How the Renaissance Woman Continues to Build Her Creative Fortune

*Team of Black Women Creatives:*
*Styled by T.A.M.E.( @tameyourstyle ) Makeup: Dar Balthazar (@darbalthazarmua); Photography and Creative direction: Joyanne Panton (@joyannepanton)*

From Philadelphia to Miami, South Korea to Atlanta, New York to international stages, Iyanna James-Stephenson — known to many as Iyanna The Model and Feline Agbara — continues to redefine what it means to live as a Renaissance creative in 2026. A muse, performance artist, filmmaker, burlesque innovator, DJ, and wellness advocate, Iyanna has built a career that thrives at the intersection of art, culture, and empowerment.

Her journey, rooted in resilience and self-discovery, has expanded far beyond modeling. Today, she graces New York Fashion Week and international runways, collaborates on global features, and spins eclectic rhythms — from Afrobeat and Caribbean beats to experimental sounds — in Jamaica, Kingston, and beyond. Her DJ sets aren’t just performances; they are immersive cultural experiences, blending heritage, rhythm, and movement to connect audiences across continents.

Art, Freedom, and Expression

*Photo Credit: Joey Rosado & Dorvilier Olivier*

Iyanna’s artistry remains anchored in body painting and burlesque, mediums through which she explores beauty, sensuality, and liberation. “I’ve always been comfortable in my skin,” she shares, “but through performance, I’ve discovered how to transform my body into a canvas for freedom — and invite others to witness it.”

Her creative portfolio now spans filmmaking, live body painting exhibitions, art curation, and directing, each project carrying a message of empowerment and radical authenticity. Through her Sacred Energy Exchange film, Iyanna continues to challenge societal taboos around sexual education and liberation, emphasizing knowledge, agency, and unapologetic self-expression.

Expanding Influence

Iyanna has extended her voice through podcasting, turning her sex-positive advocacy into a thriving platform for honest conversations. Her podcast has become a hub for education, cultural critique, and storytelling that empowers Black women and men to embrace their sensuality, boundaries, and self-worth. Multifaceted does not quite describe Miss Iyanna.

As a wellness advocate, Iyanna now hosts the upcoming “Love Yourself First” Luxury Self-Love Retreat, a 5-day, 4-night immersion in the Belize jungle (December 2–6, 2026). The retreat invites participants to rest deeply, reconnect with themselves, and live from a place of self-honor, blending mindfulness, movement, and cultural wisdom into an experience designed to elevate the mind, body, and spirit.

Community, Culture, and Divine Femininity

At the heart of Iyanna’s journey is community. With Circles at Sunset, she continues to create women-only spaces for deep intellectual engagement, cultural reflection, and conscious connection. These circles — whether in person or online — encourage participants to explore divine femininity, wellness, creativity, and self-expression without judgment.

Iyanna believes divine feminine energy is a source of power for Black women, distinct from hypersexualized narratives. Through her guidance, participants explore practices like mirror work, journaling, affirmations, and supportive community, all tools for awakening sensuality, self-love, and empowerment. She emphasizes the unity of divine masculine and feminine, noting that balance, understanding, and mutual respect between energies can elevate entire communities.

MELANATED Lifestyle

Iyanna’s lifestyle reflects intentionality and authenticity. She models with purpose, DJs with rhythm and culture, and curates art that uplifts and inspires. Her personal routine incorporates self-care, travel, mentorship, and support for Black-owned businesses, including favorites like MyBeautifood.com’s shea butter, Regal Holistics’ sea moss, Osayin Oils’ hair products, and Carelaa sneakers. Books like Their Eyes Were Watching God, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf, and The Alchemist inform her intellectual and spiritual growth, while everyday practices keep her grounded and aligned with her highest self.

Inspiring the Future

Iyanna James-Stephenson is living proof that creativity, culture, and self-expression can be cultivated into a flourishing career and life of influence. She continues to push boundaries — modeling internationally, spinning global beats, hosting retreats, producing films, and curating spaces where Black voices, bodies, and brilliance are celebrated.

Her advice to creatives? “Be unapologetically authentic. Live true to your highest self. Elevate not just yourself, but your community.”

From her early steps in Miami to commanding international stages, Iyanna is more than a performer — she is a cultural force, a mentor, and an inspiration, showing what is possible when vision, discipline, and passion converge.

Curious about what it feels like to live fully unapologetic? Step into Iyanna’s world at the ‘Love Yourself First’ retreat and let inspiration, empowerment, and self-discovery meet you where you are."

Iyanna The Model