Marlowe B West Interviews NYC Model Wendy Stuart

Model Wendy Stuart

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MBW: Hi Wendy ... Would you be so kind to tell us about yourself ?

Wendy: Why thank you, Marlowe, I’d love to. Hmmm, now where shall I begin?

MBW: Well Nick Lion tells me you wrote a book.

Wendy: Nicky??? ... ahaha ... He’s been talking behind my back? That boy is my biggest fan.

MBW: Yes, he adores you. We all do! So tell us about your book.

Wendy: Oh Marlowe! You got me blushing like a silly schoolgirl. “She’s The Last Model Standing” is my book available on Amazon. It’s the story of my life, opening up with me living in Nigeria unaware of the Boco Ha ram who were everywhere, to Studio 54 to, to becoming a successful model, actress, standup comedian, club MC, TV Host, Interviewer, and Film Maker! That’s a lot of hats! I’m sure I left something out!

MBW: Whoa ... busy busy !!!

Wendy: The Pandemic shut NYC down and all of the above stone cold stopped. So no less than 36 hours later I started my first online show “Pandemic Cooking with Wendy”. Because with restaurants closed, Wendy had to cook!!!! In the early days of the Pandemic even takeout was limited. So, by starting my own cooking show I not only got to cook, I got to do everything I listed above! Because I get to wear my performance costumes, do my makeup and hair, be funny, make political innuendos, cook with other chefs and interview them while we cook and I’m an MC in my own kitchen where the show is taped and edited by my husband who I make films with! Then by mid-July 2020 I rolled out “Triversity Talk” where I discuss LGBTQ issues with my cohost Steven Bloomer Teague and incredible guests in the LGBTQ Community, like activists, lawyers, medical experts, entertainers, religious leaders. We cast a very wide net. And then January 2021 I started “If These Walls Could Talk” live streamed from the infamous Pangea Restaurant on the lower eastside, with cohost The charismatic Tym Moss, interviewing guests from the entertainment and arts world, musicians, actors, producers, authors, singers, writers. In 21 months, I reinvented an entire career to go virtual! That is no easy feat! “ Triversity Talk” originated from the LGBTQ organization I have been a part of since we started it 10 years ago to service the LGBTQ+ community in PA, NJ, and upstate NY. As part of Triversity-The Pride Center, where I am on the Board and host events, I am able to not only offer support, and information, my biggest skill set is used to bring people together to have fun at our events. I believe the active name is “networking” but that implies intention. I prefer to think of it as “conduiting” or “linking” bringing people together. On all of the shows I host, and with the guests I have on, I always try and hit some emotional response with my audience that anyone watching can identify with and say, “I remember feeling the same way”. I try for authenticity in all of my interviews and want to make sure all of the guests have a good time. And this is what I do in my actual life as well! My ultimate career goal is to be on much larger platforms with my shows. YouTube is great but with algorithms and so many people on there now it is difficult to build both audience and sponsorship. I can reach bigger audiences on the larger streaming and TV platforms. Currently talking to distributors, show runners and development people. For me it’s all about creating product. And I’m the product! Check out my YouTube Channel WendyStuartTV.

MBW: Sounds like you are extremely involved with so many people and groups. Very outgoing.

Wendy: As an activist I am so blessed to be with The Imperial Court of NY a non for profit that consistently raises funds for other organizations through entertaining shows, with members of the Court who are performers, as well as their signature fundraiser “Night of 1000 Gowns” which is coming up March 26. The major focus of the Court, a worldwide organization, is philanthropy. The Court is all about fantasy, with Empresses, Emperors, Dukes, Barons and Baroness. I am one of the newest members and I am Lady Wendy Darling. We’ve only started to do live events again because we did taped ones during COVID. I got to be part of Barnyard Duets where Tym Moss and I channeled Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood in a lip sync of “Something Bad”. It was over the top and very funny. My first live event was at Stonewall this performing my original parody “Vaccine”, taken from the song “Jolene” made famous by Dolly Parton”. These performances can be found on my YouTube Channel WendyStuartTV along with “Pandemic Cooking with Wendy”, “If These Walls Could Talk” The Imperial Court is the perfect fit for my personality, with their focus on fundraising, and social and performance opportunities.

MBW: You’re making me dizzy.

Wendy: You know I am in a different place than I was before the Pandemic. With the new platforms I’ve developed, and such an online following I intend to take everything I am and have created to reach bigger audience. This global world in front of us has actually become smaller, as we had to connect with people all over in the past 16 months. I actually expanded my social and career base hugely during the Pandemic. I want to move forward with the shows I’ve created, both on livestream and TV, and do a lot more interviewing online and live with a bigger client base. I am getting more auditions now and modeling work as that part of the industry continues to recover.

MBW: Well, what were you doing B4 the Pandemic???

Wendy: Before the Pandemic I made documentary films in remote parts of the world, telling stories about the wildlife and people, that you might not be aware of. “Fragile Beauty” was about three tribes in the Southern Omo Valley in Ethiopia. Their way of dress, belief and lifestyle has not changed all that much in decades, but now is being impacted in a huge way by industrialization and cell phones. Not to mention

children still dying of malaria. “Whisperers and Witnesses: Primate Rescue in Cameroon” which won Best Documentary at The Chelsea Film Festival, tells the story of poaching and bushmeat and what happens to baby chimps and gorillas when their parents are slaughtered. Organizations like Ape Action Africa, and Sanaga Yong Chimpanzee Rescue, save the babies and I tell the story of the people who are the rescuers.

MBW: That is an entire ton of work. Where do you get all your energy? How can you keep up with yourself ???

Wendy: Are you kidding? I’ve only just begun!!! And here’s to putting the final touches on “Working Dogs: A Love Story” which we anticipate releasing this year. I will continue to be a guest on many podcasts as I enjoy meeting all of these hosts all over the country. And as more things go live, I will be MC ing again. I wrote so many parodies during the Pandemic and am especially excited to be performing them at Stonewall, Industry, and Pangea. I love being with the Imperial Court because every show or event we do is to raise money for other non for profits. They truly define what philanthropy is. I have to say that the world is definitely a different landscape than it was, with so many new opportunities. And I intend to take advantage of every one of them! I am so ready!!!!

MBW: I’d love to see you live.

Wendy: Feb 12 at 9:30pm I will be performing in “50 Shades of Gay” hosted by comedian Ike Avelli celebrating my birthday afterward!

MBW: Sounds very exciting and I intend to be there.

Wendy: Great !!! ... gotta run now ... I’ll see ya there.