Today we’d like to introduce you to Valerie Denise Jones.
Hi Valerie Denise, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was raised on faith, resilience, and quiet strength—values passed down from my mother, Jean Jones, and the women before her, including my great-grandmother who lived to be 103 years old. Their lives taught me that endurance is not just about survival—it’s about purpose.
My journey into entertainment wasn’t something I planned. I actually wanted to go to law school. But everything shifted when I auditioned for a simple commercial and unexpectedly booked a walk-on role on Sesame Street, followed by a campaign with GOYA. What started as a moment quickly became a path—one my mother had always envisioned for me.
I went on to model professionally, working in fashion shows, hair and beauty campaigns, and appearing in local and international magazines. I had the honor of modeling with the Ebony Fashion Fair for several years, which allowed me to travel the world and represent culture, elegance, and excellence. Over time, I realized I had worked in every state in the United States—something I don’t take lightly.
From modeling, I transitioned into acting, music videos, voiceover work, and became the face of commercials and Florida tourism campaigns. I also found my voice on the radio, connecting with audiences in a more personal way. My career was expanding, and I was even booked for two televised celebrity reality shows—everything felt like it was aligning.
Then life shifted.
Within a single year, I lost my entire foundation—my mother, my grandmother, and my best friend. My mother passed away the same year as her mother. That kind of loss changes you. It quiets everything. And for me, it meant stepping away from the industry completely.
In that stillness, I rebuilt—slowly. I began working behind the scenes, touring with major auto brands and sporting events, serving as a product specialist and celebrity assistant. That chapter gave me something invaluable—experience in public relations, booking, and working directly with high-profile talent, including public speakers, politicians, athletes, and artists.
Eventually, I found my way back—but this time, with purpose.
Filmmaking found me when I was asked to serve as Chairman of the Jacksonville Film Festival’s Black Cinema Spotlight. That experience opened something in me creatively that had been waiting all along. Since then, I’ve directed and produced several short films and documentaries, earning awards and recognition, and finally stepping fully into my calling as a storyteller.
Jacksonville has played a major role in my journey. I’ve worked on initiatives supporting the police department, the mayor’s office, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and local political campaigns. Some of those projects have been featured on Discovery Channel, Lifetime, and TLC, along with creative work for the Sci-Fi Channel.
Today, my work spans radio, podcasting, television, print, and digital platforms—but at the core of it all is storytelling.
I am originally from Miami, Florida, with deep Geechee and Caribbean roots. My heritage is something I carry with pride—my grandfather’s face is even featured on the Bahamian five-dollar bill, a reminder that legacy lives through us.
Looking back, nothing about my journey was linear—but every step was necessary. From in front of the camera to behind it, from loss to rediscovery, I’ve learned that purpose will always find its way back to you.
And today, I stand in it—fully. My nephew, Taran Reyes, is my pillar of strength. (A special shout out to my mentor, Tiea Whitaker, CEO of Fashion, Life and Tea)
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has never been a smooth road for me. Not once. But I’ve learned that ease was never promised—purpose was.
From early on, I witnessed things that shape you in ways you don’t fully understand until later—domestic violence, instability, and loss. I lost my father when I was 19, the same year he lost his mother. Years later, history repeated itself when my mother passed the same year as her mother. That kind of grief doesn’t just visit you—it lives with you.
And still… I didn’t have a choice but to keep going.
I am a God-fearing woman, and I move with the understanding that quitting is never an option. I carry my family with me in everything I do. I am the legacy my mother and father fought so hard to become. They told me I was the generational curse breaker—and I’ve held onto that responsibility with everything in me.
I became the first in my immediate family to graduate college, to travel the world, to experience things my parents didn’t get the chance to see before they passed. I’ve flown on private jets, worked across the country, and built a life they dreamed of—but didn’t live long enough to fully experience. So I live it for them, too.
But the journey came with its own battles.
I’ve worked in male-dominated spaces where I had to navigate sexism, colorism, and moments that tested my safety and my dignity. As a model, I often stood in rooms where women who looked like me weren’t expected to win—and yet, I did. Not because it was easy, but because I refused to disappear.
