She established herself in the entertainment industry, launched a burgeoning apparel empire, penned a pair of intriguing bestsellers, and got hitched to one of Hollywood’s hottest young players, all in what seems like the blink of an eye. But style maven Erica Mena is ever the enterprising young entrepreneur – a modelesque mix of pretty Puerto Rican perseverance and daring Dominican drive – who arrived on the celebrity scene like most minorities possessing millionaire aspirations, with underdog status overwhelmed by a wealth of intrinsic talent. On and off camera, Mena’s confidence is contagious.
Written by ToneSwep
Images by: Frederic Charpentier
Styled by: Ali Levine
Hair & MUA by: Anthony Pazos & Cristina Fabian
Location: Mobli Beach House, Venice Beach, CA
Impressively, Mena, 27, spun her girl-next-door gorgeous into Manhattan get-money glamorous by painting her life on asphalt canvasses like graffiti in an art gallery for all to see, criticize and condemn or cosign and commend. Homegirl showed up, showed off, at times even showed out, and any TV show she starred in enjoyed vixen-addicted viewers and skyrocketing ratings as a result. Only a fellow overachiever would fully understand this girl’s grind. Erica Mena turned mentions into millions like few reality television stars ever have. Lady has a legacy in her lane. Grant her that.
A New York native whose life story is maturing into an overarching Bronx tale even De Niro would admire, Mena’s matriarchal muses included supermodel Cindy Crawford, singer/designer Selena (Quintanilla-Pérez), actress and beauty icon Marilyn Monroe, and most of all Jennifer Lopez. As a teenager, Mena won a “J-Lo look-A-like” contest due to their resemblance. Both lovely Latinas are native to the Bronx, and Mena considers the award-winning actress/chart-topping singer’s life a blueprint for business success.
By 2005, Mena was starring in award-winning music videos by the likes of Chris Brown “Excuse Me Miss”, Young Gunz “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop”, Akon “I’m So Paid”, and 50 Cent “Candy Shop”. Not one to let complacency crowd her career path, the in-demand then Tommy Hilfiger campaign spokes-model graced the pages of several mainstream-urban magazine’s including Show, King, Vibe, Hype Hair, The Source, and XXL.
Recognized by TV producers for possessing her now signature combination of alluring attractiveness, seductive sex symbolism, fiery yet charismatic personality and, most popularly, flare for fashion, Mena landed a lead role on the popular reality TV series “Love & Hip Hop New York” which instantly placed her in the living rooms of millions of daily viewers and on the iPhones of twice as many social media loyalists. After penning two best-selling semi-autobiographical books “Underneath it All”and “Chronicles of a Confirmed Bachelorette”, the proud mother of one somehow found a way to outduel herself. This time she did it with fashion.
In 2013 Mena launched her line of women’s apparel and accessories called “HER”. The brand’s popular tees, hoodies, and figure-hugging fits quickly became a staple on the party girl and industry chick scenes. Coming of age high school and college girls asserting their independence while embracing newfound femininity are also in love with the HER collection and comprise its core buyer. Women of all ages and agendas are undoubtedly inspired by Mena’s championship story, a young lady who made a name for herself, built her brand, and then expanded into multiple wings of the entertainment industry. Even more impressively, she continues to grow as a person and professional which only furthers her success and inspires millions of fans, followers, and consumers worldwide.
On a hot spring day in-and-around social-tech giant Mobli’s Beach House on SoCal’s scenic Venice Beach, the professional young model switched looks with stylist Ali Levine, exchanged bestie convo with DOPE GIRL Hayley Delaine, and showed off some cool power girl poses for Parisian photographer Frederic Charpentier, to claim this Obsidian edition of DOPE Magazine as HER own.
Follow Erica Mena on Instagram & Twitter
Shop HER Apparel’s Spring/Summer Line Here
