A Decade of Mod

Ten Years of The Mod Little Melanin

A dream, a love of boho fashion, and a sepia filter.

These are the first images that ever lived on The Mod Little Melanin.

Ten years ago today, I launched my blog and fashion social media accounts without fully realizing how deeply this platform would shape my life. At the time, it felt like a creative outlet. Looking back, it was a lifeline.

I was 22 years old, newly graduated from The University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology, and sitting with disappointment, I did not yet know how to name. I had planned to matriculate directly into medical school after college, and when that did not happen, I was forced into a gap year I did not want. It felt like failure. It felt like being left behind while everyone else moved forward.

With gentle encouragement from my friends and my mom, I decided to redirect that sadness into something joyful. I bought my domain name, picked up my camera, and started sharing what I loved most: fashion.

The name The Mod Little Melanin was intentional. “Mod” represented both being cool and my deep love for 1960s bohemian fashion. “Melanin” was a nod to my Native American and Black heritage. Together, the name felt like me.

In 2016, I did not own a tripod. Instead, I brought my 7-year-old brother along to take my photos. Because of the height difference, I would have him stand far enough away so the angle did not make it obvious. Those photos were imperfect, but they were honest. They were made with what I had.

At the time, Tumblr and Polyvore were everything. I had found my creative home. I created style sets like the one featured above and shared them with friends whenever they asked where to shop. They would send them to their friends, who would then reach out to me. Before I realized it, I was acting as a personal shopper for people I had never met, creating Polyvore style sets for weddings, vacations, and special occasions.
I was building something without realizing it.

In 2020, everything shifted. I landed my first paid brand deal with Affirm after sharing a video about how I purchased designer handbags on Japanese eBay and split the payments using Affirm. The video went viral, and suddenly the work I had been doing quietly for years was visible.

Since then, I have had the pleasure of working with hundreds of brands, including Coach, Adidas, Athleta, Simon Malls, Tom Ford, and many more. My page became my resume, highlighting my work and creative achievements, even with a small following. In 2023, I attended a brand trip with @tartecosmetics in New York City, a memory I will forever cherish.

Along the way, I have been highlighted in an article with the Pennsylvania Podiatric Medical Association, featured in BuzzFeed, appeared as a guest on several podcasts, and even interviewed with BBC Radio. Each opportunity felt surreal, especially considering how quietly this platform began.

The Mod Little Melanin has been present through every chapter of my adult life. It brought me happiness while pursuing science and medical degrees. It brought me comfort when I made the difficult decision to walk away from what I believed was my dream career in podiatry. It held space for me when I suffered a stroke at 32, had to leave my dream city of Philadelphia, and unenroll from Columbia University.

Through it all, this platform allowed me to show my duality. I am not only a fashion content creator. I am a scientist. A researcher. A woman who knows how to set goals, pivot when necessary, and continue forward with intention.

As we enter a new decade of The Mod Little Melanin, I am excited to keep sharing my dreams and aspirations through fashion. This platform has always been about self-expression, joy, and exploration. It is about finding yourself in moments of darkness and still choosing to move forward.

And that is exactly what I will continue to do.

Because I am achieving that doctorate one way or another, and in style, of course.
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With love,
Chelsea
The Mod Little Melanin
The Kansas City It Girl