JEROME LAMAAR X WORLDWIDE MAGAZINE

VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4. SPRING SUMMER 2023

TALENT JEROME LAMAAR ★ PHOTOS BY SARAI GARCIA ★ PHOTO + LIGHTING ASSISTANT KERVENS JEAN WARDROBE STYLING, PRODUCTION + CREATIVE DIRECTION ANDYOMO ★ HAIR STYLIST TIMUR SADYKOV ★ MAKEUP ARTIST BRIANA BLACK ★ PRODUCTION ASSISTANT + FASHION ASSISTANT 1 KAICY "KIKA" NARANJO ★ FASHION ASSISTANT 2 TITANIA THOMPSON ★ STUDIO EQUATOR STUDIO ★ STUDIO MANAGER ARMON O'NEILL ★ INTERVIEW BY ANDYOMO

SPECIAL THANKS TO @khiatullae @chamberlin___ @rickowensonline@gaudess @flyingsolonyc @flyingsolo_pr @moncler@purplepr @alexandermcqueen @maisonblanche.swiss@shopsyro @ericksonbeamon @showroomseven@jewellery.bar_ @the.peterdo @romeohunte @y_y_official_@jamallosterholm @dior @twiggy.moore @bronxandbanco@marcjacobs

ANDYOMO: Hi Jerome. How are you doing today? 

JEROME LAMAAR: I am marvelous. 

Oh my God. Thank you for doing this interview with us. We're so excited to be able to share your story and just this fantastic photo spread that we worked on together, with all of our readers. 

Thank you for having me! It was dope, oh my God, seriously. 

Alright, let's just start with having you tell us a little bit about yourself, where you're from, and how long you've been in the industry. 

Wow. So I'm born and raised in the Bronx, New York, and I am a Gemini, the best sign in the universe. And I've been in the industry for about 23 years, I started when I was 15 years old when I was working at the brand of Baby Phat. Most people don't even know what it is, you know, they forget it sometimes, but the brand at the time was at the top of the food chain when it came to, hip hop fashion and high fashion, we were the bridge between the two. And I like to believe that when I was in high school doing all this stuff, working on it, it was my role to be the conduit between culture and just real fashion and that's what helped him significantly. That was really special. I went to an art design high school. And I was like, the top kid doing too much, president, this, that, Mr. Popular. High school was fun and easy. And so that's why I took on that internship to kind of do something special. But what was really nice about the whole time there working at Baby Phat, going to high school, was I had freedom to be exactly who I wanted to be and no one was telling me to do anything that I didn't want to do. And, everything was still developing. Baby Phat didn't even have a website when I first came in. I helped develop the e-commerce site, and that's what made it really special for me as a young professional. 

I love that. You have been in the game since you were 15 years old, which is truly inspiring for a lot of people that don't already know that. Working alongside the great Kimora Lee Simmons is iconic. Have you always had that love for fashion even before art school? 

I think it's, I think fashion. It's in my DNA. Yeah. I think, my style really stemmed from my grandfather, my grandmother, my mom, and my dad. They all have great taste and he always, you know, wore something very unique. They allowed me to kind of be the same way. And I think self-expression. It's the top priority. Like, if I am feeling this way, I should look this way. Do you know what I'm saying? And my mom, for example, my mom used to like to do styling work for hot 97's fashion shows back in the day.

Oh, that's cool.

Yeah, back in the day. And that's how I discovered Baby Phat, through her. But you know, my grandmother held us into style, dope, rest her soul, but, she knew how to put a look together and, you know, and it inspired me. And I think as a kid, seeing how she would come in with one hairstyle and then come back platinum, a platinum short haircut. She used to love, like Eve. Remember how Eve the rapper?

I don't actually.

So Eve, who was a Rough Ryder, used to have platinum blonde hair. Her song is like, What y'all niggas want? Can't touch. So she had platinum blonde hair at the time. She was a very pretty female rapper. And my grandmother dyed her hair platinum blonde, and cut her hair in the same style as Eve and it was crazy to be able to see my grandmother who was old, she wasn't old. I think she was like, probably what, 40 right. Oh my God. But you know, for her to walk around with platinum blonde hair and like change her wardrobe accordingly that was dope. And she embraced me and, my little, playful feminine energy that I had, so she knew I was gay. 

