Copa: Where are you from?
Sofia: A. I was born and raised in New York City - Harlem
Sofia: A. I was born and raised in New York City - Harlem
Copa: What schools have you attended?
Sofia: I graduated from FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) with a degree in Fashion Design.
Sofia: I graduated from FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) with a degree in Fashion Design.
Copa: When did the fashion bug bite you?
Sofia: My first memory of fashion was when I used to sit at my Mother’s Vanity and put on her Coty Red #24 Lipstick (all over my face) and POUR on her Chanel No. 5, and it was on from there.
Sofia: My first memory of fashion was when I used to sit at my Mother’s Vanity and put on her Coty Red #24 Lipstick (all over my face) and POUR on her Chanel No. 5, and it was on from there.
Copa: At what time did you decide to establish "Fashion Avenue News?
Sophia: Thank you for asking me this question. Fashion Avenue News was born out of a NEED to help models. I used to coach models and encourage models to attend Model Agency Open House (back in the day, you had to go to an Open House), which they had once a month. One young lady went and came back to my office HYSTERICAL crying. When I finally got her calmed down to find out what happen, she said she asked Receptionists at the Modeling Agency, what were her chances of getting signed, the Receptionists asked her “Do you want the TRUTH or do you want me to LIE to you” the girl said the TRUTH, the Receptionists told her, she looked like a FRENCH WHORE and would never make it in the modeling business because she was TOO FAT (she was a size 8) and was too dumpy looking. When I heard this, I got ANGRY, and Fashion Avenue News is the birth of that anger. Instead of taking NEGATIVE action, I took positive action and created a PLATFORM for Models of all sizes, heights, and weights. FAN is a place ALL ARE WELCOME. We give you a LUXURY, HIGH FASHION platform, equal to VOGUE, ELLE, W or BAZAAR. That was the BIRTH of Fashion Avenue News 14 years ago. Just FYI – prior to that I was in TV Production and owned my own commercial channel. We aired 7 days a week.
Sophia: Thank you for asking me this question. Fashion Avenue News was born out of a NEED to help models. I used to coach models and encourage models to attend Model Agency Open House (back in the day, you had to go to an Open House), which they had once a month. One young lady went and came back to my office HYSTERICAL crying. When I finally got her calmed down to find out what happen, she said she asked Receptionists at the Modeling Agency, what were her chances of getting signed, the Receptionists asked her “Do you want the TRUTH or do you want me to LIE to you” the girl said the TRUTH, the Receptionists told her, she looked like a FRENCH WHORE and would never make it in the modeling business because she was TOO FAT (she was a size 8) and was too dumpy looking. When I heard this, I got ANGRY, and Fashion Avenue News is the birth of that anger. Instead of taking NEGATIVE action, I took positive action and created a PLATFORM for Models of all sizes, heights, and weights. FAN is a place ALL ARE WELCOME. We give you a LUXURY, HIGH FASHION platform, equal to VOGUE, ELLE, W or BAZAAR. That was the BIRTH of Fashion Avenue News 14 years ago. Just FYI – prior to that I was in TV Production and owned my own commercial channel. We aired 7 days a week.
Copa: Was there something special that you wished to share that you felt that other fashion publications were not doing?
Sofia: A. I don’t really JUDGE what someone else should do with their publication, as they have their own demographic. I will say that it is important (to me) to display our models, designers, muas, etc in an ELEGANT, LUXURY light because we are always displayed as HOES, who all we can do is TWERK, SHAKE OUR BUTTS, SMOKE WEED display our BIG BREAST, etc., how many times do you see US displayed in a positive light. So, if I had to say anything to other publications, I believe it would be, think about the message you are sending to young girls (who are impressionable), I would say, STOP degrading the images of our WOMEN and start looking at us as the QUEENS we are. The media has the power to STOP the bad display, but sometimes they just feed into it, it’s very sad. (FYI – it’s nothing wrong with SEXY, but it’s a difference between SEXY and SLUTY)
Sofia: A. I don’t really JUDGE what someone else should do with their publication, as they have their own demographic. I will say that it is important (to me) to display our models, designers, muas, etc in an ELEGANT, LUXURY light because we are always displayed as HOES, who all we can do is TWERK, SHAKE OUR BUTTS, SMOKE WEED display our BIG BREAST, etc., how many times do you see US displayed in a positive light. So, if I had to say anything to other publications, I believe it would be, think about the message you are sending to young girls (who are impressionable), I would say, STOP degrading the images of our WOMEN and start looking at us as the QUEENS we are. The media has the power to STOP the bad display, but sometimes they just feed into it, it’s very sad. (FYI – it’s nothing wrong with SEXY, but it’s a difference between SEXY and SLUTY)
Copa: What is your opinion on the state of fashion today? In the USA and abroad?
Sofia: I believe that FINALLY some are starting to understand that EVERYONE WEARS CLOTHS. They should make garments in all sizes and everyone should be their customer. They are finally realizing that AFRICAN AMERICANS SELL GARMENTS…. Valentino did ALL BLACK MODELS for his COUTURE COLLECTION…………UNHEARD OF IN THE HISTORY OF COUTURE……….BEYONCÉ (I LOVE her for this) got the FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER to shoot the cover of VOGUE in 126 YEARS…….NEVER had a BLACK PHOTOGRAPHER had a COVER, until BEYONCÉ wielded her STAR POWER and said she would not shoot unless she could pick her own photographer. This is what MAKES CHANGE, by taking a stand for what you believe to be FAIR.
Sofia: I believe that FINALLY some are starting to understand that EVERYONE WEARS CLOTHS. They should make garments in all sizes and everyone should be their customer. They are finally realizing that AFRICAN AMERICANS SELL GARMENTS…. Valentino did ALL BLACK MODELS for his COUTURE COLLECTION…………UNHEARD OF IN THE HISTORY OF COUTURE……….BEYONCÉ (I LOVE her for this) got the FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER to shoot the cover of VOGUE in 126 YEARS…….NEVER had a BLACK PHOTOGRAPHER had a COVER, until BEYONCÉ wielded her STAR POWER and said she would not shoot unless she could pick her own photographer. This is what MAKES CHANGE, by taking a stand for what you believe to be FAIR.
Copa: What does the future hold for Sofia Davis and her wonderful world of fashion?
Sofia: We have a line of Luxury Monogram handbags coming out, we have our first annual Resort Wear Show this year, we have 7 fragrances and more to come, our TV show will start airing again shortly. We are always looking to grow our brand and work with others.
Sofia: We have a line of Luxury Monogram handbags coming out, we have our first annual Resort Wear Show this year, we have 7 fragrances and more to come, our TV show will start airing again shortly. We are always looking to grow our brand and work with others.
~Copa!