a dream that you were able to fulfill that eluded you for years. Tell us about it and tag us @bz_furfur and, as always, stay unique.
