The Mod Photog strikes again! Wanna hear a super inspiring story?? Meet Amelia Wainright, one badass Bettie, who we were #blessed to spend some time with a few weeks ago! Grab the tissues, Betties. This one is a tear-jerker❗❗❗
Amelia was born little Travis Wainright. At a young age, fabrics with bright colors, shiny and silky, would catch her eye. Her passion for fashion started when this Bettie came out of the womb! She remembers walking around in her mother’s silk nightgowns and heels at the age of 7, with her army of Barbies in tow! When Amelia hit that age every parent dreads - her first teen year, PARENTS YOU KNOW WHAT WE MEAN, age 13 - she would come out of the closet as a gay kid. She noticed that she wasn’t like most in that small little village in Sand Lake, Michigan: that there was something more going on inside.
Reality ⭐REALLY ⭐ set in for Amelia in the summer of 2015 when she had the deepest of convos with her mother, being completely honest and open about who she is and who she wanted to be. At that time, she was still confused about her sexuality and who she wanted to identify as. Unexpectedly, Amelia’s mom passed away that following winter, and then the real rollercoaster began…
Devastated by the huge loss in her life (RIP Mama Wainright), Amelia would then turn to drugs and abuse, which was the only road she knew to go to. It was dark. She’d look in the mirror and feel empty. She felt powerless and something still felt so terribly off. After a year and a half of hard abuse on herself, she inevitably was admitted into a hospital for overdosing. At that point, she knew things needed to change. She knew that she needed to start living her life for her.
Off the drugs she went! The drugs were replaced with wigs, makeup brushes, heels, and lashes! That’s right, Betties, Amelia hit the drag scene. It ended up being a really good coping mechanism for things she was never able to cope with: anxiety… stress… depression… life… you know the drill. In her words, ‘drag helped save [her] life.’ Throughout the later 2010’s especially, she’d get in touch with her feminine side even more, working on sewing skills and applying rhinestone after rhinestone onto garments! As a fully realized drag character, her drag persona Scarlett Rose Millionaire became a household name around Grand Rapids, as she worked with our community partners over at Beauty Beyond Drag Productions and showed her face at every single event that was held.
The passion she had for drag was great and all, but that wasn’t the only passion growing inside of this gorgeous diva. Remember when she looked in that mirror before? Now she did it, this time in drag, and she finally felt an overwhelming love for herself gazing back. The courage that she learned and the confidence she lacked before started shining brighter than ever. That tiny puzzle piece she was missing was clear, and she knew what she had to do.
In May of 2021, Amelia began living her truth as an out and proud Trans woman. Her support system in life is great now, and the smile is finally real! Now she’s smiling for herself, not everyone else. She’s expressing her true self these days and we couldn’t be more proud to see it! She came into the studio and the boudoir magic happened…! This sexy photoshoot had Amelia feeling her oats. Amelia’s time in the studio was fierce. She felt comfortable and in touch with herself through the whole process. I sat down with Amelia and asked her some questions on how her time in the studio went:
So girl, you have to tell me everything! What did you enjoy about shooting boudoir with Elise and Mod Bettie?
“The overall feeling with her and the atmosphere at Mod Bettie is just so indescribable. She truly helps take away any nerves and worries you might have and shows your true inner beauty and captures it in some of the most spectacular ways!”
Would you do it again? What would you do differently?
“Oh, I would absolutely do it again!! I think the only thing I'd do differently is change up my wardrobe. I like to keep improving my style.”
When considering doing a photoshoot at Mod Bettie, please keep in mind that we are all inclusive. This means we accept all clients, no matter your gender, shape, size, genitalia, or any damn thing in between! All of us Betties over here are so grateful to call Amelia a close friend and a dear sister! We love every person, and we pride ourselves on being a safe space for our local LGBTQ+ community!
If you are considering doing a photoshoot with us, it’s natural to be nervous! Amelia says, “it’s okay to have those worries and fears. However, once you’re in that atmosphere and working alongside those lovely ladies, you truly will feel and see the difference in yourself and how you felt: from stepping in, to leaving at the end of the time.” Sounds like a great time to me. From what I gather when I do these interviews, 10 times out of 10, the client leaves feeling euphoric! So what are you waiting for? BOOK TODAY! Who knows, maybe your amazing story will be one that inspires people like Amelia’s did ours!
