Today, I have Madison Seldon. She is a model/digital creator/podcast producer. Tell us a little about yourself.
M: I’m Madison. I’m the host of ‘Advice from College Dropout’. I started recording that, I want to say, about a year ago, which was pretty cool. I also model, I’m just an all around creative. Anywhere where I can put my creative spark, I like to do that.
K: What is something that motivates you the most?
M: I would say the people that I love. The people in my circle. They motivate me to get up every day. When times is hard and I feel like I can’t move, I know my friends and my family are always going to be there to pick me up and knowing that i gotta get up so that i can give back everything that they gave me, that gets me up in the morning.
K: How do you cope with everything that’s going on today? Because we have a genocide going on, we have bills to pay, we’re trying to go to work, the cost of living is up, the minimum wage is down…
M: Talk about that! It’s really hard out here and honestly, again, I would just say being with people who just love and care about you so much has made it more tolerable. Just because if you’re by yourself it’s easy to really sink in to what’s going on in the world. I think it’s important for us to really be exposed to not only this, but like each other. Let’s have real conversations and talk through this because this is a really hard time and having people who especially love you is so important in hard times like this. So again, the people who are around me help me to cope with everything that’s going on. I’m such a community-driven person like, that just means so much to me.
K: What made you want to get into modeling, and how far do you want to take it?
M: I been doing it for a few years on and off. I started when I was really young. My parents entered me into this baby competition, although actually, they thought I was a boy. Still took the crown. It started there but I don’t really remember that because I was a baby though. I’ve always loved to take pictures. When I was younger, I just liked to pose, and I just liked to be in front of the camera, I feel so comfortable. I honestly feel like myself when I’m in front of the camera. That’s what got me into it really, just liking taking pictures, you know.
Honestly, I want to take it far. I feel like even if it doesn’t become this huge thing for my career, I want to always be doing it, but…if it goes very far, who am I to stop that? You know? I want to work with cool brands I love and be in really awesome magazines…just modeling for people and companies I respect. I think I’m still trying to research that now because, like you said before, there’s a lot of stuff going on, and a lot of these companies are contributing to bad things.
K: It's like we don’t even know where these people's money is going, how they're making what they’re making, like you have to look up everything.
M: But one of my goals is to be a video vixen. Like I think that- I think if I do that, I’ll be okay. I’m going to keep doing it regardless, but I always say I want to be a video vixen; that would be so cool.
K: I know that’s right! My next question is, what made you want to start your podcast?
M: I think I’m somebody who sometimes feels like I don’t have a voice in certain spaces, and I wanted to create a space where I knew I'd have a voice, but not only that, I wanted to send a message to people that maybe they could relate to. It could challenge their way of thinking and motivate them to do something that maybe they weren’t willing to do. I wanted to create a space for people to feel safe and have somebody there who supports them or knows what they’re going through. I just think it’s important for us as people to talk and be real with one another because social media can get pretty clouded and foggy like reality is distorted, so I just wanted to create a real-life place where even if I don’t know you, you know the type of things that I’m going through. I wanna be vulnerable and let you know that it’s okay to be vulnerable. We can talk about real things and also be uplifting as well. Its a lot of scary things going on right now so we just need some good juju in the air.
K: What’s one thing that you’re excited about working towards in the future?
M: Having all my dreams come true. Slowly but surely. Just doing little things like working with some of the creatives in the area is something that I’m really keen on, like you, and I’d say working with everybody. I like it’d be super cool! Different stylists or photographers. Something I’m looking forward to in the future is having my second season together and up and running so that everybody can not only hear it because the first season was just audio but to see it too. Really excited for everyone to be able to see what i look like if you didn’t ad for modeling, I would just say, you know, maybe look something hit my DM, @maddi.son._ if you want to book me,
K: Because she eats every single time! And go listen to her podcast; It was very, very, very good! Stream the whole season.
M: Thank you! Actually go do that though.
K: And, personally, it helped me.
M: Aw, really? I appreciate that.
K: Girl, I was down in the dumps, and I was just listening to it, and it made me clean my room.
M: And that's what I want. I want to be able to put out there something that sparks, even just a little something. It's like, you know what, I am gonna get up, yeah, clean my room today.
K: It definitely gave like, you're not alone, type vibe. I was listening to it. I'm just like, You know what? Like, there's other like, you know, none of us really know what we're doing.
M: Hello. Like, we're all winging it.
K: It's not just me. So that really motivated me and made me feel better.
M: I'm so glad
K: So book with her and listen to her podcast because she gets cunt and she gives good advice.
K: what is some advice on things not to do for people with similar paths as you?
M: in regards to podcast, I don't really know. I feel like Podcasts can be like, a very open thing. You know, it just, I guess, find your niche. Like, where's your lane with it, right? Don't box yourself in. But, like, have a general sense of, like, what you want to talk about, just so you know what audience you're trying to aim for, so that you can reach that. But I guess in regards to modeling, make sure you do research. In regards to agencies or management, just because there's a lot of scams out there, and they do ask for money, and if that's what they're doing, baby girl, that's not- no. So just really make sure you're doing research, when looking to get into management and agencies, like you don't want to get scammed.
K: How do you know that ypure being genuine in your craft?