I love that. That's really nice to be able to have someone that you could look up to growing up that did express themselves. Cuz I don't know if everyone can relate to that, so. That's amazing. Talking about your introduction to the fashion industry and being in it so young, would you say that the industry had kind of forced you to grow up really young? 

Yeah. They gave me so much responsibility, but I was also very tenacious and very smart, and very sharp, and I knew what I wanted. So my maturity came through when I entered these rooms of adults, they wanted me to fuck up anyway so I could leave, you know? There wasn't an option for fucking up, there was an option to win, and so I conquered. And when I was younger, there was no such thing as the term millennial. No one knew what younger people could possibly do. They thought young kids were delinquents and that we didn't have anything to say, and there wasn't social media, so my job was to repre -fucking -sent, right? Like, I had to let them know, just because I'm young doesn't mean I can't do the work. Just because I'm young doesn't mean I'm not smart. And I ended up flipping the scripting a lot of people and saying, you are late. You are not tapped in. I work better than you. I'm cuter than you. I'm smarter than you. That was my energy. When I was younger, I was very tough. And that's what made me hold my own in that environment. So yeah, I grew up fast. But at the same time, I knew that my youth was the reason why, any of them respected me because I'd stood my ground.

Where you're unmovable. I like that. You talk about how your mom introduced you to Baby Phat. What was the line from there to then starting to work with Baby Phat? How did that kind of happen? 

So my mom comes home from Hot 97's fashion show with a plumb Baby Phat t-shirt with the logo on it. It was cute. It had the cat crystals. It was the shit. And my mom was young too, so it was cute. You know what I mean? She wore it, and her little body and her little hair was cute. And I remember saying, who's this? This is cute, ma. And she was like, this is Kimora this is Russell Simmons's wife brand. And I started to like become obsessed with it because it was so like girly, but like tough. So I immediately like did my research and like started to call the office. Kept calling the office, boom, boom, boom. Hi, hi, hi. Every day after school I wanna work for you guys. I wanna work for you guys. Don't know why. I kept saying, and then I started to have dreams about it. Like, oh, I'm supposed to work there. Like it was coming in my dreams. It was like in my dreams. Then my grandmother passed away. And I gave up. I was like, you know what? It's not meant for me to work there. I thought it was, I kept seeing it, but I guess not. And here I am walking through a hallway in high school and this teacher who wasn't my teacher tapped me on my shoulder in the hallway and was like, "You are an honor student, you're really smart, and you're an amazing designer, we should put you into the program for this internship." And I was like, whatever. Right, it's not Baby Phat so I don't care. My grandmother died. I don't care. You know, I, I did it and then what was so magical was the people I presented to were working for Baby Phat. So not knowing where I was, I was talking so much crap, like talking shit all left and right, like, I'm gonna be this when I grow up, which I am, I'm gonna do this. I know what I wanna do, here's how I see the world. And, I had my portfolio open at the presentation and this woman, walked around looking at it. She came over to my desk and was like, who drew this? Who drew this stuff? And I was like, I did duh, duh. I didn't say duh, but my mind said, duh. It's in front of me. Like, you're not smart. And that's the kind of kid I was. I was like so like too bright, like too, too, too smart. And She says, well Kimora [Lee Simmons] wants someone like you, you need to work for Baby Phat. And that changed my whole life because then I realized that my brain was doing something different, manifesting. So that's the magic of the shit because I knew that my mind was working in ways that people weren't comprehending just yet. They do now. But it was so special to be able to feel something, being something before it actually manifested in front of you and it actually became true. It was a wrap, right? That was a wrap. No, honestly, it was magical. 

I think it's truly about having that faith in yourself and being able to manifest that. Mm-hmm. And quite frankly, being not the sense of arrogance or pride, but the sense of trueness and honesty with yourself.

And the knowingness, I always felt it's a knowingness that we all have. That if you stop letting other people distract you from the knowingness, you'll be just fine. 

I like that. 

