Meet Wesley Barker: Model & Behavior Interventionist

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

Hi Wesley, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I am a big believer in listening to your intuition. That little voice in your head that helps you make tough decisions can insight fear, anxiety, or great excitement. Sometimes all three. I thrive on listening to that voice, and taking risks that scare and excite me. That is the reason I packed up my life, and drove across the country to California to start fresh. The greater the risk, the greater the reward.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I believe art is one of the most healing and therapeutic things in the world. Art has no boundaries or barriers in what it is, and thus allows its creator to express themselves, heal, and become their true self with no boundaries. As a teenager growing into a woman, I was very insecure. I struggled with heavy amounts of anxiety, and depression. I suffered heavily with body image and it manifested itself in a way that consumed my thoughts and confidence. I saw other females as competition or aspirations, instead of my companions who also deserved the love and confidence that I so heavily desired. When I first got in front of a camera, I truly began to see the lack of confidence that was behind my eyes and my body language. With practice, and help from photographers and other models, I began to love the little details I used to hate about myself, and found how to express my emotion and confidence through photos. The second I walked out on stage during my first fashion show, I knew I had found my art. I was breaking my barriers. I felt beautiful, powerful, and created friendships with amazing women that will last a lifetime. I would not be where I am today mentally without my journey through modeling. Even through the many rejections and disappointments I’ve experienced in this field, I remind myself where I came from and the growth I have experienced. It was all worth it, and helped create the best version of myself that I am today.

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.
As a beach bum, I would drag them along the coast. My favorite thing for anyone to experience when they come to visit me is the way it feels to drive along the PCH. We would stop at Paradise Cove for some incredible seafood, and lounge on the giant beach chairs by the shore with a bottle of wine to share. To end the weekend we would visit Sloane’s in Valley Village for bottomless mimosas and delicious breakfast food.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am beyond blessed to have the family that I do. Growing up, my parents taught me that I could be whatever i wanted to be. I could be whoever I wanted to be. I was given no limitations, and no expectations. Even when I made decisions that scared them, they supported me. For that, i am forever grateful. No matter what crazy ideas I’ve come up with, I have such a wonderful support system of family and friends. I owe everything that I am to the people in my life that helped me through the hard times, and allowed me to become who I was meant to be today.

Instagram: @Wesleyrbarker

Twitter: @Wesley7barker

Facebook: @wesleybarkerpage

Youtube: Wesley Barker

Image Credits
Brodan Willison