M: I'd say, when it feels right inside my body, like, you know that gut feeling, I would say, that's, that's how I know, like, Oh, this is, this is me, yeah, like, I, I feel natural, like, it's natural. It's, you know, I don't have to do too much or work, not saying that hard work doesn't go into your craft. But you feel that fit this, you know, it feels like, Oh, this is right, I'm supposed to be doing this, you know, yeah, things take work. That's what life is. But it'll feel like, okay, yep this is work, I'm willing to do this is, this feels good. You know, she ain't that, there we go i.
K: How were you introduced to what you do now and what was your first impression?
M: I, honestly, I was really introduced in the fourth grade. There was a little talent competition at the mall, and I signed up for it, and it's like a lottery, like you put your name and information on a piece of paper, put it in the ballet, and they choose you. If they chose you, then you had to perform in like this contest where they gave you a shirt and you had to make it your own. You perform a talent and you do runway. And I was so excited for I was like, This is gonna be so fun, like, I got this in the bag, and I did it, and I was one of the people selected to be in like, that agency. Now, I didn't really go too far with it. I don't so I don't really know, like, how legit the agency was. I just remember being in the fourth grade being like, I'm a model, I'm a superstar. This is so cool, taking pictures, going to the little like, agency meetings. I was like, this is legit. Like, I'm legit.
K: Like, this is the life of a superstar.
M: Hello, yeah. Oh my gosh. I was at one of the little agency meetings, and she was like, if you're chosen with us today, we're gonna take you to one of the hotels that Justin Bieber stayed at. And I was like-
K: And you know, like, don't mention Justin Bieber to a fourth grader haha
K: So for how much of your adulthood do you plan on doing what you’re doing now and what are your plans?
M: Um, for podcasts, I want to do it for as long as I can, as long as I feel like it fits, you know, the moment I feel like, “all right, I think, I think this is it girl.” I probably will, but I know I wanted to lead into other things bigger, bigger and better. Modeling…that's something that I just love to do, regardless of anything, it just makes me feel really good. So forever, you know, just as long as it makes me happy, I'm gonna do it.
K: Are there ever moments where you feel like you chose the wrong path all together?
M: Yeah, like, I would say they're like, slight doubts, like, “oh my gosh, I should just stop doing this.” Like, sometimes I feel like it can be a bit oversaturated, but there are like, billions of people on this planet, so it's like, of course, and I feel like we're a hive mind, like we are connected as people. And of course, some of us are gonna have the same ideas things go in style or are trending, and it's like, you know what I mean. But I think what makes it special is that we all put our own spin on what we're doing and make it our own. So just reminding myself, like, you know, just just make it you girl. That's what I tell myself, make it-. Make it you ,girl. And then it's like yeah, let's all. Let's all make it ourselves,
K: Make it…make it us.
K: So someone asked me “What inspired you to start this podcast?” So let me explain what it's about for real. So basically, I would say maybe like last May- when I started getting nice, spring summer, I would go out like a lot.
Okay, so I went to Sonne studio for the first time last May, and um, that's where I met Lex and Simona shout out to y'all! And I remember like we were just talking so casually, and me and my brothers, we were there, and we were all like, oh, like, “Guess how old we are, and guess what we do” And they both guess that I did hair. And I was just like, “is that what I give?” like, I didn't know that I had that vibe. So then I started thinking about it, and I'm just like, hmm, what if I did like, a hair photo shoot? And then that idea just kept the ball rolling, and I actually went through with it, and then I had the event. And now I'm like, I kept going to all these different events in the city, and I'm like, wow, like, there's definitely a community of people like, and I'm seeing it like, it's like, it was so nice to see just a whole bunch of beautiful black people, just coming together and, like, enjoying each other. And it was, it was really nice to see. And I wanted just create a community of people where we can all come together, work together, and just like, give each other different opportunities. And like, I want to have someone for everyone. So like, if you need somebody to cater or if you need some some food…like, I got a person. If you need a model, I got a person for you. If we need some music, I got a person for you. Like, I want to have a person for everybody, so that we can all just work together and get what we got to get done, done, and we can all come up. I've been saying it all year, like, this is our year. Like, I've been seeing it. Like everybody is coming up. We're having these events. We're doing these crazy opportunities. Like, it's really like, it's time,like we're here, and it's- we eating a little bit, so, yeah.
M: It's really beautiful. And you've created a space, like a community of creatives to come together and just network with one another, which is so nice, like you're putting people on, like, really
K: Thank you so much. Do you have any final thoughts?
K: Actually, I just wanted to thank you. You have been amazing.
M: Thank you,
K: Literally, like this girl, oh, my gosh, I have to, I have to tell that story. We were at a party one time, and our friend Thalia was like, “Oh my gosh. Like, how long have you guys known each other?” I think they had said, like, nine years or something. I was like, bro, I just met her, like, a little less than a year ago and I don't know, like, something about her, like, she's just so…the “epitome of positivity”, like she is a light, like she's one of the best friends I've ever had. Thank you. So shout out to Madison.
M: I would say the same for you. Like, so such, such a genuine, sweet soul, like, so selfless and kind. Would literally give the shirt off of her back. Like, so so sweet and so funny. Like, you have stories for days. And you know, grateful for every day, grateful for every single day, and the breath that we breathe. Thank you so much for having me like I love doing this. Stream, Color Me Conversations, obviously by NaKya. Queenie thank you, I love you.
