Vydurya Lokesh, Celebrity MUA, Body Positive Influencer and Muse

December 8, 2018December 8, 2018 | CURVYSTA MAGAZINE

I met the amazing and wondrous Vydurya Lokesh at the Priscilla Ono Masterclass in NYC this past summer. I was the oldest woman there and realized quickly I was way out of my league in the course. The silver lining, outside of learning that makeup application is an art, is meeting Vy. Her aura is gentle, kind and she glows. I mean her skin glows! She reminded me of Lupita Nyongo, who also has luminescent skin and happens to be the direct descendant of Eve. I wouldn’t be surprised if Vydurya has DNA from a Goddess of Light. It’s who she is and I hope I captured it in this collection of photos.

One of the evenings after class, I invited her to have dinner and we ended up at Eataly near the World Trade Center, after visiting MAC, of course. At dinner, she went on to tell me about her childhood and the tribulations she experienced at such an early age. I realized that her past made her clueless on her beauty. She was just happy to be alive and be a positive influence to everyone she meets. The entire dinner, I kept thinking what a classic beauty she is and how I would love the opportunity to photograph her. She was shocked and moved when I finally asked her.

Her last night in the states she spent with me in Maryland and we shot until late evening. I am happy to share these with you and hope you can see the light that reflects from Vydurya that I noticed from the moment we met.

As she likes to say, “I am destiny’s child. “, not the singing group, but a child of faith that walks in light.

Please make sure to follow her on Instagram @VyduryaLokesh and Facebook @Artistry by Vydurya Lokesh.

Photos and article by Jovanna Reyes:

Follow Instagram@jovannareyesphotography and @curvysta

IMG NYFW Spring/Summer 2019: Backstage Happenings with NONIE

October 6, 2018 | CURVYSTA MAGAZINE

Another season of New York Fashion Week has ended and we are all looking forward to the next one already. The kinetic, frantic energy wasn’t effected by the dark clouds and rain that followed us daily for the week. There were so many great shows and an amazing expanse of global representation at IMG NYFW and beyond.

This year I had the privilege of being the official backstage photographer for several production companies , some for IMG and non-IMG shows. It was an honor and something I absolutely adore. Production is in my blood. I can’t run from it. Watching the pre-show prep, the rolling racks with black garment bags to seeing the garment on the model, I am like a kid in the candy store. There are so many aspects to capture. The nervous brow of the designer, the pained look of a model with blistered feet after her fifth show in one day; my favorite moment to capture is of the designer, as they watch their work come to life on the runway. It’s like a mother holding her child for the first time after carrying her around for nine months. There are no words to describe the emotion.

NONIE by Nina Kharey(IMG/Industria Studios, NYC)

NONIE designer Nina Kharey

The designer, Nina Kharey, as she watched her first NYFW IMG runway show.

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“Gangsta AF, but woke” the theme for Hood Goodie at BKFW 2018

April 9, 2018May 15, 2018 | CURVYSTA MAGAZINE

Photos and article by Jovanna Reyes http://www.jovannareyes.com

Follow us @curvystamagazine @curvysta

Sarah Charness @sarahpinkviolin jumped off Brooklyn Fashion Week 2018 on a passionate note. It was the perfect introduction to the very sexy, womanly street wear of Hood Goodie. The collection, with a mix of street, dance, professional business woman and beachwear, definitely had more than one voice projected on the runway. The designer’s best moments were those that showcased her talents the best. Her combination of prints and graphics. The one standout piece was the fatigue print long coat with the recurring theme of women’s power on the back “New Girl Order”, also printed on various garments throughout the collection. The best styled outfit goes to the designer herself, wearing her logo sweatshirt layered over an large denim top with lace tied leggings and a Sabrina shoe. Serious gangsta girl on top and sexy vixen on the bottom. Hood Goodie, the perfect conflagration of neon, sweatshirts and fishnets.