Whether you gotta chop those people, you need to do it. Whether you need to feel like an outcast then do so. But if you feel it and you know in your heart, that you're supposed to do something, then you need to stop at nothing to get there. Right. I stopped, but there was a whole magical element behind it because I already did the work. I just stopped chasing it and then the alignment came right to me. Fast forward and I'm still connected to Kimora and the team and you know, working on something special. 

No, that's really cute. I think that's really inspiring for a lot of young kids just to know that it's persistence, it's knowing that you want something bad enough and that manifesting. So those are really big points that I think our readers can really learn from. 

And to clean out the nonsense and negativity.

No, definitely learning how to set those boundaries as not only an artist but as an individual and protecting your energy as well. 

Well, obviously the Bronx Pride is real. How would you say other people can kind of see the picture you've painted within your work and how that connects with you being from the Bronx? 

Wow. So the Bronx has a lot of history people don't know about like, well, they do know about, but the Bronx was like the first borough or something like that, to connect to Manhattan, to make New York City. 

I did not know that.

So what's special is like, it's one of the oldest boroughs. And it used to be a vacation spot. Then throughout time, it became something else. And what I loved about the heritage of it is that it kept changing and it kept becoming something special. And my perspective of the Bronx is almost like the way people would see Wakanda, if you will, right? People would think. That the Bronx is one way, but when you are in it, it's a whole 'nother story, right? Yes. It's tough. Everywhere in New York is tough. But I also believe it breeds amazing creatives. So my world was always about showing everyone that the Bronx had that element of storytelling and luxury and culture that has been forgotten. And while I may not live there anymore, cuz a bitch upgraded, it's still a place that separates me as a designer and a person, from a lot of people. Because I'm not from Brooklyn. I'm not from Queens. I'm not from Illinois or Miami. I'm from the Bronx. The birthplace of hip hop, with salsa, merengue, and bachata, the culture is all diverse. There are Italians, there are Armenians, it's, there's everyone, right? That flavor of the Bronx is what makes me who I am.

Also, I think it affected my sense of style. When you think about what the Bronx brought to the table, you have Ralph Lauren, you have Calvin Klein. You have, the creators of J. Crew and the Gap, those things that create Americana. All kinds that stem from the Bronx. And I think my world is a remix of all those things, but with way more flavor, way more, modernity. And that's how I see it. It's so, yeah, the Bronx is with me in different ways. It's just not as loud as it used to be. 

Right. And I think you do a really good job of representing the Bronx in a way that is a good reminder to the people that don't know, or need a reminder that great musicians or great food or great culture come from this. It's definitely a pride that I see is strong in people from the Bronx.

You know how we are. The people from the Bronx are the loudest and I love it, it really has inspired a lot of people, but people don't realize that it inspired them until later on when someone says it. 

Well, here's another case of just, you know, not giving credit where credit is due too, you know, especially to black and brown communities. So that's awesome that you're able to be a face that comes out and says, there is so much beauty here. I really love that. Kind of talking about beauty and style, jumping into 5:31, a bright and timeless series of beautifully and sustainably made clothing. Where do you get your inspiration for these fun and colorful pieces? 

Wow. Well, I think so I'm not even reinventing the wheel. I'm working from things that I see, believe, and trust. So everything from 5:31 comes from my upbringing. For example, my mom is a glamazon. She loves sparkle and color, and she wears sequins in the middle of the day. Swear to God. My dad, who is a military man, he's extremely polished and refined. He does not fuck with everybody. Right. That's a whole 'nother element. My grandfather loves to color pink and he talks to everyone. He's charismatic and he has no problem being a straight man wearing bold colors. And my grandmother, who is a chameleon, who can transform and be absolutely anything is still glamorous. Those four people, inspired my sense of style today and have inspired me to work with 5:31. 5: 31 is a twisting of American classics. My dad and his military background and tailoring, my mom and her glamazon and tomboyish-ness. My grandparents with their like, cool references and the way they used to dress. All of it comes from the way I was raised and how I see the world. Then I add my twist, which is a little bit of futurism, a little bit of enchantment. It makes me feel magical and it becomes something that is almost like a story of who I am every time I put something else out. Cause I started 5:31 in 2013 and no one understood why I was trying to do luxury streetwear. I was showing girls in boyfriend jeans in 2013 with crystals all over the jeans and they loved it. I was in the New York Times. Everyone loved it, but Vogue didn't get it at the time. So I kept going and trying to get the recognition. It was tough. There were no black designers. This is before Virgil. It was before the whole wave of black designers now. And I just had to keep pushing, this glamorous girl who was tough, who wasn't, walking around with like a little mini skirt. She was wearing her man's clothes. She threw on a giant heel. Her hair was big, her nails were done, and she was sophisticated and smart and she was futuristic too. And that was the original element of the collection. And then I looked back and said, oh shit, I'm working with classics. Right. Tuxedo shirts and like, workwear just in silks and pretty colors that no one else was interested in. Cuz that was for me, right? That's how my mom would wear my dad's stuff. My mom would wear my dad's military jackets over a beaded dress and then she would put Jordan's on and that was her twist, you know? And not thinking about it and then realizing, damn, my mom really inspired me a lot for 5:31.

