Meet Kendra Mitchell of Arlington, Texas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendra Mitchell

Hi Kendra, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve had an interest and an appreciation in what I call “the beauty of it” for as long as I can remember. Growing up a three sport athlete, I’d say I first recognized it there in the movements, varying forms of expressionism, and the attempt to perfect the craft with the love of the game. It’s transformed into all kinds of things over time: nature, linguistics, photography, modeling, learning about people. Figuring out what is my version of beautiful and feeling like I’m in and around that. There really is beauty and art in a lot of things and people given perspective.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ll say I took some scenic routes on my way to where I am. I moved to the Dallas – Fort Worth area after growing up in small town Shorter, Alabama and graduating from Auburn University in 2018. I had never been to this area, didn’t know a single person here, and my parents were now a ten hour drive away. It was just me and my cat Kleo on our own little island. The first year of being here, I think all I did was go to work and back to my apartment. I got really good at talking myself out of doing things at that time, because I didn’t have anyone to do things with and was uncomfortable doing them alone. After that first year, I became more intentional about doing things. The first time I went to a restaurant I had been wanting to try and actually sat down to eat my meal… I felt like that was the biggest thing! It’s a little silly to me now because it’s become so regular, but I had to sit in the car for a few minutes when I first got there and talk myself into sticking to the plan. Go inside. Eat. Pay. Leave. After that, I started getting done up and taking myself out all around the area to learn about myself, what I liked, and to start having the experiences. I realized that I enjoyed the process of getting done up: the hair, makeup, finding my own style. One day, I ended up at a fashion show. I had never seen one live, thought I wasn’t tall enough, and just knew I’d be so self conscious of I was the one up there. But I thought they all looked great with their differing looks, styles, personalities, and body types. Somehow I talked myself into giving it a try a year or so later for a smaller show. I was chosen, nerves and all. I got so much more comfortable after that show with myself and where I was. Fast forward to now; I have a few more shows under my belt, signed with Brooke Modeling Agency, and have been pushing myself to be more out there ever since while still learning to accept myself and my own personality.

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 current day job is as a field service engineer for a medical device company. I’ve been on a team maintaining equipment in doctor’s offices, labs, and clinics all around North Texas for almost six years now. When I first started, I was the youngest and one of three women in the company’s United States field service team of about 200 people. I finished the new associate program expected to take a year and a half in nine months.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was always the quiet, thoughtful, to myself type. Too many eyes on me, and I was instantly nervous even if it was family or people I’d know for years. I remember crying one time specifically when I was around three or four, because the grownups laughed at something I’d done that they thought was cute. I got into sports (gymnastics, volleyball, track and field) and helped myself through the nerves by saying there was so much else going on at the same time, there’s no way all of the eyes are on me. I’m still the quiet and to myself type most of the time and that’s okay.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/itskendra10/
• Twitter: https://x.com/its_kendra10/
• Other: https://tiktok.com/@itskendra10

Image Credits
@dizzy.darkroom, @lionheart.arte, @fotoshutters, @jacintabernardphotography, @beyondreachmedia