Fashionista Focus Bertina Bailey

veryone has a gift. Some are destined to be carpenters, doctors, lawyers, artists and yes, writers. The journey of our gifts is not just discovering them, but to use them.Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, Bertina Bailey has found her gift and is using it for its intended purpose, empowering other women to follow their dreams while loving and enjoying the skin they are in. This ‘Grady Baby’ has taking the Atlanta plussized modeling craze by storm. As I have mentioned in past interviews, I love being a writer for Ambi’ance Magazine. It affords us the opportunity to come in con-

tact with so many different people from all walks of life and sharing their stories with you, entertaining you and hopefully empowering you to live your dream as well. I first saw Ms. Bailey’s photos as a model for one of our recent interviewees; P121Cr8tions designer; Jessica ‘Untile’ Goodwin. Her natural beauty and her confidence radiated in each shot. Later I had the pleasure of seeing her rip the runway, owning it as if it were hers. I overheard the admiration of those in attendance as she fiercely strutted her stuff! Awesome, was the first thought that came to my mind. She’s young, she’s beautiful, she’s confident and she deserves to be shown some Ambi’ance love!

Ambi’ance: Hey Bertina, tell us a little about yourself.

Bertina: I was born and raised here in Atlanta, GA. I am the oldest of four children. I have two sisters and one brother. I graduated from Fredrick Douglas High School. Afterwards, I attended Life University where I studied Business Administration and later attended Bauer College for Fashion Design.

Ambi’ance: So you are a native of Atlanta? You are the first one that I have met since I’ve been here! I almost thought the natives were non-existent! (Laughing) Does anyone in your family model besides you?

Bertina: (Laughing) Yes, I’m a ‘Grady Baby’! (that is the name natives call themselves who were born in Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta) None of my siblings model, but my ten year old daughter; Bella Larman does!

Ambi’ance: Great! I am sure she also commands the runway!

Bertina: Yes, she comes across very shy, except when she’s on that runway! She loves it! (Laughing)

Ambi’ance: Had you had any formal training in modeling?

Bertina: No formal training. I have never had any modeling or photography classes. When I was coming up my mother has always been a plus-sized woman and she would PUT her clothes on. She had one shade of red lipstick that she would put on her eyes, cheeks and her lips. She always carried herself with pride. My grandmother was also a big woman and she would always say, “I put my earrings on and my clothes on. I may be the biggest woman, but I am the finest woman!” So I have always grown up around confident women and thought I was cute! (Laughing) Now since I thought I was cute, an opportunity came for me to model, I took it and things just took off from there.

Ambi’ance: How long have you been modeling?

Bertina: Since June of 2009. I started with a company called “Project Curve Appeal” as a spokesmodel for Peach City and I moved on to Curve Appeal; which are all under the same umbrella, so that was June 2009 and I have been going strong since then.

Ambi’ance: You have a unique look. What encouraged you to step out and be different? As a sister wearing the natural close cut as well, I love your cut and as you know there aren’t many who will join us in making such a bold move! Did you set yourself apart to be different?

Bertina: Even in high school, I was always on the ‘outside’. I had people that I hung out with, friends and family, but was never part of the “in crowd.” I have always worn braids. I‘ve wore the puffy braids so that I would be different. I shaved the back of my head with them, setting me apart from everyone else. I wore them for about three to four years and tried the wigs and weaves for about a year after that. Then I went to a Jill Scott concert; I am a huge fan of hers! She was wearing her hair similar to mine and I said, “Let me do something different!” That was in January, 2012. I cut off all of my hair and my cousin braided the top and I have been rocking it ever since. A funny thing is I see women with the similar cut all the time, but the compliments I get are like, “OMG, I just love your hair, I haven’t seen anything like that!” I get a lot of compliments and it’s very humbling, I love it! I love being different and I love being me!

Anyway, Jill Scott was the inspiration for my hair! I made a comment to someone that I have never felt stronger or more beautiful until I decided to cut my hair. It wasn’t ‘I am woman hear me roar’ or anything like that, but I just never felt more beautiful because I am more than just my hair!

Ambi’ance: I completely agree. I know I love mine! It’s a very bold statement and gives you soooo much confidence and it does set you apart. I don’t believe I ever want to go back to hair! I see you’re doing make-up. Tell me about that. Do you have your own line?

Bertina: Not yet. It’s still in the works. I started doing make-up before I even started modeling. As a model it’s very smart to know how to apply basic make-up. I was always afraid of other people not giving me the look I wanted, especially with my brows. I’m very finicky about them and I learned how to do them a long time ago. Later, one of my friends, Andrea Shanice, kept saying to me that I needed to do make-up on other people. I was always afraid because what if they didn’t like it and then what am I going to do? I said, “You know what? When God gives you a talent to be something, you need to use it.” So I decided to put my stuff out there and let people know that I could do their make-up. I also have done lashes, but I focus on the makeup. In, 2012, I branded myself as a make-up artist and have been doing it ever since.

Ambi’ance: You are definitely your own advertisement because as a fellow make-up artist, your make-up is always on point!

Bertina: When it comes to things like that, I look at is as part of being a woman. I am always a lady more! It’s also a segway into my next question. Since I have been in Atlanta, I have seen the plus-sized community embracing and loving their curves, taking their curves to the runways, dressing and owning the fashion industry. What do you say to the young people who are not the size two, four or sixes?

