*Meet Dr. Misee Harris*
Who says brains & beauty can’t mix? Well, Dr. Misee Harris is the definition of this dynamic combination! The dentist turned model/actress is now working towards becoming the first African American Bachelorette on ABC! Dr. Harris puts 100% into every endeavor that she has set out to do and welcomes the new opportunities that have come into her life. Hailing from Columbia, Tennessee, this intelligent and beautiful woman not only is driven but also has a strong passion for mentoring today’s youth. Whether it be dentistry, styling, modeling , acting, or mentoring, she knows that the keys to success is determination and God. She goes by the motto… Pray hard and fear nothing!
Let’s get to know Dr. Misee Harris a little better…
You’re such an inspiration to achieve a variety of dreams! You’re an established dentist turned model/actress, what inspired you to step into these fields?
I became a dentist because my own pediatric dentists, Dr. James Hutton and Dr. Heather Owens, inspired me. After beginning my career I saw how I could change lives. By taking away pain or creating smiles that improved self-esteem, I found it very satisfying. Dental school was definitely NOT FUN! It was very stressful: in the lab, didactically and managing patients. I love children so pediatric dentistry, though difficult was definitely the right career choice for me!
As a child, I always had a passion for fashion which has carried over into my adulthood. Thankfully, my mother supported and nurtured this passion by taking me on model calls monthly, bringing my sister along for support. I had no idea what I was doing, but I loved it! As I got older, I realized I really had an eye for mixing and matching clothes to create a unique fashion statement. Following through on this love I began modeling any chance I got. My mother even let me go to NYC one summer to really try and take my modeling career to the next level. However, I quickly found out that being 5’5” wasn’t going to get me anywhere close to the runway. Nevertheless, I continued modeling. I currently model for photographers who are building their portfolios, a few clothing boutiques such as Calypso Boutique in Lexington, KY, Pollen Pixie located in Nashville, TN and Sugar & Spikes Boutique in Dallas, Texas as well as J. LaRae Beautiful Cosmetics.
I call myself the “You send it, I wear it, I tweet about it girl”. All fashion designers, store owners, product developers…..send it my way! MAC cosmetics, Cover Girl, did you hear me?
Being a young business woman can sometimes get to be a bit overwhelming, how do you regroup and motivate yourself when you’re feeling a little defeated?
I turn on the TV and watch either one of the Disney Channel’s many comedy shows or some of my favorite reality shows. I love to laugh and these shows give me a bit of a pick me up! I also try to detach myself by going to the mall, going out with friends or simply planning home interior projects. But my all time favorite thing to do when I am feeling down is to go to Goodwill and put together an awesome outfit for less than $10! (I go home and put it on my mannequin….yes, I have a mannequin!) And of course I pray and continually ask God for guidance.
Transitioning from a teen to an adult you learn tons of life lessons, what was your biggest challenge as a teen and how did you grow to overcome it?
My transition to adulthood was much like anyone else’s: confusing, stressful, and a little bumpy. The biggest challenge was transitioning from high school to college! I moved several times and to different states to go to college. I was both excited and terrified to be away from my mom (she is my best friend)! At first, as with many young adults I still acted like a teenager. I’m sure I annoyed the heck out of my roommates, Adrienne Neely and Shanna Layrock. But I quickly made friends, made numerous mistakes and most importantly: learned and grew from it all.
There’s so much pressure to have a boyfriend & be in a relationship in high school, how did you handle the pressure and stay focused on your dreams?
I, like many others, had a high school sweetheart! We dated off and on from the time we were in the 8th grade up until our first year of college. We had that “Love and Basketball” type of relationship. He was a top basketball player at my high school and of course, I was a cheerleader. However, although I was in a relationship, I never lost focus of my true dreams and aspirations. You must remain focused on your dreams and never let anyone tell you, you can’t accomplish something. I have lived out my dream of becoming a model, dentist, motivator, and role-model. My next dream is to become ABC’s next Bachelorette, and who knows…that may just happen!
I am living out my dreams right at this very moment. I dreamed of having a loud VOICE that everyone would listen to and this opportunity has made this possible.
We all need inspiration throughout our lives, who do you look up to?
My mother, more than anyone has inspired me. She, a lady of Liberian and Lebanese descent, raised two very successful women as a single mother. She is the epitome of a “SUPER MOM”. This lady can knit, crochet, sew, make her own jelly, and is a classically trained singer. (I sure wish I had her cooking skills!) I remember being in the first grade and my mother making audio cassettes (back in the day when Walkman was the modern day iPod) of her reading books that we were assigned to read. She then sent the cassette tapes to my teacher and my teacher would give them to the children in my class who didn’t have parents that were able to spend time reading to them. It doesn’t get much better than that! Love you Mom, you are a true inspiration!
You’re an amazing woman on the rise, tell us about your future projects!
I will be joining a private practice in Tennessee with my childhood pediatric dentists, Drs. Hutton and Owens. I also plan to continue modeling, mentoring children, and become more involved in philanthropic projects. I hope to participate and support organizations that focus on empowering young women, autism awareness, and adoption. I have been so blessed to have all of my dreams come true so I hope to be able to help make other’s dreams come true as well! Being able to give is quite possibly the best gift to ever have.
We’re all about EMPOWERMENT at C.O.R.E Mag, what does empowerment mean to you?
To me, empowerment means having your voice heard, having your desires become reality, building the self-esteem of others, and DREAMING BIG!
Fun Faves!!- Food? Song? Artist? Celeb Crush?
Favorite food: Eggs! I can eat eggs all day long. No joke. Ask my mom!
Favorite Song: “By Your Side” –Sade
Favorite Artist: India Arie
Celeb Crush: NBA player, Kevin Durant
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