FAQ'S
What's My Crest All About?
Culture. Love. Roots. Royalty.
My crest is what defines me in a nutshell. "The Sign of Horns" with a Crown. Although the symbol is now mostly associated with "Rock & Roll", it is rooted in the cultural fabric of most ancient cultures and mythology as a symbol of protection.
Where Did The "Jo" Come From?
My first name is Juel, like the legendary linergie designer, Juel Park. Growing up, everyone just called me. "Jo" for short.
Where Did I Get the Idea to Bridge Beauty & Business?
It came pretty easily when I really focused on the things that I enjoy doing. I enjoy fashion, beauty, luxury and entertainment and I love finding ways to turn them into businesses that impact and enhance our lives.
What Makes Me So Competitive?
I don't look at competition the way most people do. Self improvement is my goal- it is my trophy! When I am competing in something whether it be a pageant or a race, I'm not trying to beat the girl next to me to prove I am better. I want to improve myself in what I am doing and I find the best way to do that is to have a goal. My opponent is the barrier between me and my goal.
Who Are My Role Models?
I often look back at my grandmother being my most direct role model but as I have gone out in life, I have been positively influenced by many people.
What Am I Most Inspired By?
I am inspired by people and what we can create and accomplish in this life. I am often inspired by my everyday environment - Beauty, Fashion, City Life and a Diversity of Culture. I look for opportunities to make the world around me better by contributing to the development of my community, finding ways to improve businesses, industries and products and helping people expand beyond their limitations.
What Is My Definition Of A Woman?
The more life experience I have, the more I have formed my own understanding of what it is to be "Woman". The most important aspect of being a woman for me is B.E.A.U.T.Y.
Brains
Esthetics
Alluring
Understanding
Tenacity
Yes
What Is My Life Philosophy?
"Live Your Legacy, Build Your Legacy" - Understand and embrace your past so you can build and progress your future.
How Do I Want To Be Remembered?
Honest, it doesn't really matter. As long as I am remembered!
WHO AM I TODAY
Culture, Beauty and Knowledge are the elements in life that are most important to me. Throughout my career I have tried to embrace and reflect these elements.
I Love competing. Training for something and performing. But I also love Business. Discipline. Strategy. Beauty and Art.
By expanding into new elements of the creative and intellectual mind I continue to push my limits in order to excel and conquer fear. I believe this is where we discover our true selves. I am using my foundations in those fields to expand my horizons.
Modeling and Pageantry is what really launched me and made me a person of "popular" interest. As a personality that can be not limited to just walking, talking and waving, I am leveraging my creativity, business acumen, and professional experience in order to launch innovative businesses, contribute to noteworthy causes and create a lasting impact across a multitude of industries by seamlessly blending business, beauty and community.
WHERE DID I START
Modeling came very natural for me. From Fashion Shows to photo shoots around the world, modeling was my vehicle to self discovery. It all started with my Grandmother sending me to Finishing School. Funny but True!
I started modeling as a teenager and continued through college; travelling around the world working in commercials, television, orint and runway.
In 2005 I became the first Jamaican beauty queen to represent the country at Miss Asia Pacific International, Miss Earth and Miss Beauty Queen World.
At Miss Asia Pacific Int. I protested and was kindly escorted off stage. I became the first candidate from a black country to win the title of the Miss Beauty Queen World.
I became an advocate for educational projects in Jamaica meeting with governmental officials to discuss educational projects.
In 2006 I retired from competing after battling a fatal virus called, Meningitis. I believe
somethings are necessary for us to fully develop ourselves to our highest potential. Sometimes they are painful. I spent the following five years rebuilding and developing myself.
During my recovery, I became a celebrity speaker for the West Coast Speaking Tour for the Barbizon Int. Scholarship Program and I landed my first Supporting Role in King of the Streets.
In 2008, I formed my first company, Model House Holdings. I spun off several companies, produced many projects. I have had many successes and some failures but above everything I learned to keep going.
HISTORY
My History has helped mold me and I openly share who I am so I can help people better understand themselves and grow from their experiences.
I had a unique upbringing but not necessarily a perfect one. I was born with a congenital birth defect called Upper Eyelid Coloboma. Basically a large piece of my eyelid was missing, like someone took a BITE. Similar to someone having a Cleft Palete. At the age of 22 a generous Doctor fixed it for me.
I learned how to walk early, read early and even went to school at an early age. I travelled. I had nice clothes. Good Manners. I learned how to count in Swahili and how to communicate with basic sign language. However, I was a child of abuse.
At the age of 7 or so, my biological father died of AIDS due to intraveneous drug use. I was later adopted by my grandmother after being placed in a foster home as a result fo being abused by both my stepfather and my mom.
My grandmother was the link between following a pattern and breaking a cycle but it has been a long list of strangers, friends, family and acquaintances that have gotten me here today.
LEGACY
My family has deligently carried our legacy for many generations. I can trace my maternal lineage all the way back to the 1800s and it is said that my grandfather traced us back to direct relation to William the Conquerer.
My Great Grandmother was Nettie Taylor from the legandary Taylor Ranch on the outskirts of Houston, Texas, My Great Grandfather was Jerome Aredell Williams, who wrote The Tin Box, A Story of Texas Cattle and Oil. Today the book is a collectible, known as a significant part of black and Texan History and featured among other historical items in University Special Collection Libraries such as UCLA, Tuskegee and other universities across the country.
My Great Grandmother, Nettie was the granddaughter of British slave owner, E.R. Taylor and a freed slave, Ann George. E.R. discovered oil on the property and by 1921 the first producing well was drilled. Houston history was made when drilling there led to the innovative rotary drill bit, designed by the Hughes Tool Company to pierce rock. Their children who were among the first African-Americans in Texas to receive a college education.
Today there is the Taylor-Stevenson Ranch, the American Cowboy Museum and a 26 acre park dedicated to the E.R Taylor and Ann George legacy.
My legacy is that a woman can go from being a slave to a landowner, a cowgirl can run her own ranch, a minority can own a bank and help fund a WWII, a native american woman can be a proprietress, a nurse can build a highrise in the sky, an immigrant can prosper and in an instant you can foundamentally create change, hope and progress.
Legacy Lives In Numbers.
