Meet Melody Pope | Model & Content Creator

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

Hi Melody, how do you think about risk?
I come from a background of chronic illness, low income, and severe childhood abuse. This has shaped my life moving forward in many ways, and contributed to many years of not believing I would survive very long, and not feeling particularly optimistic about it if I did. While stuck in survival mode as so many of us are without even realizing it, I had no idea what I wanted to do with myself, the thought hadn’t truly struck my mind until I was no longer worrying so much about surviving each day. Suddenly, I found myself as a young adult, in a newly stable environment, with a new lack of need for the survival instincts that had previously been my entire personality. Suddenly, I remembered feeling suicidal and the only key advice that got through to me: you’re going to die one way or another anyway, so you may as well do whatever you want. Reflecting on this I realized I needed to do the things that scare me, I needed to chase every rare spark of passion and true interest with ferocious intensity, because this life is both messy and short, and there is no time for playing it safe. Following this mindset, I impulsively, nervously agreed when a friend of a friend asked me to pose for his photography business, and I accidentally fell in love with modeling, and through it I fell in love with myself. At the time I was working a retail job that made me miserable. The long hours and constant stress and overall lack of a purpose in life gnawed at me, triggering health episodes that I was warned were going to kill me if I didn’t find some way to ease my anxiety. One day I woke up and gained the courage to put in a letter of resignation, betting entirely on myself to make it doing something I actually love, despite the odds and everyone who said I would never be successful. Since then, I’ve made modeling my fulltime career and completely transformed my life into something I’m glad to have survived to see, all because of those risks that relied on my trust in myself.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am not your typical model, and breaking into the modeling world was not easy for me at all. I am 5’2″, curvy, have a distinctly alternative look, have vibrant dyed hair and a few tattoos, and I make no moves to change myself for anyone else. I firmly believe in authenticity, and that customers and clients want to see that authenticity present in creatives and brands increasingly so today more than they want the traditional cookie cutter mannequins. I believe what sets me apart from others is my passion and drive – I work 24/7 at my craft, whether I’m actually shooting, networking, marketing, learning new skills, practicing, or creating something to push the barriers. I think I surprise people because I am soft-spoken and believe in interacting with the world with a gentle, compassionate demeanor, but I am also full of the fire that’s allowed me to survive so far. My kindness is matched by my strength.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m not much for social outings and really value quality time spent at home with my loved ones above all else.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I owe so much to the support of my significant other, Silas, who has hauled many a clothing bag, laced many a corset, and driven me to photo shoots many, many times, passed out my business cards any time he saw the opportunity, and reinforced the idea that I am capable and worthy of greatness.

Website: https://linktr.ee/Melody.Pope.x

Instagram: @melody.pope.x

Twitter: @MelodyPopex

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melody.pope.5/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS6YzM2G3O5rhUC_bjDRUMQ/videos