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413spotlightnj2_2024-04-13-09-37-40

Diva Diana is the founder and owner of the Diva Devona School of Modeling and etiquette in Newark. Joining her today, we also have Oscar Niang with the mini Naomi's runway group. Jeniya Russell with the legends runway group and Scarlett with the icons runway group. You yourself have quite the impressive resume. Tell me about that. So many people know my story of me starting very, very young, four years old and my mom used to produce fashion shows, fashion shows, her and her best friend, Timothy Smart. He always had, he said he saw something in me from the beginning being so young, four years old, my mom was like, oh, you know, I think she does have something and then he actually took what I know now for me be to be able to teach others with the techniques of runway with how you present yourself at casting calls, how you walk into a room confidently. He told me all those things and now I'm able to implement that in others and of course, it has paid off in a great way. So being on the Tyra Banks Show at nine years old America's next top model at 10 years old having Naomi Campbell, not me as her mini me being uh in Rihanna Super Bowl commercial uh last year. So, so many things that I, I have a part of my resume that I'm so grateful for. And a lot of people always ask me like, how did you get started into modeling? How did this work out for you? You know, and I always always did to remind them that it definitely takes time, it took time for me to get where I am and to get work. I'd be in definitely confidence as well because before I didn't have this much confidence as when I was younger, but now I do. And like I said, I'm able to implement that to others. And here you see all my my students here and it's a great thing. Ladies, tell me, what are you all learning in her classes? Who'd like to go first? Well, basically everything she was taught etiquette, how to um present yourself in front, front of others or in front of the camera, how to walk. I don't wanna give too much of but um yeah, confidence um which uh some of us do have already but how to channel that confidence to make it look really good. Sounds good. What about you? I learned to be confident in how to walk with attitude and crossovers. Pivots T stands and just the basics of a runway? Awesome. Um Does she teach me was like a hat turn and like a crossover and a pivot and like different stuff that she likes walk with and she, and she helps me with different stuff. How long are the classes and how often do they have to attend school? Yes. So it's up to the client if they want to attend. Uh, because I have it throughout the week. So Monday through Thursdays, my uh mini Naomi's group is on Monday and Wednesdays as well as the Ledgers Group. Monday and Wednesdays from 630. My man names are 630 to 7:30 p.m. and my Ledgers group is 66 pm to eight pm. And on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have my ages of 13 and 13 to 17 years old as well as 18 and up, which is on Tuesdays and Thursdays six pm to 8 p.m. So it's up to the client. Of course, they have two days throughout the week to attend those classes, but it's up to them if they wanna be consistent throughout the month, if they want to actually learn the necessary things when it comes to runway modeling and the industry itself. So they have the choice of doing that. Definitely throughout the month. Coming up at noon, Ivana shows us her techniques as a model on the runway.

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413spotlightnj3_2024-04-13-12-25-18

My guest today made her TV debut right here on spotlight New Jersey. 10 years ago, Diva Diana is pictured here with her twin sister Dijana. Now she's running her own business in Newark Diva Devona School of modeling and etiquette. Three models are here on spotlight New Jersey this weekend. Scar like what style do you bring to the runway? The elegant older queen E style. When you say older, did you ever think you'd be modeling at this age? No, you are old once you're 25. But now in 2024 anyone could be a model. Exactly. Jeniya, what do you like to think of? And what style do you bring to the runway? Pull it and stare at it so I could stay focused and I like to be confident and move my shoulders so I can bring more attitude to the runway. Awesome. What about you? I like to be like sassy and good and I like to do like my, my like poses in my and like my crossovers and my half tw you know, they had a lot of good agit in there. Sassy being one of them. Do you like that? Tude on the runway. I actually do because I feel like that brings more of a unique walk because a lot of runway models now and a lot of shows that are done their big, their walks are very basic and there's not much sass or flair attitude to it. So that's why I like to teach my clients and let them know to think outside of the box have that confidence on the runway and that'll really make the crowd and you'll stand out in the crowd. Actually, I wanna see exactly how you struck with the ladies as you all exit. I think we show you, go ahead and show me. So I come here to the front. So as you know, de I started when I was four years old, right? And I was really, really young. So now being of age, I'm able to actually teach people. So I started role remodeling with my mom in fashion shows when I was younger. So now I'm actually able to teach many people of all ages. I started ages five and up with my school. So now it reminds me also of my younger self when I was young and then going to my teenage years and I my adult years. So definitely, you know, it makes me very proud of what I, you know, put into the world. So usually when I start, of course, I like to just give a little um posing as well. So posing techniques and runway techniques is what I like to do. So as you see, we're all in our T stand right now, right? So usually with these T stands, there is your that is your time to usually pose, right? So with these T stands, that is your time to be confident as well before your actual walk. Now, with your walk, I always tell people to make sure you have a walk that stands out, try not to be like everyone else. So with my walk, you may notice even on youtube or Instagram, my walk has a lot of shoulders added to it or a lot of hips to it. So if I'm starting back here, you see a lot of shoulders, a lot of hips, a lot of posing and then I go right back to the next designer. I love it. But yes, I definitely love to make all my models for very comfortable as well. And some people that I've worked with have never even walked in hills. Like I said, Jeniya never walked in heels. So actually actually starting with stiletto hills, which is what I prefer my clients to actually practice in and just make sure they're comfortable throughout the time. They're practicing with me. And a lot of clients usually do come back to me because of their experience with me and how great it was and how it brought them out of their comfort zone as well.

