Manuela Enama: KC’s Visionary Model Agency Founder Redefining Black Beauty

“Everything happens for a reason,” Mañuela muses, her voice tinged with the certainty of someone who has found her calling amidst the unexpected twists of life. Her foray into the world of modeling wasn’t planned. It was the result of a serendipitous meeting with Terrence, a photographer well known in the city’s art scene, at a local event brimming with Kansas City’s creative souls. Their connection was instantaneous, a meeting of minds that shared a singular vision: to disrupt and redefine the portrayal of Black beauty and creativity.Mañuela & Terrence in a polaroid pictureMañuela and Terrence spoke of art, of culture, of a shared dream to uplift and redefine the narrative surrounding Black beauty and creativity. From this conversation, Autre Management was born.Together, they’re breaking away from the constraints of Pinterest aesthetics and the monolithic portrayal of Black beauty, crafting a space where Black women can see themselves not just as they are, but as they could be.“I’ve learned over time that as models, we are inevitably responsible for the images we project onto consumers, and most importantly, our youth. It’s irresponsible of me not to acknowledge how we shape societal perceptions of beauty, so my team and I make...