A MODEL FOR SUCCESS ⭐ 💸 👸🏽
CWBS The Scope Vol. 16
Hello CWBS!
School is picking up – take a study break with Vol. 17 of The Scope! In this edition, we’re featuring the incredible Shivani Persad, a full-time model, creator of the podcast More Than Model Radio, and founder of media platform LiveShivMedia. Shivani is an incredible example of a woman who’s taken her experiences as an immigrant and woman of color in the fashion industry and created organizations that create tangible change. Enjoy!
Sophia Naqvi, Membership Engagement Chair 2020-2021
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SHIVANI PERSAD
Shivani Persad is a full-time model and activist from Mississauga, Canada. In 2012 she completed her honours degree in Political Science and French at McMaster University. Her interests include politics, intersectional feminism and worker's rights. As a model she has worked for the last ten years for clients such as: Diane Von Furstenberg, Cole Haan, Nordstrom, Target, Bare Minerals, Laura Mercier, Becca Cosmetics, Clairol, Paul Mitchell, David's Bridal, Abercrombie & Fitch, Elle India, Harper's Bazaar and many more. She now resides in NYC where she produces her podcast More Than Model Radio, which explores the lives that models lead outside of the fashion industry. In 2019 she started @liveshivmedia, a social justice driven storytelling platform, to tell the stories that aren't being told. Currently, she is a freelance writer, writing on the intersection between politics and culture, and has been published in: The Bushwick Daily, Refinery 29, Flare Magazine and Teen Vogue.
What specific challenges, if any, have you faced as a model of color in the fashion industry? How did you approach or overcome such challenges?
When I was first modeling in Toronto, Montreal, and London, I didn’t feel it too much, but when I got to New York, I really did start to feel it. There weren’t that many Indian or brown models, and most of the ones there were quite light skinned. There are also a lot of microaggressions In the fashion industry, even from other BIWOC women!
The way I deal best with comments like that is to shut them down as soon as I hear them – I think it’s best to nip things in the bud and establish a culture of inclusion in these spaces. Also, have the confidence of your stereotypical thirty-five year old white man, and call the shots when you need to.
In addition to modeling, you’re known for your work in activism and social justice advocacy. Did you always know you’d get involved in the advocacy community?
When I was at university, I was pretty liberal, and I think that’s due to the experience I saw my parents have of immigrating from Trinidad to Canada. Before they immigrated to Canada, they were quite affluent, but when we moved to Canada, they had to adopt working-class jobs. They’ve been working class for the past thirty years or so, and have never been able to get out of that; their struggle made me realize the uncertainty of the American or Canadian dream.
Once I began to understand how systemic so many social issues were regarding issues of race, class, gender, and more, I began to get more involved in advocacy and activism, first by using my platforms, and later by creating my podcast to discuss such issues. Right now, the two issues I’m focused on are worker’s rights and income inequality because of my own experiences with them.
You created two media organizations to further your advocacy – More Than Model Radio and LiveShivMedia. Tell us about them!
At castings and interviews, I was getting tired of tirelessly being asked questions related to my clothes, makeup, and fashion. I wanted to have conversations about other things I was thinking about – worker’s rights, women of color, and, in particular, models. I wanted to highlight the other interesting initiatives and causes models were getting involved with, from ghostwriting books to putting themselves through med school to advocacy.
I started LiveShivMedia when I realized the Podcast market was already pretty saturated, but the medium of storytelling could be a great way to get my ideas out there. Storytelling is even more accessible and allows us to focus more on discussing social issues.
What advice do you have for college-aged womxn?
Everyone’s journey is different – it can be so hard not to compare yourself to others (I’ve been there!) but you have to trust the journey you’re on. Comparing yourself to other people is a disservice to yourself.
Secondly, your mistakes don’t define you; your mistakes are what help you learn and grow. Instead of harping on something you did wrong, reflect on it and grow.
What are your three favorite things to do in New York City? (Pre- or post-COVID!)
Taking the subway.
Brunch and dinner (so basic, but there are so many places to go!)
Workout classes & NYC workout culture.
Internships
Banking/Finance
Consulting
Tech
Startups
Venture Capital
Female Founders
A female-founded company is a company or organization that has at least one female founder. Today, 18% of all startups have at least one female founder.
Since 1972, women have gone from owning 4.6% to 40% of all businesses, coming to a total of over 12.3 million women-owned companies in the United States.
Major Female-Founded Companies: Glossier, Daily Harvest, 23andMe, Lola, Classpass, Mejuri, and Ellevest.
Definitions and information from Inc.com.
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