Yasmine "YazzieSpeaks" Arrington
Yasmine "YazzieSpeaks" Alexandra Arrington was born and raised in Washington, DC. She is a 2015 Elon University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communications and History. Yasmine earned her Master of Divinity degree at the Howard University School of Divinity May 2018. Yasmine is currently producer and host of her own radio show and podcast "Millennial Minds" that airs during primetime on Wednesdays from 6:30-7pm on WERA 96.7FM (also on WERA.FM) and airs on weekdays, Monday-Friday at 2pm on 96.3 HD4 (also on DCRadio.gov). You can listen to Millennial Minds episodes on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts and iHeart Radio. Yasmine is also a former co-host of the millennial television show "I Wish You Knew," produced by the DC Office of Cable, Music, Television and Film and the District Knowledge Network. Yasmine is also a preacher, poet, blogger, motivational speaker and fashion model. Yasmine is the author of Daily Reflections for Social Entrepreneurs and Daily Reflections and Prayers for the Christian Woman. Yasmine has written articles for The Huffington Post including "Education and Mentorship: The Keys to the Doors of Freedom" and "Growing Up with an Incarcerated Parent, Learning How to Forgive."
In 2010, while a junior in high school, Yasmine founded the non-profit ScholarCHIPS, Inc. (www.scholarchipsfund.org), an organization that provides college scholarships and mentoring to graduating high school seniors who have a parent(s) in prison, and are pursuing their college degree. To date (since 2012), ScholarCHIPS has awarded over $200,000 in college scholarships to 61 scholars. In 2012, Yasmine was featured on the beloved national television show Black Girls Rock, founded by the famous female DJ, Beverly Bond, which aired on Black Entertainment Television (BET). On Black Girls Rock Yasmine was introduced by Lala Anthony and honored with the Making a Difference (M.A.D.) Girl Award. Yasmine has been featured in TeenVogue, Essence, Black Enterprise, Forbes Magazine and The Baltimore Times, and numerous times on ABC7 News, WUSA9, NBC4, and in The Washington Post for her community work. Yasmine holds the title of Miss District of Columbia Plus America 2016 and is a delegate in the 2020 Ms. Full Figured DMV Pageant. She was a 2016 nominee for an NAACP Hometown Champions Image Award and was named a 2017 WKYS Radio One Top 30 Under 30. In February 2020, Yasmine was named a Harris' Hero by the long-time CNN and local news reporter Mr. Leon Harris, and featured on NBC4.
Yasmine is an agency-signed fashion model. She signed with TRUE Model Management (NYC) in August 2017. Yasmine is a versatile model in runway, fit, print, catalog and e-commerce, but she plans to make her mark in print, commerce and television national campaigns with some of the US and world's top plus size clothing brands. As a fashion model, Yasmine aims to not only show the world that curvy confidence is beautiful, but also to encourage women to embrace and love themselves at every phase and every stage of life. In 2018, Yasmine modeled during New York Fashion Week at theCurvyCon for Ann Taylor Loft alongside Denise Bidot, Tabria Majors and Marquita Pring. She also was one of the featured models for Dia & Co. and CDFA'S #TeeUpChange campaign at theCurvyCon, wearing a shirt designed by Serena Williams for the campaign. The images from the fashion show were featured on Yahoo News, Getty images and Zimbio.com. In 2019, Yasmine appeared in a Confidence Campaign for The Avenue. Her photos appeared on the Avenue's website, email blasts and in the brick and mortar stores for all of Spring 2019. Yasmine has also appeared in campaigns for Ashley Stewart.
In 2013, Yasmine was named a CurvesRock Fashion Weekend Spokesmodel. In 2016, Yasmine was honored with the HERmanitarian Award from CurvesRock Fashion Weekend. She has walked in runway shows Full Figured Fashion Week, CurvesRock, District of Curves and Brooklyn Night Out. She has been professionally trained by industry models and experts: Liris Crosse, Christina Mendez, Jeannie Ferguson and Samantha Lebbie. Yasmine has also modeled for a number of e-commerce clothing stores such as Ashley Stewart, Eleven60, Little Petal NYC and Super Scarves.
Yasmine has worked as a Public Relations intern at the Public Broadcasting Station, as an Account Management Intern at Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide and as an Education Fellow at Hager Sharp, a PR Firm in DC.In 2016 Yasmine interned at WHUR 96.3 under Harold Fisher, the voice of The Daily Drum, that also airs on Sirius XM and she also interned with Patrick Ellis, legendary host of The Gospel Spirit on WHUR 96.3. She also worked as a Promotions Assistant at Radio One DC (founded by Cathy Hughes). Yasmine is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. She has had many honors including being named a College Success Foundation scholar, a Jack Kent Cooke scholar, a Horatio Alger state scholar, an AXA Scholar, a Washington Redskins scholar, an Abramson Foundation scholar and an “Angel Among Us” by the National Council of Negro Women with numerous community service and leadership awards. She is a recipient of several nationally prestigious awards such as: The Peace First Prize, J.M. Kaplan Social Innovation Prize (the inaugural cohort), the Linowes Leadership Award, the Samuel Huntington Public Service Award, the Matthew J. Quinn Prize (via the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation), the America's Promise Alliance People of Promise Award, and the Samuel Halperin Youth Public Service Award. Yasmine is a 2020 Halcyon Intensive Fellow and a 2020 Sacred Sector Fellow where she will be interning with Prison Fellowship Summer 2020. She has also been a finalist for the Grinnell College Innovator for Social Justice Prize, the Echoing Green Black Male Achievement Fellowship, and the Soros Justice Media Fellowship.
