Check Out Vanessa Michelle ’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Michelle .

Hi Vanessa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I’m originally from Morristown, TN, which is eastern TN. I didn’t grow up in what you would call a “normal family.” My father struggled with being an alcoholic and addict my entire life. My mother was the complete opposite of him. She was the glue that held our lives together the best she could. It was a very different kind of household. I used to be upset and angry with my parents for the lack of “love” they showed, but I realize now that they lacked in loving themselves and didn’t know how to show it. So I grew up keeping everything to myself.

My feelings, emotions, everything; if I was SA as a young child and never took it seriously, then I never spoke up about the other times it happened to me while growing up. I became immune to it and felt it was love simply because I didn’t understand what love truly was. Was love drugs and alcohol? Was love “just dealing with it.” That trauma was something I carried around for many years to come. I became a mother at 15, about a month before turning 16. That changed my life forever. I’ve always told myself that I brought my son into my life to keep me in line. However, I was a pretty good kid anyways. I just never wanted to end up like my father mainly. I got lucky with my parents helping me raise him. I graduated high school in 2001, on time as I was supposed to. My son was my everything. It’s hard to believe a little human being became my everything and how I never wanted him to feel like I did growing up. My only issue was I dated terrible men. I was like my mother, thinking I could fix people when I later learned I could not. So you can guess it, I was in these relationships with abusive people. Mentally, emotionally, and physically abusive people. It had everything to do with the childhood trauma I endured at the time, but I didn’t realize that until later. My son witnessed these terrible people and what they put his mother through, which I’ve carried with me since it hurts, and I feel guilty that I should have made better choices.

I graduated from Tn School of Beauty in 2004, finally, lol. I should have been done in 2002, considering I took 2 years of cosmetology in high school, but I chose a toxic relationship over school, and when I finally left it for good, I finished school. So let’s travel down to my 2nd son, born Dec 2006. After he was born, I was burnt out with doing hair, so I decided to pursue my dream of working with animals. I got a job as a vet to start at the bottom of knowing nothing about being a vet assistant. So I loved my job. My personal life, well, it still was a shitshow. So here I was, a single mom of 2 boys, and you would think my choices of men would have been better, but they weren’t. My life has been hard, but one thing about me is I’m much stronger than people realize. I built My life from the ground up. Everything I own, I worked hard for. And I did it all with 2 boys. I started doing the things I love more and more as the years went on, and modeling was one of them. When I was 29 and recently out of the last toxic relationship, I vowed not to be in a relationship with anyone unless I knew it was my last one. So I began living my life. I started shooting for tattoo magazines and then music videos. I got to travel and meet all of these important people. Life was going great, you can say. My kids were happy. I was able to take them places. We had a nice home. You name it. But then my health started to go south. I was still working as a vet tech, and I was in more pain every day. Endless dr appts, physical therapy, you name it. They kept saying nothing was wrong or I was too young to have anything wrong with me. It took me 2 years to get a diagnosis, which was Fibromyalgia. So then I was Scared because of what I had worked for. I was afraid of losing it because of the pain. I needed back surgery in 2016, which was a mess up; I won’t mention who did it, obviously in Nashville, but anyway. I am terrible at writing. I have Adhd, so I skip a lot, and I’m not quite sure what to write because my life has been chaotic. What I’ve always wanted was to inspire people, single mothers. Women, anyone that has faced hard times and to know it’s possible to get through it. After my back surgery, I went Through something worse than anything I’ve experienced. I met someone, we are still married, but the 1st 2 years of our lives together were very tough. My father passed in 2017, which was the worst thing ever for me because, during this time, I was already dealing with so much that I could not grieve. I was spiraling. My back was destroyed, and fearing I’ll never work again. Having to depend on someone was very hard for me to deal with. I hated It. I had Been taking care of everything on my own my whole life, and now having to depend on someone was very demeaning. I went through a lot. My husband as well. So all the trauma I had gone through before. And went to therapy for many years went out the window. See, my husband and I are both in recovery now. Remember when I said I didn’t want to be like my father? Well, it happened in 2020. It wasn’t a very long stint of it, but it happened. For someone who despised it my entire life, it’s only proof it can happen to anyone. I was dealing with my depression and pain by using. I was Tired. I was Tired of feeling. I know A lot of people can relate to that. It happens. Do I regret It? Yes, absolutely, but will I be Accountable for it? Yes, I will. I have accepted it. I also realized what got me there too. I’ve learned that nobody can decipher how things affect you. Whether they are traumatizing to you or not. Nobody has the right. So if you feel it’s traumatic to you, then it is. My mom has always said I’ve lived a life of 3 people, and it’s true. I don’t have this big money success story or anything like that. I am a human being who has made the best out of what I have Had and the tools I was given at an early age. Yes, my life has had terrible moments, but it’s had some great ones. I’ve got 2 beautiful boys. I’ve got a husband that gets me and what I’ve searched for my whole life. I may have made mistakes along the way, but I’ve always picked myself up. I have never been a quitter. My boys have been my reason for breathing. I’ve struggled with mental health and health issues in general, but I still Got up and faced the day ahead. 2020 was an eye-opener for me. It gave me more of an understanding of my father and his struggles. It has made me realize the things I was angry about with my parents and how I have forgiven them. It’s made me even more grateful for the things I have, the life I have. Trauma is the gateway to addiction. It’s the facts. Mine was because of trauma I endured, and for years, I had refused to believe it as such because I hated Appearing weak or the fact I let someone control me. But the reality is all that trauma happened because I love someone and their son. And I put up with what I did Because of it. That’s another story for another time.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Modeling and Vet Tech of 16 years. I have magazine publications in the UK and magazines sold in actual bookstores. A list long of companies I’ve worked with—H2ocean Models since 2011. I was in Blackstone Cherry, “me and Maryjane” Hellyeah “Love Falls,” Moonshine Bandits “red, white and boozed.”

