Meet DerNeccia Livingston | PrettyLu- Supermodel, Actress, Rapper

We had the good fortune of connecting with DerNeccia Livingston and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi DerNeccia, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?

I’m originally from Terrell, Tx, but Dallas became home in the late 90’s. I mostly grew up in South Dallas. I attended J.J Rhoades, H.S Thompson, Paul L Dunbar, Pearl C. Anderson and the great Lincoln High School. Also attended a couple of schools in Terrell Tx, as well, such as J. F. Kennedy and Dr. Bruce Wood Intermediate. But most of my life I grew up in South Dallas. Growing up there I learned I wanted to be different. I wanted to soar my wings. I want to be the one to take care of my family. From that point on I started to focus on who and what I wanted to be.

After graduating from Lincoln High School, State 08 Champs! Can’t leave that out. Lol I received a full scholarship to Sam Houston State University where I played basketball for a year. A year after I attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Did schooling and sports for while then in 2012 I was blessed with a beautiful baby boy at Kaleida Health Center at 9:32 pm January 9th. God’s greatest gift to me. I was then living in Buffalo, NY. This is where my journey begins.

I took a leap of faith. In 2015 I didn’t know anything about being a model besides America’s Next Top Model, whom I auditioned for twice, and my Aunt. Growing up my Aunt always told me i was going to be a supermodel. I was about 7 years old when she started to tell me these words. It was only up until I was 14 is when I fell in love with the idea of becoming a supermodel. I went to my first casting call. I got my first yes from one of the biggest modeling agencies known around the world. Wilhelmina Modeling Agency in Rochester NY! I knew I had it in me. I just didn’t know I had it in me! I went to audition with no experience whatsoever. When I received that callback I knew my journey was about to begin. But wait, I could not afford what they were asking me to pay upfront. It was too much money and I was also fairly a new mom. What happened? A guy by the name of Steven Bales took me under his wing and started to teach me the in and outs of this model world. Not only was he a teacher to me, he captured my first picture in front of the camera. Steven was a big help to me when it came to modeling. Thanks to him I got a chance to  rip the  runway at the 2015 Buffalo Fashion Show and was honored to walk for Samantha Black who was on Project Runway Season 5! It was incredible and I loved every moment. From that point on I began to work with Gotti Sosa, a New York photographer, who brought out more of my talent. Modeling isn’t an easy job to do. It takes time and hard work to pull this off. After I was in the 2015 Buffalo Fashion Show I began to do more shows. I was even spotted at a gas station and was asked on the spot to be in a hair show. Onyx and Pearls Hair Show, in which I walked in, from the gas station, and ended up walking for 4 different designers/hair stylists! I know right?! After I was being noticed a lot in the Buffalo area I started to do more shows and then one stand at the bus stop led me to being in my very first music video. Ay Benji saw me at the bus stop and told me he was going to put me in his first music video. And he did! You can check out the video on YouTube “Private Room by “AyBenji”. Also had the chance to work with the great producer Droyd and videographer Denzel Williams, where I gained my second music video experience. I had the chance to work with some great people in Buffalo NY. Gaining that experience in Buffalo made me hungry for more.

I left Buffalo NY in 2017 and moved back to Dallas Tx. I stayed home all of 2 months then hit the road to Atlanta, Ga. I was a supermodel with Da Media Giantz. I was put in my first celebrity music video Jabo featuring YFN Lucci “ Learned How to Act”. I was also an extra on Love & HipHop Season 8. I walked for the marvelous Ego Maserati & the lovely Zuri. I’m also featured in one of the most popular web series “Atlanta Avenue”Season 47. And you can also check me out on YouTube in that episode. Atlanta,Ga was a wonderful and great experience.

Not only a great experience but a chance to professionally extend my model resume.I lived in Atlanta for a year and moved back home to show my city I am the IT girl when it comes to this model world.

Now that I had experience under my belt I took off. I started working with Nikki Hunter Bookings where I booked show after show, music video after music video. Even landed some acting roles. I started doing brand shoots as well as commercials. You can check out more of my work on YouTube at MyWorld PrettyLu.

As my model career started to take off I was noticed on a social media streaming site by the name of Tagged. On Tagged I would stream live letting people into my world. One particular person saw me and sent me a direct message about working. Long story short let’s just say Michael is the reason I took another leap of faith.

Not only am I a supermodel and actress, I’m also a rapper. In which I may speak about later. All this goes to say I didn’t become a product of my environment, I dared to be different, & I took chances! Most importantly I NEVER gave up! Believing in me is what got me here today.


Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I define myself as an artist. Meaning I am person who is skilled at a particular task or occupation. I’m a supermodel, an actress and rapper. I earned those titles by working and, taking chances & believing in myself. People seen talent in me before I seen it in myself. I just had to get out of my shell and embrace the gift I was blessed with. Which is talent. Multiple talents. Thank God for Public Speaking, in which I took it college. It kind of helped me get out the shell I was in.

Some people live by the phrase “work hard, play harder” while others live by the phrase “work smarter, not harder “. Well I’m one of those who work smarter, not harder. I can true enough say the road is not easy but the journey is smooth. I’m very thankful & blessed for all the opportunities that have come my way. I will continue my journey on this road as I know it’s going in the right direction.
On my journey I did learn it is alright to help others, but be careful of the help you give. People will take your kindness for weakness day in and day out without any remorse. Those snakes in the grass are the ones you have to lookout for. I love to help others. I love to lend a hand but there comes a time where you have to reevaluate the path you’re on and remember why you are there and how you got there. Once your mind is back to focus mode you know what you have to do. Everyone is not meant to go where you’re headed. The journey you set out for you is yours and yours only. I realized that and I’m more focused than ever. I’ve seen a big difference in my life and career once I put my mind back on my path my journey became smooth again. Don’t let others distraction you from your journey.

As I continue to progress in my career I want the world to see PrettyLu as a successful artist. Whether it’s ripping the runway, performing one of my hottest songs at a show, or seeing me on television in a movie, video or reality show. Anything in this world is possible you just have to know what you what and go for it!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to give big shout outs to: Steven Bales
Gotti Sosa
Kaz
Ego Maserati
Hair Kut Prizm
Alvin Knox
Michael Addison
Reggie “Hurricane” Harmon

Instagram: PrettyLu_08

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucy.livingston

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC2hwgVFnIGRkydqopkDeuaA

Image Credits
LaRue ViZions TmStudio Visuals