Today we’d like to introduce you to Astaris-Michael Yates
Hi Astaris-Michael, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My earliest memories start when me and my family were still living on a military base in Mannheim Germany. I remember watching my older sister perform in plays like Robin Hood or Santa Claus coming to town. And when we moved back we usually spent time watching tv or re-enacting music videos in our living room like Destiny’s child and Whitney. All i remember especially from those moments is how much I was wishing I could do that. Flash forward to June 28th, 2022, my mom’s bday and I had my dad drive me early to my first ever fashion show casting for a new couture show premiering in Baltimore. I knew it was a straight runway audition and as green as I was, I still had the technique I was taught by Fashion At Morgan for my first full year of model training. I was selected to move past the first round of auditions for the show but I wasn’t picked by any of the designers that year. However this fashionably dressed lady in all black said she was adding all the models who made it past the first round to her model call list, so she could contact any of us to work with her if she happens to book us for anything. A few weeks later I was asked in email if I could work Backstage for the fashion show, and I wasted no time in sending that reply back saying absolutely yes!!! I have never worked in fashion prior but as someone who grew up with the Bratz and watching America’s next top model (besides a background in visual arts from a top magnet school known as Carver Center for the Arts & Tech; Go Wildcats!) i wouldn’t pass it up. That show was the first ever Baltimore Met Gala, produced by Lana Rae, and it’s from working that show with as much joy, passion and hard-working effort that got me recognized not only in my skills of knowing how to work behind the scenes efficiently which earned me the spot as style assistant with Lana but also be recognized by my own skills of knowing how to model which opened doors to so many opportunities since then. It’s from that show I was able to model several more shows/ opportunities after that such as DC Fashion Week, NYFW, eventually walking the Baltimore Met Gala for the second year and getting published in the British Vogue January 2023 issue at age 19 (featured in the style set page). When it comes to acting I first started seriously acting in high school but I’m glad to say I’ve been able to see more happen in the past year having now done various roles onstage/ tv or film like Amazon Prime, HBO Max, etc. currently I’ve been a part of a project in the DMV that’s focused on making quality content right where we live with the creatives here, because they ask the question “why should creatives have to leave to a major city in search of real work?”. That project is Reaction, a TV-web series, where I play my first on-screen leading role as Cortez Covington. I am currently awaiting for that series to drop August 22nd hoping everyone shows out to watch!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There’s various things that make a person struggle in the entertainment industry. The industry can very easily judge every inch of you’re being, from your looks, you’re voice, your talent, you’re individuality and most especially your flaws. Not every person fits into a casting type that people have in mind so it feels like you’re gonna face rejection more than you face success. And as a black non-binary LGBTQ identifying person I’ve seen it more ways than one as early as I am in my career. Hearing you’re too femme, too short, too skinny, too much of a model, not black enough. Those things people pick at to try and fester insecurities about who we are can make us doubt ourselves. But they can also empower us when we own our own skin.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I view myself as an Artist/ Entertainer because everything I do revolves around that field whether working in Fashion as A Creative Director, Stylist/ Style assistant for Photoshoots. Modeling, acting or musical theatre it’s all art to me. I feel like acting and modeling comes the easiest to me because I love to pose, walk or be melodramatic on the daily. I’m known for my modeling from British Vogue, Baltimore Weddings, BmoreArt, Marika, Sarze, Blaze magazines or Baltimore Met Gala Especially. I’ve been lucky enough to do tv acting for “The College Tour” on Amazon prime, Kiehl’s pride month campaign 2024 and background acting for And Just Like That on HBO Max (upcoming season) and now awaiting the debut of my lead role of Cortez in the Tv/web-series Reaction. I feel like what sets me apart from others is just the confidence of owning of my androgynous nature. I’ve grown into the gender fluidity of being both masculine and feminine. That’s been me for a long time and it brings me life being able to express myself for who I am, it brings me joy that I can inevitably give back to others.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
The Art Scene in Baltimore is Immaculate. There are so many artists who create some of the most unique pieces or decorate the walls with here. Some of the best singers I’ve ever heard are from here. My only issue is that Baltimore doesn’t create a suitable income or platform for them here. Most often they have to leave to major cities like NYC, LA or Atlanta to be given an income or market that supports them financially as well as the platform the branch out and get seen. If Baltimore could provide more support as well as financial assistance for the art scene here, we could build something along the lines of what we see elsewhere.
Pricing:
- 25$/ a hour for Model Coaching
- 75$ for creative direction (additional charges for fashion styling)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/starisborne
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C8pyq2rRyh5/?igsh=bTNuMWp2ZW8xaDcy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.yates.7773631?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@recfocusfilms?si=YkSOsaMYdPazo4Vh
