Today we’d like to introduce you to Darrell “Ryder” Anthony
Hi Darrell “Ryder”, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Model Mania was created as a media outlet for the Urban Modeling community, with hopes to push the advancement and expansion of the Urban Modeling Culture. Model Mania was made officially, this past January by myself, Darrell “Ryder’ Anthony. I started my modeling journey in 10th grade of 2016, as a friend recruited me. It started off as something just to do, but as time moved I caught onto it quickly and turned into a passion. That passion has carried me through the years to continue being apart of the community and always be a contributing member of any team I’m on [Haus of Legacy (College), Models Inc (Company)].
As I was embarking on my final semester of my undergraduate career at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2023, I thought to myself, “What is my purpose in this community?”, maybe I should move on! But one day, scrolling through social media looking at on of my favorite niche page, FashionBombDaily, I thought “Why doesn’t Urban Modeling have stuff like this”. Not exactly, fashion per-say, but just a page that encompasses everything Urban Modeling. Now there is the CMF for a long time since 2018, which definitely has carried but I’m like the should be dozens of pages like that, especially of how long this community has been around.
Nevertheless, I thought to myself the community doesn’t really have any outlets the same way others activities do so I’m going to make one. I texted and asked my mentor, Icon, and Inc CEO, Bang has anything in the community been called “ModelMania”. He said “No, I don’t think so”. Then, I asked Urban Couture CEO, and Legend, Brandon what he thought of the idea. We went back and forth about the different ideas I had but overall, he said “It sounds like a great idea”. So, I created the page in September 2023, but didn’t make the first post until January 2024. The time between making the page and the first post was to make sure I really wanted to do. But, after a group conversation headed by Icon, Lonnie Bee, that was apart of the Success and Sequence awards and “Couture Win2our” promo shoot from Urban Couture on the same night, I was moved, and started posting on the page.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It does have its fair share of challenges but all that I foresaw (mostly). The timeeee it takes to post and edit multiple videos and pictures, gathering information to provide accurate information, and trying to go to all events, definitely. But, I’m not worried really about the time that because I just have to keep my time management up to par. It’s really pushback and negotiation with leaders that’s challenging and can put a hault to things. But, it all takes negotiation. Moreover, I know this community has veryyyy intense and passionate people so I foresee and prepare myself for all occurrences. LOL
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Model Mania Official?
Model Mania was created as a media outlet for the Urban Modeling community with hopes to push the advancement and expansion of the Urban Modeling Culture. It includes fashion, runway, dance, and community. The platform has been keeping and collecting all history 2018 and up (2018 since that’s when the community was re-birthed with the emergence of the CMF, new teams like Urban Couture and Kush Models). Also, it has academic scholarship opportunities for college students on teams. At the moment, $1000 dollars is the scholarship amount, with the goal to increase it gradually as time goes on. I think brand wise, I’m just glad that it’s another outlet of expression for those in the community and influence to further activity in the community. As time goes, I just hope for positive growth for whatever happens.
Note: Urban Modeling isn’t exactly what you see in mainstream modeling. It encompasses choreography, model technique (twists and spins), exaggerated runway, balls, print, runway and more. It requires a lot of time and effort for training that you will get from teams you join. This training allows the models in the community to have a skillset that cannot be duplicated anywhere. Moreover, in the teams you join whether high school, college, or a company, you can find mentorship, brothers and sisters, and a lifelong friends.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modelmaniaofficial_/
- Twitter: https://x.com/ModelMania_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Model_Mania
