Going against the grain is perhaps one of the hardest things a person can do. While the modeling industry has welcomed diversity over the years, the truth remains that it is still dominated by white models. But despite the odds, Ivory Ra’kell Washington succeeded in making a name for herself as a model and eventually grew to become an entrepreneur and brand ambassador. With the success she has accomplished, Ivory aims to inspire others not to be afraid to be themselves despite what others might say or think.
Ivory is an entrepreneur, model, actress, and brand ambassador of Fredrick of Hollywood, WMC Clothing, Curacity, and more. She is the proud owner of Dr of Docs and is currently working on launching her own luxury designer brand, Ivangra & Ivangri. Aspiring to cement a legacy in the fashion industry, Ivory is working hard to achieve her goal of creating a luxury brand for everyone — an all-inclusive line celebrating diversity and the art that is fashion.
Always up for challenges and trying new things, Ivory shared that she has never been scared to take a chance on her dreams. The odds will always be there, but she amplified that they are no reason why a dreamer would stop dreaming. With a positive outlook and personality, Ivory fearlessly launches herself into the cutthroat environment of the fashion scene, ready to build her own queendom.
“My Career started in 2013. I was asked by a local company to model for their brand, and I was sure at the time I didn’t know my passion for modeling until I saw how good my pictures were, and I was like I might be on to something, so I stick with it,” Ivory recalled. After finding her newfound passion, her journey to get to where she is today has not been smooth-sailing. She encountered many hurdles yet persevered to overcome each one, coming out stronger than ever.
Asked what drove her to continually push forward, Ivory shared that seeing her mother struggle and fight through their challenging circumstances and how she endured through some of the most trying times pushed her to keep up the hard work. Her past is her biggest motivation, while many may see where they came from as their biggest downfall. Ivory said the process she has gone through with the people she values the most has molded her into the powerhouse she is today. “Everyone has their own story. Some are better than others, but regardless of any situation, good or bad, there is light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.
“The challenges I have faced have definitely been with my weight or complexion. I’ve always been voluptuous and dark-skinned, and I’ve noticed in the industry it’s definitely a struggle with placement when it comes to that. I overcame the struggles by starting to realize that with one no, there’s always a yes, and I started to also realize that just as privileged it would be to work with them, it was just as privileged for them to work with me,” the model shared.