We had the good fortune of connecting with Sheniqua Gabriel and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Sheniqua, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
One of my favorite quotes is actually a line from a poem by the late Maya Angelou “Still I rise”. This entire poem resonates with me about how much you can be out through so much trials and tribulations and told you aren’t good enough, tall enough or even pretty enough and you will still overcome everything. No matter what people may try to say or do, if you believe you can you will. Any time I feel like things aren’t going the way I had planned I remind myself “Still I rise”.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started my modeling career in 2020 doing beauty and editorial shoots. My passion in modeling is runway, editorial, commercial and beauty. So a little bit of everything, which is a good and bad thing. I’ve always had the passion for fashion and modeling but it wasn’t until my family friend who is a makeup artist asked me to be her model. Being a model is not as easy as it may seem. There are different categories or niches of modeling. You have to be willing to practice all the time, spend your time and energy going to many auditions. You have to grow “thick skin” as a model. You will hear more no’s in the beginning before you get a “yes”. This discouraged me in the beginning, but I had to remind myself “still I rise” and try again. You can be a model for 10 years and still be told no. The one lesson I learned and it has stuck with me is be your biggest cheerleader and confidence is key. When you have confidence it radiates off you and you pose better at the photoshoot or walk better on the runway. There will always be someone that is slightly better than you but as long as you hold confidence it doesn’t matter.
To me, the fashion industry is more than a profession. It’s a passion that determines the lens through which I perceive everything around me.
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.
While there are many things to do here in Atlanta, there are some places that I must take any friend when visiting me. One restaurant I love to go to is Negril Village Atlanta. I am from the Virgin Islands so anywhere I can find good island food is always a plus. I love art in any form so I would take my friend to the High Museum of Art in Midtown. For great vibes, drinks and people, I would suggest going to Rum Punch Brunch in the summertime. It has the best mix of culture and music for all.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are 2 people that I would like to dedicate my shoutout to as they helped me get to where I am now in my modeling career. The first is Bernice Barton (@basicallybeautiful340). Bernice is a makeup artist based in Atlanta, GA. She is a family friend and in 2020 she asked me to be her model to do makeup looks and that was the start of my modeling career. So without Bernice, I don’t think I would’ve had the courage to start modeling. The next person is Daniel Miranda (@dvmproductions2996). Daniel is a photographer in Atlanta, GA and we met in the beginning of 2023. Without him seeing my potential as a model, I don’t think I would’ve been able to grow and be where I am today. He saw my potential and after one shoot we’ve been stuck together creating beautiful content pictures for everyone to enjoy.
Website: https://sheniquagabriel.wixsite.com/sheniquagabriel
Instagram: @simply.shen
Image Credits
Photos 1-6: Daniel Miranda @dvmproductions2996 Photo 7: Q’Yara Thompasionas @qats_eyes