That's really awesome. And it's cool to see the direct influence right off, your familial base. And I think another beautiful thing that we haven't really talked about quite yet is this playfulness that you have with gender expansiveness and allowing those like true borders to just break down, you know, with your granddaddy and wearing pink and your mom throwing on, the bomber jackets with the Jordans. There's a lot of style that is very much so gendered in these other people's eyes that is just a piece of clothing. 

Right? My dream is when I decide to bring the collection back to the next level, cuz what I'm doing is releasing 5:31, in certain periods for a reason. I'm not trying to show every season. I don't wanna be an American designer that shows every collection cuz it's a waste of time and it fucks with the environment. I am thinking about ways that I know when the culture is ready to experience something that's when I give them it and then disappear. It's meant for you to covet the pieces when it's out and move on. So 5:31 is about exploring the conversation around gender, and it's not about full-on consumption of just buying things every season. I don't want people to wear my shit every season and let's throw it away. I want you to be like, damn, I got it one time when it was around. I ain't letting this shit go. And then when the time is right, there's another piece of that puzzle that's dropped and you know, using 5:31 as the name, which is my birthday. Gemini season, baby Gemini season. It's a magical element because it's about time. And timeliness and timelessness and how that conversation about great items that can last should be approached. So I'm not part of a big conversation of New York Fashion Week every year. Mm-hmm. When I do go, I look great-

Period.

- You know, period. But I know that what I'm working on next for 5:31 is gonna be beautiful, and it's gonna be another conversation to be had about apparel, you know? And there's a bigger picture that I'm playing with, with the narrative because again, It's timeless. Right?

It's timeless with the timing, which is really cool to see. 

Exactly. 

I think some of the greatest artists make art for specific times, you know. So it's really cool to see these fashion scientists as you call it, or these forecasters, these trend forecasters, be able to say, I have something and you will have to wait for it because it is beautiful.

I think that's what makes me different, being a person who is a forecaster, right? I'm not trying to be disrespectful to any designer. I love my designer friends, but I'm really moving in a very different realm, in a sense where it's like, I'm brewing something, I'm studying, I'm making sure it's a very specific thing when it's released and then once it's available, it makes sense and it goes quick. I'm so grateful that I can do that. Like I have the luxury. To do that. 

It's true. It is that privilege to be able to say, "I don't need to drop a line every single season," but more, "I want to gift the world where I'm at in my brain right now" and so it is this more personal experience, which I really like, not to negate any of these designers seasonal experiences. But it is a different path like you said. 

It's totally different. I think it's the way we're gonna move and evolve, and I use myself as a Guinea pig all the time for sure. I may lose money, but honey, people copy it later and it's proof. Like I love that people are referencing things that I've done and they don't realize that, you know, that I was sacrificing to do those things, but now it's like a whole norm, you know? 

No, that's awesome. Well, I think it's obvious that your favorite color is pink but has this always been true or is this something you've grown into over time? 

