118. Navigating the Music and Modeling Industries as a Multifaceted Black Woman with Olay Noel

Welcome back to Too Smart For This! This week, Alexis is joined by Olay Noel for a delightful conversation on all things self-care, entrepreneurship, and more.The Atlanta, Georgia native knew from a young age that she was destined to walk the catwalk, drawing heavy inspiration from Naomi Campbell. While earning her degree from Kennesaw State University, Olay took a trip to New York City and returned with a modeling contract from Wilhelmina Models, the world-renowned agency that has had such clients as Naomi Sims, Anjelica Huston, Beverly Johnson, Patti Hansen, and Whitney Houston among others. Despite facing adversity as a woman of color in the modeling industry, Olay has continued to book countless projects including Essence, Cosmopolitan, and L’Officiel. Upon her parents’ advice, she has expanded her repertoire and started her own clothing and jewelry line with her sister that highlights the Black Diaspora, called MIANIK, which has been in business since 2019.Listen to Olay's New Single “Flowers”Follow Olay on InstagramFollow Olay on TikTok