Treasure doesn’t talk about her journey like a highlight reel. She speaks about it like a life she’s lived—with wins, losses, and a lot of perseverance in between. A model, makeup artist, content creator, and entrepreneur, Treasure has spent years building her craft while managing a painful nerve condition she’s lived with for most of her life. Her story is deeply tied to her late mother, Veronica, whose belief and sacrifices put her on the path she still walks today.
Q: When did you first realize entertainment was the path you wanted to take?
I was 14 when it really hit me. My mom heard an audition for The Lion King on the radio and told me about it. I went and didn’t get the part, but I remember leaving there feeling sure. It didn’t discourage me at all. I just knew entertainment was what I wanted to do.
Q: How important was your mother’s support in those early years?
She was everything. After that audition, I told her about a performing arts school I wanted to attend for drama. She didn’t question it—she enrolled me. That choice changed my life. I started taking acting classes in high school and really understanding what it meant to work at something you love. She gave her time, her money, and her energy to support my dreams.
Q: When did modeling become the direction you chose to focus on?
When I went to Barbizon Modeling School, it all came together. I learned runway walking, etiquette, and fashion, but more than that, I felt like I belonged. I already loved makeup, clothes, and taking pictures, so modeling felt natural. It wasn’t something I had to force.
Q: People often mention your confidence. Where do you think that comes from?
I’ve always had it in me, but the camera brings it out. There’s a version of me that really shows up when I’m creating or modeling. Even growing up, people noticed it—I was voted prom princess in middle school. I didn’t fully understand it back then, but now I know that confidence was always part of who I am.
Q: You’ve had some major career moments. Which ones stand out to you?
Performing at the Tribeca Film Festival is something I’ll never forget. Being published in magazines, walking the runway for causes like ending child trafficking, modeling for makeup academies and online brands—all of those moments mean something different to me. Modeling at Brooklyn Unity alongside Kid ’n Play, Faith Evans, and others was a moment where I had to pause and realize how far I’d come. Training with acting coaches like Sheryl Baker Fisher, Kevin Stapleton, and Brooke Bundy were experiences I never imagined I’d have.
Q: You’ve lived with a nerve condition for 16 years. How has that shaped you?
It’s shaped everything. Living with pain teaches you patience and strength in ways nothing else can. There were times it was hard, but I made the choice not to let it stop me. I learned how to turn pain into motivation. Every step forward means more because I know what it takes just to keep going.
Q: Losing your mother last year was a huge loss. How do you move forward while carrying her with you?
She’s with me in everything I do. She’s the reason I started this journey. The sacrifices she made when I was younger are the reason I can keep pushing today. I want her to know that nothing she did was wasted. Everything I accomplish is for her, and I carry her love with me every step of the way.
Q: What does “reaching gold” mean to you?
To me, gold isn’t just success. It’s fulfillment. It’s knowing I didn’t quit when things were painful or uncertain. I’m still working toward it, and I won’t stop. My name is Treasure, and I’m still becoming it. Dreams really do come true.
Photographer: Alonzo Boldin
