Meet Zhana Mcanally | Model, Creative Director & Curator

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

Hi Zhana, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
Hi My name is Zhana McAnally! I am from Nashville, Tennessee, and ever since I was born I know i was different and unique in my own way. I was born a triplet, but my sisters are identical and I am fraternal.. they were in a sack together I was in my own individual so I guess you can say since birth I was always different. I grew up going to an Arts school, called I. T Creswell, I studied in Art, Dance, and Drama. I fell inlove with the arts at a very young age, it was one of the many things that brought real passion and happiness to my life. Then one year I switched to public school and realized none of these paths were what I wanted to go down from that moment on I told myself once I graduate highschool I will move and focus on what drives me, and feds my soul. Which was Art, once I graduated highschool I moved to Atlanta for school and never looked back. I believe this impacted me in many ways because always growing up I was always told I was unique, outgoing, and special in my own way. I carried those words with me through my whole life, and I compared it to Art.. I am Art, I love Art, I live Art? I breathe, Art, because Art is different, unique in it so own way. That is what I believe myself to be Art. I know I was different growing up I was loud and very out spoken compared to my sisters who were more quiet and to themselves, but being as I was made me happy for being the outspoken loud individual, yes it got me into trouble sometimes. Being who I am wholeheartedly made me go after what I wanted to do and what I believe I should do. Growing up in Nashville, there wasn’t much creative going around so it was hard to find what appealed to me, but attending an Arts School really spoke to me, I can say that created the foundation within me. I always knew that I wanted to be a creative, a model, director, anything that pertains to Art I know that is what I was set out to do.

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.
I am a creative, I wouldn’t box myself in as just a model but a creative, because I have other passions and interests that drives me. What sets me apart from other models and creatives, everything I do I come up with on my own, I style myself, I create my own look, I’m my own personal stylist, my own creative director, my own makeup artist, my own editor, my own producer, I am my own MuSe. I am most proud of my growth, which is an odd thing to say maybe not? But my growth because if you told younger me where I grew into be creative wise I would’ve never guessed, I only say that because it’s so many people from where I’m from who never in leave home and actually go and find themselves, I just took a chance on myself. I’m excited about what I have in store, modeling isn’t my end goal, but I plan on sharing with the world why I fell inlove with Art. I have a big project coming up with my partner Bunny, and I believe it’s so beautiful and well put I can’t wait for everyone to witness it and enjoy it with me. It’s something I been planning or talking about forever, and if you know me you know. It’s still a working in progress but hopefully this summer we put on our first show! How did I get to where I am now? I guess just putting myself out there and taking a chance on myself, I grew up people always talking about the veins in my face, how light I was, my teeth being crooked, or something that just diminished me or tried to knock me down, but as I grew older i just started pouring in myself and letting go of all the thoughts in my head, multiple practices in the mirror, not rushing the process of where i want go within modeling and my career, but taking my time. I don’t believe it was easy, because it was always a Me vs Me thing, I was always on my head too much, overthinking everything possible thing I thought I wanted to do but just sabotaged myself out of pursing my passion. Once I finally got of my head, I started going after what I wanted. I only started modeling maybe two years ago, I’m still learning and growing within the path and still have a lot of learning to go, I have more I want to accomplish this is just the first step. Lesson I’ve learned along the way, it is okay to say no. Not everything is meant to be, and I don’t have to do what everyone else is doing, I can voice my own opinion, and that my ideas are also worth putting out there. That I just don’t have to be the model but also the director.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I haven’t seen my bestfriends from back at home in a long time. So whevenever they come to Atlanta to visit I know we would just have a time in general. The first thing I would do is take them to my favorite breakfast place that my friend Caylin took me to, and they had the most amazing caramelized pancakes called Ria’s BlueBird, it’s such a hidden g I just love there pancakes. Lowkey I would take them to Mr. Everything as well, cause those rice bowls be hitting. Like if you were walking around the AUC you knew Mr. Everything was the spot. Maybe hang out at Postinos or Barcelona Wine Bar, me and my girls love a good wine tasting, I know we would have a good catch up or a good wine tasting. Maybe end the night at Rock Steady or MJQ, because that’s defy my vibe I love a good dance party, with house music. In my opinion the most fun things to do is dancing, or just trying new things with my friends, it’s not always about clubbing.. but just having a good time, you meet good people anywhere you go, good people are always accompanied by good people. I do love a good house music type of vibe just because I love the overflow of music and dancing of it all.

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?
The number one person I would want to shoutout would be my model sister, Jalyn. She took my very first professional photoshoot and made me fall in love with modeling. I always assisted behind the camera, filming, lighting, styling, you know it I did it.. lol shoutout CAU Tv for all the production, film, and photography skills I learned. Without Jalyn I believe I would’ve never started on my journey of modeling right now. I always admired how she strutted the runway, and executed in front of the camera. Even though I grow up being outgoing and doing my own thing, I shy’d away from being in front of the camera or doing what I really wanted to do. Also Covid took away a lot of that experience when I began college by moving back home. Back to my good sis, Jalyn I always admired her work and flawlessness with the camera and I always wished I could work up the courage to actually do what I wanted to do, but once I took my chance and finally stepped in front of the camera with my model sister, Jalyn, who also is photographer, I knew this is what I wanted to do. Shoutout to her I love her!

Instagram: https://instagram.com/zhaamc

Other: tiktok.com/ zhaamc

Image Credits
@alitaswanson
@yahoshua_r
@meecheyes
@jiveyflicks
@10kwill
@daxfiless