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To be young, gifted and black were attributes that the late, legendary songstress Nina Simone talked about and affirmed throughout her career - eventually making those words and her haunting rendition of the same-titled song her signature piece.
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A few years after moving to Atlanta from his hometown in 2004, he was discovered by a well-known photographer who told him, "Your features would respond very well to my camera. Have you ever thought about modeling?"
Nichols, 26, admits that as a youth he enjoyed being the center of attraction, but saw himself more as an actor/movie star than as a model.
"My mother kept me involved in church ever since I can remember and like so many others, it was there that I began to sing," he said. "I was drawn to the theater as well and appeared in various theatrical productions where I was required to both sing and act.
However, it wasn't until I participated in my first professional photo shoot in July 2006 that I realized that this modeling work could not only
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be a lot of fun but might be my ticket to Hollywood."
In an industry that is obsessed with height, Terrance, who stands 5 feet 8 inches tall has overcome that obstacle and embraced an ever-growing career in the modeling industry. In fact, his masculine features and photogenic presence have led some photographers to describe him as resembling "the male version of Grace Jones."
"I know many of my colleagues in the business are obsessed with having the perfect body but I have had to work with the body that I was given and make it work for me," he said. "I don't have the kind of build that many models do. I have a small waist, big legs and a muscular upper body. I describe it as a male Coke bottle figure, which is not the norm, so I definitely stand out. The thing I try to do is capitalize on my assets."
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Nichols has been featured in Next Media Online Publications, Art Nouveau Magazine and other photographers' websites. Some of the nation's best photographers have captured his look including: Jerris Madison, Ethan James, Davide Stennett, Trevor Green, Jariel Jones, Leslie Andrews and Corey Reese.
And he continues to study some of his favorite actors including Will Smith, Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman - preparing himself for the day when he can make his mark on the big screen.
"I won't deny that I want to get into serious acting one day," he said. "I've had the opportunity to do some stand-in work for Tyler Perry's comedy series House of Payne, and I believe that my time will come. Right now I am taking my modeling career very seriously and have a versatile portfolio that sets me apart from others. But I will always be an actor at heart - I think I could perform just about any role if given the chance." |
Nichols gave this writer that smile for which he has become so famous and it was evident that he has the kind of look and sex appeal that could propel him right to the top.
"My smile is my best attribute especially my pearly white teeth," he said with an impish grin. "My personality really rests in my smile. Of course I work out too but that's more because I enjoy being active than because I am working on having the perfect body."
Nichols admits that he is not the typical 26-year-old man. Most of the time he can be found studying scripts, watching films and on occasion, enjoying an eclectic collection of music.
"My friends are all very different and I have a small circle in which I tend to surround myself," he said. "I just finished school at Georgia State University with bachelor's degrees in managerial science and business economics. Now that I've completed that task and as I am still very single, I can keep modeling and acting and waiting for that big break which I know is coming."
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| As long as Terrance keeps that smile of his and remains as focused as he is today, we are sure that we'll be hearing much more from this young brother in the very near future. |
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good profile of a great guy. i've had the opportunity of photographing terrrance, and am looking forward to working with him again. he is, indeed, a unique individual with a great look and a great work ethic.