Bertina: You know we’re ‘homefed’ here in the south! (Laughing) First and foremost before you even consider “modeling” or anything like that, I would say and this is coming from a plus-sized spokesperson, it’s something that you already have in you. It can be grown and honed, but confidence is something that you already have. Even if it’s a teeny tiny bit, you have to love who you are. If you can’t love yourself, then who else will? It starts with self-love and self-appreciation. I got it from my mother, grandmother and auntie. I have always been big. It wasn’t like I was small and gained weight and had to figure out what to do, no, I was a little butterball and the women around me told me all of the time that I was beautiful and that whatever my size was, I was beautiful. It was embedded in me, like a smile that you pass on to others. When you feel good, you are proud of whom you are, you walk differently and you hope that your confidence rubs off on the other women around you. Carry yourself like you know you’re beautiful and nothing can stop you. You are the most powerful person you will ever come in contact with. I have a ten year old and she is about 5’6” now. I tell her all the time she is beautiful. She is and I want my baby to grow up to be a confident

I am always a lady first and foremost and I take pride in how I look and carry myself... Even if you don’t know how to do a full face, carry yourself like you know you have pride in your appearance

first and foremost and I take pride in how I look and carry myself. So for me number one is about being a lady. Even if you don’t know how to do a full face, carry yourself like you know you have pride in your appearance.

Ambi’ance: I couldn’t agree

woman in her own right regardless of whatever size she is. As women, we need to be more secure in giving other women compliments. We can let them know that we like their look, that their outfit is nice. We need to be more loving to other women building each other up.

Ambi’ance: You’re absolutely correct! I love being a woman and everything that comes with the territory of being a woman. It doesn’t cost you anything to pay a compliment to another woman. It doesn’t cost you anything to add a smile to her face or to have her place one on yours. What if any has been your adversity and as well as your upside in being in the fashion industry?

Bertina: My height! I am not the “standard” height for a plussized model or a model. The thing that gets me in is my curves and my personality. I measure in at 34-27-47 and I am 5’6”, so having these curves has gotten me many, many different things, because of my not being the standard. I have met so many wonderful people being in the industry through my modeling and my make-up. I love it! I love empowering other women by doing what I do and letting them know they can do it as well.

Ambi’ance: Have you modeled outside of Atlanta?

Bertina: I haven’t.

Ambi’ance: Is it on the horizon and what is in Bertina’s future?

Bertina: I don’t know. I love modeling, I really do, but right now my passion is more on my makeup artistry. After I have the baby, I really don’t know how much more modeling I’m going to be doing. I love it and it’s gotten me to where I am and it did so very fast, but I don’t know what’s on the horizon in the modeling industry for Bertina. As far as my makeup, I am in the process of branding my makeup line. I have worked with numerous people and it has really taken off, so right now and until the baby is born, my makeup line is my focus. I have also been approached and will be doing some maternity shoots next week and I’m excited about that.

Ambi’ance: Do we know what the baby is?

Bertina: Another girl!

Ambi’ance: Awesome! The passing of the torch continues! Lately I have been reflecting on the legacy I would like to leave, what is yours?

Bertina: That I was someone everyone liked. Not that I am someone who tries to please everyone, but if you were to mention the name, Bertina, you will never hear anything negative. I’m not tooting my own horn, but I try to be a positive and happy person in hopes that it rubs off on anyone that I come in contact with. I always try to have a kind word to say about everyone. Fun loving, kind-hearted and loveable. That’s the mark I want to leave. My mother has always been my inspiration. She has always been a very strong person. She raised us as a single parent and on the other side of her strength has been her humbleness. She will give you her last. I admire her strength, her fire and her compassion. I always strive to be the mother and woman that she is and pass that on.

Ambi’ance: I love your outlook on life. I love your look and your style. You command the runway and hopefully Atlanta will continue to enjoy you for more years to come.

Bertina: You know the night we met at the function; I was going through a huge dilemma and trying to remain positive and professional. I am glad that I was able to present myself positively to you leaving you with a good impression of me. I actually thought you were a model that I had the pleasure of meeting and modeling with when I first started out.

Ambi’ance: It’s a true testament to your character because it never showed. You were very warm and inviting which speaks volumes of you knowing that you were able to remain positive and very professional in spite of.

Bertina: Thank you

Ambi’ance And it’s funny, I’ve been getting that a lot since I’ve been here. I need to find out who she is! (Laughing) It’s been over twenty years since I’ve been on the runway and today, I’m just enjoying watching the next generation doing their thing up there! But, I thank you for the compliment! Where can our readers find you?

Bertina: I am at Bertina Bailey MUA on Facebook and my fan page is Bella Sugar and Spice Makeup and Styling Services named after my daughter, Bella. She inspired me so the business is named after her.

Ambi’ance: Well, Bertina, it’s been a pleasure and Ambi’ance is definitely looking forward to seeing more of you and will keep you in our sights regarding your makeup line. In the meantime, we need to get together and enjoy a little plus-sized shopping! I need to get my ‘Hotlanta’ swag on if I am planning on staying here!

Bertina: Definitely and thank you for taking the time out for me and I have your earrings! (Laughter)

Beautiful, classy, sexy, humble, unique, empowering, and confident. These are the words I found for Bertina Bailey, makeup artist and one of Atlanta’s hottest plus-sized models and spokesperson. During our interview, she lived up to every one of these words and more, representing the inner and outer beauty of a woman empowering other women to live up to their potentials while embracing the skin they are in! Ambi’ance love, Bertina, and we are wishing you a safe delivery of lil Basilyn Amina Elizabeth Clay in August. In the meantime, Ambi’ance Magazine and our readers are watching you!