AMERICAS, GA. (WALB) – A 21-year-old girl from the Americas has been selected to participate in LA Fashion Week. An opportunity that only comes once a year.
Colby Felton grew up walking the streets of the Americas and now brings her talents to the runway.
“My inspiration has been since I saw The Devil Wears Prada when I was 8, and when I was 8 years old, I gained confidence in third grade. , I was doing a fashion show using plastic bags.
Colby is the only girl selected to attend LA Fashion Week without being signed to an agent. She has a stage name and goes by ColbannaLaRue.
“When she went to school, she was who she was, but she was always made fun of because of the clothes she wore. She was different. I used to make fun of her because of this,” Colby’s mother, Diya Felton, said.
Diya said she is proud of Colby and has seen the passion first hand since she was a child.
“It really makes me so happy. Good thing I’ve always supported her 100%,” Felton said.
Colby said he also had to overcome mental illness to reach his current position.
Colby said he is good at manifesting. After submitting her own work so many times, she knew she would make it.Before her selection, she had done a lot of freelance work and she would like to sign with a major distributor of
Colby was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in seventh grade and had to endure some hardships along the way.
“Extreme bullying within the school system. .
Colby partially addressed her disability by creating a stage name.
“Creating like an alter ego, ColbannaLaRue goes up against Colby. I call him ‘Colby the Creator.’ So ColbannaLaRue is like Colby’s ego. So when Colby feels small or insecure, ColbannaLaRue is there to pick her up,” Felton said.
As a young minority in a small town, it’s important to know your worth and not give up. At the end of fashion week, Colby hopes to sign with a top agency such as IMG or Los Angeles-based Elite Modeling Agency.
“Coming from a small town as a black girl, you have to work double, quadruple to get to your destination. Keep dreaming no matter what people say,” Diya said. rice field.
One piece of advice Colby wants other young girls to know is to be consistent and try new things. Because she doesn’t know who is watching.
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