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414spotlightnj4_2024-04-14-11-03-09

My guests today are with the Diva Diana School of Modeling and etiquette in Newark Diva Diana is the founder and owner uh sir Janaya and Scarlett are also here with us. Now, this is more than just an educational tool when it comes to teaching young ladies and young men. Yes, about modeling. It's also a community. Yes, it is explain. Yes. So when it comes to my clients, of course, I make sure everyone is treated the same way. But also with coming in, you're in a group class, you're learning from other people. You never met these people before, but over time, you're able to gain relationships with them. You're able to go out into the world to the casting calls with them and go to the different fashion shows and actually make relationships with them. And it kinda makes a lot of people want to come back. Usually a lot of my clients I have returning who have returned and it makes them feel like a family, it makes them feel like a community and they all are very respectful to one another and how you all feel about it as well. Absolutely. Yes. And um actually I joined a few other girls and well, women and men. Um, to, we, we go out to events and, right. Ok. All kinds of events. Yes, casting calls, fashion shows, um, launching events, things like that. So they all able to go to those events together and actually network and, you know, get the right opportunities they deserve as well. What kind of opportunities have you all gotten, um, fashion shows and casting calls where we can, where we get an opportunity to show what Miss Ivana teaches us during class and we can all walk in our own way with our own confidence and attitude. And what about you also? And lots of things, huh? That your mom gets to take you to? Do you enjoy going with her and my friend and your friend? Oh, that's so sweet. Does she wanna be in modeling too? She goes to my school. Love that. How long have you known each other for like that long? Huh? We got it. Ok. How do you all feel about working with Deanna and her mom, Carrie? Oh, wow. Well, Devona smile. First of all that was what greeted me. A welcoming smile. She's kind, she's confident and strong and she's successful. She's been doing this for decades. But like I like to say, it starts at the top, right, goes down and the mom, her mother is magnificent, uh, very organized, very professional. And Deanna has that also. So, and what about your moms. Tell us a little bit about each one of them. They're here in studio. So go ahead. Um My mom gives me like she makes sure that I'm comfortable in whatever I'm doing and she like just whatever I enjoy doing. She pushes me to go farther in life. And what's her name? Uh, Stacy and Stacy Anchor. And next at nine Osler shares how her family supports her in modeling plus the ups and downs of this industry.

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414spotlightnj5_2024-04-14-11-05-53

Diva Devona is the founder and owner of Diva Devona School of Modeling and etiquette in Newark. We are joined by Oar Janiah and Scarlett. Now we wanna go right to you o and let you talk about your mom and how she helps you with the modeling gigs. When I was like at home, she like helped you when I was like sick and she like, helped me when I went like to casting call, she always like me there and like to support me, like to help me and stuff and she always took me like to school and my daddy, oh daddy does too. What is mommy and daddy's name? I, I mean, and my and Janica got it. So how do you two, Jeniya, how do you all balance your school? Work with the modeling gigs? Usually monitoring classes are after school hours. So I'd come home, start on my homework and get ready to go to class. So we both are definitely important and family is important too as you've seen in your own. It is with the support. So when it comes to my family and of course, a lot of people know my mom, she's my number one support system. When it came to me getting into the modeling industry, she made sure she never missed a show. Me, never missed a casting call, never missed any important opportunity that I had. And at times I did wanna quit and this is when I was, like, 10 years in. And she's like, oh, you think you're gonna quit now? And I'm like, yes. But she was like, you're not quitting. Yes. Exactly. So she made sure I never stopped and definitely now it has paid off because now I have a whole school. I have so many clients. I'm traveling from city to city and out the country as well. So definitely have my siblings support, my step dad, support my mom, support and my grandma support. So they're all give me the kind words that need to continue to keep me going. So your mom was a mama juror. Definitely. Yes. Yes. Exactly. And a lot of people don't know that having those support systems really can help you continue to do what you love. So I'm grateful for that. We all know about the other side of modeling, you know, the fashion fame and all that. But there's another side as actors. See, what do you teach your students about with that? So I always teach them. Of course, you may have all these great opportunities that comes these great people that you'll meet. But a lot of people don't have great intentions. You can go to see these casting calls and the modeling industry is very strict. So some of the people that you go, you know, you walk up to, they won't have nice things to say to you. They will try to tear you down. So I, I always tell them to go into these rooms, walk with your head held high, the confidence that I've taught them, they're able to go into the rooms by themselves. Even like Asa, for instance, she'll go into casting calls and to the room by herself, walk by herself while her mom is waiting outside and she's able to do the thing on her own. And I always tell them that like I said, people don't have pure intentions when it comes to the modeling industry, they'll try to take your money, they try to give you all these opportunities and say that you'll receive so many things and you don't get that in return. Even I experienced myself. Me and my mom experienced that when I was younger and we have to really do our, our research when it comes to certain things to make sure that we're put in the right rooms at the right times with the right people as well. So you make sure you let them know who these right do. Your research is very important just so you don't run into any of those harsh issues. Here's a photo of the Booker family. Ivana is speaking of she and the models, thank their relatives for all their support. At noon, the ladies will strut their stuff on the runway here in studio.

