As part of the Morning Lazziness series highlighting empowering women who are making a remarkable impact with their ideas, I had the pleasure of interviewing Trinette Faint.
Trinette Faint is a lifelong storyteller and multi-hyphenate creative whose career has defied expectations and embraced reinvention at every stage. From launching her modeling career in France at 19 to working behind the scenes with Hollywood heavyweights like Matt Damon and Will Smith’s production company, Trinette has navigated the worlds of fashion, film, tech, and writing with remarkable agility and vision.
She spent over six years at Google, blending creativity and strategy, all while nurturing her passion for storytelling. A published novelist and now a rising screenwriter, Trinette earned a certificate in Feature Film Writing from UCLA at 52 and has had two TV pilots place as semi-finalists in the 2025 ScreenCraft TV Pilot competition. Simultaneously, she continues to model and act, embodying resilience and representation in every space she occupies.
As a 6’1” Black woman in media, Trinette proudly uses her diverse background and bold presence to break barriers, champion authenticity, and empower fellow women in creative industries to keep evolving and define success on their own terms.
In this interview, she dives into the challenges, wins, and wisdom she’s gained from over a decade of transforming online businesses.
You’ve worn many hats—model, author, screenwriter, entrepreneur. What has guided your evolution through each chapter of your creative journey?
Rarely have any of my endeavors happened at the same time, so in each instance, I’ve been in a different stage of my life and have listened to my gut and followed my curiosity.
From starting out as a model in France at 19 to working with Google and Will Smith’s production company—how have those contrasting worlds shaped your identity and voice as a storyteller?
All the rejection I experienced as a young model laid the foundation for my future in the entertainment business and in the corporate world. In both worlds you can’t take anything personally, and I have a strong sense of self because of my work in these spaces. Also, bold personalities are everywhere, which are great character studies that influence my storytelling.
You define your own version of success—how has that definition changed over time, especially as a Black woman navigating both corporate and creative spaces?
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve given myself more grace and have also become more confident in my pursuits and exercise my creativity on my own terms.
You’ve published two novels and now have two screenplays, placing as semi-finalists in the ScreenCraft 2025 competition—what stories are you most passionate about telling, and why?
I’m most passionate about telling stories about Black women out in the world, living fully and unapologetically, with just as much agency as anyone else.
What inspired you to pivot into screenwriting, and what has that process taught you about your voice as a writer?
I was always curious about writing for the screen and simply followed my curiosity and began taking online classes at UCLA to learn the craft. (I would eventually earn a certificate in Feature Film Screenwriting.) Screenwriting is a very different beast and the process has taught me patience and diligence, but also the importance of stepping away from a draft for a few weeks and seeking blind feedback, which helps sharpen the story, giving me a stronger voice.
How does your lived experience as a tall Black woman with a dynamic, creative career influence the characters and stories you bring to life?
My lived experience as a tall woman does not have as much influence on my storytelling as my experience traveling the world. Black people are everywhere, and I’ve always been fascinated when I meet other Black people whose first language is not English. A few years ago in Berlin I met a group of Black German artists, and recently met a Black Norwegian woman in France, as well as Black French women. We are not monolithic, and I give my characters interesting backgrounds and lives that reinforce this.
What was the most fulfilling moment in your writing journey so far, whether as an author or screenwriter?
Writing, producing, directing, and starring in my short film Party Pants. It was such an emotional experience bringing the story to life.
Tell us about the vision behind Chez Faint—what inspired you to launch a curated networking events company, and how does it serve your community of creatives and clients?
I’ve had nine lives and wanted to start bringing people together in the spirit of connecting and collaborating.
How do you balance your own artistic projects with leading a business and working with other creatives?
Fortunately, my endeavors compliment each other so it feels less of a balance because I can control my time. Which is the ultimate freedom, especially as a creative.
At 53, you’re still modeling, acting, and breaking creative ground—how do you stay motivated and confident in an industry that often marginalizes older women and women of color?
I try not to focus on the marginalization and combat it by blazing my own trail and just doing the things I want to do. For example, me and a fellow author and friend reached out to most of the bookstores in Boston, asking them to host a book signing for us and they ALL either never got back to us, or turned us down for no real discernible reason, so we just produced them ourselves. We found other non-bookstore spaces and reached out to our networks and just did it. And we’re now planning a series of literary events at the Arts Collaborative Medford (the site of one of our events), as a result of our successful event there. So when one door closes, it’s for a reason. Go find another one to push open.
What are the top 5 mindset shifts or practices that helped you overcome self-doubt and step fully into your power over the years?
- Investing in yourself is a must.
- Know that your creative voice is yours and yours alone, and no one else can tell your story.
- Think beyond your 9 to 5 and prioritize what it will take to live a fully creative life, if that’s what you want.
- Being a creative can be expensive, and it’s important to remember that it’s a long term investment that will slowly pay off.
- It’s okay to course-correct if something is not working.
What advice would you give to women in their 40s or 50s who feel like it’s “too late” to pivot or start over creatively or professionally?
Don’t overthink it and just do it. Put yourself out there. You’ll be surprised at your level of confidence, trying something new in your 40s/50s.
What’s a quote, belief, or philosophy you live by that keeps you focused, inspired, and grounded on your journey?
Just do it, by Nike.
