Meet Rachel Lynne | Model & Content Creator

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

Hi Rachel, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I am from the small town Newburgh, Indiana. I was born 3 months early and weighed 2 pounds 7 ounces. 2 weeks after my birth, I was adopted. My mom also adopted 6 other children so I grew up with a big family. I grew up with 5 brothers and 1 sister. We were all very close in age and it always felt like hanging out with friends. Being adopted, you just want to feel like you belong somewhere and although my single mom was generous to adopt me and provide for me, I didn’t always feel the support and encouragement that I needed. My mom worked as a night shift nurse during the weekends so most of my time was spent with my grandparents. At their house, I played outside, climbed trees and learned skills like crocheting, drawing, painting sewing. My grandma was a great artist and I loved learning from her. I believe she is the reason I am as creative and artistic as I am. Newburgh, Indiana is not exactly diverse. My mom was white too and had adopted kids who were mixed and black. As a hair content creator, ironically, I wasn’t allowed to wear my hair down until high school. My mom and grandma always said my hair looked like a birds nest and they didn’t let me wear my hair out. This was another reason I wasn’t comfortable with my hair until later in life. I was also one of just a handful of black students in my graduating class, so that was another factor that made me feel like I didn’t really belong. Fortunately, in 2015 after graduating high school my family and I moved to Atlanta, Georgia. This was a bit of culture shock to me. Finally, I’m at this city where there are people from all over the world. It was beautiful to me then and it’s still beautiful to me now. I love Atlanta for its diversity. This city has become my home and has made me feel excited and inspired. I see people who look like me achieving all sorts of things. Now, although my dreams were supported growing up, I can truly turn my dreams into reality. I didn’t think I was pretty growing up and I would’ve never considered modeling, but in 2015 I dipped my toes into the modeling world and haven’t looked back.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Growing up as an artistic kiddo, I wanted to do anything related to art. I remember telling my family one day that I wanted to become an interior designer, and the response was that I wouldn’t be able to make enough money. I decided that with my experience being around kids, patience and love for learning that I would become a teacher. I got my bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education and my Masters degree in Reading & Literacy. I also have ESOL endorsements. I taught third grade for 4 years juggling my teaching and modeling career. It was so much fun but it was exhausting and I was burning out quickly. Although I loved teaching, I wasn’t receiving the support I needed. I saw teachers 15 years into their careers, struggling, becoming bitter, and not passionate anymore. I didn’t want to become like that. I decided that I would take the leap of faith and try to take my modeling and acting more serious than a side gig. I would rather take advantage of this opportunity while I’m young, than look back at 25 years and say, “I wonder what if” or “I wish I would have tried….” You only fail if you don’t try. I started modeling in 2015. When I was working at LA Fitness a member asked me to model for the company she worked for. It was a wholesale wig company. I was NOT model material in my mind, but I figured why not try it out. The photos from the photoshoot were used in the catalogs and the hair packaging. Modeling for them was fun and I enjoyed it. I was finally able to be creative and express myself. Over time, I became more confident not just as a model, but in general. After feeling, all my life that I wasn’t beautiful I felt confident and good about myself. As I did more photo shoots, produced shoots and tapped into my creative element, I developed this new dream to inspire others with my creativity. I also wanted to be able to have a platform to help others. I’ve learned that there are so many girls and boys who feel the way I did—unwanted, not valuable and not beautiful. I want to bring love and affection to those people. Modeling helped me gain confidence, but I learned that I didn’t need anyone to tell me I was pretty or anything. That’s not what modeling is about. Modeling for me was about telling a story. I just needed to learn to love myself, because at the end of the day that’s all that matters. And it was hard to learn and really believe this because for so long I was to myself “an unwanted crack baby whose opinions and dreams didn’t matter”. It’s been exactly one year since I left teaching and I’m okay. My family still doesn’t support me and that’s fine. I’m so much happier doing something that I am passionate about. One day soon, I am going to be in a major movie and walking across the red carpets. I’m going to use any influence I have to promote diversity and give to those in need. It may sound cliche, but I want to help change the world. And I hope that maybe one person will see me and be inspired to live their dreams too.

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.
If my best friend is visiting town and she arrives on Sunday we are definitely going to brunch at Blue Martini. Bottomless mimosas and good music all day. We definitely would take a trip to North Georgia and explore Blue Ridge. It was so beautiful and being in nature is so peaceful. Georgia from above is actually really beautiful and it makes you appreciate the trees, water, flowers and animals. I’d also take her to a picnic in Piedmont park. There’s always some excitement at Piedmont park and it’s relaxing to chill on the lawn. My favorite place to shop especially for photo shoots in Akira so we would have to go there for a shopping spree!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I definitely have to give credit to God for placing the desire to help and inspire others in my heart. I simply wouldn’t be alive or have a chance if it weren’t for Him. I also want to give credit to my friend and manager Michael Miller(Atowns Finest) He has encouraged and seen my talent from day one. He has helped give me opportunities that I could have only dreamed about and not only is he an amazing talent himself, but is a great coach. He doesn’t sugar coat things and as a former athlete I have always appreciated that. Lastly, my husband Josiah Paul has been my biggest supporter since before we were ever dating. Starring in his short film “Blinding Lights” was my first glimpse into the acting world. He and Michael encouraged me take acting class and pursue that path on top of modeling. Within just a few months of dating, I signed to the same acting agency, Landrum Arts. Josiah always called me superstar and I hope I can truly fill in those shoes. I truly appreciate both of them for seeing me and showing me that I do belong. That my dreams and passions can be more than dreams.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/rache_lynne

Image Credits
Dalvin Adams
EstWstPhotos
Kyng Media