Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelvreaun Mcginnis (Stonie Vonne).
Kelvreaun, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Before there was Stonie The Portrait, there was Kelly, who was very insecure about her size. I was far from a fan of being a size 2 or peteit. Growing up in my generation, skinny is not glorified and if I’m quite honest, it’s overlooked. So, of course, I wanted to be everything except what I was and who I was. I strived to be like everyone around me.
For a long time, I struggled with doing what the crowd was doing, wearing certain things because others around me wore it, getting my hair a certain way because that’s what was in at the moment. Eventually, I got burned out on the fasaud and decided I would be the person that made me happiest! My senior year In high school I evolved into the person that I had always hid and I vowed to love her! Everyday that year I wore heels and did the absolute most that I could with dress code, and it’s still one of my favorite memories from high school.
Since my senior year, I’ve been myself and no one else, I do what I like regardless of the trends, I wear what I wanna wear regardless of the fashion norms. It’s safe to say graduation pictures was the spark of me wanting to be a model. That one photo shoot at the omni hotel planted a seed in my heart and I’ve been on a mission to use my size and love for heels in a field where it counts.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
By no means has being a model or crochet designer been an easy or smooth road, anything worth having you’ll have to work for. When I first started modeling I had no clue what I was doing, I was all over the place, I thought I knew everything but had no clue as to where to even start. Once I did start, I started with the wrong concepts, didn’t do my research, and was headstrong in the wrong areas. I made some bad decisions, trusted the wrong people, took some wrong turns and bad advice.
All of which were being seen by other people in the industry who watched from afar, but talked very badly, never offering help. There was a model class held that I was not in attendance of, but my name was brought up as to what you shouldn’t do and say as a model. At that moment I decided to do my research and evolve in my craft! I set goals that were important to me and I met them. I cleaned up my vocabulary but I never stopped being myself. So what if I don’t speak as regular models would speak. I don’t want to be a robot I want to be stonie.
Stonies Strings and Things – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Stonies Strings and Things was a gift from God if I might say so myself. I wanted to start a business extremely bad but I had no idea what I was good at. I prayed and prayed harder for a craft that I could be great at. A gift that I could develop,enhance, and evolve. Turns out I had the gift all along. My grandmother had already taught me to crochet as a small girl. She taught me two basic stitches and how to create a scarf. From those two stitches, I created an entire line of crochet goodies, from crop tops to bell bottoms pants. I’m known for crocheting and modeling, I have oodles of people asking me about different crochet styles! That is honestly what I’m most proud of, making a name for myself in under a year! When you hear the name stonie both crafts come to mind.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I personally would describe success as the ultimate level of happiness and security! To me being successful is about having goals and doing whatever it takes within moral standing values to reach them! It’s about being able to have security mentally and financially.
Contact Info:
- Website: Stoniesstringsandthings.com
- Phone: 8178814483
- Email: kelvreaun@gmail.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/stonievonne
- Facebook: Stonie Vonne
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/stonievonne
- Other: Instagram.com/Stoniesstringsandthings
Image Credit:
Saintgregorycreates, William Washington, Lenny wheeler
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