Well, the color pink comes from my granddad. He's here in town which is so funny. And his favorite color is pink because he used to get all the ladies from pink, from the Pink Panther. I'm like, Grampy, please. And I just confirmed yesterday again, I said, so your favorite color is what? "Pink! Like yo, nails." I said, alright, just confirming. Cause I tell people, your colors pink, and then, you say it's brown and I don't wanna look stupid. No, he confirmed. He said it again, "I used to wear a pink safari suit, dude. All the ladies", so pink at an early age was my favorite color. However, my family would use color systems to do chores and shit cuz we were so fucking corny. So all my forks and spoons and books and bedding in my room growing up was green. My older brother was blue. My sister Ebony was purple and my younger sister was yellow. So we had a color system so we knew who didn't wash their bowl you know? So green to me was my original plus emerald is my birthstone and it's a very beautiful color cause it's of the earth. I love green, I do, but pink is my other favorite color.

As we continue to open the door on gender-expansive clothing in fashion while breaking down boundaries of the binary system, what do you hope people can take away from the authenticity and unapologetic behavior you so gracefully exude?

Well, I really want people to realize that clothing is just clothing. The labels are wrong. You could be whatever the fuck you wanna be team. We only live once. Why are you worried about, this really horrible, conformed way of looking at society? We can wear whatever we decide to wear. You know, so my theory is with the gender fluidity and just kind of non-binary world is to just do whatever the fuck you wanna do. I don't know if it answered your question, but that's what I say, like, no, it's true there. Now people are waking up to it so much and I'm so excited to see where we go with it. People are starting to understand that clothes are just clothes, and if I look good in them, I'm going with them. Right. If you feel good about it, then you should enjoy that.

It's awesome to see more and more designers lean into that, like freedom of gender. You know, even some of the pieces that people will see you in, in this spread maybe they weren't meant for men or maybe they weren't meant for an a.m.a.b. person, but look great cuz they're just clothes. So I love that. Obviously, there's a real playfulness and joy to your energy that I believe translates heavily into your work and your designs. What keeps you positive and your mental health in check existing in such a tough industry? 

Well, early on I used to feel very insecure that I was doing too much. Mm-hmm. Um, I wasn't received well because I was always so happy. Then I realized that my happiness has nothing to do with everyone else. And that just because I was raised in a very happy place, like my family's dope as shit, thank God for them. That's what keeps me happy. But then I will fall into a place where, I felt like I was left out, or, people overlooked me and it used to mess with me a lot. So my mental health used to, really go wild. I used to get very, very depressed because I felt like I wasn't good enough. What I've learned from that was to remember that I matter, that my gifts are mine, and my story's mine, and that I don't have to fit into anyone's mold or conversation if I choose not to. I proved that to myself a few years ago, after my separation from my partner, I had to really decide who I wanted to be and wake up to the idea that not everyone's gonna be on your team. Fuck them. You don't need to have a big crew of people, you see, I don't have a big crew of people. I'm not going to all the parties and there's nothing wrong with that, but my relationship with myself is enough, and being a recluse is okay. You can stay home in your bed and think or write and just be by yourself and being by yourself is fine. I keep telling people, you don't have to do too much to get recognition and attention. Sometimes you just have to be enough for yourself. 

I like that. 

And that's where I want more people to realize it's okay to be a loner. In high school, I was a loner, but I was popular. College, same thing. Going to industry parties, I go mostly by myself with my manager. And I float, float, float, kiss, kiss, kiss. Yes. I'm cute. All right. I'm in my Uber. I'm there for like 20, 30 minutes, I'm out. And I think I'm so grateful to now be able to be like, I have no problem walking around the city by myself, going to events by myself, traveling by myself, and frankly, it's kind of better cuz you don't have to wait for no one, you don't have to report to anybody. I just want more people to love themselves more. If you didn't need to exist, you wouldn't exist, period. But like, I'm gonna keep it really simple. Think about the odds. It's like one in 1 trillion odds for you to be conceived. One in 1 trillion. You have to fucking go through all these obstacles to get to an egg. You were meant to be here. 

And I love that, put it in that perspective, right? 

You were meant to fucking be here. Right? So do something with it. Stop waiting for a crew. You came in alone. You leave alone. You do what you need to do alone. Get to your goal. It becomes empowering. Meditation. Lots of meditation, writing, lots of just being alone. Mm-hmm. Do what you need to do to give you clarity on your next moves. 