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414spotlightnj6_2024-04-14-12-32-10

Hear the music. Diva Davaa School of Modeling and etiquette in Newark is being featured here on spotlight New Jersey. Today, Diva Devona is the founder and owner and you have three lovely models that you brought with you who will show off their styles and techniques, go ahead and introduce them and bring them in. Yes. So first we have Asa who is six years old, a part of my mini names, age group and Asa actually started it with me when I opened my school in 2023 of September. And Asa definitely had a lot to bring to the table. She had her own attitude, her own s of her walk and all she needed was for me to actually perfect it a little bit more. Give her the right techniques, give her the right things to do on the runway and when she goes into those casting calls, so she definitely knows what to do. Now. She's adorable. And who's next? Next? We have Jeniya, who is 10 years old apart of my legends age group. And with Jeniya, actually, she started in September as well. She did not know how to walk in hills which was the crazy thing. So definitely a lot of people was like, wondering how her progress would be and definitely is amazing. Now, as you can see, she is in a hill, she's able to do her turns, do her half turns and definitely have that confidence as well with all those things she does. She definitely knows how to work those heels. Go girl. And last, but not least we have Scarlett who is a part of my icons age group, which is 18 and up. And Scarlett actually traveled all the way from Pennsylvania to New Jersey each and every week to come and learn from me. And Scarlett definitely has what it takes. She has everything that I taught her. She implements that when it comes to her casting calls, when it comes to her fashion shows and her interviews and so proud of her and she's doing a great job. She really is and I can see why you're so proud of her Divan. You have your own style on the runway and show us what you do. So then as you know, I actually started, of course, when I was four years old, it was me and my mom and my mentor's name is Timothy Smart and my mom produced her own fashion show. So a lot of people know my story of when I first started being on the Tyra Banks Talk show, America's next top model being in featured magazine. So that's you know, a different story. But now I have my modeling school of ETI, my school of modeling in etiquette where I teach all ages from five and up. And it kind of reminds me of my younger self. Like I said, I started at four years old even. That's a year under. But it actually made me be grateful for where I started from because a lot of people don't know, it takes time, it takes practice to do these type of things and a lot of confidence as well. But usually when I walk a lot of people notice even on my youtube videos on my Instagram reels that I have a lot of attitude. I have a lot of sass with my walk. I use my shoulders a lot. I use my hips a lot and a lot of the hills for that I have on a red bottom which a lot of people can't walk in. It's a so, so usually it takes, it took time for me to get there. All right. But definitely with walking, a lot of people outside my t stand for, for instance, I start off with posing as well, hands on hips. And when I walk, you'll notice my shoulders and my hips as well. So if I'm walking, you see a lot of turns, you see a lot of posing, you see a lot of precise turns as well. And my favorite thing also is full turns and I wanna bring the other young ladies in, come on back in and join her. Let's see you all together. Yes, we have Asa, we have Jeniya and once again Scarlett, now as you can see here, they're in their t stand. So that is something that you should be starting off with when you are getting ready to start a walk. And after this tea stand, like I said, it'll start your walk and all the basics that usually that I teach for all my clients, no matter the age or the experience, I usually teach the basics which are t stands, half turns, crossovers and pivots.

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In this week’s Spotlight New Jersey, News 12’s Della Crews spoke to the founder of Diva Davanna School of Modeling & Etiquette.

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