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Everyone knows that a teenager, even one on the verge of adulthood, can possess fickle ambition. Being wayward does not appeal to Zahnay Blakney, however.
As Miss Teen Pennsylvania, the composed 17-year-old will further her impressive modeling career at next week’s All American Pageant. No matter the outcome, she knows the event will pulse with the “crazy energy” that has marked her runway existence.
The vivacious adolescent earned her opportunity to spend Aug. 3 to 5 at the Ramada Inn Philadelphia Airport South in Essington by capturing November’s first annual Miss Barbizon Competition. The Media gathering endowed the resident of 19th and Mifflin streets with extra confidence, though she had brimmed with enough already.
“I’ve never doubted myself,” Blakney said from the Point Breeze home she shares with Pamela Frazier, her mother and manager. “Modeling is what I want to do.”
Her immediate affinity began at 11 through attendance at Center City’s John Robert Powers Modeling, Finishing School and Agency, Frazier’s former haunt. The location landed Blakney her first show and intensified her love of snipping pictures from magazines. Her chances at having others inspect her shots increased at 13, when a response to a call initiated her current relationship with Ardmore’s Barbizon of Philadelphia.
Its Chique division has swelled her show tally to nearly 50 appearances, including stops at Center City’s Liberty Place and Merriam Theater, and led to June 2010’s photo gig for New York’s Urban Socialites magazine. Seeking a career defined by inspection and analysis of one’s body proves Blakney has allowed her emotional growth to approach the rapidity of her physical maturation.
“I used to be very shy,” she said. “From the beginning until now, I have realized my potential.”
Her height helps her to accumulate corporeal compliments, but Blakney knows a well-rounded nature will foster a more fulfilling life.
“I feel people always have to prepare for new opportunities in order to progress,” she said of warding off stagnation.
Her eagerness to evolve led Blakney to explore theater as an eighth-grader at Queen Village’s St. Peter’s School, 319 Lombard St.
“I love theater because performances let me become someone new,” she said of her 15 credits.
Her creative impulses made applying to the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts, 901 S. Broad St., a fruitful decision. A senior-to-be at the Hawthorne institution, Blakney joined the CAPA Caravan last year. The group treks to Philadelphia public schools such as Chester A. Arthur School, 2000 Catharine St., and Andrew Jackson School, 1213 S. 12th St. to state theatrical efforts that advocate for kindergarteners and middle-schoolers to develop a love of reading.
The theater major and National Honor Society member has appeared on the honor roll all three years and boasts a 3.79 grade point average in a roster heavy with advanced placement classes. Proving her studious identity knows no end, she takes singing and bass guitar lessons from Owen Brown, a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist who heads Southwest Philadelphia’s Evolved Solutions. Owner of an expanding résumé, Blakney is not the holder of the usual product of success, fear.
“I want to do it,” she said of being a multi-talented figure. “I’ve had pressure, have had to travel constantly and deal with rejections, but I am ready to continue to balance everything.”
An invitation allowed Blakney to participate at the Barbizon event. An essay detailing her desire to become Miss Barbizon Philadelphia, an evening gown competition and an interview session with inquiries on how she would address societal ills such as bullying comprised her involvement.
“The honor touched me,” she said of the acknowledgment from the company for whom she has strutted in cancer awareness benefit shows. “I’m so proud to represent Pennsylvania.”
Her trip to the Ramada Inn will provide an instant call to prance her pride, as the first night will include the parade of state costumes.
“We had to choose something that represents our state,” Blakney, who will don a creation from West Oak Lane’s Marsharelle Tolbert, said. “Mine is distinctly Philadelphia.”
Interviews, preliminary gown and swimwear competitions will dominate the second day, with the final day leading to the champion’s crowning.
“The preparation has been intense, but I feel confident all will go well,” Blakney said.
If the adventure goes as well as it possibly can, she will claim prizes and an appearance at a Los Angeles competition and perform community service. If she falls short, her towering frame will not slouch.
“I have a totally different feeling when I am on the runway,” she said. “I get chances to wear clothes I would never wear and meet people who would have remained strangers.”
Her travels have brought meetings with a few notable folks, including Victoria’s Secret model Chanel Iman, whom she encountered in New York City last summer. Iman, Audrey Hepburn and Tyra Banks rank as her fashion icons, but Iman holds the profession to which Blakney aspires to enjoy.
“I need to make connections to achieve that goal,” she said.
With her willingness to shun shyness, she seems posed to become familiar with ample headliners. They could make her acquaintance through next week’s competition, but other opportunities will come from appearances at September’s Philly Fashion Week and the fall completion of college applications.
“I have a desire to move to New York to go to [New York University] to gain even more experience with balancing priorities,” she said.
Blakney loves the local fashion scene, too, but deems New York’s more competitive and with far more dramatic shows that require putting forth one’s best effort. Philadelphia and Temple universities may convince her to remain close to home, but geography will not matter in her choice of a major and a minor, business and communications, respectively.
Her non-exclusive status enables her to seek dual representation, so she signed with Kaback Model Management, 125 South St., in February. At every turn, her mother has offered guidance.
“This is the life she wants and has worked hard to achieve,” Frazier said. “I know she will do so much more.”
Blakney hopes whatever exposure she earns will be enough to give her time in Japan, her dream modeling locale.
“Tokyo would be great but one day at a time,” she said.
“Zahnay had a quiet personality when we met,” Brown, who also offers Blakney exercise and nutritional consultation, said. “I heard her sing and told her she has much more voice than she thought she had.”
Enamored with watching artists’ development, Brown has seen Blakney’s personality thrive as a result of a “wide growth spiral.” Having worked with Boyz II Men’s Wanya Morris, Mary J. Blige, Lil’ Kim and Wyclef Jean, among others, he is accustomed to accompanying accomplished figures. He expects Blakney to be as eminent.
“Zahney has plenty to offer,” he said. “I have all the faith I’ll be riding in her limousine at any moment.” SPR
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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