Meet Dr. Carrie “Tut” Hamilton | Owner|Content Creator|sTrUT Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Carrie “Tut” Hamilton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Carrie “Tut”, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started modeling at age 13 and over my teenage years to young adulthood, I saw that there was a shift in how people viewed fashion. I wanted to do something different and offer modeling and fashion as a creative artform and not just presentation of clothing. I went to several people of whom I modeled for and expressed my thoughts and my young self (age 17 at the time) was told that what I had in mind wasn’t a fit for their vision. So instead of getting frustrated, I created my own platform and devised a formula that I still currently use.

My company, Another Tut Production, was birthed out of my love of fashion, theatre, entertainment, and over-the -top productions. I could never just do something plain. I always made a production out of a simple event. Initially, I worked with all ages teaching modeling techniques. By the time I entered college as a freshman at Clark Atlanta University (CAU), I had been very successful in producing fashion shows, weddings, showcases, parties and events. It wasn’t until I began my matriculation at CAU did I settle on a company name that was befitting of my personality, creativity, and vision. I was still in my late teens do extraordinary things.

My hopes in starting my own business was to bring joy through fashion, to give unseen people a chance to be seen, and to help others build confidence in themselves. It has since evolved to me working with the senior population to glamourize aging. Out of Another Tut Production came Seniors On The Runway, a platform that helps seniors rediscover who they are in their golden years and beyond.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My artform is fashion theatre and what sets me apart from others is that I found a way and made a way to successfully blend together my three loves of fashion, theatre, and entertainment to showcase a population of people who society has placed in a box. I am most excited about my uncanny ability to connect with the population of senior citizens and encourage them to live more abundantly through their expressions in fashion and beauty.

While at CAU, I found myself to be torn as I felt I had to choose between my three loves when deciding my professional career path. It wasn’t until my radio-tv-film professor and mentor, the late and great actress Carol Mitchell-Leon, challenged my views of choosing. She said, “Carrie, why do you have to choose? Find a way or make one to incorporate everything you love. You’ll be more happier in your career path. Find your niche and stick with it!” Her words were the best advice I could have ever gotten as it still holds true to me and it has pushed me professionally.

Interestingly enough, I did not find hard struggles in my professional field of fashion as I had and have the ability to adapt quite easily. I’m very prayerful and it helps me stay focused on the things I can control, over the things I cannot, Also, I always seek counsel with my daddy when hard decisions have to be made.

The lessons I’ve learned along the way is to always ask God for guidance and seek permission before making a move. Doing so has helped me build a brand that is making a lasting impression in lives of seniors. I found that I am the only person with a fashion theatre platform that focuses on an all senior citizens cast who uses modeling to enhance their everyday sTrUT on the catwalk of life. It may not be a new concept, but it is new in how I present and produce my content- Seniors On The Runway.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would definitely take them to the campus of Clark Atlanta University to show off the location where I earned my bachelor’s degree. The Mass Communications department would be stop number one. That place is amazing and it brings back so many great memories from when I was learning my trade. I would also take them to the Botanical Gardens, Piedmont Park, Southwest Arts Center, and Tyler Perry Studios to hang out as those places are great fashion photoshoot spots and allow for one’s creativity to expand.

As far as food places, I would explore Chattahoochee Food Works because of the vast variety of food choices in one place.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My daddy, Nathaniel “Big Daddy Nick” Hamilton is the one person I’d love to dedicate my shoutout to. He deserves credit and recognition as he introduced me to fashion and entertainment and cultivated my taste for a theatre stage. He raised me after becoming widowed when I was two years old and became my biggest influencer. He impacted my taste for the arts and everything centering it. My daddy is very wise and is the wisest man I know. He taught me about music and instruments, how to dance and perform, and most vital, he taught me the importance of self high fives. He instilled in me that presentation is everything and to be certain that I always present myself well. Because of his influence and support of every crazy idea that I’ve ever had, I made him a business partner and the face of my Seniors On The Runway platform.

Website: www.seniorsontherunway.com

Image Credits
Dr. Carrie T. Hamilton Callie Evans