Story & Lesson Highlights with Kylan Richburg of Kirtland

We recently had the chance to connect with Kylan Richburg and have shared our conversation below.

Kylan, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
I feel like intelligence is more important to me. The reason why is because growing up I realize that it is very important to know more because we live in this world that we need to make sure that we know more to do more and I love to learn about everything and it makes my brain feel more refreshed and it allows me to speak intelligently and create with intelligent mind.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
hello my name is Kylan Richburg, and i am a editorial high fashion & runway muse. i have been modeling for about 8 years. what makes it interesting, special and unique is i love expressing it through fashion and art in my own way as much as i can. i tell stories by improvising and studying the greats and making into something i can inspire to anyone who wants to become their own creative brand. what i am working on is i am trying to expand my creativity through fashion, trying to making visuals for my portfolio in modeling, and getting even more better with my craft and starting to become more booked for my work and getting to the top of my career and also modeling for designers and brands intentionally.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
what i believed about myself as a child that i no longer believed that was not beautiful. the reason is because in my childhood i was bullied by so many people in my neighborhood and school. they would always talk about my skin color but not in a positive way. also they would question about my sexuality which made me even more depressed. remember my mom would always tell me all the time ” you are beautiful inside and out, your skin is beautiful and never forget that”. as of today, i am no longer believed those negative things and i will always love myself, my skin, and my sexuality but as far as my look it will always be flawless.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
yes. i had so many moments in my career that i almost gave up. the reason why is because i thought to myself that i work so hard by being consistent that was not getting any opportunities. i felt like maybe it was not calling as a model because nobody did not want to see me win or did not want to help me get to the peak of my career. however i did not give up. i realize that i always run into people any where that i go and will tell me “you should be a model”. that right there tells me that modeling is not a hobby its my calling. so i started to tell myself to “not give up and be patient” because i do not want to stop i want to keep going and accomplish my career as a milestone.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
no the public version is not the real me. the reason why is because you know that song by Tori Kelly its called Never Alone. there is a lyric in the song and she said ” we put all of our hope inside material things” and that is so true. i love all the material things that will makes us look good and feel good, and my model pictures might showcase that idolization of it. however that is not the real me. behind the scenes of my career, i am a kind-spirted, funny, cool, and loving guy who loves having fun and be positive towards everyone around me including myself.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
the story that i want to hope tell people when i am gone is that “be inspire and be authentic”. we should be telling chapters and sharing them to the world but definitely create in your way and always give credits to the visionaries that made you step out into the zone of “storytelling”. Lauryn Hill and Solange inspires me not just their music but the reason why true storytellers will always be iconic. but i want to hopefully keep making these marks and write my own memoir.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nopledgeagency.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadmQT4MFkk4dZaJB7bkNHAO5GqTqPHQKf3llO1HPWGWnakBTz-u8OU_afvFAg_aem_AAVu6sa3Uq7gm3B36g6Vzg
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_k.richhh
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krichhhhhh
• Other: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefX2SI-zdJL1IlC_o40rG_dkHeo4FQ68zUSaSojj6OVfnczA/viewform?pli=1&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaeSJSXbcMv1QdIcLK4ZMUTQ6v-FfjXDl_P7L84xD8W6HHEIWF6aF7vAWk7Fgw_aem_mteBCpruLghtdZCAalYqtw

Image Credits
Teresa Oldenburg
James Robinson
Tyson Davis
Dominic Forniti
Lauren (observer.studios)
Tj (prophoto_productions)