Meet Daric McKinney | Signed Model, Performer, & Social Media Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daric McKinney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daric, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I decided to pursue an artistic career because I was fully burnt out from not following my lifelong passion: performing. From birth, I danced, modeled, acted, and sang but I did not have any examples close to me to demonstrate that having a creative career could be possible and prosperous. So I followed the path everyone around me did: school, college, and then a corporate job. This path decimated my mental and emotional wellness and forced me to make a lot of changes to my life. Having an artistic career reminded me that I wield art & performance to become my most empowered self.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a signed model, performer, and social media content creator. My art symbolizes my versatility and lifelong passion to create. I am most proud that I am now a full-time creative and I am finding success quickly in my career. I put my dreams on hold for so long out of fear and never gave myself the chance to live as an artist. Honestly, I did not intend to be a professional creative; I was forced into it. I had to decide to either work extremely hard at my job with the possibility of not having a job in a few months or leave. I left. I left because I realized that I would never try to become an artist if I did not attempt now. I learned that the unfortunate situation was a blessing and a corrective measure to place me on the path I needed to be on. I want others to believe that they have the power to start over to do what they love and they can still lead a prosperous life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would do a tour of all of the vegan food spots in the city. Although I am not vegan, I do believe people overlook vegan cuisine due to the historical exclusion many marginalized communities (especially Black communities) face concerning healthier food options. I think vegan or plant-based food provides the eater with a new way to enjoy food and explore their relationship with food. I think it would be cool to share that experience with one of my best friends. (Also, the food is usually seasoned better compared to the average place because, well, the food needs it since it is made from plants.)

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shoutout to my mother. She has not only been my rock but also a constant reminder that I can do anything if I put my mind to it. My mother has successfully run her own financial services business for over 30 years as a Black woman in Detroit. She exemplifies entrepreneurship and stepping out on faith to create the life you want, no matter the circumstances. In times when I wanted to quit or was scared, she pushed me to fight for myself and my future. I truly would not have made it this far in life without her.

Website: https://daricopulencemckinney.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_iamopulence

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daricmckinney/

Twitter: http://Twitter.com/iamopulence

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0yaSMA-kasafbAPgqBTBlw