Kheris RogersFashion DesignerLos Angeles, CAPhotos and Story by Lauri Levenfeld
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1. Who are you? What were you like as a child? My name is Kheris Rogers. I like to sing, dance, act, and model. I love sparkles, glitter and bows. My mom says I was always full of energy and I have always loved to dress up. When I was younger I dressed up in my princess dresses and tutus everyday. As a child, my confidence was not where it is today because I was often bullied for my skin complexion. I used to wish I was a lighter color because I thought it meant I would be prettier and people would like me more. At school, I was quiet because sometimes the kids were really mean.
2. What does it mean to Flex Your Complexion? Why is this statement so important to you? To Flex in Your Complexion means that you are confident in your skin. It means that you understand that beauty is more than skin deep. What matters is what is on the inside. Things like being smart, funny, loving, or creative is what makes people beautiful. The statement “Flexin’ In My Complexion” is important to me because I had to learn to love myself in a world that made me believe that I was not beautiful. My Granny always says to me… “Girl, you better flex in your complexion”. When I was younger I didn’t really understand what it meant. Now I know that was her way of empowering me and now I am empowering others. |
3. Tell us about the journey to you becoming a fashion designer. It is so exciting to design clothes at the age of 10. I love doing it because I am able to come up with ideas and see it come to life. I have loved playing “dress up” all my life. I was that little kid you would see in the mall in costumes. Luckily my mom embraced it…but if you ask her she will tell you it was easier to let me keep on my dresses and crowns than hearing me cry. Putting together outfits that fit my mood and make me feel good gives me life!
4. Why is it important for you to help others through your messaging? It is important for me to help others because I know there are many others who are being bullied and struggling with self-confidence like I was over things we cannot change like our looks. My goal is to inspire others to love themselves. When I started getting emails and letters from people telling me their experiences with being bullied because of their skin color I was shocked. I thought it only happened to me. But now I was hearing from people of all ages that this happened to them too and I knew that I had to do something so that no one else ever felt like that again. |
5. Your sister is your manager, stylist…among many other talents- what does it mean to you to have such a strong sisterly bond?
My sister is so dope! It is so much fun working with my sister. Since there is a 12 year age gap between us, I love that us working together keeps us close. We hang out almost every day. She protects me, encourages me and inspires me. My sister has had her own business since she was 16 years old. She’s an artist and would always play dress up with me and take my pictures. Family is everything and even when we get on each others nerves, we are back laughing and having fun in no time.
6. What other passions do you pursue outside of designing? I love dancing so much. I take classes at Amazing Grace Conservatory ran by actress Wendy Raquel Robinson. It is so much fun! I love hip hop, jazz, modern, and ballet. I also enjoy acting. My mom first put me in acting classes to help me overcome my shyness and as an escape from the bullying. I have a special bond with my friends at Amazing Grace Conservatory. We are a family, always have each others backs and help each other deal with the pressures of growing up. I also participate in spoken work, yoga, theater, and voice lessons.
7. What song best describes you and why? The song that best describes me is Rise Up by Andra Day. The chorus says; |
And I’ll rise up I’ll rise like the day I’ll rise up I’ll rise unafraid I’ll rise up And I’ll do it a thousand times again And I’ll rise up High like the waves I’ll rise up In spite of the ache I’ll rise up And I’ll do it a thousands times again”
In addition to it being my favorite song, it reminds me to keep moving forward regardless of how hard life gets. I sing it all the time.
8. What are your goals for this business? How has the progress been so far? My goal for this business is to keep expanding and growing and doing the best that I can. Progress has been great, people have responded well to the message. I plan for my business to become a global brand! There are no limits to what I will do. I want to encourage other young people to live out their dreams and love themselves without limits too. You can find my t-shirt line at Flex in My Complexion. You can follow my social media on Instagram and twitter at @kherispoppin. |
9. Who or what inspires you? I am inspired by so many people! My mom is my greatest inspiration, she loves me so much and encourages me every day. I watch how she does this with the foster kids she works with too. She truly believes that everyone can make their dreams a reality through hard work and dedication. My sister, Taylor, who is also a young entrepreneur and is who showed me it’s possible to have my own business. Then of course there are bosses like Michelle Obama, Zendaya, Lupita Nagy’o and Tyra Banks. Beautiful women of color that go out of their way to encourage and inspire young girls like me to love themselves, work hard and dream big. |
10. Where do you see yourself in five years? In the next 5 years, I see myself as a global brand Flexin in My Complexion all over the world. I will be rocking the runways with my clothing line. My family will be together and happy traveling and having |