Ch. 1
CHEYONNE AFOR
Work bitch. These hoes can’t fuck with you for real.
It’s a reason why you’re a part of the Legs of Fame runway.
You paved a way! I was hyping myself up as I strutted down the runway in my vintage Mugler.
This was my last official show, and I couldn’t have been happier than now.
I worked as a model for ten years and each gig I took enhanced my career to the next level.
At the age of eighteen, I had an option to either start college or take a trip to New York and follow my dreams. Of course I took the latter knowing my family needed the money.
At that particular time, my father had just gotten injured at work and his workers comp wasn’t enough to provide for the family.
I helped lighten the load and my parents never let me forget how grateful they were.
This show was a farewell in a way. I wasn’t leaving the model business altogether, I was just leaving the runway and taking a place behind the scenes.
Legs of Life, also known as L.O.L Modeling Agency was for any youth eighteen and under.
I wanted to be able to guide them as well as protect them in this industry.
I had several clients my company managed already with the kids loving the gigs they were booked for.
Letting them be themselves while doing something they loved made me smile beyond measure.
As I turned at the end of the runway, I had flowers thrown at my feet.
See, there were only three melanated models who dominated the industry during my era besides myself, and they’d walked before me.
They were given their flowers as well. I tried not to cry but with each step I took, my heart filled with joy.
I was seen and it felt damned good. Tears cascaded down my face breaking me down.
When the crowd began to shout, whistle, and applaud, I was done.
I’m too emotional for this shit!
Breaking character, I began to pick the flowers up and just take it all in.
This was my last time walking and even though it was a blessing to come this far, it was bittersweet.
I worked hard day and night to be memorable, and I’d be damned if it didn’t show.
My name was yelled from every direction as the flowers continued to be thrown.
One of the backstage workers rushed a mic out to me. I smiled as I took it from her. I was told I would have to do a speech and here I was getting ready to say something I didn’t rehearse. She also handed over a few pieces of Kleenex so I could clean my face. She was a doll for that.
“Ugh! I was not supposed to cry today. I told myself a thousand times over that this was just another catwalk. Who the heck was I fooling? This is the catwalk, and I feel so honored to be here. I started this modeling thing ten years ago and man was it hard getting here. I was that one in a million Black girl who had to compete twice as hard just to be seen. However, God placed me in rooms I would’ve never imagined.
I want to thank every single person who supported me in my career.
None of you are unnoticed or unappreciated.
I want to thank Mugler for even allowing me to be a part of this show.
I was not expecting the call, trust me. Being a few months shy from thirty, these knees ain’t the same.
No, seriously, I am more than grateful to be able to stand here and be considered a legend.
You all look exceptionally beautiful tonight and from me to you, y’all could give me a run for my money.
I will forever be humble and gracious for every opportunity extended to me over the years.
Thank you, and I love you. Have a good rest of your evening everyone. ”
I finished strutting until I was backstage.
Once I stepped down those steps, I was swarmed by other models.
Their eyes were full of tears much like mine.
Most of these women here were trying to get to where I was so sharing a runway with me was probably their dream.
I was just grateful to still be able to walk as if I was in my prime.
“C’for you did so good!”
“You’re really a gem, C’for.”
“A true legend indeed.”
Praises were coming in from every direction and the love was felt wholeheartedly.
Over the years, I gained a nickname because my name was too much for them to pronounce.
I didn’t mind because it was a play on my full name.
Cheyonne Afor held just as much weight as C’for did. There was only one of me.
“Thank you, ladies. I wish you all nothing but success and longevity. Don’t let anyone dim your light. Shine until you can’t anymore. Please excuse me,” I said gently pushing my way through the crowd.
I headed in the direction of my private dressing room with my best friend behind me.
Toneshia was someone I took with me from day one.
It didn’t matter who I left behind, she wasn’t one of them.
Knowing how to handle those around me and making sure I was safe.
Many thought we were lovers the way I clung to her.
Entering the room, she closed the door behind me.
I began removing the expensive thread immediately.
Being a special guest meant I only had to model one piece.
Having status put a thick stack in your pocket for giving up an hour of your time.
I took a seat once I was free and let my head fall back.
I wasn’t exhausted, but I was a bit overwhelmed.
“Here. Drink this.”
Lifting my head, Nesh had a cup of tea extended in my direction. I grabbed it from her and took a small sip before closing my eyes. I didn’t know how bad I needed that. “Thank you, bestie.”
“You know I got you. How you feeling?” she inquired.
“Good. I cried like a baby messing up my makeup but other than that, I feel good. I was not expecting that, Nesh. Where did all that come from?”
“When you announced your retirement last year, you pretty much fell off the face of the earth. No one was expecting you to be here today. It was buzz in the industry, but nothing was certain. I’m glad to see you were missed and so heavily loved.
What we doing after this?” she inquired with a smirk on her face.
All she wanted to do was party. It didn’t matter what city we were in.
I finished the tea and reached for my change of clothes to get dressed. “Going home. I’ve seen enough of Milan for a lifetime. You have the new tickets, right?”
“I do. You sure you don’t want to eat or anything? I mean, we have time, Cheyonne.” Her worrying about my eating habits wouldn’t ever fade. I damn near starved myself as a model and now that I was no longer on the runway, she felt like my appetite should’ve grown.
“We can eat at the airport or on the plane. I really just want my bed, Nesh. You know how I feel about changing time zones. It’s draining,” I complained.
“I know, I know. Your pops called while you were walking, make sure to hit him back.” She handed over my phone and walked out.
My father wouldn’t be getting a phone call until I returned to the states.
It was one thing to have overprotective parents but to have overprotective Nigerian parents was different.
Yeah, I was Nigerian American and having that exquisite beauty granted me a spot in this industry.
An ordinary girl being scouted while walking to school. Some things really did happen by luck.
It took me approximately another twenty minutes before I had my things together.
I walked out with my bags and Nesh immediately took over.
She wasn’t going to let me carry a thing as long as she was around.
We were able to make it out the venue like a thief in the night, and I was glad of it. I never really got used to the crowds.
Filing into the blacked-out Yukon, we headed right for the airport.
We still had a few hours before takeoff, but I truly didn’t mind the wait.
The airport had a VIP section for Brateelth Landing members.
It was an upscale international airline that treated their members like royalty.
Whenever I left the country, I flew with them and them only.
“Have you decided on what you’re going to do about your appointment?
We can’t keep pushing it back, Cheyonne.
Sooner or later, those flares are going to have you in a state you can’t come out of,” Nesh voiced opening a bottle of water and handing it over.
If she wasn’t feeding me, she was keeping me hydrated.
“Why do you think we’re going straight home, Nesh?
I didn’t want to push it back because I really do have to speak with Dr. Frances.
It’s taking longer and longer for me to come out of an episode.
Before it was like a few hours or even a day or two…
max. Now it takes damn near a week before I’m myself again. It’s getting tiring,” I expressed.
My career as a model was a successful one.
One so great I didn’t want to stop. Nevertheless, I took as many bookings as I could so I could retire comfortably.
Having fibromyalgia was challenging. No one really tried to understand it except for Nesh which was why I dragged her along everywhere I went.
She didn’t judge me or say I was overexaggerating about my pain like others.
Fibromyalgia was an uncurable beast. Not only that, if you had a lazy ass doctor, they would slap you with the diagnosis in a heartbeat and send you on your way.
She made sure I was taken care of and did it without complaints.
Besides my parents, Nesh was the only person I considered family.
“Che, you need to slow down. I’m serious.”
“I am, Nesh. Don’t start all that nagging, please.”