Inaya Malik
Inaya Malik en pointe in a flowing red dress

Inaya
Malik

A multidisciplinary creative working at the intersection of movement, fashion, music and culture — between Chicago, Atlanta and Shenyang, China.

Model · Dancer · Creative Director · Artist Manager

Book Inaya→Selected Work→
01—About
Introduction Interview2024

A creative built across three cities and many disciplines.

Inaya Malik is a Black American and Chinese multidisciplinary creative, born in Shenyang, China and raised in Chicago. Fluent in Mandarin and shaped by multiple cultures, she brings a singular perspective to fashion, music, dance and visual storytelling.

She began dancing at age 3, later coaching and choreographing for high schools and universities by 15. Her work now spans modeling, acting, creative direction, artist management, wardrobe styling and recording studio operations — held together by quick execution, clear communication and lasting relationships.

Cultural Perspective

Black and Chinese, fluent in Mandarin and connected to creative communities across Chicago, Atlanta and Shenyang.

Performance Foundation

Trained in ballet, jazz, modern, hip-hop, contemporary, Chinese folk and tap.

Production Range

Campaign planning, model sourcing, artist support, studio coordination, styling and music video direction.

02—Services

Six disciplines, one creative voice.

Hire Inaya for a single discipline or for end-to-end creative direction. Select a service below to see scope and recent work.

03—Approach

Creative, credible, consistent.

Working with Inaya means original creative strategy, fast execution and clear communication. She approaches every collaboration as a real relationship — her network, energy and cross-disciplinary range help brands and artists move from idea to polished execution.

01

Fast creative execution

Idea to shoot to delivery without losing the vision.

02

Cultural and visual instincts

A perspective shaped by Chicago, Atlanta and Shenyang.

03

Real relationships

A network across fashion, music and performance — built on trust, not transactions.

04—Training & Education

Trained, daily, in three disciplines.

Twelve years of ballet, a college-prep academic load, and a parallel acting practice — running side by side, every week, since elementary school.

01Track

Business & Psychology

Foundations in human behavior, cross-cultural commerce and the discipline of strategic thinking.

  1. 2030Upcoming

    B.A. in Psychology

    Spelman College

    Incoming Class of 2030 — focus on behavioral and cultural psychology.

  2. 2026Current

    High School Diploma · 4.6 GPA

    Southland College Prep

    Honors track; leadership in arts and academic societies.

  3. 2024Completed

    International Business Intensive

    Shenyang Normal University, China

    Summer program — global commerce, cross-cultural negotiation, market entry.

02Track

Dance

Twelve years of classical and contemporary training inside one of America's most rigorous ballet conservatories.

  1. 2024 — 26Current

    Pre-Professional Division

    The Joffrey Ballet, Chicago

    Full scholarship. Repertoire across classical, neoclassical and contemporary.

  2. 2018 — 24Completed

    Trainee & Intermediate Levels

    The Joffrey Ballet, Chicago

    Progressive technique, pointe, partnering and performance seasons.

  3. 2014Completed

    Foundational Training

    The Joffrey Ballet, Chicago

    Began formal classical training at age six.

03Track

Acting

Performance training built across stage, screen and rhetoric — the craft of holding a room.

  1. 2024 — 26Current

    Speech & Forensics Team

    Southland College Prep

    Competitive original oratory and dramatic interpretation.

  2. 2023 — 26Current

    Theater Conservatory Track

    Southland College Prep

    Scene study, voice, movement and ensemble work.

  3. 2022 — 26Current

    Film Club · On-Camera Practice

    Southland College Prep

    Short-form direction, on-camera scene work and post-production.

05—Selected Work

Case studies across fashion, music & movement.

A focused selection of recent projects — shot, styled, directed and danced. Tap any tile to open the full case study.

