Meet Shailyn Weed | Plus Size Model,Influencer,Entrepreneur & Mentor

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

Hi Shailyn, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I feel risk is just another word for something uncomfortable. This year has been very risky for me. I originally came to visit Atlanta to push my clothing brand Skye Kouture! God had a different plan for me. The atmosphere just gave me the push I needed so I packed my daughter and I up and moved to Atlanta to pursue my plus size modeling career. Once I got here I realized having to balance motherhood and work left little to no room for my career. I then took the risk of being unemployed and putting my dreams first.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Goals Plus Gigs, my plus size collective, is what sets me apart and it is what excites me! Not a lot of plus size models are helping and educating new inspiring models in the industry so that’s what sets me apart. Although I am thriving in my career it is my sisterhood that keeps me going! We recently hit 13.3 million views on TikTok doing the cuff it challenge during our photoshoot and we have inspired so many plus size women to go for their dreams while showing the importance of women empowering each other. I make sure I network in every room I enter, I represent myself shayqualityy and Goals Plus Gigs, so any opportunity I get it opens doors for the women that stand with me! My collective has not only walked in New York Fashion Week, we also had our own billboard in the heart of timesquare. I have shoots once a month to build their portfolios aswell as classes for modeling acting. Just in these last few months I have been booked for fashion weeks in Milan, La, Dubai, and New York myself! My sisters are going to be there cheering me on and supporting me. That is something that you need in this life. It is never easy starting a business. You have trial and error moments often but I’ve learned to address the problem, learn and build from it. I have also learned that you need a team to help give attention to those small things that make a huge impact and it helps you focus on the vision overall. I want the world to know my main goal is to break down barriers for women, young mothers and plus size models who are going to come after me so they can be confident in every room they enter. Rather it’s conference room, a auditioning room, or even a room where your pitching your product to an investor. In no way is this journey easy, it was VERY uncomfortable, but being comfortable in life in this aspect makes you content. When your content you can loose your drive, it’s like going through life on cruise, as if your in a vehicle. Sometime you may need to pull over and take a break or you may get to some rocky areas but make sure you get back on your journey. I am going to continue to press the gas on my dreams until I’ve reached my destination, knowing me I have another goal to reach once I get there! Just make sure you know you can change that dream to a reality!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Steak Market Atl is such a great place to go for a date night to catch a vibe,eat good, and the presentation is everything.

Tre Vele is also an Italian restaurant that has an amazing venue.

I also love Blue Martini for the vibes and drinks, very good place to mix mingle and network.

Suite lounge is also a fun place to cut loose and have a good time for a girls night out.

I love brunch spots like The Hive, Boogalou, and King of Diamonds which is a buffet and New Orleans vibe for entertainment.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to thank Toi Kyles owner of Indigoz Shoes for opening numerous doors for and recognizing my talent aswell as my hard work. I would like to thank my sisters in my plus size collective Goals Plus Gigs for being my accountability partners and allowing me to let my creative visions flow.

Website: https://linktr.ee/shayqualityy

Instagram: @shayqualityy

Facebook: Shailyn Weed

Youtube: Shayqualityy

Other: TikTok @shayqualityy

Image Credits
Vincent Hillard (Hillard Photography) Cody Pace (Optics for Us,LLC) Mike Whitehead (Sir Fluxe Photography) Damone Pledger (Dpledger Photography)