Meet Fazon Gray | Model, Influencer & Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Fazon Gray and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Fazon, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Being overcome with work a lot as of recent. I’m really understanding of that and knowing when to create the balance in my life.

All work and no play will drive most people insane. You need to know when to step on the gas and when to create more comfortability “fun” in life.

Some moments in life requires more hard work, and it’s important to know that you can always create balance, because life is like a scale, work and play will always need to be adjusted. It just depends on your goals and your ambition.

I am looking forward to working out everyday and things like meditation and yoga help with that work /life balance for me.
Having plans like vacations, spa dates, time with family/ friends also help give me something to look forward to at times when feeling overworked.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The fact that I’m able to use all of my creativity on set to create exactly what the photographer or videographer is looking for is what separates me from a lot of other models. A lot of models are placed on set with a lot of guidelines and restrictions, and not given the opportunity to truly collaborate.
I am fortunate that after a lot of years I am able to create my own shoots.
I love the art behind photography and how everything about modelling from the fashion to the clothes, the lighting, each aspect is an art form.
I’ve fortunately gotten to this point in modelling from being on thousands of sets, listening and observing people around me. This includes the other models, set directors, make-up artists, photographers, stylists etc. I would pick their brains to learn from them. When I was sent my first mood board, I wanted to learn how to create one and I did/ have created several for previous projects. I always ask questions and this has helped me learn how to get to this point in my career. I’ve often felt like I had to create my own opportunities because they were not given to me so this has driven me further to learn more about my art.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My biggest New York tips:
EAT
– My favourite food spot right now is the Greek food from Alymos in Astoria Queens (their Spanakopita is fire)
DRINK
– My favourite bar right now is El Paso (their frozen Margarita’s are perfect for summer)
EXPERIENCE
My favourite outdoor activity will always be walking the Highline.
My favourite museum at the moment is Museum of Modern Art MOMA.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There’s so many different people, groups, and organizations that I want to shoutout to because it truly takes a village;
– One of the organizations that I grew up with was Boys and Girls Harbor. They created a lot of the positive experiences that I’ve had, and it’s allowed me to be very open-minded and experience situations that I would have probably not been able to otherwise.
– I would also like to give a shoutout to my community and the people that I’ve seen growing up as a kid in Harlem. The people who I’ve walked past on the stoop, the parks, the playgrounds, and the blocks. Sometimes it’s the things that are said even in passing, that have been so helpful in motivating me.
– Definitely my parents get a lot of the credit. God rest my mother’s soul, she was one of my biggest and still is my biggest believer and supporter from up above. She always wanted me to follow my dreams, and my dad has always been a big dreamer. I’ve always respected that about both of them. I feel that growing up around that mindset has definitely made me see life a bit differently.
– I’ve had some great mentors in my corner as far as gym coaches, basketball coaches, teachers, counselors, etc. from High School and to this day one of my biggest mentors is Hans Hageman. He taught me that there is more to the world than just the environment I grew up in, that it was okay to show personality, and took me and a few other select students on multiple excursions across the world. These trips were both eye opening & humbling.
– One of my biggest supporters is my partner Tia Metaxas, who has helped assist me with a lot of the behind the scenes work & has really helped organise the “artistic mind” that I have lol.
– Going through life situations friends and family are so important. There’s so many different people and way too many to list. I’m grateful for everyone who’s helped along the way.

Website: https://contentcreatortiametaxas.my.canva.site/fazongray

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fazongray/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fazon-gray-a948727a/

Twitter: https://x.com/fazongray?lang=en&mx=2

Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/fazongray/

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@fazongray?lang=en

Image Credits
Photo Credit: Adam Whittaker & Metaxas Media