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United States Cleo Wade is an American artist, poet, activist, and author who uses her platform to share messages of hope, resilience, and advocacy.
"Cleo Wade is a natural partner for Velvet," says Velvet's Creative Director & Founder Jenny Graham. "Her voice and style embody the effortless, ..." A long-time admirer of Velvet, Wade's connection to the brand began serendipitously in her teenage years while working part-time at a boutique in Louisiana.
We teamed up with author and poet Cleo Wade to create a curated gift collection for shoppers. This collection, available exclusively at ...
Cleo Wade Teams with Barbie to Celebrate the 'Power, Brilliance and Determination' of Black Women. The poet and author's editorial campaign ...
We are excited to welcome artist and poet Cleo Wade into the #AerieREAL Role Model family! Cleo is on a mission to tell the world about the ...
Cleo Wade—poet, author, and new cohost of The goop Podcast—joins GP to talk about the threads that inspire her and keep her curious and creative ...
Cleo Wade was born on September 13, 1989, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Lori Rockett and Bernardo Wade. She developed an early interest in writing, taking a poetry course at age six. After high school, Wade moved to New York City to pursue a career in fashion. During this period, she interned at Missoni, consulted for Alice + Olivia, and modeled for Cartier and Armani. She also worked as an office manager at Halston. After several years in the fashion industry, Wade realized a desire for a different path, leading her to travel and reconnect with painting and poetry.
Wade’s career as a public figure began to gain traction in the mid-2010s, utilizing her poetry and activism to address social issues such as criminal justice reform and gender and racial equality. Her work often centers on themes of inspiration, affirmations, and female empowerment. She has been featured in various publications including Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, People magazine, The New York Times, Teen Vogue, and Vogue. In 2017, she delivered a TED talk titled “Want to change the world? Start by being brave enough to care,” which has since accumulated over 1.5 million views. Her prominent use of Instagram has also amplified her reach, gaining over 782,000 followers by 2022.
Cleo Wade has authored multiple books, starting with “Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life” in 2018, followed by “Where to Begin: A Small Book About Your Power to Create Big Change in Our Crazy World” in 2019, “Heart Talk: The Journal” in 2020, and “What the Road Said” in 2021. She has also created large-scale public art installations across North America, including “Respect” in the New Orleans French Quarter and “She” in the New Orleans Bywater neighborhood, a collaboration with graffiti artist Brandon Odums. Her installations have also been featured in marquee locations such as the Beverly Center in Los Angeles and Times Square in New York City. Wade is actively involved in nonprofit work, serving on the boards of the Women’s Prison Association, Lower East Side Girls Club, and the National Black Theatre in Harlem. She is also on the creative council for EMILY’s List and the advisory board of Gucci’s Chime for Change.
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