Jada-Renee Bland Is the Rising Model You Should Know

From time to time, Allure editors will introduce you an up-and-coming model.

Jada-Renee Bland, is a 17-year-old from the Bronx who, IMHO, is about to change the game. Her honey-hued, waist-length locs and almond-shaped eyes play only supporting roles to her glowing complexion. Her last name couldn't be less fitting. Her Instagram account is a wormhole of gorgeousness, but beyond her feed, you can spot Bland in the October issue of Nylon magazine, nonchalantly positioned in a cotton candy-colored Chanel dress and white Nikes. Not bad for a newbie.

Before Bland started modeling she was a modern dancer, and now she's is a fledgling art curator. Earlier this year, she produced an exhibit titled, "Where You Been," at the Dedalus Foundation at Industry City in the Sunset Park area of Brooklyn, and interned at ArtsConnection, a youth arts development organization in New York City. When she's not working, you can catch her at local vintage shops scoring great finds or hitting up art galleries in Chelsea.

Did we also mention that Bland is extremely #woke? She spends a great deal of time with her peers striking up meaningful conversations about political issues affecting minorities and women, personifying the #blackgirlmagic spirit.

We talked to Bland about all things beauty, #goals, and that gorgeous hair.

Your skin is flawless! What is your skincare routine?

Thank you! I can't take all the credit though, both of my parents have great skin, so I got lucky. However I do drink A LOT of water on a daily basis, and I always let my skin air dry after washing it with black soap and hot water. Then I moisturize with raw African Shea butter, after toning with witch hazel.

Describe your look:

Limitless! I feel as though my look is so versatile that there is no outfit or hairstyle that I wouldn't be able to make my own. It's difficult to pinpoint my single, or most popular "look" because I switch it up so often even I'm unsure of what to label it as, and I think there's beauty in that freedom.

Beth Garrabrant/*Allure*

What are your must have beauty products?

I would not be able to live without my Shea butter and clear lipgloss! That I get for the whopping price of $1.99 at my local beauty supply store ;)

Who do you look to for beauty inspiration?

The most inspiration comes from what I see scrolling through Instagram honestly. Especially if it's a product that's high-end, I love to challenge myself to recreate it in an affordable way.

What is your go to look for day vs a night out?

I think the concept of a day vs. night look doesn't always have to apply. I enjoy taking looks that may be defined as "night looks" and wearing them during the day, maybe to the grocery store, as if it's nothing. If I feel like wearing something, I go for it!

The craziest beauty trend you’ve tried:

I guess the "craziest" beauty trend I've done is dying my hair with Kool-Aid in the 8th grade. At the time it seemed like the best idea, because I wasn't allowed to dye my hair and Kool-Aid was the only alternative that my mother approved of. I now regret it, because it still hasn't come out of my hair almost 5 years later, despite having actually dyed my hair. Which is really scary to think about, that people drink the same stuff that has permanently dyed my hair bright red.

Your hair is gorg. How long have you been natural?

Thank you so much! I've been natural all my life, and growing my locs for about 10 years now. I decided to loc it when I was 7 years old, because all of the women I looked up to had locs. My aunt, my mother, and my grandmother all had beautiful locs down their backs which inspired me to start my own. Now that I look back at it, growing locs can be such a beautiful journey! They teach the virtues of patience, self-acceptance, and confidence. I highly recommend going for it.

Describe your hair routine:

I honestly wish I had one haha. With my busy schedule I mainly wash it whenever I can, which is usually about once a month. Depending on my mood, after I wash, I re-twist using just water and moisturize scalp with coconut oil.

On her hair color:

Unfortunately, this is not my natural hair color :(. I had my older cousin dye it for me using regular box-dye in the shade lightest blonde.

Your Instagram bio links to the “Black Girl Politics” Youtube channel. Are you a member of that group?

No I am not, but a friend of mine @tajahgalliano is. I put that link in my bio to support their show, because I think it's so important that people see how intelligent and entrepreneurial our people are! Not only that, but I've noticed that too many teens of my generation are oblivious to the many problems plaguing our country, and for these issues to be raised by young black women is an especially powerful thing.

What does "black girl magic" mean to you?

To me, black girl magic is the only means of explanation for how powerful, courageous and beautiful black women are. We have gone through so much: labored pains deemed impossible to withstand, and still we rise above the odds to continue on.

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Your current music obsession:

Ahhhhh I'd have to say Travis Scott's most recent album, "Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight".

Best emoji to describe your personality:

💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽

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