Modeling Mentor Winners Land Top Modeling Agents, Fashion Editorial, and Talent Agents!

It’s been a super exciting year at Modelingmentor.com. Our Models of the Month are gaining international recognition from agencies and clients, and I can hardly keep up with all the updates on contracts, bookings, and adventures! Since we are mid-way through 2018, I thought I’d share some updates, which are sure to inspire those of you who dream of pursuing a path as a model or performer.

Em Marie, Model of the Year 2016

Em Marie wearing Chanel, in Ginza magazine, shot by Katsuhide Morimoto, styling by Yuriko E, hair by Taku, m/u by Uda

Em Marie, wearing Chanel, in Ginza magazine

After I scouted Em Marie while she was performing in Maine (she is a dancer and aerialist, in addition to being stunning…and kind and sweet and super disciplined and basically a role model in every way!), she promptly landed an agent. Em, along with her mom, has had an amazing time in Tokyo with Image Models. Stay tuned for a guest post from her on her experiences there. Highlight: A 7-page editorial in Ginza magazine!

Alexa Kissling, Model of the Year 2017

Alexa entered my model search last year, and I was instantly wowed by her email submission! On Zoom, I was smitten with this cutie’s personality (and she was just as gorgeous without a bit of makeup as she was in her photos). The Industry Model Management immediately noticed the 5’10″ lanky beauty. Now Alexa is living in New York and living her dream as a model with The Industry. Compare her Model of the Year photos to these latest shots, and check out the transformation! This girl is such a chameleon. She can do it all!

Alexa Kissling, shot by Sam Gold

Alexa Kissling’s new New York look! With The Industry NY

Alexa Kissling, styling by Theo Banzon

Isabelle Boughner, Model of the Month, October 2015

Isabelle has hit the magic age of 16, when model development really kicks in for women. She is the complete package of adorable, cool, and talented (she is a guitarist, singer, and composer). I’m in love with this test shoot she did in Westport, CT.

Isabelle Boughner, shot by Tomira Wilcox

Isabelle Boughner, by Tomira Wilcox. Jacket by Zoe Mann.

Julianne Walker, Model of the Month, February 2018

I’ve had an eye on Julianne for almost her whole life (she happens to be my husband’s second cousin!). Julianne signed with a mother agent within a couple months of winning Model of the Month. She has begun testing and just graduated from high school. Julianne will attend UVA in the fall and continue to build up her portfolio and pursue modeling opportunities in the summer months.

Julianne Walker, shot by Emily Scimeca

Julianne Walker by Kayla Simon

Ida Nevstad, Model of the Month, May 2018

Ida also has been offered a contract by an agent! She has been testing and finishing her busy junior year. She will be heading to Europe for part of the summer.

Ida Nevstad, by Tomira Wilcox

Cooper Gusick, Model of the Month, November 2015

Cutie Cooper just signed with Innovative Artists, a top talent agency in New York (and L.A.). His face is already known the world over from this Dear Evan Hansen Mash-Up (Minute 1:50). I can’t wait to watch this great kid’s career!

Is it your turn next?… ENTER THE MODELING MENTOR MODEL SEARCH

French Fashion Flair

There is nothing like the flair of the French. Whenever I took a flight in Europe and landed at Charles de Gaulle, I instantly would be hit with a case of style envy. From toddlers to grandparents, everyone dresses with panache. They never look like they stepped out of a catalog but always out of a spread in Vogue. How do they do it?

Ultra Stylish Brigitte Bardot

A recent  article in the NY Times about the new book The Killer Detail, by French journalists Francois Armanet and Elisabeth Quin, outlined the easy recipe for achieving that certain je ne sais quoi:

The secret is balance and detail.

“Wear a vintage Chanel jacket — with jeans. Wear a little black dress — with flaming red stilettos. Never dress yourself from head to toe in one designer; never wear everything new.”

Models absolutely should follow these rules. Vintage clothes, a fantastic pair of jeans, the little black dress, the surprising detail that makes you stand out from the cattle-call mass—these are your best friends.

Model Audi Martel at Fashion Week

Read the whole article: In the Book “The Killer Detail,” Considering the Essence of Chic

Stay tuned to “Meet the Judges” of the Modeling Mentor Model Search next week! Don’t forget to like your favorite Model of the Month.

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Now, first of all, I have an issue with the way this story is framed. The article includes a photo of Ward walking in the Chanel show that apparently did her in. The picture reveals a girl who may be in the “normal” weight range for the general public, but, let’s face it, models are held to a higher standard. Models needn’t be emaciated (more on that later), but they do have to maintain a fairly consistent size so the clients booking them know what to expect. That’s just part of the job. By the looks of Ward’s thighs in this shot, I would say Chanel was betrayed, not the model. It’s one thing to tell a toothpick-sized girl to lose weight; it’s another to tell a supermodel making $3 million a year that if she lets herself go, she’s out. I’d say that’s fair enough. Ward continued to gain weight after her infamous Chanel appearance, which is totally fine—most women do as they hit their 20s (I gained my freshman-15 back then and had a jolly time doing it!). But, by doing so, Ward made the choice to move on, reportedly to acting. Good for her. After making millions, why not?

So why do I say it’s better to be a model than a supermodel? Well, when you are just a lowly model, if anyone is discussing the size of your thighs, it’s a client and/or your agent, not press and bloggers worldwide. Also, you are likely to have a couple of extra inches wiggle room before anyone gets into a heated discussion about your measurements. Most of my 5’10″ modeling friends and I hovered near 130 pounds. According to Horne’s article, 5’9″ top model Natalia Vodianova received complaints from clients when she weighed 115 and 5’10″ Coco Rocha resorted to diuretics when she was told to drop below 108! All I can say is that I, at 124 pounds (achieved due to a crush on a male model, not any extreme diet measures) was told to gain weight (German clients—bless them).

I’m not saying models of the non-super variety are exempt from the weight watch. I did get some flak about cellulite once or twice and about my widening middle when I overdid it at Christmas and showed up for a swimwear shoot packing a few extra pounds. My response? Well, yes, I have cellulite and it’s unsightly stuff, and yes, I shouldn’t show up at a shoot without the waist that appeared on my comp card. That’s false advertising. And I’m not saying the fashion world isn’t vicious at the top or that some of the girls walking the big-time runways aren’t sickeningly skinny and that some of them got that way through sick means; I’m just saying forget the millions at the top and stick with the five-to-six-figure career—there are burgers and beer down here, not barfing and bad press.