Behind The Scences With UPGRADE Magazine

By Royce "The Saint" St.Laurent

Center: Rashada LeRoy, Owner/Editor-In-Chief. Second Row(L to R): LeAnn Hanna, Makeup and Bernadette Cherie, Makeup. Back Row(L to R): Tameka Kelley-Stutson, Talent Director; Vanessa Hogan, Public Relations; Ryan Wilson, Menswear Editor; Nadia Brianne, Makeup; Chianti Cleggett, Senior Editor; Mykeon Smith, Director of Photography.



UPGRADE Magazine founder, Rashada LeRoy, a small-town girl from Dothan, Alabama had an insatiable thirst for success. In 2006, her cup was not running over, but she saw it as half-full . . . of hope! After being laid off, she decided that no one else would control her destiny. A bold statement considering the fact that her bills kept flowing long after her paychecks stopped. On top of that, she had the audacity to incur even more debt and start her own business. "I was determined to do something other than the family business. I was always proud of my family's entrepreneurial spirit, but I wanted to be more creative. I love fashion so I created a plan to open a couple of boutiques," she says.

Photography by Mykeon Smith
Hair by LeAnn Hanna
Makeup by Nadia Briane and Bernadette Cherie

For more of UPGRADE Magazine pick up the current issue of UPGRADE on newsstands now or SUBSCRIBE today.