I’ve used my voice even when it wasn’t comfortable. At one point, I went viral for challenging a nationally recognized judge over Harriet Tubman’s rightful place on the twenty-dollar bill. For me, that moment wasn’t about attention—it was about standing in truth, even when it costs you something.
Pain has always found its way into my work. I directed a documentary on domestic violence, rooted in what I had seen and experienced growing up. That film went on to win an award and a cash prize at a major film festival—one that now features some of the biggest names in the industry. That moment reminded me that even our deepest wounds can become something meaningful.
After my mother passed from cancer, I honored her by organizing several cancer awareness events in her name—sharing her story so that her life, her fight, and her love would continue to impact others.
And through all of this, I’ve never stopped pushing forward.
Because it’s bigger than me now.
My nephews are watching. One of them, Taran Reyes, was born the same year my mother passed. She held him. She loved him. She got to know him before she left—and that connection means everything to me. He is part of the reason I refuse to stop. The other feels like my twin in spirit. They both remind me that I’m not just building a life—I’m making space for them.
So no, it hasn’t been easy. It’s been a fight.
But I’ve learned that sometimes, the fight is the path.
And I may not always like it—but I will never quit. As long as God gives me breath …
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
First, I just want to say thank you—I’m truly grateful to even be answering this. I don’t take moments like this lightly.
I’ve honestly enjoyed every part of this journey that God has blessed me with. Because of God, I work with purpose. Because of women, I work fearlessly. And because of Black women, I work tirelessly and with intention. That foundation shapes everything I do.
I love the entertainment industry—on both sides of the camera. In front of it, I’ve had the opportunity to model, act, dance in music videos, lend my voice to projects, and appear in television productions, including reality shows and features alongside people I once admired from a distance. Some of those moments still feel surreal, especially when I think about working in spaces that once felt like dreams.
Behind the camera is where I’ve truly found my voice. Filmmaking allows me to rewrite stories in a way that feels honest, intentional, and uniquely mine. I’ve directed and produced award-winning short films and documentaries, including projects rooted in real-life experiences that have gone on to receive recognition and cash awards at major film festivals. Those moments remind me that storytelling isn’t just creative—it’s transformative.
Today, I own my own business and work as a graphic artist, web designer, and booking agent, supporting and collaborating with well-known public figures, speakers, and talent across multiple industries. My background in media, public relations, and talent coordination allows me to move fluidly between creative and strategic spaces, which I genuinely enjoy.
What I’m most proud of is my ability to evolve without losing who I am. I’ve been in front of the camera, behind it, and in the rooms where decisions are made—and I’ve learned to bring value in every space. I’m also proud that I’ve been able to build a career rooted in authenticity, without compromising my voice, my values, or my story.
What sets me apart is that I don’t just participate in the industry—I understand it from multiple angles. I’ve lived it, studied it, stepped away from it, and returned to it with purpose. And through it all, I’ve remained grounded in gratitude.
At the end of the day, I don’t see this as just a career—I see it as a calling. And I’m just getting started.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Thank you for asking this—I truly appreciate it.
There are several ways to work with and collaborate with me. I offer a range of creative and media services through my website, including graphic design, web design, branding, media production, and booking services. I’ve been blessed to support artists, public figures, and organizations, and I’m always open to meaningful collaborations that align with purpose and vision.
For me, though, this work is bigger than business—it’s ministry, it’s storytelling, it’s responsibility.
I’m currently focused on creating films and media that bring attention to stories that matter—stories that highlight our veterans, address mental health, empower women, and document everyday heroes who don’t always make headlines. I have a deep passion for giving underdogs a voice and creating space for people whose stories deserve to be seen and remembered.
And I’ll be honest—this kind of work requires support.
Large entities often have the resources to tell these stories on a global scale. But I believe that with even a fraction of that support—through collaboration, donations, media exposure, or shared platforms—I can continue contributing to a body of work that inspires, uplifts, and documents history in a meaningful way.
So if anyone feels led to support, partner, or simply share the work, I welcome that with an open heart.
And above all, I ask for prayers.
Because I don’t take this calling lightly. I truly believe that what I’m building is not just for me—it’s for the people whose stories are still waiting to be told.
Pricing:
- Donations
- See Website
Contact Info:
- Website: https://valeriedenisejones.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valeriedenisejones/
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1838705/
