Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing this beautiful (inside and out) Detroit Diva in one of the most inspirational interviews I have ever conducted. We met as twitter companions and I just had to speak to this sensation in person.
Mashawnta is a young African-American women on the move and there is definitely no stopping her now. She has an extensive CV and only in her 20's (a woman never needs to tell her age). From lecturer at Taubman College of Architecture at the University of Michigan to Make-up artist. Mashawnta has always been a trick of all trades. However as a Masters student at University of Michigan, Mashawnta didn't just pull a thesis from the sky (like most of us), she focused on something she would soon form into a full fledged career in publishing.
Okay so your background seems to be very unique as I don't know many black female Architectural designers. How did you get your eyes set on this career path?
It began as a child. My Dad is an artist and went to school for Industrial design. Very talented! And my Mom use to take us on historical home tours of Detroit and I just fell in love with it and enjoyed seeing all the homes in Detroit that were booming in the 1900's - Ford, Chrysler, GM Executives who built there homes around this time, that no one really knows about. I just fell in love with that. And when I went to college it was either study architecture or fashion and I chose architecture because it made sense. University of Michigan didn't have a fashion program, so I said to myself 'Architecture it is'. But I have always had a love of fashion.
With your talents and charisma, you could have easily left Detroit and been successful anywhere. Why did you stay in Detroit?
Because so many young professionals leave the city and I just didn't want to be that statistic. And I really think that, at this moment, there is something going on in Detroit that no one knows about. There is just some sort of private development happening that the city is making plans for, which I think will come about in the next 10 years and I just want to be a part of that.
In my heart I always knew that I wanted to be some type of influence to get young black women to understand that real estate is very valuable. You can take something that doesn't look like it has any potential and fix it up and make it your own. We do the same things when it comes to our bodies. We do make-overs all the time. We want to do something new or see something we want to improve and fix-it-up. And the same thing can happen with structures as well...So I feel if a city looks good you will feel good being a part of it. And I think this is sort of my task in life.
How would you define your overall style?
Modern, sleek, Minimal. Just the necessities is what I need...Pretty much how I like everything and live my life.
So what or who empowers you to live out your dreams and visions?
Oh, I think, no I know it was when my Mom passed in 2009. She always told me, "Mashawnta what are you going to do? Are you going to be a fashion designer, an Architect or a make-up artist? You need to choose one". And so when she passed I thought life is so short and I really need to get these dreams out here. So as of June 2009, I have been going so hard. I think I dealt with the mourning by becoming a work-aholic...Now when I think about life, I think that you can have anything you want, you just have to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. I think if Oprah can do it, I can too! (laughs)
Oprah is my inspiration as well, because I use to come home and watch Oprah with my mom. So they go hand in hand really.
So you are a designer and an Architecture lecturer. How did you add chief editor of a fashion/design magazine to your repertoire?
It stems from my architectural thesis. Instead of doing a traditional architectural thesis project that a Masters student would do, I chose to do a magazine. So at the last minute (about four months till the due date, because we had eight months to do it) I chose to do a magazine; because I have always loved magazines since I was 10. I mean I own the Vogue that Naomi Campbell was on and I have Essence magazines from 1982 and I was born in 1982. I mean these are things that my Mom and my sister had been collecting. So I have been collecting magazines for a while. They were like my best friends in college. I use to buy them all the time in school - I would pick up an Essence and an Architectural digest and then I would go home and look at 4 or 5 magazines and wonder, 'why can't I find a magazine with everything that I love inside of it: Black women, multicultural audience, architecture'...My dad told me if I wanted to start a magazine to start by designing the cover and go from there. However, after finishing the thesis I didn't pick the idea back up until 2008.
I told my thesis manager that whatever I do, I would do it for the rest of my life...I never dreamed of being a publisher, but I absolutely love it!
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| Source: Zinio.com - where you can register for your Free digital issue |
What is the concept of Mash Magazine?
Mash Magazine represents that woman that loves to live in the city. Loves the idea that the same colors she sees on the runway are the same colors she can use in her home. Or the fact that she can start researching the different tectonics and the way things are built and understand that clothes start the same as in architecture, 2-dimensional and end off being 3D.
So, I want Mash to represent that Urban, classy, modern woman; featuring women of color.
This first magazine was from humble beginnings - Me trying to understand what developing a magazine is all about. But this second issue will definitely feature more architectural design in it.
What are your plans for Mash Magazine?
I am looking at Mash as a lifestyle brand. Media, lifestyle, home and body. I don't want to tell all my secrets but I am hoping one day Mash will be a lifestyle brand. Also, the non-profit part of Mash is Vanity Urbanity - it was the name of my thesis. Basically we plan to put low income women into homes. We will buy them and fix them up, then help women become home owners. That is our goal for next year, hopefully.
What are your three favorite loves in life?
Beauty, fashion and design
What is your mantra for living life beyond the norm?
It goes back to this story that my Dad use to teach us when we were little - we use to have bible study together. It goes back to these people from out of Egypt [the Israelites] who wandered around the desert for 40 years. And my dad would always say their journey was only intended to be 11 days, but they wandered for 40 years. So he said, "you can either take 11 days or 40 years, You choose". And I decided it wasn't going to take me a lifetime to do what I wanted to do. I just believe that anything is possible. That is what they use to call me in school, Mission Impossible. And my Dad has the ring tone from MI3 whenever I call him. (laughs)
What are your plans for Mash Magazine next?
I want to take it national. I feel like yeah, Detroit deserves this but there are so many other people that deserve this perspective as well. So I want to keep the magazine based in Detroit, following the pattern of 944 and Uptown, for each individual city to have its own magazine with something specific about it. But for Detroit we will keep it focused on what is happening here. By Fall I would definitely like to decentralize it and get it [Mash Magazine] in stores. That is my next step. I know that us magazine lovers like to hold things in our hand. And it took my brother, up until this past year, to convince me to go digital. I have to respect where the business is going instead of being forced to go that route (digital). But print and digital will co-exist in the future.
What is an average day in the life for such a busy lady such as yourself?
I try to dedicate different days to the many projects I have going...Mash is not the only thing I have going on. Along with the teaching, I am creating a magazine for a local doctor's office due out in July and I have an Interior design project for the University of Michigan that I have been working on since September, so there are 4 major projects that I have on my plate at the moment.
So my day begins by trying to work out (I have to work out) because that is one thing I tried to change after my mother passed. She had diabetes and heart complications, so I definitely try to change my lifestyle in eating and working out. Then the remainder of the day, I sit in one place.
I wear many, many hats at the moment, from graphic design to coordinating photo shoots and models. But usually it is all about sitting at the desk. I don't have time to even cook a meal, at all!
...But the exciting days are the days we have photo shoots, which usually start at 8 am in the morning. Those are fun days.
What legacy would you like to leave behind?
Just the idea of the multicultural professional. That we do exist and do design things that matter...I want to put black women on the map when it comes to Architecture and Design.
Be sure to order your free online issue and subscribe for upcoming ones. As Mash Magazine and Mashawnta Arnold are ones to watch.
Thanks Mashawnta for being an inspiration and empowering women to Just do it!
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