Doechii Creative Shoot by Plugged Creative Agency
Balemlay fused bold styling, makeup, backdrop and lenscraft into iconic pop culture image.
Ratika holds a master's degree in commerce and a post-graduate diploma in communication and journalism from Mumbai University. She has 6 years of experience writing in various fields, such as finance, education, and lifestyle.
Read full bio of Ratika Pai
Image: Instagram
Building A New Creative Agency
Years ago, while freelancing on editorial shoots, Tizita Balemlay sensed a gap in the industry. She had an instinctive talent for uniting styling, hair, makeup, photography and set design—but no platform to call her own. In response she founded Plugged Creative Agency, with a sister venture called Plugged Studio that could custom-craft looks from concept to final frame. “I wanted to offer a one-stop shop where every detail lives under a single creative umbrella,” Balemlay explains.
Behind The Doechii Collaboration
One of the agency’s first major tests came when rising artist Doechii booked Balemlay for a striking shoot. Balemlay hand-picked a team that included hairstylist Jadah Blue (@therealjadahblue), makeup artist Chrissy Cindy (@_chrissycindy) and photographer Vincent Bouss (@vincebouss_) to bring the look to life. She also oversaw location scouting and coordinated custom pieces produced in-house at Plugged Studio. As Balemlay put it on her Instagram caption, “Doechii trusted me to put this together and being the canvas to my creative outlet felt like an honor.”
The resulting images captured the artist in sculptural silhouettes, dramatic textures and bold accessories—down to a stylized crocodile motif that became a signature element. While the exact date of the shoot remains under wraps, Balemlay’s recent resharing of the images sparked a fresh wave of attention. Fans and creatives alike praised how the visuals balanced avant-garde edge with editorial polish—proof that Plugged Creative Agency’s integrated approach can translate vision into impact.
Homegrown Highlights
Balemlay’s passion extends beyond high-gloss portraiture. In a post earlier this year, she celebrated another mission close to her heart: outfitting her family’s school in Addis Ababa with new uniforms. Partnering with Tilla Africa and her own Plugged New York division, she marked a “full circle moment” when the students received crisp shirts and blazers bearing the school’s crest. The project underscored her commitment to community and storytelling through design.
She also played a lead role styling the Feb 2025 cover of LinkUpAddis magazine—a milestone she described as “an incredible honor” that gave her hometown recognition for her work. In that caption she wrote, “Feels great getting recognition from my country, been in the fashion field for over 7 years… I will continue to push the envelope and represent our culture with the utmost respect.”
These side projects show a creative director equally at home shaping pop culture imagery and spearheading philanthropic design. It’s a dual identity Balemlay has cultivated deliberately—blending runway-ready flourishes with meaningful local impact.
Her focus on in-house production sets her agency apart. By keeping styling, hair, makeup and fabrication teams under one umbrella, Plugged Creative Agency can turn around complex shoots on tight timelines. That agility has won repeat bookings from musicians, models and brands seeking a streamlined process without sacrificing detail.
As Balemlay’s portfolio grows—spanning editorial spreads, red carpet looks and brand campaigns—so does her influence. Fellow creatives have noted her knack for visual consistency across media, whether on-camera, in print or online. She’s become a sought-after consultant whose fingerprints appear on everything from album covers to international collaborations.
Her recent return to the Doechii photoshoot is proof of that vision’s staying power. What started as an experimental set has evolved into a cultural reference point—shared, reshared and celebrated across fan networks. And for Balemlay, it’s a reminder that taking the reins often leads to the most resonant work.
Read full bio of Ratika Pai
