At the age of 14, I knew what my purpose was and why I was put on this earth. You see I had an obsession with what is called fashion. To me, fashion is about showing your identity. It shows what choices you make, what type of person you are, and shows the world what you stand for. It gives a glimpse into someone’s personality. It’s how you differentiate yourself from other people. Ultimately, it is an individual’s statement of self-expression. It shows the way you live, your morals, your creativity, and your intelligence. Fashion is something I will never quite be able to put into words that do it justice. I guess that’s part of the reason why I love fashion. It speaks for me when I cannot find the words.
My journey in the fashion world has been challenging and very bitter-sweet, to say the least. No one understood my passion for fashion or my love for the runway. I was constantly judged, ridiculed, mocked, and even forbidden to pursue my dream. I knew at that moment I needed to be resilient. I needed to be strong and face every difficulty head-on and not give up. I stayed inspired and motivated even when all I wanted to do was scream and cry.
I needed to align myself, so let me tell you how I did it. The power of prayer! In order to achieve my goals, I needed to remember that I am the co-creator working in tandem with a higher power. You see, when we pray, our requests are received and heard. Often the answer to our prayers comes in the form of a book we read, a person, or a dream that makes the path crystal clear. Not only did I pray but I also meditated to reduce stress, anxiety and to feel more present, and to be able to transform into a better, more grounded human being.
Now when I look at myself in the mirror I reflect on all that I have accomplished despite my past traumas and setbacks. I have been blessed to model for many designers such as Peter Nygard, Ralph Lauren, and many more. I have proudly walked the runway numerous times in Miami, NYC, Virginia, Greece, and Italy. I have done commercial shoots in Guatemala, Paris, and many more. I also have been featured in many different magazines. I say that the power of manifestation does exist, all you have to do is BELIEVE.
One of my deepest desires was to one day be on the front cover of a magazine. I never gave up, not for a moment because I knew that one day God will fulfill that desire in my heart. All I needed to do is have faith and continue being tenacious in everything I put my hands on. You see, what a lot of people fail to understand is that we need to be patient. Things are done according to his timing, not ours. Trust me there was a time I just wanted to give up on that dream but God kept me grounded and focused.
Finally, in June 2021 I participated in the Fashion Rebirth power shoot/ fashion show that was created by an amazing entrepreneur Charisse Edwards in Miami, Florida. During the shoot I was able to meet Jonathan C Ellerbee, he has been a photographer for 27+ years. He’s photographed events for Cardi B, Ashanti, Lil Kim, Keyshia Cole, and Dru Hill, to name a few. Jonathan C Ellerbee is also the president of Great Entertainment, Inc. The company runs magazines in 14 different U.S. States and also Australia. They produce the GEI Fashion Show in various cities and have a full model division, with signed models both nationally and internationally. Furthermore, they have 5 clothing lines based out of New York City, Baltimore, Dallas, and Atlanta. They have an energy drink, an iced tea, and a vodka brand. They have an internet radio show and a network on Roku.
Jonathan C Ellerbee opened up my view to a whole other level. The excitement I saw in his eyes made me reflect on myself. His energy and passion I was able to relate to. When I thought my dream was unattainable he was there to remind me how powerful I am and he poured into my growth. He made me feel worthy, accepted, and approved.
Amongst all the models that were there that day he chose me to represent his company and be on the front cover of the Fashion Passion Magazine.
I can honestly say that if the opportunity would have been presented to me 10 years ago, I was not mentally prepared. I wasn’t the Ylondra Marrero you know now. If I were to compare myself from back then to now I lacked confidence and had low self-esteem. I had to discover my own meaning of self-love, so I can be able to work on my growth and heal from the pain in my heart in order to realize all of my blessings and work off of them to build myself up.
I waited all these years and trust me it was hard to do but in the end, it was rewarding. Here I was thinking small and all I wanted was the front cover and God said no I’m going to give you something bigger because you believed in the power of your dreams and you kept pushing. So with that said I am truly honored to be on the front and back cover along with 6 spreadsheets in the Fashion Passion Magazine.
I am a firm believer that dreams really do come true. At this moment in my life, my earnest desire is to uplift, edify and support everyone as they maneuver through life and go after their dreams. You got this, I believe in you!