It makes me think of RuPaul. Like if you ain't gonna love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else?

Period. I love RuPaul so much. 

I, do too. Well, kind of being playful a little bit. We see them a lot, so you gotta tell us, where does the love for the bunny ears come from? We are so interested to know. 

It's funny cause I don't even know where the hell those fucking ears came from. Like, me loving bunnies. I think my energy is such a bunny. I'm somewhere between a peacock and a bunny, so I don't know where these ears popped up from. Like, I just started loving the way they look. Mm-hmm. And like the height of it, and it makes sense for my personality. Mm. And the bunny, I call it like a cosmic bunny. And I love that. The sharp and funny and witty and it's like a spirit animal for me. 

And quite frankly, we don't see that silhouette very often, so it is fun to switch it up.

It's just nuts cause it just comes to me. I didn't really think about it. Like I realized, oh shit, this is bunny ears and you know, I put something on, I'm like, Oh, these are bunny ears. I bought them but didn't think about what they were. And I'm like, oh shit. I like bunnies. Even though I'm afraid of bunnies in real life. They're honestly kind of scary. 

That's really fun. I think it ties into your just playful energy really well, I think, you know, having that fashion forwardness that you're not afraid to play with something as silly as bunny ears is in itself, original and unique. So we love that. Kind of jumping back into your career a little bit, a couple more questions. Tell the readers what they wanna know, how did you get connected with Ms. Diva herself, Queen B. And what led that relationship to your role with being with Ivy Park and Adidas? 

So the magic was, Okay, so in 2013 I had shown my second collection and I kept meeting with all these brands and, I kept saying to myself no one's gonna pick me up. Like these, retailers, they weren't picking me up. So I gave up and called Zerina Akers at the time, who was styling Beyonce, and just gave her all my samples. Like maybe four or five samples. Beyonce wore it the next day to, the billboards women's awards or something like that. She then also wore it for Taylor Swift's birthday party on the same day, twice in one day and it went viral. So then the jacket went viral, and I went viral. Cause no one ever wears something twice in one day. And I was like, why is everyone hitting me up like I was working. And Zarina said, "Beyonce really loves what you've been doing, stay focused." So every year since 2013, she's worn something of mine. It's special because it led to her reaching out to do the Ivy Park, the first Ivy Park collaboration where she wore the pink dress, to announce that she was doing Ivy Park. Right. I remember. And it was a big deal with me, and it was nice because I was like, oh, I love Adidas because the flip side, I wanted to work for Adidas for years. That was my dream. That's the manifestation thing, cause I kept saying I need to be a certain kind of guy who goes to Portland to collaborate with Adidas. I said, someday it's gonna work. It happened. Beyonce reached out to me to do Ivy Park. I only did the first two drops. Didn't do the rest. But I'm grateful for that opportunity to have contributed to something so special because it wasn't just me, it was an amazing team of people. But my brain was working quite differently from everyone else's, right? And Beyonce allowed that to happen. It was cool. 

That's cool Beyonce and her former stylists were able to see this energy, and this passionate art that you were putting out into the world, even when, you know retailers and other people weren't. It truly is one of those things where we can open doors for each other and consistently, build that community while manifesting and knowing who you are and what you stand for. That's really inspiring. 

I'm grateful,. She put me in black as king. It was all the secret working stuff, but you know. Black as king. Now my world shifted. I'm not aiming to put things on celebrities anymore. I did that, been there, done that. Totally. But yeah, from 2013 up until 2021 she's worn something of mine every single year.

That's so awesome. And I think it's a great testament to know for other young designers who are trying to come up and just, you know, keep knocking on doors, knock on doors, and they will open when the time is right, you know? 

That's literally it. And keep doing your thing and know that what you're putting out is worth it. And don't look to your left or right because your lane is totally different. 

That's just beyond inspiring. Kind of bouncing off of another one more serious question, then we'll get fun again. What piece of advice would you give to someone who's been in the industry for a while, but is looking to branch out and elevate in their career? 