Started modeling when I was 17 with mostly local work. Did some promo work for Nopi for 3 years. 2009 is when I started taking modeling more seriously. I felt more confident in front of the camera finally. The advice I would give on gaining confidence is just practice your posing and facial expressions in front of a mirror. I know it probably sounds crazy but it helped me a lot. It helped me to learn how to really move my body with grace and smooth and flowing body movements. I’m very lucky for the opportunities I’ve had because when I started back in 2009 the industry didn’t have a lot of tattooed models. I’m also only 5’4 so then I didn’t have a lot of opportunities for work. I did however really “hustled” to get my name out there. I was constantly submitting to magazines, clothing companies and just anything that was a publication. When I got my 1st big time tattoo magazine publication offer, I was so excited. I was so proud of myself. I still am very proud of myself. My modeling resume is

Spokesmodel/Brand Ambassador:

– Ladies of Metal 2012-Present

– H2O Ocean Model 2011-Present

Clothing Companies:

– Dirty Shirty

– exeCute Clothing

– Badcock Apparel

– Filth Clothing

– Pure Lust Clothing

– Oznola Apparel

– Sick Kat Kustoms

– Puncture Wounds Clothing

– Kill It Clothing

– Ink Addict

– 27 Junkies

– Mass Destruction Incorporated

– Akumu Ink

– Rogue American Apparel

– Black Veins Clothing

– Freekware

– Blackcraft Cult

– Rotten Cadavers Clothing

Music Videos:

Artist K-DA directed by Steven Webster- Lead female lawyer role

Band Voodoo Prophet “Drowning in the flood” Lead female

Yelawolf and Dj Paul “Party Prophet” Party goer

Black Stone Cherry “Mary Jane” – Lead female role

Dan Layus- “Dangerous Things” – Releasing 2017

Hell Yeah- “Love Falls” Lead female role – Released 2017

Moonshine Bandits- “Red, white and booze” party girl with ChrisColt Ford Sept 2020

Featured Magazine Publications

– Maxim Valentine Hotties 2010

– Maxim Halloween Hotties 2009

– Inked Magazine Girl of the Day 5-9-2011

– Cats Meow Magazine: August 2011

– Cats Meow Magazine: October 2011

– Vintage Kittens Magazine: July 2011

– Petite Alternative Magazine: February 2012

– I Am Me Magazine 1st Issue: April 2012

– Petite Alternative Magazine featured/Cover model: May 2012

– Teen Spirit Magazine UK: July 2012

– I Am Me Magazine: August 2012

– Cats Meow Magazine: September 2012

– Rabid Magazine: *Future issue TBA*

– Tattoo’d Lifestyle: August 2012 Issue #6

– Cats Meow Magazine: October 2012

– Skinz Magazine: *future issue*

– Urban Ink Magazine: Jan/Feb 2013

– MyStache Magazine: Issue #3 July 2013

– Aspira Magazine: August 2013

-Urban Ink Magazine March 2014

-Skin Deep Tattoo Magazine: May 2015 ” Tattoos & Rescues” issue

-Thunder Roads Magazine TN: December 2015 Cover/Centerfold Model

Websites:

www.trendvend.com

www.maxim.com

www.rockconfidental.com

www.theinkonme.com

www.inkedout4life.com

www.ink-city.com

www.nefariousrealm.com Featured Model July 2012 “Hotter Side of Metal”

www.arsenicmagzine.com x2

www.playboymisssocial.com

What do you like and dislike about the city?
Love best is the energy, and I hate the traffic.

Pricing:

• Email for pricing

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/filthfamily
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/vanessamichellefilth
• Other: Tiktok @filthfamily

Image Credits
PE Photography CYNister Photography Angels Photography JAG Photo TRD Photography