Young, beautiful and ambitious. Analyssa Benedict, the nineteen-year-old CEO of fashion networking firm World Class Youth, is a refreshing new addition to the fashion world. Hosting a photoshoot benefit for undiscovered talent at her home near Spring St. & Bellflower Blvd., the current Long Beach City College student was as cool as a cucumber during the controlled chaos of the shoot. She spoke highly of her staff and highlighted some featured talent – like “Krisskid,” a fifteen-year-old wearing a Mickey Mouse hat (with the ears) over his long shaggy hair, who is considered a prodigy in the fashion world. World Class Youth has been around for six months and has already made an impact in many young lives, as well as provided a creative outlet to display a variety of talents.
As long as she could remember, Benedict’s heart has been in fashion. At the age of fifteen, when most of us were looking forward to our driver’s permit, Benedict was earning her Fashion Merchandise certificate from a small private school in the fashion district of Los Angeles. Shortly after, she held an internship in a showroom at the California Apparel Mart. Now, a nineteen-year-old CEO, she wants to give others the same opportunities she was given. I sat down with Benedict to discuss her professional ambitions and the challenges facing a young entrepreneur.
LBPost: What inspired you to start World Class Youth (WCY)?
AB: I was inspired to put together a group of young adults to show today’s society what our driven and youthful generation is all about. Being so young in the industry I’ve always understood how hard it was for the young entrepreneurs like myself to get more involved into this competitive field and I want to pay it forward to passionate and goal oriented people such as myself.
LBPost: What is your ultimate goal with World Class Youth?
AB: My goal for World Class Youth is to put all of my heart to help this company grow and prosper as a family while at the same time making a beautiful change in the fashion, art and music industries.
LBPost: You mentioned that NY Prim is one of your sponsors, how did that happen?
AB: Kristin Prim, the Editor-In-Chief for Prim Magazine is a brilliant girl, after talking with her we both came to the idea that we can help each other out by promoting her magazine here in Los Angeles, while she sponsored World Class Youth by publishing editorials for us in her bi-monthly fashion magazine.
LBPOST: What charities are you donating or planning on donating to?
AB: The money that we raise during our events goes into building for the next event, while the majority is saved to help put on our end of the year Benefit Fashion show. We plan to have all proceeds donated to charity, and we hope to work with St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
LBPOST: Will you be headlining this fall at LA Fashion Week this fall for spring wear?
AB: World Class Youth has a lot in store for LA Fall Fashion Week, if all plans go well we hope to show and present young aspiring designers next season. If it were not for the Boxeight family the opportunity of presenting at LAFW would have never came across our path. They have such amazing hearts.
LBPOST: If someone would like to be apart of WCY family. who should they contact and what type of experience should they have?
AB: If there is anyone youthful, seriously driven and goal oriented looking to achieve self growth in the fashion, art or music industry while helping World Class Youth do the same you can directly email me at [email protected].
Every month WCY hostess a photo-shoot fundraiser called, “WELCOME TO THE BIG LEAGUES.” A team of photographers, makeup artists, hair dressers and stylists come together to doll up and shoot anyone who is interested in a professional photo shoot, with a cover charge of only $25.
The proceeds from these events will go towards their next event and also helps the end of the year benefit fashion show.
Interested in World Class Youth? Benedict can be reached at [email protected].
Ricklyn Hukriede is a contributing news reporter and current journalism student at Long Beach City College.