My thing is, enjoy the art of the pivot. Understanding timing is everything and realizing that this path you're on is okay, but if you feel like there's another path for you, start putting things to do that shift. Mm-hmm. Self-brand yourself. We are in the age of me, so brand yourself as a personal brand. And if you are a designer, don't create a full collection. Focus on creating dynamic drops that people can see, purchase and visit you again in a month or two. They can keep your narrative fresh and new. And I think it's also important to know that not everyone's meant to be a star and be okay with that. Like I'm contented with saying to myself, I'm never gonna win a CFDA award. Even though I thought I was the most brilliant designer at one point, didn't get it, you know? And I'm fine with that now. Now I'm like, I just wanna make dope clothes and be extremely beautiful when people see me. Right? Ha. And make great money, which I do, you know, so, right. That's how I feel. 

Aw. Well, that's good. I'm glad. I think it's really important, and pivoting is really important too, in our industry. I think that that's a term that people need to get familiar with because quite frankly, there's gonna be a whole bunch of things that come up that we don't ever expect, and we just have to be ready for anything, you know, even when we're not ready for any of it.

I love like knowing that, okay, this path may not be going fully in the direction I decided that I wanted it to, let's put that over there, let's go to this one real quick and see what we can do. You know, it's okay to be able to do that. And if you have a good vision, it will all tie it together at some point. It happened to me about four times. 

Yeah, I love that. Again, just emphasis on manifestation, you know, trusting the universe, but also trusting yourself and getting to know yourself along the process too.

And doing the work. 

And doing the work. Amen. Okay, a little fun one, I'm gonna do a kind of rocket fire, this or that. I'm just gonna start. Sneakers or heels, which one do we think? 

Sneakers. I love a sneaker. Give me a good sneaker period. 

I love it. Streetwear or high fashion? 

High fashion. 

Here for it. Okay. I know you're a disco queen, but disco or pop, which one are we feeling? 

Oh, shit. Okay, disco. Disco.

90's or 2000's fashion. 

That's a hard one. Wow. Fuck it, 2000's. 

Okay, this one's a different one. Fish nets or body suits. 

Hmm, I'll do body suits. 

Last one, minimal or maximal fashion. 

Ooh, maximal.

I live for it. Alright, finishing off this interview, we have two questions. How can we create more space, representation, inclusivity, and diversity in this industry for black and brown creatives?

This is a wonderful question, I think. We have to just make sure that once we open a door we don't close it behind us. We should always try to find like-minded people of color, in our communities to be inclusive and to bring them into any project we possibly can. We can learn and see and do the same for someone else to come. I really lean into this idea that if there are not enough people who look like me in the room, I'm gonna raise hell. And that's exactly what I like to do. I like to definitely work with these big brands and let them know like, I'm not the only one. You may just, you may like me because I'm a beast. Yes. We know that. But other beasts like me look like me. Who should be given an opportunity? If I didn't have that chance as a kid, from Kimora, right, to work in an environment that was so diverse before it was a thing. She had everyone under the sun working there. Mostly people of color who are black and brown and Latino. And I thought every environment was like that growing up cause of that place and it wasn't, and to understand if she didn't give me that chance to experience that I would probably be a different person. I want people to always experience that kind of feeling of family when they're in a space, and that's why we need more diversity and inclusion in every room that we're in. Except for the racist ones. They don't get our money or our time. They don't get our energy. I don't know why people are still being racist at this time as I know.

I think you said it right. It's really about building those comfortable spaces and creating that family where you can lean on and be inspired by each other. A lot of our stories may not be the same, but they are similar, and I think when we step into rooms where we don't have people with similar stories, it's easy to be very aware. All right, last question. What is next for Jerome? What can we see? 

Wow. What is next for Jerome? I am venturing into skincare. Beauty. I think it's time.

I'll be your test bunny. 

Don't worry, you're gonna get a whole fucking thing. Oh my God. I'm focused on releasing a book of some kind, whether it's a biography or something that's about my story more expansively. And I am focused on preparing the world for 5:31 again. 

I love it. And we here at Worldwide Magazine, can't wait to see what you do next. We are so glad to know that you're a part of the Worldwide family now. Seriously.

I appreciate it and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to work with you guys. It's such a pleasure. So much fun. And so professional, which is very important.

Aw, thank you. I cannot wait for our readers to be able to see everything! Thanks, Jerome!