Yasmine loves to travel, visit old forts and national parks, try new foods, and roller skate and is passionate about people and community. She is a trained soprano singer and loves to sing in gospel choirs She aspires to one day become a national talk show host, actress, philanthropist and pastor. This multifaceted young lady is one to watch!
In 2010, while a junior in high school, Yasmine founded the non-profit ScholarCHIPS, Inc. (www.scholarchipsfund.org), an organization that provides college scholarships and mentoring to graduating high school seniors who have a parent(s) in prison, and are pursuing their college degree. To date (since 2012), ScholarCHIPS has awarded over $200,000 in college scholarships to 61 scholars. In 2012, Yasmine was featured on the beloved national television show Black Girls Rock, founded by the famous female DJ, Beverly Bond, which aired on Black Entertainment Television (BET). On Black Girls Rock Yasmine was introduced by Lala Anthony and honored with the Making a Difference (M.A.D.) Girl Award. Yasmine has been featured in TeenVogue, Essence, Black Enterprise, Forbes Magazine and The Baltimore Times, and numerous times on ABC7 News, WUSA9, NBC4, and in The Washington Post for her community work. Yasmine holds the title of Miss District of Columbia Plus America 2016 and is a delegate in the 2020 Ms. Full Figured DMV Pageant. She was a 2016 nominee for an NAACP Hometown Champions Image Award and was named a 2017 WKYS Radio One Top 30 Under 30. In February 2020, Yasmine was named a Harris' Hero by the long-time CNN and local news reporter Mr. Leon Harris, and featured on NBC4.
Yasmine is an agency-signed fashion model. She signed with TRUE Model Management (NYC) in August 2017. Yasmine is a versatile model in runway, fit, print, catalog and e-commerce, but she plans to make her mark in print, commerce and television national campaigns with some of the US and world's top plus size clothing brands. As a fashion model, Yasmine aims to not only show the world that curvy confidence is beautiful, but also to encourage women to embrace and love themselves at every phase and every stage of life. In 2018, Yasmine modeled during New York Fashion Week at theCurvyCon for Ann Taylor Loft alongside Denise Bidot, Tabria Majors and Marquita Pring. She also was one of the featured models for Dia & Co. and CDFA'S #TeeUpChange campaign at theCurvyCon, wearing a shirt designed by Serena Williams for the campaign. The images from the fashion show were featured on Yahoo News, Getty images and Zimbio.com. In 2019, Yasmine appeared in a Confidence Campaign for The Avenue. Her photos appeared on the Avenue's website, email blasts and in the brick and mortar stores for all of Spring 2019. Yasmine has also appeared in campaigns for Ashley Stewart.
In 2013, Yasmine was named a CurvesRock Fashion Weekend Spokesmodel. In 2016, Yasmine was honored with the HERmanitarian Award from CurvesRock Fashion Weekend. She has walked in runway shows Full Figured Fashion Week, CurvesRock, District of Curves and Brooklyn Night Out. She has been professionally trained by industry models and experts: Liris Crosse, Christina Mendez, Jeannie Ferguson and Samantha Lebbie. Yasmine has also modeled for a number of e-commerce clothing stores such as Ashley Stewart, Eleven60, Little Petal NYC and Super Scarves.
Yasmine has worked as a Public Relations intern at the Public Broadcasting Station, as an Account Management Intern at Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide and as an Education Fellow at Hager Sharp, a PR Firm in DC.In 2016 Yasmine interned at WHUR 96.3 under Harold Fisher, the voice of The Daily Drum, that also airs on Sirius XM and she also interned with Patrick Ellis, legendary host of The Gospel Spirit on WHUR 96.3. She also worked as a Promotions Assistant at Radio One DC (founded by Cathy Hughes). Yasmine is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. She has had many honors including being named a College Success Foundation scholar, a Jack Kent Cooke scholar, a Horatio Alger state scholar, an AXA Scholar, a Washington Redskins scholar, an Abramson Foundation scholar and an “Angel Among Us” by the National Council of Negro Women with numerous community service and leadership awards. She is a recipient of several nationally prestigious awards such as: The Peace First Prize, J.M. Kaplan Social Innovation Prize (the inaugural cohort), the Linowes Leadership Award, the Samuel Huntington Public Service Award, the Matthew J. Quinn Prize (via the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation), the America's Promise Alliance People of Promise Award, and the Samuel Halperin Youth Public Service Award. Yasmine is a 2020 Halcyon Intensive Fellow and a 2020 Sacred Sector Fellow where she will be interning with Prison Fellowship Summer 2020. She has also been a finalist for the Grinnell College Innovator for Social Justice Prize, the Echoing Green Black Male Achievement Fellowship, and the Soros Justice Media Fellowship.
Yasmine loves to travel, visit old forts and national parks, try new foods, and roller skate and is passionate about people and community. She is a trained soprano singer and loves to sing in gospel choirs She aspires to one day become a national talk show host, actress, philanthropist and pastor. This multifaceted young lady is one to watch!