When it comes to the fashion style game in New York City, three names come to mind: Patricia Field, June Ambrose and Misa Hylton. These ladies have made an imprint on pop culture unlike any other. However, before fashion, Misa was known as the pretty blonde, half Asian mami, in Biggie’s “Big Poppa” video…who “pulled” Puffy.
“I wasn’t a video girl…I was in my boyfriend’s [Puffy] video supporting and being a part of the movement. My image helped tell the story of the direction the artists – coming out of the label, at that time. I was asked to be in the video because my style was unique.”
It was that style that catapulted Misa’s career. Behind the scenes of the Bad Boy movement, she was creating the iconic images that are stuck in our minds today. Jodeci. Mary J. Blige. Lil’ Kim…
When I started, I didn’t have anyone to mentor me, I had to learn the ropes on my own…I remember my parents saying: ‘What are you doing? These people can’t dress themselves, what kind of job is this?’
“Fashion began to really POP during the 90’s and considered an actual career. I’m not talking about Hollywood costume designers, or fashion stylists for film or theater, but actually working with music artists. It was an exciting time because hip hop went from music to culture.”
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Years later, Microsoft founder Bill Gates also took notice of Misa’s keen fashion sense, hiring her as a fashion technology consultant for their venture in designing personal computers as accessories. For her, that was a tell tale sign of hip hop’s expansion.
Currently, Misa juggles three companies:
Her newest, The Misa Hylton Fashion Academy, which teaches classes to aspiring fashion stylists—set to launch with a fashion make-over for a lucky winner during New York’s Fashion Week. Her second business is her clothing apparel company Madison Star Couture and then, Chyna Doll Enterprises, which grooms fashion stylists.
However, her most important job is being a mother of three. It’s no secret that Sean “P-Diddy” Combs is the father of her oldest son, Justin Combs, who was the subject of an internet frenzy recently, over his “full-ride” football scholarship.
“I thought it was unfortunate that my son was scrutinized for making good grades. It was a merit scholarship for great academics and talent, not a scholarship for financial need. His father and I teach him to find his life identity, follow his goals and dreams. Just because his father has accomplished things for himself doesn’t mean he should not accept what he earned for himself.”
When asked about their multi-layered family she adds: “I think that nowadays our family situation is common…I think it’s important for everyone to get along because at the end of the day all of our children are siblings and it’s important that they are happy, stable and as balanced as possible. It takes a lot of maturity…it’s difficult for a lot of women to do. I’m just very happy that I have the ability to leave the past in the past.”
For Misa, she takes the Nike approach to life when juggling family and career.
She says:
“You just do it” and “keep God first.”
