Shawana Montgomery b.k.a. Ms. Shi is a single professional woman of God. Born and raised in Sanford, Florida (on the outskirts of Orlando) this is where her roots began in the modeling industry. Since a child, she had always wanted to be a model so, at age 13; her grandparents enrolled her in Barbizon Modeling School and John Casablanca. She pursued her modeling career throughout her childhood through participating in local fashion shows and teen pageants.
During her 9th grade year at Sanford Seminole High School she decided to focus on another talent that she was birth with, which was to be a runner! Throughout her high-school years she put modeling aside and pursued a deeper desire she had within her heart. Besides academics, Track and Field was her main focus in school. Shawana enjoyed the competition and loved the fact that she held many titles. Along with her teammates, they proclaimed victory for four years in the mile relay, breaking the state record in 1994 at University of Florida. They also won the Sunshine State track meets in 1994 and 1996. She has a long list of accomplishments that can be spoken about. Her dream was to become a professional international track star.
Shawana graduated from Seminole High in May of 1996. She received a track scholarship to attend Barton County Junior College in spring of 1997, where she continued to pursue her dream as a runner while competing in many indoors and outdoors events. She participated in the Texas Relays, Kansas State Relays and other national events while in college. Shawana currently hold a title in indoor events as “All American” in the long jump at 21 feet 8 inches… the rest is history.
In 2000, Shawana shifted her focus and continued her modeling career. She was featured in the sitcom “Sheena the Queen of the Jungle” in 2000 and did a reenactment scene for “America’s Most Wanted” in 2001. She also played a role in “The Tree of Good and Evil”, a local movie in Jacksonville, Florida. She has done promotional work for UBI Soft with Monster Jam April 2002 and as a Miller Lite Spokes Model in 2002. In 2003, she was featured in Joe Budden’s rap video “Pump it Up” in 2007, featured in the Storitalerz hip hop gospel rap video, and partook in the movie “When the Buzzar Sounds,” produce by Bofilms. She still has more endeavors to pursue.
Ms. Shi also took part in the HBO movie "Recount" that was aired in spring 2008. Look out for her she was the only African American woman that played in the media/press scene.
In 2002, she decided to go back to college to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Organizational Management. After graduating from Edwards Waters College in 2003, Shawana assumed it would take a while for her to find the field she wanted to make a career out of. After deeply praying and calling out to God, her prayers were answered in September 2004. Shawana was hired as a Site Manager for Education Station. She was in the capacity where she could help “at risk students” to become better in school. This is her ministry assignment from God. Shawana said, “I love helping and being there for those who cannot help themselves, this is my passion”. After receiving a couple of promotions, she became the Program Manager for Education Station, LLC in Jacksonville, FL, where she oversaw the entire program in her district till June 2007.
In November of 2006, she had the opportunity to facilitate Jacksonville’s first music conference fashion show. Her passion for the modeling industry instantly returned. At this point in her life, her main focus was giving back to others. She is such an incredible, business minded woman that God gave her a VISION to start her own modeling management business in November 2006. SynSha Models, Inc. was incorporated in January 2007 with her vision to encourage aspiring and experienced models to become mentors to the youth. “We are not just a modeling business; we are here to motivate our youth to succeed in life beyond high school”. Shawana said, “It's not who you know, it's who knows you and your network will turn into your NET WORTH”.
She is also the founder of "The SynSha Initiative founded 2/8/2010 and a sponsor of Sigma Phi Delta and I.C.O.N.S. teen organizations in Jacksonville, Fl.
"As you experience mistakes and challenges in your life, remember that there is always a brighter side that determines your success."- Ms. Shi 1/13/06