Soft Power

Fashion

Soft Power

Music

Neon Liturgy

Body / Language

Dance

Body / Language

Studio

Xen Studios — Year One

Soft Tailoring

Styling

Soft Tailoring

Creative Direction

Rooms, Rebuilt

From Runway to Page

Modeling

From Runway to Page

Editorial gallery

Inaya — editorial portrait at desk on red backdrop

Fashion

Inaya — editorial portrait at desk on red backdrop

View case study →

Inaya in leopard corset and crown — modeling editorial

Fashion

Inaya in leopard corset and crown — modeling editorial

View case study →

Inaya in cream suit — formal portrait

Fashion

Inaya in cream suit — formal portrait

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Inaya — beach night editorial portrait

Fashion

Inaya — beach night editorial portrait

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Inaya — beach night editorial frame

Fashion

Inaya — beach night editorial frame

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Inaya in floral jacket and cargo — full styling look

Styling

Inaya in floral jacket and cargo — full styling look

View case study →

Inaya in red fur hat with roses — cinematic acting still

Acting

Inaya in red fur hat with roses — cinematic acting still

Inaya en pointe in red dress — arabesque

Dance

Inaya en pointe in red dress — arabesque

View case study →

Inaya en pointe reaching skyward in red dress

Dance

Inaya en pointe reaching skyward in red dress

View case study →

Inaya mid-leap in flowing red dress

Dance

Inaya mid-leap in flowing red dress

View case study →

Inaya sweeping red skirt en pointe

Dance

Inaya sweeping red skirt en pointe

View case study →

06—Recognition

Trusted by brands, artists & studios.

A growing roster of collaborators across fashion, streetwear, music and culture.

BET — Black Entertainment Television logo

Featured recognition

Internship offer from Black Entertainment Television following a conversation with Louis Carr, Chief Executive of Advertising at BET.

Fashion · Brands · Events

  • Beauty Empire Chicago·
  • Iridium Clothing Co·
  • 333 Half Evil·
  • Stock Boy Chicago·
  • The Chicago Streetwear Expo·
  • Prospera·
  • Broken Hustle·
  • Flourish IP·
  • Blitzz·
  • Salute The World US·
  • AP Club·
  • Sosa Brand·
  • Enigamatic Brand·
  • 3 Star Model Type US·
  • Ethereal Worldwide·
  • Nightchicago.us·
  • Fortitude·
  • Star Mafia·
  • Phase Four Experiments·
  • Jaded Solyn·
  • Star Market Chi

Music · Artists · Studios

  • PAQ Music Publishing·
  • Xen Studios·
  • Taylor Bennett·
  • Adamn Killa·
  • Xen Nightz·
  • Thirteen Degrees·
  • Kels·
  • KioRacks·
  • Mike DFG·
  • Yobryy·
  • Xella Red·
  • Greyishere·
  • Stable·
  • Xotik·
  • 7kCjay·
  • WATER$·
  • MEF Lab·
  • Mama's Funk Palace
07—Social Media

Live from the grid.

A direct line to the studio. Latest frames, pulled straight from the Instagram feed — broadcast in real time from Chicago, Atlanta, Shenyang.

Find Inaya across the platforms

6 channels
On Air
20:05:17
Offline · No live streamCheck back during scheduled broadcast hours.
Offline20:05:17
Recent Streams3 past · VOD

@xennightzofficial

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5+ postsLatest 1MO AGO

Behind the scenes, fittings, set frames and the occasional choreography clip — straight from the studio.

Studio session — visuals incoming.

1MO AGO

Studio session — visuals incoming.

Backstage rehearsal frames.

1MO AGO

Backstage rehearsal frames.

Fitting day — quiet luxury palette.

2MO AGO

Fitting day — quiet luxury palette.

On set — direction & lights.

2MO AGO

On set — direction & lights.

Editorial pull — color study.

2MO AGO

Editorial pull — color study.

Live feed · @xennightzofficial

See full feed ↗
08—Contact

Start the conversation.

Brand campaigns, music videos, choreography, bookings — inquiries route to the right inbox automatically.

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Inaya replies personally within 48 hours.