Today we’d like to introduce you to Jade Jones.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m originally from Oklahoma and when I was in 5th grade my Mom got remarried and my Mom and two brothers picked up and moved to Harlingen, TX (known as The Valley). That’s where my story really begins. I started playing sports when we moved which began with volleyball, basketball, and track and quickly grew into softball, tennis, and soccer. I was not very good at all, but like the rest of my story through sheer perseverance, and the fight to not lose to my brothers in anything, I became better and acquired the skills to grow and get to the next level. I ended up getting scouted by some great D-1 schools, but my Mom’s divorce uprooted us to Round Rock, TX. From there I went on to receive a full-ride scholarship for volleyball and basketball. I am a model in Austin, TX now, although I’ve always envisioned modeling as a career it took a backseat to my education. Society tries to make us feel behind because we take a more calculated route, don’t let all of that status quo talk make you feel any less!
Being an athlete for the majority of my life taught me waking up at 4 am for strength and conditioning, and playing through fractured ribs and other various injuries are part of success. Not that you should ignore caring for yourself, but knowing your limits. Know yourself and know what you can and cannot sacrifice.
After graduating as an English major I had no idea what to do, my college advisor said there was an English Teacher/Coaching position open at a nearby high school. I got the job and quickly fell in love with the data analysis side of planning and testing which is what I do currently alongside modeling. After realizing my dream was taking a backseat to my day job I made a split decision to start modeling school three hours away in Dallas which got me connected to the creative community there. Getting connected with makeup artists, photographers, and brands was the biggest key that helped my career and bookings take off. After making the drive to Dallas every weekend for a year while still maintaining my job as a Data Interventionist breaking down school’s testing data, a year later I am now the most successful I have been in my career and my day job has slowly started to take a backseat to my Modeling career. Throughout the constant change, I learned to be adaptable and to take time to pause to be aware of what and how I was feeling and find a healthy was to respond to those things.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been an unpredictable road. I’ve experienced a lot of “What do I do now ” moments. Moving to a new High school my senior year of high school was a major change in my recruiting process for colleges trying to find me to recruit me. I had no idea what to do or how to keep up with them at 16, 17 years old since I knew a scholarship was the only way I was getting any kind of higher education. Another huge adjustment was trying to figure out how taking a teaching/coaching job was going to align me with my goal of being a Model. It was the definition of trust the process!!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Model. My areas are brand content, commercial modeling, fashion, editorial, runway, athletic, and e-commerce modeling. I would say I am most proud of the relationships I have built through collaborating with worldwide brands. What sets me apart is my versatility. I have a very unconventional look which has a lot of range. It’s rare to see a model in so many different categories of modeling so love shattering that box.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Yes! Don’t allow your personality to limit your life. I am a natural Introvert so I found networking difficult in the beginning. I had to really really step out of my comfort zone to make new connections. Going out and staying on the scene is a great way to begin a lot of business relationships. So if you’re going to go out have a goal, go to industry night, get some business cards, and make connections. Also, don’t take everything so seriously. I wish someone had told me that sooner. I was so micro-focused on getting things done at times I forgot to enjoy the process and laugh!
Contact Info:
- Email: jadealexusjones@yahoo.com
- Website: https://jadejonez.wixsite.com/jadejones
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jade.themodel.jones_
Image Credits
Kauwuane Burton Miranda Gadbury
