Meet Yoalah Brinson: A Creative Force and Disability Champion

Yoalah Brinson wears many hats. She’s a digital artist, poet, author, songwriter, graphic designer, model, actress and disability advocate. Fun fact: She is the first Black, Middle Eastern, and disabled model to be represented by a major agency.

The creative entrepreneur’s most recent design endeavor, Queen With Attitude, is a clothing line featuring vibrant designs inspired by gaming with a rebellious touch. In Yoalah’s interview, she shares more about her work and dedication to promoting inclusivity.

How did you get started as an artist?

I started by drawing different images on my tablet as a hobby and decided to make it into a career. 

At what point did you realize that you could turn your art into a business?

I realized that I could turn my artwork into a business when I started sharing my work on social media and different websites–and would get a lot of people interested in buying it or getting custom art. 

How do you define success for your creative business?

I define success for my business as long as I’m getting noticed and gaining followers who turn into customers.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration from photos of nature and different people’s lifestyles online. 

What’s something our audience would be surprised to learn about you?

I do more than just art. I’m also a poet, author, songwriter, graphic designer, clothing brand owner, model and actress.

As creatives, we can continuously create and refine our art. How do you handle perfectionism?

I handle perfectionism by looking at other people’s work and getting tips and advice. 

What’s something that surprised you about running a creative business?

What surprised me about running a creative business is how many people actually still buy physical art.

What advice would you give to someone about handling the highs and lows of running a business?

The advice I would give to someone about handling the highs and lows of running a business is that even when you have days that are slow in sales or no sales, don’t give up or get discouraged. Even when you’re at your highest and making money, still remain humble and save for a rainy day.

Has someone ever criticized your work? How did you handle it?

Yes, I’ve had people online criticize my work, and the way I handle it is just telling “them thank you,” and I’ll take their criticism into consideration.” Not everyone is going to like what you do or how you do it, but they are entitled to their own opinion.

What’s a cause you are passionate about, and why?

I am very passionate about any cause that is for disabled people, especially the Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) Foundation because I was born with OI. You can get involved and support the cause by visiting oif.org.

Can you share the name of a supplier or vendor that you use for your business that you just love–one that makes running your business a bit easier? 

Picsart and Adobe Photoshop Express are great apps for creating.

Thanks, Yoalah! You can learn more about her lifestyle brand at www.queenwithattitude.com.

Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for length, grammar and clarity.