Promising style aesthete Heaven Monique Thomas is a Sophomore Biology major at Alcorn State University (ASU). She is originally from Savannah, Goergia, and native of Jackson, Mississippi, since 2017. With an expressive and ever-changing wardrobe, fashion for Thomas is consistently pushing the boundaries, always being unique, and staying true to herself. Finding interest in different aesthetics, she never conforms to the norms. Her current favorite Fall/Winter trends are chunky boots. She states that, “They are a seasonal essential statement piece that is easily able to be styled in a versatile manner.” Thomas finds the alternative style of fashion edgy and eccentric, especially in people of color.
Before coming to Alcorn, she started her modeling career in high school as she competed in pageants and was active in her homecoming court. During her first year at ASU, Thomas became a part of the Gentlemen and Queen’s Modeling Squad where she furthered her experience within the fashion world, in both print and the runway realm. Alcorn’s diverse expressive fashion culture pushed and inspired her to try out for the modeling organization. Thomas stated, “Fashion at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are truly different breeds which is not something everyone gets to experience and learn from.”
Inspired by phenomenal women such as Tracee Ellis Ross, Kellis, and her aunt Lake Bedoya Thomas, she finds liberation through femininity and consistently exceeding limits. Her life advice to young ladies would be to, “Go for it. Never let anyone or anything box you in. Our potential is limitless. If you envision it, you can establish it.” As Thomas continues to explore fashion, she soon seeks to put cohesive looks together that will make loud statements true to her fashion sense.
Upon graduating from Alcorn, she plans on becoming a seasoned lab technician and return home to Jackson, Mississippi. In addition to her professional career, she also aims to launch her clothing business specially designed and aimed at HBCU students. As she continues to give back to her community, another goal that she has for style and fashion is to establish her own modeling company for young girls and teens interested in pursuing pageantry and debutant style modeling. “With my experience, I plan to mold young ladies into exquisite, poised women which will carry them throughout their lives. I believe that presentation is everything.”