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

Hi Carmelita, how do you think about risk?
Risk- “exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance.”- Dictionary.com Life is a risk. God wakes us up daily and we may have an agenda planned; however, we truly never know how our day is going to go right? Therefore, I apply that perspective to everything I do in both life and career. The fear of the unknown causes us to become overwhelmed, worry, and most of all HOLD US BACK. As we read daily whether it be online via the internet or social media memes, everything we want is on the other side of fear and that is TRUE. So, when someone seeks advice from me on what they should do, one of my answers will always be to just DO IT. Will you fail? Sometimes. Will you soar? Not always. But you took the chance on yourself, you learned what you could have done better, and you realized that without taking that risk you would have never know the possibilities that can come from it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
At times I feel like I am doing so much and other times I feel as though I am not doing enough. I am most proud of letting go of the fear of the unknown. Was it easy? in no way shape or form. Not then and not now. I have learned and believe that what is meant for me will not pass me by. I also believe that nothing is given to us that we are not ready for. I struggle with challenges daily but having a tribe of others that believe in me as much as I believe in myself is golden and I do not take that for granted. Below is a timeline of some risk I took and where I am now…Plus Size Model, Style Guru, and a Finance & Accounting Analyst: In 2008, I went to Penn State University not knowing what to expect. Was I prepared? Am I smart enough? Will this girl from the hood succeed and make her family proud? I remember being scared but I knew that this risk I was taking could offer me a better life, more career opportunities, and a way to evolve personally and professionally. I graduated in 2013 with a Bacheolrs of Humanties in Communications with a focus in Public Relations. Fast forward to the last few years: 2017-2021: I took the risk of becoming a plus size model. The model industry lacked and still lacks plus size body representation. Therefore, I decided to become what I did not see. Am I famous? No lol. But that was not the goal and never will be. I aspire to inspire. I have worked with some big-name brands and small brands and I still feel the same way. I want someone to see me and know that they too can change the narrative by creating their own lane and being themselves unapologetically. I am currently still a model and was recently on the VIEW for one of my clients. 2018-2021: I have been styling myself and friends my whole life and one day a friend told me straight up “You know you are a stylist, right?”. I laughed because I never thought of it. I love clothes, I love details and I love pulling anything together to create an outfit. But I feared would people hire me? Would they see the value in what I offer? I didn’t quit my day job lol, but I took that risk and started LitaF.Styles, LLC. Since then, I have styled several clients and even created an apparel line that all started with one t-shirt and slogan: Thunder Thighs by LitaFstyles. That has since evolved to me designing and manufacturing two swimsuits for plus size women sizes 12-32, a crossbody handbag, denim jackets, t-shirts, sweatshirts, tote bags, and even a beach towel. Were all products sold out? Not at all lol! Some did not make one sale, but I took the RISK and that is the most rewarding part! 2019-2021: I get bored very quickly if my brain is not being stimulated. In 2019, I quit my job of being an Accounts Payable manager and started my own Finance & Accounting consulting business, Carmelita A. Frazier, LLC. I went from being underpaid and bored working 40hrs a week with a steady check to one client working 25 hours a week. ALL IS TAKES IS ONE PERSON TO BELIEVE IN YOU. I do not think I have enough space to tell this whole story but in a nutshell; those 25 hours turned into 50-60 and in January 2020 I had two prospective new clients and then the PANDEMIC. Those two clients cancelled my one client dropped me to less than 15 hours a week. Surprisingly, I did not panic. I have been laid off before so I knew what could happen, I was prepared, and I know GOD. I told myself I never wanted to work for someone else again except that client I had because I knew they would offer me my worth if they could afford to. June 2020, they offered me job and I accepted the offer. Not only because it was in the middle of the pandemic, but it was something I felt in my heart as the next chapter of my life. I want all to know that you too can do whatever it is you want. Do not let anyone tell you its been done to convince you not to. Everything has been done before… and? You do it and make it YOURS. Your passion will meet your purpose and the steps you take in between will be where you learn yourself and your why!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have been blessed with the supoort of all my close friends which I am beyond grateful for but to narrow it down I’d like to shout out Markisha Butler, Catherine Ashly, Corinn Chishimba, and Alicia Young.

Website: www.litafstyles.com

Instagram: @jus_me0504 (personal and modeling) @litafstyles_ (business)

Image Credits
R. Jones Kia Caldwell Ador Tolbert Juan Bacote

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