Hi, I'm Briana. Maybe you've already read my Spotlights in FASHION ZZ and BEAUTY ZZ. Since leaving New York my life has taken a turn for the better ... physically, spiritually and mentally!
Going to New York, I was nervous. If people in Tampa were selective people, in New York they were going to be hard to tackle. Indeed they treated me as if i was a queen! Constant compliments and actual help ... not just from designers, assistants, and press, but also from the models!
In contrast to New York in some Florida markets it’s always a competition. My Goal is to bring a different set of standards to Florida Modeling world. Truluv Media and the Florida Central Creatives were founded to support anyone, who has felt as though they were not good enough ... including small business, local artists and charitable communities. We are here to root you on!
Going to New York, I was nervous. If people in Tampa were selective people, in New York they were going to be hard to tackle. Indeed they treated me as if i was a queen! Constant compliments and actual help ... not just from designers, assistants, and press, but also from the models!
In contrast to New York in some Florida markets it’s always a competition. My Goal is to bring a different set of standards to Florida Modeling world. Truluv Media and the Florida Central Creatives were founded to support anyone, who has felt as though they were not good enough ... including small business, local artists and charitable communities. We are here to root you on!
Looking back to the time after taking on Miami and getting signed at my very first casting for a mother agency, I remember what one scout specifically told me: "GO TO NEW YORK ... YOU WILL THRIVE!
Having Florida funds and not NYC funds, I moved north east to Orlando. Orlando inspired me to do something more than posing in front of a camera for facebook likes. Now i'm hosting and coordinating runway shows, apprenticing under bridal designers and scouting models for a local agency.
The grim reality is, that fashion world is very cut throat. I began my modeling career in Dallas. There I learned, that I was in an “in demand market” regularly booked for shoots and runways. Three months into seriously modeling I moved to Tampa, Florida, and noticed, that the market for someone like me was non existent. I joined several Florida modeling networks and realized the models killing the game in this region were shorter unconventional looks. Not that I have anything against them, but i was flooded with bikinis, sunsets and sand.
| My body was not ready for this. I had to work really hard. I am not one of those skinny girls. I like to enjoy life. I have a voluptuous body. I eat in moderation and I take care of myself. Especially considering, i'm constantly battling the 60 lbs, i lost about three years ago. For the life of me i was stuck doing TFP shoots. I realized being older, darker and shapelier, that my modeling career may be at a hault. Fueled with angst, I decided to begin “branding” myself to prove i was good enough to hang in the Florida markets. Fast forward about 8 months and I started to become really numb to the amount of “nos”. I started getting used to not receiving edits back or people just ignoring me in general. I could shock you with the amount of discouraging stories throughout my last year, but no one likes to read a ridiculously long blog. It’s no secret, that the media has made a big deal out of youth. Think about it: How many people have you heard say, “Gosh, I can’t wait to get wrinkles!” Worldwide selling the idea of youth has made many companies billions of dollars. If you plan on being in the fashion and runway field, the younger you are the better. The longevity for this type of modeling is extremely short for the majority of models involved. Agencies sign girls as young as 13 years old and tend to hesitate if a model is over 18. |   |
This topic, like the height issue, is a reality of the industry, that you don’t have to agree with, but you will have to accept or at least get used to it. It’s just a plain fact, that agencies and their clients can get more work out of youthful models than those who already show the signs of aging.
When it comes to youth and modeling, it doesn’t make sense to invest time and money in signing a model, that is say 22 or 23. That particular model may only have a good 2-3 years, before they start showing signs of aging like crow’s feet or other fine lines. This means more time devoted to photoshopping and special lighting. No agency wants to deal with that.
When it comes to youth and modeling, it doesn’t make sense to invest time and money in signing a model, that is say 22 or 23. That particular model may only have a good 2-3 years, before they start showing signs of aging like crow’s feet or other fine lines. This means more time devoted to photoshopping and special lighting. No agency wants to deal with that.
 | persistancy like practice pays off. Some models do work their way into modeling. I have also heard models say, that modeling is hard work and all models work their way into the business. These models track down test shoots and put together their comp cards and portfolios. They study and practice being a model by working on their expressions, posing, runway walking, hair styling, makeup, working in front of a camera, and learning how the business works. These models may work freelance or have nonexclusive contracts with a number of modeling agencies. |
Remember the story of the three blind men describing an elephant? One man felt the trunk, another felt the tail, and the third felt the leg. Each had a different description of what the elephant was like. The modeling industry is the same way. The modeling industry is big and has many specialty areas. What I've experience, will be much different what others experience, but at the end of the day you have to do what makes you happy!
feel free to leave your stories (good or bad) to be featured!
feel free to leave your stories (good or bad) to be featured!
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